God created a physical dwelling for man where he would have all that he would need as recorded in Genesis chapter one.  And in chapter two we see the Spiritual dwelling place that man was to enter. Genesis 2:1. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2. And by the beginning of the seventh day God finished His work which He had made. And He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. 3. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified {TO SET APART} it because on it He rested. Hebrew – shabbat meaning to cease; God ceased or sabbathized from His work. God’s spiritual work, however, continues even on the Sabbath day. from all His work which God had created and made. (A Faithful Version)  

Exodus 20:11. For in six days the LORD made the heaven and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and sanctified it. (A Faithful Version) 

God wants mankind to follow the example He set at creation. He worked six days and prepared for the Sabbath. God has given us a “preparation day” A question to consider before it arrives is: To what degree will I be ready and to what degree will I keep the Sabbath Holy? 

 God has asked us to REMEMBER His Sabbath, Exodus 20:8. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. (A Faithful Version) 

 The Ten Commandments and all the Law are in force today Matthew 5:18. For truly I say to you, until the heaven and the earth shall pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no way pass from the Law until everything has been fulfilled. (A Faithful Version). Christ came in part to magnify the law. Matthew 5:17. Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or therophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfil (A Faithful Version). He magnified them to their full spiritual extent.   

When we look at the language of Matthew chapter five, it takes us back to the book of Genesis and the book of Exodus.  All of God’s creation is linked to His Spiritual Law. 

 Isaiah 58:13. If you turn your foot away from the Sabbath, from doing your own desires on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honorable; and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor pursuing your own desires, nor speaking your own words, 14. Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; and I will cause you to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed you with the inheritance of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.” (A Faithful Version)   

Thus, the Lord delights in the one who keeps the Sabbath Holy by pursuing the mindset through the help of the Holy Spirit. Rather than arguing about the need to Keep the Sabbath Holy, perhaps we should be asking, “Did I keep last Sabbath Holy enough and a delight in God’s eyes” Isaiah 58:14   

We are all sinful and need to upgrade our Sabbath observance to fully keep it in accordance with God’s original and his magnified commands. When we observe the sabbath properly, it is a two-way sign identifying the true God and identifying His true children. Exodus 31:13-17. 

 Church, it is time to think and act like God, and to be with God and His begotten family. 

 God has sanctified {to set apart} you and made you holy. 1 Peter 2:9. 

God has sanctified {to set apart} His Sabbath and made it Holy. Genesis 2:3. 

Peter said, “As He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct 1 Peter 1:15. 

 Each preparation day as the Sabbath approaches and sunset is sweeping towards us. In advance of its arrival, you and I should take off our dirty sandals before we enter into the Sabbath with the weeks dirt carried in with us, as we approach Holy Time before God Acts 7:33. And the Lord said to him, ‘Loose the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. (A Faithful Version) 

 Meditate on this; The way that we observe the Sabbath should be in stark contrast to what we have done and said during the first six days of the week. 

 In preparation for its arrival, wrap up those physical and mental weekday matters and make place to observe the Holy Sabbath in the manner God wants His Holy {set apart} children to do.  Deuteronomy 5:12 Keep the Sabbath day to sanctify it as the LORD your God has commanded you. (A Faithful Version) 

 Brethren, a challenge for every one of us.   

 May the Spiritual intent of God’s Law guide our worship of Him and His begotten children. 

Your brother in Christ, 

Ron

 We have just gone through a time of year where the Christmas tree is all that is talked about.  At that time of year, the world celebrates Christmas, which is their choice. But is it God’s choice of which tree He wants you to go to. 

 From the very beginning, God gave Adam and Eve freedom of choice, and all human beings down through time have had that same freedom to make decisions concerning right and wrong.  Just like Adam and Eve we have been given two trees to partake of. 

  When we look back at the Christmas season, we know it has nothing to do with Jesus and never did.  Thus, Christmas origins are from Satan, the god of this present world 2 Corinthians 4:4, who has fully deceived the whole world Revelation 12:9. 

The result of such a great deception is described in Isaiah 5:20 Woe to those who call evil good and good evil; who put darkness for light and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! 21. Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! (A Faithful Version) 

God condemns these pagan practices of using a Christmas tree in Jeremiah 10:2. Thus says the LORD, “Do not learn the way of the heathen, and do not be terrified at the signs of the heavens; for the nations are terrified at them. 3. For the customs of the people are vain; for one cuts a tree out of the forest with the axe, the work of the hands of the workman. 4. They adorn it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and hammers, so that it will not move. 5. They are upright as the palm tree They are like a scare crow in a garden of cucumbers, but cannot speak. They must surely be carried because they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them; for they cannot do evil nor good, for it is not in them.”  (A Faithful Version] 

