In the last segment I sought to point how God, through the loins of Abraham brought about a nation to which he calls his own. That nation was the Nation of Israel. We called that segment (Law). The period of time extended all the way up until the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We also looked at a few events that took place at the very time Jesus Christ died and, some things that took place after his resurrection.

Fifty days after his resurrection came the (day of Pentecost). On that day the spirit of God fell on 120 believers that were in one accord in one place. We see this in:

Acts 2:1-4

AND WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST WAS FULLY COME, THEY WERE ALL WITH ONE ACCORD IN ONE PLACE. (2) AND SUDDENLY THERE CAME A SOUND FROM HEAVEN AS A RUSHING MIGHTY WIND, AND IT FILLED ALL THE HOUSE WHERE THEY WERE SITTING. (3) AND THERE APPEARED UNTO THEM CLOVEN TONGIES LIKE AS OF FIRE, AND IT SAT UPON EACH OF THEM. (4) AND THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, AND BEGAN TO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES, AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM UTTERANCE.

Here, we see the birth od the Church. I feel it necessary as we continue toward the time of tribulation to stop here and teach a few defining factors about what we see here. I realize that it takes God’s spirit to teach and reveal all truth to any person. With that being stated, I pray he can use me as a vessel of his use to teach this to the understanding of many people.

Beginning in this segment we’ll see the word (whosoever) used many times. We can see that word all the way through the Bible and, it would be a very good study to see just how it’s used all the way through. For the sake of this study and the trail toward tribulation, I’d like to show you how it’s used in the gospels and beyond.

As we look at all four gospels, we see the word (whosoever) in all four. However, when that word is used in the gospels it’s not all conclusive. We can see a distinct change inn how it’s used in the gospel of John. What would be the reason for this? The reason for this is all about the progression of time toward the end times. The spiritual growth of the people of Israel and also the Church as time moves forward.

First, let’s see Jesus Christ himself. In the four gospels, he reveals himself in four different ways. In the book of Matthew, he is the King of the Jews. In the book of Mark, he is the servant of man. In the book of Luke, he is the son of man and in the book of John, he is the Son of God.

In the book of Matthew, it’s all about the Jews, the Nation of Israel. As we move through the next two books, we see that he becomes more about all people the way things are worded and not just about the nation of Israel. When we get to John, (the Son of God) the word (whosoever) is always about any person that desires his saving grace. Let’s look at a couple of examples.

One of the best examples of this is seen in the conversation with the woman from Canaan. We see this first in :

Matthew 15:22-27

AND, BEHOLD, A WOMAN OF CANAAN CAME OUT OF THE SAME COASTS, AND CRIED UNTO HIM, SAYING, HAVE MERCY ON ME, O LORD, THOU SON OF DAVID; MY DAUGHTER IS GRIEVOUSLY VEXED WITH A DEVIL. (23) BUT HE ANSWERED HER NOT A WORD. AND HIS DISCIPLES CAME AND BESOUGHT HIM, SAYING, SEND HER AWAY; FOR SHE CRIETH AFTER US. (24) BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID, I AM NOT SENT BUT UNTO THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL. (25) THEN CAME SHE AND WORSHIPPED HIM, SAYING, LORD, HELP ME. (26) BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID, IT IS NOT MEET TO TAKE THE CHILDREN’S BREAD, AND CAST IT TO DOGS. (27) AND SHE SAID, TRUTH, LORD: YET THE DOGS EAT OF THE CRUMBS WHICH FALL FROM THE MASTER’S TABLE.

If you continue to read in this scripture, you will see that he does heal this woman’s daughter because of her great faith. However, that is not the point. He makes it clear that he is there just for Israel.

Now, let’s read this same account in the book of Mark:

Mark 7:27

BUT JESUS SAID UNTO HER, LET THE CHILDREN FIRST BE FILLED: FOR IT IS NOT MEET TO TAKE THE CHILDREN’S BREAD AND TO CAST OT TO DOGS.

Can you see the difference in the way it’s worded in this book? Here, he is not completely leaving her out but rather making sure Israel is first to get the blessing.

We don’t see this conversation with this woman either in Luke or John. However, we do see the use of the word (dogs) in Luke.

Luke 16:21

AND DESIRING TO BE FED WITH THE CRUMBS WHICH FELL FROM THE RICH MAN’S TABLE: MOREOVER THE DOGS CAME AND LICKED HIS SORES.

Here we see a story about a man named Lazarus that was full of sores and begged to be fed from the rich man’s table. The word dogs in this are not a reference to him however, we see that he is in the same place the dogs would be. We don’t see any mention of dogs in the book of John. I mention these things to make a very powerful spiritual point. When we see (the crumbs); that is a reference to the very word of God we now have the ability to read. It’s in no way all that God the Father knows or even has to say but, it’s all we need to know as we travel through our lives that we might know him, and salvation might be ours.

In the gospels we see a progression toward (whosoever will). In the gospels that progression is about Jesus Christ being to king of Israel and changing to the savior of the world. We see that same progression continued in the Book of Acts. The Apostles begin the preach the gospel to the Jews only and then we see that it becomes to again (whosoever will). The teaching is important to understand as it might relate to the Tribulation period how things change from the nation of Israel and that nation being set aside with the Church becoming the body of Christ.

Before we seek to prove that the nation Of Israel was, shall we say (placed on a shelf), I’d like to take the time here to make a very important spiritual point. When we speak or see the reference of dogs used in the verses we read and Lazarus begging for the crumbs I like for you to consider something. A hungry dog or, in the case of Lazarus isn’t choosy with what crumbs fall from the table. Every crumb that falls, they eat!

As born-again believers are we not hungry for every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God? Have we become selective in what we choose to take in spiritually as far as what we study? I believe so! I say this because of the simple fact of the denominations we see. Most of us will go to our perspective Churches, sit and listen to a pastor a few minutes, get up and go home. If we attend Sunday School, we’ll say we study our Sunday School quarterlies and simply believe what we read there.

When we become spiritually hungry for the crumbs of God’s word, truth it will cause us to find every crumb we can as we seek to find truth as revealed by God’s Spirt through his word. We’ll stop being selective in what we hear or believe and reach far beyond the teaching of any one denomination. Do you realize it cannot be but one truth therefore, can’t we find error in any denomination? Far too often we fall in love with pastors, people and Churches and not in love with the truth and seek to know Jesus Christ from the word he gives us.

Even as I write these chapters seeking to show what tribulation is and why, are you going to simply take my word for it and not find out truth for yourself? I beg you to allow God’s spirit to prove me right or wrong that you might know truth beyond what I might say.

In the previous chapter we seen what God said to Daniel as it relates to the Nation of Israel. We’ve seen that the sixty- nineth week ended at the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. As we now get into the age of grace, I believe it’s something we must point out about what we now call the Church. We can get very deep into this but, since we are seeking to teach tribulation, we’ll simply show things that can be seen as relative to that study.

First of all, the Apostle Paul is the Apostle to the Gentiles. The other eleven Apostles are there for Israel. We have already point out that the gospel was to the Jew first and then to the uttermost parts of the earth. Even the Apostle Paul in the book of Acts started his ministry offering the gospel to the nation of Israel. However, look at this verse:

Acts 18:6

AND WHEN THEY OPPOSED THEMSELVES, AND BLASPHEMED, HE SHOOK HIS RAIMENT, AND SAID UNTO THEM, YOUR BLOOD BE UPON YOUR OWN HEADS; I AM CLEAN: FROM HENCEGORTH I WILL GO UNTO THE GENTILES.

We see that it came a day when even the Apostle Paul had done all he was supposed to for the nation he loved, his people. While his calling was to the Gentiles, he still offered the gospel he preached to the nation of Israel first in obedience to God’s word. I feel we must make this point. It is the nation that is blinded to the gospel of Jesus Christ, not individual Jews. For instance, all the Apostles were Jews, even the Apostle Paul, they all believed. On the day of Pentecost, all the one hundred and twenty believers in which the Holy Ghost fell were Jews.

The time to which we now live has been in existence for some two thousand years. From the very beginning of the age of law the nation of Israel was blinded to the very concept of what we know as the Church. The Bible calls it a mystery meaning it could have been seen in the Old Testament, but a person would have to be desirous to see it with the spiritual eye.

From the very start of the Church all the eleven Apostles at that time didn’t understand the concept of what God was doing. Each of them in the very beginning truly believed that Jesus Christ would be back very quickly to be their king. It would take years for them to be taught by God’s spirit exactly what had transpired, In the very beginning they couldn’t even see the Apostle Paul or recognize him as their equal.

As it relates to the Tribulation period, this age (the age of grace) will end with the rapture of the Church. The word (rapture is not seen in scripture but there are verses we can see and know what it relates to the word (rapture). So, let’s look at a few verses:

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

BUT I WOULD NOT HAVE YOU TO BE IGNORANT, BRETHREN, CONCERNING THEM WHICH ARE SLEEP, THAT YE SORROW NOT, EVEN AS OTHERS WHICH HAVE NO HOPE. (14) FOR IF WE BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, EVEN SO THEM ALSO WHICH SLEEP IN JESUS WILL GOD BRING WITH HIM. (15) FOR THIS WE SAY UNTO YOU BY THE WORD OF THE LORD. THAT WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN UNTO THE COMING OF THE LORD SHALL NOT PREVENT THEM WHICH ARE ASLEEP. (16) FOR THE LORD HIMSELF SHALL DESCEND FROM HEAVEN WITH A SHOUT, WITH THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL, AND WITH THE TRUMP OF GOD: AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST SHALL RISE FIRST; (17) THEN WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN SHALL BE COUGHT UP TOGETHER WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS, TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR: AND SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD. (18) WHEREFORE COMFORT ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS.

This event, the calling up of the body of Christ from this earth marks the end of this age. We can also see a verse or verses in the Revelation that we can relate to this event.

Revelation 4:1

AFTER THIS I LOOKED, AND, BEHOLD, A DOOR WAS OPENED IN HEAVEN: AND THE FIRST VOICE WHICH I HEARD WAS AS IT WERE OF A TRUMPET TALKING WITH ME; WHICH SAID, COME UP HITHER, AND I WILL SHEW THEE THINGS WHICH MUST BE HEREAFTER.

If you’ll read the first three chapters, you’ll see that Jesus is basically talking to the Churches and sharing how he feel about the Church as the centuries go by. Every Church he names relates to a period of time during this age. After we see the verse in (chapter four) the Church is not mentioned again until the end of the book of Revelation when Jesus returns for the Nation of Israel to establish his kingdom here on this earth.

During the next seven years, the Church is above this earth watching the things as they unfold upon this earth. The Church has no part in the tribulation that God has determined upon his people, Israel.

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Here, I will mention that there are at least three different opinions about this, and I’ll mention all three. However, there can’t be but one truth. I personally believe that we must allow God’s spirit to teach and never men, even me. As we consider the other mindsets, only you can allow God’s spirit to show you truth.

The way many describe what I teach is called a (pre-millennial). That word simply means that the Church will be raptured before the tribulation starts. In my heart, I don’t need a word to describe truth as revealed by God’s spirit, it’s simply truth and can be studied out as fact. I, myself have often wondered about that word and what it means. Does it mean that the tribulation period (seven years) are seen as part of the millennial reign of Jesus Christ, it’s just seen as the first part of that time?

If we compare it to Noah’s Ark and flood, can we say that the flood was a part of the next few years of life after the flood? or, can we call the time that Noah and his family stayed on that Ark a completely different time than the time before or after? In my opinion and, only my opinion, this makes a valid point. We can compare the time on the Ark to the Church in the sense that they are kept above and away from to chaos on the earth during the change from one period of time to another.

We’ll get more into the next segment of tribulation and even describe some things but, there is a vast difference in the time of the flood and the tribulation period. At the same time, they both are a transition from one way God deals with people to another. Even the Book of Acts is a transition period from one period of time to another in which we have mentioned.

One of the other mindsets of teaching is called (post millennial). In this mindset these people believe that Jesus Christ established his kingdom on earth through his preaching and redemptive work in the first century and that he equips his church with the gospel, empowers the church by the spirit and charges the church with the great commission (Matthew 28:19) to disciple all nations. Postmillennialism believes that eventually the vast majority of the people on earth will be saved as time moves forward. After an extensive era of such conditions, Jesus Christ will make himself visible bodily, and gloriously, to end history with the general resurrection and the final judgment after which the eternal order follows.

This is somewhat of my own understanding of what they believe. And I’m sure that there are various versions of what each mindset teaches.

The (amillennial) believe that there will be no millennial reign of the righteous on earth. They believe that the thousand years spoken of in (Revelation 20) is symbolic in nature. Again, I don’t study what they believe and I’m sure there are various versions of this as well.

Personally, while I might relate to the (Premillennial) I believe we should forget each teaching and simply study God’s word to see truth and believe God’s word as I have already stated. (In my opinion) many people have a tendency to simply believe what some denomination teaches or a specific group such as either one of these three millennial mindsets.

