Occupy Till I Come

As much as I try to voice my concern and teach about the issues of the day, in the end my life is only complete in Jesus Christ. Through it all his good will be worked out. He allows us to go through self inflicted wilderness experiences if we must, but he is raising up a people that will hear his voice and act with one accord. Christians are to affect this world, not just tolerate it and react to it. We are to be the salt. The world is a reflection of the condition of the church. So I want to walk out in the practical what God has instilled into me in the spiritual.

"My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving. (Col 2:6-7 The Message)

There is a living out that must be done. We are not saved to die and go to heaven. I was born into heaven when I was born from above. Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is within us (see Luke 17:21). He said, "It is finished." Now, Church, it is within you to walk in all that I, Jesus, have established by way of the cross. We are saved to carry out the works he predestined us to walk in (see Eph 2:10). He has made us to be kings and priests.

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Rev 5:10)

We are not to walk in ignorance and strife. We have been given the Holy Ghost to guide us in all truth. The Apostle Paul chided the Corinthians for their inability to bring peace amongst their ranks and to handle matters. They were taking matters between themselves to the worldly court system.

If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life! Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church! I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers? But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers! (1 Corinthians 6:1-6 NIV)

I've not been saved just to die and go to heaven. I've been given access to God through his once and for all sacrifice to do His will in the earth as it is in Heaven. I've been appointed to death once, and He took that appointment. Hallelujah, Jesus! Now I have communion with my Creator, and I have divine direction. God is working through his people. People want to see a sign--well wake up church, you are to be the sign. You are the shining city set on a hill. You are the lights. He is the Father of Lights. As the world gets darker, his church is to be brighter. Shadows get there darkest when the light is the brightest. The middle ground of haziness is disappearing. You are either for him or against him.

So now we each have our own appointment with destiny as we seek him. Its time Christians realize that to "occupy" means to be productive in all capacities.

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. (Luke 19:13)

If you look in a Strong's Concordance you will find that the word "occupy" was translated from the Greek word "pragmateuomai," which means according to Strong's: to busy oneself with, i.e. to trade:--occupy.
Here is that whole parable as translated in the NIV version of the Bible:

While they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to appear at once. He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.'
"But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be our king.'
"He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it.
"The first one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.'
" 'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.'
"The second came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned five more.'
"His master answered, 'You take charge of five cities.'
"Then another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.'
"His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?'
"Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.'
" 'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!'
"He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me." (Luke 19:11-26)

We are to seek Him first. We will prosper as our soul prospers.

Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. (3 John 1:2)

God is not limited. We limit God with our limited wisdom. Jesus is here to confound the wisdom of the wise.
Recently, at a local county commissioners meeting, the Lord showed me what a vacuum there was in leadership. There is a void there from the lowest levels of government on to the highest. Those who have been filled by His spirit and are seeking Jesus, are carrying His authority and wisdom. The voids in all aspects of this world are to be filled with Jesus. He is looking for a place to lay his head (see Luke 9:58). The government shall be upon his shoulder. Who do you think the shoulder is to be?

But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Ephesians 4:15)

God is bringing up that man whose name is BRANCH. The branch man--His church.

And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, Behold the man whose name is The BRANCH; and he shall grow up out of his place, and he shall build the temple of the LORD: (Zechariah 6:12)

Where is the right hand of God. Steven saw it as he was stoned.

And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. (Acts 7:56)

He saw heavens, plural. He saw what Jesus saw on the cross when he said, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do. The right hand of God is to be exercised through God's people. The Kingdom of Heaven is within you church, now you must work it out into the earth.

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)

The seventh angel is the apostolic voice of God. It is the word of perfection coming from the mouths of his apostles and prophets. It is the last trump. The last trump IS sounding in the earth now for those who have an ear to hear what the spirit is saying to the church. Don't wait for some physical manifestation. It is now. We live by the proceeding word of God. And it is proceeding, if you seek Him, and not religion. He will connect you and plant you in the midst of his ascension gifts--the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher--to perfect you and his church to come to the unity of the faith. For the saints to do the work of the ministry. See Ephesians 4.

Well, I do not compartmentalize God. God is. And he is all, and is in all. He has to be applied to every realm of life. For too long, the church has only reacted. Why is the whole creation groaning for the manifestation of the sons of God? (see Romans 8)

Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (Romans 8:21)

Those who are waiting to be raptured up--you are wasting the time that God has appropriated for your life. The meek shall inherit the earth, not be sucked away. We must redeem the time wisely. Study your Bible, and not man made doctrines that make his word none effect. There's your devil. Anything that blinds you from your true self in Christ. You are to seek His Kingdom and His Righteousness, you are to know Him in intimacy--you are not to seek fairy tales and fables. Ephesians 4 tells us a lot. When the church becomes one in Jesus, the whole creature will be delivered.

We get caught up in the miseries of this world--disaster after disaster. Humans suffering in so many ways. We are to give our love and compassion, but at the same time, the church must come to realize that these things will be passing when it comes to the unity of the faith. For too long the power of God has lain dormant under a rug of unbelief, meanwhile the whole creation is groaning. It will happen because Jesus prayed it.

