Hidden Wisdom From Above
This morning I just had a real strong desire to write. I did not know what to write, in fact the last time I had something that I truly wanted to share, I just didn’t have the time to write it as I started a new job and have been working many hours. Instead I posted a brief “thought for the day” on my facebook about it. It was something that I found to be truly wonderful and yet I was surprised it didn’t get the attention that I thought it would.
As you all know by now, I love it when the “SPIRIT” of the scriptures are uncovered. Because as we all know by now it is the SPIRIT OF THE STORY that gives us life, not the LETTER (literal) understanding of it. We are meant to be ministers of the SPIRIT, of the heart of truth and love, not ministers of historical fact or literal repetition.
2 Corinthians 3:6
Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
It is the SPIRIT that gives one peace. It is that AHA moment, when you finally understand what it all means that changes a person’s heart. The focus should never be on the reciting of a particular story or accepting it to be literally true. The focus should always be on what IT ALL MEANS. It is the SPIRIT of the story that has been hidden away within the story that we are destined to share.
We are to share the meaning of the GOSPEL (good news) not simply the repetition of it. What does it matter if you can repeat every single word of the nativity story, if you don’t realize that THIS STORY is YOUR STORY. What does it matter if you can repeat page after page of scripture if you don’t first know what it means?
WHAT IS THE MYSTERY THAT HAS BEEN HIDDEN? That is what we must share. THE SPIRIT of the mystery tucked away neatly within the author’s story.
1 Corinthians 2:7
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory
And this mystery is CHRIST IN YOU! But merely repeating those words means nothing, IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU!
Proverbs 26:7
The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
This simple passage reveals a great mystery. The Author is telling you what a LAME man is. Re-read the passage… now what is the LAME man a symbol of?
RIGHT! A FOOL! One who does not know the TRUTH. One who has yet to have the SPIRIT of the PARABLE revealed. One who has yet to have the TRUTH heal his FOOLISH AFFLICTION. And CHRIST (the TRUTH reveals in mankind) HEALS the LAME.
So what I wanted to share recently was the parable of the man with the withered hand. Jesus healed him on the sabbath. This was the short poem I posted, in hopes someone would pick up on its hidden meaning.
When Jesus healed the man with the withered hand, the point wasn’t just to prove that on the Sabbath God had a different plan. The point was to show, that all it takes is compassion for anyone’s hand to grow. This is all allegory you see, for the spiritually and emotionally crippled to be free, all it takes is love and charity. This is why before the man was healed he was first told to “stretch forth his hand”… This for everyone is God’s plan. What we do for others we do for ourselves. This is the key to freedom and how all those hurting will be made well… Our Hand has been withered for far too long, our authority and power needs to be restored so we can begin to sing a new song. We too need to STRETCH FORTH OUR HAND to those in need and I promise when we do our hand that has been withered by lies and greed will be made whole and the peace we have all longed for we will finally see. So today I will Stretch forth your hand, not just for you but for me.
What I was trying to do was show people the SPIRIT of this story. Look, it doesn’t matter one bit whether a man named Jesus literally healed a person’s hand. HOW DOES BELIEVING THIS CHANGE A PERSON? The answer is… IT DOESN’T. All it creates is confusion. Because “as Jesus is so are we in this world.”
1 John 4:17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
Now if this be true, then why can’t you or I just go up to someone without a limb, or who is lame and instantly heal them? The answer is, because the literal healing of the person IS NOT WHAT IS IMPORTANT! God only wants two things from us, LOVE GOD, LOVE OTHERS. If you do this, all of God’s law and spirit is fulfilled.
So how does one see that LOVE is the answer in these stories of people being healed?
One must see the parable! One must learn the hidden wisdom of God.
We must look at each word in scripture and find out what they represent. For the sake of time, I will only share one scripture as a description.
Let’s look at that scripture.
Luke 6:6
And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
The SABBATH is when we are meant to enter into REST. Meaning we have no more fear, we have hope, peace, we have stopped our works (vain effort) and we trust in God.
However, here we see that MAN (us) on the SABBATH (when we should be resting) found ourselves to have a right hand that was withered.
Now we understand that CHRIST (The TRUTH/Way/Life) of God is the RIGHT HAND OF GOD… So this must mean, that the TRUTH of God is of none effect in our lives. The authority of Love has withered, when it should be whole. Now watch how we begin to unravel the meaning of the withered hand.
The HAND = One Power, Ability, Influence
Exodus 15:6
Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in POWER
The MAN is the story, is always a representation of US. FOR we are the MEN AND WOMEN of scripture.
To have the Power of God withered in your life, means you are not ruled by the TRUTH. When something withers it is first starved of water (doctrine/teaching/understanding). The good news is, there is a way to heal this. And that is found in STRETCHING OUT YOUR HAND.
I hope by now you see that this ALLEGORY is about how the authority and power and love of God is restored when the MAN (us) begins to STRETCH OUT OUR HANDS!!!! Meaning we must LOVE OTHERS! When we do this we are made whole again and the power and authority of God’s truth is restored whole in our lives so we can finally do GOOD!
Because we MUST do good on the sabbath, not evil. We should be resting, we should be loving, we should be trusting, and to do this we MUST understand the SPIRIT of the story. Not just of scripture but of our lives.
Gal 4
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants
The LITERAL is slavery, but the SPIRITUAL iS LIFE! It is time for us to look past the literal and see the SPIRIT of it all.
Every writer loves to delve into allegory as it does more than just paint the picture for you, it allows the picture to unfold into your imagination into something that lives.
Let me explain what I mean by using the classic “Moby Dick” to illustrate. In Melville’s amazing tale, the White Whale and the journey to hunt it down means so much more than just some man trying to get revenge.
For those that don’t know the story, here is a brief synopsis from good ole Wikipedia…
The story tells the adventures of wandering sailor Ishmael, and his voyage on the whaleship Pequod, commanded by Captain Ahab. Ishmael soon learns that Ahab has one purpose on this voyage: to seek out Moby Dick, a ferocious, enigmatic white sperm whale. In a previous encounter, the whale destroyed Ahab’s boat and bit off his leg, which now drives Ahab to take revenge.
Now on one level this story tells an exciting tale, but if one were to just take this story at face value, the true meaning would forever be lost. Because this “White Whale” is not just a literal whale. It symbolizes something greater. Whether it is inner conflict or worldly pressures, well that depends greatly on what the reader needs to learn at the moment.
Every element of Moby Dick, as well as many others classic tales, contain great hidden wisdom. That goes also for Ahab’s “Leg” which was more than just a literal leg but the ability to move on, or “The ship”, “The Crew”, “Ishmael” himself, all of which has a deeper, allegorical meaning.
When the greater truth of a story is uncovered the life of the reader can be changed… Or so that is the hope of every author.
Within my novel, The Calling, characters, locations and scenarios all have a deeper meaning. It was my desire for people to read this novel again and again and have the ability to take something new away from it. This is the same way I read the scriptures.
However, if one were to read my novel, strictly as a literal story, sure it would be an exciting ride but they would miss the “LIFE/SPIRIT” of the story, which I believe could truly make a difference in their lives, much like Melville’s tale, or “Tom Sawyer” and of course the greatest book of them all, The Bible (IN MY HUMBLE OPINION).
But how can one experience change and learn this great wisdom from above, if one doesn’t pray for IT and seek after the deeper meaning.
The question is, how do we SEE this deeper meaning? Who holds the keys to unlocking the treasures hidden away from “literal” sight?
Isaiah 48:6
…I have shewed thee new things from this time, even hidden things, and thou didst not know them.
We are being shown things all the time. But in the past we didn’t really pay attention. However, today is different, today MANY are waking up. Many are seeing God and the truth of God in a new LIGHT (a new way of seeing the scriptures). Where once people didn’t know how to find the truth within now they are learning that all one needs to do is ask.
“Teach me the Truth Lord, No Matter What The Cost!” – This was my prayer, but that prayer was first a desire that was planted within me. I did not ask for this desire, it was a gift. A gift all of you have been wonderfully given as well.
Psalm 21:2
Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips.
This is the gift of God, lest any man should boast.
Proverbs 25:14
Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain
There is no one more anointed than you. There is no one more special or gifted than you. If only people could see that their salvation (freedom from their ignorant suffering and false ego) lies within. If only people could see that the truth of God does not live in others alone and that the truth of God is not for a special chosen lot who people flock to every sunday. If only people could see that the truth of God is not for those who parade around in the churches, wearing expensive clothes, who love the praise of men and the riches of the world…
Luke 20:46
Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts
If only people could see that TRUTH of God is for us all. It is within us all and waiting to be discovered by us all.
Yet, you will never be free, you will never have hope and peace, until you let go of everything you thought you knew about God and sincerely desire the truth of God.
