Being a Disciple of Christ

We are coming to the last days of this blog as we will soon learn though in all actually we are but on the brink of a great break through spiritually in the LORD of all lords. What just maybe the last of Pastor Hoekstra's writings on Grace and GOD's wonder and miraculous transition of reformation pulled off, that changed the course of human history right under Israel's and the gentile world's noses. Only those of His kingdom come to know and understand as they are also known by Him. I will leave you with this thought in question form, are you a believer in name only or are you a receiver of GOD's wonder and plan and purposes?

 "The Manifold Grace of God"
By Robert Hoekstra


"The manifold grace of God . . . but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ . . . Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." (1Peter 4:10; 2Peter 3:18 and Galatians 6:18)


"The manifold Grace of GOD is such an appropriate truth for our concluding meditation. It is both humbling and faith building to be reminded of the majestic diversity of GOD and His wonderful gift of Grace. 

GOD's Grace is manifold (meaning having many parts or having portion ports). It is like a heavenly diamond with innumerable facets. Every vantage point reflects a new insight into the gracious resources of our LORD. From some biblical viewpoints, the justifying Grace of GOD is seen: "justified freely by His grace" (Romans 3:24). Yet, our devotional studies have concentrated upon sanctifying grace, grace for growing, grace for life changing. "But grow in . . . grace." Many scriptural vistas display this sanctifying grace in its manifold beauty. It can be seen stabilizing the inner man. "It is good that the heart be established by grace" (Hebrews 13:9). It can also be seen in its edifying ability. "I commend you to GOD and to the word of His Grace, which is able to build you up" (Acts 20:32). From another angle, GOD's sanctifying Grace can be seen for its strengthening capacity. "Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2Timothy 2:1). It can also be observed in its fruit producing role: "and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth" (Colossians 1:6). It can also be seen in its ministry developing function. "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1Corinthians 15:10). From still another viewpoint, the sanctifying Grace of GOD can be seen sustaining through the agonies of one's "thorny impossibilities." "My grace is sufficient for you" (2Corinthians 12:9). What heavenly riches await us in a lifetime of observing, and appropriating, GOD's manifold Grace. 

What final words would be fitting for us now? The closing benediction in so many New Testament epistles would be perfectly suitable. "Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit" (Galatians 6:18). Ultimately and essentially, Grace is found in the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and it is experienced through His work in our hearts, as we humbly seek to know Him more and more. "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ."

 "The Grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ"

"For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." (2Corinthians 8:9)


"GOD wants us to know His Grace. He wants us to learn about it, and then to experience it at work in our lives. Grace has rightly been described as "unmerited favor," though I prefer benefit verses "merited favor."  The acrostic, "God's Riches At Christ's Expense," catches more of its majesty. Grace is GOD freely providing for us (as we trust in the work of His Son) all that we will ever need, all that we will ever yearn for, all that He has commanded us to walk in and to become, realities that we could never produce on our own, could never earn, and could never deserve. Grace offers what every human desperately needs, but what GOD alone can provide. The purpose of the old defunct testament, the word defunct maybe a bit harsh because we still need it as a tool for learning that brings understanding. For grace is at work within these books also but hidden from view. Except the Holy Spirit reveal it to us.

This grace is found only in a person, the Lord Jesus. It is the "grace of our Lord Jesus Christ." Thus, it is accessible only through an ongoing personal relationship with Him. 

Grace is made available to us by Jesus' willingness to take our spiritual bankruptcy upon Himself, that we might be able to partake of His spiritual richness. Before coming to earth below, Jesus enjoyed heavenly riches above ("that though He was rich"). He knew the infinitely rich fellowship of the Father and the Holy Spirit. He received the rich worship of angelic beings. He enjoyed the limitless prerogatives of deity. 

Then, for our benefit, Jesus voluntarily became poor ("for your sakes He became poor"). He humbled Himself to walk as a man among sinful humanity. He who was adored above became despised below. He who shined forth in glorious divinity in heaven was clothed in humble humanity on earth. He who created all things was slain by those He created. He who always existed in eternity past died in time. He who was holy took our sin upon Himself. 

Through these workings of His Grace, all who receive Him (John 1:14, 16) would become spiritually rich ("that you through His poverty might become rich"). Now, we whose "righteousness were as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6) have become "the righteousness of GOD in Him" (2Corinthians 5:21). We "who once were not a people . . . are now the people of GOD" (1Peter 2:10). Now, we have been "blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3).

Becoming a Disciple of Christ

Carrying on with our look at how we acquire the Christian Life with the Lord Jesus and grace as He moves us on to maturity in the truth and knowledge of Him and His being restored as the LORD of Genesis through Revelation. All being accomplished by revelation, the same revelation that the Prophets of old received in the same way. Because from the very begin Grace was in operation with the people of God as they walked daily with Him and were known as being righteous, or by walking with the LORD or hearing His voice....etc. Today looking at Pastor Hoekstra's writing on Grace and how we all start our own faith walk, having received Him as our Grace resource.

 "More on Walking with Jesus the Way We Received Him"
By Robert Hoekstra


"As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving." (Colossians 2:6-7)

"The manner in which we received the Lord Jesus is the very same manner in which we are to walk in Him. "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him." We received Him by grace, we must walk by grace. We were born again by the Spirit, we must walk by the Spirit. Furthermore, when we first received Christ, He was our only hope at Redemption. Now, we are to walk with Him the same way.

It is good to recall how Jesus was the comprehensive focus of our beginning with Him. When we received Him and His forgiveness by Redemption, we knew He had to provide all that was needed for our salvation. We agreed with the word GOD, that there is no other hope than Jesus. "Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me' . . . Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (John 14:6 and Acts 4:12). (Here "saved" is to kept from destruction that is to say removed as Noah and his family were removed from destruction, it also means to be restored to mans original condition, that is to say healed.) We knew that we could supply nothing ourselves. We were spiritually dead, having no righteousness at all: "dead in trespasses and sins . . . all our righteousness are like filthy rags" (Ephesians 2:1 and Isaiah 64:6). We had entered the blessed condition of being convicted of our own spiritual bankruptcy and stark nakedness. (Nakedness because we were not yet clothed in Christ as revelation shown by the Spirit within us. Causing us to wont more of Christ and His salvation.) "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3). Jesus was our comprehensive focus, our only hope. 

This is how we are to walk in Him daily. We need the Lord Jesus as much now for living the Christian life, as we needed Him at the beginning to be born again in Redemption on to His salvation. For growth and victory and fruitfulness, He is the one we must focus upon. "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the LORD, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving." We need to be rooted in Him, having our faith reaching out to Him for nutrition and strength, even as the roots of a tree reach into the soil. We need to be built up in Him, having our lives developed by His work in us. We need to be established in the faith, allowing Him to stabilize us through the study of His word. This will lead to lives of overflowing appreciation, grateful that "Christ is all and in all" (Colossians 3:11). Truly, we need the Lord Jesus the LORD as much now for living the Christian life, as we needed Him at the beginning to be born again into it."

Tomorrow we shall bring this all to a conclusion, the LORD willing.

