The Normal Christian Birth

"Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:3-7

The following sermon is from Min. David Pawson as he explains what it means to be born again.

Many do not understand what it means to be born again and therefore are unprepared to live the Christian life.  They have not been born again, but have simply undertaken religious rituals without understanding what they mean or what they require in order to walk them out.

I believe that this series will be a tremendous blessing for many.  Please take some quiet time to listen and study regarding what has been said; it is worth it.  May God give us ears to hear His word.

What is the New Birth?

• The new birth is not instantaneous, but is a process.
• How you begin your spiritual life impacts how you live your spiritual life
• Many are leading others to Christ with religious euphemisms instead of biblical truths
• The Bible indicates four steps necessary to be born again:
• Repent
• Believe
• Be Baptized in Water
• Receive the Holy Spirit
• All four steps are acts of men (constituting conversion), but they are also acts of God (constituting regeneration).  At every stage, man is doing something and God is doing something; it is a beautiful cooperation.
• These four steps are also referenced in Hebrews 6:1-3 as principles of the doctrine of Christ.
• Being born again and being converted are not the same thing.  Conversion is a human act of turning ourselves around or making a u-turn, and it happens as we go through the four steps of being born again.  
• There is a movement in terms of responsibility for being born again, which is more man-focused for the first two steps and God-focused for the last two.  As you are born again, there is less & less of you and more & more of God.
• We should be far more concerned with getting Christians alive, and not just born again.  Being born again is just the beginning of life.
• The essence of the new birth is the ending of your old life and the beginning of your new life.

Repentance

• God shouldn't have to tell Christians to repent; the Church should be telling the world to repent instead.
• Repentance is not regret or remorse
• Regret - Being sorry for what you have done to yourself.
• Remorse - Being sorry for what you have done to others.
• Repentance - Being sorry for what you have done to God
• You cannot repent for sin in general.  You must repent for specific sins.  When true repentance occurs, it happens on 3 levels:
• Thought - Changing your mind about particular things and think God's way about them
• Words - Confess (enumerate specific sins) & renounce (say before God that you are finished with it and will not go back) your sins
• Deeds - There must be fruit worthy of repentance.
• We need to repent for the good and bad things we have done.
• Many Christians would rather have "inner healing" rather than forgiveness, because forgiveness demands repentance. We are not the result of what has been done to us. We are the result of what we have done about what has been done to us.  It is the choices of reaction we have made which makes us who we are.
• Repentance in the new birth is analogous to cutting off and tying the umbilical cord in the physical birth.  It is cutting off that which ties you to Satan's kingdom and tying it off so that you are free from its contamination.  It is no longer the source of your life.
• To help someone repent, you must help them do three things:
• Be Serious - The fear of the Lord must be present, by understanding that apart from the Lord, they will perish.
• Be Specific - Confess and name specific sins
• Be Sensible - Don't let feelings get out of order.  Psychological guilt is not moral guilt, and it is only moral guilt that Jesus cures.  

Believe

• There is a difference between believing "that" someone exists versus believing "in" someone.
• You cannot know that a person believes "in" you until they have done something that shows they trust you and taken a risk that they will let you down.
• Faith is historical, based upon facts and not feelings.  Jesus died, He was buried, and He was raised from the dead. Even Satan has this type of faith.
• Faith in "faith" is not enough.  It doesn't matter if you believe in some thing, but you must believe in the right thing.
• Faith is personal.  It is trusting in a person and obeying that person.
• Faith is verbal.  We must believe in our heart and confess with our mouth.  We can talk to and about Jesus.
• Faith is practical.  It is not just hat you think and say, it is what you do.  The only faith the New Testament recognizes is faith that acts.  It is not just accepting the truth of God's word.
• Faith is continual.  It is not those who start in faith who are saved, but those who finish in faith. It is not a moment of faith, but a lifetime of faith which saves.  The word for faith is the same as faithfulness.
• As you go on trusting the Lord, you will go on being saved.

Be Baptized in Water

• In the Old Testament, the priests were consecrated by being washed in water and anointed with oil.  In the New Testament, all saints are priests, so we are also to be washed in water and are anointed by the Holy Spirit (who is represented by oil).
• There is also the possibility that a gentile who wanted to become part of Israel was circumcised and baptized.
• John baptized people into repentance.  The people had to already be in repentance before they were baptized.
• The baptism in water was bring to a completion the repentance which was already being wrought in the individual.
• Jesus and a number of His disciples did not baptize because the focus is not to be on the baptizer, but the act.
• There was no such thing in the early Church as an unbaptized believer.
• To baptize means to dunk, plunge, immerse, or soak.  You cannot sprinkle water on a person to baptize.
• Baptism has a double meaning.  It is a bath, but it is also a burial; a bath for those who are dirty and a burial for those who are dead.
• Baptism is not a symbol, but an event.
• Baptism by water is how a person is born again out of water (John 3:5).
• Baptism is for the forgiveness of sins.
• Baptism saves you by appealing to God for a good conscience (I Peter 3:21).
• Once you have been buried with Christ in baptism, sin has no more dominion over you (Romans 6). You are effectively delivered from the territory of Satan.
• It is not enough to say Jesus was crucified for me, but we must be crucified with Him.  It is not enough to say that Jesus was buried for me, but we must be buried with Him.  It is not enough to say that Jesus was resurrected for me, but we must be resurrected with Him.
• Infant baptism is not consistent with biblical instruction.
• Baptism does not by itself save a person, which is a concept called baptismal regeneration.

Receive the Holy Spirit

• There is a difference between Greek and Hebrew thinking because the Greek could not relate the physical and the spiritual.  This is why many in the West cannot tie the physical act of baptism can have a spiritual effect.
• In all but two instances, the Holy Spirit is imparted by the laying on of hands.  
• Every Christian needs two baptisms.
• Water baptism deals with burying the past, leaving you clean and empty.  Jesus said that staying in this state is dangerous (Matthew 12:43-45).
• Receiving the Holy Spirit is not the same thing a believing.
• There is no instance in Scripture of someone receiving the Holy Spirit and not knowing it.
• Receiving the Holy Spirit is the evidence and seal of your acceptance by God.
• The reception of the Spirit is always accompanied with outward evidence.
• When a person is filled with the Holy Spirit, there will be an overflow of spontaneous spiritual speech. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45).

