This Math Is Hazardous To Your Health

Adding and subtracting

Revelation 1:3; 

"3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near."

This verse at the beginning of the book of Revelation is a promise of blessing to those who read the words of the prophesies in this book.  But it doesn't only apply to Revelation:  it includes the other 65 as well. 

In the very last chapter of Revelation, however, there is an ominous warning.  

Revelation 22:18-19

"18 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone ADDS to these things, God will ADD to him the plagues that are written in this book; 19 and if anyone TAKES AWAY from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall TAKE AWAY his part from the Book of Life, ( the Mazoretic text says, "tree" instead of book) from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

"If anyone ADDS to the Words of this book God will ADD to him the PLAGUES in this book."

Who is adding, what are they adding and to what plagues is it referring?  I used to think this was referring to cult-like groups that take the Bible, add their own writings and twist the scriptures to fit their own peculiar theology. 

While that certainly is true and does apply, that is not what God is primarily concerned with here.  His major concern is that if anyone adds anything....ANYTHING AT ALL.....to the finished work of Jesus, like say, our performance, and tell us,  "We have to do this or we have to do that" to be pleasing to God, they are ADDING TO THE WORK OF CHRIST.

BIG NO NO.

Nothing.....not even the lightest weight of a feather......is to be nor can be added to Jesus' finished work, insinuating that what He endured on the cross was not payment enough.  It's like saying, "Worthy is the lamb.....and me."  AS IF!

To those foolish enough to think that any self righteous works of theirs are needed to please God in ANY WAY He promises that He will ADD TO THAT PERSON all the plagues that are written in this book.  Go on; read 'em in Deuteronomy 28 if you want to have some major nightmares; THEY'RE TEEEIFYING!

On the other hand, if anyone TAKES AWAY from what is written in his book, GOD WILL TAKE AWAY his part in the tree of life.  Does that mean that you can loose your salvation!  OF COURSE NOT!

 

Here is what God means:  

There are preachers who will tell you that some of the gifts of the Spirit, like healing or tongues whatever, are not for today.  In so saying, they are "taking away" from the word of God, robbing their flock of things that were given to us BY GOD to bless us.  

These are serious matters.

There may be preachers who tell you that you must confess your sins before you take communion so you don't partake unworthily.  These well-meaning Christians are "adding" to the word of God.  You are made FOREVER RIGHTEOUS in Christ from the first nano second of your new birth.  All your sins.:  Past-Present-Future, are put away.  You stand in the perfection of God's beloved Son.  What is there to confess?  You wanna go and dredge up what God Almighy has put away?  We don't partake,"in remembrance of our sins;  we partake IN REMEMBRANCE OF JESUS!

So, what does it mean to "partake in an unworthy manner?"  Simply this: If you do not make a clear distinction between the body of Jesus--that it was broken for your PHYSICAL HEALING--and the blood--which CLEANSES FROM ALL SIN--you are short-changing yourself of its full and intended benefit.  Understanding and making that distinction is partaking worthily.
His body was broken so that yours could be restored!   His blood cleanses from all sin!

You can take communion whenever you want, just like medicine.  You don't need to be an ordained minister to partake daily, even several times a day if you are sick, at home on your own. Remember, we are all kings and priests after the order of Melchizedek. The church is not a building; it is all of us who are born again.  

I highly encourage you to partake frequently and declare yourself made whole by Jesus' stripes.  Make a clear distinction in your mind even, and ESPECIALLY, if you don't hear it from the pulpit.

What, or more to the point, Who, is this tree of Life?  It's Jesus!  Remember what He did while here on earth?  He healed everyone everywhere He went, fed the five and the seven thousand and cast out all manner of demons.  One cannot be in the presence of Jesus and be sick, in want or possessed of a demon.  For that matter, if you want a successful funeral, don't invite Him!

What does it mean that God will take away your part in the book of life?  It means that those who "TAKE AWAY FROM THE WORDS IN THIS BOOK," meaning they don't believe God helps today, even though He is the same yesterday, today and forever.....their health will be affected--taken away--and they will die of some disease before their time.  "The Tree Of Life" is of no effect to them.  It means rhey will suffer physical "death" in one form or another.
However, when you eat of the TREE OF LIFE, your disease is no more and your youth is renewed like the eagle's!

