The New Testament starts with the Son and then immediately focuses on the Father. This is the generation of Jesus Christ, a willing obedience to his Fathers will.
Jesus is named as Him, who will save his people from their sins. And he his born of a virgin, the seed of the women crushing the serpents head.
Cousin John then prepares the way of the Lord.
In the original creation narrative, man had not be formed by the hands of God, prior to a spring of water coming up to water the land. Perhaps the spring of water was required for the potters hand to form the man.
At His baptism, despite being preferred before his cousin John, Jesus yields himself to that ministry given to John.
This reveals a different disposition to the man of sin. Cains, offering was not accepted by the Lord, and he became very angry and his face fell. The Lord spoke to him, and said ‘If you do well, will you not be accepted’ (will not your face be lifted up).
Jesus was the younger between them, and his birth had been more remarkable by far. Yet, the Spirit, and rest of Gods sabbath came visibly upon him, and the voice spake from heaven, at this exchange.
The Father spoke, the Father through whom he had made all things through his Son, spake at this point. This is a deeper and fuller revelation of the very image of God.
That Jesus fulfilled all righteousness by being baptized by John, was a gift to John too. John received a prophets reward, and it was the imparted and perfect gift of righteousness through Jesus Christ Gods only begotten Son.
When Stephen was stoned. The word that he had spake, was endorsed by heaven. Stephens face had been lifted up throughout his whole message, he had been accepted through the gift of Jesus Christ Gods only begotten Son. His message was so acceptable to heaven, that he was in truth an angelic guardian of the very tree of life, his words piercing the soul, so that the intentions of men’s heart might be revealed.
Abels blood had cried out to the Lord, from the very ground he had been slain. Prior to having been murdered, we that Abels offering was accepted by the Lord, and that Abel’s face shone with the endorsement of the Lords embrace. Humble yourself and you will be lifted up, to see my face, in the embrace of love.
Therefore, we know indeed, that Abel in the moment of his death, as his blood poured out upon the ground, cried out to his maker, cried out to the Lord to whom he knew had received his offering. What had he cried out for? Vengeance, revenge! No No NO. This man understood the lamb of sacrifice, and he had come from the place of acceptance. It was a cry, I believe, for life. Not just for himself, but for his brother. I
Even the hardest of men have thoughts of God in storm or crisis. Abel literally cried unto God in the conflict of that field, hence, Cains guilt was to much for him to bear! His teeth too, had gnashes as his brother prayed!!
And yet we know that the New Testament cry’s better things than the old. Can it be, that a young man, prominent and consenting to the death of Gods appointed man to minister to the widowed and fatherless, could himself become a Father to those far away from the covenant promises of God, heralding a message of peace, grace and a sound mind.
After his baptism Jesus overcome the devil in the wilderness.
The first temptation is the probably the primary temptation. To get man to add to Gods word, or to act inappropriately in respect of it! God is natural in the supernatural. The first temptation focuses of the ‘commandments’! And was it not the direct assault upon Gods first commandment given to man, that caused original man to fall. Jesus answers him as one who loves his Father and is committed to keeping his Fathers word.
Charismatic emphasis on miracles or dreams or the such may be due to a departure from living upon every word of God, they may be an attempt to turn death into life – but immoral living can not be life: that is Gods first commandment. And liberal philosophy concerning gender and marriage, they have no place in Gods Church if they are opposed to what God has revealed concerning himself!
Jesus, then ascends a mountain and teaches his disciples.
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On Friday, we went with Family for a walk in West Kirby. While in traffic en route I noticed two middles age men scurrying around together and independently! One was on crutches I presume, from his appearance, due to circulation issues from drug abuse. The other had the marks of alcohol etc. I’d guess that neither man was homeless, and seeing them together speaks of Gods original plan that people should not be alone. The older one had a hat on his head, more in style to a cricket/rave style one. It had one word written on it twice! ‘Whatever’! Well, it did make me chuckle, as it is a great phrase when said in a strop. Now this man was in his 50’s I’d guess, which added to the humor factor that he was in tune with a saying of the youth of today. But beneath that hat, heart ache and pain reside. Oh, he had a bounce in his step that day, but what turn of events would reveal the intentions of his heart, or those that had damaged him in youth.
Whatever!
God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him. Repetition and affirmation of precisely why God made man. Does evolution hold the remedy for human hearts, it can never. Only one who can lead unto God, unto God his Father.
Prior to God making the creation of man plain and simple so that we might know quite clearly that only that pattern revealed by God to a man upon the mount will lead to God. It’s a narrow way that leads to life, only one door to the sheep pen. Prior, God reveals the whole package, in communion with his Son they confer to make man in their image. All of Pauls writing to the Gentiles and Jews are contained within these two verses Genesis Ch 1 v26 & 27
Golden domes, and hideous temples where animals have dominion over mans nature, none of these can alter the foundation that has been laid since before the beginning of the World.
