looking for the principle

I would like to encourage everyone to look for the Godly principle behind the commandments in God's word. Even the ceremonial laws in the old testament were given to produce Godly character, and not just ritualism.Unfortunately we have a tendency to focus on the commandment and somehow miss the main purpose that God wants. Israel was called out from among the nations and separated to be a holy nation, the principle is to be holy not the separation. the separation was necessary to produce the desired character. The task of raising us up in to the character of God is tedious process that requires certain disciplines, looking for and recognizing the principle will help us to have the proper perspective. All the detailed process that God commanded Israel to do regarding the temple and the sacrifices, their civil laws, and the order that they were to follow had a purpose to produce the Godly character that he still desires today. Jesus came and fulfilled the principles in the law, although at times he did not keep the Sabbath or do the ceremonial hand washing or maybe some other law or tradition, he understood what his Father was after and he never failed to please his Father. In our modern culture we have certain guidelines and traditions that are given to produce the same principles, if we can recognize the principle, then we will not fall into the trap of religion or ritualism.

The Power in Praise

I remember hearing my father teaching the laws of reaping and sowing in the spiritual realm. He taught that for every fruit of the spirit there was a corresponding root that must be sown. One Saturday night service he was preaching on the fruit of Joy, and I was going through a very difficult time, and was not feeling very much joy. As he preached , I spoke out loud "but what if you don't have this joy" I'll never forget the look on his face as he turned to me and said, "son joy is a fruit, in order to have it you must sow the seeds of rejoicing". What a difference when a person begins to rejoice in the Lord! Thanking and praising and worshiping, counting the many blessings that God has bestowed on us, it surely will bring joy into your life when you really cultivate this wonderful principle. I love the connection that Jesus makes in Mathew 21:16 "out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise" which is a quote from Psalms 8: "out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast ordained strength". He makes praise and strength interchangeable, is'nt that fantastic! Here are a few others to consider...Believing, humbling, respecting, forgiving, praying, loving, long suffering and mercy. Sow these and reap a bountifully harvest!

Principles, Doctrine and Prophesies

The Bible could be categorized into these three groups, Principles, Doctrines and prophecies. All are in the bible, all are important. However in the levels of importance, principles would come first. Essentials is a word we've been hearing that I think applies here. Heb.5:12 says "for when for the time you ought to be teachers,you have need that one teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat. The teachings of Jesus in Matt.5,6 and7 are perfect examples of principles, and is a pattern of teaching that can be found throughout the bible

. Every one starts with faith, as small as it may be its the beginning, Gods spirit began to draw us and through whatever chain of events we humbled enough to believe and see are need. Faith is a word that is all inclusive, from believing that God is to the in depth understanding of his word. "The faith" as used in Jude1:3 is a good example of what I mean. Humility is a foundational principle, the first beatitude taught by Jesus, blessed are the poor in spirit for theres is the kingdom of God. 1Peter5:5 quotes Prov.3:34 "for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble", showing the essentuallality of these principles. The principles describe the charater of God's love which is the ultimate goal.

Doctrine would be strong meat because it takes a spiritually mature person ,one having there sense's exercised by reason of use, to rightly divide the scriptures and understand teachings such as Babtisims,and of laying on of hands,and of resurrection of the dead,and of eternal judgement. This type of understanding is important but without the principles developed in your character you will not be able to receive them. Knowledge puffeth up but charity edifieth, without the character of God's love as a foundation in your life then knowledge will create a spirit of pride and you will be blinded from the truth on many of these doctrines because you wont be humble enough to receive it.

The right principles in a persons life will cause the right standards in the right spirit. Standards without the right principles cause phariseeism, self righteous,critical of everyone different than you. And unrepented of will ultimately cause persecution and murder(spiritually and naturally). And so we see how all the divisions come about, by people who do not have there priorities right.

Prophecy is in the bible for us to know, for direction so we have hope and can face difficult circumstances with the right spirit . Daniel responded to the Babylonians based on the prophetic teachings of Isaiah and Jeremiah. It is important to know where we are right now, in our world, so we can proceed accordingly. Are we as a nation on the verge of collapse? should we be stock piling money, food, ect. Are we to be involved in politics?trying to save the government of are nation. these are some of the questions that prophecies will answer. Hope is very important and we should be filled with it.

