2-2-2026    How Much do we Really Love the Lord?

                      

How deep is our love for Jesus?

In 1054, Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches split and the protestant reformation began in 1517.  According to the National Congregational Study Survey, in the U.S. alone, there are more than 200 Christian denominations.  All declaring allegiance to Jesus Christ, our Lord.  These splits all came from ‘theological differences.  Everybody didn’t believe exactly the same.  Many claiming that if one didn’t believe exactly as they declared, that soul was not saved.  We are one body and that body has many parts (1 Corinth. 12:14-27) yet were are still one in Christ Jesus (Rom. 12:4-5).

So!

What did Paul tell the Romans?  When we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus and believe with our heart that God has raised Him from the dead, we shall be saved (Rom. 10:9). Then he clarified that those stronger in the Lord should bear the infirmities of the weak (Rom.15:1).  Our job is not to tear down but edify the church, the body of Christ.  We all may not sit as one of the 5-fold offices, but we all do have a part in the 5-fold ‘ministry’.  Everything that we do stems from the 5-fold ministry – Evangelist, Apostle, Pastor, Teacher and yes, even the Prophet. (Eph. 4:11-12) We are God’s temple (1 Corinth. 3:16 – naos G3485, temple, dwell)!  Bear in mind that these offices are manifested through the many talents contained in the body.  In his own eyes, the devil has done well in dividing the body of Christ and fracturing the love the body represents.

Note, that Romans 10:9 says ‘shall’, not ‘are’.  Paul cautions the Romans that “it is impossible for those who once were enlightened, have tasted heavenly gifts or are partakers of the Holy Ghost (associated with, partnered with, allowed Him into our lives) and tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come. Should God permit them to fall away (return to that sinful nature)?   Then repenting again of their sinful nature, are they crucifying the lord Jesus again putting Him to shame” (Heb. 6:4-6).  What this passage tells is that when we truly love the Lord, with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, we will not turn from Him. 

However, there is a flip-side to this coin.  Should we turn away from Jesus, after we have confessed and were baptized, our original confession is in jeopardy because it implies that we may truly have not given our hearts to Jesus.  Note the commitment to depth of faith in this passage, it is secured in ‘as we believe’.  If we profess Jesus, then turn back to the old ways, how sincere was our original commitment?  Did we really believe what our mouth was saying?  However, John tells us that should we sin (we are sinful creatures by nature), we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus (1 John 2:1-2).  Even though that sinful nature fights us to gain control, we have God’s Spirit of love in us as we live in God’s love, we win the battle (Gal. 5:17-25).  Should we fall, confess lth sin and Jesus is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).

(1) Just knowing about Jesus (being enlightened) is not a guarantee for our salvation.  Satan and his devils believe and know that God exists (James 2:19).  In fact, the first two chapters of “Job”, God issues a challenge to Satan concerning Job’s faithfulness (Job 1:6-12, Job 2:1-6).  Satan believes God IS, what about us?  Ananias and his wife Sapphira showed their true hearts when they lied to the Holy Spirit by holding back part of what they promised God (Acts 5:1-11).  Man can believe in and be baptized in Jesus but that is just the beginning.  Jesus tells us that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15).  His commandment is to LOVE (Matt. 22:36-38) and as we love Him, we will do so with all our heart, mind, soul and strength (Mark 12:30).  That means with everything that we are!  That lack of true commitment was displayed when many of the people decided to no longer follow Jesus because they felt His teachings were too hard (John 6:59-66).

Paul tells the Corinthians that even though only one crosses the finish line first, all run the race expecting to win.  A man strives to master all things he encounters (resist the devil’s attacks) to receive an incorruptible crown.  Know what our goal is, and don’t be like a boxer who shadow boxes, just punching the air, but bring our bodies under subjection (of our heart) so we will not nor have not run the race in vain (1 Corinth. 9:24-27).

Have we confessed Jesus, been baptized in water then we come to a screeching halt in our relationship?  Have we become content with where we are?  Are we still living in salvations shallows?

(2) Even though we have received blessings from Father, that does not guarantee our eternal life.  Later in life, I realized how Father has been watching over me.  Blessing me even when I didn’t acknowledge Him.  My dad worked for the department of Interior and would occasionally go to audit various national parks.  When I was going into the third grade (@ 7 years old), that summer, he brought the family to come be with him in Boulder City, Nevada.  There was a rock formation protruding into Lake Mead called Black Rock which, as a family, we walked up the path.  Dad had gone a little farther ahead and I was with mom and my sister when I decided to go catch up with my dad.  I saw him up ahead, but as I went up the path I found a split in the path so I stretched my seven year old legs across the gap to the other side.  Uh oh!  I spanned the gap but I could neither pull myself forward nor could I back up.  I don’t know how high we were up on Black Rock, I just knew I was higher than I cared for being in my predicament.  Mom yelled for dad and honestly, the last thing I remember is seeing my dad running back to get me.  I know I didn’t fall because I’m here writing about this today.  Thinking back, that was a huge blessing for me – I’m still here (Psalm 121:5-8)!  Father knew me and He was watching over me.  Obviously even though I didn’t know Him.  He loved me.

