Jesus – Page 3 – Missionary Sojourn

Bride of Christ – Post #3

This is the third post in a series seeking insight on what the word has to say on the bride of Christ. It is transferred from a hand-written journal entry from December 19^th. The two previous related posts are here and here.

5 And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. Revelation 19

Me: Hello, Jesus!

Jesus: Hello, Jon!

Me: I was amused by the mental picture of a disembodied voice coming from the throne issuing a call to worship. And the rocks did not need to cry out (Luke 19:40), because the response was like thunder from “a great multitude”! The closest thing I have ever experienced was being in a football stadium filled with men singing praise to You. That seems a weak comparison to what is described here. I love what this thundering chorus gives voice! “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!”

Jesus: I Am also rejoicing at the sight of My bride who has made herself ready in righteousness!

17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. 2 Corinthians 5

And how has My bride made herself ready? By participating in a great exchange: her sinfulness exchanged for My righteousness. And note the help by those engaged in communicating the need (the ministry of reconciliation) and the very mechanism of cleansing: the word of reconciliation. Remember from a couple of days ago,

That he might sanctify and cleanse it [the church] with the washing of water by the word, that he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:26-27

Has My bride been fully reconciled to My desire for her to be without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing? All who have accepted My salvation are, in their spirits, without blemish. What remains is to be transformed from the inside out. Help others to understand. This is the ministry of reconciliation. Speak forth the word of reconciliation while you have breath, looking toward the glorious day of the marriage of the Lamb.

Me: As an aside, I have found that I am unable to reliably ascertain whether one is “in You” or not. I have been proved apparently wrong about it even in close relationships.

Jesus: That passage is not one intended for you to judge another one way or the other. I am the Judge (Matt 7:22-24, 25:23).Your part is to do what I said, speaking forth the word of reconciliation, looking to your own relationship with Me.

Me: Thank You Jesus! I love You!

Jesus: You are welcome! I love you!

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Bride of Christ (Post #2)

This is second in a series, from hand-written journal of December 16th, 2024. Previous installment is here.

And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. Luke 1:45-55

Me: Good evening, Jesus!

Jesus: Good evening, Jon!

Me: The last time you offered insights into several things about the meaning of “the bride of Christ”, Most notably, your desire to be one with us (with me!). Would you say more?

Jesus: What would you like to know?

Me: Where does the scripture reference Your bride?

Jesus: Let’s start today with Ephesians 5:25 – 27, that I showed you before:

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

Have I not given Myself for you? In not the very purpose of My word your sanctification? If you continue to allow My word to change your heart you will be completely transformed. These things are true in My Spirit which is alive in you forevermore. If you allow Me, I will remove all blemishes. (John noted in the beginning of John chapter one that I Am the Word. I Am doing the washing.)

Look what exchanged between Peter and I: “No!”, said Peter, “You will never wash my feet!” I answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with Me.” (John 13:8)

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. (Ephesians 5: 22-24)

You must let Me serve you in this washing, Even as I told Peter, who was not exclaiming “No!” out of pride. Rather he spoke out of his (accurate) sense of his own unworthiness. I Am not blind to the nature of your sin. Yet I took it upon Myself, despising the shame that you were already bearing, because I love you and I want you to be “without spot or wrinkle or any such thing”. I Am making you holy and blameless. Nothing is too hard for Me.

I have never overruled your free will. I am not about to start doing so. It is up to you whether you will submit to the washing of the water of the word. Look back to My prayer that we be one (John 17). My word never returns void but always accomplishes that which I send it to do (Isaiah 55:11). I have sent it to make us one.

Me: Thank You Jesus! I love You!

Jesus: You are welcome! I love you!

Bride of Christ – Post #1

I am grateful to be home relaxing today!

(Excerpt from hand-written Journal entry, dated December 1st, 2024)

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. (John1:1-2, 14)

Me: Good evening, Father!

Abba: Good evening, Jon!

Me: [My wife] expressed concern that I commented that as a man, I didn’t have an emotional understanding of what it means to be ‘the bride of Christ’. There are many things about it that are obscure to me. Such as, there being many of us, whereas we understand proper marriage to be monogamous.