Godly character can not be acquired by will power alone but when we respond to the leading of the holy ghost. Humble under the mighty hand of God, Forgive when the circumstance comes, submit to one another in the spirit of love not as men pleasers but as unto the Lord. Salvation is a gift for everone who will receive it.

Faith, Hope and Love

Our existence in this amazing world with all its complexities, perfectly balanced, with so many absolutes screams the reality of our creator. Why doesn't he just appear to us and tell us why we're here? It seems rather simple doesn't it. Well, maybe not. You see, there is a purpose for our existence, summed up in one word it's love. Love is the answer to the age old question why am I here. Not just to be loved but to give love. Love is something that hast to be given of your own free will. And in this man is unique. Placed outside of God's dimension because only in this setting could free choice really exist. Our minds cannot comprehend the overwhelming power of God's presents, Omnipotent,omniscient,omnipresent, I mean really, do you actually think you could stand before him and say I don't think I want you? Not reasonable. This is why faith is so important to him. Faith is how we can produce the love that is so precious to God . Knowing that by allowing free choice, he was allowing sin, and when sin, then death and all the pain and suffering that goes with it. But he saw the value of love and said, the suffering of this present life is not worthy to be compared .We don't really comprehend eternity in heaven, but the reality is we're here and I have found that if you seek him you will find him.and that is why I am filled with hope.

The first and last Adam (continued)

As the first man was made of the earth, so Jesus took not on the nature of angels but took on him the seed of Abraham Heb.2:16.(a physical man). In Adam's case God took the dust of the earth and "breathed" into his nostrils and he became a living soul. In Jesus' case God took a virgin Jewish girl (made of dust) and the holy spirit (i.e. breath,wind,spirit translated from the Greek word "pneuma") moved on her and she conceived. Its important to note that both came into the world without a natural father only God. When Adam sinned he being a sinner could only reproduce after his kind. Hence forth all men born of Adam are sinners. This is why Jesus did not come by a sinful man or he himself would have been a sinner condemned to death as every other man is.The virgin birth is absolutely important and is not just "a sign'.

Understanding that Jesus was sent into the world to do what the first Adam failed to do, It was necessary for him to be like the first Adam. As Adam was spiritually in the paradise of God so was the last Adam, Jesus. This represents a place of dominion, he was confronted by the flesh and as Adam he named them, anything you name you are the master of Heb.5:8-9 though he were a son yet learned he obedience through the things which he suffered. and being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him. Just as God prepared Jesus for thirty years before he lead him into the wilderness to be tempted, Adam also was well capable of passing the test he faced.

The points of temptation Jesus faced line up perfectly with the fruit described on the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Heb 4:15 for we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities, but was tempted in all points like as we are (1 John 2:16). To know good and evil is to decide what is good and evil. Remember the serpent said "ye shall not surely die"asserting that he(or in this case she) new better than God. In the wilderness temptation (Mt.4;) Jesus responded correctly to the "devil" and said "it is written" professing that God knows best. Praise God for Jesus!

Jesus produced the fruit of the spirit that God desired when he said be "fruitful and multiply" God always requires us to produce the right fruit before we go into are called purpose.Jesus finished his course on this earth by offering his offence free life to fulfill the penalty of sin passed on to all men by Adam. Praise God for Jesus! He was put to sleep and the church was taken from his side (the mother of the new creation). John3:3 Jesus answered Nicodemus and said unto him unless a man is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God,(because we were born wrong by Adam in sin and death). And on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2) there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty "wind" (the breath of God) and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, Born Again Of The Spirit!!! Jesus multiplied after the spirit fulfilling Gods plan for man kind. The good news is that because of Jesus this gift is available for every one who will believe. This is one of the greatest revelations that I hold today. Thank you Lord for giving it to me!

The first and last Adam

In the beginning God created the first man Adam in his own image, formed him of the dust of the ground, breathed (the holy ghost) into his nostrils and he became a living soul. He placed him in a garden and gave him dominion over all the fish of the sea, the foul of the air, over all the cattle and every creeping thing. God told Adam to be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the earth. And God saw everything that he had made and behold it was very good. This is a beautiful picture of the spiritual setting that God put Adam in. Though Adam was formed of the dust of the ground (a physical being) he was also created a spiritual being.

