Renew mindset in Christ Jesus

30/12/2024

21/06/2024

20/06/2023

WAS IT GOD WHO ANSWERED ELIJAH WHEN HE CALLED FIRE?

Luke 9:54 AND WHEN HIS DISCIPLES JAMES AND JOHN SAW THIS, THEY SAID, LORD, WILT THOU THAT WE COMMAND FIRE TO COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, AND CONSUME THEM, EVEN AS ELIAS DID? 9:55 BUT HE TURNED, AND REBUKED THEM, AND SAID, YE KNOW NOT WHAT MANNER OF SPIRIT YE ARE OF. 9:56 FOR THE SON OF MAN IS NOT COME TO DESTROY MEN'S LIVES, BUT TO SAVE THEM. And they went to another village.

INTRODUCTION

That you are ignorant of a particular subject should not be blamed on another who has refused to remain in your position. It is a choice.

There is an unnecessary TREND on this subject currently going on in The Social Media. I call it unnecessary because in Bible Studies, you don't Shut people up but rather present the Truth if you perceive that what is said is falsehood.

LET THE BIBLE SPEAK FOR ITSELF

The Bible has two parts; The Old Testament and The New Testament. The Old Testament is called The MYSTERY (Jesus Christ spoken of in parables, types, shadows, images, and Feasts. All these testified of Christ. The New Testament reveals The Father through Christ(humanity). The Epistles is the Revelation of The Father in Christ.

Bible refers to the Old Testament Actors as Testifiers or witnesses who used those mysteries to witness Christ without they understanding their meanings.

Nobody in the Old Testament knew God's character because there was no revelation hence they attributed everything to God; death or life, good or evil. These notions were held by everyone, including those who Preached or prophesied. However, Jesus Christ, who was God, became Man to explain and express the true character of God.

LET'S PONDER ON THIS

Jesus said that no one from creation has ever seen the Father except Himself👇

John 6:46 "Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him"(NLT).

None of Moses , Prophets and The Psalmists ever saw God to know who and how He was. However, they only were sent to communicate Salvation, which will come through Christ. This was done in Mystery, that is why there is no mention of Christ anywhere in the Old Testament but He was everywhere there.

Because these people didn't know God and what He was capable of and what He wouldn't do, they attributed every occurrence to Him. However, the only consistent message they preached or Prophesied (Salvation through Christ) was what became flesh 👇

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

God became Man to show Man His character in Christ. And all the words spoken from Genesis 1 to Malachi became flesh (Christ). This word that became flesh revealed the character of God (Grace and Truth).

John The Baptist is regarded as the greatest of the Old Testament Prophets because He was the last Prophet who eventually saw the physical manifestation of the word that others only spoke about.

SEE IT HERE👇

John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

John 1:29 is the summary of Genesis to Malachi and the greatest of them all would be the Man who would identify Him. So John The Baptist became a live witness to all that his colleagues only prophesied about.

BEFORE JOHN, MOSES PROPHESIED

The author of the first books of the Bible, Moses, while giving Israel HIS Law, prophesied to them the coming of Christ. He said when He comes, Israel should leave the Law and listen to Him 👇

Deuteronomy 18:15 "Moses continued, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him."

So, you see, despite giving them Legalism, Moses knew that the Law was not the Gospel He was asked to Preach. He eventually told them the message..."you must listen to Him"

ISAIAH SAID SAME ON BEHALF OF THE PROPHETS

Same message was Preached by Isaiah 👇

Isaiah 9:6 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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Read that again. Isaiah says the government of God shall be directed by Christ and He will be the only one to ORDER AND ESTABLISH God's Kingdom.

In all these, you would agree that despite the shortcomings of Israel, the messages were focused on the coming of Christ. Eventually these words of prophecy became flesh.

LET'S SEE IF JESUS IS TO BE PREACHED SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE OLD TESTAMENT PREACHERS

We keep hearing people say the Bible is the written word of God as written. No. The Old Testament that became flesh would only be called the word of God if they testified about Jesus who became FLESH.

Jesus, Himself, said so👇

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

It wasn't everything said or that happened in the old testament that testified of Jesus. This would mean that only the teachings and prophecies about Grace and Truth testified about Him.

IS IT CLEAR?

MOSES AND THE PROPHETS WERE TESTIFYING ABOUT CHRIST

It is common to hear people Preach the Law of Moses and The Prophecies of Elijah and other Old Testament Prophets as true Prophets who represented God accurately. But the same Bible would explain otherwise, if properly explained.

Let's journey back to the Mount of Transfiguration 👇

Matthew 17:1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

THREE TABERNACLES? This was a case of witnesses(Moses and Elijah represent the Law and the Prophets) appearing to confirm Jesus as The One the Old Testament Law and Prophets spoke about. However, a Pastor-in-training, Peter, hurriedly packages a Doctrine for the church.