Saved at Last

• People sought the gift of the Holy Spirit in order to receive Him.
• Sometimes people don't receive the Holy Spirit because they have not fully repented, they may not have acted in faith towards the Lord, they may not have been baptized.
• The teaching that the supernatural gifts are not for today is false.
• The Holy Spirit releases inhibited emotions.
• Many evangelicals know the Holy Scriptures better than they know the Holy Spirit.
• Many people are being told they have been born again, when they have not.
• There are different views in the Church on what it means to be saved:
• Safe from Hell - This is the most common understanding, but it does not come from the New Testament.  Such persons perceive salvation as fire insurance from Hell.  
• Salvaged from Sin - Jesus came to not only pay for penalty of sin, but to take away sin.  Jesus did not come to save us from Hell; He came to save us from our sins.
• Saved to Sanctity - We are saved to life a holy life.  
• Saved for Service - We are saved to live a life which can be used by God to reflect Him to and in the world.
• There is no one who is "saved"; we are all being saved.  Salvation is a process.
• The real Gospel is concerned with getting people across a line; from non-believer to believer; from not saved to saved, etc.  It is the difference merely seeking converts vs seeking disciples (as Jesus called us to do).

• The Safe Gospel Seeking Decisions for Christ	The Salvaged Gospel Seeking Disciples for Christ
  Content with Justification	Justification is the means to Sanctification
  Jesus is Savior	Jesus is Savior & Lord
  All you have to do is believe	You must be born again
  Only interested in the minimum needed to escape Hell	Wants everything God can give them too live right

  
  
• You must decide what type of Gospel you want.  The Gospel of man which proposes to save you from Hell or the Gospel of Jesus Christ which saves you from your sins?
• God only justifies us so that He can sanctify us, so that we may be holy.
• In every instance of the Lord keeping us in Scripture, there is a complementary verse for us to keep ourselves.

It's the Same Son

During my doctor's visit on Saturday, the Lord gave me the topic for this article and told me what the title should be.  When I got home, I started writing it.  However, there was one Scripture He wanted me to include, and I told Him that I wasn't sure how to tie that all together.

Since I had some questions, I stopped writing it until I received the answer.  Then in church the next day, a video was shown that answered every question (I have included that below).  It is so wonderful to me how the Father is a personal God.  He knows and hears every petition of our hearts.

Okay, so I have an easy science question for you. Let's say you set some ice cubes out before a hot sun. What is going to happen?  The cubes are going to melt.

Now let's place some clay pots before that same sun.  What will happen?  The clay will get harder. See, I told you this was easy. :-)

Is it the sun which causes the ice to melt?  Yes.

Is it the sun which causes the clay to harden?  Yes.

So how can the same sun cause such different reactions? The difference is due to the varying make-up of the objects in the sun.  It is the same with God.  Some people can be exposed to God and their hearts will melt; others can be exposed to God, and the hearts become harder.  It is the same God who causes the result, but the difference is based upon the condition of the object.

Examine this in Scripture in God's dealings with Pharaoh before the exodus of Israel.

"And the LORD said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in thine hand: but I will harden his heart, that he shall not let the people go." Exodus 4:21 

"And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt." Exodus 7:3 

"And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I am the LORD. And they did so." Exodus 14:4

Some, who don't believe in man's free will, may say,"See, it is GOD who hardened Pharaoh's heart." And this is true.  But the question is, "How did God do this?"  He did it by revealing Himself to Pharaoh.  There was a causative connection between the "signs & wonders" wrought by God through Moses and the hardening of Pharaoh's heart.

Every time God showed His power to Egypt as He prepared to deliver Israel, Pharaoh became more and more resolute.  He became increasingly more set in his ways against God.  Yes, it was God who hardened Pharaoh's heart, but it was because he was already set to pursue his own way and rebel against God. Therefore, Pharaoh's heart became harder each time he was exposed to God.

This is an important lesson for us to understand. It is not possible for us to be exposed to God and stay the same.  Each time you are exposed to God's presence, His power, His word, etc., something is happening to you.  You are either becoming better or worse.  You are either undone, becoming pliable in His hands, or becoming more stoic and stiff-necked against Him.

"And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." Matthew 21:44

It is the same Son who brings about both results in the illustration above.  The stone which breaks is the same stone which grinds to powder.  There is both goodness and severity in God based upon how we respond to Him (Romans 11:22).  If receiving the truth sets you free, then rejecting that truth merely fortifies your captivity (John 8:2; II Thessalonians 2:11-12).

People often say, "I will come to God later on.  I have some living I want to do, some things I want to accomplish, some oats I need to sow, then I will give my life to the Lord."  Yet there is a critical point that people often do not know about God. There may be a point in time when you decide to come to the Lord and you will be unable to because your heart has become so defiled through rebellion.  It is not a matter of you just deciding one day to get saved; with every exposure from the Lord that you do not heed, you are being changed spiritually for the worse.  It is possible to play with God so long that you eventually find "no place" for repentance.

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled; Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." Hebrews 12:14-17

Esau eventually wanted to claim the blessing he had forsaken, but he could not obtain it because he could not repent.

This is a terrifying thought. People like to think of God as always being present and available when they decide to come to Him. This is just not true.  We must seek the Lord while He may be found (Isaiah 55:6).  Do not just assume that the opportunity will be there when you are good and ready. Don't fall for the world's presentation of an unoffended Jesus who is holding up eternity waiting upon you.

"(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" II Corinthians 6:2

Additional Resources:
Repent and Believe
Jesus is NOT a Friend to Sinners

God Wants to Save You

God wants to save you, but you must make a choice: an eternity with Him or an eternity without Him.

The Lord doesn't force you to choose. He leaves it up to you.

He also doesn't hide anything from you; He openly tells you the result of each choice.