That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (John 17:21)

Complete deliverance of this world will come when we are in the unity of the faith. We have a great ways to go. The physical return of Jesus is not hinged on "when," but "till we all come in the unity of the faith." (see Eph 4:13) Most of what is called church has done away with the apostle and prophet. That is the foundation.

And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. (1 Corinthians 12:28)

You will only come to know those who've been Godly ordained in those capacities by seeking God in spirit and in truth.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:2:

Even though I may not be an apostle to others, surely I am to you! For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. (NIV)
Even if no one else admits the authority of my commission, you can't deny it. Why, my work with you is living proof of my authority! (The Message)

The church as a whole perishes for lack of vision. God is working through His people and we must come to know those He has entrusted with His vision.

Well, I did not plan on spilling all that out, but so be it. We are to be seen and to be productive in this world.

I [Jesus] pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. (John 17:15)

We are called to take on the nature of Jesus. He is the firstborn among many brethen. He is not ashamed to be counted among the brethren. By his Spirit we are to submit to Him and be conformed by Him.

For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)

In the process, we are purposed to be effective for Jesus and to affect this world. The whole creature is groaning in expectation. We serve a GO DO God. Now get yourself planted under God's governors and tutors for your life and in the appointed times and seasons go do in whatever capacity he has gifted and commissioned you.

IN THE ZONE!!! A Walk on the Water

(refer to Matthew 14:22-36, Mark 6:45-56, John 6:16-24)

Jesus says, “Come.” Come—walk on the water. Come—take the water of life freely. Whosoever  will, come. Pick up your cross and come. Leave your baggage behind and come. Knock down the walls around you and come. I want you with me. Where my servant is, I am. Come to your place at the feast table. Come to your place to receive. Come and walk the path I have blazed for you.

In the account of Jesus walking on the water in Matthew 14, Jesus tells Peter, “Come.” In that instant when Peter stepped out onto the sea, Peter had full faith and focus on Jesus. He was “in the zone.” It is a place where we walk in total harmony or oneness with Jesus in His power. It is a place where we have singleness of vision—a single eye on Him. The challenge is to keep that resolve when the wind and waves come upon us. Our tendency is to reach out in our own strength and find our own life preserver. We can see Jesus walking on the water, but can we see ourselves walking on the water. Jesus is saying,  “Come—as I am, so are you. The same power that is in me is now in you my bride.” The bride of Christ, His Church, is to walk in His power. His body will come to walk in His fullness, “unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph 4:13)”.

When we have singleness of vision, the waves do not strike fear into our hearts. If you have ever fallen or nearly drowned, without a thought you reached out in desperation for something to save you. Peter had the sense to reach out and cry to Jesus, “Lord, save me.” In my own personal life, I had a similar experience in the ocean when I nearly drowned. As I became overwhelmed with panic and exhaustion, a cry from within came forth saying, “Lord help me!” Being the merciful God He is, He did physically save me, and a year later He spiritually saved me. There is a feeling of helplessness when you have an experience like that. You are at a point where there is nothing in your strength that can help you—Jesus is the last resort. In that moment for me, there was nothing else but Him. We should not have to come to desperation to make Him our primary source. Jesus seeks to draw us in a relationship with Him where He is the first resort, and it is His strength from which we draw. His well is deep and overflowing. We must learn to draw from it.

When Jesus was walking on that stormy sea and “drawing nigh” to the disciples, they had rowed out to about 3 to 3 ½ miles from the shore. He walked straight through the storm. When we take the path that Jesus has for us, the wind and the waves serve to strengthen us as we overcome and walk on through. Jesus set out for the disciples in the “fourth watch” of the night. The term “watch” is a military term denoting the different hours of the night that soldiers would stand guard. The fourth watch would have been the last few hours before sunrise, from 3 to 6 am. So as Jesus was walking on the water, a new day was dawning—the Son was rising. A new thing was coming, Christ in you, and Jesus was putting it on display. 

For a short time Peter could see himself empowered by God to walk on the water. Perhaps the thought crossed his mind, “If He can do it, maybe I can do it.” In Christ we can do all things—all the things He has purposed us to do. Once Peter put his focus on the wind and waves raging around him, his mindset was brought back to the natural realm in which he knew that he could not withstand the waters, not to mention walk on the water. And he was right. He could not walk on the water. Not in his strength and abilities. Once your focus is on what you can do out of your own natural abilities, you have put God in a box. When we limit ourselves, we limit the power of Jesus working through us. The challenge is to keep focused on Him and having faith that He will enable you through all the challenges that you are being led to step into. As we step into those things more and more, we experience His enabling power. We come to know that despite how things may appear, Jesus will give us His ability whenever and wherever he is leading us.

Are we willing to follow his lead? The wind of Matthew 14:24 and Mark 6:48 was contrary, or blowing opposite to the direction the disciples were heading. Jesus saw them “toiling” against the wind. We can think of that contrary wind as the Spirit of God coming against the flesh. How many times do we find ourselves toiling against the wind? The wind is blowing one way, yet we insist on going our way. As soon as the disciples “willingly received him into the ship”, the “wind ceased” and “immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.” Your sense of the wind is a matter of perspective. You can be as an eagle letting the wind carry you—soaring with little effort. Or perhaps you are as a seaside cliff, allowing the wind and waves to constantly beat and erode you. If I am floating with the wind, its force guides me; but if I am resisting or going against it, I become weary. Are we toiling by doing things our way, or are we willingly receiving Jesus into the ship and allowing Him full access.

