Matthew 1:1
“The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
It says: Jesus “the son of David, the son of Abraham” – David is mentioned first, because Jesus first came for the Jews. Abraham is mentioned second, because he secondly came for all nations. Yet his purpose from the beginning was for all nations.
Many falsely believe that the only reason the Gentiles have salvation is because it was rejected first by the Jews. The Gentiles were always to be included, but the Jews were first. First to reject God were the Gentiles (Esau). He went off on his own as he discontinued many parts of the covenant, including circumcision.
I refer you to the birth of Jesus. The first to worship Him were Jewish shepherds (Luke 2:8-20); for the Jews were first. Yet some time later, the Magi (the wise men) came to worship (Matthew 2:1-11) the child Jesus. These men were Gentiles. They were second, but they were included. It is ironic that many Jews despised the Gentiles and thought so little of them (including many of the original disciples); yet they came originally from the same heritage.
Matthew 1:7-8
“And Solomon begat Ro-bo’-am; and Ro-bo’-am begat A-bi’-a; and A-bi’-a begat A’-sa; And A’-sa begat Jos’-a-phat; and Jos’-a-phat begat Jo’-ram; and Jo’-ram begat O-zi’-as;”
“And Solomon begat Ro-bo’-am” – a good father, Solomon begat a bad son Ro-bo’-am. A bad father Ro-bo’-am begat a bad son, A-bi’-a. A bad father A-bi’-a begat a good son A’-sa. A good father A-sa begat a good son Jehoshaphat. A good father Jehoshaphat begat a bad son, Jo’-ram. Ones ancestry has no relationship to ones character, just as ones ancestry has nothing to do with ones salvation.
Matthew 1:25
“And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”
Mary was a virgin until after the birth of Jesus. Joseph did not know her until after the birth. The Romans dogmatically teach she was a virgin for her entire life; yet Mary was born with a sin nature, as with all, save Jesus. After the birth of Jesus she and Joseph brought forth four sons and two daughters. Joseph had no former wives and these were not adopted children. After the birth of Jesus, scripture no longer refers to Mary as a virgin. She was flesh and blood and a sinner, not one to be worshipped, and held in such high esteem. She and Joseph were chosen to do their part. They did it; a testimony to their obedience, a testimony to God’s grace, nothing more.
Matthew 2:11
“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”
The wise men came into the house, not to the stable or manger. The birth was in a stable in Jerusalem. This house was not in Jerusalem. Jesus was not a “babe”, but a young child. Mary is mentioned as His mother. She is not mentioned as the virgin mother. The wise men came to worship Jesus and to bring Him gifts. They did not come to worship Mary and bring her gifts. These were after all; wise men. The wise men from the east journeyed far to see Jesus, the Son of God. They did not start their journey until they saw the star; by the time they got there, Jesus was no longer a babe, but a young child.
The Christmas manager scene, showing the wise men, is another fabrication. Take no part in this religious side of Christmas. It is filled with lies and errors, it is not Christianity.
Matthew 3:13-15
“Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.”
Why was Jesus baptized by John? Jesus was showing His approval for John’s work. He did not need to confirm His repentance by water, for He was righteous. John, at first, forbade Him, because the baptizer was always assumed to be above the one being baptized. Yet through this act, Jesus erased this thinking. The water baptism is to be an outward sign of repentance; yet it means little if the heart is not right. In infant baptism, how can a mother repent for her child? She cannot! So the baptism is only a ceremony for the family and their church; not God. The water and the ceremony does not automatically change another or give them special grace. Back in the early days, symbols and rituals, were very important to the people, since the Mosaic religion used many. Christianity is not about rituals and symbols. These today all come from man’s religions. Some today associate water baptism with confession, yet confession by itself does not necessarily bring repentance; where repentance does bring confession.
Water baptism lifts one’s spirit so it can be good for the saved, so it has importance. Yet many religions have made more of it than it is.
Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.”
It is all right to “mourn” the conditions around you. One is to condemn on the one hand and mourn on the other. Mourning is love, while condemn is anger.
Matthew 5:5
“Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.”
God has made it clear that the wicked will not inherit the earth.
“The meek shall inherit the earth” – today it is the wicked that are running it and prospering. The meek one is not weak. He makes no demands on others, seeks nothing for self and is fully satisfied with God’s will and arrangement of things. Jesus was meek, but He certainly was not weak.
“Inherit the earth” – one day the earth will belong to the Lord. It shall be His kingdom. His people will inherit it.
Matthew 5:6
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
When one hungers and thirsts, one is almost desperate. The Lord says: they that want righteousness in the world want it so bad they are almost desperate for it. They truly hunger for it. Anything unrighteous makes them sick. Our love for righteousness needs to increase. “They shall be filled” – the Lord says the more you want righteousness, the more you get. He will fill us up with our desire for it.
Matthew 5:10
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for their’s is the kingdom of heaven.”
When one is persecuted for righteous sake, it shows that person to be different from the world. Persecution can come in different forms. One can be ignored, talked about or belittled, not just defiled. It can be just one word or one action. If there is a conflict, you may receive persecution.
If one is told – he has sinned, and he does not want to hear it, there could be conflict. The world hates the Lord’s righteousness. Religion has its own form of righteousness, tolerable to the world. Religion will compromise their righteousness. If you stand for the Lords righteousness, the world will hate you. You may be shunned, picked on, or ignored. One must be ready for persecution, do not expect change. Yet we should not give any reason for others to expect us to change. Some religious Christians have felt persecution because of their religion. Their attitude has become one of happiness as they wear the persecution like some “badge of honor”. It is not. It is a sad time, for those that persecute sin. Jesus felt persecution many times. It was not joyful to Him, it stings.
Matthew 5: 13
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”
Salt here refers to preserve. You are to preserve and maintain My ways, the things I have taught you. Preserve also means to store up, to save, for the future time. You, My disciples are the “salt of the earth.”
Man’s religious traditions have become the interpretation of scripture. No different from what the Pharisees did to the Law of Moses. Before long, you could not separate tradition from law, or as today, tradition from scripture. In fact, tradition does not become modified, scripture does.
