Call to Prayer

Wednesday, January 14, at Noon eastern time, Franklin Graham, has called the Church to pray, repent, and seek the Lord for our nation (United States of America).

I encourage you to go to the Samaritan’s Purse website and read is call to prayer.

As the Word of the Lord was spoken to King Solomon, regarding prayer, so God’s Word applies to us today.

God does not change. He is the same “yesterday, today, and tomorrow”.

2 Chronicles 7:14 says, “If My people, who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Our nation is sinful, we have turned from God, and we are reaping the ravages of our sinful lifestyle.

Let us humble ourselves and pray, not only today but daily (2 Timothy 2:1-3)

Blessings, a brother in Christ, deo

Merry Christmas

Christine and I want to wish you all a very blessed celebration of our Lord’s birth.

Joy to the Lord, the Lord has come.

May the Lord richly bless you as you continue to walk with Him each day of your life.

2026 brings a New Year.

Many see that also as a new beginning in their daily walk with the Lord.

I encourage you to stay focused on your Lord Jesus Christ.

I encourage you to read the Word of God.

I encourage you to allow the Holy Spirit to govern your life.

I encourage you to fellowship in a community of like minded believers who focus on Christ, hold fast to His Word, and are submitted to the Holy Spirit because Jesus Christ is Lord.

May the Lord bless you, strengthen you, guide you, and give you daily His mercy, grace, and love.

your brother in Christ, a fellow journeyer, deo, (and Christine)

Who Is In Charge?

Over the past year, maybe longer, the issue of “Who Is In Charge?” has been the central thought in many posts.

This question is also paramount in our everyday lives in our nation; in fact, it is an issue in many nations throughout the world.

It is easy to be ‘politically active’ in our outlook, mindset, and rhetoric at this time.

One result of the past mid-term election on November 5, 2025 was this personal resolve.

It is time for me to set aside the ‘rhetoric of politics’, not ignore what is going on, but step back from the ‘sensational headlines’ that want to grab my attention, and involve me in their directed ‘thinking’.

This is something that I have encouraged people to do in past posts; and it is something that I too have been doing; but there seems to be a new ‘restraint‘ in my spirit not to be involved.

Many may see this as cowardness.

Actually, it is not cowardness, it is wisdom.

The question before each one of us is who or what is governing our lives?

It is not what?

It is who?

The ‘who’ is the Holy Spirit.

Q: What was forfeited in the Garden of Eden?

A: Being lovingly governed by God, the Father.

Adam’s choice to disobey God’s command resulted in him being cut off from God’s personal, loving, governing presence and becoming an entity unto himself.

Adam was now self-governing.

Adam has forfeited his position and place to grow into becoming what God, the Father had originally purposed for him.

Adam is living in the kingdom of darkness, governed by Satan.

His father is Satan.

Strong words, but true, according to the Word of God.

We, too, outside of Christ, are children of the devil because of our Adamic lineage through natural birth. (I John 3:4-10)

The message of the Gospel is that Christ came to redeem us from sin;to break the power of sin; and completely defeat Satan.

This is what took place at the Cross.

Therefore, we can become heirs and joint heirs (Romans 8:17) with Christ; because He who knew no sin became sin for us that we become the righteousness of God. (I Corinthians 1:13,14; I Peter 2:9)

This is the grace, mercy, and love of God that He showed to the world by sending His own Son to redeem from us our sinful state and provide for us the gift of salvation through Christ’s death on the cross. (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:4-10)

The grace of God is that, ‘in Christ’, we are no longer governed by sin; we are no longer in the kingdom of darkness; we have been transferred into the kingdom of light of His dear Son. (Ephesians 5:8-11; Romans 6:1,1; Romans 6:12,13; I Peter 2:9,10)

So, Who Is In Charge?

The Lord Jesus Christ.

The message of Pentecost is the formal statement that Jesus Christ is Lord.

The coming of the Holy Spirit confirmed and authenticated that fact.

How?

At the risk of sounding heretical, the coming of the Holy Spirit is important; but it is not as important as the realization that Jesus Christ is Lord; and that He is seated at the right hand of His Father.

The coming of the Holy Spirit birthed the Ekklesia, the Church, the Body of Christ.

Jesus Christ the Lord is the Head of the Church, the Body of Christ. (Colossians 1:17-18a; Ephesians 5:22-25)

Q: Who governs the Church, the Body of Christ?

A. The Holy Spirit governs the Church, the Body of Christ.

The Holy Spirit governs because the Church, the Body of Christ, is the Temple of God, indwelt by the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the C.E.O. of the Church, the Body of Christ; meaning that since the Holy Spirit is the Chief Executive Officer of the Church,the Body of Christ; then the function of the Holy Spirit is to govern the Church, the Body of Christ.

Q: Is it possible that the Church, the Body of Christ, that is made up of born again believers ‘in Christ’, lives not governed by the Holy Spirit?

A: Yes

Read I, II Corinthians written by Paul to the believers in Corinth.

The believers in Corinth were self-governing themselves relying upon the wisdom of the world.

The result was chaos and confusion.

Consider this: The Church in Corinth relied upon AI, Artificial Intelligence-the wisdom of the world. They set aside the real AI, Adonai’s Intelligence-the wisdom of God.

Paul, writing to the Church in Corinth, sought to correct them, in two ways.

The first was expressing his Father’s concern for them; secondly, he confronted them as an Apostle of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit, is the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9; I Peter 1:11), who governs the Church, the Body of Christ, in ‘orderliness’ and ‘obedience’, according to the Word of God.

The believers in Corinth ignored the Holy Spirit; embraced the wisdom of the world; left the teaching of being ‘in Christ’; and were self-governing.

The Holy Spirit is the living presence of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Church, the Body of Christ. (Romans 8:9; John 14:23; John 16:14)

At this time I want to ask you to read John 14:1-31.

In this passage, Jesus tells His disciples that He is leaving them and going back to the Father.(John 14:28)

The disciples are confused.

Thomas voices his unsettledness.

Thomas says to Him, (John 14:5, NKJV)) “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

At this point, Thomas’ words are true.

Jesus’ answer doesn’t directly tell Thomas where He was going; but His answer is an emphatic statement regarding who He is-the only One through whom one may come into the presence of the Father. (Acts 4:8-12)

Jesus’ answer to Thomas (and us) is very important.

Jesus answered (John 14:6 NKJV) Thomas, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

A second disciple, Philip, hearing Jesus’ response to Thomas, ask Jesus for clarification of what He just said regarding His Father.

“Philip said to Him, , “Lord show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”(John 14:8, NKJV)

This is very important.

Why?

Because Jesus’ response is what the Church, the Body of Christ must understand regarding the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost.

“Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:9 NKJV)

Now, a third disciple speaks up.

“Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, Lord, How is that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?” (John 14:22 NKJV)

Jesus answers(see John 14:23-24) his question; but His answer would more appropriate for another post.

After answering Judas’ (not Iscariot) question, Jesus tells them why He is speaking this way.

“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name,[Note: did you ‘see’ the fullness of the God-head mentioned-Father, Son, Holy Spirit] He (Holy Spirit) will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world give do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. You have heard Me say to you, I am going away and coming back to you. If you love Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father’, for My Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe.” (John 14:25-28 NKJV) (inserts mine) [Note, boldness mine]

{Jesus has now directly answered Thomas’ original question-John 14:5a(NKJV): “Lord we do not know where You are going?”}

Jesus had said to Philip, in John 14:9, NKJV, “He who has Me has seen the Father.” (see also Hebrews 1:1-4)

Jesus is the manifested Presence of God the Father incarnated in a human body. (John 1:14, Philippians 2:5-8, Galatians 4:4)

Knowing that statement is infallibly true, then does it not logically follow that we can conclude that the Church, the Body of Christ, filled with the Holy Spirit, is to reveal the manifested presence of the Lord Jesus Christ to a lost world.

