Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Spiritual Gifts)

I started the daunting task of discovering the Spiritual Gifts that belong to us in the LORD who are in the Now Covenant of Grace. I say daunting because as with the many Promises some of them belong solely to Israel and their time of restoration as the wife of GOD after the virgin Bride of the LORD Christ Jesus has been taken home. When those Promises and Gifts will then become operational in the Nation of Israel as the salt of the earth that regains its saltiness. But for our time of this Age of Grace in the New Now Covenant in which is the calling of a people, made up of all nations and all people that make up the virgin betrothed bride of Christ those gifts and promises do not belong to Israel as a Nation but only the people which are GOD's as a called out people as a whole within the scriptures. All that said I will now turn my attentions toward Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace and our time in this Age of a Body and Bride being formed from all peoples and races. As promised to the seed of Abraham and Isaac as being the families and nations in Genesis 12:3, 18:18, 22:18 and 26:4-5. Then with the use of the ESV translation and the LORD in both I will return my attentions to the Spiritual Gifts of Promise.

                    "The Process that Magnifies the Treasure"
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed." (2Corinthians 4:7-9)

As New Covenant servants (but not slaves and followers of Jesus Christ we) are in "earthen vessels," as ordinary clay earthen pots. Yet, in the container of our redeemed humanity dwells "this treasure," the Spiritual essence of the Son of GOD Himself. This arrangement calls for the treasure (Jesus), not the vessels (you and me) to be the object of all trust and the recipient of all glory: "that the excellence of the power may be of GOD and not of us." Appropriately, the LORD eons ago arranged a process that magnifies this treasure. This took place before the worlds were formed and during which Age, I say Age because until there was a day and a night there was no time in existence. There was only GOD (Elohim) and those things that HE made in HIS Divine universe. During that Age HE made a book and wrote within it all the names of the million upon millions of spirit people that were planned for. It is how we respond to HIM in this Now that determines by us whether our name remains written in this book of Life.

This process involves the every day pressures of life, which come from all sides. "We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed." Clay pots cannot withstand much pressure, but the treasure within us (ie..Christ) is able to keep us from being smashed. "Be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2Timothy 2:1)

The process that draws attention to the treasure also involves many perplexities. "We are perplexed, but not in despair." We face difficult decisions and impossible issues, but our Wonderful Counselor protects us from hopelessness: "in Whom are hidden all the treasures of (divine spiritual) wisdom and knowledge" (Colossians 2:3).

Persecutions are included in the process: "persecuted, but not forsaken." People accuse us, misunderstand us, or lie about us. Still, we know we are not abandoned by our LORD Who lives within us. "For He Himself has said, 'I Will never leave you nor forsake you' " (Hebrews 13:5).

Even the worlds catastrophes are a part of the process that magnifies the treasure Who indwells us: "struck down, but not destroyed." If all we have is the essence of evil within evil will be what is magnified, made known by our course of words and actions. And these things natural man loves as they have a sweet savory taste for him in his appetite for more sin. Circumstantial upheavals and overwhelming heartaches occur, but the LORD stabilizes our souls, so we don't "tip over" under the weight of these circumstances that are so common to man as a whole. "They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support" (Psalm 18:18).

Thus, life comes at us like an overpowering military tank, ready to flatten us. There is no natural hope, because clay pots can't handle tanks. Yet, as the dust clears, the flower pot of our lives can remain intact (if we are trusting in the able and faithful One Who lives in our hearts). There is no attacking tank that can overcome the LORD Christ Jesus. For "He Who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (1John 4:4).

The Promised Spiritual Gifts:

An Everlasting Name,
Isaiah 56:1-5 "Thus says the LORD: "Keep justice, and do righteousness, for soon My Salvation will come, and My Righteousness be revealed. Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath (when we have accepted the LORD's yoke of Matthew 11:28-30 we have then entered His Sabbath rest) and, not profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil." Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the LORD say, "The LORD will surely separate me from His people"; and let not the eunuch say, "Behold, I am a dry tree." For thus says the LORD: "To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths, who choose the things that please Me and hold fast My (Promised New Covenant of Grace here not yet seen or known) Covenant, I Will give in My house and within My walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I Will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off."


Spiritual Knowledge,
Jeremiah 24:4-7 "The word of the LORD came to me: "Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Like these good figs, so I will regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I have sent away from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down; I will plant them, and not pluck them up. I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be My people and I Will be their GOD, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart." (This was again rejected at Jesus' death and then the death of Stephen filled with the Holy Spirit , in Acts 7 and 8.)


A New Heart,
Ezekiel 11:14-21 "The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, your brothers, even your brothers, your kinsmen, the whole house of Israel, all of them, are those of whom the inhabitants of Jerusalem have said, 'Go far from the LORD; to us this land is given for a possession.' Therefore say, 'Thus says the LORD GOD: Though I removed them far off among the nations, and though I scattered them among the countries, yet I have been a sanctuary to them for a while in the countries where they have gone.' Therefore say, 'Thus says the LORD GOD: I Will gather you from the peoples and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I Will give you the land of Israel.' And when they come there, they will remove from it all its detestable things and all its abominations. (this has not as of yet taken place throughout the land of the Nation of Israel) And I Will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I Will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, (This has however happened to the people of all nations races and tongues including those Hebrew children who turn to the LORD Christ and come out from among them.) that they may walk in My statutes and keep My rules and obey them. And they shall be My people, and I Will be their GOD. But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I Will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the LORD GOD."


Spiritual Rest,
Matthew 11:25-27, 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. (Are you ready to) 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."


The Holy Spirit,
Luke 11:9-13 (Jesus is speaking) "I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"


Eternal Life,
John 10:22-39 and James 1:17 "At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. So the (Elitist high minded, those who opposed Him known as the) Jews gathered around Him and said to Him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name bear witness about Me, but you do not believe because you are not among My sheep (the common day Hebrew person during their Age). My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow (know Who I AM) Me. I give them Eternal Life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are One." The Jews (the Elitist high minded) picked up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works (proving the Father's Faithfulness to His Promises given to Israel as a nation) from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?" The Jews answered Him, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself GOD." ( I left in the lower case lettering to show the contempt for Jesus that these Elitist had toward Him, this same contempt is heard among the religious under law and [denom-nations or the worldly churches as] denominations to this every day) Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your Law, 'I said, you are gods'? If He called them gods to whom the word of GOD came—and Scripture cannot be broken— do you say of Him Whom the Father Consecrated and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I AM the Son of GOD'? If I am not doing the works (of Faith required) of My Father, then do not believe Me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me and I AM in the Father." Again they sought to arrest Him, but He escaped from their hands."

