The Secret and Mysteries of GOD revisited, part 16.8 marriage and the church

Again we are looking into the mystery of GOD in the church, body and family as One unite as Paul declares on Ephesian 4 in the seven Ones there revealed. My next topic is our committal to GOD's hands and then possibly GOD's strength being ours as these two are ours as sons, keeping in mind that in His kingdom there are neither female nor male but One Body.


Our Committal into GOD's Hands, 

Psalm 31:5 of 1-5 "In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in Your righteousness deliver me! Incline Your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! For You are my rock and my fortress; and for Your name's sake You lead me and guide me; You take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for You are my refuge. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful GOD."

Luke 23:46 of 44-49 " It was now about the sixth hour (high noon), and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour (3pm), while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, "Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit!" And having said this He breathed His last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, "Certainly this man was innocent!" And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all His acquaintances and the women who had followed Him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things."



Acts 7:59 of 51-53, 54-60 (Stephen's defense) "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, Whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the Law as delivered by angels and did not keep it."
Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of GOD, and Jesus standing at the right hand of GOD. And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of GOD." But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

2Timothy 1:12 of 3-7, 8-14 "I thank GOD Whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of GOD, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for GOD gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our LORD, nor of me His prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of GOD, Who saved (from the dangers of destruction due the unsaved, unredeemed, now having redeemed) us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which HE gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, Who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through this gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I [we] suffer as I [we] do. But I am not ashamed, for I know Whom I have believed, and I am convinced that HE is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit Who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you."

1Peter 2:23 of 12, 13-17, 18-25 "Keep your conduct (of conscience) among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the (their) day of visitation.
Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, or to governors as sent by Him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. For this is the will (plan and purpose) of GOD, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants (witnesses) of GOD. Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear (to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience, by this you will but others to the fright of) GOD. Honor the emperor."
Servants (co-labors of Christ, who carry Christ as their name), be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of GOD (having the mind of Christ), one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of GOD. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow (walk as) in His steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. For when HE was reviled, HE did not revile in return; when HE suffered, HE did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him Who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. (from Isaiah 53:5) By His wounds (welts) you have been healed (Hebrews 12:13 and James 5:16). For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls."

1Peter 4:19 of 12-19 "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed (by Him within you). If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of GOD rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify GOD (for being) in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of GOD (of which we are as living stones); and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of GOD? And "If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?" Therefore let those who suffer according to GOD's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good."


GOD Our Strength,

Exodus 15:2 of 1-18 "Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the LORD, saying, "I will sing to the LORD, for HE has triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider HE has thrown into the sea. The LORD (Yah) is my strength and my song, and HE has become my salvation; this is my GOD, and I will praise Him, my father's GOD, and I will exalt Him. The LORD is a man of war; the LORD (YHWH) is His name. "Pharaoh's chariots and his host HE cast into the sea, and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea. The floods covered them; they went down into the depths like a stone. Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy. In the greatness of Your majesty You overthrow Your adversaries; You send out Your fury; it consumes them like stubble. At the blast of Your nostrils the waters piled up; the floods stood up in a heap; the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea. The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire will have its fill of them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.' But You blew with Your wind; the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters. "Who is like You, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like You, Majestic in Holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders? You stretched out Your right hand; the earth swallowed them. "You have led in Your steadfast love the people whom You have redeemed; You have guided them by Your strength to Your holy abode. The peoples have heard; they tremble; pangs have seized the inhabitants of Philistia. Now are the chiefs of Edom dismayed; trembling seizes the leaders of Moab; all the inhabitants of Canaan have melted away. Terror and dread fall upon them; because of the greatness of Your arm, they are still as a stone, till Your people, O LORD, pass by, till the people pass by whom You have purchased. You will bring them in and plant them on Your own mountain, the place, O LORD, which You have made for Your abode, the sanctuary, O LORD, which Your hands have established. The LORD will reign forever and ever."