Tell me:  Why are we giving more weight and credit to sin, evil and man's efforts to try to please God?  It's backwards!  Our loving, wonderful, compassionate and generous Heavenly Father should get ALL the credit.  His grace and the Holy Spirit are far more powerful and effective in touching and changing people's lives.  
 

 

Not believing that ALL the gifts are given to the church for our benefit is, in effect, not trusting God.  We seem to be more inclined to try and fix things ourselves or run to the doctor first before bringing our needs to God, thereby glorifying man's efforts over God's provision.  Nothing wrong with doctors, mind you.  But let's go to our Great Physician first.  

So where is your focus?  On Jesus and His finished work?..... or on yourself and your performance?  

That focusing AWAY FROM Jesus TO ourselves, Church, is the SPIRIT OF ANTI-CHRIST which is working overtime in these last days, sad to say.  It is alive and well in many churches, glorifying man's self efforts to be pleasing to God.

That is the heart of the matter.  If the Church would shed this wrong focus, turn around and face Jesus, REVIVAL OF UNPRECEDENTED PROPORTIONS WOULD BREAK OUT WITH SIGNS AND WONDERS FOLLOWING!

We are either justified by KEEPING THE WHOLE LAW--i.e. focusing on man and his self efforts {including circumcision}, OR--or we are SAVED BY FAITH THROUGH GRACE.  Good luck trying to perfectly obey the law.  It's impossible.

Make up your mind.  You cannot have it both ways.  You're either under grace through faith OR you are justified by the law through your own efforts.
 

 

Though none of the above can rob you of spending eternity with Jesus once you are born again, it can make life here on earth very unpleasant.  

The whole point is to take our eyes off us, turn around and face Jesus and take Him at His word. The Holy Spirit put all those wonderful things in the Bible to bless and benefit us.  Let's take advantage of all the gifts God has so graciously given to us without measure.  

Let's have no more adding and subtracting.

Come Into The Ark: Flood Series Part 2 of 8

Genesis 8:16
"Then the LORD said to Noah, 'Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation.'" (Genesis 7:1 NKJV)

“Go out of the ark, you and your wife, and your sons and your sons’ wives with you."

In Part 1 we saw what was happening in the days of Noah and why the flood had to happen.  God had him and his family build the ark because of the deluge that was going to destroy all life on earth.
You also saw that Noah and his family were the only fully human stock left on the earth because of the devil and his crew of fallen angels.

Above all, this amazing story tells us about Jesus.  He was the Champion; the dragon slayer that would crush the serpent's head. Our Father loves us SO MUCH that He was not content to merely tell us; He shows us over and over and over, throughout the entire Bible in stories and types like Noah and the account of the flood.

Did you ever notice how these two particular verses are phrased?  In the first passage He says, "Come INTO the ark;"  but in the second, He said, "Go OUT OF the Ark."  
This is no accident.  
 

 So what?" you say.  "Why does that matter?"  It might not seem very significant but the implication is staggering!  God phrased His remarks that way because was already IN the Ark!  In fact, He stayed with them in the ark all throughout the flood and was the LAST ONE OFF THE BOAT.  Just like any good captain,  He was the FIRST IN and the LAST OUT.  That's why He said, "Go out of the Ark."

He goes before and behInd us.  He's the FIRST AND THE LAST in all our troubles.  He stays with us THROUGHOUT the storm.  No matter how high the flood waters, no matter how long they remain, He never leaves you or forsakes you.  NEVER.  He is always looking out for you to keep you and your family safe; provided for.  Knowing He is there WITH YOU keeps you at rest and in PERFECT PEACE.  No wonder they were not afraid to go into the ark and were unconcerned during the storm.  Jesus was right there with them in their midst!

What blessed assurance! WHAT A SAVIOR!  Being with Him is THE SAFEST PLACE.

Not a believer?  That's ok:  Just accept Jesus' invitation and come:  Come on INTO the Ark!

Repentance To Life

Acts 10:9-16
"The next day, as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour. Then he became very hungry and wanted to eat; but while they made ready, he fell into a trance and saw heaven opened and an object like a great sheet bound at the four corners, descending to him and let down to the earth. In it were all kinds of four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, creeping things, and birds of the air. 