The disciples showed great fear in seeing Jesus on the water, as if He were some sort of ghost. Put yourself in that ship in the midst of the storm and waves, and you can easily see how they would have that kind of reaction. Mark 6:48 says that He “would have passed by them.” But they “cried out.” The Spirit of God can easily pass us by when we give into our fears and our preconceived mindsets of who God is and how He operates. Jesus told them, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” In the original Greek, you find “Be of good cheer” to mean “be courageous.” The word “afraid” is “phobeo” in the Greek, a derivative of “phobos” from which our English word “phobia” comes. So you could translate Jesus to say to His disciples that with Him in their presence they should be courageous and let go of all their phobias. A courageous church will greet the physical return of Jesus. His bride will be focused on Him, not our adversary and the ills of this temporary world. 

It is often human nature to fear the purposes of God in our lives. Our natural selves are creatures of habit and complacency. In seeing Jesus, the firstborn among many brethren, walking on the water, the disciples were witnessing the enabling power of God’s Spirit in a man. A new day was dawning and Jesus was illustrating the power of walking in oneness with Him.  

And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea (Matt 14:25). 

The word “walking” is “peripateo” in the Greek. One of its meanings is to walk all about as if to show ability. Peter got a taste of God’s ability in us when he stepped out. Jesus has great purpose in each of us. His image of us is so far greater than what we can imagine. If we are truly open to Jesus, our natural lives may be totally redirected, but He will see us through the wind and waves.  

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren (Rom 8:28, 29). 

Peter is often given a hard time for having doubt, but who among us would have stepped down into that sea. He had the zeal to step out of his comfort zone, the ship, and walk in God’s enabling power on top of that sea. In every believer’s walk with Jesus, there are many baby steps. Peter was taking spiritual baby steps on that sea. How many babies never stumble and fall? Peter had the sense to call on the only one that could save him. Matthew 14:31 tells that Jesus “caught him”, which can also be translated as He “seized him”. Yes, we may stumble and fall when we follow the winds of the Spirit, but Jesus is there to seize us and pull us back up at the call of His name. Walking in the Spirit is a constant learning experience, and just as Peter began to sink, our carnality will cause us to sink at times. We have to learn to make Him our source and soar with the wind, but we only learn by stepping down out of that ship. We can trudge through that sea of carnality, or learn to walk on top of it.

Can we see ourselves walking on the water? Can we see a body of Christ that is tightly knitted with its members acting on one accord, with everyone operating in their unique giftings? It will not happen by our ability, but by His Word, it will happen. There will be a Body of Christ walking on top of that sea of carnality, pulling up those who are reaching up and crying out “Lord, save me!” His Bride, His Church, will not be hidden as He is perfected, or completed, within His people. So many Christians are frustrated because they are toiling in their own strength and will. We must have a realization of His power within us. We must constantly seek our Lord in prayer, worship, fasting, and His Word; and hear from the apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers He has appointed for our spiritual maturation. As we let our will go and allow Jesus to have His way in us, we come to step into those things that He has predestined for us. At each step, there are things for us to attend to. Those things must be done faithfully and heartily in His name before greater purposes are bestowed on us. When we are open to God’s will, we are always being prepared, and we have to be wary of complacency at each step. There are always things He must purge out of our lives before we can be more useful to Him, and His purposes are brought about in His time.

Our life is hid in Him. It is all there waiting to be revealed. The Spirit guides us in all truth and we must seek to be fully immersed in it. Just look at Peter—his doubt and spiritual misunderstanding are constantly evident in the Gospels even though he witnessed miracle after miracle. Peter was transformed into a new creature once he received the Spirit on the day of Pentecost—he was truly in the zone that he had previously only glimpsed. We must seek Jesus first; He is faithful to add to our understanding and wisdom when we hunger and thirst after Him. As He takes us through situations, we develop the confidence in Him to do the things that once frightened us in the natural. That includes the most basic things of being a Christian. For example, if the Spirit is leading us to give a word in season to those who are weary. And let me stress His leading—it is His words that give life, not words from our flesh. How many times do we shy away from speaking to someone, when we know for certain that the Lord is beckoning us, because we doubt our ability? Well, we have to come to experience His ability in us, and crossing that threshold of fear allows it to come forth. We must recognize that the enemy uses fear and doubt to keep our life and destiny hidden. In an instant, fear and doubt will sink us into the sea of carnality. The ascension gifts of Ephesians 4:11 (apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher) are to bring the saints towards maturity. It is imperative to be planted in a ministry that is truly teaching the Kingdom of God and the present truth of God's word. It is the responsibility of each saint to be used as an instrument of God, however He may lead, to seek and to save the lost. And those He saves He desires to bring to spiritual maturity. It is our Lord’s will that none should perish, and He has created us to be His instruments of righteousness in the earth. 

