Borrowed:

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”- James 2:17

It’s not a point of pride to be called by the Father; it’s somewhat terrifying. Many ask, after the initial glow or during a time of testing, why me? But the answer is clear, to serve through Christ, bringing glory to the Father. Those that are Christs have no idea what they are doing. That’s because there is no reason by human understanding and most certainly not logic that those known of God are those He has drawn to Himself. Sons of God of varying callings and ordinations to bear fruit and genuine men of God try to exude confidence to those around them in a plan or works that God has for them, but they can do nothing except that Christ wills it. They don’t instruct you in righteousness to elevate themselves as sadly some perceive; usually, it breaks their heart to have to do it. Pray for your leadership that they would be faithful servants of God to feed the flock with truth, even facts from a friend.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” – Romans 12:2

Not knowing where to start serving God, Christians should try everything; prove His will by searching out the many ministries and callings to find which one(s) God has chosen for you. The object is not to find the one you like—this is a significant problem with the New Religion. The idea is to call upon the Father as you seek and knock on the many doors to find His will; it won’t be long before instruction arrives from the throne room of the Almighty as to what direction you are to take. We implore you, regardless of how crazy the thing sounds or ill-equipped and fearful you are of that first effort; do it, do that something! You won’t regret it.

Five years later, you’ll find yourself in the perfect will of the Father, building His kingdom by the power of the Holy Spirit come alive within you, the favor and blessings of Christ upon you, in the middle of a war you never knew existed, a real spiritual battle, being carried out through people.

Walking by faith is doing the one little thing that God puts in front of you. After months or years of doing the next little thing, it becomes apparent in hindsight by what means and manner God has chosen you to fulfill the works of His desire. This is why many won’t work. They expect to be told the 3-point plan with specific milestones and end goals. That’s not faith; that’s corporatism devoid of God’s ever-present guidance.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight” – 1 Corinthians 5:7

You don’t know what God will do until after you do the first thing to which He is compelling you, drawing you, calling, and willing you to attempt. But, He’s God, so you know that it will be good if you trust in Him above your own understanding. Then you must do the following little something the next day and the next, ever learning to hear and obey the voice of the Shepard. God equips the called; He doesn’t call the equipped. He derives maximum glory through raising the unequipped into a mature soldier of Jesus Christ.

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” – 1 Corinthians 2:9

Those marked by the Father are under continuous gentle and loving pressure, but its pressure nonetheless to do more and more in service of Him. You will be rewarded by degrees as you serve, and far better is the reward in Heaven. Having heard His voice, walking in trust by faith alone, workers in the Kingdom of God most often only know in hindsight where God has been leading them.

Luke 12:41-48 relates the growth of the calling(s) that the Father has put upon you, and those that returned fivefold interest over the charge given while the Master is in the far country are rewarded five kingdoms to rule (Matthew 25:14-30). Yes, that’s a reward and manifold more responsibility with the attendant work, all while trying to bring even more glory to the Father that the name of Jesus Christ may go throughout all the earth. Behold, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

After you start, God will provide; if you serve, God will give you time to act, not before but after. If you do, then God will teach you and raise you in the ability to perform. Next, God will provide you with the resources to operate if, first, you step out in faith to serve. You must start all endeavors by faith, and God will bring the increase. God doesn’t call disciples to wait for the rapture! The more you serve, the more you learn of God. Having faith unto salvation is not the end; it’s not only salvation; we are saved unto good works; those made His don’t get saved and do nothing. “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”- James 2:17. I fear for those souls and their eternal state.

The fullness of service to the Almighty is unknown until we are in the midst, and even then, we continue to grow, and our service may change. And the fullness of the fruit is not known in this life. It’s by faith that a man is saved and continues in faith to follow after in service. God first draws unto salvation, then saves, then draws anew unto works, but only after you step into the breech by faith does God qualify you to the avocation.

So too, as a son serves his Father by doing as He commands while seeking His will, the son learns more and more about the Father, who He is, and what pleases Him. And as the son grows through walking by faith into the mercies and instruction in righteousness that the Father brings all His sons, thereby does the son glory that he knows God. Take that first small and tentative step of faith to do the works of God, ever drawing nigh to the Father that made you and gave you the heart of love to serve Him.

They claim to be the 144,000 witnesses during the “Great Tribulation.”

Here are the verses about the 144,000.

“3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.

4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.

6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.

7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.