And a voice came to him, “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter said, “Not so, Lord! For I have never eaten anything common or unclean.” 

And a voice spoke to him again the second time, “WHAT GOD HAS CLEANSED YOU MUST NOT CALL COMMON."

This was done three times. And the object was taken up into heaven again.

(Peter's rooftop vision)

Ever hear the term, "easy believism?"  Where do people come up with some of these ridiculous phrases?  I'll  bet if they knew they were taking pot shots at the REAL GOSPEL they'd probably stop.  At least, I hope they would.

Of course, what they mean by "Easy Believism," is some kind of counterfeit gospel that preaches men-pleasing doctrines.  These folks are always saying the same tired old thing: "You have to get people to repent!" making it all about man's doing.  

Sadly, their idea of repentance is nothing more than "sin consciousness,"  puting people under condemnation.  Judas was very sad and remorseful over what he did yet he hung himself and went to hell!  You see, just because someone is "remorseful" doesn't necessarily mean that repentance is going on.  

Which word in Romans 8 verse 1 do they not understand?

(For more on the meaning of repentance in the Hebrew letters, follow this link:  http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/07/repentance-days-of-t.html)

People crying loudly, beating their breast or doing some kind of self mutilation is not repentance.  Is there anything any of us can "DO" to merit salvation?  NO.  OF COURSE NOT.  

This "teaching" can be found in only one place; what I like to call, the "DSV:" The DIS-storted Version."   Church, It isn't about us.  IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS.....PERIOD.

The funny thing is, the real Gospel actually is EASY TO BELIEVE IN.  But you know who loves to complicate it, hide the truth and have you looking AT you instead of TO JESUS, right?  The devil, that's who.  Well, far too often the church unwittingly helps him with his cause.

Remember the VERY FIRST TIME the Gentiles heard the Gospel?  Peter was called to go to the house of Cornelius, the Italian Centurion, and preach the Gospel.  

Remember him?  Let's continue the story.

Acts 10:1-6

 "...A centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always."  

"About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, “Cornelius!” And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?” 

So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God. Now send men to Joppa, and send for Simon whose surname is Peter. He is lodging with Simon, a tanner, whose
house is by the sea. He will tell you what you must do." 

Why didn't the Angel just preach the gospel to him?  Because it can only be preached by sinners saved by grace!  This good news has been entrusted to us!  

Cornelius sends men to find Peter.

"...7 Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier from among those who waited on him continually. So when he had explained all these things to them, he sent them to Joppa."

(Cornelius' servant comes to find Peter)

As Peter sat wondering about his vision and what it all meant, THREE MEN came knocking at his door looking for him.  There's that number "THREE" again.  Jesus knew that the number three, in particular, resonated with him.  He wanted Peter to know without a doubt that God's fingerprints were all over what He was going to be asking him to do.   

"...Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, 'Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?'

And they said, 'Cornelius the centurion, a just man, one who fears God and has a good reputation among all the nation of the Jews, was divinely instructed by a holy angel to summon you to his house, and to hear words from you.' Then he invited them in and lodged them. On the next day Peter went away with them, and some brethren from Joppa accompanied him."(Acts 10:21-23 NKJV)

(Peter preaching at Cornelius' house)

So Peter went off to Joppa and look what happened...

"Then Peter opened his mouth and said: 'In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.'" (Acts 10:34 NKJV)

He then proceeded to preach the gospel to the packed house.  Barely two minutes into his sermon the Holy Spirit fell on all the Gentiles who were gathered and they spoke in tongues, just like the Jews did on the day of Pentecost!  He didnt even have an altar call! 

"And those of the circumcision {the Jews} who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God..." (Acts 10:45-46 NKJV)

Peter had come with six others to the centurion's home.  They were flabbergasted by what transpired!  God was beginning His campaign to save the Gentiles!  HALLELUIA!

You see, the Jewish people thought that Messiah was only for them.  They didn't understand that "God so loved the WORLD!"  Not yet anyway.

(For more on this topic, follow this link:  http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/11/god-shifts-gears-part-10-of-16rightly.html)

(Peter before the council in Jerusalem)

A full 15 years later the next chapter records that Peter was called on the carpet about this event.  "No small dispute" was going on in Jerusalem over whether or not the Gentiles should be under law and be circumcised now that God was saving them, too.

