Don’t be afraid!
I am the First and the Last!
I am the Living One!
I died but look – I am alive forever and ever!
And I hold the keys of death and the grave!
Revelation 1:17-18 NLT
Their conversation continued as they made their way to Emmaus, they were saying, “It is the third day since what happened to Jesus in Jerusalem took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find His body. They came and told us they had seen a vision of angels, who said He was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but Him they did not see,” Luke 24:21-24.
Without the presence of Holy Spirit in our lives, God’s Word can very easily be misconstrued and misunderstood so the glory of Jesus is clearly not seen. God’s Word reveals, no one understood what Jesus meant when He said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days,” John 2:19. For false witnesses rose up against Him and said, “We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands,’” Mark 14:57.
Their misunderstanding has been made evident, for they didn’t realize when Jesus said, “this temple,” He meant His own body. (John 2:21). God’s Word cuts through what festers within us fear, deception, smugness, treachery, bitterness, stubbornness, obstinacy…all of which and so much more works to make cloudy and distort the perfection of Truth.
This is why God’s people are instructed to listen carefully to the directives and guidance and wisdom He teaches us to follow, so we may live and enter His eternal Kingdom when we take possession of the promises that God, the God-of-Your-Fathers, bestows. For there are consequences to be endured, if anyone should add or subtract from God’s book of prophecy (Revelation 22:118-19), for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy (Revelation 19:10).
And we have been instructed to do our very best, not excusing ourselves with “I’m trying,” to present ourselves to God as approved. As workmen who do not need to be ashamed and who correctly handle the Word of Truth.
We are told to avoid godless chatter. I don’t know what that means to you, but for me this would be the use of idle (dead, inoperable, inactive) talk that has no transformational power within our soul; instead, godless chatter is what stems from self – opinions, beliefs, doctrines…that leads us deeper into feelings of hopelessness and despair. Those who indulge in this behavior will become more and more ungodly. Their views and teachings will not only spread like gangrene (2 Timothy 2:15-17) among us but also within our soul!
This is why it is essential we remain faithful to the things we learn from God’s Word. For it is not only the teachings that are reliable and true, but so too is the Source, Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:14). The book God released makes evident: What He has spoken, He brings to pass! What He has purposed, He will do! Isaiah 46:11.
Therefore, we must rely on and cling tightly to the hem of Christ’s garment, for God’s Word gives us the wisdom to receive salvation that comes by faith and trust in the One Whom all God’s benefits flow – the precious Son of God, Christ Jesus.
Every verse of holy Scripture was inspired by God to create a perfect image of His beloved Son. He has done this so we can know and rely on and trust that His Word of Truth teaches us what is true and helps us identify the error in our opinions and perspectives and beliefs.
God’s Word corrects our faulty thinking and adjusts feelings that lead to discontent and doubt and disbelief so we can do what is right for ourselves and our families and others, for this is how God prepares and equips His people to do every good work (2 Timothy 3:15-17 NLT).
As God’s love story continued to unfold, there arose a division and dissension among the people concerning His Son (John 7:43 AMP). For what God’s Word said, “Do you suppose I have come to give peace upon earth? No, I say to you, but rather division,” Luke 12:51.
And the people were definitely divided because of Jesus, Who said, “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is completed,” Luke 12:49-50). Yes, people became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way (Acts 19:9).
Sadly, the Church, the people of God, have taken on a worldly appearance. For indeed, there remains within us divisions and causes for division: Jealousy, quarreling, malice, deceit, hypocrisy, slander…even though we have tasted the Lord is good (1 Peter 2:1-3 BSB).
Is Jesus divided? (1 Corinthians 1:13). The One Who is greater! Is the meaning of this Scripture really known: “I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices. The Son of Man is Lord! Why judge and condemn and criticize My disciples,” Matthew 12:6-8 NLT, causing the body of Christ to be split into denominations that differ.
There are those who say, “I follow ____________,” another “I follow _____,” still others, “I follow _________,” 1 Corinthians 1:12. What agreement can there be between a temple of God and idols (anything given prideful importance) 2 Corinthians 6:16. John told us he did not see a temple in the city of God, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple (Revelation 21:22).
Well, we come to Jesus, the Living Stone which men tried and threw away, but Who is chosen and precious in God’s sight. We come like living stones, to be built on earth into a spiritual house. Dedicated, consecrated a holy priesthood, to offer up those spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable and pleasing to God through Christ Jesus (1 Peter 2:4-5 AMP).
Jesus prayed, “Father, sanctify the Church, Your faithful disciples, by the Truth; Your Word is Truth. That they may be brought to complete unity to let the world know You sent Me and have loved them even as You have loved Me,” John 17:10,18.
Yet, the Spirit clearly says in these last days some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons – ungodly chatter!
(1 Timothy 4:1). Also, though leaders of the Church preach God’s Word, they have not ensured God’s people would become perfectly united in mind and thought. But praise God, because those who have been called according to His purpose, in all things He works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
So, I ask, what kind of people ought we to be (2 Peter 3:11a)? When you consider Jesus placed knowing God, being in relationship with Him above all things on this earth, even life, so His faithful disciples would prosper and be in health, even as our soul prospers (3 John 2).
God’s desire is for us to prosper, to be in health, but we must desire for our soul to prosper. We ought to desire being the kind of people who live holy and godly lives as we look forward to the day of God and speed its coming (2 Peter 3:11b-12).
Let the body of Christ come to together, unified because our eyes are fixed on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our Faith. Not giving more importance to those who preach: For the joy set before Him the Lord endured that cross. He scorned the shame and berating and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12 :2).
Let us give meaning to what we proclaim by picking ourselves up and following God’s Word (Luke 14:27). God does the miraculous. He chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.
No one can ever boast in the presence of God!
God united us with Christ Jesus! For our benefit He made His Word to be Wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God! He made us pure and holy! He freed us from sin that always gives prideful importance to things on earth. Therefore, if you want to boast, boast only about the Lord! (1 Corinthians 1:28-31 NLT). Live as the bride of Christ should: Loving, honoring, obeying God’s Word!
For we were bought with a price,
Purchased with a preciousness and paid for, made God’s own!
So, honor God and bring glory to Him in your body!
1 Corinthians 6:20 AMP