 Let’s look at another situation concerning a better tree Psalms 1.1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful.2. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law does he meditate day and night. 3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, and its leaf shall not wither, and all that he does shall prosper. 4. The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 

5. Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked shall perish. (A Faithful Version) 

A similar passage is found in Jeremiah 17: 7. Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD and whose hope is the LORD. 8. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters; it sends out its roots by the river, and it shall not fear when the heat comes, but its foliage shall be green; and he is not worried in the year of drought, nor will it cease from yielding fruit (A Faithful Version) 

 Keeping Christmas is a perfect example of men doing what is right in their own eyes Proverbs 14:12. There is a way which seems right to a man, but the end thereof is the way of death. (A Faithful Version) 

  People really need to think about this; Christmas and all its trapping by design feels good, so it seems good and right. Proverbs 16: 2. All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirits. (A Fathful Version) 

  Related to the idea of a “righteous tree” thriving by “living waters” is like the idea one being like a tree of life.  The phrase “tree of life” occurs several times in the book of Proverbs.  Proverbs 3:18. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold upon her; and happy is everyone who holds her fast. (A Faithful Version) 

 Proverbs 11:30. The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise. (A Faithful Version) 

 Proverbs 13:12. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when desire is fulfilled it is a tree of life. (A Faithful Version) 

Proverbs 15:4. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it crushes the spirit. (A Faithful Version) 

1 John 1:3. That which we have seen and have heard we are reporting to you in order that you also may have fellowship with us; for the fellowship—indeed, our fellowship—is with the Father and with His own Son, Jesus Christ. 4. These things we are also writing to you, so that your joy may be completely full. 5. And this is the message that we have heard from Him and are declaring to you: that God is light, and there is no darkness at all in Him. 6. If we proclaim that we have fellowship with Him, but we are walking in the darkness, we are lying to ourselves, and we are not practicing the Truth. (A Faithful Version) 

Here John is focusing on our fellowship with God.  True Christianity is all about our growing and changing and overcoming, getting rid of the Old Man {Adamic nature}. 

 The Protestants say, “IT IS SO SIMPLE”, Just know the Lord.  The Protestants love to say, “DO YOU KNOW THE LORD.”  If you knew the Lord, you would be keeping His Commandments. The Protestants can never pass the litmus test, and keep Christmas, the biggest holiday of the Christian world.  We know everything about Christmas in a lie, and there is no truth in it.  Those who keep Christmas are not of the truth and the truth is not of them! 

 Concerning true Christians, we saw in Psalms 1:1. Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful. 2. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law does he meditate day and night. 3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water that brings forth its fruit in its season, and its leaf shall not wither, and all that he does shall prosper.  (A Faithful Version) 

 From Psalm chapter 1 we see the imagery “of a tree planted by streams of water” in the book of Revelation chapter 21: 1. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away, and there was no more sea.  And I, John saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3. And I heard a great voice from heaven say, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men; and He shall dwell with them, and they shall be His people; and God Himself shall be with them and be their God. 4. And God shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall not be any more death, or sorrow, or crying; neither shall there be any more pain, because the former things have passed away.” 5. And He Who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”  6. And He said to me, “It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the one who thirsts, I will give freely of the fountain of the water of life. (A Faithful Version) 

Revelation 22: 1. Then he showed me a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb. (A Faithful Version) 

So here we have the righteous tree, as opposed to the “tree of the Knowledge of good and evil: and as opposed to the Satanic “Christmas tree.” The tree of life is linked to the water of life, all resulting from God’s grace as we are led and embowered by the Holy Spirit. And ultimately, this “tree” will produce the fruit of Eternal Life. 

 Revelation 22:12. And behold, I am coming quickly; and My reward is with Me, to render to each one according as his work shall be. 13. I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. 14. Blessed are those who keep His commandments, that they may have the right to eat of the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city.  (A Faithful Version) 

So, brethren, let us strive to become a good tree, a fruitful tree, growing and thriving because we are “planted by the rivers of living waters.” 

 Indeed, as we endeavor to draw close to God let us reflect God’s glory by choosing the tree of life, with its running waters, and reject Satan’s counterfeit tree that so fully fills the landscape at this time of year, the “Christmas Tree” that is linked to the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is traced back to the Garden of Eden and the choice that Adam and Eve made.  The world for the most part still prefers “the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” over the tree of life.  Which tree does the world see when they see you? 

 May God’s love and grace continue to be upon you. 

Your brother in Christ, 

Ron 

Has anybody ever had a dream shattered in their life?  A new car, A job, A new house, A trip etc., you name it? 

