It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2

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God of All Comfort

God is not aloof, indifferent or coldhearted toward our pain and suffering when we lose a loved one or experience hardship. We are told to trust God and have faith in Him, but this does not minimize our grief and anguish and God listens to our cry. Jesus Himself is touched and understands our feelings because He experienced all that we have suffered and tells us to come to Him for help when we have a loss or in need.  God knew we would fall and could have chosen not to create mankind but He chose to create mankind and allowed them free will to love or reject Him.  God’s love, mercy and grace has provided another way for us to be redeemed from sin.

Acts 7:34 I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning and have come down to deliver them. And now come, I will send you to Egypt.”’

Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. NKJ

God is the God of all comfort and compassion and He hears our cry for help. Sin and the enemy are the reasons we are experiencing these hard times and we must look to God and His provision to bring us out. Just as in the beginning God provided Christ as our redeemer from sin He has made provisions for us to break out of every snare the enemy has laid.

 

2 Corinthians 1: 3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.   For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also abounds through Christ.  

God knew before he formed this world that mankind would rebel and fall because of Satan and sin. God redeemed humanity at the high cost of the life of His Son Jesus. He wanted mankind to be rescued and delivered from eternal damnation even before the world began.

Death was not God’s design for mankind, though the enemy uses it against God’s creation, but God made a counter plan for eternal life and to free mankind from the traps of Satan and eternal death. 

Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. NKJ

 

Psalm 116:15-16 Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His saints. O Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds.

God is love and full of compassion toward us and hears our cry when we are going through difficult times. He is not insensitive or a hardened father who is cold toward his children. He does not require them to suck up their pain and bear their grief without feeling, but our God and Father has come along side us to comfort us. Jesus was moved, had compassion and wept at the cries of Mary and Martha, having loss their brother Lazarus. Jesus did not weep for Lazarus because He came to raise him from the dead. Jesus wept for the living who were hurt and distressed because of their loss. God is concerned with the things that concern us. 

John 11:35-36 Jesus wept.  Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!”

God sees and foresees our life; He knows what we will experience and has made provisions for us to be able to come out victoriously. We are told that we will have troubles but we can take consolation and comfort in the fact that our salvation is sure.  So when we endure and persevere through these sufferings it produces hope and faith in God. After we have come through these hard situations we are able to comfort those who are also going through. What God brings us out of He gives us authority over and we can become a witness to His love and mercy and be a reflection of His glory and use this to minister to the people around us. 

2 Corinthians 1: 6- 7 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.  And our hope for you is steadfast, because we know that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so also you will partake of the consolation.

God has sent the Comforter, the Holy Spirit to be with us and in us so that we are never alone. Just as God brought Israel out of Egypt and went before them by cloud during the day and fire at night, so is He with us in every situation to help, defend and protect. Israel grumbled against God and Moses called them a rebellious and stiff-necked people, ungrateful for all God had done for them. We too can choose to murmur and complain about our situations or we can trust God and the Hope we have in His love for us.

Numbers 14:1- 3 So all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night.  And all the children of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron, and the whole congregation said to them, “If only we had died in the land of Egypt! Or if only we had died in this wilderness!  Why has the Lord brought us to this land to fall by the sword, that our wives and children should become victims? Would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?” 

Deuteronomy 31:27 For I know your rebellion and your stiff neck. If today, while I am yet alive with you, you have been rebellious against the Lord, then how much more after my death?

John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. NKJ

Our comfort is to know we have eternal life with God the Father and Jesus His Son. The things we go through are hard and difficult. However, when we have a true knowledge of God and Jesus according to His word, we can endure and press through these experiences.

John 14:16-18 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. NKJ

Our comfort, our hope and our great expectation is in the love of God and His plan for us and that He is forever with us and will never leave us.

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The perspective – Fear or Faith

Our perspective is everything, it is the bedrock of who we are and will determine how we view ourselves, people and thingsaround us. Thereby our perspective will dictate our actions, thoughts, responses and feelings in every situation. The natural fleshly perspective is fear and to see everything as it relates to or has a focus on self. The problems we go through, be it a loss of a job, home or loved one, most people’s attention is on themselves as though something strange was happening to them.  

Some peoples respond in a way that says God has failed, that He did not come through to protect or provide. But the spiritual perspective of faith is to understand life is chaotic, that Satan is an enemy and sin is in our world. These problems and suffering are part of the life we live but we can use them to bring God glory because He has made provision for us to persevere and become victorious. 