James 1:1, 17 "James, a servant of GOD and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
 Every good gift and every perfect Gift is from above, coming down from the Father of Lights with Whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."


A Spiritual Crown,
Revelation 2:9-11, 12-17 (the ascended LORD is speaking) "'I know your tribulation and your poverty (but you are [spiritually] rich) and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan (these are those who are under the Sharia Law of Islam. Because this Law is based on the Laws of Moses from which it was copied and perverted, this is applicable to two peoples not just the Islamic). Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of Life. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches (this is the advantage of our now having eyes to see and ears to hear what the Spirit is saying and this is what sets those who have become HIS from the rest of the world, our being One in Him). The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death.'"

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write:
'The words of  The One Who has the sharp two-edged sword.
"'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.(The Roman Catholics, and other denominations that practice and fit in here as they say prayers for the departed and the likes of other things dead.) Therefore repent. If not, I Will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of My mouth. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I Will give some of the hidden manna, and I Will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.'"

Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Spiritual Gifts)

I am about to head into, so far as I am concerned, uncharted grounds in this portion of this blog. I am going to dig into the Promised Spiritual Gifts (which run parallel to the titles of Office that were revealed to the Hebrew children during their dispensation of the LORD under such titles a Jehovah-Nissi and Yehovah-Sidkenu) and given to those who become One within the risen Lord Christ Jesus. Who are in the New Now Covenant of Grace our LORD. As He was Israel's during her many years under His watchful eye in their Dispensation which ended at its appointed time with His death, burial and resurrection and ascension. At which time He carried those old Testament saint's from Abraham's bosom into the heavens and took His place at the Fathers right hand side from where His Now rules by faith in the renewed hearts of the Redeemed and more especially those who have become One Body with Him as a Bride. This is seen in Genesis 2:21-24 as the reverse of women being taken from Adams side, this is the secret or mystery of marriage and the LORD's Last Supper that He had awaited while doing the works of the Father in preparation for the New Church, His Body / Bride. Now for Pastor Hoekstra and his writing on Grace and then I will begin to look into the Spiritual Gifts given to spiritual men, with the LORD's Help and leadership my source of Life and Light while I remain on this earth awaiting His calling for His Body, the Spiritual Bride, that man was in the beginning.

                "The Power within Redeemed Earthen Vessels"
"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us." (2Corinthians 4:7)

"In our previous meditation on this same verse, we saw among other things that GOD has placed extraordinary heavenly treasures in ordinary earthen vessels. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels." This is true of every person who has been Redeemed by the blood of Christ. The LORD has arranged it this way so that the vessels (you and me) must rely upon the treasure ( of Christ Jesus), not upon ourselves: "that the excellence of the power may be of GOD and not of us." Also, this arrangement is to bring attention and Glory to the Lord Who was and is LORD, not to the vessels. As He is not yet the King of the Promised Heavenly Kingdom which comes after the Bride has been withdrawn at the end of the time of the Gentiles and their troding under foot, Israel.

The LORD or at least His Spiritual essence is the treasure in the "clay pot" of our redeemed humanity. He is to be the "excellent power" in our lives. He is the One we are to trust in as our strength for daily living. When the battles grow fierce, trust in the LORD. "You have armed me with strength for the battle" (Psalm 18:39). When we need patience or endurance, trust in the LORD: "Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering" (Colossians 1:11). When we need strength for our latter years, trust in the LORD. "The LORD has kept me alive . . . here I am this day, eighty-five years old . . . yet I am as strong this day as I was on the day that Moses sent me" (Joshua 14:10-11). Even in times of extreme personal weakness, His strength can be especially apparent.  "I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon (and in) me . . . For when I am weak, then I am strong" (2Corinthians 12:9-10).

The temptation is to trust in our "sturdy structure" (or in those who claim to be able to strengthen or reinforce weak vessels). Our personal resources will fail, but the LORD Who dwells in our hearts will not fail. "My flesh and my heart fail; But GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" (Psalm 73:26). The world systems with all of its impressive riches and imagined powers calls us to place our confidence in their resources. The LORD warns us time and again that such misplaced trust becomes our downfall. "Woe to the rebellious children . . who . . . go down to Egypt . . . to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh . . . the strength of Pharaoh shall be your shame." (Isaiah 30:1-3)

We are to trust the LORD with all of our heart and soul in spiritual worship as living sacrifices (Romans 12:1-3) to be our strength. "The LORD is my strength and my shield" (Psalm 28:7). Then, we are to give the LORD Glory for the strength He supplies. "My heart trusted (trusts') in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him (Psalm 28:7). Yes, with great exhalation show my deep and abiding love and appreciation for Him.


Divine Diversity of Gifts,

Matthew 25:14-18 (Jesus is speaking) "For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money."

Romans 12:1-2, 3-8 "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of GOD, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to GOD, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the (good and perfect) Will of GOD, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
For by the Grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that GOD has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are One Body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the Grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy (as pastors and teachers), in proportion to our faith; if service (as stewards of His secrets and mysteries), in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness."

1Corinthians 4:6-7 "I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?"

1Corinthians 12:4-11 "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same LORD; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same GOD Who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Holy Spirit for the common good. For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy (the ability to reveal the hidden things of GOD), to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are empowered by One and the same Holy Spirit, Who apportions to each one individually as he wills (He Wills)."

Ephesians 4:7-16 "Grace is given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's Gift (this is the qualifier). Therefore it says, "When He ascended on high He led a host of captives, and He gave Gifts to men." (In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that He had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He Who descended is the one Who also ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the Body of Christ, until we all attain to the Unity of the Faith and of the Knowledge of the Son of GOD, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes (of mans many religious forms under law). Rather, speaking the Truth in Love, we are to grow up in every way into Him Who is the Head, into Christ, from whom the whole Body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the Body grow so that it builds itself up in Love."

Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Safety for the Righteous)

I have been covering our Safety that is assured us after we have become One in and with Christ on the inside and clothed with Him on the outside in our spiritual armor. The next area is our Victory Promised to those who have turned their human lives over to His dependency which is also a deepening dependency on GOD and HIS Divine ability to do all that HE has Faithfully Promised. Now for Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace and our dependency. Then I look into the targets subject  matter with the LORD's leading and help. I might add when I am looking back at the words spoken to the Hebrews by prophecy I am seeing more clearly with a more perspective view than then they had, because we have GOD's Knowledge and understanding because of the Light of Grace given us when we have sought, asked with receptive faith and knocked at the door for it.