• An Eternity with the Lord - An abundance of life (Matthew 25:46; John 10:10; I John 2:25). No more death and no more tears (Isaiah 25:8).  There is a specific place prepared for you akin to a mansion (John 14:2).  You will be clothed in righteousness and covered by the presence of the Lord, to worship Him night and day (Revelation 7:13-15).  You will never be hungry or thirsty again and Jesus will comfort your every concern (Revelation 7:16-17).  There will be no mourning, crying, or pain anymore and you will receive all that is in the Kingdom of God as your inheritance (Matthew 25:34; I Peter 1:4; Revelation 21:4-7).  Priceless riches permeate the city, made of pure gold and precious stones (Revelation 21:18-21).  There is no concept of aging and you will enjoy the fruits of your own labor, for every work you perform will be productive (Isaiah 65:19-23).  There will be no more curses, no more night time at all, and no need for any light outside of the light that comes from Jesus; you will reign with God in the Kingdom (Isaiah 60:19-20; Revelation 3:21; Revelation 21:22-25; Revelation 22:3-6). You will have fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11).
• An Eternity without the Lord - Everlasting fire, everlasting contempt, everlasting punishment, and everlasting destruction (Daniel 12:2; Matthew 25:41-46; I Thessalonians 1:9). Eternal fire where the worm never dies (Mark 9:44-49; Jude 1:7).  A resurrection unto damnation (John 5:29). Eternal torment in a lake of fire and brimstone causing weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:42-50; Luke 16:22-24; Revelation 14:10-11; Revelation 21:8).

Just consider these options at face value.  No one in their right mind would choose an eternity of torment in Hell fire over an eternity of joy, peace, and love. Yet people do every single hour of every day. Why? Because they have fallen for the okey-doke.

Satan knows that he is destined for eternal damnation and there is nothing he can do to change that. All he can do is try to delay this reality (which would never happen because God goes by His own timing) and take as many down with him as he can.

Have you ever seen a bunch of crabs in a pot? The ones at the bottom will claw at the ones on top to drag them down just to be sure that they do not escape the demise they face. That is the mentality of the devil.

Yet here is the kicker; Hell wasn't even made for you! God's plan for mankind was to enjoy the blessings of eternal life.  Hell was designed for Satan and his angels.

"Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels." Matthew 25:41

So how does he do it?  How does Satan get multitudes of people to choose an eternity in Hell over an eternity with the Lord?  Here is the trick Satan has played.  He gets people to focus on the here and now so that they will never perceive nor enter into the reality of life after this world.

Satan knows that people aren't going to openly choose the destiny he faces, so He leads people into making this decision by default. They don't have to directly choose this fate; all they have to do is neglect the things of eternity.

"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation..." Hebrews 2:3a

God openly manifests the truth and gives you a choice.  Satan has to blind you to the truth and use slight of hand to get you to choose this world...not only because that is his character, but because no one would make such a choice otherwise.

Satan works overtime to make 50, 60, 100 years in this life feel more real than eternity by erecting a type of Fantasy Island. He beckons you with smoke and mirrors, making things appear to be what they are not.

Remember, Satan is the god of this world (II Corinthians 4:4).  The systems he puts in place (judicial, economic, educational, media, political, etc.) all work to keep you captivated with, and enslaved to, life in this world.

captivate: to capture and hold prisoner the attention of another by being interesting, pretty, etc.; to dominate by some special charm, art, or trait and with an irresistible appeal; owned or controlled by another concern and operated for its needs,
while giving the appearance of independence.

"And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." II Timothy 2:26

Take for example the recent "Celebrate Pride" image released by Facebook, where members could place a rainbow overlay on their profile pictures in order to show support for sexual perversion. It has been rumored that this was simply another Facebook social experiment as they test whether they can influence and incite human behavior.

Whether or not such is true, it worked. Many people changed their profile with this image. Yet consider this, in response, many professing Christians also changed their profile pic to show a cross overlay supporting Christianity. In either case, Satan succeeded.

Look, Satan doesn't care how you react to him, he just wants you to respond. It is like a child, give me positive or negative reinforcement, but just give me a reaction.  Some might say, "But I did this for the Lord!"  Regardless of your motives, it was done in response to the devil.

We should never react to the devil, rather we should always be on the offensive against him as directed by the Lord. Satan doesn't care what religious activity you pursue, he just wants to be the one to inspire you instead of the Lord. Don't you know that Satan will inspire you to perform even seemingly good deeds?

inspire: to make someone want to do something supernaturally; to give them an idea about what to do or create; to affect, motivate, or spur on; to spread by indirect means or through the agency of another

What the devil accomplished in this instance was simply the equivalent of getting two people in a room shouting at each other. Nothing about it destroyed or damaged his kingdom, but it makes you feel like you are doing something.  The devil is getting you to fight a war with blanks; no ammo, no power. Such is the danger of religious works.

Satan's deception is a brilliant plan really, because it even works on those persons who would deem to try and seek Christ! Go to church. sing in the choir, give food to the hungry, read your Bible, just focus your attention on earthly things. As a result, you get "churches" whose focus is bringing about civil rights and equality for the disenfranchised.  You get churches preaching how you can be rich and have your best life now.  You get Christians who have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof (II Timothy 3:5).  All under the guise of serving the Lord. If you are listening to a preacher who focuses on events in this world or your life in it, then know for sure that you are listening to a minister of Babylon.

So then, you see that the answer to escaping Satan's plan is to drop out of this world.  Don't focus on this present, evil world and don't even respond to it.  Set your mind on eternity.

"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Colossians 3:2

It is only as we bring the power of eternity to bear upon this temporal world that we are destroying the works of Satan. How do we do that? Like Jesus did.

"But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you." Matthew 12:28

The Kingdom of God is not of this world, but it is eternal (John 18:36; II Peter 1:11).  When we walk in the powers of the world to come, we are bringing the eternal power of the living God into manifestation to those in the world (Hebrews 6:4-5). This is the one thing which frightens Satan, and this is the only thing which destroys his works: you filling up with the power of the Holy Spirit to be a living witness for Christ.

The Scriptures do not say in vain that signs will follow those who believe such as casting out devils, speaking in tongues, healing the sick, etc. (Mark 16:17-18).  So I ask you, where are your signs? Don't neglect eternity trying to focus on some temporal war in the earth, for no man who wars gets caught up in the things of this life, if you have any hope of pleasing the Lord who has called you to be a soldier in His Army (II Timothy 2:4).