Abba: Then, let’s start with that!

John:17

11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

24 Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

25 O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.

26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

So, Jon, not many, but one, in love.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. Genesis 2:24 (See also Ephesians 5:31, Mark 10:8, Matthew 19:6, Ephesians 5 (all))

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:30-31

Me: Thank You Father! I love You!

Abba: You are welcome! I love you!

Liberty

Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

Yesterday, we attended the 30^th Annual Quad-Cities Prayer Breakfast at RiverCenter in Davenport Iowa. The location is some 150 miles east of home. We had an invitation from the organizer, who, with his wife, have become good friends over the course of the past year. The venue held, probably 1600 attendees. The couple to my right at our table had driven from Cleveland, a trip of 500 miles. There was awesome special music by recording artist Steve Amerson. The keynote speaker was Governor Mike Huckabee. His talk centered on God bringing good out of some challenging events in his life as he expounded on Romans 8:28.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

All morning, the verses from 2 Corinthians 3 that open this post kept coming to mind. This passage was not something mentioned by anyone during the event, but was something God was putting on my heart. Meditating on it further, I can certainly see that the message of Romans 8:28 is addressed solely to believers and the passage in 2 Corinthians 3 is addressed likewise. None other are indwelt by the Holy Spirit or might see that change to be more like Jesus (increasing glory). We ought not to lose sight of the fact that God is bound by nothing, save His own nature and unbreakable word of Truth. We are made in His image and are intended for unfettered liberty. At some level, we know this intuitively. Tyrants oppress. The law restrains. But one who walks in the love and grace of the Almighty transcends both.

What enables this joyous transformation to work in the willing?

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 1 John 1:4-6 (KJV)

It operates by His undimmable goodness.

Whose Faith is it, Anyway?

I am grateful for Your word!

16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. (Galatians 2)

Three times in the passage above, Paul refers to the “the faith of” Jesus the Son of God. It does not say faith in, it says faith of. [Translations other than the KJV (even the NKJV) have mostly translated this as “faith in”. My amateurish look at the Greek text did not help me much because the meaning of the possessives depends on parsing the language accurately. I must defer to someone trained in Greek grammar to sort this out. So, I refer to an article by Bobby Grow who takes a look at this exact passage in an evenhanded way. He favors the way the King James has it, all things considered.] If we are “crucified with Christ” and if the life that is now in us is the indwelling Christ, as stated clearly in verse 20, then “faith of” would lend credence to His faith being active in us.

On the other hand, the passage goes on the speak of the possibility of our “building again” as transgressors. This is most likely if we are not actively renewing our minds according to the word and submitting to it.

If it is the faith of Christ by which He did all the Father gave Him to do (and it is). If it is the faith of Jesus that allowed Him to conquer the grave, though He had become sin that its power in us might be broken when it was nailed to the cross in Him (and it is). Would we not do well to understand that it is now His faith that is the power by which we are to live. Does not our self-generated faith come fearfully close to the works of the Law that Paul was saying are totally ineffective at justifying us?

Unjust Judge

I am grateful that God’s judgments are right and true!

Luke 18:1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2 Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3 And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4 And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5 Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6 And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Romans13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. 2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: 4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.

Romans 3:10-12 There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, There is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not one. (Also Luke 18:19)

Me: Good afternoon, Jesus!

Jesus: Good afternoon, Jon!

Me: I think most of the U.S. has been watching the prosecution of President Trump in New York this week. Though some have been reported as “dancing” at the verdict, probably more have been aghast at the improper legal procedures allowed, and even carried out directly, by the judge. It made me think of this passage in Luke 18 referencing an “unjust judge”. That caused me to also remember the injunction in Romans 13 to be subject to those in authority because their powers (offices, stations) are ordained by God. You clearly recognized when giving the parable in Luke 18 that a judge could be unjust. And, though I say that “I remembered” those passages, I understand it is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring those things to mind and there was no special memory effort at work on my part. Thank You for that gift through the Holy Spirit! (John 14:26)

