Food for thought

I seem to be very much stuck at 'back to the beginning' in my studies. Adam and Eve in the garden. (and how that temptation extends to us) Satan's main objective, after enticing the emotion with lust of the eye, and provoking the intellect with lust of the flesh to step outside of God's protection, was to gain the will. The belief that satan won them too was that God's restriction was not an act of love and that they were better off without Him.

What they actually won was lose of the ability to act in the way they were designed to. Our bodies house an intellect beyond that of any other creature that is able to comprehend the things of God. Satan said they would become gods but without the divine fellowship and cooperation they had passed into a region where the essential powers of their being could find no field of operation.

The consequences? Their abiding was no longer with God. Angel's were put in place to block the way. That is until God came in incarnation as our tree of life, the only stipulation in place to gain a proper character and conduct was to abide in Him. Without Him we can do nothing.

Intelligence determines the action of emotion and the final attitude of the will.
When our essential being is operating in the wrong sphere the emotions are dwarfed having lost the perfect object, the intellect is bounded being severed from infinite knowledge and the will, in attempting mastership, has lost it's true spring of action. Emotions are set on love of material things. Intellect looks to material things in semi-blindness, the will, always attempting authority, is beaten and overcome. By our own will we dethrone God and enthrone self in separation from God.

As at the garden, as at Shiloh, and for many today, the covenant is violated and mankind is put outside of His protection. God is rejected. Genesis 3, 1 Samuel 8:7, John 5:19

So satan's main objective is to gain the will in use of the emotions and intellect. Thereby causing independant actions, ungoverned activity. Outside the sphere of God, away from the tree of life.

We need that perfect fitness between the work to be done and the workman prepared. We're limited and we need to be complimented with the unlimited. Un-limited except by the constaints of love. Abiding in our proper sphere (confidence in God's love) the emotion, intellect and will are united with God. I believe that these three areas of self can be a constant because of our will being set on Him.

Jesus, as God, was the exact image while we are just the shadow. But we must never doubt God's love. Dear ones created to be One with Him, don't fall into satan's food-chain by double-mindedness in doubting God's love. He is a roaring lion looking for whom he can devour. Bring yourself to the throne of grace where you are guaranteed grace and mercy by His sacrifice for you. And keep yourself there as is your reasonable service. Romans 12:1-3

FFT on a traditional belief

Romans 5:12
We can assume that all have sinned. But in what way are we convicted in sin? That's really the question... We're deemed righteous in Christ 1 Corinthians 1:30

The judgement is in place for satan John 16:11. Satan is the source of sin and has become father of the human race John 8:44 because of Adam selling our birthright ( in effect.)

The only way to be freed from sin is to believe in Christ, the Son of God. John 16:9 Believe in Him, in His righteousness to us, then we're justified in Him Romans 3:24, Romans 4:25

If we don't repent of the sin that is in Adam and believe into Christ, the Son of God, we will remain in sin and share the judgment of Satan (as the father of the fallen race) for eternity Matthew 25:41.

These are the main points that the Holy Spirit uses to convict humanity.

Call it what you like, penal substitution,whatever ... I call Him my Kinsman Redeemer (read Boaz & Ruth for the example) ....

As a redeemer He is like us but is also God. Ruth was a Moabite that was redeemed into the family of God thru Naomi.
Christ is our redeemer. He gave Himself up for us, so as to impart life to us.
That God needed a lamb to cover us is just a fact from the beginning, we're not told why. I guess just to hide our nakedness.
I know this may seem too simple for some peeps but He had to sacrifice Himself to separate and sanctify the church to present the body to Himself, having been severed in the past. Because we were dead Ephesians 2:1 , belonging to another family, the family of satan's and not of God's family (a Moabite in that sense)

He is the Redeemer ( as opposed to the penal substitution belief ) for the simple fact that it demands penalty for Christians when plainly it is just satan's family that is in jeopardy. What the Traditionalists call perdition doesn't apply to Christians 2 John 1:8 only loss of rewards, as I've mentioned before. And He will redeem us to our final reward in Revelation 5:6, and as God the final redeemer in Revelation 22:1

His work as redeemer

John 6:35
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

His flesh is life. As the lamb of God He feeds and redeems, before the fall as the tree of life he was just for feeding on. Then in dying for us He gave His flesh so that we could have life. Blood is also necessary for redemption. Separating the flesh and blood John 6:54 clearly means His death.

