🗣️💨GONE

Hebrews 6:4 (KJV) For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, For it is IMPOSSIBLE or not able for what? For those who once were furnished with clear views and have tasted the HEAVENLY GIFT and made PARTAKERS or participated in the Holy Ghost. Here’s the way I see it. It is impossible for those people or persons once having the lighting up in their mind of what Jesus Christ really did for them. Not only that they tasted the Heavenly Gift. What’s the Heavenly Gift? Remember “ THE” is a definite article. A definite article indicates that a noun refers to a specific thing or to something that has been identified previously. The specific thing “Heavenly Gift” previously identified  

Acts 2:38 (KJV) Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. We are made partakers. You may very well not have or work at having a relationship with Jesus Christ, that’s your choice not your Heavenly Father’s. In doing so you may not look, act, nor do the things God’s Children do. That’s not God’s Fault either, that's your fault. But at one time in your life you were enlightened and tasted and had a part in the Great Gift of God. What happened?  Galatians 5:7 (KJV) Ye did run well; who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth? Oh the memory that brings of a very close friend who because of a very great sin so great I’ll write of it. We were close, real close but it’s been 32 years since I have seen him or talked with him. 😱oh my what sin does, oh how it destroys. If I were to tell you of the great cost it would break your heart 💔and you don’t even know him. He’s gone, off the grid nowhere to be found; I have looked more than once, gone 💨poof.  I’ll put his first name Gregg out there just in case God lets him find this note in a bottle on the great sea of the internet. Who knows what God will do.  For Gregg was enlightened, Gregg tasted and Gregg partook of the Heavenly Gift. The sin that so easily overtook him and closed him in. He, like me and you and many others got tempted in his weakest area and before he knew it he was trapped. When it’s all over the cost was greater than he ever dreamed. With our Heavenly Father there’s no hiding and when the right time comes; that time may have already come and gone and he is back in relationship with our Heavenly Father. My prayer is I sure hope so,but the damage is done and can never be undone.  

Genesis 3:9 (KJV) And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?  God will not let His children continue in their sin just as you and I won’t let ours. 

Built 👷‍♂️🧱

 Hebrews 6:1 (KJV) Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 

The “foundation of repentance” has been laid.  

1 Corinthians 3:11 (KJV) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

After the foundation is laid what comes next?

1 Corinthians 3:12 (KJV) Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;

It’s to be built upon. Back in Hebrews chapter 5 we read about milk and meat and the dangers of not building upon what we know to be true “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” The foundation is laid “Jesus Christ” Now built on that foundation. Remember not long ago we wrote of having a quiet time? That is building on the foundation “Jesus Christ” that’s learning more about the sin that so easily surrounds you, inclose you, presses in on you, perplexes you and entangles you. That quiet time is the place where you build on a strong relationship with “Jesus Christ” who becomes your strength, His word hidden in your heart becomes your weapon. 

2 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV) (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  

That my friend, that is how one overcomes the strong holds in their life. Strongholds don’t just go away on their own. Enemies don’t just leave, they have to be beaten. Land mines are everywhere, rockets are coming in on a daily basis and from time to time you come face to face with your enemy itself. What do you have to combat this spiritual battle? A one hour Church service? If that’s it you my friend are in a great deal of trouble. Why? Because even with the best the battle rages and if all you have is a small amount of ammo; a one hour Church service, it’s soon gone. Then What? 

Identify the enemy! 

1 Peter 5:8 (KJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

Identify the Armour!

Ephesians 6:13 (KJV) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Ephesians 6:13 (KJV) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth 

Identify the truth!

John 1:14 (KJV) And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John 17:17 (KJV) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

How much ammo do you have today? The enemy is coming. Will you have enough to stand?

The Appointment 📆

 As we open our Bibles we must let our Lord teach us. Jesus went to a quiet place alone to talk to His Father. As I heard one man say “get to a quiet place and turn everything off.” What was he saying? Do like Jesus did go to a place where you will not be disturbed. There you will learn some things you would never learn anywhere else. The more times you go to that place the more you will learn about the God you serve. The same is true about the less you go to that place the less you will know.  In Hebrews 5:11 (KJV) Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. The less you go to that quiet place the more dull your hearing and the learning;                                  

  Hebrews 5:12 (KJV) For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. If you don’t use it you lose it. That’s true about anything weather you are learning another language, or a skill you have been taught or not going to the quiet place. It takes commitment and these days commitment is hard to come by.  I’m talking about commitment to yourself. It’s easy to blame others but on that day when we stand before a Holy and righteous God it won’t be about nobody else. When I stand before the God of the universe it will be about me. I’m not looking forward to that appointment. That day is coming for us all. 

Hebrews 9:27 (KJV) And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: Oh my!! If you don’t have a place to go where it's quiet it’s time to find one. The clock is ticking the appointment will be here sooner than we think.