I’d like to share something about the period of time to which we live. From the beginning of this period of time as we see in (Acts two) until it ends at the rapture of the Church is the only period of time when God’s spirit has the ability to live within the heart of every believer. The way God work in this period is like this. In the beginning of this period, God placed his Spirit in the heart of (120 believers). Those one hundred and twenty believers at that time began to share what was within them and many other people believed. As that happen those people went about sharing what was in their heart and, that still takes place today some two thousand years later.

What the Bible teaches during this age is that as time passes there is less and less of that spirit within people and therefore less and less people truly hear truth. There are many verses that teach this. We’ll look at a couple.

2 Timothy 4:1-4

I CHARGE THEE THEREFORE BEFORE GOD, AND THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO SHALL JUDGE THE QUICK AND THE DEAD AT HIS APPEARING AND HIS KINGDOM; (20) PREACH THE WORD, BE INSTANT IN SEASON, OUT OF SEASON, REPROVE, REBUKE, EXHORT WITH ALL LONGSUFFERING AND DOCTRINE. (3) FOR THE TIME WILL COME WHEN THEY WILL NOT ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE; BUT AFTER THEIR OWN LUSTS SHALL THEY HEAP TO THEMSELVES TEACHERS, HAVING ITCHING EARS; (4) AND THEY SHALL TURN AWAY THEIR EARS FROM THE TRUTH, AND SHALL TURN TO FABLES.

Now, look at these verses:

2 Thessalonians 2:1-7

NOW WE BESEECH YOU, BRETHREN, BY THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND BY OUR GATHERING TOGETHER UNTO HIM, (2) THAT YE BE NOT SOON SHAKEN IN MIND, OR BE TROUBLED, NEITHER BY SPIRIT, NOR BY WORD, NOR BY LETTER AS FROM US, AS THAT THE DAY OF CHRIST IS AT HAND. (3) LET NO MAN DECEIVE YOU BY ANY MEANS: FOR THAT DAY SHALL NOT COME, EXCAPT THERE COME A FALLING AWAY FIRST, AND THAT MAN OF SIN BE REVEALED, THE SON OF PERDITION; (4) WHO OPPOSETH AND EXALTETH HIMSELF ABOVE ALL THAT IS CALLED GOD, OR THAT IS WORSHIPPED; SO THAT HE AS GOD SITTETH IN THE TEMPLE OF GOD, SHEWING HIMSELF THAT HE IS GOD. (5) REMEMBER YE NOT, THAT, WHEN I WAS YET WITH YOU, I TOLD YOU THESE THINGS? (6) AND NOW YE KNOW WHAT WITH-HOLDETH THAT HE MIGHT BE REVEALED IN HIS TIME. (7) FOR THE MYSTEY OF INIQUITY DOTH ALREADY WORK: ONLY HE WHO NOW LETTHETH WILL LET, UNTIL HE BE TAKEN OUT OF THE WAY.

2 Timothy 3:1-7

THIS KNOW ALSO, THAT IN THE LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME. (2) FOR MEN SHALL BE LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES, COVETOUS, BOASTERS, PROUD, BLASPHEMERS, DISOBIENT TO PARENTS, UNTHANKFUL, UNHOLY, (3) WITHOUT NATURAL AFFECTION, TRUCEBREAKERS, FALSE ACCURSERS, INCONTINENT FIERCE, DESPISERS,OF THOSE THAT ARE GOOD, (4) TRAITORS, HEADY, HIGHMINDED, LOVERS OF PLEASURES MORE THAN LOVERS OF GOD; (5) HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS, BUT DENYING THE POWER THEREOF: FROM SUCH TURN AWAY. (6) FOR OF THIS SORT ARE THEY WHICH CREEP INTO HOUSES, AND LEAD CAPTIVE SILLY WOMEN LADEN WITH SINS, LED AWAY WITH DIVERS LUSTS, (7) EVER LEARNING, AND NEVER ABLE TO COME TO THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.

We mentioned (Revelation 4:1) which I believe is a picture of the rapture of the Church. If we will study the last part of (Revelation 3) we can see what Jesus Christ has to say about the period of time in which we live today. Not only the last two thousand years but what is happening right now in the last days of this period of time.

In closing this chapter, let’s look at :

Revelation 3:20

BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR, AND KNOCK: IF ANY MAN HEAR MY VOICE, AND OPEN THE DOOR, I WILL COME IN TO HIM, AND WILL SUP WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME.

Today we have a lot of buildings we call Churches, worship centers, houses of prayer and so on. However, will we allow God’s Spirit, which is Jesus Christ into those places? That’s what we see in the verses we looked into. People would rather have someone to (tickle their ears) than to truly know what God has to reveal unto them. We have (in these day) sought to change the name of Jesus Christ into a person we can relate to rather than to just be willing to allow his word to change us into all he desires for us to be.

As I write this, the rapture of the Church hasn’t taken place as of yet. It can happen at any time. As we get into the next period of time which is the actual (Tribulation period) I’ll refer back to something we see in the epistles that the Apostle Paul wrote to show you just how important it is for any person that is living in this age not to forsake the conviction, the call of God to salvation while we each have the privilege to be saved.

Hebrews 2:3

HOW SHALL WE EXCAPE, IF WE NEGLECT SO GREAT SALVATION; WHICH AT THE FIRST BEGAN TO BE SPOKEN BY THE LORD, AND WAS CONFIRMED UNTO US BY THEM THAT HEARD HIM;

Please, I beg you to asked Jesus Christ to be your savior before the door of salvation is closed during this time of grace to which we live. As we get into the next age you will clearly see why!

Marshall Clayton

2 Timothy 1:7

We begin this in (Genesis 12) with a man called Abram. We see where God instructs him to get out of his country and away from his people. At this time, we see no mention of his wife, Sarah. When Sarah is mentioned in (verse 5) we also can see something else. We see that he also takes his brother’s son (Lot) and all their substance. It also says that he took the souls that they had gathered as well.

The Bible tells us in (Verse 4) that Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed Haran. We also see that Abraham was one hundred years old when (Isaac) the son of promise was born.

(Genesis 17:17)

AND ABRAHAM FELL UPON HIS FACE, AND LAUGHED, AND SAID IN HIS HEART. SHALL A CHILD BE BORN UNTO HIM THAT IS AN HUNDRED YEARS OLD? AND SHALL SARAH, THAT IS NINETY YEARS OLD, BEAR?

Seeing that verse and seeing the doubt of Abraham, let’s also look at the very next verse before we begin this.

Genesis 17:18

AND ABRAHAM SAID UNTO GOD, O THAT ISHMAEL MIGHT LIVE BEFORE THEE!

In each segment we’ve looked into, I’ve tried to make the point that it appeared that each man we mentioned was blessed to have his wife submissive unto him. We see in the first few verses here that Abraham did in fact leave the place he was, being obedient to God the Father. However, he was not completely obedient, was he? We know that God spoke to Abraham, not Sarah. Wonder what kind of possessions Abraham had without taking Lot along with him? I’ll say up front that that no matter what the reason for Lot going with him, it was Abraham alone that was less than obedient to God.

As I seek to teach each time that God spoke to man in divers ways, it’s a lot to be seen as we move toward tribulation period. However, it’s very important to mention and see these spiritual things and to learn how each of them relate to our lives even today. The very fact that God spoke to Abraham, directing him created a situation that he then had to share God’s direction with his wife. Wonder how she received that word? Was she submissive to her husband or, did her doubt create a situation where Abraham took others and their belongings along with them for security, not completely trusting God? This is a question we can’t answer, can we? However, can you see how important it is to yield to God’s will even against the voice of other members of your family?

Let’s say just for the sake of argument that it was Sarah that influenced Abraham to take Lot and his belongings along with them. Can’t we also say that if Abraham would have stood his ground at that time, God could have also spoke to Sarah’s heart and brought about a yielding to her husband? Can we also argue that because of the lack of faith on the part of them both that it was twenty-five years before God kept his promise of the birth of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah?

As we move forward in the lives of both, Abraham and Sarah, we see spiritual growth in both of them. We can see many things that cause us to wonder about their faith but, after the birth of Isaac we see where God spoke to Abraham when Isaac was eight years old and instructed his to take him to a mountain and offer him for a sacrifice.

If you remember I showed, you a verse where Abraham desire for God to use Ishmael as pleasing to him. Now we see where the son of promise has been born, Isaac. In:

Genesis 22: 1-2

AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTER THESE THINGS, THAT GOD DID TEMPT ABRAHAM, AND SAID UNTO HIM, ABRAHAM; AND HE SAID, BEHOLD, HERE AM I. (2) AND HE SAID, TAKE NOW THY SON, THINE ONLY SON ISAAC, WHOM THY LOVEST, AND GET THEE INTO THE LAND MORIAH, AND OFFER HIM THERE FOR A BURNT-OFFERING UPON ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS WHICH I WILL TELL THEE OF.

Now, let’s read this verse:

Hebrews 11:17-19

BY FAITH ABRAHAM, WHEN HE WAS TRIED, OFFERED UP ISAAC: AND HE THAT HAS RECEIVED THE PROMISES OFFERED UP HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, (18) OF WHOM IT WAS SAID, THAT IN ISAAC SHALL THY SEED BE CALLED: (19) ACCOUNTING THAT GOD WAS ABLE TO RAISE HIM UP, EVEN FROM THE DEAD; FROM WHENCE ALSO HE RAISED HIM IN A FIGURE.

I simply point these things out to show you spiritual growth. In the beginning, whether it was just Abraham or Sarah that doubted God’s ability to take care of them, we see now that it is not even questioned.

As we move through the book of Genesis, we will see many aspects of the family that God created to bring about the Nation of Israel. However, we must remember that this whole book and even part of the book of Exodus is being lived still in the time of human government. Up until the law was given to Moses, it is completely left up to man to decide what is right or wrong according to the laws they create. At this time man cannot know the true heart of God because he hasn’t revealed himself to them in that light.

We could teach in the book of Genesis for a complete lifetime and still not be able to reveal all of the spiritual lessons that are seen in this one book. However, it has nothing to do with the timeline we are building towards tribulation. In essence, we see here a nation in its youth within one family. For the rest of the Old Testament God id dealing with, speaking to this family. In reality, there is no other people that matter.

I’ve tried to share with you that in all things God is seeking to tech or reveal to mankind the things that will not work as it relates to a true spiritual relationship with him. In this segment as we move forward, we will see God giving his law to this family, this nation, his chosen people. As we look at this picture, we can see the desire of God’s heart. His desire was for this family, nation, or people to completely submit to his total will and, as time moved forward, they would at some point in time cover the whole world as all others died out.

Remember, as you read and study through Genesis and the first part of Exodus there is no law to declare what is right or wrong other than the law that is created by a man or a nation. As we leave Genesis we see where the family that God created has taken one of their own and sells him to the Egyptians. (Genesis 38). After that there was a great famine in their land, and they went into Egypt seeking food.

As we get into Exodus, Israel is now slaves to that nation. As we read in this book we see where there is a man-made law that states that if the midwives see that a male child is born to kill him. But God seen to it that Moses was spared, you can read the account here in Exodus. This man Moses became the deliverer of Israel out of Egypt. As time move on, he also becomes the voice of God to the nation of Israel at least through the book of Exodus.

We see in the last chapter of Genesis that God created a nation to be his people. As we get into Exodus, we see that God gives his people a law to live by. He reveals this law to the man Moses. As we look at this and study Exodus, we see that Moses led the nation of Israel to freedom, on dry land across the Red Sea. Even in all that these people seen, once they were free, we see that their hearts were filled with unbelief as it related to the very God that created them and even freed them.

What I’m about to say will seem very harsh but none the less a fact. I stated that God created the nation of Israel that he might have a people that would be obedient to his very will. In that sense, every other person that was not a member of that nation was completely worthless as God seen them through his eyes. I also stated that if Israel completely yielded to God’s will, in time they would possess the whole world and not one other person would exist unless they were just as obedient to God as that nation.

God’s promise to Abraham was that (as far as his eye could see) it would be his. That is, no matter where he would be standing, as far as he could see was his to have. I’d like to go back here to the sons of Noah to make a point. Noah commanded that his sons, Japheth and Ham submit to the teaching, leadership of Shem and his Lord God. If Japheth and Ham refused to yield to that leadership then, who was to blame?

It’s the same picture here. If the nation of Israel, being totally submitted to God’s will moves into a country, they (Israel) being God’s people, if that country chooses to yield to their leadership, then that country would be spared. If not, they would be completely destroyed. or, we could say that if some of their people stood with Israel then those people would be spared.

Here, I’d like to show you some scripture to make the same spiritual point. First:

Matthew 15:26-27

BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID, IT IS NOT MEET TO TAKE THE CHILDREN’S BREAD, AND TO CAST IT TO DOGS. (27) AND SHE SAID, TRUTH, LORD, YET THE DOGS EAT OF THE CRUMBS WHICH DALL FROM THEIR MASTER’S TABLE.

These verses and this whole Biblical story are a reference to what I’m speaking of. In the book of Matthew Jesus Christ is come to the nation of Israel. This woman is not a Jew therefore he is saying that it’s not right for him to give that which is Israel’s to her. At that time, she points out that even the unworthy dogs get to eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table. That’s what I’m saying about Israel and all other nations in the Old Testament. If Israel would have yielded to God’s will that’s exactly what would have happened.