                            "The Miracle of Our Ministry"
"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2Corinthians 4:6)

"As New Covenant servants, we proclaim "the Light (revelation and understanding) of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ" (2Corinthians 4:4). Which things had remained secret for long Ages of the past dispensations of time that man, and Israel has now passed through under the watch eye and hand of GOD. Which Ages GOD in His infinite wisdom and foreknowledge planned for. We Now find our selves in the Age of Grace in which the Holy Spirit is building the mystical Body of Christ also known as the Bride, a chase virgin, which came from the side of the Lord Jesus while He lay in the grave and came into being after His ascension and giving forth of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. This happen in much the same fashion the woman was taken from Adams side (Genesis 2:21-24) while he to lay asleep but this Bride or Church has not been yet given to the LORD of Glory. While holding forth this magnificent message, we earnestly pray that GOD Will prepare darkened hearts to embrace the redeeming Light of His Grace. Each person who responds will experience a miracle more distinct than when Light first shined into the darkness of creation.
On the first day of creation, the earth was in darkness. "In the beginning GOD (Elohim) created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep" (Genesis 1:1-2). The LORD (Yehovah) spoke this Light into existence in that darkness. "Then GOD said, 'Let there be light;' and there was light'" (Genesis 1:3). By the word of His mouth, He caused light to shine where there had been none. What a majestic miracle! This light makes it possible for life of all kinds to have life and warmth on the earth.

When Jesus came to this world, GOD's Light was penetrating darkness in shadowy form. "The people who sat in darkness saw a great light (as seeing through a tunnel dimly), and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned" (Matthew 4:16). When the Light of the Gospel of Grace is proclaimed, it is shining upon spiritually darkened hearts. "Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as GOD, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:21). This is speaking mostly of the Hebrews during their dispensational Age which started with Abraham and ended with the death of Jesus. The Age of our Dispensation began at the ascension of the Lord Jesus and runs until Jesus' Bride is called for. During this Now time when darkened hearts respond to that Light, they are given the Promise of New Life. "I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of Life" (John 8:12). Jesus stated in accord with the Promise first spoken by the prophets during the Hebrew Age of GOD's grace shown towards them as a special people.

This is what has happened to those of us who follow Christ. The GOD of creation, Who spoke forth physical light into physical darkness, has spoken forth spiritual Light into our spiritual darkness, mans souls separated from HIM while in a type of sleep darkness from which many do not recover. That is until the appointed time of their judgment and condemnation for rejection of the Love of GOD received by those who have turned from darkness to this Light, a work of His Holy Spirit. "For it was the GOD Who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts." This Light that is shining through the His Gospel. This good news of GOD's Grace paints a portrait of the Lord Jesus Christ on the Redeemed soul. In that portrait of words, we see the Glory of GOD and His great salvation of our healing in restoration to Him and Newness of Life. We see by the new eyes of faith "the light of the Knowledge of the Glory of GOD in the face of Jesus Christ." Now, we are called to proclaim this Gospel of Grace that others also may come out of darkness into His splendid Light. "You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous Light" (1Peter 2:9).

The Promised Presence of the Victorious Christ gives Assurance:

Isaiah 53:10-12 "Yet it was the Will of the LORD to crush Him; He has put Him to grief; when His soul makes an offering for (our) guilt, He shall see His offspring; He shall prolong His days; the Will of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. Out of the anguish of His soul He shall see and be satisfied; by His knowledge shall the Righteous one, My servant, make many to be accounted Righteous, and He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I Will divide Him (as) a portion with the many, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet He bore the sin of many, and makes (as Mediator and Advocate) intercession for the transgressors."


Matthew 12:14, 15-21 "The Pharisees went out and conspired against Him, how to destroy Him. Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there. And many followed Him, and He healed them all and ordered them not to make Him known. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "Behold, My servant Whom I have chosen, My beloved with Whom My soul is well pleased. I Will put My Spirit upon Him, and He Will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear His voice in the streets; a bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He Will not quench, until He brings justice to victory; and in His name the Gentiles will hope."


1Corinthians 15:20-28 "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the (with Himself He raised the old Testament saints as revealed in Matthew 27:51-54 beginning at the break shown by a (; in the KJV) and spoken of in Daniel 12:2, and then in 1Thessalonians 4:14, and Colossians 2:15-20, Ephesians 4:8) firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at His coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to GOD (this takes place after as King of His Kingdom the earth has been reborn, restored in Righteousness, through fire for His GOD is then given His Kingdom which abides forever in GOD) the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For "God has put all things in subjection under His feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that He is excepted Who put all things in subjection under Him. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself Will also be subjected to HIM Who put all things in subjection under Him, that GOD may be All in all."


Revelation 3:15-22 (Jesus is speaking) "'I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm (liberal in mind and heart, ie...torpor), and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I Will come into him and eat with him, and he with Me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with Me on My throne, as I also conquered and sat down with My Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'"


Revelation 6:1-2 "I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, "Come!" And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to Him, and He came out conquering, and to conquer."


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 (this takes place towards the end of the LORD's Kingly Age or dispensation of His rule and before the firey end of purification of the earth before the King and LORD turns His Kingdom over to GOD for eternity the last known dispensation its Age remains a secret). And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been (remain) 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 (again for before its last judgment). This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman (the harlot of Babylon) 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 it belongs to the seven, and it 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 (His current ministry in our Church Age of Grace) and King of kings (after Jesus sets up His Kingly Kingdom as its King the Age of one thousand years duration), and those with Him are called and chosen and faithful."

Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Safety for the Righteous)

The LORD has indeed revealed Himself not only in me but through me as HE continues to confound me in all that HE does. What I mean by this that HE has by way of provision placed in my hands a book electronically in a a down load a book on the Dispensational periods. Not that I am a dispensational kind of person however it does serve to confirm what has already been revealed by Him in me (as His anointing is my anointing. Just as He is in all those who carry His message to the world in the Age of Grace and the New Now Covenant.), as He has within the revelation of the LORD Christ from Genesis through to the end of Revelation. This book was written by a lay person such as I am, Mr. Clarence Larkin titled "Dispensational Truth" published around 1915-19. This is relevant for today as it was back then. The subject matter of my targeted area is Only Trough Christ in His current activity as our High Priest and Advocate and Mediator depending on our station in either Redemption or Salvation. Now for Pastor Hoekstra and his writing on Grace our station in the New Now Covenant of Grace. Then the subject matter will be pulled from the ESV translation and when the LORD gives more understanding I will add it as is my usual habit.

