HOME NEW 3 – SPIRIT

The DOOR of FAITH and HOPE he made for his sheep to enter into his grace and kingdom, by placing their FAITH in HIM, which leads to eternal life

Jesus posed the question however, will there be FAITH on earth when he returns? 

Luke 18 : Parable of the Persistent Widow

7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night to him, though he bear long with them? 8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, shall he find faith ^[g4102] on the earth?

REMEMBER:  The Israelite’s left by way of the PASSOVER DOOR but they ended up dying in the wilderness because they were disobedient

So WHAT IS TRUE BIBLICAL FAITH?

 

FAITH is the belief, trust, and confidence in something or someone that causes you to act upon that BELIEF.

BELIEF, TRUST, CONFIDENCE, and ACTION

are the ingredients needed in order to have FAITH.

 

FAITH is BOUND to TRUTH

His word confronts us with the DIAGNOSIS of our condition but also gives us the CURE 

After hearing the word of TRUTH (the seed (instructions) of the gospel planted in heart), are hearts are convicted of the TRUTH which in turn, makes us REPENT (Turn) from Sin. 

 

When we place our FAITH in Christ, we are convicted in our hearts of the TRUTH, which causes us to TURN from following after LIES and SIN and to TURN towards God and follow after TRUTH and RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Our FAITH involves making a DECISION (action) 

 

Once we confess with our mouth and BELIEVE in our heart that Jesus is Lord, and that He is the ONLY WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE, we are making a DECISION to FOLLOW CHRIST in the PATH he set before us.

Joel 3 : The Valley of Decision

12Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. 13Put you in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.  14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision^[h2742]: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision^[h2742]. 

DECISION means to cut off from all other possibilities.

 

“I have DECIDED to FOLLOW Jesus

Though none go with me

I still will FOLLOW

No TURNING back, no TURNING back”

 

REPENT or PERISH

 

TURNING from SIN to FOLLOW CHRIST

Are our VALUES and BELIEFS

shaped by culture, television, music, and entertainment?

Are we easily swayed by public opinion?

 

 

or by His Word

 

 

Our VALUES and BELIEF’S

about what we believe as TRUE

are what guide our DECISION making. 

Numbers 15: THe law of tassels

–Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders ^[h3671]of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders ^[h3671]a ribband of blue: ³⁹And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: ⁴⁰ That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. ⁴¹ I [am] the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I [am] the LORD your God.heart.

The fundamental principles which serve as the FOUNDATION of Christian FAITH :

 

Repentance (turning) from sinful actions

Faith in God

The good news of the resurrection (our hope)

Warning of eternal judgement for disobedience

FAITH is BOUND to OBEDIENCE to the TRUTH

Jesus is THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE.  No one can come to the father except through FAITH (a conviction of truth) in Him.  We receive the Spirit through Faith which writes the Law onto our hearts and convicts us of the TRUTH when we step outside the boundaries of the law.

“There is NO OTHER WAY,  except to TRUST and OBEY”

Just as the body without the spirit is dead, so is FAITH without works (action).  

 

FAITH that does not reshape our life and cause us to turn from our sinful ways is not real FAITH.

 

Real FAITH transforms the way we live.

 

FAITH redirects and recaptures the worship of our hearts (thoughts, emotions, desires, choices).

 

FAITH produces in us a heart of obedience.

 

FAITH finally causes us to submit to the authority and calling of God…to do HIS WILL and not our own

 

TRUE, living, biblical FAITH causes us to submit all three of these shaping influences to God. He becomes the object of the worship of our heart and his rules define the moral boundaries of our life.  Everyone’s life is shaped by what he or she worships, by the rules that they obey, and by the life calling that they give themselves to.

 

FAITH is the product of having a confident expectation and anticipation of something (HOPE), which comes from the PROMISES made in his word, that he can deliver and furnish what he PROMISED, which is an eternal INHERITANCE.  We in turn submit to his authority and commands by obeying them, which is the evidence of our FAITH.

 FAITH is BOUND to HOPE (because FAITH is the substance of things HOPED for)

Hebrews 11:

1 Now faith ^[g4102] is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

Our HOPE is BOUND to His PROMISES, which are BOUND to our INHERITANCE (our HOPE and confident expectation,  comes from the PROMISES made in His Word,  that He will DELIVER what he PROMISED which is eternal life)

HOPE comes from a PROMISE that someone can DELIVER or furnish something for the other party.

 

Abraham against HOPE, believed in HOPE that he might become the father of many nations, even though he was 100 years old and Sarah was barren.  He did not stagger at THE PROMISE of God through unbelief but was strong in FAITH, giving glory to God, being fully persuaded that what he had PROMISED, he was able to perform.