2Samuel 22:33 of 1-36 "David spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. He said, "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in Whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation (when a predator comes the shepherd destroys it), my stronghold and my refuge, my savior (to preserve from troubles); you save me from violence. I call upon the LORD, Who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. "For the waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my GOD I called. From His temple HE heard my voice, and my cry came to His ears. Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations of the heavens trembled and quaked, because HE was angry. Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from Him. He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under His feet. He rode on a cherub and flew; HE was seen on the wings of the wind. He made darkness around Him His canopy, thick clouds, a gathering of water. Out of the brightness before Him coals of fire flamed forth. The LORD thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice. And HE sent out arrows and scattered them; lightning, and routed them. Then the channels of the sea were seen; the foundations of the world were laid bare, at the rebuke of the LORD, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils. He sent from on high, HE took me; HE drew me out of many waters (the worlds general populations). He rescued me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; HE rescued me, because HE delighted in me. The LORD dealt within me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands HE rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD and have not wickedly departed from my GOD. For all His rules were before me, and from His statutes I did not turn aside. I was blameless before Him, and I kept myself from guilt. And the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His sight. With the merciful You show Yourself merciful; with the blameless man You show Yourself blameless; with the purified You deal purely, and with the crooked You make Yourself seem tortuous. You save a humble people, but Your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down. For You are my lamp, O LORD, and my GOD lightens my darkness. For by You I can run against a troop, and by my GOD I can leap over a wall. This GOD—His way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; HE is a shield for all those who take refuge in Him. For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our GOD? This GOD is my strong refuge and has made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of Your salvation, and Your gentleness made me great."

Psalm 28:8 of 6-9 "Blessed be the LORD! For HE has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy. The LORD is my strength and my shield; in Him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to Him. The LORD is the strength of His people; HE is the saving refuge of His anointed. Oh, save Your people and bless Your heritage! Be their shepherd and carry them forever."

Psalm 46:1 of 1-3 "GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling."

Psalm 73:26 of 25-28 "Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from You shall perish; You put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to You. But for me it is good to be near GOD; I have made the LORD GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works."

Psalm 81:1 of 1-5 "Sing aloud to GOD our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob! Raise a song; sound the tambourine, the sweet lyre with the harp. Blow the trumpet at the new moon, at the full moon, on our feast day. For it is a statute for Israel, a rule of the God of Jacob. He made it a decree in Joseph when HE went out over the land of Egypt."


Psalm 84:5 of 5-7 "Blessed are those whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion. As they go through the Valley of Baca (the weeping Palestine) they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before GOD in Zion."

Psalm 89:21 of 19-29 "Of old You spoke in a vision to Your godly ones, and said: 'I have granted help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people. I have found David, My servant; with My holy oil I have anointed him, so that My hand will be established with him; My arm also will strengthen him. The enemy shall not outwit him; the wicked shall not humble him. I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him. My faithfulness and My steadfast love will be with him, and in My name shall his horn be exalted. I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.(here we have a great change from that of David to the coming Son of love) He will cry to Me, 'You are My Father, My GOD, and the Rock of My salvation. And I will make Him the firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth. My steadfast love I will keep for Him forever, and My covenant will stand firm for Him. I will establish His offspring forever and His throne as the days of the heavens.'"

The Secret and Mysteries of GOD revisited, part 16.7 marriage and the church

In the last post we looked at our "Confidence in GOD." Today I want to look at our exhortation to trust GOD, notice if you will I did not say to "trust in GOD." Because for me this allows room for unbelief and I have a hard time trusting into a thing that may not be known, GOD I know as HE lives His Life, Love, Light and law (not the universal law of sin and death nor the Low of Moses which only has the power to condemn, wherein both laws work together. But in their place He operates through the law of faith and love by the law of the His Spirit) within and through me as a Christ one, this is to say, as an anointed, sealed one by the Holy Spirit. The last passage is Jesus speaking in affirmation of what He is all about.


Exhortations to Trust GOD, 

Psalm 37:3 and 5 of 1-6 with 115:11 "Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the LORD, and HE will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust Him, and HE will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday."

Psalm 115:11 of 9-15 "O Israel, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield. You who fear the LORD, trust the LORD! He is their help and their shield. The LORD has remembered us; HE will bless us; HE will bless the house of Israel; HE will bless the house of Aaron; HE will bless those who fear the LORD, both the small and the great. May the LORD give you increase, you and your children! May you be blessed by the LORD, Who made heaven and earth!"



Psalm 118:8 of 5-9 "Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free. The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? The LORD is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes."

Proverbs 3:5 of 1-12 "My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favor and good success in the sight of GOD and man. Trust the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and HE will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. (It) HE will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the first-fruits (Romans 12:1-3) of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline or be wearied of His reproof, for the LORD reproves him whom HE loves, as a father the son in whom he delights."

Isaiah 26:4 of 1-6, 7 "In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: "We have a strong city; HE sets up salvation as walls and bulwarks. Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in. You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts You. Trust the LORD forever, for the LORD (Jehovah, YAH) God is an everlasting rock. For HE has humbled the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city. He lays it low, lays it low to the ground, casts it to the dust. The foot tramples it, the feet of the poor, the steps of the needy."
The path of the righteous is level; You make level the way of the righteous."

