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Spirit and Truth

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Dr. Dave Breese, in his book The Marks of a Cult, defines extra-biblical revelation as: the view that God has spoken in recorded words, through whatever medium, since He gave us the New Testament Scriptures. It is the assertion that God speaks or has spoken outside, apart from the Bible. The teaching of Holy Scripture forbids this view. It insists that God has spoken to us finally and completely in His Word, the Bible. The last definitive syllables which God has given to this world are the Scriptures of the New Testament.

Yet the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ (full title of the book of Revelation) encourages it’s readers to add something extra to their reading: Revelation 2:7 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and give heed to what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). AMPC; Revelation 2:11 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). AMPC; Revelation 2:29 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). AMPC; Revelation 3:6 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). AMPC; Revelation 3:13 He who can hear, let him listen to and heed what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). AMPC; Revelation 3:22 He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). AMPC

It’s almost like Jesus is driving home a point: Hear, listen, and heed what the Holy Spirit says! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8). When the Book of Revelation was written the only Bible these believers had was the Old Testament. To make matters more complicated the copy of the Bible was at the Jewish synagogue. The printing press was invented in 1440. Books would not be available to common people until the 18th and 19th centuries. The assertion that God does not speak outside of the Bible is foolish and a reflection of a Western-Civilizations worldview that everybody can read, everybody owns a book, and everybody reads books. In 2022 the illiteracy rate around the world was at 87.01%. How will the Christians that are illiterate know how to pray? How will they know what direction the Lord is leading? How will they know what is truth and error? How will they ever really come to know Jesus?

Don’t get me wrong I love the Word of God (the Bible) and spend a great deal of time meditating and memorizing its words. But I don’t limit my Bible reading to my reason and understanding. This would sound heretical to Dr. Breese, but I read the Bible through the aid of the Spirit of God Who teaches, and leads me into all Truth. I actually receive revelation from the Spirit of God as I read its words. He helps me to understand and apply its truths to my life. You cannot understand the Bible apart from His revealing its truths to you. In fact you could not have even come to Jesus without Him whispering in your spirit and drawing you to Jesus. He told you that you were a sinner. He spoke to you and revealed you needed to repent of your sins and trust in Jesus’ Sacrifice in order to be forgiven and have eternal life. In other words, God, the Creator of the Universe spoke to you. Can I let you in on a clue? He is still speaking. He hasn’t lost His Voice just because a few of us possess the written Word of God (13%)! To make matters worse The Pew Research Center states that only 45% of Christians read the Bible at least once a week. Once a week? So, almost half of the Christians you know (according to Dr. Breeses definition of hearing God) “hear” God about once a week. Which means they only have a relationship with God – once a week.

Those who ascend through the Door that Jesus is – the DOOR in Revelation 4 and John 10 – do so because they have listened to and are listening for the Godhead to speak: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They have opened the DOOR and have invited the Godhead to speak. The Revelation of Jesus Christ is only made possible to those who have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying. Jesus was crucified, resurrected and ascended to the Father in order for you to have the relationship our ancestors Adam and Eve enjoyed with Jesus before the Fall. He rose again to open communion, communication, and fellowship between you and the Godhead. Repeatedly Jesus exhorted His listeners to have eyes to see and ears to hear. I have banged this drum for quite some time but Jesus’ definition of Eternal Life was in knowing experientially, progressively, and intimately the Father and Jesus. (Jn. 17:3). Three Greek words from the New Testament: koinonia (fellowship), rhema (revelation, or out of the Mouth of God), and ginosko (intimate, experiential, and progressive relationship) – ALL speak of an active relationship with God, which can be found in the Bible, but is not limited to the Bible. The Bible is a collection of testimonies that sow seeds of faith and hope in all who hear its words and by faith appropriate those experiences into their heart. Psalm 19:1-4 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows and proclaims His handiwork.2 Day after day pours forth speech, and night after night shows forth knowledge.3 There is no speech nor spoken word [from the stars]; their voice is not heard.4 Yet their voice [in evidence] goes out through all the earth, their sayings to the end of the world. AMPC

God is still speaking! He is not limited to a book. I didn’t marry my wife to read a book about her. (Sometimes I wish a manual would have been provided) If this is true of human relationships how much more true is it regarding our relationship with God? The Author and Creator of all good things placed that desire in our heart – to know Him and to know others. Even God the Father said regarding Adam, It is not good for man to be alone – without someone to have a relationship with. (Gen. 2:18)

In John 4:24 Jesus states: God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth. You cannot even worship God apart from the Spirit. Dr. Breese ignorantly asks people to deny God a people who worship Him in the Spirit from their spirit. These are the worshippers He seeks. Their worship is not limited to the Bible. Like Adam, they allow the Spirit of God to breathe into them the Holy Spirit’s Breath of Life. Thus, according to the messages of Revelation chapter 3-4: Wake Up, A Door is Open, Open the DOOR, Come Up Here!

