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the-chosen-fanfiction · 9 months

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Jesus | Blinded To The Truth | Platonic

Dialogue prompt: “You really like making things difficult.”

Requested: Yes

After inviting you to listen to His meditation at Synagogue, your childhood Friend Jesus makes the boldest of claims.

“Hey, you’re cheating!”

“I am doing no such thing!” you quip, throwing the small ball towards Rafi in the hopes he will not catch it–

–He catches it with his left hand and you huff, preparing yourself to get it hurled back at you in return. However, Rafi tosses it with a firm movement of his arm towards Jesus, Who misses it by a hair. The ball falls to the grass and Rafi cheers, causing you to roll your eyes. Aaron lets out a sigh of defeat.

“I win!” Rafi exclaims.

You place a hand on your hip. “Fine, you win. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I am going to get myself some snacks to comfort myself at this incredible loss.”

“Nah, (Y/n), you are just being sarcastic now even though I know quite certainly that you are upset.”

“I’m not! It’s Rosh Hashanah, I will not allow myself to sulk over something like a game.”

Jesus chuckles at your response and runs a hand through His hair, sighing deeply. “You did better at this game than I did, (Y/n),” He reassures you. You smile at your childhood Friend, Who heads over to you. “I will join you for that comfort snack, okay?”

You nod in agreement and both of you head for the nearest platter of sweet treats. You scoop a whole load of honey onto a slice of apple and give it to Jesus. He thanks you with a word of gratitude and waits for you to get one for yourself as well.

“Hey,” Jesus begins as the pair of you bask in the sunlight, enjoying the fruit. “I am going to give a Torah reading tonight at the synagogue. Would you like to attend as well? You’re a good friend of Mine, so I would appreciate it if you were to–”

“Of course!” you say without hesitation, “I knew that You were a Rabbi now. Your mother told me about Your ministry.”

Jesus hums. “I don’t think she told you all of it.”

You frown in puzzlement. “What do You mean?”

The Nazarene gives you a look. “You’ll see.”

Trusting Him enough to not ask, you decide to not press any further.

“Time for a rematch?” you suggest, nodding at Lazarus and Rafi, who are still gloating in their victory.

Jesus nods in agreement, polishing off the honied apple. “Let’s go.”

In spite of the heat outside, the synagogue is cool and dark, apart from some light drifting in through the small windows above. The village of Nazareth has gathered and you’ve taken a seat with two women who introduced themselves to you as Martha and Mary, whom you’ve started to mingle with in anticipation of Jesus’ reading. You’re curious to see what He will choose to read.

The crowd’s chatter falls silent when Rabbi Benjamin walks up to the pulpit and stretches his arms in a way to lead everyone into prayer. You bow your head and close your eyes.

“Blessed are You Lord our God, King of the universe. Who has kept us alive and sustained us for another year. Who bestows kindness, restores and redeems. Praise to You, Adonai our God, sovereign over creation. Who has chosen us from all the peoples. May Your blessings be all who seek You earnestly. Bring joy to Your land and gladness to Your city. In Your mercy, bestow on us a prosperous year, a bountiful harvest, and the promised arrival of Meshiach. Your anointed One, the Son of David.”

The congregation replies with an agreeing ‘amen’ as the sound of the shofar fills the room in a few quick puffs of noise. Goosebumps litter your skin at the sound like it does to you every time, and you smile, watching Jesus across the room.

“Thank you for the call to repentance and rest.” Rabbi Benjamin comments. “And now, for the reading and interpretation we have with us Jesus bar Joseph. He was one of my students in Torah class and we’ve heard reports–” he turns to Jesus, “Some of them very positive, of His rabbinic journeys.” Jesus and Lazarus chuckle a bit, “Jesus.”

Jesus heads for the pulpit and smiles. “Thank you, Rabbi Benjamin. Ah, please.” He gestures for the person carrying the scroll to lay it out for Him.

“You know, it’s not easy to share in front of Nazareth’s most pre-eminent Rabbi, but I will do My best. And I’m certain that if I miss a word or two, one of you at least will speak up, huh?”

A few of the men make sounds of agreement, Lazarus leaning against a pillar with his arms crossed. “Oh, don’t worry.”

“I wonder who it will be,” Jesus murmurs in amusement before turning to the scroll.

“A reading from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.” Jesus announces, then lifts His eyes upwards for a few silent seconds. He unfurls the scroll and takes the yad to point at the text He is reading to follow along.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me. Because the Lord has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted; to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight of the blind. To the opening of the prison for those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”

With bated breath, you watch as He steps away from the scroll and rolls it up, handing it back to the assistant before taking a seat in the chair placed in the middle of the room. For a moment, He locks eyes with Lazarus, then with you, until He opens His mouth to speak.

“The fulfilment of this Scripture as you have heard it is today. This is the year of the Lord’s favour. This is a year of jubilee. A year the poor, the brokenhearted, the captive and the blind are offered redemption.”

Your heart stutters inside your chest. Are you hearing this correctly?

Rabbi Benjamin’s posture stiffens.

“Here. Now.”

Jesus pauses for a few moments, and Lazarus speaks up. “We are here with You,” he remarks, “Keep going.” He seems just as interested in Jesus’ words as you are. “Not bad for a carpenter’s son, yes?”

You cannot fight the small laugh that escapes you, and Rabbi Benjamin gives you a sharp look.

“I mean, especially Joseph…” Lazarus continues, “May he rest in peace…”

Rabbi Benjamin has a stern look on his face when he speaks up.

“Jesus, please explain why You stopped the reading before Isaiah spoke of the day of vengeance of our God? Especially during a time of such oppression.”

A few silent moments as you keep your gaze focused on Jesus, anxious what He will say. You have never heard this interpretation before, and you’re only hoping that Jesus will not say anything that could get Him in trouble.

“The day of vengeance is in the future. I’m not here for vengeance. I’m here for salvation.”

Rafi and Aaron’s brows furrow, as does Rabbi Benjamin’s. “You’re here for salvation?” the Rabbi mutters, “What are You saying?”