Isaiah 50:10 of 4-11 "The Lord GOD (YHWH) has given Me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning HE awakens; HE awakens My ear to hear as those who are taught. The Lord GOD has opened My ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. I gave My back to those who strike, and My cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not My face from disgrace and spitting. For the Lord GOD helps Me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I will not be put to shame. HE Who vindicates Me is near. Who will contend with Me? Let us stand up together. Who is My adversary? Let him come near to Me. Behold, the Lord GOD helps Me; who will declare Me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. Who among you fears the LORD and obeys the voice of His servant? (Deuteronomy 18:18-20 of 15-22) Let him who walks in darkness and has no light trust in the name of the LORD and rely on His GOD. Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who equip yourselves with burning torches! Walk by the light of your fire, and by the torches that you have kindled! This you have from My hand: you shall lie down in torment."

The Secret and Mysteries of GOD revisited, part 16.6 marriage and the church

We are still looking into the of GOD in Christ and the gospel message as they are tied together by the water and the blood in solidarity. I am about to look at our Confidence in GOD, and along the line our trusting of Him, special promises concerning this, and then through our committal into GOD's hands.


Examples of Confidence in GOD, 

Numbers 14:8 of 1-4, 5-10 "Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night. And all the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The whole congregation said to them, "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt! Or would that we had died in this wilderness! Why is the LORD bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become a prey. Would it not be better for us to go back to Egypt?" And they said to one another, "Let us choose a leader and go back to Egypt."
Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces before all the assembly of the congregation of the people of Israel. And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes and said to all the congregation of the people of Israel, "The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an exceedingly good land. If the LORD delights in us, HE will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them." Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the LORD appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel."

Psalm 3:6 of 3-6 "But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the LORD, and HE answered me from His holy hill. Selah. I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around."

Psalm 20:7 of 6-9 "Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; HE will answer him from His holy heaven with the saving might of His right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. They collapse and fall, but we rise and stand upright. O LORD, save the king! Answer us when we call."

Psalm 23:4 of 4-6 "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

Psalm 27:3 of 1-3 "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident."

Psalm 46:2 of 1-3 "GOD is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling."

Isaiah 12:2 of 1-6 "You will say in that day: "I will give thanks to You, O LORD, for though You were angry with me, Your anger turned away, that You might comfort me. "Behold, GOD is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and HE has become my salvation." With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the peoples, proclaim that His name is exalted. "Sing praises to the LORD, for HE has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."

Habakkuk 3:18-19 of 16-19 "I hear, and my body trembles; my lips quiver at the sound; rottenness enters into my bones; my legs tremble beneath me. Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble to come upon people who invade us. Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in GOD my salvation. GOD, is the LORD, my strength; HE makes my feet like the deer's; HE makes me tread on high places."

The Secret and Mysteries of GOD revisited, part 16.5 marriage and the church

Okay we many not have exhausted all that is contained within the mystery of the church, body and family of GOD that is said to walk in  and by the Spirit of Unity. And it is for that reason that I am moving on to chapter 6 here in Ephesians where we find this in verses 18-2 of 10-17, 18-20, 21-24;
"Finally, be strong in the LORD and in the strength of His might. Having put on 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 taking up the whole armor of GOD, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day (today, is that day as long as it remains today), and having done all, to stand firm. Standing 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, (this is our clothing when we are clothed with Christ both inward and outward, as a bride is clothed within her husbands name).
Praying at all times (in) by 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, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare boldly, as I ought to speak.
So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister of the LORD, will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from GOD the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. His Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.

Spiritual Utterance, given to aid us,

Acts 1:5 of 1-5; 2:4 of 1-4 "In the first book, O Theophilus (a name of a dear and very close friend of  divine Deity), I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when He was taken up, after He had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles Whom He had chosen. He presented Himself alive to them after His suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during the forty days and speaking about the kingdom of GOD. And while staying with them He ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, HE said, "you heard from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.
When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind (this being done for their benefit), and (it) HE filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues "

1Corinthians 1:5 of 4-9 "I give thanks to my GOD always for you because of the grace of GOD that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony (witness) about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our LORD in Jesus Christ, Who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our LORD through Jesus Christ. For GOD is faithful, by Whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our LORD."


2Corinthians 8:7 of 7-15 "For as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our LORD, and that of Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty we might become rich. And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written (in Exodus 16:18, the battle of the flesh in Romans 7 as expressed by Paul's own former nature), "Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack."

Ephesians 6:19 of 18-20 "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, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak."


Colossians 4:3 of 1-4. 5-7 "Masters, treat your bond-servants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master (LORD) in heaven. Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that GOD may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Walking in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."



Next comes our confidence in GOD the LORD willing.