Father will bless us to get our attention, even when we don’t acknowledge Him (personal life experiences), yet He does tell us that as we obey Him, blessings will come our way (Deut. 28:11-14).  Jesus tells us those who hear the Word of God and do it shall be blessed (Luke 11:28).  As we keep God’s law and keep His commandments Father will bless us with long life and peace (Prov. 3:1-2) and more.

Father keeps bringing Job to mind.  A man who endured much hardship without denying God and though he lost all that he had, in the end, Father blessed Him many times over because of his dedication and obedience (Job 42:10-17).  Job recognized Who God is and showed God his love for Him through his obedience.  Can we show Father our love through our obedience?

But bear in mind, Father does bless us according to His will but those blessings don’t bring us a guarantee salvation nor are they a guaranteed product of professions of faith, but Father uses them as encouragement for our continuing obedience to our Lord Jesus!  Blessings are great but how long will we stay just waist deep in God’s love? abiding in God’s love, but not growing.

(3) Even if we’ve memorized passages from (or even) the whole bible, it is not a guarantee for a blessed life ‘ever after’. 

Isaac was the son of Abraham, and Abraham was considered the ‘founding’ patriarch of Judaism, and Christianity sprang from Judaism.  In the natural, Jesus was born into this world a ‘Jew’ via his mother Mary.  He was obedient to His Father (God).  So, as we confess and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become His brothers, therefore we fall into that Spiritual lineage in our rebirth into the New Covenant (in Jesus).  In his old age, Isaac’s eyesight dimmed which enabled Jacob (his son) to trick him into receiving the blessing of the eldest son (Gen. 27:15-30).  In short, we age and often natural, physical attributes slow us down.  We may assume that it is by Father’s design, for whatever His reason, our life flows as it does. Yet He’s is always in control yet He gives us free choice (Josh. 24:15, Rev. 3:20-22).  How freedom affect our choices?

In our youth (in church) we are encouraged to read and memorize bible verses and this continues into our adulthood, or it should.   This is good!  The more Word we have in our heart and mind, the better for us.  Paul encourages us, in his letter to the Romans, to present our bodies a living sacrifice to the Lord by renewing our minds as an expression of our faithfulness (Rom. 1:1-2).  Father also tells us to receive His Words, know His commandments, desire understanding and seek knowledge with all our heart, so we will come to understand who God is and we will gain His wisdom (Prov. 2:1-5).  Father has given us the written Word for our learning that through our patience in so doing, we find comfort and our hope is reinforced (Rom. 15:4)

A parrot can resound the words which we teach it.  The bird knows the words, but he has no understanding of what they mean, it is just imitating sounds.  We go to school to, among other things, learn words and their meaning so we can appropriately communicate with others. 

Most biblical speakers cite ‘book, chapter and verse’ help us understand what God is saying?  Knowing the words and being able to use them correctly in a sentence is good, but if someone asks us “what do you mean, do we just give them a blank stare?  Or are we able to relate to the deeper understanding of what is being said?  Do we have that deeper meaning of what Father is saying in our own heart?

It is great to have read the whole bible (Genesis to Revelation) once, twice ten times or even more.  What I am asking is ‘what are we retaining’?  What are we absorbing?  For myself, I have learned that reading a verse, a passage, a chapter, a book, etc., I learn.  PTL!  But I have found that each time I’ve read that verse, passage, chapter or book, Father takes me to a deeper understanding of what that portion of the bible actually means.  He shows me something more, something deeper than what I have seen in all the times before.  AND, even though I made no deliberate attempt to memorize many of these passages, I find Father brings many back to my memory when needed!  The Holy Ghost will give us what to say (Mark 13:11).

We’ve grown in knowledge and, at least, a basic understanding but are we still just chest deep in the lake of our understanding?  How much of God’s love have we learned to apply and effectively live in?

(4) Even as we have learned about future heavenly existence, it is not an indication that we are signed, sealed or delivered.  Understand that ‘delivered’ implies that we would then be in the literal presence of Father, face to face, mano e mano.