Over her shoulder, Mary looks at you with a delighted look on her face. Your expression resembles confusion as your heart hammers inside your chest. “It’s Him…” Mary whispers, “He is trying to say that He is… You know…”

You swallow thickly. Thinking of the rumours that have been going around about Jesus, and now… Could He be…

“You know what I am saying.”

Your heart skips a beat.

“And this year of jubilee, this year of the Lord’s favour, is not about release from financial debts. I’m here to provide release from spiritual debt.”

“We are the chosen seed of Abraham.” Benjamin darkly sounds, “We don’t have spiritual debt!”

Jesus purses His lips and looks away.

“Jesus,” Aaron starts. “We’ve been hearing about the signs and wonders, and now this? Are You claiming to be more than a Rabbi? More than even the Baptiser?” Aaron has the exact same question as you.

The room is tense and you lean closer towards Him, not wanting to miss a single word.

“No doubt one of you will quote me the Proverb; ‘Physician, heal yourself’. The things we heard You did in Capernaum and in Syria, do here in Your hometown, yes?”

“Why not?”

“I get it.” Jesus counters. “It’s always easier to accept hard truths and even greatness from strangers than from those you know well, especially those you knew as awkward teenagers or even as adults as some of you saw earlier today. Laz here would make a more believable prophet.”

You grin as the two chuckle, until Jesus’ smile falls.

“But this brings up an important truth. No prophet is acceptable in his hometown.”

Around you, people start to mutter amongst themselves.

“Be careful with what You call Yourself.” Benjamin growls.

“This should be easy to prove!” Aaron says, “Dinah and Rafi, you say you saw it, yes?”

Rafi nods. “Yes! Yes, we saw it, but… He did not claim this…”

“A true prophet from Adonai would not deny His own people signs and wonders.”

Jesus takes a sharp breath. “Listen carefully. When a great famine hit Israel during the days of Elijah. Three years and six months. There were many widows, yes? And we know how the Father cares for His chosen people, especially widows. But Elijah was sent to none of them… Not one.”

You drink in every single word He says, your mind spinning with questions and clarity at the same time.

“Instead he was sent to a widow in Sidon, in Zeropath. A Gentile woman. Martha, what happened?”

Jesus turns to her and for a moment, He locks eyes with you. It is as if He can read your mind - your soul - and He nods. He nods to answer the question bouncing around in your skull, and you have to prevent yourself from gasping.

“She gave up her last flour and oil for one more cake and gave it to Elijah.”

“Why would she do that?”

“Elijah told her the Lord said to do so.”

Jesus turns back, “Yes. The Lord said that He would make it so that her flour and oil would never run out. And she believed. A pagan Gentile in a pagan land. And she was hungry enough to know that she needed God and to obey Him. And so, God sent Elijah to multiply our food forever.”

He shortly pauses to let the words sink in.

“What about Elisha, and Naaman? There were many lepers in Israel during this time, but none of them were cleansed except Naaman. Only a Gentile, a Syrian soldier and enemy of the Lord’s people. But he was so desperate, he trusted Elisha, and his leprosy was cleansed.”

The tension in the synagogue rises with every word that falls from His lips, and your throat runs dry at the expression many hold on their faces; deep, unadulterated offence.

“You may be the chosen seed of Abraham, you may be the people of the covenants, but that will not bring you My salvation.” Jesus’ eyes are shimmering with both sadness and persistence, “If you cannot accept that you are spiritually poor and captive, in the same way that a Gentile woman and a Syrian leper recognised their need–”

He pauses, the words getting stuck in His throat as He pinches together his fingers to emphasise the message. Across the room, you see Aaron shake his head slowly, and Rafi’s expression is conflicted.

“If you do not realise that you need a year of the Lord’s favour… Then I cannot save you.”

You can hear a pin drop as the hostility in the room advances, your heart almost leaping out of your chest in fear as Aaron slowly stands, his brow knit together in rage.

“Who do You think You are?!” His voice drips with malice.

“This is what Hannah talked about.” Martha says in front of you, making your chest tight with anxiety for His safety. “That He even called Himself the Messiah!”

Rabbi Benjamin takes a step in Jesus’ direction. “Are You claiming to be the Messiah, or are You merely claiming to speak for the Lord as a prophet?”

Jesus, turned away from the Rabbi at first, slowly pivots in His seat.

When He opens his mouth to answer, your face pales.

“Yes.”

For a moment, you lock eyes with Lazarus, who looks from you to his sister Mary, who has a certain sparkle in her eye that makes you convinced that she believes, too.

And so do you.

Something within your spirit puts you on edge in a way you have never experienced before. It reels inside your gut in a strange way, as if everything in your soul is teetering on the edge of interfering, but that same spirit holds you back from doing so, convinced that He knows how to handle this all.

“You are a false prophet!” Benjamin accuses.

Mother Mary gasps in shock and you put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her immediately. Lazarus reaches over to put a hand on the elderly Rabbi’s shoulder. “Woah, that is quite a thing to say! Jesus, maybe we should leave.”

Aaron interrupts: “Lazarus, you’re His friend, you cannot be involved! You know what the law of Moses says–”

“We are all His friends, Aaron,” Lazarus counters. “We cannot say things like this!”

“Jesus, stand up at once!” Benjamin orders, but Lazarus tries to fan the flames.

“Rabbi, please. Rafi, come with Jesus and me, we will leave, and you can all continue the service.”

Slowly, Jesus rises from the chair.

Rafi clearly draws his own conclusions. “Rabbi Benjamin has asserted false prophecy and I cannot argue it.”

Lazarus will not have any of it. “You said you saw the miracle!”

“He’s saying only He can save us!” Rafi bites.

“He did not use those words–”

“–It’s what I meant.” Jesus quips, earning Him a glare from Lazarus.

“Jesus, you’re not helping!” Lazarus pleads.

Deciding to intervene between your bickering childhood friends, you stand and make your way down to them. “Rafi, are you deaf? And blind? Have you not heard the stories of the miracles? Have you not tasted the wine?”

Aaron scoffs. “Those are just rumours! You’ve got no evidence, and people can say whatever they want. As long as enough people tell the same story, you’d believe anything, wouldn’t you, (Y/n)? Always so gullible…” He shakes his head almost pitifully.