No sin had yet entered into the world. God placed him in the garden (the paradise of God, representing a spiritual condition Luke23:43, 2 Cor.12:4, rev.2:7) and gave him dominion over all the wild animals (this is a picture of the selfish works of the flesh). God brought all the animals to Adam and he gave them names (showing that Adam was fully aware of the traits and characteristics of the flesh and by naming them he was in complete dominion, including over the serpent).

Now in the garden was every tree good for food. The tree of life was also in the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Obviously these are symbolic. The tree of life is Christ, John 6:33 for the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life to the world. John 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day. Rev.2:7 To him that over cometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. Gal.5:22 Now the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, against such there is no law.

The tree of Knowledge of good and evil is Adam, (or the flesh). Notice these connections. Gen.2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it, for in the day that thou eatest thou shalt surely die. Rom. 8:13 For if you live after the flesh ye shall surely die. Gal. 5:19 Now the works (fruit) of the flesh are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, sedition's, heresies, envyings, revelings and such like of the which I tell you before as I have told you in times past, they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Here's another great connection Gen.3:6 and when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and pleasant to the eye, and a tree desired to make one wise, she did eat and gave also unto her husband and he did eat. John: 2-16 For all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh (good for food), the lust of the eye (pleasant to the eye) and the pride of life (the desire to make one wise). Surely you can see this connection showing the appetite of the flesh. These scriptures show that Adam was tempted by the serpent (a picture of the selfish nature of the flesh) and did eat. God's desire was for Adam to be fruitful and multiply after the spirit, but when he was tempted he produced the wrong fruit and multiplied after the flesh. Rom.5:12, shows that Adam sinned and could therefore only reproduce sinners.

We being conceived in sin and shapen in iniquity (Ps.51:5) were born wrong and under the penalty of death. Rom.5:14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression who is the figure of him who was to come. All have sinned but not after the similitude of Adam. Adam was not created under the penalty of sin, we were. Adam was given dominion, spiritually, and was not in a weakened condition under the dominion of sin. And then came Jesus the last Adam!!! To Be Continued..............

The 7th Head

Hi everyone, my thoughts today are stimulated by Sunday's service. I am looking for a way to voice what I see regarding Dan.7 and Rev.13 without being dishonorable to Bro. Farmer or anyone else who may have a different view.

The emphasis of Sunday’s message was on the kingdom being set up by the Son of Man. Which I see the same. The primary difference that I see is in regards to the papacy being the seventh head. I would like to point out that in Dan.7 it is pictured as a horn on the fourth beast and not as a separate beast. Obviously Daniel 7 and Revelation 13 are companion chapters. Revation 13 shows a beast with seven heads and ten horns.

If you count the heads prior to Daniel 7 Egypt and Assyria and add the four mentioned in Daniel 7 this makes 6 heads. Which brings me to the point I want to make and that is the seventh head is not the papacy. Rome is pictured as one head and the papacy is pictured as a horn on that head. There is an important point to be made regarding the difference between a head and a horn. And that is the relationship that theses nations have with Israel. Those pictured as a head have a direct head ship role over Israel. Those pictured as horns were strong world powers but did not have this relationship with Israel.

Leviticus 26 shows seven times punishment to Israel if they were unfaithful and I believe this is the purpose of these seven heads is to punish Israel and bring them to repentance. Which makes no sense if all seven heads have passed and 500 years latter (since the papacy) Israel has not yet repented.

However if you would consider that the head that received the deadly wound mentioned in Revelation 13 was Rome under the Caesars and that it was wounded by the ten horns mentioned in Daniel 7 and that the deadly wound was healed by the papacy. And that Rome lost its place as the sixth head by martin Luther and those early reformers. You might be able to see that we are living in the days of the seventh head and the relationship between the USA and Israel is what constitutes a headship.

There are more things to be considered like the" short space" mentioned in Revelation 17 that the seventh head must continue. This does not fit the papacy in that it had the longest rule of any of the heads. 1260 years - If what I am seeing is right then in the very near future Israel and the seventh head will suffer its final blow. This could be the second woe mentioned in Revelation 11 and behold the third woe comes quickly. The ten kings not Rome become the vehicle that the papacy uses during the last hour.