 

Abraham was PROMISED by God that he should be heir of the world and that all nations would be blessed because of him, through the righteousness of FAITH.  The LAW is not against the PROMISES of God.  The LAW concludes that we are all under sin so that the PROMISE BY FAITH in Jesus Christ might be given to those who BELIEVE.  So the blessing that was PROMISED to Abraham came upon the nations through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the PROMISE of the spirit through FAITH, not by the LAW, because that would void FAITH and the nullify the PROMISE.  The LAW works wrath and defines what sin is, therefore it is of FAITH, that it might be by GRACE to the end the PROMISE might be sure to all the seed.

The giving of his HOLY SPIRIT is the fulfillment of the PROMISE made to Abraham because all the nations were blessed through the receiving of the spirit through FAITH.

Galatians 3:14

That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise ^[g1860]of the Spirit through faith.

After we hear the word of truth and the Gospel of our Salvation, and we BELIEVE, we are sealed with the HOLY SPIRIT of PROMISE.  It is God’s PROMISSORY NOTE that we have been bought with a price.

 

Abraham and his descendants were PROMISED the land of Canaan.

 

The NEW COVENANT is ESTABLISHED and built upon even better PROMISES

 

Christ is the mediator of a better covenant, established and built upon even better PROMISES by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the 1st testament, they which are called might receive the PROMISE of ETERNAL INHERITANCE.  

 

If we are Christ’s, then we are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the PROMISE which is RIGHTEOUSNESS by FAITH, by which we receive SALVATION. 

 

THIS IS THE PROMISE that he has made to us : ETERNAL LIFE

Biblical HOPE is not a dream of what could be, but a confident expectation of a guaranteed result, that we wait patiently for.

It changes how we live and propels us forward to walk in FAITH.

Romans 5: Faith Brings Peace and Joy (John 14:27-31)

1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope ^[g1680] of the glory of God. 3And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience; 4And patience, experience; and experience, hope ^[g1680]: 5And hope ^[g1680] makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us. 

Romans 8:Future Glory (2 Corinthians 5:1-10)

 24For we are saved by hope ^[g1680]: but hope ^[g1680] that is seen is not hope ^[g1680]: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for? 25But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. 

Romans 15:

13 Now the God of hope ^[g1680] fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope ^[g1680], through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Colossians 1:

23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and [be] not moved away from the hope ^[g1680] of the gospel, which ye have heard, [and] which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

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 ^[g1680] of glory:

Galatians 5:

5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope ^[g1680] of righteousness by faith.

Ephesians 1:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope ^[g1680] of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Hebrews 3:

6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope ^[g1680] firm unto the end.

Hebrews 6:

18 That by two immutable things, in which [it was] impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope ^[g1680] set before us:

Hebrews 7:

19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope ^[g1680] [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Hebrews 10:

23 Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith ^[g1680] without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;)

We have HOPE because he PROMISED that he that overcomes, shall inherit all things

We have HOPE because he PROMISED that he has delivered us from death

We have HOPE because he PROMISED that our souls will be saved from Gods wrath

We have HOPE because he PROMISED that he has gone to prepare a place for us,

We have HOPE because he PROMISED that Eye’s have not seen, nor ears heard that which he as prepared for those who love him and that in his kingdom there are many mansions. 

We have HOPE because he PROMISED that we have an inheritance un-defiled, PROMISED before the world began. 

We have HOPE because he PROMISED that we will receive the crown of life which the lord PROMISED to those who love him. 

We have HOPE because he PROMISED that there will be a new heaven and earth and there will be no more death, mourning, crying, or pain. 

Has God not chosen the poor of the world, rich in FAITH, and HEIRS of the kingdom which he has PROMISED to those that love him?   

 

If in this life only, we have HOPE in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 

 

Living by the PROMISES of God is the hardest thing to do but it is the only way worth living.

 

The Bible does not deny reality and never tricks you into thinking that things are better than they are. The Bible is straightforward and honest but not void of HOPE.  The honesty does not crush the HOPE but neither does the HOPE negate the honesty.

 

Confession of sin is rooted in HOPE because that HOPE is rooted in whats already been done for us.  The only reason we would confess our sin is because we confidently HOPE and expect to be delivered from it.   When we confess our SIN, he is FAITHFUL to FORGIVE.   

 

We all place our HOPE in something and ask it to DELIVER.

 

HOPE always assesses something is broken, otherwise there would be no need for it.

 

HOPE always has something you bank you HOPE in and you ask that something fix what is broken or to DELIVER what you desire. 

 

We are either looking for HOPE in creation or placing our HOPE in the hands of the creator.

 

HOPE always surrenders to an expectation.

 

If our HOPE disappoints us, its because we have the wrong HOPE.

 

We can search for HOPE horizontally in situations, experiences, possessions locations, and relationships of everyday life which all suffer brokenness. 