"And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." Mark 16:20

Additional Resources
The Matrix
Getting Out of the Matrix
The Magicians of the Matrix
Life Outside of the Matrix
The Religious Matrix

The Five Covenants of God

The following sermons are from Min. David Pawson as he address the five biblical covenants.

The God of the Bible is a covenant-making and a covenant-keeping God.

But what is a covenant and how does it differ from a contract?

How many covenants has God made with humans? How many of these apply to Christians today?

These are crucial questions for the interpretation and application of Scripture. The Bible is divided into two testaments, another word for covenants. Does this mean the Old Testament is only of historical interest to disciples of Jesus ? What about the Ten Commandments? – and the other six hundred and three given to Moses?

Some of the major differences in the Church go back to the different answers given to these questions. For example, whether baptism should be of babies or believers, whether priests, altars, vestments and incense should be used in worship, whether re-marriage is permissable after divorce and whether we should work a six day week.

By His covenants of grace, the Lord has bound Himself to us and bound us to Himself. That is the heart of Biblical revelation and Godly living.

• There is a word which is the key to understanding the Bible and unlocks the whole book: covenant.
• A covenant is a binding agreement between two parties with mutual obligations based upon promised commitments.
• There is a huge difference between a covenant and a contract.
• A contract is an agreement that is bilateral; "I'll do this if you do that."  Each person has something that the other needs, so you negotiate on the terms of the exchange.
• In a contract, if one side breaks it, then the other side is free from the terms of the contract.
• A covenant is unilateral, because the two parties are not on equal footing.  The stronger party determines the terms and the other party can only accept or reject the covenant (they cannot change the terms).  Covenants can be conditional or unconditional. 
• Marriage is a covenant.  The man is the leader of the covenant, which is why men are the ones to propose (Proverbs 18:22).
• A will is a "last will & testament (meaning covenant)".  You are the stronger party and determine the terms for who shall receive your property.  Others can only accept or reject it.
• Our God is a covenant-making God.  The Bible is the story of the covenants which He has voluntarily made to us.  Through such, He has obligated Himself to provide for, bless, and marry us.
• God makes and keeps covenants.  Each covenant is for a particular people, purpose and period.








Additional Resources:

Biblical Covenants and the Christian

For THERE the Lord Commanded the Blessing

Salvation is the Result of Covenant

Was the Abrahamic Covenant Unconditional?

Covenant Responsibilities

God's "Unconditional" Love

But They Could Not Show Their Father's Seed

To Whom Do You Belong?


"Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever." I Peter 1:23 

In the book of Ezra, God begins to gather His people who had been captured and taken away into bondage in Babylon.  The story of God's deliverance of His people here is amazing.  It starts with the Lord moving upon the heart of the Persian King Cyrus to declare God as Lord and calling for God's people to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple.  All that had been stolen from the temple of God and given unto idols, Cyrus collected so that they could be returned to the house of the Lord.

Israel had grown to substantial numbers in captivity.  Not all Israelites chose to return to Jerusalem because their spirits would not be stirred by God (Ezra 1:5; Luke 13:34).  However, of those who were stirred, they came forth as priests, singers, porters, servants...their lineage was made clear so that they could show evidence of a rightful inheritance to possess the land.  Yet, there were some who could not produce this evidence.

"And these were they which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, and their seed, whether they were of Israel: the children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred fifty and two. And of the children of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai; which took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name: these sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood." Ezra 2:59-62

polluted: Hebrew word ga'al; to be to defiled, polluted, desecrated

Why had these people lost their identity? They were children of those who married into the family of Barzillai and had chosen to be called by their name.  This is critical because your identity comes from your father.  It is why the wife takes on the name of her husband, and the children as well.  It reflects the fact that you belong to him and are under his authority, sharing in his inheritance.  This is true even in the world.  In order for a person to claim a right to the inheritance from another, they must prove their relationship with that person.  So it is with God; just consider how much time God spends in the Scriptures detailing genealogies. Yet, these men took upon themselves the name of their wives and therefore, they nor their children had such evidence.

Now here is the kicker; Barzillai was not an evil man (II Samuel 17:27-29, 19:31-40; I Kings 2:7).  He was a great nobleman who served as a benefactor to King David.  Yet these Israelites esteemed it better to bear affiliation with this great household than with the household of God. They disregarded their lineage - and the burdens of being a part of a captive people - preferring to be identified with the world along with its comforts & riches.  They may have gained the acclaim of the world in doing so, but in return they had forfeited their standing before the Lord (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36).

This is no small thing to God (Genesis 25:31-34; Philippians 3:18-19; Malachi 1:3; Romans 9:13).

"Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.  For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears." Hebrews 2:16-17

The issue was not that these families had never been part of God's people at one time. The issue was that - when called upon to do so - they could not authenticate their relationship with Israel.  There was no longer evidence of their father's seed amongst them, and as a result, they were considered polluted and denied their inheritance.

As I read Ezra yesterday morning, I could not help but think of the current state of the Church.  For year's God's people have been lost and displaced, enslaved in Babylon through idolatry.  In these last days, God is calling His people to return to Him and to come out of Babylon (Revelation 18:4).  Separate from Babylon and sanctify yourselves unto the Lord so that He may rebuild within you the temple of His Holy Spirit, allowing you to be a witness for Him (Romans 8:14; I Corinthians 3:16).

"Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." I John 3:9

Even amongst those who have been born again, some will not heed the call to come out of Babylon, just as in Ezra's day.  They will not allow their hearts to be stirred by God because they have become too enamored with the world (Proverbs 26:11; Matthew 24:12-13; II Peter 2:20-22).  Yet, of those who do respond to God's call, how many will no longer be able to show that they belong to the Father?  How many consider themselves to be one of God's people, but have since left their first love (Revelation 2:4)?  How many say all of the right things, but their hearts have strayed far from Him?

