HE+ 's Coming ! HE+ 's Coming !

 Christmastide Meditation

Nativity and St. Jerome's Cave

Oh My+ Children! How often would I+ have gathered ye under My+ wings, but ye would not.  You wanted nothing to do with My+ ways, My+ values, but rather have chosen the world. 

With the world , then, you shall go. 

Have I+ not told you to FORSAKE the ways of the world and come and be full time for My+ Kingdom?  To spend your days full time WITH ME+ ... and ye would not ? 

Have I+ not told you to make NO PROVISION for the flesh... but instead, ye have made plenty... to live a life-style far above My+ Presence ? 

Have I+ joy in half-step obedience ? Have I+ joy in your following the example of other "good Christians" ... yet not following MY+ Example ? 

I+ had no pillow for My+ head; you have several. 

I+ had no animal to ride; you have two vehicles. 

I+ had no silver or gold; ye have both. 

FOCUS your heart upon ME+, 

not upon things of this world. 

Lay up, lay up for yourselves TREASURES IN HEAVEN; no moth nor man can steal those. Your treasures in Heaven, committed unto ME+ will give you the best return of any investment you could make in the Mammon fields.

For Mammon is about to fail. 

All will fall with it, whose hand is upon it.  

Mammon will not keep you;

 I+ will. 

And I+ say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. Luke 16:9


Invest your treasures in Heaven; divest your keepings for the Eternal Habitations. You cannot out-give ME+. 

Be prepared for My+ Coming. 

Few were prepared for my first Advent. Fewer still are prepared for My+ second. Hide yourself in ME+. Learn to live by My+ Voice. I+ will direct you. 

Prepare for My+ Coming. It will be soon... sooner than you think. 

O My+ children... My+ children !

Passover Meditation #25 for the Lenten Season 2012 ( #24 repeated )

~ ~ ~ The Door of the Cross ~ ~ ~

I+

I+ AM

The Resurrection

and

The LIFE:

he that believeth

in ME+,

though he were dead,

yet shall he live.

John 11:25 Green's Greek Interlinear

How could those already dead believe in JESUS the CHRIST ?

Some, we know, did: Simeon the devout man awaiting the Consolation+ of Israel and Anna the prophetess of great age, who were both present in the Temple at His+ Dedication, John the Baptist, Joseph, the guardian ( Gowra, Aramaic) and husband of Mary. Perhaps Lazarus also, Mary and Martha's brother, believed in HIM+ since his sisters evidenced a strong belief in HIM+ as MESSIAH+. These all died knowing HIM+ ...but before Our LORD'S own death and resurrection.

Here, as recorded in John 11:25, Our LORD is looking ahead at what happened in those 3 days and 3 nights HE+ spent in the heart of the earth. (Mt. 12:40)

Well, what DID happen down there?

Sheol, the Old Testament word for "hell," was divided into 2 parts in the heart of the earth. One part was for the unrighteous ones who died in their sins. The other part was called "Abraham's Bosom" (See Luke 16:22).

[ Now, just a note on Abraham's Bosom. In the Old Testament, the bosom was configured as a CAVITY, a carrying-place. It was where one held to his chest things of value. Womenfolk would carry food and other precious items in their aprons, wrapping up the corners of their aprons around the items like a sack and carry the load CLOSE TO THEIR BOSOM. Thus, "Abraham's Bosom" in the heart of the earth was a CAVITY in the earth, filled with precious souls who had died in RIGHT standing with GOD.]

Our LORD spent 3 days and 3 nights down there, in the heart of the earth PREACHING to the DEAD who had died long before JESUS Our LORD was sent to the earth.

How do we know this?

Scripture tells us this

in 1 Peter 3:18, 19:

For CHRIST also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that HE+ might bring us to GOD, being put to death indeed in the flesh, but made alive in the SPIRIT; In which also HE+ went and preached unto the spirits in prison.

This Scripture tells us that JESUS Our LORD died a natural death in the flesh. When HE+ died, HE+ left His+ physical Body on the cross to be buried.