No one knows when the lord is coming back (Matt.24:44).  For this reason, we should always be ready and watching (Matt. 25:13).  However, Jesus does give us some things that might give us a hint.  False prophets, wars and rumors of wars, nations, kingdoms and even families divided, disease, famines, earthquakes in unusual places, and Jesus says, even with these things, the end is not yet (Matt. 24:4-8).  Look at history, these things have been happening ever since Jesus ascended (Acts 1:9), even since the beginning of the world (2 Peter 3:4).  How many people have tried to predict when the end times or even tribulation period will be (it signals Jesus’ return) - ?  Even today, how many of us look at the world situation and say “the end times are near?  Even before, but certainly since Jesus’s time, there have been false prophets, wars, famines, etc. and here we are, experiencing the same things, and still we are waiting.  When Jerusalem is surrounded by the armies (Luke 21:20-28) the Lord will come with the shout of the archangel and the trump of God (1 Thess. 4:16-18),

In the meantime, are we yet totally immersed in Jesus’ ocean of love?  Totally committed in living for Him?  Totally enveloped in that sea of love?

Getting our feet wet is just the beginning.  Waist deep, we are learning.  Neck deep shows our commitment.  Totally immersed?  Knowing and living in God’s Word and sharing it with those whom we encounter, is this total immersion?  Absolutely and completely but the question is “Are we totally immersed in love” – in God’s eyes? 

Enoch pleased God, so God took him form the earthly realm (Gen. 5:21-24).  Neither did Elijah see an earthly death (2 Kings2:11-12).  The testimony of both men is that they pleased God.  We don’t know if Enoch had a task to complete when God took him but Elijah had to wait until his mission was complete before being taken up.  Have we actually given our complete heart, soul, mind and strength (Mark 12:30) over to the Lord?  How much do we really love Him?

When we willfully sin and turn our backs on Jesus, the odds of our repentance becomes less and less a possibility.  The farther we stray, the harder it will be to come back.  For when we turn from Father, we put Jesus to shame because we have called Him a liar.  – has He truly saved us, but do we live like it?  Yet we know that if we should stumble or fall, Jesus will pick us back up.

Jesus says “Abide in Me (John 15:4).  As we grow in Christ Jesus, we venture farther and farther out into the water (God’s love).  Endeavoring to become totally immersed in His love.

Peter walked on the water (Matt. 14:22-33), but Father promised Isaiah to be with him through the waters and fire and that he would not be harmed (Isaiah 43:2-3a).  Promises like these are also ours.  Are we living our lives as we expect good things to happen?

So, just how deep is our water?  Our love?  Do we get our feet damp by walking in shallow waters (love)?  How about waist deep as we grow in the waters of love?  Are we neck deep In the waters of the knowledge and living in God’s will and doing it?  Have we totally immersed ourselves by walking into and being totally overcome by the waters of Father’s love?  Is Father’s love a part of our love – life? 

Father brings to my mind the song “Rush” by the group Voux.  I first heard this song at church and I was so-so with it.  Later, I looked up the lyrics and then I understood.  To be totally overwhelmed with God’s love.

Learning to love Jesus and others will also help us to love ourselves.  We are wonderfully made because God’s works are marvelous (Psalm 139:14) and we are God’s creation (Eph. 2:10).  Men, are we not commanded to love our wives for if we love our spouses we should love ourselves (Eph. 5:28).  If we have no confidence (don’t love) in ourselves, how can we truly love others? 

Amen

I presented this a year ago to the fellowship I attend for the bible study but Father has made some additions for deeper understanding.

 

1-18-2026 Our turning point

In the seventies and eighties my Spiritual life was starting to grow. I was looking at what parts of my life l had already turned over he the Lord and did I actually know the direction my life was taking.  As I looked back from today, at the time Father gave me this song, I realize that I had just begun turning things over to Him and there was a long road to ‘hoe’ yet.  I still had a long way to go (in retrospect). 

I gave my life to the Lord in 1971, but I realized that a decade later, and as the decades rolled by, I still haven’t turned everything over to Him.  He wasn’t completely Lord of my Life!  Even today, I’m still finding myself turning things over to Him.  Some things are new situations while, even yet, other things pop up out of my past.

The enemy does his best to hold us down or, at least, hold us back from growing Spiritually.  From salvation, our job is to learn how to truly live for Jesus!  We face many crossroads in life so we have many decision to make over the years, as we decide whether we yield the situation over to Jesus or not.  It is not just dredging things up from the past and dealing with them (this shouldn’t be the case … but), but recognizing the new tactics of our enemy.

 The song brings out things that may have come into our life, then we recognize Jesus’ authority over them and then deal with them to remove the hindrance to our growth.  And each time, we discover that Jesus is the answer.

THE TURNING POINT (@’80’s-‘90’s, adjusted 2026)

(Refrain)

Verse 1

Decisions bring us to a turning point

And we must know who is our Lord

Praying my Lord your wisdom I seek

Guide my steps, hand me your sword

Yielding my life in all that I do

Abiding ever in your Holy Word

(Refsrin)

Verse 2

Life has many turns and crossroads are not a few

I travel the road and wonder oft times what shall I do

Hearing Your voice, abiding in Your Word

The choice becomes clear

My turning point

Refrain

I’ve come to the turning point

I must decide once and for all

Is Jesus just my Savior alone, or is he truly Lord of all

Is he the King of Kings, Master of everything

Did He our God anoint, to give to him my all

My turning point

(I sing the refrain at the beginning, then after each verse).