"That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."  Ephesians 1:12-14

The evidence that we belong to God is that we have the seal of the Holy Spirit; yet, God's Spirit can be grieved and offended.  We cannot simply live how we choose and do what we choose, believing that God still receives us.  We must not be like the foolish virgins who heard the call to come wait upon the Bridegroom, but whose oil ran dry (Matthew 25:1-13).  Just as He did back then, God is maintaining a record of those who belong to Him (Revelation 20:12-15).  The Lord knows those who are His.

The Bride of Christ is preparing herself even now for Jesus' return (Revelation 19:7).  Be sure to make yourself ready so that you do not hear the words, "I know you not".

Put Me In My Place

As I prayed the other morning, I said, "I don't care what anyone else is doing or not doing.  It doesn't matter.  Lord, put me in my place."

As soon as those last words were out of my mouth, I thought, "Where did that come from?".  I then began to contemplate what that could mean.

"Our Place in Relation to God"

To the world, somebody being "put in their place" references a person being knocked down a peg or two after being perceived to be too lofty.  Certainly God also warns us against thinking too highly of ourselves.

"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." Romans 12:3

One common way in which people think more highly of themselves is to disregard God's ways in favor of their own understanding (Isaiah 55:9; Proverbs 3:5).  When you see someone who justifies disobedience to God's word, then you are looking at the fruit of pride.

Being high-minded may also cause you to become impatient with God, taking matters into your own hands and creating an Ishmael instead of waiting for God's promises to be revealed.  God had promised Abram that He would provide him a son.  Yet not waiting for God to bring this to pass, Sarai had Abram conceive a son through her handmaid Haggar (Genesis 16:1- 18:15).  Yet, Ishmael was not the son God promised.  From then to this day, the family feud which resulted continues to plague God's people.

At times, God may need to remind us that He alone is God and He alone knows what is best for us. Gd is not looking for man's ability, but is looking for vessels through which He can do even the impossible.  Just as we should not think too highly of ourselves, we should also not think too lowly.

Being "in my place" means that I am a redeemed child of the Most High God and a member of the Body of Christ.  It means I should be able to speak to a mountain and by faith have it moved and cast into the sea (Matthew 21:21).  It means I have been given authority over all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19).  It means that the power of God is available to flow through me, casting out devils, healing the sick, and showing forth miraculous signs and wonders to confirm His word (Mark 16:17-18).

Yes Lord, put me in my place.

"Our Place in Relation to Each Other"

"For the body is not one member, but many...But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him." I Corinthians 12:14, 18

There is also a "place" we are to have in relation to each other.  There is a place for men, a place for women, and a place for children (I Corinthians 11:3; Titus 2:2-8; Ephesians 6:1; Colossians 3:20).

There is a place for each individual member of the Body of Christ (Romans 12:5) and even a place for church leadership (Hebrews 13:7, 17).  Why?  Because God's people are also a family...His family.  For there to be a "place" for each of us means that there must be an order which God has established.  We see this order in creation, in the family, and in the church.

"God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land." Psalm 68:6

A family is not a solitary unit.  In God's family - in fellowship with other like-minded believers - we find freedom from demonic hindrances. Only those who are rebellious prefer to stay on their own, with no living water to satisfy the soul.  Such is not the place God would have for us.

As members of the Body of Christ, we are called into communion with each other, in service and care towards one another (Galatians 5:13; I Corinthians 12:25).  We are endowed by God with spiritual gifts to unify, edify, strengthen, comfort, perfect, and when necessary, even rebuke each other (Romans 12:6-8; I Corinthians 12:4-31; I Corinthians 14:3-31; Galatians 6:1-2; Hebrews 10:24-25). As each living stone is set in place, we create a spiritual house for God to inhabit, becoming visible representations of the wisdom & power of God (I Peter 2:5; Ephesians 2:20-22; 3:10-11).

Yes Lord, put me in my place.

"Our Place In this World"

"For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring." Act 17:28

Being "in our place" also brings the comfort of knowing that there is a specific place for each of us, here and now.  The Lord God who created the universe - in doing so - carved out a special place just for you. This is not merely a place where we exist, but where we fulfill what we were created to be.

We don't have to wander aimlessly or wonder endlessly, searching to find where we belong or what we are to do with our lives.  The meaning for our lives is revealed to us in Christ.  Before we were even conceived, God had the plan for us (Jeremiah 1:5).

Even though God has designed a place in this world for us, He is clear that this world is not our home (Hebrews 13:14).  This is not a "best life now" scenario, but it is a still place where every need is promised to be met (Philippians 4:19).  In fact, Jesus told us that those in Him would not fit into this world at all and would be persecuted as outcasts (John 15:19), while still being overcomers through it all (I John 5:5).

Just think about it.  The One who created you and who knows you better than anyone else has designed the optimal life for you...but how many ever receive it?  How many people waste their God-given potential and talents daily - never finding peace, joy, or purpose - because they never find who they are in Christ? Instead, they waste their entire living seeking the approval of man. 

I do not want to live one day coming short of all that God has for me.

Yes Lord, put me in my place.

"Our Place in Eternity"

"In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." John 14:2

Being "in our place" also means having a place of eternal rest set aside for us by Christ. It is the assurance that - although this life is temporal- we have the gift of eternal life in Him.

When this life is over, we do not mourn as they who have no hope because we know that we shall be with Him.  We will see him face-to-face and forever be with Him in glory.

Yet this is the kicker.  If we do not have our eye single on eternity now, we will never find "our place" in relation to God, in relation to others, in this world, or after this life.  In fact, not having our mind set on eternity will leave us distinctly out of place and altogether lost.

We are to have a certain "looking for a city whose maker is God" such as propelled Abraham to endure in the faith (Hebrews 11:8-10).  Not focusing on the cares or allures of this life, but counting it all dung as we look for and hasting to the coming day of the Lord (II Peter 3:11-12; Philippians 3:8).  This will only happen as we see ourselves in the eternal place God has for us.

"And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:6

As has been said before, "Heaven is a prepared place for a prepared people."  Now is the time to prepare for now is the day of salvation.

Yes Lord, put me in my place.

A Place of Order, and Thereby Rest

Don't get distracted by what is going on around you, no matter how chaotic. 

Some people get offended at the thought that there is a "place" they are supposed to be.  Yet God has a place for every person who gives their lives to Him.