Hungry!?

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You can imagine the meager rations of those exiles on the Isle of Patmos. Whether it’s coincidental, or because of the meager rations, the theme of food comes up often enough to warrant attention. Consider the following passages: Revelation 2:14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols…NKJV

Revelation 2:17 To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden manna to eat. NKJV

Revelation 2:20 Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. NKJV

Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. NKJV

If I had been hearing these words from the Lord I would have been tempted to ask the Lord for mercy. I would have asked Him to possibly choose other analogies and references. But Jesus didn’t stop there. He “hid” a food reference in plain sight – yet it’s hard to see. Several months ago I noted a distinction in translating Revelation 3:18. The AMPC translation reads: Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be [truly] wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see. Take note of this last boldened, phrase:…and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see.

Now take note of how the NKJV translates the same passage: I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.

The first thing to notice is that in the AMPC translation they were to purchase refined and tested gold, white clothes, and eye salve. But the NKJV separates the gold, and clothes from the eye salve. In fact the NKJV states that they should purchase the first two, but anoint their eyes with eye salve. In the NKJV translation, anointing the eyes appears to be a separate topic. Why are there two different verbs: purchase and anoint?

When you study the original meaning of the word for salve you discover something that is quite startling. You discover that it was an extremely small, “coarse bread roll.”  Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words states: Hence an “eye-salve,” shaped like a roll….The word is doubtless an allusion to the Phrygian powder used by oculists in the famous medical school at Laodicea. Which led me to ask another question, What was considered coarse bread to John’s readers? Basically there were two sources of grain used for making bread, wheat and barley. What does this have to do with our eye salve? Bread made from barley was considered the poor man’s bread, while bread made from wheat was for those who were wealthy. Now keep in mind Jesus is addressing the wealthy, self-sufficient Laodiceans. They have no need, or lack. Yet, Jesus is stating that the cure for their spiritual blindness is salve shaped like a roll or loaf of barley bread. What does this remind you of? Matthew 5:3,6 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.“…Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

What’s the interpretation? Those that are spiritually poor – are spiritually hungry. Those who are spiritually poor will ENTER through the DOOR of Jesus; the DOOR of Revelation 4. Those that recognize their spiritual poverty and blindness will be moved to make room for Jesus; will be moved to overcome the Laodiceans, do-it-yourself righteousness; will be moved to open their spiritual senses: sight, hearing, and feeling. The spiritually hungry will be moved to be zealous; to be on FIRE with the FIRE from the Man whose legs and eyes burn with HOLY FUEL.

Bread throughout Scripture has typically been a symbol for the Word of God. Those who are aware of their spiritual blindness will seek to “anoint” their spiritual “vision” with the revelational, living, out of the Mouth of God – Word of God. This is the Spiritual Manna that comes down out of Heaven and feeds the spiritually hungry. Are you hungry for more of Jesus? Are you hungry to be closer to Him? Are you hungry to see more of Jesus? Are you hungry to be hot, on FIRE, in love with Jesus? Are you hungry to hear His Voice? Hungry to fellowship, commune and have a daily, intimate love relationship with Him? Then cry out for the poor man’s “bread” to “rub” in the way you see.

The Watchmen!

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Revelation 4:1-2 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice which I had heard addressing me like [the calling of] a war trumpet said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place in the future. 2 At once I came under the [Holy] Spirit’s power, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the throne!

In John 10:1-7 reveals to us Who the Door is in Revelation 4:1-2. It states: I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way (elsewhere, from some other quarter) is a thief and a robber.2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.3 The watchman opens the door for this man, and the sheep listen to his voice and heed it; and he calls his own sheep by name and brings (leads) them out.4 When he has brought his own sheep outside, he walks on before them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.5 They will never [on any account] follow a stranger, but will run away from him because they do not know the voice of strangers or recognize their call.6 Jesus used this parable (illustration) with them, but they did not understand what He was talking about.7 So Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that I Myself am the Door for the sheep. AMPC

Watchmen open the Door! Watchmen know His Voice! Watchmen listen for the Shepherds Voice! Luke 21:36 reminds us: Keep awake then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man. AMPC

What are we to be watching, praying and waiting for? The Return of Jesus. But, especially during this time of year we are to be watchful, and listening. Is there a specific thing we are to seek? Revelation 4:1-2 gives us a clue: Come up here, and I will show you what must take place in the future. 2 At once I came under the [Holy] Spirit’s power, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the throne! Now you may be tempted to say, Robert I can’t know what will happen in the future. I am not a prophet. Let me ask you a question. How much of the Bible do you believe and trust? Your Bible promises you in John 16:13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. AMPC

Did you see that? Do you believe it? If you believe it then you can know from the Revelation 4:1-2 connection with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur – that you and I have been given an invitation to know what must take place in the future. Now you might say this passage only applies to John. I can’t go into Heaven. Yet Eph. 2:6 states, And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One). AMPC According to Scripture our spirits are already seated in Heavenly Places with Jesus.

