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It’s here and it’s coming.

What does that mean?

We are witnessing ‘unprecedented unrest’ as a result of evil; and we are witnessing ‘unprecedented unrest’ as a result of God’s grace.

Let me share the following acronym for G.R.A.C.E.

God’s Redemptive Activity Changes Everything

It’s coming!

Question: Was there ‘unprecedented unrest’caused by the life of Jesus? Did that ‘unprecedented unrest’ increase as He approached the Cross? Who was responsible for that ‘unprecedented unrest’ ? Did the principalities of darkness contribute to the ‘unrest’ ? Did God, the Father, have complete Sovereign control over what was taking place with His Son? Did The Son of God have complete control over His life ? Did God’s plan of salvation contribute to the ‘unprecedented unrest’ bringing Jesus to Calvary? Did the resurrection of Christ continue to bring ‘unprecedented unrest’ to the Jews and the Gentiles? Did the Lordship of Christ after Christ’s resurrection perpetuate ‘unprecedented unrest’? Did the Church born on the day of Pentecost contribute ‘unprecedented unrest’ to the known world?

Do the followers of Christ bring ‘unprecedented unrest’ throughout the world? Yes or No?

Does the Church of Jesus Christ cause ‘unprecedented unrest’ in the nations of the world ? Yes or No

Does the Church of Jesus Christ cause ‘unprecedented unrest’ in our nation? Yes or No

Does the Church of Jesus Christ have an influential voice in our nation or is it just a whimper? ‘influential voice’ or ‘whimper’

Things are about to change!

Psalms 64:7-10 (NKJV), recounts the following: God, our Father, will shoot them (Psalms 64:2, the workers of iniquity-vss. 3-4) with His arrow . “Suddenly they shall be wounded (“their wounds will appear”, Tree of Life Version (TLV)). (inserts mine)

What they spoke in darkness will be revealed and heard now in the light. This is God’s A.A.R.O.W. bringing Adonai’s Righteous Revelation Of (their own) Wrong- doing. (emphasis, insert mine)

Psalms 64:8a (NKJV) God “…will make them stumble over their own tongue”. We are witnessing that happening right before our eyes in our nation. What had been heralded as truth years ago is now being revealed as lies.

The Rotherham’s Emphasized Bible translation says, “their tongue smote themselves”. I have heard this explained this way-‘it’s a boomerang effect’.

This will bring their downfall. Things will continue to unravel and more lies and deceit will be exposed.

Psalms 8b, (NKJV), describes the reaction of (I believe) all humanity. (insert mine)

It says, “All who see them (those who spoke evil (vs4); set secret traps (6b);and plotted injustices (7a) [Tree of Life Version]) will be filled with shock. (emphasis mine)

Those people (them) will be totally exposed and those (all who see) who supported them will experience the following: they will flee (Strongs #5074, nadad) away (Rotherham: “will take flight”) from them. (inserts,emphasis mine)

I understand that to mean that they are repulsed by them; do not want to associate with them; and seek a complete disengagement from them. (See David’s parallel thought in Psalm 31:11, regarding his plight with his enemies) (emphasis mine)

What is most staggering in my thinking is what is written in Psalm 64:10 (Tree of Life Version).

Consider the impact of the following three statements.

1. “then all men will fear” (emphasis mine)

2. “So they(all men) will declare the works of God” (emphasis, insert mine)

3. “And they (all men) will ponder what He (God) has done” (emphasis, insert mine)

Question: What do these three statements picture in your mind?

May I purpose the following:

1. All men represent all of humanity, male and female, that comprise the nations of the world. They will stand aghast at what is happening; what they are hearing; and what they are seeing. It will cause an ‘unprecedented unrest’ throughout our nation and most of the nations of the world. This ‘unrest’ will cause fear. (emphasis mine)

1. Strong’s concordance, the Hebrew word is: #3379, ‘yare’ (yar-ray). The primary root is to fear; mor. to revere; caus. to frighten:-affright, be (make) afraid, dread (-ful), (put in) fear (-ful, fully, ing), (be had in) in reverence (end), x see, terrible (act, ness, thing).

Question: What do you picture? please re-read the above and reflect

You and I are part of that ‘all men‘. (emphasis mine)

How will I react? How will you react?