8 Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.” Revelation 7:3-8

These are they, best as we can reckon, that were saved, sealed, witnesses of the children of Israel (sons of Jacob) called Jews, that suffered for His name’s sake, spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ up to and through the destruction of Jerusalem in 70AD. The 144,000 are Jews! They are not American of Caucasian and African lineage living today; they are not! And, suppose for a moment, they are not, but suppose they are real; if there are only 144,000 thousand of them; why are there millions of them running around?!?

We were going to post a reasoned and measured entry about Revelation 7, but sometimes bluntly stating something is good. And, I’m willing to be wrong, but you must prove it, from the 66 canonical books of the King James Version Holy Bible, with no other sources. Those claiming this station need to be saved, they need Jesus Christ, they are not simply another belief system.

Part One

Starting in verse 17, we see the third judgment from the Lord.

“17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.

18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.

19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.

20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.

21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

We suppose that the third judgment type refers to transgressions against others. Perhaps one can have iniquity against the Lord for failing to give of the firstfruits. There may be a connotation to that effect in this judgment, but we doubt that’s the whole meaning. The first reason is that rebellion against the Almighty is already covered in the second judgment (Verse 11). And, it’s challenging to have inequity against the Lord since there never can be any attaining unto equity with God. You are altogether and only, without Him, unable to do any good (Romans 3:12); you are totally depraved in the sight of that which is holy.

Assuredly, becoming fools by transgressions because of inequity against people are seen by God, and He brings into judgment those that commit wickedness against their fellows. That’s an important point in verse 17; we become fools for transgression, which brings affliction; in most cases, the misconduct spoken of is injustice, prejudice, unfairness, or bias.

We must note carefully that a communist did not write the Holy Bible. The mind of the American is saturated with incorrect word definitions, even among those rejecting socialism. Injustice and unfairness do NOT mean inequality; there is no sense whatsoever in the Scripture of a drive toward being equal. The New Religion has taken the redefined terms of 1984ism and now teaches them as though God were trying to “level the playing field” in all portions of society. The thing men are equal in is sin, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” – Romans 3:23. The saying that the ground is level at the foot of the cross is apt; there is none good, no not one, God is no respecter of persons.

It’s tedious to write this, but it needs to be said from the rooftops a thousand times; that the New Religion is apostate, partly because it thinks that God is no respecter of persons becuase God no longer deems sin as wrong; they claim. Inequity means, most often in scripture, bias toward men concerning the law and especially the law of God in commerce (Just Balance) and punishment for crimes.

We’ll offer a few; here’s the first example.

“Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty: but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.” – Leviticus 19:15

Sin is the standard in the law; righteousness is the test of knowing that there is only One righteous.

“Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.” (Moses speaking) – Deuteronomy 1:17

“Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.” – Deuteronomy 16:19

Again, sin is the standard in the law; righteous judgment must not be perverted. These laws and commands fall under the ninth commandment of Holy God, Exodus 20:16.

There is this proverb 24:23, and see 1 Peter 1:17 with Romans 2:11.

“To have respect of persons is not good: for for a piece of bread that man will transgress.” – Proverbs 28:21

These sum up the reasons against “disequal” treatment perfectly. Are not the global oligarchy and their governments operating openly in grave sin, having thought so highly of themselves? They respect nothing but money, take from those they don’t favor, and rule with the desire to make peasants through bread, treating those they disdain as having no soul. They transgress to enrich themselves as they plan the death penalty upon billions for no cause.

From these laws of God cited here and others are derived the American concepts of equality under the law, the right to face your accuser, a speedy trial by jury, and a tiered system of redress from higher courts. But all of that has now been rigged.

Making application, we can cite two verses from Timothy; these are your rulers.

“3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” – 2 Timothy 3:3-4.

Vengeance is the Lord’s against them and woe unto those that join them from any class or station. Keep in mind that the New Religion also rejects the plain teaching of the vengeance verses. God’s law and word speak not only of vengeance on the final day but also that God will tire of the willful transgressions of the wicked. A generation gets judged and pays the just recompense; days of vengeance rage as the Lord of hosts wields His sword against those who partake. The day is swiftly arriving when the last baby will be killed under the color of law; the final “vaccine” that causes a lifetime of disorders will be administered, and the end of shedding innocent blood will arrive. The list is almost endless; the day is coming. David prayed for God’s vengeance upon his enemies (Psalm 94) and got it in his lifetime.