Consider this: if a person approached a pastor, a member of a congregation, an elder, a deacon, a deaconess, or any believer and asked to show them the Lord Jesus Christ (as Philip had asked Jesus to show them the Father), how do you think would they respond?

More appropriately, how would you respond?

Do you remember Paul’s declaration regarding himself?

I Corinthians 11:1 NKJV, Paul said, “Follow my example, as I follow Christ.”

Q: Do individual believers (in their earthly body) reflect the presence of the Lord in their life? Does the corporate life of the Church locally or universally reflect the living presence of the Lord Jesus Christ as His earthly body?

Since September, 2025, I have been reading about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Church, the Body of Christ.

I recommend two books by A.J. Gordon, How Christ Came to Church: The Pastor’s Dream-A Spiritual Autobiography; and The Ministry of the Spirit.

I have also been reading works by T. Austin Sparks emphasizing the ministry of the Holy Spirit in the Church, the Body of Christ.

Recently, the Holy Spirit, its purpose and importance, has also been shared by Dutch Sheets, in his Give Him 15 posts.

The overriding emphasis has been who or what governs the Church, the Body of Christ?

The obvious scriptural answer is that the Lord Jesus Christ governs His Church, the Body of Christ, by the Holy Spirit, according to the Word of God.

This is a good place to STOP and reflect upon what has been shared.

Q: Am I living my life, in my earthly body, governed by the Holy Spirit, according to the Word of God?

Q: Are you living your life, in your earthly body, governed by the Holy Spirit, according to the Word of God?

Q: Is the Body of Christ, a true reflection of the earthly body of the Lord Jesus Christ, governed by the Holy Spirit, according to the Word of God?

Penetrating questions; not meant to bring guilt or shame, but to see if we are truly walking in faith.

Paul said, Galatians 2:17-21 NKJV, “But, if, while we seek to be justified Christ, we ourselves also are found to be sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me [in my human body]; and the life which I know live in the flesh[in my human body], I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and give Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” [inserts mine]

In Hebrews 4:1-13, the writer exhorts us to enter into the rest of God. Hebrews 4:10 gives us this principle to live by. “For he who has entered His (God’s) rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.” (NKJV). When I consider these words, I envision not being self-governed, but abiding ‘in Christ’. (inserts mine)

This brings closure to the first portion of the post.

My dilemma is whether to just end the post here; or to continue with the second part of the post.

I am going to continue.

Thank you for journeying with me.

____________________________________

The emphasis of this second part of the post is to consider this question.

Q: Can Jesus say, If you have seen My Church, then you have seen Me?

To begin, I want to share with you what I observe is a logical spiritual progression of revelation in the Word of God.

The substance of this spiritual progression has been the subject of my previous posts, since June, 2025.

Q: What is the implication of being governed by the Holy Spirit?

A: The answer is found in the teaching of the New Testament.

It is interesting to note that the Holy Spirit descended upon those who were “with one accord” in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1). Compare that with Acts 2:46-47(NKJV), where it says that the Church continued “daily ‘with one accord’ in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the Church daily those who were being saved.”

Q: Are the churches of the Lord Jesus Christ “with one accord” in our local communities, and throughout the world?

Is it too tough a question to ask, if not, why not?

What might need to take place to bring the universal Body of Christ to be “with one accord”?

I Peter 4:17-19 NKJV says, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the Gospel of God? “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?” Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.”

God will start with His people.

Hebrews 12:25-29 NKJV, says, “See to it you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, must more shall we not escape if turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised saying,“Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” Now this, Yet once more, indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire.”

I believe that there is going to be a Seismic Spirit Shaking move of God that is going to shake the earth in 2026.

There are Holy Spirit’ tremors’ already shaking throughout the earth.

The Lord is moving by His Spirit.

The Word of God is being preached.

Lives are being changed.

People are seeking the Lord.

People are being healed and delivered.

The Holy Spirit is being poured out on members of the Body of Christ.

But…

Some of you may be asking yourself, I am not seeing this; nor am I aware of it?

That does not mean it is not taking place.

I assure it is happening.

It is being reported; but you have to search it out.

A good place to begin is CBN.

As we look forward to 2026, how can I summarize 2025.

Let me assume you have read my previous post, End of the Year Summary Reflection.

Consider the following:

A. God’s P.H.D. is His Prophetic. Historical. Document., is the written Word of God. (Genesis – Revelation)

B. The written Word of God is a Prophetic. Historical. Document., of the Second Person of the Trinity, the Son of God, who is the Word of God. (John 1:1-5)

C. Jesus, Son of God/Son of Man, who came and lived in human flesh fulfilled completely God’s P.H.D. (Matthew 5:17-20)

D. Jesus’ ministry was governed by the Holy Spirit, and He did everything ‘orderly’ and ‘obediently’ to please His Father. (See Matthew 4:1, 14; Luke 4:14-20; John 12:49; John 5:19-20)

E. Jesus’ ministry manifested His own P.H.D.

Jesus Preached. Healed. Delivered.

He lived in a human body; He was governed by the Holy Spirit; He preached the Kingdom of God ,calling the lost to repentance; He healed the sick and diseased; He delivered those in bondage to demons. [His ministry was confirmed by signs and wonders flowing in the power of the Holy Spirit.]

F. Jesus sent out His 12 disciples/apostles with authority to do the same ministry.

They preached repentance; they healed the sick and diseased; and they delivered those captive to demons. (Matthew 10:1; Luke 9:1-3)

G. Jesus sent out 70(72[Matthew 10:2-4]) disciples to go to the lost.

They preached the word of repentance; they healed the sick; and they delivered the demon afflicted. (Luke 10:1,9,17)

[Note: One thing we must understand. We must be careful not to think of ourselves more highly than you ought to think. See Jesus’ response to the 70 when they returned rejoicing in demons that were “subject to us in Your name”. (See Luke 10:17-20)]

H. The glorified Lord Jesus Christ, now seated at the right hand of His Father in heaven, has sent the Holy Spirit to be poured out upon all flesh. This began in an upper room in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost. (Joel 2:28-29; Acts 2:16-21)

I. The Church, the Body of Christ, was ‘born’ that day. The Holy Spirit governs the Church. (Acts 2:42-47)

J. The Church, the Body of Christ, ministry is to preach repentance; heal the sick and diseased; and to deliver those oppressed by demons (Mark 16:19,20; Hebrews 2:3,4). The Book of Acts also records this ministry. (Acts 3:6-10, 4:4; Acts 5:12-16; Acts 8:5-7,9,13)

K. The Acts of the Apostles, bears witness that the Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D.Preach. Heal. Deliver., was conferred upon His Church, the Body of Christ; and is to be exercised by His authority, governed by the Holy Spirit (just like the 12 and the 70).

Q: Has this ministry been removed from the Church, the Body of Christ?

A. That depends on your theological interpretation of the Word of God.

I am not here to criticize another’s doctrinal understanding.

Consider the following:

A. Malachi 3:6 NKJV, “I am the Lord, I do not change.”

B. Hebrews 13:8 NKJV, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

C. Psalms 119:89 NKJV, “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.”

D. 2 Timothy 3:16 NKJV, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for instruction in righteousness’, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

E. 2 Peter 1:20-21 NKJV, “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy, never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

F. John 15:26 NKJV, “But when the Helper comes, whom I send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you will also bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.”