That means they were having quite an argument! 

Peter began to recount the events of that day to all the assembly.  At the end of his narrative, here is what they concluded:

"When they heard these things they became silent; and they glorified God, saying, 'Then God has also granted to the Gentiles REPENTANCE TO LIFE.'” (Acts 11:18 NKJV)

Go back and read Peter's original sermon in chapter 10.  Was the word, "REPENTANCE" used anywhere?.....At any time?.....NO?  That's because HE NEVER SAID IT; yet obviously everyone in the house that day got saved. They all had a "metanóia" experience; a "change of mind."  They all repented and were baptized in the Holy Spirit.  And the Jewish council called it what?

REPENTANCE TO LIFE.

(Everyone present in Cornelius' house got saved)

How did Peter and his company know the Gentiles got saved?  The exact same sign happened to them as came upon the Jews when the Holy Spirit fell that first Pentecost:  

THEY SPOKE IN TONGUES!   

The Holy Spirit fell almost before Peter got the following words out of his mouth:

"To Him {Jesus} all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” Acts 10:43

The part of the story where it says, "the Holy Spirit FELL,"the same word used here for "fell" is the same Greek word--epipípto--as in the story of the Prodigal returning home and His Father "fell" on his neck.  He EMBRACED HIM;  gave him a big hug.

The Holy Sprit gave these new believers a GREAT BIG HUG!

So, Church, just because you hear preaching about repentance doesn't mean that repentance is going on.  In fact when people hear THE REAL GOSPEL being preached, repentance/metanóia is going on continually.  Many people receive quietly, but their minds are being changed by God when they hear the truth. THEY CHANGE THEIR MINDS ABOUT HOW GOD SEES THEM!

To the extent that you don't hear, don't understand and don't believe the truth about God, to that extent you are in pain, fear or bondage. To that extent you don't get your miracle, you don't get healed, you don't get your breakthrough. Right teaching leads to right believing.

Believe wrong, live wrong.  BUT......BELIEVE RIGHT and you will LIVE RIGHT!

True repentance comes from hearing the truth and believing right.  That's what will bring it about.  Your blessings will be obvious for all to see and they will glorify God!  

That is true repentance to life!

Jesus' Love For You In The Book Of Leviticus?

"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." (I Corinthians 10:11 NKJV)

(The Apostle, Paul.)

Paul wrote pretty close to 3/4 of the New Testament.  If he was the one who "wrote" it, what part of the Bible did he reference?  The only part he could, of course:  The Old Testament. What else was there, right?  I say "wrote" because though it was his pen that put the words on paper, the Holy Spirit is the Author.  He was just another Jewish secretary.

He said that everything thing that happened to the Children of Israel--all the laws written there, all the stories and all their history, were written for our benefit and admonition.  

The law was not written for the believer to keep letter by letter, however, but to see Christ unveiled in them.   The Law is not our present dispensation; it is past for us:  Old Covenent.  Otherwise you'd be hearing sermons on the right way to choose your lamb, the correct way to offer a right sacrifice, the importance of circumcising for your male family members, etc.

We now go into the Old Testament to see Jesus.  He's there...EVERYWHERE!  If you remember nothing else, remember this:  The law is most certainly NOT given to us so that modern-day Pharisees--pastors who preach the law--can use it to condemn God's people, puting believers back under the yoke of bondage.  

Jesus said to Peter, "Feed My sheep," remember? He didn't say "Beat My sheep."  Preaching law is beating, not feeding.  He didn't come to give us laws, laws and more laws but life and life more abundantly!  AMEN! 

Everything that happened to the Israelites serve as examples, like visual aids, so that we can learn from their mistakes.  Why suffer unnecessary pain?  Their "object lessons," if you will, were directed in particular to those "upon whom the end of the ages have come."  That's us...now...today!  We are most assuredly the generation that will see the rapture happen and the end of all the ages.  We are the last generation.  (For more on this topic, follow this link:  http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/08/on-third-day.html)

So how on earth does Leviticus show us the love of Jesus?  Let's go see.  It's all found, believe it or not, in the Law Of Leprosy.  

Leprosy?

YES, leprosy!   

"Isn't that in the book of Leviticus?"  