But turn again to our Psalm and verse 18. The just man, a good man, and upright will be sick to his stomach at the error of transgressing against his brother; he becomes afflicted, drawing as if to death with guilt and shame. The honorable man is quite different than those described in 2 Timothy 3:3-4 above.

Jesus said woe to them by whom offenses come. This is why critical bible teaching tells us; that if you have transgressed your brother, go and be reconciled to him right away (Matthew 5:24). And likewise, if one has offended the Law-word, go and settle the matter (Matthew 18:15-17), as this section of Matthew 18 is the procedure for removing unrepentant sinners from among your midst. Pray to God for mercy, apologize first to God, then go to your brother and be made whole. If you think someone owes you an apology, forget about it until seventy times seven (Matthew 18:22). Pray for them to be the very best Christian God would have.

Cry out unto the Lord in your trouble and be saved out of your distresses, being delivered from your destructions. Again, read the chorus in verse 21 and pray over verse 22.

In the fourth judgment type from God, we run into problems with the text as it’s hard for some to grasp that He commands and raises the storm.

“23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;

24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.

25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.

27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.

28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.”

Those who demand that God be not above all His creation have a problem understanding their very nature; they elevate themselves above their station and lower God co-equal. We say again; God raises the storm! Jesus is the Christ, the Saviour, gifter of eternal life, AND Lord (Romans 6:23, 10:13). God refines you, purging your sin by pruning that you bear more fruit, “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” – John 15:2

And what of Psalm 66? Please read the whole Psalm. It’s only 20 verses; here are 10-13.

“10 For thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried. 11 Thou broughtest us into the net; thou laidst affliction upon our loins. 12 Thou hast caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place. 13 I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows” – Psalm 66:10-13

And, as you may have rightly figured, there’s a proverb, 25:4.

These are but a few examples from which we must come to understand that God purifies us to make us a vessel fit to bring Him glory through our seeking of Him. And who, having been tested, does not come out with more profound respect and love of God, showing forth in our more excellent works by His power and righteousness through us in the world? The New Religion must think that having their feelings justified by the tickling of their ears is how God grows them. God brings a storm in the believer’s life to raise and train you therein. Get over it and adapt or remain a permanent infant or worse; walk away, having tasted at the first that God’s word is sweet, but rejecting Him when discovering that His word in us can be bitter to the belly (Revelation 10:9).

In Part One of these posts, having touched upon that this fourth judgment here is not to be confused with the second, we should explain further. In the second judgment (Verses 10-16), they have rebelled against the Almighty’s Law-word, that which He commands. For this, God must take action to bring them into the understanding of His demands as not only Saviour but Lord. Here in this fourth judgment, God purposefully raises a storm within which He may purge us of dross as the great refiner of those that are His, bringing forth more acceptable silver we come out the other side purer, closer to being a son and type of Christ.

Of course, verse 30 also presents a problem for the New Religion as they believe God is some type of cosmic genie in a bottle to bring them to their desired haven. Having rejected God’s sovereign will, they refuse to hear how it’s God in the first that would set them on their journey, making them a worthy Christian soldier. Over and over, He would purge and purify, grow and mature you. Still, many don’t want the temporary and necessary interim discomfiture that God may get a significant gain in glory through their later service walking in the works of His will.

Read verses 28-32 again, pray, cry out, and do as He desires of you.

In the final post on Psalm 107, Lord willing, although we felt compelled to cover it somewhat here, we’ll see judgment against nations and rulers.

In Psalm the One Hundred and Seventh, we see four judgments and four instances of restoration. And later, we see two national or “universal” workings of God. Blessed with the conclusion to these matters, here’s verse 43 to examine by way of establishing goals in understanding God’s purposes in leaving us these lessons.

“Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.” – Psalm 107:43

So, the purpose of this Psalm is that having first salvation, we gain an understanding of the lovingkindness of the Almighty, having been set on a course to endure and grow thereby at the hand of His workings, becoming wise that we might observe these things. Observe does not mean watch; it means do! When you find yourself in the midst, these can be arduous, even hard-fought matters.

“And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.” – Job 28:28

This verse from Job instructs us to be obedient to God, departing or separating from evil so that we might gain wisdom. It fits with this Psalm. Wisdom is knowledge applied by experience so that we might know God and His mind toward us. Judgment upon the believer is for us to gain wisdom in experiential learning from the Lord our God. The self-centered and hyper-personalized teaching of the New Religion forgets that God’s whole purpose is not to glorify you but to bring glory to Himself through you.