The good news is many of you reading this right now are already there. In addition you also know it was not by your will alone that brought you to this point.
Romans 9:16
So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy
This is great news. This is reason for us all to stand up and shout…
Psalm 62:1
Truly my soul waiteth upon God: from him cometh my salvation
No matter what we are going through, regardless of where we are, THE HAND OF THE LORD is WITH US and there is a work taking place within us that no one can destroy.
Isaiah 14:27
For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?
Now that is great new, isn’t it? WE CAN’T FAIL PEOPLE! No one is too lost to be found, no one is to hurt to be healed, no one is to consumed with anger to forgive, NO ONE IS OUTSIDE OF THE PURPOSE THAT IS WITHIN US ALL.
Sure it may take time for others to see the Light, but that doesn’t mean the light isn’t within them already waiting for their experiences to open the door of their understanding so they can see it and express it to others.
You see God makes everything beautiful in its time. More importantly, God has ALREADY done it.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time:
Isn’t it time for us to stop arguing over what is literal and what is not. Isn’t it time for us to see to the heart of God so in turn we can show the heart of God to others. It is time for us to finally have HOPE!
Romans 5:5
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
GOD IS LOVE AND TRUTH! And the HIDDEN WISDOM of God is found in every story, in every life, in every situation, in every heart, in every minute or every day. So seek the SPIRIT of the story, not the letter of it all. Seek the WISDOM from above and remember what God’s wisdom truly is.
JAMES 3
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
For those that want to condemn others, persecute others, tear down others, this is the path to a life of despair. But for those who love all, accept all, and stretch their hands toward all… this is the wisdom that is above all.
It is my great hope, that this WISDOM which is PURE, PEACEABLE, GENTLE, EASY, FILLED WITH MERCY, WITHOUT PARTIALITY, AND WITHOUT HYPOCRISY… it is THIS WISDOM I pray you will seek, as you seek the SPIRIT OF IT ALL!
(If you enjoyed this article please feel free to share with other. Please subscribe, it is free and you will be updated with every new article or video I post here. And for those that have supported the “Voice in the Dead Woods” and continue to do so, I am so thankful to you, it is beyond words.)
Jacob
http://www.JacobIsrael.org
MAN’S EGO IS THE DEVIL
MAN’S EGO IS THE DEVIL
This will be probably my shortest post to date. Tonight I felt it was necessary to explain what the Carnal EGO of man is, show you what the scriptures call Mankind’s Ego, and how the truth finally sets us free from it all.
The EGO is defined as “A consciousness of Identity, Individuality and a person sense of SELF importance” – An EGO is WHO YOU THINK YOU ARE… now with that in mind. Let me open up some scriptures for you after a brief intro.
The EGO is the FATHER of all LIES. It is a LIE to begin with, for your EGO is not real and does not exist. This is your adversary, your enemy that is trying to devour you. Your EGO is prince of this world (ruler of your lusts). Your EGO is the one that condemns you, blames you, and tries to destroy you. YOU EGO will lie to you, steal from you, and ultimately destroy you… IF YOU DON’T RESIST your EGO. So resist your EGO and your EGO will depart. But be on your guard, because your EGO can come disguised as an ANGEL of LIGHT. Your EGO is the one who KILLED your TRUE NATURE (Gods child). Your EGO was a murderer from the BEGINNING. Because when you believed YOUR EGO was YOU, your TRUE NATURE was put to death (killed in your mind-Golgatha).
The Carnal Ego of man is the beast that is and is not and yet is… It is the devil that is written about in scripture.
————–
THE DEVIL spelled backwards is LIVED! Indeed, it is your past experience that FORMED this DEVIL of an idea of who you are. But you aren’t your past, you aren’t an addict, an abuser, a victim, a fool, a glutton, or anything else your past has tried to convince you, you are.
……YOU ARE MORE than the life you LIVED/DEVIL. This “DEVIL” of an identity was formed out of the DUST/LIES of your past. Your PAST IDENTITY, or the life you lived/devil that you IDENTIFY WITH is YOUR ENEMY!
……The DEVIL is the accuser of the brethren! This past IDEA of who you think you are was formed out of the life you LIVED/DEVIL and is always there to remind you how to judge people and circumstances. And by following after the past you continue to relive the past by making the same ignorant mistakes, based on the lies of the past and hang ups that aren’t real to begin with.
…..The DEVIL (Life you LIVED) is a LIAR! The past is a LIE because it does not exist anymore. So to make your decisions based on past experiences is to not judge things as they are in the moment. To LIVE IN THE PAST is to DIE IN THE PRESENT. This is why so many have “baggage” because they carry this DEVIL (life they have lived) everywhere with them. And because of this they continue to suffer.
….. You PAST does not dictate your future, unless you decide to allow it. You are more than you know. Just as you created your past experience you have the choice to create your present however you would like it. You are not the LIFE YOU LIVED/DEVIL — THE DEVIL is only the sum of your past experiences that you have allowed to RULE YOU in this age. This is why the DEVIL is called the god of this world. People are ruled by their past experiences, past beliefs, and their past traditions.
….. However, this is not who you are, you are whoever you decide yourself to be, YOU CAN CREATE who you are in each moment. Don’t let the sad life your LIVED/DEVIL dictate your present experience.
…… RESIST the lying voice of your past experience and it will flee from you. RESIST your past destructive behaviors, triggers, and ill informed notions and YOUR ENEMY the DEVIL (the condemning voice of your past idea of who you are) will flee!
—————
This DEVIL is the carnal EGO of man. This is the enemy hiding in plain sight. It is the YOU, you think you are but are not. Now not everyone is ready to hear this. Most believe there is an enemy outside of them working hard to ruin their lives, but this is another lie of man’s carnal ego. The Ego of mankind always wants to blame everyone and everything else as opposed to dealing in truth. And many can’t see this because they simply can’t hear this truth yet.
Luke 8:12
Those by the way side are they that hear the TRUTH; then comes their EGO, and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe WHO THEY ARE and be saved from WHO THEY THINK THEY ARE.
You can’t hear from God while listening to your Ego. It is impossible to hear the truth, when ruled by the false image that you have believed yourself to be. This is why so many people are torn up inside, this is why Paul wrote in Romans about wanting to do good but doing what he hates.
Romans 7:19
For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
You can’t serve two masters.
Luke 16:13
No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.
A house divided will eventually fall, now that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Because the house that many live in today is their EGO. And the Ego has to GO. The reason is simple, one will not listen to the TRUTH if their EGO has them believing they already know all they need to know.
Psalm 10:4
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
You ever try sharing the love of God with people who believe in infinite torture? They won’t listen to a word of what you say. Because the lie of the EGO’s in this world is strong. SO MANY people have taught about a place of endless torture for so long, so many believe in this place, the EGO of mankind won’t listen to different. The EGO of man will keep you from hearing the truth, and speaking the truth.
Matthew 9:32-34
32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a DUMB man controlled by his EGO. And when his EGO was cast out, the DUMB spoke the truth, and the multitudes marveled saying, IT WAS NEVER SO SEEN IN ISRAEL.
No one wants to be wrong, many say. Our EGO needs to be fed, it needs to be puffed up constantly. It goes about looking for praise, looking for acceptance, and looking for approval. But this is all vanity, it is a chasing the wind, or as eating dust. You will never grow spiritually or truly benefit by feeding your ego.
Genesis 3:14
And the LORD God said unto the EGO, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly (lusts) shalt thou go, and dust (lies/imagination) shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:
The SERPENT (Carnal EGO of Man) has always been within man. Just as the Brain Stem (Reptilian Brain) has always been within man, controlling his basest desires (fight/flight/lust/rage/etc)
Those who choose the HIGHER WAY, the TRUTH will depart from the evil of the EGO.
Proverbs 16:17-19
17 The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Notice that a HAUGHTY SPIRIT (we know spirits are thoughts)… Haughty THOUGHTS come before a FALL… And who was it that fell again?
Luke 10:18
And he said unto them, I beheld the EGO of Mankind as lightning fall from heaven.
Your EGO will lift you up, and then tell you to cast yourself down.
Luke 4:5-7
5 And the MAN’S EGO, took him up to heights of pride and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the Man’s EGO said unto him, All this power will I give you, and the glory of this-worldly system: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it. 7 If you will WORSHIP me and believe me and only listen to me, all shall be yours!
We saw the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. He was TEMPTED, which means to be drawn away by your own lusts.
James 1:14
But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
And who does that tempting? Is there a literal snake trying to convince you to listen to lies, OR is it your EGO that does the tempting. And the deceit is so great because YOU THINK THESE THOUGHTS ARE YOUR OWN and you TRUST THEM. But they are NOT YOUR THOUGHTS, they are the LIES of your EGO.