It is so often said that God can do anything He wants to do. Well, of course, our Lord is All Mighty, All Powerful, and All Knowing, but He is a God of order. The fact is He has done exactly what He wants to do for us, His people. He has given us avenue to live as one with Him, forever. He has setup a certain order in which His will is done. He works through His people. His living waters flow through His vessels. In whatever capacity He has predestined you; He wants to flow out of you. Whether He wants you operating in a ministry gift  or an occupation or situation of our natural world, He wants the rivers flowing from you to those amongst you. So much of religion and societal influences have hidden God’s desire to work in and through each believer. He made you for His pleasure, and it is His good pleasure to give you His kingdom—so much so, that He placed it inside you.

The Kingdom within wants to shine out. Do you see yourself walking on the water? Do you truly know that all things are possible through Christ who strengthens you—all the things that He has predestined for you to do? We say God is awesome, but do we truly expect great things from God? We are each wonderfully and fearfully made for His unique purposes in each of us. Imagine how glorious His body will be when all of its members are walking in His purposes and in one accord. Can we see past what the natural world has defined us to be, and see the greatness we each possess in Him? God is great, and He is great in us. Let Him shine!

Caught Up Together

The following piece came to me late one night some time ago as I was trying to explain the spirit of what Paul wrote to the Thessalonians in 1Thessalonians 4. This piece is geared mainly for pastors and leaders. Until set men and women of the church catch the spirit of the word and teach God's people of His purpose for them and His church in the earth, the people will not understand. Most of what we call church today is still feeding from the breast, never going on to know the true meat of the spiritual letter. I read on the internet lots of "knowledge" and "theories," but the fact is the church is pitifully weak and ignorant as it clings to its "safety" of religion or its science fiction tales of endtime scenarios. People are confused by so many "theories" that they can not follow in their Bible. The word of God is written by the spirit and will only be revealed and received by the spirit. Until pastors truly catch the spirit of the word, and let go of all the hand-me-down doctrines of man, the church is on a treadmill going nowhere. We have to know Jesus intimately by the spirit, and know who we are in Him.

In following on to know our Lord Jesus Christ, he builds us up through the knowledge of Him. That is a knowledge of intimacy in the spirit and in His Word. We must go past the letter, for it is the spirit word that gives life (2Cor 3:6). When we are truly planted where He desires us to grow, He builds us up line upon line, precept upon precept. In America people often choose churches like they choose fast food restaurants. Well, we don't serve the Burger King, King Jesus has a certain place for you.

But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. (1 Corinthians 12:18)

There is a weight to His word. A truth will weave a thread from beginning to end. A foundational truth has great weight. As Christians we must be open to hear the word rightly divided. I have been wrong many times before, and anyone reading this is no different. God desires us to be planted and changed by His word so that we have a strong foundation and are no longer turned to and fro by every wind of doctrine. When someone is just blowing wind, we should recognize it by the spirit. It is the spirit that reveals the deep things of God. When you have a firm foundation, a wind of doctrine should not be able to withstand the weight of the Word that has been built up in you.

One truth that I have come to know, despite so much teaching to the contrary is stated by Proverbs 10:30--The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth.

The Hebrew word for “shall never” is ‘owlam, which refers to eternity. It means what it says. At NO time ever will the righteous be removed. If you do a search through Proverbs on forms of the words “righteous” and “wicked” you will find much the same. Hit this link and it will do it for you on Biblegateway

http://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/index.php?search=righteous*%20wicked*&version1=9&searchtype=all&limit=none&wholewordsonly=no&startnumber=26

Read through Psalm 37 and you will find the same common theme of the wicked being cutoff and removed, while the righteous remain and flourish. Jesus quoted this Psalm in several places in the Gospels, i.e., the meek shall inherit the earth … (Psalm 37:11)

This foundational truth of God establishing His righteousness in the earth is found throughout the Bible, including when Jesus told his disciples how to pray saying, “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:9-10)” This Scripture has been in our Bible for two thousand years or so and quoted incessantly as part of The Lord's Prayer. The Greek word used for earth refers to the planet. A wind of doctrine cannot displace the foundational truth of God establishing his righteousness in the earth. The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.

So how is it, this overwhelming truth is seemingly turned upside down by some of the Scriptures in 1 Thessalonians?

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (King James Version)

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Many have questions on this passage of Scripture because it has been used so much to support what has been heard over the last 150 years or so about the "rapture" or the catching away of the saints. Well, first of all, the word “rapture” is not even in your Bible. One day I plan to do a whole dissertation on words that are often used in church but have no scriptural basis.  The word rapture itself has many negative connotations and does not stir images of Christ. It comes from the Latin “raptus,” which in general means to be seized, but in its connotation during the Roman Empire it often referred to the seizure and rape of women.

So, is there a contradiction of being “caught up” as 1 Thessalonians 4:17 mentions, and the foundational truth of God’s righteousness never being removed.  First of all, the Scripture is true. Those truly in Christ know that.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)

The Word is true. The Word is infallible. And the Word does not contradict itself. A truth will weave a thread throughout the Word of God. So let me present one foundational truth that is found throughout the Bible and is irrefutable. I get "Amen's" on the following scriptures regardless of the Christian audience I am speaking.

The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. (Psalms 24:1)

For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. (1 Corinthians 10:26)

The Lord created the earth and everything in it for his pleasure, and he said it is his good pleasure to give us the Kingdom. He also said he came to save, or make whole again, all that which was lost.