We also see this in:

Romans 3:10-12

AS IT IS WRITTEN, THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NO, NOT ONE: (11) THERE IS NONE THAT UNDERSTANDETH, THERE IS NONE THAT SEEKETH AFTER GOD. (12) THEY HAVE ALL GONE AOUT OF THE WAY, THEY ARE TOGETHER BECOME UNPROFITABLE; THERE IS NONE THAT DOETH GOOD, NO, NOT ON.

In the sense of Israel in the Old Testament, God seen them as the spiritual body upon the face of this earth. From the time they were created up until the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ that was to be the picture. Although Israel was, as a nation in their flesh as well, that complete nation was to be completely yielded to the will of God. In that respect, every other nation would have to yield to God’s people to exist.

Here, let’s make another spiritual point concerning Adam and Eve and also Shem and his Lord God. When we see Adam and Eve, we see that when they ate the fruit they didn’t die physically, it was a spiritual death. It’s the same way with both Japheth and Ham. When they chose not to submit to the leadership of Shem and the Lord his God, they then died a spiritual death and not a physical death at that time.

As we get to now, what we see as the nation of Israel; they are a product of the people of the Lord God of Shem. Japheth and Ham have formed their own nations and don’t recognize Shem’s Lord God therefore they have become (dogs) in the eyes of God. We, as individuals, if we simply yield to the desires of our flesh and forget the spiritual aspect of our lives then we are completely worthless to God without having his spirit within us to guide us.

I often say that it’s a great difference in the way the world see life and how God sees that same life. The world will protect the life of a person to the utmost. The world act as if (this life) is all it is. The world will even take a known murderer, rapist, even a serial killer and refuse to kill them, giving them the rest of their life to live in prison. Right on the other hand, God, in the days of the law would destroy complete cities because they didn’t worship him. The point is that if (flesh) doesn’t honor and worship God the to him it’s already dead.

Therefore, what has God proven to us as it relates to the nation of Israel? I think one of the best ways to show what he taught here is to use a verse of scripture we see in the New Testament.

Luke 14:26-27

IF ANY MAN COME TO ME, AND HATE NOT HIS FATHER, AND MOTHER, AND WIFE, AND CHILDREN, AND BRETHREN, AND SISTERS, YEA, AND HIS OWN LIFE ALSO, HE CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE. (27) AND WHOSOEVER DOTH NOT BEAR HIS CROSS, AND COME AFTER ME, CANNOT BE MY DISCIPLE.

God formed a nation out of the loins of Abraham that it might glorify his name on this earth transforming every aspect of this world unto his glory. From Abraham to Jesus Christ, God used many different methods to try to cause Israel to hear his voice as a nation. The truth is that every man has his own mind, and it is impossible to get every man, woman, boy and girl to yield themselves to the will of God. Since Israel that is a proven fact.

However, there’s something we must understand; God promised that the nation of Israel would inherit this earth. Another point to be made and, we will do it time and time again, God knows the end from the beginning. All we see in scripture is for our instruction and spiritual education. Every nation, every person can make their own choices as designed by God, Israel was no exception. From the very beginning God’s desire has been for every person to (by choice) chose to walk with him, doing his will.

Within this time of law, we see where God determines a time of tribulation on his people. The time we call (tribulation) has nothing to do with any people other than the nation of Israel. Again, I make this statement, if any person that is, members of the nation of Israel or any Gentile is living and faces this time it will be because of the choices they made themselves. I said that the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ was the end of the time of law. The next segment we get into will be a time of grace. During that time (whosoever will) can come to Jesus Christ and receive his saving grace. That is, Jews and Gentiles alike.

So, let’s look in :

Daniel 9;24

SEVENTY WEEKS ARE DETERMINED UPON THY PEOPLE AND THY HOLY CITY, TO FINISH THE TRANSGRESSION, AND TO MAKE RECONCILIATION FOR INIQUITY, AND TO BRING IN EVERLASTING RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND TO SEAL UP THE VISION AND PROPHECY, AND TO ANOINT THE MOST HOLY.

As I seek to teach (tribulation) I feel impressed by the Spirit of God to say just a few things about this. First of all, when we see (seventy weeks) it’s referring to seventy periods of seven-year periods. That would end up being four hundred and ninety years. As you read through the next few verses, we see some defining times such as (shall Messiah be cut of but, not for himself). Now, in (verse 27) we see this: (And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week). This week (seven years) is the time of tribulation.

Let’s look at something Jesus Christ said to his Apostles. If we look in (Matthew 24:3) (Mark 13:4) and (Luke 21:7) we see his disciples asked him (when shall these things be)? Jesus, each time told them about some events that would transpire. However, look at what he told them in:

Matthew 25:13

WATCH THEREFORE, FOR YE KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE HOUR WHEREIN THE SON OF MAN COMETH.

Let’s look at one other scripture here:

John 14:1-4

LET NOT YOUR HEART BE TROUBLED: YE BELIEVE IN GOD, BELIEVE ALSO IN ME. (2) IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE ARE MANY MANSIONS: IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU. I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU. (3) AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECIEVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO. (4) AND WHITHER I GO YE KNOW, AND THE WAY YE KNOW.

I simply point these things out to make a spiritual point. We see where Jesus Christ explains some of the events that will happen to his Apostles and disciples. He also tells them that no man knows the day nor the hour when the son of man will return. He lets them know he’s leaving to prepare a place for them and that he will return but they or we cannot say when.

We’ve now looked into four segments of time where God works with man in different ways. In each of these times we can see no way to tell how long that time will be, even here in the time of law, at least up until the verses in (Daniel 9) were revealed. Here, he clearly gives a reference point to when this time of law might be ending. We see that the angel Gabriel, sent from God revealed to Daniel that when the Messiah was cut off that would be the end of the sixty-nineth week.

When I make this point I always like to show people what was said about a man we see in;

Luke 2:25-26

AND, BEHOLD, THERE WAS A MAN IN JERUSALEM, WHOSE NAME WAS SIMEON; AND THE SAME MAN WAS JUST AND DEVOUT, WAITING FOR THE CONSOLATION OF ISRAEL; AND THE HOLY GHOST WAS UPON HIM. (26) AND IT WAS REVEALED UNTO HIM BY THE HOLY GHOST, THAT HE SHOULD NOT SEE DEATH, BEFORE HE HAD SEEN THE LORD’S CHRIST.

Can you see the significance of this verse? It’s very possible that this man had studied the Old Testament and the time frame to the point that he knew by events that the sixty-nineth week was upon them and that the Christ Child had to be born during that time. As you well know, I can’t prove that about him but, I can see that we do see a way to tell the time frame of this segment in time.

We can see it here and, as we get into the time of tribulation we also see and know that it will be (seven years). As we continue to move forward, we can also know that the millennial reign of Christ is seen as one thousand years. We’ll get to that later however, as we study all that we study, there is no way that the disciples or the Apostles of Jesus Christ could have seen the period of time between to death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the time we live in now. That period of time after the end of the law was just like the other segments, we can’t tell the length of time that they will last. We can call the period of time we live in now (grace period) or, the Church age.

Daniel prophesied the end of the period of time in which he lived. We can really get into some deep study here as it concerns a change from law to grace. I’ll just give you an example of one very important change we see as we see the end of the law. When God gave the law to Moses in the segment of time and instructed him in the building of the Tabernacle, we see that the only person that could go behind the veil and meet with God in the Holy of Holies was the high priest. He did that just once a year for the sins of God’s people, Israel. You can study this in (Exodus 20-29). Also, we see a good report of it in (Hebrews chapters 4-9). The most important point here is that (only the high priest) could go behind the veil.

As we come to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, we see something happen. We see this in:

Matthew 27:50-51

JESUS, WHEN HE HAD CRIED AGAIN WITH A LOUD VOICE, YIELDED UP THE GHOST. (51) AND, BEHOLD, THE VEIL OF THE TEMPLE WAS RENT IN TWAIN FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM; AND THE EARTH DID QUAKE, AND THE ROCKS RENT;

This typically shows us something. All this time during the law, no person was allowed to see what was behind that veil. However, now it is wide open for all people to see. In essence, Jesus Christ became our high priest. Now, since the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ we can boldly go right up to the throne of God’s grace without the need of an earthly man standing between people and God the father. Jesus Christ is our mediator.

Just by way of teaching and then continuing on to tribulation, I’ll give you some verses to reference.

1 Timothy 2:5

FOR THERE IS ONE GOD, AND ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN, THE MAN CHRIST JESUS.

Hebrews 8:1

NOW OF THE THINGS WHICH WE HAVE SPOKEN THIS IS THE SUM; WE HAVE SUCH AN HIGH PRIEST, WHO IS SET ON THE RIGHT HAND OF THE THRONE OF THE MAJESTY IN THE HEAVENS;

We can read many things in Hebrews as it relates to Jesus Christ becoming our high priest and also how he is propitiation for our sin. Look at this verse:

1 John 2:2

AND HE IS THE PEOPITIATION FOR OUR SINS: AND NOT FOR OURS ONLY. BUT ALSO FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD.

I feel that we must come to a resolve of what is being said here.

Romans 10:4 says this:

(FOR CHRIST IS THE END OF THE LAW FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH.

The word (propitiation) means to satisfy, in this sense, the will of God. As we study through the Old Testament and see in Hebrews, the blood of goats, sheep or any other animals could never satisfy to sin debt of people. And also, the law was never given to Israel with and expectation by God that they would keep that law. It’s not that God didn’t desire for them or us to live righteous lives; he does but, the law was given that we might know his heart and what he expected.

As we look behind the veil that we speak of we see that a high priest would take the blood of an animal and offer that blood for the sin of Israel each year. That had to be done every year. When it comes to Jesus Christ, when he died on his cross, he took his own blood behind that veil and offered it for the sins of the world. that blood propitiated God the Father’s need to cover the sin-debt of this world. Therefore, the veil could now be taken down because we all can walk straight up to the throne of God and offer our petitions of prayer through that perfect blood.

It’s something we need to see here. The blood of Jesus Christ was offered for the sins of the world, not just for the nation of Israel. We often forget that (the segment of) law is just one segment. Remember, we see three others before this one and none of the people that lived in that times were Jews, were they? I said that each segment of time is designed by God to teach us something. Can we say that we can even see that in every family? Just because a mother believes in Jesus Christ doesn’t mean her husband does nor her children.

I live in the United States of America. Just because we have a national slogan that says (one nation under God) doesn’t mean that ever person here believes in Jeus Christ does it? God taught us from the nation of Israel that you can’t expect unity from a whole nation, a whole family or any other institution.

Just by way of teaching, I’d like to share this with you again. When Adam and Eve left the garden of Eden, I stated that a lot of things remained the same all the way up to the flood of Noah. Also, after the flood settled by to dry land; and the things those eight people seen as a new earth remained the same, nothing changed up until the giving of the law and even all the way up to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We see that God called out a people and gave the law but as far as men were concerned nothing changed as fear as this world is concerned.

I make that statement to bring us up to the end we see of the law. The law ended when Jesus Christ died. However, as we get into the new segment, we can see fifty days exactly before the Spirit of God fell on the Day of Pentecost in (Acts 2). That fifty-day period of time is significant as it relates to teaching and why.

As we come to the end of this segment, I’d like to point out why these days are significant. During to period of time we call law, God gave Israel a number of (feasts) to observe each year. We see these feasts in (Levitus 23-24) If you’ll look in:

Levitus 23:16 we see this.

EVEN UNTO TOMORROW AFTER THE SEVENTH SABBATH SHALL YE NUMBER FIFTY DAYS; AND YE SHALL OFFER A NEWMEAT OFFERING UNTRO THE LORD.

This feast marks the beginning of the age of grace, the next segment. While this is true, all the feasts are strictly concerning Israel as time moves forward. If you will continue to read you will notice a long period of time between the feast of Pentecost and the next feast, Trumpets. this is the regathering of Israel after the grace period. I’ve also said that Israel could not see this time as it relates to grace or the existence of the Church. However, spiritual men of Israel such as the man Simeon, the man we mentioned studied and knew as much as possible about the coming events.

We, as born-again believers can clearly see these things today if we will study as inspired by God’s Spirit. I also believe that many of the people of Israel as they became spirit filled believers could see these things in the Old Testament as well.

As we leave the segment of law, I often tell people this. We can also relate it to (Hebrews 1:1) as well where we see that God spoke at sundry times and diver’s manners. We also see in (verse 2) that he tells us that in the last days he has spoken to us by his son. We only see two times in the gospels where God the Father speaks. One of those times he says (THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, HEAR YE HIM). The other time he says this: (THIS IS MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED).

Jesus Christ is the keynote speaker in all four gospels. The four gospels are a period of time where Israel is still under the law. We can see in all four gospels where Jesus Christ spoke to his disciples after he was resurrected from the grave. What he said to them and the events around what he said can be a study in itself. Basically, he was telling them to go and preach the gospel into all the world. One point I’d like to make about the Apostles or disciples is that they, at that time were a lot like us. What they heard and how they reacted to what they heard could be seen as very child-like, just as we are vey often.

Often, what we think we know and what truth is can be seen in very different ways. We often move spiritually according to what we think we know more so that what the truth is. All of this is simply part of spiritual growth, we will see some of this in the next segment.