1 Peter 4:12-13 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 

Living in this fallen world is like living in water where things are continuously wet. In the world where we live there is no escaping the effects of sin, just as things in ocean are always wet. When mankind lost their Holy Spirit, their likeness of God,the world fell into this ocean of sin and now sin is part of this fallen world and therefor there is no escaping the process of becoming wet. But Christ has come and has given us a lifeboat that can take us out of the elements of the ocean of sin and can bring us into a life eternally without sin.  

Job 14:1-2  Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue. NKJ

Suffering is an unavoidable universal rule. It is a natural process of development and growth and can be used for learning obedience. How we view our suffering will determine our perspective toward life and God. This is where the battle begins, where the enemy will try to incite rage, anger and fear, but God’s word tells us to not be anxious, or afraid and to not linger over those thoughts of fear. 

Philippians 4: 6-7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We are not to let our minds stay or dwell on these fearful thoughts and be filled with the ongoing considerations that fear brings. We will make a choice, though it may be done consciously or unconsciously out of habit. The human mind can only hold one thought at a time and we are to turn our thoughts on those things which are true, pure and praise worthy and that is how you change your thoughts, hearts and perspective toward God and to conquer fear. 

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

As a result of the curse at the fall, life struggles, trial and suffering are woven into the very fabric of this world. These tests are means of displaying one’s allegiance and loyalties whether it be to God or to the enemy and this fallen system. God has always given mankind a choice and an opportunity to reveal and exhibit whom they will obey. Sometime it is in the struggles and things we suffer that God’s children will turn to Him, His word and learn the process of being obedient to theword of God.

Hebrews 5:8-9 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.   And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him

Deuteronomy 8:2 And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

All that the children of God do and everything they go through should be for the praise of God and to be a witness of God’s Love, mercy and compassion to a lost world.  Everyone will have troubles in this life and they will decide whether to run in fear and blame God, just as Adam did, or to live in faith and trust in God’s love as Job did during his struggles. Job did not understand why he was going through those hard times but he trusted God with his natural life and his eternal life, believing in God. Though Job did not know the reason behind his trials he trusted God even to the point of death and knew that God would be his defender. 

Job 13:15-16 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him.

Life is a process of learning and growing. We are born again by the grace of God, through faith in the completed work of Christ. Jesus came to redeem us from the curse of the law and by faith we have been born again into the family of God. We become as children in God’s family with a new culture and a new kingdomand we must learn and study how to navigate in this new kingdom and its spiritual laws. 

As any child born into a family, they have the bloodline and the characteristics of that family. But being a child, they do not know or understand the meaning of their pedigree, until they are taught in the knowledge with an understanding of their family. So it is for those born again into the family of God, they also are not aware of their godly inheritance or lineage and His kingdom ways and principles until they are taught and learn His word.  

1 Corinthians 3:1-2 And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.  I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; NKJ

Every person will go through troubles, the difference will be how we respond and react to these problems. When God reveals a truth and we decide to accept and trust that truth then there will be a testing to see our commitment, our integrity and our faith.  It is in these trials that we will display our true character, integrity and the love of God our Father. Our actions will attestand be a witness in both the natural and spiritual world for God’s glory.  

Abraham faced the test of the promise of God to be the father of many nations through his son Isaac. The proposed death of his son Isaac was hard but Abraham trusted God and believed His word was true and that God was able to raise Isaac up from the dead in order to fulfill His promise that through Isaac he would become the father of many nations. 

Genesis 17:3-4  Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him, saying:  “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.  NKJ

Darkness cannot stay where there is light, fear cannot coexist with praise and thanksgiving to God. What we allow to linger in our thoughts and minds will affect our perspective. The result of this battle will be of fear or faith!

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The Battle Is in The Mind but The Fight Is for Our Thoughts Beliefs and Perspective!

Many people will ask, how can God be Sovereign and Preeminent over all, when this world is in disaster and is in such disarray. This is a lack of their understanding of the spiritual principles that operate in both the natural and spiritual world and this causes confusion and disbelief or distrust in God’s word. The spiritual battle that Satan is waging is in the mind of mankind but it is for their thoughts, their heart, beliefs and perspective. The fight is to see whether they will believe in God’s truth or Satan’s lie. 

When we receive the Holy Spirit, He transforms our lives to the spiritual family of God, which is governed by His kingdomprinciples of how to navigate and understand the workings of God’s spiritual laws. Humanity is still governed by their five natural senses, touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste which helps us perceive and understand the natural world that we live in, but now with the Holy Spirit they are able to discern and perceive the things of God which are in the spirit. 