Jesus: I have a calling for everyone. That does not mean that each one will live perfectly aligned to My desire for them. Some take only an occasional detour. Some refuse to acknowledge Me at all and serve only “themselves”. I put my reference to their own desires in quotes because there is a dark power at work in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2). You have noted, of course, that disobedience is rampant. And as you lament, the “Justice System” is full of injustice, according to the way the law informs that it should work. Still, I have drawn your attention to Romans 3, that no man, except through Me, has right standing before God. Like the Pharisees, your legislators have created so many laws and regulations (many of them conflicting and open to diverse interpretation), that no American citizen is innocent according to the law. It will get worse as time draws nearer the end. Did you foresee that there would be laws against engaging in silent prayer in front of an abortion clinic? The devil knows that prayer is a powerful weapon. Of course, those who do his bidding would write and pass such “laws”.

Therefore, you should pay attention to the intent of My parable in Luke 18. You ought to pray that you may be strengthened and not faint in fear at the danger of such attacks. I am speedily coming to uphold you.

1 John 2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. 6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Me: Jesus, thank You! We could not ask for a better advocate! I love You! I pray you will protect us all despite the evil of this day and help us turn away from our own evil ways and do what You have called us to. Unswervingly!

Jesus: You are welcome! I am your protector. I Am helping you. Remember this:

Romans 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. 34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

You should also be persuaded that nothing can separate you from My love!

Undead Yet?

I am grateful, Father, that You have enabled me to be in Jesus and to be raised with Him!

2 And you [He made alive when you] were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you once walked. You were following the ways of this world [influenced by this present age], in accordance with the prince of the power of the air (Satan), the spirit who is now at work in the disobedient [the unbelieving, who fight against the purposes of God]. 3 Among these [unbelievers] we all once lived in the passions of our flesh [our behavior governed by the sinful self], indulging the desires of human nature [without the Holy Spirit] and [the impulses] of the [sinful] mind. We were, by nature, children [under the sentence] of [God’s] wrath, just like the rest [of mankind]. 4 But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment). 6 And He raised us up together with Him [when we believed], and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, [because we are] in Christ Jesus, 7 [and He did this] so that in the ages to come He might [clearly] show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus [by providing for our redemption]. 8 For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; 9 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation]. 10 For we are His workmanship [His own master work, a work of art], created in Christ Jesus [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, ready to be used] for good works, which God prepared [for us] beforehand [taking paths which He set], so that we would walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us]. Ephesians 2:2-10 AMP

Me: Good morning, Father!

Abba: Good morning, Jon!

Me: Seems this revelation that we are dead unless regenerated, born again, in Jesus is mysterious to the still dead.

Abba: I told Adam, beforehand.

So the Lord God took the man [He had made] and settled him in the Garden of Eden to cultivate and keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “You may freely (unconditionally) eat [the fruit] from every tree of the garden; but [only] from the tree of the knowledge (recognition) of good and evil you shall not eat, otherwise on the day that you eat from it, you shall most certainly die [because of your disobedience].” Genesis 2:15-17

Eve was lied to, in Adam’s hearing, and the two of them bought what the deceiver was selling.

Now the serpent was more crafty (subtle, skilled in deceit) than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And the serpent (Satan) said to the woman, “Can it really be that God has said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees of the garden, except the fruit from the tree which is in the middle of the garden. God said, ‘You shall not eat from it nor touch it, otherwise you will die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You certainly will not die! For God knows that on the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened [that is, you will have greater awareness], and you will be like God, knowing [the difference between] good and evil.” And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was delightful to look at, and a tree to be desired in order to make one wise and insightful, she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of the two of them were opened [that is, their awareness increased], and they knew that they were naked; and they fastened fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. Genesis 3:3-7

The serpent countered My message to Adam, “On the day that you eat from it, you shall most certainly die” with “You certainly will not die!”

In disobedience, stepping away from the Author and Sustainer of life is death. Spiritually in the moment, physically in due time. The serpent told a perverted “truth”. Though man’s spiritual connection to Me perished with the sin, his lungs kept filling with air and his heart kept circulating corpuscles to be aerated. Eventual physical death is a mercy to the spiritually dead.

