8/8/201   Impact of the Orphan Spirit

   

I originally posted this on the blog July 2017 under the title “Little Child Lost”.  It was designed to help us understand the orphan spirit which can affect many people.  AS Christians, many people think that all our troubles are behind us, but the battle is just beginning.  It is a long presentation, so bear with me.  As we confess our sin, Jesus is true to forgive us that (those sins, 1 John 1:9-10).  Satan tries t influence our decisions – even after – especially after – our salvation experience.  His job is to prevent us from growing in Christ Jesus (1 Peter 5:8).

We are spiritual beings living in a physical body and the nature of our spirit is determined by our relationship with our Heavenly Father through His Son, Jesus Christ. 

Every living creature has a spirit of ‘life’ (Gen. 2:7, 5397 Heb., neshamah – wind, vital breath, intellect), not eternal life but that which gives us breath and animation (being able to move about), but nonetheless what we call life. 

One of two things can happen to us as we age, I didn’t say mature, I said ‘age’, get older.  We can ask the Spirit of the living God to enter our hearts and become a viable part of our lives.  Or we can reject God’s Spirit and try to make it on our own where we live out our lives living in our own strength which, knowingly or unknowingly, allows a demonic entity to take up residence within or at least influence what we do.  In either case, the end will eventually lead to all sorts of havoc – promiscuity, violence, despair, or more.  All of which we have no control over because, just like Adam when he yielded the earth to Satan with his disobedience to God, we yield ourselves over the demonic forces by rejecting God.

One of two Spiritual realities will take control of our lives – a demonic entity sent from Satan or the Holy Ghost imparted to us from God, the Father through Jesus Christ.  Either way, we are not ‘our own’.  We may ‘think’ we are in control for ‘we’ make our own decisions, right?  But one spiritual source or the other will and does influence the decisions we make in our lives.  Just as the Holy Ghost suggests what we should do, demonic entities can also suggest to us what to do.  Who do we listen to?

Those who reject Jesus do become the devil’s playground.  When the devil dangles those temptations, we jump, to whatever enticement he has set before us – in our ‘own strength’.  We have no counter balance operating in our lives.  But when an evil entity enters into our hearts and takes up residence, our bodies, we, become controlled by that spirit (John 8:42-45).

However, once we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, the Holy Ghost now has input into our lives and we need to start listening to Him and grow, filling our lives with God’s love.  If we don’t, we may become stagnant.  Stagnant means no Spiritual growth (1 Corinth 3:1-3, we need to get off the milk and stop walking as men, Acts 8:9-24 [v21-22]).  When we aren’t growing in the Holy Spirit, we leave room for the enemy to taunt and tempt us.  We have to fill that emptiness from lack of growth or we fall back into old habits (Luke 11:24-26).  In not growing, we quench the Spirit by not allowing Him to function in our lives as God intended (1 Thess. 5:19) and we grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30, 3076, lupeo, bring heaviness) when we refuse to follow God’s guidance.  And we ‘do our own thing ’because we’re ‘saved’ and we have it all together, right?  Yeah, right.  But we will find ourselves, once again, pursuing Satan’s darkness rather than God’s light (Jesus) (1 Corinth. 2:6-16, knowing God by His Spirit).   Even though we are saved by faith we keep God’s laws (to truly love) as we love Jesus (John 15:1-11 abiding in the vine), not because we ‘have to’ but because we ‘choose to’.  We don’t get ‘saved by keeping the law, we keep the law because we are saved.  We have the hope of salvation, but once ‘saved’, we need the meat, not just the milk of the Word (Heb. 5:12-14) or we become stagnant staying ‘spiritual babies’ until Christ’s return, or worse, we may become complacent like the five foolish virgins (Matt. 25:1-13) and fall away.  Read the passage!  The five foolish virgins don’t enter in to live with the bridegroom (the kingdom of God).  

When we don’t accept Jesus, we leave ourselves open to any outside influence, including uninvited entities coming into our hearts.   You ask what does that mean?  Look at the world around us.  It has gone totally bananas!  Aside from ‘terrorism’ people are killing people Irregardless of race, creed or religion.  There is theft, lawlessness, sexual promiscuity and so on.  

God does not force Himself upon us and when we reject Him, He leaves us to our own devices and that means being open to any influences the Evil One decides to inflict.  If we’re honest, the world’s a mess – a big mess.  And at the bottom of that mess are demonic entities under the guidance of Satan himself (Rom. 1:22-25) compounded by our refusal to follow God’s guidelines – of love (1 John 2:4).

Read the following scriptures, on your own, to get a little better understanding of what the bible says about spiritual warfare.  Now, there are more scriptures than these, but this should give you an idea and you can always research further.  Just remember to read the entire account.

 

Mark 5:1-13                “Legion”

Mark 1:39                   “Casting out devils in a region”

Luke 11:14                   “The ‘dumb’ devil”

Acts 16:16-18              “Spirit of divination and Paul”

Matt. 12:25-29            “Who casts out devils, Satan or God?”

