We are reminded in Colossians 3, If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God – Colossians 3:1-3. As one who knows many perils in this world, it is easy to become distracted by the world around us; with work, family, appointments, the economy, and stress. Did I mention stress? There is one thing that the LORD does for us when we are founded upon the ROCK that is Christ. We are given His peace. Take some time this month and consider your role in the body.
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ – Colossians 3:23-24.
Lift Up A Banner is proud to announce the upcoming release of a new featurette, Into The Fire: The Burning Bush – Where The Spirit Speaks. The short film is set to be released soon and I hope that you will be submersed into the Word of God as never before. While many of us consider all of the events and uncertainty in the world, le us jump out of the frying pan and into the fire.
As this may sound confusing, let us consider Daniel 3. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego while operating in great faith, trusted the LORD to deliver them from Nebuchadnezzar because they chose not to bow themselves down to worship other gods or idols. As they were thrown into the exceedingly hot furnace, we read the following, ‘Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king, True, O king. He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”
The following is the first three minutes of Into The Fire: The Burning Bush – Where The Spirit Speaks. I pray that as you are watching, listening, and following along, you absorb all the visuals, music, and spoken Word. May you be blessed!
And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth. And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world. When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay, And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing. – John 9:1-7.
Jesus tells us in Luke chapter 4, reaffirming Isaiah 61, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,” Would you like to receive your sight? Would you like to know what the Messiah meant from those verses of the Bible? Go, walk in the way, wash, and come seeing.
Simply believe that the Word is speaking directly to you. Understand that what is being said, is exactly what it means. And, Jesus, is saying all of it to you personally. It truly is that simple. You may want to buckle up. Click the link above.
Passover not only highlights God’s faithfulness, but it also points to His Son, who was the final sin offering. For this reason, God commanded the Israelites to keep the Passover from generation to generation. This time of year reminds us of the Lord’s faithfulness to His words.
Passover is noteworthy because it symbolizes the crucifixion of the Savior, the ultimate Passover Lamb who freed us from sin. Paul writes to the disciples, “The Christ, our Passover, has also been sacrificed.” He accomplished the sacrificial system’s requirements by laying down his life. All of the Pesach lambs pointed to Christ as the supremely pure Lamb. Our sins were put on Jesus in the same way that a Jewish person’s sins were placed on a faultless lamb as a sacrifice by the high priest – both instances involving the faultless dying for the sinful. Those who apply the blood of Jesus Christ to their temple’s “doorposts” and “lintels” will be safeguarded from eternal death, just as those who applied the Passover lamb’s blood to their dwellings were rescued from death in the Book of Exodus. As a manner, Passover serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness in delivering His chosen people from Egyptian slavery. As well as in delivering us all from sinfulness through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
This time of year is significant for us all because it commemorates the Passion of Christ. It is where we start learning about the way, the truth, and the life. We have the very same accessibility to the Father through His Spirit that Jesus did, after He rose on the third day. If only we could accept all of the Messiah’s teachings to find a home in our hearts. Every word of God gives life and without knowing them, we will inevitably fall short. Did you prepare for the Passover?
He is risen from the grave! Look, He is alive! This excellent news is much more welcome and reassuring than ever before after a year defined by so much agony and suffering. The tale of Passover begins with a subject that has recently affected many of us: death. And dying by crucifixion at Calvary, where Jesus compassionately made penance for our transgressions, allowing us to experience a new and genuinely abundant life in Christ.
Jesus shocked his followers by returning from the dead 3 days following his mortality, defeating death and spreading the great news of salvation to the entire world. The gospel has become the good news of this passion, burial, and resurrection, which we honor and proclaim throughout the world. We have indeed been freed from the bonds of sin, therefore we eagerly and joyfully join Jesus Christ in his mission of creating disciples of all nations.
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. – Matthew 28:5-9.
He Is Alive, He Is Risen From The Grave!
Within the simplicity of a single moment, our eyes can be opened. “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land. Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.” – Ezekiel 36:24-27.
On this day, Skull and Bones day, we will look at Jeremiah 22. If you haven’t noticed by now, the whole world has gone to flying fecal matter. And, it discomforts me to see all of the “Christians” choosing sides. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” – Romans 12:2.
Jeremiah, just as every Book in the Bible, is loaded with spiritual truth. Chapter 22 is not one to let down either. It tells us about who we are, where we come from, and even what the Bible defines us all has. Simply believe what you are about to see. “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”
We will begin with Hebrews 11, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.” What does is mean to be a stranger and pilgrim on the earth. Well, it means that you aren’t from here. It means that you don’t belong here. It’s that simple. If I leave my place of residence or flee to another country, I am a stranger or pilgrim in that land. If I decide to move to another country looking for something better, the meaning is the same.
The Bible is the only thing in this world that we can count on. It is the only truth. So, if you don’t belong to the earth and you are from another “country,” where exactly are you from? Consider the prodigal son for a moment. Now, let us tie this together with Jeremiah 22. “And I will cast thee out, and thy mother that bare thee, into another country, where ye were not born; and there shall ye die. But to the land whereunto they desire to return, thither shall they not return. Is this man Coniah a despised broken idol? is he a vessel wherein is no pleasure? wherefore are they cast out, he and his seed, and are cast into a land which they know not? O earth, earth, earth, hear the word of the LORD.”
If your heart is beginning to pound in your chest, consider the following, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” Now, click on the link above and read it.
I’ve always been fascinated by Jesus’ tale about the lost sheep of Israel. Why wouldn’t the shepherd just take his loss and ignore the one sheep that was most likely already devoured by the wolves? Plus, that shepherd may have jeopardized the lives of the other 99 sheep. Some who understood that narrative relate and were likely to have had a similar reaction to mine.
