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Establishing The Covenant! By Pastor Bill Taylor A publication of My Father's House, inc. Volume 11/ Issue 7 Prophecy: The one who desires to be established in My Spirit will be only if he has faith to be established. Everyday he must strive in faith to be established, he must come to Me by faith and pray, “Lord, let everything I do today be in You. I pray and trust that You’re going to lead me by Your Spirit. And when You lead me to a brother or sister let all I speak be by Your Spirit.” That’s faith. Faith knows I’m with you. Faith expects I’ll lead you in the way of righteousness every moment of the day. I still hear in too many of your prayers remnants of doubt and unbelief. And I tell you My people, I’ll not bless until you get into the faith that comes to Me daily and believes that I’m with you and you’re one with Me, with My Spirit. When you do that, you’ll see My Spirit manifest. I’ll move on your behalf. You’ll see the supernatural workings of My Spirit in your brethren. And what you may not see immediately, you’ll see as things continue, as experiences come to pass, as the brethren give testimonies; you’ll see that it’s been Me all along. But I only bless faith. Come to me in faith! Be one with Me by faith! I long to be with you, I long to lead you, I long to make you fruitful! Believe and stop your doubting! Believe and I’ll make you fruitful branches and your brethren will marvel. People around you will marvel as they see the workings of My Spirit. Have it in your heart to glorify Me, My people! The foremost way you glorify Me is when you get up every morning and by faith you pray, “Lord, establish me in Your Spirit.” And you walk knowing I’m with you every moment of the day. Do this! And stop your doubting, thus saith the Lord. (Prophecy delivered at “My Father’s House”) “And it shall come to pass in the last days,” says God, “that I’ll pour out of My Spirit on all flesh.” (Act2:17) The Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost. So we know we’re in the last days. The last days are when the work of establishing the Lord’s house must be taking place. And in the latter (last) days the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established on the top of the mountains. (Is2:2) There’s usually a process involved in establishing something. And the process of doing what it takes to establish the Lord’s house is going on now. There’s coming a day when the work will be finished and all things that were prophesied in God’s Word will be established and fulfilled completely but before then we must be involved in doing the things necessary to establish them. And how important is the Holy Spirit to us in helping us do this. This is one reason why the Holy Spirit is being poured out in these last days. And when God says on “all flesh” He means the Spirit is available to you. Under the Old Covenant the Holy Spirit was only given to prophets, priests and kings. But in these “last days” under the New Covenant no one is excluded from being able to receive “the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Gal 3:4) Even as salvation is available to anyone who’ll call upon the Lord in a real faith – so the Holy Spirit is available to (all flesh) any believer who comes in faith. Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it’s established. (Pr24:3) If the Lord’s house is to be established there must be a process of bringing God’s people into understanding. Until that process has been completed the Lord’s house (people – Heb3:6) aren’t fully established but while the work is going on we’re being established. That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding. (Col 2:2) So in the last days, the days we’re living in, the work of establishing the Lord’s house will be going on and will continue until it attains completion. And when it’s complete the prophecies will be fulfilled, the Lord’s people will be established in the full assurance of understanding and the Lord’s house will be established on the top of the mountains. It’ll be more prominent and more glorious than anything else in this world and everyone will know about it. It shall be exalted above the hills, and all nations shall flow to it. Many people shall say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He’ll teach us His ways, and we’ll walk in His paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Is2:2,3) At “My Father’s House,” right now the Word of the Lord is going forth like no where else in the world today. Which means “My Father’s House” is of Zion and the heavenly Jerusalem; (Gal 4:26) a fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. God’s “present Truth” (see our Glory of His Grace book “The Present Truth”) is being preached here and it’s having an extraordinary effect. We’re receiving hundreds of thankful letters from Glory of His Grace readers and very often these letters are filled with quotes from our latest books. The Lord’s writing His Word on the hearts of many Glory of His Grace readers. “For this is the covenant that I’ll make with the house of Israel after those days,” says the LORD, “I’ll put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I’ll be their God, and they’ll be My people.” (Heb8:10) Clearly you’re an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart. (2Cor3:3) The Glory of His Grace readers are learning and feeling things from God they often need to share. Many have poured their hearts out to me concerning what God is teaching them in our Glory of His Grace books. They’re not just reading our books but they’re being deeply affected by what they read. Last night in prayer I had a discussion with Jesus in which I said to Him, “Lord, it’s just like it was in Your day. The Pharisees and most of the religious people didn’t want much to do with You, but the publicans and sinners were responding by droves.” Jesus warned the Pharisees, “Publicans and harlots will enter into the Kingdom before you.” (Mt21:31) The self-righteous people who presumptuously thought they were saved wouldn’t even go to John’s baptism whereas the sinners knew they needed forgiveness and they went. For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him; but tax collectors and harlots believed him; and when you saw it, you didn’t afterward repent and believe him. (Mt21:32) It’s the same thing today. There’s a revival going on in several of the prisons while many so called “churches” around us are filled with dead “curstians” (see our Glory of His Grace book “Curstians Not Christians”) who don’t even know the scriptures. For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn’t know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. (Act13:27) They don’t understand the Word because they won’t obey Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. (2Tim2:15) They think they’re solidly established in salvation because the bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you’ll be saved.” (Act16:31) So they claim to believe on the Lord but they haven’t the slightest inkling what it means to be led by the Spirit of Christ. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Rom8:14) Nor do they know Him as a living presence in their lives. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You’ve sent. (Jn17:3) You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you aren’t willing to come to Me that you may have life. (Jn5:39,40) Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he’ll keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We’ll come to him and make Our home with him.” (Jn14:23) Being ignorant of the many other “salvation” scriptures many people think they’re saved by a mere pretense of “believing.” You believe there’s one God. You do well. Even the demons believe -- and tremble! (Jms2:19) But they’re no more “saved” than the demons because what they define as “believing” isn’t what Jesus means by “believing.” If they really “believed” then I’ve been crucified with Christ; it’s no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. (Gal 2:20) would be true for them. But they’re not crucified with Christ and the life they’re living isn’t the Christ life but still their own life. So they’re as lost as can be and today it’s happening just the way it did in Jesus’ day. There’s nothing new under the sun. (Eccl 1:9,10) What Jesus went through we go through. Today’s world has the same devils, the same sins, the same kinds of people. Over the years the fashions may change but the people are still sinners, still dressed in pride, selfishness and presumption! Ever the same! But God’s Word is going forth from us and it’s being received by the elect and it’s having a great effect on the humble. Many Glory of His Grace readers are mixing God’s Word with faith and putting it to work in their lives. For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in Truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. (1Th2:13) Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and many peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; He’ll teach us His ways, and we’ll walk in His paths.” For out of Zion the law shall go forth, and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (Is2:2,3;Mic4:1,2) This prophecy in Isaiah is repeated word for word in Micah. Micah and Isaiah are contemporaries, but it’s probable Isaiah spoke these words first; his ministry began around 740 B.C., whereas Micah’s ministry began about 735 B.C. So Isaiah preceded Micah by about 5 years, and this passage is right at the beginning of Isaiah’s ministry. Of course, it’s possible Micah heard Isaiah’s prophecy, although he could have independently prophesied exactly the same thing. Both Isaiah and Micah also speak much about the wickedness of the Jews, and how God will judge them. Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and her penitents with righteousness. The destruction of transgressors and sinners shall be together. The strong shall be as tinder, and the work of it as a spark; both will burn together, and no one shall quench them. (Is1:27-29,31) Her heads judge for a bribe, her priests teach for pay, and her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD, and say, “Isn’t the LORD among us? No harm can come upon us.” Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps of ruins, and the mountain of the temple like the bare hills of the forest. (Mic3:11,12) How many are “preaching” for money today? It’s common in prophecy that after God speaks a powerful judgment, He’ll follow with a promise of restoration. (Is2:1,2;Mic4:1,2) First He destroys the wicked then He builds up the righteous. So concerning these prophecies, whatever pertains to the destruction of the wicked and the raising up of the righteous must have to do with and precede the establishing of the Lord’s house. God really doesn’t give us any indication of how long the process is going to take. It’s been two thousand years since Jesus and it’s still going on. But there’s no doubt that the more powerfully the Word of the Lord and God’s law are going forth the closer this prophecy is to its fulfillment. For behold, the LORD is coming out of His place; He’ll come down and tread on the high places of the earth. The mountains will melt under Him. (Mic1:3,4) Your children shall go from you into captivity. Arise and depart, for this isn’t your rest; because it’s defiled, it shall destroy, yes, with utter destruction. (Mic1:16;2:10) “This isn’t your rest” can apply to most so called “churches” today. There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who’s entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let’s therefore be diligent to enter that rest. (Heb4:9-11a) Many today think they’ve entered into God’s rest feeling secure in their “salvation” but their rest is defiled and it’ll destroy them. It’s a defiled rest because they haven’t entered into a living faith. But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? (Jms2:20) They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work. (Tit1:16) If they had a real living faith that Christ was in them they’d behave like Jesus. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. (1Jn2:6) Their rest is defiled because they haven’t come out of their sin. Whoever abides in Him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. (1Jn3:6) They haven’t come into the righteousness of God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2Cor5:21) If you know that He’s righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. (1Jn2:29) Then they’ll cry to the LORD, but He’ll not hear them; He’ll even hide His face from them at that time, because they’ve been evil in their deeds. (Mic3:4) During his interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams Joseph says, “And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.” (Gen41:32) Then what do you think about a prophecy that’s been given twice by two different prophets in the same age and within a few years of each other? For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I’ll bless you, and multiplying I’ll multiply you.” (Heb6:13,14) To confirm it, God says it twice. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable (unchangeable) things, in which it’s impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation. (v18,17) “By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” (2Cor13:1b) When God says something once it’s possible it may not come to pass. For example concerning blessing, if those He intends to bless turn away from righteousness and back to sin, God will turn away from blessing them. But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he’s done won’t be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he’s guilty and the sin which he’s committed, because of them he’ll die. (Ezek18:24) Likewise when God gives a “warning” or threatens a judgment, if someone intercedes and/or the people repent God may turn away from a destruction He intended to bring upon them. “Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I’ll make of you a great nation.” Then Moses pleaded with the LORD his God, and said: “LORD, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You’ve brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, ‘He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth?’ Turn from Your fierce wrath, and repent from this harm to Your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, ‘I’ll multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I’ve spoken of I give to your descendants, and they’ll inherit it forever.’” So the LORD repented from the harm which He said He’d do to His people. (Ex32:10-14) When God says something once the promise is often conditional and subject to reversal if the conditions weren’t met or the situation changes. For example, the intervention of an intercessor can change God’s intentions as with Moses in saving the Israelites. If there’s a messenger for him, a mediator, one among a thousand, to show man His uprightness, then God’s gracious to him and says, “Deliver him from going down to the Pit; I’ve found a ransom.” (Job33:23,24) But if God says it twice it’s established. It will come to pass. Nothing, not even an intercessor, can change it! Now we know the Word of God as it was originally spoken is forever established. (Ps119:89;Mt24:35) Unfortunately however, there’ve been serious problems concerning faulty translations in virtually every version of the bible. Translators or scholars are usually “intellectual” and not Spiritual so they don’t always know how to choose the right words to properly convey God’s meaning. (1Cor2:14) If you’re a serious student of the scriptures you need to be well acquainted with the OKJ (Old King James) because most concordances and the Greek and Hebrew dictionaries are based on it. However in preaching and teaching others the NKJ (New King James) is useful for clarity. Much of the OKJ language isn’t clear and understandable to many people today. Those who cling to the OKJ in preaching are like unto the foolish Catholics who tried to keep their services in Latin when their people rarely understood that language anymore. So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what’s spoken? For you’ll be speaking into the air. (1Cor14:9) But there are problems with the NKJ too. For example, every place in the OKJ where it says God “repented,” the NKJ changes the word to “relented.” Because there’s a verse in the OKJ bible that says God isn’t a man that He should repent, (Num23:19) many contemporary “churchmen” have been vexed by the numerous other verses in the OKJ that say “God repented.” Because they don’t really understand the bible these foolish men can’t answer when someone asks questions like, “If God isn’t a man that He should repent (Num23:19) why does it say God repented in Exodus 32:14?” The answer is found in the fact that the same word in English can have different nuances of meaning. For example, to call someone a “wise person” would be a compliment. But to call someone a “wise guy” would be an insult: another meaning being he’s a mobster, another that he’s a smart aleck. So the common usage of “repent” in the bible usually applies to a man repenting of sin when he sees he’s done wrong and is sorry. But repentance can also mean to reconsider and turn away from something based on a change of circumstances. In such a case any sorrow connected with this kind of repentance has nothing to do with the repentant one being a sinner. One can make a promise but because of the failure of the other party involved, righteously come to a place of repenting from what he promised to do, since the other party didn’t do what they were required to do. Here any sorrow would only be connected to the other party’s failure. But some simple minded theologians and foolish church leaders not even understanding the subtleties of their own language can see only one meaning of repentance and to them it’s always associated with sin. Thus in their minds repentance can’t be applied to God. And in revising the OKJ to make the NKJ, (a needful revision that was long overdue) the Thomas Nelson company consulted what they thought were influential religious leaders and expert theologians and some of these men fought vigorously to remove any connection between God and the word “repent” as applied to Himself. But this NKJ translation error terribly distorts the meaning of many verses of scripture. For example, The Strength of Israel will not lie nor relent. (OKJ repent) For He isn’t a man, that He should relent. (OKJ repent) (1Sam15:29 NKJ) Here the prophet Samuel is actually quoting God isn’t a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. (Num23:19) But because “repent” has been changed to “relent” in the NKJ Samuel no longer seems to be quoting from Numbers. Also to say God never “relents” is a lie. Because God is merciful He often relents. And when the angel stretched out His hand over Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD relented (OKJ repented) from the destruction, and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “It’s enough; now restrain your hand.” (2Sam24:16) And so it was, when they’d finished eating the grass of the land, I said: “O Lord GOD, forgive, I pray! Oh, that Jacob may stand, for he’s small!” So the LORD relented (OKJ repented) concerning this. “It shall not be,” said the LORD. (Am7:2,3) In these verses the meaning isn’t terribly altered by changing “repent” to “relent.” It’s much the same either way. But the foolishness of the NKJ translators is by changing “God isn’t a man that He should repent” (1Sam15:29) to “relent” they reintroduce the same quandary they were trying to eliminate. If it says He doesn’t relent in 1st Samuel, why does it say He relents in 2nd Samuel and Amos? What’s worse is the nuances of “repent” allow for the reader to see God doesn’t repent as a man does from sin but can change His intended course of action to adjust to a change in circumstances whereas the word relent has no such nuances and just makes the scriptures look foolish. Again God has every right to “repent” of a decision He’s made when the circumstances concerning His decision change in such a way as to allow Him to reconsider his intended action. This is also consistent with “who will render to each one according to his deeds.” (Rom2:6) But again, this doesn’t mean God repents as a man repents because of sin or a fickle inclination to “change his mind.” This is what Paul is explaining in, And in this confidence I intended to come to you before, that you might have a second benefit -- to pass by way of you to Macedonia, to come again from Macedonia to you, and be helped by you on my way to Judea. Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No? But as God’s faithful, our word to you wasn’t Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us -- by me, Silvanus, and Timothy – wasn’t Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. (2Cor1:15-20) Paul promised to come to Corinth but because of sin in the Corinthian church, he had to delay his visit lest it would be one creating sorrow instead of joy. (2Cor2:1-3) So he isn’t “repenting” of his promise as a fickle man might, but he has to reconsider the timing of his visit because of the behavior he’s hearing about in the Corinthian church. Their sin has caused him to “repent” of his intentions to visit them at that time. The Greek word for “repent” is “metamora” and it means “to turn from or reconsider.” Certainly it’s right to turn away from sin, but there are other reasons to “repent’ that have nothing to do with one’s personal sin as Paul shows here. So when the OKJ says God isn’t a man that He should repent (Num23:19) it means God doesn’t make faulty or fickle judgments as might cause Him to reconsider His decisions, but this doesn’t prevent Him from “repenting” from a particular course of action where there’s been a change in the situation. When I say to the righteous he’ll surely live, but he trusts in his righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity he’s committed, he’ll die. Again, when I say to the wicked, “You’ll surely die,” if he turns from his sin and does what’s lawful and right… he’ll surely live; he’ll not die. None of his sins which he’s committed shall be remembered against him; he’s done what is lawful and right; he’ll surely live. (Ezek33:13-16) The most powerful indictment against changing the word “repent” in the OKJ to “relent” in the NKJ is that in the Hebrew it’s the same word in every place: “Nacham” Even in the NKJ it’s translated God isn’t a man that He should repent. “Nacham” in Num 23:19. But then they change it to He’s not a man that He should