So many distractions within this topsy, turvy world we exist in... Which is why our focus upon God's Spirit within ourselves is indispensable as we wade through this spiritually disoriented world, and realize just how frail we would be were it not for our awakening on a Spiritual level through the Son of God...

A fervent man is what comes to mind when thinking of Zecharias, and Elizabeth's son John... A man filled with the Holy Spirit even while in his Mother's womb, and used by God for a work that would prepare a spiritually lost people within Judea to reconcile with God through repentance... Eventually having the opportunity to receive the Spirit of God through the ONE WHO would begin to bring healing on a spiritual level through Himself after HIS death, and resurrection as the First Born among many brethren...

John the Baptist did not mince words either when it came to declaring God's Word, and understood the dire necessity for all to come to repentance at some point... In order to prepare to receive the greatest Gift of God Himself, via His Spirit, and to overcome the lawless behavior that impedes our growth in the Spirit... John, like many who came to understand, and believe in Jesus, also believed that the kingdom of God was coming in full fruition at that point in time... Many were awaiting God's power to be on full display as they believed Rome's tyranny would be overthrown, and Israel would be fully restored with God the Father's Messiah at the helm...

While being motivated by the Holy Spirit to preach the gospel of repentance, and the coming kingdom of God, John obviously was not clear on how the plan our Creator had purposed from before time began would unfold... Which is why after John's arrest, and impending judgment, he sent 2 of his own disciples to question Jesus if indeed HE was the ONE GOD had sent to redeem the world... John was perplexed because of his imprisonment, and obviously did not know that God's plan of ensuring the kingdom's of this world would fall under the headship of our Creator's kingdom 2,000 years later...

It seems that they did not understand that Jesus came in the flesh to die for humanities transgressions, and then be raised up to ensure all would have an opportunity to be granted eternal life... The Gift of salvation required a sacrifice that only God HIMSELF could ever fulfill as the Perfect Lamb of God... Had the full process God's redemptive plan been known at that particular time, and 2,000 years would have to expire before HIS triumphant return, understanding human nature, the motivation could very well have not been exercised by many... Not understanding clearly what Jesus had to fulfill ensured that God's plan would not be hindered in any way... So Luke chapter 7 recalls what transpired as a clearly confused John had to ensure his heralding of Jesus as the Messiah was not in vain:

"18 John’s disciples brought word to him [in prison] of all these things. 19 John called two of his disciples and sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are You the Expected One (the Messiah), or should we look for someone else?” 20 So the men came to Jesus and said, “John the Baptist sent us to You to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One (the Messiah), or should we look for someone else?’”

21 At that very hour Jesus healed many people of sicknesses and infirmities and evil spirits; and He gave [the gracious gift of] sight to many who were blind. 22 So He replied to them, “Go and tell John about everything you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the good news (gospel) preached to them. 23 Blessed [joyful, spiritually favored] is he who does not take offense at Me.”

Another example of how we can sincerely believe something, and be genuinely wrong about the timing of their fulfillment because of a lack of understanding as it pertains to the entire plan of God... Our Savior, while repeatedly warning HIS disciples of the suffering, and death by crucifixion HE would have to endure, as these apostles refused to believe the Truth from the very ONE WHO defines God's Word... But it does illustrate our need to ensure we are relying upon the Holy Spirit for valid information as it concerns God's Prophetic Word, and the proper interpretation never the less... At that point in time, Jesus was warning them not because they would believe what HE declared would actually transpire... But so that they would remember afterwards, and once all of God's prophetic Word was fulfilled...

There are times when key scriptures that our Great Creator inspires to have preserved, are not understood until centuries later, and their fulfillment are at hand, or at least approaching... But what serves as a test for the saints of God is when the time of fulfillment is at hand, and suddenly these extremely important passages of scripture are misinterpreted, or ignored completely by false prophets, as well as those who would rather hear distortions of the Truth as it concerns the time frame one is living in..

Again, an extremely important reason as to why one's reliance upon God's Spirit when proving all things in accordance to HIS purposes is vital for individual believers... Especially at it concerns persecution of God's saints for example... People are either looking for a place of safety to protect their physical lives, or a rapture to occur before the tribulation, and then great tribulation comes to fruition... Itching ears, and seeking out teachers, or prophets that soothe one's fears rather than dealing with situations one dreads is not fulfilling one's commission to grow in the love of God... Which, as 1 John chapter 4 verse 18 reminds us, casts out all fear:

" 18 There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love]."

