JOEL 2 GENERATION PODCAST: Recent Episodes
DJ (David John)
This is a Podcast for people who are hungry for more of God - hungry to encounter Him, and hungry to see the Gospel preached a with clear demonstration of Kingdom Power.
Talk is cheap (and frankly, people are sick and tired of being 'preached at')! God is raising up a generation, a Joel 2 Generation, who will not settle for anything less than everything the Lord will release at this time in history. Join us in this journey - a journey into God's Presence, a journey into the miraculous!
There is arguably no greater story in Biblical and Church History that the collection, translations, canonization, and preservation (or as you shall see the attempts to corrupt the text) of the Old Testament Scriptures.
Everyone is the product of a "Tradition" and we will look at some of them.
The main question that is looked at is why there are differences between the Masoretic Text (MT) and the Septuagint (LXX) of the Old Testament. The New Testament writers quote the LXX 80-90% of the time and most often their quotations do NOT match what we find in our Old Testaments. Why is that? How did the MT and the LXX become different?
What about the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) - which contained mostly Hebrew and some Aramaic Old Testament scrolls and fragments? They are more than 1000 years OLDER than the extant MT manuscripts we possess (from around 1000AD).
What you will learn is that the rabbis "attempted" to corrupt/change/alter the Hebrew Bible by tampering with Messianic prophecies that clearly pointed to Jesus as their Messiah. The timing of His coming, the nature and scope of His Mission, and even His very identity.
But thank to God's sovereignty and to the work of Textual Criticism, we can know what the Original Old Testament Hebrew Scriptures contained!
God preserved His Word and often did so in an unusual manner. To think a translation into another language (i.e. the Greek Septuagint from nearly 300 years BEFORE Christ) reveals the original Hebrew better than the MT Hebrew text that was only canonized around AD100 (400 years later). To think that God would use the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls (from 1947 to 2017) to in many cases confirm that it was the LXX that reflected the Hebrew original Tanakh better than the existing Hebrew Tanakh.This evidence flies in the face of what many of us were taught in our seminaries and Bible colleges. I for one was told that the Masoretic Text (MT) that my Old Testament was based upon (I was using the NASB) was meticulously preserved and copied. The memo I got was that I could "trust" my Old Testament and that because it was translated from the MT, it was as closer to the original Hebrew than any other textual tradition could provide.
This is simply a MYTH. The Septuagint and the Dead Sea Scrolls end up "correcting" the MT text in many places where the actual text of the Hebrew was modified by Rabbi Akiba and others between AD90-AD110 - close to 100 years AFTER Christ. To think we would trust unbelieving rabbis who rejected Jesus as their Messiah who were doing all they could to stop the growing Christian movement! And in this podcast, I provide a number of actual examples of where they altered and changed their Hebrew Bible from its original.
Thankfully, God has preserved for us the Old Testament. And for the first time in history, a critical text of the Hebrew Old Testament is being worked on. It is called The Hebrew Bible: A Critical Edition (HBCE) which so far only has the book of Proverbs completed. We have had a critical text of our Greek New Testament now for more than 150 years. By comparing ALL of the extant Greek manuscripts, it has been estimated that we can know we have the text of the original New Testament to an accuracy of 99.5%. A critical text of the Old Testament will accomplish the same thing. Thankfully today, we have many Old Testament translations - like the ESV and NET that incorporate the LXX and the DSS and when they "correct" the MT, they will render the English accordingly.
A message from Natalie out of the Epistle of 2nd Peter which challenges ideas that many Christians have about "freedom". In the name of "being free", many are actually getting hardened, saying yes to sin, and actually getting deceived.
Here is the key Scriptural passage - 2 Peter 1:1-15
1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle (special messenger, personally chosen representative) of Jesus Christ,
To those who have received and possess [by God’s will] a precious faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being] be multiplied to you in the [true, intimate] knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 3 For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 For by these He has bestowed on us His precious and magnificent promises [of inexpressible value], so that by them you may escape from the immoral freedom that is in the world because of disreputable desire, and become sharers of the divine nature. 5 For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding), 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, steadfastness, and in your steadfastness, godliness, 7 and in your godliness, brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection, [develop Christian] love [that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit]. 8 For as these qualities are yours and are increasing [in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity], they will keep you from being useless and unproductive in regard to the true knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is blind—shortsighted [closing his spiritual eyes to the truth], having become oblivious to the fact that he was cleansed from his old sins. 10 Therefore, believers, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you [be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God]; for by doing these things [actively developing these virtues], you will never stumble [in your spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from sin]; 11 for in this way entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly provided to you.
12 Therefore, I will always be ready to remind you of these things, even though you already know them and are established in the truth which is held firmly in your grasp. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this earthly tent, to inspire you by reminding you, 14 knowing that the laying aside of this earthly tent of mine is imminent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. 15 Moreover, I will diligently endeavor [to see to it] that even after my departure you will be able, at all times, to call these things to mind.
Acts 11:27-30 – What? Prophets in the Church?
No epistles by Agabus? / "Foretelling” / Prophets from Jerusalem
**Response: People believed and acted
GIFT OF PROPHECY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH - QUESTIONS
- Difference between OT Prophets and NT Prophets – Authority in OT vs. NT?**
2. Who can prophesy in the NT? Who can be prophets?
3. What do we do with prophetic revelation in the NT?
3. Prophetic Gifts vs. Prophet(s) - Office
4. What are the prophetic gifts?
5. Why would we still NEED prophetic gifts? We have the Scriptures.
6. Types of Prophetic Revelation
7. How do you get prophetic gifts?
8. How do you grow in prophetic gifting?
9. Our role? God’s role? (sovereign)
10. Current Misuse of the Prophetic Gifts
11. What if a prophet makes a mistake? (Deuteronomy 13)
**12. Does making a mistake make one a “false prophet”?
RELEVANT NT PASSAGES ABOUT THE GIFT OF PROPHECY
Acts 2:6-8, 42 - 42 ...devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching
1 Cor 12:1, 4-11, 27-31**
1 Cor 14:1, 3-5, 22-25, 26-32, 37-40
1 Thes 5:19-21
Acts 13:1-2
Acts 21:8-14 - 8
Eph 3:3-5 - 3
Eph 4:11-13
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OT & NT PROPHETS
OT & NT Prophets receive revelation
NT Prophets do NOT have the same authority as OT Prophets!
No OT command – “Test everything" or “Let the others judge”
Old Testament Prophets established/defined doctrine
The Apostles (who all prophesied) established/defined doctrine in the NT – Today??
NT Prophets were NOT establishing doctrine, defining doctrine!
**Discern times (spirits), edify/encourage/console, direction, warn
DID THE GIFT OF PROPHECY CONTINUE AFTER THE APOSTLES??*Didache & Shepherd of Hermas* – $ = False Prophet
Justin Martyr (AD 160) - The prophetic gifts remain with us, even to the present time….Now, it is possible to see among us women and men who possess gifts of the Spirit of God.
Irenaeus (AD 180) - ...perform [works] in His name, in order to promote the welfare of others, according to the gift that each one has received from Him. Some truly and certainly cast out devils. The result is that those who have been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe and join themselves to the Church. Others have foreknowledge of things to come. They see visions, and they utter prophetic expressions. Still others heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and the sick are made whole. ...for the benefit of the Gentiles, neither practicing deception upon any, nor taking any reward from them. For, just as she has received without charge from God, so does she minister without charge. ... has worked miracles for the benefit of mankind, and not to lead them into error. The name of our Lord Jesus Christ even now confers benefits.... many brethren in the Church who possess prophetic gifts, and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages, and bring to light for the general benefit the hidden things of men.
GENTILE REVIVAL BEGINS - AD 41
Acts 11:19-26 - 19 Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen (AD 34-5) traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. 20 But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. 22 The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the Lord with steadfast purpose, 24 for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. 25 So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church (where?) and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians.
**God’s Intention of the New Covenant = Jews & Gentiles
THE NEW COVENANT'S INTENTION - ONE NEW HOUSE/MAN•AD 41 – Still “speaking the word to no one except Jews” (Acts 11:19) – 11 years AFTER Pentecost!!!**
•A new name emerges – “Christian” – a new era/day, the full intent of Messiah’s mission, in a new city (Antioch – center of “CHRISTIAN-ity”)
•WHY PAUL? former Pharisee who had been “un-pharisee-ized”) – would have had his “leaven” removed. 3 years in “Damascus” (Essenes)
Prophecy found amongst the Dead Sea Scroll
Testament of Benjamin - “I will no longer be called a ravening wolf on account of your ravages, but a worker of the Lord, distributing food to them that work what is good. One will rise up from my seed in the latter times, beloved of the Lord, hearing His voice on the earth, enlightening with new knowledge all the Gentiles, bursting in on Israel for salvation with the light of knowledge, and tearing it away from them like a wolf, and giving it to the synagogue of the Gentiles. Until the consummation of the ages, he will be in the synagogues of the Gentiles, and among their rulers, as a strain of music in the mouth of all; and he will be inscribed in the holy books, both his work and his word, and he will be a chosen one of God forever; and because of him my father Jacob instructed me, saying, ‘He will fill up that which lacks from your tribe.’”
Paul learned of his “Prophetic destiny” - Life & Ministry, Writings = Scripture, Gentile MissionTribe of Benjamin (Phil 3:5)/ “Apostle of the Gentiles” (Rom. 11:13; 1 Tim. 2:7; 2 Tim. 1:11) - His Epistles – expound the new law, the Law of Christ (Galatians 6:2 – “…so fulfill the Law of Christ) = the Law of the New Covenant.
Ephesians 2:12-21 - 11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
**NEW COVENANT'S INTENTION (continued) - UNDOING the Effects of the Tower of Babel and the 3rd Angelic Fall
Genesis 11:1-9** – Tower of Babel incident, God’s judgment = disinheriting the nations (i.e. the Gentiles) - disinherited/divorces the nations (before this God was in covenant w/ ALL of Noah’s descendants (Gen 9:1) – God’s judgment. Gen 12 – calls Abram OUT OF MESOPOTAMIA.
3RD ANGELIC FALL – the Fall of Sons of God put over the Nations – (Deut. 32/Psalm 82)
Deuteronomy 32:8–9 - When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when He divided mankind, He fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God/angels of God. 9 - But the LORD’s portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage.
“Deuteronomy 32:8–9 informs us that the act of judgment enacted on humanity at Babel resulted not only in dividing and scattering them but assigning them to members of Yahweh’s heavenly host-council.”
“In terms of a human perspective, while Yahweh’s judgment was harsh, it was not final. When God chose to raise up a new human family (Israel) in the wake of Babel, he left room for the salvation of the forsaken nations in his covenant with Abram. It would be through Abram’s descendants that all the nations of the earth would be blessed (Gen 12:1–3). The promise would, of course, be fulfilled in Christ (Gal 3:16: “Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, ‘And to off-springs,’ referring to many, but referring to one, ‘And to your offspring,’ who is Christ”). Prior to the coming of the Promised One, gentiles had to join themselves to Israel (i.e. proselytes/circumcision), forsaking other gods, to be in right relationship to the true God. Israel was to be a kingdom of priests bearing witness to the goodness of life with Yahweh as their God, but there was no overt attempt to evangelize the inhabitants of the nations. They were under judgment.”
**NEW COVENANT'S INTENTION - Dealing with the 3rd Angelic Fall
Psalm 82:1-6, 8** – the corruption of those Gods! (Describes their fall!)
1 God [elohim] has taken his place/stands in the divine council; in the midst of the gods [elohim] he holds judgment: 2 “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Selah 3 Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute. 4 Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” 5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. 6 I said, “You are gods [elohim], sons of the Most High [beney elyon], all of you; 7 nevertheless, like men you shall die, and fall like any prince.” 8 Arise, O God, judge the earth; for you shall inherit all the nations! (Through Messiah!)
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Commentary - “The gods charged with the rule of the nations became corrupt administrators and, in so doing, sowed chaos in the heavenly realm as well. Yahweh created a world characterized by righteousness (ṣedāqâ) and well-being (šālôm). In Psalm 82, “The gods are condemned to death for their failure to carry out justice in the human realm.…”
The concept that the nations of the world were allotted to lesser gods as a punishment at Babel and that those gods sowed chaos on earth and were hostile to Yahweh and his people can be seen in a variety of Second Temple [Jewish] texts.”
God disinherited humanity (the Gentiles) at the Babel event, assigning the nations to ‘lesser gods’ (angels/sons of God) who sowed chaos amongst their charge. “The notion that different nations were allotted to different gods or heavenly beings was widespread in the ancient world…The origin of this idea is to be sought in the ancient Near Eastern concept of the Divine Council.
**3 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NEW COVENANT
- New Covenant – for who? Displaces the Old Covenant, obsolete (AD70 – End of Temple Judaism) – Why the Apostle Paul?**
Jeremiah 31:31-34 - 31 “…I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant [Mosaic] that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke,…33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days,… (Why it took them so long to get the “gentile part” of the memo?)
Ephesians 2:15 - 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances – Now? Christ’s commandments…“a new commandment I give you”
Hebrews 8:13 - 13 In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one [Mosaic] obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. (AD 70 approaching)
Hebrews 9:9-10 - 9 According to this arrangement [the Mosaic Covenant], gifts and sacrifices are offered that cannot perfect the conscience of the worshiper, 10 but deal only with food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until the time of reformation.
God thus shows that the ancient covenant [Mosaic] is temporary only, when He indicates its change. Also, when He promises that it will be followed by an eternal one [New Covenant]. …The epistle that we also allow to be the most decisive against Judaism, is that in which the apostle [Paul] instructs the Galatians. For we fully admit the abolition of the ancient Law. We hold that it actually proceeds from the dispensation of the Creator. ...Christ marks the period of the separation when He says, “The Law and the Prophets were until John.” [Lk. 16:16] He thus made the Baptist the boundary between the two dispensations of the old things that were then terminating and the new things that were then beginning. Tertullian (AD 207)
*Not Replacement Theology – “One New House (Man) under the Priesthood and Law of Christ” Theology*
2. Reversing the Tower of Babel Judgment on mankind – from disinheritance to remarrying the nations (the Gentiles)! - Testimony - “God wants to put a ring on your finger”
3. Disempowerment of those “gods” over the nations – = our empowerment - prayer, EVANGELISM - preaching the Gospel (setting captives free), exorcism, healing, gifts of the Spirit, discernment, enforcing their original (pre-fallen) mandate (justice, etc.) - Where? in the 1st Heavens (on Earth)
In early June, an Air Force officer and former intelligence officer named David Grusch came forward as a protected whistleblower and testified that the U.S. Government is in possession of 12 crafts/vehicles (made by "non-human intelligence") that either landed or crashed and had also recovered "non-human bodies". Additionally, he claimed the secret Pentagon program has been working on reverse engineering of the technologically advanced "spacecraft".
The US Government tried to take control of the "narrative" by denying the veracity of the report both a week before and a week afterward including from the agency that Grusch had previously worked for.
In this podcast, I look at the modern history of the UFO phenomenon which began in the 1940s. I then look at the modern "Occult History" which is directly related to the modern UFO phenomenon. A Christian perspective MUST factor in the occult/spiritual dynamics that have characterized the modern era.
I next go back into the Ancient History of the UFO phenomenon - looking at the Fall of Angelic beings. We look at and consider many of the relevant Biblical passages in both the Old and New Testaments.
I argue at the end of the podcast that we must interpret the Biblical Passages correctly if we hope to explain the modern UFO/Alien phenomenon. Many Christians do not interpret the key Biblical passages according to their ancient and Apostolic understandings. This will result in an inability to respond to any "evidence" that emerges pointing to "non-human" craft and entities. If it is simply "all spiritual, all demonic" as many Christians superficially claim, then how will they explain what a man like David Grusch is claiming?