Becoming a Disciple of Christ

Not long ago I looked at our being in agreement with GOD and by that we walk with Him as being One. This is in Amos 3:3 and Ephesians 4:1-7. Through this we fond out that we are restored to GOD and the Godhead is become One within us as is known by the Holy Spirit, there no longer being any division in this Oneness, as we live daily 24 / 7 / 365, the rest of our lives. With that being a fact and truth of Grace and our living by Grace. I want to look at what Pastor Hoekstra shares about this little known fact in our daily walk with the Lord Christ Jesus who is the LORD of both the old and New Covenants. Or put another way, HE is the Word always has been and will always be. By what Jeremiahs word or message states in 31:34.


"Walking with Jesus the Way We Received Him"
By Robert Hoekstra


"As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him . . . Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?" (Colossians 2:6 and Galatians 3:3)


"In this vital matter of relating rightly to the LORD, one common mistake is attempting to develop our Christian walk in a different manner than we began it. Our present verse points us to the proper outlook, one of unity. We are to build our life with the LORD upon the very same terms that we began in Newness of His life. "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him." We are to walk with Jesus the same way we received Him. Not as a babe but as an adult, perfect, mature and ascended as the Spirit, HE has always has been. Keeping in mind that He went into the wilderness as spirit restored to man after His baptism by John in the wilderness in living (flowing) waters. Water being a symbol of all humanity as also seen in the phrase "seas."

We received the Lord and His great salvation as part of the gifts of Grace. "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! . . . For by Grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God" (2Corinthians 9:15 and Ephesians 2:8). We must, therefore, walk in Him with a "grace-receiving" mentality. "And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for [upon] grace" (John 1:16). We must never attempt to treat the Christian life as something we can manufacture or earn. Sinful, earthly fathers were created with a desire to give beneficial gifts to their children. Even more so, our Holy, heavenly Father, the Father of spirits, has a heart to give all that is needed to those who are willing to ask and receive. "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:11). By this statement alone Jesus placed all of humanity on a level playing field be they Jew or Gentile removing any doubt that His word is not one of separation as so many believe. Who profess distinction between the nations as having some things spoken to but a few selected people. Therefore leaving separation as division or a compartmentalization, the vary sin of the flesh and man corrupted thinking.

Galatians 3:3 reinforces the necessity of keeping our pattern for beginning a walk with GOD the same one we use for developing this walk: "Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?" These rhetorical questions warn of the deadly danger of having our approach to Christian growth differ from how we found spiritual birth. The Holy Spirit alone is able to bring us spiritual birth. The flesh (mans earthly worldly wisdom of continued separation) of man can avail nothing. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6). The Holy Spirit must bring us spiritual progress and growth to maturity of perfection. The flesh can contribute nothing. "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing" (John 6:63). Any change in approach from spiritual birth to growth is foolishness. It is doomed to failure. 

We began by grace, so we must continue by grace. We began by the Spirit, so we must continue by the Spirit. Yes, we are to walk with Jesus the way we received Him. Any changes in approach are unacceptable, ineffective, impossible."

Tomorrow I will continue with this though.

Becoming a Disciple of Christ

We are looking at our becoming disciples of Christ and what is required of us in the prose as Pastor Hoekstra has covered it in his teaching on Grace and how Grace works within those receptive beings.

 "More on Following Jesus as a Disciple"
By Robert Hoekstra


"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me . . . My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me." (Luke 9:23 and John 10:27)


"As we have been considering, following Jesus as a disciple is another way to relate rightly to the LORD in humility and faith. The terms of discipleship are renouncing the self-life and confessing death for that self-life. "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily." Initially and continually, these humble and trusting responses to Jesus dealings with self, are the basic obstruction to our following / walking as one with Him.

Three simple words express the very heart of discipleship: "and follow Me." All of the Christian life can be summed up and fulfilled in this profound relationship of pursuing a humble and trusting walk with the LORD. It is the Will of GOD that we grow in His all-sufficient Grace. "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ" (2Peter 3:18). Jesus came overflowing with that grace. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us . . . full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). As we follow Him in humble dependency, He gives His grace to our lives.

Jesus has all that we need. In Him, the complete resources of the Godhead that we need for personal wholeness reside. "For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him" (Colossians 2:9-10). In Him, all wisdom and knowledge are contained: "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3). Jesus is the very life that we are called to live: "Christ who is our life" (Colossians 3:4). He is our "all and in all" (Colossians 3:11). If our life is His than I am HE and HE is me. We are One.

We need the Lord Jesus like sheep need a shepherd. In fact, our discipleship is a daily walk with Christ as portrayed in scripture as sheep following a shepherd. Those who are in the world are like sheep without a shepherd. What a needy picture that is. "But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd" (Matthew 9:36). Jesus, our shepherd, is the ultimate shepherd. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep" (John 10:11), herein His  life becomes our life because we have received His Life. Having died for us, our shepherd wants to lead us throughout our lives. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27). In humble dependency, we can hear His voice through His word and be led by His Spirit. Thereby, we enter into the fullness of the grace that GOD has for us during our pilgrimage here on this earth."

Becoming a Disciple of Christ

Jesus in His Divine earthly ministry called those who would choose to walk in His way to become a disciple of Him. So the first thing is what is a disciple? Webster's 1828 Dictionary has this to say about this term: "1. A learner; a scholar; one who receives or professes to receive instruction from another; as the disciples of Plato. 2. A follower; an adherent to the doctrines of another. Hence the constant attendants of Christ were called his disciples; and hence all Christians are called his disciples, as they profess to learn and receive his doctrines and precepts." So a disciple is one who is disciplined in the learning of Him as Jesus stated in Matthew 11:29 where we find this statement in the ESV translation, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." But to get the full impact allow me to show the whole of this passage beginning at verse 25, 25-27, 28-30; "At that time Jesus declared, "I thank You, Father, LORD of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.
Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Now why did He state this in this manor do you suppose? Because as He asked me in an audible way as a question, 'Are you ready to take My yoke upon you and learn of Me?' Could be the answer.

Over the past seven years of this blog I have been looking into the secret things of GOD also called mysteries. Now I will look at becoming a disciple with the help of Pastor Hoekstra's writings beginning now.


"Following Jesus as a Disciple"
By Robert Hoekstra


"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . Follow Me . . . If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me." (Matthew 28:19; John 1:43; and Luke 9:23)


"Living daily in GOD's Grace depends upon getting to know Him and then walking in the humility and grace that are consequences of growing in communion and fellowship with Him, again. We have reflected upon four ways to relate rightly to the LORD in humility and faith: living by the Spirit, living by resurrection power, living by the sufficiency of GOD, and living by the promises of GOD. Another example is our following Jesus as a disciple. 

When our Lord was about to leave His disciples, He gave them the marching orders that were to guide the lives of His people until He would return. "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations." Jesus had been calling out people to follow Him as disciples. Now, they were to continue doing the same. A disciple is a follower of a Master (a key meaning fond within the term, LORD), who guides and shapes the lives of His followers. Jesus is the ultimate Master, Who gives us a new life in Him — life eternal. Jesus' invitation to discipleship was "Follow Me." Along with this invitation, Jesus often explained the terms of discipleship: "If anyone desires to come after Me." This would inform the willing and interested about how to respond. These terms dramatically depict the necessity of relating to the Lord in humility and faith. As it did with the first disciples and those who stood out who became Apostles, as those who were sent out.