2 Corinthians 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. NKJ

Mankind gave over its inheritance and authority to Satan in the beginning who then became the prince of darkness over this world. Satan has observed mankind from the beginning, knowing their tendencies, propensities and appetites and thereby knowing what enticements and temptations to dangle before them to create a craving or desire that may ensnare them and cause them to fall.  But he is not all knowing nor all powerful and his spiritual authority to rule over mankind was taken away at the cross when Jesus, the Son of Man conquered sin and Satan. Only God is all knowing and sees and foresees all. He knew mankind would fall but He made a provision before the world was created. Just as God knew we would fail,He made provisions to redeem and restore us back into His family and yet we still have a choice in the matter.  

Matthew 28:18-19And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 

James 1:14-15 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.   Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

The carnal mind is constantly looking at the things which are seen and assessing them by their five natural senses all of which are grounded in a natural fallen world system. Our thoughts and beliefs are continuously being challenged with dark ideas that judge God as being unloving, unkind or incapable. Left unchecked these things will take some people down a rabbit hole of unbelief and their perspectives toward God are based on what they have seen and experienced but not by His word and truth.  They will allow tragedies, loss or grief to change their perspective, their faith and the way they think about God. 

1 Corinthians 2: 6-8 However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

God told us to change the way we think because a person’s perceptions and thoughts will dictate their actions.   In the past we were instructed by a fallen world and our thoughts were rooted in that darkness and we gravitated to the natural senses and appetites. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have access to the deep things of God that we may know how to operate successfully in both the natural world and spirit kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 2:10-12 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.   For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.   Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

The battle is going on and the fight is for our beliefs and thoughts, so that the conqueror may win the heart and perspective of mankind. In order to be victorious in this battle we must first be aware that a war is raging in the spirit realm with principalities and powers that are trying to destroy the souls of humanity. Many people are living their lives totally ignorant of the spiritual wars that are taking place. They are still fighting against people, hating those who are different than them and making their natural affinities their standard rather than the spiritual truth of God’s word. 

Ephesians 6: 12-13 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

God has given us the same weapons of warfare that Christ used, the word of God!  Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness just as he has done to every person. Jesus did not use His position as the Triune God to combat Satan, though He was God in the flesh. Nor did He use His deity to slay him with His Almighty power but Jesus used the same weapons we were given, the word of God led by the Holy Spirit.

Thanks be to God Jesus overcame temptation as a man and not as God, He was led by the same Holy Spirit that we have and He used the same word we have access to. Some people will give up their fight, declaring it was too hard and will criticize Jesus saying He was God and that is the reason He was able to stand, but Jesus laid aside His power as Deity and live His life as a servant to humanity.

Ephesians3: 9-10 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 

God’s word is simple and yet profound, it is truth and light and a mystery to those whose mind is blinded by the enemy to this light but we are told to search out truth.  In His word we will find the spiritual truths and principles in which we are to stand, combat and be victorious over the enemy and yet we must seek it out

Proverbs 25:2 It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

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The Sovereign Will of God Is Preeminent!

Jehovah God is the Almighty God and He is Sovereign over heaven and earth and yet Satan is called the prince of this fallen world. Satan is most responsible for the evil, hate and problems in this world.  These truths sound as though they are conflicting statements or an oxymoron. God is ultimately the Sovereign King over the world and as a just and holy God He has limited Himself to His word. God in His Preeminence and excellent love for mankind created them in His image and gave them dominion over all He created. At the same time God gave them a free will, the ability to choose their allegiance and loyalties allowing mankind the power to determine their own destiny. 

God in His Omniscient, all-seeing and all-knowing power knew mankind would be seduced by Satan into rebellion and disobedience against their God and King. But God made provision to redeem this fallen world system and mankind before the world was formed. Though sin, Satan and the fleshly cravings of mankind created a fallen world system that is geared to destroying and ensnaring humanity, God had made provision that the Son of Man, Jesus, would redeem this world with His precious blood. 

1 peter 1:18-20 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.   He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you  NKJ

God’s word will forever stand and there are no “take-backs” with God. Even though Satan became prince of darkness, God was bound by His word and His truth. It was man that relinquished dominion of this natural world to Satan and it would take a man, Jesus, to redeem their authority and dominance back to the former natural and spiritual world. Now there are two kingdom powers operating in the earth, the fallen world with darkness, principalities and powers of Satan and also, the Kingdom of God, which functions in both the natural and spiritual realm. 

God’s kingdom on the earth is both natural and spiritual. Many people are confused or blinded to the spiritual aspect of God’s kingdom and how His spiritual operations functions in theearthly realm. 

Many people lose hope, lose sight, lose faith and lose confidence in God when they go through hard-times or horrendous or catastrophic experiences. This is because their perspective is only on their natural view or stance regarding their situation, such as the death of a love one, or a terminal illness or the loss of finances. Their attention is self-focusedand overly concerned on what they have lost and their belief that God did not intervene or stop those things from happening to them. These are very natural thoughts and as human beings our first response is in the natural, but the Holy Spirit of God and is there to help spirit man navigate through these life crises according to God’s word with a supernatural perspective. 