To know My truth you must seek it as the sunflower seeks the sun –otherwise if you sit passively only believing what others teach you – you will not know and understand My truth. The cost for My truth is high. You must be willing to; give up your beliefs, your truths, the safety of your religion, the safety of your church.
What I teach cannot by learned through men or women of credentials. When one has credentials, he is marked as a man of the world. He will teach only what the world will accept. Oftentimes, only what they want to hear.
The people of Judah - God's people - their sin was so great, their ways so wicked that God took a more wicked nation Babylon and used them to bring Judah down. The destruction of Judah was fierce and terrible. “Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap.” (Galatians 6:7)
God deals with nations much the same as He deals with individuals. God integrates His government into the government of men. God judged Judah and in time also judged Babylon. All individuals, all nations, all religions, all ministries and all churches will be judged. It may seem at times that God is doing nothing; that sin goes by, without being noticed. Yet God lets things run their course. Nothing is forgotten, nothing goes un-noticed.
Your nation will be judged. It is not favored or blessed over others, as many would like to believe. Your constitution says: that you belong to God, but few remember or follow the constitution. Your nation will be judged, it will be brought down, and it has no future. Does your nation say to Me: Father, help us to sin no more? Unless individuals, nations, churches, ministries or religions say and mean these words they are un-repented sinners and will be brought down.
Does the Roman church really believe they are sinners, or do they believe they are God, that they are above sin? So it is with most religions and churches and ministries, they know they make mistakes, but they cannot admit to sin.
What the flesh fears most is God’s will; apart from God’s will the flesh has no fears. This is why many Christians only give lip service to the will of God. They pray and ask for everything, but God’s will. They bring their petitions to the altar. It takes courage to pray for God’s will when you don’t know it. It takes faith and trust to pray for God’s will when your way may be different from His. When you pray for God’s will your flesh will not be satisfied, it will be disappointed, it wants its petitions heard. God does not seek your prayers of petitions, but prayers for His will. He knows everyone’s petitions. He wants agreement to His will.
Matthew 5:14-16
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
All the saved: see the light, God’s word and His truths. You, the candles, are out in the open, not hid away. It brings with it responsibility, for the Lord does not want to keep secrets from His children. What you know and more; is available to all who see the light.
I call you to the Beatitudes, the Sermon on the Mount, (Matthew 5:1-16) then as now I am addressing My disciples; not the multitude, not the world, not other Christians, not the Jews; but only My disciples, My servants.
“Blessed are the poor in spirit” – those who are poor in spirit desire nothing. When all you want to do is serve, you will be poor in spirit. For wealth – material things – goals – gains – future – all will have passed away. Those rich in spirit have aspirations – dreams – goals – plans, they have little room for My spirit.
“Blessed are they that mourn” – this is not a mourning for yourself – a pity party. It is for the world and its plight – those deeply imbedded in sin, injustice, crime and hatred. Those worshiping Satan, and his world, and the things of his world, for when your job, your business, your possessions mean too much to you – you have begun to worship Satan; to reject Jesus and salvation. Mourning comes because you care, you love.
“Blessed are the meek” - (gentle) – meek or gentle does not mean weak. Meek means you let the other go first – you make no demands on others, you seek nothing for yourself, you are satisfied with what God gives you.
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness” - I desire you to long for and search for righteousness. Just as being hungry and thirsty is natural, so should righteousness. When you see genuine righteousness it should bring you joy! The closer you come to Me the more your own righteousness will expand. As in everything, what the world considers righteous and what I do, is different.
“Blessed are the merciful” – to be merciful, is to give what is “undeserved” to the undeserved, as I am with you. You must forgive and forget, as I do. Do not be offended by what others say and do to you – or say about you. Forgive and endure, you will then be merciful.
“Blessed are the pure in heart” – if your heart is wrong, what you do will be wrong. If your heart is pure, you will be right with God and His ways. God will use your pure heart.
“Blessed are the peacemakers” – those that live in peace with themselves and with Me, become the peacemakers, for they bring peace to others. There very presence, the words they speak, their gesters, all brings forth My blessing of peace. They bring calm to an otherwise un-calm world.
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake” – when you take a stand for righteousness, not many will bless you, for you are different from the world. The world tends to mind its own affairs and to stay out of others problems. Sometime the worst persecution can be the silent multitude that will not stand with you.
“Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.” The world hates Jesus, so if you are openly known as His, the world hates you. Yet even though the world will not change, you must stand by what you believe. No matter what, you are called to stand by your belief. Today; it may mean loss of friends, family or promotions. In the future it could bring cruelty, crime and hatred. Yet, you are called to stand by what you know is right. Take this to heart My friends, for you are Blessed!
Everyone is a servant; you serve God, serve yourself or serve others.
In other words: you either serve God or Satan. For when you serve yourself and others, it is not acceptable to God, only Satan. All of mankind was born to serve God – yet through grace, man has been given the right to chose. Those that have forged forward with their ministries and churches, seek to do the work of the Holy Spirit – to convert mankind, to teach the word and ways of God. Yet, it is the Holy Spirit, who is to teach, and to convert, not man. Man is to be a witness, a tool that the Holy Spirit may use as he sees fit.
Those who feel called to preach, do so from their powerful souls. I call no one to preach. Those who preach and evangelize are not satisfied with being a witness. They want more. Again, there is still acceptable fruit that I can gather from these. When you feel like you have done nothing for Me it is your soul, which is not satisfied.
Matthew 5:20
“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
The Scribes and Pharisees then represented the leaders of religion. Today, they are not called Scribes and Pharisees, yet there are many leaders of religion. The Scribes and Pharisees served their religion, but they did not serve and obey God. It is the same today, the religious leaders serve their religion, but they do not serve Jesus. They are righteous to their religion, its doctrines and ways. Yet Jesus says; ones righteousness must exceed that to see the kingdom of heaven. Needless to say, this is beyond the comprehension of most; just as it is beyond the acceptance of the religious leaders and teachers today. Yet, there is a time coming, when their religion will crumble and their faith in the Lord shall be severely tested.