Finally, we look at why we should we care? What, if any application, is there for Christians? The Bible rightly understood/interpreted in fact can explain ALL of the paranormal phenomenon that is so ubiquitous in modern Western Culture. The Church must be prepared and sadly, right now, much of it is entirely unprepared to "give an answer" to the questions that millions are now asking!
The Essenes were a sect of Jews who rejected much of what the Pharisees and Sadducees taught and believed. They believed those Jews to have been compromised.
The Essenes followed a different calendar (a solar one) that the lunar calendar that the other Jews followed (and still follow to this day). They knew exactly when the Messiah was going to be born (their calendar told them between 10-4BC). And so, they were ready for the Messiah when He came. They also believed that the Messiah would be God in the flesh and that He would die as an atoning sacrifice for their sins.
How did they know all of this? Because they preserved a group of writings known as the Testaments of the Patriarchs. The Rabbis (the descendants of the Pharisees) believed that these Testaments had existed but were lost. But when the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947, fragments of many of these works were found.
This message is about what they contained regarding the coming of Jesus as the Messiah. This message will inspire you and build up your faith. These prophecies are so amazing that they could constitute the greatest evidence ever found for the Christian faith. No wonder the Dead Sea Scrolls were not translated and published for so long.
Fasten your seat belts - this could be one of the most important messages you ever hear!!
hupomoné (Gk) - steadfastness, constancy, endurance (Hebrews 10:36, 12:1)
10:23 Let us hold fast [*unswervingly] the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Faithful? 2 Tim. 2:13 – if we are faithless/not steadfast, He remains faithful/steadfast)
Heb 10:36 - For you have need of endurance (hupomoné - Gk), so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
Heb 12:1 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also throw off every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance (hupomoné - Gk) the race that is set before us…
#1 - GATHERING - HEB 10:24-25 - 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
#2 - Repent / Deal with Sin - HEB 10:26-27, 12:1 - 10:26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment,…
12:1 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also throw off every weight, and sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race…
Jn 8:34 - Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin
1 Jn 1:8-10 - 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
#3 – Fear - HEB 11:23, 27, 33-34; 13:5-6 - 11:23 - By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, …and they [his parents] were not afraid of the king's edict.
11:27- By faith he [Moses] left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
11:33 - who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight
Heb. 13:5-6 - 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
#4 – FORGIVE - HEB 12:14-15 - 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled…
Colossians 3:13 – “forgive one another AS GOD IN CHRIST has forgiven you. So, you must also forgive”
Matt. 6:14-15 - 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
#5 – LOVE - HEB 10:24; 13:1
10:24 -And let us consider how to stir up one another to love
13:1 - Let brotherly love continue
#6 – SELF-PITY - HEB 11:35-39, 12:2-4 - 12:2 - looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider Him who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Definitions - “to have a victim mentality”
“Don’t Feel Sorry for Yourself” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUt5DDYTpbA&t=25s
PART 2 – SOME KEYS TO ENDURANCE
James 4:6 – But He gives (a) GREATER Grace / MORE grace
Other Definitions – 1. Being “gracious”/ “grace-oriented” – 2. Saved by Grace” (undeserved favor)
Grace? charis (gk) - “the power of God to enable Christians to live the new life in Christ”
Divine Enablement - “an influence that produces a result… it is the essence, the energy, the power and working wrought within as HE DOES for us, to us, in us, and through us! God’s grace, divine grace, then, is DIVINE ENABLEMENT!”
Hebrews 4:16 - Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
**THE KEYS****
- ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE
Heb. 10:34 - For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one
Heb. 11:13-16 – 13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.
Heb. 13:13-14 - 13 Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp and bear the reproach He endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
James 4:14 - …What is your life? For you are a mist (a vapor) that appears for a little time and then vanishes
- DEAL WITH FEAR
Heb. 11:23 - By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, …and they [his parents] were not afraid of the king's edict.
Heb. 11:27- By faith he [Moses] left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
Heb. 11:33 - who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight
Heb. 13:5-6 - 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Rev. 21:7 (Cowards?) - 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
- GATHER IN PERSON
Heb. 10:24-25 - 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
John MacArthur - "Look, Zoom church is not church. It’s not church; it’s watching TV. There’s nothing, there’s nothing about that that fulfills the biblical definition of coming together: stimulating one another to love and good works, coming together, singing, speaking to yourselves in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord, sitting under the Word of God, praying together, being led by those who preach the Word and open the Scripture.
The definition of a church is crystal clear in the New Testament; we see the picture of it. They came together on the first day of the week. They worshiped the Lord. They prayed; we know it was the apostles’ doctrine, prayer. It was fellowship, and it was the breaking of bread in the Lord’s Supper.
So the church is defined clearly, and it’s the communion of the saints, it’s fellowship, it’s partnership. And the term koinōnia means “a coming together,” “a unifying together.” It doesn’t even function unless people are mutually—as we were saying this morning—mutually using their spiritual gifts for one another, and meeting the wonderful fulfillment of all the one anothers.
How many times in the New Testament—edify one another, pray for one another, rebuke one another, build up one another. On and on, one anothers, one anothers. We’re only the church when we are together; and the church is the church when it corporately worships, when it corporately prays, when it corporately hears the preaching of the Word of God. Those are the things that define the church.
I was listening to the latest in the podcast that Austin Duncan’s been doing…how the church is this communion of people, this fellowship of people whose lives are all blended together in a profound expression of love and unity. And that does not happen in any kind of video environment. I don’t think it even happens in a “church” where you’re watching a video of a pastor, because it’s very important that that man’s life be exposed and visible and known to everyone."
James 5:16 - Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed..
- FORGIVENESS
Recent Encounter – PhD – Getting, being and remaining offended)
Heb. 12:15 - See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
Colossians 3:13 – “forgive one another AS GOD IN CHRIST has forgiven you. So, you must also forgive”
Matt. 6:14-15 - 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
- REJECT “LAZY RIVER” CHRISTIANITY – No problems, Cheap Grace, Do nothing…
Heb. 10:32-36 - 32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners (companions/associates) with those so treated. … joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, …36 For you have need of endurance (hupomoné - Gk), so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
Heb. 11:25-26 - 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
Heb. 11:35b-38 - 35 …Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated - 38 of whom the world was not worthy - wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth
Heb. 12:5-7 - 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?
2 Tim. 3:1, 12 – 1 …in the last days there will come times of difficulty… 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted
Matt. 10:22 – and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
1 John 3:7 – …make sure no one deceives you…the one who practices righteousness is righteous (obedience)
1 Pet. 1:15-16 - but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
I Tim 4:7-8 …train yourself to be godly.
- REPENTANCE (Dealing with sin in our lives)
Heb. 10:26-31 - 26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Heb. 12:1 - Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside (throw off) every weight, and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race…
Rev. 2:14-16 – Church in Pergamum – “I have a few things against you…practice sexual immorality…therefore repent” (To believers, to the church)
False Grace / Hyper-Grace Message = No need for Christians to repent
- BELIEVING GOD’S WORD (AGAIN?) - PRESUPPOSITION
Heb. 12:25 - 25 See that you do not refuse Him who is speaking
2 Tim 3:14-17 – 14…continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed…15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God (God-breathed) and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
John 14:26 - But …the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Daniel Wallace (Dallas Theological Seminary) – “voice of Jesus”
Mike Licona – Matt 27:52 vs. Early Church Father
PART 1 – GOD’S PERSPECTIVE ON STEADFASTNESS/ENDURANCE
hupomoné (Gk) - steadfastness, constancy, endurance (Hebrews 10:36, 12:1)
In the N. T., the characteristic of a man who is unswerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings. Especially as God enables the believer to "remain (endure) under" the challenges in life.
Hebrews 1:1-10:18 – The Superiority of Christ, the New Covenant, Only Salvation
“His conclusion is clear: Christ is the ultimate and final plan of God for Salvation…There must be no retreat in the Christian life. Instead, believers must remain steadfast in faith, in perserverance, and in holness in order to inherit the promises of God…Faith is the entryway into Christ and all the spiritual promises embodied in Him.”
Hebrews 10:19-22
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that He opened for us through the curtain, that is, through His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Hebrews 10:23-31
23 Let us hold fast [unswervingly] the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. to be firm, stable, steadfast
Faithful? 2 Tim. 2:13 – if we are faithless/not steadfast, He remains faithful/steadfast)
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
New Covid Variant – “End Times-itis” – “The Day…”? A Day? (There are “Days”)
26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has set aside the law of Moses dies without mercy on the evidence of two or three witnesses. 29 How much worse punishment, do you think, will be deserved by the one who has trampled underfoot the Son of God, and has profaned the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has outraged the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know him who said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
(1 Pet. 4:17 – “…judgment BEGINS with the household of God”)
Hebrews 10:32-39
32 But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, 33 sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners (companions/associates) with those so treated. 34 For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. 35 Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. 36 For you have need of endurance (hupomoné - Gk), so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
37 For, “Yet a little while, and the Coming One will come and will not delay; 38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
Hebrews 11 = The Hall of Faith – Old Testament Believers
Hebrews 11:1-5
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
Creation ex nihilo – “Historic Christianity has always maintained a belief in Creation ex nihilo (CEN) as expressed in the ancient Nicene Creed: “We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.” Scripture teaches that there was nothing but God, and that God by means of his incalculable wisdom and infinite power alone brought the universe (all matter, energy, time, and space) into existence from nothing. There was no preexistent physical reality; therefore, nothing should not be understood as an actual something.”
4 By faith Abel…
5 By faith Enoch…
Hebrews 11:6-8, 10-11, 13-16
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly] seek Him.
PRESUPPOSITIONALIST – God exists, His Word is inerrant
7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen,
8 By faith Abraham obeyed…And he went out, not knowing where he was going… 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
11 By faith Sarah…
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.
Hebrews 11:17, 20-25,27,29-31
17 By faith Abraham…
20 By faith Isaac…
21 By faith Jacob…
22 By faith Joseph…
23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, …and they were not afraid of the king's edict.
24 By faith Moses, …refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.
29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. (A “Day” of the Lord)
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down…
31 By faith Rahab the prostitute...
Hebrews 11:32-40
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak,
Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets – 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated - 38 of whom the world was not worthy - wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Hebrews 12:1-11
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance (hupomoné - Gk) the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:12-16, 22-24
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, …
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
Hebrews 12:25-29
25 See that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject Him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
Hebrews 13:1-6,9
1 Let brotherly love continue. 2 Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3 Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”…
9 Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, …
Hebrews 13:12-16,20-21
12 So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13 Therefore let us go to Him outside the camp and bear the reproach He endured. 14 For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15 Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name. 16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God…
20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, 21 equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
**JOEL 2:1-2, 11 – Judgment Announced
1 - Blow a trumpet in Zion; sound an alarm on my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming; it is near, (LXX – “for the day of the Lord is PRESENT”) 2 - a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness! Like blackness there is spread upon the mountains a great and powerful people; their like has never been before, nor will be again after them through the years of all generations.
11 - The LORD utters his voice before His army, for His camp is exceedingly great; he who executes His word is powerful. For the day of the LORD is great and very awesome; who can endure it?
-
Past - 587/6BC – Babylonians = “His army” (Joel 2:1-11) – Judgment
-
Future - anti-Christ Army at the end of the age against Israel
**JOEL 2:12-14 – Remnant Response
12 - “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; 13 - and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and He relents over disaster.
14 - Who knows whether He will not turn and relent, and leave behind His blessing, a grain offering and a drink offering for the Lord your God?
**JOEL 2:15-17 – Remnant Response (cont.)
15 - Blow the trumpet in Zion; consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly;
16 - gather the people. Consecrate the congregation; assemble the elders; gather the children, even nursing infants. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber.
17 - Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep and say, “Spare your people, O Lord, and make not your heritage a reproach, for the nations to rule them, in order that they not say among the nations, ‘Where is their God?’”
*JOEL 2:18-27 – God’s Response to Remnant* 18** - Then the Lord became jealous for His land and had pity on His people.
19 - The Lord answered and said to His people “Behold, I am sending to you grain, wine, and oil, and you will be satisfied; and I will no more make you a reproach among the nations.
20 - “I will remove the northerner far from you, and drive him into a parched and desolate land, his vanguard into the eastern sea, and his rear guard into the western sea; the stench and foul smell of him will rise, for he has done great things.
21 - “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the Lord has done great things!
22 - Fear not, you beasts of the field, for the pastures of the wilderness are green; the tree bears its fruit; the fig tree and vine give their full yield.
23 - “Be glad, O children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God, for He has given the early rain for your vindication; He has poured down for you abundant rain, the early and the latter rain, as before.
24 - “The threshing floors shall be full of grain; the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.
25 - I will restore (LXX – repay) to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.
26 – “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
27 – You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God and there is none else. And my people shall never again be put to shame. (LXX – disgraced)
**JOEL 2:28-32 (Acts 2:17-21) – God’s Response to Remnant (cont.)
28 - “And it will be after these things, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.
Acts 2:17 – ‘And in the last days it will be, God says, - The phrase in the last days is not quoted from Joel, but represents Peter’s interpretive explanation of the current events as falling “in the last days.”
29 - Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out My Spirit. Acts 2:18 adds – “…and they wil prophesy”
30 - “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke.
31 - The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome Day of the Lord comes.
32 - And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.
**Joel 2:28-32 – location?
• Peter quotes the LXX in Acts 2
• Earlier Hebrew Bible / Early Church – Septuagint/LXX – Joel 2
• Hebrew Bible/Masoretic Text (Rabbis) – Joel 3
• Prophetic Significance??
*Joel 3:1-3, 14 – Deliverance of Remnant & Punishment of Enemies* 1 - “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, (LXX** – when I turned around the captives…)
2 - I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage (LXX – inheritance) Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, 3 - and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it. (Justice for human trafficking!!)
14 - Sounds have sounded forth in the valley of justice (LXX), because the Day of the Lord is near in the valley of justice. (Masoretic – valley of decision)
**God’s Judgment
• Mike Bickle – “At the heart of God’s judgment is Jesus, intervening to deliver the oppressed and to stop oppressors. Think of the implications of a God who would not intervene to stop oppressors. What would you think of a father who would not intervene to prevent a man kidnapping his children? God’s judgments are an expression of His love for His children. Furthermore, in the midst of those very judgments, God offers mercy to the oppressors if
they will only repent and receive it.”
**Joel 3:16-21 - Deliverance of Remnant & Punishment of Enemies (cont.)
16 - The Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earthquake. But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel.
17 - “So you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who dwells in Zion, My holy mountain. And Jerusalem shall be holy, and strangers shall never again pass through it.
18 - “And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord and water the Valley of Shittim.
19 - “Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a desolate wilderness, for the violence (LXX – injustices) done to the people of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.
20 - But Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem to all generations.
21 - I will avenge their blood, blood I have not avenged, for the Lord dwells in Zion.”
**Final thoughts
• NOT the End – not the “perilous times” (2 Tim 3), greater works?
• Remnant Rising – PREPARED, over-prepared?, pre-Trib rapture?
• Judgment
• Deliverance – “shall be saved”
• Vindication
• Believing the prophets, “Will the Son of Man find faith…”
• If it is the end? If Jesus is about to Return?
Joel 2 & 3 - “The Day of the Lord” - Judgment & Deliverance
Past, Present and Future
**Initial Thoughts for ROCK
- Joel 2 Generation Blog & Podcast –
Mike Bickle – “Explanation: The term Joel’s army has been used to signify the people who walk out the principles of prayer with fasting as taught in Joel 2:12–17.