Many become frustrated WHEN THEIR DREAMS OR PLANS DON’T COME True, others become frustrated and angry with life.  And in some cases, people become unbalanced mentally.  We are seeing more and more of this in society today. 

I have watched different documentaries about how a lot of wanders wound up in Alaska.  They have wandered across the lower 48 states, and Alaska is the end of the line for them; many of them have gone through a life of broken dreams and heartaches, and some become mentally unbalanced.  In certain towns in Alaska, they are on the lookout for what they call “misfits” wandering in. 

As believers, many of us may not wander from town to town, but we wander in our minds.  I have done this when I sought fulfillment in the physical things of this world instead of focusing on Jesus Christ. 

 Broken dreams are often what God uses to have us come to learn to depend on Him. 

Many commit their pursuit to materialism, with little energy left to seek out God.  Have any of us been there? Too many believers have drifted into this trap.  But what needs to be understood is that God will fill all our needs if we will seek Him first-Matthew 6:33. But as for you, seekThe force of the Greek means: seek and keep on seeking  first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (A Faithful Version) 

But if we spend all our time seeking the things of this world, we can have a fat bank account but be spiritually bankrupt.  And we will get a rude awakening at the end of the road. 

“No one stops to think”-Isaiah 44:19. And none thinks within his heart, nor is there knowledge nor understanding to say, “I have burned part of it in the fire; yea, also I have baked bread upon the coals of it; I have roasted flesh and eaten; and shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down to the stock of a tree?” (A Faithful Version) 

 There is no growth without thinking; and if we just go through life and don’t get our priorities straight, then we will suffer great loss.  If we seek the goods of the world without making God our first pursuit- then we will find out at the end of the road that it was not a wise way to live; but then it may be to late. We need to stop and think, to examine what we are doing.  Life is fleeing by us like a run away train; and if we are as  Matthew 6:19. Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and rust spoil, and where thieves break through and steal; (A Faithful Version)  With so much of our time, then we will find out our relationship with Christ Jesus has become secondary to the trapping of a fallen world.  

 If we are caught up in these physical trapping, then the best thing that God can do is allow our dreams to become shattered-it is only then that we will come to see the vanity of it all.  And it is only then that we will come to see our needs from Him. 

God will allow us to go through this process until our broken dreams lead us to look to Him-it is then we experience the peace that He has in store for us through His Son.  Until then we often seek too many other things that may not be wrong in themselves-but hinder and take up too much of our time.  Time is a precious commodity, Time that could be better spent in communion with God. 

I can find no better example of someone seeking other things than the example that God left us in the book of Ecclesiastes; here we see Solomon trying and experiencing just about all that a man can experience in life.  Have any of us been there?  He came to the point in Ecclesiastes 1:2. “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “vanity of vanities! All is vanity.” (A Faithful Version)  This is because nothing has any lasting fulfillment.  All the other things will fill the void for a little while, and then the emptiness will set in again. Over and over again God must allow us to go through this process of the “shattering of dreams” until we learn to seek Him as we should for the fulfillment Solomon could not find. 

  As God allows this process of “shattered dreams” to continue we are led to a deeper relationship with Him. We learn the only true fulfillment is through the Bread of Life. 

  Not in our infancy stage do we learn to abide continually in His presence, but after we have gone through a life of “shattered dreams” and much failure-then we are ready to walk with God as we should. 

But we rarely understand the process when we are going through it.  “Shattered dreams” are heartbreaking at times. But we need to learn to trust God and see that they are a part of His Plan. Romans 8: 28. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (A Faithful Version) 

 We need to learn to trust in the fact that God knows what is best for us; He knows just the right trials to allow us to go through.  This is one of the keys to healthy spiritual growth; and it will help us not to complain when our “dreams are shattered.”   

Remember that it was the complainers that never made it into Promised Land.  We need to learn to trust Him with every fiber of our being.  

Philippians 1:6. Being confident of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. (A Faithful Version) 

Brethren, don’t let our “shattered dreams” pull us away from Christ. 

Your brother in Christ, 

Ron 

God’s Word is good news.  I have thought about how many people that I have shared the Good News with others over the years, that would have nothing to do with the Word of God, they would get that deer in the headlight’s look or their eyes would glaze over. 

If we as God’s chosen are living by the standard of God, our life should be reflecting the Kingdom of God to those we encounter each day. 

Matthew 4:17. From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (A Faithful Version) 

 The beauty of true Christianity is that God’s Holy Spirit makes its home in ordinary, common people.  Through those people the Spirit manifests Christ’s life. In fact, the greatest witness to the good news {Gospel} reality and power has been the changed lives of ordinary people like you and me.  

 Most of the time, I see that the reason is that many lack spiritual knowledge and education.  Is a lack of communication being key to a relationship, and if you don’t communicate with someone how can you know them? 