The Secret and Mysteries of GOD revisited, part 16.4 marriage and the church

We are looking at the mystery of the Church, Marriage, Body and Family as a untie of One being in Christ, in Christ is the new witness term for marriage of having the anointing, which in the Old Testament made reference to Messiah and Messiah in Greek is Christ and GOD is Christ in both. Now for the bridegroom and the church, which is Christ. We must keep in mind that Jesus was under the restrictions of the Law and Prophets and could only speak to them and elude to what was on the horizon in parables and metaphors of veiled language.

As Bridegroom,

Matthew 9:15 of 14-17 "Then the disciples of John came to Jesus, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?" And Jesus said to them, "'Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch tears away from the garment, and a worse tear is made. Neither is new wine put into old wineskins. If it is, the skins burst and the wine is spilled and the skins are destroyed. But new wine (speaking of the Holy Spirit) is put into fresh wineskins, and so both are preserved.'"



Matthew 25:1 and 6 of 1-13 (Jesus is speaking) "'Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil (no oil a symbol and item used for anointing) with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.'"




John 3:29 of 25-30 "Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, He Who was with you across the Jordan, to Whom you bore witness—look, He is baptizing, and all are going to Him." John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before Him.' The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears Him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease."

Revelation 21:2 of 1-4 "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from GOD, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of GOD is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and GOD Himself will be within them as their GOD. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."



The Church as Bride,
Isaiah 62:5 of 1-5 "For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations will see Your righteousness, and all the kings Your glory, and You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give. You will be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You will no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you will be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land (speaks to the whole earth will be) Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you."

2Corinthians 11:2 of 1-6 "I wish you would bear with me in a little foolishness. Do bear with me! For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ. But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough. Indeed, I consider that I am not in the least inferior to these super-apostles. Even if I am unskilled in speaking, I am not so in knowledge; indeed, in every way we have made this plain to you in all things."

Revelation 19:7 of 1-8 "After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our GOD, for His judgments are true and just; for HE has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of His servants." Once more they cried out, "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever." And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped GOD Who was seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!" And from the throne came a voice saying, "Praise our God, all you His servants, you who fear Him, small and great." Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the LORD our GOD the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure"— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints."

Revelation 21:2 of 1-4 "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from GOD, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of GOD is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and GOD Himself will be within them as their GOD.(the revelation of John17's prayer) He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."



Revelation 22:17 "The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price."

The Secret and Mysteries of GOD revisited, part 16.3 marriage and the church

We are looking at GOD's Love and the Church, Body, Family all being organisms of GODS creation hidden as a secret and mystery to the world of the rebellious and lost. For it comes after rebirth, with our being sealed by the Holy Spirit of GOD, this is also spoken of as the anointing. I want to look next at Christ being the Head of the Church before looking into the bridegroom, and the church as a bride all of which speaks of unity or union of relationship and identity. Do not forget that we are still in Ephesians 4:17-6:4 which speaks of these things as do other scriptures of Paul's writings.


Christ the Head of the Church,


Ephesians 1:22 of 15-23 "For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which HE has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His great might that HE worked in Christ when HE raised (this Spirit in) Him from the dead and seated Him (Jesus) at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And HE put all things under His feet and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in All."

Ephesians 4:15 of 7-16 "But grace is given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says (by David in Psalm 68:18 and made known in Matthew 27:51-54), "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. 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."

Ephesians 5:23 of 22-24 "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is Himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands."

Colossians 1:18-19 of 15-20 "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through Him and for Him. And HE is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. And HE is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything HE might be preeminent. For in Him all the fullness of GOD was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross."

The Secret and Mysteries of GOD revisited, part 16.2 marriage and the church

I am about pull the proverbial rug out from under many religious institutions and religious organizations of religious training and teaching, that follow the ways of the pagan churches and practices of old, now under the guise of another name. Today's blog deals with GOD's Union with His Church or Family or Body of Christ. And bear in mind that all things soken by GOD having taken place already as revealed in Revelation. And that Egypt and Babylon are the names of the worlds many religious forms throughout scripture, just Belial (Greek is Beliar) is used for the false church.

GOD's Union with the Church,

Isaiah 54:5 of 1-3, 4-8 "'Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,' says the LORD. 'Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will resettle the desolate cities.'"
'Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the GOD of the whole earth HE is called. For the LORD God has called you like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit, like a wife of ones youth when she is cast off, says your GOD. For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. In overflowing anger for a moment I hid My face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,' says the LORD, your Redeemer (Something that is round or a second time around of a time or event.To restore one to his original position or avenge his death. This having taken place before the foundation was laid that was laid in Genesis 2.).'"



Isaiah 62:5 of 1-5 "'For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her (His Church) righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations will see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give. You will be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your GOD. You will no more be termed Forsaken, and your land (kingdom rule of the nations) will no more be termed Desolate, for you will be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land (kingdom, nations) Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land (nations) will be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so will your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so will your GOD rejoice over you.'"