The term has been used much like “Joseph Company,” “Gideon Band,” or “David Company” to signify the people who embraced the godly qualities that Joel taught about prayer, fasting, and wholehearted obedience. Paul Cain had a prophetic word about a “Joel’s army in training,” referring to a group of people who would give themselves to prayer and fasting according to Joel 2:12–17. When used like this,
“Joel’s army” does not refer specifically to the destroying army mentioned in Joel 2:1–11, but to people who walk out the lifestyle portrayed in Joel 2:12–17. The misunderstanding comes from giving the title “Joel’s army” to both the destroying army (Joel 2:1–11) and the group of people who give themselves to fasting and prayer (Joel 2:12–17).”
- Johnny Enlow – Red Sea moment – Judgment & Deliverance
**Why study the Book of Joel?
The reason is because it was meant to be received as a prophetic book to equip end-time forerunners to prepare the unprepared for the unique dynamics that will occur in the generation in which Jesus returns. We study this three-chapter prophecy because God has uniquely designed its message to prepare the end-time Church for glory and crisis in the Day of the Lord. Joel is a dynamic instruction manual to prepare the Bride of Christ for such a time as this.
In the Lord’s kindness, He has given this book as a preparatory tool to equip the generation living at the Lord’s return for the heightened scope of glory and crisis they will encounter. (Mike Bickle)
**Context / Background – Joel 2 & 3
931BC – Kingdom Divides (Northern = 10 tribes / Southern = 2 tribes
?? Joel written (800s)??
722BC – Assyrians (Judgment)
?? Joel written (from 606-586) – Mike Bickle??
586BC – Babylonians/Nebuchadnezzar – (Judgment) - 70-year exile (586BC-516BC) 516BC - Persians conquer Babylon - Cyrus decrees Jews can return to Jerusalem 516BC – Begin to Rebuild Temple
??Joel written (400s-300s)??
175BC – Antiochus IV Epiphanes conquered Israel – Seleucid Dynasty. Deposed rightful High Priest (Zadok Priesthood ended) – outlawed Jewish religious rituals (i.e. circumcision), desecrated the Temple (slaughtered a pig), ordered Jews to worship Zeus 166BC – Maccabean Revolt – successful, cleansed Temple, Hanukkah established! Hasmonean Dynasty began ruling.
153BC – High Priest, Jonathan the Hasmonean – NOT a Zadokite! Hasmoneans had NO TIES to the line of David – so illegitimate priesthood and rulership (kingship)! Later – King Herod 110BC – Got Rome to recognize the Hasmonean Kingdom – start conquering surrounding peoples, forcing them (Gentiles) to convert to Judaism (especially Gentiles)
**Prophetic Fulfillment(s)?
Day of the Lord = Judgment, Justice, Vindication
“Within Joel, the “day” refers not only to the final day of judgment upon the nations (3:2) but also to God’s ongoing judgment of Israel, both past and future (1:15, 2:2, 11), and instances of His intervention between Israel and the nations (3:1-2, 12, 14, 16). In each case, the “day of the Lord” indicates a time when the presence of the Lord brings judgment and/or deliverance and blessing, depending upon the circumstances.
Therefore, although the “day” heralds destruction for the nations, it also functions as a time of salvation for God’s people: the Lord remains a refuge amid the chaos of judgment (3:15-16).”
-
Past fulfillments (Red Sea, Assyrians, Babylonians, Acts 2, Romans 10, AD70, Islam)
-
Current Application / Ongoing fulfillment
-
Future fulfillment (Return of Christ, Final Judgment)
**AN OVERVIEW OF JOEL’S MESSAGE
A. Joel 1 – a natural disaster (agricultural crisis)
B. Joel 2:1-11 – a military crisis (Babylonian invasion of Israel as a type of the Antichrist’s empire)
C. Joel 2:12-17 – the response that God requires in order to release protection and blessing
D. Joel 2:18-31 – the breakthrough of God’s blessing (agriculturally, militarily, spiritually)
E. Joel 3 – God’s punishment of His enemies (end-time Gentile nations attacking Israel)
**JOEL 2:1
- DEFINING THE TERMS
Canon – a set of texts (also called "books") which a particular Jewish or
Christian religious community regards as part of the Bible. Greek – “rule”,
“measuring stick”
Urtext - In Biblical studies, the Urtext is the theorized original, uniform text of
the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), preceding both the Septuagint (LXX) and
the Masoretic Text (MT). An original or the earliest version of a text.
Vorlage - A Vorlage (from the German for prototype or template) is a prior
version or manifestation of a text under consideration.
Inspiration – All Scripture is “God-breathed”… (2 Tim 3:16)
Inerrancy – The Bible is without error in its original manuscripts
- Our Protestant “Tradition” - 66 Books in the Bile
39 Old Testament Books
27 New Testament Books
- JEWISH CANONS
Masoretic Text (MT) – Rabbis (descendants of the Pharisees) - the Hebrew Bible numbers the
same books as 24. The Hebrew Bible counts Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles as one book
each, and the 12 minor prophets are one book, and also Ezra and Nehemiah form a single
book. This is the same Canon as the 39 Books in Protestant OTs. No Apocrypha
When? AD110-125 – Rabbinic/Talmudic Judaism
Septuagint (LXX) – 52 OT Books (13 more that the MS), OT Apocrypha, Psalms of Solomon –
When? 250BC – 2nd Temple Judaism
Ethiopian Jews (Beta Israel) – Testaments of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob
Essenes/Qumran Community/Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS) - Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs (affirm
Enoch!) – DSS contain fragments of 5 of them (Levi, Judah, Naphtali, Joseph, and Benjamin).
- WHAT ABOUT "THE TESTAMENTS OF THE PATRIARCHS"?
ALL Jews believed that all the patriarchs from Adam to Aaron (37+) were prophets that wrote “Testaments ”.
2nd Century - Rabbis believed they were lost. REJECTED – Why??
1600s – Found in an Armenian Orthodox Bible – REJECTED as “too Christian” (see below)
Essenes / Dead Sea Scrolls - Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs – DSS contain fragments of 5 of them (Levi,
Judah, Naphtali, Joseph, and Benjamin).
Quoted/referenced by Paul in the NT (1 Thes 2:16, Rom 12:18, 21, 2 Cor 7:10 and Eph 5:6)
Fragments from 8 other “Testaments” of these were found in the DSS. (Enosh, Enoch, Lamech, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Kohath, Amram)
- Christian "Content" in the "Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs"
-Messiah = Son of God
-Messiah is God incarnate
-Levi’s Priesthood ONLY until Messiah comes
-Levi’s ordinances and sacrifices ONLY until Messiah comes
-Messiah born of a virgin
-Messiah will be worshipped
-Messiah will be sinless
-Messiah would die for our sins to reconcile us to God
-The Levites would crucify Messiah
-Messiah would be resurrected
-Messiah would ascend
-Messiah would create a new priesthood
-Veil of Temple would be torn
-Apostle Paul – called from Jews to Gentiles, his writings = inspired
- CHRISTIAN CANONS
-Muratorian Canon (AD 170) – The Apocalypse of Peter
-Codex Sinaiticus (AD 330) – LXX OT – includes OT Apocrypa & Shepherd of Hermas, Epistle of Barnabas (29 NT Books)
-Codex Alexandrinus (AD 400) – 1st and 2nd Clement
-Protestants - 39 OT Books / 27 NT Books = 66 Books / Martin Luther
-Ethiopian Orthodox – OT Apocrypha + 2 Edras, Book of Enoch (only one) – 81 books total (35NT, LXX and Enoch) also “Didache - Teaching of the 12 Apostles”, Book of Jubilees
-Armenian Orthodox – Testaments of the 12 Patriarchs
-Catholics & Orthodox – OT Apocrypha (Tobit, Judith, 1 & 2 Maccabees, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, Baruch, Letter of Jeremiah, Additions to Daniel & Esther)
-Orthodox – add 1 Edras, 3 Maccabees, Prayer of Manasseh (Russian Orthodox – 2 Edras)
- DISPUTED TEXTS (DISAGREEMENTS)
6 Disputed New Testament Books
- The Didache (or Teaching of the Twelve Apostles)
2. The Shepherd of Hermas
3. The Apocalypse of Peter,
4. The Epistle of Barnabas and
5. The First Epistle(s) of Clement.
6. The Second Epistle of Clement
-
EVERY BOOK THAT HAS EVER BEEN CONSIDERED SCRIPTURAL CANON HAS BEEN LISTED ON THE PAST FEW SLIDES
-
NEVER the Gnostic Texts!!! (Gospels, Epistles) - i.e. Gospel of Thomas (2nd Century)
*No Roman Catholic Conspiracies!
- PART 2 – BEWARE OF THE LEAVEN
Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:6)
- BACKGROUND of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the Essenes
-175BC – Antiochus IV Epiphanes conquered Israel – Seleucid Dynasty. Deposed rightful High Priest (Zadok Priesthood ended) – outlawed Jewish religious rituals (i.e. circumcision), desecrated the Temple (slaughtered a pig), ordered Jews to worship Zeus
-166BC – Maccabean Revolt – successful, cleansed Temple, Hanukkah established! Hasmonean Dynasty began ruling.
-153BC – High Priest, Jonathan the Hasmonean – NOT a Zadokite! Hasmoneans had NO TIES to the line of David – so illegitimate priesthood and rulership (kingship)! Later – King Herod
-110BC – Got Rome to recognize the Hasmonean Kingdom – start conquering surrounding peoples, forcing them (Gentiles) to convert to Judaism (especially Gentiles)
- TWO GROUPS FORMED
1. Pharisees - against this forced practice (Oral Torah – Talmud)
2. Sadducees – Hellenized Jews (follow the government) & Sons of Zadok
- THIRD GROUP - THE ESSENES / QUMRAN COMMUNITY
**Beliefs/Practices of the Qumran Community / Essenes
- Separated themselves (1st Century “Remnant”)
- Broader Canon - Dead Sea Scrolls - LXX – Apocrypha, Enoch, Testaments - Temple leadership corrupt (not from the Sons of Zadok/non-Levitical)
- Government corrupt – not from the line of David (i.e. King Herod).
- Change in the calendar – Pharisees and Sadducees followed the pagan lunar calendar. All Jewish rituals were therefore corrupt/unacceptable.
- Solar Calendar predicted the coming of Messiah between 10BC and 4BC.**
- Messiah would be God in the flesh
- Two Comings of ONE Messiah – once to die as an atoning sacrifice for sins, 2nd time to judge the world (Melchizedek Document)
- Messiah would “make the dead live” (Messianic Apocalypse)/Matt. 11:5
-Prophecy continued…(No “Cessationism”) - Matthew 11:13 – “For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied UNTIL JOHN”
- Were waiting and ready for the Messiah when He came
- WHAT WAS "THE LEAVEN OF THE PHARISEES"?
Beliefs of the Pharisees
- TWO Messiahs – first one only a man to liberate Israel – NOT for the Gentiles!!!
- Accepted both the Pagan Lunar Calendar and the non-Davidic Priesthood (Feasts? Temple?)
- Cessationists – Prophecy ended (400 silent years – from Malachi?)
- Rejected “Testaments of the Patriarchs”
- Oral Torah (“Tradition”) over and against God’s written word (Talmud)
- 2nd Century Rabbis – Narrowed the Canon, Tampered with the OT Text, radically ANTI-CHRIST
-
WHAT WAS "THE LEAVEN OF THE SADDUCEES"?
-
Stopped believing in the supernatural (angels, afterlife) – Theological liberals
-
**Accepted the Pagan Lunar Calendar - Capitulation to culture / compromise
- “Romans 13ers” of the 1st Century - Romans 13:1-2 - Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed**, and those who resist will incur judgment.
-
Disappeared in history
-
MATTHEW 16:1-12
And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ 3 And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. 4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah.” So, he left them and departed. 5 When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to bring any bread. 6 Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 7 And they began discussing it among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.” 8 But Jesus, aware of this, said, “O you of little faith, why are you discussing among yourselves the fact that you have no bread? 9 Do you not yet perceive? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 10 Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you gathered? 11 How is it that you fail to understand that I did not speak about bread? Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 12 Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
- APPLICATION for the Remnant today
What is today’s “teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees”?
1. Believe the prophets!
2. Don’t capitulate to the political – Critical Race Theory (CRT), Cultural Marxism, "Safe & Effective", "Free & Fair Elections"
3. RE-think your idea of Canon – especially in light of the Dead Sea Scrolls (DSS)
4. Essenes (1st Century “Remnant”) = the only ones able to discern the “fake news”
5. Essenes recognized and accepted Jesus as the Messiah
6. The Remnant will be “ready and waiting” for the Messiah when He returns
This is our 3rd and final message of this important teaching that tragically is so neglected in the teaching/preaching of the Church today.
Somehow, where we are going at this junction in history will require a renewed emphasis on dying to ourselves, on humbling ourselves, and utterly rejecting the culture of self-promotion that is so prevalent in much of the Body of Christ today. This isn't an extreme teaching - this is the basis of the Christian life!
Here are the notes for the teaching:
DEATH TO SELF – 2022 – PART 3 - IS HUMILITY THE GREATEST NEED IN GOD’S KINGDOM?
Scene from Indiana Jones - “ONLY THE PENITENT MAN SHALL PASS. THE PENITENT MAN IS HUMBLE BEFORE GOD. THE PENITENT. PENITENT. ..WHAT DOES A PENITENT MAN DO? KNEEL!”
THE "NEW" HUMILITY PRAYER
” IN LIGHT OF MY IDENTITY IN CHRIST…
"O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,
hear me, Deliver me, Jesus,
from the desire of being loved (BY OTHERS),
from the desire of being extolled,
from the desire of being honored,
from the desire of being praised,
from the desire of being preferred to others,
from the desire of being consulted,
from the desire of being approved,
from the fear of being humiliated,
from the fear of being despised,
from the fear of being forgotten,
from the fear of being wronged,
from the fear of being suspected,
And, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire
that others might be loved more than I,
that others might be esteemed more than I,
that in the opinion of the world
others may increase and I may decrease,
that others may be chosen, and I set aside,
that others may be praised and I unnoticed,
that others may be preferred to me in everything,
that others may become holier than I,
provided that I become as holy as I should."
QUOTE: A.B. SIMPSON – THE SELF LIFE & THE CHRIST LIFE
"It is one thing to be little in our own eyes, it is another thing to be out of our own sight altogether. True
humility is not thinking meanly of ourselves, it is not thinking of ourselves at all".
HUMILITY/DEATH TO SELF – KEY VERSES/PASSAGES
Matt.16:24-25 - Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and fol ow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
John 3:30 - “He [Jesus] must become greater, I must become less”
John 15:5 – “…apart from me you can do nothing”
I Peter 5:5 - Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6, 10 - “…God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.”
JOHN THE BAPTIST CRUCIFIES “SELF PROMOTION”
Luke 7:28 - I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
John 3:30 – “He [Jesus] must become greater(increase), I must become less(decrease)”
”Jesus must become more important, while I become less important”
“On Social Media, Jesus must get more fol owers, likes and partners on His greater platform, while I lose fol owers and donors as my reputation fades into obscurity” (DIV - Dave’s International Version)
THINGS WE WOULD HAVE NEVER SEEN!!! (and SHOULD NOT see today!!)
John the Baptist Fivefold Prophetic Ministries
www.johnthebaptist.com
www.noneisgreaterthanme.com
LUKE 14:7-11 – PARABLE OF THE GUESTS
7 When Jesus noticed that all who had come to the dinner were trying to sit in the seats of honor near the head of the table, he gave them this advice: 8 “When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? 9 The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table!
