Be Fearless in Christ Jesus
(The Revelations, the Lord has given to me by the Spirit, along with my teachings and comments, are written in Blue) (May we all have ears to hear)
When Christ Jesus lived on earth in the flesh, and prior to the cross, we see in … Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
Matthew 10:5-15 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. (Notice here, that prior to going to the cross He commissioned the Apostles to go ONLY to the lost sheep of the house of Israel) And as ye go, preach, saying, The KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is at hand (near: Strongs G1448). Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves (a wand, a scepter or baton of royalty: Strongs G4464): for the workman is worthy (deserving: Strongs G514) of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
Persecution came to Christ Jesus and His followers back then, and it is again coming against Israel and Christianity in today’s world at this very moment as I write these words. These Scriptures, spoken back in the days when Christ Jesus was living on earth in the flesh, look like a Type and Shadow of things going on in our daily lives all around the world today. Hear what He said in the Gospel of John 15:18-23 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for MY NAME’S SAKE, because they know not HIM (Almighty God the Father) that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also.
Matthew 10:16-25 BEHOLD, I SEND YOU FORTH AS SHEEP IN THE MIDST OF WOLVES: BE YE THEREFORE WISE AS SERPENTS, AND HARMLESS AS DOVES. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, TILL THE SON OF MAN BE COME (accompany, appear: Strongs G2064). The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house (Christ Jesus) Beelzebub (Satan: Strongs G954), how much more shall they call them of his household?
God is not pleased with cowardice within the ranks of HIS servants. 2Timothy 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but (the Spirit) of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. We must walk by “faith” and not by sight, not forgetting “common sense.” We must live by following the “leadership of the Holy Spirit” with “definite decisions.” Nothing moves, within each of our own lives, without each one of us individually making “definite decisions" as needed within any given moment. And at the same time, we must remain alert in order to cast aside “foolishness.” Let’s not move in “stupid” either. Some folks jump off the cliff before they look. They forget to pray and seek guidance from our Heavenly Father, and then forget to “think” before they leap. Let’s make sure we’re hearing from the Holy Spirit and not ‘old lyin’ slewfoot.’ Now after saying all of that … it is still important to “remain flexible.” One can be walking within God’s perfect Will and Purpose … then all of a sudden, there comes a major change in how, what, when, where and why … because Almighty God’s thought’s are much higher than our own, and HE’s able to see much farther ahead than we can … so … even though we make “definite decisions” in a moment of time … let us remember to always “remain flexible.” Sometimes, at a moment’s notice, we must be alert and willing to consider another way or another direction, while at the same time, making sure we are still following HIS lead.
Matthew 10:26-33 FEAR THEM NOT therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And FEAR NOT THEM WHICH KILL THE BODY, BUT ARE NOT ABLE TO KILL THE SOUL: but rather fear HIM (Almighty God our Heavenly Father and Creator) which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. (the account of this is also witnessed in Luke 12:4-5 And I say unto you my friends, BE NOT AFRAID OF THEM THAT KILL THE BODY, AND AFTER THAT HAVE NO MORE THAT THEY CAN DO. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear HIM (Almighty God), which after HE hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear HIM (Almighty God). Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess (acknowledge) me before men, him will I confess (acknowledge) also before my Father which is in heaven. But WHOSOEVER SHALL DENY ME BEFORE MEN, HIM WILL I ALSO DENY BEFORE MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.
The Spirit Of Truth … The Spirit of Error … Now, look at what Jesus had to say in Matthew 10:40-42 He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name (authority, character: Strongs G3686) of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.
The Apostle John … has a very clear teaching, that should be very helpful to all of us during these specific times. We are in Spiritual Warfare in a world where it’s all about “Good” verses “Evil.” It’s really time to pay close attention to what is going on all around us. Let us all be on the alert in regard to all of the fluid situations as they’re happening. This is no time to have our heads in the sand !!!
1John 4:1-6 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: EVERY SPIRIT THAT CONFESSETH (acknowledges: Strongs G3670) THAT JESUS CHRIST IS COME IN THE FLESH IS OF GOD (Ok, let's look at this past sentence very closely. The KEY WORDS here are “IS COME.” This is not out of the Apostle John’s writing of the 4th Gospel in our Christian Bible. The 4th Gospel is basically a documentary of the life of Christ Jesus from His baptism in the river Jordan unto His death on the cross, encompassing [27AD to 30AD] The 4th Gospel was written at some time after 30AD and, in my own opinion, prior to the siege of Jerusalem beginning in 67AD All scholars are unsure of the date of the 4th Gospel writing. However, the letter as written in 1John … and in particular the words we are herein discussing in verses 1-6 “IS COME” … was directed to Christian believers, in and around Ephesus, several years after they had heard and received the 4th Gospel. The point being is that when we see the word “IS COME” IN THE FLESH. The Apostle John was then saying that Christ Jesus didn’t just come in His own flesh body, but Christ Jesus is NOW even many years later, even after He died on the cross and ascended upon high … He “IS EVEN NOW COME IN THE FLESH” That is to say, in the form of the Holy Spirit, TO DWELL WITHIN THE FLESH BODY OF EACH AND EVERY TRUE BELIEVER.” It is imperative for all True Christians to clearly understand this point, or we will truly be unable to “try” and/or “discern” the spirit within others. Quick note: Trying or discerning the spirit of a person, is not judging that person): AND EVERY SPIRIT THAT CONFESSETH NOT THAT JESUS CHRIST IS COME IN THE FLESH IS NOT OF GOD: AND THIS IS THAT SPIRIT OF ANTICHRIST, WHEREOF YE HAVE HEARD THAT IT SHOULD COME; AND EVEN NOW ALREADY IS IT IN THE WORLD. Ye are of God … and have overcome them: because GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU, THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD. 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.
(In Summary: This previous passage was written AFTER Christ Jesus
went to the cross, died, rose again, appeared to many, and ascended upon high
and was received into Heaven to sit at the Fathers right hand. It is HE … who afterward
… that is to say NOW in this time, even since the time of the cross … I repeat.
It is He who IS COME … in the Holy Spirit and is presently living
within the innermost being, in the flesh of all of His body of believers
and followers around the entire earth, serving our Eternal Heavenly Father and
Creator, as Saviour, Prophet, Lord, King, High Priest, Comforter and Guide into
all Truth. He is EVERYTHING to those, whether male or female, who have trusted
and surrendered their lives to HIM. This is why and how Jesus could say “and, lo, I am with you always …”)
Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway (all whosoever, through the age: Strongs G3956, G2250), even unto the end of the world (age: Strongs G165). Amen. (Notice here in this verse, that Jesus no longer commands the Disciples to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, but here … AFTER He arose from the dead and just before He ascended upon high to sit at the Father’s right hand … He told the Apostles that ALL power had been given unto Him in heaven and in earth. He then commands THEM to go and teach the Gospel of Christ Jesus to ALL nations (peoples: Strongs G1484), baptizing them in the NAME (authority, character: Strongs G3686) of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost)
Matthew 13:36-43 … His (Jesus’) disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world (age: Strongs G165); and the reapers are the angels (messengers: Strongs G32). As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world (age: the one Jesus lived in). The Son of man (Jesus) shall SEND forth his angels (his messengers), and THEY shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Let’s be "fearless" … It’s going to get really interesting as
our Lord leads us on to total victory in this battle of “Good” verses “Evil.”
We’ve all read the last chapter of the book … Love to all … We win !!!
J Stone Grant
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