Others do not seem to have the time to put forth the effort to read and study just how God loves them and would have them live their lives today. 

I speak the truth when I say that the love of God is the true driving force and creative activity of the Good News we seek! 

Many people think that they believe in God {if indeed they believe in God}.  The God that they believe in is somewhere afar off in the distance and is unconcerned about them.  But this reasoning could not be further from the truth.  “Truth” isn’t this what we really need in this day and age? DO YOU SEE ANY TRUTH?  Is there truth in Government, Religion, what is being taught in our schools and Universities, Medical field, Justice system?  They all reject the only source of truth the Holy Bible. 

Brethren, the only real, honest, and full truth is found in the pages of the Bible. So, few seek this truth.  John 17: 17. Sanctify them in Your truth; Your Word is the truth. (A Faithful Version) 

Mankind is in open rebellion against God and the freedom He has to offer.  Sin is very close to reaching its full potential in this evil world.  There is a spirit of blasphemy on the rise.  The spirit of our Adversary is filling the void in the air ways making way for the end time Anti-Christ. 

God’s love is real!  Still others have received incorrect instructions concerning the Scriptures and wonder how a good God could allow such problems and let an evil world exist.  I have had people tell me there can’t be a God if he lets these bad things happen.  What so many seem to forget or don’t understand, it is not God who is at fault, it is mankind for partaking in the wrong tree in the Garden of Eden. More on this a little later. 

We as believers know when bad things happen here on earth it grieves God and His heart feels the pain as He sees His children do unspeakable things to each other. 

WE CAN ANSWER THIS WITH ONE WORD: FREEDOM! 

Adman and Eve had a choice to make; they could choose a path of freedom or a path of slavery.  This choice is still available to mankind today.  Slavery or Freedom. 

Genesis 2:9. And out of the ground the LORD God caused to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life also was in the middle of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. 15. And the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and keep it.to guard it 16. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, “You may freely eat of every tree in the garden, 17. But you shall not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for in the day that you eat of it in dying you shall surely die.” (A Faithful Version) 

God is reaching out but most do not hear the call and many that do, do not answer the knock at the door Revelation 3:20. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me. (A Faithful Version) 

 In Christ we walk free, not in freedom to sin, we are free to love Him. 

Christ paid the ultimate penalty for us so that we may once again be truly free, just as before the fall of mankind by choosing the Tree of the Knowledge of God and Evil. 

So how devoted to freedom are we?  Moses poses this question this way in the book of Deuteronomy chapter 30:19 and it is repeated in the book of Matthew 5:18.  

In Deuteronomy 30:19. I call heaven and earth to record this day against you that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Therefore, choose life, so that both you and your seed may live, (A Faithful Version) 

 Are we sharing this freedom with others? Can those we encounter, within the Body of Christ and also in this world, can they see our freedom in Christ? 

May God’s love be shed upon you all. 

—Remember our actions speak a more powerful message than our mouths ever could. 

WHAT MESSAGE ARE WE PREACHING TO THOSE AROUND US? 

Your brother in Christ, 

Ron

How does mankind look at God?  What is your impression of God. How do you see Him? Most of Christianity sees him as a man with long hair, someone that was weak physically and always pictured with a beard. 

 How does God look at His Church? Most of Christianity looks at the Church as a building and not its contents {the people within} It is difficult to be prepared for proper spiritual growth if we are not assured of what Paul wrote about in Romans 5: 9. Much more, therefore, having been justified now by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. (A Faithful Version) justification and acceptance with God. God does not see our wretched condition but looks upon our heavenly position in Christ. 

Assurance of Romans 8:1. Consequently, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit; (A Faithful Version) This once does not mean once saved always saved mentality. But we do need to understand that no matter how many problems we presently have, if we will keep trying, repenting, and seeking God, then He will not give up on us. 

Our present state before God is spotless, regardless of our present condition. 

Notice Romans 3:1. Consequently, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who are not walking according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit; (A Faithful Version) And we are accepted and declared righteous in Christ. But we often feel we have to do something to be more accepted by God. Although faith without works is dead, we often fail to see that we are already justified and accepted before God by His grace, as the above Scripture says. 

Although salvation is a free gift through Jesus Christ, that does not mean we have a ticket for a free ride to where we don’t have anything to do. We must endure till the end and hold fast to God, that is easily said but we all know can be quite difficult at times. But we need to understand that being more mature does not give us more acceptance with God, because we are accepted already in the beloved.  Ephesians 1:6. To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He has made us objects of His grace in the Beloved Son; (A Faithful Version) 

It is difficult to grow to maturity if we don’t come to see and believe the above Scriptural facts. Many Churches of God brethren feel they will be more accepted by God if they get every little point of doctrine right, don’t miss understand me, we are still commanded to search the Scriptures for God’s truth. And many fail to see that they are already fully accepted by God through Christ. Yes, the doctrines are important, but what is also important is to understand is how we are accepted by God now, how He looks upon us and sees us. 