May we each strive to enter and abide in that place of rest in God which He has designed especially for us.

Yes Lord, put me in my place.

Becoming What We Know

Immersion in the Mikveh

Most of us have heard enough of the word of God to understand what it means to be saved.  While many are full of the letter, too many have yet to become living epistles written by the Holy Spirit and read of all men (II Corinthians 3:2-3). We have learned enough to spot what is wrong, but few have been spiritually empowered to impact what is wrong.  It is not enough for us to simply know what is right; we must be transformed to "become" what we "know" in order to reach others. 

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you." II Corinthians 4:7-12

We do realize that this is the goal, right?  God is not after us just having a bunch of head knowledge and serving as fruit-checkers examining the lives of others, but for us to actually have our lives poured out to be the hands and feet of Christ in the earth so that others may be saved. 

Can we honestly look at our lives and see anyone who has been impacted by our zeal for Christ?  Has anyone been set free from darkness through our witness for Him?  If so, then praise God!  If not, then even our vast knowledge is dead, because every living thing produces after its own kind.  At this late hour we cannot afford to be a sounding gong with no real Godly power.  You can only talk about what is wrong for so long before wondering whether you have been made an instrument of God's deliverance, for that is what counts.

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  " James 1:22

There are many learned hearers in the churchworld, but in this late hour the world needs deliverers. The word "hearer" above means to understand, perceive, consider; to learn or give ear to a teaching.  On the other hand, the word "doer" means one who produces, bears forth, or performs; one who obeys and fulfills the law.

If we have not been changed from hearers to doers, then this is a cause for great alarm.  How does one go from being a mere hearer of the word to being a doer of the word? Immersion in the mikveh.

The mikveh is a ceremonial & ritual cleansing similar to a baptism, representing separation from a former way of life unto a new one.  We have spoken about this before in terms of it being a requirement for a betrothed woman.   The mikveh is part of how the bride prepares herself and makes herself ready for the bridegroom's return.

"Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready." Revelation 19:20

As believers in Christ Jesus, we also must go through a mikveh by immersing ourselves in God's word.  As we do, we will be cleansed and made new into the image of Christ in preparation for Jesus' return.

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." Ephesians 5:25-27

The word for this "washing" is loutron which comes from a word meaning: to bathe a dead person or a washing to cleanse blood out of a wound.  This is the same word used in the following text:

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost." Titus 3:5

There is a specific washing each member of the Body of Christ must undergo which cleanses, sanctifies, and regenerates us.  An earlier article highlights a video outlining how Satan sought to contaminate the genetic make-up of the human race so that God's promised seed of the woman would never come to pass (Genesis 3:15).

The fall of man in the Garden of Eden caused man to become spiritually dead and in need of a blood cleansing.  This is why Jesus came; to make us spiritually alive again and cleanse us by His own blood so that we may be reconciled to the Father. Faith in this sacrifice is the means by which we are regenerated, or born again (Romans 3:25).

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." I John 1:7

The blood of Jesus was not just offered to the Father as a sacrifice after His resurrection, but Jesus' blood must also be tangibly applied to us now (Hebrews 9:21; Hebrews 12:24; I Peter 1:2).  How is Jesus' blood applied to our souls for this cleansing?  By the word of God.

When delivering the Israelites from Egypt, God told the Israelites to apply the blood of the lamb to the lintels of their doorposts by hyssop (Exodus 12:22).  When Moses established the law of the covenant with Israel, he sprinkled the tabernacle, the vessels, and the people with blood by hyssop (Exodus 24; Hebrews 9:19).  In the New Testament, God also applies the blood of Jesus to us with hyssop.  How? By the word of God.  As we immerse ourselves in God's word, it is acting as hyssop, sprinkling our souls with Jesus' blood and changing us to be like Him.

"Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Psalm 51:7

Hyssop was often used in the Old Testament as a purging agent.  It is also believed to have properties that will repair, reprogram, and restore the human genetic code (DNA). As we meditate on God's word, it is literally painting our souls with the blood of Jesus and thereby changing us into a new creature (II Corinthians 3:18; II Corinthians 5:17; James 1:23-25; Galatians 6:15).  We are being normalized and restored to the creation that God first established with Adam and Eve before the fall.

When the Israelites used hyssop to apply the blood to their doorposts, they were protected only if that stayed within that border (Exodus 12:22-27).  Yes, they were God's people.  Yes, He had protected them by the sprinkling of the blood of the lamb.  Yes, He had promised to deliver them.  However, if they moved beyond the boundaries marked by that blood, then they too would suffer judgment along with the Egyptians.  They would be destroyed.

The same is true for us.  As soon as we transgress and go beyond the boundaries of the word of God, we place ourselves outside of the protections God has given us; outside of the sprinkling of His cleansing blood.  In doing so, we not only become one with the world, we will be judged as the world.  As the Apostle James says, we are changed into a doer of the word only as we continue in the word (James 1:23-25).  If we leave the word and go off our own way, we deceive ourselves.

So why is it then, that some people immerse themselves in the word of God and are transformed into the image of Christ while others immerse themselves and are not?  Consider what the Jewish Virtual Library has to say about the mikveh:

It is emphasized that the purpose of immersion is not physical, but spiritual cleanliness...Now 'uncleanness' is not mud or filth which water can remove, but is a matter of scriptural decree and dependent on the intention of the heart. Therefore the Sages have said, 'If a man immerses himself, but without special intention, it is as though he has not immersed himself at all.'

It comes down to a condition of the heart.  If you receive God's word without a heart of repentance, then you will be filled with head knowledge, but remain unclean.  It will be as if you were never washed at all.  Conversion is impossible without repentance (Acts 3:19).  The word of God must fall on good soil if it is to produce fruit (Matthew 13:23).  If we are not bearing Godly fruit, then it is because our hearts are not right.  We will not continue in the word, but will stray beyond the word, becoming merely puffed-up hearers with a religion that is in vain.