Whatever!
Genesis C 1, is full of excitement, Joy, and romance. Their is an innocent bounding youthfulness. Yes, he is the ancient of days, but he is Him who never grows old. Genesis Ch 1, is a revelation of the nature of God; abundant, creative and most of all, deeply desiring to share himself and all his love for life.
Whatever! Could we respond to such an invitation with those words. NO, such a response can only come through darkness, and disobedience.
When God was fulfilling his own word, he brought unto man all the beasts and birds to be named. This is central to understanding the fall of creation, and its impact upon the animal kingdom etc. God was the one present, fulfilling his own word, we will experience dominion in the Spiritual realm only with Him.
And ‘whatever’, the man called every living creature, that was its name.
The bounding love and energy of Genesis Ch1 is being imparted and shared with the image. The Father and the Son, imparting the bonds of their fellowship and love.
The creation of women, was critical to Gods revelation concerning who he is. Without her, man was unable to replicate in kind the one in whose image he had been made.
Original man was commissioned to work and to keep.
Genesis Ch 2 v5 is interesting, as it indicates that rain may have been part of Gods intention prior to Noah’s ark. Not for Judgement, but in respect of the eco system.
Genesis Ch 2 v7 & 8. How can man find his way in life without the Lord God himself. He who made all matter, his only ‘whatever’, is that the all is for whomsoever, will come let him come. Pentecost, turned the world upside down, because God breathed afresh into earthen vessels and all in the marketplace where given a good invitation to taste and see, to be saved from an evil generation – the ark of God always protects the most vulnerable ‘in’ life. And that trumpet should always been endorsed. Life is scared, ‘I have come that you might have life’.
When man disobeyed the commandment of the Lord, his eyes where opened and he did receive a knowledge of good and evil. But he had been lied to and did not become as his maker in character, but rather he became unaccountable for his actions, reactions and his mandate of dominion. When we break Gods commandments we have fallen from dignity. The way back, is the lamb of sacrifice. The lamb provided by God alone.
Matthew Ch 7 v7 – Matthew Ch 8 v17
Jesus gets to the heart of mans need. He gets right to the ‘Whatever’, of his actions and intentions. Jesus evokes within man, a dormant desire to be clean, holy and accepted unto heaven and the great throne upon which one day we will all be judged.
Jesus always wins. He who designed every faculty of man and women, can not be excluded! The great travesty of any life is to not hear Jesus lifted up and to not call upon that name and ask! Be careful how you hear. God wants to share Genesis Ch 1 with you, and he also wants to share Genesis Ch 2, and he wants to redeemed you from Ch 3.
It is interesting that the texture of creation comes more in Genesis Ch 2. This speaks to us of the knowledge of God, that for us we would have to understand the principle of the seed dieing to reproduce after its own kind, to enter into the original purposes of God.
If you being evil know how to give good gifs to your children. Had the knowledge of evil not come through the breaking of Gods direct commandment for the work and keeping of life. Yet, here the Saviour of the world speaks unto the original blueprint, and its unto all the fallen sons of men.
(Genesis Ch 3 v18 – Matthew Ch 7 v16 – prickly ‘whatevers’)
Within fallen man, is the original mandate of God, that very image in which man was made: the Father and the Son in unison ‘Let us make man in our image’.
The Golden rule.
John the Baptist lived and preached it, and he lived to hear how it was being shared with all who had come to follow Jesus, his own ministry of preparation endorsed.
God clothed Adam and Eve, with the lamb.
Beware of false prophets, those who emphasis some other offering of covering, of acceptance with God. Prosperity will not get you gain, your own field of work – God does not have respect unto this offering.
Jesus would not break the communion with his Father. The commandments of God are not on the negotiating table – wisdom is found upon building your house upon this Rock. It’s not dead letter, its the reality of the triune God.
The rain fell! Perhaps as in Noahs day, and the floods came. This house did not fall, because it was founded upon the revelation of Gods beloved Son: Father, Into thy hands I commit my Spirit.
Perhaps the rivers head, was that very place Jerusalem, from whence they parted into four. The water and the blood flowed down like mighty rivers, and sinners plunged beneath that flood, loose all their guilty stains. In a pre flood world, before the foundation of the earth where shook.
When they came down from the mountain, great crowds followed.
The leader of the pack, fame at last. Would he turn stones into bread to make them marvel.
A leper, one the crowd would never touch. One celebrity magazines had absolutely no interest in. His life was not among the crowd, his home was isolation and loneliness.
This leper came and asked! He came and asked for the true treasure. He came to the LORD GOD in whose image he had been made, the one without which we all could not and cannot be whole without.
He asked for that, which he of himself could not do for himself. He knew that Jesus was good, and he also knew that Jesus, was not like the crowd; ‘Whatever, may be the flavor or fancy of the month’!