                               "Our Message in Ministry"
"Lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake."(2Corinthians 4:4-5)

"The enemy of men's souls wants to keep perishing people in spiritual blindness (this he accomplishes through the continue deception of the external works of the flesh under the curse of the Law). "But even if our Gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe." (2Co_4:3-4). This counterfeit god is working on all unbelievers [this includes those of the worlds churches who work under law] (even as he formerly did with us). "In which you once walked according to the course of this (Age) world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). His influence is so extensive. He works through every system (political, economic, educational, religious.... etc.) within the unbelieving world. "The whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one" (1John 5:19). The primary purpose of Satan's blinding activities is to keep those in darkness from seeing GOD's light (revelation of Christ restored to man): "Lest the Light (understanding and true Knowledge) of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ, Who is the image of GOD, should shine on them."

Into this dark and blinded world, we come with the message of Light: "the Light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ." Only the light of Jesus can overcome spiritual man. As our Lord Jesus proclaimed this wondrous remedy. "I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of Life" (John 8:12). When the Light of Jesus shines into man's darkness, it brings liberating life from GOD. Paul was sent out with this great Gospel: "To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to Light, and from the power of Satan to GOD" (Acts 26:18).

We are also sent out as vessels of Light. "You are the Light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). We are Light, because Jesus (the true Light) lives in, and can shine through, each of us. "For you were once darkness, but now you are Light in the LORD (risen and ascended Lord). Walk as children of Light" (Ephesians 5:8). We can show forth our LORD in deed and in word. As we follow (the Son of man in which as Jesus, the LORD Yehovah-Elohim ministers daily through those who have become HIS a new) Jesus, His Glorious Light shines through us. As we speak of the LORD Jesus, we declare His glorious majesty.

Remember, the Light of the Gospel is about the Glory of the LORD Christ Jesus: "The Light of the Gospel of the Glory of Christ." Our message is not about us. "For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the LORD, and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake." We are but His servants. He is our message. He is the LORD over all. Thus, He is able to save from all that blinds and binds."

Only Through Christ,
Luke 1:67-79 (speaking of John who become the Baptist) "His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the LORD GOD (LORD Yehovah-Elohim) of Israel, for HE has visited and redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath that He swore to our father Abraham (this was given while Abraham was a gentile Abram and remember this that Jacob who became Israel was the son of Isaac), to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days (this takes place after the Revelation of Christ at the end of Israel's judgment of seven years yet to come. And before Jesus changes His Ministry as Redeemer and Head of His Church in His Salvation, as Mediator and Advocate, to that of King during His millennial reign). And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins (this they rejected at He death and then again at the death of Stephen who was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke through the Holy Spirit as witness of Jesus as the Christ after Pentecost, NOT "Easter" a pagan name for this day), because of the tender mercy of our GOD, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give Light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

Luke 2:25-32 "There was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And HE had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the LORD's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed GOD and said, "LORD, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a Light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel."


The Only Door,
John 10:1-10 (Jesus is speaking) "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To Him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear His voice, and He calls His own sheep by name and leads them out. When He has brought out all His own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice (this is speaking of the departure of His sheep the Church or His Body as a bride who were placed in His side as woman was taken from the side of Adam in Genesis 221-24, a secret or mystery. As these people are not slated for wrath having already been judged innocent by Redemption in order to receive Salvation or healing.). A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what He was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers (speaking of the Hebrew elite composed of doctors, lawyers and the religious Priesthood under law), but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have Life and have it abundantly."


The Only Savior,
Acts 4:5-12 "The next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders (the high minded men and women of the Jewish political religious elite under Law), if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, Whom GOD raised from the dead—by (through) Him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is Salvation (healing of spirit in man) in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."


His Grace Sufficient,
Acts 15:6-11 (This is taking place at the Council at Jerusalem) "The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days GOD made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the Gospel and believe. And GOD, Who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as HE did to us, and HE made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting GOD to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But (For) we believe that we will be saved (healed and restored) through the Grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."


His Blood Avails,
Romans 5:6-11 "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but GOD shows His Love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been Justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of GOD. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to GOD by the death of His Son, much more, Now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His Life. More than that, we also rejoice in GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have Now received Reconciliation."

1Thessalonians 5:1-11 "Now (the present Age of Grace) concerning the times (Now) and the seasons (future dispensations...ie the Revelation of Christ, the fire to restorer the world in Righteousness after the turning of the millennial Kingdom in which Jesus is King for a thousand years and turns His Kingdom over to GOD, His Kingdom purified by fire and then the new Now Eternal), brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the LORD (the removal of the Body, or Church and Bride) will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief (for we are told to be ever in the ready for this day down to praying for it to come swiftly). For you are all children of Light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of Faith and Love (the command or law of this present Age and time), and for a helmet the hope of Salvation. For GOD has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our LORD, Jesus Christ, Who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with (suffer His ascension as) Him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."


For the Obedient,
Hebrews 5:1-4, 5-10  "Every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to GOD, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by GOD, just as Aaron was.
So Christ did not exalt Himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by Him Who said to Him, "You are MY Son, today I have begotten You" (in Psalm 2:7 and 89:27); as He says also in another place, "You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek" (in Psalm 110:4). In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him Who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Although He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. And being made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, being designated by GOD a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek (this is His current station as Mediator between GOD and man our communicator and Advocate if we sin He stands the Righteous one before the Father for the righteous only.)


