Last Enemy

I recently listened to what Amie May shared at the Baytown Conference. Her presentation was called "Made Whole" and I highly recommend you go to the site and listen to it.
Transmillennial 2008: A Glimpse of Glory
There are others there that you might want to give a listen to as well. Enjoy what you hear and I trust it will awaken you to what you already know in your heart and that is "In Christ we are already made whole and are indeed perfect in God's eyes".

The picture on the right is one I took at "Creation Falls" in the Red River Gorge of Eastern Kentucky. It is down in the Swift Creek Area. I think I will call it "New Creation Falls" from here on out!

http://www.womenbeyond.com/

The last enemy to be destroyed
Author: Amie May

Examining the death in the garden of Eden.

Many assume that disobedience was the first sin, and representative of every bad choice that we might do thereafter.

Adam/Eve didn't know that to disobey was bad though, remember? They didn't make any knowing choice and by all standards were therefore unaccountable.

The only knowledge that they had existed in the form of a command given by God. The fruit of that knowledge will have been the conclusions that were drawn based on it. After they internalized that fruit, they lost love for themselves (evidenced by shame) and lost faith in God's unconditional love (evidenced by fear). They became aware of the commandment in a new light and concluded that they were bad. They couldn't love themselves through their mistake, so they didn't expect God to either. That doesn't make any of it true!

What it did make true, was that they were disconnected from God because they were disconnected from love. "God is love" (1 John 4:8). That means that they were dead! (Just like God warned - imagine that.)

God, who is represented as a loving father biblically, then is strolling through the garden and doesn't see his children anywhere. Concerned (NOT enraged), he inquires (NOT booms), "Where are you?" If your own children were hiding because they had just painted their rooms with ketchup, you would still wonder where they were. If you were accustomed to their little voices and laughter, you might grow concerned by their silence.

They were disabled and did not reveal their true selves to God, they did not stop believing the lies that they were telling themselves. They didn't truly come clean and open up.

Rather than shouting "What have you done!!", God will have immediately known the consequences for their actions. If our children drank poison, we wouldn't flare our nostrils and shout. We would sound concerned and plugged in, "Oh no! What have you done?!" Why wouldn't God who paints himself as a parent sound loving and soft in his concern as well?

Are the struggles found in our own childhood interfering with our hearing God in a functional way?

God then tells them what was going to happen because of what they had done. Always concerned for them, and knowing the fig leaves not to be such a great covering for his shame ridden and fear filled children, he dressed them in animal skins.

They will have passed their own dysfunctional thinking on to their children. In 1 John 3:11-14 the people were compelled by the author to love one another, and not to be as Cain, who killed his brother because his own works were evil. Hebrews 11:4-6 says that Abel's sacrifice was offered by faith.. BY faith. It was his faith that made his offering righteous. Cain lacked faith, and so his offering was a lesser sacrifice. In Jude 1:11, the "way of Cain" was to err in the likeness of Balaam for gain.

Remember Balaam? His "ass" spoke to him, after he beat it. He was willing to be hired to curse Israel, though through him God would declare otherwise. He would find himself reciting words that very closely resembled that which God said to Cain, "God is not a man that He should lie, or a son of man that He should repent. Has He said, and shall He not do it? And has He spoken, and shall He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19).

("If you do well, is there not exaltation? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is toward you; but you should rule over it." Genesis 4:7)

Balaam was originally interested in lying for Balak's wages. God's will superceded his own, not allowing him to do so. Rather, Balaam knew that God was not a man that he would lie.

This lie about Israel's curse, will have had many more implications. Israel was enlisted as mediators (Priesthood) and rulers (Kingship) if they kept the covenant made with God.

One of the first reminders to Israel by Jesus was that the law could be summed up in loving God and (the one "like" it), loving your neighbor. How could humanity, having been disconnected from love ever have kept the law?

Cain, lacking in faith, would take the life of his brother similarly to Balaam's desire, so that he could have God for himself. Yet, what was this lacking in faith which drove the people of the bible to wish to obtain God for themselves? Is this not defined in the garden? Is this not the lack of faith in love itself?

There was a grave need for reconnection and the good news was that Jesus was going to do it. A universal resurrection was to take place - just as death entered the world through one man, life would enter through another (Romans 5:12). Just as "all died" in the work of Adam, so "all" would be given life through and by Jesus (1 Cor 15:22).