Matt. 8:16                   “Cast out spirits by His Word”

Luke 4:33-36               “Authority over unclean spirits”

Mark 7:25-30              “The Gentile woman’s daughter (scraps)”

Acts 19:13-16              “Sons of Sceva”

Matt. 17:14-21            “Why couldn’t we cast him out?”

I want you to understand that there are opposing forces in this world.  Oriental philosophy and other religions may call it “ying and yang”, “light and dark”, “white and black” or some may even call It the ‘ever present’ battle of “good versus evil” (“may the force be with you”).  Oh, wretched men are we (Rom. 7:14-25) for we spend a lifetime, to some degree, in this battle.  But, as we draw closer to Jesus, Father makes these battles easier to deal with (Matt. 11:28-30) and more victorious (John 16:33, red letter – Jesus speaking).

Many religions deny the existence of God or Satan but that doesn’t make it so.  In fact, Satan thrives in the lives of those who refuse to believe he exists.  The battlefield field is open to him for men don’t know that which they fight against or even that they are fighting against something.  For we wrestle against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness (devils) and spiritual wickedness (Eph. 6:12).  But the battle goes on as Satan continues to try to undermine the things God does (Rev. 12:7-9).

Obviously we’re dealing with spiritual warfare and we need to understand four phases or areas which can impact Christians: possession, oppression, obsession and the orphan, which may become the door through which the other areas enter in.

Possession

Webster’s defines possession, or possessed as the act of having taken control or occupancy or ownership, entered into, influenced and/or controlled firmly.  Replacing one’s normal personality with something else.

Oppression

Webster’s defines oppression as cruel or unjust exercise of authority or power, obstruction in body or mind.   

Obsession

Webster’s defines obsession as a persistent, preoccupation with an often unreasonable idea, feeling or emotion.

The Orphan   

Webster’s defines orphan as a child deprived of one or both parents

By these definitions, note that each of these areas imply control and influence of one over another by choice or otherwise.  And this control or influence impacts the mind, usually with the body then putting that influence into practice.

We also have to consider one more area.

Familiar spirit

Webster’s defines a familiar spirit as a spirit that prompts or serves and individual or one that is summoned by a medium.

 Frank Hammond defines it as an indwelling spirit which has a relationship with a human (“Confronting Familiar Spirits”, Hammond).  Dr. Frank Hammond goes on to describe the scenario where the familiar spirit is a ‘companion’ and can be summoned by the one with whom it has the relationship.  We know that the Holy Ghost will teach us (John 14:26) and reveal things to us (1 Corinth. 2:10) and the familiar spirit can mimic this task to some degree.  Even Pharaoh’s magicians could duplicate the first three plagues that befell Pharaoh, but then they could duplicate them no more (Exodus chptrs 7-12, note Exod. 8:18-19). 

Wikkipedia’s description says a familiar spirit might indwell an animal and speak to the one with whom it has a relationship (medium).   Webster, Hammond and Wikki all seem to imply that this spirit may have an impact on a person’s life without actually, but not to exclude, indwelling (?) the individual. 

Now, as we consider these three descriptions of the ‘familiar, we see the implication that the familiar spirit may have external influence.  The orphan could qualify as a familiar spirit for it influences, but does not indwell. 

Nonetheless, the orphan is a “look at ‘me’” spirit.  Aren’t ‘I’ something?  Look at all that ‘I’ can do or have done!  It’s a show off, yet an insecure show off.  If he had confidence, he wouldn’t need to proclaim himself. 

Now, we’re not going to find ‘orphan spirit’ in either Webster’s or the bible, as such, but the bible does give us examples of the orphan in action, of which some are: King Herod (Acts12:21-23), Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:9-21), King Ahab (1Kins 21:1-20).  These men all made themselves to be more than what they actually were.

The first time I even heard the term “orphan spirit” was in 2011 or 2012 at a conference in Philadelphia, in a class I attended titled “Orphan Spirit”. This was the beginning of Father giving me an understanding on the orphan.   

John 20:30 says “Truly, Jesus did many other signs and wonders in the presence of His disciples which are not written in this book” (John’s gospel) and in John 21:25 “And there are many other things that Jesus did that if every one should be written down, the world could not contain all the books in which they would be written,”  So we see that Jesus said and did a lot more that we don’t have ‘immediate’ access to (John 20:31).  However, these passages from John do say we have enough information to gain access into eternity, but we also realize that Jesus told His disciples more than just what is recorded in the bible.  So not everything is clearly spelled out in scripture and we find, the Holy Ghost will reveal things to us (1 Corinth. 2:10).  But, take note when things come through revelation, it will always be consistent with God’s love and never contrary to His Word (not man’s interpretation).  And the only way we know God’s consistency is to read the scriptures and understand His Word for ourselves by allowing the Holy Ghost to teach us His Word.  We study to show ourselves approved (2 Tim. 2:15) so we can know and abide in His love (John 15:1-10).