 

They are part of the problem therefore unable to DELIVER what you asking. 

 

They were never made to be the source of our HOPE but to POINT us to where HOPE can be found vertically.

 

Only when our HOPE is place in HIM is our HOPE secure.

 

Because what is broken and needs to be fixed is our heart.

 

He is the only way for our hearts to be healed and the only way to find rest and peace.

Actionable living FAITH is repentance (turning) towards God by obeying his commands and repentance (turning) from Sin.

 

Sin doesn’t just leave us guilt, it renders us unable

Sin robs us of the ability to live in a way that pleases God

Sin kidnaps our desires and distorts our thoughts

Sin controls our tongues and rules our behavior

Sin saps our resolve and weakens our knees.

Sin leaves us lame, weak, and unable 

 

SIN is rooted in selfishness.

 

It reduces the field of our normal concern down to our wants, needs and feelings.

It makes us all too demanding.

It causes us to be quicker to mete out judgement than to extend mercy.

It makes us unwilling to overlook minor offenses.

It makes us hold onto what we should have long since forgiven.  

It makes us self-righteously defensive instead of being ready to confess.

Our FAITH is predicated on REPENTANCE from SIN and BELIEF in the GOSPEL which is how we receive His SPIRIT.

 

We then enter into his GRACE, and BEGIN our WALK OF FAITH and rest in His HOPE and His PROMISES.

 

Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our Faith who has gone and PREPARED THE WAY and THE PATH for us, which is to..

 

FEAR Him, meaning fearing the consequences for not obeying HIM

 

TRUSTING in HIM and firmly fixing our HOPE in HIS PROMISES made to us, being fully persuaded that he is able to perform what he PROMISED.

 

OBEY HIM by diligently keeping, observing, and doing all he has commanded.

MEANING: When any one hears the word he immediately with joy, receives it; yet has he not root in himself, but endures for a while:  for when tribulation or persecution rises because of the word,  by and by he is offended.   (Luke: in time of temptation fall away. )

some seeds fell AMONG THORNS; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them:

MEANING: He hears the word but the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.     (Luke: bring no fruit to perfection.) 

some seeds fell INTO GOOD GROUND, and brought forth fruit, some an 100 times, some 60 times, some 30 times.

MEANING:  (Luke : which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.) 

The 10 COMMANDMENTS were kept within the ARK of the COVENANT

which was a wooden CHEST covered in gold.

 

 

 

This served to FORESHADOW Jesus writing the LAW

onto our Heart which resides in our CHEST through His Holy Spirit.

 

The LAW & COMMANDMENTS administered to Israel by Moses.  They heard it, but since Sin lived in there flesh, it became weak and void.   In our flesh dwells no good thing. The flesh barred the commands in the Law from being sown into their hearts 

GRACE and TRUTH Administered by Jesus.  The FLESH, which was represented by the VEIL in the temple was ripped in 2 during crucifixion.  His Holy Spirit now administers the Righteousness and Truth of the Law directly into our hearts.

The LAW, COMMANDMENTS, and TABERNACLE made nothing perfect, but FORESHADOWED what was to come and a bringing of a better HOPE, by which we draw near to God.  Christ became the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.   They served as a SHADOW of what was to come, but not the very image.   

Proverbs 15:

10 Correction [is] grievous unto him that forsaketh the way ^[h734]: [and] he that hateth reproof shall die.

Isaiah 55 :Invitation to the Needy

6Seek you the LORD while he may be found, call you on him while he is near:

7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

8For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, said the LORD.

9For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not thither, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

11So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it..

REPENTANCE was preached by John the Baptist to prepare THE WAY for Christ

Jesus continued the message of REPENTANCE during his ministry and issued warnings for not doing so.

Luke 13:3

I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent ^[h3340], ye shall all likewise perish.

Luke 15:7

I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth ^[h3340], more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance ^[h3340]

REPENTANCE was once again preached by His disciples after they were given the HOLY SPIRIT

Acts 2:38

Then Peter said unto them, repent ^[h3340], and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Acts 3:19

repent ^[h3340] ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Acts 17:30

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent ^[h3340]:

Acts 26:20

But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should repent ^[h3340] and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance ^[h3340].

2 Corinthians 12:21

[And] lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and [that] I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented ^[h3340] of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.

REPENTANCE is preached in the end in REVELATION to all of the churches except the church of PHILADELPHIA, which has an open door set before them

Revelation 2:

5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent ^[h3340], and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent ^[h3340].
 16 repent ^[h3340]; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.
21 And I gave her space to repent ^[h3340] of her fornication; and she repented ^[h3340] not. 22 Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent ^[h3340] of their deeds.

Revelation 3:

3 Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent ^[h3340]. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent ^[h3340].