When God looks upon us, He sees a being cloaked in a robe of righteousness. Because of Christ shed blood we can enter the throne room, Hebrews 10:19. Therefore, brethren, having confidence to enter into the true holiest by the blood of Jesus, (A Faithful Version) The reason God tells us to approach His throne boldly here, is because if we understand that we are spotless in Christ, then this will give us boldness in our prayers. This is not arrogance, but awe and trembling, mixed with the confidence that Hebrews 4:16. Therefore, we should come with boldness to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (A Faithful Version) We can only do this when we see the reality of the way God looks upon us. 

This will enable us to rest in Christ. But it is difficult to rest in Him when we are not assured of our justification and acceptance. Although we must overcome and grow, the problem is all too often we look to be accepted and justified by making self-life better. God wants nothing to do with our old life it was crucified at our baptism.   

Until we learn to rest in these facts, we will not have the peace we should have in Christ. 

The babe in Christ {or even some of those further along} may be sinning more in their condition than a mature Christian is. But their heavenly position in Christ is just as spotless. 

This is how our Father accepts us, in Christ only. It is important to understand this because our present condition, no matter how well we are presently walking} will always be inferior to our heavenly position. 

We will have more joy in our Christian Walk if we learn to rest in these positional truths. But concentrating on our wretched condition often compounds our misery. Instead, we should focus on our heavenly position {new man/woman in Christ} of which the Father looks upon us with the righteousness of Christ. 

Knowing we are freely justified by His grace does not make us slack in overcoming, but instead we will walk with more humility coupled with confidence that we are accepted by God in Christ regardless of our present condition. And there will be less and less sins committed as we grow in Christ. 

As we become more aware of our acceptance and how God looks upon us, we will have more freedom to fellowship with the Father. Instead of laboring to be more accepted by God by improving our righteous condition, we will learn to rest in our perfect position; and thus, our condition will slowly improve also. And we become conformed to the LIKENESS OF CHRIST DAILY. 

If we are going to enjoy the benefits of this acceptance in our daily walk, then we will have to learn to rest in the process that God set in motion with the death of His Son. 

Let us seek God to make these Scriptural facts come to life for us. The more we see the way God looks at us, the freer we become to fellowship with the Father. 

Your brother in Christ,

Ron 

How wonderful and encouraging it is to know that our Heavenly Father has made it crystal clear in His Word exactly what His purpose is for each one of us. Now is the time, right in these next few moments to make sure, in the eternal Word, as to His purpose for our personal life.

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.

The first Adam, the head of the human race, was made in the image and in the realm of personality, intellect, emotions, will, etc.; so that there could be communication, fellowship and cooperation between them. All this with the God of the universe and man being subject to His will. This is what I call perfect freedom. But we know that Adam was deceived into choosing his own way {Adamic nature} versus God’s way and God’s nature, relying upon himself only, loving just himself. 

As a result, he immediately became self-centered instead of God-centered; dead to God who is our source of all life, dead in trespasses and sin. In this condition Adam begat a son. Genesis 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image; and called his name Seth: Thus he brought forth a sinful, ungodly, self-centered race. Ephesians 2:1 And you has he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Has in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;  

Here is the image of God back to earth this time in the person of our Lord Jesus Christ-God’s last Adam 1 Corinthians 15:45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. Our natural birth made us members of the fallen, sinful first Adam race.  Our transition from the old sinful race to the new Godly race is known as the “new birth”. When we were born or created anew through repentance toward God. Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. Colossians 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with him in glory. Romans 11: 24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?  Romans 5:19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

Our Heavenly Father is still carrying out His purpose for mankind making them in His image. Although His original purpose is the same, He is not using the original man to bring it about. All is now centered in the Last Adam, our Lord Jesus Christ. Being born into Him through faith, we became partakers of the divine nature, notice 2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And as the Lord Jesus is allowed to express Himself through our personality, this poor sick-sin filled world will see Christ in us. Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:  

Paul gives us the heartening promise; 1 Corinthians 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

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

Here is the good for which all things come together–His original purpose of making us in his image, which is centered and expressed in His Son Christ, who is our life. Paul’s determination for each of his converts was. Galatians 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you  

The open secret of healthy spiritual growth is to know and settle upon the fact as set forth in Romans 8:28-29.  When we see that all things are working together to make us more and more like the Lord Jesus, we will not be frustrated and upset when some of these things are hard, or difficult to understand, and often contain an element of death. THE OLD MAN MUST DIE! We will be able to rest in our Lord Jesus and say to our Father, “Thy will be done.”  Then our contrasting attitude of faith will be. Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. This is our process to spiritual maturity.