Jeremiah 3:14 of 11-14 "The LORD said to me, "'Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, 'Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the LORD; I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the LORD your GOD and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree, and that you have not obeyed My voice, declares the LORD. Return, O faithless children, declares the LORD; for I am your Master; I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to (My) Zion (a temple and place of permanence, a place of spiritual worship in spirit and truth, John 4:23-24, and Philippians 3:3).'"

Hosea 2:19 of 14-20 "'Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. And there I will give her her vineyards and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she will answer as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt (speaking of 2Corinthians 6:11-13, 14-7:4). And in that day, declares the LORD, you will call Me 'My Husband,' and no longer will you call Me 'My Baal.' For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they will be remembered by name no more. And I will make for them a covenant on that day with the (nations likened to) beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens, and the creeping things of the ground. And I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land, and I will make you lie down in safety. And I will betroth you to Me forever. I will betroth you to Me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to Me in faithfulness. And you will know the LORD.'"


Matthew 22:2 of 1-10 "Again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for His son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast."' But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.(Daniel 7; 9:20-23, 24-27) Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.' And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests."

Matthew 25:10 of 1-13 (Jesus is speaking) "'Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, 'Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered, saying, 'Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.' And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.'"

Revelation 19:7 of 1-8 "After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out (Psalm 104:35; Jeremiah  51:48),
 "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our GOD; (Psalm 19:9; Deuteronomy 32:43; 2Kings 9:7) for His judgments are true and righteous; for He has judged the great Harlot who was corrupting the earth with her immoralities, and HE has avenged the blood of His Bond-servants from her hands."
Once more they cried out, "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever." And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped GOD Who was seated on the throne, saying, "Amen. Hallelujah!" And from the throne came a voice saying, "Praise our GOD, all you His servants, you who reverence and revere Him, small and great." Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, "Hallelujah! For the LORD our God the Almighty reigns." Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure"— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints."

The Secret and Mysteries of GOD revisited, part 16.1 marriage and the church

Great is the mystery of the church, body and family of GOD as known in the new witness of GOD's Spirit being restored to the soul of the redeemed of man. For this reason I will look at Ephesians 5:25-32 which states this; "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loves the church and gave Himself up for it, that He might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, so that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that it might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of His body (as seen and known in Genesis 1:26-27 and 2:1-3, 6-7, 24). "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church." Of this union of body heart and soul no man can separate from the Love of GOD now residing, indwelling, within us. From here I want to look at this from many ways, such as the Bridegroom, the Church a bride, and our Union as Christ ones to GOD, to name but a few.


The Preciousness of the Church, 

Deuteronomy 12:8-10 of 1-14 "These are the statutes and rules that you shall be careful to do in the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth. You shall surely destroy all the places where the nations whom you shall dispossess served their (pagan) gods, on the high mountains and on the hills and under every green tree. You will tear down these their altars and dash in pieces their pillars and burn their Asherim with fire. You will chop down the carved images of their gods and destroy their name out of that place. You will not worship the LORD your God in that way. But you shall seek the place that the LORD your God will choose out of all your tribes to put His name and make His habitation there. There you shall go, and there you shall bring your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, your vow offerings, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock. And there you shall eat before the LORD your God, and you shall rejoice, you and your households, in all that you undertake, in which the LORD your God has blessed you. "You shall not do according to all that we are doing here today, everyone doing whatever is right in his own eyes, for you have not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance that the LORD your God is giving you. But when you go over the Jordan and live in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to inherit, and when HE gives you rest from all your enemies around, so that you live in safety, then to the place that the LORD your God will choose, to make His name dwell there, there you shall bring all that I command you: your burnt offerings and your sacrifices, your tithes and the contribution that you present, and all your finest vow offerings that you vow to the LORD. And you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your sons and your daughters, your male servants and your female servants, and the Levite that is within your towns, since he has no portion or inheritance with you. Take care that you do not offer your burnt offerings at any place that you see, but at the place that the LORD will choose in one of your tribes, there you shall offer your burnt offerings, and there you shall do all that I am commanding you."


Isaiah 62:3 of 1-5 "For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give. You will be a crown of beauty in the hand (a spiritual kingdom rule) of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You will no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married. For as a young man marries a young woman, so will your sons marry You, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so will your God rejoice over You."

Zechariah 2:8 of 5-12 "'I will be to her a wall of fire all around it, declares the LORD, and I will be the glory in the midst it.
Up! Up! Flee from the land of the north,' declares the LORD. 'For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens,' declares the LORD. 'Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon.For thus said the LORD of hosts, after His glory sent Me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of My eye: Behold, I will shake My hand over them, and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me.Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the LORD. And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and they will be (become) My people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent Me to you. And the LORD will inherit Judah as His portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.'"