Isaiah 55: 8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

When we have knowledge of God the Father and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, then we are able to see more clearly the Godly nature and workings of God in the earth and in the spiritual realm. Satan’s major attack is against the people of God, while trying to tempt them into rebelling against God. But God in His Sovereignty and purpose will use the very things the enemy has brought against His people to transform them and develop them into the image of His dear Son.  

Ephesians 1:17-19 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 

2 Peter 1:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 

There are natural laws and spiritual laws that are in place and dictate natural and spiritual outcomes. We are more familiarwith the natural laws that govern this world, such as the law of gravity, things will fall, and the law of motion of things at rest, motion and speed. But people have less of understanding of God’s spiritual laws that govern the spiritual realm such as the principles of fear and faith. 

Fear and faith are both spiritual currency in the spirit realm. They are the legal tender or cash notes in which business is transacted in the spiritual realm. Just as we purchase our goods and services with money and currency of the country that we live in, so it is in the spirit realm. We will purchase and draw certain commodities to us according to the spiritual currency that we use. 

Fear is a negative spiritual coinage or exchange that the enemy uses to have people purchase or to draw destructive or harmful consequences into their lives. While faith is the other spiritual currency that we can use to draw and to bring the power of the Almighty God into our lives. We are constantly engaging in these spiritual transactions be it consciously or unconsciously. We are participating in the spiritual realm with our natural words, actions and deeds and by faith we can call the power of God into our circumstance or by fear can possibly open upavenues or access for the enemy. 

God’s word is constantly telling us, do not fear, but have faith in God. It is the lack of understanding and knowledge of God’s word and principles that leaves some people open to the attacksof the enemy without their defense or armor. In the book of Job, we see God speaking on the righteousness of Job, that he was a just and upright man. Satan harassed Job because Job was living in fear and this open an opportunity for the enemy to attack him according to the spiritual principles.  God will not change His laws but He will take those things that the enemy meant for our evil and work them for our good.  Though what Job feared came upon him, he stood firm in his faith in God and that He is faithful to His word. 

Job 1:8, Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

Job 3:25 For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me,And what I dreaded has happened to me.

Job 1:12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”

Job 13:15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.

God is ultimately Sovereign over all the earth, but He will work within the confines of His word and His spiritual principles, which allows mankind to make choices and see the consequences of their choices. Though we may miss the mark of His high calling and Satan may come and accuse the people of God, God will defend them and will make the crooked ways straight and bring low those lofty things that may try to exalts themselves higher than God’s word. 

Luke 3:5 Every valley shall be filled And every mountain and hill brought low; The crooked places shall be made straightAnd the rough ways smooth; NKJ

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Worldly Evil and Temptations Are Not of God

Some people want to blame God for the death, destruction and chaos that is in this world. Satan’s lie has permeated this whole world and every society, having people believe God is unkind and that He is responsible for the death of their love ones or the trouble they suffer. People are blaming God and accusing Him of being heartless and hard to mankind while tempting them and putting them through all these hard times. They believe God is responsible for the sickness, death, hate and wars that we are experiencing. 

James 1:13-15 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.  But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.  Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

God does not tempt mankind with evil enticements, that is from Satan and man’s own carnal desires. God and all the spiritual principalities and powers are in observation of these temptations and trials that we go through. It is in these situations we will display our true thoughts and beliefs and that will be a witness to where our true faith lies.  Satan is constantly looking for ways to deceive mankind and to try and turn their hearts away from God. Many people will believe his lies that God is punishing them or tempting them because they lack an understanding of who God is and His word. Jesus took on all punishment for those who will receive and believe in Him by faith and that God’s love for us has provided the grace, mercy and forgiveness we needed. 

God did not create this world of disease, death and devastation. He created a perfect world that reflected His glory, love and peace and gave all power and authority to mankind, to rule and reign over all the earth. But a thief, murderer and deceiver and the father of lies came with death and destruction and usurped this authority away from mankind. Satan became the dark prince of this world bringing with him death, destruction and hate, trying to destroy God’s crowning creation, mankind by keeping them in darkness. Satan attacks the things that glorifyGod in the earth.  

John 10:10-11 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 

This world is in a fallen state that is rooted in darkness, sin and destruction and we will constantly face trouble, difficulties and challenges as we live this life. There is a spirit realm that we cannot see but we participate in it and we are part of both the natural and spiritual world. We should learn how to operate and navigate in both realms if we are to live successfully, that is for God’s glory here on the earth. 