relent. “Nacham” in 1Sam 15:29 NKJ. Since it’s the same Hebrew word translated “repent” in Num 23:19 in all the other places where the NKJ translators have changed “Nacham” from “repent” OKJ to “relent” NKJ, what justification is there for using two different words in English? Worse than that is the fact that the meaning in some verses such as 1Sam 15:29 is so drastically altered as to make the NKJ scripture a lie! God often “relents” when situations change. God has every right to repent from doing what He would have done if the situation hadn’t changed. When situations change its right to change your reaction to fit the new situation and there’s no sin in God’s repentance under such circumstances. Whereas God isn’t a man that He should repent means God isn’t fickle like men who change their minds for no reason or for selfish reasons. Man repents because of sin. Man repents because he realizes he made a bad decision, so he turns to what he thinks is a better direction. Man may “repent” just because it became inconvenient for him to keep his word. In this case man’s repenting is actually reneging. Concerning sinful “man” these are the usual ways the word repentance is used in the bible. However like Paul it’s possible for me to apply the word repentance to myself in the same way it can be applied towards God. If my son were disobeying me and I said I was going to punish him but he repented of his disobedience I could then repent of the punishment I intended to put upon him. My repentance has nothing to do with me sinning it has to do with my son’s sinning but his repentance causes me to repent of what I thought to do to him. Now isn’t it easy to understand that? So how foolish are these so called “church leaders” and theologians who instead of updating the King James Scriptures in a way that preserves the original meaning in fact are actually changing the Scriptures to questionable or even heretical meanings as they’ve done here in changing God isn’t a man that He should “repent” to “relent.” (1Sam15:29) These people who profess to be experts in Greek and Hebrew don’t even properly understand English. They don’t have the Holy Spirit. Often the more expertise men have in the eyes of man the more foolish they are concerning the things of God. For it’s written: “I’ll destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” Where’s the wise? Where’s the scribe? Where’s the disputer of this age? Hasn’t God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (1Cor1:19,20) In the days when the original King James was translated the linguists didn’t have an agenda of their own. They were searching for Truth and trying to convey it accurately. But in today’s corrupted and apostatized “church” almost everyone has an agenda – a pet doctrine or heresy they’re trying to promote. So the “experts” aren’t seeking the Truth, but trying to write their own ideas of what they wrongly think is true into the scriptures. It should have been a relatively easy thing to update the archaic language of the Old King James. It’s been successfully done several times before. But today’s “experts” messed it up. (See our Glory of His Grace books “The 1st Resurrection and Mark 16” and “The Children’s Bread/The Lord Gives Strength” for an exposé of problems with the NIV and NASB.) So how do these people get so deceived, even tripping over their own tongues because they can’t understand the simplest things in the bible? How can they come up with, “Over here it says God isn’t a man that He should repent, but over there it says He repented so the translation must be wrong?” Do you think such people are true believers? These people don’t know God! Who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.(2Cor3:6) They’re narrow minded, legal and not Spiritual. (See our Glory of His Grace book “Largeness of Heart”) But you haven’t so learned Christ, if indeed you’ve heard Him and been taught by Him, as the Truth is in Jesus. (Eph4:20,21) Such a people haven’t learned or been taught by Him and that’s why they’re filled with such foolishness. Jesus says of the true “believers” “They shall all be taught by God.” (Jn6:45) But these people aren’t taught by God. They’ve never heard Christ. The Holy Spirit “shall teach you all things.” (Jn14:26) But these people don’t have the Spirit. They’re living by the futility of their mind. (Eph4:17) Look how feeble minded they are that they can’t even see the difference in the use of the word repent when it concerns God turning from what He’s doing versus the way it applies to sinners. Like the Jews who crucified Christ, they’re so blinded they can’t understand the meaning of the scriptures they read and preach every Sunday! (Act13:27) They’re ignorant of the subtleties of their own language as they apply to the scriptures because of their hardened hearts. (Jn12:40) But their minds were blinded. For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ. (2Cor3:14) If these people are still veiled, it means they haven’t turned to the Lord. Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. (2Cor3:16) Jesus warned us that in the last days error would be so strong it would deceive “if possible” even the elect. (Mt24:24) So if you wish to attain to the resurrection of the just (Phil 3:11) and the Kingdom of heaven, you must certainly overcome the rampant deceptions concerning Christ and true Christianity found in most “churches today. When Jesus called me, He audibly commanded me I was to be taught by Him and not by commentaries of men. He strongly warned me to stay with the scriptures and the Spirit. Years later He allowed me to see the numerous errors in man’s commentaries that could have led me astray if He hadn’t kept me from them. Chiefest of these is the “Once Saved/Always Saved” baptist heresy! (see our Glory of His Grace book of that title) Many of our brethren in the prisons desire to take bible courses, read commentaries and own study bibles to help them in their pursuit of the knowledge of Christ. They often quote, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth.” (2Tim2:15) but does this mean to study commentaries on the scriptures or to study the scriptures themselves? Obviously, there were no commentaries in Timothy’s day, so Paul is telling him to study the scriptures! And if you’re being taught by a commentary, which includes the notes in a study bible, how do you know if the commentary is written by a heretic or a truly godly man? Unless you know the scriptures for yourself and are well acquainted with the Spirit of Truth (1Jn2:27) you can’t even rightly judge the commentaries to know what to believe. At “My Father’s House” we’ve even stopped recommending the Nelson Old King James Study Bible. Most true Christians know the Scofield and Macarthur Study Bible’s are full of heretical once saved/always saved lies. But even the Nelson Old King James Study Bibles are corrupted. For example, concerning, And you’ll be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. (Mt10:22) the comment is “This doesn’t mean you can lose your salvation, but that to be truly saved you must receive the gift of endurance.” To say Jesus doesn’t mean you can lose your salvation when He says “He that endures to the end will be saved” is BLASPHEMY! What right does the commentator have to say “Jesus doesn’t mean?” In such study bibles and commentaries although the scripture is God’s Word the commentary can be the devil’s word. So what good can a devilish “commentary” do a true believer? First concerning the “gift of endurance” there’s no such thing. Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience (endurance). (Jms1:3) Endurance (patience) is a virtue God works into the believer by putting him through experiences that strengthen his faith to persevere. (Rom5:3,4) Believers are commanded to endure and warned against falling away. They’ve no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the Word’s sake, immediately they stumble. (Mk4:17) You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. (2Tim2:3) But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. (2Tim4:5) Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You’ve heard of the perseverance (endurance) of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord -- that the Lord’s very compassionate and merciful. (Jms5:11) Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him. But we’re not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe (and endure) to the saving of the soul. (Heb10:38,39) Perseverance isn’t a “gift” but a “fruit” of the Spirit. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, (patience, endurance, perseverance) kindness, goodness, faithfulness. (Gal 5:22) Because it’s a “fruit” of the Spirit you must walk in the Spirit or you won’t have it! I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you’ll not fulfill the lust of the flesh. (Gal 5:16) Walking in the Spirit isn’t automatic. You must choose to do it by faith and by crucifying your flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another. And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Gal 5:17,24,25) If you cease walking in the Spirit, you’ll lose the “fruit” of the Spirit including perseverance (endurance). For you were once darkness, but now you’re light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and Truth), finding out what’s acceptable to the Lord. See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore don’t be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Eph5:8-10,15-17) Endurance is also a quality of Godly love. “Love never fails” (1Cor13:8) means it endures. It’s a virtue that’s to be added to the believer’s faith through diligence. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance (endurance), to perseverance godliness. (2Pt1:5,6) And only by doing so can you make your salvation sure. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you’ll never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2Pt1:10,11) If Peter says by doing these things you’ll make your election (salvation) sure, then it’s certain by not doing them you’ll lose your salvation. So the scriptures prove salvation can be lost if it’s not diligently maintained. Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. (Rom11:22) And those who preach the lie that salvation can’t be lost are of satan not of God. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. (2Cor11:13,14) The foolishness of those who preach even a “true salvation” can’t be lost is how do you know someone has a true salvation except if they endure to the end? The baptists like to teach the lie that you can’t lose your salvation but when someone who was “saved” blatantly turns away from God they’ll say he was never really saved. Demas was accepted by Paul who’s a prophet and apostle in, Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you. (Col 4:14) Being a prophet wouldn’t Paul have known if Demas wasn’t “saved?” Now when the Pharisee who’d invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who’s touching Him, for she’s a sinner.” (Lk7:39) Jesus always knew Judas wasn’t saved. Jesus answered, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” (Jn6:70) But Demas fell away. For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world. (2Tim4:10) Don’t love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father isn’t in him. (1Jn2:15) If the love of the Father isn’t in him, he’s lost his salvation since to be saved is to have the love of God (the Father) poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who’s given to us. (Rom5:5) So there was a time when Demas was acceptable to Paul and the brethren. He was saved and walking in the Spirit. But he fell away. The author of Hebrews also warns how salvation can be lost. For it’s impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the age to come, (How can you say anyone who’s had all this wasn’t really “saved.”) if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (Heb6:4-6) How can you “fall away” from a salvation you never had? If he was never really saved what’s he falling away from? And if he didn’t “fall away” the author is implying he’d still be “saved” – so to “fall away” is to lose your salvation! And when Jesus says “He that endures to the end will be saved” He’s telling us we’d better endure to the end or we’ll be lost. These “once saved/always saved” people like the baptists are wrongly dividing God’s Word and need to be shamed. They don’t serve the Lord! They don’t love the Truth. With all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they didn’t receive the love of the Truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie. (2Th2:10,11) It’s a “comforting” lie to believe you can’t lose your salvation even if you continue in sin. And it’s a wicked people who don’t want to give up their sin who love this lie. The way to be sure you’ll stay saved is to diligently maintain your salvation by obeying everything Jesus tells you to do. For Moses truly said to the fathers, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you’ll hear in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul who won’t hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.” (To hear means to obey.) (Act3:22,23) Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I’ve commanded you; (To observe means to obey) and lo, I’m with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. (Mt28:19,20) But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, (endurance) to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you’ll never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2Pt1:5-7,10,11) Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2Tim2:19) Depart from iniquity is the way to stay saved. Another lie these foolish baptists preach is that when a believer backslides into sin, he hasn’t lost salvation, he’s merely “out of fellowship” with God. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who’s an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. (Eph5:5,6) Let no one deceive you, when a man turns from righteousness and back to sin he has no inheritance in God’s Kingdom and is under God’s wrath. (Ezek33:13) Baptists are trying to deceive us with their empty words, that such a “believing” sinner is merely “out of fellowship” with God but still “saved.” Of course, God in His foreknowledge knows who the elect are. Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. (1Pt1:2) But we can’t be presumptuous about our election. If we believe we’re elect we must carefully maintain our election by watching and praying. (Mt24:42;25:13;26:41;Mk13:33; Lk21:36) And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch! (Mk13:37) To be “elect” you must behave like you’re elect all the way to the end. (Heb3:14) Remember the principle of God saying something twice means it’s forever established and God will not repent of it. When God says something once, it’s true and established only if the conditions relating to what He’s promising stay the same. If He says He’s going to reward you for your righteousness then you turn from your righteousness and begin to sin He’ll repent from rewarding you. When I say to the righteous he’ll surely live, but he trusts in his own righteousness and commits iniquity, none of his righteous works shall be remembered; but because of the iniquity he’s committed, he’ll die. (Ezek33:13) If He said He was going to punish you for your sin but you repent and turn from your unrighteousness and start doing righteousness He’ll repent of His judgment upon you. Again, when I say to the wicked, “You’ll surely die,” if he turns from his sin and does what’s lawful and right, if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he’s stolen, and walks in the statutes of life without committing iniquity, he’ll surely live; he’ll not die. (v14,15) Because of this possibility of God’s repentance if circumstances change, He sometimes says things twice to tell us this isn’t an issue where there’ll be repentance, but this is an unchangeable issue that will surely come to pass. For men indeed swear by the greater, and an oath for confirmation is for them an end of all dispute. Thus God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it’s impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation. (Heb6:16-18) It’s a sure thing! So when God says the following passage twice through the mouth of two different prophets, how established then is this Word? It shall come to pass in the latter days the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established on the top of the mountains. (Is2:2;Mic4:1) This is going to happen! It’s been spoken by the mouths of two different true prophets. By the mouth of two or three witnesses every Word shall be established. (2Cor13:1) So again, God, by two immutable things, two genuine prophets, is telling us what’s going to happen in the latter days. And we know the Day of Pentecost was at least the beginning of those latter days. But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: “And it shall come to pass in the last (latter) days,” says God, “that I’ll pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.” (Act2:16,17) If two thousand years have passed from the beginning of the last days we must now be very near the end of the last days. So what does that tell us concerning the Isaiah/Micah prophecy coming to pass? For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there’ll be no end, upon the throne of David and over His Kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Is9:6,7) LORD, You’ll establish peace for us. (Is26:12) There’s no peace to the wicked (Is48:22) but for God’s true people He has a peaceable and good end. In the living allegory of David and Solomon, we can see David as the warrior Christ establishing peace for God’s people and Solomon as the victorious Christ ruling God’s people in peace and prosperity. Thus the Isaiah/Micah prophecy will come to pass when the Davidic Christ destroys God’s enemies and becomes the reigning Solomon/Christ who’ll rule God’s people in peace. Now we’re in the age of the Davidic Christ! We’re in the age where the battle is still going on to establish the peace; to establish the Kingdom; to establish the Lord’s house. Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect one in whom My soul delights! I’ve put My Spirit upon Him; He’ll bring forth justice to the Gentiles. He’ll not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street. A bruised reed He’ll not break, and smoking flax He’ll not quench; He’ll bring forth justice for Truth. (Is42:1-3) Often today when we speak God’s Truth, wicked unbelieving people, Truth haters, false brethren, baptists and such, unjustly try to come against us. But Jesus is going to bring forth justice to uphold His Truth. He’ll not fail nor be discouraged, till He’s established justice in the earth. (v4) So here the Davidic warrior Christ is working to fulfill the Isaiah/Micah prophecy that the Lord’s house will be established on top of the mountains. (Is2:2;Mic4:1) In mercy the throne will be established; and one will sit on it in Truth, (justice for Truth) in the tabernacle of David, (not Solomon’s, so this is the Davidic Christ) judging and seeking justice and hastening righteousness. (Is16:5) This verse is describing the process that’s going on even now through Jesus the Davidic Christ to establish righteousness and justice. Here it says Jesus’ throne will be established in mercy. But we’ve seen the throne is also to be established in righteousness. (Pr16:12) And of course Jesus is anointed to rule with wisdom and understanding (Is11:2) but mercy will also be a very prominent characteristic of His Kingship! Isn’t that what we’re seeing in the prisons? So many men who thought themselves to be outcasts and throwaways of society are finding the Lord. Jesus is accepting them in mercy. There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more? Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You’ve rightly judged.” (Lk7:41-43) Often the men who come to know Christ while in prison are like the one who’s been forgiven much, and they love much. While there are so many self-righteous people in the so called “churches” today who seem to have no real love for God, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (Jn14:15) the true church is made up of a people who love God much, a people who know they’ve been forgiven much. What kind of people would you want God to give us as brethren? People who don’t love Him much? If anyone doesn’t love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed! (1Cor16:22) The true brethren see themselves as having been forgiven a great debt, so they love Jesus much. Mercy is what Jesus has had on us and mercy is what’s establishing His throne because thrones rule over people. So to have a throne you must have people to rule. Jesus is establishing His throne by having mercy on people who even used to be His enemies. How many testimonies have we received from brethren who began as criminals, heretics, baptists, catholics but now are serving the Lord in Truth? So who does Jesus bring into His Kingdom? Who came to David when he was a refugee fleeing the murderous Saul? The outcasts; people who didn’t fit in Saul’s society, those were the ones who came to David! (1Sam22:2) So who are the ones who come to the Davidic Christ? We’re the outcasts of today’s world “of whom the world isn’t worthy.” (Heb11:38) Having no love for this world’s systems, together with Christ we’re working to establish God’s Kingdom. To accomplish this we must overcome everything that’s trying to prevent us from establishing the Kingdom. And those who are doing that are the true church of whom God says, “Out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of those who make merry; I’ll multiply them, and they’ll not diminish; I’ll also glorify them, and they’ll not be small. Their children also shall be as before, and their congregation shall be established before Me; and I’ll punish all who oppress them. Their nobles shall be from among them, and their governor shall come from their midst.” (Jer30:19-21) Unlike the false “churches” of today who hire “strangers” as pastors, God’s true church will be pastored by men who “spiritually” grew up as a part of the church they pastor. Likewise the elders will be long time members of the local body. Thus the true church’s leaders will know their flock intimately and be able to care for the saints knowledgeably. “Then I’ll cause him to draw near, and he’ll approach Me;” for “who is this who pledged his heart to approach Me?” says the LORD. “You’ll be My people, and I’ll be your God.” (Jer30:21,22) Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts. We’ll