Hear him👇

17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

If we have your permission, let us build 3 Tabernacles for you, Elijah and Moses.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

Tabernacle was a figure of God's dwelling with Man. It will become God dwelling in a Believer. So, Peter is asking for permission from Christ to allow them Preach Christ (GRACE)side by side with THE LAW OF MOSES, and THE PROPHETIC
Ministry of Elijah and other Old Testament Prophets as qualifications for God's Kingdom.

Today, many who don't have understanding nor have read this scripture to the end, have already built these 3 Doctrines and are Preaching them side by side. They preach the Law of Moses as a requirement for pleasing God. They call fire on perceived enemies, or lion on rebellious children and then also Preach the love of God in Christ.

So, their God LOVES, CONDEMNS AND KILLS. 3 TABERNACLES.

PETER IS QUICKLY CORRECTED.

Peter was quickly corrected by God Himself before he concluded on his theology👇

Matthew 17:5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

Moses and Elijah were covered with the cloud remaining only Jesus followed by a voice from Heaven..."THIS IS MY BELOVED SON, IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED; HEAR YE HIM.

This is the one Moses in The Law, Prophets in Prophecies (represented by Elijah) all were talking about. Now that He is here, Hear Ye Him.

Moses said the Lord will raise someone among them, "HIM YOU MUST HEAR". Isaiah said God's Government shall be upon His shoulder and He shall Command and Order God's Kingdom.

The voice from Heaven only re-echoed what these Old Testament Men were Preaching and Prophesying which became flesh and was identified by John The Baptist.

HE WENT ABOUT CORRECTING THE MISREPRESENTATION OF GOD'S CHARACTER BY THE OLD TESTAMENT PREACHERS

09/04/2023

Jesus Did not Died for Christians, Jesus Died for the Sins of the whole World.

John 1:29KJV:The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Hebrew 9:26KJV:For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

1john 2:2KJV:And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
John 16:8KJV:And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
KJV:Of sin, because they believe not on me;

He has Rose.
Acts 5:30, ROM 4:24, ROM 8:11, ROM 10:9, 2Cor 4:14 Gal 1:1, Eph 2.6.

Believers are justified in Christ Died Burial and Resurrection.

28/03/2022

*CHRISTOCENTRIC MEAL*

*UNDERSTANDING THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS IN CHRIST - 6*

2nd Corinthians 3:7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
Vs 8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
Vs 9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.

The ministration of the New Testament is the ministration of the spirit. The law was to be done away.

2 Corinthians 3:11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.

Vs 13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

Done away. Abolished. The letter that kills. Ministration of death.

These are terms used to describe the Old Testament.

Hebrews 8:7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.
Vs 8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:
Vs 9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.
vs 10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

He was quoting Jeremiah 31: 31- 35 above.

Hebrews 8:13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

The new made Covenant made that covenant Old. It means that it is done away with. You cannot use the two of them side by side.

Hebrews 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

The timing of the Old Testament is seen in verse 9 above- in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt.

The timing was when God took them out of Egypt to Canaan. In 2 Corinthians 3, he refers to Moses.

2nd Corinthians 3:7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:

2nd Corinthians 3:13 And not as Moses, which put a vail over his face, that the children of Israel could not stedfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:

Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
Vs 17 And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.

Abraham was not practicing the law.

Galatians 3:18 For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.
Vs 19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Vs 13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
Vs 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

The law began with Moses. We cannot call Genesis the Old Testament. The Old covenant is written in stones- 2 Corinthians 3: 3.

The new covenant is written in the hearts of men. The old covenant and the new covenant refers to a relationship and not a document.

*Confession: I acknowledge that the new covenant is written in my heart. It is all that God has done in Christ. I walk in it. AMEN.*

15/05/2021

The Cross According to Prophecy and Mystery

When it is heard that Paul’s mystery gospel includes the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ some properly identify the teaching of the cross before Paul by Jesus and Peter.

However, when we look closely at how the cross is foretold we see that there are different ways to talk about the cross. While there is a teaching of the cross according to prophecy, it is Paul that reveals the preaching of the cross according to the revelation of the mystery.

Jesus Teaches the Cross

During his ministry to Israel, Jesus told his disciples about what the prophets had said concerning him: that he would be put to death and raise again the third day (Luke 18:31-34).

After overthrowing the tables in the temple he declared publicly:

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” – John2 :19

When requested for a sign he said that “an evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign”, but the sign he gave them was his resurrection after three days (Mat 12:39-40).

Clearly Jesus told of his death and resurrection during his earthly ministry. However, it is important to recognize that while he mentioned the cross nobody understood it.

“And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.” – Luke 18:34
When he mentioned the raising of his “temple” in three days, not even his disciples understood what he meant until after it had happened (John 2:20-22).

Everytime Jesus spoke plainly about his death it was privately to his disciples and was not preached publicly as the gospel of salvation:

“From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples…” – Mat 16:21
“Then he took unto him the twelve, and said unto them…” – Luke 18:31
Jesus presented his death to his disciples as a fulfillment of the prophets, and his resurrection to the nation as a sign. Although Jesus talked about the cross, he did not speak about the hidden wisdom in the cross that he would later reveal to Paul (1 Cor 2:6-8).

