When weighing worldly riches against the righteousness of Christ, I know which holds greater weight in the grand scheme of eternity. Therefore, I'd rather choose Christ and be poor in this world to be rich in the next. This peace and contentment are found in the poorest and most remote parts of the world, whereas the misery of greedy wealth consumes the richest and most developed regions.
Proverbs 11:4 KJV Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.
Proverbs 11:28 KJV He that trusteth in his riches shall fall: but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
The idea that there is any other righteous seed outside of Christ is pure deception and part of a strong delusion.
Proverbs 11:21 KJV Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered.
I have no idea of the overall impact my life has had on others for the cause of Christ and the glory of God. All I know is that this life God has saved has been used to save a few others, and I pray that they too would yield themselves to God for the winning of many souls.
Proverbs 11:30 KJV The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
The Garden of Eden, Abraham's Bosom, Paradise, and the Third Heaven are synonymous in that they serve as abodes for the saints, connected to the realm of God, where the voice of the Lord God—Jesus Christ—walks or has walked. The Garden of Eden was relocated after the fall of humanity, and Paradise (Abraham's Bosom) was relocated after Jesus took the fall for humanity. Since then, to be absent from the body is to be present with the LORD.
Garden of Eden:
Genesis 3:8 KJV And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
Abraham’s Bosom:
Luke 16:22 KJV And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
Luke 16:23 KJV And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
Paradise:
2 Corinthians 12:4 KJV How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
Third Heaven:
2 Corinthians 12:4 KJV How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.
As illustrated in the case of Job, God carefully prevents His people from becoming too comfortable in this world, lest they grow prideful and attribute their comfort to their own creation and maintenance, leading to self-sufficiency and apathy devoid of God. If you are experiencing pain in your life, trust that God has a purposeful plan and rely on Him to walk with you through it all.
2 Corinthians 12:7 KJV And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
2 Corinthians 12:8 KJV For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Jesus Christ, our Lord, will never forsake us, regardless of what we may experience in this world.
2 Corinthians 12:10 KJV Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Paul didn't erect billboards of himself throughout town bearing his image and title as Apostle Paul. Instead, he simply carried out the work of his office and calling as an apostle, with specific signs that spoke for themselves. He didn't believe his calling was superior to anyone else's. Whereas, so-called apostles today make it clear that it's all about them, with no signs to validate their claims, just the billboards.
2 Corinthians 12:11 KJV I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
2 Corinthians 12:12 KJV Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
Sometimes love is taken for granted, when it should always be appreciated and reciprocated as we're able.
2 Corinthians 12:15 KJV And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.
Don't be fooled by false ministers of light who view you as nothing more than cash cows. And don't be fooled into believing all ministers profit from you, because the reality is that many of them serve at a personal cost. This is a cost I've been willing to pay, because Jesus paid it all.
2 Corinthians 12:17 KJV Did I make a gain of you by any of them whom I sent unto you?
2 Corinthians 12:18 KJV I desired Titus, and with him I sent a brother. Did Titus make a gain of you? walked we not in the same spirit? walked we not in the same steps?
If we are in constant need of correction and repentance, churches are in need of constant correction and repentance. The problem is that in churches that are nothing more than circuses and candy stores, such correction and repentance don't exist.
2 Corinthians 12:20 KJV For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:
2 Corinthians 12:21 KJV And lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and that I shall bewail many which have sinned already, and have not repented of the uncleanness and fornication and lasciviousness which they have committed.
Men love their church buildings and organizations, but God loves those with a contrite spirit who tremble at His Word and are the Church.
An unbeliever, or even a blasphemer of the Holy Spirit, can say 'Jesus is Lord' aloud, just as they might read it or recite it as an actor in a play. However, only through the Holy Spirit can someone truly confess it with true faith, love, and devotion.
1 Corinthians 12:3 KJV Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.
Are there great measures of faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues, and their interpretation today? Yes, I believe these gifts exist, but they should not be confused with charlatans who mock such gifts. These are operations of the Holy Spirit according to God’s will, not the will of man.
1 Corinthians 12:7 KJV But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
1 Corinthians 12:8 KJV For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
1 Corinthians 12:9 KJV To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
1 Corinthians 12:10 KJV To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:
1 Corinthians 12:11 KJV But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.
Isaiah 66:1 KJV Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest?
Isaiah 66:2 KJV For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Isaiah 66:5 KJV Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.
As a man of Gentile lineage, I'm not in a blood feud with the Jews. My feud is with my own flesh and the antichrist spirit among the nations. You're either part of the Body of Christ and His Blood, or you're not – as an enemy of God.
1 Corinthians 12:12 KJV For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.
1 Corinthians 12:13 KJV For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.
The Church consists of many people in Christ from many nations, each with various gifts. I don't expect to fully understand your gifts, and I don't expect you to fully understand mine. Just do what God wants you to do – that's all that matters.
1 Corinthians 12:18 KJV But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
The Body of Christ is the Israel of God. If you're part of this Body, you're a friend of mine.
1 Corinthians 12:25 KJV That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.
1 Corinthians 12:26 KJV And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.
1 Corinthians 12:27 KJV Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.
If your gifts point to you and your church organization, then they're not pointing to Christ and aren't gifts from God.
1 Corinthians 12:28 KJV And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1 Corinthians 12:29 KJV Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
1 Corinthians 12:30 KJV Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
1 Corinthians 12:31 KJV But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Jesus said the Word of God is written, because indeed it is written. God doesn't play 5D chess with His Word; it's plain, written, and packaged in the 66 books called the Bible. We are without excuse.
Deuteronomy 8:3 KJV And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.
Luke 4:4 KJV And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
Sometimes we forget where we came from, who has provided for us, and for what purpose any amount of wealth is entrusted to us.
Deuteronomy 8:16 KJV Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna, which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee, and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;
Deuteronomy 8:17 KJV And thou say in thine heart, My power and the might of mine hand hath gotten me this wealth.
Deuteronomy 8:18 KJV But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.
Don't be surprised by the delusional; understand that the LORD is sovereign, and be thankful you're not part of the delusion.
Isaiah 66:4 KJV I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
Those who have been satisfied by the milk from Jerusalem's breasts are those who have been born again. These breasts do not belong to the whore who has stolen her name.
Isaiah 66:10 KJV Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her:
Isaiah 66:11 KJV That ye may suck, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.
The glory and peace of the Gentiles is Jesus Christ!
Isaiah 66:12 KJV For thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream: then shall ye suck, ye shall be borne upon her sides, and be dandled upon her knees.
Are you comforted by the Jerusalem above? You are, if you know our King.
Isaiah 66:13 KJV As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.
Galatians 4:26 KJV But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
Jesus came once, and He is coming again!
Isaiah 66:15 KJV For, behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with his chariots like a whirlwind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebuke with flames of fire.
Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!
Isaiah 66:18 KJV For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
Every knee that refuses will die and be cast into the lake of fire with hell.
Isaiah 66:23 KJV And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 66:24 KJV And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
All who are born again into the Body of Christ are priests of the LORD who will never die because their God never dies.
Isaiah 66:21 KJV And I will also take of them for priests and for Levites, saith the LORD.
Isaiah 66:22 KJV For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.
Father, thank You for providing for all our needs. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
