Grace Unto the Humble

James 4:6

But He giveth more grace. Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Friendship with the things of the world leads away from the things of God; ultimately it leads to self reliance, pride, and outward rebellion. The Lord Jesus Christ is the foundation of creation, and His example for mankind is humble submission to the Father. The mysteries of God are written into the world by the Holy Spirit, and humility is the path to His heart and the unraveling of these mysteries in the spirit. Pride turns the mind inward on itself; humility turns it outward toward God.

See also Christ: The Architect of Souls; To Revive the Spirit of the Humble; God Poured Out

Related Scriptures: 2Peter 1:1-11; 1John 2:15-25; Matthew 18:1-11; Mark 4:11-34

Philip Opened His Mouth

Acts 8:32-33

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

The Lord opened not His mouth in order that the Scripture would be fulfilled, and the inward witness of the Holy Spirit would move upon the hearts of men after His resurrection.

Acts 8:34

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

The prophets foretold of the redemption of mankind by the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, who remained dumb before His shearer. The gift of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit is the bold witness that caused Philip to become the mouth of the Lord.

Acts 8:35

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

Jesus Christ will not keep silence much longer. As it is written,

Revelation 19:15-16

And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

See also The Two Anointed Ones; From the Four Winds; God Poured Out

Related Scriptures: Acts 8:1-40; Hebrews 9:1-28; Revelation 19:5-16

He Will Raise Us Up

Hosea 6:2

After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.

Here is a picture of the coming resurrection. The Lord Jesus was two days in hell before He led captivity captive. He was raised up on the third day. Since the cross it has been two thousand years, which is as two days to the LORD. During this time He has purposed to revive humanity. Now we are in the third day when He will raise up mankind. Make straight paths for your feet, He is even at the door. The time is at hand when the faithful shall live in His sight for eternity, even as He purposed from the foundation of the world.

See also Great Light Rising; The Spirit Shall Lift Up A Standard; What Is the Chaff to the Wheat?

Related Scriptures: 2 Peter 3:8; Matthew 12:39-41; Matthew 24:33; Hebrews 12:12-14; Matthew 13:35; Matthew 25:34-40; Hebrews 4:1-9

Freely Given To Us

1 Corinthians 2:12

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

What has God freely given to mankind? He has generously provided every good and perfect gift, which included His original creation before the fall of Adam and Eve. Even in the current corrupted state, the earth still sustains our lives in fulfillment of His promise to restore all things. This subjection to bondage will soon be delivered into the glory of perfect liberty. The Lord has set the events in motion that will soon lead to full restitution, culminating with the return of Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. The establishment of the millennial reign of the Messiah will usher in the flow of a river of peace that will flood the earth with righteousness and true holiness. As it is written,

Habakkuk 2:14

For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

See also Latter and Former Rain; All Shall Know Him; Elijah and Restoration

Related Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 2:1-16, Acts 3:1-26, Habakkuk 2:1-20, Job 38:1-41; Romans 8:1-39

Discern Both Good and Evil

Hebrews 5:14

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

In the midst of gross darkness, there is Light from the Lord Jesus. He is the Light of the world in the believer, yet in order to perceive light we must fully receive His Word and bear witness to the Light within us. Maturity in Christ begins by exercising the senses of discernment, and continues as one is increasingly able to perceive the fullness of the Light of Jesus Christ within.

See also The Candle of the LORD; Have the Light of Life; What Is the Chaff to the Wheat?

Related Scriptures: Isaiah 60:1-5; John 1:1-18; 1John 2:1-11; Malachi 3:1-18

Out Of the Iron Furnace

Deuteronomy 4:20

But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.

Israel was delivered out of the iron furnace of oppression and bondage by the LORD. The furnace is where the purification begins, preparation for receipt of His promises according to His covenant. Until the human heart is purified it cannot receive the promise of God. That is why He has promised a new heart and a new spirit.

Genesis 15:17

And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.

The Abrahamic covenant began with this vision of a furnace, and God's promise of the land. The burning lamp represented the LORD Himself walking through the blood of the sacrifice to establish His covenant with Abraham. We can partake of this same covenant by faith in God through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 31:9

And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.