Satan invaded the spirit realm with darkness when he rebelled against God and when he deceived and took a third of the fallen angels with him. This is the same thing he has been doing since the beginning, tempting mankind in the garden and Christ in the wilderness, because that is what he does. We can stand firm,just as Christ did, when we use the weapons of warfare that God has given us, the word of God is a sword that is able to divide truth and lies. It is the word of that sets us free, but it is the truth that we know and that has been established in our hearts that keeps us free.   

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 or though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

We are told that there will be a time of testing of our faith to see if we truly trust in God with our actions which is to obey His word.   We must change our perspective and the way we think about the trials we go through. We are told not to think that our problems are peculiar or as though something strange is happening to us, because it is not, they are just life experiences. However, it is how we go through these hard times that will show our true belief and where our faith lies. 

1 Peter 4: 12-14 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.   If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.

We are not to view these problems as something out of the ordinary, because life on this earth is full of problems but we are to rejoice in knowing God has provided for us in every situation. Though the world and the enemy may attack us because we are His children but when we prevail and come out victorious God’s glory is reflected. 

God in His mercy has provided a way of escape from every temptation we are faced with, but the key is seeking His way out and not just falling into hopelessness and despair. 

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 

The hurt and the trauma we go through will either make us bitter or better, then we will either seek God or blame Him. Our lives will either transmit the hurt we have experienced or we will be transformed by them through the love and forgiveness of God. As one person put it, “life is like a business. It’s 20 percent what happens to you, and 80 percent how you respond.” We are told to pray and to respond in love and forgiveness.

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The Process of Spiritual Growth III – Truth Tested, Faith Tried

God’s truths are revealed to us by His word and through the life of Jesus. By faith we believe Jesus is the Son of the Most-High God and accept and trust His truths until they are established in our hearts and minds. Then comes the testing of our faith to show if we really and truly believe God’s word, whether to obey it or not.  Truth that is not tested is only a theory, but a truth that is tried and has been tested and proven trust worthy will be established in our hearts and becomes fact. Standing in faith under pressure is like metal being refined with fire, it removes the impurities but leaves a genuineness of faith to the praise and glory of God. 

1 Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, NKJ

This principle of testing and the trying of one’s faith was shownat the beginning in the garden. God’s abundant love for mankind had already been displayed when He gave them ofevery tree in the garden to eat, created them in His image and gave them authority over all the earth. The only exception wasthe tree of knowledge of good and evil and that was the test of their faith and obedience to God. 

Genesis 3:4-5 Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die.  For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Their actions attested to all of their lack of faith and tested to their disobedience and rebellion to God’s word. Their decision, actions and choice testified to all the heavenly realm and spiritual principalities that they chose not to believe or trustGod. They became slaves to sin throwing this world into chaos and giving it over to Satan’s death and destruction. The crowning glory of God’s creation had turned against their Creator. But God had a plan, Jesus would come to redeem mankind and destroy Satan’s rein and reestablish God’sauthority on earth making spoil of and losing the grip of all other principalities and powers. 

Ephesians 3:9-10 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places,  

Colossians 2: 14-15 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Satan is constantly trying to kill, destroy and deceive mankind by accusing God of being unkind, unloving and unmerciful to humanity and that God is holding them back from being great or doing what they want. He also accuses mankind before God implying they are selfish and self-centered and only serve God for what they can get from Him and not because they love Him.

Job 1: 8-11 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing?   Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.   But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!” NKJ

God is constantly showing His love for humanity through the eternal gift of Christ. It was God receiving glory as He spoke to all the heavens and principalities about the life of Job that he was an honest man of integrity, and he rejects and ignores evil.  God is magnified and glorified when His children endure their trials and temptations with trust, perseverance and triumph. They become a great cloud of witnesses of God’s grace. Job did not understand the reason for his calamities, Satan’s attack, but he knew he could trust the God he served. 

Job 13:15-16 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him. He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

When God proclaimed that Jesus was the Son of God, this truthwas tested in the wilderness. Satan came to see if Jesus would trust God to perform His word to make Him King of kings, or if He would take the quick and easy way out by receiving the riches of this world from Satan by obeying him.  Jesus knew He would have to go through the death of the cross but He counted it joy and more rewarding to deliver us from sin and into the family of God. 

It is through difficulties that our true belief, faith and character is revealed. Hard times do not cause us to do wrong things, they only reveal our true character, our integrity and beliefs. It is during struggles we show what we truly believe in our hearts and not just what we say or what comes out of our mouths,without any real commitment. 

After a truth has been revealed to us and we commit to trust God in this truth a time of testing or validating our faith and trust in God will come. Some people will get upset or angry when trials, hardship or testing comes their way, because they want to live this life free from troubles. All who live will experience trouble because we live in a fallen world full of sin. But the trouble we experience can either bring glory to God or bring hate and bitterness to our souls. 