10 “Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. 11 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
LUKE 14:12-14 – PARABLE OF THE GUESTS (CONTINUED) 12 He also said to the one who had invited Him, “When you give a lunch or a dinner, don’t invite your friends, your brothers, your relatives, or your rich neighbors, lest/because they might invite you back, and you would be repaid. 13 On the contrary, when you host a banquet, invite those who are poor, maimed, lame, or blind. 14 And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”
Definition: …so that it refers to the preceding verb and indicates the purpose of the designated action
LUKE 14:16-24 – PARABLE OF THE LARGE BANQUET (DINNER PARTY) 16 Then He told him: “A man was giving a large banquet and invited many. 17 At the time of the banquet, he sent his slave to tell those who were invited, ‘Come, because everything is now ready.’ 18 “But without exception, they all began to make excuses.
The first one said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. I ask you to excuse me.’ 19 “Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I’m going to try them out. I ask you to excuse me.’ 20 “And another said, ‘I just got married, and therefore I’m unable to come.’ 21 “So the slave came back and reported these things to his master. Then in anger, the master of the house told his slave, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and al eys of the city, and bring in here the poor, maimed, blind, and lame!’
22 “‘Master,’ the slave said, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there’s still room.’
23 “Then the master told the slave, ‘Go out into the highways and lanes and make them come in, so that my house may be fil ed. 24 For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will enjoy my banquet!’”
LUKE 14:25-33 – COST OF DISCIPLESHIP
25 Now large crowds were going along with Him, and He turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. 27 Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who are watching it will begin to ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This person began to build, and was not able to finish!’ 31 Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to face the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32 Otherwise, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and requests terms of peace. 33 So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.
LUKE 14:34-35 / MATT 5:13 – SALT OF THE WORLD
LUKE 14:34-35 - “Therefore, salt is good; but if even salt has become tasteless, with what will it be seasoned? 35 It is useless either for the soil or the manure pile, so it is thrown out. The one who has ears to hear, let him hear.”
MATTHEW 5:13 - “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
REVIEWING OUR “ROCK OC” DNA / OUR VALUES
- NO SELF-PROMOTION / PLATFORMS? / TITLES? – BEING LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST
- THE WAY WE WANT TO MINISTER TO OTHERS
- THE WAY WE WANT TO TESTIFY / HOW WE TELL STORIES (IF…)
- NO REBUKE FOR BEING “TOO HUMBLE” – “HUMILITY ATTRACTS HEAVEN”
- MOTIVES MATTER – God SEES ALL!
Matt.16: 24-25 - denying ourselves and losing our lives? (Luke 14 reaffirms)
John 3:30 – becoming less? MUST…
John 15:5 – how much can we do apart from Him? WHY do people think it’s them!!!
I Peter 5:5 - Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” – HOW TO FAIL IN LIFE & MINISTRY
James 4:6, 10 - “…OUR JOB - Humble ourselves / HIS JOB - He will exalt us.”
Luke 14:11- Exalt ourselves? Humble ourselves?
THE HOLY SPIRIT MAKES US HOLY – A MESSAGE TO HISTORY’S MOST DEFILED GENERATION
James 1:26-27 – If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 – Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
PURPOSE OF PENTECOST?
1. POWER - Acts 1:8 - 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
2. REVELATION - Acts 2:17-18 -17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
3. HOLINESS - Acts 2:37-38, 40 -“Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit…“Save yourselves from this perverse/wicked generation.”
GOAL = A NEW VISION for Holiness and the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives
A.W. Tozer – Holy Spirit makes us holy
Name? Power Spirit?? NO – The HOLY SPIRIT
Porn Stats
1978 vs. 1985 – 5% vs. 55% Viewed hardcore porn video / 2022??
John Bevere – 2/3 of men IN CHURCH are watching porn regularly
1/3 of women
50% of the pastors
POWERLESS – Kryptonite – Defiled Church
Billy Graham – “If we lose THIS BATTLE, we lose the battle of the Christian life”
20th Century = Explosion of Perversion – the occult (sex magick), film, video, the internet, (technology), abortion, homosexuality, human trafficking, pedophilia, freedom=bondage
Matthew 27:37 - 37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.
Sinfulness Stage 1 - Genesis 3 – Fall of Adam/Eve (Satan)
Sinfulness Stage 2 - Genesis 6 – Fall of the Watchers – effect?? Many
EFFECTS - Sexual perversion/lust/gross immorality/homosexuality/beastiality/abortion
• Quote: “We were sinners because of the Fall of Adam, but the Fallen Watchers taught mankind to be even better sinners” – Heiser
Genesis 6:1-8 - 1 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. 5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
Two Views about WHO the “Sons of God” were:
-
Angels – Who? 2nd Temple Judaism, the Apostles, Early Church
-
Humans – Who? (called the “Sethite View”) - 1st suggested by Julius Africanus (3rd Century), Augustine (5th century)
It really wasn’t until the 5th century that the so-called “Sethite View” (i.e. that the ’sons of God’ were humans and not angels) was INVENTED.
The evidence from history is insurmountable that the Sethite view is wrong. That the Sethite interpretation was a late innovation and not the Apostolic understanding (or the historic Jewish one).
A. New Testament writers who refer to these angels in Genesis 6:1-4
- The Apostle Peter - 2 Peter 2:4-5 - 4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into tartarus (the abyss) and committed/delivered them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;
- The Apostle Jude (Jesus’ brother) - Jude 1:6-7 - 6 And the angels who did not stay/keep in their proper domain, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
B. Early Church leaders who affirm that the Sons of God were in fact angels and whose offspring were the Nephilim/giants.
- Clement of Rome (1st century, the Apostle Peter’s Disciple)
- Justin Martyr (2nd century) - The angels transgressed this appointment and were captivated by love of women. And they begat children [nephilim/giants], who are those who are called demons. (AD160)
- Athenagoras (2nd century) But some outraged both the constitution of their nature and the oversight entrusted to them. ...These angels fell into impure love of virgins and were subjugated by the flesh. ...Those who are called giants were begotten from these lovers of virgins. (AD175)
- Irenaeus (2nd century)
- Clement of Alexandria - The angels who had obtained the superior rank, having sunk into pleasures, told to the women the secrets that had come to their knowledge. In contrast, the rest of the angels concealed them, or rather, reserved them for the coming of the Lord. (late 2nd/early 3rd century)
- Tertullian - If it is on account of the angels—those whom we read of as having fallen from God and from heaven because of lusting after females—we can presume that such angels yearned after bodies that were already defiled and were relics of human lust. (late 2nd/early 3rd cent. – gave us the word “Trinity”)
- Ambrose (4th century)
- Lactantius (4th century, tutor of Emperor Constantine)
C. Well-known Evangelicals who affirm w/ the Early Church that the Sons of God were angelic beings.
- A.W. Pink – Reformed theologian
- Donald Grey Barnhouse – Presbyterian theologian, pastor
- Henry Morris – author of The Genesis Flood, founder of CRI (Creation Research Institute)
- Merril F. Unger – Dallas Theological Seminary professor, theologian
- Arnold Fruchtenbaum – Messianic leader, Dallas Theological Seminary-trained
- Hal Lindsey – author of “The Late Great Planet Earth
- John MacArthur
- Pastor Chuck Smith – Calvary Chapel
- Dr. Michael Heiser – OT scholar, Ancient Near East language scholar
- Chuck Missler – Bible teacher
I Corinthians 6:9-13, 18-20 (3 out of 9 in the list!)
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteouswill not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body…. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sina person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body.
WHAT SHALL WE NOW DO? (Acts 2:37)
- AGREE w/ God’s assessment = Defiled
Matthew 24:9-13 - 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness (wickedness/iniquity) will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Sin will be rampant everywhere/multiplication of wickedness/abundance of evil
-
SIN = SLAVERY (John 8:34 – everyone who sins…) – Message of FREEDOM!!
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Reject False Grace teaching (Titus 2:11-12 – Grace teaches us to turn from ungodliness and sinful pleasures/worldly lusts)
Titus 2:11-12, 14 – “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 – TEACHING US TO RENOUNCE UNGODLINESS and WORLDLY PASSIONS (immoral desires/lusts), and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age...14 – who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people…”
-
REPENT - Acts 2:38, 40 – REPENT, SAVE YOURSELVES from perverse generation
-
Get rid of whatever is needed / No Moderation (“Porn on Tuesdays”)
Matthew 5:30 – “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.”
-
Confess – James 5:16 – To each other, MAY be healed
-
FLEE - 1 Cor 6:18 (Tolerate?)
-
Believe holiness is possible (1 Pet 1:16 – “Be holy…”)
I Peter 1:15-16 – “but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 For it is written, “Be holy even as I am holy”
Ephesian 5:3 - But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual
immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people
- Get the Holy Spirit working more in your life (“eagerly pursue…”) for HOLINESS
FREEING PEOPLE FROM DEMONIC DARKNESS…a Key (THE Key?) in the next move of God
Explosion of the Demonic (Days of Noah)
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History of the 20th Century – occult, UFO/aliens, drugs, sexual perversion, abortion (infanticide), trafficking, division, fear, transhumanism, globalism
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Today’s Entertainment (movies, TV, internet gaming)
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Our Experiences – evangelism, night terrors, prophetic dream last night
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Programming, False Narratives, Hive Mind/Group Think
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Roe v. Wade overturned?
How was the Pagan Roman Empire Won?
Dr. MacMullen (Christianizing the Roman Empire) states unequivocally that the main way Rome was converted to Christianity were healing and, most especially, exorcism. (Francis MacNutt, pg. 87, Healing Reawakening)
Professor Ramsey MacMullen – Emeritus Professor of History, Yale University, "the greatest
historian of the Roman Empire alive today”
Ramsey MacMullen Interview – Yale Historian
MacMullen: When we consider how the early Christians brought people to Christ, we might think of Paul’s preaching. One might think that this “method” was what subsequent generations of Christians employed, but IT AIN’T SO. It didn’t happen that way.
My guess is that because of the persecution open preaching was simply too difficult most of the time. In contrast what worked best was “one on one talk about the proofs of the truth of Christianity and by proofs, I mean EXORCISM above all.
Christianity advertised its own particular powers through driving out demons that caused sickness and driving out all demonic influences in general. Miracle stories are the main reason people came to Christ.
As for preaching THERE IS HARDLY A WORD throughout all the centuries I look at – from the early 2nd century through the 10th. VERY, VERY little mention of Christians talking to the unpersuaded and trying to bring them over by reasoning. Instead, what is talked about is the operation of wonderful things by holy people. They wanted the benevolent power the Christians promised.
Pagan Rome vs. Pagan America
*AD30AD400 “the main way [Pagan] Rome was converted to Christianity were healing and, most especially, exorcism”
*AD2022 – “the main way Pagan America WILL BE converted to Christianity WILL BE healing and, most especially, exorcism”
What did Jesus do? (emphasis on exorcism)
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Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
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Matt. 4:24-25 – and they brought Him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them
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Matt. 8:16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick
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Matt. 12:22 Then a demonoppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw.
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Matt 17:18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.
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Lk. 6:17-19 And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people…18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And THOSE who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And ALL the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them ALL.
A Word about the Origin of Demons
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The angels transgressed this appointment and were captivated by love of women. And they begat children [the nephilim], who are those who are called demons. Justin Martyr (AD160)
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These angels, then, who have fallen from heaven, and haunt the air and the earth, and are no longer able to rise to heavenly things, and the souls of the giants [nephilim], who are the demons who wander about the world, perform similar actions. Athenagoras (AD175)
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Furthermore, we are instructed by our sacred books how from certain angels, who fell of their own free will, there sprang a more wicked demon brood…” Tertullian (AD197)
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Among angels, some are angels of God, and others are angels of the devil. But among demons, there is no such distinction. For they are all said to be wicked. Origen (AD 248)
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However, those who were born from [the relations of angels with women]—because they were neither angels nor men, but had a mixed nature—were not admitted into Hades [when they died]. Similarly, their fathers had not been admitted into heaven, either. Thus, there came to be two kinds of demons: one of heaven, the other of the earth. The latter are the wicked spirits, who are the authors of all the evils that are done. This same devil is their prince. ...However, grammarians say that the reason they are called demons...is because they are skilled and acquainted with matters. For the grammarians think they are gods. In truth, the demons are acquainted with some future events, but not with all. For He has not permitted them to know entirely the counsel of God. ...As I was saying, these contaminated and abandoned spirits wander over the whole earth. They console their own ruin by destroying others. Therefore, they fill every place with snares, deceits, frauds, and errors. For they cling to individuals and even occupy whole houses, from door to door…(Lactanius AD 304312)
A Word about Sickness & the Demonic
- “…condemned of God along with the authors of their race. ...Their great business is
the ruin of mankind. So, from the start, spiritual wickedness sought our destruction.
Accordingly, they [demons] inflict upon our bodies diseases and other grievous
calamities. And by violent assaults, they hurry the soul into sudden and extraordinary
excesses. ...By an influence equally obscure, demons and angels breathe into the
soul, and rouse up its corruptions with furious passions and vile excesses.” Tertullian (AD197)
- “...And since spirits are without physical substance and cannot be held, they slink
into the bodies of men. Secretly working in their inward parts, they corrupt the health
of these persons, bring on diseases, terrify their souls with dreams, and harass their
minds with frenzies. They do this so that by these evils, they may cause men to come
to them for aid.” Lactantius (AD304313)
To Summarize
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Demons are NOT Fallen Angels
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Demons are the disembodied spirits of the dead Nephilim (their parents are Fallen Angels)
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Demons can and do cause sickness, but not all sickness is caused by demons
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Freeing people from demons is also called/considered HEALING in the Gospels
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Demons are the paranormal entities that we have been given authority over
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Fallen Angels & Demons cannot be saved
Hebrews 2:16 – “For surely it is NOT angels that He (Christ) helps but Abraham’s descendants.”
Although there is also assigned to angels perdition in “the fire prepared for the devil and his angels,” yet a restoration is never promised to them. No directive about the salvation of angels did Christ ever receive from the Father. Tertullian (AD 210)
What did the 12 Disciples do?
- Luke 9:1-2 And He [Jesus] called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of
God and to heal…
NOTE: WHO/WHAT we have been given authority over
What did the 72 do?
- Lk. 10:1,8-9, 17-20 After this the Lord appointed seventytwo others and sent them
on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was
about to go… 8 Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set
before you. 9 Heal the sick in it and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come
near to you.’ 17 The seventytwo returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons
are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like
lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents
and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt
you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but
rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
NOTE: 1. WHO/WHAT was subject to them? Principalities? Fallen Cherub? DEMONS
- Healing/Exorcism – WHERE/WHEN? (v. 8) / WHO? (v. 9)
What did the Apostles & the Apostle Paul do?
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Acts 5:16 – [to the Apostles] …bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.
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Acts 16:18 - And she was doing this for many days. And Paul, having been greatly-annoyed, and having turned to the spirit, said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to depart from her!” And it went out at the very hour.
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Acts 19:11-12 - And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them, and the evil spirits came out of them.
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Acts 28:8-9 - It happened that the father of Publius lay sick with fever and dysentery. And Paul visited him and prayed, and putting his hands on him, healed him. 9 And when this had taken place, the rest of the people on the island who had diseases also came and were cured.
1 Cor. 4:16 - “…I urge you to imitate me”
1 Cor. 11:1 - “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ”
What did Philip the Deacon do?
*Acts 8:4-7 - Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. 6 And the crowds with one accord paid attention to what was being said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs that he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying out with a loud voice, came out of many who had them, and many who were paralyzed, or lame were healed.
But didn’t the supernatural gifts cease?
