Seeing Is Believing Building Your Faith, Part 8

“And the Father Himself, which hath sent me, hath born witness of me. Ye hath neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape. And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom He has sent, him ye believe not. Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they that testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” (John 5:37-40 KJV)

What is Jesus saying here? How about here…

“Not everyone that sayeth to me, “Lord, Lord”, shall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven. Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not Prophesied in Thy name? Have we not cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And I will profess unto them, “I never knew you. Depart from me, ye that work Iniquity. Therefore whoso heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man that buildeth his house upon a rock: and the rains decended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon the house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.” (Mat. 21-25 KJV)

Scripture interpretation is often debated. Scripture is often worshipped. I would like to ask people to notice the three things that are common to all these passages of scripture listed above, and below. There are three common body parts that are mentioned in all these verses. What are they?

They are the tongue, the ear, and the eye.

Those that know me, know I often use the phrase “Bible worshipper”, and quote Romans1:25. What is a “hearer” of a word, or a “doer” of a word?

What does the written word say to “do”?

The Gospel is a simple message, with dire consequences. We are all headed to our doom, thanks to a thief, liar, and murderer. We need a Saviour. Jesus came, died, and rose again. Then what happened?

What is the “stumbling stone”, or the “Rock laid in Sion, that has become a Rock of offence, and a stumbling stone”? (Romans 9:33)

Some people will stumble at the simple message of the Gospel, and therefore, God gives them over to exactly what they search for. If they realize the simple message is that Jesus lives, and is the only authority to get this ball rolling, and that the Scripture says this…

that first, and foremost, you will have to find the risen Jesus. Not find a story about Him, but Him.

He has sent me, weather you believe this or not, and will send you also. The first thing you will learn about God is that none of us are special, and Paul is no better than me, or you. Paul even said that.

Two verses before you can get started:

Then said Jesus to them again, “Peace be unto you; as My Father hath sent me, even so I send you.” (John 20:21 KJV) This was after the resurrection. This is the witness that Jesus speaks of also in Acts 1:8. “You will receive power once the Holy Ghost is upon you, and ye will be witnesses unto me…”Now in 2nd Corinthians 13:1, and 2nd Timothy 2:2; both say that this is a “passed on”, by word of mouth, written word, and the laying on of hands…a very powerful witness. One that can, and more importantly must be, seen with your eyes, and heard with your ears (John 20:21)…

or else you bear a “false” witness.

You can not witness to a resurrected Jesus, that you have not seen with your eyes, nor heard with your ears, period.
John 20:21?…read on after verse 21, and don’t be Thomas.

This is enough on this. The Scripture “speaks” for itself. Or does it? Bible worshipping is a prophecy, and a stumble at words. Written, and spoken, but the trick is, who is speaking to you?

Even better, is anyone at all literally speaking to you the words of God?

“In the law it is written, with men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, sayeth the Lord.” 1st Cor. 14:21 (KJV) and “For with stammering lips and another tongue will He speak to His people. To whom He said, “This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest, and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the Lord was unto them precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, and there a little, that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken”. Isaiah 28:11-13 (KJV)

Precept? Look at the word precept above. What is “precept”? It means your mind is already made up, and therefore, a closed door.

“The Lord is with you, while ye be with Him; and if ye seek Him, He will be found of you; but if ye forsake Him, He will forsake you” 2Chronicles 15:2 (KJV)

“But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find Him, if thou seek Him with all thy heart and with all thy soul”. ( Deuteronomy 4:29 (KJV)

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that commeth to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that dilligently seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6 KJV)

Now. One last thing to ask yourself, if you happen to believe the Bible is the end of the road in your search. This one verse should ring a bell. I begs me to ask you a question.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to hm, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Rev. 3:20 KJV)

Question: How can a book knock on a door.

Can you hear with your ears, the voice of a book, so as to answer this door?

Can a book come in to your room for a visit?

To you that have not witnessed the resurrection first hand…a really big question, and one best not taken likely.

Do you want to meet the risen Jesus, or not?