The first aspect of being a disciple of Jesus is renouncing the self-life. "Let him deny himself." This amounts to a refusal to attempt to develop a life that can be produced by natural human resources (which everyone inherits from Adam through physical birth). This is a repudiation of self-righteousness, self-sufficiency, self-help, self-sufficiency, self-exaltation, and the like. Our willingness to embrace this term of discipleship will be seen by a humble agreement with similar biblical pronouncements. "Make no provision for the flesh" (Romans 13:14). Those denying self are not wanting the flesh to have opportunities to indulge itself. "The flesh profits nothing" (John 6:63). Those who renounce self confess its total spiritual bankruptcy. We "have no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3). Those who repudiate the self-life do not want to place any hope in the spiritual resources of the flesh. "That no flesh should glory in His presence" (1Corinthians 1:29). Those denying the self-life agree that nothing of the flesh can ever boast in itself before the LORD GOD almighty.


"If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me . . . But God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." (Luke 9:23 and Galatians 6:14)


Following Jesus as a disciple is one way to relate rightly to the LORD in humility and faith. The first aspect of following Jesus involves renouncing our natural self-life. "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself." It is certainly humbling to admit that any life we could develop by our own natural resources is unacceptable to the LORD and must be repudiated. The next aspect of being a disciple is also humbling. 

This second issue in discipleship is the cross: "and take up his cross." When Jesus spoke of the cross, He was speaking of the ultimate instrument of execution in His day. Consequently, after renunciation of self, we are to confess death of self. The means of this death is the cross of Christ. Those who want to follow Jesus as disciples are to take the cross of Christ as their own personal cross. In doing so, they are admitting to GOD that they deserved to die upon that cross. "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). Furthermore, they are agreeing with the word of GOD that Jesus died upon that cross on their behalf. "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures . . . who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree" (1Corithians 15:3 and 1Peter 2:24). This gospel (which brings forgiveness of sins and a circumcision of the hearts flesh covering (an outer shell of resistance) in which there was a hardness for all who would believe in faith, this covering restricted faith from being faith. Much like mans many forms of religions do as they all express a type of self within them) includes the essential truth of the resurrection. "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you . . . that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1Corithians 15:1, 3-4).

Another wondrous benefit of the cross is that we who believe Jesus also died there with Him. "Knowing this, that our old man (the shell of resistance) was crucified with Him" (Romans 6:6). The old self-life that we were developing while "in Adam" (1Corinthians 15:22) was executed on the cross with Christ. Yes, the cross is the way out of this world of dead sinners, and we can rightly boast in that truth. "But GOD forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world." Meanwhile, the attitudes and resources of the old man persist in our flesh (our natural humanity that remains in the outer flesh). Thus, we are to renounce self and confess death to self day by day: "let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily."

Our Spiritual Richness is our Receiving within the GOD of all Grace

As we together have been on this trail and trial of discovery of all that pertains to Christ and GOD we are about come to an end. But do not loose hope or faith as GOD by His Grace will keep on training and revealing even more meaning and purpose of Himself now having been restored within us as the LORD's prayer of John 17 reveals. In which we learn that the lost fellowship is restored as Promised and upon which all scripture is based, when rightly divided, that is to say understood. Now for Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace as our resource of all things needed upon which we are to be dependent while we journey on this earth and its limited life upon which we are not to depend. But sin and flesh say otherwise.The LORD in His wisdom has provided us with good resources to assist in our learning of Him. And it would be foolish not for us to make use of them.

 "Even More on Relating Rightly to the God of All Grace"
By Pastor Robert Hoekstra



"The God of all grace . . . Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God . . . He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises." (1Peter 5:10; 2Corinthians 3:5; and Hebrews 8:6)


"If we are going to live by grace as GOD intends, we must get to know "the GOD of all grace." As we get to know Him, humility and faith develop in our lives. They are relational realities. They become real in our lives as a result of getting to know the Lord, Who is the LORD, better and better. As we walk with the Lord in humble dependency, we are living by the grace of God. The Lord gives grace to the humble (1Peter 5:5 and James 4:6), and faith accesses grace (Romans 5:2; 4:16). The scriptures indicate that there are many ways to relate rightly to the LORD in humility and faith. In our previous meditations, we saw that living by the Spirit and living by resurrection power are two examples of this truth. Now, we will consider two more examples. 

Living by the sufficiency of GOD is a profound opportunity to relate to the LORD in humility and faith. This heavenly perspective begins with a declaration of our own inadequacy. "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves." It is true that we as disciples of Jesus Christ are so inadequate that we are unable to produce any of the Christian life ourselves. Jesus Himself taught this radical fact. "Without Me you can do nothing" (John 15:5). If we embrace this humbling truth, we are walking in humility before the Lord. The corresponding declaration points us to the source that we need. "But our sufficiency is from GOD." Only GOD's resources are sufficient to produce the kind of fruitful spiritual life that GOD calls us to live. Jesus taught this great truth as well. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit" (John 15:5). If we accept this encouraging truth, we are walking in faith ever toward the LORD. 

Living by the promises of GOD offers another significant opportunity to relate through the LORD in humility and faith. "He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises." The promises of the old covenant of Law (which are basically, "Do these commands, and you shall live" — see Leviticus 18:5) depend on man's ability and faithfulness. The better promises of the New Covenant of Grace depend upon GOD's ability and faithfulness. Abraham was "fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform" (Romans 4:21). Sarah "judged Him faithful who had promised" (Hebrews 11:11). It is humbling to know that we can't perform well enough to enjoy the promises of the Law. Contrariwise, it is faith building to know we can trust in the LORD to fulfill all His promises of Grace."

Our Spiritual Richness is our Receiving within the GOD of all Grace

I was planning to stop doing this post as it is, but there remains but a few more of Pastor Hoekstra's writings dealing with the GOD of all Grace and His now becoming part of our being. So I will go to Pastor Hoekstra and his writing without hesitation.


"More on Relating Rightly to the God of All Grace"
By Robert Hoekstra

"The God of all grace . . . it is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing . . . that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection." (1Peter 5:10; John 6:63; and Philippians 3:10)


"In order to live day by day by grace, we must relate rightly to "the God of all grace" (1Peter 5:10). Essentially, this involves the developing of a personal relationship with the LORD. "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent" (John 17:3). A growing relationship with the true and living GOD produces the relational realities of humility and faith. Thereby, we are able to live by the grace of God: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble . . . We have access by faith into this grace in which we stand" (1Peter 5:5 and Romans 5:2). 

As we are in the word of God, growing in the knowing of GOD, there are many ways to appropriately express humility and faith toward the LORD. We have emphasized a number of these in previous sections of these devotions. Living by the Spirit was one of these. "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing." The spiritual life that the Holy Spirit alone can provide is what the new covenant of grace offers to man. GOD "made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2Corithians 3:6). As we humbly depend upon the Spirit, GOD graciously fills our lives with His life. 