For those who believe their religion and God is one in the same, it will seem that Satan has defeated God – will they then stand by the, Lord, the one who seems defeated – or will they insist on standing by their, dying religion, or will they choose the Antichrist? Judgment of their beliefs will be at hand, for those who stand by their religion, they will crumble with it. For faith in ones religion and faith in Me, is not one in the same.
When God tests, it is not so much you He tests, but His life in you. If He is allowed to do so, He shows you what He can do in you. He is able to meet all that He demands, because of the life in you. Only Jesus’ disciples can meet His demands. For to be a disciple, one must give up his life, for Jesus’ life. He no longer belongs to himself or his family.
When you see those dedicated to their families and religions, you see ones who have their own freedom. The Lords life can only be in them in a minor way.
The reason there is not more prophets today is, who would listen to them? Few take prophets seriously. Those cemented in religion or religious ways will not listen to one of the Lords prophets. They only listen to one with credentials. Only those not so tightly bound will listen. Religion today will not even accept that prophets are alive and working. They say they are a dead breed, since they are no longer needed. They smugly believe that their members have come too far to need them.
The world should know that you are aliens, that you are different. What good would you be if you were the same as the others? So your ways may seem strange to others. You may say strange things, yet you are within the will of God.
Matthew 5:32
“But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.”
Any, who marry a divorced person, sins. Yet the sin for many started when they married, for they married either the wrong person or for the wrong reason. Today, man divorces for many different reasons, yet he mainly divorces for “self.”
If one is in a bad marriage, God will help that person or couple to find a way that it will work. Yet what God wants, what He says, must come first; where today, for most “self” comes first.
In God’s eyes, there is no such thing as an annulled marriage. The couple is considered divorced and in sin, despite court order or religious documents. Annulment is another way Satan breaks down the way of God: the truth of God. Man likes it because it covers up their mistakes.
Divorce, like all sin, except one, can be forgiven. Yet to be forgiven of ones sin, one must first know it’s a sin. Most today do not know that divorce is a sin. They carry their sins with them, they live in sin. How can one have a repented heart toward ones sin if he doesn’t know it’s a sin? To be forgiven of a sin, one must have a repented heart. Many would like to believe that they are forgiven of all their sins, both known and unknown; yet in truth, ignorance of sin does not give one immunity. For God will show every saved person his sins, if he truly wants to know them.
Matthew 5:34
“But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:”
Man wants to call on someone greater to witness the truth and punish a lie. Man wanted to be sure that one was telling the truth. Before Christ, man followed this practice and was not discouraged by God. Yet today with the growth of the Holy Spirit – your yea is your yea – your nay is nay. For the others, who do not follow the Holy Spirit, the truth is not in them. Man still asks for oaths but it is a useless practice.
Matthew 5:37
“But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.”
An oath is a calling upon God to witness the truth or to witness that which we intend to do or what we will say. One should not take oaths. You have no right to call upon God in this way.
In your justice system you have a common practice called plea – bargaining, a trade, negotiation. One is not to make “deals.” Either one is guilty of the charges or not guilty. Justice should not be in the hands of lawyers, but in the hands of truth. One cannot hide from justice. One may receive a temporary reprieve, but sin must always be answered.
This same legal system will ask one who would testify to take an oath before God, that their telling the truth. Oftentimes one is asked to place their hand on a Bible and swear that their statement is the truth. If it is not, it is perjury. This practice stems from the Old Testament, and should not be followed. For one should not swear or take oaths. Before God, your yes and your no is enough, to measure, as it should be before men. When one swears or takes an oath, it is the same as saying your word is not good enough. It causes doubt in what you’re saying today, because so many lie. This is an example of mans truth, verses Gods truth.
DO YOU ACCEPT THE WAY OF MAN AND HIS TRADITION OR THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS?
Most Christians and their leaders would find no fault in the swearing of oaths, believing that it is scriptural. Yet this is an abomination to God. Taking an oath will not change the liar. Yet forcing an honest man to take an oath is an insult.
Your legal system is saying – we’ll make the ones who don’t believe in God swear by His Book. This will be enough to assure us that they will tell the truth. Little wonder it does not work! When you go against God’s ways, things will become a shamble, so it is, with your legal system.
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;”
In the world, one encounters three kinds of love. One kind returns love for love, hate for hate. This is human. Then there is the kind that returns hate for love. That is Satan. Then there is the kind that returns love for hate. That is Christ. To love, when one hates you, can only be accomplished with the Lord Jesus within you. Many know of this love and try to duplicate it. Many priests and ministers are taught they must show love in this way. Bible teachers teach it. Many try to mimic it for they believe it the right thing to do; yet this love can only be accomplished by the Lord within you, not by pretending.
Scripture says, “Love your enemies” – yet unless one is spiritually close to the Lord, they will fail miserably. Man’s will, can carry him far, but not far enough to “play” Jesus. If one is not spiritually close, the only love they have is human love. Only the love of God in you can love your enemies. The many that pretend to love their enemies, hide from their true feelings. One can be of little use if he does not know his true feelings, himself. If you hide your feelings, you lie to yourself. How can you help Me? How far can a liar help the God of Truth?
Matthew 5:48
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
"Perfect"means complete. It does not mean without fault or sin. You have all you need. You can be whole. One is to grow until he is complete.
Matthew 6:11
“Give us this day our daily bread.”
If one does not trust the Lord, He will not provide. Man then provides for himself through his own hands and wit. Without trust, his prayer is only words.
Matthew 6:12
“And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”
Debt is an obligation. It is more than a sin of commission, but also one of omission. These sins are an obligation hanging around ones neck; they set in the way of all we do or try to do; they stay with us until there is forgiveness; they stay all of ones life and are carried forward to the next. Debt is much broader than sin.
Matthew 6:23
“But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”
The "light" is the Holy Spirit. When He is rejected, He turns to darkness. The Holy Spirit turns dark whether it is an individual, a city or a nation. For those that had once known God – once listened to God and have now turned their back, the darkness is great. Today, the two greatest Christian nations England and the United States have turned dark.
Revivals are a joke, for they never last. They are of man and not of God. Revivals are a period of emotion. The word of God cannot plant itself in emotion. The word of God must have good ground, solid ground, not sand; otherwise, like revivals it soon washes away. God, not man should decide where to plant His seed.
