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Freedom From Religion

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The Prophet Ezekiel provides a stern warning for all who claim to be spiritual shepherds of God’s people prophesying: And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 2 Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them, even to the [spiritual] shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the [spiritual] shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the sheep? 3 You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you kill the fatlings, but you do not feed the sheep. 4 The diseased and weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the hurt and crippled you have not bandaged, those gone astray you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought to find, but with force and hardhearted harshness you have ruled them. 5 And they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts of the field. 6 My sheep wandered through all the mountains and upon every high hill; yes, My sheep were scattered upon all the face of the earth and no one searched or sought for them. Ezekiel 34:1-6 AMPC

The Bill of Rights of these Untied States guarantees the free exercise of religion – but it does not guarantee the freedom from religion. Religion without a relationship with Jesus is what crucified Him in the first place (and still does). Religion is self-centered, and self-focused, on the self-effort of “do-it-yourself” adherents. Religion is rutted routines without Life or Substance. Religion puffs up its adherents with pride having knowledge void of experience. Religion generously measures its own performance while stingily judging the efforts of others considered inferior and lacking. Religion, according to Genesis 3:19, is plowing the fields for your own bread while eating it in the sweat of the curse of the knowledge of good….AND evil.

Christmas reminds us of the Good News declared to the first shepherds, and echoed in Ezekiels’ prophecy: Therefore will I rescue My flock, and they shall no more be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 And I will raise up over them one Shepherd and He shall feed them, even My Servant David; He shall feed them and He shall be their Shepherd. 24 And I the Lord will be their God and My Servant David a Prince among them; I the Lord have spoken it. 25 And I will confirm with them a covenant of peace….Ezekiel 34:22-25

Judging Angels?!

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In the book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis introduces four children from England: Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie – who travel through a mystical wardrobe to discover the land of Narnia. In that enchanted land they are introduced to the Lion, Aslan and Narnia’s nemesis, the White Witch. Eventually a battle ensues between the children, and the White Witch. But Aslan prevails, sacrificially laying down his life as a ransom for Edmund. From the sacrificial stone table Aslan is raised from the dead emerging to end the White Witch’s reign, and restoring the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve to their rightful place as co-regents of Narnia. One writer stated: After a few days, the Pevensies were taken to Cair Paravel to be crowned as the Kings and Queens of Narnia. Peter was called High King Peter the Magnificent, Susan was called Queen Susan the Gentle, Edmund was called King Edmund the Just, and Lucy was called Queen Lucy the Valiant.

Yet Lewis’ fictional work for children, has its root in Biblical truth. His words direct us prophetically to look beyond the temporal booths of Tabernacles to the Reign of Jesus. To a time when all things which were stolen from mankind will be restored. What is our destiny?

1 Corinthians 6:2-3 Do you not know that the saints (the believers) will [one day] judge and govern the world? And if the world [itself] is to be judged and ruled by you, are you unworthy and incompetent to try [such petty matters] of the smallest courts of justice?3 Do you not know also that we [Christians] are to judge the [very] angels and pronounce opinion between right and wrong [for them]? How much more then [as to] matters pertaining to this world and of this life only! AMPC

Revelation 20:6 Blessed (happy, to be envied) and holy (spiritually whole, of unimpaired innocence and proved virtue) is the person who takes part (shares) in the first resurrection! Over them the second death exerts no power or authority, but they shall be ministers of God and of Christ (the Messiah), and they shall rule along with Him a thousand years. AMPC

Matthew 24:44-47 You also must be ready therefore, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.45 Who then is the faithful, thoughtful, and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household to give to the others the food and supplies at the proper time? 46 Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) is that servant whom, when his master comes, he will find so doing.47 I solemnly declare to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

Tabernacles reminds us Jesus is coming back to reign on the earth and when He does He will set His servants over ALL His possessions! (That includes earth) These Scriptures, along with other parables, infer believers will be given responsibility to co-reign with Jesus on earth. Until then, keep watch, and be faithful over what the Lord has placed in your hands. This includes family, marriage, co-workers, church family, neighbors, and all other areas of influence.