John 6:47
Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.
John 1:12
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—

John 6:56 is the resurrected life of those who believe in Him.
By eating we are taking Him in as nourishment for the new creation for the new way of life.

John 14:19-20
Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

John 6:62 involves His ascension which followed redemption as proof His work had been completed.

Hebrews 1:3b
... After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Wherefore He is the life-giving spirit John 6:63 who gives life and speaks in spirit and life.

1 Corinthians 15:45
So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.

As the life-giving spirit He is the life supply. Receiving (believing) Him as the crucified and resurrected savior, the lifegiving Spirit comes into us to impart eternal life. We receive (believe) the Lord Jesus but we get the Holy Spirit who gives us life.

Communion in the way of breaking of bread was the way in which the earliest church recognized Jesus, as exemplified by the disciples at Emmuas.

Food for thought on the cup of salvation

In redeeming us with His blood from our fallen condition and back to the family of God is God's full blessing. The Lord's table includes the cup of blessing. The blessing is the enjoyment of the fellowship with Him with God Himself as our portion.

In Adam our lot (or portion) was the cup of God's wrath, because we were of our father, satan.

Christ drank of that cup for us

And His blood constitutes the cup of salvation for us

Filled to overflowing

When we have fellowship with Christ we partake of this cup and He will not partake of it until the Kingdom is fulfilled in you.

And He said to them, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."

My opinion is that without the life being given then death reigns so therefore there is no eternal punishment for those who are without God.

1 Corinthians 15:53
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Food for thought on the FORM taken in the incarnation

He laid aside His majesty to take on the form of a servant. What was His form previous to this?

It would seem clearly evident that the Son of God would have been forever the One in Whom God took form, being the One thru Whom God was revealed. The Son is always the manifestation of the Father. Whatever the form in the past was it's certain He was the Word, the Speech, the method of communication of the Eternal God.

For the redemption of mankind He has laid aside that form and taken on the form of a servant. The new form still manifests the same God, the form that mankind may look upon and thru the process of time come to know the Eternal God. He is the Divine Expression , just as the Holy Spirit is the Divine consciousness. The limitlessness is brought into the range of the limited.

In seeing and hearing. The Son brought the Father into sight at the incarnation. And at His death and resurrection the Spirit brings hearing to the consciousness.

Food for thought on the example of original intention found in the incarnation

The incarnation as being a revelation to mankind of mankind as to the Divine intention is first and foremost. But it's also a revelation of God, for perfect man (Jesus) is the image of God. In Jesus it is revealed God's intention as to the purpose of every human being;
- having a mind of royal and loyal love expressed in the activity of self-emptying service as the expression of loyalty.

From this consideration of God, mankind and the ideal man (Jesus) there breaks upon the consciousness the truth concerning God;

FFT #3 on the Incarnation of Christ

Altho the light of the world has come into the world as the Expression of God bringing into view the true image of God, mankind does not see it. They are blinded by the fall. In seeing they see not, hearing they hear not because the Consciousness of God has not reached their ears either.

Something must be done to quicken the intelligence, to open the eye. That the Incarnation doesn't do. But it does provide the clear view of God for those who have a quickened intelligence. For them, the mortal has put on immortality. They have seen the Divine self-revelation contained within the Incarnation. How?

Reconciliation.

When mankind thru the mystery of the atonement, is reconciled, and the miracle of regeneration is completed, then in the Vision of God granted in Christ, mankind will also be reconciled in intelligence, emotion and in will.

