Did you know that the Bible calls up captives and slaves? A part of the Messiah’s mission included freeing the captives, according to Isaiah 61:1. Jesus read from this Book in Luke chapter 4:18-19. “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, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” During His ministry, did He free them from the Romans? How can we all be captives? What makes us all blind? Why do we need to be set at liberty in the first place? These definitions imply we aren’t supposed to be here. These definitions are pointing out that this world is a prison. Are we captives? I am no longer a slave.
Who is left among you that saw this house in her first glory? and how do ye see it now? is it not in your eyes in comparison of it as nothing? Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, saith the LORD; and be strong, O Joshua, son of Josedech, the high priest; and be strong, all ye people of the land, saith the LORD, and work: for I am with you, saith the LORD of hosts: According to the word that I covenanted with you when ye came out of Egypt, so my spirit remaineth among you: fear ye not. For thus saith the LORD of hosts; Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, saith the LORD of hosts. The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace, saith the LORD of hosts. – Haggai 2:3-9.
What was this first house? Why does the LORD God say that He is the Beginning and the End? Why does it ask, “how do we see it now?” What is the Biblical meaning of a house or a temple? What are our bodies? When the Heavens and the earth shake, what will become of all of us? These are all questions that we need to find the answers to. The good thing is that the Bible provides the answers to life’s most difficult questions. We just need to know how and where to begin. It all begins in the Beginning. Are we slaves? Are we captives? I am no longer a slave.
The hope of Glory is Christ in you. In Colossians, Paul tells us about the mystery that has been hid from the beginning which is revealed to his saints. Do you know what this mystery is? Everyone in Christianity, and possibly the world, knows who Jesus Christ is. Although, what is this great mystery? I could probably go to anyone and ask them what Christians believe. Do you know anyone who can clarify what Paul is speaking about? Why? What does Colossians say about who this is revealed to? “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written that He takes the wise in their own craftiness.” – 1 Cor 3:19. The fact remains that we probably don’t have a clue what we’re talking about unless we have His Spirit.
How do we receive His Spirit? Is it by baptism? Is it by the baptism that the world teaches, by water? Why does the Bible tell us, “That He might sanctify and cleanse it by the washing of water by the Word?” Do your pastors or teachers even know that verse? Do you know what sanctification means? Why does Paul say, “This is the will of GOD, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication?” Why doesn’t it say adultery? Why does it say that? There is only one reason, because it is true. We are to abstain from earthly lusts and this includes sex with our spouse. How many people are teaching this Gospel principle? How many people can tell you what the mystery is? How can you have Christ in you, the hope of glory, if you aren’t doing as He did, and walking as He walked?
“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” – 1 John 2:4-6.
According to the Bible, Jesus taught us the truth about this world. We can understand certain principles that many do not understand about the Gospel. When reading the Word, it’s easy to miss out on all the ways Jesus showed His love and commitment to His disciples and to God. But what did Jesus teach His disciples? What did they learn in which they taught others? He taught them about prayer, worshiping GOD, denying ourselves, taking up our cross, having faith, and showing them by example how they all should live. He told them that unless they did these things, they could not enter into Heaven.
Throughout His ministry, Jesus encouraged His disciples to trust God and rely on Him for help. In Matthew 14:22-32, Mark 6:45-52, and John 6:16-21, He taught them they didn’t need to worry about daily necessities because God would take care of them. Jesus stated to His disciples and His followers about denying themselves, and both Peter and Paul referenced this teaching. Without intentionally denying ourselves our desires, we aren’t able to put others first or focus on what really matters.
One of Jesus’s last teaching moments with his disciples is a lesson in self-denial. After washing his apostles’ feet, he led them to a garden on their last night together. During prayer, he went away from them and prayed, saying, ‘My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless not as I will but as you will’ (Matthew 26:39). Denying oneself to honor God isn’t something that we like to talk about today, but for Christ and for us, it should be. Follow him in denying ourselves so that we can honor our Creator when all else fails.
It is through Christ’s own death that He defeated sin, conquered death, and liberated us from evil. But to fully experience all that God has for us, we must die in Christ just as He died for us—we must deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him. When we do so, He promises to bring good out of every situation (Romans 8:28). Are you ready to give up your desires so that Christ May Be In You, The Hope Of Glory? Then take a moment today to reflect on your priorities and ask God to show you areas where you need to be more like Him. Now is a good time to be focused on understanding how much God loves us—and for repentance!