This is the entire message of the Gospel. He that seeks Jesus with their entire being, their soul, and all their heart…can find Him, because He is alive.

It boils down to how important it is to you. The truth of this should scare you.

“Even as I was sent, so I send you…The Father Himself hath sent me. Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His shape…and finally, our destination…Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man commeth unto the Father, but by me.” This is the end game. And Deuteronomy 4:29 ought to be your new favorite verse. I’ll say it again. The truth of this should scare you. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom, knowledge, and understanding”
Is your room empty? Is anyone missing in it?

It is my desire that the first audible words you hear from Jesus, when you meet Him for the first time, are not, “Depart from me, because I never knew you”.

-Peace all

Building Your Faith, Part 7 In His Name…

And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh…Ecclesiastes 12:12 (KJV)

In The Name Of The Father, And Of The Son…

“He that findeth his life shall loose it: and he that looseth his life for my sake shall find it. He that receiveth you, receiveth me, and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward”… Matthew 10:39-41 (KJV)

Many will say to me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied ‘in thy name‘? and ‘in thy name‘ have cast out devils? and ‘in thy name’ done many wonderful works?” And then I will profess unto them, “I never knew you. Depart from me, ye that work iniquity”… “For he taught them ‘as one having authority’, not as the Scribes.” (“as” one having authority? What? Didn’t Jesus have the authority???  Actually, no, He did not.) Matthew 7: 22-23, and 29(KJV)

He was “in His Father’s name and authority“.  He was here on behalf of his Father. Jesus did not do miracles. God, the Father did miracles through Jesus. What do you suppose Jesus meant by this? “I can of myself do nothing”? Read John 5: 30-31 (KJV), “I can of mine own self do nothing. If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.”

What is “in my name”? What is “in” yours? …”and there he builded an alter unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord.” Why did Abram, (who later became Abraham) call upon the name of the Lord, and not just simply call upon the the Lord?

Paul said this…”for I know nothing by my self…” 1 Corinthians 4:4(KJV). John said this…”He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth, an no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. (in other words, the Spirit is not portioned out, but given whole, and entirely) The father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.”John 3: 31-35(KJV)

Note this next verse now, write it down, because the subject will seem to change. This sentence is what this lesson is about, and below we will look at the “when” all this will happen. This verse should be meditated on. Matthew 7:29(KJV)
For he taught them ‘as one’ having authority, and not as the scribes. The Scribes had a “‘form‘ of Godliness, but no power. 2Timothy 3:5(KJV)

We’ve been on the subject of faith, and the reality of Jesus in your life now, as opposed to “one day soon”. Jesus says this…“I have heard thee ‘in a time accepted’, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, ( means ‘see this’), now is the accepted time, behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:2(KJV)

Above, Jesus said “I have heard thee”. This is past tense. He goes on to say…“in ‘a’ time accepted”, also, past tense.
Then He says, “now is the accepted time”. This is present tense. Now? When is “now”? Now can be any time, that’s up to you. What time is Jesus talking about? He is talking about time “of acceptance”. Okay, who is accepting something? Or, what is being accepted?

I also mentioned before about your mind adding words to scripture, and that the words “added” come from an enemy. An enemy that makes subtle suggestions in your mind…”and the serpent was more subtle than any beast in the field.” Genesis 3:1(KJV), “And God said, “Who told thee that thou wast naked?” Genesis 3:11(KJV) Adam “thought” he was naked, and believed the thought, and the belief (faith in the thought) made the thought manifest the reality of nakedness, and then he really was naked, but only because he believed he was. The belief comes first, then the reality. People assume that “I see it, then I know I see it, Is it is there, so I believe it is really there.” Actually, the thought comes into your mind first that it “may be there, why don’t you look?”, and that thought comes strait from the d(evil).

Now, back to today’s lesson. Who is accepting who? What has to be accepted? Look at this verse. Jesus is saying…“Verily (surely) I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.” Now wait a minute. That was two thousand years ago. Then He says this, “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.”.

What hour are we talking about? What “time of acceptance“?