G. 2 Peter 1:16-21 NKJV, “For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawn and morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of men, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” [bold emphasis mine]

Therefore:

It seems apparent to me that all of these scriptures substantiate the conclusion that resident in the Church, the Body of Christ, governed by the Holy Spirit: the Church, is to preach the Word of God, emphasizing the need to repent, and to believe by faith the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; the Church is also to pray for and see the healing of the sick and the diseased; and the Church is to minister and see those afflicted by demons to be delivered and set free.

The Church is the Body of Christ composed of many members ( I Corinthians 12:12-27) that have been born again by the Spirit (John 3:3-8; Romans 8:9-11); each member is individually a temple of the living God. (I Corinthians 3:16); and ‘in Christ’ we are living stones (I Peter 2:4-8. 9,10); ‘living stones’ that manifests “the excellency of the power of God” (II Corinthians 4:7 NKJV) that is not of us, but of the power of God, because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. (boldness mine)

On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon a gathering of (born again) believers that were the first ‘stone’ pile.

The coming of the Holy Spirit verified and authenticated that Jesus had fulfilled completely ( John 19:28) what the Word of God testified about Him.

The coming of the Holy Spirit was poured out from heaven upon the believers in an upper room declaring that Jesus, the Son of God/Son of Man is the Lord Jesus Christ Glorified sitting at the right hand of God, His Father.

*Do not forget that each member of the Church the Body of Christ, born of the Spirit, living in a human body, is a temple of the living God.*

Each believer is a vessel that can be filled with the Holy Spirit in like manner as Jesus was filled, living in a human body, when the Holy Spirit came upon Him at the Jordan River.

The purpose of being Anointed with the Holy Spirit is to follow the Lord Jesus Christ, and minister as a member of the Body of Christ, governed by the Holy Spirit, according to the Word of God; doing the works of the Father. ( see Ephesians 2:4-10)

Returning to the Upper Room , the night of Jesus’ betrayal–

The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Trinity that Jesus told His disciples He would send. He told them that He would not leave them as orphans. He also told them that the Holy Spirit would be their Helper, Comforter, Guide, and Teacher (the Spirit of Truth).**

On November 23, 2025, Pastor Kent, at North Creek Church, in Walnut Creek, California, sharing from Isaiah 41, closed his teaching with this thought.

** “John 14:16 tells us that the Holy Spirit comes as our Helper. The coming of the Spirit to indwell, is the person of the Trinity who is called the Helper-you just don’t have God’s help, you have Him (Jesus); and He is your Helper. Jesus comes to you in the person of the Holy Spirit and He is your Helper-you have Him and He is your Helper, He is inside of you.”

Knowing that I am being redundant, let me say it again, (in a similar way that Pastor Kent explained), Jesus was no longer with His followers in a physical human body here on earth in their midst. He had ascended bodily into heaven. When the Holy Spirit came on the Day of Pentecost, Jesus Christ returned to His (born again) followers not in a bodily physical form, but in Spirit. He was now an inward Spiritual reality because of the presence of the Person of the Holy Spirit in His disciples.

So, Who Is In Charge?

The Lord Jesus Christ Glorified.

How does He ‘govern’?

By His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, according to the Word of God.

At this time, I want to make something clear.

It is possible that you have not ‘seen’ a manifestation of Christ’s P.H.D. as it has been outlined in this post?

However, that does NOT mean that the Holy Spirit is not in the midst of the community of believers, where you worship, work, and witness for the Lord.

Q:How do we know that the Holy Spirit is in our midst?

A. Ask yourself the following questions?

a. Is the Lord Jesus Christ glorified in your midst?

b. Is the Word of God faithfully preached exalting the centrality of the Lord Jesus Christ?

c. Is honoring the Lord Jesus Christ the focus of the ministry of the Body of Christ, where you fellowship? [I encourage you to read John 16:5-15.]

If this is taking place in the affirmative, then you can be assured that the Holy Spirit is in your midst.

Here is what the Church needs to understand.

The Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D. is there; it is present, but latent.

The Lord’s P.H.D. has been manifested and witnessed throughout Church history; yet they have not always been well received; many times they have been been greatly maligned and silenced ; and the objection to their manifestation has caused controversy and confusion over their presence in the Church because of theological differences of the interpretation of the Word of God..

I have no doubt that the same holds true today .

It is only logical that if a community of believers is not taught about the Lord’s P.H.D., then the fullness of the ministry, that includes the Preaching of the Word of God, Healing ,and Deliverance, will probably not be manifested.

Again, that does not negate its presence; it is there, but latent.

Nor does it preclude that the Lord cannot or will not intervene Sovereignly and/or Providentially minister according to His will and purpose in the life of an individual, or His Church.

I have witnessed the manifestation of the Lord’s P.H.D.

The truth is that the Lord’s P.H.D. are occurring in nations throughout the world today.

I am reminded of two choruses.

The first one is “God is moving by His Spirit, moving in all the earth, signs and wonders when God moveth, move oh, Lord in me.”

The second chorus is a balance to the first chorus.

“Show me Thy ways, oh Lord, reveal Thyself to me. I’ve seen Your signs and wonders, but Lord I would know Thee.

This was the ministry of the Apostle Paul. He had seen the Lord’s ‘signs and wonders’; but the deep cry of his heart was to ‘know’ Him. (Philippians 3)

Preaching, Healing, and Deliverance are used by the Lord to confirm His Word. He makes Himself known by signs and wonders that confirm the preaching of the Word of God, with signs and wonders. (Mark 16:20; Acts 14:3)

God’s gracious ‘signs and wonders’ are to make Himself known to the world; and to make Himself known to us.

Jesus said, John 17:3 NKJV, “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

The Apostle John concluding his Gospel account of Jesus Christ said, “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30-31, NKJV)

I am a Spirit filled believer in Jesus Christ.

He is my Savior and Lord.

Being Spirit filled does not put me on some higher spiritual plane than any other believer who is saved.

Our Father is the potter (Jeremiah 18:1-11) and we are the clay.

He is making us into vessels fit for His use in the Body of Christ.

We are being conformed to the image of Christ.

The process is called sanctification.

Sanctification requires submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Submission results in being governed by the Holy Spirit according to the Word of God.

The potter cannot form a piece of clay that fights against the work of his hands exercising personal self-government, i.e.-you can’t form me that ‘way’, I want to be this ‘way’.

I have been exposed to and seen the Lord’s P.H.D.

To walk with the Lord, governed by the Holy Spirit, according to the Word of God, seeking to please my Father, I have had to embrace the reality that just like the first Adam, I have enjoyed, and sought to be self-governed.

Learning to be governed by the Holy Spirit according to the Word of God is denying yourself to be self-governed.

Q: Have you submitted yourself to the authority of the Lordship of Jesus Christ?

Q: What does that look like? (Matthew 16:24-26; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 9:23-26)

Jesus said that if we were going to follow Him, we are to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him.

I submit that this instruction ‘strikes’ the ‘heart’ of being self-governing.

What ‘strikes’ our heart is the Cross of Christ.

This is the substance of the teaching found in the New Testament epistles (letters).

Jesus did not come in human flesh to live, and live His life, relying on ‘self-governing‘ Himself.

Self-governing is the first Adam’s lifestyle because he sinned.

Jesus, the last Adam,(I Corinthians 15:45-47) came to live in human flesh, denying self (Philippians 2:5-11); living to please His Father; governed by the Holy Spirit.

Please re-read the last sentence and see that the Trinity is present to bring you to your Father’s destined endpoint. See Jude 24,25.

This is the lifestyle that we have been called to live “in Christ”.

The coming of the Holy Spirit has been given to enable us to live our life ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit according to the Word of God, submitted to the Lord Jesus Christ, living a life of faith that pleases your Heavenly Father.