The world would not be disconnected from love eternally, a Savior had come. Death would be destroyed in that any validation that could be found in the law to believe the lie, was removed. Love actually fulfilled that law in demonstrating righteousness in contrast to it.

The law condemned. Humanity was bound to sin and death through it. The entire point of that law was to make sin known, so that love might be known in comparison to it. It served its' purpose, so we are freed from it, and even by it.

The law was understood as right living. It was the measuring stick for which humanity determined itself "good" or "bad". Love transcends "good" or "bad" in the very same way that we love our own children through their mistakes.

Did God not demonstrate the same?
The sin of believing the lie still abounds. The good news, is that since we were unable to go to God, God has come to us. We are unable to disconnect from God's warm embrace. If only for a fleeting moment, we might all feel that.

Blood Feud

There is a history here in the Appalachian Mountains of what is referred to as "A Blood Feud". My understanding is that when there was a disagreement or quarrel between two parties or families the shedding of blood could be the possible result. I am not aware of any instances where this still occurs today but I suspect in some manner the feuds still take place.

In the unfortunate event that blood is shed then the feud is on. An eye for an eye. These feuds can last for years and across generations. I am sure most of us have heard about the famous feud between the Hatfields and McCoy's.

While considering this subject of a blood feud it dawned on me that blood feuds are very similar to what the apostle Paul encountered when he visited Jerusalem. In the book of Acts chapter 21 we have a written account of this visit. Paul was going up to see the Apostles to the Jews of which James Jesus' brother appears to have been chief among the others. Peter and John were there as well.

The Apostles in Jerusalem instructed Paul to participate in the ceremonial right of purification. This was a ceremonial law and act which is spelled out in the books of the Law. Specifically Numbers 6 and Numbers 29. My question is, why were the apostles/disciples in Jerusalem still practicing ceremonial law when the blood of Jesus had set them free from the rules, regulations, and laws of the Old Testament? This includes freedom from ceremonial law.

Not only were the apostles to the Jews still practicing the law but they were requiring others to do so as well. Now on Paul's visit they were trying to have him participate in keeping the law and to go back and require the gentiles to do the same.

The apostles to the Jews were still shedding the blood of bulls and goats many years after the blood that was shed by Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. To me this is a very early record of a "blood feud". A feud that existed between the apostle Paul, the apostle to the gentiles and the apostles in Jerusalem who were the apostles to the Jews.

The disagreement or quarrel that existed between Paul and James was over blood. Paul believed the blood of Jesus Christ was sufficient and James declared that the practice of shedding of blood which was spelled out in the Old Testament was needed as well.

I heard one brother state recently that the mixing of the blood of bulls and goats with the blood of Jesus Christ is an insult to the cross.
I cannot say that I disagree with my friends statement. We can add nothing to the cross of Christ nor should we. His shed blood is sufficient.

His birth, life, crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and enthronement was and is sufficient for all we were in need of. We can add nothing to the finished work of Jesus Christ nor can we take anything away.

Either we live by grace as the apostle Paul taught or we are going to live by law. You cannot mix the two. It would be like mixing the blood of Jesus Christ with the blood of bulls and goats. This is indeed an insult to the cross of Christ. If we offer the blood of bulls and goats (dead works) rather than put our trust in the Blood of Christ then we fall from grace.

I encourage you to go to the Gospel Revolution web site http://www.gospelrevolution.com/ and order Mike Williams Cd series on the Book of Galatians. It is excellent!

You might also want to look again at the Book of Romans and also the Book of Hebrews. I believe the writer of the Book of Hebrews was trying to reach those in Jerusalem who not only believed in Jesus Christ but were also still practicing the Old Testament covenantal law.

I am reminded here about the woman who approached Jesus who had a bleeding issue. She was no different than those who sit in churches every Sunday and are subjected to those who still teach that we must keep the law. This kind of teaching only produces guilt, shame, condemnation, and a sin consciousness. This kind of false teaching is causing a bleeding issue in all those who are subjected to it. It is draining the life out of all those who hear it.

This bleeding issue will cease when we share the Gospel ( good news ) of Jesus Christ or in other words, The Gospel of Grace and Peace. Grace means because the sacrifice of Christ we get what we did not deserve, and peace simply means we will never get what we did deserve. That is Good News! He was the sacrifice for sin once and for all.

