HE+ Came to DESTROY the Works of the devil ~ 1 John 3:8 ~ ADVENT 2022

 1 John 3:8

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the SON+ OF GOD was manifested:

that HE+

might destroy the works of the devil.

JESUS Wept… 

is written such

when sorrow much at Death prevails,

holding all in gloom-filled tomb;

no end in sight for Sorrow’s Might

when Death destroys a loved one. 

 

 

JESUS Wept… 

Scriptures said, 

when  tears o’r-flowed from family. 

Neighbors came a-weeping,

as Death untamed

laid its Claim for keeping.    

 

Yes, JESUS Wept…

Seeing Death affect the Living,

curse in sway sweeps life away,

destroying all it touches .

 

JESUS Wept… 

but swept aside His+ Veil of Flesh

and earthly fears with groans,

unheard His+ moans

by fleshly, human ears.    

 

Then JESUS  Lifted

… not the stone…

but the Tone

of Command.

There HE+ met the curse head-first: 

    

LAZARUS ! Here ! Outside !

HE+ cried.

This time… with no tears! 

 

 

Passover Meditation #26 for the Lenten Season 2012

~  ~  ~  The Door of the Cross ~  ~  ~

And everyone

living and believing into ME+

shall not ever die,

forever.

Do you believe this ?

John 11:26 Green's Greek Interlinear

WHAT ?  

We all know Christians who have died and have seen their lifeless body of clay at a funeral. We have witnessed those lifeless forms, so dearly beloved, being lowered into the ground and buried.

Didn't they die ?

NO.

NOT IF THEY WERE TRUE CHRISTIANS.

They simply left this location, leaving behind their vessels of clay which had CONTAINED and limited them to this earth, just like JESUS left HIS+ tired Body on the Cross.  A company of angels escorted them (Luke 16:22) through this demon-infested atmosphere and into the Presence of The LORD in the Heavenlies.

NO.

They didn't die.

They merely shed their lifeless, under-the-curse Adamic, earthly form .... but only for a season... just like JESUS left His+ Adamic Body for a short season.  Of course, their season is longer than 3 days and 3 nights, but nonetheless, it is only for a season ... if they did not die in their sins, without JESUS, without hope. 

Then, BEHOLD! Their earthly body will come forth out of the grave --- be it in ocean, earth, or ashes, it matters not to The LORD of Creation --- INTACT, HEALTHY, STRONG, BEAUTIFUL, and GLORIFIED like unto His+ Body !  

For our citizenship

is in Heaven,

from where

we also wait

for a SAVIOR+,

The LORD JESUS CHRIST,

WHO+ will transform

our body of humiliation,

for it to be conformed 

 to His+  Glorious Body,

according to the working

of His+ Power,

even to subject all things

to HIMSELF+.

Philippians 3: 20, 21 

When does this glorious event occur ?

As HE+ is returning to earth

with His+ Heavenly Armies

... and...

with the Company of Saints in Heaven,

the Saints' glorified bodies

will suddenly arise,

uniting

with their living spirits and souls. 

BLINK !

In a moment, a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet... this change will occur.

After that --- also in a moment -- we who are "alive" yet upon this earth will be transformed and join the resurrected Saints and Our LORD ,

meeting HIM+ in the air as HE+ is returning to reclaim this earth from satan.

HE+ will destroy the darkness that covers the earth with the brightness of His+ Appearing.

What manner of CHRISTIANS then ought we to be ?

WELL DONE ....



WELL DONE,

THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT !

The GOOD news today is

that we have no fear.

HE+ promises to walk with us through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, the Valley of rejection, the Valley of loneliness.

HE+ can...

because HE+ has been through death…

....and back!

.

HE+ endured utter rejection from family, and His+ friends didn’t even stick with HIM+ through His+ strongest trial.

.

Plus, Our Savior – our dear, dear JESUS —saw His+ FATHER seemingly turn HIS FACE away from HIM+, the only-begotten SON+ in WHOM+ HE, The FATHER, was well-pleased… all due to my sin and the sins of the whole world.

. 

THAT was the DEPTHS of the Valley of rejection, the Valley of loneliness. No-one on earth has had to embrace THAT kind of rejection, that utter abandonment of family and friends to embrace the loneliness to such a horrific degree.

.

So, we give thanks that HE+ made it through!

We give thanks because…

it wasn’t HIS+ fault.

IT WAS OURS.