 

Even today, I still find new ‘adventures’ which challenge my trust in Jesus. I remember that

Jesus is my Lord and Savior (Acts 2:36).  The word translated “Lord” here is kurios (G2962) which is supreme authority, lord, master or ‘sir’ (respect).  “Christ” is used in this passage and is the word christos (5547) which means anointed or Messiah [referring to Jesus Christ].  Savior is the Greek word  soter (G4990) which is God, Christ or Savior.  Luke brings ‘Christ and Lord and Savior together in the same quotes as the angel as said to Mary “For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11).  And we know that baby was Jesus and it connects Father and Son as One.  And we now that the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father (John 15:26), the unity of the Godhead.

Jesus will never leave us & won’t forsake us (Heb. 13:5).   Here the word for ‘leave’ is aniemi (G447) which is to loose, leave, desert.  ‘Forsake’ is the word egkataleipo  (1459) which means to leave behind, let remain, desert, forsake o leave. The bible says that a thing is established by two or more witnesses (Deut. 19:15, 2 Corinth.13:1), it is considered to be true.  When Jesus says ‘never leave’ nor ‘forsake’, He establishes the fact that He will always be with us!

He will guide and direct us – decisions and actions (Luke 12:11-12, John 14:25-26).  This doesn’t mean we don’t have to read the bible and/or pray to the Lord.  Paul tells both the Romans and the Thessalonians to always pray (Romans 12:12, Thess. 5:17).  Does this mean that we are on our knees 24 hours a day?  Of course not!  If that were true, we’d never get anything done in this world.  But as we encounter a ‘decision time’, when we are at home, just outdoors or even travelling down the road we can talk with the Lord.  Even though we might be in an inconvenient situation.  In our heart we can ask the Lord and He will give us what we need.  Remember, Father knows all about us, inside and out, our minds and our hearts (Heb. 4:12, Job 21:27, Psalm 139:1-2).  We can talk with Him, anytime, anyplace.  And no, we don’t have to shut our eyes, but our heart has to be with the Lord.  But even so, speak it out audibly.  We can speak in a soft, quiet voice.  Ask and we shall receive.  

All we need to do is believe Him and Jesus will bring victory into our lives.  Whoever is born of God overcomes the world and this is the victory that overcomes the world, “our faith”.  Who overcomes the world is he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God (1John:5)?  Thank God we have victory through Jesus Christ (1 Corinth. 15:57).  For our sakes, Jesus has overcome the world (John 15:33).  So we are conquerors through Him who loves us (Rom. 8:37).  All this is capped by our faith.  Whatever we ask in prayer, believe it and we shall receive it (Matt. 21:22, Mark 11:24).   

None the less, when I find myself at a turning point, I find that my decision is “do I fully trust in Jesus or do I do it my way?  When we listen to the Lord, how can we go wrong?  After all, the Holy Ghost (breath of God) is in us and He will guide us in all that we do (John 16:13) – when we let Him.  Ask and we shall receive (Matt. 7-8), so Father will not hold the Holy Ghost back from us (Luke 11:13).  After all, Jesus said the Holy Ghost shall be in us (John 14:16-17).  Jesus reminded His apostles and disciples (just before He ascended) that when the Holy Ghost is come upon them, they shall have power (Acts 1:8) and the Holy Ghost has been available for us since the upper room (Acts 2:1-18)

Yet fear is our greatest enemy.  We fear things we are not sure about.  The power of love and a sound mind casts out fear (2Tim. 1:7).  When one doubts, he shall fear the day and the night and have no confidence in life (Deut. 28:66).  When we don’t fully trust the Lord, we fear.  So when we are afraid, are we putting our trust in the Lord (Psalm 56:5)?  We know that the Lord is our helper so why should we be concerned about what man can do to us (Heb. 13:6)?      

We have several major turning points in our lives.

Our decision to receive and follow Jesus is most important, it opens the door for everything else.

To allow the Holy Ghost full operation in our lives.  Baptism in the Holy Ghost.  Paul, and Phillip and Cornelius give us examples.

To accept and receive the ”calling” God has placed upon our lives.

To be obedient to Father, no matter what comes our way.

Trust in and know that Father is always with us.  After all, aren’t we the temple of God (1 Corinth.3:16)?

Our faith and our obedience give us what we need to succeed in this life.

Yes, there will be a zillion other turning points (decisions) we will have to face in our lives but as we remember these things, the rest will fall into proper place, no matter how many bumps in the road we hit.  After all, when the Lord is for us, who can stand against us (Rom. 8:31)? 