Matthew 6:24
“No man 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. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
One either lays up treasures in heaven or lays up treasures on earth. You cannot do both. For what keeps one from seeing, is money. Many sheep have laid up money and wealth in the world. They seek opportunities to make interest, to look for advantages, to build their “nest egg”. These care for their own future. God does not have a hand in it, for this takes no faith in God. One needs money to live, yet let the Father provide – day by day. Those who seek to build their earthly assets are indeed foolish, for they remain poor in heaven.
If you serve the poor, you will serve the poor and not God. Serving the poor and serving God is not one in the same. When you are serving the poor it is like serving a great ocean, it is endless. The poor will always be there, until heaven and earth are one in the same, until sin goes away. Humankind will always supply some service to the poor because of their conscience and emotions. God provides through the hands and efforts of others. Yet God’s servants are to serve only God. He has placed His servants aside for that purpose. The world tells you to serve others, causes or organizations, not God.
If one serves the pro-life cause long enough, they will start to resent God. For in their eyes, God should take a stronger hand and end abortion. It often seems that they are making little progress with their cause and at times seem to be loosing the battle. God becomes judged and hated, not outwardly but inwardly. For outwardly they want to appear to be on God’s side, their side. Yet, if God wanted abortion to end, don’t you believe it would end? What you see is God doing nothing. It is very easy for Satan to bring the image of Mary into all of this emotion. One who is easy to keep as a front. One who will champion their cause to her son Jesus. One, who has influence, can convince. Yet Mary fights no battles, joins no causes. She is at rest. It is the same with other causes.
If you become involved with the poor, the sick, you will start to resent God, for He will be blamed. Those in causes, feel their cause is God's will. They want and expect God on their side. The deeper one gets in their cause, the more their resentment is toward God. For in their eyes, God is always lacking, He is not doing enough. Yet God is doing nothing. He is not part of man’s causes. God only works for His purposes. Things like abortion, the homeless, the sick are all things that God allows to occur. Just as God allows man to sin, so He is not going to champion some cause to end it in this fashion. Yet all these things will end within His time and purpose. Only those who know God understand these things. For these things are beyond man’s understanding.
Matthew 7:6
“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”
The things that are holy is, the Word of God, His teachings, and His truths. The dogs and swine represent the people who do not know what to do with God's ways. To them the words and teachings are nothing. If you give it to them; it has no value, it will be trampled. In turn, you who have brought it forth will be hurt. This teaching is not for everyone – this warning is for you.
Matthew 7:21
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
Many proclaim the name of the Lord, but will never see the kingdom, for that is not enough. This speaks of the kingdom, not necessarily salvation.
Loneliness is often the price for pleasing God. Those who look for excitement and much activity go the wrong way. Satan often uses one with good morality to become his instrument. A most successful way is to mix false teachings with good morality. Good morality must be from the Lord. Right? Therefore, the false teaching must be also. “Works” will not get one into the kingdom, only obedience.
Matthew 8:3-4
“And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.”
While He was on earth, He often commanded people to be healed, but not to broadcast these events. Jesus did not want people to follow because of the event. Many in healing ministries chase after the healing, the event and not Jesus. Their faith is based on healing or being healed, this is shallow faith and will not endure. The first time of trial or testing, most fall away. Jesus heals, but not as often as most claim. He only heals to build faith to enhance faith, never to start faith. Those in healing ministries and churches do not represent the Lord Jesus.
He is not part of the “name it and claim it” society. Most people are healed through soul power, through Satan, for he wants your faith based on healing and not Jesus.
Matthew 8:17
“That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by E-sa’-ias the prophet, saying, HIMSELF TOOK OUR INIFRMITIES, AND BARE OUR SICKNESSES.”
This passage refers only to our resurrection from sin. We were dead from sin. Through the wounds of Jesus, we were raised up and healed. This has nothing to do with physical healing of illness, or accidents as some proclaim. It will however heal the sick, those sick from sin and immorality. Many who are sick from sin show no outward signs or symptoms, however you can tell in the things they do (or not do) and the things they say. Never the less it will affect their lives and the lives of others around them.
Matthew 8:20
“And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”
“Son of man” – signifies ones rejection on earth. The Son of Man as far as the world is concerned, does not belong here. Some prophets were also called “the Son of man” because of their rejection by the world.
Jesus ministry was accomplished under poverty, under a curse. Most everything was borrowed or given to Him. He was born in a borrowed stable, He borrowed a coin to illustrate a truth, He borrowed a donkey to ride into Jerusalem, He borrowed a room to celebrate Passover. He died on a borrowed cross (it really belonged to Barabbas), and was placed in a borrowed tomb. He was a poor man of the things of this world, yet He overcame sin (the curse) of the world.
Matthew 8:21-22
“And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.”
In the Old Testament days (before the arrival of Jesus), there was mourning and deep sorrow over death. Yet Jesus came to take away the sting of death. When you have Jesus there is no sting of death, when you do not have Him, the sting is severe.
Religion teaches; mourning of death is man’s natural feeling, to mourn and honor the dead. Man has his memorials, plaques and ceremonies. Some light candles, have services for the dead. You have even set a day aside for the dead (Memorial Day).
Many know Jesus as Savior, but they will not allow Him to take away the sting of death. They want to hold on to it, some how believing that they will hold on to the departed. Leave the dead to bury the dead – leave those spiritually (unregenerate) dead to bury the physical dead. Those spiritually dead, take much time to bury the physically dead. They are still burring them long after the funeral. They call it remembrance, but it is really bondage. For those who know Me, and let Me, the funeral is over quickly, the dead is let go. Those that pray to the dead; those that pay homage and honor to the dead; are dead themselves. Yet many Christians do this, for it is natural and the hand of the Romans is still upon them. If there is pain from death – the memorial will continue the pain. The dead must be let go, so the pain can be let go. Do not forget the dead, but do not honor them.
Matthew 9:37
“Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few;”
I make My own seed. I sow My own seed. I nurture My own seed, yet I ask those that are mine to help Me with the harvest.