This is a favorite verse, and with good reason. “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.” Jeremiah 9:24

As general instruction in every section of scripture, be looking for God’s great purposes in judgment, in mercy and grace, and for instruction in righteousness. When teaching and training, especially the young and especially boys, they need to be weaned off of Bible Stories, as the purpose in instruction becomes to make Christian soldiers for Jesus Christ. This is done, in part, by showing them why God does what He does so that when the time of testing comes, they don’t shrink away from being a follower of Jesus Christ, and they continue in the works He has given them. And this applies to all age ranges, keeping in mind Spiritual maturity is not the same as the number of trips around the sun. As we’ll see later, these judgments scale beyond personal to marriage, family, Church, and State.

Some, much smarter, see the sections of this Psalm differently; nonetheless, we’ll break this scripture apart thus.

“1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;

3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.

5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.

6 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.

7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”

Permanent infant Christians at the hand of inferior Church teachers, Pastors, and Preachers will seldom leave this first judgment. We all love the day of salvation; joy remains in our hearts for the grace and mercy of the Almighty toward us. It’s a good refreshing to meditate on that initial time, the first work in our heart, our first love (Revelation 2:4), the moment Christ made us His, but He further admonishes that church in Revelation to do the first works. But those leaders harm the hearer or reader of their work and do a disservice to Holy God by not showing the weightier things of the Law (Matthew 23:23). When trials come, Christians under their care are lost in a sea of ignorance for lack of proper instruction, know not the chief Sheppard’s purposes in judgment and for instruction in righteousness. Christianity is not about basking in the love of God from this day forward, being consumerists of the Word of God. He gave you His love and His peace that you might carry out the work of a disciple, preaching the Gospel to every creature.

In this first section and verse two, we see that essential truth all men face, captured by the hand of the enemy under the curse of sin from the start; their eyes are blinded to Christ. Their hearing dull by strongholds abounding in their hearts and minds to keep them under the lie that wisdom may be attained without God, making themselves into unredeemed fools headed to the resurrection damned. But we see God’s great mercy in redemption to those whose eyes He has opened to the truth of salvation in Christ unto eternal life.

Verse 4 is undoubtedly historical of the Israelites, but the Messianic implications to us in the first several verses and especially 3 are of His church. He is gathering a people unto Himself (Revelation 7:9), His church which is the body of Christ, to worship Him before the throne. Zionists won’t or can’t hear this verse; God help them. Dear reader, Revelation 7:9 is taking place now, which means that the preceding and following verses in Revelation 7 already happened, just as Jesus said.

“And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.” – Luke 13:29

So we see, in the Psalm, verses 5 through 7, those in need of a Saviour, led forth in the right way to that, the promise of a great city of safe habitation, a refuge, and stronghold in the Lord for the redeemed. Verse seven is the first of two mentions of a city; we know that we have a heavenly city.

“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” – Revelation 21:2

With verse 8 and three other slightly varying instances, 15, 21, and 31, it becomes apparent those are the chorus of this song. One cannot praise the Lord enough, but in each judgment, there is a lesson to be learned. Praise His holy name for salvation, then beseech Him for the sincere milk of the word that you might grow thereby, take meat, walk in His works, and become a teacher, instructing in the whole counsel of God, to all nations as He has commissioned.

As we see it, the second judgment type is in verses 10-16.

“10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;

11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:

12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.

13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.

14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.”

Sadly, having been redeemed, they resort to rebellion in verse 11 against the Law-word and are set by God bound as in irons with afflictions (verse 10). Rebellion against the almighty for the believer can be devastating, blessings removed, wickedness creeping in, and the mercies of protection by a wall of fire about you and your family are removed. All manner of not “circumstances” but poor judgment, seeming endless effort to no avail, money and position gone, ill favor all around come upon you.

Remember, dear brothers and sisters; all people sit on the precipice into wanton abandon; without Him, all the world would resort to violence as before the days of the flood. The earth is cursed with sin; His mighty favor holds it back. He doesn’t have to do much for the rebellious to come into trouble; removing a bit of providential love and sin from all quarters comes knocking.