The Incarnation has made the provision for the reconciliation of the whole man. But into this reconciliation man will only pass as he becomes reconcilled to the death of Jesus Christ.

Being so reconcilled the full salvation will proceed thru the harmonizing facts of His being. Contained within are the revelation of the possibilities thereof of the Man Jesus, under the constraint of the infinite Love of God revealed also in Him.

Romans 5:10
For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

Food for thought on loyalty to God

In having obtained the mind of Christ in seeing and hearing what else does God say is needed? Loyalty. I have found that leather represents loyalty.

We have been shod with the gospels from the feet of them carrying good news. The Israelites had God with them externally from their beginning but they were faithless and unloyal. Read Exekiel 16 for God's full account but especially
Ezekiel 16:10
I clothed you with embroidered cloth and with sandals of fine leather; I bound you in fine linen and covered you with rich fabric.

When the bible mentions leather it is used to describe temple items in terms of covering. ie: Exodus 36:19 , Numbers 4:11

The only two that apply to humans are those of the belts of Elijah 2 Kings 1:8 and John the Baptist Matthew 3:4

We are told to be girded with the belt of truth. Ephesians 6:14 I believe this represents the fact that we must stand firm in loyalty, clothed in God's armor;

The Armor of God
13 Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth fastened around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace.…

Isaiah 11:5
Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, And faithfulness the belt about His waist.

Luke 12:35
Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.

Romans 13:12
The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

Food for thought # 4 on the Incarnation of Jesus

The Jews were unbelievers simply because they didn't understand their own prophetic scriptures. But we, in these end-times, have been given eyesalve to buy that we may see. Revelation 3:18

The Jews had no conception of a suffering servant or of God manifested in the flesh. They had had so many signs and then silence. From out of the silence came numerous more prophetic things being fulfilled in front of their eyes.

Matthew 1:23, Matthew 2:6, 15, 17, 23
fulfilled
Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, Hosea 11:1, Jeremiah 31:15, Isaiah 53:3

See also these things that they must have heard about.
Numbers 24:17, Matthew 2:2, Luke 1:11, Luke 1:26, Matthew 1:20, Luke 2:10-12

Heaven, earth and hell were all stirred up at His arrival and all gave their testimony.

The direct signs given to mankind were:

- the Star of Bethlehem
- Angelic ministry to Zacharias, Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds
- Voices of the prophets

Indirect signs given to mankind were:

- Herod's terror at the magi's visit carrying gifts that indicated royalty
- the slaughter of the innocents.

You would think we would be more in tune with all the signs and prophesies being fulfilled in front of our eyes such as the return to homeland of the Jews, and what of all the bloodmoon's this year falling on Holy Days as more signs in Israel that God is moving. etc..

Those former prophetic manifestations focused on Jesus' 1st coming, but now in these end-times these signs are leading to His second coming ... but are we paying attention?

Food for thought on discipleship, romance and redemption

Strong's Number G3101 ~ disciple~ matches the Greek μαθητής (mathētēs)
(am I over romantizing to say that sounds much like Mattias that replaced the other disciple Judas in Acts 1:26)
(well maybe)(but maybe not)
Number G3101 ~ disciple, occurs 268 times in 252 verses in the Greek concordance of the KJV

I have causually linked to romance and redemption because of the story of Ruth and Boaz
The law
Ruth ( a Moabite listed in Jesus' geneology) is redeemed by Boaz
The redemption
Redemption unto God's people
And unto us in Christ
From there we see our redemption and from the angels as to how heaven refers to His followers
But mostly I can see the discipleship in that of sitting at His feet and learning of Him. Disciples are those who gather 'round His feet, are trained by Him, His cover over them. To them He is the lifeforce of learning-obeying-and renewing.

Remarkably the word disciples is not found at all in the epistles. That's because Christians are being addressed corporately , as saints or separated ones.