Job 14:1-2 “Man who is born of woman Is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; He flees like a shadow and does not continue.

James 1:2-3  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

Faith or a belief in something that has not been tested is only an opinion, a thought or an observation. Once God’s truth has been tested and gone through trials, these truths and principles are proven and we then have ownership by faith and those truths are established in our hearts, souls and minds.

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The Process of Spiritual Growth II – Truth Trusted and Accepted.

Once the truth of God’s word is revealed to us then a decision will be made whether to trust this truth or reject it.  God’s word is truth regardless if we believe it or not. Our decision does not take away the truth of God’s word. Nonetheless, it is our choice to accept and trust God’s truth or reject it and remain in darkness according to a fallen system. 

Our actions are based on what we accept and trust as truth. Though our words may say one thing, our actions will reveal our true heart.   God tells us His word is truth and we are responsible for what we do with His truth. When we acceptGod’s word as truth then we are to trust and live a life of faith based on His truth. Much of God’s word goes against the grain of what we have experienced in this fallen world system. It takes acceptance and trust in the God’s truth and His love for usto stand, when the whole world is screaming lies and hatredagainst it. 

Isaiah 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For Yah, the Lord, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ ”NKJ

Jeremiah 17:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,And whose hope is the Lord.
For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green,And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit. NKJ

The truth of God’s word often sounds so foreign to our minds because it is a different way of living and thinking than what we have been taught or accustomed to. Therefore, we must conscientiously and persistently seek God’s word and decide to change our perspective to accept and trust that He is who He says He is, the Almighty God, that His word is true and He is able to perform all that He has promised. 

Romans 4:20-22 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.  And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Often times the word of Jesus is a hard saying and not everyone can accept it. That is why we must first decide if we believe Jesus is the Son of God and to acknowledge His words as truth. Only then are we able to trust and accept the sayings of Christeven though we may not fully understand or comprehend the whole context of His word. 

When Jesus told the people that they would have to eat His body and drink His blood, many of his disciples turned from Jesus, this was a hard saying. In their minds Jesus was asking them to do the unthinkable, to become cannibals, which was repulsive to them and many were offended by what He said. 

John 6:53-54 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 

John 6:60-61 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 

Some disciples were offended by Jesus’ words because they refuse to trust His sayings as truth but they leaned unto their own understanding, experiences and teachings. Jesus explained to them that His words were spiritual and yet they refused them. They were still living in their carnal mindset, refusing to transform the way they think or to accept and trust the word of Jesus. 

John 6:63-64a It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. But there are some of you who do not believe.”

Many of Jesus’ disciples turned from Him because they could not understand the spiritual principal Jesus was giving and though they had seen His miracles they rejected His truth because their natural minds could not comprehend or understand His saying.  But the disciples who were close to Jesus knew Him enough to trust His word though they did not understand it. There will be times that we must believe and know that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God and rest in that truth. 

John 60: 66-69 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.   Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Even though Jesus told the people He was speaking of the spiritual, many left Him. They were using their old mentalityand interpreted the word of God’s truth by it. All they knew was what they had been taught by a fallen system full of lies, where Satan is the father of lies and blinded their eyes to the spiritual truths of Christ teachings. 

There is a spiritual realm that we cannot see and yet we participate in this spiritual realm because we were created with a body, soul and a spirit in the likeness of God that we may commune and fellowship with Him in all three parts of our triune being.  The spirit of mankind died when they sinned in the garden, but Jesus came that our spirits may be renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit and we can understand God’s spiritual truths. 

We should never limit God only to what we know or see. No matter how much knowledge or how many degrees one may have, they can only obtain a certain degree of knowledge. No matter how much or how hard they study it is still a degree of knowledge, they will never have a total knowledge or becomeall-knowing.  There is only one Omniscient and Omnipotent, Jehovah God, that is our Father who sent His Son Jesus to be wisdom for us.  

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. NKJ 

John 6:63-64a It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.  But there are some of you who do not believe.”  NKJ

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The Process of Spiritual Growth in God: Truth Revealed, Trusted and Tested

There is a process to spiritual growth in God’s word, a truth is revealed, a truth is received and accepted and then that truth is tested. God has given us His word and the Holy Spirit to instruct and guide us in all truths.  Then it is a matter of us receiving that information and trusting it as truth and then making applications and walking it out by faith when those truths that we have accepted are tested in our lives. 

God has given the Holy Spirit to lead, guide and to teach ustruth and the ways of His kingdom. With any learning, it is a process of information, instruction and application. Jesus is the truth of God’s word and the Bible was given to us for information that we may know who God is and the purpose of our being, which is to reflect His glory. 