I mentioned the fact that God the Father only spoke twice in the gospels. Have you ever considered how often Jesus Christ; God’s Son spoke once we leave the gospels? Let’s use this thought to make a very powerful point as we leave this segment.

I’d like to point out that it’s a fact that God the Father, God the Son and God the Spirit are all one in the same. It’s just a different way he presents himself to the people of this world. We’re looking at a timeline that will take us to the end of this world as we know it. Each event that happens as we move forward becomes more and more important to the people that are on this earth and in need of the free gift that God offers to every person. We see where God the Father only spoke twice in the Gospels. In both cases he was seeking to draw attention to his son as the mouthpiece that needed to be heard.

Now, as we look at the times that Jesus Christ spoke after the gospels, I believe it can be very telling. The first time he spoke after the gospels we see in (Acts 9). Here in Acts, we see that spoke to two different men. First he spoke to Saul. Saul, the man that later became the Apostle Paul was a man that went about both killing and putting those that believed in Jesus Christ in prison. Here, we see that Jesus Christ basically preaches to him, drawing Saul to himself with his saving grace. As we move on in Acts, we see a man called Ananias. Jesus Christ speaks to him, instructing him to help Saul. Ananias fears Saul because of his past life, Jesus Christ assures him that things are different now.

The fact that Jesus Christ takes the time to speak here is very significant because Saul is going to become the Apostle to the Church in the age of grace. His responsibility will be to teach people to hear the spirit of God as he speaks to their heart and to yield to that voice within them. We’ll see that in the next segment.

The next time we see Jesus Christ speak is in (Revelation). There he speaks multiple times. As we look at what he says, it’s always to the church. I’d like to show you a verse here before we leave this segment concerning the voice of all three members of the Godhead. As we continue to move forward towards what we know as tribulation, the importance of our ability to hear and yield to God’s spirit becomes more and more critical because, time is running out as it relates to God speaking to man.

I stated that God the father spoke twice in the gospels. We see in Acts nine that Jesus Christ spoke directly to the (soon to be) Apostle Paul and, in Revelation; Jesus Christ spoke directly to (the Church) warning them of complacency among other things.

Now, look at these verses:

Matthew 12:31-32

WHEREFORE I SAY UNTO YOU, ALL MANNER OF SIN AND BASPHEMY SHALL BE FORGIVEN UNTO MEN: BUT THE BLASPHEMY AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST SHALL NOT BE FORGIVEN UNTO MEN. (32) AND WHOSOEVER SPEAKETH A WORD AGAINST THE SON OF MAN, IT SHALL BE FORGIVEN HIM: BUT WHOSOEVER SPEAKETH AGAINST THE HOLY GHOST, IT SHALL NOT BE FORGIVEN HIM, NEITHER IN THIS WORLD, NEITHER IN THE WORLD TO COME.

It becomes very easy to simply read over these verses and never even consider what is being said. However, these verses are very telling as it relates to even what we know as (Tribulation). I want you to understand that here, Jesus Christ is speaking to Israel. Like in most cases it also can clearly relate to any individual as well. As believers, we know that God the Father was in the fleshly body of Jesus Christ. If you read this, we see where a Pharisee has just accused the God of the universe of doing the work of Satan, we can say that the Pharisee looked right into the eyes of Jesus Christ and made that statement. The fact that he was speaking to Israel means this. That nation has at this point rejected everything that God sought to do to have them follow him. Because of that, he sent his son, Jesus Christ in an effort to help them see and walk with him. We see here and also know that Israel rejects not only God the Father but now, God the Son. Look at this verse:

Matthew 27:25

THEN ANSWERED ALL THE PEOPLE, AND SAID, HIS BLOOD BE ON US, AND ON OUR CHILDREN.

Do you see there that it says ( then answered all the people)? What we see here is a nation, the nation that God chose to be his people rejecting him. What Jesus Christ is saying to this Pharisee is this. Through most of the Old Testament, you as a people have rejected my Father. Therefore, my father sent me in the flesh that you might see him in me, in the flesh. I have told you more than once ( if you have seen me, you have seen the father). What the Pharisee is accusing Jesus Christ of doing is exactly what he is doing. He is blaspheming or showing contempt for God and his Son.

I know we can define blaspheme in different ways, but the truth is that it simply means (to reject). We see that Israel at this time has now rejected God the Father and God the Son. Jesus Christ is telling them that they can be forgiven for that act. However, he tells them that if they blaspheme the Holy Ghost there is no forgiveness for that act, not in this world or the world to come.

As we leave this segment we’re calling law, we will be going into the next segment we will call grace. In that segment we will see the third person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit. I’d like to say here that the art of knowing God in any one of the parts of the Godhead is within our willingness to seek him, to know. It’s been that way from the very beginning and, always as it relates to individuals, never a group of people. I say that to make to point that the people of Israel could have seen the fact that the third part of the Godhead was coming simply by seeking to know by studying the Old Testament. I wasn’t necessarily easy but, it could be seen.

What Jesus Christ is saying to the Pharisee and also to Israel is that the third part of the Godhead is coming. If you reject the drawing of that Spirit then there is not going to be anyone else sent to help you to be redeemed, that’s it!

As we look at the last verse, we read we see what the Nation of Israel cried as they placed Jesus Christ on his cross. Let his blood be upon us and our children. They were blinded by their own self-righteousness and self-will. After the crucifixion, we see the events that unfolded. We will get into those things in the next segment.

I’d like to say here again that God the Father proved another point. The point is that righteousness will never be gained by keeping the law nor will you find it in any given family. Just as we have seen in every segment, it has to do with individual people and a desire to walk in the spirit of God.

The next segment will be called (God’s Grace).

Marshall Clayton

2 Timothy 1:7

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This is a term that I have often heard used over the course of my born again experience. However, what I wonder is; can someone tell me where that place actually might be? I thought that I might try and give my thoughts on the topic and, you then can allow God’s Spirit to let you know whether I am correct or completely wrong.

Let’s begin this with this verse:

2 Peter 3:9

THE LORD IS NOT SLACK CONCERNING HIS PROMISE, AS SOME MEN COUNT SLACKNESS; BUT IS LONGSUFFERING TO USWARD, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, BUT THAT ALL SOULD COME TO REPENTANCE.

Can’t we assume from this verse that our Lord’s will is that every person be saved, coming to repentance?Now, I’m going to say this. In every sense of the word, the only sin that any person actually repents from the moment that asked Jesus Christ to be their savior, being born again is (unbelief). I will also say this. Very often when people get saved; there are certain sins they know they are guilty of therfore they stop at the time they get saved simply because they have the knowledge of the sin they live in.

If I use myself as an example, the Sunday morning I got born again, I had a very foul mouth, cursing almost every word in my everyday walk of life. The moment I go saved, I cleaned my vocabulary up! However, salvation in the general sense is simply placing your faith, all that you are under the blood of Jesus Christ. In other words, If I hadn’t cleaned my vocabulary up at that time, I would have still been saved. That aspect of my life would have been simply God would have to convict me of on a later date.

When you consider that I quit cursing as the same time I got saved, can you imagine just how many other things I have changed in my sin cursed life since the moment I got saved? I confess, there have been many things I have had to repent from since that morning and, some I’m still working on as of this day.

When it comes to the center of God’s will and a desire to be there; can’t we look at the word repentance as an evolving thing, not just any one event? One way to look at it is to say that the moment you are saved, that starts a process of each person’s born again experience working toward the center of God’s will. I will say that (the working toward) is the center of God’s will.

As an individual, born again believer it’s not my place to be a judge of any person. I might look at a person and clearly see sin in their lives which we all have the ability to do. You, today can look at me and see sin in my life. I know that because I see it much more clearly than any other person. And, I’m daily seeking to turn from my ungodly self. However, I cannot look at any person and say they are not born again simply because they are not just like me, can I?

I’ll share this true story with you. As an electrician, I once wired a single wide mobile home for some kinfolks of mine. The woman was there for a while as I worked on the mobile home. As she talked to me concerning her own family she made this statement, mind you, I’m just listening as she talks. She shared with me that she didn’t believe that one of her sisters or her mother had been born again. Now, I knew them both very well, knowing they both were faithful to their Church and living very good spiritual lives as far as I knew. When she made that statement, I looked at her and replied; I don’t think you are saved! She looked at me puzzled and said, well, why wouldn’t you think I’m saved? I replied, well, I have just as much right to doubt your salvation as you do theirs, don’t I?

Everyone of us are at a different spiritual level as it relates to God’s will for our lives. Now, let’s consider something. Can you see how both this ladies mother and sister could have been daily seeking to find exactly where God’s will was for their lives when the lady speaking might not have even been considering what God thought about her thinking she was good enough just as she was?

When we speak of God’s will it has all to do with the desire within our hearts, not what people might see in our lives. I’ve been saved since 1975. I still today see myself as a hell desirving sinner, know my sin very well! I seek daily to allow God’s Spirit to tranform me into all he desires for me to be.

I’ve share this story before. An evangelist once stated (IF YOU KNEW ME, LIKE I KNOW ME) you’d get up and walk out of this building right now. After we chuckled and a short pause; he said this: (IF I KNEW YOU LIKE YOU KNOW YOU) I’d leave with you! That my friends is truth! On our very best day, we are nothing more than sinners, simply saved by God’s amazing grace because to the blood of Jesus Christ!

If you truly desire to be in the center of God’s will, All it takes is a willing heart and mind. One that is willing to hear him as he speaks and move in the direction he desires for you to go. The problem begins when we get content living just as we are. Many people live their lives never even considering changing anything for his glory. The truth is that salvation is in all three tenses. If you have been born again then that is (past tense salvation). You’ll never have to go there again, that’s past. As we live our lives each day, if we are seeking God’s will for our lives then that is (present tense salvation). God’s Spirit is seeking to cleanse us from our sin and guide us to his will as we live out our lives. Do we seek to hear him and change? (Future tense salvation) will be when we actually stand in his presence, our worldly struggles are then past tense, we have our reward!

Can I say here that God’s will is not static? If your spiritual life is static then you truly have a problem. When I use that term and seek to define it I mean that God’s will is not the same for every person in the sense of our spiritual growth, it always moving and, if we are where God desires for us to be we are changing a little everyday to be like him.

The center of God’s will is within our desire to find it. Having no desire to find it becomes a very great sin in our lives. Seeking to find the center of God’s will is a very special thing in the heart of God the Father bringing about very great rewards when we stand in his presence.

Are you seeking that center in your life? Then that makes you a very special person in the eyes of God the Father! If you not, then if I were you I’d (MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE)!

2 PETER 1:10

WHEREFORE THE RATHER, BRETHREN, GIVE ALL DILIGENCE TO MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE: FOR IF YE DO THESE THINGS, YE SHALL NEVER FAIL:

This whole chapter is very enlightning to the spiritual growth of a born again believer. My greatest concern in my life is for those that think they are saved but, are not! What I often say is that I’m not the judge of any person but, that doesn’t mean that I’m not concerned!

Marshall Clayton

2 Timothy 1:7

When the United States of America was at its best, what was the true power behind it? Was it the political leaders? Was it the work ethic found in its people? What was the power that made the United States great and the most powerful nation on earth?

I believe that was an unseen force that we seldom mention today and, if we truly desire to have our nation back again there are a few things we must put in place to bring that about. Are we, as a nation willing to do our individual part to become great once again?

I’ll just mention three or four things that I believe will have to happen to become what we once were as a nation.

(1)

WE NEED REAL SPIRIT FILLED MEN TO LEAD OUR CHURCHES

The true Church has never had but one teacher. That teacher is the very Holy Spirit of God. We, as individuals might not be correct in all the spiritual decisions we make but, that spirit will never lead us into falsehood. We must reestablish the pastorial authority in our Churches and as Church members we must be willing to allow that spirit to speak to our hearts and yield ourselves to his leadership.

As a pastor, does God’s Spirit speak to you or, do you have to have some educational material to tell you what to preach? Does some council dictate what you can or can’t say? Whether it’s the fault of the Church members being unwilling to hear God as he speaks to them therefore, picking and choosing to whom they will allow to speak or hear, or the actual pastor that will not yield himself to God’s Spirit, this must change if we desire to have our country back as it was.

The true power, the real strength of this nation has always been granted by the willingness of God’s people to walk in the statutes of God the Father, to pray, truly seeking his face for the answers we need.

If you will notice, I said (MEN)! We have forgotten the very precepts that our Churches we founded on allowing people that God never called to pastor to stand behind our pulpits. Not only women but men that do not meet the qualifications of a pastor. Yet, we expect God to bless us in this? Why should a righteous God bless us when we are not willing to listen to anything he says?

The Bible makes this statement about the nation of Israel : ( THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND ROSE UP TO PLAY). ( Exodus 32:6) ( 1 Corinthians 10:7). The scripture in the New Testament is comparing the Church to that nation in the way it’s presenting itself.