Revelation finally reveals what happens due to not heeding his warning of REPENTANCE.  REPENT OR PERSIH

Revelation 9:

20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented ^[h3340] not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: 21 Neither repented ^[h3340] they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Revelation 16:

9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed the name of God, which hath power over these plagues: and they repented ^[h3340] not to give him glory.
11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented ^[h3340] not of their deeds.

 God placed a SWORD east of the garden to keep THE WAY of THE TREE OF LIFE

Genesis 3:24

So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way ^[h1870] of the tree of life.

Jesus came to bring a SWORD to keep THE WAY of the TREE OF LIFE 

Matthew 10 : The Sword of the Gospel (Luke 12:49-53)

34Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. 35For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. 36And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. 37He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that takes not his cross, and follows after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.

THE SWORD is HIS WORD

Hebrews 4 : God’s Word is Living and Active

12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

He that does not take up his cross, and FOLLOW AFTER ME, is not worthy of me

MEANING:

THOSE WHO DON’T DENY SELF and FOLLOW AFTER HIM by WALKING in His SPIRIT and FOLLOW the INSTRUCTIONS IN HIS WORD are NOT WORTHY OF HIM

Matthew 19 : The Rich Young Man (Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30)

16And, behold, one came and said to him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17And he said to him, Why call you me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if you will enter into life, keep the commandments. 18He said to him, Which? Jesus said, You shall do no murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19Honor your father and your mother: and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 20The young man said to him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21Jesus said to him, If you will be perfect, go and sell that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

23Then said Jesus to his disciples, Truly I say to you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. 24And again I say to you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26But Jesus beheld them, and said to them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

27Then answered Peter and said to him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed you; what shall we have therefore? 28And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, That you which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, you also shall sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29And every one that has forsaken houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundred times, and shall inherit everlasting life. 30But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

FOLLOW ME

 

To FOLLOW means to Listen to his voice

and to FOLLOW HIS ORDERS or COMMANDS (OBEDIENCE)

 

 

 

SHEEP’S EYE’S FIXED ON THE SHEPHERD’s STAFF forms the CROSS

 

 

“There is NO OTHER WAY,  EXCEPT TO TRUST & OBEY”

 

THE HUSK

 

-vs-

THE FRUIT

 

He loved pecans.   

He would go and gather pecans that fallen from trees.

 

 

He  would spend countless hours cracking them,

packaging them, and giving them to his friends as gifts.  

 

This is a picture of him gathering them up and my mother

recently found the cracker he used which was made in 1925.

 

 

A pecan,  is not truly a nut, but is technically a drupe,

  a FRUIT with a single STONE or pit, surrounded by a HUSK. 

 

“Pecan” is from an Algonquian word

variously referring to pecans, walnuts and hickory nuts,  

or more broadly to ANY NUT requiring a STONE to CRACK.

 

The SHELL (HUSK)

 

 

 

is CRACKED by STONE

 

 

 

in order to get to THE FRUIT

 

Our FLESH (Shell)

 

was CRACKED

by the LIVING STONE

 

 

in order to get to the

 

Our hearts are CIRCUMCISED by the SWORD of the Spirit which works to remove the reproach of the flesh 

John 8:12

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk ^[h4043]in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 12:35

Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. walk ^[h4043]while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh^[h4043] in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

2 Corinthians 5:7

(For we walk ^[h4043]by faith, not by sight:)

John 12:35 

Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. walk ^[h4043]while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh^[h4043] in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.

John 8:12

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk ^[h4043]in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Romans 13:13

Let us walk ^[h4043]honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 

1 Corinthians 3:3

For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk ^[h4043]as men?

2 Corinthians 4:2 

But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking^[h4043] in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

Ephesians 4:

1I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk ^[h4043]worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Colossians 1:10

That ye might walk ^[h4043]worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Colossians 2:6 

As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, [so] walk ^[h4043]ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

1 Thessalonians 2:12

That ye would walk ^[h4043]worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

1 Thessalonians 4:1 

Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort [you] by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk ^[h4043]and to please God, [so] ye would abound more and more.

1 John 1:6

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk ^[h4043]in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk ^[h4043]in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1 John 2:6

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk ^[h4043], even as he walked ^[h4043].

1 John 2:11 

But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh^[h4043] in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

2 John 1:4

I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking^[h4043] in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. 6 And this is love, that we walk ^[h4043]after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk ^[h4043]in it.

3 John 1:3

For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walk ^[h4043] in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk ^[h4043]in truth. 

Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our FAITH who has gone and PREPARED THE WAY for us by fulfilling the LAW of RIGHTEOUSNESS and TRUTH which is the PATH boundaries we are to WALK within.  We WALK with Him in Spirit and Truth, laying hold of the HOPE set before us, TRUSTING in HIS PROMISES, OBEYING HIM by diligently keeping, observing, and doing all he has COMMANDED, and FEARING the consequences for not doing so. 