Matthew 10:10
“Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat.”
Paul did not charge to preach the gospel. He did not receive wages and support from his work. If one would charge to preach the gospel, the full power of God’s word does not come forth. If one has to pay, the word is diluted; it becomes worldly and less spiritual. To charge to preach the word is not a sin – yet those who do this are not sent by God.
(l Corinthians 9:7, 9:11, 9:13, Luke 10:7 and Matthew 10:10) – These passages talk about the preachers “right” to expect to receive wages or support for his work. Many point to one of these as their “right” to charge; their “right” to sell tapes and videos and to charge admission; their “right” to expect a tithe or love offering. Yet these preachers look past Paul and his example. One may have the “right” to charge, but that does not make it the best way. Those who charge are more interested in their budgets than the power of God's word.
My preachers are to be like Paul – he did not try to dazzle his hearers by making impressive wisdom out of the Word of God. My preachers are not to be great orators like the television evangelist of today; eloquent salesmen with persuasive words, selling themselves and their ministries. God does not send these, yet God uses them. My preachers have the “right” to charge, but never would.
Matthew 11:11
“Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
“greater” – means closer. John's work was most significant, because he was the actual forerunner to Jesus. Other prophets were more spiritual, but none closer. Yet even the smallest in the kingdom is greater than John was. Those in the kingdom are closer to the Lord. At that time, they were in the kingdom and John was not.
Matthew 11:12
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”
John the Baptist represents the kingdom. Jesus is the kingdom. They brought the kingdom with them.
“suffereth violence” – they both suffereth violence. Therefore, the kingdom suffereth violence.
“the violent take it by force” – the kingdom was taken by force. Jesus and John were both taken by force. The earth has rejected the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 11:28-29
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”
The “yoke” represents the will of God. Jesus is yoked to the will of God. He has invited God's people to share the yoke with Him. When one is together with Him in the Will of God, you will learn His ways. Jesus is meek and lowly when it comes to the Fathers will, always submitting, always accepting. When one does this, he will have tremendous peace.
So many today are filled with pride, even some elect are prideful. They have pride of race or heritage – pride of family – pride of appearance – pride of accomplishments – pride that they are saved.
Pride keeps one from God. For you cannot be proud and take the Lords yoke.
Matthew 11:30
“For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
When one lets Jesus help him with the "yoke", the will of the Father, He makes it easy.
“My burden is light” – Jesus Himself is the burden. He can be light. He supplies the grace, so that it never becomes too difficult.
The law of Christ is about brotherhood. A brother is not alone. I will always send him a brother, when he is in need. If one stumbles or falls, I will restore him through his brother – the law of Christ. Yet, daily each has his own burden. I choose the load for him. Each bears his own burden. One may talk about his burdens, and the tensions and griefs – yet you must bear them alone. Sharing eases the burden. In the garden, Jesus asked His disciples to share in His sorrow and sufferings, but they slept. He did not ask them to take His cup; so it is with you. You will enter into each other’s sufferings, for you are brothers and sisters. You are one in Me. Yet you cannot take each other’s cup, for each has been given his own cup by the Father.
Matthew 12:39
“But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jo’-nas:”
I no longer work through “signs and wonders.” One can start faith with signs and wonders, but cannot build it. My original disciples performed many signs, yet it stopped with them.
Matthew 12:40-41
“For as Jo’-nas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The men of Nin’-e-veh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jo’-nas; and behold, a greater than Jo’-nas is here.”
Jesus was crucified on a tree. Religion calls it a cross, an upright with a crosspiece, man’s sign of Christianity. Yet the word “cross” in Greek means one piece or tree. It does not mean an upright with a crosspiece. It means tree. Nowhere in scripture is “cross” described.
The sign of Christianity is the fish – not the “cross.” The “sign of the fish” is misused and misunderstood by most, use it liberally but tastefully, for it is My true badge of witness. My mark is on your forehead and the way you live your lives. My badge, is the sign of the fish. The sign of the fish comes from the book and life of Jo’-nas. (Jo’-nas 1:17).
The three days Jo’-nas spent in the fish; represents Christ’s death and resurrection. Jo’-nas represents the nation of Israel – disobedient.
The city of Nineveh represents the Gentiles, people who were ready to repent from sin.
Matthew 12:46-50
“While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Jesus walked away from His biological brothers and sisters, for they knew not the Father. They only knew their religion.
Matthew 13:33
“Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.”
In scripture, "leaven" represents wrong or evil teaching; it never means the true word of God. “Meal” here symbolizes the word of God. Leaven, here represents, wrong or evil teachings, which was hidden in it. Leaven changes the word of God, just as leaven changes bread. Leaven bread tastes good to the natural man. Unleavened bread does not. Leaven makes the word, the way of God, easier for man to take. It allows for compromise and self-interest.
Man’s churches, ministries and religions are all of leaven, for they first serve themselves and then their members. They claim Jesus is their focal point, but He is in fact only a figurehead. Just like leaven bread, it is easy to place Jesus in front and then change and modify His teachings and ways to suit their own agenda. Leaven is always evil. Some Bible teachers interpret this scripture to mean, leaven here, is also of God. Yet everywhere in scripture, leaven is of man. Leavened bread however was an accompaniment of the children of Israel, of the thank offering (Leviticus 7:13). Also the wave offering, at the feast of Pentecost; at the thank offering, it was used as a reminder of their deliverance from Egypt and their sinful ways; at the feast of Pentecost, it was a reminder of sin and a sacrifice of sinful self.
Matthew 13:55-58
“Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Jo’-ses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” (refer to Matthew 12:46-50)
Matthew 16:4
“A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jo’-nas. And he left them, and departed.”
Signs and Wonders.
I no longer work through “signs and wonders. My original disciples performed many signs, yet it stopped with them.
While He was on earth, He often commanded people to be healed, but not to broadcast these events. (Matthew 8:3-4) (Mark 5:41-43) Jesus did not want people to follow because of the event.