John 13:25-26 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.  

2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Often times the truth of God’s word seems to go against much of what we have known, experienced naturally or have been taught by this fallen world system. This sometimes makes it difficult to release what we have been taught or how we feeland often times it is because of pride and self-importance. When people are wronged it is natural for them to want to get revenge or to hate those who have done them unjustly. God’sword tells us to forgive and to pray for those who have done evil and in doing so we show and reflect His love. 

2 Timothy 3:13-15 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.  But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.

This fallen world refuses to listen to the truth of Jesus because it is tied up in darkness and sin. It was because of Satan that sin came into the world. The false lies of Satan are ingrained in the very fiber of this fallen world system. Humanity has been living in darkness and blinded to the truth of God’s word because of Satan who is the father of lies. Jesus came into the world, that we may know the truth and have a choice to turn from Satan’s deception. 

John 8:44-45 

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.  But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.

John 18:37-38 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”   Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all.

Pilate asked the same question many people are asking today, “What is truth?”  We have many different philosophies’ that speak on all kinds of subjects with a wide spectrum of thoughtsas to what may be right or wrong or may be true or false. With so much information readily available it is practically impossible to decipher truth from lies and what is accurate from misinformation. For this reason, we must filter everything through the grid of God’s word to see if it lines up with the truth of His word and His way. When we learn and understand the truths in God’s word we are better able to discern lies and false statements, which oftentimes ensnare and trap people into hate, pride and arrogance. 

John 8:31-32, 34-36 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

When God reveals a truth to us, we stand between two views and must make a choice to believe that truth or reject it. This is the first step in growing in the knowledge and understanding of God’s word. Just as it was in the garden and as it was with the Israelites as they were to enter into the land God had promised, they had to choose to believe and obey God’s word as truth or reject it. This is always the first step in growing in the wisdom and knowledge of God, when a truth is revealed to us, then we must decide to trust and accept it, or reject it in disbelief. 

Deuteronomy 11:26-28 “Behold, I set before you today a blessing and a curse:   the blessing, if you obey the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you today; and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you today, to go after other gods which you have not known. 

Once we decide to receive this word from God as truth, then our spirit by faith, must decide to trust and commit to these truths, which God has revealed to us according to His word.

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The New Testament Covenant

In the New Testament we have a new covenant, the Blood of Jesus, which paid the price for our sins in full. This covenant is based on faith, that is our belief in God as the Almighty God, our Lord and Savior. The Old Covenant was based on the performance of the people. If Israel had observed and did all that was written in the law they would have forgiveness. But in the New Testament we are saved by grace through faith, we must believe that God is who He says He is and His word is true. That was the same test in the garden. Where Satan came with his lies saying, they could be like God if they disobeyed Him. But all they had to do was to trust and believe God’s wordwhen He said they were created in His image.

Ephesians 2:7-9 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.   For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  NKJ

Those who believe in the saving blood of Jesus through faith by the grace of God are saved. It is their faith in God’s word and the completed work of Christ that saves us because the wages of our sins have been atoned for, recompensed and repaid for all eternity by Jesus. God is a Righteous and Holy God and He must punish sin and the wages of sin is still death. Jesus came and died for all mankind, giving His lifegiving substance, His blood for all who will receive Him. For those who refuse the Blood of Jesus, this awesome gift from God, which is the new covenant of God’s grace, will stand before God on their own. 

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. NKJ

We all have sinned and have come short of God’s righteous and Holy standard which in judgement requires death. Now the question is, whose blood, who’s death will make the propitiation or payment that is required for our sins? Every person will make a choice, they will either choose to receive or reject God’s Grace. The loving kindness of God is full of His compassion and His tender in mercy and it is given as a covenant to all who believe in His Son, Jesus. It is only the atoning Blood of Christ that can recompence or compensate for our sins before a Holy and Just God. For all who refuse this priceless gift of God’s love will stand before Him in their own sinful merit and will receive the just judgement of a Righteous God according to their sins and iniquities. 

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;  and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Hebrew 10:29-31  Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?   For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”  says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”  It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. NKJ

God Himself is the lifegiving source and He has given His blood to be the atonement for sins. God is requiring what He Himself has given and provided, the lifegiving blood of Jesus is what He has given for all humanity. The blood of mankind has been tainted by sin but the love of God has sent Jesus to give us a new Blood Line, which is of God Our Heavenly Father. Jesus paid the wages of sin and died the death we deserved, so nowwe can receive His Atoning blood through faith that we may live life eternal in the family of God.   