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)

Well, the earth is his and everything else. He did not make it in vain. And he came in the form of Jesus to restore all things.

For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. (Isaiah 45:18)

Well then, He made it to be inhabited. Inhabited with what? Once again, here is what Proverbs says.

The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. (Proverbs 10:30)

What I am getting at is there is a common thread throughout the Scriptures, and in the work of God in our own lives, of removing the ungodly and replacing it with Himself, His righteousness. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled. He is replacing Adam with Himself—His righteousness.

What happened with Sodom. It was removed. God spared Lott, but remember Lott's wife Jesus said. She longed for the world as she looked back. Think on Noah, he was counted as the only righteous on earth. God kept him and his family. All else were removed. It repented God that he made man because of his wickedness. God saw his likeness in Noah, and kept him and his family, while all else was washed away.

Jesus spoke of these times as being as Noah's time. Now the ark is Jesus. The third time Noah let out the dove from the natural ark and it never returned. But then in the third chapter of Matthew, all of a sudden the spirit lights on Jesus as a dove.

And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: (Matthew 3:16)

The dove landed on the true ark. Jesus said abide in me and I in you. Christ is the only one that will stand when all else crumbles. We are saved when he is right standing in us.

Know this about world and earth in the Scriptures. Most of the times the Bible uses the word “earth,” the original Greek and Hebrew refers to the planet earth. Usually when world is mention, it is referring to “kosmos,” the temporary arrangement of things on the earth. God erased the chalkboard in Noah's time, and established a whole new arrangement. He did not do away with the earth, just changed the order and arrangement of things.

So there is a common thread of God instilling His righteousness and removing the wicked. If you have followed God for any length of time, you know this is what he has done in your own personal life. It has certainly been my experience.

Next, let me emphasize another common thread you find in the Bible. Throughout the Bible there are words that refer to "down" and "up." Well, these really are not directions like north, south, east, and west. Up and down is all relative. When I point down, I am actually pointing up from the perspective of people halfway around the earth. Up and down in the scriptures is referring to a spiritual perspective. Gods ways are higher than our ways.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. (Colossians 3:2) Does that mean I am to have my head in the clouds? No. I am to recognize that I am made to sit in heavenly places. God has made avenue for us to partake of his divine nature and not wallow in the dust of carnality. Where is heaven? Where is God? God is in Heaven. Jesus said the Kingdom of God is within you. Where is the King? He is ruling in his kingdom. Once again, where is Heaven? Is it up there in the clouds, or is it a realm of abiding in relationship with our Heavenly Father?

The way of life is above to the wise, that he may depart from hell beneath. (Proverbs 15:24)

Once again, we are speaking of a perspective or a spiritual realm.

The point is, Biblical words meaning “up” are referring to walking upright with God, whereas “down” words usually refer to living a life apart from God.

So now let me go through this section in the fouth chapter of  1Thessalonians. Remember, what it says is true. And as truth it will not contradict the established foundational truths that I've already stated. Usually, if there is a "contradiction," the word has not been rightly divided. Something has been taken out of context or misunderstood. First in this passage, Paul is making sure that the Thessalonians know that those who have passed away that were following Jesus would be restored to them. Remember the time in which he wrote this. The idea of eternal life was just sinking in. Paul wanted them to know without a doubt that they did not have to keep living in grief over their loved ones as the heathens were want to do. One of Paul’s main objectives with the Thessalonians was to put them in the frame of mind to occupy and be productive in the earth. And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; (1 Thessalonians 4:11) When Jesus spoke the word “occupy,” he was speaking of being productive, not sedentary and waiting to escape. He is our escape. See my write up called “Occupy Til I Come.” One of the terrible problems with “escapism” is the tendency to make people complacent. Christians have taken a back seat in the world just hoping to be caught up at any minute. That is not the will of God for our lives. Remember, God did not make earth in vain Isaiah said, he made it to be inhabited with His righteousness. To be praying against that is ludicrous.

1 Thessalonians 4
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
In verse 14 of 1 Thessalonians 4, notice it emphasizes that God will bring to us these folk who previously passed from the world. Jesus will come with the saints to those who remain according verse 15. The Bible emphasizes His coming, not our going. In Vs 16, he “shall descend.” This is coming from the invisible realm of the spirit to the visible. It is actually happening within his body of believers right now, as the spirit manifests itself in those that are led by the spirit. The church is coming down from God as he manifests himself in a people. He will have a church without spot or blemish, just as himself. The "trump" is sounding now. Only by hearing the trump are you changed. There is a clear certain sound of the spirit being sounded in the earth today from the mouths of true apostles and prophets. That is your ongoing trump. My pastor, Donald Rodenberger, gave a great word not long ago called "In or During the Last Trump."

We are changed by the word. We must be IN the last trump. Jesus told his disciples they were made clean by the words He spoke to them. That trump will end with a clear certain sound. There will be no mistaking it. Those in Christ will know because they are of the day. For those who are of darkness, it will be like a thief in the night.