You let out a noise. “And you, not even considering the words of a Man you know to be trustworthy, even though He makes things so clear right now! You really like making things difficult!”

Jesus puts a hand on your shoulder and you turn to Him. He smiles at you softly, His gaze containing a certain kind of warmth that fills you with rest. It is the briefest of moments, but intense nevertheless.

Rafi points a finger at Jesus, breaking the moment of eye-contact. “He’s saying we are not the Holy One’s chosen!”

“Now, He did not say that!”

Rabbi Benjamin’s voice is like ice, full of fury, unlike anything you've ever heard before. It makes the hairs of your neck stand on end. “In words, the book of Moses; ‘But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My Name that I have not commanded him to speak, that same prophet shall die.’...”

As Lazarus leans closer, he lowers the volume of his voice. Jesus’ mother seems distraught and anxious. “Rabbi Benjamin, I beg of you… Not this…”

“Lazarus,” Jesus calmly hums, “It’s fine…”

“Jesus they’re going to–” Jesus leans closer to His friend and whispers something in his ear for a few moments. As soon as He pulls back, Lazarus stares at Him rather nervously.

“Yes?” Jesus acknowledges, and Lazarus reassures Him.

Before you can speculate, Lazarus locks eyes with you, and nods towards Jesus’ mother Mary, whose eyebrows are furrowed in fear of her Son’s safety. You immediately understand the hint, rushing over to her and crouching down to take her hand in yours. She gives you a grateful glance, but it soon focuses back to her Son, Whose safety she so desperately fears.

“Jesus…” Benjamin utters, “If you do not renounce Your words, we will have no choice but to follow the Law of Moses…”

You can hear your own blood rush inside your ears as the strain within the synagogue reaches its breaking point. The Messiah steps closer to the Rabbi, His eyes filled with heartache.

When Jesus speaks, it is the straw that breaks the camel’s back:

“I AM the Law of Moses.”

Benjamin staggers back, gasping in indignation. Before you can truly process what is going on, Jesus is grabbed into His tunic by Rafi and Aaron, who shove Him towards the exit. They yank off the tallit that is still draped over His shoulders and Mary reaches out. You can barely hold her back to keep her from harm, but Lazarus soon assists you.

Before He is pushed outside, Jesus has a moment of intense eye-contact with His mother, but then, He is forced out.

As Jesus is led out of the synagogue by the angry mob, Mary starts to sob. You can barely look at what is happening, your entire being frightened and shaking, but you cannot follow the crowd to see if there is a way to save Him. All you can do is comfort His mother, who accepts your embrace as you pull her into your arms. Her form trembles in agony.

“Jesus promised that He’d be alright,” Lazarus reassures both His mother and you as everyone pours out of the synagogue, “We will meet Him after sundown on the outskirts of Nazareth, where His father is buried. Mary, you know the place, right?”

Slightly calmed by the words, Mary nods meekly, but her demeanour remains distraught. And who could blame her? Although she trusts that her Son’s word is true, and that He will be alright, a mother’s instinct is ever so strong.

“It will be fine, Mary,” you whisper, yet still filled with questions. “Is this all true? Is He truly the Messiah?”

Mary nods, her lips trembling as fresh tears brim on her eyes.

“He is.”

Your mind spins with everything you feel in this very moment - confusion, happiness, relief, fear. “Then why do they not accept Him? I don’t… I don’t understand. The signs and wonders…”

Mary slowly shakes her head, sniffling a bit, seemingly calming down. “I do not know,” she whispers, “But what I do know is to trust Him on His word.”

“Always, Mary,” you reassure her, “Always.”

You remain in the synagogue until the sun has fully set.

#the chosen #reader insert #the chosen x reader #x reader #chosen x reader #angel studios #the chosen jesus #jesus x reader

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officialyourdailyinspiration · 30 days

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God Behind Bars is sharing more amazing stories about how God is touching hearts and changing lives to set hundreds of prisoners free, including the story of a prisoner who had turned away from worshipping Satan by giving his life to Jesus Christ.

"I've seen the glory of God," inmate Daniel told the ministry. "There is nobody greater. There is nobody more powerful, nobody more dangerous, which is good when you need a warrior on your side. He is a man of battle, for real."

The former gang member told God Behind Bars he is "all in about Jesus," but that wasn't always the story.

"About a year ago is when God took me out of the satanic cult," he shared. "I had been with the Lord before that, but I backslid and wasn't involved in church anymore...

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kafirchristian · 6 months

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God nowhere speaks of making Christmas a part of Christianity, nor does He say to celebrate His Son's birth. He does tell us, though, not to add to His worship anything that is a tradition of the heathen. Such additions hinder rather than enhance our journey to God's Kingdom.

What are the fruits of keeping Christmas? Has Christmas helped to glorify God? Has it clarified and aided man's spiritual life? We have a record of the fruits of the Jews' additions. Their intent may have been better than those who accepted Christmas into Christianity, since they at least attempted to obey the law of God. Still, when Jesus walked among them, they did not recognize their own Messiah! Adding to and subtracting from God's Word changes God's intended focus.

Christmas is no better. When the so-called Christians added Christmas to Christianity, it had nothing to do with true Christianity at all. It was a ploy to win converts from paganism. It was a deliberate grab for power. From the beginning, Christmas, rather than promoting the true God and His way of life, has only led people away from the truth.

Peter writes that we are redeemed from these very traditions (I Peter 1:18). These traditions, inherited from our fathers, are a part of our culture. Jesus used His ministry to repudiate every addition, subtraction, and distortion that had attained any kind of specious, "divine" authority, and He did this by clarifying and magnifying the truth. Christmas seems to have "divine" authority because "Christians" are doing it, but it is part of a world that is anti-God, anti-Christ. It is not a part of what God has shown is true.

John W. Ritenbaugh

#Christmas

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walkswithmyfather · 4 months

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‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:7‭-‬21‬ ‭(ERV)‬‬. “Dear friends, we should love each other, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has become God’s child. And so everyone who loves knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love to us: He sent his only Son into the world to give us life through him. True love is God’s love for us, not our love for God. He sent his Son as the way to take away our sins. That is how much God loved us, dear friends! So we also must love each other.