John 8:44
You are of your father YOUR EGO, and the lusts of your EGO you will do. Your EGO was a murderer from the beginning, and EXISTS not in the truth, because there is no truth in your EGO. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
The EGO of man will convince you that doing evil is good, and that doing good is evil.
John 13:2
And supper being ended, Judas’ EGO put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him (the TRUTH)
The EGO of man will convince you to follow all sorts of VAIN TRADITIONS and RELIGIOUS nonsense. This only feeds your EGO. By setting up chairs at service, or helping with parking, or fasting, or celebrating a certain way, dressing a certain way, being a certain way, and more… this is only a sacrifice for your EGO. God has only wanted you to LOVE GOD AND OTHERS!
1 Corinthians 10:20
… they sacrifice to their EGOS, and not to God: (Anyone give up something for lent, or to fast, etc… you sacrificed to appease YOUR EGO, not God)
So how do we beat this DEVIL (EGO)… we need to RESIST our EGO.
James 4:7
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the EGO, and he will flee from you.
And how do we do that?
Ephesians 6:11
Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of YOUR EGO. (Look up what the armor of God is for more info)
The best way to stand against your EGO is to constantly seek the TRUTH. Pray for the TRUTH. Only act out of true love, and love lifts others it does not tear down. Love does not fight, debate, condemn, cast out, love never fails. There is no fear, worry, or hate in LOVE. If it ain’t LOVE it ain’t GOD, and if it ain’t God it is the Ego of man. Because it is our EGO that sins from the beginning.
1 John 3:8
He that committeth sin is of the EGO; for the EGO sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested within you, that he might destroy the works of the EGO.
Notice how we differentiate between children of God and children of the EGO.
1 John 3:10
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the EGO: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
Those Born of God LOVE, LOVE, LOVE! Those born of their EGO, hate, hate, hate. Now this doesn’t mean that people who are children of their EGO’S, who think they are their EGO, who are ruled by their EGO don’t believe in God. The EGO is tricky, think about how many claim to believe in God and KILL in the name of God… or so they think. Their EGO convinced them, that to harm others, to condemn others is what would appease God. In fact, the EGO of man worships a god in its image. The god of the EGO is a scary, vengeful hateful God. One that will torture you endlessly for not following mankind’s religious ways. THAT’S THE EGO TALKING THERE PEOPLE! The EGO of man will convince people to do all sorts of things to appease their false god, because they are scared of this god as well.
James 2:19
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the egos of man also believe, and tremble.
Mankind’s EGO is the cause of all suffering in the world. If it is not causing literal suffering, your ego will cast you into an emotional prison for which their seems to be no escape. And worse still the EGO of mankind will punish anyone who doesn’t believe what it believes. This is why we see people being killed in the name of God, or imprisoned, shunned, etc.
Revelation 2:10
Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, MAN’S EGO shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
But the good news is the EGO is eventually destroyed in God’s consuming fire. It is LOVE that draws a multitude to repentance.
Revelation 20:10
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire
So hang in there, learn which thoughts to take captive, which to cast away and which to take to heart. God has thoughts of peace for you, the EGO has pride, fear, and worse for you. Choose this day which “God” you will serve.
DON’T FOLLOW YOUR EGO! LEGGO OF YOUR EGO!
Jacob
(Hey if you like this blog, subscribe it’s completely free and I a couple of hundred essays to choose from. And for those that support this blog, thank you again, it is such a blessing. Spread the words Morning Birds :))
Jacob Answers (The Unforgiveable Sin)
The Unforgivable Sin
This week I put a line in the water to see what type of discussion could be caught. I received a bunch of wonderful comments and emails with a variety of topics, some I tried to answer as replies, others I responded personally to, but the one I really felt that many could benefit from was a question that came from Ricky Ramos about the unforgivable sin. Here is his question.
Hello, Jacob. I was here before asking you what do you believe is the unpardonable sin. I am interested in your answer because I have been reading about this a lot and havent really gotten an answer that satisfies me. – Ricky Ramos Apr 27, 10:29 pm
What a great question and as Ricky stated, many times I have heard people try to explain this one to me and, like Ricky, I never got an answer that made any sense at all. Just more fear poured upon fear. Well, it’s time we put an end to that. So, let’s tak a look at one of the scriptures that states this.
Matthew 12:32
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
Let me start by stating why this is such an important scripture to understand.
We all know by now, HOPEFULLY, that the LETTER (that is, the literal understanding of scripture) KILLS, and the SPIRIT of the scripture gives life.
Time and time again we have seen people twisting and turning the scriptures to mean all sorts of things and to further all sorts of agendas. The scripture that has Ricky asking questions has been used to further the belief in infinite torture, which is the commonly held belief of a literal place called “Hell” that our God of Love supposedly created to send those he created ignorant of him to begin with. SILLY RIGHT?
Now, of course I am not about to go into a deep explanation as to why there is no such place. I have written extensively about this in the past, see my article “Hell Revealed”, or “The Lake of Fire Revealed” for more information about the topic. Hopefully you have been coming to this site long enough to know that the HELL that is written about in scripture is another world for “the place of the dead, the hidden place, the grave, Sheol” etc… meaning it is another word for “Ignorant Suffering”, remember people only the TRUTH sets people free, the lies and cares of this world cause nothing but misery, weeping and gnashing of teeth.
That being said, I’m sure you can see how people can take the scripture in question, that states THERE IS AN UNFORGIVEABLE SIN, and extrapolate that this is evidence that God would torture his ignorant creation endlessly, instead of teaching them, correcting them, guiding them, and saving them from their ignorance AS SCRIPTURE STATES. 🙂
Personally, I can’t see how anyone could deduce that there is anything we could possibly do that would move God to completely give up on us for. Sure we will REAP what we SOW, we will be corrected for what we do wrong, but God give up on us? NEVER!
Psalm 94:14
For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance!
No, there is NOTHING that can seperate us from the LOVE OF GOD! Let me get this first very important point out-of-the-way… There is NOTHING that can seperate us from God!
Romans 8
35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Can anything seperate us from the love of God through Christ? The answer once again is, NO!
Romans 8
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So is it EVER POSSIBLE that God would give up on us? The answer is always, NO, it would be IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD TO GIVE UP ON US!
Luke 1:37
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Nothing is impossible for God. God can do all things!
But it is however IMPOSSIBLE for anyone, or anything to thwart God’s will. Meaning what God wants God gets!
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
Isaiah 43:13
Yes, and from ancient days I am he. No one can deliver out of my hand. When I act, who can reverse it?”
Daniel 4:35
All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: “What have you done?”
I hope you can see that God’s will WILL be done, regardless. EVEN IF WE DON’T BELIEVE… NOTHING CAN STOP GOD’S WILL!
God doesn’t need US to do anything, say anything, be anything, or believe anything, it is GOD that does the work. YES, he creates the good and the seemingly bad. God does it all! GOD IS IN CONTROL, ALWAYS AND FOREVER! So what God wants God gets… The reason for this is wonderful… And those who have “ears to hear this will”.
2 Timothy 2:13
If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
So even our UNBELIEF can’t stop God’s will. Now why am I making this point?
The answer you will understand the moment you UNDERSTAND what GOD’S WILL is.
You see it is God’s will to have all of mankind saved.
1 Timothy 2:4
Who WILL have ALL men (mankind) to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Now this is REALLY GOOD NEWS (the gospel). No matter what we have done, no matter where we have gone, no matter what we believe and don’t believe, EVENTUALLY all will be saved from their ignorance, and ALL will come to the KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH AND THE STATURE OF THE PERFECT MAN (CHRIST).
So with that being said, HOW COULD ANYONE EVER STATE THAT THERE IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD DO THAT WOULD BE BEYOND GOD’S GRACE AND EVER STRETCHED HAND? The answer is simple, ignorance.
People are just ignorant. Now Ricky, when I explain this to you, you and many other may just clock yourselves in the head with the palm of your hand like someone in a V-8 commercial.
This explanation, I hope, will clear up SO MUCH for SO MANY when it comes to this scripture that has so many scared that they may have ignorantly sinned against the Holy Spirit for which there is NO FORGIVENESS… dun dun dunnnnnn!
Let’s start by DEFINING what FORGIVENESS is.
According to Mirriam Webster, this is the definition:
FORGIVENESS:
a: to give up resentment of or claim to requital for b: to grant relief from payment of
Let me put it plain for you. Say you owe me twenty dollars and can’t pay me back. To FORGIVE you of that debt would mean I say, HEY DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT, YOU OWE ME NOTHING.
Forgiveness means YOU DO SOMETHING for which a penalty should be paid and it IS NOT paid but the debt is forgiven!