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:17)

In the 17th verse of 1 Thessalonians 4, We which are alive and REMAIN--what did Paul mean by “remain.” I thought we were all getting sucked off the planet. And of course verse 15 says he is coming to those who remain. If I only read the second half of verse 17 literally, I would think that I'll be flying around with Jesus forever. I will be soaring in the spirit,  but I'll also be reigning with Christ in earth forever as the word says (Rev 5:10, 11:15) We are to be caught up, but that “caught up” is the same as when Paul spoke of being caught up into paradise.

How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.  (2 Corinthians 12:4)

He never left the planet, but he experienced a realm of God never before imaginable. It refers to being apprehended by the spirit. Brought to the realm of God. The up has nothing to do with direction. If you were flying in an airplane above the clouds would you suddenly be caught down? We have got to search the mind of the spirit and quit our foolishness in teaching doctrines that have no scriptural basis. Well intentioned ministers have handed these doctrines down--that does not make them right. Are we saved by a little lamb that was sacrificed, or by Jesus Christ who was nailed to a cross. There are many things that I could take literal and everyone would rightly tell me I am wrong. Well, I am telling pastors and leaders especially in this writing that we have been wrong. We have to take on the mind of Christ in these Scriptures and come into the true purposes of God for His church in the earth today.

Remember Paul's original purpose in this Scripture in 1 Thessaloinians 4. He wanted to ensure those in Thessalonica that their loved ones would be fully restored with them if the fullness of God occurred while they were still alive on earth. So these dead would be made alive and Jesus would bring them. He rides in the clouds. “Clouds” in the scriptures often refers to multitudes of people. Like a "great cloud of witnesses" in Hebrews 12:1.

John says that we don't know exactly how we will be in our glorified bodies, but we will be like Jesus.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)

Well, he is the pattern son. What did he do in the 40 days after his resurrection? He walked the earth, he ate, but there is no account of him flying around. He appeared where he desired, so he seemed to be where he thought to be. There seemed to be no physical bounds. Remember how he startled the apostles in Luke 24. There is a lot we just don't know.

Thessalonians 4:17 also says, we will meet the Lord in the air. The air here is referring to what we breathe. The Greek word is "aer" and actually has the connotation of breathing unconsciously. Well, that's what I'm doing now. In other words in this visible realm where we live and breathe, we will be with our loved ones who had previously passed, and with Jesus. It is not referring to flying around. It is referring to being in this tangible world. Our loved ones will be right before us living and breathing as we all take on our glorious bodies. The word of God is not to be turned into a Peter Pan fantasy. If we were all going to be flying around, don't you think it would be made much clearer? But no, we have taken these few Scriptures out of context and totally negated the foundation of God establishing his righteous  in the earth and that his righteousness shall NEVER be removed. You can not live with that contradiction if you are a minister of the spirit word. And a true apostle will certainly know the error of these "theories."

2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

Verse 18 of 1 Thessalonians 4 says, Wherefore comfort one another with these words. You will be restored with your friends, Mom, Dad, brothers, sisters, cousins, Grandma, all those who followed on to know the Lord. All who REMAIN will be caught up in the spirit and be changed to their glorified body. Paul was assuring these people of eternal life and the ramifications of the Cross. Many people were persecuted and died for the Way. They had to know their lives were not in vain. We are all part of the body, whether we are walking the earth in Christ today, or "sleeping in Jesus."

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 11:15)

When will we be caught up together? This is a matter of  "till" not "when."

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: TILL we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:11-13)

Many have done away with the foundational gifts of apostle and prophet, but without them, the church will never come to the unity of the faith. We are in a time that God is restoring apostolic order in the church. True apostles are coming forth, and those who have an ear to hear know them by the spirit. The bride has to be prepared as one without spot or blemish. Until Jesus has a body to lay his head upon, he will not return. And he said in Acts 1 he would return in like manner as he left. Well he went from the visible to the invisible. He is not coming back in stages as rapture theories would speculate. This is not a science fiction novel. There is a simplicity in Christ. He will come from the invisible to the visible, but He will first be seen in His bride, the Church.

The word is alive. It is disconcerting to hear so much stuff that is totally devoid of the spirit. People argue about a seven year tribulation period---pre, mid, or post. Well,  I’m not part of any of those camps. I’m with Jesus and His Truth and simplicity. We all have parts of the Truth, and we are in a time when God is connecting the dots. The true church will not be focused on pre, mid, and post tribs; it will be enamored with its King Jesus.  Jesus is the beginning and the end. The end is Jesus. The Bible says nothing of any of that seven year tribulation stuff. A man of ill repute named Scofield concocted the seven year tribulation by taking away one of Daniels seventy weeks in his prophecy of Jesus in Daniel 9. Well, Daniels prophecy speaks of the work of Jesus on the cross. It is finished, and that prophecy is perfectly fulfilled. Scofield and others had to contrive the last seven years being separate from the rest. It is not in your Bible. To extract that last seven years out of Daniel's prophecy annuls the finished work of the cross. It is blasphemous. I'm sorry, but I must use strong language. It is antichrist.

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Anything that takes away from the blood of Jesus is not of God. He is thhe way, the truth, and the life. He made the once and for all sacrifice. That is another foundation that is irrefutable. Those who want to follow the teachings of Scofield or Darby or Larkin and the like should also follow Scofield's teachings on the return of animal sacrifices. Well that is just insane. Those teachings have been deleted in recent times from the Scofield bibles, but I can tell you the rest of his teachings are as ungodly as that. Why would we return to animal sacrifices when the Word tells us that Jesus was the once and for all sacrifice.