This alone can awaken the hearer to a righteousness consciousness and enable the listener to experience life and joy as the result of the freedom they embrace.

The blood of Jesus speaks of better things than that of bulls and goats! It speaks to us of life and freedom!

I am paraphrasing here but the writer of Hebrews said that "where there is a covenant that is the end of all disagreements and quarrels".
The blood of bulls and goats was a practice of Old Testament ceremonial and sacrificial law but the blood of Jesus Christ is the blood of a new and better covenant. We need to stop this feud over blood and agree that the only blood sacrifice that was capable of making all of us right with God once and for all is the Blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. In and because of Him the feud over blood is over!

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

DON'T ASK YOURSELF WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS
ASK YOURSELF WHAT MAKES YOU COME ALIVE,
AND GO DO THAT,
BECAUSE WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS IS PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME ALIVE.

Cheap Grace

A friend said to me recently that we oftentimes can sing what we cannot say. What he said birthed something in my heart as I have always believed music to be a powerfull tool for sharing the Good News of the Gospel. What follows is my first attempt at writing. My song writing partners and I have yet to put it to music but will do so in the next week or so. In the meantime I hope the lyrics speak to you.

CHEAP GRACE
Today I saw the woman that the townfolk call cheap Grace,
The one the churchfolk said was going to hell and that in heaven she had no place,
She wouldn't look me in the eyes, she kept her head turned to the ground,
But then she heard the voice of her Saviour and oh what a loving sound ...

He said, Grace there is nothing cheap about you,
My redeeming blood declares your worth,
the value of anything is determined, by what someone is willing to pay,
So don't listen to what they tell you, Just listen to what I say
There is nothing cheap about Grace

Today I saw the woman that the townfolk call cheap Grace,
There was a sweetness in her voice and a glow upon her face
She had her head lifted up, she looked me in my eyes,
When I asked just what had happened to her, she began to cry

She said, There is nothing cheap about God's Grace,
He loves me the same as He loves you,
His redeeming blood is what declares my value,
Yes I know He loves me and I know He loves you too

There is nothing cheap, there is nothing cheap,
There is nothing cheap about God'sGrace

Then she began to sing .....
Jesus loves me this I know,
For in my heart He tells me so,
Each one of us to him belong,
In Him I'm Holy, pure and strong ...
Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me,
In my heart He tells me so

Comprehensive Grace

Excuse the spelling errors in my first post. I am new to blogging and am not sure at this point how to correct spelling error's once they are posted. At this point I plan to post articles I find that reflect my own understanding of the finished work of Jesus Christ. Some call it "comprehensive grace"others call it "the doctrine of inclusion". The apostle Paul called it "the Gospel of Jesus Christ and" and also "The gospel of Grace and Peace". It is good news whatever you choose to call it. As one man has said, "if it isn't good news then it is not the Gospel". I hope you enjoy the following article and that it speaks to what you already know in your heart. I will include a link so you can find more articles and contact the folks that publish them.
www.knowingtodaysgod.com