Zechariah 9:16 of 11-17 "As for you also, because of the blood of My covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free (in Matthew 27:51-54 and other writings of Paul's letters) from the water-less pit. Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double. For I have bent Judah as My bow; I have made Ephraim its arrow. I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece, and wield you like a warrior's sword. Then the LORD will appear over them, and His arrow will go forth like lightning; the LORD GOD (YHWH) will sound the trumpet and will march forth in the whirlwinds of the south. The LORD of hosts will protect them, and they shall devour, and tread down the sling stones, and they shall drink and roar as if drunk with wine, and be full like a bowl, drenched like the corners of the altar. On that day the LORD their God will save them, as the flock of His people; for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on His land. For how great is His goodness, and how great His beauty! Grain shall make the young men flourish, and new wine the young women."

Malachi 3:17 of 16-18 "Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before Him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed His name. 'They will be Mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up My treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.' Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves GOD and one who does not serve Him."

Acts 20:28 of 25-35 "Now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of GOD. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of GOD, which HE obtained with His own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"



Ephesians 5:25 of 25-33 with Colossians 1:24 "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for it, that HE might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, so that HE might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that it might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of His body (it states this in Genesis 22:24). "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband."

Colossians 1:24 of 21-23, 24-29 "You, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death (separated us from the universal law of sin and death and the Mosaic Law of condemnation active in mans flesh), in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of His body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from GOD that was given to me for you, to make the word (and works) of GOD fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to His saints. To them GOD chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all His energy that HE powerfully works within me."

The Secret and Mysteries of GOD revisited, part 16 marriage and the church

The next sections of the mystery deal with the family, marriage and the church as a unite in unity with the LORD God. In this each individual is in unity of spirit with Spirit where all are in the All in all. Many of the hidden links are also found within other passages as we have seen elsewhere. I will pick up the flow beginning in Ephesians 4:17 through 6:4, which states this;

Ephesians 4:17-24, 25-5:2, 3-14, 15-21, 22-24, 25-6:3, 4 "Now this I say and testify in the LORD, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. For they are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of GOD because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!—assuming that you have heard about Him and were taught [in] by Him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be (being) renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of GOD in true righteousness and holiness. 
Therefore, having put away falsehood (by Zechariah in 8:16), let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of GOD, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as GOD in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of GOD, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to GOD.
For sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and GOD.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of GOD (is released from within all lost souls and is said to) come upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light [in] of the LORD. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and discern what is pleasing to the LORD. By taking no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. For when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says (in Isaiah 26:19, 15:17, 52:1, 60:1), "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will (plan and purpose) of the LORD is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be (being) filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the LORD (Romans 12:1-3) with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to GOD the Father in (His name of Christ) the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the LORD. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is Himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that HE might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that HE might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of His body. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh (Genesis 2:24)."  This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. Children, obey your parents in the LORD, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise, found in Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16), "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land."
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the LORD.

The Secret and Mysteries of GOD revisited, part 15.11 wisdom

Again we are looking at the hidden revelation in the wisdom of GOD and the giving of His Spirit as the Christ to man just as HE did His Son of man that made Jesus not only man (flesh) but Spirit, as it also does us as well. As seen in Genesis 2, the second Adam of promise in Genesis 3:15. I might add that in all cases where Jesus is speaking it is the GOD head in Him, the Christ speaking in all most all cases.

The Promised (Spirit) Outpouring, first some general references to,

Isaiah 32:15 of 9-20 "Rise up, you women who are at ease, hear My voice; you complacent daughters, give ear to My speech. In little more than a year you will shudder, you complacent women; for the grape harvest fails, the fruit harvest will not come. Tremble, you women who are at ease, shudder, you complacent ones; strip, and make yourselves bare, and tie sackcloth around your waist. Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields, for the fruitful vine, for the soil of My people is growing up in thorns and briers, yes, for all the joyous houses in the exultant city. For the palace is forsaken, the populous city deserted; the hill and the watchtower will become dens forever, a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks; until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places. And it will hail when the forest falls down, and the city will be utterly laid low. Happy are you who sow beside all waters, who let the feet of the ox and the donkey range free."

Isaiah 59:21 of 20, 21 "'A Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob (Jacob being the prototype of the called out of the worlds populations) who turn from transgression,' declares the LORD.
'And as for Me, this is My (new promised) covenant is with them,' says the LORD: 'My Spirit that is upon you, and My words that I have put in your mouth, will not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children's offspring,' says the LORD, from this time forth and forevermore.'"