Imagine the world as if nothing was as it seems. Imagine what would take place if Jesus Christ’s teachings were literally true. Our Lord explained to us that His primary mission was to free the captives, restore sight to the blind, show us the way, and also to raise the dead. What would happen if all these things were true? If we were all blind, what would happen? If we were all in prison, what would be the result? If we were all conceived dead, what would become of us? Consider what could happen if these things were true. Could Jesus have been right? Could they be false? Has the Lord ever lied? Did He reveal to us we are descended from Satan? “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do… And because I tell you the TRUTH, ye believe me not.” Could these things be true? Can we ignore them? How are we unable to get it as a culture?
Picture a scenario where somebody was telling us precisely what our identity was. Whenever we read through the Bible, we need to ask ourselves many questions and attempt to find the answers. The Messiah showed to us we had to be like kids. That’s what I’m asking you all to do. Jesus instructs us in John 10:34, “Is it not written in your law, I said ye are gods?” He was referring to Psalm eighty-two. Let’s look at it. “They know not, neither will they understand, they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said ye are gods, all of you are children of the Most High. But, you are going to die like men, and fall like one of the princes.” Friends, that is what the Bible says. The LORD God doesn’t lie. The Bible is true.
Where did they all fall from? Why will they now die like men? Who are they? Why does the Bible tell us, “arise o’ sleeper wake up from the dead?” Didn’t we just read that it was Jesus’ mission to restore sight to the blind? Is the Bible true? Then, all these things are true. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do… And because I tell you the TRUTH, ye believe me not.” Do you believe the Word of GOD? Do you believe in the teachings and ministry of Jesus Christ? Or do you put your faith and trust in the teachings of man? In the previous post, we covered a couple of verses from Jeremiah 10. It all ties together. “But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities. Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purpleis their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.”
In the free eBook, Jesus, Abstinence, & the Bible, we can see what the Messiah was teaching us. As well as the importance of complete biblical abstinence. I pray you take the time to read it. We, as the Body of Christ, have been called to be Holy. We have been called to be even better.
If your hope is to know why this is true and why we are supposed to be abstaining from sex and other earthly lusts, consider the following from Peter, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” Please read all of our free Christian eBooks for download. I have placed them in proper order for better understanding, as one builds upon the other. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of GOD. Jesus said that our father here was the devil. He said that He was telling us the truth. Jesus Christ is the only Truth. Why do you think that we all need to be born again?
“Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.” – Romans 7:4-6.
Let us consider this verse from Jeremiah 10: “But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities. Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.” Who is it that is covered in blue and purple? How are they all a doctrine of vanities? What makes them brutish and foolish? Who are the founders? What are they all covered with? Consider the heading of this post and read it again. Now, when I read these verses, the only thing that comes to my mind is our bodies. Do you know of anything else that could be covered in? Why are we told this in 2 Peter 2, “But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption.”
What is it they won’t understand? Who are they? Why are they called beasts? Why did Paul say, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” When you read the Word of GOD, do you ask yourself questions in prayer? Do you read more than a verse here and there? “Blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.” The Bible tells us the stone that the builders rejected has become the head of the corner. That statement alone holds more weight in understanding than obtaining many riches in life. What do you think that verse means? What if we were to compare it to Jeremiah 10? The Bible just told us that another or others found the world than the LORD God. Maybe that is why it tells us, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” – 2 Corinthians 4:4.
“And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on his head, and they put on him a purple robe, And said, Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote him with their hands. Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them, Behold, I bring him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in him. Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them, Behold the man!” – John 19:2-5. Behold… Humanity. Blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men. Jesus tells us in Luke 5, “No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.”
What is the reasoning for being born again if we are created in the image of the LORD God? He knows everything. He is perfect in all His ways. Why would He place His perfect creation in a world fallen in decay and ruin? Why would we all need to be redeemed? What are we being redeemed from? What did we all do in the first place? Blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.
“Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days. And when he had spoken such words unto me, I set my face toward the ground, and I became dumb.” – Daniel 10:12-15.
But they are altogether brutish and foolish: the stock is a doctrine of vanities. Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they areall the work of cunning men.
A Guest post of Spiritual Inspiration from my sister in Christ, while walking, even as Jesus walked. Inspiration given in September 2021.