Verse 12 explains it well and concludes that there was none to help. That you might learn this primary lesson of rebellion, always depend upon the Lord, for if you hear and heed, rebellion is averted in the first. But, having fallen into rebellion, we have instruction (Verse 13); cry unto the Almighty, by Christ, our great High Priest; He ever liveth to make intercession. He will break the bands of shackles upon you, brought out of darkness, loosed from your self-created prison of the sin of rebellion against Mighty God. And verse 15, again, the chorus, study it closely, praise His holy name, for His judgments are just and true. Amen.

And a secondary lesson but vital, having salvation unto eternal life but rebelling against God, we learn a lesson the worth of which is immeasurable; we are to be assaulting the gates of hell, for the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the power of God unto salvation. We’re not to be picking the lock of that gate that we, if it were possible, having rebelled against Christ, try to re-join the kingdom of death and eternal torment.

“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” – Matthew 16:18

In the next post, we’ll discuss, if Christ allows, the third and fourth types of judgment. It’s most important for one maturing in Christ, a discerner of good and evil (Hebrews 7:25), to distinguish this second type of judgment above (Verses 10-16) from the fourth. Coming before the King admitting fault, or accepting the season of trial with a heart toward growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:17-18) is a lesson of paramount importance.

“I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.” – John 17:9

John 17 is the prayer by Christ for His disciples, but not for them only. Jesus said to pray for your enemies and those that despitefully use you (Matthew 5:44), but here we see a truth that many are hard put to face; the first-century “world” had been condemned already. There was no need to pray for them; those chosen were prepared, trained, and soon to receive the commission to take global the Gospel, even to the uttermost part of the earth; only that Father God would keep them from evil. We don’t think that verse 15 below means to keep from doing evil; we rightly proclaim that they had works foreordained to walk in and should be kept from harm until the appointed time in which to die for the name of Jesus Christ.

“14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.”  (See 1 John 3:1)  “15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” – John 17:14-15.

The birth of the Church of Jesus Christ was a most interesting, spectacular time and the singular event of import in the history of man, more so than any other. Even many Christians don’t grasp the significance of what happened. A new covenant in the pure and sinless blood of the Son of God is made available to all who would hear and believe. There’s no going back; there’s no returning to the old way, no blood of bulls and goats; it’s Christ alone, death and hell are defeated, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” – 1 Corinthians 15:55.

“Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word” – John 17:20

What an unimagined thing that the Christ of God would pray for you. Yes, the salvation of grace the prophets of the ancients spoke to and longed to see; that day of Christ as they testified beforehand of the suffering your saviour would endure for you and the glory that should follow. Salvation, a miracle so extraordinary the holy angel’s desire to look into, who could understand such a thing as this; if you heard the word of God and believed of the salvation sent to you, the very Son of God Almighty had already prayed for you two thousand years ago.

The Father heard Christ’s prayer and answered. Stop what you’re doing and thank Him for praying for you, for His holy word, and that He opened the dullness of your mind, that the word of God would penetrate right down to your very soul, bringing faith for converting you unto life, and life everlasting in Him.

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” – John 17:3

Two above borrowed

Note: This post is tagged Gospel Witness and Notes on John as it falls into both categories.

“7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” – John 16:7-11

Dispensationalists have succumbed to a lazy wait for the rapture approach to the ordinances and commands of Christ. One bad thing happens in the news, and they declare that we’re out of here any minute now, so why bother telling people about salvation in Christ Jesus. Many of them are useless in God’s redemptive plan.

Calvinists suffer from the same problem, but the reasoning is different. They think that if a person is predestined to salvation, why should they bother to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These are also useless in God’s redemptive plan.

Jesus is speaking (Above) to His disciples about the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. Verse 9 is significant. The Holy Spirit convicts the lost sinner of sin for not believing on Jesus. This brings the lost sinner to realize their need for forgiveness from sin, which can only come by God through faith in Jesus Christ.

When a soul gets saved: it is given by the Father to the Son (John 6:37), Jesus died for them (Revelation 13:8, many others), saved them (Acts 4:12), and the Holy Spirit convicts them (John 16:8-9 above) when you (Mark 16:15) relate the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) bringing belief by faith through sharing scripture (Romans 10:17) with the hearer. I know that seems backward but hang in there.

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.” Luke 8:11

The Father isn’t suddenly surprised when you share the Gospel with a lost sinner, and neither is the Son. You don’t convince anybody of their need for salvation; the Holy Spirit does. Those being called already have the Holy Spirit bearing on their conscience (lay up earnest prayers for them about this); Jesus already died for them, and the Father has already given them; the witness, that’s you, comes along and tells them the truth.