Let me write that again, to FORGIVE means if someone wrongs you, borrows from you, or does something that need repair or repayment, the person who has done the wrong, or borrowing is simply FORGIVEN of any offense, debt, or error on their part. They aren’t punished, they aren’t held accountable, they aren’t guilty, they don’t need to make amends, they don’t need to make small payments monthly until it is paid back.
TO FORGIVE means to COMPLETELY RELEASE someone from any type of debt, be that a monetary debt, offence, or error.
Okay, hopefully you understand what FORGIVENESS means now.
NOW, you may be able to see why this scripture that has so many people upset and worried is really nothing at all to be upset and worried about. Because if truth be told, we are CONSTANTLY SINNING AGAINST the holy spirit, for which there is no forgiveness. Which means, we are corrected! THAT’S IT!
We aren’t forgiven (RELEASED from our mistake or debt) because if God simply allowed us to do wrong without having us reap what we have sown WE WOULD NEVER LEARN and COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.
You see, God cannot simply FORGIVE us (release completely) from our wrong doings, otherwise how else would be learn from them?
It is not a bad or terrible thing to NOT BE FORGIVEN for sinning (being in error, missing the point, missing the mark, missing the truth).
Let’s say that we grew up to believe that if someone stole from us, that it was God’s will to cut of that person’s hand, that would be a SIN against the HOLY SPIRIT (WHICH IS TRUTH AND LOVE AND LIFE). Meaning, it is NOT God’s will for us to hurt those who hurt us, it is God’s will for us to LOVE and FORGIVE even our enemies.
Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you
To believe that you must someone hate, condemn, or hurt those who hurt you is SINNING AGAINST THE HOLY SPIRIT. To put it plainly, you missed the mark, you missed the TRUTH that we must LOVE! In addition, if God was to simply forgive you of that error, you would never learn. SO, there is NO FORGIVENESS for such an act. Now does that mean God condemns you to a place of endless torture? OF COURSE NOT! There is no such thing.
However, it does mean, God will repay the offender by having them reap what they sow. God will correct that offender by allowing the same thing to happen to them whether in this world, or the next.
Matthew 12:32
32 And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come.
If the words coming out of our mouth are contrary to the TRUTH, it is unforgivable. Meaning, God will correct us and put the right words in our mouth. If our actions are contrary to God’s truth and love, God will correct us. It is unforgivable. AND THAT IS A GOOD THING! Because if we were just allowed to get away with anything and everything, we would NEVER come to the TRUTH and we would be forever lost. Meaning we would never enter the Promise Land of Righteousness, Peace, Joy, and Power in the Holy Ghost.
Just like the child who need to get burned a couple of times before he or she stops touching that hot stove, God corrects us of our ignorance by allowing us to simply reap what we sow. SO WE DON’T HURT OURSELVES FURTHER WITH OUR IGNORANT BEHAVIOR.
Galatians 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
If you do foolish things, you will reap those things. If you do right and your actions are pure and there is love in your heart you will reap peace in return.
8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
Anyone that teaches that GOD GIVES UP ON US, is in fact SINNING against the HOLY SPIRIT themselves.
And yes for that there is no forgiveness. Meaning, God will have to correct a person that thinks that God will give up them, because THAT IS NOT TRUE, it is error, it is SIN. And it is a horrible place to be spiritually. It is a foolish thought.
Let’s reason… If God gives up on us then we have permission to give up on others. If God wants people to suffer, then it gives us permission to the do the same. THAT IS SIN (foolish thinking). No God is LOVE and love it patient, gentle, kind, it doesn’t seek to strive, it does not HOLD ACCOUNTS and it NEVER CASTS OFF! But love also CORRECTS. Which is why, we are set STRAIGHT when we are riding our High Horse in error as Paul was. We need to be corrected of our SIN (foolish thinking)
Proverbs 24:9
The thought of foolishness is sin
If God simply FORGAVE us for not knowing the truth, and living the truth, then we would never know the TRUTH. And we would be forever lost.
If God didn’t CORRECT us for every error and allowed us to continue on the path of evil (ignorance) then God never loved us to begin with.
But since GOD IS LOVE, God WILL correct us, he can’t allow us to get away with being ignorant. God corrects those he loves.
Hebrews 12:
5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
We have long attributed believed forgiveness with how a person feel’s about us.
When a child does wrong, their parents punish them and then when the punishment is over the parent says, “Are you sorry?” And when the child says they are, the parent says, “I forgive you.”
However, THAT is NOT forgiveness, as we now know.
FORGIVESS would be for that parent to simply allow the child to do wrong and not hold him or her accountable. And if we, as parents, did such a thing… we would not be considered good parents. Because we know better than our children. Our children are ignorant of many things that we understand through experience. So when they do wrong we HAVE to correct them so they won’t make those same mistakes again and can go on to live a full, joy filled life. GOD IS NO DIFFERENT!
We can sin again the SON OF MAN (Which is our sense of being/ego) but we CANNOT sin against the HOLY SPIRIT, which is truth. We cannot be ignorant of the TRUTH, we MUST be corrected for this. AND THAT IS ALSO GREAT NEWS! Because through our correction comes the great Glory of what we become when all is said and done.
Romans 8:18
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
As is written in Mark, the reason there is no forgiveness for Blaspheming or Sinning against the Holy Ghost is because the person is in danger of a period of time where they are corrected (judged) so they can be separated from their ignorance instead of being separated from the TRUTH in their own imagination. This is what “eternal damnation” means, it is an undefined period of time (aionos) of separation/judgment. It does NOT MEAN that since the ignorant person is ignorant that God will send them to a place of endless torture, it just means that God MUST correct them. And thank God for that.
So Ricky, I sure hope this has given you an answer that satisfies your question. I hope you now know what forgiveness is, and why correction and guidance is so important.
Most importantly, I hope that everyone reading this essay is left with a feeling of peace, knowing that no matter where they are, no matter what they are going through, everything is working together for their Good.
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
God loves us so much that he won’t forgive us when we are ignorant of him, he will correct us and bring us to the truth and perfect stature of his son (child) and we can finally believe in the name (NATURE) that is above ALL NAMES (NATURES) so we can finally be FORGIVEN (released) from the ignorance that once haunted us for so long.
(If you like this essay, please feel free to share, and don’t forget to subscribe by clicking the link on the top left portion of the screen. I want to thank those who support this blog personally, I can’t tell you all how much that means to me.)
Until next time, LIVE, LAUGH, AND LOVE! BE THAT LIGHT AND DIFFERENCE!
Jacob
http://www.JacobIsrael.org
ASK JACOB!
ASK JACOB
For months now various people have suggested that I begin doing a weekly, or monthly, “Ask Jacob” section on my blog. To be honest, I just don’t know why it has taken me so long to finally put this idea out there. You see, I get several private emails from people all over the world, and I LOVE them… There is nothing better than feeling like somehow God has done something through you that has encouraged someone, or possibly changed their life. These emails I receive privately are so amazing, people share their heartache, their accomplishments, what they have overcome, what they want to overcome, their circumstances, and sometimes they just want to say thanks. And there are a handful of people who have thanked me in ways I never could have dreamed, and I am so very humbled and grateful for it. In addition, the overwhelming majority of my emails contain questions for me, which I of course do my best to answer. So now I would very much like to do this with all of you. If you have any questions, whether they are spiritual or personal, leave that information in the comment section for me and each week, or when time permits, I will write a new blog addressing your question, comments, or concerns. I really hope that this opens a new door of understanding for us all. I look forward to hearing from you, and don’t forget to subscribe if you haven’t already. Jacob
You Of Little Faith! video
YOU OF LITTLE FAITH!
“The times may be harder than before but so is the ability to soar! You are more than your troubles, more than your fears, more than what others say you are… Go within and find the TRUTH that will set you free!”
I haven’t done one of these videos in awhile. But with everything I have heard and read from people lately and all I have learned in my own life. I knew this was one short message people truly needed to hear. Please enjoy and please do pass this onto someone who may need it.
Jacob
WHAT IS THE MYSTERY
WHAT IS THE MYSTERY
The mysteries of life are as infinite as the questions we have about them. Albert Einstein said, “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science.” However true this statement may be the mysterious can also be the source of great pain.
This is following entry is the first draft of Chapter one of the new book I have been working on, “Mystery No More”. I just wanted to share it with you all and get your comments and thoughts. I have been very up in the air about a lot of things lately and I am waiting on direction. In the mean time please enjoy Chapter one, of course this is not a finished chapter but it will give you an idea of what I have been working on. I sure hope you enjoy it. Don’t forget to subscribe to the blog if you haven’t already, it’s free and it will keep you posted on all the new stuff I write and post here. Jacob
One cannot deny that without mystery there would be nothing to discover, there would be no questions to have answered, there would be no search for meaning and without meaning no one’s life would seem worth living. The unknown can open the door to great adventure, exploration, wonderful discovery, advances in medicine, technology, and more. However, the mysterious can also open the door to superstition, fear and all manner of evil.