Consider the “sons of disobedience”, who fight against My purposes. Contrary to what the serpent said, My will for man is only for good. Still, the disobedient spiral down into twisted decay. They seek to fill their cadaverous emptiness with anything they think will bring them pleasure or benefit of any kind. They become wholly self-absorbed. They harm others (even children) because they have no idea what the truth is. They call that which is evil, good. They call that which is good, evil. (Isaiah 5:20) The Devil comes but to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10) and they are sold into bondage to him.

Me: The redemption You have provided in Jesus is such a stark contrast to the ever-deepening darkness that follows sin! Thank You for the grace You have lavished upon us! What You have done is beyond comprehension. Yet we can enjoy freedom in the new life and express thanksgiving where there was only taking before. Thank You! I love You!

Abba: You are welcome! I love you!

Given Over

I am grateful for revelation of God’s righteousness from faith to faith; that it is based on faith and delivered through faith, and not reliant on my performance!

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 1

Me: Jesus, I read this morning of Susanne DeWitt who was arrested at age four sent to the Dachau concentration camp. As You know, she was speaking before the Berkly California City Council in favor of a Holocaust Remembrance Day proclamation. I was quite taken back to see how this eighty-nine-year-old survivor was subjected to vile name-calling and shouted down by demonstrators because she is a Jew.

Jesus: Yes, there are not many of those interred in the Nazi concentration camps left living now. The camp was opened by Heinrich Himmler in 1933, but incarceration of Jews dramatically increased in 1938. You can see from her age that she was sent there around 1938. Her family was swept up during Kristallnacht (Nov. 9-10). Fortunately for her, she did not stay at Dachau too long, but was deported to Poland with her family. Poland would not accept them and that started a long string of events for Susanne that if you knew the half of it, you would clearly see My hand in it. Of course, her defamers in the City Council meeting cared nothing for any of that. The trials she endured, her precarious survival, did not matter to them. Giving voice to their hatred was the singular thing.

Me: Reading Romans 1, I reckon we are seeing symptoms of the “reprobate mind”, all over now. Verse 28 says You “gave them over” to it because they “did not like to retain God in their knowledge”. I want to put knowledge in an extra set of quotes, how can all the things that go along with the reprobate mind be called knowledge?

Jesus: Do you see verses 19 and 20? I have shown the truth. But it has been rejected, in favor of various forms of self-will, right down to vile affections (v 26).

Me: That should reveal the truth to anyone looking, that You have given us free will. The last verses sum up in an amazing way what is going on every day. The Amplified version really makes the last verse stand out:

Though they are fully aware of God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do them themselves but approve and applaud others who practice them.
Romans 1:32 Amp.

Jesus: I do hear the self-congratulatory applause. Please see verse 22.

Me: Thank You for letting me vent. I love You! I pray You will help me to respond to these situations with Your heart. I recognize that none of us stand except by your grace.

Jesus: You are welcome. I love you!

Post Script:

When I first started to write this post, I was making some assumptions that didn’t quite settle right in my spirit. When Jesus told me if knew the half of it, I would clearly see His hand in it, I was unwilling to publish until I tried to resolve that unrest. I believe Jesus led me to search for Susanne’s name in the Holocaust Museum archives. I mean, what were the chances? I skimmed the text of her oral history (The Bay Area Holocaust Oral History Project conducted the interview with Susanne DeWitt on May 26, 1990, linked above at her name) and corrected some wrong assumptions I had made. I love the way the Spirit is faithful to guide us into all the truth! (John 16) What a magnificent promise! He doesn’t always deliver things whole and finished, but He does certainly guide. On the afternoon of Resurrection Day, I watched the entirety of the interview with Susanne. It takes about 2:21 to watch. Though one can read the 88-page transcript faster than that, only reading misses the vocal inflections that are crucial to full communication.

I saw no evidence that Susanne had met Jesus personally, as yet. I pray she will. Still, the thing Jesus told me about seeing His hand in her circumstances could not be more striking. She and her family separately dodged many situations that brought millions of other Jews to their deaths. I don’t know the “why” behind these unusual circumstances, but I trust Jesus when He said His hand was in it. I can see how those who survived might struggle to deal with their own survival. I am reminded of the passages in scripture when the people picked up rocks to stone Jesus, and he walked away in the midst of His accusers. He was not done with His work, and stoning was not His foretold death. I cannot explain His grace, but it is marvelous to behold!