Peter Preaches the Cross

After the resurrection Peter knew about the cross and even preached it at Pentecost. However, he did not preach the cross in a mystery, but the cross as it related to prophecy.

As Jesus before him, Peter taught the death of Christ as a fulfillment of prophecy:

“But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.” – Acts 3:18
Since Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled the prophecies, this was proof that he was the Messiah. In speaking of his resurrection Peter quotes the prophet David:

“Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.” – Acts 2:30-31 (regarding Psalm 16:10)

Peter spoke of the cross as a fulfillment of prophecy, and yet he also preached the cross as a shame to Israel, since they purposely killed the Prince of Life:

“Him… ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:” – Acts 2:23
“But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.” – Acts 3:14-15
Since Israel had killed their Messiah, the resurrection of Christ was necessary according to prophecy for him to sit on David’s throne and to bring in the kingdom. No king, no kingdom.

So, Peter taught the death of Christ as a shame and a fulfillment of prophecy, and the resurrection as a necessity for the kingdom to come (Acts 2:33; Acts 3:19-21; 1 Pet 1:3).

Paul’s Preaching of the Cross

So far, the preaching of the cross has been seen to be merely a fulfillment of the prophecies and necessary for the kingdom come to Israel. The death was even presented as bad news to the disciples, and a shame to Israel.

In contrast to this teaching of the cross, the Lord revealed to Paul a mystery preaching of the cross. This mystery is the glorying of that which was previously shameful (Gal 6:14). It revealed a hidden purpose to the teaching of the cross that was according to prophecy.

Paul preached the cross as good news to all men for their salvation. With Paul the preaching of the cross has changed from being taught privately to a worldwide message, not of shame, but of rejoicing.

To Paul the cross was not merely the death of the Messiah, but was our death in Him.

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed…” – Rom 6:6
“I am crucified with Christ:…” – Gal 2:20

“God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” – Gal 6:14
The resurrection was how sinners could receive eternal life through free justification:

“…and was raised again for our justification.” – Rom 4:25
Because Christ rose from the dead, we have a position in heavenly places in Him (Eph 1:3, Col 3:1).

Christ’s resurrection was not needed merely for an earthly kingdom, but to reconcile all things to himself which included heaven and earth (Eph 1:18-22).

It was for this reason that Paul can confidently declare:

“Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:” – 2 Tim 2:8
Peter taught Jesus Christ’s resurrection as the seed of David to sit on David’s throne. Paul taught Christ’s resurrection to be the head over all things: heaven and earth. What a more excellent teaching and reason for Christ to resurrect, and it can only be understood in light of the heavenly mystery of Christ.

Conclusion

The cross of Christ according to prophecy was one more event needed in the fulfillment of God’s promises to the nation Israel to have dominion on the earth. It was all searchable in the prophets (John 5:29, Luke 24:44, Acts 3:18).

What was kept secret was the preaching of the cross as the gospel that freely saves all men. The cross of Christ according to the mystery is the channel of God’s unsearchable riches of grace:

“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:” – Eph 1:10

02/05/2021

What I Believe vs. What God Said

“It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.” – Psalm 118:8
God is the final authority over every man. He was before man. He sees what man can not. He is eternal. He is wisdom and truth.

When God speaks he holds court over the opinions of the smartest men.

The difference between what you believe and what God said is one of authority.

There can be no greater pursuit than to learn what God said. But instead of learning the truth of what God said in the Bible, the spiritually enlightened claim to be on a journey of self-discovery to learn what “I believe”, or what “everyone else believes” outside God’s authority.

From this perspective God is not the final authority. “I” am the authority, determining what is true and what is not.

This is putting confidence in man, and not trusting the LORD.

With billions of people trying to discover their personal beliefs there can be no certainty on what is true. There are billions of people with the same capabilities to discover, learn, and acknowledge.

Why is one man, group of men, scholar, denomination, or Christian celebrity the determiner of what is truth?

God alone is the final authority over all men. Without letting God be true, there is no sure way to know the truth.

Man can believe whatever he wants, but that does not make it true. Men have it backwards thinking that God can say whatever he wants, but that doesn’t make it true. This is a corruption of the truth.

God wrote a book. The words of the Bible are authoritative over any spiritual commentary made by any scholar or preacher on the planet.

Men can be wrong, they are all fallible. Arguments over what men said are vain.

“My man is better than your man.”
“My scholar is smarter than your scholar.”
“My council is older than your council.”

How do you know any of them are true? How can we know for certain? This is an authority problem. Let God be true, but every man a liar (Rom 3:4).

To know the truth of God, you must believe the Bible. You cannot believe the Bible unless you first read it. (You cannot read it unless you first have it.)

You do not read the Bible looking for what you believe; you read the Bible studying what God said.

This is the difference between trusting the LORD and putting your confidence in men.