No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us. If we love each other, God’s love has reached its goal—it is made perfect in us. We know that we live in God and God lives in us. We know this because he gave us his Spirit. We have seen that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world, and this is what we tell people now.

Anyone who says, “I believe that Jesus is the Son of God,” is a person who lives in God, and God lives in that person. So we know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love. God is love. Everyone who lives in love lives in God, and God lives in them.

If God’s love is made perfect in us, we can be without fear on the day when God judges the world. We will be without fear, because in this world we are like Jesus. Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love takes away fear. It is his punishment that makes a person fear. So his love is not made perfect in the one who has fear.

We love because God first loved us. If we say we love God but hate any of our brothers or sisters in his family, we are liars. If we don’t love someone we have seen, how can we love God? We have never even seen him. God gave us this command: If we love God, we must also love each other as brothers and sisters.

“No Fear in Love” By In Touch Ministries:

“The perfect love of God compels us to courageously love others.”

“If you’ve ever enlisted in the military, joined a rescue team, or even given birth to a baby, you know people don’t take on dangerous tasks because they falsely believe the mission is safe. No, we agree to face potential peril because someone or something we love dearly is worth taking any risk.

This can help us understand why God so often tells His followers not to be afraid and then gives encouragement to boldly move forward in obedience, courage, and trust. While fear may spur us to action, love is a more powerful motivator. We will do out of love what we would never do out of fear.

So divine love compels us. God—who created this world, who took on flesh to walk among us and redeem us, who died to save us—has given us perfect love. And we demonstrate this love from God by loving each other. Even when we are afraid.

What a mission God has given us—to both receive His perfect love and demonstrate it to each other. In the process of carrying out that mission, we will find that where love abounds, there’s no room left for our fears.”

[Photo by Oliver Plattner at Unsplash]

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rucbarthatbowtiesarecooldw · 8 months

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Sunday Morning Session

Sweet is the Work

Conducting: Dallin H. Oaks

Go Forth with Faith

I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus

President M. Russell Ballard, Q of 12

Joseph Smith and the first vision

We are blessed by Joseph’s ministry

We have the knowledge that Jesus is the Christ because Joseph was worthy to get the plates

It is important to ensure your children know you believe them – and believe in them

Be a little better, a little kinder, a little more prepared.

He’s our Savior and Redeemer, our best friend

President Emily Belle Freeman, YW President

The Jesus Trail

The five finger promise

He doesn’t ask us to face challenges alone. He will invite us to walk with Him

He has promised to walk with us in the way

Jesus will meet us where we are, as we are

His is a mission of condescension – He will meet us where we are as we are

Staying where we are won’t bring us the deliverance we seek

It’s the covenant relationship that saves us

Just like a marriage, the wedding date is important but ultimately it’s what comes after

What relationship do you want to have with Him?

If you want to live in a continuous covenant relationship with him

Your place or placement on the path is not as important as progress

It’s not the course alone that will save us, it’s the companion our Savior

Adilson de Paula Parrella, 70

Witness through actions and words that Jesus is the Christ

Take upon you the name of Christ

Spain – attending a small church meeting

Brazil story

Everything in church (talks, testimonies, etc) should be about and focused on Jesus

Elder Quintin L. Cook, Q of 12

This is the time to prepare to meet God

Be the peacemakers

Have a peaceable walk among the children of men

Be peaceable followers of Jesus Christ

Which act of the play am I stuck in?

There are three acts to the play (in the plan of happiness), which act are we going to participate in?

If you come in to the performance in the third act of the play you will lack the context of what happened prior

Praise the Lord with singing, music and dancing

If you are sorrowful, call on the Lord with supplication that your souls may be joyful

Being joyful and relying on Heavenly help through prayer is a great way to be peaceable

Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal – Hymn Come, Ye Disconsolate

Come Ye Children of the Lord

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Q of 12

The Greatest Short Story ever told

The prodigal son Luke 15:11-32

#livingmybestlife

He will help you and shelter you no matter what has happened

Even after you squander your entire inheritance

“It wasn’t just an empty stomach that bothered him, it was an empty soul”

Even when you feel no longer worthy, and decide that you must be only worthy for the lowliest roll in the Fathers house, He instead celebrates that His child has returned home

He will unconditionally allow us to return for forgiveness and mercy

It is always possible to go back and become renewed

It is never better to stay lost – Heaven will rejoice at our return

Some of us may wonder if its even possible to go back, if its better just to stay lost. But Heavenly father will run to us!! And embrace us!!

“It is not possible for you to sink lower than the light of Jesus Christ’s atoning sacrifice shines” - Elder Holland

The Master Healer stands at the road that leads home, welcoming you

Your return will not diminish the blessings of others

Coming back is not an easy thing to do. It may be the toughest choice we make. But Christs power will enter our lives and transform it.

Together we will rejoice – for Jesus Christ is our Strength.

Hear the Father’s voice beckoning us to follow the road that leads home.

W. Christopher Waddell, 1st counselor Bishopric

Ephraim’s rescue

Bring as many people as you can safely home

Hero worship can be taken too far – you can look beyond the mark and lose what is essential – Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ has done everything that is essential for our journey through mortality toward the destiny outlined in the plan of our Heavenly Father. -Dallin H. Oaks

We need to be careful in choosing our hero, so that our hero worship does not become our golden calf

If you have not chosen the Kingdom of God first, then you need to consider carefully what choices you have chosen

Any choice other than choosing the kingdom of God will fail us

Turn to Him, follow Him, choose Him.

It is by choosing Him, the King of Kings, that we choose the kingdom of God.

Hark All Ye Nations

President Henry B. Eyring, 2nd counselor 1st Presidency

Pray and heed promptings to gain inspiration and blessings

Think and pray about Helaman’s sons Nephi and Lehi

Helaman 11:23 (whole chapter tho)

We need the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost – we desire it, but we know that it sometimes isn’t easy to achieve

Remember the sacrament promise

We can be guided by the spirit minute by minute

Purity brings power

Don’t give in to fear, He is there. Repent

Don’t succumb to the fear that God has abandoned us or does not hear us.