God specifically calls Jerusalem His furnace. All the nations of the earth will be purified in this furnace. Those outside of Christ will dwell eternally in Satan's furnace. As it is written,

Matthew 13:37-42

He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

I pray that you have ears to hear. Cast away all confidence in anything else, and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

See also Eye to Eye; Depart From Evil; The True Tabernacle

Related Scriptures: Deuteronomy 4:1-20; Genesis 15:1-21; Isaiah 31:1-9; Matthew 13:34-53

Christ: The True Foundation

1Corinthians 3:11

For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

There is no foundation to build upon other than Jesus Christ. He is the basis for all creation. He is the substructure of the universe. The entire concept of foundation rests upon Him, as He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Building the work of God on the True Foundation is the only lasting effort, and He will establish this work. What He does not establish will not remain.

See also The Whole Duty of Man; To Build and to Plant; The True Tabernacle

Related Scriptures: 1Peter 1:3-25; Hebrews 1:1-14; 2Timothy 2:19-21; Hebrews 10:1-39

They Shall Say, “Peace and Safety”

Daniel 11:24

He shall enter peaceably even upon the fattest places of the province; and he shall do that which his fathers have not done, nor his fathers' fathers; he shall scatter among them the prey, and spoil, and riches: yea, and he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time.

As the end of the age approaches, the level of deception will increase. The world cries out for "peace" at any cost; for political correctness. Tolerance of evil is just ignorance and will never lead to peace. Jesus spoke of a whole different meaning of peace. The peace He referred to is a level of provision from God that supplies deliverance from oppression, preserves purity of heart and soul, brings healing to the body, and wholeness to the spirit. When the Antichrist projects his wicked devices against the strongholds of God, the people of God will not be deceived. The sudden destruction that swallows the fallen world will pass by like the death angel, leaving the remnant to inherit the peace that Christ will establish during the Millennium.

See also The Earth Shall Be Filled; Warn Every One; Miry Clay

Related Scriptures: Matthew 24:1-51; John 14:26-31; 1Thessalonians 5:1-28; Exodus 12:21-23

The Lord and Harpazo

Thirteen Aspects of the Rapture.

Take your inheritance in the kingdom of heaven by force.
Stand against the world system trying to force its mold upon your life.
Look to the Lord, and He will forcefully remove you from dissension and affliction.
These three things are the rapture.

Hang on to the Word in your heart lest the devil come to catch it away.
Hang on to your relationship with the Chief Shepherd,

lest the wolf come to catch you away from His fold.
Be baptized in the Holy Spirit and filled to the full with Him each day;
And the Lord will catch you away into the position He has for you on earth.
These three things are the rapture.
 
Rest in the hands of Jesus Christ the Lord, and no man can pluck you out of His hand.
Rest in the arms of your heavenly Father, the Ancient of Days:
He is well able to hold on to you in His hand, and no man can pluck you out of His hand.
The Spirit has sealed you unto the day of redemption.
These three Persons are the rapture.

Dwell in the Vine and wait for the vision, and be caught up with whatever He says to do.
Be so caught up with the love of Christ Jesus that you will meet Him in the air when He calls.
Rest assured in Him, knowing that He has prepared you a place on His throne with Him.
These three truths are the rapture.

Be occupied daily only with the fear of the LORD, and He will rescue you from the fire of His wrath.
This one thing I know,
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
On the other side of His blood is the rapture.
____________________________________________

As blood bought believers, we are engaged in the most important conflict ever: the battle between God and Satan, between good and evil, between the heavenly realm of light and the forces of spiritual darkness. Our commander, the Lord of hosts, has already determined the outcome, which He sealed through the death on the cross, the burial, and resurrection of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. In turn, we determine our position in this battle by faith in Jesus Christ, and this act guarantees the outcome in our own life by the seal of the Holy Spirit of promise. After this gift we must strive for the prize. There are crowns laid up for those who run the race with endurance while working the works of God. We must execute the battle plan of the Father of spirits.

See also A Vesture Dipped in Blood; The Blood of the Passover Lamb; Dark Speeches

Related Scriptures: Matthew 11:12; Matthew 13:19; John 6:15; John 10:12; John 10:28-29; Acts 8:39; Acts 23:10; 2 Corinthians 12:2-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Jude 1:23; Revelation 12:5

The Two Anointed Ones

Zechariah 4:14

Then said he, These are the two anointed ones, that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.