The reason the orphan is even mentioned here is that it can be a prelude the other conditions mentioned: possession, oppression and obsession and even the familiar spirit, It can open the door for them.

The orphan spirit enters a person’s life via some sort of traumatic experience which challenges our love need.  Of course any demonic activity in a person’s life could be the result of, but not limited to, cult or occult involvement, as well.  It doesn’t matter how great or how small that experience may actually be but it is major to the individual.  It doesn’t matter how old or how young the individual is.  It is an event in one’s life that the individual cannot or will not cope with:  loss of a parent or dearly loved one, verbal or physical abuse, rape, witnessing extreme violence. , maybe even ‘simply’ just being left alone (abandoned) with no support system.

The orphan might actually seem to be a help initially (Confronting Familiar Spirits) because it appears to set up defense barriers to help us cope with the situation.  These defenses might seem good, but they are mechanisms totally devoid of God’s influence.  

There is a dual nature inside the individual – introvert and extrovert.  Truly an introvert because of insecurities, there has been no foundation for building self-confidence.  There is ‘no’ or a ‘weak’ support system to foster self-confidence so the orphan helps the introverted person to create ‘his own’ protective shield of donficence – “Nobody loves me but I’m really OK”, “It’s not my fault” etc.  Yet, the individual seeks and desires acceptance, attention and love and seeks to fill that void in his heart, any way he can.  Often filling that void by ‘acting out in various ways, to get attention.  The gloves come off as the as the orphan reveals the extrovert personality, not one of confidence, but rather brash, maybe even careless and overbearing in ways to attract attention.  We may see them acting out (class clown or the ‘bad boy’ always in trouble), the bully, becoming promiscuous thinking that ‘love’ (sex) is the answer.  Afraid to ask for and receive proper attention but doing almost anything to get some kind of attention, even to being destructive.  Getting attention?  Yes, but not communication, rather manipulation.  The orphan isn’t concerned with true relationships, just manipulating the situation to get the desired attention.

Yet this spirit is not an indwelling spirit, but oppressive, which could easily develop into obsessive.  The orphan works from the outside, whispering into our ear what it wants us to do and because these suggestions seem to ease the pain of the trauma, loneliness, no love, we listen and do.  This spirit can also produce obsessive activity in our lives as we try to gain recognition.  We may end up doing things compulsively and we just can’t get it out of our minds and actions and reactions may even become automatic in our lives.  We do without thinking.

As I said, the orphan is a “look at me” spirit.  Good or bad, he is always trying to be the center of attention.  He needs to be ‘built up” to prove that he’s really OK.  And when he doesn’t get it, he’ll manufacture it internally.  He has to be OK.  He has to be right.  He has to be on top.  It’s how he convinces himself that it’s never him, but the rest of the world.  But he’s all right!

The orphan may not be ‘the controlling spirit’ in a person’s life, but he most likely is the one who opens the door for the spirit which becomes the ‘controller’ to come in – and all his buddies.  The controller is usually the first spirit, demon, to actually indwell and becomes the general for all those who follow (Pigs in the Parlor).

Because the orphan is not an indwelling spirit, he can’t be cast out.  Rather he has to be loved out.  ‘No Room at the Inn’ (our spirits, hearts, souls and minds) as we fill our lives with God’s love by our willful choice to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and spirit (Mark:12:30) and we demonstrate our allegiance to God by abiding in Him (John 15:1-10, the vine).  The orphan no longer has space or permission, ergo no reason to operate in our lives because we are learning to live in God’s will and in God’s love, which builds us in strength and confidence through Jesus Christ (2 Corinth. 12:9, Phil. 4:13).  He has no room at the inn in which to stay.

As I said, the orphan opens the door for other spirits to come in and that leads into oppression, which could lead to or be joint with possession, either of which could team up with obsession.  But, unlike the orphan, those indwelling demons can be cast out (Pigs in the parlor).

 Having finished “Pigs in the Parlor” and rescanning “Confronting Familiar Spirits”, I’m still not completely clear on what is the fine line between indwelling and external influence.  In ‘Pigs in the Parlor’, Frank Hammond describes that deliverance is for Christians, to cleanse us from anything not of God.  Dr. Hammond explains that we understand this by distinguishing the difference between the spirit and soul.  

Strong’s gives us three Greek words which are closely related: Psyche, which is our emotions, intellect and will, animal sense or feeling, soul (5590);  Pneuma (4151) which is breeze, blast of air, breath, spirit or rational, immortal soul, Holy Spirit (note caps), spirit, ghost; and Zoe (2222) life (animation).   

Paraphrasing what Frank Hammond explains from “Pigs in the Parlor”, pneuma, spirit, is what enables us to grasp spiritual concepts.  Psyche is our natural or soulish self.  Here, I’ll add zoe which is that which gives our bodies breath, to live, animation.  Dr. Hammond points out that Paul says we are a three part being, body, soul and spirit (1 Thess. 5:23). 