Many in healing ministries chase after the healing, the event and not Jesus. Faith based on healing or being healed, is shallow faith and will not endure. The first time of trial or testing, most fall away. Jesus heals, but not as often as most claim. He only heals to build faith to enhance faith, never to start faith. Those in healing ministries and churches do not represent the Lord Jesus. He is not part of the “name it and claim it” society.
Most people are healed through soul power, through Satan. He wants your faith based on healing, and not Jesus.
Matthew 16:18
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Peter, by himself, was not the foundation of the church. He, and the other apostles and prophets were. Yet, at this time in scripture, Jesus was only speaking with Peter. For Peter had been chosen to speak the message at Pentecost. Peter was given the authority to open the doors of Christianity at Pentecost. He, himself, is not the key to heaven.
Matthew: 16:19
“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
“bound and loose” – Christ and Christianity is the same whether in heaven or earth. The same commandments and precepts apply. These commandments and precepts come from heaven – they apply to the earth, they apply in heaven.
Most cannot tell religion from Christianity. It is woven together. It is like mixing cotton with polyester, it looks all right, but it is no longer cotton.
Additional teachings of Our Lord
The sign of the cross is religion, not Christianity. Religion serves the flesh – Christianity serves God, yet God uses religion for that is what is offered to Him.
Free will, allows man to offer as little or as much to God as he wants to, or to offer nothing at all.
God indwells in people, not buildings or organizations.
God saved people before the church came into existence. Now that His Church is gone, He is still saving people. When the Church returns, He will still save people. (The physical Church – the spiritual Church is alive in the heart of every believer).
Matthew 17:10-13
“And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that E-li’-as must first come? And Jesus answered and said unto them, E-li’-as truly shall first come, and restore all things. But I say unto you, That E-li’-as is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.”
Elijah and John the Baptist were one in the same. The Jews did not know him because they looked only for the name; they wanted proof, a divine wonder. Yet the proof was in the things he said, the things he did. God always gives confirmation of prophecy, His way, and not the way man wants it. So today, many Jews are waiting with their empty chairs, as empty as their religion. E-li’-as has come and gone. Many have missed the wonder of it.
Additional teachings of Our Lord
Acceptance is merely half-heartedness. I no longer want your acceptance, only agreement. I will reject your acceptance. It takes time to come into agreement, and I allow for such time. Self, does not want to agree. Self, is willing to accept, surrender, yet will hold back agreement. For self, can then retain its independence.
Unless you let me help you to agree, you may only come into acceptance. When there is only acceptance, there can be murmuring and complaining. To agree you must be supportive and positive, otherwise, you do not agree, you merely accept. From now on, you must be in agreement, not just acceptance. If you do not agree, I will cancel My plan. My will does not change, but My plans get cancelled. You know, I loose My enthusiasm, when all I see is half-heartedness and a wishy-washy attitude.
Some things, some opportunities are lost forever, some are not. You cannot always reverse a word or deed no matter how much you may want too. You all have been less than enthusiastic at times. You look first at how it will affect you. It indicates how self-centered you all still are.
You are entitled to your feelings, yet if you do not cast them aside, your feelings will effect your attitude, hence a half-heartedness. Your feelings then rule you. You then will do a task, but you do not want too. I do not want you to do task or make a change that you do not want to do. No matter how difficult, no matter how much you dislike it, you must want to do it.
Matthew 18:19-20
“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
This is a widely misunderstood passage of scripture. It has also been just as widely ineffective as the prayers of agreement do not touch My heart. If you will go back to the beginning of verse 18, you will see that Jesus is talking with the disciples. He is not talking to those who only believe – but His disciples. Not every believer is a disciple, although some teach and insist they are. Yet I tell you plainly, only those that belong to Me are disciples. Those that still belong to themselves or to the world, even though they believe in Me, are not My disciples.
Those that are planted in their religion or their ministries are disciples of that religion or ministry, for I plant no one in religion or ministries. People plant themselves. Thus, they become disciples where they are planted. I ONLY PLANT PEOPLE IN ME.
There are many today who are working and growing toward discipleship, but only a few will ever become disciples. A true disciple would ask nothing for himself, nothing of self-interest. Hence, if the prayers of petition are for self and not for My work, they cannot be from My disciples, so they will fall on deaf ears. Yet, if they truly are from My disciples, they will be about My business, and My Father will grant whatever is needed.
Some people mistakenly believe that it pleases Me when they bring their petitions to Me. Yet this is to Me, a lack of trust in Me and My will. If you trust Me and My will, you should have no petitions! My promise is to care for you and all your needs! If you believe that promise, then you should rest on that promise! I know your hearts desires, so there is no need to bring them forward. To pray for things that are not My will, brings forth the devil.
People pray for jobs, healing, vacations, and all sorts of things but seldom for “My will.” They put their own will, their own desires before mine. The devil will try to respond to such prayers, as I can only respond to My will. My will always has your best interest at heart. All you have to do is trust.
Additional teachings of our Lord
When I send you forth as a vessel, do not resist. You are My urn, My vessel. I have painstakingly scrubbed you to make you a clean vessel. You bring forth My living water to others, as My disciples have always done. I must clean you daily, as My water cannot flow through a dirty vessel. Let Me clean you, do not resist. I know when you are dirty. The world wants to make you as dirty as it is.
Upon encountering another person if you remain in the spirit, you can be My vessel. I pass My living water, My grace, My favor, through you to the one you meet. This can only be done, if you remain in the spirit. If you allow your soul to direct your ways or if sin comes into your life, you have become dirty and My water cannot flow. I always prefer to work through My own. You may not feel any different, you may not know any difference, but it is so.
Physically you are all able to function. You are not perfect, but I working through you am perfect. In your eyes or the eyes of the world, you may wish to be slimmer or have less aliment or look nicer. Yet I tell you only pride – your pride requires these things, for with My grace you need nothing more.
Lastly, your wills your emotions and your mind-sets are too big for you. You have all been struggling and can see how futile it is. Alone, you are fighting a loosing battle as eventually you will tire and wear out. Only when you truly surrender these things to Me, will you have victory and peace. I am the way to victory and peace. Your prayers should be prayers of surrender and rest in My will, anything else will only produce confusion.
Matthew 20:18-19
“Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.”