2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

It is one thing to know what God’s purpose is for our lives, yet it is another to know something of the “how” as to entering into all, right here and now. One of God’s most effective means in this process is that of failure. So many believers are simply frantic over the fact of failure in their lives that they will go to great lengths trying to hide it, or to rationalize about it. This they will do without realizing all the time they are resisting the main instrument in the Father’s hand for conforming us to the image of His Son.

Failure where self is concerned in our Christian life and service is allowed and often engineered by God in order to turn us completely from ourselves unto His source–Christ Jesus–who never fails. He is to be our life.

Remember at the beginning of this article we quoted Genesis 1:26. We focus on the physical so much I think we miss out on the ultimate likeness that we are being formed in the Spiritual realm and Image of the God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Your brother in Christ,

Ron

When we first start our hungry and zealous search for Him, it is often imagined that extensive progress has been made, when as yet we have barely scratched the surface. As our Lord takes us along our journey over the years, it slowly dawns on us that there are vast, almost infinite, areas of development through which He must still guide us through.

Through our journey there are many times we feel as though we are in drought with no spiritual activity. Bible-study is stale and prayer is almost nonexistent. It is times like this that we think that God has not fulfilled His part, and we wonder if we should even carry on. 2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Many have a problem with not being answered by God. Are we to only love and trust and respond to Him when it seems to be blessing us?  What kind of love is that? Self-love. Our Father strips everything away from us from time to time in order for the opportunity of loving and trusting and responding to Him just because He is our Father, I can share this has happened to me on my journey with Him, and I’m sure many have had this same thing happen to them also. He knows what the Cross is going to mean in our lives; He knows the road of death that lies ahead of each one of us in order that there may be resurrection life; He knows the barren, bleeding hearts to whom He must minister to through us. 

He is going to bring us to a place where we don’t care what happens to us; Did anybody watch the Charlie Kirk memorial? This man was totally devoted to the work of God and family. What an example of a Godly husband and Christian man. I’m not saying he had all the truth, I am almost embarrassed when you look at how many people he reached and was able to share his faith with. Yes, he had a much larger platform than we do, but what are we doing with what God has given to us? God was all that mattered! Are we there yet? Look at the masses he reached and look at what the Churches of God outlook is doing, there is a disconnect from the message the Church is sending out. I could do one article just on this subject. This is the discipline to which He is guiding us that Christ be number one and family a close second. The harder He is able to be with us, the stronger in Christ we will become. If God can find enough steel in us to get a grip on, He can pull us through anything, if we would only yield to Him.

Sonship is something more than being a new creature. It represents growth into fullness. It is quite a good thing to be a babe while babyhood lasts, but it is a bad thing to be a babe when that period is past. This is the condition of many Christians. The New Testament has a lot to say about growing up and leaving childhood and obtaining unto a mature Christian.

When first called we are mainly concerned with the externals of our Christian life, and the Lord guides us through this time of growth.  Then in order to get us out of the externals of our walk, so that Jesus can be our All, our Father begins to take away much of what we thought we had. Here begins the long Cross-centered transition from {do to be}. Spend some time and meditate on that.

With our growth comes the greatest fullness of Christ. Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Again, his last day on earth, his last college tent meeting Charlie Kirk’s first response to a question he shared his Lord and Savior with several thousand people not knowing he was minutes from death. He always had a zeal for Christ; it is what drove him. He was always learning, a powerful example for us are we continuing to search out our Lord and Savior? We can’t let complacency dull our zeal for Christ. This is simply a weapon of the enemy. The spiritual life follows closely that course of the natural life, infancy, childhood, youth to manhood, maturity.  It is, however, necessary to note that the word of God makes it very evident that the new man will supersede the babe in Christ. Full growth governs all in the mind and will and heart and finished work of God. All the Lord’s dealing with us in discipline and ordering are governed by the mature Christian-to increase the measure of Christ in us.

He intends that we should reach the fullness of a mature Christian, where we can speak, with or without manifest gifts, because we are the thing we say we are. This is the work in us Philippians 2:13 For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.  For the Christian experience, the spiritual things of God are less and less on the outside, and more and more in the inward being our heart and mind. In the long run it is the depth and inwardness of a work that matters.  

As the Lord Himself becomes more and more real to us, our impact on others is very different, manifesting itself in an increasing depth of the spirit’s work within them also.