Without Jesus (salvation) our pneuma is essentially dead or at best, subject to our psyche, but we do have psyche and zoe to carry us on, so we ‘live’.  With salvation, pneuma is quickened and brought to life with God’s indwelling Holy Spirit.  Reading this material implies that demonic spirits cannot enter pneuma but are confined to operating in the psyche, our soulish self, which might explain why Paul declared “Oh, wretched man am I?  Who shall deliver me from this body of death (psyche & zoe)?  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  With my mind (3563-intellect) I serve the law of God but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.” (Rom. 7:24-25).  But ask yourself, ‘where are most spiritual battles waged?’  I can speak for myself, most are in my mind (psyche).  

Now, hold the fort.  Mind equals psyche and we said the Holy Ghost dwells in our pneuma.  Paul said he serves God with his ‘mind’.  Understand, our psyche follows something or someone.  We cannot serve God and mammon (Matt. 6:24), we love one and hate the other or hold on to one despise the other.  Realize what our spiritual growth means:  we come into alignment with something or someone, God or Satan.  Our choice, because through the Holy Ghost filled pneuma we align ourselves with the Father, by transforming and renewing our minds (psyche) to that which is good, perfect and acceptable, the will of God (Rom. 12:2).  So our psyche is acting more and more like our Spirit filled pneuma.  So when there is no Holy Ghost filled pneuma, what is there?

So in Romans, Paul wrestles with his own soul as he tries to draw it into God’s will.  What we also find, now, is the possibility of our being influenced, possibly even possessed in our psyche while our pneuma draws us forward in the strength of the Holy Ghost, into complete alignment with Father as it contends with the rebellion of our psyche.  Technically, psyche and pneuma are not occupying the same space so to break any satanic influence, our psyche must become aligned with our Holy Ghost filled pneuma.  Ergo, Paul wrestles flesh against spirit.

Frank Hammond tells us that unless a demon is cast out, he goes nowhere (Pigs in the Parlor) and sometimes, unless it is called by name, it can still stay put!   So, it is conceivably possible that a Christian could retain some demons even through the salvation experience – or even after by entertaining wrong thoughts (James 1:13-15).  That might explain Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:1-20). 

Even though the orphan may have let his ‘buddies’ in to play and some may have been cast out, there may yet be some ‘hangin’ in there’ that need to get the ‘boot’.  Even after salvation, according to Dr. Hammond.

We’ve seen where the orphan can be loved out, no room at the inn, but the others will have to be dealt with, cast out.  Better get the book (Pigs in the Parlor) and find out how.  Not enough space here to explain.

Of course, everything starts with Jesus.  We confront the devils in His name, plead His blood against them and cover ourselves with it.  We also have to experience Christian growth because once the demons have been kicked out, they can come back so we fill that void with something (Matt. 12:43-45), like God’s Word, increasing our knowledge.  Not just learning it, but living it.  Put faith into action (James 2:17-20).  We also need to be walking in the power and authority of Jesus.  Something the sons of Sceva weren’t doing.  Even though they commanded in the name of Jesus, they didn’t have His authority seven of them got their proverbial butts kicked by one demon possessed man (Acts 19:13-16). If we deal with spiritual entities, we have to be spiritually clean.  Put on the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:11-18), which works against demonic activity and in daily living.

We need to identify those areas of our life which the orphan or any demonic spirit influences.  Allowing God’s love fully into our hearts by yielding those areas to Him (in Jesus’ name) then ID’ing all needful areas and throwing out the garbage (casting out any demons) to assure all areas are clean.  We give those areas to God, through Jesus Christ and leave them with him and apply all that He shows us into our own lives.  And that means living in His true love.  Acknowledging, confessing, repenting our sins, when they occur, and setting them behind us (Isaiah 38:17).  When I confess and repent my sins God is faithful to forgive them (1 John 1:9) as He has through the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7).  So when the enemy reminds us of what ‘used to be’ we remind him that we have already given those areas to God, we have victory in Jesus (Deut. 20:4, 1 Corinth. 10:13) and stand firm because God has given us His armor to resist (Ephesians 6:13).

AMEN!(?)

 

7-11-2026 Practicing a Religion or Living in Faith  

At the church I attend, for a while now, we have been talking about realigning our lives with God, through the Holy Ghost, so we make the right decisions for the crossroads we face, understanding our relationship with the Lord then applying what we learn into our lives so we can better serve the Lord.

Today, how many people do we think are living in faith or just practicing a religion?  It makes a difference.  Israel thought they were doing the right thing by keeping the Law, but take note that Jesus had to reprimand them for knowing the Law but not living by it (Matt. 23:1-7).

On 5-30-2026, I posted on the blog “Religion vs Faith.  Father has given me a couple of ‘tweaks’ since then. 

In that entry I gave definitions for religion and faith along with a couple of their associated words.  Please refer back to that 5-3-2026 entry to review the definitions for here, I’ll start with the conclusions

So very basically, religion is believing in a set of rules while religious is putting those rules into practice.