THROUGH the

DOOR OF FAITH

 

 

we begin our

WALK of FAITH

 

 

 

in the SPIRIT 

which is our

instrument of navigation

 guiding us in truth

 

 

down the

NARROW PATH 

which is target at

which we are to aim

 

DISOBEDIENCE

SELF-WILL

 

 

UNDER THE LAW

of

SIN & DEATH

which works 

WRATH & DEBT

 

 

 

WALKING IN DARKNESS

CONTRARY TO GOD

IN THE FLESH

OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES

IN LAWLESSNESS

 

 

WITH A

HARDENED HEART

 

 

ABIDING IN

LIES

 

 

 

WHERE

THE PATH IS

 

Broad

Rough and Crooked 

Turning to Right & Left 

Tossed To and Fro

False

Slippery 

Stumbling

Staggering

Backsliding

Wandering aimlessly  

Gone astray

Perverted

Altered from Original Course

Lost 

Un-Stable

Reed Shaken in Wind

 

 

GLORIFYING

SELF

 

 

FOLLOWING AFTER 

IMAGINATION OF

OWN HEART IN

 

Lies

Emptiness

Vanity

Lusts of the flesh  

Fornication

Idolatry

Covetousness

Envy

Self Pursuit

Strife   

 

WHICH IS

THE WAY OF

 

The World

Darkness

Misery

Cain & Balaam

Stubbornness

Evil

Lies

Death

Destruction

Wicked

Folly (Foolish)

Rebellion 

 

WHICH

LEADS TO

DESTRUCTION

and

EMPTINESS

 

 

 

Taken by

THE WHORE OF BABLYON

and workers of lawlessness,

who will perish

because Gods wrath is against them

and because their ways are empty

and are  an abomination to Him.

 

 

 

Proverbs 7: 

25Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths ^[h5410].26For she has cast down many wounded: yes, many strong men have been slain by her.27Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

 

Proverbs 2:18

For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths ^[h4570]unto the dead.

Job 8:13

So [are] the paths ^[h734] of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:

 

OBEDIENCE

DOING GOD’S WILL

 

 

UNDER THE LAW

of

RIGHTEOUSNESS & TRUTH

which works

GRACE

 

 

 

WALKING IN THE LIGHT

WITH GOD

IN THE SPIRIT

WITHIN THE BOUNDARIES

OF HIS LAW 

 

 

WITH A

PURE HEART

 

 

ABIDING IN

TRUTH

WHERE

THE PATH IS

 

Just (Upright)

Smooth

Level

Plain

Straight

Narrow

True

Unwavering

Fixed

Firm

Established 

Found

Stable

 

 

GLORIFYING

GOD

 

 

FOLLOWING

AFTER

HIS COMMANDS IN

 

Truth

Righteousness

Godliness

Faith

Love

Patience

Meekness  

 

WHICH IS

THE WAY OF

 

Holiness

Light

Peace

Pleasantness

Able

Wisdom 

Obedience 

Good 

Truth

Life

Salvation

Righteousness

 

WHICH

LEADS TO

LIFE

and

FRUITFULNESS

 

 

 

Taken by

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

and workers of righteousness

who will be preserved

because Gods hand is upon them

because he loves those who

follow righteousness and

bear fruit to him

 

 

 

Psalm 25:10

All the paths ^[h734] of the LORD [are] mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Psalm 17:4

Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept [me from] the paths ^[h734] of the destroyer.

Psalm 119:101

I have refrained my feet from every evil  way ^[h734], that I might keep thy word.

 

DISOBEDIENCE

SELF-WILL

 

 

UNDER THE LAW

of

SIN & DEATH

which works 

WRATH & DEBT

 

 

 

WALKING IN DARKNESS

CONTRARY TO GOD

IN THE FLESH

OUTSIDE THE BOUNDARIES

IN LAWLESSNESS

 

 

WITH A

HARDENED HEART

 

 

ABIDING IN

LIES

 

 

 

WHERE

THE PATH IS

 

Broad

Rough and Crooked 

Turning to Right & Left 

False

Slippery 

Stumbling

Staggering

Backsliding

Wandering aimlessly  

Gone astray

Perverted

Altered from Original Course

Lost

Un-Stable

Reed Shaken in Wind

 

 

GLORIFYING

SELF

 

 

FOLLOWING AFTER 

IMAGINATION OF

OWN HEART IN

 

Lies

Emptiness

Vanity

Lusts of the flesh  

Fornication

Idolatry

Covetousness

Envy

Self Pursuit

Strife   

 

WHICH IS

THE WAY OF

 

The World

Darkness

Misery

Cain & Balaam

Stubbornness

Evil

Lies

Death

Destruction

Wicked

Folly (Foolish)

Rebellion 

 

WHICH

LEADS TO

DESTRUCTION

and

EMPTINESS

 

 

 

Taken by

THE WHORE OF BABLYON

and workers of lawlessness,

who will perish

because Gods wrath is against them

and because their ways are empty

and are  an abomination to Him.