I Understand Your Troubles 🚸

Hebrews 5:1 (KJV) For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

“every high priest” Every high priest, what’s so important about that? Where they were taken from. Where? Among people just like themselves. These priests offered gifts and sacrifices for the sins of the people. 

Hebrews 5:2 (KJV) Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

These priests have compassion on those who have

committed sins of ignorance. They didn’t know it was wrong, in order to know it’s wrong you have to be taught that it is wrong. He or she is destitute of knowledge. In other words they are uninstructed or uninformed or untaught or unenlightened. Here’s the good news: God will not “despise their prayer.”

Psalms 102:17 (KJV) He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer.  So we are without excuse. 

Romans 1:20 (KJV) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: But this earthly high priest had his on set of problems “for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.” The priest is a wonderful person, the pastor is a wonderful person but they have sin problems too. How can they help? Well one thing they are called by God therefore they can have compassion for they understand. The man that is saved from alcohol can understand the one who is wanting to get free themselves. Compassion. I was in a church service many years ago when a man walked up to the Pastor who was in the pulpit. Alcohol had wrecked this man’s life. As he stood there looking at the pastor with urine all over his pants, clothes torn and filthy with all the odors that come with that. A man who was seated about in the middle ways of the Church jumped to his feet and ran to where this man was standing. In compassion he put his arm around this man, had him sit down and with kind compassionate words talked with him. Why was this man so interested and so compassionate in what others might call a waste of time? The reason was simple: the man helping knew what it was like to let alcohol ruin your life for not many years ago he had the same problem. Proverbs 27:17 (KJV) Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. 

No Middle Ground 🪂

This believe and unbelief are a big thing.  There’s no middle ground for one believes or either they disbelieve. No one has ever jumped from a plane in unbelief that their parachute won’t open. I didn’t say that they weren’t a bit troubled, for I’m sure they were especially on their first jump. No, they jumped in confidence that their parachute would open. Ok what or how does the Bible explain this word believe? In the New Testament the word “Believe” was mentioned 124 times. I looked at the first time in the New Testament it was mentioned. We read of two blind men following Jesus and asking Jesus to have mercy on them. Jesus then asked them this question. Matthew 9:28 (KJV) And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Wonderful but then Jesus said unto these two men this.

Matthew 9:29 (KJV) Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

That got me thinking. Wait a minute, didn't I just read something just like that? Yep I thought so!

Hebrews 4:2 (KJV) For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. This belief has to do with FAITH. What’s FAITH? Hebrews 11:1 (KJV) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Now FAITH is something real, not imaginary; something solid, not empty, the instrument or writing which contains proof.  The Gospel preached is the death, the burial and the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. I believe that really happened because of the evidence of the past and the changed lives of the present. Then I looked at the last time the word “BELIEVE” was mentioned.  

1 John 5:13 (KJV) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

These things have I written unto you? Where would we find these kinds of things written? I Know, if you said the Bible you are right. Believe in “the name of the Son of God” This belief is putting confidence in. If you were to take the time to read in the book of Daniel you would read about 3 men who did just that. All they had to do was deny what they believed. If they didn’t they would be thrown into a furnace of hot fire. What did they decide? Here I’ll let you read it for yourself.. 

Daniel 3:16 (KJV) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.

Daniel 3:17 (KJV) If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

Daniel 3:18 (KJV)  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up. This is believing “he will deliver us” Here’s Faith “But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods” This is Believing and Unbelieving, there is no middle ground. 

How Shall We Escape 🎭🚑

Hebrews 4:2 (KJV) For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. “the word preached”

That interested me so I investigated a little bit and what I found out was interesting to me. Looking at the Greek meaning I discovered this. The Greek word used for “word” mean this “signifies a report: the Gospel is a report of Christ, his person and offices; of his great love to sinners, and of what he has done for them;” The “word” was preached.  The same word is used here 3 times.

John 1:1 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In the very beginning The Word was there. When was the very beginning? Genesis 1:1 (KJV) In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

In the beginning what you and I know started. The Word was there and then we are told that the Word was God. Now I have a clearer picture of what “the Word” is in Hebrews 4:2; then we are told that the Word preached was not received. Now the Word of God is not to be taken lightly and we are told why.  Hebrews 4:12 (KJV) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  That word “quick” means alive. The Word that was preached is alive and is Powerful and is Sharp; No, No, excuse me it is Sharper than any two edged sword. Wow, how sharp is sharper? Watch what “the word of God” can do. It can pierce and divide our soul and our spirit. It’s so sharp that you can not see where nor how deep it went with the physical eye. It can also go to the “the joints and marrow” and “the word of God” can even get to our “thoughts” But wait it goes much further “intents of the heart” There is no escape. Hebrews 2:3 (KJV) How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

There is nowhere to run! Oh no, run as fast and as far as you like and when you get there you will find that the Lord is there waiting on you. Nowhere to Hide. Adam and his wife Eve have tried that and it didn’t work. Neither will it work for you and me!