One of the things Susanne said in the interview is that she was attracted to the field of genetics to show that racism is baseless. What she sensed intuitively; we know from the Scriptures. We are all descended from Adam.

Exchange

I am Grateful for your provision and faultless faithfulness!

In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength:
Isaiah 26:1-4

Me: Good afternoon, Father!

Abba: Good afternoon, Jon!

Me: Father, you suggested the verse, “You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You”, as I was asking what you wanted me to meditate upon today. I love the promise of “perfect peace” in Isaiah 24, if we keep focusing on You. No, more than focusing. It says trusting, too. And not just temporarily, either! When I looked at the context of that promise, I saw that it was to Judah and was a picture of salvation to come. It even mentions that salvation is appointed by You and that it stands as a bulwark, as protection against the enemy. Isaiah said, “Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter”. But that made me think of what Jesus said to the rich young ruler:

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.
Luke 18:18-19, Mark 10:17-18

Say again how is it that Judah, and those who are being saved become known as a “righteous nation” and as keepers of the truth? When Jesus walked physically in Judea, He declared, “I Am the Truth”. Yet the so-called spiritual leadership of the nation goaded the people to cry aloud, “Crucify him!” before the Roman Judgement Seat, where they accused Him of heresy and sedition. (John 18:28 – 19:16)

Abba: Jesus did not grant the religious order or the Roman government power over the message He came to deliver (John 19:11). As you see, the leaders were corrupt, serving their own interests, and the people were cowed into taking direction from them. The religious leaders had the power to put anyone out of the synagogue, which was the center of the community. The Romans exercised the power of capital punishment in such a way as to induce the most fear. Look at what this passage in Romans says of Abraham’s faith:

For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Romans 4:3-5

This passage speaks of the belief My friend Abraham had in Me and of grace that Jesus has bestowed by His sacrifice of bearing your unrighteousness, again, to those who believe.

Exchange (by faith): His righteousness for your ungodliness.

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Galatians 2:16

Twice in the above verse, Paul speaks of the faith of Jesus and once of faith in Jesus. Faith is a gift (Ephesians 2:8, James 1:17), if you but agree to receive it.

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James 1:5-8

James speaks of problem of being double minded, as it relates to faith for receiving wisdom if one asks. This issue of double mindedness, though, applies to faith for anything you are doing according to My direction. I just said that you have to agree to receive the gift of faith. That plays out in steadfast trust in what I Am saying to you. It is the enemy of your souls who will plant doubt about what I Am saying. Go back and look at his exchange with Eve (Genesis 3:1-6). What did he do? He got her to doubt that she had understood what I said, even that I had her best interests at heart and was being deceptive. Talk about narcissistic projection! Mind games are his specialty.

18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18 (Romans 1:16)

Me: Thank You Father! I love You! Thank You for the awesome gifts You give! Thank You for linking all these scriptures together by Your Spirit. It seems the Gospel in a nutshell!

Abba: You are welcome! I love you!

Combatting Darkness

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Joshua 1:8

Me: Good evening, Holy Spirit!

Holy Spirit: Good evening, Jon!

Me: I know we are not now under law, but under grace (Romans 6:14). But Jesus also said that none of the law would pass away while heaven and earth remain (Matthew 5:18). How does this injunction from Joshua 1:8 apply to believers?

Holy Spirit: The Word stands forever. Focusing on it, meditating on it, speaking it, observing (obeying) it, is key to transforming your mind:

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Romans 12:2

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
2 Timothy 12-17

You see, aligning your heart and mind with My word, which reveals my perfect will, is not just about improving your own spiritual state, but is critical to equip you to be effective in the work I have called you to do. As the world system and its inhabitants accelerate into the dark abyss of corruption, it is upon those who will apply themselves to My Word to shed light where I have placed them.

Me: Thank You, Holy Spirit! I love You!

Holy Spirit: You are welcome! I love you!

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