From The Pastor's Pen... 1121/11 - Verily, Verily, I Say Unto You

“Verily, verily, I say unto you…”

The promises of Jesus, outlined in John 14:12, carry a deeper significance which we often overlook. In fact, John 14:12 is a three-part declaration, setting forth the who, what, and why of the kingdom principle of receiving the power and blessings of God’s covenant. Here, Messiah Jesus taught all who would listen, the particulars for total victory that is available to every believer in the spiritual realm, which we now occupy. And, as believers, we need to take heed.

#1 – “The Who” – “He that believeth on me…” – All born-again remnant believers are included in that definitive statement, not simply the hierarchy of a particular denomination or organized church. Neither does Jesus indicate that the “who” category is limited to a time period…such as the days of the original apostles or the First Century Church.

#2 – “The What” – “…the works that I do shall he do also, and greater works than these shall he do…” We need to take note that the clear implication that Jesus conveyed left no doubt that His believing followers would exercise, and even surpass, all the acts of His earthly ministry, including the miraculous!

#3 – “The Why” – “…because I go unto the Father.” – That bold final statement, when accompanied by the entirety of Jesus’ recorded instructions found elsewhere throughout the gospels, point directly to the availability, and assistance, of the Holy Ghost to every believer throughout the Church Age. So, if Jesus said it, it’s that plain and simple. Or is it?

You see, the problem that many sincere believers face today, when confronted with the simplicity of Jesus’ teachings, is the often overwhelming opposition from preachers and teachers within the official and institutionalized church community. A multitude among this “we-know-better-than-you-do”…”let-us-interpret-it-for-you” church leadership are, for all intents and purposes, the spiritual descendants of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day.  Their continued guidance and direction for us, as well as them, will result in denial of the Holy Scriptures, unbelief, and powerlessness in our spiritual walk. Beware! For they are peddling the doctrines of devils that are clearly contrary to the Living Word, and, again, like their counterpart, the Pharisees, they proudly exhibit a form of godliness, yet deny the power thereof. From such, the Scriptures command, turn away (see 2 Timothy 3:5).

From The Pastor's Pen... 11/14/11 - According To Your Faith

“And when He was come into the house, the blind men came to him and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto Him, yea, Lord” (Matthew 9:28 AKJ).

Like the blind men in Matthew 9:27-30, our ultimate victory as true remnant believers will stand or fall in relationship to the degree of simple faith which we wield. You see, those two men were faith-filled, thus meeting one of the conditions for receiving from the vast storehouse of the Lord’s wealth and provision. Plain, and simply, they received their sight on the strength of their declaration of faith. They believed and received, and neither the conditions, nor results, have changed, or will change, at any point in time during the Church Age. But, let’s take a closer look at the Kingdom principle, which was operational in that example.

Firstly, their belief was based on what they had heard, for Matthew’s account in the 27^th verse tells us that “two blind men followed him.” Yet, that’s not all they did. Secondly, they cried out to Him saying, “…thou Son of David, have mercy on us.” That act of recognizing and acknowledging Jesus for who He is, got His attention as they followed Him into the house (v. 28). At that point, He sought their verbal confession by posing the question, “…believe ye that I am able to do this?” Their faith-filled reply was simply, “…Yea, Lord…”

Matthew then continued this account for us by recording Jesus’ next deliberate act, as well as, verification of the Kingdom principle, by touching their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it unto you…and their eyes were opened…” (v.30). They believed and received!

The good news is, nothing has changed. Messiah Jesus, the anointed Son of The Most High, is the same yesterday, today, and forever. His command to every true remnant believer today, is to carry that good news and power to the lost world, as well as to unbelieving skeptics within the Church, who themselves have been spiritually blinded by clueless pastors, who persist in the folly of teaching and preaching the commandments and doctrines of men, contrary to the preserved Scriptures. I urge you to sincerely read and search the Scriptures, and decide for yourself. It’s all up to you. Will you believe and receive?

Consider these words of Jesus - “He who believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also …” (John 14:12 AKJ)

From The Pastor's Pen... 11/07/11

“According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my Spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. For thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land…”  (Haggai 2: 5-6 AKJ)

Earthquakes, famine, pestilence, wars and rumors of war, distress of nations, with perplexity, the seas, and the waves roaring (tsunamis)…all of the afore mentioned events, and more, have become the staple of the evening news on TV, as well as the print media. Even the world at large can’t help but notice that there’s a whole lot of shaking going on.

But knowledgeable Christians shouldn’t be surprised, because the covenant promise above from Haggai 2 was given, not only to the remnant of national Israel, but to the New Covenant church, as well. Like all the promises of the Father, it was given to assure His chosen people of His continued protection, yesterday, today and forever. Again, that includes the true remnant believers throughout the Church Age, as He deals with the unbelieving world around us.

You see, just as it was throughout the Old Covenant history of national Israel, there is likewise a day of reckoning approaching. In many respects it is already here, and it will be a day in which the Lord shall, once again, shake the powers of both heaven and earth, to demonstrate His sovereign power and authority over all His creation.

As true born-again, remnant believers, we have a part to play in God’s plan of the ages. Of course that includes spiritual vigilance, as well as, scriptural knowledge and awareness of the important current events taking place in the natural realm around us. Messiah Jesus made that vital kingdom principle clear in an instruction to His followers in the 37^th verse of Mark 13. There, in conclusion to a lengthy discussion regarding prophetic signs of the approaching “end of the age” and His soon return, He issued a concise command. “And what I say unto you, I say unto all, Watch” (Mark 13:37). Are you ready and watching today?

“Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven, and this word yet once more signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain” (Hebrews 12:26-27 AKJ).