Yes.  I know many don't really get a whole lot out of this book and maybe your pages are all stuck together there.  I never liked reading that part either until I learned to go looking for Jesus in the Old Testament.  When you look at this Law IN LIGHT OF THE FINISHED WORK.  I promise:  It will give you goosebumps!

(A leper in ancient Israel.)

Leviticus 14:1-3 

"1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
2 'This shall be the law of the leper for the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought to the priest. 3 And the priest shall go out of the camp, and the priest shall examine him....."

We have such a wonderful Savior!  The book of Leviticus has some of the most beautiful descriptions of Him, particularly this law.

In many circles leprosy is considered a typology of sin but it also represents any kind of physical sickness or incurable disease.  Back in ancient Israel it was rampant, incurable and quite the scourge.  Fortunately today, thanks to modern medicine, we pretty much have it under control.

The Bible does not differentiate between sin and sickness.  The same word in Isaiah 63 used for when He "carried" our sins is also used when it says He "carried" our diseases.  THE EXTENT TO WHICH WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS IS THE EXTENT TO WHICH WE SUFFER and don't receive our healing for which Jesus OVERpaid.....DEARLY!

There would be many more supernatural healings if Christians in general understood that Jesus carried both sin AND sickness in His body on the cross.  Any time you hear preaching about how Jesus has cleansed you of "all sin," just say to yourself, "and all my sicknesses."  You'll be right!    

If your sin has been dealt with then your sicknesses have been dealt with, too.  That's why Jesus told the paralytic his sins were forgiven because he couldn't receive his healing until he was assured he was right with God.

The Church in general also does not preach that ALL OUR SINS for our entire lives are cleansed-->in other words, total forgiveness-->but only those in the past up to your latest confession-->partial forgiveness.  

(For more on this topic, follow the link below:  

http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/06/no-one-is-forgiven-little.html)

This is the #1 reason why we see only SOME OF OUR SICKNESSES are healed.  Partial teaching = partial healing; some healed, some not.  You see, the people cannot rise higher than the preaching they hear from their pastor because God deals with us through headships and leaderships.  Now you know why it's so critical for pastors to understand correctly, to teach right things to the people and to rightly divide the word of God.  It affects them in every way, whether good or ill.

Too many pastors--yes, even theologians with PhDs--jumble the whole Bible together, not rightly dividing the covenants, and there are several.  They apply things to the church that are not meant for us.  The whole Bible is profitable "FOR" teaching and learning, YES.  But some parts are written TO Jewish people--not TO the church.  Some is written TO unbelievers--not TO the church--and some is specifically written TO the Church.  It may sound strange but it is nonetheless true. 

(For an in-depth study of the subject, follow this link. It is a 16-part study on rightly dividing the word:   http://emmausrevelations.blogspot.com/2014/11/part-1-introduction-to-rightly-dividing.html)

Think of it this way:  A good friend receives a letter from a mutual friend of yours.  It contains many things that are uplifting and encouraging to you both so your friend lets you read it.  But contained in the letter is a message to your friend to remind him or her of the $20 the friend is owed.  You can read the whole letter, receive what was of encouragement but you understand that the part about the money owed doesn't apply to you but to your friend.  So, though the letter is not written "TO" you it  can be of benefit "FOR" you.

When it comes to understanding scripture, we must not either spiritualize everything or naturalize everything.  God's wisdom is two-fold; a two-edged sword, both natural AND spiritual.  (See Hebrews 4:12.)  For example:  Jesus didn't only heal people spiritually; He healed their physical bodies, too.

Unless there is correct teaching on healing, the people will not have their faith activated, or energized, to receive healing because "faith comes by hearing the word of God."  As I said, God handles sickness exactly the same way He handles sin.  Just a salvation does not come by works but by faith in the blood of Christ, so healing does not come by works either but BY FAITH IN THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.  No difference.  What God has put together let not man divide.  

You can see it all of so clearly in this passage from the book of Leviticus.  

Anyone in ancient Israel infected with leprosy had to live outside the camp away from any and all human contact.  All non-infected persons who happened to come in contact with a leper was considered to be unclean and required to go through the prescribed cleansing process. 