We considered another way to walk relationally in humility and faith in living by the power of the resurrection: "That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection." Yes, resurrection power is available for daily Christian living. "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know . . . what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:18-20). Of course, our experiencing this power hinges upon our humbly admitting that we have no power on our own, and then relying on His mighty power. 

Living by the Spirit and living by resurrection power are two ways to relate rightly to the GOD of all Grace. They both are experienced through humble dependency. They both result in the Grace of GOD becoming our daily resource from the LORD."

Our Spiritual Richness is our Receiving within the GOD of all Grace

Todays blog lines up with the writing of Norman Grubbs and Ian Thomas with the restoration and transformation of GOD within man as the LORD's Prayer states in John 17. The precious given that man may receive Him. To this even Pastor Hoekstra speaks in his teaching on Grace and the GOD of all Grace. So I am not alone on this the basis of all faith. As with Jesus it is not heresy to trust in Him word about the revelation. Though it draws much precaution form the religious and unbelieving world.

 "Relating Rightly to the God of All Grace"
By Pastor Robert Hoekstra


"The God of all grace . . . to the praise of the glory of His grace . . . the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ . . . the Spirit of grace." (1Peter 5:10; Ephesians 1:6 and Hebrews 10:29)


"Our LORD God is "the God of all Grace." GOD's comprehensive and infinite grace is characteristic of all the Godhead (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). The Father will be honored forever for His Grace, so we read: "to the praise of the glory of His Grace." The Son makes this grace available to all who believe, so it is called "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ." The Spirit applies this grace in the hearts of those who follow Jesus Christ, so He is called "the Spirit of Grace." Grace is found in GOD alone. Therefore, one must relate rightly to the God of all grace in order to receive all that He desires to give us in fulfilling His purposes and glorifying His name. 

The fundamental manner for relating to the GOD of Grace is the developing of a personal relationship. Not through mans many and varied religions or denominational titles. Getting to know GOD is what life with the LORD is all about. "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true GOD, and Jesus Christ Whom You have sent" (John 17:3). In fact, knowing the Lord is man's ultimate treasure in all of creation. Everything else that competes is to be considered as loss. "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my LORD, for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:7-8). It is not surprising then that getting increasingly acquainted with the Lord is the way that His grace impacts our lives. "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of GOD and of Jesus our LORD" (2Peter 1:2). 

As we are getting to know the GOD of all Grace more and more, He is developing in our lives two strategic relational realities: humility and faith. We have looked at these two spiritual qualities many times throughout our meditations. As seen through the eyes of many people along the way to this point in this blog. Repeated reflection on these two realities is appropriate, since they unfold the practical heart of living daily by God's grace. "Be clothed with humility, for 'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble' " (1Peter 5:5). God's grace is given to those who "walk humbly with [their] God" (Micah 6:8). Likewise, faith accesses grace. "We have access by faith into this grace in which we stand" (Romans 5:2). Walking in humble dependency is the way to relate rightly to the GOD of all Grace."

Our Spiritual Richness

I want to look a little deeper into the fact that we as receptive beings the revelation of Christ Jesus and His being given for our reception to keep us in GOD's plan and purposes. This to my understanding is what was lacking in the many denominations and churches that I have visited over my short lifetime. Especially in those who simply rely on the literalness of the word. Why or what is the reason of this short coming, the simplest answer is because they all lacked faith, and that means they lacked GOD's Spirit within them. Now for Pastor Hoekstra's writing as it pertains to our being receptive of GOD and His working within by His Spirit.


"The Comprehensive, Freely Giving Plan of God"
By Pastor Hoekstra


"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)


"By the free gift of GOD's Grace, ministry is given to us. "I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me" (Ephesians 3:7). By His Grace at work in us, our ministry can be marked with courage and selflessness. "None of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself" (Acts 20:24). This pattern of grace fits the entire plan of GOD, because His plan is so comprehensive, because it is a freely giving plan. Freely give to those who humbly and wholeheartedly seek for it.

As we have seen, "give," is the language of grace. Note the extent to which GOD desires to give to us. He wants to "freely give us all things." Everything that GOD considers as needful for fullness of life, He freely makes available by His grace. The scriptures repeatedly speak in such comprehensive terms. "His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness" (2Peter 1:3). All that it takes to live as GOD intends and to grow in godliness as He desires has already been given to us in Christ. As we continue to get to know the Lord, all that He has given us in Christ is progressively brought into our experience: "through the knowledge of Him Who called us by glory and virtue" (2Peter 1:3). 

The death of Christ is our assurance of having the comprehensive dimensions of GOD's grace fully available to us: "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all." Jesus is the Father's deeply loved Son. Through a prophet of old, the Father proclaimed this divine love. "Behold! My Servant Whom I uphold, My Elect One in Whom My soul delights!" (Isaiah 42:1). When the Son was on this earth, the Father directly declared His loving delight from heaven. "And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased' " (Matthew 3:17). Jesus is persistently revealed as the object of the Father's love: "The Father loves the Son . . . the Son of His love" (John 3:35 and Colossians 1:13). The magnitude of the Father's love for His Son is behind His love gift to us. "For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16). Our loving and generous Father has not held back from us the sacrificial gift of His beloved Son, who died for our sins. Now, if He did not hold back His most prized treasure (His own beloved Son), there is no way that the Father will hold back any lesser gift from us. "How shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? "


"God Freely Giving, Man Humbly Receiving"
By Pastor Hoekstra

"He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? . . . What do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you glory as if you had not received it?" (Romans 8:32 and 1Corinthians 4:7)


"The LORD's plan for rescuing and transforming lives by His grace is established by the Son of GOD being given for us as a sacrifice for our sins: "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all." This gift of GOD's Son assures us that GOD will also give us with Christ everything we need. "How shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? " GOD's giving is to be coupled with man's receiving. As GOD is freely giving to man, He wants man to be humbly receiving from Him. 

Every blessing that we have is received from GOD. "What do you have that you did not receive? " There is no other source from which we can receive true spiritual benefits than the LORD above. "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven" (John 3:27). The joy of having Jesus dwelling in our heart-lives as the children (sons) of GOD becomes true in our receiving Him. "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12). The fact that we are now reconciled to GOD and are no longer His enemies is based upon us receiving the gift of reconciliation. "We also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation" (Romans 5:11). The privilege of serving the LORD for ministry is a gift of grace to be received: "the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24). The spiritual gifts that we need for enablement in our ministries is another blessing received from the LORD. "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another" (1Peter 4:10). 

From initial redemption through salvation our growth and service, all that is needed must be received from the LORD. This is an encouraging reality. Yet, it is also a humbling truth. It leaves no room for us to glory in ourselves. "Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you glory as if you had not received it?"

Our Spiritual Richness

In todays blog through the writing of Pastor Hoekstra we will find out that Jesus was the promised Israelite Messiah, who was give for mans reconciliation and then was given to us do indwell us as the Messiah or in the Greek, Chris. One of the many secrets or mysteries hidden in GOD by God for our searching and seeking of Him, Who is closer than our own brother.