The darkness is only feared because one does not know what is hidden beneath it. The instant light swallows the darkness in victory what was once hidden, and feared, is now seen clearly and those fearful thoughts are erased. Spiritually the darkness that gives way to mankind’s fear is their ignorance.
Ignorance is never bliss as some have said. Mankind has long been a slave to it. The powers that be work hard to make sure things don’t change. They want the masses ignorant, scared and easily controlled. Great men and women have been persecuted, mocked, attacked, and killed for challenging the status quo and revealing the mysterious to others. Knowledge is power and those in control would most surely lose their power if the masses began to wake from their ignorant slumber.
Consider religion, for thousands of years it has tricked countless souls into believing they need to follow their religious leaders without question. It is hard to believe that a short while ago, men and women were put to death for simply owning a bible that was translated into English. The reason was simple; keep the world in the dark and their fear will keep them dependent on those who claim to have the answers. Keep people scared of invisible monsters called demons, an infinite place of suffering called hell, keep them fixed on the future and the past instead of the present, keep them waiting for salvation, keep them believing they have no power, and obedient to every religious law they are force fed. Keep them financially strained by taking their money with empty promises and threaten a punishment worse than death for those that dare to seek the truth for themselves or claim there is more.
Great men and women have been persecuted, mocked, attacked, and killed for challenging the status quo and revealing the mysterious to others. Once the truth is known, people will see that they don’t need to do this or that or go here or there to be saved from the pain of this world. Once the mystery is understood people will no longer allow themselves to be slaves of a religious system whose strength is found in their fear. Once the mystery is no more people will be free and will live their lives the way they were meant to live them.
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
John 8:32
Free from your fear, free from your sorrow, free from your shame, free from your regret, free from your doubt and most importantly free to know who you truly are and what you are truly capable of.
Sadly, this freedom which I so easily write about can only be found when the lies of religion have been let go. One cannot be free to be who they truly are if they have been conditioned since birth to believe they are someone they are not. One cannot be free from oppression or persecution if one has been conditioned since birth to believe they have to be dependent on others for answers and direction.
If a person has been conditioned since birth to believe that those dressed in religious garb are the only way to God then those in religious garb can demand anything from the ignorant and treat them however they wish. If a person is ignorant and has been conditioned to believe that the power and wisdom of God is only for a select few then they would never seek it for themselves, much less have the ability to tap into it. In addition, if a person was never to seek the truth for themselves they would remain in ignorant chains without hope. They would remain slaves to a system of control that only profits by keeping the truth far away. They would remain ignorant sheep never knowing they were born to be shepherds.
This is how it has been since the beginning and this is how it has been for far too long.
If the world caught on that they didn’t need a priest, pastor, rabbi, imam, or guru to find their way to eternal life and peace then the control of religion would fade away. If those in the world found out that the scriptures have been twisted, changed, taken out of context, misunderstood and mistranslated in an attempt to keep the masses in bondage, then the control of religion would fade away.
If those in the world found the truth of who they are they would be able to tap into the very source of everything, the world would forever change and the lies of religion and the pain of fear would be a distant memory.
The mysterious is a wonderful, powerful and liberating thing for those that seek and uncover the truth. However, in the oppressor’s hand the mysterious is the very gate of hell itself for those that follow without question.
We all say we want the answers, we all say we want the meaning of life. We all say we want an end to our suffering and a reason to live another day. We all say we want peace and purpose. We say we want to be content and at harmony with others. However, what we say we want and what we believe we can achieve are two very different things.
We have been tricked into believing that we will somehow be damned if we actually dare to embrace the divine. Religion has convinced us to put our faith outside of us, when all along our focus and faith should be firmly placed within.
The mysterious became a weapon used against us, because religion convinced us we weren’t allowed to question or seek for ourselves, and because of this we never found the very thing we wanted the most.
There is a voice inside of us telling us there is so much more. There is a believe deep within us that understands all will be well. There is a picture we have of what life can be, free from suffering, free from shame and fear, and we want desperately to find it. Yet, we find within us the inability to do so.
The apostle Paul wrote about this in the book of Romans. He, like many of us, had a picture of what life should be. He believed there was a golden path that each of us could walk with faith. He believed there was a way to rise above heartache, doubt, worry and fear. He believed we could be perfected in the here and now, not the hereafter. However after years of trying to find that perfect state, that peaceful existence, he wasn’t yet able to possess it. He fought the good fight of faith and continued to press on to the mark of that high calling, but the promise of perfection and peace eluded him. This is something we can all relate to. Nevertheless, it is also something that we can, and will overcome. In this world we may find heartache, we may suffer and yes we may have fear and doubt, but we will overcome it all the instant we lay hold of the truth hidden within the mystery.
“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
John 16:13
If we have the promise of eternal life and joy unspeakable than there must be a way to find it. God is not a liar, nor is he the author of confusion, so we must be able to enter into abundant life and find that promise land of God’s rest.
To do this, we must first dare to go beyond what we have been told is true and uncover the truth for ourselves. We must go beyond the veil of religion and worldly literal understanding to uncover the mystery of God until this mystery is no more.
The key that is needed to do this is found in a simple verse of scripture that many of you know well.
“And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables” Mark 4: 11
The kingdom of God is not a place far, far, away, and you will soon understand it is not a literal kingdom at all. It is a mystery within us and mysteries are meant to be revealed. We must look beyond literal interpretation and embrace the spirit of the story itself. To understand the mystery of God and our very existence one must begin to see everything in scripture and in our waking life as a symbolic representation of our spiritual reality. The truth has been hidden. Our purpose is to find the truth for ourselves and then reveal this wonderful treasure to the world.
“To make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God”
Ephesians 3:9
The book of proverbs tells us, “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing, but the honor of Kings is to search out a matter.” We must go beyond commonly held beliefs and traditions and enter into the holiest of holies. By finding the spirit of the story, whether in scripture or in our waking life, you will find the very essence of truth and love. We must see things through the eyes of God and this book will show you how.
You will soon see that the bible is not just a retelling of historical events or a collection of books written about specific individuals. The bible is in fact your story, it is your book. Every character is you, every situation is yours, and when you understand this you will begin to unravel the magnificent reality of you truly are.
“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12
Jesus once said that if you continue in his word, which is truth, than that truth will set you free. This freedom is more wonderful than one can imagine. It is freedom from your fear, from shame, regret and doubt. It is freedom from insecurity, self-loathing and most importantly it is freedom from the ignorance that has trapped us all.
We have all been lied to, programmed since birth to believe we are someone we are not. We were told what to believe, how to act, who to vote for, what to wear, what to eat, what to say, what to think, who to friend, who to war against, who to embrace, who to shun, who to love, who to hate, when to cry, when to laugh, every aspect of our lives has been controlled. We have been slaves to our ignorance and this yolk has been heavy.
It is time to find the truth, to let the lies go, to embrace who you truly are and who God is. It is time to unlock the unlimited potential that waits within each and every one of us. It is time to see the scriptures in their true light. It is time to begin your journey out of the bondage and fear of religion and enter the heavenly gates of wisdom, which is the tree of life.
“Wisdom is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retains her.” Proverbs 3:18
As written in the second book of Timothy, understanding the scriptures makes you wise unto salvation through faith. However few know what salvation truly is, fewer still understand what one needs to be saved from and it most surely is not some a place of endless suffering as many have been taught.
We need to be saved from our ignorance. We need to be saved from the mystery that has us trapped in a world of darkness so we boldly enter into the light of possibility, faith and love.
There are many mysteries in scripture that will be revealed to us all when we seek, but the greatest of all mysteries is the mystery of who you are.
“Let him who seeks continue seeking until he finds. When he finds, he will become troubled. When he becomes troubled, he will be astonished, and he will rule over the All.”
Gospel of Thomas
It is time to rule and reign, to live the life you have always dreamed. It is time to learn who you truly are and what your life is for, to understand the mysteries of scripture until the mystery is no more. And those who dare to seek are the ones who find. So seek already!
Missing Piece
LOVE IS THE MISSING PIECE
Luke 15:9
…Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
There is only one way to peace, and that is to love unconditionally. There is only one way into the kingdom and that is the straight gate of Love. God is love.
This world seems so hard at times and many of us, who are seeking more who want to see change wonder what is it we are missing. As if looking for the missing piece of the puzzle that will make everything all right. The question is, once you have found this piece, will you strive to enter that straight gate of unconditional love or will you continue on the wide path of fear, hate, greed, and doubt? We all know that ends in heartache and pain. Isn’t it time to find the piece that has been missing and put life back in it’s perfect place?