.

HE+ covered for us, providing a cover of HIS+ own Blood. We hide underneath it, being grateful-to-tears for the shelter and safety HIS+ Blood brings us. Bless GOD that HE+ made it through to the end to say,

.

“FATHER!

It is ACCOMPLISHED!”

.

Now, we have no fear, of either Death ( read: “Life” ) or rejection ( read: “Companionship with JESUS” ) or loneliness ( read: “HE+ is right there beside you !” ).

.

If we embrace the cross, putting self-indulgence, self-pity, self-insistence to “death”, then HE+’S there, leading us unto fullness with HIMSELF+… and Joy follows !

.

If we accept the rejection and BLESS those rejecters in our hearts, forgiving them, guiding our minds and hearts to practice thinking

.

“Whatsoever things are lovely, … of good report… true…”

etc., of them….

then, HE+ anoints us with HIS+ great good approval. We have thus practiced HIS+ desire and example to love our enemies. Oh, how happy HE+ is when we do that !
.
HE+ is happy with US ! And, we will actually experience “the love of GOD being shed abroad” through our hearts, to our rejecters !

.

“These things have I+ spoken unto you, that My+ Joy might remain in you, and that your joy MIGHT BE FULL.”

.

Furthermore, if we embrace the loneliness appointed to us by HIS+ Sovereign Will, we will find that HE+ will meet us at the altar to join us to HIMSELF+ so that we will never walk alone.
.
No matter our condition of health, our situation of life, our position in (or out of ) family, we will NEVER be without companionship… the TRUE companionship of having someone to talk to in our hearts, having someone who knows us and loves us despite our character flaws and many failures.

.

(We know, of course, that being around other humans does not guarantee “companionship”, but rather, the communing of our hearts with one another is the fellowship  we hunger for. That is why so many find companionship with their little pets and thus, take great good care of their little 4-footed, fuzzy “heart-mates”.)

.

So, let us walk free of the torment of fear. Embrace the cross; for in so doing, you embrace CHRIST JESUS HIMSELF+, Who+ loves you dearly.

.

Embrace death to Self, for it will bring you LIFE in CHRIST.
.
Rejoice in rejection … for it will work in you great holiness.
.
Welcome loneliness; for inasmuch as you receive His+ ordained loneliness, you’ll receive HIS+ Companionship!

.

And then, when your sojourn upon earth is finished, the transition unto the Heavenly Kingdom will be utterly desirous… and you will hear,

.

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant; ENTER THOU INTO THE JOY OF THY LORD.”

.
Indeed, you have ALREADY been walking in that close JOY for many days with CHRIST JESUS as LORD of your life, through many rejections and much loneliness.

.

Then it will come to pass that the Valley of Baca … of Weeping… will be turned into a summit of total joy in Our LORD… when you see HIS+ welcoming face, full of love, glowing… coming towards you!

In the Name of The FATHER

Who created us,

and His Beloved SON+,
Our LORD JESUS CHRIST,

Who+ saves us,

and the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT,
Who sanctifies us.

Amen

WHO-- or What--- are we LIFTING UP?

There is a way which seemeth right

unto a man,

but the end thereof are the ways of

DEATH.

Proverbs 14:12

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of GOD, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

James 1:2-5

We are told by James to ask for wisdom. We are not told to ask for strength here, nor even patience. As one Brother shared on the LORD'S Day, "Love keeps us faithful to HIM+ ."

During the recent 9/11 remembrances, let us ask: who... or what... are we lifting up?

Are we lamenting the loss of lives? That is acceptable sorrow.

Are we lamenting the fact that likely most who lost their lives so abruptly did not follow the LORD JESUS CHRIST, as they went to their eternal abode ? Now that is only the sorrow that Christians can carry.

Are we vowing to fight terrorism? Regardless of who we think is to blame ... those of Ben Laden's camp or those of Hunt-the-Boeing camp...

IS FIGHTING TERRORISM THE ARENA for CHRISTIANS ?

.

Confused?

.

Then let us UN-confuse ourselves and check out the Word of Truth, as found in Romans 12:19-21...

.

Dearly Beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, VENGEANCE IS MINE; I WILL REPAY, saith The LORD.

.

Therefore,

if thine enemy hunger, feed him;

if he thirst, give him drink:

.

for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

.

Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

.