 "Jesus Given for Us to be Given to Us"


"For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." (Romans 5:10)


"As the ultimate free gift of GOD's Grace, Jesus was given for us (dying for our sins): "He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all" (Romans 8:32). Moreover, He was given for us to be given to us (that He might express His life in and through us). Remember Norman Grubbs stated that we all start out life as Esaus and someplace along the way we are given a choice to remain an Esau or wrestle with GOD as did Jacob to then become Christ-ones, as in receiving Christ Jesus within our restored, renewed soul as born again from above. 
We began as enemies (enmity) of God. Certainly, we as well as those of Israelites were lost and condemned. The religious and those of the church world loose sight of this fact. Yet, our situation was even worse than that. Our lives worked against the purposes and plans of GOD: "And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works" (Colossians 1:21). Our evil thoughts and activities set us against the LORD in both mind and deed. The only way that we could become the friends of GOD was for Jesus to be given as a sacrifice for us. "When we were enemies we were reconciled to GOD through the death of His Son." The Lord Jesus had to deal with our dual problem of sin and unrighteousness. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of GOD in Him" (2Coritnhians 5:21). The Father graciously placed our sins on His Son that He might give His righteousness to us. For all who would believe in Christ, this brought the precious gift of reconciliation (the turning of enemies into friends). 

Even after this rich grace of reconciliation, the LORD had "much more" yet to give us. "For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to GOD through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." What remained after Jesus being given for us (for our reconciliation) was for Him to be given to us. This is related to Jesus as the Christ, Christ being Spirit, coming to dwell within us that we could be "saved by His life." Why do the friends of Jesus still need to be saved? Well, His followers would be persistently threatened by the world, the flesh, and the devil. They would still be vulnerable to such matters as, temptation, doubt, fear, fruitlessness, distraction, inadequacy, and more. How then would they be saved? This ongoing rescuing work of the LORD would be "by His life" — by Christ Jesus living in and through His people. "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). Jesus as the Victorious Christ and LORD was not, and is not, susceptible to any of these threatening issues. When He is allowed to express His life in and through us, each of us finds all that we need all of the time. This astounding statement is true, because "Christ is all and in all" (Colossians 3:11)." Just as the LORD, Yehovah, Adoni was expressed in many titles, such as Yehovah-Mackidish, Yehovah-Salom.....ect., of need acted to fill the need required for each of His fellows. So He is still active now within and then through those who are One now with Him in agreement.

Our Spiritual Richness

Today I must say that I have nothing of the LORD other than early morning dreams of comfort. So I just may simply share Pastor Hoekstra's writing on Grace, which is our sufficiency for all of our needs. Just as those of old had Yehovah-Sidkanue. The first is our being born a new in spirit and truth which the foolish deny as did Esau his birth rite and they therefore may remain as Esaus and will never find repentance. For all start out as an Esau, from which we are to progress on to become a type of Jacob, after we wrestle with the LORD of Glory. By this we also become a type of Abraham's seed of promise to honor him who knew GOD. This does not by any means make us a type of Israel who awaits her King the son of David's promise by GOD. This Israel denied for our benefit as spoken in prophecy. We are however heirs of GOD's many and varied promises through Christ our Master and as such has become our LORD and father, husband and husbandman and the Vine into Whom we are engrafted. All making us heirs of His Heir-ship of promise in His spiritual kingdom of heaven. Years ago the LORD said that through His training we would be able to put the scriptures together and that is what I am seeing today being played out.


 "Courageous, Selfless Ministry by the Grace of God"

"But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God." (Acts 20:24)


"Paul was given ministry by the Grace of GOD. "I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me" (Ephesians 3:7). To put it another way, he received his ministry from the LORD: "the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus." Paul's bountiful ministry was developed by the Grace of GOD. "I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1Corinthians 15:10). Also, his ministry was to declare GOD's Grace: "to testify to the Gospel of the Grace of GOD." Paul's life demonstrated that such "grace saturates" for service leads to courageous, selfless ministry.

Paul's ministry was courageous. "But none of these things move me." The things that Paul faced were formidable. "The Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me" (Acts 20:23). Down through the centuries, matters less substantial than these have moved many a professing Christian from completing his calling. Yet, by leaning upon the sustaining Grace of GOD, Paul courageously endured great hardship and danger in the service of the Gospel of Grace. "But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of GOD: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings" (2Corinthians 6:4-5). 

Related to this courageous service was Paul's selflessness: "nor do I count my life dear to myself." This is the result of our own tribulation and trials when they are allowed to do what the LORD-GOD intends of them in our lives. In the molding and shaping of Christ's image and likeness in our soul. Soon, Paul would encounter another sober warning. It was given from a prophet of the LORD, who took Paul's belt and bound his own hands and feet. "So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles" (Acts 21:11). Those standing by, who loved Paul deeply, urged him not to proceed. Nevertheless, Paul confessed his willingness to even lose his life for the gospel, if necessary. "Then Paul answered, 'What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus' " (Acts 21:13). Such renouncing of self allowed Paul to "finish [his] race with joy." Thus his final testimony would become, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2Timothy 4:7)." This is the out come for us as well when we have walked as directed by the LORD to accomplish His goals for us on the earth before we are taken home.

Our Spiritual Richness

By way of a reminder I am looking at Ephesians 4:4-6 with emphasis on verse 6 which states this, "one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Keeping with this theme we just looked at Christ's pre-eminence and my next target is Christ's dominion. But first Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace that is given for GOD's work of ministry. Then making use of the ESV translation and the LORD's watchfulness I will look at Christ's dominion.


"Given Ministry by the Grace of God"

"Of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." (Ephesians 3:7-8)

"As we have seen, "give" is the language of grace. "I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus." Our heavenly Father wants to give us all the blessings of His kingdom as a gift of His Grace. "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32). No wonder then that we are given ministry by the Grace of God. 

The Apostle Paul had a special stewardship entrusted to Him by God's Grace. "If indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you" (Ephesians 3:2). This special calling given to him by God concerned the miracle of Jew and Gentile being made one in Christ (as the body of Christ): "that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel" (Ephesians 3:6). This wondrous "mystery of Christ" (Ephesians 3:4) was a distinctive emphasis of his ministry. "Of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power." Paul repeatedly stated that this ministry calling was given to him by grace. "To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." 

On other occasions, Paul spoke of his ministry without referring to this special emphasis of Jews and Gentiles becoming one in Christ. Still, he described his ministry in the same terms of grace given to him. "According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation" (1Corinthians 3:10). Here, Paul views his service unto the LORD as a spiritual builder, who is being used to lay a spiritual foundation for the construction of godly lives. God's grace given to him to equip him for, and sustained him in, such service. 

We are all called to serve our Master. In our hearts there is a desire to be used of our LORD. How comforting to know that our ministry will develop by God's grace given to us. Grace upon more grace as needed. Again, humble dependency is the path to such grace for ministry. "To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given."