However, there are a few assumptions that need to be addressed. Foremost, if we disregard the lost sheep and continue to lose one sheep at a time, the sheepfold will soon be empty, and it will leave us wondering what happened. Is this something you’ve heard before? Every single person who doesn’t know the Gospel is a source of concern for us. We may feel constrained by what we can do to entice that individual, but we must take action. That’s the enthusiasm for the truth that Jesus desires from all of us.
This brings us to the following point. We’re not looking for that stray sheep, just for some random reason. Rather, we are really seeking to keep that lamb from the perils of the wild, the loneliness of being without the Shepherd, and the world’s deceptive allures and temptations. We also want to communicate the magnificent revelation of Christ Jesus, to whom we are called and through whom He wants everyone to be rescued. In other terms, we search out the lost because it is critical. Life and salvation are on the line.
Brotherly Love And The Lost Sheep
There’s one more thing to think about. We want that long-lost friend or relative to return to the Gospel because we love and need that person, just as we know God does. That person’s distinctiveness and human dignity are great blessings to our community, and we would be significantly less without him or her. The Church is a call to all to come together, and Jesus requires our bodies and voices to make that happen. We recognize the individual’s freedom as a gift of God, which implies that anyone can truly say “no” to Christ.
These are formidable obstacles for Christians who have not received adequate training in evangelization, or sharing our religion with others. We also don’t want to offend our relatives, friends, or neighbors. We must discover ways to bear testimony to Christ, whether via prayer, good example, or simply loving one another. The best way is to lead by word and deed and not by word alone.
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” – James 2:21-24. Scarcely a righteous man will be saved, my brothers and sisters. Let us find all the lost sheep of the House of Israel.
There are numbers of Scriptures on Lift Up A Banner that tie the way, the truth, and the life, together in an easy to follow format. Please take a moment to go over each lesson one by one. Return to the first post by going all the way back, to the beginning. Speaking on complete abstinence, there are more teachings on this site than any other. And the Scriptures back up this claim, if you only take the time to seek it out with a prayerful heart. Become as a child. Literally. Look over the homepage’s lessons and go through the Bible study. It starts with the truth as a foundation and afterwards, moves on to the way and the life. Take a look at the ten free Christian eBooks available. Take the time to study every one of the videos. Take a look at the other videos on the YouTube channel that aren’t available on this website. Your faith will grow, your eyes will be opened, and your hearing will be restored.
As much as I want you to believe everything you see and hear, we must each do our part with the Lord and the Spirit. You will see that what I have been saying is correct if you do so. The entirety of the Church is constructed on the words of Jesus Christ. We may not ever find everlasting life if we do not comprehend Jesus’ teachings, even all of them. How can we claim to know Him if we don’t abide in them?
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.” – Luke 14:28-30.
So, Arise. Abstain from fleshly lusts. Become crucified with Him. Then, you will see Him raised in Glory.
“Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” “For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.” Are you able to receive it, brothers and sisters? The Spirit is speaking to you. “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” – John 6:63.
How does the LORD heal our broken hearts and bind up our wounds? Today will be something simple. All that is required on your part, is belief. We will look at the Original Hebrew meaning of a few of these words, and you will either choose to believe it, or dismiss it. If I open up the Webster dictionary to see the meaning of a word, whatever it says, is what it means. As we look at Psalm 147, I ask that you do the same. Whatever the Bible says is the truth. Whatever Jesus says is light. Will you come to the Light so that your deeds may be reproved? Or, will you continue to dwell in darkness?
“Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel. He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite. The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.” – Psalms 147:1-6. What is the Hebrew translation for wounds and stars? Remember, we learn of the simplicity that is Christ. Although, what is it? It is pretty simple. Whatever the Bible says, is what it means. The Bible doesn’t lie. The Bible is the only truth in this world. For something to be true, it has to mean what it says. If we become as a little child and let go of our preconceived notions and personal beliefs, the Word of GOD will be opened to us. Are you willing to do so? Are you willing to believe the Living Word? Are you ready to trust in the Light of Life?
OK friends, I am now handing you the Dictionary of Life. Become as a child and believe what you are looking at. The following is Psalm 147:1-5 with the original language and the KJV Bible, using a program called e-sword. It is nothing more than the King James version with the Strong’s Concordance in an easy point and click format. The two words that we will look at are “wounds,” broken down to the root. As well as the word, “stars.”
What did we just gaze upon? What understanding did you just obtain? Why does the Bible tell us that the word wounds means idols? I thought that the LORD God told us not to make any idols? Why does it say to fabricate or fashion something? How come it says, ‘displease, wound, hurt, or worship? Why does Isaiah 53 say this, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
Remember, the Bible is true and in it contains no lie. Why is the translation for stars, princes? Who are the prodigal son’s who took their inheritance to go to a far away land and waste it on riotous living? What if it wasn’t a parable but the truth? What if we left our Father in Heaven, came to the earth, and wasted our eternal life by coming here? Why do we need to be redeemed? If you truly are redeemed, are you not getting something back that you had lost? What did we all do? Why did the LORD God have to come here in the likeness of sinful flesh and pay the penalty for us? How come we are all facing an eternity of eternal torment? Everything that you have been taught is a lie. All that you have been led to believe is false. “Arise O’ sleeper, wake up from the dead, and Christ shall give thee life.”
Are you ready for your eyes and ears to be opened? Would you like your spiritual blindness to be cured? Would you like to read the Bible and understand it without others having to teach you? Both Jesus and John taught repentance. That truth applies to us, even today. The Gospel of Repentance is a good place to further your understanding while considering the words that you just gained the understanding of. May you continually be blessed in your spiritual growth in the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father, but by Him.
The Bible Unveiled 