Two men are currently reserved, before the presence of God Almighty, as witnesses to Jerusalem, Israel, and the whole world during the tribulation. They have spent many centuries in the most excellent glory, held in readiness for their three and one half year testimony to the blessing and glory, wisdom and thanksgiving, honor and power and might of God. One of them is clearly identified as Elijah, and the other I believe to be Enoch. The earth is groaning in anticipation of the spiritual outpouring that is about to occur, in preparation for the return of the King of kings and Lord of lords.

See also The Assyrian In My Land; All Shall Know Him; God Poured Out

Related Scriptures: Revelation 11:3-4; Revelation 7:9-17; Malachi 4:1-6 Romans 8:16-23; Acts 2:14-32; Revelation 19:11-16

Let Communication Be

Matthew 5:37

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

This modern world has been called the information age. However, many words do not necessarily communicate more information. It is time to reexamine the importance of the words we use, and how we use them. At the last judgment, it is our obedience to the Word that will be valued. As it is written:

John 12:48

He that rejecteth Me, and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

See also He Magnified His Word; Out of the Iron Furnace; Run With the Vision

Related Scriptures: Matthew 12:36-37; Revelation 22:16-21; John 6:62-69; Proverbs 4:20-23

He Will Raise Us Up

Hosea 6:2

After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight.

Here is a picture of the coming resurrection. The Lord Jesus was two days in hell before He led captivity captive. He was raised up on the third day. Since the cross it has been two thousand years, which is as two days to the LORD. During this time He has purposed to revive humanity. Now we are in the third day when He will raise up mankind. Make straight paths for your feet, He is even at the door. The time is at hand when the faithful shall live in His sight for eternity, even as He purposed from the foundation of the world.

See also Great Light Rising; The Spirit Shall Lift Up A Standard; What Is the Chaff to the Wheat?

Related Scriptures: 2 Peter 3:8; Matthew 12:39-41; Matthew 24:33; Hebrews 12:12-14; Matthew 13:35; Matthew 25:34-40; Hebrews 4:1-9

Watch Ye Therefore

Luke 21:35-36

For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Prophetic events are unfolding at a heightened pace, signaling that the end of the age is close.  The Lord cautioned us to be vigilant, so as not to be caught unawares at the coming of the day of the Lord.  It shall come as a snare to those who are not paying attention: to unbelievers certainly, but also to believers who have fallen asleep or have let themselves be overly burdened by the cares of this present world.  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.  Watch the Word that He has given you.  Take authority over the forces of darkness around you and cast them out.  Pray day and night according to His divine direction.  He is risen, and He is coming in power and great glory.  Praise the Lord!

See also The Realm of the Sky; Caught Up; The Promise of His Coming

Related Scriptures: Luke 10:1-24; Matthew 24:1-51; Matthew 25:1-13; Matthew 28:18-20

Philip Opened His Mouth

Acts 8:32-33

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.

The Lord opened not His mouth in order that the Scripture would be fulfilled, and the inward witness of the Holy Spirit would move upon the hearts of men after His resurrection.

Acts 8:34

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?

The prophets foretold of the redemption of mankind by the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, who remained dumb before His shearer. The gift of God through the indwelling Holy Spirit is the bold witness that caused Philip to become the mouth of the Lord.

Acts 8:35

Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

Jesus Christ will not keep silence much longer. As it is written,

Revelation 19:15-16

And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

See also The Two Anointed Ones; From the Four Winds; Miry Clay

Related Scriptures: Acts 8:1-40; Hebrews 9:1-28; Revelation 19:5-16

Out Of the Iron Furnace

Deuteronomy 4:20

But the LORD hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.

Israel was delivered out of the iron furnace of oppression and bondage by the LORD. The furnace is where the purification begins, preparation for receipt of His promises according to His covenant.

Genesis 15:17

And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces.

The Abrahamic covenant began with this vision of a furnace, and God's promise of the land.

Isaiah 31:9

And he shall pass over to his strong hold for fear, and his princes shall be afraid of the ensign, saith the LORD, whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.

God specifically calls Jerusalem His furnace. All the nations of the earth will be purified in this furnace. Those outside of Christ will dwell eternally in Satan's furnace. As it is written,

Matthew 13:37-42

He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. The Son of man shall send forth His angels, and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

I pray that you have ears to hear. Cast away all confidence in anything else, and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ alone.