Thus, we all continue, that we know He continues to work with us through His Spirit. If our hearts are really true to Him, we may be more assured He will lead us on in the knowledge of Himself just as fast as we are able to advance. He knows how much we can take in, and He does not fail to minister to us the very food that is suitable to our present need. We may sometimes feel inclined to be impatient with ourselves because we do not make rapid progress, but we have to learn to trust the Lord with our Spiritual education.  

If our eyes are upon Him, and we follow with simple hearts as He leads us, we shall find that He leads us by the right way and brings us through all the exercises we need, in order to form our hearts and minds in His image and of all those blessing blessed things which are brought to pass in Him.  

We have to trust His love all through, and to learn increasingly to distrust ourselves.  Paul writes to us, as he did to Timothy; 2 Timothy 2:1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit you to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore endure hardship, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

We rejoice with you as you continue in Him. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from evil.

Your brother in Christ,

Ron

Jesus left us some wonderful lessons about what happened around Him as He hung on the Cross. We should look deeper into what happened at the time of these events. 

Even the disciples had fled and forsook Jesus. They thought it was over. He was arrested, taken into Roman custody and evenly crucified. 

These were men who were Jesus for over three years, and Jesus had told them many times that He would be crucified and raised on the third day. 

In Luke 23:40. But the other one answered and rebuked him, saying, “Do not even you fear God, you who are under the same condemnation? 41. And we indeed justly, for we are receiving due payment for what we did; but this Man did nothing wrong.” 42. Then he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Lord, when You come into Your kingdom. (A Faithful Version) 

We see the thief on the Cross asking Jesus to remember him when He comes to His Kingdom.  Here was a man who was not even taught by Christ, but he understood what the disciples had failed to understand, was that Jesus would be resurrected!  Where did he get all this insight from? 

Jesus said in John 6:44. No one can come to Me unless the Father, Who sent Me, draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day (A Faithful Version) God answered the prayers of Jesus and drew this man and opened his mind to WHO was crucified next to him. 

Remember, at the first both thieves were ridiculing Jesus Matthew 27:44. And the two robbers who were crucified with Him also reproached Him with the same words. (A Faithful Version) But as Jesus prayed for them one of the thieves came to repentance. 

This must have been a humbling experience for the disciples when they thought about it afterwords. They had been taught by Jesus and was around Him for over three years and yet they had failed to get the message. Here were men who had run like cowards when things got tough. I think we should let this be a lesson for us as we see world events unraveling around us. 

But God would use this, they had to learn of the Adamic nature that they were born with, as Paul relates to us in Romans 7:14-24. After they had reached failure of the greatest kind, then 40 days later men who acted like cowards would go forth to astound the world because the power of the One who was crucified would be dwelling within them to produce many amazing feats. 

God would work it all out for the good. Before that they would not have had the humility to do the work with. But when they found out they were not the men they thought they were, then they were ready to be used by the Master. 

The thief on the Cross was allowed to see that Jesus would be resurrected before the disciples were allowed to see this. God always works to create humility in His servants. And this matter would be no different. 

Luke 23:43. And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you today, you shall be with Me in paradise”. (A Faithful Version) Christ reassured this man that he would be with Him in paradise. 

I feel A lot more was spoken to these two men that what was recorded here in Scripture for us. Can we imagine God giving you revelation that the One crucified next to you is going to be resurrected? Although it was recorded that he asked Jesus to remember him when He was resurrected, there’s no telling how much conversation went on before that. Remember, this man was brought to repentance while on the Cross.  There’s no telling how much Jesus shared with this man to bring him to repentance. One day we will know. But what’s most important is recorded for us, and it’s an important lesson for all of us. 

It was the One who was crucified with Jesus who received revelation of who He was. Is there a lesson for us here? 

There are some vital lessons in this for us. Many of us have debated and fought over doctrine but have failed to examine our lives before God. I can hear Paul saying to all of us when brethren bragging over different doctrines. 1 Corinthians 2:2. For I decided not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (A Faithful Version) 

That’s what I have been trying to share in this article brethren. Jesus Christ and Him crucified. The Churches in Revelation 3:14-20 through they were full and in need of nothing.  Five of the seven churches in these messages were told to repent or face serious consequences. I have been in this Laodicean attitude myself through my own calling, and the only way I ever came out of it was by repentance.  And I pray and hope not to slip into this dangerous attitude again. 

Although these attitudes are rampant in the Churches of God today. I know that most of the readers of this article won’t think it applies to them, because human nature is so deceptive that many will not give heed to these spiritual warnings. And it can cost them their spiritual lives before it is over with. We think we are good people and fail to see the danger of our state of being. 

In Revelation 3:20. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me (A Faithful Version) But we have to open the door {and seek Him out}. He has never and will never force the door open if a person is unwilling to receive Him. 