Believing the Unbelievable
Does God ask me to believe the unbelievable? Through much of history we have been asked to believe in a "fireburning" Hell for the disobedient and unbelieving. Some have found this message unbelievable. The idea that God would condemn the well-intended, the honestly seeking, and the unknowing along with the willfully unrighteous has been a difficult doctrine for many, even the religious. Based on the actions of those who claim to believe this doctrine, my conclusion is that they really do not believe what they say. The horror of the orthodox, fundamentalist doctrine of eternal punishment would logically overwhelm any sane human being and compel them to unrelenting efforts to persuade friends, family, and acquaintances of their pending doom. No time would be wasted on the mundane cares of the world because nothing could be even remotely as important as "converting the lost." Of course, this all pre-supposes that anyone can identify the lost in the first place, and history verifies that we cannot do that with any agreement. Since the "believers" are not engaged in this type of frantic, horror driven effort, they cannot really believe what they seemingly profess.
Down through the years many have come to question the "unbelievability" of eternal punishment. Traditionally, however, the Old Covenant dealings have been brought forward in Christian orthodoxy as the model for how God deals with man today. In contrast other "non-traditionalists" have concluded that under the New Covenant, God deals with all mankind in a different way than he dealt with Old Covenant Israel. The God of judgment in the Old Testament becomes the God of mercy in the New. See John 1:17. The God of mercy works to redeem all mankind not just the chosen of the Old Covenant. The God of former exclusiveness is now manifested as the God who includes all in his blessedness. See Romans 5: 18-19. "All" is equated to "all" and "many" to "many".
Many recoil at the idea that God can and will save all, saying that this understanding is not believable. In their minds the evil must surely receive some sort of punishment. This is clearly Old Covenant thinking. The law condemned and restitution had to be made. Christ has now changed all of that. God can and will forgive and forget. Any human requirements to receive salvation make the New Covenant no different from the Old. "Accept" is just another word for "earn" and makes one's salvation dependent on one's own efforts plus those of their teachers. In that sense, the New Covenant requirements are more onerous than the Old, because the Jews were under no obligation to convert outsiders to Judaism.
Do you see any inconsistency in a God who authors the Old Covenant which requires perfect obedience and then "progresses" to a New Covenant, which requires obedience to deal with sin (which is disobedience)? Where is the improvement in man's ability to be obedient? As noted earlier, at least under the Old Covenant, the Jews had ample opportunity to know their requirements. Supposedly under the New Covenant, the poor lost man must rely on his Christian neighbor, or worse yet some foreigner from western civilization, to convert him. This is not progress in God's dealings with man, and it is not consistent with the God of Love who is described in I Corinthians 13 so majestically.
To those who object to idea that God can and will extend mercy to all, I ask this question: "Would you rather disbelieve because of horror or disbelieve because of magnificence." I joyfully choose to embrace the unbelievable God of Love, in the full assurance that he is able to do "exceeding abundantly more than we can ask or think." This is the God our hearts always knew. His grace and mercy are not "cheap" as some would term it. But it is unbelievable, for sure.

Article from Allen Brooks

What follows is an article that Allen Brooks sent to me this morning. He has a radio show (webcast) that airs on Sunday Mornings from 8:30 am - 8:45 am. You can hear it on http://www.wcrk.com/index.html My understanding is that he lives in or around Morristown Tenn. If you would like to contact him do so through the station or contact me. BruceGosey@aol.com I will forward it on to him if it is not to argumentive or caustic. Enjoy the article and I hope you recieve it in the same spirit in which it was written and shared.

Coming Soon

I often hear from preachers, teachers, and other Christians the saying, "let’s get back to the Bible." "It says what it means and it means what it says." I agree with that statement so why don’t they let the Bible speak for itself.

To state it plainly, there are many verses of Scripture scattered throughout the New Testament which state clearly that Jesus Christ would come soon in that generation. Those references would have applied to those in the apostles’ generations—not our arena of time today or later. Those references are mentioned in terms such as "the time is at hand," it is the last time," "shortly,", "shortly come to pass," "quickly," "at the door," "as ye see the day approaching," "this generation," " some standing here shall not taste of death," etc.
The reasons that most traditional Christians refuse to accept the plain language of these scriptures is because they believe that Christ has to return visibly to the eye, the earth must literally burn up, dead bodies must come forth from the graves, there is a white throne judgement where everyone ever born must parade before the seat of God and receive their rewards of heaven or hell. There is no more sin, pain, suffering, and death.
And lastly all Christians will be in the presence of the Lord forever.
Therefore, since this has not happened because they cannot see it, feel it, smell it, touch it, hear it, nor experience it in their flesh, then it has not happened. And furthermore, no matter what the Bible says, if we can’t see it, it did not happen and Jesus and the apostles were mislead and wrong.
Folks, let me remind you, the Bible is God’s Word and God does not lie. Secondly, the Bible says that that which is seen is temporary, and that which is not seen is eternal.
Jesus, plainly said that "his kingdom does not come with observation". That means His kingdom cannot be seen with the fleshly eyeballs or carnal understanding.
However, I just want to read the scriptures in the Bible that speaks of Christ coming presence in the generation of the apostles and the first generation church.
Matthew 10:23 "But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say into you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of Man come."
Matthew 16:28 "Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."
Matthew 24:34 "Verily I say into you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled", that included " then shall you see the Son of Man coming in the clouds."
Matthew 26:64, Jesus saith unto him (Ciaphas), Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven."
Luke 32:32 "Verily I say into you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled."
John 21:22 "Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he (John) tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Follow thou me. Jesus was talking about the death of John.
Romans 13:11-12 "And that, knowing the time, that now is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand, let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour
of light.
1 Cor 7:29 "But his I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they have none."
Romans 16:20 "And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly."
1 Cor 10:11 " Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world (age) are come."
1 Cor 15:51 "Behold I show you a mystery" we (Paul) shall not all seep, but shall all be changed."
Philippians 4:5 The Lord is at hand".
Mark 1:15 "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand."
1 Peter 4:7 "But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.
James 5:8 "Be ye also patient: stablish your hearts; for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh."
2 Tim 4:1 "I (Paul) charge thee (Timothy) therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall (is about to in the Greek) judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom."
1 Thessalonians 4:15 "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we (Paul and his fellow Christians) which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep."
Verse 17 states: Then we (Paul and his fellow Christians) which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: as so shall we ever be with the Lord."
2 Thess 1:7 "And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God."
1 Tim 6:14 "That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Hebrews 1:2 "Hath in these last days, spoken unto us by his Son. We know Jesus comes in the last days, right and Hebrews says in these last days.
Hebrews 9:26 …but now once in the end of the world (age) hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself."
Hebrews 9:34 "For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry."
Hebrews 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another and so much the more, as ye see that day approaching."
James 5:3 "Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days."
James 5:7 "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord."
James 5:9 ..behold the Judge standeth before the door.
Matthew 24:33 "Jesus said, So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it (he) is near, even at the doors."
1 John 2:18 "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time."
Revelation1:1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John."
Revelation 1:3 "Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand."
Revelation 2:25 "But that which ye (John and his generation of Christians)have already hold fast till I come."
Revelation 3:11 ‘Behold, I come quickly." The word quickly is the Greek word "tachu" which means shortly, without delay, or soon. It could mean suddenly, but it context of the rest of the scriptures, it appears to mean without delay.

