Live as if…

July 28th, 2023

3. Choose Your Mask Carefully | John Ortberg – CHARACTER

Another “Kids In Need” Update

July 28th, 2023

Sent from the superintendent:

We had a boy who is involved in our Villager program recently lose their house to a fire.  The Village program quickly stepped in and provided support and met some needs very quickly. Most of this was done through your donations and cards. I can’t tell you what a blessing this has been to our students and community. I appreciate all you continue to do to help families in need. 

Inheritors

July 28th, 2023

The difference between “inheritors” and those who don’t qualify?

When our spirit is saved, we receive forgiveness of past sins and deliverance from the penalty of sin through Christ’s blood. When our soul is transformed (saved), we receive deliverance from the power of sin that operates through the world, the flesh, and the devil. And when Christ returns, our body will be saved from the presence of sin.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 6:

11  Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

All Christians live by the Spirit, but not all Christians walk by the Spirit (being “partakers of His Life” and producing fruit). To walk by the Spirit means to put to death the things of the “flesh,” to overcome the temptations of the world and the devil, to be led along the path of sanctification, and to produce fruit.

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 25:

19  After a long time the Lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’

21  His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’

22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’

23 His Lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.’

29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have (fruitfulness), even what he has will be taken away.

30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Remember the ones who were not able to inherit:

–   Some of the children of the kingdom (Matthew 8:11–12)

–   The disobedient servant (Matthew 24:50)

–   The five foolish virgins (Matthew 25:12)

–   The unfaithful servant (Matthew 25:30)

–   The man without the wedding garment (Matthew 22:12)

These passages are all talking about believers! And yet none of these believers “inherited” the Kingdom. They were all in the kingdom, but in some other region, some other place––the darkness outside––and thus, separated from the light of the Lord’s presence.

“Complete” salvation then entails not only a new life brought on by a new Spirit, but also the renewal of every part of our souls as well.  This sanctification process is absolutely necessary in order to participate in and inherit the Millennial Kingdom

You and I are accountable for our own actions and fruitfulness.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 10:

24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up Love and good works,

Hopefully these latest writings have stirred you up to a greater Love and good works.

To Him Who Has Ears, Let Him Hear

July 27th, 2023

Jesus spoke in Mark chapter 4:

21 Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?

22 For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.

23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.

ParableSpeaking to:Speaking About:The ProblemTheir LossEvent PredictedOur Lesson
Matt 8:12 Sons of The KingdomRoman CenturionJewish sons of the KingdomLack of faithCast into outer darkness-weeping and gnashing of teethPreparation for the KingdomWe need to have faith
Matt 24:45-51 Faithful and wise servantDisciplesAny believer waiting for His returnDid not expect His return, mistreated servantscut him in two and appointed his portion with the hypocrites.  weeping and gnashing of teeth.The RaptureNeed to always be looking for His soon return
Matt 25:14-30 Faithful & Wise ServantsDisciples What are the signs of Your coming?His own servantsWicked servant did nothing with his talentTake talent away and cast into outer darkness-weeping and gnashing of teethThe Bema SeatNeed to be faithful with the abilities Father gives us
Matt 25:1-13 10 VirginsDisciples What are the signs of Your coming?The ChurchThey had no intimacy with The Lord, He did not know themLocked out of the wedding; the door was shut & they were left outThe Wedding CeremonyNeed to know the Lord intimately
Matt 22:1-13 Wedding GarmentPhariseesGentile believersNo Wedding garment (no fruit)Bind him- cast into outer darkness-weeping and gnashing of teethThe Marriage SupperNeed to wear the appropriate Wedding garment

The Kingdom Perspective

July 26th, 2023

We should have a Kingdom perspective in every word we speak, every decision we make, and every action we take!

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Philippians chapter 3:

12  I admit that I haven’t yet acquired the absolute fullness that I’m pursuing, but I run with passion into His abundance so that I may reach the purpose for which Christ Jesus laid hold of me to make me His own.

13 I don’t depend on my own strength to accomplish this; however I do have one compelling focus: I forget all of the past as I fasten my heart to the future instead.

14 I run straight for the Divine invitation of reaching the Heavenly goal and gaining the victory-prize through the anointing of Jesus.

15 So let all who are fully mature have this same passion, and if anyone is not yet gripped by these desires, God will reveal it to them.

16 And let us all advance together to reach this victory-prize, following one path with one passion.

Paul was not referring to salvation, for he was already saved.  He was concerned about sanctification and being perfected without spot or wrinkle.  He referred to a “victory-prize”.  What is that?  It is to rule and reign with Jesus Christ.

The “hope of our salvation” in Christ is, again, the ability to co-reign with Him in the Millennium and forever. It’s the mark of the High Calling! It’s our goal. And it’s the prize. This possibility is available to all of us, but is contingent upon our becoming faithful overcomers.