Let me close with the words of Peter, on the Day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit came and filled ‘all’ in the upper room in Jerusalem. Peter stood and preached Christ and Him crucified. Many of those, who were curious to know what had taken place in the upper room, and hearing Peter’s words were convicted in their hearts by the Holy Spirit, and cried out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off (that’s us), and as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:37-39) [Acts 2:41 tells us that about 3000 souls accepted Jesus Christ.] [boldness mine]

I want to encourage you to seek the Lord, and ask Him (Mark 1:8; John 1:33; Mathew 3:11; Luke 3:16) to come and fill you with the Holy Spirit. (see John 3:11, 12; Luke 11:11-13; John 14:25-28; Acts 19:1-7)

As we seek the Lord, and learn to be governed by the Holy Spirit, each individual believer, and the collective Body of Christ, the Church, will be changed from “glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18) .

Remember, God, the Father’s goal, is for us to walk with Him, and allow His loving Presence to ‘govern’ our lives.

The result of this sanctifying work is the answer to the question that began in the second half of the post.

A. The world will look at the Church, and see the Lord Jesus Christ.

The day is coming when the Church, like Enoch, who walked with God, will be taken to be in God’s Presence. (Hebrews 11:5,6)

May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you, encourage you, and grant unto you the desire of your heart to know Him deeply in spirit and in truth. (John 4:1-26)

a brother in Christ, deo

Thank you for journeying with me through 2025.

End of the Year Summary Reflection

As a former teacher, I want to prepare my readers for what is going to be published this week.

It is a very long post.

It dawned on me that if I was coming to the end of a semester class, this post would be the last lecture of a class that began in June, 2025.

Actually, from my point of view, it is the ending of a year long thought process involving our nation, and our personal walk with the Lord.

Therefore, if you are a regular reader of my posts, I trust that it will be a Summary Reflection for you and an encouragement for the upcoming year.

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the Body of Christ, the Church, has said “I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”(Matthew 16:18 NKJV).

The Lord Jesus Christ will also have a Church without ‘spot or wrinkle’. (Ephesians 5:27)

The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a body of believers who worship the Lord, their God.

The Lord Jesus Christ will remove all worldliness, man-centered programs, and Satanic influence that are in His Church. (See Revelation 2:1-3:22)

Just as the Lord, lovingly came to the seven churches in The Revelation, He still comes today, commending what is right, correcting what is wrong, and calling His Church to repentance.

The Lord is saying, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” He is looking for those who will ‘overcome’.

Church,it is time to ‘overcome’.

There is coming an intense time of ‘taking out the trash’ so to speak; sweeping out the dark recesses of our lives; and cleansing from every sin that so easily weighs us down, so that we may walk in freedom and truth with the Lord and worship God, the Father, in spirit and in truth.

What a blessing; but digging deep is necessary, and digging ‘hurts’. Speaking of Jesus, Hebrews 5:7-9 NKJV says, “though He was a Son, yet learned He obedience through the things that He suffered”.

Sanctification hurts.

This is the process that prepares us to meet the Father .

None of us, who know Christ, are exempt.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all our cares upon Him, for He cares for y0u. ” (I Peter 5: 7 NKJV)

We love you, Father.

Thank you Father for Your everlasting love.

Thank you Father that Your mercies are renewed every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

We bless Your Name, and exalt You.

You alone are God, the Holy One of Israel; Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen

May the Lord rich bless you and your family as you celebrate the Incarnation and the birth of Jesus, the Messiah, the Father’s, One and only Begotten Son.

blessings, deo

The Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D. Part 2

The Son of God, who has come into the world incarnated in human flesh by the Holy Spirit was: born of the virgin Mary; circumscribed the eighth day;revealed to Simeon (Luke 2:25-35) as the Lord’s Christ; witnessed by Anna, a prophetess (Luke 2:36-38), upon entering the Temple, being recognized in the Spirit, who this Child was, and “she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.”

Luke 2:39-40, NKJV, continues, “So when they (Joseph, Mary, Jesus) had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God (His Father) was upon Him.” (inserts mine)

This is the Child that has grown into Manhood and presented Himself to John the Baptist to be water baptized to “fulfill all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). This is the Child that when He came up out of the water “the heavens were opened to Him and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him (Matthew 3:16). This is the Child to whom a “…voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)”

This is the Child, “Now Jesus Himself began His ministry about thirty years of age…(Luke 3:23)”.

This is now no longer a Child, but Jesus, Son of God/Son of Man, who “being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the (Holy) Spirit into the wilderness, being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.” (Luke 4:1-2, NKJV), “Then the devil left Him, and behold angels came and ministered to Him. (Matthew 4:11 NKJV) “Then Jesus returned in the power of the (Holy) Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went through all the surrounding region. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.” (Luke 4:14-15 NKJV) (inserts mine) [emphasis mine]

What is the Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D.?

What do the synoptic Gospel writers record?

Mark 1:14 (NKJV), Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Matthew 4:23-24, (NKJV), ” And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went through all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.”

Mark 1:39, (NKJV), “And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.”

Luke 4:31-37 (NKJV), “Then Jesus went down to Capernaum , a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? did You come to destroy us? I know who You are–the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and I’d not hurt him. Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out. And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.”[emphasis mine]

Luke 4:38-39 (NKJV), “Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.”

Luke 4:40-44 (NKJV), “When the sun was setting, all those who have any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.”

I want to ask you to re-read these verses, and see the following: Jesus preached the Gospel of the kingdom of God; Jesus healed the sick; Jesus delivered those with demons.

The Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D. was Preaching, Healing, Deliverance.

Jesus, the Son of God/Son of Man in human flesh, anointed by the Holy Spirit, was governed by His relationship to His Father, doing only what His Father showed Him to do (John 5:18-19); and saying only what My Father commands Me to speak. (John 12:29)

Jesus walked ‘orderly’ and ‘obediently’; therefore, everywhere He went His Father’s Kingdom came, and His Father’s will was done “on earth as it is in heaven”(Matthew 6:10) because Jesus was ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit.

In Matthew 10:1 NKJV, (Mark 6:7, Luke 9:1) Jesus sends out his disciples to minister.

“And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out(deliverance), and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.” [insert, emphasis mine]

Matthew 10:5-40, Jesus explains to them in detail what to expect and what they will encounter. Looking specifically at Matthew 10:7-8 NKJV, “And as you go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out [deliverance]demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” (See Mark 6:7-13; Luke 9:1-6) [insert, emphasis mine]

Q: What did Jesus confer upon His disciples? an honorary P.H.D.!

He told them to go and preach, heal the sick, and cast out [deliverance] demons.

In Luke 10:1-23, NKJV, Jesus sends out a group of 70 disciples, two by two.

Please read Luke 10:1-23.

Working through the text, note the following:

vs. 9 “heal the sick” [boldness mine]

vs. 17 the disciples had finished their assignment, and they tell Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name” (inference is deliverance, casting out of demons) [boldness mine] (insert mine)

vs.9-16, I suggest what Jesus says, imply that the disciples shared, taught, and preached the message of the gospel.

You may ask, how do you come to that conclusion?

vs. 13, Jesus pronounces “Woe” to two cities, Chorazin and Bethsaida. He says, “For if the mighty works which were done in you (healing and deliverances) had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.” (Acts 14:3; Hebrews 2:4; Mark 16:20; John 4:48) (insert mine)

In I Thessalonians 1:5 Paul writes, “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.”

Studying the ministry of Paul, you will discover that he, too, had a P.H.D.

His ministry consisted of Preaching, Healing, and Deliverance.

What was Prophetic, Historical, and Documented in the Word of God about Jesus Christ was lived out in a ‘body’.