Now, we know The LORD JESUS never went into a jail, a prison, to preach. HE+ preached in many places, but never in an actual civil prison run by the Roman government, who had the authority over the prisons in Israel.

But rather, HE+ HIMSELF+ went in His+ SPIRIT into the heart of the earth... to preach to the dead !

Now THIS tells us some interesting facts:

   • "Death" was a prison from which no-one EVER left

    • it was located in the heart of the earth

   • the dead are simply gone unto ANOTHER PLACE ( either pleasant or bad)

   • the dead are not obliterated even though their bodies of clay are buried in the ground as "lifeless"

   • nor is their consciousness erased

   • nor have their emotions ceased

   • nor is their intellect diminished

Some OTHER Truths of GREAT interest are here also:

     • JESUS was intensely ALIVE the instant HE+ closed His+ eyes in death. We know this because HE+ had said... "It is accomplished, FATHER; into Thy HANDS I+ commit My+ SPIRIT."

     • HE+ left His+ dead, physical Body for 3 days and 3 nights

     • HE+ descended into the heart of the earth, into Sheol ( hell )

     • HE+ was not punished in hell but entered as a VICTORIOUS SAVIOR sent by The FATHER

     • HE+ asked no-one's permission to ENTER into the realm of the dead

    • HE+ asked no-one's permission to LEAVE the realm of the dead...

     • HE+ was busy for 3 days and 3 nights, as The FATHER sent HIM+ down there to preach.

Well, what did HE+ preach to this captive audience who could NOT leave the realm of the Dead ?

HE+ preached

the Good News !

I Peter 4:6 continues from the above Scriptures cited:

For unto this cause ALSO THE GOSPEL WAS PREACHED TO THE DEAD that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but MIGHT LIVE according to GOD in the SPIRIT. Green's Greek Interlinear

 

O Great REDEEMER+, O THOU+ Who+ had and still has the keys of Death and Hell, I thank THEE+ for dying on that mean Cross in order to break down the gates of Sheol, Hades, and hell in order to bring Life to those who had not the chance to hear the GOOD NEWS before they died.

Forgive me for forsaking the task of sharing this GOOD NEWS of victory over death with others.

Please forgive me of burying this "talent" entrusted unto me and keeping the GOOD NEWS locked up within my smug heart.

Forgive me for fleeing from my responsibility before GOD and man.

Cleanse me of the sin of Self-Preservation and help me instead to labor to Preserve those heading into Eternal Torments in hell and from thence, into the Second Death in the Lake of Burning Fire.

Help me , LORD JESUS, to proclaim this Victory over death, hell, and the grave to the Un-saved, the Lost, the Un-Redeemed amongst my family, friends, acquaintances, and even to strangers.

LENTEN MEDITATION 18~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The Second Death

LENTEN MEDITATION 18
for the Year of Our LORD, 2.23.2008

The SECOND Death

And I saw the dead, small an great, stand before GOD:

and the books were opened: and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books,

according to their works.

And the sea gave up the dead which were in it;

and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them;

and they were judged every man according to their works.

And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death. Rev. 20: 12,14

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the SPIRIT saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. Rev. 2:11

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone;

which is the second death. Rev. 21:8

The second death is a topic avoided by most preachers and brethren alike.

The second death brings to us the true, horrible, and frightening aspect of spending eternity in the Lake of Fire where the adversary satan will be placed. This likely will be, at the very least, that one will experience the amount of pain and suffering one has done to others during his life on earth... but possibly more, since The LORD takes those offenses as done unto HIMSELF.

Then, there is the accountability of who did one serve: The LORD .... satan.... oneself ?

JESUS HIMSELF spoke of this SECOND death in Mark 9: 42-48. Listen to His Words:

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.

And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off; it is better for thee to enter into Life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell,

into the fire that never shall be quenched:

where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.

And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into Life, than having two feet to be cast into hell,

into the fire that never shall be quenched:

where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.

And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of GOD with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:

where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.