Announce in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem and say Sound the Trumpet throughout the Land. Raise the SIGNAL to FLEE to ZION without delay! For Jesus Christ is bringing great disaster from the North, even terrible destruction. A Lion has come out of his lair, a Destroyer of Nations has set out. He has left his place to lay waste your land. Your towns will be in rum without inhabitants. So put on sackcloth and ashes for the Fierce Anger Of The Lord. Tell this to the nations, Proclaim concerning Jerusalem. A besieging army is coming from a distant land, raising a War Cry against the cities of Judah! Oh, my anguish, my anguish! I writhe in PAIN! Oh, the agony of my heart! My heart pounds within me. I cannot keep SILENT! For, I have heard the Sound Of The Trumpet. Isaiah 18!
Everyone will SEE it. Everyone will HEAR IT! The Bride Rises From the Wilderness, Song Of Solomon, Chapter 8. I have heard the BATTLE CRY. Disaster follows disaster! Jesus the Christ says, My people are fools. They do not know me. They are all senseless children. They are skilled at doing evil. They know not how to do good. Now, Jesus the Christ will pronounce His Judgements against them! A Cry! a Cry, as from a Woman in Labor, A Groan as From ONE bearing Her First Child. Groan and Lament for the News that is coming. Every heart will melt with Fear! Repent everyone! Jesus Christ, the Son Of God is Coming! He’s going to Burn the Earth with Fire. Isaiah 24. We are running out of time. Stand upon Mount Zion in the Spirit! The Ransomed Of The Lord Will Return! The Cup is Full! The Vessels are prepared! The Redeemed will Drink the Cup Of Salvation while the Wicked will Drink His WRATH! JEREMIAH 4!
Spiritual Inspiration Received September 2021 – My Sister In Christ
“Life is an arduous journey with many difficulties. Yet, the LORD God in His infinite wisdom gave us all a Way to return to Him. I pray we all find that which we seek the most: eternal life. This website, Lift Up A Banner is here for the exact purpose as witnessed in this guest post. As she had received this Spiritual Inspiration in September 2021, her decision was to make it a public proclamation to the world.” – Jonathan Heller. “Lift ye up a banner upon the high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, shake the hand, that they may go into the gates of the nobles. I have commanded my sanctified ones, I have also called my mighty ones for mine anger, even them that rejoice in my highness. The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle. They come from a far country, from the end of heaven, even the LORD, and the weapons of his indignation, to destroy the whole land.” – Isaiah 13:2-5.
The one and only Begotten of the Father, who is Jesus to you? Who is He to me? Was Jesus a socialist? Some in the Christian secular world may believe Him to be so. Although, too many people today are trying to interpret the Bible and they don’t even have the Spirit of GOD. It’s not possible for us to understand who GOD is unless He reveals himself to us. We need to read the Bible to see if we can gain a more perfect understanding. “I and my Father are one.” Jesus said to His disciples, “But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”
In this modern world, they have taught us a certain perspective on who Jesus Christ is. Although, during His time here on earth, he was loathed, even hated to the point of death. He had many followers for multiple reasons. In the end, there were only a few. If He were to come into the world today, would it be any different? They defined him as a radical. His followers were called a sect. He was teaching things that upset nearly everyone. “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” – Luke 9:23. “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” – John 8:44-45. So, who is Jesus to you? Is He someone that we show lip service to on a Saturday or Sunday? Is He someone that will accept us as we are with no change or commitment on our behalf? Why did He teach repentance? Why did the Apostles?
We learn by reading the New Testament that Jesus is the only born Son of the Father and that He is the image of the invisible GOD. Let us now use some simple logic. If Jesus Christ is exactly who it says He is, how can we be created in His image? Why does it say this in 2 Corinthians 4, “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” Some things are not adding up here. The Bible is true, 100% of it. We can count on it. We can believe it. So what is it they have all been teaching us? Who is the god of this world? Why did Jesus say, “Ye are of your father the devil?” Whose image are we created in? How about this one, “They that are in the flesh cannot please GOD.” Or, “Silver spread into plates is brought from Tarshish, and gold from Uphaz, the work of the workman, and of the hands of the founder: blue and purple is their clothing: they are all the work of cunning men.” – Jeremiah 10:9.