Q: What kind of ‘fear‘ will we experience? (emphasis mine)

2. What will ‘all men‘ (all humanity) declare? This is the “work of God“. Think about that! The world’s conclusion is that what has happened; what has been heard; what has been seen “are the works of God“. It is His work, His doing, His intervention. (emphasis mine)

Strong’s Concordance, the Hebrew word is #5046, nagad (naw-gad’); a prim. root; prop. to front, i.e. to stand boldly out opposite; by impl. (causat.), to manifest; fig, to announce (always by word of mouth to one present); spec. to expose, predict, explain, praise: bewray, x certainly, certify, declare (ing), denounce, expound, x fully, messenger, plainly, profess, rehearse, report, shew (forth), speak, x surely, tell, utter.

3. Will humanity attempt to put its ‘spin’ on what they are witnessing? I have no doubt that some will do that. In fact, the end of Psalm 64:10 (TLV) says that all men “will ponder what He (God) has done”. That statement, for me, leaves no room for ‘spin’. The KJV says, “And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing.” (emphasis mine)

Who is ‘doing’ ? God!

Turning to The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, revised edition, 5, Psalms, Dr. VanGemeren writes, regarding Psalm 64:10(TLV).

“The bold challenge of autonomy and anarchy (TLV vs 6; KJV vs.5) has its counterpart in the fear imposed by God’s judgment on humankind. The wicked asked “Who will see us” (ra a; NIV text note vs 5) and were unafraid (yara) of the consequences of their acts. When all humankind (adam; cf. 58:11; Isaiah 40:5-6) sees the power of God, all will ‘fear’ (yara). Then justice will triumph!. The psalmist encourages all people to “proclaim” (nagad, GK 5583) and to “ponder” (sakal, GK 8505), “learn from the acts of God (cf. 2:10; Isaiah 41:20). The history of redemption reveals the “works of God” in judgment of rebellious human beings. The story of redemption proclaims the mighty acts of God. Meditation on what God has done enhances one’s knowledge of God. The knowledge of God becomes a comforting doctrine. The godly learn that the Lord of history will vindicate them.” (emphasis mine)

I conclude that such will be the intervention of God in the affairs of this nation, and in other nations of the world, that ‘all men‘ will fear, declare, and come to the conclusion that Almighty God has come forward to reveal Himself to all humanity. (emphasis mine)

When will this happen?

It has already begun and will continue to grow.

Remember, it’s here; and it’s coming.

blessings, a brother in Christ,

deo

tbc

This past week I read a prophetic word that confirmed to me what I believe the Lord showed me regarding the relationship between what is taking place in our nation, the nations of the world and Psalm 64.

For those who follow my posts, that is why I encouraged you, as well as any new readers, to go to livingwordsofencouragement.com and read my post entitled The A.R.R.O.W. Of God.

I would like to revisit the theme of ‘unprecedented unrest’.

As the Lord had said to me, we have witnessed over the past couple of years a significant rise in ‘unprecedented unrest’.

Most of this ‘unrest’ has been caused by “principalities”, “powers”, and “the rulers of darkness of this age” , and the “spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places“. (Ephesians 6:12b, NKJV)

Many believe that we are wrestling against people in general. I do not disagree with that; however, Ephesians 6:12a (NKJV) says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood” but against those forces that I just mentioned.

In the Study Bible that I use, the New Spirit Filled Life Bible, the notes on Ephesians 6:12 (pg. 1654) makes this comment.

“Not…against flesh and blood: One of the church’s greatest demands is to discern between the spiritual struggle and other social, personal, and political difficulties. Otherwise, individual believers and groups become too easily detoured, “wrestling” with human adversaries instead of prayerfully warring against the invisible works of hell behind the scenes.”

Today in our nation, we are being besieged by the “works of hell behind the scenes” and many in the church are not aware of it.

The notes continue defining ‘heavenly places’. “Heavenly places recalls earlier references to 1) spiritual resources available to the church (Ephesians 1:3); 2) Christ’s authority over evil (Ephesians 1:21); 3) the church’s being seated together with her ascended Lord (Ephesians 2:6); 4) the Father’s will to display His wisdom through the church to the confounding of evil powers (Ephesians 3:10). On these grounds this passage announces the church’s corporate assignment to prayer warfare, in order that evil will be driven back and the will of God advanced.”

The good news is that a large body of Christian’s are engaged in prayerful warfare on a daily basis.