We need to learn what it means to LOVE without condition, without reward, and when we do I believe we will finally be free.
1 Corinthians 13
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
This video I did awhile ago is just a reminder for us all. God is Love, God is our salvation, and God’s unconditional love is the piece that has been missing. Let is find it together and share it with the world. Enjoy the video.
IN THE WORLD NOT OF IT
IN THE WORLD NOT OF IT
The other night I was standing on my deck and staring up at the stars. It was so quiet and it was the perfect place for a much-needed retreat away from four kids, a dog, cat, the many responsibilities that go along with parenthood and keeping a nice home, and especially our circumstances. I find these moments are essential for our spiritual and emotional growth. If we don’t find time for ourselves where we can simply rest our minds from the hustle and bustle of this world, then we will most certainly not be able to hear that still silent voice within.
Remember God’s voice is never found in the storm, but it is found after all the dust has settled in the quiet following the storm. Elijah is perfect example of this and look at the progression of what leads to what. The mountain, wind, earthquake, and fire all represent something spiritual…
1 Kings 19:11-13
11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: 12And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice
Like Elijah when trouble comes our way when want to run to the Mountain of God to hear from God. The Mountain of course being a symbol of going higher in the spirit. But even though we seek God, we rarely do we hear God’s voice at first. We may even feel as if God has passed us by. In fact, as we search for a way out of our trouble, we may find more trouble come our way. I’m sure Elijah didn’t want to have to deal with the strong wind, earthquake and fire he met before hearing from God… But it is truly these symbolic events that lead us to the very place we are trying to find to begin with. Our trouble prepares us, tests us, breaks us, and as fire purges we also are cleansed by the very things that seem to hurt us the most… Which is why we are told to rejoice in our sufferings. Because it is producing something that is far more important within us. And I believe that is faith!
And after the ground beneath has seemed to break apart, and AFTER the burning pain of fear and worry and dread leaves us broken, we are lift with only the option of trusting God’s provision… When we have nothing else, when there is no where else for us to turn, when every self effort has been spent, THAT IS WHEN WE HEAR THE VOICE!
12And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice
I really want to encourage you all and remind you all that the storms of our lives, are the very things that MUST happen to open us up to the wonderful gospel of faith! Trust me when I say, I wish this wasn’t the case. I wish I didn’t have to suffer, I wish I didn’t have regret, fear, worry, insecurity, and more. I wish I didn’t have to toss and turns at nights worrying about what I am going to do now that trouble and hardship has found me. But I can only blame myself for not having the faith to TRUST GOD! And when I say “myself” of course I mean my carnal ego, my enemy, my adversary. And so my suffering leads me to turn my faith away from self effort and put it back where it belongs… GOD.
So, if not for these troubles, if not for being rejected, mocked, abused, sick, unemployed, mistreated… if not for having my back against the wall and my heart on the floor, if not for feeling totally weak and unable to deliver me or my family from our circumstances… I WOULD NEVER RELY COMPLETELY ON GOD AND GOD’S PROVISION!
There is but one way into the Kingdom (Reign) of God (Love, Righteousness, Peace, Joy, Wisdom, Power, Life)… And that one way into the Kingdom of God is TRIBULATION.
Acts 14:22
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
So our trials, though that be many, are in fact the greatest avenues to find the very freedom and peace we hope for. Our trials are there to remind us to take our eyes off our own strength and to cast away our thoughts of fear and to put our eyes and faith on God who is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.
And if truth be told, the quickest way to get our eyes and hope back where it belongs is to endure hardship, to be tested, and taken out of our comfort zone.
It is then we cry out to God, and beg for his deliverance. It is in our hard times that we seek God the most, this is true for believer and non-believer. In the end, when troubles mount like a tsunami wave, when all hope seems lost and our efforts cannot change a thing, believer and non-believer alike will cry out to God. And God is magnified in their hearts, and when deliverance comes the truth of God’s provision is shared with others. And if we lose a loved one, and our prayers aren’t answered, we usually find that if they were answered we would never have learned all we did and become all we became because of those circumstances not changing.
Psalm 34:3-5
3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed
Notice, what we are delivered from… OUR FEAR!
It is our fear that we aren’t going to make it, that we aren’t good enough, liked enough, treated right… it is our fear in so many things that causes the torment in our heart.
1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
And as I have written so many times before, GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR… And if our thoughts (spirit) of Fear aren’t from God, then they are a creation of our egotistical carnal mind. And the carnal ego man is OF this world, God is not. Which is why tribulation comes, because the ego-man must be overcome. The belief and faith in Man’s works must be destroyed, man must enter into God’s rest and that rest comes from knowing God is in control.
When you know God is in control, you may be in this world, but you are no longer OF this world.
John 8:23
And He said to them, “You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
Now I titled this article, “In the world not of it” for good reason. I began this essay with the story of me on my deck looking into the stars. Now I had been in prayer for weeks to “hear” from God, if you will. I had been seeking insight into my situation, into why I still had so many fears and worries when I knew deep down that it was only causing me pain. I hadn’t had any dramatic revelation (revealing) of scripture in a while. Not for lack of trying or seeking. But you can’t force revelation, you can’t make it happen, it either comes or it doesn’t. In my experience it always comes AFTER THE STORM.
When your head is filled with the troubles that surround you. You can go to the mountain like Elijah, scream out to God, seek God all you want, but you won’t find God in the midst of your troubles, you will find and hear God in the moment you least expect it. For me that moment was when walking out onto that deck and looking up into the stars.
Immediately the scripture about not being “Of this world” came to mind. I realized when I suffered, when I had great fear and worry that I was most definitely OF THIS WORLD… meaning I was a product of this world. And when I say “the world” I don’t mean planet earth, I mean OUR LUSTS! Because that is all that is found IN THE WORLD.
1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
Just as Fear is not of God, neither is the torment that arises out of being a product of these lusts/fears/negative emotions.
Now what came to mind as I stood there on the deck was not anything earth shattering, but it was no less profound. And how it came was like a still small voice indeed. First I staring into the stars and then a simple thought came to mind. And that thought led to another thought and so on and so on.
I realized what being OF THE WORLD means, and what IN THE WORLD means. Because you can be IN something without being OF it. You can go swimming and be in the water and not be a product of the water itself. You can be in a world of trouble but you don’t need to become a product of that trouble. In this world WE WILL HAVE TRIALS AND TRIBULATION but we don’t have to become products of it, we can overcome that urge!
In this WORLD we will have hard times, BUT we don’t have to become a product of it. We may have depressing circumstances in our lives, but we DON’T need to become depressed because of it. We can Overcome the WORLD (LUST)!
John 16:33
These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
It is a sure bet as Jesus said in this above passage, that IN THE WORLD we WILL have tribulation… but instead of letting our circumstances define us, change us, and make us into the miserable people who are OF their circumstance, we can be of GOOD CHEER and have faith because we too can and will overcome the world (lusts), because the ONE within us has already done the same.
NOW WHO ARE YOU, REALLY?
Who you THINK you are is a product OF this world… But who you truly are IN CHRIST is so much GREATER than the world (your lusts). The LIFE and TRUTH of who you are is ALWAYS GREATER than the lusts that are at war with you in this world.
1 John 4
4 YOU ARE OF GOD, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is GREATER THAN HE WHO IS IN THIS WORLD.
Those first four words… YOU ARE OF GOD, are four words you should take to heart. Later John writes, You are not OF the world… meaning people we are OF GOD, we are a product of God, we come from God, we are an extension of God, we are God’s children… we are NOT OF THIS WORLD! Meaning we are not a product of our lusts or emotions, we are not an extension of our lusts of emotions, we are not OUR LUSTS AND EMOTIONS… WE ARE OF GOD! Can you imagine what can be accomplished within you if you REALLY BELIEVED THIS?
However, most people don’t REALLY believe that… And everytime we leave that truth, everytime we leave our heavenly habitation (Godly mindset) we are tricked into believing we are OF THE WORLD (our lusts)… And WHEN we fall into that trap, we begin to believe the nonsense our carnal ego has been conditioned to feed us. We start thinking we are good for nothing (because we think we are products of nothing), we think we are worthless and horrible and weak (because we think we are products of such)… Whatever a person believes they become. When you say you are worthless you confess that you are not OF GOD, but of the world (your lusts). And you begin to talk like you are OF THE WORLD. You begin to act like you are OF THE WORLD. And ultimately, in a sense, you become a PRODUCT of the world (your lusts) instead of risings above the circumstances IN THE WORLD.