Some are full of fear, having fallen into the hands of the living God (Hebrews 10:31); others are just starting to hear from Him (John 3:9) while He makes them aware. They hear the Gospel from a witness; maybe they turn God-ward at that time, or perhaps you plant another good row laying down the seed that Holy God is using to build their initial faith, bringing conviction of their need for Christ. Then another perhaps sows more seed onto the good ground of their heart (Matthew 13:8), and another reaps.

Although there is no formula for salvation, it’s good to know God’s workings in the councils of heaven to understand the operation of God in salvation. We’re telling you this, not as an intellectual understanding, but that you might both pray in this knowledge and that you would be walking in the will of the Father as you share the good news of Christ Jesus. Don’t be discouraged by seed planting that is evidently (to you) without fruit. The Word of God does not return to Him void, but it prospers wherever He sends it (Isaiah 55:11). Folks have all kinds of testimonies, and myriad things may happen to bring awareness of God to a soul, but behind it all, the Almighty in three persons is doing as they will.

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” – John 6:37

Here are a few verses that explain the same essential things. All those given by the Father shall come to Christ. The first thing in the salvation of a lost sinner is that Holy Father God gave him to the Son for an inheritance (Psalm 2:7-8). Then, Jesus saves his soul because the Son knows all things whatsoever the Father has given Him (John 3:35). See also Matthew 11:27.

Jesus continues in John 6:38-40:

“39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” – John 6:39-40

Jesus has ascended back to the right hand of Power and sent the Holy Spirit for several purposes, one of which is to reprove men of sin, which for the lost sinner means conviction of the heart and conscience for their sin. “Of sin, because they believe not on me” – John 16:9 from our text at the top. This conviction brings the lost sinner to his state of need for forgiveness.

Then, the lost sinner hears the Gospel, which is the good news of God’s way to be forgiven for sin, bringing salvation from the wrath of God, which, without Jesus, abides on all men (John 3:36). Further, He brings eternal life by the resurrection, “…I will raise him up at the last day.” The spiritual new birth is a type of the resurrection to come.

All disciples are witnesses for Jesus Christ. It’s not the only thing Christ’s disciples do. Still, we are commanded to do it under the Great Commission in Mark 16, Matthew 28. Right before Christ ascended, He told His disciples that the Holy Spirit’s arrival was imminent, and after that, they were to be witnesses of Him to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8).

Maybe they’re saved, but when somebody claiming to be Christian will not witness for Jesus Christ, they declare before the throne of the Almighty and among men that they are, in fact, not Christ’s disciple. They may be a good Church member, or they may be a religionist of a type or even have some standing among a group of believers. But he also may have climbed up some other way (John 10:1) into the sheepfold. Those that belong to Christ Jesus hear His voice (John 10:27), and they know Him (John 10:14) that has commanded us to spread the good news of salvation unto all the people of every nation.

Without a growing body of Christ, the church is withering. Look around; there are more lost sinners than ever and fewer true converts. This situation is having a severely negative impact on your civilization. Your eschatology or teachings of your Church fathers have no bearing from which to derive an excuse for being a lazy or phony Christian. Go and make disciples.

“15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” – Revelation 3:15-16

It’s not so much being lukewarm; it’s more just being flat, blah, nothing. It’s not apathy, which is what perhaps Christ is speaking of. In searching the Scriptures with all mindfulness and prayer to hear from God, there are times when God’s word returns only the perfunctory rudiments of text; nothing leaps off the page and comes to life. The past few days have been one of searching Christ in prayer and word, and there He is, just text without context or application.

It’s not as though nothing is happening, but the writing is slow, even not very productive. On the other hand, we were blessed with the opportunity of the essential duty and high honor from Christ to speak with two separate men Sunday about their eternal station. Both conversations were very productive. One, the younger man in his late teens or early twenties, has one foot in Christianity and one foot out, which we all know means, in reality, both feet out. We spoke for ten or so minutes discussing several sections of scripture. He faces a choice, in or out? Every man must choose, God having called at length to him, and he, playing Church at times, has to decide; will he answer Christ or suffer outer darkness and eternal torment to follow. He’s a bit of a mess, but God specializes in messes at times.