The ministry of Jesus preached the gospel of the kingdom of God; He healed those who were sick and diseased; and He delivered those who were afflicted with demons.

He gave that authority and power to His disciples, and then to 70 others to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God; heal the sick and diseased; and deliver others from demonic power and influence.

Is it time to ask a question? I think it is.

Q: Has the Church, the Body of Christ, been given the authority and power to minister just as Jesus did?; as He instructed His 12 disciples to do?; and as He sent out the 70 to do?

He sent them out to preach the gospel of the kingdom of God; heal the sick and diseased; and deliver those afflicted with demons, just as He had been doing..

Continuing: The Lord Jesus Christ, now sits at the right hand of God, His Father.

His position in the heavenlies validates completely the life that He came to live flesh, in a human body, offering Himself as the Lamb of God who took away the sin of the world and being crucified on a cross, dying a substitutionary* death for all mankind separated from God because of their sin nature.

The Word of God says, “For He {God}made Him{Jesus} who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him{Jesus} .” (2 Corinthians 5:21), [*See Got Questions: What is the substitutionary atonement?] {inserts mine}

The validation of the completeness of Christ’s sacrifice is contained in these words written in Hebrews 9:23-28 NKJV.

[There are things written in the Word of God that one can only read and accept by faith as the revelation of God made to mankind by the Holy Spirit, who inspired the inerrancy of the Bible.]

“Therefore it was (see Hebrews 9:16-22 for context) that the copies of the things in the heavens should be purified with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enter the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another–He then would have to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the end of the ages, He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”

Jesus presented His blood. The Father’s wrath against sin has been fully satisfied. Our sins can now be forgiven, forgotten, and flung “into the depths of the sea”(Micah 7:19 NKJV), or “as far as the east is from the west so far has He removed our transgressions from us.”(Psalm 103:12 NKJV)

Since Jesus has completely fulfilled His Father’s will, and He is seated at the right hand of His Father, then the glory that He set aside (Philippians 2:5-8), His Father restored to Him. (Philippians 2:9-11)

Recount Jesus’s prayer to His Father prior to His arrest. John 17:1-5, NKJV.

“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which you have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” [emphasis mine]

[Personal note: I would like to suggest that this was in part “…who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2 NKJV)]

In consideration of ‘Putting It All Together‘, we have returned to an upper room in Jerusalem. (previous post)

In that upper room there are 120 followers of Christ, of whom 11 were originally chosen by Jesus, Himself.

They have obediently waited for 10 days that began when Jesus ascended back to heaven; and it is now 10 days later, 50 days since the Passover to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost on the Jewish ‘religious calendar’.

The Biblical record written by Luke, called, THE ACTS, of the Apostles, tells the story.

The promise of the Father, the Third Person of the Trinity, was sent on the Day of Pentecost.

The believers in the upper room were endued with power just as Jesus has told them.

Luke 24:49 NKJV says, “Behold I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.” [emphasis mine]

That is exactly what has taken place. (See Acts 1:1-2:4)

The Church, the Body of Christ, the Ekklesia, the Bride of Christ, was birthed into existence.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head of the Body of Christ, the Church. (Colossians 1:18; Ephesians 1:22)

Let us rest and reflect upon what has been said up to this point.

Blessings, a fellow member of the Body of Christ, deo

Putting It All Together!

These words are very meaningful to me.

Why?

When I think back over the past 8 years, writing posts began with a ‘placard’ I saw on a news program held by a young woman that read ‘be ungoverned’.

Here, I am, here we are, in 2025, and the emphasis of the latest posts is that the Church needs to be ‘governed’ by the Holy Spirit, individually and corporately.

All around us, the world is reeling struggling with asserting to ‘be ungoverned’.

There have been a lot of words, a lot of subject matter, written about ‘politics’ concerning the state of our nation and how it is governed and the well-being of our citizenry as a voting entity.

The onslaught of the divisive verbal rhetoric that we as a nation has been exposed too, especially in the past 10 years, has been divisive and has led to a nation clamoring over how to be governed.

Previous posts speak for themselves.

Not everyone will agree with what has been written, but that is ok.

Unfortunately, the divisive verbal rhetoric continues.

But, over the past year or more, there has been an uncovering of what was verbalized in ‘darkness’ is now being brought to the ‘light’.

Verbal rhetoric that has been hailed as ’empirical truth’ has been shown in many instances to be the fabrication of lies spoken to advance a political agenda.

If you are interested in reading more of what I am referring too, I encourage you to read previous posts.

Now, I will move forward, Putting It All Together.

The last post was entitled The Lord Jesus Christ is Glorified!

Let me set the context for The Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D., Part 2

If we are going to understand The Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D. Part 2, we must look into eternity past before the creation of the Lord.

The mystery of God.

The only reason we have any knowledge of God is because God has revealed Himself.

That is not a new profound thought; but it is absolute truth.

God’s revelation of Himself is in His P.H.D.

The Old Testament is replete with beginnings.

Genesis is a book of beginnings.

The beginnings in Genesis put into motion what unfolds throughout the Old Testament and throughout the New Testament.

The God of both testaments is the same. (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8)

God’s P.H.D. is His Prophetic. Historical. Document.

God’s Prophetic, Historical, Document is the Word of God.

The Word of God is the Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity.

The knowledge of God was originally passed down by sharing verbally.

This is called oral tradition.

At an appointed time in the history of mankind, that oral tradition began to be written down.

That writing recorded God’s beginnings with creation; His interaction with mankind; the choosing of one man to father a nation to be His people; the history of His people; His covenants made with His people; the rise of nations; the institution of kings; significant ups and downs within His own personal nation; His nation’s rise and fall; God’s love for His people; God’s use of prophets to be His spokesmen (mouth piece) to call His people back to Himself.

The substance of this history is found reading the Old Testament in the Word of God.

And throughout all this prophetic, historical, documentary, there is what theologians have called a ‘scarlet thread’-a promised person who would come and make right what went wrong in the beginning as recorded in Genesis. (See Genesis 3:15; Go to Got Questions: What is the significance of a scarlet thread?)

Throughout the Word of God, there is a continual, unveiling of God-a triune God-God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit.

The Word of God represents the account of this triune God interacting with each other before the foundation for the world, purposing the creation, that included the creation of mankind, created in the image and likeness of God completely different from angelic beings, and the other animal life created during the days of creation.

Being repetitive, the Word of God provides the substance of God’s P.H.D. .

The Word of God is God’s written account of Himself for us to read, understand, and to personally experience the reality of God’s intent that was purposed in the Godhead before the creation of the world.

At this time, I encourage you to stop, and read Ephesians 1:3-14.

This passage of scripture encapsulates for us an incredible word picture of the intent of the Godhead that was residing in God, the Father’s heart; the purpose and plan of God; the Son’s coming out of eternity and into the existence of time that He, Himself, created; and the work of God the Holy Spirit in the creation process; and the plan of redemption.

Again at this time, I recommend that you consider reading or re-reading The Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D., Part 1.

Quoting from The Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D. Part 1,

“God’s P.H.D. is the written Word of God that has revealed to us God’s purpose that was in His heart before the foundation of the world…The written Word of God is the Father’s Prophetic. Historical. Document, authenticating the Son of God, (who is) the Second Person of the Trinity…God’s P.H.D. chronicles the Life of Christ, Jesus-Son of God/Son of Man; incarnated in a human body by the Holy Spirit; born of a virgin; perfectly fulfilling His Father’s P.H.D.as recorded in the Word of God; and completely doing His Father’s will ‘orderly’ and ‘obediently’ without sinning. (See Philippians 1:1-2:11 for context) [emphasis mine].”