At His Coming,
Heb 9:23-10:10 "Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with Better sacrifice than these. For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of GOD on our behalf. Nor was it to offer Himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then He would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages (the Age of Innocence, The Age of Judgment by Flood, the Age of Government which is still in operation, the Age of the Hebrews only under law, the Whole of the old Testament Ages) to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, Will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him. For since the Law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near (through its demands of self effort of works). Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world (the end, to close of the Hebrew only Age), He said, "Sacrifices and offerings You have not desired, but a body have You prepared for Me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings You have taken no pleasure. Then I said, 'Behold, I have come to do Your Will, O GOD, as it is written of Me in the scroll of the book.'" When He said above, "You have neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the Law), then He added, "Behold, I have come to do Your Will." He does away with the first in order to establish the second. And by that Will we have been Sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Safety for the Righteous)

Those who choose to live in Grace and Truth are living in Christ Jesus as having put Him on as in being clothed with Christ. And those who are so clothed in Christ have the Promise of Ultimate Triumph in the Promise of Victory all of this is only through Christ and the Knowledge of Him as the Lord Jesus stated in Matthew 11:28-30, I will pick it up at verse 25 to maintain the flow of thought, "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 (as seen in Genesis 2:1-3).  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." Light here is understanding and there is one more words used in the Now Covenant which is "world", it should be instead "Age or Ages."
From here comes Pastor Hoekstra and his writing on Grace as a Promise received in those who become the LORD's Body or GOD's restored Family. From here I will look at The Ultimate Promise before looking at the other portions of it. When doing so I will add the illumination of the LORD where and when He gives it to me.

                "Those We Hope to Reach through Ministry"
"But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe." (2Corithians 4:3-4)

"In this servants-of-Grace ministry GOD has given us, He wants to use us to reach people. These people are in a desperate spiritual condition. Those we hope to reach are perishing, spiritually blind, and unbelieving. Many of them are joined to a religious denomination of some sort and these are usually all under the bondage of law of sort and design, not of GOD's doing. Some of these go so far as to blend the Law of Moses with Grace, which is an impossibility. As the Law is the letter and all this is available in the Law is condemnation and works of the flesh which leads to mans eternal death. While Grace is GOD making Himself available to us and in us to bring about His desired end of total Salvation to His glory.

Those who do not know the Grace of GOD in Jesus Christ are "perishing." They are spiritually dead (just as we once were). "And you . . . were dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). Even worse, they are heading toward an everlasting death. "The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works (of faith and Love or of the flesh). Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found (where mans names are and should remain) written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:13-15). These who are dead (and facing everlasting death) are lost. They are wandering from the fold of GOD, taking a path of self-service. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way" (Isaiah 53:6). They need a shepherd to seek after them. "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it . . . for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 15:4; 19:10).

These perishing ones are also "blinded," by unbelief primarily. This is why they cannot "see" the Truth we share with them. "But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded." The false god of this world (Satan) is blinding people to the Truth by feeding them with lies and deceptions. He is constantly offering counterfeit philosophical and religious messages to keep men from embracing the Truth and Grace of the LORD.

Ultimately, the problem with blind and perishing people is they "do not believe." Consequently, they already stand guilty. "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of GOD" (John 3:18). However, a loving GOD has provided the remedy. "For GOD so loved the (this Age) world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes Him should not perish but have everlasting Life" (John 3:16). By GOD's Grace and Light, we can proclaim this great message."

The Promise of Ultimate Triumph, in Spiritual Victory:

 Over Evil Influence of Man,
Psalm 44:4-8 and Malachi 4:3 "You are my King, O God; ordain salvation for Jacob! Through You we push down our foes; through Your name we tread down those who rise up against us. For not in my bow do I trust, nor can my sword save me. But You have saved us from our foes and have put to shame those who hate us. In GOD we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to Your name forever."

Malachi 4:1-3 "For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of Hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who fear (reverence and revere and Glorify) My name, the sun of Righteousness shall rise with healing in its (the LORD's Salvation, in His) wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day (in the Age) when I act, says the LORD of Hosts."


Over Malign Spiritual Forces,
Luke 10:18-20, 21-22 "Jesus said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are (remain) written in heaven."
In that same hour He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "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 who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him."


Over Severest Afflictions,
Romans 8:31-9:5 "What then shall we say to these things? If GOD is for us, who can be against us? HE Who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will HE not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against GOD's elect? It is GOD Who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—Who is at the right hand of GOD, Who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the Love of GOD in Christ Jesus our LORD. I am speaking the Truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, Who is GOD over all, blessed forever. The Amen."


Over Worldly Allurements,
1John 5:1-4, 5 "Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of GOD, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born (the reversal of Adams giving birth to woman in Genesis 2:21-24 and them being bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh, this being our one with Him and the birth of the Bride, a virgin, as the Church in figurative form) of Him. By this we know that we love the children of GOD, when we love GOD and obey His commandments (are given and revealed to those in Christ in the Now Age of Grace and the New Covenant of Grace). For this is the Love of GOD, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.For everyone who has been born of GOD overcomes the world (this Age). And this is the victory that has overcome the (Age) world—our faith.
Who is it that overcomes the world (Age) except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of GOD?"


Over all Satanic Powers,
Revelation 15:2-4 "I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of GOD in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, "Great and amazing are your deeds, O LORD GOD the Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, (the next passage has not yet taken place as Christ is LORD of All but not yet the) O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O LORD, and glorify Your name? For You alone are Holy. All nations will come and worship You, for Your Righteous acts have been revealed."

Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Safety for the Righteous)

I have been looking at our Safety in Christ as we acquire His Righteousness in wisdom and understanding of the true and correct knowledge of GOD in Christ and Christ and GOD in us guaranties to those who stand firm to the end. Now I will look at the GOD of Battles as my next subject in this course of study. But first things first Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace as we walk out this Life in the Promised Now Covenant of Grace. Then on with the targeted subject with the LORD's help and in put if He should choose to do so using the ESV translation.

                            "Our Approach to Ministry"
"We have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." (2Corinthians 4:2)

"GOD has made us His servants under the New (Now) Covenant of Grace. "GOD . . . made us . . . ministers of the New (Now) Covenant" (2Corinthians 3:5-6). Those who desire to serve the LORD by Grace, in Grace with Grace have a very distinctive approach to ministry. "We have renounced the hidden things of shame (the things of this world which operates in gross darkness and lawlessness), not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of GOD deceitfully." This is reserved for the worlds churches of law who operate with and in the external Law of Moses. It is this who operate as Israel does that our spiritual battles are with besides our own flesh. These people Israel that is, will rise to the occasion after GOD's Family has been taken away.

It is so sad that the many ministry approaches in the church world include motives and methodologies that are kept hidden, because their true character is shameful. Some of these dishonorable approaches involve "walking in craftiness" (such as, manipulating people through carnal enticements). Others involve "handling the word of GOD deceitfully" (such as, preaching what people want to hear, instead of what the scriptures actually say). If we are going to serve GOD by Grace, we must reject such tactics and have a revelation of Grace which is the person of Christ the ascended LORD.