The New Testament is a covenant of Love. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Jesus gave a new commandment, that we are to love one another as He has loved us. Jesus’ love is unconditional, looking to seek and to save the lost. We are no longer under the old covenant trying to perform to be accepted. We are already accepted as the beloved through faith in Christ, because of His love our actions will show and reflect our love for God and humanity. 

When the Righteous Judge reckons the account of our lives, whose blood will give justification or be required for our sins? God in His mercy has set before us life and death, blessing and cursing, but it is up to every individual to choose which life they will live and whom they will serve. 

There is no remission of sin without the shedding of blood. 

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;   that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

Joshua 24:15 And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

We no longer work to try to save our souls but we work to show the love of Christ because our souls are already saved by the blood of Christ.

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The Old Testament Covenant

Some people make no distinction between the Old Testament and the New Testament as two different covenants, contracts or promises. Some people believe the Old Testament is just historical names and events. The Bible says it is for our example, for warnings and admonishments that we may know God and how He operates in the lives of people and how we are to live before Him. The New Testament is for us to know Jesus as our King, Messiah, Savior and Lord. In the four gospels we see the life of Jesus displayed as the Son of Man, The King of kings and the Lamb of God who took on the sins of the world. 

1 Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. NKJ

If people do not make a distinction between the Old and the New Testament they will tend to operate in the old ways of living, such as an eye for an eye, when God has given us a new way of living, which is the love of Christ.  That is what Jesus was referring to when He spoke of adding new wine to an old wine skin. The old wine skin would burst causing the loss of the new wine.  There is the same type of confusion when we try to mix or incorporate the old covenant laws of performance with the new covenant of God’s forgiveness and love in Christ by faith. 

Mark 2:22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”

In the Old Testament we see a Holy and Just God dealing with mankind according to their sins and iniquities. God in the beginning covered mankind’s sin with the blood of the lamb in the garden, making an atonement, an amends and restitution for their sins at that moment. This was pointing to the time when Jesus the Lamb of God would come and not only cover their sins but to forgive sin and to make payment in full for forgiveness of all sin for all eternity. 

1 John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

1john 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

In the Old Testament we see a Holy and Just God pronouncing judgement and punishing sin. The wages of sin is death and death is the taking away of the lifegiving source, which is in the blood. When mankind sinned against God in the garden they deserved death but God in His mercy, His compassion and His grace toward mankind allowed the death of the lamb to become, at that moment, a substitution for mankind foretelling of the time when Christ the Sacrificial Lamb of God would shed His blood for all mankind. 

God accepted the blood of the lamb as a covering for sins and gave this practice as a

covenant between God and Israel, foreshadowing the time that Jesus the Lamb of God would shed His blood for the remission and the removal of sin. No longer would the sins of men be covered just for a season, but through the blood of Christ the payment was made in full.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Leviticus 17:11, 14 For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

for it is the life of all flesh. Its blood sustains its life. Therefore I said to the children of Israel, ‘You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood. Whoever eats it shall be cut off.’

John1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 

The blood of all living creatures is important to God, it is their lifegiving substance which comes from God and He had commanded mankind not to drink the blood but it was to be poured out. It is God’s respect for the blood, which is the lifegiving source of all creatures, that He did not allow mankind to eat it. This caused some people to misunderstand, thinking God wanted a blood sacrifice.  God has a great respect for the blood, which is the source life and knowing it was required of all who sinned. God has now made a way for all sins to be paid completely by faith in the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. 

This is not a God who is seeking vengeance or the blood of His enemies, it is a Merciful God who allowed the blood of animals to be a substitute and a covering for mankind as He prepared a Body for Christ to come and redeem humanity back to Himself. What a merciful God, what a compassionate God, what a loving God, He is one who forgives the sins of those who by faith in Christ receive His Grace. He is also Just and Righteous and must punish the guilty, those who refuse His gift, the payment made by Christ on their behalf. 

Exodus 34:6-7 And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” NKJ

As an Upright and Honorable God must judge sin and for those who choose to hate Him and refuse His Precious Gift of life through the Blood of Christ, their sins rest on them. Their death is not just for this natural time on earth but in refusing Christ they choose an eternal separation from God, The Lifegiving source of all creation and this is the second death. 

Revelation 20:13-14 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.  Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  

In the Old Testament with the old covenant, we see God dealing with mankind in His Judgement in His Holiness and in His Mercy. When their sins could no longer be covered by the blood of animals, God’s righteous indignation and outrage pronounced judgement and they paid the price for their disobedience and iniquity against God. 

In the New Testament we have a better covenant and promises from God. Through Christ our sins are no longer covered but forgiven and we are adopted into the family of God, joint heirs with Christ.

Romans 8: 14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. NKJ

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