Faith and faithful bring into ‘not just knowing’ the principles and putting those principles into practice but truly believing in what we profess with all our heart, mind and spirit that which is  true (Matt. 22:37).  That is we truly understand who God is and what we believe and accept Him and His statutes, without any doubt.

In a cult, people allow someone else to form their belief system and either don’t know or don’t care about checking it out to see if what is being said is true or not.  They practice a ‘religion’, a set of concepts and rules which they really (usually) don’t understand.

We all have our own concepts of what these words mean, but hopefully, this list will bring us to a better understanding of how we can discover what we are reading in the scriptures or hearing from other people.  All helping us to follow the pathway God, the Creator of all things, which He has intended for us.  That is discovering the difference between just knowing about rites and rituals, but living in their truth from our heart (Job 42:5).

Today, how Many Christians are just abiding in a set of rules versus truly living in faith.  Out of about 8 billion people in the world less than 1/3 profess to be Christian.  Out of the approximately 265 billion Christians how many truly are abiding in God’s guidelines?

At church, we’ve been talking about Awakening our Spiritual Senses, Understanding the Times we are in, Removing Veils and being ready to move into the Next Season.  In some form or fashion, we have been doing this for a year.

Father tells us that if we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15).  The first and greatest commandment is to love God above all else land then love our neighbor as ourselves (Mark 12:29-31) because, upon these two commandments rests the law and what motivated the prophets (Matt. 22:37-40).  We show our faith by keeping God’s law and God’s law is to love – as God loves us.  God loves us so much that He gave His only begotten son to stand in for us, on the cross, for the judgements we deserve (John 3:16).  This enables us to live eternally with Him as faith in (Jesus) cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:4-7). 

I’ve known Christians who have worked themselves ‘ragged’ doing things in the church, yet we may find some who labor in the church will find themselves left out.  Some will ask “Lord “Haven’t we prophesied, in your name cast out devils and done many wonderful works?”  And Jesus’s reply will be “I never knew you, depart you who work iniquity” “(Matt. 7:21-23).  Why?  Doing the commandments of men make the works of God of no effect.  We discover many will honor God with their lips but their heart will be far from Him (Matt. 15:1-9).

Jesus told His disciples to ‘beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees’.  The disciples came to understand that Jesus was talking about what those men preached (Matt. 16:6-12).  That is beware of men who use the Law, not to help men to grow in the Lord, but to hold control over men for their own purposes.  And these things are why Jesus tells us to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matt. 10:16).   We need to know what we are up against but remember to always be humble (gentle) our job is to bring souls to Jesus Christ – in love, not to squash them with our knowledge. 

We need the Holy Ghost in us (John 14:16-18).  The Holy Ghost will give us what to say when we need it (John 16:13-16).  Jesus commands us to receive the Holy Ghost (John 20:21-22) for then we shall have power - to be witness and to able to do the things that Jesus did (Acts 1:7-8 & John 14:12-14).  Father will reveal things to us through His Spirit (HG).  The Holy Ghost will teach us what to say as He compares Spiritual things to spiritual things because through Him (HG) we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinth. 2:10-16).  So we trust in the Lord with all our heart and not with our own understanding and acknowledge Him in all our ways and He will direct our path (Prov.3:5-6).

OF course, for all this to matter, we need to have received Jesus into our heart as Lord and Savior (Rom. 10:9).  We need to acknowledge that Jesus took ‘my place’ on the cross so I might have life and healing in living for Him (1 Peter 2:24, 1 Peter 3:18).

Jesus taught and preached the kingdom of God to His disciples (Luke 3:23, so we can understand our relationship with the living God (Acts 1:3).  That Relationship is that The Father is in Jesus, Jesus is in the Father and Jesus is in us and we in Jesus (John 14:11, 20). 

The power of God is in us through the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:8), and that is the same power with which Jesus operated (God commanded and the Holy Ghost [breath] carried God’s Words into action – Gen. 1:1-31).  We can do those things which Jesus did (John 14:12-4)!  (Where is our faith?)

The Holy Ghost was given to the apostles and disciples in the upper room (Acts 2:1-4) yet we may receive the HG at the same time when we receive Jesus as with Cornelius (Acts 10:44-48) or as with Phillip and the Samarians After they had received Jesus, Peter and John came up to the Samaritans so they might be baptized in the HG (Acts 8:5-17).

Father gives Jesus the works to do and Jesus gives us those works to do.  Jesus says that as we keep His Commandments, we can ask Father anything in His name and He (Jesus) will do it enabling us to do what Jesus, Himself, did (John 14:11-17).  All because Jesus has returned to the Father, yet, He will come back for us (John 14:3)! PTL!

So we need faith to truly understand religion so we can accomplish what Jesus has set before us.  It isn’t just knowing what to do, but reaching down into the power (thru the HG) to go and ‘git ‘er done!