The term disciple marks an individuals relationship, existing btween Christ and the single soul of each of His followers, marking our everyday existance with Him. It's the ideal of our true relationship with Him. That of Him peering over us as His pupil inparting knowledge precept upon precept, step by step, working toward a definate end. Desiring the same end as the Master.

Food for thought on depravity, reconciliation and resurrection.

The point beyond depravity to be aimed at is reconciliation. Iow human nature fallen is on it's own wavelength and we have to get back onto God's wavelength, into the mindset of Christ. That's accomplished in what He carried out via His divine/human nature. After He rose He was able to give to us a newly created nature that is not available unless the need for a savior is acknowledged first (we are born into a depraved state beyond saving) . As long as depravity (all born under sin and not able to do anything to please God) is not recognized then there's no incentive to view oneself in need of a savior, nothing to be redeemed from.
God's work is a very slow process and any crises that comes up can be explained from within that slow process from beginning of time. A crises only indicates a new line of action (ie: back to God's wavelength) that results in the continuity of that which proceeded it from the beginning of God's plan thru to the accomplishments of His Divine work. (belief in what He has accomplished makes Him beyond just a kinsman redeemer but also establishes Him as Lord)
Jesus went thru many crises in His life from birth, baptism, transfiguration, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension. Each crises initiated a new movement and commenced a new process. Each ushers in new order of things crowning that of the past creating the force for that to come.

So recognition of the doctrine of depravity is necessary (according to scripture) before salvation can even begin..

According to the scritures ... a faith that is built on rock and not on sand because the decision for Christ is based on accurately gathered information. John the Baptist's disciples came to Jesus to ask if He was the one that had been promised or if they should wait for another. Jesus answered according to scripture as proof that it was being fulfilled in Him. His disciples on the Emmaus road needed proof again concerning those things Luke 24:26-27 and it's necessary for us to see it too.

Jesus offered Jonah being in the belly of the whale as the only sign of resurrection but are there more in the OT? Hosea 6:2 “After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him” can be sited but it's not referenced by the NT except maybe in Paul's 3-day motive, and Psalms 16:10 not seeing corruption can be explained away too. The point is belief in Christ constitutes seeing that in those scriptures.

You pretty much have to go to New Testament writings 1 Corinthians 15 for the explanation of the events that the disciples witnessed. What they experienced constituted their belief. And that's what the faith that is based on that foundation is about too. It's a hope in that which is not seen. Accurately gathered information for belief in the resurrection comes from faith built on faith. The initial basis for the foundation is the super-natural revelation that first occurred when we first believed, that held on to, plus the many times that He's worked on our behalf gains insight into the fact that He is alive and the hope is in His work that He will complete the good work that He began in us.

Food for thought on grace in the soul


Strong's Greek
2227. zoopoieo -- to make alive
... zoopoieo Phonetic Spelling: (dzo-op-oy-eh'-o) Short Definition: I make to live
Definition: I make that which was dead to live, cause to live, quicken. ...
strongs 2227
4806. suzoopoieo -- to make alive together with
... make alive together with. From sun and zoopoieo; to reanimate conjointly with
(figuratively) -- quicken together with. see GREEK sun. see GREEK zoopoieo. ...
strongs 4806

Strong's Hebrew
2421. chayah -- to live
... to revive -- keep (leave, make) alive, X certainly, give (promise) life, (let, suffer
to) live, nourish up, preserve (alive), quicken, recover, repair, restore ...
hebrew 2421


Grace in the soul is its new nature; the soul is alive to God, what can a worldly life compare to this noble prize of our high calling? Regeneration by the Holy Spirit brings a new and Divine life to the soul, though in a feeble state. And the sons of God have the Spirit to work in them the disposition of children; they have not the spirit of bondage, which the Old Testament church was under, before the Spirit of adoption was plentifully poured out. Many speak peace to themselves, to whom God does not speak peace. But those who are sanctified, have God's Spirit witnessing with their spirits, in and by his speaking peace to the soul shall be quickened in their mortal bodies at the second comimg of the Lord.