  

The chapter begins by saying that the leper "must be BROUGHT to the priest. " 

Notice he cannot go to the priest by himself; he must be brought by someone else.  The UN-named person is the Holy Spirit.  He never draws attention to Himself but always points to Jesus.  

Anyone who comes to faith in Christ must led to Him by someone who is already saved.  In other words, a "clean person," whose sins have been totally cleansed by the blood must bring the UNclean person.  

THIS COMPLETELY PUTS TO REST THE MYTH OF UNIVERSAL SALVATION. 

Notice also that the unclean person also cannot clean himself but no one in Israel can clean him either.  Only the high priest can come and bring him through the process outlined here and afterward pronounce him clean.

In the Old Testament when someone touched an unclean person they became UNclean.  But under the New Covenant, the UNclean becomes clean when he touched a clean person.  HOLINESS IS CONTAGIOUS.  You see, Church.  Contrary to what you may have been taught, sin doesn't bring us down; we raise the sinner UP because of Jesus!   

How many times did Jesus touch lepers or the unclean?  COUNTLESS!  Did they defile Him, or did He cleanse and heal them?  HE CLEANSED AND HEALED THEM ALL!

"And the priest shall go OUT OF THE CAMP, and the priest shall examine him....."

In order for the leper to be brought to the priest, the priest had to go outside the camp to examine the person, like a visiting physician.  

In the same way, when you and I were defiled by sin, we couldn't go to heaven.  But Jesus, our High Priest, left heaven--His "camp"--and came down to where we were.  HALLELUJAH!

Next the leper had to go through a cleansing process which went like this:  

"...then the priest shall command to take for him who is to be cleansed two living and clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop. And the priest shall command that one of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water. As for the living bird, he shall take it, the cedar wood and the scarlet and the hyssop, and dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water." (Leviticus 14:4-6 NKJV)

The cedar and the hyssop the greatest and the smallest of trees in the Bible.  Trees, being made of wood, are a picture of humanity so these two trees represent everyone from the greatest to the smallest person.  

Scarlet dye in Biblical times came from the death of the scarlet worm. The word in Hebrew is "Tola [תּוֹלָע]."  It must be CRUSHED to make the red dye.  Scarlet to the Jews, rather than purple, was indicative of royalty.  You remember when Jesus was brought before the whole Roman praetorium?  They stripped Him and put on Him a "SCARLET ROBE," knowing full well it was a sign of royalty to the Jews...and He was CRUSHED for our iniquities. 

Adam and Eve literally stripped themselves of the glory of God when they fell.  

Jesus, in our place, was stripped so that we could be clothed His robe of righteousness. 

They took two cleans birds, either doves or pigeons.  One was killed in an earthen vessel over running water, the other sprinkled seven times with the blood of the bird that was killed.  It was then set free.  As it flew away, of course, there was blood visible on it it's wings.

The earthen vessel is a picture of our Lord Jesus.  He came to earth and became a human being, being physically born of a Virgin. Running water always typifies the Holy Spirit.  The two birds represent two aspects of Jesus:  His death and resurrection. Just like the bird that was dipped in the blood of the bird that was killed and sprinkled with blood, so Jesus died, rose again and returned to Heaven in PHYSICAL FORM, like the real bird that flew away, with all the marks of the death of the cross in His body.

Next.....

"7 he {the priest} shall sprinkle it {the water} seven times on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose in the open field. 8 He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean. After that he shall come into the camp, and shall stay outside his tent seven days. 9 But on the seventh day he shall shave all the hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows—all his hair he shall shave off. He shall wash his clothes and wash his body in water, and he shall be clean. (Leviticus 14:7-9 NKJV)

The water is sprinkled SEVEN TIMES on the person who is to be cleansed--7 = perfect cleansing--and THE PRIEST SHALL PRONOUNCE HIM CLEAN.  It's the same with us today.  Just like the leper who was pronounced clean, we who were once UNclean with sin have been pronounced "clean" of all our sins FOREVER.  

WHAT JESUS HAS PRONOUNCED CLEAN, LET NO ONE PRONOUNCE UNCLEAN.  It dishonors the blood He shed.  Yet, many Christians go around saying, "I'm just a sinner saved by grace."   NO YOU'RE NOT!  You WERE A SINNER.  Now you are a child of God.  You are NO MORE UNclean.  Stop saying you are UNclean when our High Priest, Jesus, has pronounced you clean.  