Life, in the above passage, refers to entering into Eternity with JESUS. Our LORD is telling us that rather than sin and miss Eternal Life with HIM+, it would be better for us to sever our needed body part through which sin has come. Why? It is because when we get to Heaven, we'll be made whole, once again, plus have eternal life in a NEW KIND of BODY, LIKE HIS+ GLORIOUS RESURRECTED BODY!

In other words, no matter the personal cost,

DON'T MISS ETERNITY WITH JESUS.

The opposite is a nightmare which never, ever ceases.

That second death is where all who are waiting in hell for the final judgment are thrown into the Lake of Burning Fire with hell itself and death ! We see that when the unredeemed die, they go to a place of waiting called hell or hades (Gk) or sheol (Heb). They are in torments there, as JESUS told us in Luke 16.

BUT THAT IS NOT THE SECOND DEATH

....WHICH AWAITS THEM LATER.

That awful, eternal, SECOND DEATH,

where the worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched.

This brings us back to our priorites, Christians...

and our accountability before the great Judgment Seat of CHRIST.

In the light of the SECOND death, how then should we live... before GOD, daily... before our fellow man... in our pursuits of this life... in the priorities of our day?

Are we truly concerned about the peoples and tribes who have never heard about The LORD, that they might be saved from the Lake of Burning Fire, the SECOND death?

Are we truly concerned about our lost neighbors that they might be saved from the SECOND death? Or rather, do we keep things on an easy, comfortable level? Do we even think to pray for them... other than when they get sick? The SECOND death is going to be harder on them than any sickness they have ever seen on this earth... and more long-lasting, too. Do we care enough even to set some regular time aside to pray?

Do we pray for opportunities to share the seriousness of eternal consequences with those who are hostile to us?

Let us pray:

Dear Holy, Heavenly FATHER,

I come to you ashamed of my light-hearted walk before THEE. I have not laid to heart the seriousness of Thy words nor of Thy commission. O LORD JESUS CHRIST, it is my heart's desire that all would know THEE+ ... Thy great love, Thy great cleansing power, and Thy great Life both here and beyond the grave.

Turn me away from self-centeredness, O LORD, and let Thy Anointing rest upon me. Let others sense the seriousness of eternal consequences when they see me or converse with me. And help me, O help me, to dislodge myself from comfort and rise up and do those things which will help to rescue friends and enemies alike from the SECOND death... which was not intended for men but for the fallen angels. I am ashamed of my lack of concern. Where would I be if others had not been concerned about my falling into that very Lake ?

I Thank THEE+, O Holy ONE+, for the salvation THOU+ has given to mankind... for whosoever will come to THEE+ . Help me to rescue the perishing and do my part, to show my love and thankfulness unto THEE+.

IN the name of the FATHER, His+ SON, JESUS CHRIST our LORD, and the HOLY SPIRIT. Amen.

+ + +

NEED INSURANCE?

The CHRISTIAN’S GREAT INSURANCE POLICY...
Underwritten by The LORD JESUS CHRIST

The first part of Luke 16 holds the enigmatic account of the unrighteous steward, as related by Our LORD JESUS CHRIST. Everybody knows it deals with wealth, riches, and money (and accounts, too) of every sort. That part is not mysterious. As a matter of fact, 28 verses out of the 31 verses in that entire chapter spoken by The LORD deal with money or, as in the Greek, mamona.

After some research, we discovered mamona was capitalized. It was a proper name: Mamona, the name of the Syrian deity of riches. Hence, mammon came to mean wealth, riches, and money in English.

This information brought the entire passage into focus. It told us that the source, the origination, of a money system was brought to mankind via a foreign deity... that is to say, a demonic entity. The origins even of the English word money come from the idolatrous temple Juno Moneta, the place where the Romans coined their money. (This is found in the etymology of money / mint, from Webster’s 7th New Collegiate Dictionary, p. 540). In other words, mammon was brought to man through the hands of the wicked spirits, the fallen angels. Thus, it is clear to see that in the beginning, the money system was not created by GOD for man’s use but by the wicked spirits.

Now, what would one suppose Our LORD thinks about such a devised system of mammon which HE+ did not develop for mankind? In this 16th chapter of Luke, Our LORD describes all mammon (riches, wealth, money) as unrighteous.