 

 

 

Proverbs 7: 

25Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths ^[h5410].26For she has cast down many wounded: yes, many strong men have been slain by her.27Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

 

Proverbs 2:18

For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths ^[h4570]unto the dead.

Job 8:13

So [are] the paths ^[h734] of all that forget God; and the hypocrite’s hope shall perish:

Strong’s Hebrew Concordance

Way, Paths ^[h734] ʼôrach occurs 58x in 58 verses

• way, path, road, way of living (fig.),  traveller, wayfarer (meton) 

Luke 16 : The Law and the Prophets (Matthew 11:7-19; Luke 1:5-25; Luke 7:24-35)

14And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15And he said to them, You are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts ^[g2588]: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. 16The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it. 17And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one pronunciation mark of the law to fail. 

1 Samuel 16 : Samuel Anoints David as King

 7But the LORD said to Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart ^[h3824]

1 Corinthians 4 : Servants of Christ

1Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yes, I judge not my own self. 4For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judges me is the Lord. 5Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts ^[g2588]: and then shall every man have praise of God.

Psalm 44 : Redeem us

15My confusion is continually before me, and the shame of my face has covered me, 16For the voice of him that reproaches and blasphemes; by reason of the enemy and avenger. 17All this is come on us; yet have we not forgotten you, neither have we dealt falsely in your covenant. 18Our heart ^[h3820]is not turned back, neither have our steps declined from your way; 19Though you have sore broken us in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death. 20If we have forgotten the name of our God, or stretched out our hands to a strange god; 21Shall not God search this out? for he knows the secrets of the heart ^[h3820].

Psalm 139 : You Have Searched Me and Know Me [ A psalm of David]

1O lord, you have searched me, and known me.

23Search me, O God, and know my heart ^[h3820]: try me, and know my thoughts:

24And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Jeremiah 17 : a pen of iron 

9The heart ^[h3820] is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 10I the LORD search the heart ^[h3820], I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.

When faced being CONVICTED of Crime, 

people are often asked to take a LIE DETECTOR TEST,

 

 

 where they tie a band around your HEART.

 

It measures and records several physiological indices such as

 blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity

 while the subject is asked and answers a series of questions.

 

You are first asked basic questions like: 

“What your name?”

“What is your age?”

“Where do you live?”

 

This is done in order to ESTABLISH a BASELINE OF TRUTH

and the needle stays fixed, firm, and established during these questions,

drawing a straight line on the polygraph paper.

 

 

This BASELINE provides a minimum staring point

for which all proceeding interrogating questions will be compared to 

Once we accept Christ into our hearts through FAITH, His WORD and LAWS are written onto our HEARTS establishing the BASELINE OF TRUTH, which sets THE BOUNDARIES of the PATH we are to WALK in, which is how we abide in His Love, walk in his Spirit and keep the STRAIGHT and NARROW PATH.

Hebrews 4 : God’s Word is Living and Active

12For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of him with whom we have to do. 

When we are not walking in his TRUTH, we are walking in LIES and are making CROOKED PATHS, turning to the right and left.  When we do step outside the boundaries of the LAW (PATH) the Holy Spirit CONVICTS our heart of the TRUTH.

Isaiah 42:16

And I will bring the blind by a way [that] they knew not; I will lead them in paths ^[h5410][that] they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

Phillippians 2 : Shine as lights of the world (Matthew 5:13-16)

12Why, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 14Do all things without murmurings and disputings: 15That you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the middle of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world;16Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. 17Yes, and if I be offered on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18For the same cause also do you joy, and rejoice with me.

Through the DOOR of FAITH,

we walk DOWN THE STRAIGHT and NARROW PATH

 

 

because HIS LAWS

are written into our hearts through the SPIRIT

so our feet don’t slide

 

 

which produces the Fruit of the Spirit

 

 

Matthew 7 :The Narrow Gate (Luke 13:22-30)

Strong’s Hebrew Concordance

Wings ^[h3671] occurs 108 times in 75 verses

• • wing, extremity, edge, winged, border, corner (of garment), shirt

It also alludes to the command to make fringes on the borders/wings of their garments which was to remind them to keep the commandments.  This is what the woman touched when she touched Jesus garment and was made whole.

Numbers 15: THe law of tassels

–Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders ^[h3671]of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders ^[h3671]a ribband of blue: ³⁹And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: ⁴⁰ That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. ⁴¹ I [am] the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I [am] the LORD your God.

DOES HE KNOW US? 