There is no mistake we can not escape the presents of Our Lord and Savior. What happens to those who do try to run and hide? That word quick is mention 3 more times in the  New Testament.

Acts 10:42 (KJV) And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

2 Timothy 4:1 (KJV) I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;

1 Peter 4:5 (KJV) Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

The Quick (those living) didn’t try to escape and the Dead (opportunity gone). One is living and the other; well dead. 

Doomed? Really? 🙂‍↔️

 Hebrews 4:3 (KJV) For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

As I read that the word “believed” jumped out at me. “believed” is past tense of belief which means that something was believed. What does Webster have to say about this word “believed”?  “When we believe upon the authority of reasoning, arguments, or a concurrence of facts and circumstances, we rest our conclusions upon their strength or probability, their agreement with our own experience ” Another interesting thing about this word “believed” here in verse 4 is that it is the only time in the book of Hebrews that it is used without the word “not” this word “believed” is mentioned only 3 times. First time is in

Hebrews 3:18 (KJV) And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? The second time is Hebrews 4:3 the verse we first started off with and the last or third time is in Hebrews 11:31 (KJV) By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. 

Rahab,  5 times in the scriptures as we read her name it has the tag on it Rahab the harlot. Why would this tag of who she once was be left as we read of her? I’m not sure but here’s what I believe. Many have told me that they have done too many awful things for God to save them. The awful things may very well be true but God saves people who have done much worse than you. God save David and made him King. Do you know what David did? He committed adultery and then that night of pleasure produced fruit. He had no choice he thought but to have her husband killed and he did. Oh my, Rahab is what? A harlot what trash! Oh no God saves her too. We are not too good that we don’t need God’s forgiveness and we are not too bad that God won’t forgive us. In other words God loves sinners and sent His son Jesus Christ to save them that believe.  Believed is only mentioned once without the word “NOT” because that’s all it takes to have the rest in God. The word “unbelief” is mentioned 4 times in the book of Hebrews and then the word “Believed” three times but two of those have the word “NOT” after it. Now that’s six times we read of unbelief. What is so interesting about that? If you were to run the number six in the Bible you will find that it is always talking about mankind. Never forget that this Bible is God’s Word to mankind. No matter how you look at it, it will always picture God sending His Son to save this lost world. If you or I fail to Believe we are doomed. 

Romans 10:9 (KJV) That if thou(That’s you & I) shalt confess with thy (That’s you & I) mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine  (That’s you & I) heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou (That’s you & I) shalt be saved.

RU 🫵 Showing Up?

Hebrews 3:18 (KJV) And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?

Hebrews 3:19 (KJV) So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. 

Believed not and Unbelief  

BELIEVED NOT from  e-Sword STRONGSS #544 to disbelieve (wilfully and perversely): - not believe, disobedient, obey not, unbelieving. 

UNBELIEF from e-Sword STRONGS #570

faithlessness, that is, (negatively) disbelief (want of Christian faith), or (positively) unfaithfulness (disobedience): - unbelief. 

The reason that they should not enter into His Rest. Was it because they were bad people? NO! It was just because they didn’t believe God could help them. 

Hebrews 3:18 (KJV) And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that  disbelieve (wilfully and perversely): - believed not?

Hebrews 3:19 (KJV) So we see that they could not enter in because of faithlessness, that is, (negatively)  unfaithfulness (disobedience): - unbelief. 

Now this is Canaan land, a land of Victory and Rest. I wonder how many of God’s People today have Rest and Victory in their lives? Is it possible to have rest? Jesus said it was.

Matthew 11:28 (KJV) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Spiritual rest, peace of conscience, ease of mind, tranquility of soul, through an application of pardoning grace through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..

Matthew 11:29 (KJV) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest (Remember what I wrote earlier if you aren’t looking you’ll never find) unto your souls. Could this be why we don’t have peace and rest (learn of me) a simple question will give you the answer. What have you learned about Your Savior Jesus Christ today? Or this Week? Or this Month? If the answer is not much or even worse NOTHING. Then maybe it’s because of Unbelief. In order to learn you have to show up. In 2004 I needed an income. My previous income was GONE! My friend had a car business so I went to him and asked him to teach me how to buy and sell cars. He told me classes began this Monday night at the car auction. I expect you to be there every Monday night. If I am going to teach you I will not waste my time, show up! So it began and I was faithful and he taught me. Why did I write that? Many want to have rest that is why they seek drugs and alcohol and other things that will not give rest only destruction. Jesus gives us the answer for rest and peace “learn of me” No it’s not a quick fix but He will do what He says. Learning the car business wasn’t either; it took commitment. So what have you learned about Jesus? If not much, why not? RU Showing Up?

It was shocking to me as I watched a man going up to people putting gas in their cars. He asked them to tell him one Bible verse and he would pay for their gas. He asked 10 people and not one of them was willing or didn’t know a Bible verse to tell. How sad that many will not come into Jesus and learn about Him.