Let us now tie it together with the Book of Revelation, “And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication: And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” – Revelation 17:4. What are we clothed with exactly? What color is our blood? Who are we? What was Jesus telling everyone that turned the entire world upside down? I know. Who is Jesus to me? The Bible tells us that our body is the temple. “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” – Matthew 21:12-13.
In the Gospels, Jesus harshly rebuked Peter when he, in his own mind, was attempting to assist the Messiah. “Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” – Matthew 16:22-26. Wait just a minute, didn’t Jesus say this again, “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not.” It seems as if we are seeing a theme here. Who is Jesus to you? Am I sounding somewhat like a dissident myself?
Jesus told us in John 10:34, “Is it not written in your Law, I said ye are gods.” What could He have meant by this? Have you seen that verse before? Have you looked it up in the Old Testament? “They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.” – Psalms 82:5-8. What, in fact, are we? Where are we from? Why did the LORD God have to come here in the likeness of sinful flesh and pay the price that no one else could? Jesus tells us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me.” Are you aware of these truths? What we are touching on is a portion or it. Do you know the way? What if you were to fall short? What about the life? Are you reading your Bibles, or are you trusting in someone else?
As I consider what they have led us to believe and understand, this simple fact remains true: “all men are liars.” Looking at all the different images that portray the Messiah, none of them are correct. They have led us to understand that He was this good looking and handsome man. The Bible tells a much different story. If someone who society deemed a heretic, potentially looked like the picture to the left below, and came up to you preaching the Kingdom of God, what would your first reaction be?
“Who hath believed our report? And to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 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.” – Isaiah 53:1-5. So, who is Jesus to you?
The Bible says that He is despised and rejected of men. “And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.” What if this were still true today? What if things were exactly the same as they were 2000 years ago? Do you know the LORD? Do you have a relationship with Him? Do you know Him? “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.” -1 John 2:3-7.
Narrow Is The Way Which Leadeth Unto Life
Who is Jesus to me? He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. He is my Savior. He is my LORD. He is my GOD. Everything in this world is contradictory to how it should be. Jesus came explaining exactly who we are, where we come from, what we all did. As well as the requirements necessary to go back Home. He gave us the parable of the Prodigal Son. We named it a parable. Jesus was telling us the Truth. “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” – Hebrews Hebrews 4:12-15.
Let the peace of GOD rule in your heart and always be thankful. How are we to let the peace of GOD reign within us? How are we to let go of the former self? How are we to put off the old man? Christians are called to eliminate their old sinful ways of thinking and to replace them with a completely new way of thinking. A life that’s possible due to the Holy Spirit living within us, the old man is symbolically replaced by Baptism. The new Man gets life by the receiving of Holy Spirit. What is the Baptism though? How are we to obtain the Holy Spirit?
The Bible tells us in Ephesians 5, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” In a previous post, The Baptism of the Holy Ghost, we covered this principle in detail. Peter tells us in the Book of Acts, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” In order to let the peace of GOD reign within us, we need to repent. How does one repent? What is it that we are repenting from? Those are very good questions. That is precisely why it says that the Baptism of the Holy Ghost comes from the washing of water by the Word. We need to fill ourselves with the Word of Life. We need to know the Bible. To know the Word means to know Jesus. The Messiah said to Satan while He was tempted in the wilderness, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth from the mouth of GOD.”
To let the peace of GOD rule in your heart means that you have grown to know and understand the way, the truth, and the life. And, it all begins with repentance. After we have learned the principles of the Gospel, we then strive for mastery, or perfection as Paul puts it. As we are letting go of those things that were once holding us back, reaching forth unto those things that are before, there is less of that old man there. We begin to be filled with new wine, once we put off the old garment. Then my friends, we are fit for the Master’s use and the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
GOD is Love. We are to walk in that love and share the good news of the Gospel with others. It is something that is required of us. We are to love others as Christ loves us. To let the peace of GOD rule in your heart is the same as the two great commandments. We are to love GOD with our entire being, and love our neighbor as ourselves. Paul tells us, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
Once we begin doing so, only then are we able to let the peace of GOD reign within us. Giving the LORD the command of our earthly vessel is not something easily accomplished. And, I am certain, that we all fall short. We all make mistakes. None of us are perfect. Yet, we have a Mediator between GOD and man, the Man Christ Jesus. I pray that you take the time to consider the free eBooks, the many lessons, and videos that are contained within the pages of this website. Remember my brothers and sisters, always be thankful.