We very often confuse the riches of this world that we gain with the true blessings from God. We think because we are rich or have a lot physically that it is of God, and it’s not. Look at this scripture:

Revelation 3:17

BECAUSE THOU SAYEST, I AM RICH, AND INCREASED IN GOODS, AND HAVE NEED OF NOTHING; AND KNOWEST NOT THAT THOU ART WRETCHED, AND MISERABLE, AND POOR, AND BLIND, AND NAKED: (18) I COUNSEL THEE TO BUY OF ME GOLD TRIED IN THE FIRE, THAT THOU MAYEST BE RICH, AND WHITE RAIMENT, THAT THOU MAYEST BE CLOTHED, AND THAT THE SHAME OF THY NAKEDNESS DO NOT APPEAR; AND ANOINT THINE EYES WITH EYESALVE, THAT THOU MAYEST SEE. (19) AS MANY AS I LOVE, I REBUKE AND CHASTEN: BE ZEALOUS THEREFORE, AND REPENT.

God the father desires to be in our Churches. He wants his voice to be heard from every pulpit but, he stands at the door and knocks, not one person will let him in. ( Revelation 3:20).

As we seek to find a resolve to where we are, I believe there’s a scripture that we all need to stop and ponder, allowing God’s Spirit to speak to each of us. We see this scripture in the Old Testament. So, let’s look at these verses and see where we stand.

Genesis 9:20-27

AND NOAH BEGAN TO BE AN HUSBANDMAN, AND HE PLANTED A VINEYARD: (21) AND HE DRANK OF THE WINE, AND WAS DRUNKEN; AND WAS UNCOVERED WITHIN HIS TENT. (22) AND HAM, THE FATHER OF CANAAN, SAW THE NAKEDNESS OF HIS FATHER, AND TOLD HIS TWO BRETHREN WITHOUT. (23) AND SHEM AND JAPHETH TOOK A GARMENT, AND LAID IT UPON BOTH THEIR SHOULDERS, AND WENT BACKWARDS, AND COVERED THE NAKEDNESS OF THEIR FATHER; AND THEIR FACES WERE BACKWARD, AND THEY SAW NOT THEIR FATHER’S NAKEDNESS. (24) AND NOAH AWOKE FROM HIS WINE, AND KNEW WHAT HIS YOUNGER SON HAD DONE UNTO HIM. ( 25) AND HE SAID CURSED BE CANAAN; A SERVANT OF SERVANTS SHALL HE BE UNTO HIS BRETHREN. (26) AND HE SAID, BLESSED BE THE LORD GOD OF SHEM; AND CANAAN SHALL BE HIS SERVANT. (27) GOD SHALL ENLARGE JAPHETH, AND HE SHALL DWELL IN THE TENTS OF SHEM; AND CANAAN SHALL BE HIS SERVANT.

As we read through these verses; what is the main things that stand out to you? I’ll give you my two. The Lord God of Shem is blessed and, we are all servants to that Lord God. Just that simple. As we consider whether we are willing to pay whatsoever price we need to pay that God might bless our nation once again; These verses and others as well come into play. Let’s consider this. When God spoke to Noah and instructed him to build an Ark, do you believe that was a divine order from God? I do! If you answer is yes, what’s the difference in what is being said here and the order to build the Ark?

Let’s look at one other scripture before we leave these thoughts.

Genesis 3:16

UNTO THE WOMAN HE SAID, I WILL GREATLY MULTIPY THY SORROW AND THY CONCEPTION; IN SORROW THOU SHALT BRING FORTH CHILDREN; AND THY DESIRE SHALL BE TO THY HUSBAND, AND HE SHALL RULE OVER THEE.

Do you see there it says ( and he shall rule over thee)? As we consider these verses we see that we are all servants to someone, no exceptions! I’d like to point this out. When Noah said: (blessed be the Lord God of Shem), Shem was already seeking to serve his Lord God, just as Noah had. Therefore, both his brothers need to allow him to lead them, teach them. So, let’s just say that Shem, their oldest brother just became their pastor, are they willing to submit to that leadership? The answer to that question is, no. They both took their own families and went their own way.

I believe this is also worth pointing out. Out of the loins of Shem came the Nation of Israel, God’s chosen people. So, we also need to show this verse:

Genesis 12:3

AND I WILL BLESS THEM THAT BLESS THEE, AND CURSE THEM THAT CURSETH THEE: AND IN THESE SHALL ALL THE FAMILIES BE BLESSED.

It doesn’t matter whether we are speaking of Shem and his brother, Israel and the rest of the world or a simple pastor that is trying his best to preach what God lays on his heart. It all boils down to each of us being willing to be obedient to the Lord God of Shem. That word, the word of God is going to come through the mouth of another person to you as an individual and in that sense you must be willing to become a servant to what that person is preaching, yielding, not so much to that person but, the one that he is serving.

Let’s build a case here. What if Japheth and Ham would have listened to Hoah and both would have yielded themselves and their families to Shem’s leadership? Then Shem would have been a loving brother, teaching truth, not in a forceful way but in kindness seeking to help those families. Look at this verse:

1 Peter 5:1-3

THE ELDERS WHICH ARE AMONG YOU I EXHORT, WHO AM ALSO AN ELDER, AND A WITNESS OF THE SUFFERING OF CHRIST, AND ALSO A PARTAKER OF THE GLORY THAT SHALL BE REVEALED: (2) FEED THE FLOCK OF GOD WHICH IS AMONG YOU, TAKING THE OVERSIGHT THEREOF, NOT BY CONSTRAINT, BUT WILLINGLY; NOT FOR FILTH LUCRE, BUT OF A READY MIND; (3) NEITHER AS BEING LORDS OVER GOD’S HERITAGE, BUT BEING ENSAMPLES TO THE FLOCK.

We are still speaking of pastors leading their Churches and how that leadership must work. All this is also relative to the leadership of a husband and how his wife is to submit to that leadership. What happens far to often is that the, shall we say (master) becomes demanding, seeking to be lords over what God has given him. When this happens it causes the servants to rebel against the master. In this case it doesn’t matter whether it’s a husband or a pastor. I’m seeking to bring the problem in our nation down to the simpliest form of spiritual leadership.

Now, let’s consider something here. I offer these things as the root problem of all we see in a nation that cries that (WE ARE ONE NATION UNDER GOD). God desires to meet with us first in our homes and in our Churches. From those two centers of spiritual leadership we, once again can find the power and strength that our nation use to have.

In considering these things, let’s answer this question first. Does God lead a pastor or a man he has called to a Church or an area of service? (I believe) he calls a man to an area, not a Church building. Let’s say your (church building) is looking for a pastor. Therefore, that assembly of people invites a man that they actually have never met to speak at the church building. The man they invite meets all the qualifications of a (God called) preacher. As we consider rebuilding a nation, this qualification is a very important spiritual asset. Therefore, I feel I must take the time to explain these qualifications.

1 Timothy 3:1-5

THIS IS A TRUE SAYING, IF A MAN DESIRE THE OFFICE OF A BISHOP, HE DESIRETH A GOOD WORK. (2) A BISHOP THEN MUST BE BLAMELESS, THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE, VIGILANT, SOBOR, OF GOOD BEHAVIOR, GIVEN TO HOSPITALITY, APT TO TEACH; (3) NOT GIVEN TO WINE, NO STRIKER, NOT GREEDY OF LILTHY LUCRE; BUT PATIENT, NOT A BRAWLER, NOT COVETOUS; (4) ONE THAT RULETH WELL HIS OWN HOUSE, HAVING CHILDREN IN SUBJECTION WITH ALL GRAVITY; (5) (FOR IF A MAN KNOW NOT HOW TO RULE HIS OWN HOUSE, HOW SHALL HE TAKE CARE OF THE CHURCH OF GOD?)

Each of these things listed here becomes very important if we truly desrie to have our nation back as it was, no exceptions! If you will notice, we see (IF A MAN DESIRES)! Another one:(HUSBAND), another, (ONE WIFE). are we, as a nation willing to agree that in thses things the pastor of any Church must be a man? And, if you are not willong to admit that then, therein lies one of our problems!

If you will notice; it also says: (RULING WELL HIS OWN HOUSE)(HAVING CHILDREN IN SUBJECTION WITH ALL GRAVITY).

What can we see here? This means that it takes more than simply being married to a woman. This man and his wife have been married long enough that the people that are looking for a pastor can look at his children and see whether they are (under subjection) (with all gravity) or not. In this segment of this verse, it also includes his wife, being under subjection to his leadership! Can we agree that (HAVING HIS HOUSE) also includeds his wife?

I asked the question: does God call a man to a churh or an area? The burden on a God called man has nothing to do with a building and, never will! So, let’s paint a spiritual picture here. Let’s say a man is blessed enough to be the called to service at a well established church building that has all benefits and, also a very good salary. However, this man is very determined to be led by God’s Spirit in all he says; not a people pleaser but always preaching a very spirit inspired message.

Not long after he begins his ministry in this building, the members rebel against him desiring to vote him out because they are not happy with the leadership of the God he preaches. Therefore, this spirit filled man is voted out of this Church. Well, I’m going to guess that not every person in that (church building) feels the same way! Therefore, why can’t this man simply get a job, rent a building and continue to preach his spirit filled messeges as he has always done? Some of the people in that assemby will support him and even draw others to the place he is now preaching and, souls can still be saved!

We also see in this verse: (THE HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE). Can we agree that this excludes any woman from pastoring any Church that has a desire to be pleasing to God? The Bible teaches us that because of Eve listening to the Serpent, God placed her under to sujection of her husband. Whether we want to admit it or not, that hasn’t changed! Also, look at this verse:

Ephesians 5:22

WIVES, SUBMIT YOURSELVES UNTO YOUR OWN HUSBANDS, AS UNTO THE LORD.

Let’s take it one step farther:

Ephesians 5:25-26

HUSBAND, LOVE YOUR WIVES, EVEN AS CHRIST ALSO LOVED THE CHURCH, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR IT; (26) THAT HE MIGHT SANCTIFY AND CLEANSE IT WITH THE WASHING OF THE WATER BY THE WORD,

Therefore, what has happened in a once very powerful nation like the United States of America? First of all; our men fell in love with the riches of this world and the things that money could by. When this happened it changed the very mindset of the families that they were a part of, children and wives alike. If we make a spiritual comparison here, where is the actual spiritual strength of any Church? Isn’t it in essence, Jesus Christ. However, that spirit must come through the spiritual yielded bodies of the husbands of the church. That spiritual leadership must be seen first of all in our homes with strong spiritual husbands and wives that yield to the spiritual leadership by choice.

We often asked the question; what came first, the chicken or the egg? So, here in our nation, what happened first? Did the men began to weaken spiritually or, were they somewhat forced to by the weaker vessel? Can we agree to the fact; this statement is an oxymoron? In my opinion, it’s all a moot point! Our nation is in the condition it’s in because pastors sold out for money, men, in most cases stopped acting like men and women or, wives desired to take control in our homes, churches and government.

Let’s insert another scripture here:

1 Timothy 2:8-12

1 WILL THEREFORE THAT MEN PRAY EVERY WHERE, LIFTING UP HOLY HANDS, WITHOUT WRATH AND DOUBTING. (9) IN LIKE MANNER ALSO, THAT WOMEN ADORN THEMSELVES IN MODEST APPAREL, WITH SHAMEFACEDNESS AND SOBRIETY; NOT WITH BROIDED HAIR, OR GOLD, OR PEARLS, OR COSTLY ARRAY; (10) BUT (WHICH BECOMETH WOMEN PROFESSING GODLINESS) WITH GOOD WORKS. (11) LET THE WOMAN LEARN IN SILENCE WITH ALL SUBJECTION. (12) BUT I SUFFER NOT A WOMAN TO TEACH, NOR TO USURP AUTHORITY OVER THE MAN, BUT TO BE IN SILENCE.

Now, I asked you, does this sound anything like our nation today? That, whether it be in our homes, churches or government? Can we look back to a time when this was somewhat true in our nation and, how this nation was at that time? Consider this; as a woman, a wife are you willing to surrender the position you have in the home, the Church or in government? As a man, husband, are you willing to pick up the spiritually responsibility that God’s word requires of you in the home, at church and in government?

As a pastor, a male pastor, are you willing to forget about your salary, your benefits, your prestige or popularity and begin to seek God’s Spirit in all you preach only using his word as your guide? Let’s give a simple example: Let’s say that every man, husband in your local church, starting with the pastor get up and stand behind the pulpit and confess, (we’ve failed) in our spiritual leadership. But from this day forward, we will not fail our Lord. At that time, every woman, wife stand and confess their failure to submit but say that from this moment on (I will)?

In our government, the men stand and demand that we start everyday with prayer ( in Jesus Christ name) recgnizing him as the God this (One Nation Under God) respects, submits to, prays to and desires to serve. Those same men acknowledge that ( the Bible) is God’s word and, our government will be just as obedient to that word as any church in our nation. At that point asking every woman to step down in their leadership role, yielding their authority to a man wilfully. Every woman at that time submitting to that God given authority of the man.

Let’s asked a few questions as it all relates to a timeline in our nation. When this nation went through the period of time that we see as (equal rights for women); was that inspired by the Holy Spirit? Can we see in scripture a verse to prove that equality and say it is inspired by God’s Spirit?