We now turn to the New Testament account of the continued revelation purposed in eternity past before the foundation of the world.

Fast forward, from Incarnation to Manhood and then to ministry.

The life of Jesus, the Son of God/Son of Man was ‘governed’ by the Third Person of the Trinity, Holy Spirit. (See Matthew 3:1-4:11)

Jesus comes to the Jordan river, where John the Baptist, is preaching repentance from a sinful lifestyle; and water baptizing those who respond to his preaching.

As John is fulfilling God’s appointed ministry, Jesus approaches and seeks to be water baptized. Matthew 3:13-17 NKJV says, “Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?” But Jesus answered and said to him, “Permit it to be so now, for this it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed Him. When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.””

In the sequence of events, what has taken place, is the interaction of the foreordained ministry of John the Baptist (see Luke 1:39-45; Luke 1:57-80; Luke 3:1-7, 18,21-22), the arrival of Jesus, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world(John 1:29); Jesus’ water baptism; the voice out of heaven of God, the Father’s affirmation of His Son; and the coming down out of heaven of the Holy Spirit that descended upon Him.

Coming up out of this muddy river, that has just witnessed the relational family of God, the Father; God the Son in human flesh; and God the Holy Spirit, Jesus, Son of God/Son of Man (Matthew 4:1 NKJV) “was led up by the (Holy) Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.” (insert mine)

Why?

It is all part of the incredible plan of redemption. (See the Post-The Time to Continue)

All of the above is an introduction to reset the scene to continue The Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D. Part 2.

What has been written as God’s Prophetic, Historic, Document – the Word of God: Jesus, Son of God/Son of Man is now going to live out in human flesh.

This lifestyle is going to be transferred to the Body of Christ, the Church, that was began on the Day of Pentecost when “…suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they(the disciples) were sitting. Then there appeared to them(the disciples) divided tongues, as of a fire, and one sat upon each of them(the disciples). And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the (Holy) Spirit gave them utterance. [Acts 2:2-4, NKJV] (inserts mine).

Instead of making this post twice as long, I will stop here.

thank you for your patience,

your brother in Christ,

blessings, deo

tbc: The Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D. Part 2.

The Time to Continue…

What does that entail?

It has been a little more than a month since I posted The Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D. Part 1.

That post was a continuation of the the post talking about God’s P.H.D., that emphasized that God’s Word was His Prophetic Historical Document of Jesus Christ who is the Word of God, made flesh.

Presently I am not prepared to continue with The Lord Jesus Christ’s P.H.D. Part 2.

Why?

Something else has been pressing on my heart.

That something is a topic that many believers in the Church understand; yet many other believers in the Church do not fully understand; and many believers do not want explained to them; or in some instances, I assume have discounted this teaching completely.

What has been on my heart?

Consider the following questions.

Q: What do you understand about spiritual warfare?

Q: What does your local church believe about spiritual warfare?

Q: What does your pastoral staff teach about spiritual warfare?

In short, is this important?

I affirm that it is absolutely important.

Therefore, I put forth this question.

Q: Why is there so much conflict in the world today in which we live?

I am not a scholar nor a theologian; but I would like to share some insights.

There is not a new spiritual conflict.

Let us go back to a beginning.

Can we even determine when the beginning was?

You can research many different theories regarding when this conflict began.

For me, I believe that it began in eternity before the foundation of the world; therefore before the creation of Adam and Eve.

The conflict is the result of one archangel*, Lucifer, a creation of God, who personally determined that his status and position as a created being by God was no longer something that he was satisfied with so he rebelled and made the decision to exalt himself to be higher than God. [*some scholars believe that he was an archangel; and many others do not. I will leave the resolve of that issue to your own study.] {emphasis mine}

Regardless, the fact remains that it was Lucifer (Satan), who made that decision.

It is recorded in Isaiah 14:12-14; and is paralleled in Ezekiel 28:1-19.

In both passages, there is a dual reference to the King of Tyre manifesting His pride and arrogance; and the pride and arrogance exhibited by Lucifer (Satan) (insert mine)

Lucifer decided that he would be exalted over God.

The consequences of that decision are stated in Isaiah 14:15, and Ezekiel 28:16-19.

In Isaiah 14:12-14, the five “I wills” of Lucifer are stated.

Lucifer said I will be exalted above God; the result of his five “I wills” is:

“Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, to the lowest depths of the Pit.” (Isaiah 14:15, NKJV)

Lucifer who desired the highest point of exaltation received the absolute lowest place in God’s universe.

Lucifer(Satan) has not been assigned to Sheol yet. (insert mine)

Revelation 20: 10, NKJV, tells us where Lucifer is eternally assigned because of his rebellion against God. “The devil (Lucifer), who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (insert mine)

Note on Revelation 20:10, in the MacArthur Study Bible, page 2022, says, “Continuous, unrelieved torment will be the final state of Satan, fallen angels, and unredeemed men.” (emphasis mine)

Why does mankind need the Gospel?

So that mankind can be redeemed from Hell and not spend eternity in the same final state as Satan, and the fallen angels. (emphasis mine)

One of the great unknowns throughout the entirety of the Word of God is, why has God allowed Satan to be an influence in this world?

The answer to that quandary has been addressed by many authors and theologians.

My understanding is summarized in this conclusion.

God uses Satan for His own purposes.

Ask Job!

God allows Satan to have influence in the dealings of mankind.

As you read the Word of God, and you understand the Sovereignty of God, coupled with His eternal purpose formed before the foundation of the world, a believer in Christ, must come to understand that Satan does have an influence in this world, but that influence is governed by God; and that the Church has a responsibility in standing against that influence.

Therefore, the Church must be governed by God.

That is a truth that the Church must understand; as well as, every believer in Christ Jesus.

Paul writing to the Ephesian Church states in Ephesians 6: 10-18, reminds the Church that our adversary the devil is real, and that he (Satan) is the Church’s spiritual opposition.

We are to “…stand against the wiles (scheming) of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood (humanity), but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (insert mine)

Do you believe that?

Read Ephesians 6:10-18.

We must be willing to accept the truth of these words and rest by faith in His omniscience. (Isaiah 55:8-9)

The following , too, is a foundational truth that the Church must understand; as well as, every believer in Christ Jesus.

Jesus didn’t just come to ‘save’ us.

The total work of the cross is much more inclusive than that.

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came in human flesh, and became the Son of Man, totally and completely, satisfied the wrath of God against sin; provides for mankind’s salvation by grace through faith in Christ’s death; the shedding of His blood; and His broken body; resulting in Christ’s death, burial, and glorious resurrection where those who call upon the name of the Lord will receive eternal life where old things have passed away and all things have become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Christ’s death on the cross, not only made the way for mankind to be reconciled unto God, the Father; but completely broke the power of sin, caused death to die, and made an open spectacle of defeating the power of Satan. (See Colossians 2:11-15; Hebrews 2:14-18; 1 John 3:7-8)

Satan’s authority and influence has been completely defeated.

Yet the final and ultimate consequence of that defeat because of the work of the cross, because of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection has been held in abeyance by the Sovereignty of God until what God has said will happen does in fact take place. (See I Corithians 15:20-28; Ephesians 1:15-23; Hebrews 2:5-18)

Therefore, Jesus, prior to His ascension back into the presence of His Father, makes this declaration to His disciples, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18b, NKJV)

Paul writing to the Philippian Church about the coming, the person, and the ministry of Jesus Christ, clearly presents the humility of the Son of God, who took on human flesh to become the Son of Man. He also outlines the mind of Christ to fulfill this commission given to Him by His Father before the foundation of the world. (See Philippians 2:1-11).

Paul states unequivocally that what Christ accomplished through His death, “even death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8b NKJV), results in the following absolute truth.