Your bodies are not exempt from the death which sin brought in; but your spirits even now have in them an undying life, and if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, even these bodies of yours, though they yield to the last enemy and the dust of them return to the dust as it was, shall yet experience the same resurrection as that of their living Head, in virtue of the indwelling of same Spirit in you that quickened Him. Yet in that which is made alive now the sense is, that under the gospel, by the influence of the Spirit,is made alive and recovered to the service of God by the Spirit that dwells in us, because that Spirit has restored life to our souls, abides with us with his purifying influence, and because the design and tendency of his indwelling is to purify the entire man, and restore all (body, soul and spirit) to God. Christians thus in their bodies and their spirits become sacred. For even their body, the seat of evil passions and desires, shall become alive in the service of God.

How much does this view of what He has in store for us prompt us to co-operate with the Holy Spirit in crucifying the flesh ?

By his Spirit that dwelleth in you:
If you are sanctified by the Spirit, you shall be raised up by the Spirit also, as Christ was. The wicked also shall be raised at the last day. But the righteous shall be raised after a peculiar manner; they shall be raised, as by the almighty power of God, so by virtue of their union with Christ as his members, and by virtue of their relation to the Spirit as his temples. They only shall partake of a resurrection that is desirable and beneficial to them. Therefore it is called emphatically the resurrection of the just, and these two are joined together, as belonging one to the other; the children of God, and the children of the resurrection,

(a compilation of many commentaries on the subject)

Food for thought on sanctification


While God has made provision for a male responsibility He also made provision for everyone to sanctify themselves to Him. God had made provision for women to be ordained unto Him is a fact. Samuel was not of the priestly line but came in under the Nazarite vow to replace the Aaronic line of Eli/ John Baptist was of the priestly line but was a forerunner in the Nazarite way.
Jesus sanctified Himself for our sake just as we should sanctify ourselves for His sake and others. Sanctification comes from allowing God to cleanse our heart and soul by engrafting the pure Word of God into it. That is the High Priestly prayer that He prayed for His disciples.

John 17:19
And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.

Food for thought on moving higher

That which is seen in the shadow of things, and then having been projected onto the spiritual meaning behind the shadows (that of the substance) once having seen the spiritual the shadow should never be returned to.

The joint has been divided from the marrow. The soul and the spirit divided. It constitutes that which the whole book of Hebrews is about and the turning back that it warns against.


The call to follow Jesus is always about forsaking the former way of life. We are strangers and pilgrims in this land 1 Peter 2:11 and like Jesus we must be of the mindset that in this temporary place we have no place to lay our heads Matthew 8:20

We also have been brought 'out of the house of bondage' Deuteronomy 13:5 and as we journey in our tent coverings, having received our daily bread and daily direction we need to press on and upward because looking back, a plowman knows, will not keep the path straight.

Food for thought on Christ's nature as revealed to the 7 churches

Because it's a revelation to the churches and His last word given, we may do well to examine what He has to say to us, His church:
1) When we, His church are losing that first passion He reveals Himself as one who walks in the midst, judging. He's the unchanging One therefore our commitment to Him should not change either.
2) To those being persecuted He reveals Himself as one who had died and rose again, assuring us in the case of martyrdom.
3) But for those full of heresies He is a two-edged sword of judgement.
4) Where His position has been usurped there is only darkness covering His truth.
5) Some churches are full of death and so to us in that condition the Lord reveals Himself as the bright shining star and the Spirit of life.
6) Those who have brotherly love are considered without blemish, so the Lord opens wide the door of preaching that they might have an enlarged work. Colossians 4:3
7) To the worldly church the Lord reveals Himself as One kept outside the door.

He knows all of our works Revelation 2:2,19; Revelation 3:1,8,15 whether they be good or evil so we all must bear our own responsibility "I know your works".