In conclusion, Can you see that the Testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of all prophecy? (Revelation 19:10) Prophecy fulfilled is the manifestation of spoken words becoming manifested reality. From this passage you can deduce that the testimony of Jesus contained in Scripture is a prophetic testimony waiting to manifest. Scripture is a collection of testimonies of Jesus manifesting in others lives. It is through the testimony of Scripture that Jesus became a Manifested Reality in your life. Scripture was given to us by God not simply for us to know about God but to see His Testimony manifested in our lives.

During this holy season don’t be content with simply preparing for the Return of Jesus. Take the time to step out in faith on the testimony of His Word to ask Him, Lord what is coming this new year that you want me to pray with You about and prepare others to know? He’s knocking in Revelation 3:20. Are you willing to open the Door? Are you willing to listen to what He has to say?

Happy New Year!?

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Obviously many of you reading this are not Jewish but believe that “all Scripture is God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). When 2 Timothy 3:16-17 was written there wasn’t a New Testament. The “Scripture” Paul referred to was the Old Testament, or the Old Covenant. The Old Covenant revealed God’s calendar of events in the Person of Jesus (consider Passover and Pentecost). And it is through this Old Covenant that God reveals future events (Feast of Tabernacles – when God will tabernacle with His people) revealing God’s calendar of major events. At sundown tonight a new year begins – according to God’s calendar (not simply Judaism). Presently, God’s year is numbered at 5784, yet today marks a new year, 5785. Happy New Year!

What significance does this have for you and I? According to Scripture, this is the time of year God came down to meet with Moses and the children of Israel. God essentially peeled back the Heavens causing His Throne to manifest on Mount Sinai (also called Mt. Horeb). This Manifestation was accompanied by a loud trumpet blast (called a shofar or rams horn). Exodus 19:16-19 The third morning there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.17 Then Moses brought the people from the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.18 Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke, for the Lord descended upon it in fire; its smoke ascended like that of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked greatly. 19 As the trumpet blast grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with a voice. AMPC

Based on this Scripture modern Jewish people believe God draws near at the beginning of a new year. This is why many practice what is known as the Ten Days of Awe, which culminates in the major fast day of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement. Why is this significant to us? Rev. 4:1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice which I had heard addressing me like [the calling of] a war trumpet said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place in the future. 2 At once I came under the [Holy] Spirit’s power, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with One seated on the throne! AMPC

Notice in verse one of the AMPC translation states: And the first voice which I had heard addressing me like [the calling of] a war trumpet…” The Apostle John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day when Jesus appears to Him. Jesus draws near to John to call to Him like a war trumpet or shofar. Just like Moses in Exodus 19 John was invited to “Come up Here” where he saw a door standing open. Jesus is the Door of Revelation 4:1. We know this from John 10 where Jesus taught that He was the Shepherd and the Door for the Sheep.

Whenever I fast, or seek the Lord purposefully through worship, thanksgiving and prayer; when ever I come near a prophet or an apostle – I become aware of one thing: when Jesus, the Light draws near He exposes the darkness in me. Things surface and the darkness in me is exposed. What I want you to be aware of, in this high and holy season, is that Jesus has opened the Door to Who He is. As He draws nearer to us His Light exposes the darkness in and around us. Many believe the Return of Jesus is imminent and it is. But know that as He draws nearer His Light kicks up the darkness making it easier to see and recognize. Presently you and I are hurtling toward His Light and whether you are conscious and aware of it or not – His Light is exposing darkness in and around us. Darkness is as dust before His Feet but its at His feet we find our salvation draws near calling us to repentance and transformation.

I say all of this to make you aware of God’s Processes and Ways so you will be conscious and aware of the Light which exposes the darkness in you. Consciously choose to repent quickly and not to blame others for your actions, or attitudes. When His Light kicks up the darkness in you agree with Him quickly, confessing it, and forsaking it. Pray for His Grace to operate in the opposite spirit and to be set free from the dust of darkness.

In John 8 Jesus stooped to write in the dust and as Jesus stooped down – He delivered and saved the woman caught in the act of adultery. Brad McClendon reminds us “Jesus got His identity through the trial and attack of the religious pharisees.” It was in “stooping” to save that He was the Light of the World in that given situation. Php. 2:9 reminds us Jesus emptied Himself – stooping so low – to bring salvation to us, not simply a woman caught in the act of adultery. If Jesus had to stoop low in the dust of religious accusation to be the Light of Salvation you too will have to stoop and join Him in the dust of the darkness that is still in us and surrounds us. During this high and holy season seek to join Jesus in stooping in the dust of darkness that you might be delivered from your darkness into His Light.