See also Eye to Eye; Depart From Evil; The True Tabernacle

Related Scriptures: Deuteronomy 4:1-20; Genesis 15:1-21; Isaiah 31:1-9; Matthew 13:34-53

Watch Ye Therefore

Luke 21:35-36

For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

Prophetic events are unfolding at a heightened pace, signaling that the end of the age is close.  The Lord cautioned us to be vigilant, so as not to be caught unawares at the coming of the day of the Lord.  It shall come as a snare to those who are not paying attention: to unbelievers certainly, but also to believers who have fallen asleep or have let themselves be overly burdened by the cares of this present world.  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.  Watch the Word that He has given you.  Take authority over the forces of darkness around you and cast them out.  Pray day and night according to His divine direction.  He is risen, and He is coming in power and great glory.  Praise the Lord!

See also The Realm of the Sky; Caught Up; The Promise of His Coming

Related Scriptures: Luke 10:1-24; Matthew 24:1-51; Matthew 25:1-13; Matthew 28:18-20

The Lord and Harpazo

Thirteen Aspects of the Rapture.

Take your inheritance in the kingdom of heaven by force.
Stand against the world system trying to force its mold upon your life.
Look to the Lord, and He will forcefully remove you from dissension and affliction.
These three things are the rapture.

Hang on to the Word in your heart lest the devil come to catch it away.
Hang on to your relationship with the Chief Shepherd,

lest the wolf come to catch you away from His fold.
Be baptized in the Holy Spirit and filled to the full with Him each day;
And the Lord will catch you away into the position He has for you on earth.
These three things are the rapture.

Rest in the hands of Jesus Christ the Lord, and no man can pluck you out of His hand.
Rest in the arms of your heavenly Father, the Ancient of Days:
He is well able to hold on to you in His hand, and no man can pluck you out of His hand.

The Spirit has sealed you unto the day of redemption.

These three Persons are the rapture.

Dwell in the Vine and wait for the vision, and be caught up with whatever He says to do.
Be so caught up with the love of Christ Jesus that you will meet Him in the air when He calls.
Rest assured in Him, knowing that He has prepared you a place on His throne with Him.
These three truths are the rapture.

Be occupied daily only with the fear of the LORD, and He will rescue you from the fire of His wrath.
This one thing I know,
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
On the other side of His blood is the rapture.
____________________________________________

As blood bought believers, we are engaged in the most important conflict ever: the battle between God and Satan, between good and evil, between the heavenly realm of light and the forces of spiritual darkness. Our commander, the Lord of hosts, has already determined the outcome, which He sealed through the death on the cross, the burial, and resurrection of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. In turn, we determine our position in this battle by faith in Jesus Christ, and this act guarantees the outcome in our own life by the seal of the Holy Spirit of promise. After this gift we must strive for the prize. There are crowns laid up for those who run the race with endurance while working the works of God. We must execute the battle plan of the Father of spirits.

See also A Vesture Dipped in Blood; The Blood of the Passover Lamb; Dark Speeches

Related Scriptures: Matthew 11:12; Matthew 13:19; John 6:15; John 10:12; John 10:28-29; Acts 8:39; Acts 23:10; 2 Corinthians 12:2-4; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Jude 1:23; Revelation 12:5

Let Communication Be

Matthew 5:37

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

This modern world has been called the information age. However, many words do not necessarily communicate more information. It is time to reexamine the importance of the words we use, and how we use them. At the last judgment, it is our obedience to the Word that will be valued.

Related Scriptures: Matthew 12:36-37; Revelation 22:16-21; John 6:62-69; Proverbs 4:20-23

Freely Given To Us

1 Corinthians 2:12

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Time spent daily in His word gives the Holy Spirit the tools He needs to prepare our hearts. As we devote this time to God, the incorruptible seed of His word will perform what He sent it out to do in our lives. Take the time to receive the free impartation that God intends for you today.

Related Scriptures: Ephesians 4:1-8; Hebrews 2:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31.

Let Communication Be

Matthew 5:37

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

This modern world has been called the information age. However, many words do not necessarily communicate more information. It is time to reexamine the importance of the words we use, and how we use them. At the last judgment, it is our obedience to the Word that will be valued.

Related Scriptures: Mat 12:36-37; Rev 22:16-21; John 6:62-69; Prov 4:20-23