Does the Greek text adequately support this? Yes. Throughout this passage, unrighteous is used in the Greek: that is, the opposite of righteous/righteousness. Adikais and adiko is used throughout as adjectives describing mammon. Verse 8 has a parallel construction in the Greek regarding the unrighteous steward. Thus, it should be read as “unrighteous mammon” instead of simply dishonest wealth. Wealth gotten by dishonest means versus honest wealth is stretching the Greek, grammatically.

Why is this distinction important?

Wealth gotten by dishonest means is bad; wealth gotten by honest means is okay, right? Yes... in the eyes of man.

But how does Our GOD view mammon? His+ estimation of what we labor for night and day is clearly stated in John 6:27. HE+ said, “Labor not for the food which perishes, but for that food which endures unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you. For HIM+ has GOD The FATHER sealed.”

What is His+ estimation of those valuables which men have heart attacks over or what men sell their souls for? HE+ tells us in Matthew, in Mark, and in Luke: “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?”

We can truthfully see that mammon is: 1) always unrighteous---not being created by GOD for mankind, in the beginning, and 2) is the very least thing of value in His+ estimation... and rightly so, since the enemy camp devised the system which has been placed upon man, to his unwitting destruction. Verses 10 and 11 establish this point. HE+ declares if one is faithful in that which is least –or, unfaithful, as the case may be—that one would act the same way in dealing with much.

As a matter of fact, further on in that very passage in Luke 16, our LORD pointed out this uncomfortable truth: that which is highly esteemed by men is abomination before GOD (Luke 16:15 ). This strong Greek word means what is extremely hated, detested, or abhorred. In the 6 places (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Revelation) it is used in the New Testament, it is always used in conjunction with idolatry.

Now, back to the passage of interest... the enigmatic Luke 16: 1-13. Our LORD shows us how worldlings do and what they consider smart or practical in the management of earthly goods. The fellows in this passage all valued shrewdness with money so highly that—even if they were cheated themselves—they had to own up that it was quite a smart or practical thing to do to falsify the bills “for friends.” The fellows who went along with having their bills re-constructed liked the good bargain, naturally! Which of us wouldn’t like to have our bills reduced by some means or other? How many of us would even question why our bill has been reduced? The fellows in this account, however, knew just who had benefited them.

Thus, these fellows—no better than the unrighteous steward—would welcome someone who helped out their finances. They’d welcome him right into their midst as a loyal friend and not as a scoundrel... to them! The LORD accurately pointed out how worldlings conduct their affairs using unrighteous mammon. This still goes on today. Having “friends” in high places benefits the pocketbook, doesn’t it?

But then, Our LORD JESUS CHRIST makes some startling statements. First, HE+ recognizes that money is here, a reality of this life, and that it will not disappear until HE+ returns. So, Our LORD tells us how we sons of Light should do with this unrighteous mammon. HE+ starts out by establishing His+ authority...“And I say unto you....” you sons of Light, you should use this unrighteous mammon in the same way!

However, the difference is exactly WHO our friends are.

Our friends are those who reside in Heavenly places! Our friends, The FATHER, His SON JESUS CHRIST, and His HOLY SPIRIT, are the ones Who have the power to receive us into the Eternal habitations not made with hands. (Verse 9). Now, if this Greek verb is indeed rendered welcome, others included in the reception committee could well include the saints of Hebrews 11: 36,37, 38... of whom the world was not worthy. It could include the martyrs of Revelation 6:9 whose glorious resting place is under the Altar of GOD. And, of course, it could include the various powerful orders of the heavenly hosts of the LORD+.

In short, “the friends receiving us into Everlasting Habitations” (verse 9) could include all the Church Victorious, all the martyrs and confessors who have not denied The LORD before men (Luke 12:5-9), no matter what the cost nor loss.

Those “friends” could include those servants of HIS+ who were so careful and mindful to do His+ will that HE+ did not order them to depart from HIM+, as in Matthew 7: 21-23. “They” might include those who overcame the devil and satan by the Blood of the LAMB+, and by the word of their testimony, and who loved not their lives unto the death, as in Revelation 12:11.