Some have works but no love, some have both works and love, while some are completely worldly. The sins of one are not imputed to the others in His address. None of the churches are accountable to the others in His final words. All are judged according to their works. Works have nothing to do with salvation
Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5

Christ makes no mention of some of the works of the churches as if they had none. But He knows of their condition. Endurance can be one of the best of works. Revelation 2:9,13

To each condition He states the affliction and His view regarding the works and environment.

He's just in exposing our sins and He's kind in revealing our merits. Thru the many errors and evils He doesn't hide the good works. His praise always comes first before His reprimand, but woe to those who have no praise coming from the Lord!

-He gives praise for loyalty, tribulation, poverty, faithfulness, works, love, faith, diligence, patience, good works, purity, and endurance
Revelation 2:6,9,13,19,24; Revelation 3:8,10
-While His rebukes are for coldness, heresy, fornication, self-exaltation, worldliness, weakness, imperfection, being alive in name but dead in reality, being neither cold nor hot, wretchedness, misery, poverty, blindness, and nakedness
Revelation 2:4,14-15,20; Revelation 3:1-2,15-17
Some are without any rebuke and some are without any praise.

It may be good to see ourselves with His eyes, whether we like to or not, just because we`re told to examine ourselves so as not to be judged. No matter how much the praise all our sins are laid bare before the Lord.

And no matter at what point the fall is, the Lord also commands repentance. Revelation 2:5,16;Revelation 3:3,19

We ought not to consider our good deeds but rather those that are in need of repentance because the Lord`s purpose is to make us over-comers.

"But if not, I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent" Revelation 2:5
"Repent therefore; but if not, I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war with them with the sword of My mouth" Revelation 2:16
"If therefore you will not watch, I will come as a thief" Revelation 3:3

In repentance help is available! In His last speech to the churches He promises special spiritual blessings!
We can return to our first love!
We can receive a martyrs crown!
We can recover the pure truth!
We can remove Jezebel from our midst! We can renew our vigil for His return!
We can have the wide open door and He can fill our lack!

The Lord has grace for us who are willing to receive it! And He promises great rewards to those who do become the over-comers
Revelation 2:7,10,11,17,26-28 Revelation 3:5, 12,21

Reading about the confusion in the churches should make us all the more aware of the confusion in our own churchlife now. We can`t afford to be complacent, so buy the eye salve and the fine linen.

The promises are special rewards from God and the condition to receive them is in over-coming. Don`t confuse this with salvation or perdition.
Salvation is in believing the Lord`s work accomplished, over-coming is drawing upon the Lord`s grace daily to allow His cross and the Spirit to overcome sin, world, flesh and satan.
The glory is in the city to come, so let's forego the pleasures and endure the scorn of this world, and make the attraction being in that yet to come!

Those faithful unto death will not be hurt by the second death, the Lord is calling to those who have ears to hear. We ought to listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, the churches.

Food for Thought on Keeping His Commandments

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.

Deuteronomy 7:9

How long is a thousand generations? Much more that I can count tbh. This contrasts God to idols in His faithfulness. It was He that brought them out of Egypt to the promised land of their inheritance. The thousand generations are descriptive of those who have enjoyed the benefits of that. Exodus 20:6

Notes from Matthew Henry commentary:


The tenour of the covenant into which they were taken; it was in short this, That as they were to God so God would be to them. They should certainly find him, (1.) Kind to his friends, Deuteronomy 7:9. "The Lord thy God is not like the gods of the nations, the creatures of fancy, subjects fit enough for loose poetry, but no proper objects of serious devotion; no, he is God, God indeed, God alone, the faithful God, able and ready not only to fulfil his own promises, but to answer all the just expectations of his worshippers, and he will certainly keep covenant and mercy," that is, "show mercy according to covenant, to those that love him and keep his commandments" (and in vain do we pretend to love him if we do not make conscience of his commandments); "and this" (as is here added for the explication of the promise in the second commandment) "not only to thousands of persons, but to thousands of generations--so inexhaustible is the fountain, so constant are the streams!" (2.) Just to his enemies: He repays those that hate him, Deuteronomy 7:10. Note, [1.] Wilful sinners are haters of God; for the carnal mind is enmity against him. Idolaters are so in a special manner, for they are in league with his rivals. [2.] Those that hate God cannot hurt him, but certainly ruin themselves. He will repay them to their face, in defiance of them and all their impotent malice. His arrows are said to be made ready against the face of them, Psalms 21:12. Or, He will bring those judgments upon them which shall appear to themselves to be the just punishment of their idolatry. Compare Job 21:9, He rewardeth him, and he shall know it. Though vengeance seem to be slow, yet it is not slack. The wicked and sinner shall be recompensed in the earth, Proverbs 11:31. I cannot pass the gloss of the Jerusalem Targum upon this place, because it speaks the faith of the Jewish church concerning a future state: He recompenses to those that hate him the reward of their good works in this world, that he may destroy them in the world to come.

Food for Thought on:

The bitter root in metamorphesis.

Bitterness of the Old testament isn't the same as Christians are meant to experience in the New Testament.

The old testament refers to "the angry discontent of a rebelious person" resulting from the "poison venom of the serpent".

Look at these results from a search of Strong's Concordence on the word bitter or bitterness in the Hebrew

4751 mar mar or (feminine) marah {maw-raw'}; from 4843; bitter (literally or figuratively); also (as noun) bitterness, or (adverbially) bitterly:--+ angry, bitter(-ly, -ness), chafed, discontented, X great, heavy.

4805 mriy mer-ee' from 4784; bitterness, i.e. (figuratively) rebellion; concretely, bitter, or rebellious:--bitter, (most) rebel(-lion, -lious).

4846 mrorah mer-o-raw' or mrowrah {mer-o-raw'}; from 4843; properly, bitterness; concretely, a bitter thing; specifically bile; also venom (of a serpent):--bitter (thing), gall.

There are other references in the OT but these are the usual meaning. There is, however, only 4 meanings for the same words in the NT.
When bitterness is spoken of in the NT believer it refers to a bitter and violent piercing and makes no mention of anger, discontent or rebellion.

4087. pikraino pik-rah'-ee-no from 4089; to embitter (literally or figuratively):--be (make) bitter.

4088. pikria pik-ree'-ah from 4089; acridity (especially poison), literally or figuratively:--bitterness.

4089. pikros pik-ros' perhaps from 4078 (through the idea of piercing); sharp (pungent), i.e. acrid (literally or figuratively):--bitter.

4090. pikros pik-roce' adverb from 4089; bitterly, i.e. (figuratively) violently:--bitterly.

It seems to me that satan can still bite the new creation of believers, sometimes using those closest to us to inflict the pain.
Jesus' saving grace saves us from the anger, discontent and rebellion but not from the pain involved from the poison inflicted on tender hearts, made more tender from association with Jesus. Jesus' compassion always shone through His pain, but no doubt Satan inflicted serious poison on His soul, probably more than any other.

It also helps to see and prove His overcoming to the new creation imo
The secret is not to let the poison set in by not harbouring anger either good or bad, but to clean the slate with God each and every night.

Food for thought on Zao

Phonetic Spelling za-dzah'-o

Verb Definition
to live, breathe, be among the living (not lifeless, not dead)
to enjoy real life
to have true life and worthy of the name
active, blessed, endless in the kingdom of God
to live i.e. pass life, in the manner of the living and acting
of mortals or character
living water, having vital power in itself and exerting the same upon the soul

metaph. to be in full vigour
to be fresh, strong, efficient,

as adj. active, powerful, efficacious

Translated Words KJV (26) - alive, 6; be alive, 9; live, 1; lively, 3; misc, 2; not tr, 1; quick, 4; NAS (137) - alive, 15; get their living, 1; holding, 1; life, 1; live, 53; lived, 3; lives, 19; living, 44;\\

Looking at 1 Timothy 3:15 is Tzao in action

Paul impresses the importance of correct conduct, responsibility and care to those within the House of God which is the church of the living God. The church/body is the pillar of the house of God. It's the house of God because it's within that He dwells.

