“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! ⁵ You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. ⁶ These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. ⁷ You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.” Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (NASB)

In prayer I asked where to read. The Spirit said Habakkuk 6. I was not sure at first, there was no verse? I prayed. Finding this location I saw there were three 6’s, one in each of the three chapters? Coincidence of course; or am I seeing man versus God?

In Chapter 1:6 the Chaldean’s are being raised up by God against Israel.

“For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans, that fierce and impetuous people who march throughout the earth to seize dwelling places which are not theirs. ⁷ They are dreaded and feared; their justice and authority originate with themselves.”

Is God doing this again?

In Chapter 2:6, “Will not all of these take up a taunt-song against him, even mockery and insinuations against him and say, ‘Woe to him who increases what is not his— For how long— And makes himself rich with loans?” Habakkuk 2:6 (NASB)

Who is “him?” I found verse 4. “Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith. ⁵ Furthermore, wine betrays the haughty man, so that he does not stay at home. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and he is like death, never satisfied. He also gathers to himself all nations and collects to himself all peoples.”

I love our country. Can we see ourselves as our nation has become? Did we become proud? Is our nation’s soul “right?” Have the intoxicating things of our society betrayed us? Have we left the home and security of our Godly heritage and His Ways as a nation? Is there any satisfying that addiction to our own thinking and our own wisdom? Is the global “way” leading us to draw nations that do not share our once dearly revered Ways?

Do these peoples we draw in our weakened state (verse 2:6) take up taunting-songs against America, mocking this nation which has renounced its Christian strength? Has not our leadership rebuked our nation to others saying  “Woe to him (America) who increases what is not his— For how long— And makes himself rich with loans?”

Most of you reading this love America as it once was! Many in the world are wondering how this could have happened. Our reluctance to see her as she has become is with a sigh and a groan. That may save us personally on the day that counts.

Chapter 3:6 God surveyed. “He stood and surveyed the earth; He looked and startled the nations. Yes, the perpetual mountains were shattered, the ancient hills collapsed. His ways are everlasting.” Habakkuk 3:6 (NASB)

“His Ways are everlasting!”

In my spirit a thought came. “Speak to the mountain be though removed. Whether it is doctrines or policies, people or places, God is shaking what can be shaken.”

Yes our loving God is moving against the mountains immovable. That which He sees as a hindrance to His will shall be shattered as far as we are concerned. Ancient high places of doctrine and understanding shall collapse as far as we are concerned. Why, because they no longer apply or have been distorted from being His Ways. “His ways are everlasting.” His Ways are to forever be our ways. If they are not, we shall dislodge ourselves from Him, from Jesus, and God forbid from the Holy Spirit who has been sent to guide us into “all truth.”

“Nothing shall separate us from the love of God.” (Romans 8:39 NASB) This is not about Him not loving us. It is, however, about us not loving Him! “If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15 (KJV) Again, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. John 15:10 (KJV)

“If, “ is a qualifier.  “If” we do not keep His commandments, we do not love Him, we also do not abide in His love. We are not living and loving others in life the Way He has loved us, according to the Father’s commandments. This is one of those collapsing mountains! Yes we actually must love others the Way He loved us in order to not fall away with the shaking that is to come.

Each of us knows we too shall be shaken. God shakes all to find out all.

The last of chapter 2:4 came to mind. “But the righteous will live by his faith.”  Habakkuk 2:4 (NASB)

The book of Habakkuk has severe words of rebuke in it. In chapter 3:3 he is inspired to write,

“ I heard and my inward parts trembled, At the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, and in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, for the people to arise who will invade us. Habakkuk 3:16 (NASB)

Habakkuk then says (I paraphrase) No matter what,  “Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. ¹⁹ The Lord GOD is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places…”  Habakkuk 3:18-19 (NASB)

“But the righteous will live by his faith.” His high places of righteousness must become ours!

Shall we seek God’s high places and be prepared to endure “no matter what?” Does any of this sound like today’s conditions? Can we explain our nation’s departure from righteousness by anything less than our elective will? What was unacceptable then is un-acceptable now. God can and will use our enemies as tools to get our attention.

My calling is to warn, appeal, teach and beg if necessary, for our return to the “ancient ways.” (Jeremiah 6:16 NASB)  I am to point to the restoration of “all things” those things embodied in the righteousness of our Holy God, His commandments through Christ. A loving God has made Himself known to us through Jesus the Christ. Is there any rejecting Him? Is there any rejecting the Christ of our salvation and specifically His Ways; the Ways of God?  The Lord our God the Lord is One!

Our defense in these days is to choose Him in anything where choice indicates allegiance to God and His righteousness. The national election at hand will go the way God wants it to go. Shall the enemies of God rise up as a rebuke against the whole nation, the rain falling on the just and the un-just? “They are dreaded and feared; their justice and authority originate with themselves.” Habakkuk 1:7 (NASB)

Maybe we (yes me too) should vote as if our personal salvation depended on it. Shall we choose God’s help or the help of others? (See Ahaz, and his story, Isaiah 7:1-14 KJV)

Let us not vote according to our flesh and the desire to see our enemies get theirs! Let us vote for the Godly and God will take care of our enemies!

Remember the verse 1:6. God allowed it then He can allow it now for the same reasons.  His word warned us. A sifting, a shaking is taking place world-wide and He is just getting started!

The Prophet trembled at what he knew was coming. Do we not know what is coming; whether soon or not? Do we run from our trembling? Are we not living in days of distress already? Can we not know it will get worse? Are we seeing birth pangs brought on by the birthing of the Millennial reign of the Son of Man? Are we able to anticipate the joy in the midst of the pain which that birth requires?

Our choices determine our personal stand in God’s observation. “The righteous shall live be faith.” The un-righteous will die by theirs. Oh yes, they believe they are right, “their justice and authority originate with themselves.”

Blessed be the name of the Lord. His name means Salvation!

It is clear this world is in the throws of upheaval. God will give us hind’s feet to walk on the high places of his righteousness if we will be obedient to seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness.

Once we set our minds and hearts to this, we can be joyful in the promises of our loving heavenly Father. The obedience, grace and intercession we learned from Jesus will insure our resurrected life, just as it did for Him.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

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I am catching up on some prayer time inspirations.

1-16-16    I asked in prayer and the Lord reminded me about the prophet Agabus.

(Acts 11:28, and 21:10-11)

The Lord gave me a personal word about Agabus.

I started to remove my Tallit, “Are we done?” I put it back on. “It is I Lord that should ask “Are we done?”

“You want a dramatic Word from Me. It is the smaller word’s, the less dramatic that move you to a slightly different course and heading. Over time your course is changed dramatically. Cherish the lesser. It accomplishes the greater.

Thank You Lord, Amen

1-20-16 My bible was already opened to Acts 24:14-16.

Paul says there, “But this I admit to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect I do serve the God of our fathers, believing everything that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the Prophets; ¹⁵  having a hope in God, which these men cherish themselves, that there shall certainly be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. ¹⁶  “In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men.” Acts 24:14-16 (NASB)

Paul has rightly concluded that the resurrection requires a blameless conscience before God and men. Have we?

It was also said of Paul,  “While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, “Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you mad.” ²⁵  But Paul said, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth.”

The thought came to me, “The unbelievable is afforded to those who will believe it. The resurrection life which only One has proven by discipline and love made believable the Way, which holds the instructions to discipline and love.”

To our Jewish friends, please consider reading Acts chapter s 22-28. Paul is a Pharisee of Pharisees, moved upon by Christ yet a believer in all that is in accordance with the Law and that is written in the prophets. (Acts 24:14-16 NASB)

Dear Jewish friends, complete your exodus into the resurrected life you have hoped for. There is a Way there. There is truth that directs you. There is a life and disciplines we all must learn and adhere to in order to enter in.

Let us all guard our hearts by that which can still count toward a clear conscience and blamelessness both before God and men.

To you in each nation, PLEASE … forward this post or my other posts to anyone you think of.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $2.99

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! ⁵  “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”  Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NASB)

“ One” Hebrew Word: ‏אֶחָד‎

Transliteration: ʾeḥād ,  Root: a numeral from <H258> (‘achad); probably united, i.e. one;  Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

If the Lord our God is one (united), He must exist or consist of several (forms) united in such agreement that there is no differentiation except their respective forms. These forms are expressions of Him with tasks assigned requiring those forms. After all God is “I AM, that I AM.” All in all God is revealing Himself to accomplish His will in us.

Yes, “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!

And yes, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

How can we possibly do that?

Before Christ:

Was there reconciliation to God without a sacrifice?

What about afterward? How lasting was that reconciliation? Did our hearts truly change?

What if God wanted something more, something better?

What if God wanted to change the focus to our hearts?

Would not one sacrifice have to be set aside for another since the first of bulls and goats did not bring our hearts to God in relationship or lasting repentance? And what were we to repent of? Were we not following the rules?

What sacrifice would be significant enough, meaningful enough, to pierce our hearts?

“And Abraham said, My son [Isaac], God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.”  Genesis 22:8 (KJV) [added for clarity]

Did God provide His own sacrifice that day in the stead of Isaac? (Gen 22:13)

Was not Abraham blessed because of his obedience to offer his son, his only son? (Gen 22: 15-18)

Is it not possible God would provide “Himself” a sacrifice, to again save the potential children of His kingdom, the future seed of blessing?

If God wanted something better between us and Him, by a better sacrifice, would He not also want to teach us how to stay in a relationship with Him after accepting His sacrifice, since the sacrifice can only be given once? (Hebrews 10:10, 7:27, 1 Peter 3:18 NKJV)

So as with Abraham, in providing “Himself” a sacrifice for us, would God not also provide an instructor? Might they be One and the same? Might God go the extra mile for us and then provide “Another” again so aligned with Him that they are One, who is to remain with us after this special Sacrificial Teacher has departed?

What if our heart condition is all that matters in the light of eternity? Has there not been teaching, a sacrifice of all sacrifices, and a helper to provide all we need in order to walk in a broken and contrite heart, to do rightly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God?

Where else but here first, in this life, might we reflect Him and reveal our new heart condition, His presence in us? Is this not to be the result of this “perfect” sacrifice that He Himself, providing Himself, provided for our sake?

Has not a son of Israel spoken, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.”

And again John says, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ John [the Baptist, son of Zechariah the priest] testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.'” ¹⁶ For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. ¹⁷ For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.” John 1:14-17 (NASB)

In our flailing attempts toward God, was not grace (from Him) needed? Could grace come accept through truth? Was there not a need for a person, a prophet, a teacher, to speak of the path, the Way to grace, to God?

To empower that grace in us, did we not already believe there had to be a sacrifice first, making a relationship with God possible? Knowing ourselves, did that sacrifice not have to be different, better than that of bulls and goats? Did God have a right to expect better results from us after providing Himself a sacrificial Lamb?

Is God not looking for a work of true repentance in us; a lasting (forever) repentance that renders us a new creation in Him? Does repentance not speak to future sin? If a work (of repentance) exists, yet to be accomplished, does repentance not occur after we have been reconciled to God, and not before?

Is not reconciliation to God where and when our previous sins have been passed over, (Romans 3:25) where and when we come to know of God’s grace toward us? Does this grace not come at a price and for a purpose? Does this purpose not extend beyond being initially forgiven into the realm of the transformation of our heart, our soul? And why is that important except that there is life everlasting and we are to be pre-qualified for it here?

Another son of Israel said, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, [about returning] as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)  [for clarity]

So what must we repent of lest we perish?

Is it permitted in heaven? Is it forbidden in heaven? Are these things not written on our hearts?

Have we not been taught? Have we let the Holy Spirit guide us into all truth?

Can it be that we must repent of anything that is short of Love?

Can we allow our love to grow cold? Must our love endure by grace and intercession as Christ’s did?

A unique Jewish Son, a Prophet, a Teacher, our Sacrifice and Resurrected Savior taught,

“Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold. ¹³ But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved; ¹⁴ this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:12-14

Our Messiah waits for the transformation that occurs in us AFTER reconciliation. Call upon Him and His Spirit, He is faithful to help.

To you in each nation, PLEASE … forward this post or my other posts to anyone you think of, especially our Jewish friends.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $2.99

January 22 1982, I became the happiest man you come find. I married my beloved Janis.

Today would have been 35 years.

I dedicate this brief but sincere post to my eternal sweetheart.

I used to create cards to Janis for special events but not always. In this case I bought one. In it I wrote:

It seems these cards say the same thing, I pick them every year

Its not my fault they speak of you, and make it very clear

Without your love’s life giving way, without our times of splendor

I’d only have a dream gone by, and tears my heart had rendered.

Again I try to say through this, a card of someone’s making

That I love you with, all my heart

Every moment of my waking.

I love you, my dear sweet Janis

She remained within His grip. So shall I.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $2.99

“For the Lord our God, the Lord He is One.”

In morning prayer I asked the Holy Spirit where I should read. Response: “Ezekiel – Exodus.”  Two locations? I asked again. Response “Ezekiel 6:4”

I read there about destruction and punishment of Israel over false gods by the Lord.

I asked what about Exodus. Response: “Exodus 6:4”

I read there why the Spirit would point to this verse relative to the Ezekiel 6:4.

“I also established My covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they sojourned. Exodus 6:4 (NASB)

In the verses preceding 6:4 God reveals something unusual to Moses.

“God spoke further to Moses and said to him, “I am the LORD;
³  and I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty, (Hebrew: El Shaddai) but by My name, LORD, (YHWH) I did not make Myself known to them. Exodus 6:2-3 (NASB)

The Lord goes on to say, “Furthermore I have heard the groaning of the sons of Israel, because the Egyptians are holding them in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant.” Exodus 6:5 (NASB)

Israel was set free from Egypt because of the covenant the Lord made. They cried out, He heard, they were set free.

The Lord continued, “Then I will take you for My people, and I will be your God; and you shall know that I am the LORD your God,…. Exodus 6:7 (NASB)

“and you shall know that I am the LORD your God.” is a recurring effort on Gods part throughout scripture.

The name of “Jesus” or “Yahshua” or “Yeshua” as used by today’s Jews and Messianic believers, means “Yahweh is salvation.” (Source: truthofyahweh.org) Also, “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’ “Isaiah 12:2 (NKJV) 

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did not need saving. They needed provision. Abraham was provided a miracle son. Isaac was provided a ram to be sacrificed instead of himself. Jacob was provided a job with the Pharaoh that lead to Israel moving to Egypt where they eventually would become slaves and need to be rescued or set free. God made the covenant first with Abraham.

Now with Moses, the people need to be led and they need a reason to follow. God now wants to reveal Himself as Lord, “Yahweh” or Salvation. If they want to be saved they must be led, they must follow. Today, nothing has changed.

God is trying to establish this understanding again in all the hearts that claim a relationship with Him. Through Christ and the teachings, Jesus, “Yeshua” is pointing to God saying “Yahweh is salvation” He is again revealing Himself as YHWH for our benefit. Why you ask? For the same reason we find Him in Ezekiel 6:4 about to act against the nation He favored.

I believe the Spirit of God is saying to us, to America and Israel, “Remember the covenant and all I have done for you. Your turning to false gods, to people and their counsel who do not know Me is an affront to Me. I will show you that I am Lord by declaring that which you do not want to see but will see until you repent of your infidelity. Then, maybe you will know that I am the Lord.”

“Your slain shall be around your idols, your high places, and like-wise around your source of counsel, your televisions. Your loss will be portrayed world-wide. Some will say “Is the Lord with us or not?” (Exodus 17:7 NASB) Others will say, “Not He, He will not permit the sword and famine to come upon us,” (Jeremiah 5:11-13,) but I have spoken to both of these cases with strong rebuke!” (Ezekiel 6: 1-14)

“This calamity shall come as I am the Lord (Salvation) fulfilling the Word that leads to your ultimate salvation and this you must know in obedience. ”

“Have I not offered loving kindness and tender mercy first? Have I not provided and protected and yet you stray?”

The Lord said to Ezekiel, “The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is very, very great, and the land is filled with blood and the city is full of perversion; for they say, ‘The LORD has forsaken the land, and the LORD does not see!’ Ezekiel 9:9 (NASB)

“Do I not see your condition says the Lord? Have I not declared ‘I will never leave you or forsake you?’ Have I not said in My Word “Do not call it a conspiracy!” (Isaiah 8:12-16,) because I AM the author of My own Word and that which you see happening?  I will however hide my face from you because of your abominations! Do not declare by your own estimations that “I forsake!” You have forsaken and gone further and embraced that which is not Me.”

The Lord went on to say to Ezekiel, “But as for Me, My eye will have no pity nor will I spare, but I will bring their conduct upon their heads.” Ezekiel 9:10 (NASB) Will there be sword, plague and famine, as in Ezekiel 6:11? Could there be death, sickness and starvation today?

I know many reading this are trying sincerely to walk out their salvation with reverence and diligence. To you this is fuel for conversation and admonitions only you can share in your sphere of influence. Like within myself, self-examination is understood. Many run from the judgment of God (about ourselves) a salve, the Balm of Gilead.

For some time I have tried to get us to grasp “What was unacceptable then is unacceptable now and is absolutely unacceptable in eternity.”

Outside my window this AM a gentle rain has turned into a blowing, pounding rain storm of  Winds, a thunderous downpour. My journal says 1-15-16. Much has happened in the Market as of today.

Oh Lord, that which incensed You still does. That which you were willing to do for Your names sake, for our sake, You still are, unless we have (as a nation) gone too far. If so, we followers know we must endure along side the Tares until separation is possible.

Please Lord, allow those, the remnant who revere You and sigh at the conditions they see, let us be spared according to Your Word. Mark us as You said You would. We know oh Lord God,  You are the Lord, the Great I AM. You never leave us or forsake us. Your mercy extends to the merciful, Your kindness to the kind, Your love to the loving, Your grace to the hearts of grace. We know, like Christ we must choose eternity and Your Way, Truth, and Life at whatever cost.

Do as You must oh Lord. We kneel at Your side as You do it. We shall not rejoice over Your wrath for we have escaped it only by Your mercy and grace.

Weigh hearts oh Lord. By Your Spirit redeem any value You can find. Your Word says, a sigh and a groan over the abomination they see is enough to deliver. (Ezekiel 9:4)

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $2.99

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NASB)

Contrary to the great movie by Cecil B Demille, The Ten Commandments, the exodus did not happen in broad daylight.

“Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night.

Deuteronomy 16:1 (NASB)

Freedom came as they faced the darkness of night. Darkness was upon them. Their true freedom lay beyond the darkness but they had to endure the darkness first. They trusted God. He had shown Himself strong.

We must have the same heart. We must be so glad to “leave” that we are willing to face the darkness with relief and take into the darkness the riches and wisdom of God, the true riches harvested from what we learned to avoid in this lost and dying world.

In our preparation, coming to know good and evil and learning to choose good has always been one of God’s primary goals for our hearts just as it was with Jesus.

Oh yes Jesus had to learn also. “Curds and honey He shall eat, that He may know to refuse the evil and choose the good.” ¹⁶  For before the Child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land that you dread will be forsaken by both her kings. Isaiah 7:15-16 (NKJV)

Jesus says to us, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”  Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

God’s righteousness and His kingdom are synonymous. Jesus taught us what righteousness does! He taught us what kingdom righteousness is.

As we face darkness now, it appears to be the sunset of God. He appears to be diminishing as darkness increases. As sure as the world turns, even more surely, when you know God is real and have a revelation, not just knowledge of Him, we shall welcome the darkness knowing,…knowing that the dawn of our eternal existence is coming without fail as surely as darkness precedes the dawn, as surely as His days begin with the evening.

We must accept the darkness as the beginning of our exodus with the same joy as when we first believed and were delivered from ourselves and the slavery we put ourselves in.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $2.99

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

Is the government already resting upon His shoulders? Isaiah 9:6
Jewish born apostle John said, “He who believes in the Son [Jesus] has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 3:36 (NASB) [ ] Added for clarity.

To you my Jewish brothers and sisters around the world and our Orthodox Jewish brothers and sisters, notice that a lawful aspect exists in Christ Jesus in that obedience to the things God the Father taught through Jesus, are required for eternal life. The Christian church as a whole has not fully grasped this yet. Noticing that these teachings are a simplified version of the Law is important from a practical standpoint and good news from another.

Remember Isaiah said, “For thus the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength.” But you were not willing, ..” Isaiah 30:15 (NASB)

What did your forefathers not repent of? Why could they not rest, (observe and keep Shabbat?) Were they chiding instead of quiet toward God as they were with Moses at Massah and Meribah, tempting the Lord? (Exodus 17:7) Did their trust in God wane even after Ruth, Samuel and David’s declarations of trust? (Ruth 2:12, 2 Sam 22:3, PS 2:12, 4:5)

Jesus by God’s inspiration also preached repentance, rest, quietness of spirit and trust is your strength. God has not changed. He is asking us to change. The restoration of all things occurs and is determined in the revelation of God’s Words through Christ and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Christians must re-focus on the Words of Christ! We have wandered away. As a nation we are running away it seems.

David said in Psalm 2:12 (KJV)
¹²  Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Jewish born Peter (Cephas) said to fellow Jews in Acts 3:17-23 (NASB)
¹⁷  “And now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, just as your rulers did also.
¹⁸  “But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
¹⁹  “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;
²⁰  and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you,
²¹  whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time.

²²  “Moses said, ‘THE LORD GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BRETHREN; TO HIM YOU SHALL GIVE HEED to everything He says to you. ^{23 ‘}And it will be that every soul that does not heed that prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’ (Deuteronomy 18:15 NASB)

How much more does this apply to we who call ourselves Christians but are so in name only! To my Christian family world-wide I say, I beg them in these blogs, become followers heeding the commandments given by this Son of God, this Son of Man who has shown us by example so we might know our capability in Him; so we might accept Him as a Lord that does not ask of us more than He would do Himself. I appeal to you Jewish friends just as fervently, knowing also the advantage that might serve you in the revealing of the Messiah Christ Jesus.

Jesus taught, uplifting the Law of Moses, the prophets and the Psalms, knowing that their speaking of Him would give credence to who He was especially after His resurrection.  He simply did not give credit to some earlier Rabbi, as was the practice. Instead, Jesus stated that the Father had told Him what to speak, interpreting the scriptures for us on a heart level. Jesus does not even take credit for that which touched people’s hearts dramatically! Would you expect anything less from Messiah or for God to do anything less for the Messiah in speaking to Him directly?
“And he [Jesus] said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
⁴⁵  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
⁴⁶  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
⁴⁷  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” Luke 24:44-47 (KJV) [ ] Added for clarity.

This is pretty bold stuff, unless you are the real thing! To these followers, His return from death was the final deal maker. The world we live in has been changed dramatically by these followers of Christ. Your world included. The revelation empowered their determination, even unto death.

Native son John the Baptist, son of Zechariah priest of the Temple, taught a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as did Jesus. Somehow the Christian church, which I am a part of, has gotten away from the responsibility of actual “repentance” from sinful behavior, for forgiveness of sins.

My bible says Jesus died for my sins “previously committed.” Romans 3:25. My previous sins were cleansed upon my reconciliation to God through the death sacrifice of Jesus and by my asking Him to be Lord and savior. Any of my sins, after that experience, must then be covered by my actual repentance and the grace (forgiveness) I grant others.

Jesus said, “But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” Matthew 6:15 (NASB) Forgiveness is not automatic from God, in Christ. Again we hear Father God and Yom Kippur in the teachings of Jesus.

Yes God actually wants us to turn away (repent) from sins that separate us from Him eternally. Now we are talking actual responsibility on our part! Don’t we honor that anyway, in life?

These daily sins would be anything not allowed in heaven. Is there anger, bitterness, hatred, in heaven? Use your imagination. Anything dealing with relationships and living a life of reconciliation toward others forever must be learned here. As we forgive others or seek forgiveness, He forgives us. Yes this sounds like Yom Kippur! Instead of once a year, Jesus commands a daily walk of heart-felt vigilance to forgive or ask forgiveness of others, reconciling relationships as quickly as possible.

As we practice this, more and more we require absolution less and less. Our forgiving others is more frequent and necessary. It is even more critical to eternal life but also becomes easier and easier as we keep things in an eternal perspective for their sake and ours.

We who had great sins have been forgiven much so we love much! If one feels he has little or no sin to be forgiven, he loves (God) little. (Luke 7:47 KJV, NKJV, NASB) The context of this verse indicates a love for Christ and therefore God the Father, as Jesus was recognized by the Jewish woman as the Messiah.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (KJV) Here we see One, who is truly all, Who is truly One. For any of this verse to be true it all must be true. The Messiah had to be born as a child. We know Jesus was.

Like a Rabbi’s yoke of beliefs, is the government already upon Messiah’s shoulders? Jesus said, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:30 (KJV) Or as is commonly believed, is the government yet to be upon the Messiah’s shoulders? Or is it both? Jesus (the Messiah?) certainly expects to be king over us. To a follower’s faith, Jesus is king now, even though He is not here physically. In that case He does not have to return. He already is king and leading us. All we must do is die honorably.

As true followers, should Messiah’s return be delayed, by our eventual dying we will ascend to God and the Son. However, in order to rescue Jerusalem and the Israeli remnant as foretold by the prophets and Christ, those who have come to trust and believe in Him, Jesus must return. He must return for this to happen. To reign for a thousand years, for the world government to be upon His shoulders, Jesus the Messiah must return.

Significantly, Jesus returns as the Son of Man. To return as the Son of Man, the Messiah must have already been a man who died, having ascended to heaven previously as the Son of Man so that He can descend to earth again in the same form.

Jesus said, “He who endures to the end shall be saved;…” (Matthew 24:14) True followers will start to prepare now to guard with great diligence the love of God shed abroad in their hearts. (Romans 5:5)

“This” enduring love IS the good news of the kingdom! (Matthew 24:14 NASB) It is required of us because it personifies kingdom inhabitants. We must embrace this transformational characteristic of Christ as we obey His commandments. (Matt 5-6-7)

Oh dear Jewish friends, God has not changed. He has delivered His clarified laws, His Ways, Truths and Life through Messiah Jesus. Father God, in His love and patience, is trying to make this easier for us while insisting on certain beneficial heart conditions in those who will enter the kingdom by those same qualities.

The times we see, the aggression apparent, indicates it is time for serious thinking on our part, Christians and Jews alike. Jesus said, “Even so, you too, when you see these things happening, recognize that He is near, right at the door.” Mark 13:29 (NASB) 

Israel has been in a constant state of military preparedness almost since 1948. How much more are we to be prepared in heart for God to return as He takes vengeance upon our oppressors? In preparing, let there be no vengeance in our hearts. No anger or bitterness, no unforgiveness. Our wounded spirits, even our deaths, are His focus as He wreaks havoc upon His enemies, those who harmed His children. This is His battle as foretold.

For not a hair on our heads to be harmed, we must be in Him, and He in us. Our souls, our minds, wills and emotions, must be permeated, even saturated, with His Ways, Truth and Life. I am not saying we will not be killed. I am saying in Messiah Jesus, we shall endure to live eternally with a body like His, ruling and reigning on earth for the first thousand years.

Jesus said, “But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all because of My name. “Yet not a hair of your head will perish. “By your endurance you will gain your lives.” Luke 21:16-19 (NASB)

Once known as Saul of Tarsus, Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisee’s in his time. Paul described Jesus as the expressed image of God in some of His letters. Colossians 1:15, 2 Corinthians 4:4.

The Christian church world-wide loves and supports you. Do not look at America right now. We are under internal attack but this too is apparently God’s will. His Word will be accomplished. Darkness will have its hour.

Look to God. Ask Him about Jesus. Look to Messianic churches or your Christian neighbors. We are preparing inwardly first. You can only gain by considering what you read here. Remember, traditions harm Christianity. Traditions can harm you also. There is a final course change before entering the harbor. This is where we are at doctrinally. The destination is the same!

The Messiah will have a government upon His shoulders. Do you think Jesus is competition to the Messiah? Would God bless the message of Jesus as He has if there were to be someone else to come?  What other Message might there be; love, joy, grace, compassion, understanding, mercy, forgiveness, servant leadership, knowledge, wisdom, counsel, strength? Not that we cannot learn more.

What additional understanding would a different Messiah bring? God is exalted by Jesus, revered by Jesus, deferred to by Jesus, submitted to by Jesus, worshiped by Jesus.

Only the anti-Christ is yet to appear as false Christ’s or as the man of desolation.

Darkness will come fully when the church world-wide preaches the message of “enduring love,” to be saved. This message assures the Father that His children are prepared to survive this onslaught while awaiting the return of Messiah Jesus and our rescue. In this time they might kill us but we will not die eternally. From practice now, like Christ, we will have forgiven and interceded for them, for they know not what they do.

Barring true revelation, they are going to hell forever. In God, and the Spirit of Christ, we can not judge or wish hell on anyone. It will disqualify us for heaven and eternal life. Our love (toward all others) cannot be allowed to grow cold for any reason. Yes…this is hard. It was hard for Christ. His reward is our reward. We must trust in that, with courage.

Complete your final stage. Be a Jewish person that has met their Messiah. Jesus was a Jew. Just as the prophecies said, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear.” Deuteronomy 18:15 (NKJV)

Times are growing dark. Israel needs wisdom. The great revealing of the Lord to Israel is near if not upon you now. If you feel afflicted by Him, run to Him in repentance. He will receive you and comfort you. He is your God and He has His Ways. We all must submit to them and be joyful in Him.

Please … forward this post or maybe my others.  You are NOT forsaking your heritage. We (Christians) are the adopted ones.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $2.99

“The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”

On January 1^st, I asked. “Jeremiah 6, was the Spirit’s response.

I read 6 and continued into chapter 7, then went back to chapter 5 also.

In Jeremiah 5:11-13 (NASB) it says, “For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously with Me.” declares the LORD. ^“They have lied about the LORD and said, “Not He; Misfortune will not come on us, and we will not see sword or famine.” The Lord goes on to say, “The prophets [the ones declaring ‘Not He]’are as wind, And the word is not in them. Thus it will be done to them!”

Has the church world wide heard these words? Has the concept of “Not He…” been taught when there are qualifying portions of verse that stipulate why and when “Not He?”

Jeremiah continues in verse 14, “Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, “Because you have spoken this word, [Not He] Behold, I am making My words in your mouth fire And this people wood, and it will consume them.”

Better we be consumed by the fires of God’s Word here, and be resurrected to new life, than to be consumed forever and ever in an unquenchable fire, wrought by God for those who reject Him by rejecting His ways.

What God was willing to do to Jerusalem and His people He is still willing to do to us today, and all the more! We have known His grace, mercy and compassion. We have known His love as well as His discipline. Even the Tares have prospered in this time of waiting.

It is not that each of us has sinned to this point but have we said or have we been taught, “Not He; misfortune will not come on us and we will not see sword or famine.”

The world today sees corruption and evil in the midst of a “Christian” nation. Evil and carnality go unchecked by the very “Savior” we proclaim allegiance to. “He is powerless,” they conclude, in their assay of our nation. He is not our God, as some have declared; “We are not a Christian Nation.”

“They [those who say Not He…] have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ But there is no peace. Jeremiah 6:14 (NASB)

“Be warned, O Jerusalem, Or I shall be alienated from you, And make you a desolation, A land not inhabited.” Jeremiah 6:8 (NASB) BE WARNED AMERICA.

If guilty of the same things what should we expect? To be uninhabited by Him is to truly be uninhabited. So,

“Thus says the LORD, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16 NASB

Righteousness was our ancient path. Christianity was our path. In His Ways are the Truth, and Life everlasting. Beginning with our own hearts and then as a nation we must make the journey back to His Way, Truth and Life.

Through Jeremiah, here is what God said at the end of verse 6:16.

“But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.”
“And I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’ 6:17.

Are we listening?

We might say about some prophecies, “This has happened already.” However, God is talking about things that He is against and not about events.

I believe He is saying to us, “I change not. My standards are no different. I delivered Myself into your hands, appealing to your hearts as your means of escape. I did it for My names sake. My name means salvation not judgment.”

Again I can believe in Him saying, “My Word explains how to avoid the judgment that a rebellious heart will bring upon its self. You who have not embraced My salvation, My Way, My Truth, My Life, have forsaken the gift I have freely given. The real gift is My Sons life in front of you. To the extent you do not obey Him, you have not honored our agreement. I forgave and saved you and you were to obey the teachings, the Way, of Christ Jesus.

The gift to us is not the washing and the forgiveness alone. It is the Words of Eternal life in the lessons. It is the washing and forgiveness we learn to do and grant others. This demonstrates who and Whose we are. That righteousness we demonstrate in the face of persecution, false accusation, and trial is what teaches and leads others into the kingdom. Christ proved it.

Do not think trouble is not coming. It is. Preparation protects us.

Please consider forwarding these posts.

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $2.99

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! Deuteronomy 6:4 (NKJV) 

My last post was 12-27-15 “Emmaus, the road to unbelief.” This is a follow-up to that post. The day following that post questions arose in my spirit. Please consider what follows.

In two cases we see Jesus attempting to “go farther” in situations with His disciples.

From the Emmaus story, “And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going further.” Luke 24:28 (NASB)

The second says, “Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.” Mark 6:48 (NKJV) 

Why would Jesus pass them by or act like He was going further down the road?

In the case of Emmaus, I believe He was testing them. “Are they listening?” or will they let me go on down the road? They are headed in the wrong direction already.

In my experience, Jesus is always willing to go farther with us, but were they still in unbelief, and would they dismiss Him to go His way? If we do that aren’t we the ones left behind? Isn’t this how the Holy Spirit works, how God ultimately tests us? “Are they listening?” Our road to Emmaus experience may be in hearing a sermon. Are our hearts burning within us? Do we have an uneasy feeling in our gut?

God has been speaking to man since Adam. Are we “slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken?” Luke 24:25 (NASB)

“Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:32 (NASB)

They did not delay in changing directions but immediately left for Jerusalem and found the eleven. (Luke 24:33 NASB) They repented literally!

As they were sharing their experience with the eleven, Jesus meets them there! Among other things Jesus says,  “…”Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, ⁴⁷ and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. Luke 24:46-47 (NASB)

Am I changing the topic here? “Jesus speaking says, …and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” Yes, repentance for forgiveness of sins, in His name. His name means salvation. We are forgiven as we truly repent under the covering of the Bridegroom’s name and by His compunction.

John the Baptist proclaimed the same thing in Mark 1:4. John’s message is an advance addition of the good news of a new covenant Jesus would put in place by setting aside the first covenant.

We should know that repentance “metanoia” means (subject) compunction (for guilt, including reformation); by implication reversal (of [another’s] decision) :- repentance. from <G3340> (metanoeo); Strong’s Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.

The Spirit brings compunction, an uneasy feeling prompted by guilt and remorse. He also brings and expects a reversal in our thinking, a reformation of our being. The prompting is there. The power is there.

This is why repentance is required for forgiveness of sins. The Spirit brings the prompting including the power for our reformation. Resistance, for instance, can be our refusal or our rationalizing why we do not forgive someone. IF we are not subject to His prompting, if we resist it, if we continue to resist that feeling in our gut, that grace from God, then we remain unforgiven until we do respond and repent.

“Wait a minute Michael. We are forgiven when we ask Jesus into our hearts!” Yes we are. What about after that initial experience? What about as we traverse the challenges of life? So we have not sinned since then? “Are we listening?”

We must maintain the righteousness freely granted us. Our turning to Jesus is repentance in itself! A life of repentance is acceptable as long as we are not repenting of the same thing over and over. Sooner or later the repentance must stick for us to be eternally forgiven of that particular sin. Until then we are returning (to our sin) like a dog to its vomit. Heaven will not stink of vomit.

Let us beg Jesus for a Spirit of repentance, especially when we know we must be successfully operating in the Law of the Spirit of Life, to escape the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)

When those uneasy feelings come, REJOICE and respond!

“If we remain in His grip, how far from His heart can we be!”

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. $2.99