Unfortunately, we sons of Light+ aren’t as shrewd as the worldlings. We do NOT use our unrighteous mammon to win friends in Heavenly Places. Instead, we use it for our own interests. In short, we use it for the same purpose as the worldlings to procure earthly security instead of Heavenly security... only in a more honest fashion... (perhaps).

In a concrete and practical way, Our LORD is showing us how to procure an insurance policy which HE+ Himself+ underwrites!

This one, HE+ says, will hold fast in the Heavenlies. This insurance will pay great dividends in the end, when we really need it, when nothing earthly will help us any longer. The Roman Centurion, Cornelius, came unto the favorable attention of Our LORD even before he was saved because of his use of unrighteous mammon.

Do we?

In verse 11, Our LORD JESUS tells us plainly that if we are not faithful to do His+ Will in what GOD considers the least important thing in this world, do we presume that Our LORD will entrust to our authority any of the Really Important things... like to rule over 10 cities and to judge angels as well as the world (Luke 19:17 and I Cor. 6:3)... for all Eternity in the world to come? Everything included in the mammon system of wealth will burn in the last day. The Apostle Peter has warned us of this.

He said: But the day of The LORD will come as a thief in the night; in the which the Heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10).

However, the true, eternal riches will not be touched by judgment’s fire; they will remain. And, our priceless spirit, soul, and body, made in the image and likeness of GOD, will not suffer the loss of even one hair! (Luke 21:18). Furthermore, Scripture says, “And GOD shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away. And HE+ that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And HE+ said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. ” (Rev. 21:4-5).

The message of this passage in Luke 16 is clear: use your money, wealth, and riches for The LORD. If you do not and use it for your self or your earthly security just like the worldlings do—no matter how honest you are in your dealings—Our LORD will not entrust unto you the authority and power and the true, eternal riches in the age to come.

Furthermore, verse 12 tells us that we will not even be able to keep our own souls intact. Our LORD said in Matthew 16:26 and in several other places: “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Just how clear was this message received when Our LORD spoke it? Look at verse 14, the very next verse. Guess who mocked and derided these important words of CHRIST JESUS ? The Pharisees did, who were lovers of money, lovers of silver, lovers of mammon and that wicked system. Those fellows understood His+ words and account regarding the worldlings exactly. They received it to heart, and like the clever devils in James 2, they believed it. But, being men, in their presumption, they did not tremble as did the demons. Those Pharisees, those men, derided CHRIST JESUS... the only ONE+ Who+ could save them from being consumed by the mammon system and by their sins. And, if they never repented and changed their ways, they would have died in their sins.

As Our LORD truthfully and faithfully told us, Mankind, you humans, you cannot—are absolutely not able—to serve both GOD and Mammon.

Why?

Because one master is GOD... the other is a demonic entity called Mamona.


You see... this entire account is NOT about a clever money-handler nor even about the bunch of rich rascals who are his friends. THAT IDEA came from the commentators and the editorial staff who put labels in Scripture above certain passages.

It is also NOT a parable. Our LORD JESUS said it was a "CERTAIN" steward... just like HE+ said later in Luke 16 that there was a CERTAIN poor man named Lazarus. The Early Church even knew that the rich man's name was Dives. The label parable is again, from men ... not from GOD. (Scripture identifies clearly when Our LORD was speaking in parables. Luke 16 is not one of them.)

RATHER...

It is about mammon and exactly how Our LORD sees it: as an abomination.

The purpose of this account is simply this:

to show us how Our LORD wants us to deal with this unrighteous mammon...

It will soon burn. James 4 says it is the cause of wars and fightings. Our LORD says riches are DECEITFUL, choking out the Word, making that man so deceived by riches unfruitful ( Mt. 13:22). Worse, we know what Our LORD says happens to the unfruitful branches. (See John 15).

Thus, in HIS+ great love for mankind, Our LORD is warning us throughout Luke 16 about what can cast us away from His+ Presence and into Eternal sorrow.