The hour of acceptance?  The reason no man knows the hour, or day Jesus “is coming back”, is simply because of this…

No man could possibly know when you will “accept what is ‘at hand’ now”. (not later).

“behold,now is the accepted time, behold, now is the (if you deside it is)(“accepted”) day of salvation…”
2Corinthians 6:2 (KJV)

We will continue. It is enough for “now” 🙂 Just to recap, “in his name” means something. It means when we pray, and add “in Jesus name I pray” to the end, doesn’t necessarily mean you are acting on His behalf.

Faith is more than just saying the right words. Peace.

Building Your Faith Part 6: Bind The Strongman

Building Your Faith Part 6: Bind The Strongman.

Building Your Faith Part 6: Bind The Strongman

I am me, and I am not. I am me, and I am too. Jesus taught me not to let my left hand know what my right hand is doing. [Matthew 6:3] My right hand thinks my left hand doesn’t know what it’s doing. On the other hand…when I am aware of both hands, there appears a third person with hands of his own. Who do I follow? One of my “selves”, or the guy that holds his hand up saying, “gimmie a hand”? (that’s me too)

Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Ok; which hand? I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to grab something. It will probably end up being a cup of coffee and a cigarette. Here is where I find a problem…Suppose there is something in your life you do, but wish you didn’t. Smoking, overeating, getting angry, etc…why can’t you just stop after a simple decision? Why not? What makes addiction even possible? It sometimes seems as if my mind has a mind of it’s own. Ok, suppose you think you have no addictions. Would you believe sickness was one? How about death? Old age?

I once told a psychologist that we all hear voices. After he explained why only abnormal people hear voices, I asked him; “Do you think in English?”.

“Who” controls me (at times) when I can’t seem to control myself? Who is doing the smoking? Me? Which me? Who is making coffee for who? Who wants a doughnut? Who feels bad sometimes? Me? It’s bad enough not knowing what we are; even worse not knowing who we are.

[ Matthew 12:25] [Mark 3:25] “A house divided against itself shall not stand” We are a house.

It seems that sometimes I am the gracious host of a house guest. Either I have a host; have a guest; or I am a host, depending on how you want to look at it. Or, am I all of the above? Actually, I am the host, I am the guest, and I am the house where “they” all live. Either way, one of the “meeees”, wants to smoke, and one does not, and the house suffers.

We were created as a tabernacle. A house, temple, or dwelling place for a spirit (or two, or three, or more in some cases). Psychologist use words like conscience, subconscious, and ego to describe different “parts” of the mind. Jesus tries to show us our duality, and teach unification of the mind. [James 1:8] “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” Jesus also says to rule your own house. [Matthew 24: 45-47]

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he commeth shall find so doing. Verily, I tell you that he shall make him ruler over all His goods.”

I prefer to think I’m the good one, and the “bad” one want’s to smoke. Jesus says there are at least two “yous”. Body and spirit? Soul? The un-unified mind creates a third, and altogether different being. One you is “fed” more, and becomes the “strongman” of your (house), which is also you. Jesus says to “bind the strongman”. Most of the verses about this are either hid, controversial, misread, and therefore…not known. Early Christians were hunted and killed by those that wished to stay in control. The original teachings were modified in an attempt to keep people from understanding them.

Why does God let these things happen?

So we can learn, and know, and to see who’s faithful to Him. Taught one way by one, and another way by another, obscure passages pose a problem. Ironically, the reason they are obscure is because they were written to only one “you”; but read by all you(s). God also knows His people will read through whatever anybody does to his words. “My sheep hear my voice.” [John 10:27] Jesus also teaches us to study, and watch ourselves. Learn yourself. When “you” do something, watch yourself doing it. Does it seem as though you are led to do things? Since faith comes by hearing; He says to “take heed” how you hear (or read). After reading a verse, can you see yourself talking it over with yourself? The word is “ponder”.