Jesus did not die to save us on a physical level, but on a spiritual one... Our strength must be derived from the Spirit of God as there is nothing, nor no one that can take away God's promises, nor protection from within ourselves except by our neglect, or actions concerning this most significant aspect of our existence... Paul's letter to the believers in Rome also reminds us of just how weak the flesh, and our focus upon it can certainly lead to death... Especially when this will do nothing but distract, and stagnate one's Spiritual calling, and the LIFE our Savior provides us through HIS guidance with God's Spirit being focused upon... Romans chapter 8 says:

"5 For those who are living according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh [which gratify the body], but those who are living according to the Spirit, [set their minds on] the things of the Spirit [His will and purpose]. 6 Now the mind of the flesh is death [both now and forever—because it pursues sin]; but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace [the spiritual well-being that comes from walking with God—both now and forever]; 7 the mind of the flesh [with its sinful pursuits] is actively hostile to God. It does not submit itself to God’s law, since it cannot, 8 and those who are in the flesh [living a life that caters to sinful appetites and impulses] cannot please God.

9 However, you are not [living] in the flesh [controlled by the sinful nature] but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God lives in you [directing and guiding you]. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him [and is not a child of God]. 10 If Christ lives in you, though your [natural] body is dead because of sin, your spirit is alive because of righteousness [which He provides]. 11 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

Even after Jesus had given HIS sermon on the Mount of Olives, the disciples were still under the impression that the kingdom was going to overthrow their oppressor's during that very time frame... Which is why they were initially dismayed when they saw their KING suffering by the hands of wicked men, and eventually breathing HIS last breath upon the cross in fulfillment of scripture... That was an aspect of God's Word that was not taught by the priesthood of their day... Even when Jesus did prophesy about what HE would have to endure once delivered up by HIS enemies, the apostles refused, or were blinded spiritually to believe it would ever occur...

But their sadness was turned to joy once Jesus appeared before them after His death, and resurrection as God's Word declares... Encouraging their faith, and also bringing to light that it was important for them to see HIM in order to believe Jesus was WHO HE had claimed to be... But even after seeing Jesus's resurrected body, the Holy Spirit was necessary to heighten their perception of Spiritual matters as they grew from babes through Christ Jesus, and matured in the grace, and knowledge that HE alone defines as the Word of God... As all can who are called in accordance to God's purposes both in the past, at this present time, and as history unfolds...

In fact, and as Jesus declared to Thomas after this disciple had touched the wounds that His Savior received on humanities behalf, "29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” This of course shows faith in God for WHO HE truly is, and that of course is Spirit when one does not have to be proven in a physical manner...

Ironically as we draw ever closer to the fulfillment of our Savior's return, there has been a noticeable change in people's hope, and belief of Jesus's return... Due in part to sin's escalation in practice, and abominable behavior's being deemed normal as the mystery of lawlessness hardens the hearts of those consumed by this spiritual state... But the stage is being set for the man of sin, referred to as the beast in God's prophetic Word... Because of sin's dominance within the hearts, and minds of those who refuse to repent in accordance to God's will, this man who represents the antithesis of the Son of God will be worshiped as God...

Because of the mystery of lawlessness, the beast will be embraced by those whose names are NOT written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and the majority of the world at that point in time will be allowed by God to believe the delusion because of their love for unrighteous behavior, and the practice thereof... 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 is a clear summary of the precarious times we now live in, and what Paul was inspired by God to write of concerning this subject:

" 9 The coming of the [Antichrist, the lawless] one is through the activity of Satan, [attended] with great power [all kinds of counterfeit miracles] and [deceptive] signs and false wonders [all of them lies], 10 and by unlimited seduction to evil and with all the deception of wickedness for those who are perishing, because they did not welcome the love of the truth [of the gospel] so as to be saved [they were spiritually blind, and rejected the truth that would have saved them]. 11 Because of this God will send upon them a misleading influence, [an activity of error and deception] so they will believe the lie, 12 in order that all may be judged and condemned who did not believe the truth [about their sin, and the need for salvation through Christ], but instead took pleasure in unrighteousness."

But those of us who know, and steadfastly embrace these truths must not look down upon these individuals in a superior fashion... As we ourselves are scarcely saved by God's righteousness, and are blessed to have eyes that have been opened, and ears that are willing to hear because of God's Holy Spirt dwelling within our inmost being... Peter put this in perspective within HIS first letter chapter 4 as follows:

"17 For it is the time [destined] for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not respect or believe or obey the gospel of God? 18 And if it is difficult for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the godless and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in accordance with the will of God must [continue to] do right and commit their souls [for safe-keeping] to the faithful Creator."

May we encourage one another by the rightful utilization of God's Word as our guide, and comfort as we continue to approach this deceptive, and eventually darkest hour in mankind's already shaky, and at times very sordid history... His Spirit is to be relied upon wholeheartedly to strengthen us in the Truth that our Savior alone defines, and will reveal to those who walk in the WAY of our FATHER in heaven... Blessings...

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