The Greek word for tribulation is “thlipsis” and it means pressure. Without pressure, how will you be conformed to the image of the son? (Rom 8:29). Jesus promised tribulation, but he was not referring to some seven year period. That is totally unscriptural.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22)

I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation,... (Revelation 1:9)

Peter spoke of how the righteous would be “scarcely”  saved.

And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (1 Peter 4:18)

This “scarcely” does not have the meaning that we think of in today’s language. The original Greek word is “molis,” and has the meaning of requiring effort or much work or with difficulty. If you are truly following after God, it is His will to form you. If you want to kick against the pricks, it will require great tribulation. God did not write His word to become a science fiction novel. He does not want to be a mystery to you. Many deep things of God are so deep because they are so simple. It is man that wants to complicate things.

Beware of anyone who wants to put this walk into the natural realm. Yes, we have a walking out to do, but Jesus is looking for those that will follow him in spirit and in truth. He is building His temple made without hands.

Mark 14:58  We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
There are two Greek words used for “temple" in the New Testament. When speaking of a physical building the word “hieron” is used. When speaking of a spiritual place, the word “naos” is used.

For example, Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple (naos), and in three days I will raise it up. (John 2:19)
In John's gospel he even made sure we knew what Jesus meant by temple.
But he spake of the temple of his body. (John 2:21) And yet we as people tend to continue to think as the Pharisees thought in terms of natural temples. This walk is spiritual. Jesus came to save the world. His disciples did not yet understand that this work of the cross extended to all people, and all were being given the one way, the one door that is Jesus. His disciples inquired of him in Acts 1.

When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? (Acts 1:6)

They had not yet been filled with the spirit and still had a parochial view of the Kingdom of God in terms of natural Israel. They had not yet understood that Jesus was pouring his spirit onto all flesh, and that he was establishing spirtitual Israel in the earth. Jesus responds as follows.

And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.  (Acts 1:7-8)

Note that in his answer, he was sending them to the Jew first and then throughout the earth. Those who preach that Jews are saved by natural birth are in grave error, and will answer for giving Jewish folks a false hope instead of the only way which is Jesus. We are born in the Kingdom. Paul said the Jew is now one inwardly, born of the spirit. Jesus told Nicodemus, a Jew of high report, that a man must be born from above to see and enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus still comes to the Jew first, meaning he reveals a new thing first to those who received the last thing. The things that I write and teach, and that my church teaches come from a third day mindset. It is finished. The tendency of churches is to sit and camp out at their greatest revelation. Right now, God is trying to enlighten those who know the truth of the Pentecostal experience and move them on into the third feast--the Feast of Tabernacles. A place of total union with God. Well, I digressed from my original topic.

Back to the Greek word "naos." Here is another of many uses of that word for the spiritual temple which is within a people. 
What? know ye not that your body is the temple (naos) of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (1 Corinthians 6:19)

Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.  (Luke 17:21)

The Kingdom is within YOU he told the church. We must be fit together and raised up into him, the head, Jesus.  Despite what people espouse from their own imaginations or teachings that have been handed down through the past 150 years or so, the book of Revelation mentions nothing of the building of a physical temple. All thirteen times that the word “temple” is used in Revelation, the Greek word “naos” is used. Yes, He is building a temple all right. It is a people in His image—in His character. He said He will build His church, and He is.

As you might can tell, I have been caught up. I have been violently seized with affection by my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Ever since December of 2001 I have not come down. I only plan on going up and up. Come up hither he told John in Revelation 4:1. Come into My perspective.

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18)

GLORY REVEALED IN US! When we have been conformed to the image of the son. When Christ truly is our life. Then, and only then, shall we all be caught up with him in this race. He is the prize at the end. Those that endure to the end in Christ will live in glory and reign forever. The whole creation is groaning for this manifestation of the sons of God. The whole creation hinges on this supernatural change in a people to become Jesus’ likeness in the earth. (Romans 8)

The emphasis on Thessalonians 4 is “CAUGHT UP TOGETHER”—a  corporate “caught up”—Made one with him—Unto a perfect man—A  body that is one with him and each other.

I have been caught up with God. The original meaning of caught up in the Greek refers to being seized. Jesus by the spirit seized me with violent affection and brought me out of my sleep of unbelief. What has occurred on the individual level must occur at the corporate level.  Paul was caught up into paradise, and yet he stayed on the planet.

Jesus in John 17 prayed that we be one with each other and one with him. Ephesians 4 speaks of coming into the unity of the faith. The emphasis of Thessalonians 4:13-18 is we be CAUGHT UP TOGETHER with all the saints. The clouds are a multitude of saints, i.e., great cloud of witnesses. I was not snatched up into the atmosphere to be saved, and neither will the corporate body of Christ. Jesus is coming with the saints that preceded those who REMAIN. We will be caught up together with them in the clouds. In Southern vernacular I could say, “We will be caught up together with them clouds, them saints that preceded those who REMAIN.”