Of all the things the Holy Ghost testifies of, the most precious for us is that Jesus is the Christ, the Living Son of God.

Your experiences will be unique and the spirt will guide in the way best suited to you and your experiences

He loves you and He hears your every prayer

The Holy Ghost is sent to faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ

Your relationship with the Holy Ghost is unique to you

Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing

#ldsconf #genconf #tumblrstake #church of jesus christ of latter day saints #sunday morning session

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albertfinch · 7 months

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INSTRUMENTAL IN REVEALING THE GLORY OF GOD

"And we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body." (Romans 8:22-23) The creation is releasing a groan, which is not a word but the SOUND of a spiritual birth. This SOUND is echoed in us as we yearn for the revelation of the glory of God. We are like instruments that resonate with the sound coming from heaven--the approaching rule of the King of Kings.

It is a SOUND which speaks and reveals knowledge to those with ears to hear. Now it should be no surprise God would clothe His mystery in sound. God speaks through creation and through redeemed man.

THE WORD OF GOD IS A PLUMB LINE

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their LINE has gone out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world." (Psalms 19:1-4a)

"The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance." (Psalms 16:6)

The word "line" has been translated as "sound".

There is something about the sound of the Lord that brings order. It is a plumb line that makes every other command and authority seem pointless and insignificant. When soldiers were sent to arrest Jesus, they returned without Him. Their response was, "No one had ever spoken like this before." The sound of true authority is more powerful than that which would try to arrest it. The light shines in the darkness and the darkness is not able to overcome it. (John 1:5) When the sound of Heaven comes, it instinctively trumps every other sound.

The knowledge of the glory of God is the invisible power center of the Kingdom of God. The question is, "What does it look like, and what does it SOUND like?" It is important to distinguish that we are not speaking only of language, that is, words and phrases. These are organized to speak to the intellect of man. Rather, spiritual sound only becomes words and phrases in its final form. This is why one can prophesy on the drums and why musicians understand that instruments speak, though they never use words. If we are to receive and function with God, who is spirit, we must appreciate the way in which He speaks.

GOD USES SOUND

Sound is a chief ingredient in the things God builds. When He builds, He does not use brick and mortar, He uses sound. Again, sound was used to assemble the creation. "Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light." (Genesis 1:3) Today, when God builds, He continues to do so using sound. When He determines to do something, He begins by "calling those things which are not as though they were." Thus, sound is instrumental in revealing the glory of God. At this time in particular, our hearts are being drawn to the sound of the Lord. Jesus said, "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:8) The wind is known by its SOUND, and by its effect. Whenever the Spirit moves there is a spiritual SOUND coming from the spirit realm.

Today the believing community is growing in the capacity to release His sound. More and more clarity is emerging, helping us define what it is to walk in the authority of the Spirit. We have begun to understand it is not a matter of formulas, nor is it a matter of "correct words", but it is a spiritual sound aligning with the heart and nature of God. "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power." (1 Corinthians 4:20)

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

#jesus #calling #destiny #purpose #bible #devotional #daily word #revelation #inspiration #holy spirit

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gatekeeper-watchman · 1 month

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Daily Devotionals for April 17, 2024

Proverbs: God's Wisdom for Daily Living

Devotional Scripture:

Proverbs 14:20-21(KJV): 20 The poor are hated even by their neighbors, but the rich have many friends. 21 He that despiseth his neighbor sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.

Thought for the Day

Verse 20 — The fact that the poor are hated even by their neighbors explains why there is often so much violence in poor neighborhoods. The Bible calls poverty a curse. It breeds many problems, such as filth and sickness. In many areas, the poor do not have access to healthy foods, and their poor nutrition results in poor health. It is demoralizing to live in a poverty-stricken region. Poverty crushes any hope for improvement. Depressed people stop trying to better themselves. This breeds irresponsibility, which becomes a hotbed for rebellion. In some cases, the poverty is so extreme that total exhaustion and starvation strip the people of any desire or hope for life. The only way to break the cycle of poverty is to bring the gospel to the poor and support those ministries that will bring the needed provisions to those who lack them. We can be redeemed from poverty and anything else that misrepresents God to the world. God blesses His people when they follow and obey Him (Deuteronomy 28:1-6).

We cannot keep God's commandments by ourselves; we can only keep them by enabling the Holy Spirit. If we rebel and go our own way, the law of sowing and reaping will bring a curse upon us. Poverty is a part of that curse. Money is not the answer to poverty, since it only takes care of the surface problems. As the American government has discovered; throwing money at the issue through welfare programs only compounds it. Money never solves the root problems of hatred, violence, irresponsibility, or fear. Only a change of heart that comes from knowing Christ can accomplish that. When hearts are not changed, the curse continues (Deuteronomy 28:15-20).

Verse 21 - The rich man has many friends; but love for his money and what it can obtain for them, is at the heart of many of these friendships. The rich man's money can also make him proud, causing him to sin against God, his fellow man, and himself. Christ owns the earth and the entire universe. He gave up His position of supreme power and wealth and became poor to save us, that we might become rich in His blessings (2 Corinthians 8:9). Those who are merciful to the poor are happy and blessed, for they follow in the steps of Jesus Himself.