*Cessationism (and “Practical Cessationism”)
*It’s a matter of history
What did Christians in the 2nd & 3rd Century do?
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Irenaeus (late 2nd century, spiritual grandson of the Apostle John) – to followers of false teachers/heretics - “You are unable to heal the blind, the crippled, the deaf, the paralyzed…or to free the demonized…moreover as I have said, the dead even have been raised up, and remained among us for many years”
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Tertullian (early 3rd century) – “For what could be more delightful…than to find yourself trampling underfoot the gods of false religions, casting out demons, healing the sick, seeking prophetic revelation and living for God? These are our pleasures, These are our pleasures, the signs, and wonders of Christians holy, eternal and free…count these as your entertainment" (On the Spectacles, Ch. 29)
Irenaeus 2.0
- Irenaeus (late 2nd century) - “Those who are in truth His disciples, receiving grace from Him, do in His name perform miracles, so as to promote the welfare of others, according to the gift which each one has received from Him. For some do certainly and truly drive out devils, so that those who have thus been cleansed from evil spirits frequently both believe [in Christ] and join the Church. Others have foreknowledge of things to come: they see visions and speak the prophecies they have received. Others still, heal the sick by laying their hands upon them, and they are healed. Moreover, as I have said, even the dead have been raised and remained among us for many years. And what more can I even say? It is not even possible to number all of the gifts which the Church, throughout the whole world, has received from God, in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and which Christians demonstrate daily for the benefit of the unbelievers, neither deceiving them nor taking any financial reward from them [on account of such miraculous ministry]. For as Christians have received freely from God, freely also do they minister [to others]. (Against Heresies, book 2, chapter 32, section 4)
What were Future Disciples expected to do?
- Matt. 28:20 – “…teaching them to observe everything I have commanded YOU….until the end of the age”
NOTE: Do WHAT? Until WHEN?
- Mk. 16:18 – “…they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover”
HOW SHALL WE THEN LIVE??
If “the main way Pagan America WILL BE converted to Christianity WILL BE healing and, most especially, exorcism”
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KNOW the demonic is only going to increase (“as in the days of Noah”)
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Share the Gospel with the supernatural/demonic in mind – be transparent!
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WWJD in 2022? What He did in AD30. What disciples did in AD200.
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Normal works? “and he cast out the spirits with a word" / Greater works?
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Fasting? “this kind [of demon] only come out by prayer AND fasting” (Mk. 9:29)
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Holiness in 2022 - “Do not give the devil a place [topos]” (Eph. 4:27)
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Get around those who are moving in the power you long for
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“If you can live without something, you will! (Mike Bickle)
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“I will never change the channel again!” (Bill Johnson)
HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES HOLINESS
POWER - Acts 1:8 - 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Act 2:1-4 - When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
REVELATION - Acts 2:17-18 -“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
EXPLOSION OF REVELATION!!!
Questions – What did you get? Tongues of fire? Do you want MORE?
A.W. TOZER Quote - "Whatever else the Holy Spirit does in your life, minimally He makes us holy"
A NEW ASPECT of the Day of PENTECOST
- A REVERSAL of the Genesis 6 perversion – Holy Spirit comes
2ND ANGELIC FALL - Fall of the Sons of God/Watchers (Gen 6:1-8) – more corruption
6:1-8 - 1 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. 5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
When? Genesis 6 BEFORE the flood
Two Views about WHO the “Sons of God” were:
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Angels – Who? 2nd Temple Judaism, the Apostles, Early Church (till 5th century)
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Humans – Who? (called the “Sethite View”) - 1st suggested by Julius Africanus (3rd Century), Augustine (popularized in the 5th century)
It really wasn’t until the 5th century that the so-called “Sethite View” (i.e. that the ’sons of God’ were humans and not angels) was INVENTED.
The evidence from history is insurmountable that the Sethite view is wrong. That the Sethite interpretation was a late innovation and not the Apostolic understanding (or the historic Jewish one).
A. New Testament writers who refer to these angels in Genesis 6:1-4
- The Apostle Peter (2 Peter 2:4-5)
- Jude (Jude 1:6)
B. Early Church leaders who affirm that the Sons of God were in fact angels and whose offspring were the Nephilim/giants.
- Clement of Rome (1st century, the Apostle Peter’s Disciple)
- Justin Martyr (2nd century)
- Irenaeus (2nd century)
- Clement of Alexandria (late 2nd/early 3rd century)
- Tertullian (late 2nd/early 3rd century – gave us the word “Trinity”)
- Ambrose (4th century)
- Lactantius (4th century, tutor of Emperor Constantine)
C. Well-known Evangelicals who affirm w/ the Early Church that the Sons of God were angels.
- A.W. Pink – Reformed theologian
- Donald Grey Barnhouse – Presbyterian theologian, pastor
- Henry Morris – author of The Genesis Flood, founder of CRI (Creation Research Institute)
- Merril F. Unger – Dallas Theological Seminary professor, theologian
- Arnold Fruchtenbaum – Messianic leader, Dallas Theological Seminary-trained
- Hal Lindsey – author of “The Late Great Planet Earth
- John MacArthur
- Pastor Chuck Smith – Calvary Chapel
- Dr. Michael Heiser – OT scholar, Ancient Near East language scholar
- Chuck Missler – Bible teacher
2 Peter 2:4-5 - 4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into tartarus (the abyss) and committed them to chainsof gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;
Jude 1:6-24
6 And the angels who did not stay/keep in their proper domain, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” 10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion. 12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.
14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.
17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
But some outraged both the constitution of their nature and the oversight entrusted to them. ...These angels fell into impure love of virgins and were subjugated by the flesh. ...Those who are called giants were begotten from these lovers of virgins. Athenagoras (AD175)
Angels sinned and revolted from God. Justin Martyr (AD160)
The angels transgressed this appointment and were captivated by love of women. And they begat children [nephilim/giants], who are those who are called demons. Justin Martyr (AD160)
The angels who had obtained the superior rank, having sunk into pleasures, told to the women the secrets that had come to their knowledge. In contrast, the rest of the angels concealed them, or rather, reserved them for the coming of the Lord. Clement of Alexandria (AD195)
Those angels who invented them [jewelry, etc.] are assigned under condemnation to the penalty of death. They are the same angels who rushed from heaven on the daughters of men. ...If it is true, they laid bare the operations of metallurgy, divulged the natural properties of herbs, promulgated the powers of enchantments, and traced out every curiosity, even to the interpretation of the stars. They conferred appropriately—and as it were, peculiarly—upon women that instrumental means of womanly ostentation: the radiances of jewels,...the dyes of orchil with which wools are dyed, and that black powder itself with which the eyelids and eyelashes are made prominent. Tertullian (AD 198)
If it is on account of the angels—those whom we read of as having fallen from God and from heaven because of lusting after females—we can presume that such angels yearned after bodies that were already defiled and were relics of human lust. Tertullian (AD207)
Extent of corruption?
• Watchers “taught” mankind things – “secrets of heaven” (see Tertullian below)
• Lust/perversion –taken to a new level
• Technology – misused
• Quote: “We were sinners because of the Fall of Adam, but the Fallen Watchers taught mankind to be even better sinners” – Heiser
• Gen 6:1-4 PRECEDES the Flood
• Watchers judged – imprisoned in the abyss (tartarus)
Acts 2:37-38 -“Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:40 - “Save yourselves from this perverse generation.”
1) crooked, curved 2a) perverse, wicked
Matthew 5:20 - For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
I Peter 1:16 – For it is written, “Be holy even as I am holy”
Ephesian 5:3 - But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people
I Corinthians 6:9-20 (3 out of 9 in the list!)
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body.
ACTS 10 – Houses of Fire – A New Wineskin? A New Strategy?
A. Introduction
· December 31st, 2019 – “No Disease known to man” (in a HOUSE)
· March 2020 – our Church moved back into our HOUSE
· May 1st, 2020 – Governor Newsom said churches will be closed for months
Holy Spirit spoke - “It’s time to come home”
“There’s no place like homes, there’s no place like homes”
· June 2020 - House Church? Confusion. For the Church? For the lost? (evangelistic)
Trip to Oregon – Cornelius – Persian Motors
· January 2022 – ROCK OC begins in a house
B. ACTS 10 – “Houses of Fire – A New Wineskin? A New Strategy?
1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort, 2 a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. 3 About the ninth hour of the day (WHILE IN PRAYER – v. 30) he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.” (HIS NAME) 4 And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God. (HIS PRAYERS) 5 And now send men to Joppa (PETER’S CITY) and bring one Simon who is called Peter (PETER’S FULL NAME).
WHO IS CALLING WHO? - Lost calling the saved – Are we expecting this??
6 He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea. (PETER’S ADDRESS!)”
7 When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him, 8 and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
FIRST-TIME OBEDIENCE
9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. (WHILE IN PRAYER) 10 And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance 11 and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. 12 In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. 13 And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” 14 But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” 15 And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” 16 This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven. 17 Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon's house, stood at the gate 18 and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there. 19 And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”
ROLE OF SUPERNATURAL - New Wineskins often require it. i.e. Muslims
3 encounters + 1 Holy Spirit “says” - WE can be STUCK in our ways, methods, expectations
21 And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?” 22 And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house (VIOLATION!) and to hear what you have to say.” 23 So he invited them in to be his guests. The next day he rose and went away with them (WITHOUT the “Approval” of the other Apostles!), and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him. 24 And on the following day they entered Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him (CONFUSION). 26 But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I too am a man.” 27 And as he talked with him, he went in and found many persons gathered. 28 And he said to them, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without objection (LOL). I ask then why you sent for me.” 30 And Cornelius said, “Four days ago, about this hour, I was praying in my house at the ninth hour, and behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 Send therefore to Joppa and ask for Simon who is called Peter. He is lodging in the house of Simon, a tanner, by the sea.’ (SHARED THE DETAILED PROPHETIC WORD) 33 So I sent for you at once (TRUE), and you have been kind enough to come. Now therefore we are all here in the presence of God to hear ALL that you have been COMMANDED by the Lord.”
LOST want to hear ALL - not watering anything down, avoiding the difficult (Jesus = ONLY WAY, issue of sin/repentance, judgment)
34 So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality,
35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37 you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43 To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” (THE GOSPEL)
Preaching - not “listening” – an apostle w/ an apostolic mandate
*Not just praying for people, prophesying…but also PREACHING!
44 While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on ALL who heard the word. 45 And THE BELIEVERS from among the circumcised who had come with Peter WERE AMAZED, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47 “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.
*BELIEVE & BE BAPTIZED – no delays / Spirit baptism!
C. APPLICATION
1. Meetings in HOMES
a. For believers (a church with house groups to a church OF house groups) – my eschatology. This was/is a “wake up call”
Pastor in Oregon – “the church needs to stop being a church WITH house groups and become a church OF house groups.”
ROCK Kuwait was back in our house! (March 2020)
ROCK OC begins in California (January 2022)
b. For the harvest/lost – Iranians getting healed in house meeting in California
This new wineskin was a HUGE barrier for Peter – going into THEIR homes!
2. God pouring out His Spirit? - Iran – 1 million believers? Evangelism in the U.S.?
*Both sides needed revelation – Cornelius (lost) & Peter (Christians)
*The bigger barrier was on the side of the believers – today?
3. New means NEW – not going back to normal, will we learn what God has been trying to teach us? New approaches, new lifestyles, new obedience? Holding things loosely.
4. Not getting distracted – turn off the other “voices” / be careful WHO you listen to / GOSPEL!!! – “run in such a way that you get the prize” (I Cor 9:24)
5. Prophetic Direction – only doing what we see/hear the Father doing/saying
We MUST have a new level of prophetic direction, encounters, guidance! Undoubtedly!!!
Names? Addresses? Locations?
Expecting MORE dreams and visions??
6. Increased Prayer (and fasting?)
7. Finding the “God Fearers” (the Cornelius types!)
8. Traps, Deception, False Teaching, Division, Betrayals
*expect opposition, criticism
The OLD Wineskin will always criticize (even demonize the new one!)
One of the greatest needs in the Christian life and clearly one of the greatest (if not 'the greatest') needs today is for disciples to get free/be free from the fear of man - from the opinions of others - from what other people think. So many have succumbed to this fear in this hour and it has literally cost peoples' lives.
May this be a major priority going forward in our discipleship and spiritual formation - to emphasize once again, "though NONE GO WITH ME...still I will follow...no turning back, no turning back"
HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES HOLINESS
POWER - Acts 1:8 - 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Act 2:1-4 - When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
REVELATION - Acts 2:17-18 -“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
EXPLOSION OF REVELATION!!!
A.W. TOZER Quote - Holiness
A NEW ASPECT of the Day of PENTECOST
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A REVERSAL of the Genesis 6 perversion – Holy Spirit comes
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A REVERSAL of the Tower of Babel event / Languages confused vs. Language uniting
2ND ANGELIC FALL - Fall of the Sons of God/Watchers (Gen 6:1-8) – more corruption
6:1-8 - 1 When man began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of man were attractive. And they took as their wives any they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.” 4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of man and they bore children to them. These were the mighty men who were of old, the men of renown. 5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. 7 So the Lord said, “I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them.” 8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.
When? Genesis 6 BEFORE the flood
Two Views about WHO the “Sons of God” were:
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Angels – Who? 2nd Temple Judaism, the Apostles, Early Church
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Humans – Who? (called the “Sethite View”) - 1st suggested by Julius Africanus (3rd Century), Augustine (5th century)
It really wasn’t until the 5th century that the so-called “Sethite View” (i.e. that the ’sons of God’ were humans and not angels) was INVENTED.
The evidence from history is insurmountable that the Sethite view is wrong. That the Sethite interpretation was a late innovation and not the Apostolic understanding (or the historic Jewish one).
A. New Testament writers who refer to these angels in Genesis 6:1-4
- The Apostle Peter (2 Peter 2:4-5)
- Jude (Jude 1:6)
B. Early Church leaders who affirm that the Sons of God were in fact angels and whose offspring were the Nephilim/giants.
- Clement of Rome (1st century, the Apostle Peter’s Disciple)
- Justin Martyr (2nd century)
- Irenaeus (2nd century)
- Clement of Alexandria (late 2nd/early 3rd century)
- Tertullian (late 2nd/early 3rd century – gave us the word “Trinity”)
- Ambrose (4th century)
- Lactantius (4th century, tutor of Emperor Constantine)
C. Well-known Evangelicals who affirm w/ the Early Church that the Sons of God were angels.
- A.W. Pink – Reformed theologian
- Donald Grey Barnhouse – Presbyterian theologian, pastor
- Henry Morris – author of The Genesis Flood, founder of CRI (Creation Research Institute)
- Merril F. Unger – Dallas Theological Seminary professor, theologian
- Arnold Fruchtenbaum – Messianic leader, Dallas Theological Seminary-trained
- Hal Lindsey – author of “The Late Great Planet Earth
- John MacArthur
- Pastor Chuck Smith – Calvary Chapel
- Dr. Michael Heiser – OT scholar, Ancient Near East language scholar
- Chuck Missler – Bible teacher
Extent of corruption? (from the Watchers in Genesis 6)
• Watchers “taught” mankind things – “secrets of heaven” (see Tertullian below)
• Lust/perversion –taken to a new level
• Technology – misused
• Quote: “We were sinners because of the Fall of Adam, but the Fallen Watchers taught mankind to be even better sinners” – Heiser
• Gen 6:1-4 PRECEDES the Flood
• Watchers judged – imprisoned in the abyss (tartarus)
God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to tartarus (the abyss) and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for judgment; and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah. 2 Peter 2:4,5
The angels who did not keep their proper domain, but left their own habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness for the judgment of the great day. **Jude 6
Jude 1:6-24**
6 And the angels who did not stay/keep in their proper domain, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.
8 Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. 9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.” 10 But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. 11 Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam's error and perished in Korah's rebellion. 12 These are hidden reefs at your love feasts, as they feast with you without fear, shepherds feeding themselves; waterless clouds, swept along by winds; fruitless trees in late autumn, twice dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up the foam of their own shame; wandering stars, for whom the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved forever.