Amen

Hebrew and Greek references are from ‘Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance’.  Having had the opportunity to compare with other concordances, based on other translations of the bible, ieg. NIV, Living Bible, NSV, etc., the numerical references may not always be the same but the Hebrew and Greek words reference are.  Oft times, even our computer can help us find the right word and what it means.

1-10-2026 Predestination, saved or not saved?

 

The word ‘predestinate’ is only used twice in the bible.  Once in the present tense (now) and the other in the past-perfect context (something which is still continuing but started in the past).

The first is predestinate -Romans 8:29-30 (G4309 proorizo), the second is predestinated  - Ephesians 1:5, 11 (G4309 proorizo) which means predestine, predetermine, ordain before hand, predestinated.  Yes, It is the same word.  So, does God truly declare us saved, no matter what we do or say, before we are born?  If so, why do so many people endeavor to let Jesus into their heart?  What would be gained?

God is not slack, as we consider slackness, but He is long suffering that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  Perish (G622 acaph) is to relieve, destroy, leave behind, bluntly – not to have anymore.  If God has already determined that we will be with Him, why bother to let Jesus into our lives?  God does have a condition on our eternal status?  God requires our obedience as to what He has told us over the centuries, millennia (John 14:15, Psalm 3:8, 62:1, Isa. 12:2, Jonah 2:9 as well as John 3:16, Acts 4:12) so we can be with Him, forever.  With all this, there is no salvation without repentance which is metanoia (G3341- reversal of guilt, repentance).  We have to turn from not abiding in God to abiding in Him.

God called numerous prophets in the Bible to deliver His messages, including major figures like Joseph (Gen. 50:18-21), or Moses (Exod. 3:4-10), Samuel (1 Sam. 3 4-21), David (1 Sam. 16:7-13, Elijah (1 Kings 17:1-2, 8-16), Elisha (2 Kings 2:11-15),  Isaiah (Isa. 6:8), Jeremiah (Jer. 1:4-5), Ezekiel (Ezek.1:128),  Daniel (Dan. 10:9-12) ,  and John the Baptist, alongside many others like the Minor Prophets (Hosea, Joel, Amos, etc.) and women such as Miriam (Num. 12: 6—16) and Anna (Luke 2:34-39).  Al of whom are recognized for speaking God's word and/or doing what God had told them, often through direct encounters or divine visions.  Let’s not forget Paul as he encountered Jesus as he travelled to Damascus (Acts 9:1-18). 

Thus, we might say that all of these men and women of the bible were ‘predestined’ to their calling and, in a sense, we would be correct.  Each of these people mentioned here were obedient and faithful to the Lord and Father blessed them with specific tasks.   So do we get hung up on people who have been faithful and doing mighty works are ‘predestined’ to perform that which they did?  It wasn’t the works that got them into eternal relationship with Father.  It was their faithfulness to the Lord which enabled them to do what they did which opened their door to eternity.  Yet God had a plan for each of them, but each had to be obedient to the Lord for that plan to come into fruition. 

Faith is things hoped for but the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1).  Read the list of faithful people in Hebrews chapter eleven.  They all believed and trusted in God and His coming Messiah.  Today, we believe the Messiah (Jesus) has already come and we await His return, to bring all who believe on Him, home.  The Jews knew the prophetic word of the coming Messiah but didn’t but, apparently, didn’t realize that the Messiah would first have to suffer (on the cross) and die for our transgressions (Isa. 53:1-2).  These two facts never seemed to register with Hebraic thinking.  They did believe that the Messiah would set up God’s kingdom here on earth.  Without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sin (Heb. 922).  Here, remission is the Greek word aphesis (H859) which is pardon, forgiveness or remission.  We find this in the Old Testament as well “The life of the flesh is in the blood and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls.  For it is the blood makes atonement for the soul” (Lev. 17:11).    

God has predestined all to come into His kingdom, but Father has given us all freewill.  Just because we’re ‘predestined doesn’t mean all will enter into God’s Kingdom.  Too many have and do exercise that freewill by telling God “no”!  Israel is an example when Moses challenged them at the golden calf and 3000 men fell by the sword (Exod. 32:25-28).  How about when Joshua challenged Israel as to whom they would serve (Joshua 32:14-25).  Jesus also asks us to choose Him to gain eternity (John 12:23-27).  So even though God desires all to come into His kingdom, He knows not all will accept His offer of life.  In order to abide in this gift of eternal life, we must first receive it and that eternal life is in Jesus Christ (1 John 5:11-12).

In the Old Testament, man’s ‘salvation’ was based on being obedient to the Law.  Jesus reprimanded the religious order saying that even though they knew the Law they didn’t abide in it (Matt. 23:25-28). Today, salvation is based upon receiving Jesus into our hearts as the true Messiah thus obtaining the power to show our love for Him by being obedient to the Law in what we say, do or think (John 14:15).