The other fellow, early 30’s, skeptical Catholic, dabbled in Easternism of late, has now taken up reading Matthew. He sounds very much like a man who is being made aware of God, having had his interest stirred deeply to know the truth of the Almighty. We had an excellent 25-minute or so talk. We discussed zero things of religion (as commonly called) and zero things of denomination, and zero insulting things were said about his journey so far to find God. We, instead, focused on faith in Christ unto salvation from sin and hell by His substitutionary death on the cross and life everlasting in His resurrection as 1 Corinthians 2:2 advises. We discussed fewer scripture passages and more concepts with single verses as an exclamation point or proof text. He confesses that he has much to think about. That’s a big win; Father God has his attention. We pray conviction of his need for Christ is on the way very soon. Having seen this before, it’s safe to say the man is hearing from God.

Lots of seeds planted, lots of work done, the name of Christ is proclaimed, and the Father gets praise and glory, for, without Him, it is impossible. What an honor that the Father would use me, of all the wicked men and deeply flawed to boot, sending souls seeking in earnest the truth of our great High Priest; well, that particular miracle never gets old. There’s no special training or background here; it’s God that equips the willing. It could be no other that would make a sinner His witness to teach of salvation by grace, preaching Jesus Christ.

The writing here on TCJ has been going a little slower these last few days. Nonetheless, here’s a post, maybe a lesson or a takeaway. Two men were found seeking and knocking after God only to find, so am I.

P.s. Use wert in a sentence just for fun, to see people’s reactions. Please don’t ask me what it means, though.

Note: Tagged Gospel Witness with the others of this irregular series.

Soul-winning is not discipleship, witnessing is not apologetics debate, and being a witness for Jesus Christ is not fishing for new Church members, nor is it a class about Church, denomination, or religion.

We are not wasting time on unfruitful theological discussions with the lost. As interesting as those may be, they need salvation first. And Gospel witnessing is not entering into apologetics discussions which may be fun but are unfruitful for the lost sinner. Filling lost sinner’s heads with Bible knowledge and wowing them with your theological prowess is not soul winning. They need a straightforward salvation plan.

Never argue. Your debating skills are not Holy Spirit conviction upon a lost soul. If you feel the need to argue, you have difficulty expressing specifically what the Scripture says about a point. It would be best to search the Scriptures to share better that particular concept that leads toward faith in the lost sinner. Lost sinners need to hear a clear presentation from Scripture showing their need for Jesus Christ.

Soul-winning is not discipleship.

Both distinct missions seek the growth of the body of Christ. Soul-winning aims to grow the number of true converts, while discipleship seeks the development of individual believers in their depth and breadth of maturity in Christ.

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2

Discipleship seeks to plant the sure foundations of the Christian faith in the infant (immature) believers by imparting doctrinal truth to them. Teaching infant Christians so that they mature in Christ is also a mission-specific command of Father God.

Discipleship seeks to have the body of Christ grow upwardly, that is, laying a sure foundation so that individual Christians grow in the faith and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and all that He commands by His word. This gets done by the faithful teaching others (all nations) that are faithful to do all that Christ commands. (2 Timothy 2:2 and Matthew 28:18-20)

Fruit of Spirit is not the fruit of the Christian.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

You want this fruit to show forth in all you do, but it’s not yours; it is evidence of the Holy Spirit transforming you into meet for the Master’s use.

Many untrained Christians claim the fruit of the Spirit is their fruit as a Christian. They owe Holy God an apology. The fruit of the Spirit is His fruit in you. The fruit of the Christian includes sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, bringing in the Lord’s harvest, so souls get saved to the Glory of Holy Father God. And, He wants us to bear much of this fruit.

Fishing for Church members is not Gospel Witnessing.

“Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” – 1 Corinthians 12:27

At times, you will have to flat out tell some lost sinners you contact that you’re not talking about religion or Church. Fishing for Church Attendees and Soul-winning is not the same thing. Nor are we telling lost sinners to straighten up and fly right. They need salvation in Christ Jesus; that’s what lost sinners need. At the end of your talk with the people you contact, you can invite believers to Church.

The church is the body of Christ. It’s a body, a living organism. Any organism that is not growing by multiplying and reproducing is dying. How does one increase the body of Christ? We do this by sharing the Gospel as the Father makes converts through faith in Jesus (John 6:37), as the Holy Spirit brings conviction for sin (John 16:9) to the conscience of the lost sinner.

Filling a building with lost sinners is not the mission Jesus gives His disciples. But that’s the instruction the head of those corporations learned in CEO school called seminary college.

Fishing for new church members is not soul winning. The church is the assembling together of believers (Hebrews 10:25).

“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20