Oftentimes, people mistakenly say the Jews crucified Christ – however, you can see all people had a hand in this. God the Father directed the crucifixion.
Matthew 22:36-40
“Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, THOUGH SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIND. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
One is to remember the original Ten Commandments but not to follow them. One is to live the most important Commandments, given to us by Jesus. (Matthew 22:36-40, John 13:34-35). One cannot live under the Mosaic Laws, one can only follow. We are to live in Christianity, in Christ.
Additional teachings of Our Lord
The Sabbath Day is Saturday, not Sunday. Christians are not to observe the Sabbath, although many today have made Sunday the “Christian Sabbath.” The Sabbath was for those under the Mosaic system.
Matthew 23:13
“But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”
It is the same today. The only difference is religious leaders are not called Scribes and Pharisees. The false teachers keep the saved from the Kingdom. You must be born again to see the Kingdom of Heaven. One cannot be born again if he follows or serves religion. When you become a member of a church, religion or ministry – you follow or serve that organization. Your membership “counts you out” of the Kingdom.
Matthew 24:40-41
“Then shall two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two women shall be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.”
Everyone must go through the tribulation. It is a time of testing, trial and judgment. For My 144,000 their tribulation is at hand. Each has My mark and My hand upon their lives. They go through their testing, trial and judgement now. The tribulation is not bad, but good, for without it, you cannot see the Kingdom of Heaven (God).
So many mis-understand the way of things. They pray and seek rapture away from the tribulation, when they should be seeking tribulation. For if I am bringing you through tribulation now, the kingdom is already in your hand.
For those who enter the great tribulation, their task will be greater. Their religions, their churches, their ministries, their songs, their chanting, their prayers, all will be thrown on the fire for none of this will matter. All that will matter is JESUS. For what good is prayer, songs and chanting without obedience? What good is sacrifice without obedience? I seek those that I can bring to the kingdom; those I can mold and shape, those that want to obey because they know that it pleases Me. (See also Samuel 15:22)
My 144,000 will in the great tribulation. Some of you will already have gone through your fire, so the flames will not harm you. For the others, the fire will burn away their pride, their arrogance, their disobedience, their religion, their church, their prayers and their sacrifices. For those who fall or who are stiff-neck they will be taken, not through rapture and to glory, but to the lake of fire. (See also Luke 17:34-36)
Matthew 25:32-33
“And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.”
God is not out to reform the world. He is gathering His sheep. He is separating the sheep from the goats.
Matthew 26:26
“And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.”
The Lords supper is often thought of as “communion” or eucharist, a ritual usually of wine and wafers, representing the Lords body and blood. Yet the practice in the early church was a full meal, a joining together before the Lord in communion (common faith) and fellowship.
Every time you eat together, it is the Lords supper. “And as they did eat Jesus took bread and blessed and brake it” (Mark 14:22) “Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 11:27)
Here is where many of the religions teach that one must confess ones sins before participating in the ritual of communion; that unconfused sins may result in judgement even physical death or illness.
(l Corinthians 11:30) Yet here the Lord is talking about the ones who betray Him (as Judas did).
When you profess you are a Christian, that you belong to the Lord, you take His bread and drink from His cup. This is a serious matter. One should examine himself (1 Corinthians 11:28). One does need to confess his sins daily, to keep ones account clear.
“The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread.” (1Corinthians 10:16-17)
The ceremony of the wine and wafers is not the way it should be. Jesus gave bread and wine to His disciples at the Last Supper –yet it was a full meal; all meals included wine and bread. Paul is talking about the blessing for the meal. The Lords supper is a sharing of Christ.
Matthew 27:46
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, E’-li, E’-Li, La’-ma Sa-bach’-tha-ni? that is to say, MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN ME? "
Jesus quoted David from Psalms 22:1. Before one can have the greatest faith, he must first be abandoned by God; he must be rejected. Only then can one reach the high level of faith. Although Jesus and David were not really abandoned by God, they had to believe they were. This they had to experience.
Matthew 27:50-51
“Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent, And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”
The torn temple curtain signifies the end of the physical temple – the new way was now open.
Only those saints that were called to rest during Jesus time on earth remained in their graves. This was so they could rise after Him. All others, before His tenure, went before Him. This signified that all saints were free from their sins.
Many, of the Jewish tradition, are going through the ritual of a dead religion. It has passed away. They believe they are right with God, but are actually living and worshipping in sin. They are in rebellion. I offer life, and what they chose is dead. When the curtain was torn in the temple, at the death of Jesus, the Mosaic religion died. When you worship and follow the dead, you yourself become dead. The Mosaic religion: “The Lord giveth, the Lord taketh away.”
My friends, there is no purgatory, yet there is a Hades. There is no hell, but there will be. Those that die and do not believe in Jesus as their Savior, go to Hades. It is a place they stay awaiting judgement. (See Revelation 20:11-15). Hell, is the lake of fire. Satan is not yet there, nor has he been there. After the millennium period, hell (the lake of fire) will claim Satan first, (See Revelation 20:10) all the rest will follow him; those that have been in Hades awaiting judgment; those that will see their sins. For their sins remain, as they have no savior.
Matthew 28:16-20
“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
A-men’.”
Jesus was speaking to His eleven disciples. He was not speaking to every church member who calls themselves a Christian; or every teacher or preacher who has attended Bible college or every doctor of theology or every church leader or every appointed priest or minister. Jesus was speaking to the eleven disciples, the ones He taught. He later spoke to and taught Paul. The original seed of the gospel, Jesus’ seed, was to be sowed by these men. This seed reseeds itself like fine wheat.
Yet this was spoken to the eleven apostles (or disciples) not all Christians. These eleven were servants of God, not just followers.
Many today call every Christian a disciple, which adds to the confusion. A disciple of Christ has given his life over to the teachings and ways of Jesus. How many disciples do you know? You know many Christians, but most live for themselves.
These eleven were commissioned (they were qualified) to make disciples of all nations. I would not ask everyone to do this, for most are not qualified, most do not know and understand Christianity. How could you make a disciple of someone when you yourself do not know God?