HAS HE SEARCHED OUR HEART?

 

 

WE KNOW HIM & 

 TRUTH IS IN US,

IF WE KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS

 

 

ARE WE WALKING WITHIN IN INSTRUCTIONS and COMMANDS, in the PATHS of HIS LAW, or do we work LAWLESSNESS?

Romans 2 : God’s Righteous Judgment (Genesis 4:1-7; Jude 1:3-16) 

 13 (For not the hearers of the law [are] just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

His LAW set’s the boundaries of the NARROW PATH and WAY which we are to walk in FAITH without works is DEAD, meaning there has to be EVIDENCE of our FAITH.

THE EVIDENCE OF OUR ACTIONABLE FAITH is our keeping of HIS COMMANDMENTS and TURNING FROM SIN

THE NARROW GATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Psalm 118 : 

17I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. 18The LORD has chastened me sore: but he has not given me over to death. 19Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: 20This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. 21I will praise you: for you have heard me, and are become my salvation. 22The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 23This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. 24This is the day which the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

GOD’S STANDARD of RIGHTEOUSNESS

JUSTIFICATION is also builders term for whether a stone is “TRUE” or not by using a PLUMMET

 A PLUMMET is a line or cord that has a weight such as a plumb bob at the end and determines VERTICALITY. (ie.  is the STONE upright or 90 degrees LEVEL, SMOOTH, and TRUE?)

If the STONE “IS NOT TRUE” then it is considered to be WORTHLESS 

Isaiah 28 :  A Cornerstone in Zion (1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 1 Peter 2:4-12)

14Why hear the word of the LORD, you scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. 15Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing whip shall pass through, it shall not come to us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: 16Therefore thus said the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believes shall not make haste.17Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. 18And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing whip shall pass through, then you shall be trodden down by it. 

I WILL LAY JUDGEMENT TO THE LINE

and RIGHTEOUSNESS TO THE PLUMMET

 

 

The plummet represents the cross on which the SPIRITUAL STONE of ISRAEL

was crucified and established GOD’S STANDARD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

 

 

STRAIGHT, LEVEL, TRUE, UNWAVERING 

TRUTH IN OUR INWARD PARTS by having a CLEAN HEART

 

Psalm 51 :  Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God (2 Samuel 12:1-12)

6Behold, you desiretruth^[h571]in the inward parts: and in the hidden part you shall make me to know wisdom. 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which you have broken may rejoice. 9Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from your presence; and take not your holy spirit from me.

Matthew 21 : Parable of the Wicked Tenants

42Jesus said to them, Did you never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes? 43Therefore say I to you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.44And whoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them. 46But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

Christ became the TRUE CORNERSTONE upon which the new TEMPLE would be built and upon which all stones added will be set in reference to this one, Peter being the first. 

Matthew 16 :Peter’s Confession of Christ(Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:18-20; John 6:66-71)

13When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14And they said, Some say that you are John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15He said to them, But whom say you that I am? 16And Simon Peter answered and said, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17And Jesus answered and said to him, Blessed are you, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood has not revealed it to you, but my Father which is in heaven. 18And I say also to you, That you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19And I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.20Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Just as Solomon hired Stone Squarer’s to hew JUSTIFIED STONES for the temple…

1 Kings 5 : Solomon’s Workmen and Laborers

. 17And the king commanded, and they brought great stones, costly stones, and hewed stones, to lay the foundation of the house. 18And Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders did hew them, and the stone squarers: so they prepared timber and stones to build the house.

He works to carve His image into us and to make us TRUE stones through his Holy Spirit.  We are justified by HIS BLOOD through FAITH and obedience to His Commandments.  Being JUSTIFIED in HIS sight, means you are TRUE, RIGHTEOUS, BLAMELESS, INNOCENT and UPRIGHT.  

Our JUSTIFICATION  as “TRUE” stones

 

 

 IS NOT BASED OFF OUR OWN WORKS

but by the WORK DONE FOR US on the CROSS

 

 

and OBEDIENCE to HIS WORD

 

 

Christ dwells in our hearts by faith, being rooted and grounded in love,

so we may be able to comprehend what is the breadth, length, depth, and height.

Together we work and labor to EDIFY each other, which is “the act of building up”

and promoting growth, by serving others and not ourselves.

 

 

Each stone is bound together (bundled/united) through the Holy Spirit,

and we endeavour to keep the unity in the bond of Peace

by walking with all lowliness, meekness, long suffering, forbearing one another in love. 

Before constructing and laying the FOUNDATION of a building,

 

the area must be PREPARED by SMOOTHING & LEVELING 

 

 

David purchased the THRESHING FLOOR at MOUNT MORIAH in Jerusalem

 

 

where EARS of GRAIN would then be CUT & CRUSHED

with the threshing board

 

 

in order to  SMOOTH & LEVEL 

 

Strong’s Hebrew Concordance

THRESHINGFLOOR ^[h1637] occurs 36 times in 36 verses (17 books)

• from an unused root meaning: TO SMOOTH (as made EVEN) , a place levelled.