Christ's Dominion:


Eternal,

Isaiah 9:1-7 "For there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time He brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time He has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; You have increased its joy; they rejoice before You as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of His burden, and the staff for His shoulder, the rod of His oppressor, You have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this."

Universal,

Zechariah 9:1-10 "The oracle of the word of the LORD is against the land of Hadrach and Damascus is its resting place. For the LORD has an eye on mankind and on all the tribes of Israel, and on Hamath also, which borders on it, Tyre and Sidon, though they are very wise. Tyre has built herself a rampart and heaped up silver like dust, and fine gold like the mud of the streets. But behold, the Lord will strip her of her possessions and strike down her power on the sea, and she shall be devoured by fire. Ashkelon shall see it, and be afraid; Gaza too, and shall writhe in anguish; Ekron also, because its hopes are confounded. The king shall perish from Gaza; Ashkelon shall be uninhabited; a mixed people shall dwell in Ashdod, and I will cut off the pride of Philistia. I will take away its blood from its mouth, and its abominations from between its teeth; it too shall be a remnant for our God; it shall be like a clan in Judah, and Ekron shall be like the Jebusites. Then I will encamp at My house as a guard, so that none shall march to and fro; no oppressor shall again march over them, for now I see with My own eyes. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and He shall speak peace to the nations; His rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth."


Over Nature,

Matthew 8:23-27 and Mark 1:21-28; John 3:31-36 "When Jesus got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but He was asleep. And they went and woke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we perish." And He said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then He rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey Him?"

Mark 1:21-28 "They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of GOD." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." At once His fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee."

John 3:31-36 (John the Baptist is speaking) "He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what He has seen and heard, yet no one receives His testimony. Whoever receives His testimony sets his seal to this, that GOD is true. For he whom GOD has sent utters the words of GOD, for HE gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, for the wrath of GOD remains on him."

Over the Church,

Ephesians 1:15-23 "For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the GOD of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which HE has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that HE worked in Christ when HE raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And HE put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all."


Over Heavenly Powers,

1Peter 3:13-22 "Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the LORD as Holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be GOD's Will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to GOD, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit [Spirit], in which He went and proclaimed to the spirits (departed souls) in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when GOD's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to GOD for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of GOD, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to Him."

Our Spiritual Richness

We are looking at the LORDSHIP of Christ Jesus who put aside His Deity as the LORD of hosts to put on the anointed one of promise as the promise Messiah of Israel or as the Greek term shows us the Christ of GOD. Within Whom the fullness of the GOD Head dwelt within when He received the baptism of repentance of John the Baptist's assignment. Jesus being the last in the line of Israel's Prophet King David and the one like onto Moses and carried Moses' anointing as being a man approved of GOD to bring redemption to Israel, but Israel said that it did not wont Him to be their King. This also being of prophecy. Today I will look at the pre-eminence of Christ.....for all of the old testament has Him in the form of Jehovah, Adoni or just Yehovah with His many and varied titles, upon Whom the prophets and the righteous ones knew in substance as their provider of what they needed at the time and place of the need. But before I get into that I will look at Pastor Hoekstra's teaching on Grace and the language of Grace all being accomplished in and through the anointed one, Christ the LORD. Who is and Lives His Life within me, as He is to do within you, for it is no longer the I of sin that rules me, but the I of His Grace based on faith and righteousness active within me. I would like to share from Norman Grubbs (But at this moment I have nothing of his to place herein.) and his revelation of the Holy One now ruling from within our heart and soul in His divine kingdom that is eternal in the heavens and is made without human hands but GOD's, as the LORD. We being conjoined to Him Who is the Father of spirit's in His Salvation. It is now late in the PM of this day and I am adding what Norman Grubbs has revealed in his post, at the end of this posting.


"Give, the Language of Grace"
By Pastor Hoekstra


"I have written more boldly to you on some points . . . because of the grace given to me by God . . . I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus." (Romans 15:15 and 1Corinthians 1:4)


"The Grace of GOD (which produces boldness in those who live by it) is a gift from GOD. "I have written more boldly to you on some points . . . because of the grace given to me by God." In fact, "give" is basic to the language of grace.


When Paul began his first letter to the believers in Corinth, he emphasized this truth. "I thank my God always concerning you for the Grace of GOD which was given to you by Christ Jesus." This is the starting point for all of the work of GOD in human hearts. The initial work of salvation is by the gift of GOD's Grace. None of it was produced by the work of man. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the Gift of GOD, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). This same pattern of the giving of Grace is true concerning every good thing that GOD wants to accomplish in receptive man. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17). This alone bugle's the natural, literal, earthy mans mind. That is why we are to become born from above through our re-birthing of the hidden man of GOD's spirit within each of us. As first spoken of after man was separated from our Father of spirits in a death of that one and the same spirit in Genesis 3:15.


Whatever GOD wants to do in the family of man is by His Grace, must be given to us by Him. This is true concerning eternal life. "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish" (John 10:28). This also pertains to the Holy Spirit in our lives. "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever" (John 14:16). It is also true concerning spiritual gifts. "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all . . . But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift" (1Corinthians 12:7 and Ephesians 4:7). This pattern applies to spiritual rest and peace as well. "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest . . . Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you" (John 11:28; 14:27). When it comes to the greatest matter of all (getting to know the Lord better), GOD must give to us what is required for such growth: "that the GOD of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him" (Ephesians 1:17). All of these precious benefits of Grace are from GOD, and are a result of His giving of His Grace into our lives.


Will the giving heart of GOD ever cease toward us? We need never fear that GOD will be tire of giving us Grace. "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32)."


The Pre-eminence of Christ,

Matthew 3:11-12 [John the Baptist is speaking] "I baptize you with water for repentance, but He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor and gather His wheat into the barn, but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire." [Acts 2:31]


John 3:31-36; 13:12-30, Acts 2:29-36 (John the Baptist is speaking) "He Who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He Who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what He has seen and heard, yet no one receives His testimony. Whoever receives His testimony sets His seal to this, that GOD is true. For He Whom GOD has sent utters the words of GOD, for HE gives the Spirit without measure. The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of GOD remains on him.*"

*GOD's wrath is both within natural earthy man and it can also come upon both the unsaved and saved, unredeemed man, even the man who is in GOD's Salvation it can only come upon him. As a firey dart of the evil one, which he now has the power to resist because the LORD's grace is our sufficiency because we draw His strength in our weakness.

John 13:12-20 "When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His outer garments and resumed His place, He said to them, "Do you understand what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, am your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, 'He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me(in Psalm 41:9).' I am telling you this now, before it takes place, that when it does take place you may believe that I am HE. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One Who sent Me."
Acts 2:29-36 [Peter is speaking] "Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that GOD had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the (Messiah) Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. (in 2Samuel 7:12f, Psalm 89:3f) This Jesus GOD raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of GOD, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, HE has poured (given) out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, "'The LORD said to My Lord, "Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool (Psalm 110:1)."' Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that GOD has made Him both LORD and Christ, this Jesus Whom you crucified."

Romans 14:5-9 "One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to GOD, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to GOD. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the LORD's. For to this end Christ died and lives again, that He might be LORD both of the dead and of the living."