What we do pertains to that honor and care of the church of the living God, our habitation of God through the Spirit. If we're not doing that then why are we here? We're living stones trying to fit together. The grinding shows that we're still in the quarrey of the world and not at the temple where no sound is heard out of reverence for His House.

God Zao's within. Because of that we Zao also. Living that works and moves together in the Spirit so that God can be manifested. God is the foundation of truth and as the pillar is supported by the base so the pillar holds the building.

Food for thought on Jesus in the garden

When Jesus said 'take this cup from me' was He setting an example of us calling upon Him to be the Lord of our life and circumstances? The thought continued in His speach at the garden of Gethsamene with asking that the Father's will be done and not that of His. If we were to say the same thing and call on the Lord to take our cup of suffering and give it over into His will, would that be the same. I think perhaps it is. In the Name of Jesus, Amen. On earth as it is in heaven.

~Cassia~ said:

In Philadelphia the authority is in the hands of the Holy Spirit but in Laodocea it's in the hands of the layman. - laity custom/opinions. There the opinion of the majority rules. Whereas brotherly love, in the context of spiritual truth, has only truth according to the substance beyond the shadow.
The fraternity of believers in Philadelphia are one in Christ. Laodocea leaves Christ outside. Opening the door to fellowship with Him is a great experience. I think it's one that all overcomers experience. If it is a higher promise it could be because the church age is ending.

Also I don't think anyone but a Philadephian can backslide to a Laodocean. Most are in a Sardis state. Just the appearance of life, but still under a pastorial system. Philadelphia was the only one that could be considered 'hot'

Revelation 3:20-21
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne.

Final edit - No matter what is the situation of the church the main thing that Rev 2-3 points to is Who Christ is. It's only in knowing Him that the remedy for any church situation exists. That is what the Revelation to the churches is and without it corporately and individually will not stand.

Click to expand...

It's been awhile since I even thought about this thread but there's much info therein if anyone wants to check out the last year in retro.

Food for thought on Incense, Perfume and Wine



Travelling out of the wilderness toward the city of peace (Face set to Jerusalem) the city of peace.


First is righteousness and then peace.
Like pillars of smoke indicates the power of the Holy Spirit leading still as in the wilderness.



Blood and fire and pillars of smoke...upon who?



Smoke as a pillar....dependable established strength.



Now look at what she's perfumed with. The new wine!

Incense, Perfume and Wine

Jesus is the vine, we are the branches.
That is abiding.
Abiding is for the purpose of producing fruit
stemming from being rooted in the Father,
but Jesus wants the new wine, the finished product.


New Wine vs the Wrath of His Winepress


There were many excellent vineyards in Palestine
and wine was made for common use. Water was scanty,
especially at some seasons, and likely to be infected.
Milk and wine were therefore the common beverage.



Bringing in the Ark


'Myrrh'

subjective suffering and value thereof/ bearing the odor and fragrance




Being perfumed means the bride being prepared for the bridegroom with the fragrance first absorbed thru skin, much as Jesus did in wearing the perfume to His buriel, and as we see in Esther, to emit her own natural odour which as like fumes of smoke, removing offensive odors. Similarly the indwelling of the Holy Spirit also emits the odour of sweet smelling favor.



Frankincence
the second aspect.
A special reference to royalty.



and a life of prayer



All the powders of the merchants,
points to the riches of the exalted life.



All He has is hers because she is His. He is the merchant that enriched her, who sold to her all of which she needed.



She obtained these precious things of grace at a price. Obedience and devotion that had stood every test. Her fragrant virtuos. The Spirit and the Bride say "Come Lord Jesus`` the bride has made herself ready.