Christians today are called to witness, not to evangelize. Yet most try to evangelize, yet are not qualified to evangelize. They may understand many of Gods truths. They may have a personal relationship with God, yet they are not qualified to evangelize. Why, you may say? They are not qualified because they have not been asked, only the eleven were commissioned to evangelize, no any one else. I did not call all Christians to evangelize only the eleven. I have no evangelists today. I have apostles, teachers and prophets, any of which could evangelize if so asked.
Since the eleven, Christians have been called to witness, nothing more. The Holy Spirit is the only one who can bring others to Christ. Many today who evangelize, believe it was their efforts, which helped, bring another to Christ. Yet, it is the Holy Spirit, using whatever fruit He can to change hearts.
Most do not realize that, the church, referred to in scripture is not the same, church, they see today. Scripture does not change. God’s word does not change, yet Christianity has. Jesus’ church is alive in the heart of every believer. Yet man has organized all the churches you see to day, beginning with the Roman Catholic Church. Look at all the different religions and churches!
Then you have those that assemble, gather into separate groups, believing that the church, is the believers, the people and not a religion or physical building. They too call themselves a church. With all these different churches, where is the church talked about in scripture? Many would think it is their church and it has evolved. Yet the church in scripture cannot evolve, it cannot change, and still be God's. God does not change, nor do His ways change; only people change.
Therefore, the physical churches you see do not belong to God. They belong to man. They serve man. Man made them. Many are built for the comfort of man and for his convenience, a place he can worship and fellowship.
Yes, the people are the church. The believers are the body of Christ. Yet, they are not the same as the Christians you see assembled in scripture today. They have all organized themselves into separate groups or communities, each group having its own leaders, its own budgets, its own ways. Each group becomes its own organization, own religious body. It does not look any different then the churches, that is because it is not. As with the churches, by their mere existence, by their organizing, they have separated themselves from each other.
Mans first thought is to organize; to form groups, have leaders, have their own shepherd, have their own budget, determine their own path. This they have done and called it Christianity.
Ken Copeland’s group is separate from Joyce Meyers. They may believe some of the same things, but they really compete for memberships and revenues. They both will deny this, yet their actions, their mission, says otherwise. They have to compete for they must grow in order to exist. They are motivated by their budget. The budget keeps growing, keeps demanding more. They may say they are not concerned about the size of the audience or the contributions. Yet the pressure of the budget will not permit this. They have many expenses. Many people make their living from these ministries. They are in bondage to the group or ministry that they created. They are also separated from each other.
So you see, whenever there is separation, the Body of Christ becomes separate. Whenever man organizes another group or ministry, the separation grows.
When there is the pressure of a budget – the budget controls the church or ministry, not God. One may say they will preach in front of a group of ten, if that is what God wants. Yet the budget may say: unless at least 200 attend, we will lose a great deal of money, there are only so many scheduling days. When you serve this ministry, whose voice would you hear, the voice of God or the voice of the budget?
Therefore, man, since the days of the New Testament, has separated the body of Christ, yet the spirit of that church is alive in every believer.
At the right hour, Christianity as you see it today must go through its own death and resurrection, so that its spirit can rise again. The long awaited rapture is false teaching, false hope. Do you see why the rapture cannot be?
Today, My true servants are liken to hot water. The Christian community is liken to cold water. The cold water is so much, the hot water so little. If I mixed the two, the hot would soon grow cold. There would be no difference. All there would be is cold. When the tribulation comes, I will heat the cold water, the Christian community.
I will make it hot, so it can be mixed, and not changed. The cold water that will not accept the heat, I will bring to a boil; until it either changes or evaporates.
The things I teach you are like pearls – pearls of wisdom. Yet if you cast these pearls before the swine (typifies the hypocrites and nominal Christians) they do not realize the preciousness of these objects and they will trample them under their feet.
If you speak to them, you speak in vain and in sin, for they have no understanding. You cannot share treasures of heaven with those of the world. To the people of the world, let us not carelessly give spiritual things to them. If one has no interest, he pays no attention, he ignores, he does not see. Leave him be.
I call everyone to salvation, but I do not call everyone to follow. If one comes to follow Me, without being called (like Judas) he believes he can help Me – he thinks to highly of himself. I only want those I choose, not those that choose Me. (See John 15:16) If one comes on his own (like Judas) he will depart on his own. It is My calling which holds My people, which keeps them from falling away. I do not stir excitement or emotions in My people, for that becomes the foundation. I become one with them, and then I am the foundation.
Additional teachings of Our Lord
“And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:47) The Lord adds to His own church, not man. It was that way then, it is that way today. The Holy Sprit knows the ones to be saved, not man. The Holy Spirit spreads the seed one to another. He breaks down barriers. Those who have heard and are saved are witnesses to others by their lives and the things they say and do.
“Baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost” – baptizing means identified. The original Apostles were to teach about the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost, so others may be identified with them. The water ritual was an outward sign, the identification. Unless one is identified with the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, one could not be saved. The water was merely ritual. One does not need the ritual, but the identification. Today, people stress the ritual and often do not accept the other. “he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned”(Mark 16:16) Many take this to mean that one must have the water ritual to be saved, to be saved one must be identified with the Father the Son and the Holy Ghost. The water and the identification is not necessarily one in the same, yet it can be.
Many churches want to be the identification in the water ritual so they can add and maintain their membership. Infant water baptisms (rituals) can be dangerous. The water, the ritual is not enough. Ones heart has to be identified with Christ. Often time those who have had infant baptisms never learn or accept the identification. They are not saved yet they believe they are, for their church has told them so. They have their “certificate of baptism.” Yet God saves who He wants to save. “They which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance” (Hebrews 9:15), Not everyone is called.
Yet the sheep know their shepherds voice, the rest, and the goats, do not.
All people are lambs, sheep or goats.
The lambs are young believers.
The sheep are older (mature) believers.
The goats are the non-believers.
A mother and father join a church and say: our children must have God's salvation, a natural thing. The church says yes! Yet what does God say? Are the children lambs or goats? Many goats pretend to be sheep. The spirituality of the mother or father does not matter. Spiritually, cannot be passed on, as a gene can. Only God determines His sheep, one by one.