Jesus speaks about healing and other miracles.  Jesus tells us that “What things you desire, when you pray, believe you receive them and you shall have them” (Mark 11:24).  When we ask in faith, don’t waver, for when we waver, we are like waves of the sea and are tossed about (James 13:6-7).  When we have faith and do not doubt we can do what Jesus did… believe and receive (Matt. 21:21-22).  Jesus also encourages us when He said that he (us) who believe on Him shall do the works He did and greater because He goes to the Father. “Whatever you ask in My name, I will do that Father is glorified in the Son”. (Matt. 14:12-15).  Ask anything in My name and I will do it!  So if you love Me, keep My Commandments (John 14:12-15).  And what are His commandments? Love the Father with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and the second is like it – love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:29-31, Matt. 22:37-40).

So, we get benefits and have obligations with our relationship with the Lord to fulfill our ”pre-destination”.

One last example.  We buy ‘Johnny’ the toy which he has desired above all other toys.  We give it to him but we tell him that he must abide by our rules to keep it and enjoy it.  Should Johnny disobey our rules, we take his beloved toy from him for a while until he has ‘atoned’ for his disobedience.  Then we give him the toy back.  Should Johnny never make amends for his disobedience, it would be possible that he might never get the toy back.      

Are we predestined to be with the Lord?  Yes.  God said that He would (desires) that none would perish (2 Peter).  But, like with Johnny and his toy, when we continue in our disobedience, we may discover we will never enter into God’s kingdom.  His peace.  His love. 

Our predestination is not a blank check!  Can we get or do anything we want just because God loves us?   Of course not!  God is love and as we abide in His love, we are obedient to His will.  So through love and obedience, our ‘check’ becomes a secure thing.  Should we stray, repent and come back to Father seeking forgiveness?  We can receive God’s forgiveness.  Like the wayward child in Luke (Luke :15:18-24) we can be restored into that anticipation of abiding in the Lord forever.

We are predestined for eternal existence with Our Lord.  Yet not all will enter in.   We have the free choice to tell Him ‘no’ and miss out on the eternal love, joy and which peace which He offers.   Or we can freely choose to abide in God’s love with the promise of our eternal fellowship with Him.  And with this, we also have the free choice to operate any ‘special’ calling which He may have chosen us for.

Amen

 

 1-5-2026    (12-27-2025)      Getting to Know You

 

We’ve just celebrated the ‘birth’ of our Lord Jesus, but how well do we know the one whose life we pattern, that is after whom we shape our lives?

Father keeps bringing Job to my mind.  Yeah, the guy who had all those problems though he had not sinned.  The one who inspired the adage “the patience of Job”.  Job knew all about who God was then came he to know who God ‘really is (Job 42:5).  How many of us have come to the point in our lives where we have come to the same realization as Job?

We read the bible.  We talk and gain info from other Christians or listen to biblical teachers, but how well do we really know Jesus, God our heavenly Father or even the Holy Ghost?

We refer to God as the ‘Trinity’ (three persons in one).  How many of us think that we talking about three different people?  When I was younger, even into my twenties & thirties and with what I was hearing in the church, just reinforced this idea.  Okay, so what does the bible say about our relationship, (God & us)?  Who is God?

“Let us make man after our own likeness and give him dominion over the whole Earth”.  So God created ‘man’ in His own image both male and female (Gen. 1:26-27) then God explains how He made man (Gen. 2:7, 21-22). 

In my youth, God was explained as ‘three persons in one’!  Father, Son & Holy Ghost (Essence, Word and Breath.  We also are body, soul and spirit.  We are who we are.  God breathed life into Adam’s body (Gen 2:7) so we have a body and breath which gives us life.  The words we speak express our ideas to others and our breath carries what we said to their ears.  God spoke and brought things into existence.  Are we three persons in one, a trinity?  Body, soul and spirit?  Can we split into three parts?  Father reminded me of a pen knife I had as a child. It had a blade, a screw driver and maybe a can opener – all in one.  God is not a pen knife.  Though He created the heavens and he earth.  He can do whatever He desires just by speaking it into existence (Gen. chptr one)!

In the beginning – God… and His Spirit moved across the face of the waters (Gen. 1:1-2).  The Spirit of God is reflected in the Hebrew word ruwach (H7307 [breath, spirit) or the comparable Greek word is pneuma (G4151 [breeze, breath, Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:2, Psalm 33:6).  Who God is, or His breath, goes out and starts doing that which He intends. The Word is what God speaks or says and His breath carries His Word forth.  God spoke things into existence (John 1:1, Gen 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26, 29).  God said ,and it was so! And then, Father put all that into a body of the man (Matt. 1:19 – 25, John 1;1), and whom we call His name, Jesus.

Jesus desires that who receives Him will be one with Him as He is One in the Father (John 10:30, John 17:14-23). That is an inseparable relationship.  Father declares that He is one God and that we should love Him with all our heart, soul and might strength (Deut. 6:4-5, Mark 29:30).  Paul told the Colossians that Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead, that is He is all that God is (theotes G2320 – 1 Col. 2:9-10).