be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple. (Ps65:4) Only those who appropriately answer God’s call to draw near will dwell in His courts and be satisfied with His goodness. Draw near to God and He’ll draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (Jms4:8) Let’s draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Heb10:22) But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. (Heb8:6) For on the one hand there’s an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there’s the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. (Heb7:18,19) Nevertheless I’ll remember My covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I’ll establish an everlasting covenant with you. (Ezek16:60) God’s speaking of the two covenants here; the first that wasn’t everlasting and the New Covenant that will be everlasting. And I’ll establish My covenant with you. Then you’ll know I’m the LORD. (v62) Moreover I’ll make a covenant of peace with them, (He said He’d establish peace for His people in Is26:12) and it shall be an everlasting covenant. I’ll establish them and multiply them, and I’ll set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. (Ezek37:26) To establish His people God will bring us into a covenant that won’t be broken. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would’ve been sought for a second. (Heb8:7) God isn’t a man that He should repent. (Num23:19) Yet here, He’s repenting of the first covenant. Why does He need a new covenant? God kept His part in the first covenant but His people didn’t so it was broken. Now He’s repenting of the first covenant because of His people’s failure not His own, but He’s establishing a New Covenant that won’t be broken by His people. He’s not repenting from having a covenant! He’s going to establish a permanent covenant. For on the one hand there’s an annulling of the former commandment because of its weakness and unprofitableness, for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there’s the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. (Heb7:18,19) The first covenant was only a covenant of law so it couldn’t perfect God’s people. In the first covenant God exposed the weakness and the unprofitableness of His people that they needed something more in themselves than they had if they were to be able to keep their covenant with God. God didn’t break the first covenant. He was faithful to everything He promised on His side; but His people weren’t faithful to their side. So there was something imperfect in the people concerning the first covenant which is why a new covenant was needed. Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there for another priest? (Heb7:11) The problem with the Hebrews was they were in danger of turning back to Judaism. They’d become dull of hearing. (Heb5:11) Though by now they ought to be teachers, they need to be retaught themselves (v12) because they’ve just been going through the motions of religion. They’re not holding on to Christ, (Col 2:19) or the hearing of faith. (Gal 3:2) They’re making the same mistake the Galatians were making. They’re thinking, “We know the old Judaic religion is of God so we can go back to our comfortable Judaic system like the other Jews and we won’t have to go through all these persecutions that are coming against us as Christians!” But the author of Hebrews is telling them, “Don’t you understand the Judaic system is over? God has brought forth a new system because that old system failed; it didn’t work! It didn’t accomplish God’s true purposes.” The weakness and the unprofitableness of the Old Covenant is it gave no power to men to be able to keep their side of the covenant. It only told them what to do it didn’t empower them to do it. The law didn’t have the power to perfect people. Whereas the New Covenant is the “power of God to salvation.” (Rom1:16) Because of the weakness and unprofitableness of the former covenant God is establishing a new one, for the law made nothing perfect, but this new covenant is going to make God’s people perfect. I’ll take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I’ll sprinkle clean water on you, and you’ll be clean; I’ll cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I’ll give you a new heart and put a new Spirit within you; I’ll take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I’ll put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you’ll keep My judgments and do them. Then you’ll dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you’ll be My people, and I’ll be your God. (Ezek36:24-28) The strength of the New Covenant is God is now going to put His Spirit in His people and His Spirit’s going to empower them to keep their side of the New Covenant. So under the New Covenant, the true people of God receive the Spirit of God by faith as promised in Ezekiel 36 and because they have God’s Spirit in them they won’t break this covenant. God’s New Covenant people are going to be able to keep their side of the covenant because they have faith for Jesus to live in them and Jesus will keep the covenant through them. So there’s a wonderful power in this New Covenant that works on man’s side and which wasn’t given under the Old Covenant. Of course, we never have to worry about God breaking His side of the covenant. The Old Covenant was broken because of man’s weakness but now God is putting the power of Christ inside the true New Covenant believer so he won’t break the New Covenant. When Peter says make your calling and election sure by getting established in these things that are of the Spirit. (2Pt1:5-7,10,11) he’s admonishing us to take hold of the power of the New Covenant, by being conformed to the image of Christ in our behavior. When you’re established in Christ’s Spirit you’ll have a firm hold on your side of the covenant and the covenant will be as everlasting in you as Jesus is everlasting in you. So through Peter God is doing that which He promised to do in Ezekiel. He’s establishing His people in this New Covenant so they’ll never break it. The means that He uses to do that includes preaching, teaching, admonishing, rebuking, and the many things by which He’s giving us understanding; the house is established by understanding. (Pr24:3) And the various means by which He increases our faith in Christ. But now He (Jesus) has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He’s also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises. (Heb8:6) The promises of the Old Covenant were good but the Old Covenant didn’t promise Jesus would live in you by faith and empower you to do God’s will (righteousness.) Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that doesn’t fade away, reserved in heaven for you. (1Pt1:2-4) The Old Covenant only promised what God would give you if you’d be righteous. The better promises of the New Covenant is “Not only will I do all these things for you if you behave righteously but if you have faith in Me, I’ll put My Spirit into you and sanctify you unto obedience so you can behave righteously.” And that’s a better promise. The New Covenant is established on better promises so it’s a better covenant. This covenant will never be replaced because it has the power to perfect the believer by faith through the eternal priesthood of Christ. Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? (Heb7:11) Then Christ is the Perfector Priest since He’s been appointed to do what the Levitical priests couldn’t do – i.e. perfect God’s people. In Christ this New Covenant has everything needed to accomplish God’s perfect will and perfect the saints. The question isn’t will this covenant last forever? The question is will you get into it by faith and take a permanent hold on it? The New Covenant is forever and true believers are going to take hold of it in a way that’s everlasting. The pertinent question is will you take hold of it that way? Because the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation for in it the righteousness of God is revealed (Rom1:16,17) and if you’ll take hold of that power and that righteousness by faith in Christ you can be established forever in this New Covenant. For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. (Heb8:7) Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood, what further need was there for another priest? (Heb7:11) But God gave us a new priest, far better than the old Levitical priests because there was something lacking with the first covenant and the priests of that covenant failed to accomplish God’s eternal purpose. It was unprofitable. (Heb7:18) It was weak on man’s side because man was weak and unprofitable in the flesh. So now God’s given us a New Covenant where He Himself will help us and empower us by His Spirit so we can overcome our weakness and our unprofitableness. Through faith Jesus has come to live in us and replace our weakness and our unprofitableness with His strength. He’s giving us a covenant we can keep because by His Spirit He’s making us able to keep it. So finding fault with the Old Covenant God promised to make a New Covenant. He knew all along the Old Covenant wouldn’t work. Not according to the covenant 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 didn’t continue in My covenant, and I disregarded them, says the LORD. For this is the covenant I’ll make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: “I’ll put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I’ll be their God, and they’ll be My people. None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.” (Heb8:9-11) If indeed you’ve heard and been taught by the Lord. (Eph4:21) The only way into this covenant is to know and be taught by the Lord. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I’ll raise him up at the last day. It’s written in the prophets, “And they’ll all be taught by God.” Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. (Jn6:44,45) It’s not by the will of man. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (Jn1:12,13) It’s the Father God who “teaches” each true saint to come to Christ. In that He says, “A new covenant,” He’s made the first obsolete. Now what’s becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. (Heb8:13) We’re presently in the age when the New Covenant is being established and that means there’s a battle between the new and perfect and the old and faulty kinds of religion. The old religions and those who follow them are trying to hold on to what they have against the new. But those of us who are in the light can see the unprofitableness of the old kind of religion including all faulty kinds of christianity. The old kind of religion isn’t working. Its followers aren’t becoming Christ-like. If perfection were through the Levitical priesthood God wouldn’t have needed to start a new priesthood in Christ. (Heb7:11) If perfection, being conformed to Jesus, could happen through the catholics or baptists etc., then God wouldn’t need a new church like “My Father’s House!” So there’s a battle between those of the old unprofitable religions and those of the new. And the prophecies in Isaiah, Micah, etc., declare irrefutably who’s going to win this battle. The tide of God can’t be stopped! Today it may seem like we’re a little flock but we’re going to increase and they’re going to decrease because it’s written in the Scriptures, it’s ordained by God and it will be so! Since it’s been written twice it’s irrefutably established. The New Covenant type Christianity is going to increase and the Old Covenant type is going to keep decreasing until it vanishes away. There’s a war going on and you have a choice in this war of which side you’ll join. Are you going to side with what’s going to vanish away or with what’s going to prevail in the end and be everlasting? There’s no possibility of God’s Word failing. It’s ordained by God that the true church, the Spiritual church of the New Covenant will be established. Everyone who’s resisting this is going to fail in the end. Everyone who comes against it will vanish away. If you’re trying to hold on to the old way, the unprofitable way, the kind of christianity that can’t perfect you and make you like Jesus, this is God’s Word to you: any victory you get will only be temporary, you’re going to lose in the end. But if you’re a soldier of the Davidic Christ, our New Covenant High Priest who can and will make God’s people perfect in Christ, your victory is assured! Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchizedek, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? (Heb7:11) If you’re in Jesus’ New Covenant army working to establish the glorious church of the New Covenant as it is described in the bible, (Eph5:26,27) then nothing can stop you. Not all these false “churches” who claim they’re “saved” while they preach against perfection, not all these “legal believers” who never make any progress in becoming Christ-like; “For the law makes nothing perfect.” (Heb7:19) Nothing can stop God from establishing this New Covenant according to His own prophetic Word. And any defeat that we suffer can only be temporary because God is going to win in the end. Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it’s established. (Pr24:3) Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand. (Dan12:10) Prophecy: I’ll rule over all the earth and My house will be established, but I tell you I want to rule and reign in your life now. For I’ve a work of establishing to do in you and today is the day I’ll start working in you if you’ll let Me. I’ll establish you in My Spirit and establish My rule and My reign in this place. But it takes your faith. It takes you hearing and obeying Me. So cling to Me, listen to Me, step out in faith and I’ll rule and reign right now in your midst. For I’m a Living God and I’m alive now and I’ll be a Living God in you now if you have the faith, thus saith the Lord. Prophecy: If perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, no room would’ve been sought for another. Because perfection didn’t come by the Levitical priesthood, I called My Son to be the Priest by which perfection would come. If you receive Jesus as your High Priest He’ll perfect you. Perfection doesn’t come by the law, but it comes by the Priesthood of Christ in the Spirit. Do you know Him as your High Priest? What does a High Priest do? He intercedes. What does intercession do? It causes Me to bless and to move in mighty ways. What did Hezekiah’s intercession do for him? It added 15 years to his life. Because he prayed I repented of what I’d intended for him and gave him a blessing. When you go to your High Priest in faith seeking a blessing and He intercedes for you, what do you think I’ll do? I’ll perfect My people through the priesthood of My chosen One; the High Priest that I’ve appointed forever according to the order of Melchizedek. I’ll perfect and establish you through your faith in Christ, My perfect One. He’s the High Priest and most able Perfector of My people, saith the Lord. (Prophecies delivered at “My Father’s House”)
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