“Therefore God has also highly exalted Him and given Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on the earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11, NKJV)

This post, The Time to Continue, points back to these previous posts: Pentecost-50 Days After Passover Part 1, and Part 2; The Lord Jesus Christ; and The Lord Jesus Christ is Glorified.

I encourage you to revisit these posts. It will renew the foundational thoughts for us to continue forward.

A final thought.

The perceived conflict in the world is real; yet it is not in question because our God alone is God; Our God is Sovereign; He is “one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” (Ephesians 4:6 NKJV)

See also, Psalms 103:19; Daniel 4:35; Lamentations 3:37-38; Psalms 46:8-10.

The origin of the conflict, the struggle, the wrestling we encounter is because Lucifer asserted his ‘I will be’ against the God who created him who is ‘ I am that I am’.

What Lucifer witnessed God receiving from His angelic beings, he desires for himself.

He did not want to be a ‘giver’ of worship unto God; he wanted to be a receiver of that worship. Therefore, he said within himself, I will be greater than God.

Consider this, the internal attitude that Lucifer asserted against his creator God is the exact same attitude that he (Satan) in the Garden of Eden presented to Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve were created in the image of God. They were not God nor were they ever to be God.

What did Satan say to Eve?

Genesis 3:1-5, NKJV. “Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, “You shall not eat of every tree of the garden?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden, but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, “You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you ear of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Lucifer, Satan, the serpent (all names of one and the same) who had said within himself that he want to be higher than God; now comes to the pinnacle of God’s creation, mankind, who has been created in His image and likeness, and puts forth the thought that they can be (if I may say it this way) greater than God’s original purpose of their creation.

This is the exact same thing that Lucifer asserted within himself.

He was totally rejected.

Now he asserts his personal pride and arrogance at God’s creation, Adam and Eve, proposing to them to leave their designated purpose as God created them; and to command their own destiny to be ‘like God, knowing good and evil’.

In short, Satan, wants Adam and Eve to redirect their attention away from God and give it to him.

The result of Adam and Eve’s decision to step out from their Creator’s purpose for their existence with Him, resulted in exactly what God said would happen.

They died internally.

Their fellowship with God by the spirit was severed (died) because of their disobedience.

The result of their disobedience can be read in Genesis 3:6-24.

B.U.T.(Believer Understand This) God, because of His grace, mercy, and loving kindness dealt judiciously and mercifully with Adam and Eve.

That is the message of the Cross.

However, before He dealt with Adam and Eve. He dealt with the serpent. (See Genesis 3:14-16.)

God’s dialogue with the serpent, Adam, and Eve put into motion the plan of salvation that was purposed before the foundation of the world.

Can we fully grasp that Christ, the Eternal Son of God, the Second Person of the Trinity, was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8 NKJV). See also Ephesians 1:3-14.

Have you ever wondered why the scripture so adamantly tells us that God “opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble”? (I Peter 5:5 NKJV)

I believe it is because it is rooted in Lucifer’s original pride, arrogance, haughtiness, lying, evil behavior, etc.

Pride represents Lucifer’s assertion that he will be greater than God.

Remember, Lucifer wanted what God received; therefore he sought to displace Him.

Lucifer’s pride resides in humanity’s ‘unregenerated’ heart.

Do you now clearly see why Christ came?

Christ, the second Adam, perfectly obeyed His Father, in a body.

There was no sin of pride in Him.

See Philippians 2:5-11.

Satan tried to penetrate Christ’s humanity, and get Him to sin; but Jesus did not succumb to the lies, the deceit, and the temptations of Satan to do evil.

In the wilderness, where Satan tempted Jesus, his third temptation (Matthew 4:8,9) was his attempt for Jesus (who is the Son of God/Son of Man) to do the very thing that Satan had pridefully desired to experience in eternity past.

Satan wanted to be in the place, where God would bow down and worship him.

Here is the dialogue, (Matthew 4:8-11 Amplified Version) “Again, the devil took Him up on a very nigh mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the the world, and the glory [splendor, magnificence, and excellence] of them; and said to Him, “All these things I will give to You, if You fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan. For it is written and forever remains written, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” [Deuteronomy 6:13] Then the devil left Him and angels came and ministered to Him [bringing food and serving Him].” (emphasis mine)

Did you see it? The very words spoken by Satan to Jesus “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me.” tells the complete story of Lucifer’s desire to displace God, and receive the worship and recognition of God for himself that he witnessed God receiving from His angelic beings, Lucifer included.

Satan’s tactic is the same today.

He still seeks worship and recognition.

As a believer in Christ, let us remember to humble ourselves in the presence of God, our Father. (See, James 4:10; I Peter 5:6; Matthew 18:4; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Matthew 23:12; I Peter 5:5.)

James 4:7 instructs us to humble ourselves in the presence of God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you. That is what Jesus did when confronted with Satan’s temptation to turn away from God, the Father.

Can you understand the intensity of the heart of God, the Father, for His creation, especially, His humanity?

For God-so loved-the world-that He gave-His only begotten Son-that whosoever believes in Him-should not perish-but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” John 3:16-19 NKJV (hyphens mine)

It is The Time to Continue, in humility before God our Father.

Q: Is the Church walking in humility before the Lord Jesus Christ?

Q: More importantly, am I walking in humility, content with the place that the Lord has ‘given by grace’ to me in the Body of Christ?

Am I abiding in Romans 12:3, Amplified Version, “For by the grace [of God] given to me I say to everyone of you not to think more highly of himself [and of his importance and ability] than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and purpose designed for service].

Blessings, a brother in Christ, deo

Jesus said, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14, NKJV.

Our Continual Need for Prayer

Words of Caution to the Church, An Immediate Prayer Request

An Op Ed-Charlie Kirk

To use a phrase from our nation’s history, yesterday marked “a shot heard around the world”.

This phrase refers to the military engagement that began the American Revolutionary War.

The day was April 19, 1775.

Today, September 11, 2025, is a personal day of remembering three events.

My mother was born September 11, 1920. She is with the Lord. That is a pleasant memory.

Today, is the tragic memory that took place in our nation on September 11, 2001.

And today, is the memory of the assassination of Charlie Kirk that occurred yesterday on September 10, 2025.

These three memories are the good (mom’s birthday on 9/11/1920); the bad ( the 9/11/2001 terrorist attack on the United States); and the ugly ( the (9/10/2025 killing of Charlie Kirk).

My Mother’s passing was expected.

The terrorist attacks on 9/11 were not expected.

{However, their investigation shows they may have been preventable. The pros and cons of that investigation are not for this post}

The assignation of Charlie Kirk was evil.

Was it expected or unexpected?

{That is already being analyzed.}

In short, yesterday, 9/10/2025, Charlie Kirk was killed.

The words ‘murdered’, ‘assassinated’, the target of a ‘political hate crime’, a ‘terrorist’ act are all being used by those reporting on his death.

These words express the truth when Charlie Kirk was ‘shot down’ in broad daylight; at a political free speech event; on a college campus, a typical venue that he used to converse with an audience about political and cultural issues that college students face in their daily lives.

It was on a college campus where Charlie Kirk was individually singled out and slain.

In 2001, a nation was taken by surprise by the horrific terrorist acts, came together in an expression of ‘unity’and moved forward as best as possible.

Since 2001, the pros and cons of the political maneuvering during the past 24 years has deteriorated into what I identify as, ‘a chasm of deep political divide’.

It should be noted that ‘finger pointing blame’ has been done on each side of the political isle.

Inserting the names of the Presidents for the past administrations does not improve or remedy the political divide; it only exasperates the division.