Instead, we want to serve GOD "by manifestation of the Truth." We minister by a candid declaration of GOD's Truth, not by a deceptive operation of man's tricks. Also, we desire that our lives be a commendation of our message, not a contradiction of it: "commending ourselves to every man's conscience." As we proclaim GOD's Truth, we humbly ask GOD to impact our lives by that Truth, in order to become an example of what we proclaim in and through our daily life. The LORD will use this to touch others deep in their consciences.

It is GOD's Will that our ministries impact more than men's minds (which can be reached by mere ideas, concepts, or systems). It is His intention that our testimonies of witness of HE and Christ's Spirit in us reach beyond men's emotions (which can be touched by exciting stories, condemning insinuations, or inspiring ideals). He certainly does not want us to appeal to people's pride ("let GOD make you someone others will envy") or to their covetousness ("give to our ministry, and GOD Will give you ten-fold in return"). For we are Now GOD pleasers and not man pleasers.  Rather, GOD desires to reach their consciences, the "image-of-GOD" imprint that convicts people of sin and of their need for GOD, in their Now revealed undoneness: "who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing them witness (Romans 2:15)."

GOD of Battles:

Exodus 14:10-14 "When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The LORD Will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."

Exodus 23:20-33 and Deuteronomy 1:30, 3:22 "Behold, I send an angel (the is the LORD of Host) before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. Pay careful attention to Him and obey His voice; do not rebel against Him, for He Will not pardon your transgression, for My name is in Him. "But if you carefully obey His voice and do all that I say, then I Will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries. "When My angel (sent one, the LORD of Hosts) goes before you and brings you to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, and I blot them out, you shall not bow down to their gods nor serve them (in their unholy religious practices), nor do as they do, but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their pillars in pieces. You shall serve the LORD your God, and He Will bless your bread and your water, and I Will take sickness away from among you (this is a promise solely for Israel as a people not the nation and not the Family of GOD that remains hidden as a secret in GOD) None shall miscarry or be barren in your land; I Will fulfill the number of your days. I Will send My terror before you and will throw into confusion all the people against whom you shall come, and I Will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. And I Will send hornets before you, which shall drive out the Hivites, the Canaanites, and the Hittites from before you. I Will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the wild beasts multiply against you. Little by little I Will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and possess the land. And I Will set your border from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates, for I Will give the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you. You shall make no covenant with them and their gods. They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against Me; for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you."

Deuteronomy 1:26-33 "Yet you would not go up, but rebelled against the command of the LORD your God. And you murmured in your tents and said, 'Because the LORD hated us He has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us. Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, "The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there."' Then I said to you, 'Do not be in dread or afraid of them. The LORD your God Who goes before you will Himself fight for you, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness, where you have seen how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you went until you came to this place.' Yet in spite of this word you did not believe the LORD your God, who went before you in the way to seek you out a place to pitch your tents, in fire by night and in the cloud by day, to show you by what way you should go."

Deuteronomy 3:18-22 "And I (Moses) commanded you at that time, saying, 'The LORD your God has given you this land to possess. All your men of valor shall cross over armed before your brothers, the people of Israel. Only your wives, your little ones, and your livestock (I know that you have much livestock) shall remain in the cities that I have given you, until the LORD gives rest to your brothers, as to you, and they also occupy the land that the LORD your God gives them beyond the Jordan. Then each of you may return to his possession which I have given you.' And I commanded Joshua at that time, 'Your eyes have seen all that the LORD your God has done to these two kings. So Will the LORD do to all the kingdoms into which you are crossing. You shall not fear them, for it is the LORD your God Who fights for you.'"


2Samuel 5:22-25 "The Philistines came up yet again and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. And when David inquired of the LORD, He said, "You shall not go up; go around to their rear, and come against them opposite the balsam trees. And when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, then rouse yourself, for then the LORD has gone out before you to strike down the army of the Philistines." And David did as the LORD commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba to Gezer."


2Chronicles 20:24-30 "When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped. When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much. On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the LORD. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day. Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the LORD. And the fear of GOD came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around."


2Chronicles 32:1-8 and Nehemiah 4:20, Psalm 24:8, Zechariah 14:3 "After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself. And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and intended to fight against Jerusalem, he planned with his officers and his mighty men to stop the water of the springs that were outside the city; and they helped him. A great many people were gathered, and they stopped all the springs and the brook that flowed through the land, saying, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?" He set to work resolutely and built up all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it, and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance. And he set combat commanders over the people and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke encouragingly to them, saying, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, for there are more with us than with him. With him is an arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles." And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah."

Nehemiah 4:15-2 "When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that GOD had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, "The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God Will fight for us."

Psalm 24:7-10 "Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in. Who is this King of Glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! (I might say that this is reserved for Israel as a people after GOD's Family has left Israel as a nation and indeed the world behind.) Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may come in. Who is this King of Glory? The LORD of Hosts, He is the King of Glory!"

Zechariah 14:1-3 "Behold, a day is coming for the LORD, when the spoil taken from you will be divided in your midst. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city shall be taken and the houses plundered and the women raped. Half of the city shall go out into exile, but the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city. Then the LORD Will go out and fight against those nations as when He fights on a day of battle."

Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Safety for the Righteous)

I am still looking into our Spiritual Armor as provided us by our being One with GOD through Christ. The greater revelation of our being in Christ in this the Church Age, New Covenant of Grace or the Age of Grace. As our having been in grafted into the side of Jesus after His death while He remained in the grave as also seen in the women being taken from man in Genesis 2, as a secret or mystery of GOD. Just what are the source of our battles, or what is the soul's enemy. But first Pastor Hoekstra and his revelation of Grace. Then I will look at the Spiritual Armor Provided us in Christ and as has become my norm I will add any inspiration when the LORD enlightens me.

                        "A Ministry of Mercy and Grace"
"Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart."  (2Corinthians 4:1)

"In addition to heavenly liberty, GOD desires to mark our lives with other spiritual characteristics. One of these is the Godly encouragement that comes from living and serving under a ministry of mercy and Grace. The worlds churches that at one time may have been active in the first commandment of the Lord Jesus have become stagnant and overcome by the laws, traditions, rites, rituals, ceremonies, doctrines, customs and holidays of a false god, being preoccupied with these and other worldliness.