Prayer Devotional for the Day Dear heavenly Father, I am so grateful that I know You. You have blessed me greatly, and I am thankful for that goodness toward me. Father, strengthen me to walk in obedience to Your commandments daily. Lord, help me also to be sensitive to the needs of others. I desire to be a giver and reach out and help those who are poor. Help me not to ever demean or look down on those who are less fortunate than I am, but rather let me lift them and give them hope and encouragement. Help me to trust You for daily provision and to give of those things that I do have. I can always share a smile, encouragement, faith, love, and prayers with others. I ask this in the name of Jesus. Amen. From: Steven P. Miller@ParkermillerQ, gatekeeperwatchman.org Founder of Gatekeeper-Watchman International Groups, Tuesday, April 16, 2024, Jacksonville, Florida., USA. X ... @ParkermillerQ #GWIG, #GWIN, #GWINGO, #Ephraim1, #IAM, #Sparkermiller, #Eldermiller1981 GROUP: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Sparkermiller.JAX.FL.USA

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theinvisiblemuseum · 11 months

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imagine pandora and lily living in a cottage in the middle of the forest together picking berries in the morning and then making fluffy pancakes and lily accidentally says 'shit' and pandora cries because she's never heard lily curse before so lily bakes her a strawberry cake to apologise and they spend the rest of the day holding hands and finding bunnies in the clouds

pandora is elle fanning btw

In the Name of Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, strengthened by the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, Mother of God, of Blessed Michael the Archangel, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul and all the Saints. and powerful in the holy authority of our ministry, we confidently undertake to repulse the attacks and deceits of the devil. God arises; His enemies are scattered and those who hate Him flee before Him. As smoke is driven away, so are they driven; as wax melts before the fire, so the wicked perish at the presence of God.

Behold the Cross of the Lord, flee bands of enemies. The Lion of the tribe of Juda, the offspring of David, hath conquered.

May Thy mercy, Lord, descend upon us. As great as our hope in Thee.

We drive you from us, whoever you may be, unclean spirits, all satanic powers, all infernal invaders, all wicked legions, assemblies and sects.

In the Name and by the power of Our Lord Jesus Christ, + may you be snatched away and driven from the Church of God and from the souls made to the image and likeness of God and redeemed by the Precious Blood of the Divine Lamb.

+ Most cunning serpent, you shall no more dare to deceive the human race, persecute the Church, torment God's elect and sift them as wheat.

+ The Most High God commands you, + He with whom, in your great insolence, you still claim to be equal.

"God who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth." [1 Tim. 2:4)

God the Father commands you. + God the Son commands you. + God the Holy Ghost commands you.

+ Christ, God's Word made flesh, commands you; + He who to save our race outdone through your envy, "humbled Himself, becoming obedient even unto death" [Phil. 2:8); He who has built His Church on the firm rock and declared that the gates of hell shall not prevail against Her, because He will dwell with Her "all days even to the end of the world." [Mt. 28:20]

The sacred Sign of the Cross commands you, + as does also the power of the mysteries of the Christian Faith.

+ The glorious Mother of God, the Virgin Mary, commands you; + she who by her humility and from the first moment of her Immaculate Conception crushed your proud head.

The faith of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and of the other Apostles commands you.

+ The blood of the Martyrs and the pious intercession of all the Saints command you. +

Thus, cursed dragon, and you, diabolical legions, we adjure you by the living God, + by the true God, + by the holy God, + by the God "who so loved the world that He gave up His only Son, that every soul believing in Him might not perish but have life everlasting;" [St.Jn. 3:16] stop deceiving human creatures and pouring out to them the poison of eternal damnation; stop harming the Church and hindering her liberty.

Begone, Satan, inventor and master of all deceit, enemy of man's salvation.

Give place to Christ in Whom you have found none of your works; give place to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church acquired by Christ at the price of His Blood.

Stoop beneath the all-powerful Hand of God; tremble and flee when we invoke the Holy and terrible Name of Jesus, this Name which causes hell to tremble, this Name to which the Virtues, Powers and Dominations of heaven are humbly submissive, this Name which the Cherubim and Seraphim praise unceasingly repeating: Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord, the God of Hosts.

O Lord, hear my prayer. And let my cry come unto Thee.

May the Lord be with thee. And with thy spirit.

Let us pray.

God of heaven, God of earth, God of Angels, God of Archangels, God of Patriarchs, God of Prophets, God of Apostles, God of Martyrs, God of Confessors, God of Virgins, God who has power to give life after death and rest after work: because there is no other God than Thee and there can be no other, for Thou art the Creator of all things, visible and invisible, of Whose reign there shall be no end, we humbly prostrate ourselves before Thy glorious Majesty and we beseech Thee to deliver us by Thy power from all the tyranny of the infernal spirits, from their snares, their lies and their furious wickedness.

Deign, O Lord, to grant us Thy powerful protection and to keep us safe and sound. We beseech Thee through Jesus Christ Our Lord.

Amen.

From the snares of the devil, Deliver us, O Lord. That Thy Church may serve Thee in peace and liberty: We beseech Thee to hear us. That Thou may crush down all enemies of Thy Church: We beseech Thee to hear us.

#yizyaz #organ donations

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cheerfullycatholic · 6 months

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Part of the 85% of Men that Initiate the Thought of Abortion

Steven Alabama, United States

Giving God all the glory, honor and praise to Him for forgiving and restoring my life through Him dying on the cross for my sins. 2 Cor 5:17-18 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation: old things have passed away; and behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation!"

I grew up in the Christian Church in San Gabriel right outside East Los Angeles, but in Junior High/ High School it wasn't cool to be a Christian and I backslid into the world of popularity, drug use, and gang life. By the age of 17, I had dropped out of high school, was in and out of Juvenile Hall, and buying and selling drugs for the benefit of the gang.

I began seeing a girl I went to high school with and immediately we were engaging in sex outside of marriage and using drugs constantly together. I truly was not trying to be in a relationship with her, I was sadly just having fun and not looking for any commitment. Soon enough, we discovered this lifestyle comes with consequences and we became pregnant because of the way we were living in sin.

Immediately, I wanted out of this problem that I thought could be easily fixed through a simple abortion. I became part of the 85% of men that initiate the thought of abortion in a mother's mind. I blamed her father who is a fire captain using his own words, saying if she ever got pregnant she would be cut off, etc. I convinced her this was our only option as we were barely 18 and unable to be parents. We went to Planned Parenthood Pasadena where we had received faulty contraceptives so they could help us abort our child, thinking it wasn't a big deal if we took care of it in the first trimester. I thought it was her body her choice, and it really didn't have anything to do with me.

I truly don't remember the month of the year this happened because of the amount of drugs I was using, but shortly after this our relationship ended, the drugs stopped getting me high, and all of my "gang friends" became enemies. The Lord was drawing me back to Himself. I rededicated my life to Christ and he was faithful and just to forgive me!