Unfortunately, what does stand out glaringly, regarding the killing of Charlie Kirk, is that he purposed to reach the youth of this nation with a conservative message, that expressed a wholesome approach, verbally articulating, refuting, and answering anyone’s questions without yelling, shouting, being irrational, or violent.

Charlie Kirk was not naive.

Charlie Kirk was courageous.

Charlie Kirk used truth to expose false thought, irrational logic, and foolish arguments.

Charlie Kirk was a formidable intellectual ‘opposition’ to those espousing the left ideology.

I conclude that he was a threat to many that did not adhere to his conservative political ideology and they were intimidated by the growing impact he was having on the youth of this nation.

Therefore, is it possible, even probable, that the motivation for his murder was to silence him?

I know that such a question can be inflammatory in people’s thinking; but is it the reality to where we have fallen in this nation because we are so politically divided?

It will be interesting to wait, observe, and listen to how the events surrounding his life, his mission for Turning Point, and an analysis of the words he has spoken and advocated are used to characterize him as he spoke and related to the nation.

Is it possible that Charlie Kirk’s death could be used to awaken and heal the political division in our nation? in our families? and in our one-to-one relationships?

I believe it can.

Selah.

How do we as believers in Jesus Christ move forward?

I have been reminded of this: being ‘commissioned by Christ is costly’.

Do you believe that?

That is at the heart of the Gospel message.

I would like to share with you some personal thoughts regarding Charlie Kirk’s murder.

I found myself, asking the Lord, if what happened to Charlie was similar to what happened to Stephen in Acts 6,7?

Please do not over react to what I am saying.

Consider this: In Acts chapter 6, Stephen was one of seven men chosen with the following qualifications as outlined by the Apostles.

Acts 6:3 NKJV, “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit, and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.” (emphasis mine)

Stephen was one of the seven chosen.

I submit that the Lord chose Charlie because he was a man with a ‘good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit, and wisdom’, that He could appoint over this business of reaching the youth of this nation that the Church was failing to do. (emphasis mine)

Acts 6:8, 10 NKJV, “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people…And they (those who opposed him) were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.” (emphasis mine) (insert mine)

I am not advocating that he performed ‘signs and wonders’ as described in the ministry of Jesus or in the book of Acts.

Stephen was articulate about speaking the truth. He was full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. Those who heard him recognized it and were troubled because it did not align with their belief.

Acts 6:11-14, tells us that those who disagreed with him sought out others to be false witnesses, and they also stirred up the people against him.

What I am reflecting upon is that his words greatly disturbed others to be against him.

In Acts 7, Stephen articulated the history of Israel from Abraham to Joseph to Moses to Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and then confronted his audience with their rebellion against God in the wilderness.

Stephen did stop there; he tells them how they treated their prophets; and then transfers that conduct to how they treated the “….Just One, whom you now have become betrayers and murders, who have received the law by the direct of angels and have not kept it.” (Acts 7:51-53, NKJV context)

Acts 7:54, 57,58, NKJV Luke records, “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart (see Acts 2:37) and they gnashed at him with their teeth…Then they cried out with a loud voice , stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him.”

Stephen was called, chosen, and commissioned by Christ.

That is costly.

It cost Stephen his life.

My thoughts regarding Charlie Kirk are these.

Charlie Kirk was called, chosen, and commissioned by Christ to reach the youth of this nation; and I assume, to influence the youth throughout the nations of this world.

Charlie Kirk was a good man, well respected, full of the Holy Spirit, and wisdom.

He knew his subject matter. He was articulate. He spoke with clarity, conviction and truth.

His message ‘cut to the heart’ of those who heard him speak.

He did not speak maliciously or vindictively.

He challenged those who would listen; he wanted them to ask questions; he wanted to dialogue with people; to hear them and for them to hear his responses; and to contemplate the validity of his words compared to the words of those who opposed him.

What is wrong with that?

Q: How many individuals throughout history have had their lives taken because what they say does not align with what others wanted to be the truth?

The history of mankind is full of such stories.

The thinking of this world, and its wisdom, will not bring together those who are at the opposite ends of the political spectrum.

I don’t believe that Charlie focused on polarization; he focused on what is the truth.

There is an antichrist spirit in our world.

We, the Body of Christ are wrestling against that spirit.

This is not an irrational statement. (See I John 4:1-6)

The spirit of antichrist is vocal, violent, shameless, and proud; it is brazen, audacious, flagrant, and unprincipled.

Over the past decade, this nation has witnessed, experienced, and tolerated ‘unprecedented unrest’ that has become more openly unprincipled.

The unprincipled spirit is lawlessness; and it is the spirit of antichrist.

An ‘unprincipled’ lawlessness is capable of murder.

See Matthew 24.

It happened yesterday (September 10, 2025)

We as a nation are becoming blatantly lawless; and many are not ashamed of it in many areas of their daily lives.

I am not saying this is true of all the people who live in this nation.

See 2 Timothy 3:1-17.

What I am saying is that this malignancy is growing and becoming a deadly cancer.

On September 11, 1920 my mother was born into this world. Her death was an expected pleasant event. She loved the Lord, and is now with Him in His presence.

On September 11, 2021, an unexpected event happened in this nation.

Many were shocked.

How so?

This is America.

This can’t happen here.

It did.

On September 10, 2025, Charlie Kirk’s life was taken by an assassin.

Why?

That will be revealed over time.

Was it an unexpected or expected event?

I believe, Charlie Kirk’s life was taken for the same reason that Stephen’s was.

There were those who heard him speak and did not like what he said, and there were those who wanted to silence him.

Yesterday, September 10,2025 an individual silenced Charlie Kirk.

I am not sure where to put the following thoughts on this nation’s historical time line; therefore, I will present to you three pictures regarding what has taken place.

For me personally, as well as, for many others, Charlie Kirk’s death was not unexpected.

Why?

1. Our nation has been like a pot of water sitting over a flame that has been warming it up ; that has now reached its boiling point.

2. Our nation is like a pressure cooker, with its lid closed; when it reaches its boiling point, it lets out its steam.

3. Our nation is like a volcano, whose molten rock has been rising because of gas pressure; it exploded and erupted violently killing Charlie Kirk.

I have listened to many who have warned us that something like what happened yesterday would take place in our nation because of the great political division in our nation.

The source of this political division is because of the virulent rhetoric that has been spewing forth from both political parties.

Please understand that understanding was being voiced prior to the assassination attempts on President Trump.

What many thought could happen, has happened , in the United States of America.

And we know, only too well, that it has happened previously in our own nation; both attempted assassinations and fatal assassinations.

On September 10, 2025, the United States of America experienced what many other people throughout the world are exposed to everyday of their lives.

People speak up for what is true.

They are told to be silent.

They choose not to be silent.

Some end up in jail for a short time.

Some end up in prison for a long time.

Some are tortured.

Some are killed.

Some go missing and are never seen or heard of again.

I contend that Charlie Kirk’s death could be an article in the Voice of Martyr’s magazine; and that his picture could be on their cover.

What happened yesterday, September 10, 2025, is an ‘up close and personal’ example of what Jesus told His followers could happen following Him.

We, as a nation, witnessed that reality yesterday, September 10, 2025.

What many have wondered about regarding our safety in America based upon our personal beliefs has been graphically etched upon our minds, and seared into our hearts and souls, because Charlie Kirk was murdered.

Remember, commissioned by Christ is costly.

It could cost you your life.

That is Gospel truth.

Revelation 12:11 NKJV, “And they overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

Jesus said, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16:24 )

Charlie Kirk followed Christ.

Yesterday, September 10,2025 was a sobering moment for the Body of Christ,

Standing in the strength of our Lord Jesus Christ,

a brother in Christ, Deo