Some people deal with their troubles better than others. Some rise above hardship and some don’t. When people become addicted to drugs, or alcohol, when they give in to suicidal thoughts, or become abusers, it is because they have become a PRODUCT OF their LUSTS. They did not overcome the world (lusts/pains/emotions/fears/etc) they became OF the world. They felt ugly on the inside, agreed with that lie, and manifested the lie into their life, becoming the very thing they hate the most.
BUT WE DON’T NEED TO GO DOWN THIS PATH! We are OF GOD not of this world.
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error
Who we TRULY are WITHIN (our true nature/spirit) is always greater than who we begin to think we are, or who people say we are. Which is why we will overcome this world (our lusts).
YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT DEFINE YOU unless you let them! YOUR FEARS DON’T RULE YOU unless you let them!
We have been tricked into seeing all that is wrong and putting faith in the “worst case situation”, instead of seeing all that is right in our lives and putting faith in all the good to come. Now if that isn’t a fate created in the depths of hell (our ignorant suffering) I don’t know what is.
John 1:10
He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
You can look at this above passage as the literal world was created by Jesus, or you can see that “as he is so are we IN THIS WORLD” and begin to understand that WE ARE IN THIS WORLD (our lusts) and this world (our lusts) was made through us (our creative power), and the “world” (Our ego when a product of our lusts) do not KNOW THE TRUTH OF WHO WE ARE and have always been, which is why we suffer… because we have become PRODUCTS of our lusts, we have become people OF THIS WORLD, instead of people OF GOD!
If it sounds like there are two distinct people within us, the TRUE US and the US WE BEGAN TO BELIEVE OURSELVES TO BE… that is because THERE ARE! The canon of scripture is filled with this truth! And this double minded man is unstable in all his ways, a house divided with fall… in other words as long as these two natures are at war we will not be able to overcome this world (lusts).
Genesis 25:23
And the LORD said to her: “Two nations are in your womb, Two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people shall be stronger than the other, And the older shall serve the younger.”
There are two distinct people within us, THE CHRIST MAN and the EGO MAN, the SON OF GOD and the SON OF MAN. Two in one bed if you will. The good news is THE FIRST shall be LAST! In other words, who we think we are now will DECREASE and who we truly are is increasing each and every moment of every day!
John 3:30
He must increase, but I must decrease.
The ONE (of the world) must decrease and become the (ONE of God)!
And the ONE OF THE WORLD decreases the instant we put our trust and hope in the Father and in the plan! And I know this is a hard thing to do. This is why it is so important for you to find those precious moments of peace away from the hustle and bustle of your life, as I did on my deck.
It is so important to calm your mind and put your thoughts back on track. Focus on the good instead of the bad, don’t let your fear become your life, let your life overcome your fear by NOT BEING OF THE WORLD while you are IN THE WORLD!
There is a good reason why scripture tells us to think on GOOD THINGS. Because we are what we think! We become what we believe!
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
THINK ON THESE THINGS… good reports not bad, hope not sad, life not death, rising above all the mess! Remember who you truly are… and what you are not… YOU ARE OF GOD LITTLE CHILDREN AND WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!
(If you enjoyed this article, please subscribe and tell a friend and as always, especially now thank you all for your support and encouragement!)
JACOB
http://www.jacobisrael.org
“the truth will change you”
WE WILL OVERCOME
WE WILL OVERCOME
I haven’t written an article in a while. For that I apologize. It was not a lack of trying, many times I sat in front of my computer staring at a blank screen hoping the words would come.
This simply is the way it is at times, there is a time to speak and a time to remain silent, a time to have insight and a time to wish you had insight. This is why we should never get upset if our desires aren’t met. Even though I wanted to write, I couldn’t. Now I could choose to get upset over that fact or I could push myself away from the keyboard and trust that when it is time to write again I will be given those words. You can’t force inspiration, mainly because we have no control of it. It comes without our knowing or doing.
Over the years one of the things I have learned if you aren’t met to do something, regardless of how hard you try, regardless of how much you want it, you won’t be able to. This doesn’t mean we stop trying and seeking, it simply means we shouldn’t beat ourselves up when the things we want the most aren’t yet within our reach. We must understand that if it is meant to be, it will be, and nothing we do or say can prevent that.
Isaiah 14:27
For the LORD Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?
Whatever has been purposed for our life is predetermined, and there really is nothing that we can do to stop that, or to start something that hasn’t been predetermined. We like to think that we have control over things in our lives, but truly the only control we have is over how we react to things that happen in our life.
We were made subject to vanity, in other words we came into this world and became truly ignorant of our potential, without the true knowledge of where we are going or where we came from.
Romans 8:20
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope
The thing that one must never forget about that above passage is that we are also subjected to HOPE! And what is that HOPE?
Psalm 146:5
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God
Our hope is IN GOD! In the unity of the spirit, in complete submission and trust, which is our salavation from the bondage of fear and sin (foolish thinking).
Our HOPE is IN GOD, and God is in Christ, and Christ is IN US! And greater is he that is IN us all than the ego of man that has his hope in the world.
We have a promise from God that we all forget when hard times come. We are promised we will be delivered from it all, and that even our hardships will have played an important role in getting us to where we need to go.
Romans 8:21
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
You see, even though we are in pain and suffering and worried about everything under the sun, in the end none of it matters because we all will be delivered from the bondage of fear, doubt, and suffering. In fact, we are told that none of our suffering can compare to the glorious liberty we will find, because God has predetermined it to be so.
Romans 8:18
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
The bondage of corruption that we are delivered from is, every thought that is not of God. The corruption of the flesh is fear, envy, shame, pride, and every other wicked lie we believe. This is the corruption that the scripture are speaking of.
Many teach that the corruption we should fear is physical decay. These teachers will explain that one day our corruptible bodies will become incorruptible bodies and somehow we will be like superman with skin of steal, never sick again, never old again, able to eat anything we want without getting chubby, oh and the ability to phase in and out of walls.
Well, I have news for you all, that is not going to happen, the corruption scripture speaks about is the corruption of our thought process. The corruption is sin, which is the thought of foolishness. The corruption is our fear, which is a spirit God has not given us. The corruption is our worry, our hate, our sorrow, and our ignorance.
First let me show you clearly where scripture states that corruption is about our thinking and has nothing to do with our physical bodies.
2 Peter 2:19
While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage
You can’t be a servant to physical decay, but you can become a servant of sin (ignorance, fear, worry, hate, etc.)
Ezekiel 28:17
Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness:
This was the SIN and the cause of Mankind’s fall (from unity and understanding), we began to believe that we were in control, that we were God and our thoughts became corrupt. We began to think on evil (lies, ignorance) every day. Mankind began to worship mankind, the truth was lost because of our egotistical pride and the price that we pay for it is the bondage of fear, hate, pride, worry and more.
Psalm 14:1
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good
All of us have fallen short by thinking that we are the masters of our lives, as opposed to knowing that our life is completely and utterly predetermined.
The good news is that we all will be delivered from this and nothing can stop this from happening. So regardless of what we go through, all of it, the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly is working for our salvation.
2 Corinthians 1:6
And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation
The corruption that has become our bondage is not believing that everything that happens in our lives is for our ultimate good. This is hard for many people to accept, myself included, because we don’t want to believe that the bad stuff that happens in our lives and in our world is actually happening to snap us all out of this delusion that we are in control.
We are PREDESTINED people, this is good news. This is why the scriptures state that we should rejoice in our trials, because they are serving a higher purpose for our ultimate salvation. Besides, what is the alternative, misery?
Ephesians 1:11
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will
Notice that ALL THINGS are after the counsel of God’s will? And what is God’s will? That ALL will be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.
1 Timothy 2:4
Who will have ALL men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth
No matter how dark things seem to get in our lives, the light is always always present for us to grab hold of. But first we must let go of trusting in our own efforts and the effort of others. We must trust in God and put our faith in God.
When we are at our weakest, when we feel the most hopeless, that is when we are given the greatest oppurtunity to see how strong we truly are, in Christ. And we are truly strong when the Joy of the Lord is present in our hardships. We are truly strong when we know we don’t have to exert any meaningless effort, we are strong when we don’t have to waste our strength on fearing things that have been, are now, or might possibily come. This FEAR is what steals our strength away, and our strength is the Lord, who can measure that?
We can choose to worry and be scared for our future and have great sorrow for our present situation… OR, we can have hope knowing that we cannot fail and that it all works together for our good.
This is truly the choice that we are being given. When the scriptures bodly declare, “Choose this day which God you will serve”, just what do you think that means?
We can serve the true God of Love, hope, peace, and power, or we can serve the god of this world, fear, doubt, shame, ignorance, hate, pride. The true God offers us abundant everlasting Life, peace and power in his Holy Spirit. The god of this world (man’s carnal ego) only robs us, takes our hope and joy, and ultimately kills our spirit.