[Luke 8:18] “Take heed therefore how you hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall more be given; And whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken what he seemeth to have.” Notice the word “seemeth”? So how do we “take heed”? What is the right way to hear (or read)? Know this…that both him that hath, and him that hath not… are both you. This teaching will cause conflict, and division in your mind. I hope so. The strongman is in your house, and having himself a smoke…enjoying his goods. He is not going to like you spoiling his fun. [Matthew 12:29] “Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house.” Luke 12:51: “Suppose ye that I come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division.”

I teach a lot about how the mind “adds to” the Scriptures. Jesus warned of this in Revelation 22:18. For instance the Scriptures read, “and all eyes shall see Him”…and the mind adds, “at once”. So it gets taught as such;  making blind leaders of the blind. And they wonder why their faith doesn’t work. Then it turns into a fairytale. [2 Timothy 4:4], ” And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned into fables.” {see “Dead Man Down” for more on this, and the fable of Jesus Christ} Jesus speaks to our dual nature often in Scripture. The verses are read as though they refer to two people. Jesus speaks to the same, double minded man.

The rapture is one such teaching. Two will be together; one will be taken, and one will be left. One “you” wants to think there are two separate people, one good, and one evil. God will take one to heaven, and burn the other sucker to a crisp! People miss the word “together”, and don’t realize they are the same person. As a result, the teaching is a fairytale version of us all looking up to a beautiful drama in the sky, with magic flying people. That would be great, except God is patient, and doesn’t wish to burn anyone, no matter what you think.

Jesus said in Matthew 16:28, “There are some standing here now that will not taste of death until they see the Son of man coming in his glory.” He said that two thousand years ago, and they did see Him…as will we…but it doesn’t say, “all at once”. There is a lot of Scripture about this. Most are obscure, and most are controversial. The reason is simple, actually. As you follow this series on faith, you will learn that faith is what we see, as described below, and not what we hope to see. I’ll give you a hint. It is reality, and reality is not the same for us all at once.

We want to see the mountain move. With the faith I now have, an atheist can shoot me, see me die, and watch as I am buried. Believe me or not, that is not what I will see. This is also how some have already seen us “all  at once” go up… and some have yet to see us “all at once” go up. The end day battle is played out every day for someone. So are all the other scenes. We see time because of faith, and like everything else we see, such as the mountain that refuses to move, it is but a fairytale version. As a result, the “truth” (as mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:4) of the mountain moving becomes the fairytale.[2 Corinthians 6:2] “…behold, now is the excepted time, behold, now is the excepted day of salvation.”

[Matthew 6;22-23] “The light of the body is the eye; if thine eye be single, the whole body is full of light. But if thine eye be evil (opposite of single?), thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”

[Hebrews 11:11] “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Faith is substance not seen; hoped for; then seen. Hebrews 11:11 is usually taught that faith is: “just believe” without seeing. Think about the word “evidence” in that passage. The teaching supposed to be that faith is the actual thing hoped for, and seen. Faith is the evidence of the thing, not the hope of it. We want to see the actual substance in the physical. If this were not possible, then it’s all a big waste of time. If the mountain will not actually move, then why bother reading all this….it’s a waste of time.

How you read, see, and hear makes you think what you think. “Faith commeth by hearing…”What you think also makes you see what you see. The Bible has a rhythm. The righteous shall bla bla bla, but the wicked will bla bla bla. If you think the righteous verses are for you, and the wicked for someone else, then you are only reading half the teaching. Only one of you will prevail, and become stronger than the other in your body (house).

You have to first “bind the strongman” of the (house), as Jesus says.

In order to do that, we must first locate him. In order to do that we must take heed how we hear. When we ponder (talk it over with ourselves), “to heed” is to watch ourselves. See which “you” makes the final decision, and more importantly…he will be the one that “decides” that a decision must be made. One of Jesus points to note is this…While all this talking among “ourselves” is going on, nobody is listening to Jesus….the speaker of the words. [Revelation 2:9] “To him that hath an ear to hear…(I love this next part)… let “him” hear.”

From the Gospel of Thomas:
Text 11: “On the day you were one, you became two. But when you became two, what will you do?

For more reference, and some “other” Scriptures from the Gospel of Thomas, and related verses from King Jams Bible, see “Footnote for the binders“