I met my wife at church and we were married at the age of 22. We now have 3 precious girls.

God opened the door for me to be involved in pro-life ministry at our church after meeting and sharing with Norma Murakami, who helped me into a post-abortive healing Bible Study.

Now almost 15 years later God has opened the door for me to be a full-time missionary for the unborn. We lead teams to pray peacefully at local abortion centers and share the hope of Jesus Christ and local resources for women in crisis pregnancies. We've seen over 120 babies saved from the hands of abortion in Southern California just this year. God allows me to use this testimony in speaking to many others in the same situation of going to Planned Parenthood to kill their child. God truly redeems all things and this is why I will be silent no more!

Find more testimonies at Silent No More

#silent no more #abortion #anti abortion #abortion story #pro life

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hiswordsarekisses · 1 year

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"For Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us;

therefore let us keep the feast." (1 Cor. 5:7-8)

====

Some well-meaning Christians think that followers of Yeshua have no reason to do a Passover Seder as instructed in the Torah because, in light of the new covenant, all that is now needed is to remember Jesus’ crucifixion for our sins and to celebrate his resurrection by partaking in the sacraments. This viewpoint assumes that, despite the instructions in the Torah, the yearly Passover service, or seder, is not intended for Christians, since it focuses on the Exodus from Egypt and the Jewish people, and the message of the gospel is universal, for every "tongue and tribe." Moreover since Christians are no longer "under the law," they are not obligated to keep the ordinances of the "Old Testament," especially with regard its ceremonial laws.

There are some real difficulties when we disregard the Torah's instructions to observe the Passover, however, particularly because Yeshua himself identified his entire ministry as the “Lamb of God” who redeems us from the curse of the law, and he used the message of the Passover to teach his followers this truth. Bear in mind that the idea of the Passover was not enacted at Sinai as part of the Sinai covenant, but predates the giving of the law. In other words, the faithful of Israel obeyed God's instruction to take refuge under the blood of the sacrificed lamb to escape the plague of death delivered upon Egypt, but this was done before Moses ascended Sinai to receive and ratify the covenant of the law.

Indeed the theme and message of Passover is timeless for understanding the Bible. The message was delivered in the Garden of Eden when God sacrificed a lamb to cover the shame of Adam and Eve (Gen. 3:21); it was prefigured in the lamb that was sacrificed by Abraham in place of Isaac during the Akedah; it was portrayed in the blood of lamb sacrificed in Egypt whose blood was daubed upon the doorposts; it was memorialized every day and night at the Tabernacle (and later at the Temple) as "continual korban," the offering of which was central to the sacrificial ministrations for Israel; it was foretold by the Hebrew prophets (Isa. 9:6; Isa. 53; Psalm 22:16; Prov. 30:4; Zech. 12:10. etc.), and it was fully manifested in the incarnation, mission, and sacrifice of God's beloved Son himself, the promised heir to come who allowed himself to be "caught in the thicket" for our sins, and who was bound upon the altar of the cross to shed his blood for our redemption. This was the central meaning of the “greater exodus” that Yeshua discussed with Moses and Elijah on the mount of transfiguration before his crucifixion (see Luke 9:29-31). Amen, Yeshua as our sacrificial Lamb is heart of the gospel message itself (John 1:29; 1 Pet. 1:19; Isa. 53:3-12); it’s the “scarlet thread” he showed his followers (Luke 24:27); it’s the Metaphor God chose to make his sacrificial love known to us.

The image of "Christ our Passover Lamb" (המשיח פסח שלנו) will extend forever and unto eternity itself, when the Lamb of God is fully glorified and enthroned, as it says: "For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes" (Rev. 7:17). "And the city has no need of sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city, and the Lamb is its light" (Rev. 21:23).

The meaning and substance of Passover, then, is essential to the life of the Christian, and to dismiss its significance is to risk missing the point of God's redemption and salvation itself. The Apostle Paul used “Passover language” to describe our new life in Messiah by admonishing us to: "purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth" (1 Cor. 5:7-8).

The LORD did not waste his breath by revealing the Torah to Israel, nor did he speak out of two sides of his mouth when he instructed them to keep the Passover holiday every year (Num. 9:2,14; Lev. 23:5; Deut. 16:1). Remember - Jesus was the Voice of God speaking to Israel at Sinai; Jesus was Moses' Teacher regarding the seven holidays of the Torah! He said "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:17-19). Heaven and earth has not yet passed away, and therefore the Torah has its voice and place in the life of follower of Yeshua. Faith does not mean we are devoid of law of God, even if the verdict of the law reveals our sin. As the Apostle Paul said, "Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law" (Rom. 3:31). We are justified by trusting in the righteousness of God in the sacrifice of Yeshua, but that does not mean we disregard God's law so that "grace may abound" (Rom. 6:1-2)

So you see that the question of whether Christians should seriously engage the Passover turns on how they read the Scriptures, and in particular, how they esteem the words of the Torah. If they tend to read the Bible out of context, by focusing on the New Testament without taking time to carefully consider the context given in the Hebrew Scriptures, they likely will dismiss the significance of the Passover Seder and will think of it in theologically abstract terms, as an analogy or metaphor foretelling what Yeshua has done, and that it is now best remembered during communion rituals, rather than as an invitation to participate in the annual retelling of the great story of redemption that is the heritage of the people of God. But Yeshua himself observed the Passover with his disciples, and indeed his last Passover before his crucifixion represented his most intimate heart to us. We miss a lot if we minimize the significance of the Passover or regard it as somehow incidental to our life as believers in the great Lamb of God. Chaverim -- let us keep the feast! Shalom lekha.

[ Hebrew for Christians ]

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mattspinksjoyblog · 17 days

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The Gospel is Good News! | Thesis #2

As we are still in the beginning of these modern 95 theses that I’ve been working on, my heart is to start with only THE MOST foundational ones. What would help the church the most, what are the lynchpins to the explosion of helping us begin to see more clearly???