While many bicker over doctrine and what Church leader to follow-you do it differently brethren. Ask God to pull you into His bosom so that you can have an everlasting intimate growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Revelation 2:7. The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who overcomes I will give the right to eat of the tree of life that is in the midst of the paradise of God. (A Faithful Version) 

Praise be to the One who bled and died for us. 

Your brother in Christ, 

 Ron 

I’m sure everybody would have a story or two they could talk about their favorite teacher, or a teacher that they did not care for. I went to a Catholic school, and I can tell you all the rumors or stories you heard about nuns are true.   

Success in teaching is respecting the students. We are called to be teachers of God’s Word. Do we respect the students God has given us?  As a teacher of God’s Word, we must learn just as the students. 

If the students are to learn properly, they must respect the teacher. Through my years in school, I respected most of my teachers.  The ones you respected were the classes you learned the most from. Students and teachers can thrive under the proper conditions. 

All of the above attitudes must be in place in the Christian setting if God is going to bless the meetings as needed.  God placed the Body together as He sees fit. I Corinthians 12:23. And those members that we regard as less honorable to the body, upon these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable parts are treated with greater modesty. 24. But our more presentable parts do not have this need. Rather, God has tempered the body together, giving more abundant honor to those members that are deficient, 25. So that there might not be any division in the body, but that the members might have the same concern for one another (A Faithful Version) And gives His gifts to whom He will Ephesians 4:11. And He gave some as apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers 12. For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; 13. Until we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; (A Faithful Version) 

But what if one of the students begins to surpass the teacher? This has happened before. If the teacher has true humility, they will direct the people to listen to the student. They will see that the Holy Spirit of God is working in the student to help the group.   

But this kind of humanity is rare indeed. In a situation like this, much {not all} of the time what happens is we find jealousy in the teacher. Human nature wants to bask in the glow of being up front. And human nature will not take a back seat if they think they are losing the limelight. And the peers of the student will usually be jealous also. Yet, for proper learning humility must be in place. All we must do is look at human nature and it will be no mystery to you why there is so much chaos in the Churches. 

For a teacher to act this way he brings disrespect to the student and may we add to God. And his ministry will surely suffer. God cannot work with this kind of pride. James 4:6. But He gives greater grace. This is the reason it says, “God sets Himself against the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.” (A Faithful Version) So here we see a lack of respect coming from a lack of humility.  No matter how talented that a teacher is, God will have to resist their ministry because of pride. 

But one who sees reality will want to respect the increase they see on one of their students. The right attitude {one of humility} will praise God when they see the increase of Jesus Christ in one of their fellow brothers or sisters. And they will surely be blessed for doing so. 

When and if this mutual respect is learned it will make for harmony in the Body of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:25. So that there might not be any division in the body, but that the members might have the same concern for one another. (A Faithful Version) We then see the reality that it is God who puts the Body together as He sees fit. And if the teacher cannot accept that God is moving in one of the students and the student is surpassing them, then they will surely suffer loss. And not only will it affect the growth of the teacher, but it will affect the other students who are under the care of that teacher. 

Those in teacher positions have to be careful, because they can easily defile God’s temple. 1 Corinthians 3:16. Don’t you understand that you are God’s temple, and that the Spirit of God is dwelling in you? 17. If anyone defiles the temple of God, God shall destroy him because the temple of God is holy, which temple you are (A Faithful Version) 

The lack of humility is one of the greatest problems in the ministry today.  Paul did not walk in this pride; he saw the danger. This is why he walked in fear AND TREMBLING. 1 Corinthians 2:3. And I was in weakness and in fear and in much trembling when I was with you; (A Faithful Version) 

The following Scriptures show the danger of anyone ministering in God’s temple and not doing it the right way. Jeremiah 23:1-2, 1 Corinthians 3:17, Ezekiel 34, James 3:1. Those Scriptures should make anyone tremble who is in a teacher’s position; but it seemed few ever saw the seriousness of these Scriptural warnings. 

Too many trust in their natural talents and abilities. The very thing they think qualifies them to minister in God’s temple is the very thing that has become a hinderance to their ministry, because they depend on self and don’t see the need for the Holy Spirit. 

If the one teaching is not under the discipline of the Holy Spirit, then they will surely bring problems to themselves and the group.  Sooner or later serious problems will develop, and mostly sooner. 

As we begin to bring this to a close. To all those in teachers’ positions, may we give heed to these Scriptures. If we will seek God as we should in prayer and learn the humility necessary for growth not only individually but as a group. Then we will be in a safe position that Paul told Timothy, in 1 Timothy 4: 16. Be diligent with yourself and with the doctrines; continue in them. For in doing this, you will save both yourself and those who hear you. (A Faithful Version) 

Your brother in Christ, 

Ron