14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of his holy ones, 15 to execute judgment on all and to convict all the ungodly of all their deeds of ungodliness that they have committed in such an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These are grumblers, malcontents, following their own sinful desires; they are loud-mouthed boasters, showing favoritism to gain advantage.
17 But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. 18 They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.” 19 It is these who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.
24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
But some outraged both the constitution of their nature and the oversight entrusted to them. ...These angels fell into impure love of virgins and were subjugated by the flesh. ...Those who are called giants were begotten from these lovers of virgins. Athenagoras (AD175)
Angels sinned and revolted from God. Justin Martyr (AD160)
The angels transgressed this appointment and were captivated by love of women. And they begat children [nephilim/giants], who are those who are called demons. Justin Martyr (AD160)
The angels who had obtained the superior rank, having sunk into pleasures, told to the women the secrets that had come to their knowledge. In contrast, the rest of the angels concealed them, or rather, reserved them for the coming of the Lord. Clement of Alexandria (AD195)
Those angels who invented them [jewelry, etc.] are assigned under condemnation to the penalty of death. They are the same angels who rushed from heaven on the daughters of men. ...If it is true, they laid bare the operations of metallurgy, divulged the natural properties of herbs, promulgated the powers of enchantments, and traced out every curiosity, even to the interpretation of the stars. They conferred appropriately—and as it were, peculiarly—upon women that instrumental means of womanly ostentation: the radiances of jewels,...the dyes of orchil with which wools are dyed, and that black powder itself with which the eyelids and eyelashes are made prominent. Tertullian (AD 198)
If it is on account of the angels—those whom we read of as having fallen from God and from heaven because of lusting after females—we can presume that such angels yearned after bodies that were already defiled and were relics of human lust. Tertullian (AD207)
Acts 2: 37-38 -“Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:40 - “Save yourselves from this perverse generation.”
1) crooked, curved 2a) perverse, wicked
Matthew 5:20 - For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
I Peter 1:16 – For it is written, “Be holy even as I am holy”
Ephesian 5:3 - But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people
I Corinthians 6:9-20
9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
12 “All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful for me,” but I will not be dominated by anything. 13 “Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food”—and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? Never! 16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For, as it is written, “The two will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. 18 Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body.
Covid ‘Vaccines’ and Christians 2.0
Afterthoughts about Repentance, Vaccine Injuries, Abortion, Deception, Presumption
New Discussion of Transhumanism, the Days of Noah and the Demonic element in the 'vaccines'
Dr. Sherry Tenpenny & Dr. Larry Palevsky -https://rumble.com/vu4p7q-critically-thinking-with-dr.-t-and-dr.-p-episode-80-feb-03-2022.html
Nanotech in the shots? https://archive.md/O8uUS#selection-549.0-565.3
Gene Wars – Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yBQw004MlY
Unquestionably the most controversial podcast I've ever done. I will gain new friends and will lose others. Let the truth be known.
“Covid Vaccines & Christians” Resources/Citations
X22 Report – Original Interview: https://x22report.com/aiovg_videos/dr-tenpenny-c-clark-the-vaccination-agenda-is-darker-than-anyone-could-imagine/
Dr. Tenpenny Website: https://www.drtenpenny.com/
Clay Clark Website: https://timetofreeamerica.com/
https://timetofreeamerica.com/revelation
Covid Vaccines and Aborted Fetal Cells: https://cogforlife.org/guidance/
Are any COVID-19 vaccines available that are not tested or produced using a cell line derived from an aborted child?
No, for now, all vaccines for the COVID-19 virus being distributed are produced and/or tested with cell lines that originated from an aborted child.
A COVID-19 vaccine that does not use aborted fetal cell lines in research or production is not expected in the foreseeable future.
Soros-funded Catholic “fact-checking” group - https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/catholic-fact-checking-group-pushing-covid-jabs-linked-to-gates-soros-pontifical-academy-for-life/
Further Roman Catholic Objections
https://everymancommentary.com/the-ghost-in-the-vaccines-a-religious-objection-to-the-covid-vaccine/
Roman Catholic writer - “…The Covid vaccines (as well as many other vaccines) are developed and tested using cell lines that are obtained from electively aborted fetuses.
...The reasoning behind allowing someone in good conscience to receive the Covid vaccines is that, according to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF), the abortions that provided the cell lines that were used to develop these vaccines happened decades ago. Thus it is asserted that since the cell lines are now “immortal” (i.e. they can be grown and multiplied over and over again), there is a sufficient degree of separation from the original abortion so that getting the vaccine would only constitute "remote passive material cooperation” with a gravely immoral act.
While this may seem to be an overly-technical or even (to non-Catholics at the very least) a specious moral pass to get around rigid church doctrines, it is a de facto acknowledgment and a reasoned attempt to deal with of the sort of moral compromises that all of us are faced with and accept in a fallen world. However, when it comes to the use of aborted fetal cell tissue in the production of vaccines, and in particular the Covid-19 ones, there is one key flaw in the CDF’s assertion that getting the jab would only amount to a “remote passive material cooperation” – there is nothing “remote” about the Covid vaccines’ connection with abortion.”
“…there is both anecdotal and well-documented evidence that the notion that the fetal cells used to develop the Covid vaccines came from some long-ago abortion is simply not true**.”
**Documented evidence - https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2021/05/26/exploring-the-dark-world-of-vaccines-and-fetal-tissue-research-part-2/
Another Roman Catholic Voice – Archbishop Vigano
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2022/02/archbishop-vigano-time-will-make-masks-fall-disguised-saviors-humanity-sought-subjugate-exterminate-citizens-make-chronica/
General Information on Covid shots: https://main.nojabforme.info/
American Frontline Doctors: https://www.americasfrontlinedoctors.org/
Dr. Peter McCullough: https://www.americaoutloud.com/author/dr-peter-mccullough/
Dr. Vladimir Zelenko: https://vladimirzelenkomd.com/
Dr. Jane Ruby: http://drjaneruby.com/
Dr. Carrie Madej - https://www.carriemadej.com/
Dr. Judy Mikovits - https://drjudyamikovits.com/
Political Activism in United Kingdom: https://www.saveusnow.org.uk/
Don’t Vaccinate Children:
https://www.theepochtimes.com/mkt_app/think-twice-before-you-vaccinate-your-kids-dr-robert-malone-warns-parents-on-covid-19-shots_4193975.html
ROCK OC – “The Shaking” – JAN 29, 2022
Introduction - Veronika West - Don't pray away the shaking - Love and judgment, redemptive...a rescue mission to AWAKEN America. Purging and purification / Refining fire
James 1:2-4 - 2 Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Hebrews 12
12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which so closely entangles, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.
14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. 25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
His Baptism(first encounter?) - John 1:32 - remains!! - And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.
His Testing (Shaking – another encounter) - Matt 4:1 - Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit
Matt 4:4...but by EVERY word... (Full Counsel) - 4 But he answered, “It is written,
“‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
Matt 4:5-7 - Devil misusing God's word. How?? Presumption!! Many are doing the same today..."God will cover you"..."We can drink poison", etc.
5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple 6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” 7 Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
Matt 4:11 - Angelic assistance - Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him. (afterwards)
Mark 1:13 - not just AFTER the trial...but DURING it. "ministered CONTINUOUSLY"
He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted [to do evil] by Satan; and He was with the wild animals, and the angels ministered continually to Him. (were ministering to Him) - AMP
Hebrews 1:14 - Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
Hebrew 12:22 – the opposition?? Fallen angels?? Righteous angels? innumerable!!
22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,
Did 1/3rd of the Angels fall?? https://readingacts.com/2020/05/26/the-dragon-and-the-stars-revelation-123-4/
Luke 4:14 - And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee… (Anointed AFTER the Shaking) – only Luke mentions this
Matt 4:17 - Message - Repent/KoG at hand - From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (near)
God's blessings WITHOUT meeting God's conditions?? (healing, forgiveness)
Matt 4:19 - Fruit - "Fishers of Men"
Good News Translation - Jesus said to them, "Come with me, and I will teach you to catch people."
Passion - Jesus called out to them and said, “Come and follow me, and I will transform you into men who catch people for God."
Mark 1:29-31 - Jesus and fevers?? (WWJD) - 29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
John 3:34 - Spirit w/o measure (OT – measured. Jesus NT – without measure!)
· The Son was sent to speak God's message, and he has been given the full power of God's Spirit. (CEV)
· The one whom God has sent speaks God's words, because God gives him the fullness of his Spirit. (GNT)
· For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit (measure). (NLT)
Paul Cain..."to the Church without mixture, I will give the Spirit without measure"
Romans 8:19 - For the creation eagerly waits for the manifestation/revelation of the sons of God.
Is this the “latter-day rain”(Joel 2)? “…the glory on the latter house exceeding the former”(Haggai – context of shaking)? “…the greater works”?
We are living in days where there has been a famine of discernment in the church. Many leaders have not known who to listen to, who to trust, and what to do. There is arguably nothing we need more in this hour than real discernment. It has truly become a matter of life or death.
A VISION FOR HOUSE CHURCHES
Houses – Why houses? nuclear submarines, freedom, truth, holistic
Family - 1 Peter 3:8 - Finally, all of you should ·be in agreement [be like-minded; live in harmony], ·understanding each other [sympathetic], ·loving each other as
family [L showing brotherly love], being ·kind [tender; compassionate] and humble.
Remnant – “Spa Day vs. Spartan” Christianity – 1 Timothy 4:7-8 - 7 Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; 8 for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life, and also for the life to come.
SONS/DAUGHTERS OF ISSACHAR
1 Chronicles 12:32 - From (the sons of) Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do: 200 leaders with all their kinsmen at their command.
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Discernment
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Action (what/when?)
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Limited in number (Remnant)
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Submitted followers
THINGS THAT WILL DEFILE/BLOCK WISDOM/DISCERNMENT
Deuteronomy 32:19-20 - 19 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you, life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live, 20 loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
Proverbs 3:5-6 - 5Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Romans 12:2 - Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
James 3:13-18 - 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy/envy and selfish ambition (selfishness) exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
2 Timothy 1:6-7 - 6 For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (God's Spirit doesn't make cowards out of us.)
Paul to the Hebrews - Hebrews 12: 1-15, 28-29 - 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” 7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;… 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
2 Tim 1:3-7, 13 - 3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. …13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.
2 Timothy 2: 1-7 - 1 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
2 Timothy 3: 1-10 - 1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my
persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 4: 1-8 - 1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
· Paul to the Corinthians - 1 Corinthians 11:1, 12:1 and 14:1
· Paul to the Philippians - Philippians 4: 9-13
· Paul to Timothy (Part 1) - 1 Timothy 1:5, 18-20, 4: 1-4, 11-16 and 6: 6-10, 11-16, 20
· Lordship of Christ
· Model of Ministry – lifestyle/outside
· Eternal Perspective
· Encountering God
· Power - Gifts of the Holy Spirit
· Love
· Freedom/Fearlessness
· Everybody Plays
· Authenticity / Accessible
· The WHOLE Counsel of God
· The ENTIRE Body of Christ
In this message, I look at 9 distinctive elements of the New Covenant as I compare it with the Old Covenant.
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Better promises – Hebrews 8:6 – “But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises.
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Old is OLD…New is NEW…Hebrews 8:13 – “In speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.”
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Healing – OT provided vs. NT - provided AND authority to heal
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Priesthood of ALL believers – Hebrews 4:16 – “Let us then with confidence draw near to (boldly approach) the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
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Prophethood of ALL believers – Cessationism? – Everyone CAN hear from God! Blessing and ABUSED. Risky relationships.
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Everyone gets access – Joel 2/Acts 2 – young/old, rich/poor, male/female, Jews/Gentiles
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Holy Spirit permanently resides INSIDE / New Creation & Nature / Law on hearts
1 John 2:27 - And as for you, the anointing which you received from Him remains in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you remain in Him.
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Became Sons/Daughters – God became man so that mankind could become sons of God. Inheritance. New type of relationship. Father/Son! OT – Sons of God were ONLY angels.
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Leadership’s Purpose (5-fold Ministry) is different (upside-down pyramid) – Ephesian 4:11-12 -11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds (pastors) and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ
Jesus vs. Moses – “greater works YOU SHALL DO…”
In this podcast, I teach on the 5 main covenants of the Old Testament (and yes, I'm aware some say there are 7 or even as many as 8). I explore these 5 Covenants: the Noahic, the Abrahamic, the Sinai (Mosaic) the Davidic, and the New Covenant.
A lot of problems occur when people read their Bibles and "mix and match" the different covenants. They assume that the promises of one covenant can be claimed today for themselves - but what if that covenant isn't for them? What if it has ended?
What were they? Who were they made with? What were the "conditions"? Which ones are still 'in effect' today? Which ones affect us as Christians? Which one(s) was for the people of Israel only?
The teaching ends by looking briefly at 3 theological camps - Replacement Theology (Supersessionism), Dispensationalism, and a new one called Commonwealth theology.
God is BOTH a God of GRACE. He is merciful, loving, and full of compassion. AT THE SAME TIME, He is a God of JUSTICE...He judges the evil, He vindicates and punishes the wicked. The Biblical view of God is that He is ALL of those things. The tendency is to emphasize one to neglect the other. Or to relegate one of them to the "end of history" at some time far in the future. God is the God who acts IN HISTORY. He does hear the cries of His people. He delivers. He overcomes evil. And at this time in history, it is critical that we embrace the FULLNESS of who God is.
I can't away from this topic. God is preparing a REMNANT. Tragically, much of the church is asleep and not discerning what God has been saying and what He wants to do in this critical hour. God is purifying His Bride and He is growing our faith. Will we heed the words of Jesus who said, "To him/her who has ears to hear, let him/her hear"? What are some of the qualities or characteristics of Remnant believers in this hour? That is what I was preaching on this past weekend.
An inspiration message by Andy Andrews was the impetus behind this message. You have no idea what kind of influence you have had or will have on the people you meet. Keep loving the one in front of you in Jesus' Name. You can change history by doing so!
What characterizes a believer who is part of the Remnant in 2021? In this hour? What does their life look like? Listen and find out!
It was over a year ago at the beginning of COVID that the Lord spoke to us to be "Fear Extinguishers" - little did we know that FEAR would be arguably the biggest issue that people would face globally. It remains a huge issue - with more fears that have been added in 2021. May this inspire you to continue to allow the Lord to move through your life to extinguish the fear in the lives of others. May you yourself be kept from fear! For such a time as this...
I did the classic "Evangelical Christian Testimony" in Part 1 - I shared all the bad stuff, negative stuff and spoke far too little about the miraculous work of God that I believe is about to take place - His bringing justice to the earth, His exposure of darkness and His moving in revival across the nations. That is my goal in this episode.
Eschatology is concerned with the end of the age, the last days. How will history end? Are we close? There are many Christian End-Time prophecy teachers that are 'beating the drum' believing the end is near and Christ's Return will happen soon. I will argue for another view. This message contrasts two End Time views that I am hearing a lot about in these troubled times.
The Ministry of Jesus during His time on the earth (1.0), the way the Church carried on His ministry after His Ascension in the Book of Acts AND also in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th centuries (2.0). And finally what about us today (3.0). If you are a Cessationist (believing the miraculous gifts ended), you have an impossible time maintaining that position after you hear what happened in the Church in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th centuries.