If we want to talk about the (seperation of church and state), can we see Biblical grounds for that in God’s word? Can we even seperate a person from what’s inside him? If we say we can then, what is it that is actually inside that man? For instance: what kind of born again man would even submit to a government that will not pray to the God he serves? What is actually in the heart of any woman that simply refuses to submit to the aouthority of a Man?

I’ll step out on a limb and say; most Americans will say they desire to have our country back. However, are we willing to pay the price for it to return to the days of its glory? In reality, the world is a place that is happy without praying to God, in Jesus Christ name. The world is a place that demands equal rights for woman or, even all people. There’s a great difference in (equal rights) and all men being created equal. Actually, the average person, especially in the leadership of our nation is not interested in any part of equal rights. It’s simply a phrase they use politically. Can I prove that? Let’s see! In our government; they desire to pass a law that makes the minimum wage fifteen dollars and hour. Ok! Let’s let that start with the President on down. Every Senator, Congressperson, every person period that works for a paycheck! Let’s also make sure (equally) that every citizen gets the very same health care they get in our government.

Thye Bible says this:

Romans 2:11

FOR THERE IS NO RESPECT OF PERSONS WITH GOD.

So, with God; all men are created equal, with equal opporuntity, the same chance as any other person. However, if we are going to talk of equal rights, we must understand our spiritual responsibility within that statement. And, we must be willing to stand in the position of spiritual responsibility as we seek those equal rights.

As a nation; if we are going to allow the world to define all the terms we live by then, we will be judged by the standards of this world, and; that by God the Father. If we truly seek to be seen as a God fearing nation then every person must allow themselves to be governed by the standards set forth in God’s word.

We can actually take this just a little farther. In the beginning, God created male and female. He told that male and female to go forth and to replenish the earth. At some point in time, the world gave us (birth control) and (abortion). Is that part of God’s desire to go forth and replenish the earth? or, is that something the world, once again gave us? Can you give me scripture for either one of these terms?

At some point, those things became an accepted part of our everyday lives, just look where we are now! Today, people live together out of wedlock! they use the sexual aspect of their lives for pleasure more so than for the reason God designed it. It’s not that we are not suppose to enjoy it but, it was designed to be between a man and his wife. Often today it doesn’t even matter whether that pleasure comes from a male or a female as long as we are satisfied. Can you give me scripture for this kind of lifestyle? Can we define God in any of this?

So, let’s asked a question here. What’s the difference in our country and the world? If this world chooses to disobey God and go to hell, the United States doesn’t have to go with the world does it? Yet, seemingly we have chosen that course. If we, as a nation will not allow ourselves to see the fact that we have fallen from the spiritual guidelines that use to govern us then we are on a sinful road to destruction as a people.

I’d like to make a spiritual point here. One that I very often think about as an individual that grow up in this nation, seen a spiritual decay as it slowly happened over time.

Matthew 5:13

YE ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH: BUT IF THE SALT HAVE LOST HIS SAVOR, WHEREWITH SHALL IT BE SALTED? IT IS THENCEFORTH GOOD FOR NOTHING, BUT TO BE CAST OUT, AND TRODDEN UNDER THE FOOT OF MEN. (14) YE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD. A CITY THAT IS SET ON AN HILL CANNOT BE HID. (15) NEITHER DO MEN LIGHT A CANDLE, AND PUT IT UNDER A BUSHEL, BUT ON A CANDLESTICK; AND IT GIVETH LIGHT UNTO ALL THAT ARE IN THE HOUSE. (16) LET YOUR LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN, THAT THEY MAY SEE YOUR GOOD WORKS, AND GLORIFY YOUR FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.

There has never been a time in our nation or any nation that every person was born again. There has always been those that are lost without Jesus Christ. However, in the history of our nation it has been a long period of time when the very Spirit of God was so powerful, his light was so bright in the lives of God fearing people that even those that were lost were compelled by that spirit to lives somewhat Godly lives.

As we look at these verses; actually they are written to the nation of Israel but; it can relate to any nation or individual that makes a choice to allow the light of Jesus Christ to be seen in them and all they represent. The United States of America was once such a place. It was a shining light in a dark sincursed world. We, as a nation stood for something more than just wealth and prosperity. While that might have been a part of any spiritual life, that was not what this nation’s focus was on. For instance: if an individual from another country came to this nation, a person that followed another religion, we allowed that person in ( in the legal sense) with open arms and even allowed he or she to practice their religion. However, that person was going to hear about Jesus Christ in every way possible. He would hear his name on the radio, on the TV and, even on the streets of any city he might choose to live in. It was up to that individual to make a choice, one never forced on him but, it was always put before him in every way possible.

Let’s look at a few things

(1)

A NATION FILLED WITH GODLY MEN

Can we first agree that this will not just happen but a price must be paid? Let’s start with this question. When does a boy become a man? The Bible teaches that the change takes place somewhere around twelve years old. What does it take to bring this to pass. That young boy must have a (God fearing man) for a father and a ( God fearing woman) for a mother. Now, I say that knowing well that the young boy is going to change to be a man whether he has that type of parent or not. Therein is the problem! We simply allow the years that we need to be training our boys to be (Godly Men) go to waste because neither therir father or mother is willing to be servants of the most High God. We have allowed the finanical aspect of our lives govern what and how we teach our young boys, forgetting our spiritual responsibility completely! We want them to have good paying jobs and to be well educated! That is, if we even desire that. In more cases than not, it’s just good times and do whatsoever you like!

I can see what I would call a (catch 22). Men don’t know and are never taught how to submit to the Spirit of God and, wives are never taught to submit to their own husbands All Godliness is completely push aside. That leaves only one spirit to be yielded to, the spirit of Satan.

Godly men know how to treat their wives and discipline their children. Godly men understand that they must work, it’s their responsibility to care for theit families. Godly men teach their sons to respect their mothers and sisters. They know how to lead their families in devotion and prayer, they do it basically on a daily basis. Their very lives reflect Jesus Christ in the way they walk and talk. Although these men work for money; that’s not the whole purpose or even the most important part of their lives. They know how to give and become a blessing to a community to which they live.

Godly men take a leadership role in their local church. As they sit and listen each Sunday to their pastor,; they make sure that what he is teaching, preaching is truth as inspired by God’s Spirit. He will even stand against his own pastor if his pastor tries to preach falsehood or doctrine that is not sound. This is something that we very often misunderstand. A pastor is a servant; first, to God the Father and also to the members of his church. In a perfect situation, the men, Godly men will demand that their pastor preach with the very power of God on their lives. Why? Because the salvation of their families, their wives and children is what’s at stake.

A church is a micro picture of our nation. Just as (we the people) are the voice of authority behind our goverment, the members of the church is the voice of power in every church. When we allow the servants to become our leaders then the power of God will always diminish. Pastors that preach with the power of God are to be respected because they are willing to do just that. However, Godly men are the cornerstone of all that the pastor is.

Personally, the power of any Church or nation is with the power of the individual’s ability to think and reason for themselves. When individuals seek to be in (unity with God’s Spirit) and we can get multiple Godly men all seeking that same individual spirit then our church are in the (unity of the Spirit). When righteousness dictates the will of any government directed by God’s men as individuals all seeking to do what pleases God then we have a strong nation and form of government.

If every Godly man is truly seeking to know God’s truth then God’s Spirit will reveal that truth to him and, he will willingly submit to that truth. We are missing that desire in our nation and our Churches! Since that is a fact then it puts every woman, wife in a bad spiritual situation. That must be corrected if we, as a nation every desires to get back to the place we once were.

One point I’ll make here; as far as men are concerned, even our government has severely handicapped men almost making it illegal to act asa a man. I’ll mention a couple of things here. I often make this statement; I do not believe that a man or, husband should ever hit his wife for any reason. I’ll also add that it will never be in the mindset of any spiritual man but, you must remember he’s still in the flesh. Also, every woman, wife should be able to have the trust in her husband that he will not hurt her but, that he does have the power to do so. It can be seen as very relative to God and the church. Just because God doesn’t do bad things to the church, wise members of the church knows very well that he can if he chooses to!

A man, husband in scripture is never instructed to force or demand anything from his wife. He is to lead her by instruction, speaking his will to her however, it then becomes the woman’s, wife’s responsibility to yield to his leadership. With this being said; I’d like for you wives to consider something. I’m going to talk about (a woman’s right to vote here). Personally, I don’t have a problem with it but, in a spiritual sense isn’t it a moot point? Why would I make that statement? Since today you, as a woman have been given the right to vote; let’s ask a question. If your husband told you who to vote for, would you yield to his voice? If so, and every woman is spiritually submissive to her husband, won’t the outcome still be the same? Isn’t a husband and his wife seen as one in the sight of God?

Now, let’s asked another question. When women started a campaign to fight for the (right to vote), was that act inspired by God’s Spirit? There’s a saying: (you’ve come a long way baby)! Well, a long way from what? Can we argue in a spiritual sense: (a long way from where God would have you be)?

I’d like for you to notice two men and their wives in scripture. The first one is Abraham. You can read this stoty in (Genesis 16). God, at this time had already promised Abram (Abraham) that he would be the seed a of a great nation. (Genesis 12) Well. in order to be the father of a great nation, he must have a son. In (Genesis 16) both Abraham and Sarah are growing old so, Sarah offers her handmaiden to her husband that he might bare children by her.

Every husband should be able to listen to his wife for wise spiritual council. Every wife should be that kind of wife. However, every man, husband should be spiritually wise enough to know wise spiritual council from God’s Spirit and that which is not. In this case, Abraham yielded to his flesh, not to God’s Spirit. He should have told his wife that what God had promised, he will deliver! Both husbands and wives can make bad spiritual dicisions. That why husbands and wives are to be one that they as a couple can cover each other.

Now, Let’s look at another.

(Job 2:9)

THEN SAID HIS WIFE UNTO HIM, DOST THOU STILL RETAIN THINE INTEGRITY? CURSE GOD, AND DIE. (10) BUT HE SAID UNTO HER, THOU SPEAKETH AS ONE OF THE FOOLISH WOMEN SPEAKETH. WHAT? SHALL WE RECEIVE GOOD AT THE HAND OF GOD, AND SHALL WE NOT RECEIVE EVIL? IN ALL THIS DID JOB NOT SIN WITH HIS LIPS.

Here, we see that Job did not yield to the voice of his wife. He had basically lost everything but his wife but, he still would not curse God!

In our nation today, the spiritual mindset of both men and women, husbands and wives must be returned to the leadership of God’s Spirit if we are going to repair our nation. We, far too often look at this as a minor thing but, just look at where we are as a nation today! We must learn to discern the difference between the rights our world affords us and the rights that God’s Spirit gives each of us freely. As a husband, can you do that?As a wife, can you do that?

In closing this segment. I personally believe that most households, churches and school systems are governed by the will of the children, that in every institution completely without even considering the will of God. If you doubt me, pastors try and discipline the children from your pulpit and see just what happens. Husbands, try correcting your children and see just what happens. principals, try to bring real discipline to the children and see what happens. All this because of the lack of spiritual leadership in a once great nation!

MORE LATER!

Marshall Clayton

2 Timothy 1:7

Is it possible to draw a picture with words of the contradiction in these two terms? I believe so! At least a picture that God’s Spirit might use to teach us a spiritual lesson about ourselves as God, by his Spirit, as he seeks to transform man into all he desires him to be.

Let’s first look into the Bible as it reveals itself. Look at these verses:

Genesis 1:2-3

AND THE EARTH WAS WITHOUT FORM, AND VOID; AND DARKNESS WAS UPON THE FACE OF THE DEEP. AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD MOVED UPON THE FACE OF THE WATERS. (3) AND GOD SAID, LET THERE BE LIGHT: AND THERE WAS LIGHT.

As we consider those verses it is the beginning of God revealing himself , his Spirit to man. It doesn’t mean that God was not before that time but, the he now has decided to show himself to mankind. Now, look at this vese:

Hebrews 10:7

THEN SAID I, LO. I COME (IN THE VOLUME OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME,) TO DO THY WILL, O GOD.

As we read that verse, to whom is the (I) referring? It’s referring to the third part of the Godhead. The very Spirit of God. We can continue to study (that Spirit) and how it relates to what we are looking into here. (In my Opinion) we see this more vividly in the gospel of John. John is the gospel that reveals Jesus Christ as (the Son of God). I’ve said this before: Matthew reveals Jesus Christ as the (King of the Jews). Mark reveals Jesus Christ as the ( Servant to man). Luke reveals Jesus Christ as the (Son of Man) and, of course John reveals Jesus Christ as the (Son of God). Now look at thses verses:

John 16:7-15

I’ll just write two verses but you can study them all.

(13-14)

HOWBEIT WHEN HE, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, IS COME, HE WILL GUIDE YOU INTO ALL TRUTH: FOR HE SHALL NOT SPEAK OF HIMSELF; BUT WHATSO EVER HE SHALL HEAR, THAT SHALL HE SPEAK: AND HE WILL SHOW YOU ALL THINGS TO COME. (14) HE SHALL GLORIFY ME; FOR HE SHALL RECEIVE OF MINE, AND SHALL SHEW IT UNTO YOU.