How do we become what we know?  With a heart of repentance, stay in the word of God and let His power do the work. As we immerse ourselves in the mikveh - letting the washing of the water of the word by the power of the Spirit cleanse, sanctify, and regenerate us - we will find ourselves becoming more like Christ.   It is not an outside work, but an internal one.  It is not about what you do for Christ, but what He does in you.  We will not just know about Jesus, but we will become a reflection of who He is.  It is Christ living in us which is the hope of glory...for ourselves and for others.

Lord, Please Keep Me

I have had occasion to witness a young woman who had come to know the Lord in recent years go off head first into a strong delusion.  This woman has not overtly turned away from God.  Instead, like many people, she has simply turned to religion.  It has been amazing and yet terrifying to see.

You try to talk about basic Bible truths with her, and the response is honestly just incoherent.  There are lots of religious sounding phrases, but an inability to deal with or acknowledge the simple truths of God.  The Scripture uses the phrase "great swelling" words, which is the Greek word hyperogkos meaning overswollen.

The words are "great" because they sound really impressive and holy, but they are "swelling" because they have no substance. Just as a balloon fills up and swells with air, the words are puffed up.  As a result of having been infected by the wrong spirit, the person's mannerisms and speech have become affected.  In general, it is evidence of one who has been filled with head knowledge, yet not been transformed in heart to become what they have learned (II Timothy 3:6).  Such is a deadly combination.

"Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth." I Corinthians 8:1

I am sure you have probably had similar discussions:

Statement: "You know, the Bible says that we must flee fornication and all sexual immorality."

Response: "I'm blessed & highly favored, praise God!  God is moving and advancing His Kingdom!"

Statement:  "But God wants to purge us from all uncleanness.  He says here that we must repent and turn away from sin.

Response: "Hallehujah!  God has me! The gifts of God are without repentance!"

Now my example may be an exaggeration (though not by much), but the point is that people's minds are going deep into insanity in religion and only the Lord Jesus can bring them back.  Such persons can never address the Scriptures, instead they simply espouse religious jargon as if such renders Scripture invalid.  And for the record, let me just state that "the gifts of the Lord being without repentance" is not a cover for disobedience.

The religious arena is not just a nice place people go to find God.  It is a snare set up by Satan to keep people from God and yoked to the personalities of men.  Again, I say, this is terrifying!

As I considered this young woman's conversation, I was filled with sorrow for her condition.  At the same time, I was also immediately humbled and overwhelmed with thankfulness to God for keeping me...and I prayed diligently that He would continue to keep me. 

You see, it is nothing in and of ourselves which has allowed us to have a sound mind.  It is truly the mercies of God (II Timothy 1:7).  If you have the ability to understand, receive, walk in, and be changed by God's word, then that is supernatural!  Without the intervening, transformative power of God in your life, you would be lost; even while sitting in Church with a Bible singing hymns.

"But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." I Corinthians 4:19-20

The power of God is not just for outward show.  Even "workers of iniquity" can perform mighty signs and wondrous works (Matthew 7:21-23; II Thessalonians 2:9).  The power of God is distinguished from all others in its ability to mold you into His image (II Peter 1:3-4).  If the power we profess does not make us partakers of the divine nature, then it is only a puffed up counterfeit.

People may boast about being a flourishing "man or woman of God" or being a "mover and a shaker in God's Kingdom", but I tell you that unless the Lord Himself safeguards your mind, you will go off.  You will still be there thinking that you are a mighty servant of God while in reality you are far off from Him...and be none the wiser. 

"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." I Corinthians 10:12

The human mind is more fragile than we think; this is why we need the mind of Christ always. As soon as we start thinking that we have arrived, then we can surely know that we are on the verge of a fall (Proverbs 16:18; I Timothy 3:6).  The Spirit will give us boldness of speech, but our boasting will only always be in the Lord (Psalm 34:2; Acts 4:13, 29-31; Ephesians 3:12; I Corinthians 1:31; II Corinthians 10:17; Philippians 1:20; I Timothy 3:13).

The more we come to truly know God, the more we appreciate how very much higher His thoughts and ways are than ours (Isaiah 55:9).  If your closer view of God leaves you with a bigger impression of yourself, then you are not looking at the True & Living God at all; you have found "another Jesus" (II Corinthians 11:4).

So the question becomes, "How does God keep us and what is He keeping us from?"

Some mistakenly believe that God promises to keep every believer so that you will never fall.  Those who believe in the error of Once Saved Always Saved cling to such promises. Yet, is that Biblical?

"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,"  Jude 1:24

"For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." II Timothy 1:12

The Scriptures say that the Lord is able to keep us, and this is true.  However, it does not promise that He will.  Why not?  Because we have a will.  We must keep ourselves in a position of being kept.  As a Sister in the Lord would say, "God keeps those who want to be kept."

How do you stay in a place of being kept? You keep on believing (obeying) God's words.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." I Peter 1:3-5

It is our continued faith in God which allows us to be kept. Faith here is the Greek word pistis, which we have talked about before.  It means having faith in and being faithful to. 

You cannot have one without the other; you cannot be faithful to God while at the same time disbelieving/disobeying His words.  When we are believing in God, it is His words which are the basis of that faith (Romans 10:8, 17; I Timothy 4:6; II Timothy 1:13; Hebrews 4:2; Hebrews 11:3).  Disregard His words and you are outside of the faith.  People want to talk about being kept by God, but it is your abiding faith - faith in and faithfulness to Him - which God demands in order to be kept. 

Remember, there is nothing we can do to keep ourselves.  Our faith is not the power which keeps us, rather our faith is what gives us access to God's power (Acts 6:8; I Corinthians 2:5; II Thessalonians 1:11)...a power that will not only keep us, but will change us to be as He is.

Know this.  You will only go so far in God as you are willing to let Him purge what is in your soul. This is why we need to walk circumspectly (Ephesians 5:15-16).  If you begin to back away from the Lord's chastening as He purges you, then you will return to the vomit and the mire of the world...even a religious vomit/mire (II Peter 2:22; Hebrews 12:8).

What are we being kept or saved from?  Well, lots of things: our enemies, ourselves, Satan, etc.  Yet there is one thing in particular from which we are being kept: God's wrath.

"Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." Romans 5:9

At the end of the day, all that matters is Jesus.  It is His reconciliation that we need and pleasing Him will be all that matters to those who love Him.  We will not try to justify or defend our own ways, but we will obey His words.  We must be watchful to cast down every high thing that would exalt itself against the knowledge of Christ and bring every thought to the obedience of Christ (II Corinthians 10:5).  I have to pray, to plead with Him for mercy, because I know I cannot keep myself.  I know that left to my own devices I am prone to wander.  I cannot rely on my own strength or wisdom.  I must remain ever dependent upon the Lord.

As you walk with the Lord, I pray that He keeps you.  I pray that He continues to bless you with a sound mind.  I pray that He helps your unbelief and gives you a heart to hear & obey Him.

Don't ever take your salvation for granted (Hebrews 2:3).  Scriptures say that deception will be so strong in the last days that if possible it could deceive the elect of God.  We need to depend upon and trust in the Lord now like never before.

"Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.  Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown." Revelation 3:10-11


 

God Will Not Recognize a Bastard

Sometimes, the things God says seem harsh.  In my studies this morning, He said to me, "I will not recognize a bastard" and then He told me to make that the title of a post.  I said, "REALLY God?  You want me to put that as the title of a post???"  I thought, "Man, that is kind of raw."  Yet His thoughts and ways are higher than our own (Isaiah 55:9).

This type of word from God just does not mix with the tolerant, accepting, non-confrontational, nonjudgmental type of [false] God presented in most churches these days.  Yet, there is goodness AND severity in God (Romans 11:12).

Imagine being the Creator of all and yet the creation made originally in your image becomes marred and eternally separated from you through sin.  To rescue them from themselves, you send your Son to give His life for them - being viciously tortured & dishonored - so that they may be reconciled to you and saved from the wages of sin.  Would you take the rejection of that sacrifice of love lightly?  Would it be a "small thing" for people to then still reject you so that they could stay in sin?  I figure that God is entitled to be as raw as He wants to be.  He will not pull punches nor will He mince words.  His desire for our reconciliation with Him is the motivator and it is just that serious.  He loves us enough to tell us the cold, hard truth. 

"A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD." Deuteronomy 23:2

bastard: mamzer, meaning: bastard, child of incest, illegitimate child

How does one become a bastard?  By being the offspring of an illegitimate union.

illegitimate: born of parents who are not married to each other; born out of wedlock; unlawful; illegal 

We know that those born outside of the holy union of matrimony are considered illegitimate in the world.  Instead of bringing forth fruit from the loin of your husband, you conceive from one to whom you are not married.  Instead of raising up seed from your husband, you produce seed from another.  This is what happens when we are led by a spirit of whoredoms.  We prove ourselves to be unfaithful, an adulterer, a fornicator, a harlot.  In such, we become "joined to" the one who is not our husband (I Corinthians 6:16).  It is the same in the spirit.

"For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ." II Corinthians 11:2 

We are born again by the seed of life planted within us from the Holy Spirit (Mark 4:14-20).  However, if we start to fornicate with the world, being led by the lusts of our own flesh, we pervert that seed (James 4:4; I Corinthians 9:11; I John 2:16).   God espouses us to Christ so that we can bring forth a Godly seed (Malachi 2:15).  Instead of bringing forth fruit from the one to whom we are betrothed, we conceive from the serpent's seed and bear forth fruit that is defiled (Matthew 13:24-30, 15:13; Hebrews 6:7-8).  Not only do we fail to produce righteous fruit, the very life we possess no longer reflects the character of God, but the one to whom we have joined ourselves, Satan (Hosea 4:17).  God will not receive that type of life because He did not birth it.

"And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice." Genesis 22:15-18

In the above text, the Lord tells Abraham that because he did not withhold his son, the Lord will bless him, his seed, and all the nations of the earth.  Notice that the Lord refers to Isaac as Abraham's "only son".  However Abraham had earlier fathered another son with his wife's maid Hagar, named Ishmael (Genesis 16:1-4).  God did not acknowledge Ishmael in this discussion.  It was as if Ishmael didn't even exist.  God was still righteous towards Ishmael, and he could even experience earthly prosperity, but he was not recognized as a son (Genesis 16:10).  The only son in God's eyes was the one HE had called forth.

"For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed." Hebrews 12:6-13

The Three R's of Rebellion

Here me on this.  God chastens "every SON" whom he receives.  Who is the Lord speaking of in this text?  His sons.  He receives us as a son and then He starts the chastening.  If we (His sons) endure the chastening, then God will continue to deal with us as sons.  If we (His sons) do not endure chastening, then we become bastards and not sons.

Some claim that this text about being a bastard is not directed to the sons of God.  It most certainly is.  Another way in which we know this is because God puts forth a justification for why it is only reasonable for us to submit to His chastening (and not become bastards).  If we could understand why it was right & just for us to submit our earthly fathers for correction, then we should surely understand why it is important to submit to His correction.  God does not expect the sinner to submit to His correction because they have no ability to (Romans 8:7).  It is only by God's Spirit that we can yield to Him, and in submitting to His correction we will find life and become partakers of His holiness.  Contrarily, in not submitting we become bastards and are "turned out of the way", finding death and becoming partakers of Satan's unrighteousness.

Why are so many bastards when they have been called to be sons?  They will not withstand chastening.  They receive with joy the word when it is first received, but when the correction of the Lord comes, they cannot receive it.  As Matthew 13:21 states, such persons have "no root" or discipline in themselves.  Therefore, when tribulation comes because of the word which has been sown in them, they are offended.  Yet the Lord says that tribulation works patience, and patience experience, and experience hope that is not to be ashamed of (Romans 5:3-5).  God's correction is the way that His love is shed in our hearts.

In order to be a "chaste virgin" we must go through a "chastening".  These are the times for us to cut ties with everything which defiles (if we have not already).  These are the times to submit ourselves to the FATHER of Spirits so that we may live!  Don't draw back from God's correction because He is trying to produce righteous fruit in you so that He may give you life.  We must have the love for God as a Father (a Disciplinarian) in our hearts in order to be recognized by Him as His own.

"But if any man love God, the same is known of him." I Corinthians 8:3

Also recommended: The Three R's of Rebellion