The service we now render to the LORD is based upon mercy: "since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy." We deserve condemnation by GOD while we remain under the law of works and separation from Him for eternity. Instead, GOD has mercy upon us, forgiving us our sin of unbelief. "Not by works (that have the appearance) of righteousness which we have done, but not according to His mercy He saved us" (Titus 3:5). Furthermore, by His mercy He enlists us in His service. "And I thank Christ Jesus our LORD Who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy" (1Timothy 1:12-13). Our ministry is also about Grace. "I became a minister according to the Gift of the Grace (which is) of God given to me" (Ephesians 3:7).

In light (understanding and knowledge) of having this type of ministry (one related to Mercy and Grace), "we do not lose heart." If we were called to serve GOD based on our merit and our resources, we would lose heart. We can periodically be tempted to discouragement, as we serve our GOD. Paul's testimony of service is similar to many of GOD's servants down through the ages. "For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears" (2Corinthians 7:5). At times, we too are surrounded by impossibilities and threatened by apprehensions. What are we to do in such unsettling trials? "For consider Him Who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls" (Hebrews 12:3). No one faced more battles and betrayals than the Lord Jesus. Yet, no one served more faithfully. In battle after battle, the Father brought Jesus through victoriously. We can count on the LORD to have mercy upon us. He Will give us His Grace and Faith to bring us through victoriously as well.

Remember, our service of the LORD is based upon Mercy, Grace and His Faithfulness. "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy and find Grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16)."

The Soul's Enemies:
Psalm 71:1-11 "In You, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame! In Your Righteousness deliver me and rescue me; incline Your ear to me, and save me! Be to me a rock of refuge, to which I may continually come; You have given the command to save me, for You are my rock and my fortress. Rescue me, O my GOD, from the hand of the wicked, from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man. For You, O LORD, are my hope, my trust, O LORD, from my youth. Upon You I have leaned from before my birth; You are He Who took me from my mother's womb. My praise is continually of You. I have been as a portent to many, but You are my strong refuge. My mouth is filled with Your praise, and with Your glory all the day. Do not cast me off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength is spent. For my enemies speak concerning me; those who watch for my life consult together and say, "GOD has forsaken him; pursue and seize him, for there is none to deliver him."


Psalm 86:14-17 and Psalm 94:21, 109:20 "O GOD, insolent men have risen up against me; a band of ruthless men seeks my life, and they do not set You before them. But You, O Lord, are GOD merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast Love and Faithfulness. Turn to me and be gracious to me; give Your strength to Your servant, and save the son of Your maidservant. Show me a sign of Your favor, that those who hate me may see and be put to shame because You, LORD, have helped me and comforted me."

Psalm 94:17-23 "If the LORD had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence. When I thought, "My foot slips," Your steadfast Love, O LORD, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, Your consolations cheer my soul. Can wicked rulers be allied with You, those who frame injustice by statute? They band together against the Life of the Righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the LORD has become my stronghold, and my GOD the rock of my refuge. He will bring back on them their iniquity and wipe them out for their wickedness; the LORD our GOD will wipe them out."

Psalm 109:14-20 "May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the LORD, and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out! Let them be before the LORD continually, that HE may cut off the memory of them from the earth! For he did not remember to show kindness, but pursued the poor and needy and the brokenhearted, to put them to death. He loved to curse; let curses come upon him! He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him! He clothed himself with cursing as his coat; may it soak into his body like water, like oil into his bones! May it be like a garment that he wraps around him, like a belt that he puts on every day! May this be the reward of my accusers from the LORD, of those who speak evil against my life!"


Jeremiah 2:29-37 "Why do you contend with Me? You have all transgressed against Me, declares the LORD. In vain have I struck your children; they took no correction; your own sword devoured your prophets like a ravening lion. And you, O generation, behold the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do My people say, 'We are free, we will come no more to You'? Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet My people have forgotten Me days without number. "How well you direct your course to seek love! So that even to wicked women you have taught your ways. Also on your skirts is found the lifeblood of the guiltless poor; you did not find them breaking in. Yet in spite of all these things you say, 'I am innocent; surely His anger has turned from me.' Behold, I will bring you to judgment for saying, 'I have not sinned.' How much you go about, changing your way! You shall be put to shame by Egypt as you were put to shame by Assyria. From it too you will come away with your hands on your head, for the LORD has rejected those in whom you trust, and you will not prosper by them."


Jeremiah 18:19-23 "Hear me, O LORD, and listen to the voice of my adversaries. Should good be repaid with evil? Yet they have dug a pit for my life. Remember how I stood before You to speak good for them, to turn away Your wrath from them. Therefore deliver up their children to famine; give them over to the power of the sword; let their wives become childless and widowed. May their men meet death by pestilence, their youths be struck down by the sword in battle. May a cry be heard from their houses, when you bring the plunderer suddenly upon them! For they have dug a pit to take me and laid snares for my feet. Yet You, O LORD, know all their plotting to kill me. Forgive not their iniquity, nor blot out their sin from Your sight. Let them be overthrown before You; deal with them in the time of Your anger."


Ezekiel 13:8-16, 17-19 "The LORD GOD said: "Because you have uttered falsehood and seen lying visions, therefore behold, I am against you, declares the LORD GOD. My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divination's. They shall not be in the council of My people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD GOD. Precisely because they have misled My people, saying, 'Peace,' when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash, saying to those who smear it with whitewash that it shall fall! There will be a deluge of rain, and you, O great hailstones, will fall, and a stormy wind break out. And when the wall falls, will it not be said to you, 'Where is the coating with which you smeared it?' Therefore thus says the LORD GOD: I will make a stormy wind break out in My wrath, and there shall be a deluge of rain in My anger, and great hailstones in wrath to make a full end. And I will break down the wall that you have smeared with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you shall perish in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the LORD. Thus will I spend My wrath upon the wall and upon those who have smeared it with whitewash, and I will say to you, The wall is no more, nor those who smeared it, the prophets of Israel who prophesied concerning Jerusalem and saw visions of peace for her, when there was no peace, declares the LORD GOD.
"And you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people, who prophesy out of their own hearts. Prophesy against them and say, Thus says the LORD GOD: Woe to the women who sew magic bands upon all wrists, and make veils for the heads of persons of every stature, in the hunt for souls! Will you hunt down souls belonging to My people and keep your own souls alive? You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and for pieces of bread, putting to death souls who should not die and keeping alive souls who should not live, by your lying to My people, who listen to lies."