The difference between religion and faith comes into reality through our relationship with the Lord.  If we love Jesus, we are going to do His works.  If we don’t do His works do we truly love Jesus or do we just love the praises of man?  Do we do the works to show that the love of Jesus abides in us (via the Holy Ghost)?    Do we just follow a set of rules set forth by man?  Do we truly embrace God’s love by living the lifestyle Father has set before us and then learning how to do it? 

Allowing Father’s love to operate in us and through us in the Holy Ghost enables us to sharpen our Spiritual senses so we can recognize the times we are in and remove the veil hindering us so we can reach and fulfill the tasks Father may have laid before us.

Paul tells us not to quench the Holy Ghost (1 Thess. 5:19). Are we allowing the HG to awaken our Spiritual senses so we can understand the times we are in, so we can remove the Veils, so we can move so we can walk closer with the Lord so we can accomplish what Father has planned for us?

Amen

6-27-2026 God is with us

He shall be called Emmanuel, God is with us – Emmanouel G1694) and His name shall be called Jesus (Matt. 1:20-25)          

The name "Jesus" originates from the Hebrew and Aramaic name “Yeshua” (a variant of Yehoshua). Meaning "Yahweh is salvation" or "the Lord saves", this name encapsulates identity and divine purpose. Across linguistic and historical shifts, the name evolved into its modern English form:

Hebrew/Aramaic: Yeshua (ישוע)

Koine Greek: Iēsous (Ἰησοῦς)

Latin: Iesus

English: Jesus 

Joseph was of David’s lineage (Matt. 1:6-15) . (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_(name))

Mary was a cousin to Elisabeth (Luke 1:36) and Elisabeth is identified as a daughter of Aaron (Luke 1:5) implying that Mary was also a descendant (a cousin to Elisabeth) of Aaron. Joseph was in David’s lineage (Matt. 1:6-16) though Jesus wasn’t Joseph’s biological son, he was still considered a first born son (Matt. 1:25) as Joseph took Jesus as his own son thus giving Jesus both royal (through David) and priestly (through Mary, being related to Aaron) heritage

In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and he Word was God. (John 1:1).  John goes on “The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by Him and there was nothing made without Him.  In the Word was life and the life was the light of men.  The light shined in the darkness and the darkness didn’t comprehend it (John 1:2-5).   The Word is the Light and became flesh as the only begotten Son of God (John 1:14).   

I’ve shared some background on the meaning of the name of “Jesus”.  Hopefully, this helps us understand a little bit more. 

In “Let’s Get a Handle” (blog 5-2-2026) I pray that we got the understanding that God is LOVE, agape love.  This is an all caring about our welfare kind of love with tenderness, guidance and correction.  He cares so much for us that He gave Himself for us (on the cross) and even has breathed His life into us via the Holy Ghost.  He truly loves us.  All we have to do is ‘truly’ love Him back by following His direction tkhrough living in this Word.

Love us?  Paul tells us that Jesus said He would never leave us nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5-6), yet we still have to believe and accept this to be true (Mark 11:24) in our own lives.  Father loved Jesus as Jesus loves us so we need to continue in that love (Mark 15:5:9).

So how do we express our love God?  The ‘beatitudes’ help us to understand this. 

Matthew 5:3-12. 

³ Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

This doesn’t mean poor as in penniless but that to understand that in and of ourselves, we are nothing.  Jesus provides (Phil, 4:19) for us all that we have from and through His love.  We totally depend on the Lord, yet remember Father blesses us through our obedience (Luke 11:28).

⁴ Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

When we lose something, a loved one or even a cherished possession, Father gives us comfort for our loss (1 Corinth. 1:3).  Here, to mourn is he Greek word pentheo (G3996) which is to mourn or wail.  We are deeply hurt over our loss and God will comfort us, help us to feel ‘better’ though we have lost something precious.

⁵ Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

Meek is the Greek word praus (G4239) which is humble.  Being humble is not considering ourselves better than those around us.  We are all a creation of God which puts us all on the same level.  We need to remember this, no matter how successful we become in this life.

⁶ Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

Hunger and thirst.  Hunger is the word peino G3983) which is to  famish, crave or be really hungry for.  The Greek word for thirsty is dipsao (G1372) which implies a great thirst for a drink.  Righteousness is dikaiosune (G1343) which is justification or righteousness. In other words, we live our lives to please God as though our very lives depend upon it for truly it does.  Father will help us to accomplish the tasks that come before us.  And living righteously (in God’s standards) keeps us in the good graces of Father.

⁷ Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

Merciful is the Greek word eleemon (G1655) which is merciful or compassionate.  Not just feeling sorry for but caring truly enough to do something to help others and, as he passage says, God will help us.  Paul reminds us that whatever we do should edify others (Eph. 4:29).    

⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

Pure is the Greek word katharos (G2513) which pure, clean or clear.  This does not mean ‘never sinned’ (Only Jesus fulfills that description), but when we do sin, we confess that sin so that there is nothing that is not covered by the blood Christ in our lives.  That means not sinning in what we think as well as in what we do (Matt. 5:28) and then confess and repent (1 John 1:8-10).