Are we truly the Final Generation? Are we the last generation? Have you recently looked at the world around you? What does the Bible tell us the last days be like? “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” – 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
We also learn from 2 Peter 3, “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” It would appear that we are the final generation. Isn’t it quite terrifying out there? Or, somewhat confusing? It is also horrible seeing what is happening to those around us. Are we the last generation?
As I look at my own children and the struggles that many kids have nowadays, things are much different than what they used to be. We are the last generation. It should be pretty evident to anyone who is aware of the signs of the times. The whole world is currently in a mighty uproar and I see fear in the eyes of most people that I come across. For example, the grocery store, a doctor’s appointment, or just about anywhere that you go. What happened? How did things did so bad so quickly? Just a couple of years ago, this world appeared to be normal. Now, it is not even close. Slowly seeing people lose their grip on what they define as reality. Are we the final generation?
“Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, and my judgment is passed over from my God?” – Isaiah 40:21-27.
I used to be someone who never read the Bible at all. To even attempt to try to understand the Prophets seemed alien to me. Now, they are some of my favorite books to read. Understanding the Word of God and being able to lie down in green pasture the very moment that we open the cover sounds like something pretty remarkable. Well, I can testify to this truth. It truly is. In some places, it is also quite terrifying.
“Yea, they have chosen their own ways, and their soul delighteth in their abominations. I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. Hear the word of the LORD, ye that tremble at his word; Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed. A voice of noise from the city, a voice from the temple, a voice of the LORD that rendereth recompence to his enemies. Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her pain came, she was delivered of a man child.” – Isaiah 66:4-7.
Biblical Revelation To The Last Generation – In The Father’s Shoes
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing; and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them, even them that contended with thee: they that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.” – Isaiah 41:10-13.
As we look at the world and those around us, be reminded we are the final generation. I pray that you take the time to consider and digest all that is contained within the pages of Lift Up A Banner. A good place to begin the foundation of your understanding is with our completely Free Christian eBooks. On our website, there are no ads, and we don’t even accept donations. Remember the words of the LORD, “It is more blessed to give, than receive.” Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. Greet one another with an holy kiss. All the saints salute you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. – 2 Corinthians 13:11-14.
Within the story of Cain and Abel, there are Biblical lessons that we can learn which Parallel the teachings of Jesus Christ. Recently, I did a lengthy post on what we can extract from this story from the Old Testament. I added substantially more to it and turned it into a much longer FREE eBook. You can download it in PDF directly below.
Am I My Brother’s Keeper?
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As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. – 1 Peter 4:10.
My people hath been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray, they have turned them away on the mountains: they have gone from mountain to hill, they have forgotten their resting place. All that found them have devoured them: and their adversaries said, We offend not, because they have sinned against the LORD, the habitation of justice, even the LORD, the hope of their fathers. Remove out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the he goats before the flocks. For, lo, I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an assembly of great nations from the north country: and they shall set themselves in array against her; from thence she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of a mighty expert man; none shall return in vain. – Jeremiah 50:6-9.
“Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare. When I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly. The earth and all the inhabitants thereof are dissolved: I bear up the pillars of it. Selah. I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn: Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another. For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them. But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.” – Psalm 75:1-9.
“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. – Romans 8:18-23
How To Escape The Matrix: The LORD God is merciful to those who have a clean heart. God is the strength of my heart, though my flesh and my heart fail me. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. “O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? Why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt. Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary. Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs.” – Psalm 74:1-4.
“A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees. But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers. They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land. We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long. O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme thy name for ever?” – Psalm 74:5-10.
The End Is Come – FREE eBook
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Thus saith the Lord GOD; An evil, an only evil, behold, is come. An end is come, the end is come: it watcheth for thee; behold, it is come.
“Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom. For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness. Thou didst cleave the fountain and the flood: thou driedst up mighty rivers. The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun. Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter. Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name. O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever. Have respect unto the covenant: for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty. O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name. Arise, O God, plead thine own cause: remember how the foolish man reproacheth thee daily. Forget not the voice of thine enemies: the tumult of those that rise up against thee increaseth continually.” – Psalm 74:11-23.
Father, For Thy Names Sake, O’ Lord – In You I Put My Trust | How To Escape The Matrix
“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.” – 2 Corinthians 11:2-4.
Become as little children, my dear friends… Escape The Matrix
The Bible Unveiled 