The concern of many is that that same impetus to participate in spiritual warfare is lacking in many individual churches and the corporate church in general.

I am praying Psalm 64 for our nation. I encourage you to do the same.

As I read Psalm 64, I personalize the words to speak to the Lord about our situation as a nation.

David used these words to speak to His Lord about what he was personally experiencing.

I believe the Lord has shown me how this applies to our nation, now.

In the context of Ephesians 6:12-18, what does Paul instruct us to do?

He says, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand, therefore, having girded….” (Ephesians 6:13-14a NKJV) , Paul instructs us to put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:14-18).

I will leave that reading and study to you.

Question: Are you withstanding as you stand, girded in the armor of God? (emphasis mine)

In my study Bible, in a section entitled Word Wealth,” 6:13 withstand, anthistemi (anth-is-tay-mee); Strong’s #436″, the following is written:

“Compare “antihistamine”. ” From anti, “against,” and from histerni “to cause to stand.” The verb suggests vigorously opposing, bravely resisting, standing face to face against an adversary, standing your ground. (As I read this I thought of David going eye-ball to eye-ball against Goliath.) Just as antihistamine puts a block on histamine, anthistemi tells us that with the authority and spiritual weapons granted to us we can withstand evil forces.” (insert mine)

II Corinthians 10:3-6 (NKJV), the Apostle Paul writes, “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal (margin: not of the flesh) but mighty in God for pulling down of strongholds (those mentioned in Ephesians 6:12), casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.” (inserts mine)

Quoting “Word Wealth (in my Study Bible), 10:5 obedience, hupakoe (hoop-ak-oh-ay); Strongs #5218: From hupo, “under,” and akouo, “to hear.” The word signifies attentive hearing, to listen with compliant submission, assent and agreement. It is used for obedience in general, for obedience to God’s commands, and for Christ’s obedience.”

Summarizing “pulling down of strongholds”, the study Bible says, “DELIVERANCE….Behind a stronghold…is a lie-a place of personal bondage where God’s Word has been subjugated to any unscriptural idea or personally confused belief that is held to be true. Behind every lie is a fear, and behind every fear is an idol. Idols are established wherever there exists a failure to trust in the provisions of God that are ours through Jesus Christ. Some of the weapons that pull down these strongholds are: God’s Word (Hebrew 4:12-13); the blood of the Cross (Revelation 12:11); and the name of Jesus (Mark 16;17). Strongholds are pulled down and confronted bondage is broken as these spiritual weapons of our warfare are employed (see Ephesians 6:13-18).”

I want to tell you. We as a nation are facing evil forces. We are a national in spiritual bondage.

In what way?

We are a nation that is in spiritual bondage to words. We are a Nation of P.O.W.’s–we are Prisoners of Words. This is what has taken place at least over the past decade.

This is not conjecture or hype.

The Ekklesia, the Church of the Living God, the Body of Christ needs to pray daily for this nation; especially as we head into our presidential election in November.

There will be a lot of rhetorical verbiage. This is seen in Psalms 64.

The Church needs to remember their prayers are to be centered against the spiritual forces of evil. Their prayers are not to be centered on getting the candidate of their choice elected.

We need to remember Romans 13:1 (NKJV), Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God”.

Looking at the Study Bible notes it says, “Paul does not suggest that God approves a corrupt government, ungodly officials, or unjust legislation. Sometimes, however, in punishment for the sins of a people or for other reasons known to Him, God allows evil rulers to have authority for a time, as the OT (Old Testament) prophets frequently testify. Ideally, God grants authority to serve good ends (Romans 13:3-4). How authority is exercised will be the accounting of each to whom it has been given.” (inserts mine)

I believe this is what we are experiencing in our nation now. You may think that that is unrealistic; however, I personally do not think so. What is the strength of my resolve? Psalm 64. I believe we will see the fulfillment of the words spoken in Psalms 64 in this election cycle and beyond. (Again, I suggest that you read my post, The A.R.R.O.W. Of God.)

I believe God, the Father, has shot His arrow. (Psalm 64:7). There will be a revealing of Adonai’s Righteous Revelation Of Wrong-doing.

I am asking the Father this question. Will Your ARROW, too, cause ‘unprecedented unrest’ in our nation and throughout humanity in the world for good?

I have said that we are living in and experiencing now the effects of evil in our nation.

Romans 5:20b, (NKJV) outlines this principle, “But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.”

I am asking. Father, where sin has abounded and done many evil things in this nation causing ‘unprecedented unrest’; will Your grace that much more abounds cause ‘unprecedented unrest’ for the good of humanity as a result of the ARROW that You have shot?

What kind of ‘unrest’ happens when You, in Your Sovereignty, and Providence manifest Your works in our nation and the nations of the world?

Psalms 64 tells us.

The reality is that the works of His glorious majesty are indeed happening throughout the world and in this nation, now.

Unfortunately, many believers and churches are unaware of what is taking place by God’s grace.

It is here; and it is coming!

a brother in Christ, deo

P.S. I recommend the CBN, Christian Broadcasting Network, app as a place to begin see and reading what God is doing around the world and in our nation.

tbc

Good morning, in about 45 minutes I will have a pacemaker installed.

Around 10:30 am, June 3, 2024, Pacific Time, in California.

This is definitely my Heavenly Father’s doing. This is His caring hand.

My Good Shepherd is caring for one of His sheep.

Psalms 23

it is also Psalms 62:1, a lesson in waiting, quietly, not anxiously.

And it is God’s promise found in Romans 8:28. “All things work together for good to those who are called to His purpose.

I hope to write a post about what the Lord had been revealing to me.

I also want to encourage you to pray for our nation during this ‘unprecedented unrest’; stay focused in Christ, He is our ARK. He is our place of refuge in the midst of our storm.

It is not a time to fear but to take refuge in the Lord, rest in Him, wait for Him; but be sure to do what He directs you to do.

blessings, a brother in Christ, deo

tbc

[A couple of weeks ago, I shared that I was going to revisit three posts that I had written a few years ago. For me, that is like picking up a book that I have previously read, and re-reading it. I would like to do this with three previous posts that will make up a trilogy of thought for the current season that we are experiencing as believers in Christ. I have taken the liberty to include some additional thought, and eliminate deemed appropriate.]

This was originally posted on December 24, 2019.

Recently, I completed a series about our nation being a P.O.W.

What does that imply?

I believe that we, as a nation, are a ‘prisoner of words’.

We are bombarded daily with words that accuse, seek to divide, and cause disunity disrupting the fabric of our nation. The centerpiece of this division is found in our political system.

Both sides of the political aisle participate in this divisive rhetoric.

What is my responsibility as a Christian? I believe that God’s Word instructs us to pray for those in authority over us. This is found in 1 Timothy 2:1-7. It is interesting to note that in this passage it tells us that we are to pray so that “we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.” It continues instructing us that doing this is “good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior”. Verse 4 emphasizes the heart of God, our Father, that says that He “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

That does not seem to be the spiritual atmosphere of our nation today.

Today, as I compose my thoughts, it is the day before Christmas. If I may be so brash; many people in our nation, Christian and non-Christian, are more concerned about the coming of a man into the Presidency of the United States than celebrating the coming of the Christ-child to the earth.

Where is your focus?

I have thought of a new acronym for the word focus.

Focus On Christ’s Universal Sovereignty.

1 Timothy 2:5,6 clearly states Who is in charge.

“For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for all to be testified in due time.”

Galatians 4:4,5 says, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons…”

The One who is in charge has arrived.

God Himself.

Now what?

This Christmas season, I have been reminded several times of John 3:16,17 which says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever 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.”

Jesus, Who is the Word of God, “…became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth.”

As I ponder the atmosphere of our nation and the world in which I live, I ask my self a question, is there ‘room in the inn’ for Jesus today? or is there ‘no room in the inn’ just as it was at His first coming to earth, born as an infant in Bethlehem?

In order for me(forgive my personal reference) to function in this nation, I need to remember the Sovereignty of God.

God is in control.

My focus is not on the political turmoil that is disrupting the nation. My ears are not bent on hearing the latest news. My mind is not interested in pondering the pundits’ thoughts.

I confess that I do stay in touch to the point where I am aware of the general flow; but I do not seek to be governed by the political events of the day.

I do know that there is a political rift developing in the Body of Christ.

Is that wisdom? What is the source of that division? How am I to respond?

My response is-I need to pray; the Body of Christ needs to pray.

We need to ask in prayer, what is the Spirit saying to the Church?

Jesus is the Head of the Church. We are His Body. The Head speaks to the Body. The Body listens and carries out the plans of its Head, our King, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 55: 6-9 says, “Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way (repent), And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return (believe) to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon (forgive), For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord, For as the heavens are higher then the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

So what is the Lord saying to His Church? If we quiet our hearts before Him, He will speak, and direct His Body in truth of His Word, guided by the Holy Spirit. Therefore,

Let me encourage you to intercede for the Church, our leaders, our nation, and the propagation of the Gospel around the world.

In closing, I would like to share 5 bullet points that are listed in my study Bible written by Joy Dawson regarding intercession,

* Light is more powerful than darkness.

*Truth is stronger than error.

*There’s more grace in God’s heart than sin in men’s hearts.

*There’s more power in the Holy Spirit to convict men of sin than there is power of satanic forces to tempt men to sin.

*There’s more power in one drop of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus to cleanse men’s hearts from the stain of sin than there is in the accumulated filth of men’s sin since Adan and Eve.

We are at a crossroads in the life of this nation. The Church needs to seek the face of our Lord Jesus Christ and allow Him to bring correction to our lives. And then, the Church needs to intercede for our leadership and our nation.

Do you believe in the Sovereignty of God? Then everything is proceeding as He oversees the unfolding of His plan of salvation culminating in the return of His Son.

Tomorrow is Christmas (December 25, 2019), we celebrate His first coming; soon He will be coming again. In the meantime we live in the tension between the two events.

Have a blessed Christmas, a brother in Christ, deo

[As I have looked at this post from December, 2019 and the fact that it is being re-posted immediately following Easter, I see the significance of re-visiting this post, its thought, and its encouragement to pray for the nation.}

Rejoice, lift up your voice, Christ has risen from the dead.

In the words of Rev. E. V. Hill, “Sundays’ Comin!”

Resurrection Sunday is the focal point of God’s plan of salvation.

It is the centrality of God’s mind regarding the reconciliation of His creation.

All that was lost through the original sin of Adam has been regained through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Christ, who knew no sin, has become sin for humanity, so that humanity could become the restored unto its Creator. God, Himself, was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.

I recommend that you listen to the ‘Easter Song’, sung by The Second Chapter of Acts. It will bless you.

One of the joys that I experience when reading or even when thinking is when an acronym pops into my mind for a word. Sometimes I struggle trying to make an acronym and at other times they come very easily.

Many times, I believe the Holy Spirit brings acronyms to my attention when writing or when I am thinking about a subject or passage of scripture.

Today (March 23,2024), I read the Book of Joel. An acronym came to mind, so I wrote it down.

J.O.E.L.: Jesus Offers Eternal Life.

There can be other possibilities like: Jesus Obtained Eternal Life.

The point is that such acronyms help me and, I believe, assist others in recognizing and remembering certain truths from scripture.

I do not know where my study or reading of the Book of Joel is ultimately headed; but when I finished reading the text, I said to God, the Father, “There is too much in Joel to absorb.”

Continuing, “Holy Spirit help me to read, to understand, to see, and to hear what You are saying to the Church today through this prophet. (emphasis mine)

The bottom line is that I want to see Jesus, and come to know Him more fully from this text.

I chose to read this text because last night as I was settling in to go to sleep; the thought came to mind that “old men will dream dreams”. So I said, “Lord, I am an old man, so that includes me.”

That became the impetus for reading the Book of Joel this morning.

After reading the text, writing down some notes, and trying to make some semblance out of what the text was saying without looking at a commentary, I decided to read from my Spirit Filled Life Study Bible. Turning to Joel, I saw that I had visited this passage of scripture on several occasions. I had even dated the times when I read it previously. After going over notes that I had written in the Study Bible, years earlier; I turned to the introduction of Joel that outlines basic information about its author, the dating of its writing, its historical period, the Person of Christ, and the Person of the Holy Spirit.

The paragraph on the Person of the Holy Spirit said something that really awakened me.

I think this is where I may be headed at a later date; but today, let me begin with the setting of the scene of that comments observation.

On the day of Pentecost, 50 days after Jesus’ resurrection, there was the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples in an upper room in Jerusalem that Jesus had told them to wait in for the promise of the Father.

From wordoflife.co.uk, Words of Life Ministries, Study 2, Waiting For The Promise of the Father, by Francis Dixon, the following is outlined.

“The Promise of the Father was the promise that the Holy Spirit would come at Pentecost to do a distinctive work in the lives of all Christians; it was a promise relating to this period of time in which we are living, the Dispensation of the Spirit, the Church Age.

1. It was given through the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-32).

2. It was proclaimed by John the Baptist(John 1:29-34).

3. It was referred to by the Lord Himself (John 7:37-39; John 14:16-17; John 15:26; John 16:6-7 and 13-14; and Acts 1:8.

4. It was anticipated by the Lord after the Resurrection (John 20:22).

5. It was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4).

I continue.

Now what? The fulfillment has come. Those in the upper room are filled with the Holy Spirit. There are those that have witnessed what has taken place and they are both confused and inquisitive.

So, Peter, ‘steps up to the microphone’!

What did Peter proclaim to those who witnessed the coming of the Holy Spirit when they “…were all amazed and perplexed, saying to each other, “What does this mean?” Others, poking fun, were saying, “They are full of sweet new wine!” ” (Acts 2:12-13, Tree of Life Version)

Let’s read what Peter said:

“But Peter, standing with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed them: Fellow Judeans and all who are staying in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and pay attention to my words. These men are not drunk, as you suppose–for it’s only the third hour of the day! But this is what was spoken about through the prophet Joel: “And it shall be in the last days’ , says God, ‘that I will pour out My Ruach (Spirit) on all flesh, Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even on My slaves, male and female, I will pour out My Ruach (Spirit) in those days, and they shall prophesy. And I will give wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth beneath–blood and fire, and smoky vapor. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious Day of Adonai (YHWH, the LORD) comes. And it shall be that everyone who calls on the name of Adonai shall be saved. Men of Israel, hear these words! Yeshua ha-Natzrati (Jesus of Nazareth)-a man authenticated to you by God with mighty deeds and wonders and signs God performed through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know–this Yeshua (Jesus), given over by God’s predetermined plan and foreknowledge, nailed to the cross by the hand of lawless men, you killed. But God raised Him up, releasing Him from the pains of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held by it.” (Acts 2:17-24, TLV) (inserts mine)

I suggest that you re-read Peter’s last two sentences again, starting with ‘Men of Israel…’

Peter has summarized what had taken place 50 days earlier in Jerusalem in the midst of the Passover celebration; but in reality these words were laid out before the foundation of the world. (See Ephesians 1,2)

Reading the Book of Joel this morning, and being forwarded to Acts 2, I, we, have been brought face to face with the four words found in the acronym:

Jesus Offers Eternal Life.

The coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost aroused people’s attention. Peter referenced the coming of the Holy Spirit in the context of what Joel had prophesied.

This opened the door to preach Christ. (Please read Acts 2:14-36)

The testimony that Peter preached is based upon the truth that Jesus is the Lamb of God. The history of the Feast of Passover, the killing of a lamb, the use of the lamb’s blood, was instituted in the land of Egypt, the night of the tenth plague, in which God said that there would be the death of the firstborn in each household. God’s grace was that when His death angel saw the ‘blood of the lamb’ applied to the lintel of the door, the death angel would ‘passover’ that household and the firstborn of the household would not be killed. (See Exodus 12-13) (emphasis mine)

Let us reflect upon the Word of God during this Passion Week in which Jesus, the Lamb of God, has entered Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. During this week, He will be betrayed by Judas, arrested, mocked, ridiculed, beaten (see Isaiah 53 ), condemned to death because He claimed to be the king of the Jews, crucified as a criminal, die on the cross, be buried, and after three days raised from the dead, just as He said it would happen. (See Matthew 21-28) (emphasis mine)

In the natural, all of these things happened just as the law and the prophets had prophesied. We know that the Word of God is not just natural but spiritual. What seems to be natural outcomes in the lives of the many of those involved with Jesus are significantly more profound that they imagine.

Mankind’s history is God’s story of His plan of salvation. It is all spiritually significant.

“In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were made through Him, and apart from Him nothing was made that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it.” (John 1:1-5, Tree of Life Version)

“Now this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you–that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him and keep walking in darkness, we are lying and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of His Son, Yeshua (Jesus) purifies us from all sin.” (I John 1:5-7, TLV) (insert mine)

“Yeshua (Jesus) spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. The one who follows Me will no longer walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12 TLV) (insert mine)

“The next day, John (the Baptist) sees Yeshua (Jesus) coming to him and says, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. This is the One about whom I told you…” (John 1:29, TLV) (insert, emphasis mine)

“And the next(the following) day, John (the Baptist) was standing with two of his disciples, and watched Yeshua (Jesus) walking by. He (John the baptist) said, “Behold the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Yeshua (Jesus). (John 1:25-37, TLV) (inserts, emphasis mine)

Fast forward to The Revelation.

“And in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, I(the Apostle John, who wrote the Gospel of John) saw a Lamb standing, as having been slain…And they are singing a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals. For You were slain, and by Your blood You redeemed for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them for our God a kingdom and kohanim (priests), and they shall reign upon the earth. Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creature and the elders–their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. They were chanting with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and blessing.” And I heard every creature in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and one the sea and everything in them, responding, “To the One seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and power forever and ever!” And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.” (Revelation 5″6a, 9-14, TLV) (inserts, emphasis mine)

Where did these myriads upon myriads come from?

“Therefore, having been made righteous by trusting , we have shalom (peace) with God through our Lord Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah (Christ). Through Him we also have gained access by faith into this grace in which we stand and boast in the hope of His glory. And not only that, but we also boast in suffering–knowing that suffering produces perseverance; and perseverance, character: and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Ruach ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit) who was given to us. For while we were still helpless , at the right time Messiah (Christ) died for the ungodly. For rarely will anyone die for a righteous man–though perhaps for a good man some might even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah (Christ) died for us. How much more then, having now been set right by His blood, shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him. For if, while we were yet enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, shall we be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah (Christ), through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:1-11 TLV) (inserts, emphasis mine)

On the day of Pentecost, when Peter concluded his preaching about Christ, His death, burial, and resurrection. The scripture says:

“Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the emissaries (apostles), “Fellow brethren, what shall we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and let each of you be immersed (water baptized) in the name of Messiah Yeshua (Christ Jesus) for the removal of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Ruach ha-Kedesh (Holy Spirit). For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far away–as many as Adonai (Yahweh, the LORD)our God calls to Himself.” With many other words he warned them and kept urging them, saying, “Save yourselves from this twisted generation!” So those who received his message were immersed, and that day about three thousand souls were added.” (Acts 2:37-41 TLV) (inserts, emphasis mine)

This is the A,B,C’s of salvation: Atonement=repent of your sin, be forgiven by the blood of Jesus; Baptism in water=immersed, identification with Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection; Comforter=gift of the Holy Spirit (See John 14-16)

Today, as I finish this post, it is Wednesday of Passion Week.

This Friday is Good Friday, the day when Jesus was crucified;

On Sunday, Christ’s Resurrection is remembered and celebrated.

It is the day to proclaim that “He is Risen”, and to respond that “He is Risen, Indeed”.

For a believer, celebrating the Resurrection of Christ is a joyful experience; however, the Resurrection of Christ is more than a one day event.

As a believer, in Christ, I live on the other side of the cross. I am standing on Resurrection ground.

The ‘work of the cross’ is finished.

How do we know that is true? Because Jesus said it was: (See John 19:30)

“When Yeshua tasted the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.” (TLV, emphasis mine)

As a believer, the tomb is empty and I am focused on following Christ, and learning to embrace the ‘way of the cross’. (See Galatians 2:19-20)

It is probable that someone who is reading this post is not a believer in Christ, or is not sure of their relationship to Christ.

I encourage you to ask yourself if you know Christ as your personal Savior. Have you called upon the Name of the Lord to be saved?

Have you realized your need for Christ to be your Passover Lamb?

Do you see yourself as a sinner in need of a Savior?

Do you understand that you are separated from God, the Father, because of your sin?

Do you realize that God, the Father, loves you very much; sent His Son to die for you, and is longing for you to ask Jesus to forgive you of your sin; to believe in your heart, that Jesus was raised from the dead, and be saved, by calling on the name of the Lord.

Like Peter, on the day of Pentecost, I urge you to accept Christ and be saved from this’ twisted generation’. (emphasis mine)

Consider this:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son (as the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world) that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting (eternal) life. (John 3:16) (inserts, emphasis mine)

Consider this too!

“For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, making peace through the blood of His cross–whether things on earth or things in heaven!” (Colossians 1:19-20, TLV, emphasis mine)

The message of Easter is that Jesus, is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world.

That claim is validated by His resurrection.

God did that for you!

blessings, a follower of Christ, deo