Which God do we serve? That is the question that I have been asking myself a lot lately. Especially with the recent events in my life.
For over twenty years I have been a driving creative force in the entertainment industry. I was a TV writer and producer for some of biggest and highest rated programs on mainstream TV. Then religion got a hold of me, I had fear that I needed to leave the secular world of television and go into the world of “religious television”, and so I did. I took a massive pay cut and went to work for a very large religious TV network,
Well, it wasn’t long before I began seeing things completely different from those around me. I felt completely out of place, but this is where I was and I truly believed, and still do, that where we are in life is exactly where we are meant to be. If that was not so, God is big enough to move us. So even though I did not agree with everything at my place of employment, I knew I was there for a reason.
However, soon I began living in great fear. My fear was that because I had been so vocal about my faith, word of my disbelief in things like, eternal torment, rapture, trinity, so-called miracles, and more would be the end of my career. So day in and day out I lived my life with this constant fear that one day I would be let go. THIS IS NO WAY TO LIVE. I knew better, but I was serving the god of worry and fear, instead of trusting that God was in control and that I was where I was meant to be.
You see when we don’t trust that God is in control and that there is a plan, our lives become a great troubling sorrow to us all. When people attack us, we take it personally. When we are treated poorly, we ask God, “Why? Why?”.
This is no way to live. Yet, most likely everyone reading this paper does exactly the same thing. We worry about the future, we worry about the past, and all of this worry keeps us in the bondage of fear every single moment of every single day. We are trapped by our worry and fear, and these chains are heavy.
Isaiah 51:13
And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast FEARED CONTINUALLY EVERY DAY because of the fury of the oppressor
We forget that God is in control, that God has a plan and purpose for even our hardships. Instead we are in fear every day because of the oppressing god of OUR egotistical fear.
Many times the things we fear the most, come upon us. This was the case for Job. And so it should. If we were never to face our fears we would never learn that we truly had nothing to fear to begin with.
Job 3:25
25 For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.
26 I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet; yet trouble came
Our fear keeps us from a peaceful nights sleep, it causes great distress in our relationships, and it can make us take our own lives. But there is a better way. That is the path of Faith!
It is a scary thing to place your trust in God. The reason is you have been conditioned to believe that only you can solve your problems, but what if the problems and the things you fear the most are actually there to get you to take your eyes off of your own effort and put you faith in God’s plan.
The very first evidence of SIN we have in scripture begins with Adam’s declaration while hiding in the trees (of his imagination). After taking the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, he began to fear God.
Genesis 3
9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was AFRAID, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Fear made ADAM hide from God. Fear makes us hide from God. Fear makes us cover ourselves with false beliefs and vain traditions and doctrines of religion that help us feel secure. Fear makes us think we are unworthy of God. Fear keeps us feeling weak, helpless, and ashamed. Because of Adam’s fear, the ground was cursed and would only produce thorns regardless of how hard he worked.
Because of Mankind’s fear, our thoughts (ground) are cursed and will only produce thoughts that prick us and hurt us. This is an allegory of what happens when we leave a relationship of trust with God for a relationship with our egotistical carnal mind of lies.
So the million dollar question is, how does one leave the worship of fear and external circumstance to the worship of peace, and internal power? Well first one needs to know what the word WORSHIP means.
For those who think to WORSHIP means to close your eyes, raise your hands high, and sway back and forth while the band plays your favorite christian tunes for you… you are in for a big surprise. To worship God does not mean to get all caught up in the emotion of a song that is sung, to WORSHIP God means to completly submit yourself to God.
The first time in scripture we see the word Worship is when Abraham was going up to sacrifice Isaac on the altar for God. To worship in hebrew literally translates to “To Bow down before something/someone superior”.
Isaac was the promise of God to Abraham. Isaac was what Abraham wanted the most, a child of promise. But what happens when the thing we want the most from life is taken from us? What happens when circumstances seem to stomp on everything God has given you? Do we worship God and allow what we wanted the most in life to be taken from us? Do we worship God? Or do we blame the devil when hard times come? Do we say, God doesn’t want us to suffer I will not accept my present circumstance in life and pray that God will change my circumstances? or do we say, “Not my will, but thine be done”?
It is hard to trust God when those things we want the most are taken from us. It is hard for us to submit to our circumstances and say, as Jesus said, “Not my will but thine be done”. Yet, this is exactly what we must do if we ever want to have peace in our lives. This is what WORSHIP is all about. Submitting yourself to God completely, trusting God completely, and loving completely.
Let me use my recent events as an example. I was forced to resign from my company, which had nothing to do with my performance or attitude, it just simply was what it was. For whatever reasons, whether they were just or unjust, I now find myself unemployed with a family of six and a new born. It would be easy for me to wallow in misery and fear over such an event. That is my choice to make. I can choose to think, we’re going to lose it all, I will never amount to anything, what will people think of me now that I am unemployed… I can worship (bow down/submit myself) the god of fear OR I can worship the God of Hope, Peace, Power, and a Sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind
If God is in control, and the scriptures clearly state that God is, than I MUST HAVE HOPE that every situation that arises was meant to happen and that it will be the very thing that brings me to the salvation and peace of mind I so desperately crave.
If there is a “false god” above God, that false god must be destroyed.
For years, I feared losing my employment as opposed to not giving a thought about tomorrow, what I shall wear, eat, etc… My employment became a false god to me, as it has become for us all. We believe that as long as we are gainfully employed we are okay. But that isn’t true. Look at how many people hate their jobs, are abused at their workplace and take it for fear of losing the very thing they hate to begin with.
For me, this job needed to be taken away from me. I wanted to be free from the place for years, but it was a job and money that put food on the table and kept a roof above my head (or so I told myself). If the truth be told, food was on the table, a roof was over my head because that is what God intended, it had nothing to do with my labor. Which makes my constant worry of losing such a job a complete and utter waste of time. You see it is not a person’s will or work that makes things happen in life, it is God that does all.
Romans 9
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Even Pharaoh was part of God’s plan. It wasn’t Pharaoh’s will to make the lives of Israel difficult it was God’s will that Israel would return to the truth.
Look if a child never got burnt by touching a hot stove, he would never learn to avoid doing that again. If there are idols in our lives that are creating misery in our lives that need to be taken away, those idols will have to be taken away. If we have to learn to trust in God then wouldn’t it make sense that God would take away all the other things we put our faith in so we can return to him?
As I sit here today, I can honestly say I don’t know where I am going or what will become of me. I don’t know which direction to take, what to do or not do, and that is a scary place to be.
Hebrews 10:31
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God
Notice the scripture doesn’t say to climb into the hands of the living God, it says to FALL into the hands of the living God. You fall because you have no control. And this is exactly what is happening to us all, we are falling away from those things that we ignorantly believed held us up. We are falling into the hands (authority) of God. We must lose those things we trusted in to finally trust God. And when we do, when we learn that no matter what happens, no matter what we suffer, that we cannot fail… then we will begin to live a life of hope.
There is great comfort in knowing that whatever decision you make, or have made, that all of it was exactly what had to happen and had to be. That even your mistakes were necessary for you to learn better. There is great peace in knowing all will be well, regardless of how terrifying things seem to be. We MUST trust that the work that began in us will end in victory. We MUST stop thinking of how wrong everything seems to be and start seeing how great things are going to be. We MUST trust God and be able to live our lives without the fear of failure or ruin. We MUST know that whatever comes upon whether good or bad is a necessary part of the plan and we MUST learn how to praise God in it all.
Philippians 3:13
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before
Like Paul, we don’t think that we have overcome the lusts of this world, but we MUST forget those things that are in our past and get excited about the amazing life that is before us all. A life where this corruptible flesh (ignorant carnal thinking) will be replaced by incorruptible thoughts of hope, love, truth and peace, which is found in total submission.
We are all in this together and we will all win this race together, not because we are strong or better than most but because we know God is for us and nothing can ever truly be against us. And if Nothing is Against us, we will understand that even our hard times, enemies, and suffering are actually for us as well. Because God is in control of it all.
REMEMBER … WE WILL OVERCOME! It is written 🙂
(If you liked this article, please subscribe, the button is located on the top left portion of the screen, it is completely free and will update you on all new material I post here. Don’t forget to share this with anyone you think might benefit from it.)
Much love and peace to you all,
Jacob
http://www.JacobIsrael.org
Finding The Truth
I did this video awhile ago, but there is a lot to it. From the double minded nature in man, the allegory of scripture, to why we cannot find the truth of God “among our kinsfolk” (people outside of us). I hope that you enjoy this short video and I look forward to your thoughts. The one who stops looking finds, The one who stops working finally rests.
JACOB'S LADDER 