Let's lift up 
Another housetop moment.
Oftentimes, to their own detriment, people tend to get hung up on titles and terminology. It sometimes helps to break it down to the most basic level by simply looking it up in the dictionary.
Disciple: (noun) One who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.
The old Testament prophesied of the New; and the New Testament is testifies to those things prophesied in the Old. Most prevalent being the Old Testament book of Isaiah. Too often man, in trying to justify his own doctrine, “cuts off his own nose to spite his face.” In other words, some people, being of the misunderstanding that, because Jesus did the finished work of Calvary, the Old Testament is abolished, and thusly permits them to live any knd of way and still be acceptable in Gods eyes. Not only is it not abloished, but to it's embodiment, Christ fulfilled it, which means that if we are to be like Him, we too must embody the law, “written upon our hearts.” For example, in loving our neighbor, not only must we not wrong them in any way, especially in ways specified in the Old Testament laws of Moses; but, moreover, because of the New Testament (Covenant), even more is required. We are to go that extra step, not to retaliate, but to LOVE even our enemies, leaving room for God's vengeance: Matthew 5:43-48. Whether Old or New Testament, as it is written: 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. Man, misguidedly believes that he can continue in sin, operating in wrongdoing and oppression, as long as he does a little good here and there. Yet, even in clinging to that arrogant ideology does man seek to only do away with certain parts of the Old Testament. While disregarding, even discarding the punitive parts, he is quick to acknowledge those Old Testament scriptures that speak reward and increase. That’s not only hypocritical it’s LUKEWARM.
It seems that Jesus himself was ministering according to Old Testament, Isaiah 58:1 when He went into the Temple in Matthew 23. I have accepted Jesus’s teachings; all of them; and, I am imparting the Word, specific in this season to the instructions given to me in this assignment: Isaiah 58:1 [NIV] "Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.
It is only by God’s mercy that we are not consumed; yet, repentance is absolutely necessary. Therefore, He has set before us the merciful gift of REPENTANCE and REMISSION of sin. The two go hand in hand. Unfortunately, it is the “TURNING AWAY FROM SIN,” that tends to stump mankind. That part: which constitutes the fullness of true repentance is rejected, even rebuked by man. Howbeit, we must be obedient unto righteousness, especially where the call to repentance is coconcerned. Never challenging God’s commandments; but rather, with love, acceptance and gratitude for grace, simply obey them: John 14:15 [AMP] If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.
I look at it like this: forgiveness is like a jar of healing balm which Jesus opened up for us on Calvary, but because the world rejected the free remedy, “God’s only begotten Son,” healing can now only be accessed through the process of repentance. As it is written: Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Forgiveness (the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness) is still available (at hand), we first must seek it through repentance. So that, even as a city, when she REPENTS, all those things that prosper her, shall be added; but, when she refuses, not only is she denounced by the shaking of her dust from the disciple’s feet; but, the blessing of peace - which includes prosperity (those things added), are likewise forfeited. When the Vashti (queen/city) refuses to show her beauty (obedience/repentance) to the King (God); Esther is summoned. God has many other cities, but for the sake of testing, the cities don’t get to choose God’s servants: Matthew 10:13-14 (NLT) If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing. If a village doesn't welcome you or listen to you, shake off the dust of that place from your feet as you leave.
Saying “I’m sorry" can sometimes be the hardest thing, especially when so many are with one accord in the error of their way. But here’s the thing, when the deceiver sent the call to punish, swift were feet to seek vengeance (without cause); but when God called for repentance and atonement, those who trampled were quick to say “Jesus has already atoned for me;” vengeance, therefore, should’ve been left to Him as well. “Vengeance belongs to Me, saith the Lord.” Not only must we repent to God; but, if indeed we expect (especially as a city) to receive anything from His hands, we must also repent/apologize/atone to those whom we have wronged: Isaiah 52:4 For thus said the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. Is God wrong in His assessment? I know beyond the shadow of doubt it is without cause. Matthew 5:23 “So if you are presenting a sacrificeh at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. I wash my hands in ininnocence.
Why is all this important? Because all these things, Jesus himself suffered. Therefore it is His command that we treat one another with the very thing that was denied him: genuine kindness and compassion. Not a selective pretense thereof; as if He doesn’t know man’s heart.
With Palm Sunday being so close, I am reminded of the scene where all of Jerusalem, having heard of the Messiah’s visit, and the blessings, on their behalves, that accompanied Him, greeted Him with a king’s welcome, complete with palm branches, and all. But how quickly they snatched up those palm branches, withdrawing their honor from the prophet when they realized what the true blessing was: Acts 3:26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."
Oftentimes, to their own detriment, people tend to get hung up on titles and terminology. It sometimes helps to break it down to the most basic level by simply looking it up in the dictionary.
Disciple: (noun) One who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another.