In the 2nd part of this message, we look at the 3 Stages of the spread of the Gospel as modeled in the Life and Ministry of Jesus and then in the Book of Acts. We also look at how the spread of the Gospel is related to the 3 Angelic Falls in the Old Testament.
In Part 1, we look at the 3 Angelic Falls described in Old Testament and how they affected mankind and the world. Additionally, we looked at the Kingdom Ministry of Jesus as the reversing of the effects of those 3 Angelic Falls.
Who is the Remnant in 2021? What characterizes the Remnant after 2020, almost a year into COVID? I don't believe the Remnant is an "elite group" - I believe that the Remnant in 2021 is simply the group of believers who actually have faith going forward!
How do we KNOW that we have God's Word in our hands today when we open up our Bibles?
How can we be sure that we have the ORIGINAL Bible in our hands today?
What is the Septuagint (LXX) translation and why do we NEED it to establish the original text of the Old Testament?
God brings great good out of evil and especially when that evil is directed as persecution of His people, His remnant, the Body of Christ - And right now we are facing a level of persecution that many Christians in the West have never had to face. In this podcast, I want to share what God did, God's response, in Acts 8 after one of his sons was murdered (Acts 7) and His Church arrested and imprisoned (Acts 8). God who was NOT THE AUTHOR of the murder and/or the imprisonments, ended up making the Kingdom of Darkness pay severely for the evil that came against His Remnant. God is a redeemer and let us look to Him right now to pour out His Spirit in America where His will is not being done in so many ways.
A message for the remnant - a call to endure in fearlessness at this critical hour! To continue to believe even when others are have given up.
...for such a time as this!
Who is this message for?
Any Christian/Christian leader that voted for Biden/Harris or supported those who did.
Any NeverTrumper Christian that refused to vote for Trump/Pence and influenced others not to vote for them.
Finally, and to a far lesser degree - Any Christian that is now giving up believing what God revealed and what He wants for America (and the world) in the months and years to come.
Unquestionably the most controversial podcast I've ever done.
No regrets. What I have spoken is the Word of the Lord.
For such a time as this!
There was just too many other things that I didn't mention in the last podcast. I had to do a Part 2. I summarized the points from Part 1 and went on to emphasize other things God has been saying in 2020 - Has He been saying the same things to you personally? Your Church? To your movement? To your tribe? As Jesus said, "To him who has ears to hear, let him hear".
God has spoken a number of things to us and our community since the end of 2019 and throughout 2020. This is a summary of some of those things - from a promise of protection against COVID, to a mandate to be "Fear Extinguishers", to the priority of house church meetings, and that it is a season of Harvest...I think that you will find that God has been speaking many of the same things to His Church all around the world. I've had a number of men and women confirm that God has said the same things to them and their communties - Maybe some of the language was/is a little different, but the substance is the same. ...for such a time as this!
If ever the message of "greater grace" was needed, it is NOW. Never have I witnessed a time of greater need than the present for us to access the "greater grace" that God is giving and will give in the days to come! Grace to overcome, grace to extinguish fear, grace to empower...
A Persian woman's healing in a restaurant leads to a night of healings, prophetic ministry and sharing all about Jesus at their home. They invited their friends! God broke in that night in a powerful way - PLEASE GO AND DO LIKEWISE!!!!
Acts 10 is a key chapter revealing what is "new" about the wineskin of House Churches - it is a new day, God is doing something new (which is actually ancient!) and the question is...WILL WE JOIN HIM??? For the sake of the lost in this critical time. May this message be catalytic in changing your thinking - even as it has been in mine. ...for such a time as this!
Dual mandates - the Lord is leading His people at this time. I have never heard Him more clearly. He gave us the mandate to Extinguish Fear, He spoke about it being "Time to Come Home". A message wherein I talk about what God has been saying and doing in this hour.
Yes, it is time for the Church to start gathering again IN PERSON, but it is NOT yet the time for the Church to try to resume big church meetings! Gather = YES! Gather BIG? NO.
Many Christian leaders in America didn't see the COVID-19 pandemic coming and they were unprepared. And then when it hit, they underestimated how devasting it would be! And now, some of them are misunderstanding what God is saying about HOW to begin gathering.
It is TIME to gather IN HOMES!! The bigger meetings will come...but the timing is critical!
For such a time as this!
A call for us all to DO WHAT JESUS WOULD BE DOING IN THIS HOUR!!
Hint: He would not be "staying at home"!
A passionate plea for Christians TO BE CHRISTIANS! For Believers, TO BELIEVE!
Podcast #4 - more stories of God being. the "Way Maker", enabling us to bring the message and the power of the Kingdom of God to fearful, lost people at this time of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
covid19church #covid19 #fearextinguishers #coronavirus #quarantine #curfew #opportunties
A recent message that I gave when the COVID-19 problem was just beginning. I begin by looking at the irony of so-called "Discernment Ministries" that don't actually believe in the gifts God has given us "to discern"! When it comes to the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul did not want us to be unaware or uninformed or ignorant. I explore three questions: 1. How do we GET the Gifts of the Spirit 2. WHO DECIDES what Gifts we get? 3. How do we GROW in the Gifts of the Spirit? for such a time as this!
Podcast #3 about our mandate in these days to be "fear extinguishers" wherever we go. More stories, more encounters and a whole new element that we've been adding in - just praying with people prayers of surrender, of salvation. My heart is to inspire, to encourage - for such a time as this!!
pandemic #covid-19 #coronavirus #fear #prayer #salvation #kingdom #christian #church
It has been 10 days since the Lord spoke to us that our mandate in this hour is to be "FEAR Extinguishers". What you are about to hear are some of the stories of what God has been doing.
My only plea to you is this - DON'T MISS THIS UNPRECEDENTED OPPORTUNITY to minister to the people you meet. This COVID-19 pandemic will end soon enough and this one-in-a-lifetime opportunity will be over.
BECOME LOVE and TAKE God's Kingdom to the people you encounter. Pray for them. For their peace, for their protection and for God to EXTINGUISH any and all fear!
...for such a time as this!
During a time of worship and prayer in the midst of a nation gripped by fear due to the COVID-19 Virus, the Lord clearly spoke to us saying that He wanted us to be "Fear Extinguishers" in a time when hundreds of thousands are full of fear and panicking. Many believers are struggling as well - may this podcast encourage you and remind you of who we are, what we have been given and how God would want us to respond in the midst of this global crisis!
There is still much confusion in the Body of Christ about what constitutes a "false prophet". The word is thrown around all over the place (especially the internet by the hyper critics, the so-called “Discernment Ministries”) and many, if not most of the people using the term, are NOT USING it according to the New Testament concept. They are stuck in the Old Testament concept of a prophet and false prophet and need to move into the New Testament. In short, a false prophet in the NT is NOT a Christian who makes a mistake when prophesying! That is NOT what a false prophet is in the NT. In reality, those who sound the alarm the most, "Beware of False Prophets", are far more likely to be deceived by a false prophet than other Christians, because they deny the operation of the very gifts that the Lord has given His Church to discern and determine who the “false prophets” actually are! Listen and you'll see what I mean.
I find it interesting that non-Charismatic Christians seem to know each and every verse, no matter how obscure, in the Scriptures that ‘seem to teach’ that somehow God isn't as interested in healing as we would contend. I was like that for years. I had my "ammunition" verses to fight off my more Charismatic friends' arguments. Funny, how I completely ignored the DOZENS of passages that completely contradicted my understanding of God and His willingness to heal today. One of the key verses in the arsenal is 2 Timothy 4:19 - This verse has been cited by people for years as some kind of evidence that healing isn't always God's will. In this podcast, I am going consider this oft-quoted verse. What's incredible to me is how much can be 'read into' a verse (called eisegesis) or passage that simply isn't there. I discovered that while I was doing this podcast and meditated on this verse.
I revisit in this message the role we play, and the normal means of grace God has ordained in our PURSUIT of Him and the process called sanctification. God has done and will do His part, but He won't do our part as we cooperate with grace daily to be transformed into the image of His Son. Can I say that again? God WON’T DO OUR PART. That is the way He sovereignly decided to govern His affairs with us.
The so-called "Grace Message" being championed today by self-identified "Grace Teachers" has grown extremely popular especially in charismatic circles. They are even calling it a "Grace Revolution", but is it really the message of Grace that the Apostle Paul, the Apostle of Grace, taught? Are these teachers truly recovering a message they believe has been lost since Apostolic times? Or have they simply re–tooled an ancient false teaching that they've simply rebranded? I not only believe much of what is being taught today in the name of “Grace” constitutes false teaching, but in many cases, it has become heresy. It's not simply "hyper" grace as some critics have called it, but it is a false grace, a counterfeit grace, that leads people to forfeit the very thing these teachers believe they are guarding. Rather than freedom, they are leading many into bondage and deception.
Different parts of the Body of Christ emphasize different aspects of what the New Testament teaches about faith. From the role of faith in our salvation, to the exercising of faith when it comes to the release of God's Kingdom in supernatural ways. This podcast is focused upon the latter concept - a faith that we can grow in and that God expects to increase in the life of every believer. This will challenge BOTH the Evangelical AND the Word of Faith Pentecostal!
This is a message that Charismatics need to take to heart - we can easily neglect the "normal means" God uses instead expecting everything to come "miraculously"! 1 Tim. 4:8 - "For physical training is of some value, but training in godliness is of value in every way both in this life and the life to come". I talk further about things the Lord has been teaching me through my Bible Reading Plan and the NORMAL way He has ordained for us to grow spiritual. Beware - it isn't the "instant" or "automatic" way we so often want.
James 3:16 says that where you find envy, there you will find EVERY EVIL THING. Why is that? In this message, I take a deep look at why envy is so demonic, why it attracts "every evil thing" - Did you know it was Satan's original sin? Yes, nobody told me that either! I cite multiple Early Church Fathers' opinions on the matter.
A sermon about God’s Essential Nature = LOVE (not His Power/Sovereignty) 1 Peter 1:1-3 - Becoming Partakers of the Divine Nature = BECOMING LOVE (OUR PRIMARY ASSIGNMENT) We are X-Men! We lack NOTHING because His Divine Power has given us everything we need for a godly life! (NOTE: Calvinists WILL NOT like this podcast!)
What many don't understand is that the radical Shi'ite Muslims in Iran are looking for the return of their "Messiah" to conquer Jerusalem and set up a one-world Islamic government and that these beliefs are behind what they have done and what they are doing and most importantly WHAT THEY WILL BE DOING in the future. We however know that it is the Lord Jesus Christ who will be returning to establish His eternal Kingdom. And it is this belief that should be fueling those of us who follow Christ!
Reflecting on WHO God is, on WHO we have become and WHAT is available. The primacy of love - why is love at the center of everything? God is love and has invited us into His Kingdom of Love forever!
Apostasy - also known as falling away, abandoning the faith, or the recent woke term "Deconstructionism". What does the Bible teach about this seemingly growing trend? What did the Church believe about it until the 5th century? How/why did that change? What are some of the factors that lead people to abandon the faith? How do we know that we are currently "in the family"? What are the things we can do to ensure we don't fall away?
Looking at Romans 5, 6, 7, 8 and briefly at the rest of of Romans. I explored these questions: What did we inherit from Adam? (What was/is "Original Sin"?) The Early Church differed from Augustine regarding this question. Who is Paul talking about in Romans 7 - himself and believers? Again, the Early Church had one view and Augustine introduced, or shall we say "invented" another view that the Reformers followed. Does the NT consider us "sinners" as Christians? These are extremely important issues and tragically, many Protestants have followed "traditions" for their answers. Martin Luther, was the originator of the concept of the Saint/Sinner dual identity. This message takes on these "traditions of men" and calls us back to the Biblical, Apostolic understandings.
Revisiting this controversial topic - Healing in the Old Testament vs. Healing in the New Testament. Was physical healing a part of the Old Covenant? What were the conditions? Is it a part of the New Covenant? What are the conditions? If so, is physical healing IN THE Atonement? Is healing God's will, and if so, how often? What about those who believe that healing ended? What do we see in Church History? Why don't we see more healing today? These and many other questions - lots of Scripture!!
Continuing in the series of how we can access "Greater Grace" - in this message, I look at two more ways - asking/seeking/knocking and using your gifts.
Continuing to explore how we can access "Greater Grace" in these days where it is needed. In this message, I explore obedience/holiness and fasting.
This is a continuation of the previous message - greater evil requires that we access greater grace to stand, to overcome and to extend His Kingdom.
This is a message about "Greater Grace" (James 4:6) - Why do we need it in the days in which we are living? How can we access it? A critical message as so many believers are not accessing what God has made available.
In Luke 18:8, Jesus wondered about a question - will His followers be living IN FAITH (and all that means) when He returns? This is a question we as His disciples should reflect upon often. Are we living out the faith, are we obeying Him, are we doing what He asked us to do?
There is no message more central to the Christian faith and yet more neglected and more misunderstood than the message of love. this is a life message for me - I need to preach it often and live it daily!
This is part one of a message about BOLDNESS from Acts 4, about LOVE from Matthew 24 and about ENDURANCE from Hebrews 12.
Some new insights that I have had about both boldness and love in this message.
Another sober and challenging consideration of the Christian life in light of eternity. The radical cost of following Jesus for so many of God's children ONLY makes sense in light of eternity. May God awaken within us all this perspective - that this life is only a "vapor" (James 4:14) in comparison to life everlasting in the presence of God.
Are we living at the End of the Age? No one knows, but the things Jesus spoke of in Matthew 24 are happening today all over the world.
The apostasy, the lawlessness, the persecution. Let us all consider our own lives in light of the clear words of Jesus. Let us re-commit ourselves to follow Him with endurance until His Return!
Nothing changes everything like having the Eternal Perspective. So little of what Jesus taught makes any sense UNLESS we ourselves get His perspective - the eternal one. I continue to "explore the space" as to what it means to live our temporal lives from this place.
The mandate all Christians have until Christ Returns - we are brought into the Kingdom and commissioned to "preach the Gospel of the Kingdom" - what does that look like? what does that entail? This is not a secondary issue but our PRIMARY mandate as followers of Christ.
You simply cannot get away from the Biblical truth that LOVE is what God is and what God requires of us. I walk through EVERY NT leader - from Jesus to all of the Apostles who wrote the New Testament. Love IS the key because God Himself is LOVE.
This is message I recently gave about having an eternal perspective. I believe this is one of the keys to living the Christian life and to being able to endure until the end. I will follow this up with other messages in this series.
Note: This is one of the MOST IMPORTANT podcasts I have ever done.
The Kingdom of God was Jesus' PRIMARY message - but it was MORE THAN "a message" - it was a DEMONSTRATION of what it looks like when Heaven invades earth. This is Christianity 101 and yet many Christians are not living this way. May this be our primary message!
in the Kingdom, it is really ALL ABOUT LOVE. God is love, God comes to live within us and calls us to become love in all we are and all we do. Love is the sum of the law and the fulfillment of the law. It was time to revisit the subject.
I was asked this week, "How can we continue to progress in seeing greater breakthrough in healing"? This podcast is a response to that question. How to go after stuff we've never seen healed before? How do we grow and see our faith increase in healing?
"Process" is a bad word in many Christian circles today, but the concept is 100% Biblical and to not understand that spiritual growth and transformation is a process will lead to spiritual disaster/shipwreck. This podcast is a reminder that growth is normally a slow, tedious process that will last a lifetime.
Unbelief, ignorance, lack of love, and the fear of man are all barriers to the life of the Kingdom, but I believe the #1 barrier is lack of commitment. I don't believe so-called "Millennials" shy away from commitment - just look at Extreme Sports athletes today. I believe that the Church however has "misread" them and has sadly offered a "watered-down" version of the Gospel, that essentially is a perversion of the Biblical one.