It is my firm belief that a thousand and one problems and sick thoughts would be resolved if we just saw the stunning incredulous goodness of Jesus' Gospel! And by that I don’t mean the half-hearted "gospel" that most people think they’ve heard, with it’s many conditions and mere measly fearful portions. We need to see again, with the eyes of a child, the gargantuan cosmic heaven-to-earth GLORIOUS Good News!!! I grew up around what I thought was the Gospel. I heard the word “gospel” tossed around in a hundred different contexts, but honestly had never chewed the feast of Jesus’ main message. I didn't even realize that Jesus himself had articulated the Message so simply at any point. If someone would’ve asked me about the Gospel, most of my life I would’ve said that it was the fact that Jesus had died for us, so if we accept Him in our hearts then we will be born again and go to heaven. Maybe I would’ve mentioned that the first four books of the New Testament are the full Gospel.

I had never heard Jesus’ simple message from Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15. Once I did, and stared at it for a while, I realized that these simple words were what Jesus said everywhere he went, from town to town, from village to village. He didn’t really preach a bunch of sermons. He shared parables often. But, even those parables were about the simple message. Jesus’ ministry only had one focus, declare the simple Gospel, and then demonstrate it with supernatural love and power.

But, what is this simple Message? Have we missed it in most of the church?

How many of us are CONFIDENT that we have really heard Jesus’ main point?

Do a deep dive through the four Gospel letters and I’m confident that you will find the gem of all gems. Jesus’ main point to humanity: “THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS AT HAND!” (Matt. 4:17, Mark 1:15)

Paul the apostle brings so much further clarity by divine revelation that Jesus saying “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” means that He has “united all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”

Jesus announced that heaven and earth were united! Union with God is here! God and man are now one! We are no longer stuck with just our fallen earthly solutions, limited further by sin, death, and the devil. But, Paul in his epistles clarifies that we have been blessed with every spiritual blessing, we have Christ in us, and not just that but all His fullness.

Union with God is a big deal! Having all of heaven with us is MEGA GOOD NEWS!!!

Sometimes this language is still too Christianese. The words have been said in too many mundane ways. So sometimes I like to try to shock us awake to the Truth by using fresh langauge that sounds way too good… Jesus’s Gospel means that everything we thought was reserved for heaven someday is ours now!

Can you hear me now??? LOL!

Think about this though… If we are united with God in Christ, if we have every spiritual blessing, if the kingdom of heaven is at hand… what could we possibly lack??? We have intimacy with God. We have new creation hearts that love. We are fully supplied with heaven’s wealth. We have healing and wholeness.

Martin Luther said it this way, “He has redeemed me from sin, from the devil, from death, and all evil. For before I had no Lord nor King, but was captive under the power of the devil, condemned to death, enmeshed in sin and blindness.”

It is no wonder then that Luther also said, “The Gospel is nothing less than laughter and joy!”

Joy indeed, friends!!! But, in the western evangelical church, joy is almost absent from the average pew warmer. And certainly “joy unspeakable and full of Glory,” as Peter talks about in his first epistle, is foreign to most believers.

Why? Because we haven’t realized that we have THE BEST NEWS EVER!!!

We literally have heaven on earth!!! Yet, most Christians we meet don’t even know what Christ has done, and are walking around discouraged about the world’s state of affairs, wishing that things were different. And, because of this we feel stuck, and have nothing transformative to share with the world. No wonder our churches feel so often stale or condemned!

William Tyndale, the incredible Bible translator that gave his life for this Gospel in the 1500s said this:

“The Evangelion (that we call the gospel) is a Greek word and signifieth good, merry, glad and joyful tidings, that maketh a man’s heart glad, and maketh him sing, dance, and leap for joy: as when David had killed Goliath the giant, came glad tidings unto the Jews, that their fearful and cruel enemy was slain, and they delivered out of all danger: for gladness whereof, they sung, danced and were joyful. In like manner is the Evangelion of God (which we call gospel, and the New Testament) joyful tidings; and as some say, a good hearing published by the apostles throughout all the world, of Christ the right David; how that he hath fought with sin, with death, and the devil, and overcome them: whereby all men that were in bondage to sin, wounded with death, overcome of the devil, are, without their own merits or deservings, loosed, justified, restored to life and saved, brought to liberty and reconciled unto the favour of God, and set at one with him again: which tidings as many as believe laud, praise and thank God; are glad, sing and dance for joy.”

Karl Barth said this, “In Jesus Christ He has chosen man from all eternity as His own, for life in His kingdom, to be a member of His people, His possession.”

Many times we just haven’t considered all the rights and privileges that are ours because we have been chosen in Jesus Christ for the kingdom of heaven on earth! I dare you to take an hour and consider… write them down… What if we had everything that we thought was only ours someday after we die!?! (There are no verses in the Bible about all the blessings of heaven being ours only AFTER we die btw.) Barth’s quote above brings up one last massive point I’d like to drive home today regarding the Gospel as well… In Jesus Christ, ALL humankind has been chosen!

The western “gospel” has for far too long been some kind of conditional transaction, rather than an unconditonal declaration! THIS IS A HUGE DEAL!

The word “news” means it something already true! You don’t usually read the newspaper to find out what could potentially happen. News is a report of what has already taken place, whether you believe it or not.

It’s time to stop preaching a potential gospel and start preaching an actual Gospel!

When Jesus said, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” that was just a declaration of fact, of Truth. Jesus Himself was effecting a union of all of God and all of man, of heaven and earth, regardless of whether we believe it or not. Truth is true before we believe it. Therefore, yes, we should believe it! And, Jesus does encourage us to repent and believe it. But, that’s not what gets us in! That simply how we live in reality instead of delusion.

The reality is that the kingdom of heaven has come to earth FOR EVERY SINGLE PERSON! Jesus has given all of God, His grace, His blessings, His favor, to everyone, and he’s changed us all and set us all free!

The Gospel is NOT an if/then statement. It is NOT conditional “love.” The Gospel is the most stunning announcement that in Christ God has given everyone everything we could have ever dreamed of and more!!! Now, let’s start from that foundation and see how our church life plays out…

“On it’s plain, New Testament face, (the Gospel) proclaims that all the things that religion promised but couldn’t deliver have been delivered once and for all by Jesus in his death and resurrection.” - Robert F. Capon

____________

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