Revelation 10:6 "And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created the heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein , that there should be time no longer.’ Time no longer does not mean the end of time, it meant no further delay. The greek word here is "chronos and means an uncertain space of time as contrasted to a fixed occasion. Even Scofield says this means there will be no more delay.
Revelation 22:10 "Seal not the saying of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand."
Revelation 22:6 "…the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be done." To show to John the things which must shortly be done" This was written to John and his contemporary Christians not us.
Revelation 22:7 "Behold I come quickly."
Revelation 22:12 "And behold, I come quickly: and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."
Revelation 22:20 "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly."

Revelation 1:7 "Behold he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, amen."
Folks, the bottom line is that Jesus plainly taught his disciples that he would return in their generation. The problem is that most folks will not accept this because they expect a physical eyeball return, a physical eyeball resurrection, a physical eyeball judgement, a physical eyeball new heaven and new earth and physical eyeball rule of Christ in his body on some earthly throne.
This is exactly what the first century Jews wanted.


But it did happen in the spiritual eternal world. Jesus came in judgement and vindication against Israel, Jerusalem, the temple, and the old covenant world. Jesus told his disciples when it would happen in Matthew chapter 24 and said it would be in that generation.The physical part of this is evidenced in the facts of Israel’s history as recorded by historians. However, the spiritual , unseen in only evidenced by the Words of Christ in the Bible, the bringing in of salvation through grace which is the new covenant. Our passing from sin-death to life in Christ, and our living in the presence of God in Jesus Christ (where two or three are gathered in my name, I will be in their midst). Our being granted to be able to be in the Holy of Holies in prayer in the presence of God almighty. When are God’s people going to wake up and realize that Jesus has truly kept his word to us. Blessed be the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

Clear Sound.. What does it mean?

The Apostle wrote in his letter to the gentiles ( I Corinthians 13:1 ) that unless the words he spoke were spoken in love then he was no better than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. Mickey Hart wrote that there is a language beyond mere words, he called it "supra lingua". Another has said that love is not only shared in what we say but what we do. My intention is that anything I post on my blog will find it's beginnings in love. Otherwise, what is the point.

I am new to blogging and this is a blog in it's infantsy so be patient as I work my way through the process.

The picture I am including in this first post is a picture of Natural Bridge. A famtastic sandstone bridge located in Natural Bridge State Park, Slade Kentucky. I think it only appropriate to include it because it reminds me that love is a bridge that transcends and traverses those things that seem to always divide us.