This topic is critical in these days. There are way too many who "cherry pick" verses to support doctrines and practices that are out of balance at best and false and even heretical at worst. I've done it personally and believe one of the ways God has ordained for us to stay away from such extremes is to always have a systematic Bible reading plan. I hadn't had one for years and God really challenged me to make a change. Here are my thoughts.
Jesus spoke about everything that is hidden will one day be revealed. That is happening in ways today that no one would have ever anticipated. This is a call to repentance in a day when the message of repentance is hardly ever preached.
Elitism is something that will hinder God's Kingdom in the life and ministry of a believer as much as anything else! This podcast is all about the Elite Spirit and a strong exhortation to wage war against it in all of its overt and/or subtle manifestations. It has been a major problem in many ministries, especially in the Charismatic/Pentecostal tradition.
There are those who want to emphasize God's power, control (Sovereignty) as central to His Essence. Others might want to argue that it is Holiness. I contend that the essence of who God is Love and that all other attributes and characteristics flow out of that core reality of our relational God. It begins with the eternal relationship of love within the Holy Trinity - the eternal love that has flowed between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Since it is God's essential nature, so too must it be our primary concern in the Christian life.
In this and the following podcasts, I make the case Biblically that Love trumps all else in the Kingdom.
This is the 2nd part in a series looking at the core message of the Book of Romans. This is a summary of the 3 principles that Mike Bickle identifies as key to living the Christian life - to know who you are (identity), to resist sin and the enemy and to pursue God and His Kingdom.
This is the first part of a message about the 3 key principles in the Book of Romans. Mike Bickle identifies these 3 principles - Knowing, Resisting and Pursuing. It is these 3 things that together will lead us to be able to live the Christian lives God has called us to. Neglecting any of these three principles will pretty much guarantee that we will get into error and/or live defeated Christian lives.
There continues to be a lot of "name calling" in the Body of Christ and this past week I had the interesting experience of interacting via email with a man who believes a number of the men/women and ministries that we value are in fact made up of "false prophets" and "false teachers" - this podcast will evaluate these claims. I do in fact believe there are both false prophets and teachers around today, but sadly many of the "heresy hunters" don't even use the New Testament criteria to determine who they are. I will consider some of those criteria and expose why many of these so-called "Discernment Ministries" are in fact bearing false witness.
This is probably the most common question we are asked - "How do you keep a supernatural lifestyle and ministry going"? So many catch a vision, and even get started but 6 months later, or after a year or two they feel like things haven't increased at all. So many I've known seem to give up the expectation that miracles can be a normal part of their lives and end up settling for so much less than God has for them.
This podcast is all about HOW - how to keep growing a Kingdom life, seeing regular healings and making sure that things don't ever go back to the way they were.
This is a teaching given by a prophetic teacher named Isaac of Ninevah who is based in the Middle East. There are some ministries out there that don't want you to know what you are about to hear because then you will be better able to hear and discern God's voice for yourselves and won't "need" their prophetic giftings. Isaac is a true trainer/equipper in the Body of Christ and has been teaching others to hear God's voice for many years now. His teaching here on the imagination is as good as you will hear anywhere.
This is the first part of a message I gave recently about "learning how to love". I reflected upon the love and relationship of the Trinity and our invitation to participate in the love of the Trinity as we see to love people around us. We saw the Lord move powerfully this weekend as we took this love to the streets.
This was given in the wake of two days of outreach which included loving the homeless, and in particular homeless teenage runaways. It dawned on me as I was about to speak that essentially "Jesus became homeless" to save us. He left the secure, eternal fellowship of love that He existed within inside the Trinity and became homeless so that we could be brought home.
there are teachers out there today teaching that we aren't expected to "obey" certain teachings of Jesus as Christians? even though Jesus said that "if you love me, you will obey my commandments".
As foolish as this teaching is, there is another aspect/element of obeying Jesus that we should all take seriously - we are COMMANDED to heal the sick. That is what this podcast is all about - obeying Jesus' command to heal. Some other teachers who basically believe that we are to obey Jesus' teachings in the Gospels, neglect this command.
This is a hard-hitting message about a clear commandment, a clear commission AND sadly an almost universal neglect.
it is truly the miraculous that is getting muslims' attention and bringing them to Christ. this podcast is about some recent testimonies of several muslims who have given their lives to Jesus after encountering things like healings, prophetic revelation and even visitations by Jesus Himself.
this week a muslim man was healed and then tells me, "My sister became a Christian after this happened to her"! I continue to get inquiries from people wondering about what happens to the people who are healed. Do they "get saved"? Oftentimes we don't know what happens. We are simply fulfilling Jesus' mandate to heal the sick and when we can we seek to communicate as much of the Kingdom "message" as we can. We sow widely and trust that God will bring the increase.
this podcast is part of our manifesto "to be love" to the people we meet - Jesus commands us to "heal the sick" (Matt 10:8, Luke 9:2, Luke 10:9). are you walking in obedience to His command?
John 5:19 tells us that Jesus only did what He saw His Father doing. This verse has been used and even abused by many in the Body of Christ to justify an approach to ministry, particularly supernatural Kingdom ministry. In the podcast, I hope to challenge some of our preconceived ideas about the way this verse has been interpreted and applied.
In John 10:37, Jesus made an incredible statement - one that most Christians are absolutely sure doesn't apply to us today. I believe it does. He said that if He didn't do the works of His Father (referencing the miracles) then people were free NOT to believe Him. In fact, He told them not to believe. What would happen if a Church were to arise doing Kingdom works, and challenging an unbelieving world not to believe its message unless it did the miracles that Jesus did? I believe we'd see the greatest release of God's power in History! I believe in response that God would dispatch more angels to back up His Word and to confirm the Lordship of Jesus Christ to a world that has yet to Jesus fully and accurately represented before them.
This is Part 2 continuing from last week's podcast. I transition in the podcast from testimonies to a message about the primacy of love in our desire to reach out to people with God's power.
In many ways, this has become part of my life's core message - I want to bring God's Kingdom to a lost world, but if we "have not love, we are nothing" (1 Cor. 13:2).
It really doesn't matter if we demonstrate power but don't incarnate love.
a wireless network is a great analogy for the way the Gifts of the Spirit work. we can access the resources of heaven at any time, using the same password and needing no "external device". listen to learn more about how to access and utilize the network of God's Kingdom whenever you want and wherever you are.
This is a follow up to the last podcast looking primarily at the question of whether the Gifts of the Spirit are primarily residential (i.e. we possess them) or are they available in the need of the moment for any believer.
someone asked me a question this morning about whether the Gifts of the Spirit are given by God's initiative or do we have a role. Great question - I thought I'd try to answer it. Maybe you know someone who has the same question.
Listening to a well-known radio Bible teacher, I heard him clearly say that God only speaks today through the Bible. This podcast is an attempt to show not only why this man's teaching is clearly unBiblical, it is actually sin because we are COMMANDED to pursue the Charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit - i.e. 1 Cor. 14:1. The worst thing however is that by denying God's revelatory gifts for today, it leaves the believer/Church without critical weapons that we have been given to build the Kingdom, resist the enemy and to walk intimacy with God.
Here's Part 2 - in this episode I share a number of examples of God releasing "Pentecostal Empowerment" in the week or so. It's not enough to talk about "being empowered for service" - we actually need to demonstrate this power if in fact we possess it. It is actually two dimensions of power - the power to heal the sick (and/or effect miracles) AND the ability (power) to hear the voice of God. This podcast also focuses on that 2nd dimension because Pentecost was also all about hearing the voice of God (dreams, visions, etc.).
and yet again, Pentecost's baptism WASN'T about speaking in tongues!
This Sunday is Pentecost. There are many perspectives on what happened that day and what its relevance is for us today. For many Charismatics/Pentecostals they are content with the fact that they speak in tongues. Pentecost wasn't about tongues. Many Evangelicals believe they were "baptized with the Holy Spirit" when they became Christians. Pentecost wasn't about salvation - they were already "saved". What was Pentecost? Do we currently possess "the power" that Pentecost was/is all about? Listen and consider.
If you look at the way most of the Church trains people, you'd think that Jesus spent most of His time leading Bible Studies. Surely He taught, but He did so much more. Rather than simply teach, He MODELED a life of miracles in front of their eyes. Then in INVITED THEM TO JOIN HIM - in other words, He did miracles WITH THEM. Finally, He released them to go and do it by themselves.
When are we going to get back to a Biblical model of training? That's what this podcast is all about.
This week a Christian friend declared, "God has blessed me with deafness". However, Jesus declared that one of the indicators of the presence of the Kingdom of God was "the deaf hear". He never 'blessed' anyone with deafness - He only destroyed it!
Frankly there is just a lot of bad theology out there - theology that attributes to God what the Bible attributes to the kingdom of darkness. This is a gross representation of God's character and will.
This podcast is an attempt to combat a major lie that continues to be perpetrated in the name of truth - namely that God is behind sickness and disease in the life of His children.
This podcast is an attempt to demystify and break down what the word of knowledge is, who can move in it, how to move in it and I'll end with an impartation/activation.
I believe this podcast will release faith and help to activate you to move in words of knowledge TODAY.
why do so many Christians focus on the exceptional passages and miss the main and plain? In this podcast, I do a bit of an overview of Luke's Gospel, looking at 2 passages in particular that show us what Jesus' ministry REALLY looked like. is our theology more shaped by our experience, or by the Word of God? Listen and consider.
o.k., so we've contended for it, but what about releasing it? this podcast documents a number of things that we saw this past week or so as God's Power came to heal people and as His Voice came prophetically to speak to people.
of course, as usual - you are ALL ENCOURAGED to try these things at home, at work, at the mall, etc. etc.
Mike Bickle rightly notes that many Christians take a passive approach when it comes to moving in God's power - his commentary on such an approach however is devastating, it is "how you are guaranteed to end up with no power in your midst".
This podcast is about the issue of pursuing God's power - to fight for it, to relentlessly go after it UNTIL you've got it and are moving it in on a regular basis.
The other night I had one of the most accurate (and therefore spooky) words of knowledge that I've ever received. As much as I have pursued, and have desired the word of knowledge and as much as I have flowed in it, there might have been a different reason why it came the other night in particular as accurately as it did. Listen and find out what my theory is....
many Christians think that healing the sick is really a secondary issue when it comes to the Gospel. Was healing a secondary issue in the life and ministry of Jesus? Sure, He proclaimed a MESSAGE but He also demonstrated the truth of that message by HEALING the sick and CASTING OUT DEMONS.
this podcast explores this question.
Jesus' primary message - the focus of His preaching was the KIngdom of God. Many Christians throughout the centuries shifted their focus from the Kingdom to the Church. Some mistakenly teach that the Church and the Kingdom of essentially synonymous terms. The Kingdom is more comprehensive than the Church. Whereas the living Church is a part of the Kingdom, the Kingdom of God is far more widespread.
This is a topic that I explore a bit in this podcast.
So much controversy surrounding the topic of being "baptized in the Holy Spirit" - I still like what Billy Graham said, "I don't care how you get the Holy Spirit, just get HIM". Acts 19:1-7 was highlighted to me this week (also my wife independently). Different Christians have argued over what is going on in this passage - but one thing is clear, PROPHECY was one of the fruits of the encounter these people had. That's what this podcast is all about.
Some Christians have focused upon character and de-emphasized the need to pursue power. Others have focused more on the power side of the equation. To emphasize either one, and neglect the other is to be Biblically unbalanced.
We need to pursue Character AND Power (or as some would say - the FRUITS and the GIFTS of the Holy Spirit.
This podcast is all about this very issue. Let's blow up this false dichotomy for good. We need BOTH.
Paul writes to the Church at Corinth that they didn't lack any spiritual gift (1 Cor. 1:7) - an amazing affirmation when you consider all the negative things commentators have said about the Corinthian Church through the ages.
What about us? The community we are a part of? Could Paul address a letter to us with the same words of affirmation? Listen and see.
God has given us gifts. As Jack Deere describes, "they are tools that God has given us to express His love". This podcast is about the way this week that God released through us words of knowledge.
Don't neglect the gift(s), Paul wrote to Timothy that he was given through the laying on of hands. If we're honest, we have to admit that we sometimes neglect the gifts that God has given us like Timothy. I want this podcast to be an encouragement for us all not to neglect these gifts but to make the most of every opportunity that the Lord gives us.
What is God's will when it comes to healing? This is not a new question that we've considered, but in recent weeks in the midst of numerous physical healings, the question comes up all the time (especially when we don't see breakthrough in healing).
May this podcast help us to become the Kingdom healers God intends!
I know we focus almost exclusively on signs, wonders and miracles. what about the "Gift of Teaching"? This podcast is for all you out there who don't really go for the healing and prophetic stuff - fasten your seat belts as we EXPLORE THE SPACE yet again - could be the most controversial podcast i've done yet - I sure hope so:)
We are instructed to pray for God's Kingdom to come and His will to be done - on earth AS IT IS in heaven. Establishing "pain-free" zones in people's bodies is part of this mandate. Revelation 21:4 tells us that in heaven there is NO PAIN, and therefore we need to bring that 'pain-free' realm and release it into the lives of the people we minister to - physical pain, emotional pain. All types of pain are absent in heaven and therefore we can and should seek to eliminate them here.
too many charismatics (if not most of them) are still living/modeling/expecting no more than an OT model of charismatic ministry - wherein a select 'few' had the anointing and everyone else stood around and watched. The model of a select group of 'superstars' (prophets, apostles, etc) seem to 'perform' while the vast majority of charismatics clap their hands (and write their checks).
EVERY believer in the NT is expected to move in God's supernatural power - to heal the sick, to prophesy and do the things the "Apostles and Prophets" did/do. Let's get out of the OT!
Arguably the fear of man is one of the greatest, if not the greatest hindrance/obstacle we face as we seek to live a life of miracles. Most of us don't often recognize it as it can so easily disguise itself behind subtle (or even overt) excuses.
If we can overcome our fear of man, we will be able to do the things God asks us consistently and destroy the works of the devil.
I believe we live in a world where it is critical for the Church to demonstrate the Kingdom in some supernatural way 1st AND THEN, 2nd we begin to talk (preach/teach or whatever) to the unbelieving world. Talk is cheap and is to be found in every religion and every philosophy. The Apostles NEVER intended that we would reduce our message to a gospel of words. Somehow many have lost sight of that!
in response to a question I was asked recently, I've put together this podcast to really address the whole question of how in the world we get started in seeing miracles happen in and through our lives. Oftentimes in the beginning, we see some incredibly gifted person flowing in a gift of the Holy Spirit and wonder "how will I ever get there"? This podcast explores that question.
We no longer live in the days of Job. Satan was NOT a defeated foe at that time. He simply cannot do now what he could do then. Too many Christians read the Book of Job not taking into account that the tables were turned on the Kingdom of darkness when Jesus came onto the scene. His life, death and resurrection changed everything. Assuming that the way things were in Job's day are the way things are today is simply bad theology!
The fear of deception is one of the greatest hindrances for Christians pursuing God's power and His Kingdom. Let our God be bigger than our devil. In the end, the ones who will be susceptible to deception will be those who have not matured in the things of the Spirit.
A look at how the Gospel spread in the beginning - What were the factors that allowed a persecuted faith to take over the Roman Empire?
Depending upon the theological background, the answer to this question (what were the factors that enabled a persecuted, minority faith to take over the Roman Empire?) is extremely varied. A Yale professor, Dr. Ramsey McMullen (a secular scholar), SHOCKED the Christian world with his answer. You may be shocked as well!!