This is the responsibility of the Spirit of God. From the very beginning of the Bible; ( Genesis 1:1) all the way to (Revelation 22:21) that very same Spirit has sought to direct the footsteps of every person. Actually the only difference today is that now that Spirit has the God granted power to live within the heart of man and grant each person that will allow him to live within them the power to see and understand (God)!

The Bible; from beginning to end is simply put, who God is, how he thinks, how he reacts to every situation and so on. We just must be wiling to allow his Spirit to guide us to an understanding of who he is.

Do you ever feel that sometimes God seems to submit to us a double standard about certain things as you read? Well, aren’t we all the very same way? What if a book was written about every thought and deed have ever done, what would it say?

There was an old evangelist that just died a few years ago that once preached a message on marriage and divorce. After the service as people began leaving to Church; he was stand at the door, shaking hands with people as they left. This lady shook his hand and asked him this; preacher, have you ever considered divorcing your wife? He paused for a minute and replied; well, no but, I have considered killing her a few times.

Can you see in this story the point I’m making about even God and each of us? If we were to write about this man’s life, this would be revealed but that is or was not who he was, was it? He didn’t kill his wife nor did he divorce her but, that is part of his story. I’ll be honest, these things have crossed my mind a few times as well but, that’s not who I am. In the Bible, God reveals his truthful self to each of us and he also desires for us to know exactly who he is if we will take the time to do so.

As we study God’s word, his mercy and grace toward man is very overwhelming. In every situation he always sends grace before he sends judgement. His love and grace endures forever! His desire is for each of us to allow his spirit to grow and overtake our own personal desires. As individuals we are completely undeserving of his love but, through his grace as we see in scripure, he offers it still to each person.

The question is, will you allow that book, the Bible, who God truly is to come alive within your sinful flesh so the people can see God’s Spirit far above all that you are as a sinner? That’s the spiritual call of each and every one of us!

As we consider; who you are, where you’ve been, what you have done and just how sinful we all are, it doesn’t matter. God’s love and grace can cover a multitude of sin and will. His Spirit within us can put all our ungodliness behind us. He will never remember it or bring it up again. other people might, but he won’t!

The word of God, the Bible is here for you. It is a very special gift from God to you! Why not pick it up, begin to pray in God’s Spirit and allow that word and his Spirit to transform you into all that God desires to be within you, starting today!

This is Actually: January 1, 2023. The very beginning of a new year. Why not let God become either a more important part of your life or if you’re lost without him, ask him to be your savior today!

Marshall Clayton

2 Timothy 1:7

John 18:28

PILATE SAITH UNTO HIM, WHAT IS TRUTH? AND WHEN HE HAD THIS, HE WENT OUT AGAIN UNTO THE JEWS, AND SAITH UNTO THEM, I FIND IN HIM NO FAULT AT ALL.

Today, as individuals; Do we seek to know truth? I’d like to point this out about what Pilate went out and said unto the Jews. He said (I FIND IN HIM NO FAULT AT ALL). Can we say here that Pilate shared with the Jews absolute truth as revealed unto him by God’s Spirit? It can be argued that he listened to his wife if you read the whole account here in (John 18) but that’s still not what she told him to say, is it? As a matter of fact, she didn’t tell him what to say.

As we consider this; it actually doesn’t matter as it relates to the Jews does it? Even if it was absolute truth, they rejected it, didn’t they. With this being said, can’t we say that today, if we are to hear truth it will have to come from the lips of sinful man? We can argue all day about whether PIlate was born again or not. We don’t know. We can however say that the words he spoke was truth. There was no fault to be seen in Jesus Christ.

This morning as my wife and I had devotion and prayer; I shared this with her. I stated that God took the dust of the earth and formed Adam. He then took a rib from Adam’s side and made Eve, two perfect people. In the garden where they lived; God placed a tree. He told them that they could eat of every tree of the garden but that one tree, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We know that they both ate of that tree. God killed an animal and make coats for a covering of them both.

Now, from that point on, even up until this day, if truth is to be heard, it must come from the lips of sinful people. Sinners revealing truth to sinners. I say all this to make a very powerful point. First of all, when Pilate spoke truth to the Jews they were not interested in truth, they were interested in pleasing their own selfish desires. They never even considered what the truth might be.

Today, as you pick up a Bible, any version, we must understand that they were all written by man. Look at this verse:

2 Peter 1:21

FOR PROPHECY CAME NOT IN OLD TIME BY THE WILL OF MAN: BUT HOLY MEN OF GOD SPAKE AS THEY WERE MOVED BY THE HOLY GHOST.

Even in this verse, they were men. These men had to be willing to put aside all they thought and simply allow God’s Spirit to direct what they wrote down. I wonder how many people in that day looked at these men and said. Oh! I know him, his life, all he has done, I will not listen to him. Let’s consider the Apostle Paul. The very first man that he came to as directed by God was Ananias. Look at what he said:

Acts 9:13

THEN ANANIAS ANSWERED, LORD, I HAVE HEARD BY MANYOF THIS MAN, HOW MUCH EVIL HE HATH DONE TO THY SAINTS IN JERUSALEM:

Here, we see where God’s Spirit has spoken to a man and instructed him in the things he desires for him to do. Because of the knowledge this man has heard from others, he questions God’s Spirit. If we continue to read; we see that God continues to speak and this man yields to his will. Now, let’s consider something her. Although Ananias listened to God’s Spirit in this cases, when the Apostle Paul began to expound truth as a (Holy man of God) was Ananias now willing to hear what God’s Spirit was speaking through him?

What the Apostle Paul preached was completely contrary to what Ananias had been taught from his youth up. When we hear truth from someone that believes something contrary to what we’ve been taught all our lives; are we willing tro hear God’s Spirit within us over the voices of those we have been use to hearing?

We mentioned Adam and Eve. Both of these people heard directly from God. Ananias was exactly the same way, he heard directly from God. Now, Ananias trusted that voice completely being directly from God, a familar voice. But, once Adam and Eve began to share truth, even the Apostle Paul, can man hear that same voice from a lips of a sinful man is the question?

In reality, it’s never men that reveal truth. It’s always God’s Spirit. It’s just that people must be willing to share that truth. Then and only then can God’s Spirit use that sinful being to reveal his truth. (It must be truth)!

I thought about this today as I began praying about this article. In 1975 when I was born again, born into God’s family, I didn’t take an oath of any kind, at least not one that was spoken with words. I did however get baptized but, even within that act if something hadn’t changed within my heart then the picture was completely worthless.

When I was ordained into the gospel ministry (by men) I had already been pastoring a Church for a little over a year. One of the preachers that was part of the ordination commitee asked me this question: If we, as a group of men decide not to ordain you, what are you going to do? I looked at him and replied, I’ll keep doing what I’m doing! God called me into the gospel ministry and that has nothing to do with what you, as a group of men decide what I should do.

My whole point is that the only thing that matters is what God’s Spirit reveals to your heart and, your willingness to accept that truth! I thank God for Holy men of God! Yesterday, today and forever! These men, against all odds spoke and revealed God’s truth often even to their very death. Men has always done all they can to destroy God’s word and truth. They do it to keep God from being able to speak to the heart of people. In the very beginning Satan looked at Eve and said: (Hath God said)? This, causing her to doubt truth!

When we consider (WHAT IS TRUTH), then where can we find it? Is it standing behind ever pulpit? Is it in every version of the word of God? Can we simply trust any denomination or religion to reveal ( THE TRUTH) to us? In our quest to find truth; it’s something we must be aware of. Satan will always have a certain amount of truth in everything he will present to every person! Wisdom tells us to beware of partial truth and to seek whole truth as individuals. Look at these verses:

Matthew 4:1-10

THEN WAS JESUS LED UP OF THE SPIRIT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO BE TEMPTED OF THE DEVIL. (2) AND WHEN HE HAD FASTED FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS, HE WAS AFTERWARDS AN HUNGRED. (3) AND WHEN THE TEMPTER CAME TO HIM, HE SAID, IF THOU BE THE SON OF GOD, COMMAND THAT THESE STONES BE MADE BREAD. (4) BUT HE ANSWERED AND SAID, IT IS WRITTEN, MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDETH OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD. (5) THEN THE DEVIL TAKETH HIM UP INTO THE HOLY CITY, AND SETTETH HIM ON A PINNACLE OF THE TEMPLE, (6) AND SAITH UNTO HIM, IF THOU BE THE SON OF GOD, CAST THYSELF DOWN: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE CONCERNING THEE: AND IN THEIR HANDS THEY SHALL BEAR THEE UP, LEST AT ANY TIME THOU DASH THY FOOT AGAINST A STONE. (7) JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, IT IS WRITTEN AGAIN, THOU SHALT NOT TEMPT THE LORD THY GOD. (8) AGAIN, THE DEVIL TAKETH HIM UP INTO AN EXCEEDING HIGH MOUNTAIN, AND SHEWETH HIM ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD, AND THE GLORY OF THEM; (9) AND SAITH UNTO HIM, ALL THESE THINGS WILL I GIVE THEE, IF THOU WILT FALL DOWN AND WORSHIP ME. (10) THEN SAITH JESUS UNTO HIM, GET THEE HENCE, SATAN: FOR IT IS WRITTEN, THOU SHALT WORSHIP THE LORD THY GOD, AND HIM ONLY SHALT THOU SERVE.

Can you see in these verses how that Satan uses a certain amount of truth to try and convince people to doubt God or be deceived? If you will notice, the first two things he said, he used scripture but, the third thing there is no scripture involed in what he said. However, Jesus still used scriptue to shut him up!

I’ll close with this. God’s will is to reveal truth to every person, using people that have committed themselves to allow God’s Spirit to work through them. However, even within that concept we must seek, as individuals truth, trying ever spirit for what it is.

1 John 4:1

BELOVED, BELIEVE NOT EVERY SPIRIT, BUT TRY THE SPIRITS WHETHER THEY ARE OF GOD: BECAUSE MANY FALSE PROPHETS ARE GONE OUT INTO THE WORLD.

Jesus Christ, speaking to man said this:

Matthew 7:7

ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU; SEEK, AND YE SHALL FIND; KNOCK, AND IT SHALL BE OPENED UNTO YOU: (8) FOR EVERY ONE THAT ASKETH RECEIVETH; AND HE THAT SEEKETH FINDETH; AND TO HIM THAT KNOCKETH IT SHALL BE OPENED.

Truth can be found! It’s not in any particular version of God’s word, it’s not in a religion or denomination but it is in the will of man or people to know truth. Truth is metaphorically like looking for gold, it might be rare but, it’s there and, it is also more precious.

I’ll close with this. Men, over the years have tried to simplify God’s word. They write different versions trying to help people to understand it. In my mind, if I am going to Ask, Seek and Knock then I’m going exactly the oppostie direction. I’m going back to the original (Holy Men of God) to Ask, Seek and Knock for truth! There’s a game people use to play that makes my point very well. They would put all the people say; at a party in a circle. One person would whisper something in the ear of the person beside him and, that person would whisper what he or she thought they heard in the next person’s ear all the way to the last person. Then, that person would say out loud what he or she heard. In most cases, the end statement would be nothing like the first person’s remark.

That simple game can make my point but, that’s just simply misunderstaning what someone says. What happens when we add the ability of Satan to try and destroy the truth of God? Can you see just how dangerous it can be to simply trust what every man says?

The Bible says this:

John 8:32

AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.

There is a truth! It can be found and understood! It will never be my truth or a truth that is stated by man but, it’s the truth that we can find when we truth seek it in God’s word and it will be revealed to each that seek it by God’s Holy Spirit. If you, as an individual read God’s word then (a sinner) is reading that word. However, it still takes God’s Spirit to share truth to you. If you listen to me speak then, you’re listening to a sinner as I speak, seeking to share truth but, it’s still God’s Spirit that has to reveal truth to each person that hears.

Lord, touch us and help us to hear your spirit as you speak and give us wisdom to hear your truth as we listen to any person speak or, write! In Christ Jesus Name, AMEN.

Marshall Clayton

2 Timothy 1:7

A CHILD’S PRAYER
Mama and daddy; we love you.
We just want you; to love us too.
Not with lips made of clay,
but from your heart, everyday.
Oh! mama and daddy, we love you.

Mama and daddy, we need you.
To teach us, and show us the way.
Not with words, that you say,
But with your deeds along life’s way.
Mama and daddy, we need you.

Mama and daddy; we love you,
Mama and daddy; we need you,
Just take our little hands, and
teach us where to stand;
Mama and daddy, we beg you.

Mama and daddy; we see you.real t
Mama and daddy; we watch you,
God help my parents to see,
Just all that we can be,
Mama and daddy, he sees you.

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I’ve often stated and truly believe that the Book of Acts is a transitional book that must be understood if we are ever going to gain true knowledge of the Word of God and the things that God’s Spirit truly desires to reveal unto every believer. This transition is not only important to all believers today but, it was especially important for the very first people to every receive God’s Holy Spirit to come to the knowledge of. As I make that statement; that knowledge is not something that either they or we just automatically gain. It takes time and study, even good spiritual teaching to bring about the spiritual growth we all truly need.

With these things in mind, let’s dig into some things about (Acts two) and see where we end up. We see the phrase (when the day of Pentecost was fully come). I’m sure that most of the Israelites and, especially those 120 believers understood what the (Day of Pentecost) was in a physical sense but, what about in the spiritual sense? What did they know about what God’s Spirit was actually going to allow to transpire in them on that day?