Ezekiel 39:29 of 25-29 "Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: 'Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of (My) Israel, and I will be jealous for My holy (hidden) name. They shall forget their shame and all the treachery they have practiced against Me, when they dwell securely in their land with none to make them afraid, when I have brought them back from the peoples and gathered them from their enemies' lands, and through them have vindicated My Holiness in the sight of many (Gentile) nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD their God, because I sent them into exile among the nations and then assembled them into their own land. I will leave none of them remaining among the nations anymore. And I will not hide My face anymore from them, when I pour out My Spirit upon the house of Israel,' declares the Lord GOD."

Upon Young and Old,

Joel 2:28 of 28-32 and Zechariah 12:10 "'It shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out My Spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes (the day of sacrifice, crucifixion, while the body of Jesus hung on the tree of judgment this took place in Matthew 27:45 from 9am through 3pm). And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors will be those whom the LORD calls.'" 

Zechariah 12:10 of 10-14 "'I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on Me, on Him Whom they have pierced , they shall mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. On that day the mourning in Jerusalem will be as great as the mourning for Hadad-rimmon in the plain of Megiddo. The land shall mourn, each family by itself: the family of the house of David by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Nathan by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the house of Levi by itself, and their wives by themselves; the family of the Shimeites by itself, and their wives by themselves; and all the families that are left, each by itself, and their wives by themselves.'"

Christ the Giver Of,

Matthew 3:11 of 2, 7-10, 11-12 (John the baptizer is speaking) "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."
When John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father,' for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit (of righteousness) is cut down and thrown into the fire.
"I baptize you with water for repentance, but He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit (some translations say the Holy Ghost here) and fire. (Luke 12:49; Colossians 1:13, John 12:17) His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."

Bestowed in Answer to Prayer,

Luke 11:13 of 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!'"

Through Waiting upon GOD,


Luke 24:49 of 36-43, 44-49 with John 7:39, 14:16, 16:7 "As they were talking about these things, Jesus Himself stood among them, and said to them, 'Peace to you!' But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And He said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Touch Me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.' And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, He said to them, 'Have you anything here to eat?' They gave Him a piece of broiled fish, and He took it and ate before them.
Then He said to them, 'These are My words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.' Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, 'Thus it is written, that the Christ (Messiah) should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in this (the bases of) His name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of My Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.'"





John 7:39 of 37-39 "On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, 'If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes Me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.'" Now this He said about the Spirit, Whom those who believed Him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus (as the Christ one) was not yet glorified."


John 14:16 of 8-14, 15-17 "Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us." Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know Me, Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father?' Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own authority, but the Father Who dwells in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father (Christ) is in Me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. 'Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in (this My hidden old witness name) My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask of Me anything in (this) My name (LORD Christ), I will do it.
'If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and HE will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth, Whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for HE dwells with you and will be in you.'"
 
John 16:7 of 5-11 (Jesus is speaking) "'Now I am going to Him Who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, 'Where are You going?' But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you. And when HE comes, HE will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe Me (Deuteronomy 18:18-2 of 15-22); concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see Me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.'"




Empowered for service,

Acts 1:8 of 6-11 "So when they had come together, they asked Him, "LORD, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by His own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.' And when He had said these things, as they were looking on, He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as He went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, Who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven."


Personal Cleansing Precedes,

Acts 2:38-39 of 29-36, 37-42 (Peter's witness) "Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that GOD (spoke as GOD in Psalm 132:11, 89:3-4) had sworn with an oath to him that HE would set one of his descendants on his throne, 'he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that HE was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.' This Jesus, GOD raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of GOD, and our having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, HE has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but HE Himself says (through David in Psalm 110:1), "'The LORD said to my LORD, 'Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies Your footstool."' Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that GOD has made Him both LORD and Christ, this Jesus Whom you crucified."
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone Whom the LORD our God calls to Himself." And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, "Save yourselves from this crooked generation." So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."

Now for the conclusion of Ephesians 3:1-13, 14-19 where we read the following;
"For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles—assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of GOD's grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. When you read this, you can *perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ, through Jesus through the gospel. Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of GOD's grace, which was given me by the working of His power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light (understanding's perception*) for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in GOD Who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of GOD might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that HE has realized in Christ, through Jesus our LORD, in Whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in Him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from (IN) Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of His glory HE may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of GOD."

The Secret and Mysteries of GOD revisited, part 15.10 wisdom

In today's post I want to look at mans peril of an empty heart and the spirit-filled man before looking into the release and giving of promised Spirit. I know that I have covered many areas of this release but there are ares within mans nature that are resistant to our receptivity, one thing that should stand out is pride. Pride like love has many forms for example love corrects with justice and truth and this can be a stumbling-block for many as they oppose themselves by saying this is a harsh thing, which unacceptable to me.