Colossians 1:15-20 "He is the image of the invisible GOD, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And HE (the LORD) is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And HE is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything HE might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of GOD was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself are all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross."

Hebrews 1:1-4 "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, GOD spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days HE has spoken to us by His Son, Whom HE appointed the Heir of all things, through Whom also HE created the world. He is the expressed radiance of the glory of GOD and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become  much more superior to angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs."

Hebrews 3:1-6, 8:1-6 "Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, Who was faithful to Him Who appointed Him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is GOD.) Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over GOD's house as a Son. And we are His house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope."


Hebrews 8:1-6 "Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the LORD set up, not man. For every high priest is appointed to offer gifts and sacrifices; thus it is necessary for this priest also to have something to offer. Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are priests who offer gifts according to the Law. They serve as a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by GOD, saying, "See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain." But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant HE mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises."


Revelation 1:9-11 "I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance that are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos on account of the word of GOD and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying, "I AM Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and What you see, Write in a book and send it to the seven churches, to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."


Romans
By Norman P. Grubb

"Well, now we will finish briefly those last chapters of Romans. We see that we move right out of the “inner” to the “outer” now. Because the whole purpose of God is that we might be in an “inner” relationship by which He communicates Himself out from us to others. So we are in this third stage, which we call the Fatherhood stage, the Priesthood stage, the Ascended stage when it is He, as a Spirit, coming through us, reproducing Himself in others, so that others become expressions of Christ, even as by infinite grace, we have become. We saw all of Paul’s heart concern with his own people.

We start at home beginning at Jerusalem. So, we will start with a heart concern and a purpose, which has a burden in it until we can replace the burden by the assurances of God for those with whom we are personally connected. That is where this outflow begins. It begins in the ninth chapter, when Paul says he would give up his own hope of heaven, if through grace he could be the agent by which his own people could find their hopes in the grace of God. Then it turns his intercession into an inner assurance. He had to find a stabilization to it, so he went through this magnificent presentation of the total Sovereignty of God, which could only be accepted by faith, not by reason. It shows that we have to give up our own opinions and accept God’s totality in evil and good—that God is meaning evil as He is meaning good. And, then as we move in by faith we can understand and explain this. We can see that the meaning of evil is only this negative necessity which prepares us to find the positive—the positive being the free Grace of God—and that conditions us to find that we are in need of the grace of God. Therefore, we see in the end that we are all hated Esaus if we remain in our fallen condition. But, that is not real. It is hate because it had to be hate in that condition. The real is underneath; this other is sort of a surface hate. The real underneath is always the Eternal Love of God.

Then we find that grace has always been a free fact. So that, through Jesus Christ every human being can be a Jacob, who is God’s precious person, through faith. We see that His determined purposes are fulfilled both in our lost condition and our saved condition. We move in by faith which means that we transfer ourselves from our own false self affirmations and do what Paul did. “What things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.” And then we move into faith; then we change from being Esaus to being Jacobs. Paul traced that through and finally says, “There is something special about those people through whom we knew Jesus Christ. There couldn’t have come a Jesus Christ unless there was a Living God Who had certain holy standards presented by laws, so that we understand that we are sinners. We had to have the Law to find the knowledge of the Law in order to find the knowledge of sin, even though they misused the Law, although certain ones did not. But, it has prepared the way and the possibility of a Savior.

When the Savior came, He was a Jew. So among the Jews came our Jew-Messiah. Then He fulfilled His course through this strange obstinate way in which they themselves slew their own Messiah for our sakes, as it were, that the world of the Gentiles might have a Savior, and yet the Gentiles are only saved through the Jews. Paul was a Jew. All the Apostles were Jews. So, the whole outbirth of this church of Jesus Christ has a Jewish basis, an Israelist basis. So, it is right that we should have a respect, a thankfulness, a special love for the people who humanly we wouldn’t love. Humanly the world despises the Jews for many reasons, but we don’t see it. We see them as God’s Chosen People. And so, with Paul in intercession he is able to see through. Probably we couldn’t see through unless we have this intercessory burden, that he was able to see through to the finality—that the gifts and calling of God are without repentance (Num. 23:19)—that God has ultimate purpose for the Jewish race. They have been special agents of God. Then he said, “All Israel will be saved.” We can’t wholly explain that, yet. He is linked first with the completion of the work of Grace among the Gentiles—until the full number of the Gentiles come into the fold—then Israel will move back into the fold. In some way our mercy will bring mercy to them."

Our Spiritual Richness

Today I am continuing with the theme of the LORDSHIP of Christ and our need for more Grace to accomplish GOD's purposes and plan. Which are His Will for all of mankind and especially those called out to be His agents in whom HE is the agency and through whom HE works, by faith. This being accomplished only after we realize that we are as Esaus, for that reason I want to share from Hebrews 12, making use of the ESV in the following statement, before looking at Pastor Hoekstra and my targeted subject for today.


Hebrews 12:1-2, 3-11, 12-13, 14-17, 18-24 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely to us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of GOD.

Consider Him Who endured from sinners such hostility against Himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. Or have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the LORD, nor be weary when reproved by Him. For the LORD disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives." It is for discipline that you have to endure. For it is GOD treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? For "If," you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but HE disciplines us for our good, that we may share His Holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

Therefore Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the LORD. (Amos 3:3) See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of GOD; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned." Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear (extreme reverence and awe)." But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living GOD, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to GOD, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."


"More on the Boldness of Grace"
by Pastor Hoekstra


"I have written more boldly to you on some points . . . because of the grace given to me by God . . . Great is my boldness of speech toward you." (Romans 15:15 and 2Corinthians 7:4)


"When the Grace of GOD is at work in the lives of His people, spiritual boldness is a common result. This was clearly the testimony of the early church. "They spoke the word of GOD with boldness ... ... And great grace was upon them all" (Acts 4:31, 33).


The Apostle Paul experienced this same boldness, as he ministered by the Grace of GOD. "I have written more boldly to you on some points . . . because of the grace given to me by GOD." Paul's letters often display the boldness of grace. Romans was no exception. As he applied the radical truths of the Gospel of Grace (given in the earlier chapters of Romans), he spoke with characteristic boldness. His exhortation to lay our lives on GOD's altar is a prime example. "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of GOD, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to GOD, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect Will of GOD" (Romans 12:1-2, I made this my daily prayer for many years now as it sanctifies me and rededicates me every morning in the coolness of the day dawning). His call to be clothed in Christ, leaving no room for fleshly tendencies, is another notable instance. "Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy. But put on the LORD, Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts" (Romans 13:13-14). His pronouncement concerning the LORD's ownership of our lives is one more illustration. "For if we live, we live to (for) the LORD; and if we die, we die for the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the LORD's" (Romans 14:8).


When Paul wrote to the saints at Corinth, the boldness of grace was again evidence. "Great is my boldness of speech toward you." Just prior to this confession of boldness, he had given a radical request concerning godly separation from the defilements of the world. "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of GOD with idols? For you are the temple of the living GOD" (2Corinthians 6:14-16)."
For years I did not understand the separation that is demanded here, from the worlds religious forms but once this fact sank in we came out from among them. This took place back in 2007 after the LORD asked the hidden question of Matthew 11:27-30 and gave me the visual revelation of Galatians 2:20. What an impact this had on our lives.