Let’s take a look at what that involves

God spoke with Moses on the mount.  Moses says “If they ask me, whom shall I say sent me?”  God replies “I AM that I AM, tell them ‘I AM” has sent you (Exod. 3:14).  John, in his vision, sees one like the Son of man amongst the seven candlesticks, woolen hair, feet like brass and eyes like flames of fire who declared “I AM Alpha and Omega, the first and the last …”(Rev. 1:11).  Bear in mind, that Father has also said this “I Am the first and the Last you shall have no other Gods before me” (Isa. 44:6).

Moses declares that God is his salvation (Exod. 15:1-2) and Paul reminds the Romans (and us) that as we confess our sin and receive Jesus it is unto our heart, we have salvation (Rom. 10:9-13). There is no other name, under heaven whereby man must be saved (Acts 4:12).  Gather and Son, our Savior!

God protects us. He is our shield and buckler, He protects from evil, man and things of this world.  He even sets angels over us for protection (Psalm 91:1-11, Psalm 121:5-8).  Jesus protects from us evil (2 Thess. 3.3) and He preserves us so we can enter into His heavenly kingdom (2 Tim. 4:18).  Are we starting to get the connection?

Father/Jesus/Holy Ghost is our comforter.  He guides our steps, gives US peace and provides proof before our enemies that He does takes care of us (Psalm 23:1-6).  He is with us and strengthens us (I Sam. 41:10).  As Jesus suffered for us, so shall His comfort abound in us (1 Corinth, 1:5), Jesus knows how we feel.  The Holy Ghost is our comforter (John 14:16).  So why do we need the Comforter (the HG)?  Jesus encourages us to receive he Holy Ghost (John 20:22).  For when He comes into us, we shall receive power (Acts 1:8 - G1411 dunamis –explosive), just as Jesus had so we can go and do the works that He did (John 14:12).   There are  more examples of what Jesus did and examples that we can also do them.  Examples like when Peter and John healed the lame man (Acts 3:1-9) or Paul when he explains to the Corinthians that healing comes through God’s Power (1 Corinth. 2:1-4, Acts 19:11-12) and that power is the Holy Ghost or the Spirit of God. 

Jesus teaches (Matt. 5:1-2).  The Holy Ghost also teaches us and will give us what to say (John 14:26).

There are more examples where God shows us how complete He is in the Father, Son and Holy Ghost!  Father, Son and Holy Ghost is the Godhead!  Jesus is the physical representation we have of the Godhead!  These aren’t three beings functioning as one but One who can diversify Himself in expressing himself and His love towards us, who He is, what He does and how He does it!  AND He desires to share this love with us so we can not only live in His image, but operate in His image!  In how we look.  In what we say.  In what we do.  He is in us and give us he strength to do what He does.

Remember that Jesus said:  The hour comes and is even now when true worshippers shall worship Father in Spirit and in truth for Father seeks such to worship Him in Spirit and truth (John 4:23-24).  God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship in Spirit and in truth!   God is who He is and asks us to be one with Him.  We should reflect His love in our lives so we can be His true children.  God is Spirit.  We have a spirit which gives us life and the Holy Ghost is He who connects the two for a Spirit to spirit connection (1 John 4:10-13).  If you will, we have a ‘hotline’ to God!

So, have we come to learn all about God or have we come to learn who God truly is?   We keep learning about Him as we read the scriptures and talk with Him.  As we talk to Him, the scriptures confirm what He has said to us.  So the scriptures and our prayers confirm each other as we learn to talk with God.  I AM, Savior, Teacher, Protector, Provider and more, says he Lord.

How well are getting to know our God?

Amen

11-29-2025         I AM that I AM

    

Who is God?

God had just told Moses that He is ending him back to Egypt to

Set His people free.  Moses asked whom shall I say sent me to bring them out?  God replied ‘I AM that I AM’, tell them that ‘I AM’ has sent you.” (Exodus 3:13-14)

Why would God say something like that?  He could have replied “Jehovah’,  ‘YAWEH’ or any other name like ‘El Shaddai’ or ‘Elohim’, but He chose to tell Moses “I AM”.

Why?

First God is love (1 John 4:8)

Second God is Spirit (John 4:24)

Third God created all things (Gen. 1:1-31). 

Then He expressed His ultimate power through time by performing miracles for Israel.