Remember what Jesus said to Peter in his rooftop vision?  Acts 10:15 “What God has cleansed you must not call common.”  "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" (Amos 3:3 NKJV). IF YOU DON'T AGREE TOGETHER WITH JESUS THAT YOU ARE, INDEED, CLEANSED OF ALL YOUR SIN FIR YOUR ENTIRE LIFE, YOU'LL FIND YOU ARE NOT WALKING IN SYNC WITH GOD. 

God pronounces you clean.  You still call yourself a sinner: UNclean. ONE OF YOU IS LYING.  

You once were white with leprosy from head to toe.  But Jesus came, took all your sin all your sickness in His body on the cross and He has FULLY RESRESTORED YOU! 

Agree with Him!.....PLEASE.  See His love for you in the Book of Leviticus!

The Man Or The Map?

“Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they did not continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. 

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: 

I WILL PUT MY LAWS IN THEIR MIND AND WRITE THEM ON THEIR HEARTS; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” (Hebrews 8:7-12 NKJV)

Down through the years many well-meaning people have come against grace.  By grace I'm referring to THE REAL GOSPEL.  These folks, incredibly and mistakenly believe it to be false; that they are protecting holiness.  The nebulous "they" also all seem to come up with the the same mistaken old rhetoric that was used on the Apostle Paul:  That without the law, people will become "law-less."    

NEWS FLASH!  The Law DOES NOT PRODUCE HOLINESS.  Quite the contrary.  It produces LICENTIOUSNESS.  Perhaps they've forgotten the scripture that says, "THE STRENGTH OF SIN IS THE LAW." 1 Corinthians 15:56.

The Apostle Paul heard that same tired old line more than once.  So, if people are telling you the same thing, not only are you on the RIGHT TRACK preaching the real gospel but you're in GOOD COMPANY.....the BEST in fact! Amen!

If you are not hearing that observation about your preaching, well.....Let the reader draw their own conclusion.

I submit to you that what is being preached in the Church today IS NOT THE GOSPEL.  It is a counterfeit.  

Think about it:  if we were really preaching the same gospel Paul preached, we would be misunderstood to the point that we would be accused of promoting licentiousness.  Since most preachers are not, then we need to look more closely at what we are preaching.  It may not, in fact, be the real gospel but a counterfeit. 

Outside of the Church, people without the law will.....AND DO.....become lawLESS.  That's because they are SPIRITUALLY DEAD.  They are the ones who need the law.  Inside the Church is a whole other matter.  Among believers the law is the "ministry of death, written and engraved on stones."

What happens when you remove the stones--i.e. the Law--from dead people?  THEY STINK!  

Make no mistake:  We, Church, are NOT like people of the world.  We are resurrected spirits in unresurrected bodies.  We are spiritually alive!  We don't need to be buried under "stones."  Would you bury a living human under a pile of stones?  OF COURSE NOT.  You would kill them.  Yet that is exactly what many pastors are doing to their congregations:  Burying them under a pile of stones.

According to the passage above, it is GOD Who writes His laws in our hearts.....and those laws are not the TEN COMMANDMENTS internalized.  How could they be?  God said He found fault with the Old Covenant.  He says it over and over and over and over and over and over and over again everywhere you look in scripture.  He always intended to RELACE--USURP--the Ten Commandments with the New Covenant.  

The New Covenant is not at all like the old one.  

Think of it this way:  You are going on a long trip.  Would you rather stop now and then to consult a map?  Or would you let The Man riding next to you, Who not only knows the way but built the road and constructed everything along your route guide you to your destination PERSONALLY?  He'd be wonderful company, too.  He knows where all the best places are to eat, all the best sights to see and where all the pot holes and all the pitfalls are.  He'll even help you out whenever you run into trouble.  Better yet, let Him drive!

The law...map...tells you NOTHING.  Fall into a hole and you're on your own.  It cannot help you.

That's the difference between Law and Grace.  Law is a millstone around your neck.....and it won't stoop to help you when you make a wrong turn.  

Grace, on the other hand, is a PERSON WHO LOVES YOU!  

I don't know about you but I'd rather have the Man than the Map!