An angel guarded the tree of life! Trees sprang up, when God was engaged with forming man in his own image in the garden of paradise.
The arch angel Gabriel stood within the place of sacrifice where the blood was applied unto the Judgement /Mercy seat.
And legions perhaps looked upon the willing sacrifice, of Him who had done no sin, became a curse that we might have life. That when he is lifted up for all the world to see, when are eyes are open to this great truth and revelation of God, we are receiving the golden rule of God: God sharing with his creation the gift of his righteousness through the ministry of his only begotten Son, Jesus.
John was not offended when he knew it was being shared, with the poor and the deaf and the blind.
Jesus, the giver of life, stretched forth his hand and touched him. One unclean, and utterly unable to heal himself. All he could do was ask.
The way to the tree of life is open! But we do not have to grab it, as he has already reached out to touch us.
(The tree of life nailed to a cursed dead tree, carved by the hands of men (Gen Ch2). The Cross is Gods new commandment and covenant with man: doing unto others as you would have them do unto you! What a new depth of mercy and grace to bestow upon others: Father forgive them for this act for they do not know that I came to save them and give them everlasting life. There is no darkness in God! Therefore, the Word of God was victorious at Calvary, not for himself but for all those in darkness).
The centurion understood this. He understood, that this man did not even physically have to touch his servant for him to be healed. He somehow had a handle on the fact that Jesus was indeed Lord, Lord over all matter, and the one through whom all creation made.
Are we from the west, rationale and scientific or the east, mediation and listening to the distant stars sing. Wherever we have come from, Jesus is the center, the only Rock of salvation.
Do unto others as you would have done unto you. This is the law and the prophets.
Jesus defeated the devils lies by humbling himself to crush his headship over man. To prove that he had shared all of himself with his image.
The leper asked and received and was given a service for others – the golden rule. He was commissioned to take the fulfillment of the law to the priests, that they too may be set free by prophetic ministry: the continuing power of the Lord present to heal, the ministry of the lamb, Jesus, who saves from sin.
He who fulfilled the law, and yet was baptized in identification with man.
The centurion asks for his servant, and the miracle is greatest, as it transcends time and space, and touch. The everlasting word of God, that endures forever. This centurion understood something more of the nature of God, because he recognized that that within him that cared for his servant was born of the original blueprint. He was not into natural selection, his promotions in life had not made him proud but humble, he had been made in the image of God: ‘Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith’.
Peters mother in law, does not ask. But when you are touched by him who is the golden rule, the mandate of work is restored: to keep the garden weeded. How vital she was in that home as a revelation of the nature of God, rising to serve Him. The Golden rule is to reciprocate love, John Ch 3 v16, and beneath this crown is liberty: liberty for the drug addicted, liberty for the bruised and sight for the blinded by all the blackness of darknesses lies.
This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases” – a hospital for every sin sick soul.
Note:
Yesterday, morning during the open worship one of the children James, walked down the aisle and asked the elder leading the service for the song ‘the Lord my Shepherd’ – Stuart Townsend. James is 3 years old and the elder said that he had lead the way in showing us that everyone has an important contribution. His father is Stephen.
The last of the three encounters in sequence is in Peter House. At the heart of a home and family, closest to mirroring Gods original design.
Peter prophet of the Lamb.
Peter herald of the Church.
Peter the first to ‘lift’ up his voice on the day of Pentecost. The first to herald heaven open (Matthew Ch 5 v2).
Peter had seen that Jesus had dominion over the fish in the sea. ‘Depart from me for I am a sinful man’.
Peter to whom the Father in heaven had blessed with the revelation of the rock upon which the gates of hell shall not prevail.
Peter had his mother in law staying, with her sickness and fever. Behold thy mother! Words spoken upon the cross! A unison in heart between the two who ran to the garden tomb.
Perhaps, the reason the Lord called Peter, and the Father blessed him with revelation of The who the Son is, was due to the Golden Rule; To tend and care for the family.
* The preaching locally in morning was a great blessing, which I learned later, was born out of a difficult season in the preachers life. It had a definite note of revival in it, referring to the day of Pentecost and conviction of sin with a ‘mighty move of God’, which we are still having the repercussions from today. The core of his message had been in John Ch 2, showing that when Jesus said fill the six water pots, he had not opted for a small quantity, but hand filled them. The water pots represented man, and a religious system that did not evoke inward change and was only used for rare religious occasions. And so the miracle was internal and the message was that God wants to use you daily, not just once or twice. And that he fills. Multiplication is an original design and mandate of God to man.
I think it very unlikely that I will be going on trip to Mount Everest base camp. As I have pondered it, the trip hasn’t grown but dimmed, and time is full enough at the moment without adding that into plans.
eternalrays 