To mention several there were the ten plagues He set upon Egypt to encourage Pharaoh to release His people (Exod. Chptrs 4-12). He divided the Red Sea where Israel crossed unharmed but Pharaoh’s army was drowned (Exod. 14_21-23).  Jericho whose walls came tumbling down by the people shouting and the trumpets sounding (Josh. 6:20).  Also Shradrach, Meshach and Abednego, along with a fourth person went being untouched by the fiery furnace (Dan. 3:10-27).  Not to mention Mary, who had never been with a an but gave birth to Jesus (Matt. 1:18-24).   All the miracles performed by Jesus (Matt., Mark, Luke and John).  And more evidence of God using humans to perform His miracles.  Peter performed many miracles including the raising of Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead (Acts 9:36-41) and Paul who performed many miracles including bringing life back to Eutychus after he had fallen from the third loft (Acts 20:7-12)

So God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them and then performed miracles confirming his supremacy over all creation.  For us – miracles, for God – ‘just all in a day’s work’!  

Jesus performed miracles confirming His authenticity.  What did Jesus do? Feed the hungry (Matt. 15:20-39), healed the sick (Matt. 4:3) and raised the dead (John 11:38-44)!  And He gave authority to His apostles to do the same things He did land passed that on to us (John 14:12)?

Jesus promised the disciples that they would receive the Holy Ghost, after which they too would have power over the elements of the earth (John 20:22, Acts 1:8).  Info: Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit are the same.  The Hebrew word ruwach (H7307) means breath, spirit or exhalation while gava (H1478) is to breath out, give up the ghost or perish or human spirit.  The Greek word pneuma (G4151 means breath, spirit, soul or ghost so it can apply to God (capitalized) or man (not capitalized)

Now, how can we see miracles performed by our hand.  Three things need to be active in our lives: believe God desires and will give us this gift; be obedient and receive this gift; and then be bold enough to go out do it.  remember it is not us doing it but Father, through the Holy Ghost in us (Acts 3:1-16).  

Believe

In order to receive from God we need to believe that He is.  He has created all things, even us (1 Col. 1:16).  All things are created for our good (Rom. 8:28).  And He has given us authority over creation (Gen. 1:28, Matt. 28:18, Phil. 4:13).  Because we have the power of the Holy Ghost in us (Acts 1:8). 

Obedient/receive

Being obedient means that if we love God, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15).  And what are God’s Commandments?   Of course, the Ten Commandments as given in Exodus (Exod: 20:3-17), but all that Father has done hang on a single, two-fold commandment which is to love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength (Mark 12:30) and we should love our neighbor as our self (Mark 12:31).  And as we keep God’s commandments, God will bless us beyond what we could imagine (Deut. 28:1-13, Eph. 3:19-20).  Jesus also tells us that if we keep His commandments He will manifest Himself to us (John 14:21) and that Father and Son shall make their abode with us (John 14:23).  His abode is living in us – through the Holy Ghost (John 14:18-26).  Father will withhold nothing from those who walk uprightly (Psalm 84:11). Doors will be opened to us as we seek and knock (Matt. 7:7).  When we believe that we can receive things from God, we will receive them (Mark 11:24).  We ask, follow His commandments and live in His love (in His will which is pleasing to Him) we shall receive (1 John 3:22).

Do it

How can we expect Father to do anything through us when we don’t believe He can or will do it?  Job came to know God personal (Job 42:5) and we also, need to come to that point where we don’t just know who Go is in our mind, but, as with Job, we discover who God is in our heart!  Then, as we trust Father and allow the Holy Ghost, He  will work in us and through us (John 14:16-18), teach us what to say (Luke 12:12) and lead us to all understanding (John 16:13).  We will be amazed at the positive results that follow.

God told Ezekiel to command those old dry bones to come together, then connect those bones with sinew so they don’t become scattered all over the place anymore, then cover that with muscle so those bodies can do what Father has called them to do and finally encase it all in skin so they can look like what they are supposed to look like – a complete body and remember, we ae made in the image of God (Gen  1:27).

To realize all this, WE still have to put what we intend into action.  Action is more than just praying.  It should be us who go out and share the love of Christ with others so that they (also) might enter into the Kingdom of God.  It should be us laying hands on people so they would be healed and/or made whole (Matt. 9:26, Mark 10:52, Matt. 14:35-36 ).  And Jesus has even given us the ability to raise the dead (Peter, Acts 9:36-41 and Paul, Acts 20:12).

We must believe (ourselves) so that those whom we encounter can merge into our belief with their own so they might receive these blessings!

GOD IS I AM.  He is anything and everything and it is His desire to share what He has with us so we can not only look like Him (in His image) but also act like Him (in His image).

So, we need to remember that we must believe that God is.  Then His desire is to do good things for us and through us.  We need that ‘Job’ relationship with Father.  Abide in God’s love that is be obedient to, in and through His will.  God has given gifts which are unique to us (1 Corinth.12:7-14, 1 Peter 4:10-11).  However, faith without works is dead (James 2:14-26) so let us then go out and do what Father has called us to do, at whatever level He has called being mindful that our intents must be clearly seen through our actions.

After all, Father IS everything that we need or should want!

He is ‘I AM’

Amen