What we end up choosing and deciding here will ultimately determine our place and position in Heaven.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians chapter 1:

15  Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your Love for all the saints,

16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the Spirit of Wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the Heavenly places,

21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

Paul was praying that the Light of God will illuminate the eyes of our imagination, flooding us with light, until we experience the full revelation of the hope of His calling—that is, the wealth of FATHER’S glorious inheritances that He finds in us, His Holy ones!

Let us not lose the opportunities set before us for lost opportunities are what brings forth tears to our eyes when we are at the Bema Seat of Christ and He shows us our life here on earth.

Our spirits are saved when we are born again. Our souls are in the process of being saved through the sanctification process. And our bodies will be saved when Christ comes for us at the Rapture. These are the three different aspects of salvation. As you can see, the salvation of our spirits is very different from the salvation of our souls, which, in turn, is also different from the salvation of our bodies.

Peter wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st Peter chapter 1:

4  We are reborn (salvation) into a perfect inheritance that can never perish, never be defiled, and never diminish. It is promised and preserved forever in the Heavenly realm for you!

5 Through our faith, the mighty power of God constantly guards us until our full salvation is ready to be revealed in the last time (glorification).

6 May the thought of this cause you to jump for joy, even though lately you’ve had to put up with the grief of many trials.

7 But these only reveal the sterling core of your faith (process of sanctification), which is far more valuable than gold that perishes, for even gold is refined by fire. Your authentic faith will result in even more praise, glory, and honor when Jesus the Anointed One is revealed.

Receiving a brand-new spirit at our new birth is just the beginning of our faith. It’s called justification and it is a free “gift” from God, whereas our souls are saved on the basis of following a lifelong journey of sanctification–which allows us to be partakers of Christ’s imparted Life and thus, overcomers. This process is done in cooperation with the Divine resurrection power of God. It doesn’t happen automatically.

It’s our own responsibility to make the appropriate faith choices that allows God’s Spirit to work in and through us.

Appropriate Wedding Garments

July 25th, 2023

We should focus our current priorities that relate to the upcoming Wedding requirements, specifically acceptable Wedding attire!

The Wedding Party is going to be made up of believers who have labored to genuinely partake of Christ’s Life, become overcomers, and thus, produce the “fruit of righteousness.”  These believers are not perfect, but they will be “qualified” (axios G514) to enter that second gate.

Jesus spoke the parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew chapter 22:

14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

“ For everyone is invited to enter in, but few respond in excellence.”

The issue is not salvation, it is disqualification or lack of sanctification, required for the Wedding ceremony.

Paul wrote about disqualification when he wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1st Corinthians chapter 9:

24   Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.

25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.

27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Paul was not speaking of the free gift of justification, he was focused on sanctification where we must strive in our efforts and endure obstacles.

And in 2nd Corinthians chapter 13:

5  Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?-unless indeed you are disqualified.

6 But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified.

7  Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified.

And in Titus chapter 1:

15  To the pure all things are pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; but even their mind and conscience are defiled.

16 They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

We are to beware of teachers who teach false doctrines for their doctrines can cause us to stumble thus be disqualified.  It is our mistake to assume supposed experts of the Scripture are accurate. A PhD does not guarantee accuracy of Divine Intent.  We must rely on The Holy Spirit to guide us in all Spiritual matters.  To someone who is pure in heart, he or she can be led astray by those who are impressive due to their education and/or oratories.  The love of money is often the root of the issue.

We must rely on The Word to help us discern any teaching, including this one.

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 17:

10  Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.

11 These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they (The Bereans) received the Word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.

You and I need to be as Bereans and confirm what is being taught.  I have made the mistake of not confirming certain doctrines in the past and paid dearly for such a mistake.

If our “works” abide the testing of fire at the Bema Seat, we’ll have on the “garment of fine linen”. If our works are burned, we’ll be found to be “naked”.

Jesus spoke to John to write an Epistle to Sardis (the dead church) in Revelation chapter 3:

3  Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you.

4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.

5 He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

6 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”‘

And to the lukewarm church in Revelation 3:

14  “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:

15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.

17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked

18 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.

Get the picture?

We need the wood??

July 24th, 2023

1. Today You Will Change | John Ortberg – CHARACTER

Another Kids In Need Update

July 24th, 2023

Our support continues throughout the summer as well!

I wanted to reach out last week was to share a letter that one of our Villagers received. She partnered with this student in 5th grade and 6th grade. She kept snacks in her room for him, and he stopped in every day. He gradually began to open up more and more to her and obviously found safety and support in her room. She was able to get him a new backpack when the straps on his broke during the year, she would often send food home with him to get him through the weekend. One time he came in and said, “You are always able to help me, and there’s something else I need. I really like to take baths, but we don’t have a plug for our drain.” The simplest thing, but she was able to get a drain stopper for him to be able to take baths at home! She felt like she was doing such small things, but as you can tell, the impact she had on him was huge. I’ve attached the letters he gave her on the last day of school. 

The following are two letters students wrote to those whom we assist:

Outer Darkness

July 24th, 2023

Being rejected from the Wedding Party is associated with “darkness outside” of the various aspects of the wedding and its aftermath!