The old Testament prophesied of the New; and the New Testament is testifies to those things prophesied in the Old. Most prevalent being the Old Testament book of Isaiah. Too often man, in trying to justify his own doctrine, “cuts off his own nose to spite his face.” In other words, some people, being of the misunderstanding that, because Jesus did the finished work of Calvary, the Old Testament is abolished, and thusly permits them to live any knd of way and still be acceptable in Gods eyes. Not only is it not abloished, but to it's embodiment, Christ fulfilled it, which means that if we are to be like Him, we too must embody the law, “written upon our hearts.” For example, in loving our neighbor, not only must we not wrong them in any way, especially in ways specified in the Old Testament laws of Moses; but, moreover, because of the New Testament (Covenant), even more is required. We are to go that extra step, not to retaliate, but to LOVE even our enemies, leaving room for God's vengeance: Matthew 5:43-48. Whether Old or New Testament, as it is written: 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. Man, misguidedly believes that he can continue in sin, operating in wrongdoing and oppression, as long as he does a little good here and there. Yet, even in clinging to that arrogant ideology does man seek to only do away with certain parts of the Old Testament. While disregarding, even discarding the punitive parts, he is quick to acknowledge those Old Testament scriptures that speak reward and increase. That’s not only hypocritical it’s LUKEWARM.
It seems that Jesus himself was ministering according to Old Testament, Isaiah 58:1 when He went into the Temple in Matthew 23. I have accepted Jesus’s teachings; all of them; and, I am imparting the Word, specific in this season to the instructions given to me in this assignment: Isaiah 58:1 [NIV] "Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.
It is only by God’s mercy that we are not consumed; yet, repentance is absolutely necessary. Therefore, He has set before us the merciful gift of REPENTANCE and REMISSION of sin. The two go hand in hand. Unfortunately, it is the “TURNING AWAY FROM SIN,” that tends to stump mankind. That part: which constitutes the fullness of true repentance is rejected, even rebuked by man. Howbeit, we must be obedient unto righteousness, especially where the call to repentance is coconcerned. Never challenging God’s commandments; but rather, with love, acceptance and gratitude for grace, simply obey them: John 14:15 [AMP] If you [really] love Me, you will keep (obey) My commands.
I look at it like this: forgiveness is like a jar of healing balm which Jesus opened up for us on Calvary, but because the world rejected the free remedy, “God’s only begotten Son,” healing can now only be accessed through the process of repentance. As it is written: Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Forgiveness (the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness) is still available (at hand), we first must seek it through repentance. So that, even as a city, when she REPENTS, all those things that prosper her, shall be added; but, when she refuses, not only is she denounced by the shaking of her dust from the disciple’s feet; but, the blessing of peace - which includes prosperity (those things added), are likewise forfeited. When the Vashti (queen/city) refuses to show her beauty (obedience/repentance) to the King (God); Esther is summoned. God has many other cities, but for the sake of testing, the cities don’t get to choose God’s servants: Matthew 10:13-14 (NLT) If it turns out to be a worthy home, let your blessing stand; if it is not, take back the blessing. If a village doesn't welcome you or listen to you, shake off the dust of that place from your feet as you leave.
Saying “I’m sorry" can sometimes be the hardest thing, especially when so many are with one accord in the error of their way. But here’s the thing, when the deceiver sent the call to punish, swift were feet to seek vengeance (without cause); but when God called for repentance and atonement, those who trampled were quick to say “Jesus has already atoned for me;” vengeance, therefore, should’ve been left to Him as well. “Vengeance belongs to Me, saith the Lord.” Not only must we repent to God; but, if indeed we expect (especially as a city) to receive anything from His hands, we must also repent/apologize/atone to those whom we have wronged: Isaiah 52:4 For thus said the Lord GOD, My people went down aforetime into Egypt to sojourn there; and the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. Is God wrong in His assessment? I know beyond the shadow of doubt it is without cause. Matthew 5:23 “So if you are presenting a sacrificeh at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. I wash my hands in ininnocence.
Why is all this important? Because all these things, Jesus himself suffered. Therefore it is His command that we treat one another with the very thing that was denied him: genuine kindness and compassion. Not a selective pretense thereof; as if He doesn’t know man’s heart.
With Palm Sunday being so close, I am reminded of the scene where all of Jerusalem, having heard of the Messiah’s visit, and the blessings, on their behalves, that accompanied Him, greeted Him with a king’s welcome, complete with palm branches, and all. But how quickly they snatched up those palm branches, withdrawing their honor from the prophet when they realized what the true blessing was: Acts 3:26 When God raised up his servant, he sent him first to you to bless you by turning each of you from your wicked ways."
HALLELUJAH!
Isaiah 8:20 "Check their predictions against my testimony," says the Lord. "If their predictions are different from mine, it is because there is no light or truth in them. [NLT]
To every city to whom God may send warning of disaster: Neither get upset with the message nor the messenger; do not take up your palm branches. REPENT! The kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The good father that He is, God promises to comfort His city after He has punished. Proverbs 13:24 “Whoever spares the rod hates their children, but the one who loves their children is careful to discipline them.”
GOD LOVES YOU
THINE IS THE KINGDOM
AND THE POWER
AND THE GLORY
AMEN
❤
AND THE POWER
AND THE GLORY
AMEN
❤
Recommend Reading: AGAIN Matthew 5:43-48