 

⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Peacemakers is the Greek word eirenepoioe (G1518) which is peacemakers or peaceable.  In other words don’t look for a fight but try to find a non-violent solution for everything that comes our way.  When we are at peace with others, we have peace in our own heart.

¹⁰ Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Persecuted is the Greek word dioko (G1377) which is to pursue, press toward or persecute. The priests and Pharisees had commanded people to tell them if they knew where Jesus was (John 11:46-57).  They pursued Him, without giving up, all the way to the cross.

¹¹ Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

Persecute and revile,  oneidizo (G3679) the Greek word which is revile, taunt, upbraid or reproach.  Did not those, at the high priest’s house, strike Jesus before taking Him to Pilate (Matt. 26:65-68)?  And isn’t the cross the ultimate abuse the Romans could inflict upon someone (Mark 15:15-38)?  Even Pilate realized that the church leaders envied Jesus (Matt. 27:18-24) and yet he had Jesus scourged (whipped) (John 19:1-3).   

¹² Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Satan is the prince and power of the air (Eph. 2:2) as God cast him down to the earth (Rev. 12:9), so, (in this world) he influences much of what men of disobedience do.

Yet, as believers, should the world similarly administer afflictions upon us, should we not rejoice that the world has found us worthy to treat us the same as they treated the prophets and Jesus.  

BUT, also as with Jesus, who was raised into glory, won’t we be raised with Him into glory – forever?  As we love and live in our Lord Jesus, is our life not hid with Him in the Father?   If so, won’t we appear with Him in glory (Col. 3:1-4)?

The “Beatitudes” are a guide to our way of life in this world.  We have comfort in knowing that Jesus is always with us – no matter how good or how bad life seems.  Paul tells us to run the race and expect to win (1 Corinth. 9:24).  The path is straight and narrow and there are few who enter in (Matt. 7:13-14).  In crossing that finish line, we all win – eternal fellowship with our Lord and Savior (Rom. 6:23)!

Amen

 

 

6-13-2026    Kingdom Mindset   

 

Life is filled with choices.  Do we trust God emphatically or do we choose to go our own way?  A kingdom mindset is believing God truly is – Creator of all things.  It is accepting God for who He is and what He has, is and what He will and do for us.  It is understanding what he expects from us in this relationship.  Finally, it is not doubting but rather trusting Father in and for all things.

Believe

In the beginning God … (Gen 1:1).  These first four words of the bible are the foundation of a Kingdom Mindset.  It is the basis for what we believe and/or what we know. 

The earth was without form.  The Hebrew word for ‘form is tohu, which means without form, confusion, empty, nothing.  There was just God Elohiym (plural of Eloaah, Gen. 1:1) a diety, God; the ‘I Am’ or Yahweh (YHWH )(Exod. 3:14); El which is God, great or mighty one (Gen. 16:13); or Jehovah (YHWH) all sufficient or eternal (Gen. 6:5).

God is Spirit, we worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24).  The Spirit of God is expressed as His breath (Gen. 1:2, Gen. 2:7) and He gives us the breath of life (Acts 2:1-8).  The breath of God is the Hebrew word ruwach which is breath, wind or spirit.  God is not contained in a body as we think.  Consider the wind, we don’t know where it comes from nor where it is going.  We only know when it blows past us (John 3:8). 

We need to understand that the nature of God is love.  Do we choose to really believe this?. His ultimate love is defined as agape (Greek) or dowd (Hebrew) love which is having affection for or being benevolent towards another.  Jesus loved us so much He died to cleanse of our sins and took our place on the cross (Rom. 5-8).  The Greek word phileo and the Hebrew word reya is having a close or personal friendship, as with David and Johnathan (1 Sam. 18:1).  God always has our best interests at heart (Heb: 12-6-11, Rom. 8:28).  We may even say that God’s love was His reason for creating.

So how did God, the creator, bring everything into existence?  God spoke “Let there be …” (Gen 1:1-29).  He spoke words and, for our sake, His words became flesh (John 1:1-5).  Speak of love!  His Word took our sins to the cross (1 Peter 2:24) and immediately opened a friendship or direct access, with the Father as the veil to the Holy of Holies was torn in two (Matt. 27:50-51).

God (Jesus) is our Savior (Exod. 15:2, Luke 2:11, John 3:16, John 4:42, 1 John 4:10-16).

Jesus is our healer, by His stripes we are healed (Isa. 53:5, 1Peter 2:24).

God/Jesus is our protector (Psalms 91:4, 2 Thess. 3:3, Heb. 13:5).

The Lord is our teacher (Gen. 3:10-15, Matt. 10:19-20, John 14:16-17, 26).

God will provide for us (Gen. 1:28-30, 2 Corinth. 9:8, Phil. 4:19)

The Lord had a fellowship with Adam and Eve in the garden (Gen. 3:8-9).  He seeks fellowship with us (1 John 1:1-3, 1 Corinth. 13:14).