The Wedding Party is not going to be made up of believers who are religious, legalistic, or hypocritical, but believers who have labored to genuinely partake of Christ’s Life, become overcomers, and thus, produce the “fruit of righteousness.”  These believers are not perfect, but they will be “qualified” (axios G514) to enter that second gate.

To review, Jesus spoke the parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew chapter 22:

11  “But when the King came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a Wedding garment.

12 So He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a Wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.

13 Then the King said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

“ For everyone is invited to enter in, but few respond in excellence.”

The issue is not salvation, it is disqualification or lack of sanctification, required for the Wedding ceremony.

Jesus used this same term “outer darkness” in the parable of the Talents.  This parable was spoken right after the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins.  Both deal with believers who are in different places relative to sanctification.  The issue has to do with what you have done with the opportunity afforded you by FATHER.

The servants went out and gathered together all they found, both good and bad (Strong’s #4190, poneros), meaning “hurtful in influence but not in character” (it’s the same word as “wicked” in the Parable of the Talents). It means a person who lacks the qualities he should possess, that is to say, he is not worthy.

The king in the above parable tells His servants to bid all to come to the feast. All who were invited not only responded, but also came and the feast was furnished with guests.  This does not include unbelievers and the King would not address the man as “friend”.  The issue had to do with whether or not the man had an appropriate Wedding garment.  This man had not strived nor labored for good works, nor had he become an overcomer. He had not been faithful, obedient, or enduring. He had not persevered in a life of Spirit-led good works. Therefore, he was “cast out” and thrown into the “outer darkness.”

The “darkness outside” specifies the location of the darkness. It’s not general darkness, it’s the darkness outside. “Outer darkness” does not mean eternal condemnation, hell, or Hades, but simply exclusion from the realm (Strong’s #932, basillis) in which the faithful enter. In this verse, it means a region of darkness outside a region of light. It’s an area immediately outside the festivities associated to the King’s Presence.

Jesus spoke of Christians walking in darkness in Luke chapter 11:

33  “No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.

34 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness.

35 Therefore take heed that the light which is in you is not darkness.

36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light.”

Isaiah wrote by THE SPIRIT in Isaiah chapter 50:

10  “Who among you fears the LORD? Who obeys the voice of His Servant? Who walks in darkness And has no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD And rely upon his God.”

Jesus spoke in John chapter 8:

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Our lights grow brighter as we mature in Christ and become fully led by THE SPIRIT.  Our priorities shift from worldly to Spiritual, from the temporary to the long-term.  We focus on what and who is important to FATHER, not self-serving activities.

These writings are meant to encourage us to not only be invited to the Wedding ceremony,  but be fully acceptable with proper attire!

The Wedding Party

July 23rd, 2023

Being part of the Wedding Party is the deepest desire of the mature Sons and Daughters of GOD who understand!

The Wedding Party is not going to be made up of believers who are religious, legalistic or hypocritical, but believers who have labored to genuinely partake of Christ’s Life, become overcomers, and thus, produce the “fruit of righteousness.”  These believers are not perfect, but they will be “qualified” (axios G514) to enter that second gate

The word axios means: suitably, worthily, in a manner worthy of.

The Bema Seat Judgment is the gateway (or the second gate) to inheritance in the Millennial Kingdom. It’s here that we will discover if we are prepared, fit, and “worthy” of entering. Our Spirit-led works of righteousness are what will make us “worthy” of the wonderful blessings FATHER has for us there.

Jesus spoke of the Wedding Feast in Matthew chapter 22:

1  And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said:

2 “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain King who arranged a marriage for His Son,

3 and sent out His servants to call those who were invited to the Wedding; and they were not willing to come.

4 Again, He sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared My dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the Wedding.”‘

5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.

6 And the rest seized His servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.

7 But when the King heard about it, He was furious. And He sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

8 Then He said to His servants, ‘The Wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.

9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the Wedding.’ 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad (hurtful in influence but not in character) and good. And the Wedding Hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the King came in to see the guests, He saw a man there who did not have on a Wedding garment.

12 So He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a Wedding garment?’ And he was speechless.

13 Then the King said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

The word “bad” in verse 10, means a person who lacks the qualities he should possess, i.e. he is not worthy.

This parable refers to what the Kingdom from Heaven will be like (verse 2).   It was originally intended for the Jews, but because they had stopped listening to Him and stopped believing in Him, they had obviously become “unworthy” of the Kingdom message.

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 13:

10  And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?”

11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given.

12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says: ‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand, And seeing you will see and not perceive;

15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.’

16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;”

This parable in Matthew 22 explains why Jesus turned His attention to the Gentiles—those from “the highways and the byways”—and bids as many as would to come. Like Jesus, the King in this parable tells His servants to bid all to come to the feast. All who were invited not only responded, but also came and the feast was furnished with guests.

Each of us must assess our wedding garments for spot or wrinkle.