Upon this THRESHING FLOOR would be where SOLOMON’S TEMPLE would be built upon.

 

2 Chronicles 3 : Temple Construction Begins (1 Kings 6:1-4)

1Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah ^[h4179], where the Lord appeared to David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 2And he began to build in the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign.

God does does not dwell in temple made with hands and thus served as a SHADOW of Heavenly things

Mark 13 :  

1And as he went out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, Master, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here! 2And Jesus answering said to him, See you these great buildings? there shall not be left one stone on another, that shall not be thrown down.

Hebrews 8: A more excellent ministry

2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true ^[g228]tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.  3For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: why it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer. 4For if he were on earth, he should not be a priest, seeing that there are priests that offer gifts according to the law:5Who serve to the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, said he, that you make all things according to the pattern showed to you in the mount. 6But now has he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

The New Covenant

7For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. 8For finding fault with them, he said, Behold, the days come, said the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: 9Not 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 continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, said the Lord. 10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, said the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: 11And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

12For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 13In that he said, A new covenant, he has made the first old. Now that which decays and waxes old is ready to vanish away. 

Jesus, the TRUE son of David, would laid THE NEW FOUNDATION and CORNERSTONE in our hearts, where he rebuilt the temple not made with hands in 3 days by writing HIS LAWS into our HEARTS and MINDS through his giving of the HOLY SPIRIT

This is why John the Baptist, whose LOINS were GIRDED with TRUTH, and who Malachi & Isaiah prophesied would “PREPARE THE WAY”, was sent before Jesus to “PREPARE PEOPLE’S HEARTS” and to make their PATHS “STRAIGHT, LEVEL, or SMOOTH”  by preaching REPENTANCE and baptism.  

LUKE 3 : THE MISSION OF JOHN THE BAPTIST (Isaiah 40:1-5; Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; John 1:19-28) 

 4As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying,   The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare you the way of the Lord, make his paths straight^[g2117].  5Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

 EVERY MOUNTAIN & HILL SHALL BE BROUGHT LOW & EVERY VALLEY SHALL BE FILLED

 

ROUGH WAYS

 

SHALL BE MADE SMOOTH

 

Strong’s Greek Concordance

Straight ^[g2117] 

• (literally) LEVEL or SMOOTH 

• (figuratively) TRUE;

We are the LIVELY TRUE STONES, through Faith and OBEDIENCE that make up the rest of the Temple.  Built upon the foundation laid by Christ and held together by the TRUE cornerstone.  We are built up as a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM

 

Priests would kill sacrificial animals where BLOOD was shed then cleanse with WATER then placed on the altar to be burned with FIRE as a sacrificial offering to God.  

 

The ALTAR SANCTIFIED (cleansed, purified) the gift/offering.

 

CHRIST SACRIFICE

 

whose righteous BLOOD was shed for us, we die with him in baptism where we are cleansed with WATER (His Word) then are baptized with FIRE (by receiving His Holy Spirit) which purifies our hearts (the altar) 

 

Our new PURE HEART SANCTIFIES our spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God for sweet smell

Hebrews 13 :

12Why Jesus also, that he might sanctify ^[g37]the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate  13Let us go forth therefore to him without the camp, bearing his reproach. 14For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.  15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.16But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. .

Psalm 51 :  Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God (2 Samuel 12:1-12)

1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving kindness: according to the multitude of your tender mercies blot out my transgressions. 2Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight: that you might be justified when you speak, and be clear when you judge. 5Behold, I was shaped in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6Behold, you desiretruth^[h571]in the inward parts: and in the hidden part you shall make me to know wisdom. 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which you have broken may rejoice. 9Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from your presence; and take not your holy spirit from me. 12Restore to me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with your free spirit. 13Then will I teach transgressors your ways; and sinners shall be converted to you. 14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, you God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness. 15O Lord, open you my lips; and my mouth shall show forth your praise.

16For you desire not sacrifice^[h2077]; else would I give it: you delight not in burnt offering. 17The sacrifices^[h2077]of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18Do good in your good pleasure to Zion: build you the walls of Jerusalem. 19Then shall you be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks on your altar.

 

 

Jacob’s blessing for Ephraim was implying that the nations disinherited by God that were scattered at the Tower of Babel and that left off building the city, would eventually come together again to try and finish what Nimrod had started. 

 

Once the FULLNESS OF THE NATIONS plan is complete, EPHRAIM at that time, would be SCATTERED AMONG THE NATIONS

Matthew 25 :  The Sheep and the Goats