Ezekiel 22:23-31 "The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, say to her, You are a land that is not cleansed or rained upon in the day of indignation. The conspiracy of her prophets in her midst is like a roaring lion tearing the prey; they have devoured human lives; they have taken treasure and precious things; they have made many widows in her midst. Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and they have disregarded My Sabbaths, so that I am profaned among them. Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, 'Thus says the LORD GOD,' when the LORD has not spoken. The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before Me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none. Therefore I have poured out My indignation upon them. I have consumed them with the fire of My wrath. I have returned their way upon their heads, declares the LORD GOD."


Luke 22:28-30, 31-34 (Jesus is speaking) "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.
"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." Peter said to Him, "Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death." Jesus said, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know Me."


Ephesians 6:10-17, 18-2 "Finally, be strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might. Having put on the (LORD Christ the) whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the (light, the yoke of the LORD Christ, in Matthew 11:28-30 and as GOD clothes the grass He also clothes us in Christ, Luke 12:28, as the Glory of GOD was on man in Genesis 2) whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of Truth, and having put on the breastplate of Righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the Gospel of Peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of Faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of Salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of GOD.
Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the Mystery of the Gospel (GOD in Christ and Christ / GOD restored within you), for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak."


1Peter 5:6-11 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of GOD so that at the proper time HE may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because HE cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the GOD of all Grace, Who has called you to His Eternal Glory in Christ, Will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. The Amen."

Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Safety for the Righteous)

Continuing on with the Armor of GOD which those who have been restored to and are now actively Living as Christ ones now are clothed with.  I will look at some general references to our spiritual weaponry. But first a look at Pastor Hoekstra's teaching on Grace and how Grace effects those who are restored back to GOD's original Family unit, our being one with HIM again. You know like having say a chocolate cake (Genesis 2) and a small piece having been cut (Genesis 3) and taken from it does not change that one piece. As it remains just a small  piece of the whole, it does not become say a carrot cake just because it a piece. Man is no different now is he. After Grace's teaching I will then use the ESV translation and show more of the Armor of GOD in scripture and if the LORD gives more insight I will add it there and then.

                     "Once More on Bondage versus Liberty"
"Abraham (keep in mind that Abram was a man who walked with GOD just as we all are too we have received the Light of wisdom and understanding of Truth because then our own name is also changed as was this mans to reflect his relationship with the LORD GOD.) had two sons . . . which . . . are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage . . . and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in (political religious) bondage with her children — but the Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all . . . So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. Stand fast therefore in the liberty (not being held in slavery to political religionism of laws) by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of (this kind of) bondage."  (Galatians 4:22-5:1)

"In our present verses, the two sons of Abraham are in view. "Abraham had two sons." Although these boys (Ishmael and Isaac) were actual historical characters, they represent a spiritual allegory: "which . . . are symbolic." These two sons present a vivid historical illustration of law and grace. "For these are the two covenants."

Ishmael, the first of Abraham's sons, pictures a life of self-sufficiency under the (political religion of) law: "the one from Mount Sinai." Such an approach to life produces spiritual bondage: "which gives birth to bondage." The citizens of earthly Jerusalem are also given as an example: "and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children." When Paul wrote Galatians, the Roman Empire held the city of Jerusalem in oppressive bondage. Abraham and Sarah trusted in their human ingenuity, using Hagar to bear their child. Thus, Ishmael was born, a child of fleshly bondage.

This is what our lives are like when we try to produce a Christian life by our own sufficiency (when held in the snare and trap of mans political religious laws which carries a heavier penalty over sin because within it man denies the cross and blood of Jesus). We are placing ourselves under the law (performance-based living). This is a path of spiritual bondage (spiritual idolatry and fornication through the worth-ship of traditions, rite, rituals, ceremonies, holidays, customs and habits of religious performance, worship of the idol and image of a far off someday event). We can only bring forth "fleshly Ishmaels."The trying to make the piece of the cake something else than it is not through politics and often religious practices......illustrated like sitting in your cars garage and claiming yourself to be that auto that you've always wanted.....ie. a "Christ like one" a "Christian." When you already are just a piece of the greater whole but lack wisdom and knowledge of your spiritual state.

Isaac, the second of Abraham's sons, is a portrait of living under grace. In GOD's sufficiency is now our source. Isaac was born by GOD's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. Trusting in GOD's Faithfulness produces spiritual freedom. Heavenly Jerusalem is the example here. "The Jerusalem above is free, which is the mother of us all," a picture of the greater whole. We who follow Christ have been born again with New Life from above. New Jerusalem is the "hometown" to which we are headed. Spiritual freedom characterizes such citizens from above. "So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free." The LORD of lords calls us to live by the liberating Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, renouncing all inclinations toward the bondage of self-sufficient legalism of mans political religion performances. "Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage, having taken the yoke of freedom in Christ (Matthew 11:28-30)."

General References to spiritual Weapons:

1Samuel 17:41-47 "The Philistine moved forward and came near to David, with his shield-bearer in front of him. And when the Philistine looked and saw David, he disdained him, for he was but a youth, ruddy and handsome in appearance. And the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?" And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and to the beasts of the field." Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, Whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a GOD in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hand."

2Corinthians 10:1-6 "I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!— I beg of you that when I am present I may not have to show boldness with such confidence as I count on showing against some who suspect us of walking according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge (Light) of GOD, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete."

Ephesians 6:10-18a "Finally, be strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might. Having put on (Christ being found in Him) the whole armor of GOD (in Light), that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual (political religious laws or) forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (in your witness of Christ within you) firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of Truth, and having put on the breastplate of Righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the Gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of Faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of GOD, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication."

Hebrews 3:7-4:13 "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put Me to the test and saw My works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart; they have not known My ways.' As I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest.'" Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the Living GOD. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin (unbelief and bound in political religious laws). For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion." For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was He provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were (remain) disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, as He has said, "As I swore in My wrath, 'They shall not enter My rest,'" although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. For HE has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: "And GOD rested on the seventh day from all His works." And again in this passage He said, "They shall not enter My rest." Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again He appoints a certain day, "Today," saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, "Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." For if Joshua had given them rest, GOD would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of GOD, for whoever has entered GOD's rest has also rested from his works as GOD did from HIS. Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of GOD is Living and Active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account."

Revelation 12:7-12 "War arose in heaven, Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon. And the dragon and his angels fought back, but he was defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him. I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our GOD and the authority of HIS Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our GOD. And they have conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. Therefore, rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"