The Peril of an Empty Heart,

Matthew 12:43-44 of 30, 31-32, 33-37, 38-42, 43-45 (Jesus is speaking) "'Whoever is not with Me is against Me, and whoever does not gather with Me scatters.
Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree (the cursed fig that had no fruit on it, symbolizing Israels priesthood) bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.'
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you." But He answered them, 'An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah (Jonah 1:17). For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth (in Matthew 27:51-54 at this mark ; which is a time break, and spoken of by Paul later by revelation). The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, "I will return to my house from which I came." And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.'"


Spirit-filled Man,

Luke 1:15 of 8-17 "Now while Zacharias was serving as priest before God when his division of Abijah (Abia) was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the LORD God to burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. There appeared to him an angel (Spirit image) of the LORD standing on the right side of the altar of incense. And Zechariah was troubled when he saw Him, and fear fell upon him. But the angel (Spirit image) said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the LORD. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the LORD their God, and he will go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the LORD a people prepared."

Luke 4:1 of 1-4 "Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit (He is now Spirit and He knows it, no longer a man of flesh only) in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, He was hungry. The devil said to Him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread." To this Jesus answered him (from Deuteronomy 8:3), 'It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone.'"


Acts 2:4 of 1-4 "When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and [it] He filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire (Luke 12:49; Colossians 1:13; John 12:17) appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance."

Acts 4:8 of 1-4, 5-12 "And as they (Peter and John) were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.
On 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, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, and 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, a man whom you crucified, whom GOD raised from the dead—by Him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone (of Psalm 118:22) that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (rescued from destruction in the law of sin and death of the wrath [resentment, bitterness of enmity hostility] within natural man and the penalties of the Messianic judgment)."



Acts 4:31 of 23-31, 32-35 "When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign LORD, Who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, Who through the mouth of our father David, Your servant (in Psalm 2:1-2 and Daniel in 9:24f*), said by the Holy Spirit, "'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the LORD and against His (Messiah-Christ) Anointed*'—for truly in this city there were gathered together against Your Holy servant Jesus, Whom You anointed*, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles (nations) and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your plan had predestined to take place. And now, LORD, look upon their threats and grant to Your servants to continue to speak Your word with all boldness, while You stretch out Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of Your Holy servant Jesus." And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. 
Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need."

Acts 7:55 of 44-50, 51-53, 54-60 (Stephen filled with the Holy Spirit speaking by the Spirit says) "Our fathers had the tent of witness in the wilderness, just as HE Who spoke to Moses directed him to make it, according to the pattern that he had seen. Our fathers in turn brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations that God drove out before our fathers. So it was until the days of David, who found favor in the sight of God and asked to find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who built a house for Him. Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says (Isaiah in 66:1-2; then states from **Exodus 32:9, 33:3, 5; Leviticus 26:41; Numbers 27:14; Isaiah 63:10 and Jeremiah 6:10, 9:26)), "'Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. What kind of house will you build for Me, says the LORD, or what is the place of My rest? Did not My hand make all these things?'
**"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, Whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the law as (ordained) delivered by angels (in Deuteronomy 33:2) and did not keep it."
Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at Him. But He, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of GOD, and Jesus standing at the right hand of GOD. And he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of GOD." But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

Acts 11:24 of 19-26 "Now those who were scattered because of the persecution that arose over Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and Antioch, speaking the word to no one except Jews. But there were some of them, men of Cyprus and Cyrene, who on coming to Antioch spoke to the Hellenists also, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the LORD was with them, and a great number who believed turned to the Lord. The report of this came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. When he came and saw the grace of GOD, he was glad, and he exhorted them all to remain faithful to the LORD with steadfast purpose, for he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord. So Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. For a whole year they met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians."



Acts 13:9 of 4-12 "Being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews, they had John to assist them. When they had gone through the whole island as far as Paphos, they came upon a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet named Bar-Jesus. He was with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, a man of intelligence, who summoned Barnabas and Saul and sought to hear the word of God. But Elymas the magician (for that is the meaning of his name) opposed them, seeking to turn the proconsul away from the faith. But Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, "You son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, full of all deceit and villainy, will you not stop making crooked the straight paths of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind and unable to see the sun for a time." Immediately mist and darkness fell upon him, and he went about seeking people to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had occurred, for he was astonished at the teaching of the Lord."

Acts 13:52 of 44-47, 48-52 "The next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began to contradict what was spoken by Paul, reviling him. And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, "It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles (nations). For so the LORD has commanded us, saying, "'I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.'"
When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the LORD, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. And the word of the LORD was spreading throughout the whole region. But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city, stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district. But they shook off the dust from their feet against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit."