It has been a long time since I have posted something new on Exit Strategy. The time has come.

Many of my readers these days are in China. It is either the government or the underground church. I am also thankful to have readers around the world which I pray are touched by these posts.

While not posting I was on the radio daily for 8 ½ years which gave me a platform and I believe satisfied my deep seated calling to be the Watchman that I am.

At the same time I attended a Sabbath (Shabbat) Study for 9 years, growing in the Hebrew understanding of Jesus’ teachings as well as the other writers of the Bible. Much of this understanding was valuable material for the broadcast; even more so for me.

I have copies of all broadcasts and will be developing a podcast where they can be heard. None are more than 13 minutes long.

I would encourage you to click “follow” on this site for updates and about the blog site development.

The Lord often prompts my research by asking me a question. I have a post called “Why Barley” which is very interesting. I am sure you have never heard what is in it.

This time I asked the question. Many are asking this question as we see many behaving in such a manner that perplexes us. It seems totally foreign to us. Well, the Lord was asked and He answered.

“Romans 1” That is all He said. Of course you know Holy Spirit IS God.

The last verse in Romans 1 is verse 32.

“…and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.“

Now just maybe you know what I found to answer my question. What should that answer provide besides understanding?

Proverbs 8:14 says, “Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine.”

OK. Power for what? Power enables yes? In Christ Jesus what is one of the most important things we need power for?

Romans 5:17 “For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”

Grace! We need power for grace to be used as God wants it used! Not just that grace which we need and receive! An abundance of grace! So we have more than enough and we can share it with any scraggly dying hand that is in need. I wrote previously about us being “Gracefruit trees.”

The connection between Grace and the Gift of Righteousness is critical.

The gift of righteousness is a great revelation when we read Romans 5:21 “…so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Are we looking at the pathway to eternal life? Isn’t that what it says?

So, back to the question and especially the answer.

Read Romans 1:18-32. Many of us know what it speaks of.

The additional more elaborate list toward the end of the chapter ending in verse 32 has the ability to find most if not everybody guilty. Does verse 32 slam the door on our condition if we support such things. Sure sounds like it.

Those being called out in Romans Chapter 1 are former believers! In verse 28 Paul says, “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, …” Wow, never noticed that before!

In verse 1:21 Paul says, “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

“Foolish” means Godless. “Professing to be wise, they became fools..”

Paul tells how this happened. Verse 25 “For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”

Verse 24 “Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.”

What were those lusts? We all know what it says.

The more elaborate list simply magnifies mankind’s problem in verses 29-32. Death is a real problem!

Since we know there is no death only everlasting life or fire, This is a real problem for them!

We need to look at verse 28. “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,..”

God did this because of THEIR choices. OUR choices! This principle speaks to Yahweh’s Ways! This speaks to the importance of repentance, to be saved.

This is why they think the way they do and it seeps into all their thinking; personal, and political. They are addicted to them selves. God did not cause them to have depraved minds. They brought it upon themselves!

WE are seeing the impaired judgment originally inherited from Adam and Eve, NOT yet repaired by a life giving relationship with Jesus. “For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.”

So…. Are they hopeless, destined for eternal fire? Dare WE judge them? Or, will we wield the power of grace bestowed in abundance upon us? What IS our part in this?

Again it is Paul who says 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified [your ignorance explained your condition] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.”

Webster’s: Justification, definition 2-3, Theol to free from blame or guilt, to supply grounds for. To explain why someone does something. In our case, “They know not what they do!”

Only by that same grace and the teachings of Jesus have we had our former impaired judgment repaired. The understanding empowers us to not hate but instead to intercede for their doomed souls!

So, might God ask you or me, “How can you think that way?”

Michael Knight of Night Light

I spend time in prayer, study and I journal daily. I recommend writing in a journal, your thoughts, His thoughts, as they come to you and as they come from others. Yes, I am open to the wisdom of others. I measure it by the Word and go from there.

When a question comes to my mind I do not assume it was my idea. Often Yahweh is teaching me by asking me questions, as most Rabbi’s do. When I do not know the answer I seek it. Is there significance I need to know.

So I will speak to you from my journal.

When did Christ become our High Priest? Was it upon his death? His Ascension? His resurrection? His Baptism?

In Hebrews 2:14-18 it says, 14 “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. 16 For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. 17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”

When did Jesus actually become a High Priest? From this point forward let us see Him on the Cross.

Christ in His life of purity could have offered blood to cover the sins and He did. It was His blood. The veil was torn. This phenomenon on the day of His crucifixion might actually be seen as a confirmation of His High Priesthood, while He interceded for us, as a high priest would, as He did. “Forgive them Father they know not what they do.” His blood was already dripping on the ground beneath Him.

So what did a High Priest need? Personal purity, blood, authority to intercede, and access to the most Holy place.

The blood was provided from a sacrificial lamb, (Him) and intercession by Him, by this pure sinless High Priest, accord to the Law, was made on behalf of those who would be seeking, believing, following, Yahweh, now by the grace of God our blessed Savior, heavenly Father Yahweh, and Holy Spirit.

A high priest was tempted in all things but had to make an offering for his sins first and then the sins of the people. The Highest of High Priests lived a truly sinless life, tempted yet without sin! He made no offering for Himself, only for us.

Jesus did what He did, so we could do what He said. It was not so He could serve now but so He could serve “then.” Not here, but there! Yet His duty began way before His departure, in life. At the Cross is where all that effort was summed up. His installation at the right hand of the Father, as our intercessor, our High Priest was now assured.

His preparation to be High Priest began in life, tempted in all things. He achieved His right to offer blood for our sake by His sinless life. In life He would have been able to enter the Holy of Holies fearlessly. As it was, He was suspended on a Cross, so the veil was torn from top to bottom first, I believe, on His behalf, then as well for our sake after. Our personal intimate access to the Father was achieved by Jesus, our High Priest and soon coming King! Note our access was into a place where a lack of holiness could be deadly. Now our holiness, our access, is by the grace provided abundantly (Romans 5:17 and 21) as long as I walk in grace toward others.

For now Jesus continues His High Priestly duties in heaven, interceding. He will hold both offices, Priest and King, upon His return during His millennial reign and then forever.

Michael Knight of Night Light. Exitstrategydaniel12.com

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Heb 2:14–18.