Christ's LORDSHIP,


Luke 6:1-5 and Mark 2:23-28 "On a Sabbath, while He was going through the grain fields, His disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?" To this Jesus answered them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of GOD and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?" Then He said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."In Mark 2:23-28 we find this in verses 27-28, "Jesus said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."


Then in Peter's sermon to the heads of Judah and those of Jerusalem in Acts 2 in verses 29-36, we find this statement,
"Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that GOD had sworn with an oath to him that HE would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus GOD raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of GOD, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, HE has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but He Himself says, "'The LORD said to My Lord, "Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool."' Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that GOD has made Him both LORD and Christ, this Jesus Whom you crucified."  


Then Acts 5 Peter states this in verses 27-32, "When they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey GOD rather than men. The God of our fathers raised Jesus, Whom you killed by hanging Him on a tree. GOD has exalted Him at His right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, Whom GOD has given to those who obey Him."


Then Paul states this in Romans 10 in verses 5-13, "Moses writes about the righteousness that is based out of the Law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But righteousness is based on faith and says this, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) "or 'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead) [Deuteronomy 30:12]. But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart [Deuteronomy 30:14]" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe within your heart that GOD raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame. [Isaiah 28:16]" For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is LORD of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved."


1Corinthians 8:4-6 "Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one." For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many "gods" and many "lords"— yet for us there is one GOD, the Father, from Whom are all things and for Whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom are all things and through Whom we exist."


1Corinthians 12:1-3 and Ephesians 3:20-4:6 "Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of GOD ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit."
Ephesians 3:20-4:6 "Now to Him Who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. I therefore, a prisoner for the LORD, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one LORD, one faith, one baptism, one GOD and Father of all, Who is over all and through all and in all."

Our Spiritual Richness

I have been setting aside waiting on the LORD for guidance on what He wants me to look at next, well yesterday He gave me Colossians 1:11-16 which states this from the ESV, "May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible GOD, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him." Then this morning I looked at what Pastor Hoekstra has written on Grace which brought this into perspective with what I have concerning the LORD's kingdom into which we now bear witness of. This I will share after looking at Pastor Hoekstra, this is dealing with our transference into the LORD's kingdom. For there are / is nothing hidden that shall not be revealed by the LORD.

 
"The Boldness of Grace"
by Pastor Hoekstra


"Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word . . . and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness . . . And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all." (Acts 4:29, 31, 4:33)


"Those who serve GOD acceptably, must do so by grace seasoned with salt. "Let us have grace, by which we may serve GOD acceptably" (Hebrews 12:28). Those who serve by grace find that the boldness of grace develops in their lives.


The early church gave testimony to this reality. Soon after Jesus' ascension and the giving of the Holy Spirit, the disciples were boldly proclaiming Jesus as the Christ throughout Jerusalem. This was extremely aggravating to the religious leaders: "being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached Jesus proven Him to be the Christ in the resurrection from the dead" (Acts 4:2). When they arrested the disciples, Peter boldly preached Jesus as the Christ before the Jewish authorities. "This [Christ Jesus] is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.' Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name [the LORD Christ] under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:11-12). This bold application of prophecy and proclamation of the gospel astonished the religious establishment. "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John . . . they marveled" (Acts 4:13). Yet, in their hardness of heart, they further threatened the disciples. Being released, they gathered the church to pray for continued boldness. "Now, LORD, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word." The answer to this prayer was another filling with the Spirit, resulting in further boldness. "And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word [Christ Jesus] of GOD with boldness." This filling of the Holy Spirit brought great measures of GOD's Grace actively at work in their lives, sustaining this powerful witness of the risen Christ. "And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the LORD Christ Jesus. And greater grace was upon them all."


This is the boldness of the New Covenant of Grace. "Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech" (2Corinthians 3:12). This hope is New Covenant confidence, which is part of the abundant life that the GOD brings us by His Spirit of Grace: "who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2Corinthians 3:6)."

Now I am breaking from my normal custom to share this from Hebrews 12: 22-24, 25-29 "For you have come to Mount Zion [spiritual mount] and to the city of the living GOD, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to GOD, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Christ Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
See that you do not refuse Him Who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused Him Who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject Him Who warns from heaven. At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to GOD our acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our GOD is a consuming fire."

Now I will draw from the well of GOD's revelation of our transformation into the kingdom of the LORD, in Christ.

Kingdom of Christ,


Matthew 16:24-27, 28 :Jesus told His disciples, "If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul (his spiritual life)? Or what shall a man give in return for his (spiritual life as Esau gave away his) soul? For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then HE will repay each person according to what he has done.
Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom."

Luke 22:28-30 "You are those who have stayed with Me in My trials, and I assign to you, as My Father assigned to Me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."


John 18:33-36, 37-38 and Philippians 2:1-11; Hebrews 1:5-2:4; Revelation 11:15-18 "Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?" To this Jesus answered, "Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about Me?" Pilate answered, "Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You over to me. What have You done?" Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But My kingdom is not from the world."
Then Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice." Causing Pilate to say to Him, "What is truth?" After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, "I find no guilt in Him."

Philippians 2:1-11 "So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind [our discourse on Amos 3:3]. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, Who, though He was in the form of GOD, did not count equality with GOD a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself [of His sovereign deity], by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, HE humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore GOD has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name [of Christ-Jesus] that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of GOD the Father."

Hebrews 1:5-2:4 "For to which of the angels did GOD ever say, "You are My Son, today I have begotten You [in Psalm 2:7]"? Or again, "I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son [in 2Samuel 7:11]"? And again, when He brings the firstborn into the world, He says, "Let all God's angels worship Him. [in Psalm 97:7]" Of the angels HE says, "He makes His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire. [Psalm 104:4]" But of the Son HE says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore GOD, Your GOD, has anointed You with the oil of gladness beyond Your companions. [in Psalm 45:6-7]" And, "You, LORD, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of Your hands; they will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe You will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will have no end. [in Psalm 102:25-27" And to which of the angels has He ever said, "Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet [in Psalm 110:1, and Joshua 10:24]"?  Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the LORD, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while GOD also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will."

Revelation 11:15-18 "Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our LORD and of His Christ, and HE shall reign forever and ever." And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before GOD fell on their faces and worshiped GOD, saying, "We give thanks to You, LORD God Almighty, Who is and Who was, for You have taken Your great power and begun to reign. The nations raged, but Your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding Your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear [reverence and are in awe of] Your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth."


Revelation 17:8-14 "The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come. This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated; they are also seven kings, five of whom have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come, and when he does come he must remain only a little while. As for the beast that was and is not, it is an eighth but he belongs to the seven, and he goes to destruction. And the ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received royal power, but they are to receive authority as kings for one hour, together with the beast. These are of one mind, and they hand over their power and authority to the beast. They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for HE is LORD of lords and King of kings, and those with Him are called and chosen and faithful."