Yes, this does sound familiar... the teachings of The LORD JESUS CHRIST and the living out of HIS+ Life, being our example... shows us that there is no conflict with the WORD of GOD... by leaving vengeance in HIS+ very, very capable Hands.

.

Fighting against terrorists (political or military) is NOT the realm nor calling of the Christian.

.

For, what does it profit to slay the un-regenerated ?

.

The world would never sorrow over the death of the unsaved... but we who follow CHRIST JESUS do. Therefore, we do NOT pick up the sword but rather we pick up our cross and die daily to our Selves.

.

In order to be ascetic? NO.

.

But rather, in order to share the GOOD NEWS that CHRIST JESUS came to save sinners from death, hell, and the power of the grave.

.

We practice denying our flesh in order to have the life of CHRIST living unhindered by our flesh... in order to share the GOOD NEWS that CHRIST JESUS came to save sinners... of whom I am chief!

.

So, if HE+ cleansed me from sin,

HE+ can cleanse anybody...

.

including those in the enemy camp.

.

Thus, instead of wasting our energies doing what the worldlings do on 9/11, let us Christians spend that time in our prayer closets, wearing out the skin on our knees.

.

Let us beseech the LORD GOD of the HEAVENLY ARMIES to smite the wicked spirits and put those wicked spirits to flight... those wicked creatures who stir up men to shed blood and produce hate.

.

In so doing, those wicked spirits accomplish 2 things:

.

One is they plummet hundreds of people prematurely into HELL, cutting off all chance of them coming to The LORD JESUS CHRIST.

.

Secondly, the wicked spirits stir up human hatred and revenge amongst the Christians and urge them to pick up the sword, avenging in righteous indignation, and drop the cross... and transgress against our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST... Who+ desires that all men, everywhere, be saved.

.

Who... or what... are we Christians lifting up?

.

Yes, in these days of "national emergencies," let us learn to be more FAITHFUL to OUR KINGDOM, which is in Heaven than to the flag of whatever nation we sojourn in.

.

Let us learn to lift up The LORD JESUS CHRIST... not simply to comfort the victims but also to batter the Kingdom of darkness with prayers for Truth to be victorious and salvation for

.

the dreadfully unregenerated ones...

.

for a dreadful eternity in HELL awaits them.

.

There is a way that seemeth right unto a man,

but the end thereof are the ways of DEATH.

.

In the name of The FATHER, Who created thee,

And His SON+, The LORD JESUS CHRIST, Who+ saves thee,

And the Blessed HOLY SPIRIT, Who sanctifies thee.

Amen.

+ + +

SO... WHAT WAS HE+ DOING DOWN THERE?

So,

what was HE+ doing

way

down

there?

Scripture says HE+ was 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth.

So... what was HE+ doing down there ?

PREACHING!!!

What was HE+ preaching?

HE+ was preaching the Good News !

What was the Good News?

There was LOTS of Good News !

1. Death has no more dominion over HIM+.

2. HE+ is the firstborn from the dead.

Who did HE+ preach to ?

1. the dead

2. to the captivity

3. to the Patriarchs

4. to the righteous dead who died in the Covenant of Abraham

For it was impossible for Death to hold HIM+ !

HE+ broke the bonds of sin...

DEATH...

the curse laid upon all of us sons of Adam due to sin.

The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the [Mosaic] law. Adonai, The LORD JESUS CHRIST, was the fulfillment of the Law. HE+ , a man had no sin of Adam: HE+ was the 2nd Adam ! But HE+, a man, was born under the curse of death. HE+ would die as all human flesh dies.

But, HE+ won the battle and "Death" died ! That old enemy, "Death," was swallowed up in Victory !

Death, the ultimat curse, couldn't hold HIM+ because it had no claim on HIM+ even though he was the son of man... because HE+... yes, HE+ alone... had no sin!

The Good News ?

Death

cannot

hold

HIS+

people

either!

... His+ people who have entered His+ covenant and are walking... dead to sin... but alive unto GOD, through CHRIST JESUS, our Risen LORD!

"Death" was .... and IS... swallowed up in Victory... even for the smallest, tiniest Christian.

Do not be afraid of those who would kill the body... but be afraid of the ONE+ Who has the power to destroy both body and soul in Gehenna... the second death!

+ + +

Bless GOD! FATHER, SON+ , and HOLY SPIRIT!

And blessed be HIS+ Kingdom, forever and ever.

Amen.

LENTEN MEDITATION 17