For centuries the Jews, God’s chosen people had celebrated this time along with other feasts we see in their law. You can study these feasts in Leviticus and, you can see (the Pentecost) in ( Leviticus 23 ) starting with (verse 15). The word (pentecost) is not seen in the Old Testament but we do see it used in the New Testamant to describe that feast.

I personally believe that there were those in the Old Testament that spiritual understood what God, through the feasts was revealing to his people. However, that doesn’t mean that the majority of Israel knew or, even cared what God was trying to teach them. It’s not much difference than what we see today. We often automatically assume just because a man stands behind a pulpit or has been to a Bible College that all he teaches is truth but, in more cases than not the truth is very hard to come by! God purposely designed it like that. What it all boils down to is just how much do you, as an individual love him and just how much do you desire truth?

In this article it’s my desire to provoke thought and to cause spiritual thought to be created in the mind of the reader. There’s absolutely no way that spiritual teaching or understanding can be seen as being easy. It’s a challenge to see truth and then it becomes a challenge to bring that truth to light in the heart of another person.

Let’s look at these 120 believers on this day. We know that eleven of these believers were the remaining Apostles, Peter being one of them. As we read in (Acts two), do you think it strange that the Apostle Peter is the man doing the speaking? Why not one of the other Apostles or any one of the other believers? There’s a reason that the Apostle Peter spoke on that day and maybe we can point that out but, my desire is to show you what the majority of the believers believed. I personally think that Steven, even Luke might have had a better spiritual understanding of the (Day of Pentecost) than the Apostle Peter did. I can’t actually prove that other than just by simple statements that both of these men made; Steven in (Acts 7) and Luke in (Luke 1:1-4). However, Jesus Christ had ordained the Apostle Peter to speak on this day.

Matthew 16:18-19

AND I SAY ALSO UNTO THEE, THAT THOU ART PETER, AND UPON THIS ROCK I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH; AND THE GATES OF HELL SHALL NOT PREVAIL AGAINST IT. (19) AND I WILL GIVE UNTO THEE THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: AND WHATSOEVER THOU SHALT BIND ON EARTH SHALL BE BOUND IN HEAVEN: AND WHATSOEVER THOU SHALT LOOSE ON EARTH SHALL BE LOOSED IN HEAVEN.

The Apostle Peter would use these keys three times in the Book of Acts. These keys would unlock the door of the gospel of Jesus Christ first, here in (Acts 2) to the Jews, the nation of Israel. We see his message here in this chapter. If we study, we can find two other times he, Peter uses these keys in this book.

Now, what is the message that the Apoostle Peter preached on this day? Within the message we can see somewhat of what these people actually believed. Within all that he said, let’s just look at the alter call the gave so to speak.

Acts 2:28

THEN PETER SAID UNTO THEM, REPENT, AND BE BAPTIZED EVERY ONE OF YOU IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS, AND YE SHALL RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE HOLY GHOST.

I feel compelled to make a point here before I go any farther. These 120 believers have just received the Holy Ghost. Just how much did they understand about that? I often relate this situation to the day of my salvation. Although God’s Spirit had just moved into my heart, I knew absolutely nothing about God’s word and nothing about the spiritual aspect of my life. Even if we go back to what Jesus Christ said to the Apostle Peter. (I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH)? What did any of these men know about the Church? It had never even been established yet.

The Apostle Peter was offering the very same message that John the Baptist had preached during the beginning ministry of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist was the fore runner of Jesus Christ. Look at these verses:

Matthew 3:1-2

IN THOSE DAYS CAME JOHN THE BAPTIST, PREACHING IN THE WILDERNESS OF JUDAEA, (2) AND SAYING, REPENT YE: FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.

Now, look at this verse:

Matthew 4:17

FROM THAT TIME JESUS BEGAN TO PREACH, AND SAY, REPENT: FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND.

This message was expressly to the nation of Israel, the Jews. John the Baptist was the first to preach it, Jesus Christ then began to preach it and now the Apostle Peter is again offering that same message to the Jews on this special Pentecostal day. The sharing of the Holy Ghost had never happened until this day, at least not to all the people at once. Beginning on this day, simply by believing; any person could have God’s Spirit move into their heart. However, the knowledge of truth would still take time.

I personally beleve that even at this time if the whole Nation of Israel could have repented then Jesus Christ could have been their King at that time. As I make that statement, we know that God already knew that Israel as a nation would reject his Kingship. Nonetheless, The Bible tells us this:

Acts 1:8

BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER, AFTER THAT THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU: AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME BOTH IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDAEA, AND IN SAMARIA, AND THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH.

It’s always been to the Jew first!God’s grace is always overwhelminlg powerful and will always go much farther than any of us deserve. Even after the Jews had rejected Jesus Christ, hanging him on the cross, God’s Spirit still was offered to them first as a nation before moving on to the rest of the world. In the hearts and minds of these believers, even those that would believe in the next few days, they truly believed that Jesus Christ would return at ant minute and set up his kingdom right here on earth; being their king for eternity.

in essence, that was why had a (God chosen people) ( the Nation of Israel). That nation, from the very beginning was to become the very beating of God’s heart causing this whole world to be under submission to God’s leadership. However, that nation rejected the will of God bring about what we now know as the Church.

These things can be understood by study. As I’ve already said, we know that God alreadys knew just how people would react to everything he attempted to reveal to them. It’s no different today! The closer we get to the coming of Christ, the more we see the Church rejected. The fewer people we see even truly seeking the truth as revealed in God’s word.

I’m going to take the time to point out the three uses of the keys by the Apostle Peter. We see the first use here as he unlocked the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jews. If we read in ( Acts 3:1) we see the Apostle Peter once again being used by the Holy Spirit. Here we see a man lamed from his mother’s womb begging at the temple gate. Now, what I’d like for you to notice is the difference in the Apostle Peter’s invitational message to these people.

Acts 3:19

REPENT YE THEREFORE, AND BE CONVERTED, THAT YOUR SINS MAY BE BLOTTED OUT, WHEN THE TIMES OF REFRESHING SHALL COME FROM THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD;

The big deal here was that the man that was lamed was not a Jew, so to speak. We might say he was Jewish in part either being from Samaria or Judaea, not recognized by the Jewish people. He couldn’t enter the temple and, it was an amazing thing that God’s blessings was upon him as well as the Jews, This is the Keys being used to open the door of salvation to Judaea ans Samaria. We also see (be converted) (that your sins may be blotted out).

The Apostle Peter’s message is changing as he grows and understands the spiritual aspect of the things that are transpiring. So, let’s now look at what he says when he uses the keys the last time to open the door of salvation the the Gentiles.

Acts 10:43

TO HIM GIVE ALL THE PROPHETS WITNESS,THAT THROUGH HIS NAME WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHALL RECEIVE REMISSION OF SIN.

We see in the very next verse that while Peter was speaking the Holy Ghost fell on all of them that heard the word. You can continue to read and study but, my desire is to show you the spiritual growth that is unfolding here, Asd we leave this chapter the Apost;le Peter will begin to fade as the lead spokesman and the Apostle Paul will now take the lead. Let’s see what he says about receiving salvation.

Acts 16:30-31

AND BROUGHT THEM OUT, AND SAID, SIRS, WHAT MUST I DO TO BE SAVED? (31) AND THEY SAID, BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED, AND THY HOUSE.

We have just witnessed the complete transition of Jesus Christ being simply the (King of the Jews) to the (Savior of the world). We just seen the transition from the nation of Israel to the uttermost parts of the earth and to every person.If you’ll study the Apostle Paul’s letters to the churches you will notice in almost every letter he was struggling to gain the respect of the other Apostles and even people that he was an Apostle of Jesus Christ. His message was completely different than the message of the other eleven Apostles. However, he became the teacher! ( The last became first)! It’s all about spiritual growth and spiritual understanding. Look at what the Apostle Peter said concerning the Apostle Paul as time went by.

2 Peter 3:14-16

WHEREFORE, BELOVED, SEEING THAT YE LOOK FOR SUCH THINGS, BE DILIGENT THAT YE MAY BE FOUND OF HIM IN PEACE, WITHOUT SPOT, AND BLAMELESS. (15) AND ACCOUNT THAT THE LONGSUFFERING OF OUR LORD IS SALVATION; EVEN AS OUR BELOVED BROTHER PAUL ALSO ACCORDING TO THE WISDOM GIVEN UNTO HIM HATH WRITTEN UNTO YOU; (16) AS ALSO IN ALL HIS EPISTLES, SPEAKING IN THEM OF THINGS HARD TO BE UNDERSTOOD, WHICH THEY THAT ARE UNLEARNED AND UNSTABLE WREST, AS THEY DO ALSO THE OTHER SCRIPTURES, UNTO THEIR OWN DESTRUCTION.

All in time, the Apostle Peter has come to the spiritual knowledge that the Spirit of God has revealed through the Apostle Paul. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ was never about just the Nation of Israel or Jesus Christ being their King at that time. It was all about the salvation of the world for time and eternity.

You see, the Jews in (Acts two) believed that Jesus Christ would soon return to Jerusalem and be their king. The original 120 believers and most of those that recieved the Holy Ghost truly believed that. It’s not that they weren’t saved but that they, just exactly like each of us have to be taught the spiritual truth as we grow in Christ.

I personally believe that every; what we call denomination today can be traced back to the days recorded in the Book of Acts. Each of them stem from a lack of desire to seek and know truth. As we speak of the 120 believers and the first eleven Apostles, how many of them went about and formed their own spiritual mindsets of what they believed to be truth rather than actually allowing the spirit within them to direct their spiritual growth?

I’d like to share a true personal story with you here. I’d also like to start with this. I was born again in an Independant Baptist Church. For years I would say I was Independant Baptist but, now I refuse to tie myself to any denomination. I simply tell people I’m born again, washed in the blood of Jesus Christ. Far too often we, as people will allow our spiritual lives to revolve around a denomination rather than truly seeking truth as revealed by God’s Spirit.

I’ve shared this story many times. Some years ago I was working, doing electrical work in a Methodist Church. I was standing at the door waithing for my co-worker to return with some supplies we needed to complete the job. An elderly gentleman came up the walk and entered the door. He came up and shook hands with me, asking me if I attended Church anywhere? I replied, yes. He said, where do you go to Church? I told him I went to Faith independant Baptist Church. He said, Oh! you’re Baptist, It’s not any dfference in us. I replied, I disagree sir, I believe it is! He asked, what’s the difference? I said well, I know I’m going to heaven when I die, do you? He answered, no I don’t and, you don’t either. I replies, now sir, how can you tell me what I know? The bible tells us we can know it!

He wanted to argue, telling me that the Bible didn’t say that. I said, well, let’s find a Bible and see. So we went to a Sunday School room to find a Bible. I took that Bible and turn to this scripture and asked him to read it.

1 John 5:12-13

HE THAT HATH THE SON HATH LIFE; AND HE THAT HATH NOT THE SON OF GOD HATH NOT LIFE. (13) THESE THINGS HAVE I WRITTEN UNTO YOU THAT BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD; THAT YE MAY KNOW THAT YE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE, AND THAT YE MAY BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD.

He read this outloud to me, stood there for a minute, looked at me and said, I don’t care; I still don’t believe it. Is this not exactly what the Apostle Peter is saying in the verses we read? Men, people allow themselves to get stuck in a spiritual rut and will not allow themselves to grow beyond what some man teaches them.. That happened in the early Church and, it still happens today.

God gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. He gave us his word to grow thereby. He even tells us the he gave some evangelist, pastors and teachers to help us know truth. Whether we receive those gifts and allow them to guide us to truth is entirely up to each individual. I, as a man have tried to share some Biblical truth with you here. Am I right? Can God’s Spirit use this to teach? As you, as an individual read through this only you can decide to allow God’s Spirit to teach you truth, with or without me. However, if you see something within this that helps you better understand scripture then, to God be the Glory. You can take what I’ve said and grow far beyond the things I’ve said, all for God’s glory. Even if you see me as wrong, then within that allow God’s Spirit to teach you Biblical truth!

I stated that the Apostles couldn’t have known what Jesus Christ was speaking of when he mentioned the Church in the gospel of Matthew. I can amaging them or, at least some of them thinking ( what’s he talking about)? However, most of them might be like the average Church member today. The simply say ( he’s just preaching) not even considering seeking to know truth. Most people sit in their local Church and actually hear very little that the pastor ever says, right or wrong. (THEY SIMLY ARE COMPLETELY UNCONCERNED)1

Spiritually speaking, we can look at the early Church in Acts as a simple picture of every person that is ever truly born again. It’s a beginning and all spiritual knowledge will have to grow and be learned from that moment forward. Where do you stand in Christ? What are you willing to give up of yourself to (Know Christ)?

Just by way of teaching, In (Acts 5) we see a man and his wife, Ananias and Sappira. These two people died because of lying about what they GAVE! Can we see a spiritual picture here of what people are actually willing to give of theirself to know Christ and, also see the reason many remain in spiritual darkness all their lives?

Consider this!

Marshall Clayton

2 Timothy 1:7