It is coming into the realm of union with God in the spirit. It has nothing to do with your feet leaving the planet. It is the finality to Jesus prayer in John 17 that we be one with Him and one with each other. It is the completion of Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

There is a glory to be “REVEALED IN US” the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:18. The glory of God is in His unity. In this day we are in, there are no lone rangers in the Kingdom of God. We are to be connected and accountable to the body of Christ. We are altogether lovely in Christ. There is a common thread throughout the word that God is establishing His righteousness in the earth. In earth as it is in Heaven, Jesus spoke. So if you find a scripture is being used in conflict with this foundational truth, the word is not being rightly divided. It is being taken out of context, brought to a lesser earthly realm, or something of that nature. Jesus has no conflicts in his word, but it is a word of the spirit that must be received by the spirit. It is not written for your carnal mind.

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:5)

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. (1 Corinthians 2:10)

Pastor Jonathan Alligood
Crown & Glory Bible Center

A Decade After 9/11 - Ilario Pantano - National Review Online

The following piece by Ilario Pantano is one of the most sobering that I have read in regards to the recent demise of Osama bin Laden. Ilario Pantano is a Marine who reenlisted after 9-11. Recently he ran unsuccessfully for Congress in the 7th Congressional district in North Carolina.


A Decade After 9/11 - Ilario Pantano - National Review Online

A Gift Called Mom

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17)

In our walk in Christ, it is the work of God to send those people into our lives that we are in need of. We must be open to receive these gifts to benefit from them. Jesus was asked at one point in the Gospel of John about the work of God:

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (John 6:28-29)

Are we to limit that to mean that we are to believe in Jesus the God-man that walked on the earth and died on the cross, or do we also recognize that Jesus is come in a people and ministering to us through his people that He has sent? The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 13:5 “…that Jesus Christ is in you …”

I say this to tell you to seek the gift of God in the people He has placed in your life. In my life, my momma, Sara is her name, has been an inspiration to me. By receiving the gift that Jesus gave me through her, my life has been truly blessed. Let me share a few of the many reasons why this is so.

When I was a child, my mom instilled in me a desire to learn and try new things and to find the answers to life’s riddles. Mom did not always give me the answers—she often pointed me in the right direction to find the answers for myself. Much of the knowledge I have this day came about in the days of my childhood as I scoured just about every book in our bookshelf. As I got to the age where I could read, a common refrain from both Mom and Dad when I would constantly ask them questions about the things of this world was “Go look it up.” Our 1960 edition of the World Book Encyclopedia was a constant source. I thank my mom and my dad for showing me that I could find the truth of things if I diligently pursued it.

As a child, and now, I always wanted to know how things work. Mom showed great patience and trust in me as I would constantly take things apart to see how they worked. There was not an electronic or mechanical toy that I did not take apart. If something around the house was not working, I’d take it apart and try to make it work. I got the desire to tinker from Dad, but Mom had to have a high degree of trust in me to tackle some of the things I did. I can remember fixing Mom’s sewing machine on at least one occasion. In all of this, I am sure Mom knew that it was all part of the process of learning. It was no surprise to her when I was a teenager and decided to go into engineering school.

Mom always encouraged me and allowed me to try new things. As a kid, when there was some kind of food that I liked, I wanted to learn how to make it. Mom gave me the liberty to try. Through her example and teaching I learned to follow recipes and learn to make things that I never knew I could make. To this day, if a certain food comes to mind for me to prepare, I study out recipes and attempt to make it. It may take me a few times to get it perfected, but I have no fear of trying. This applies to all aspects of life, and I thank my mom for giving me that will to try. Mom suffered through some messy cooking episodes, but I thank her for her patience and willingness to turn her kitchen over to a child novice.

As I learned to cook under Mom’s tutelage, I also came to learn gardening at an early age. My brother and sisters and I would help in the garden. As I developed and interest in it, Mom and Dad taught me the ways of gardening, and from there I started experimenting on my own. My specialties became tomatoes, squash, pumpkin, peppers, sunflowers, and okra. There were many life lessons learned in that garden of ours—it takes much work and love to tend to a garden, but when you do, so you reap much fruit.

The greatest thing that Mom instilled in me as a child was the infallible truth of God. It was only at the age of 35 that I actually walked with God, but I never questioned the correctness of God’s word. In my years of living a life of sin, I did not question the truth of God’s word. There were many things of the world that I never took part in because of the things of God that Mom and Dad insisted were right. I thank God for keeping me through those years, and I recognize that certain principles were instilled in me through my parents and served as a preserver of my soul.

On this day I am grateful that I received the gift called Mom. Oh sure, there were many times that I strayed and closed my ears to her, but, in general, I heeded the words of my mother. Every life story is different. Not all of us have parents as I have. Whatever path we find ourselves, however, we must accept the gifts of God that he puts in our life. Our Heavenly Father knows what we are in need of. When God places someone in your life that is giving you Godly counsel, hold onto that gift and do not despise instruction.

So on this Mothers Day, I want to say thank you to Jesus first, for he fills our need. In my life, he gave me a mother that always inspired me to do my best. Thank you, Mom, for always being there for me, always believing I can do great things, and most importantly, always there to love me whether I am at my best or at my worst. 

I love you, Mom!