We can speak more about the qualities and characteristics of God but our choice is ‘do we accept Him for who He is or do we believe that God is just a fairy tale, a myth or something else’?

Accept

Job said that he knew all about God from what others had told him, but after his encounter with the Lord, he came to know who God really is (Job chapters 38-41, Job 42:5).  Do we know all about God?  Do we really know who He is and what He does for us?  Or do we just believe what others have told us?

In salvation, God is making a covenant, a pact, a contract, an agreement with us.  We’ve already mentioned some of the things Father has and continues to do for us but how many of us have examined our end of the bargain?

The first commandment God gave Moses was “You shall have no other gods before Me nor make for yourselves any graven image or likeness of anything in heaven above, the earth beneath, nor that which is in the water under the earth nor bow yourself  down before them and worship them (Exod. 20:3-5).  ‘Water’ used here is the Hebrew word mayim and could refer to running water, urine or even semen, in other words a stream, waste product (non-essential liquid) or even that which produces life.  Again, don’t make statues or pictures of these things and then give your love and devotion to these ‘them’.     

Jesus tells us that if we love HIM, keep His commandments (John 14:15).  When we read 1 John chapter four, John explains our ‘love’ relationship with Father and with everybody else.  We love God above all, then our neighbor (everybody else) as ourselves.  If we don’t love our neighbor, how then is the love of God abiding in us (1 John 4:1-21)?   Do we understand our side of this contract?  Do we choose love?  Do we choose that because God has loved us so we then care about the welfare and edification of those around us?

We accept the ‘condition’ that we love God and then others as Father has loved us … and then do it!  Or do we put anything and everything before God?

Understand

Our understanding of God’s love is discovered when we interact with Him and see the evidence of His love towards us.  Jesus tells the disciples that He is in the Father and he Father is in Him so as we believe on Jesus, He will give us whatsoever we ask in His name (John 14:11-14).  To make this a little clearer, Jesus declares that He abides in us and we bide in Him (John 15:1-9).  Do we see a deeper connection?  Have we chosen to abide in Jesus?   We ask and Jesus will meet our needs (Phil. 4:19).  When we let Him in, He will sup (abide) with us (Rev. 3:20). As with the woman with the issue of blood, answer to an unspoken request can also come (Matt. 9:20-22). Or as with Daniel, the answer to our prayer may not come immediately.  The spirit that ruled over Persia, for 21 days,  detained the angel bringing the answer to Daniel’s prayer, but the answer did come (Dan. 10: 8-14).  How many prayers has God answered for us?  How quickly or did we have to wait for a response?

As we abide in Jesus, the answer to our prayers will come.  Maybe not when we expect it or maybe not the way we might think, but it will come.  There is a song called “On Time God”.  We may not always understand when or how, but Father will always honor our obedience – in His timing (Ecc. 3:1)!  Experience helps us to understand God’s purpose, timing and blessings. Do we get ‘antsy’ and choose to move outside of God’s timing?   

Don’t doubt

Aside from faith, the biggest thing to remember is that faith doesn’t work where doubt abides.  Should we doubt, Father is not obligated to do things for us, we have to maintain absolute faith so that He will accomplish (bring) it to pass.  Doubt xxx’s out faith or at best delays it until we can truly believe God for what we ask.  Some examples:

I tell you, whatsoever you desire, when you pray, believe you receive (Mark 11:24).

If you ask in faith, don’t waiver for he who waivers is like the wave of the sea and is tossed bout so don’t let this one think he shall receive anything from the Lord (James 1:6-7).

Two blind men approached Jesus seeking a healing and Jesus responded “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”  The men said yes and Jesus touched their eyes and said “According to your faith let it be unto you.” (Matt. 9:27-29). 

Jesus had spoken to the barren fig tree and it withered away and Jesus said “Truly, if you (we) have faith and don’t doubt, not only can you do what was done to this fig tree, but you shall tell a mountain to be removed and cast into the sea and it shall be done.  What things you shall ask in prayer and in believing, you shall receive it” (Matt. 21:18-22).  

Father says that “concerning My sons and the work of My hands, command Me.” (Isa. 45:11).  Here, the Hebrew word for command is tsavah which means constitute, enjoin, appoint, charge, send with a command or set in order.  In connection with ‘not doubting’, this would imply, as we ask according to His will, we can come boldly before the lord, expecting our request to come to pass (1 John 5:14).  

I could go on with more examples but I trust that you are getting the picture?

Conclusion

So the Kingdom Mindset is believing that God is.  Accepting and understanding our relationship with the Lord.  Accept the fact the Father will do all that He says He will do and, as we abide in His love, we can come boldly before His throne knowing (not doubting) that He will grant our request.   Our choice is to develop and maintain that ‘love’ relationship with our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our Lord.  He is our strength to make the right choices. Live in His love.