In The Twinkling of An Eye

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A weird event is mentioned in the book of Matthew. It is known as the Transfiguration of Jesus. What most do not see is that there is a reference to Sukkot revealed in the event. And many do not realize that what happened to Jesus on that mountain was only a preview of the Resurrection of Jesus and all who would trust in His Name. In other words, the bodily transformation Jesus manifested is what awaits all who are His sons and daughters. Matthew 17:1-9 states: And six days after this, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves.2 And His appearance underwent a change in their presence; and His face shone clear and bright like the sun, and His clothing became as white as light.3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, who kept talking with Him.4 Then Peter began to speak and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good and delightful that we are here; if You approve, I will put up three booths here—one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah.5 While he was still speaking, behold, a shining cloud [composed of light] overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is My Son, My Beloved, with Whom I am [and have always been] delighted. Listen to Him!6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were seized with alarm and struck with fear.7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, Get up, and do not be afraid.8 And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.9 And as they were going down the mountain, Jesus cautioned and commanded them, Do not mention to anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead. AMPC

Did you catch the Sukkot reference? Then Peter began to speak and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good and delightful that we are here; if You approve, I will put up three booths here—one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah. Matthew 17:4

Peter was thinking of Sukkot or Tabernacles. But hidden in plain sight is a reference to our destiny. Romans 8:30 alludes to this event: And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being]. AMPC

This word glorified refers to a bedrock doctrine of Christianity. What is glorification? Got Questions provides an answer: The short answer is that “glorification” is God’s final removal of sin from the life of the saints (i.e., everyone who is saved) in the eternal state (Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17). At Christ’s coming, the glory of God (Romans 5:2)—His honor, praise, majesty, and holiness—will be realized in us; instead of being mortals burdened with sin nature, we will be changed into holy immortals with direct and unhindered access to God’s presence, and we will enjoy holy communion with Him throughout eternity.…Final glorification must await the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13; 1 Timothy 6:14)….How and when will we be finally glorified? At the last trumpet, when Jesus comes, the saints will undergo a fundamental, instant transformation (“we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” – 1 Corinthians 15:51); then the “perishable” will put on the “imperishable” (1 Corinthians 15:53). According to Philippians 3:20–21, our citizenship is in heaven, and when our Savior returns He will transform our lowly bodies “to be like His glorious body.” Although it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, we know that, when He returns in great glory, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). We will be perfectly conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus and be like Him in that our humanity will be free from sin and its consequences. Our blessed hope should spur us on to holiness, the Spirit enabling us. “Everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure” (1 John 3:3).

Sukkot is the time we look up to see if we are about to be glorified with Jesus. Regarding this topic of our physical bodies resurrection from the dead C.H. Spurgeon, the prince of preachers, once remarked: The body, then, is the Lord’s. Christ died not only to save my soul, but to save my body. It is said he “came to seek and to save that which was lost.” When Adam sinned he lost his body, and he lost his soul too; he was a lost man, lost altogether. And when Christ came to save his people, he came to save their bodies and their souls. …Is this body for the Lord, and shall death devour it? Is this body for the Lord, and shall winds scatter its particles far away where they never shall discover their fellows? No! the body is for the Lord, and the Lord shall have it. “And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise us by his own power.” Now look at the next verse: “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ.” Not merely is the soul a part of Christ—united to Christ, but the body is also. These hands, these feet, these eyes, are members of Christ, if I be a child of God. I am one with him, not merely as to my mind, but one with him as to this outward frame. The very body is taken into union. The golden chain which binds Christ to his people goes round the body and soul too. Did not the apostle say “they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the Church?”—Ephesians v. 31, 32. “They are one flesh;” and Christ’s people are not only one with him in spirit, but they are “one flesh” too. The flesh of man is united with the flesh of the God-man; and our bodies are members of Jesus Christ.