Month: March 2016

Today a Proverb that deals with the idea of the rich and poor being equally treated under the laws of nature and nature’s God. It speaks of the obligation of both so they (and all) may live together in the same community.

This is where things tend to get off track. There is a moral obligation that applies to individuals and it is meant to remain apart from government and the corruption that comes with its ability to impose its fulfillment by force of law. Again, this self-fulfilling is part of self-government that allows for perfect liberty, and when individuals fail to fulfill their obligations to their community others use this void to justify ever-increasing government intervention and force (by law). But how will men fulfill an obligation they haven’t been taught? This is at its root part of the education system’s demises into total ineffectiveness. We now teach the need for and reliance on governments, rather than the need for self-control and self-responsibility. The new system becomes both the source that removes the control, and its chaotic effects become justification for continuing the cause while claiming it as solution.

We see understanding this educational perversion necessary in realizing that someone’s moral standard will be taught. It is also the reason so many young people willingly accept communism as it is preached and promised by Bernie Sanders. Reversing this ruinous and self-destructive ideological indoctrination, disguised as education, is a major aspect of correcting our national decline. The decline relied first on silencing and then surrender of all things traditional and normal. Those possessed by this new reversed enlightenment told us not to force our normal standards on them and we foolishly listened and stopped teaching and preaching truth. The presumption was there is such a thing as a state void of opinion, and in this vacuum of ideology was found utopia. The reality as we now see it is that into the empty space of the mind rushed everything vile and unbecoming. The end of our surrender and silence is we now find ourselves as the outcasts and criminals in the new utopia that very much resembles hell.

I want to make a point that everyone more than likely already knows, even those who will attack me for making it. I heard a national news report on the radio yesterday about the new North Carolina law that invalidated a Charlotte law, which said that anyone could decide what gender they wanted to be and based their choice must be allowed to use restrooms of their chosen gender. Any rational minded person sees the impact something so insane would have on society and the mental aguish it would force upon people (our children) by law. The news media had the choice to report this as a victory for sanity and traditional morality, but instead they reported it as the State choosing to allow discrimination and a denial of human rights. This is the battle we are engaged in. They use their megaphone of misinformation and threats of boycott to try to shame us again into silence, and further surrender to their every demand to reverse societal norms.

We must, and have stopped listening to their insanity. Just as they choose what they will project and threaten, we have and must choose who and what we will listen to. We must tune out and combat their perverted thinking every time it rears its ugly heads. We ask nothing more than to live as we are entitled, “under the laws of nature and nature’s God.” That is our unalienable right endowed us by God and we will not surrender it. We will stand against their attempts to vilify truth and reality. That is our right, our obligation, and we must exercise it if we are to survive. We can do this.

Proverbs 22
1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.
2 The rich and poor meet together: the LORD is the maker of them all.
3 A prudent man foresees the evil, and hides himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.
4 By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honor, and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the corrupted in mind: he that does keep his soul shall be far from them.
6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
7 The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
8 He that sows iniquity shall reap emptyness: and the rod of his anger shall fail.
9 He that has a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he gives of his bread to the poor.
10 Cast out the scorner, and contention shall go out; yea, strife and reproach shall cease.
11 He that loves pureness of heart, for the grace of his lips the king shall be his friend.
12 The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthrows the words of the transgressor.
13 The slothful man says, There is a lion without, I shall be slain in the streets.
14 The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.
15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
16 He that oppresses the poor to increase his riches, and he that gives to the rich, shall surely come to want.
17 Bow down your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart unto my knowledge.
18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within thee; they shall with-all be fixed in your words.
19 That thy trust may be in the LORD, I have made known to thee this day, even to you.
20 Have not I written to your excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
21 That I might make your know the certainty of the words of truth; that you might answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?
22 Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate:
23 For the LORD will plead their cause, and take from the soul of those that takes from them.
24 Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:
25 Or you will learn his ways, and get a snare to your soul.
26 Be not one of them that strike hands, or of them that are sureties for debts,
27 If you have nothing to pay, why should he take away your bed from under thee?
28 Remove not the ancient landmark, which your fathers have set.
29 See you a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

The following is from the Dead Sea Scrolls, and specifically what is known as 1QS.  This Is the ending of what is titled, The Community Rule.  The Dead Sea Scrolls  are scrolls discovered in 1947 in sealed caves in Qumran in the West Bank. They where placed there to be preserved for purposes unknown. This one is said to be the oldest and thought to be written around 100 BC.  The original texts are in Hebrew and Aramaic.  These pages are from a book titled, The Dead Sea Scrolls In English, Revised and Extended Fourth Edition, By Geza Vermes.  This particular scroll includes references to the Old Testament Prophets.  It deals with the rules for living in the community. I thought it appropriate in the context of our resent studies, and one of its themes being the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.  I am going to post Isaiah 29 following the pages.  To my ear it seem to be referencing the same ideas.

Isaiah 29
1 Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt! add ye year to year; let them kill sacrifices.
2 Yet I will distress Ariel, and there shall be heaviness and sorrow: and it shall be unto me as Ariel.
3 And I will camp against thee round about, and will lay siege against thee with a mount, and I will raise forts against thee.
4 And thou shalt be brought down, and shalt speak out of the ground, and thy speech shall be low out of the dust, and thy voice shall be, as of one that hath a familiar spirit, out of the ground, and thy speech shall whisper out of the dust.
5 Moreover the multitude of thy strangers shall be like small dust, and the multitude of the terrible ones shall be as chaff that passes away: yea, it shall be at an instant suddenly.
6 Thou shalt be visited of the LORD of hosts with thunder, and with earthquake, and great noise, with storm and tempest, and the flame of devouring fire.
7 And the multitude of all the nations that fight against Ariel, even all that fight against her and her munitions, and that distress her, shall be as a dream of a night vision.
8 It shall even be as when an hungry man dreamed, and, behold, he eats; but he awakes, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreams, and, behold, he drinks; but he awakes, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion.
9 Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink.
10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
11 And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he said, I cannot; for it is sealed:
12 And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he said, I am not learned.
13 Wherefore the LORD said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
14 Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
15 Woe unto them that seek deep to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who sees us? and who knows us?
16 Surely your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter’s clay: for shall the work say of him that made it, He made me not? or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?
17 Is it not yet a very little while, and Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest?
18 And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness.
19 The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.
20 For the terrible one is brought to naught, and the scorner is consumed, and all that watch for iniquity are cut off:
21 That make a man an offender for a word, and lay a snare for him that reproves in the gate, and turn aside the just for a thing of naught.
22 Therefore thus said the LORD, who redeemed Abraham, concerning the house of Jacob, Jacob shall not now be ashamed, neither shall his face now wax pale.
23 But when he sees his children, the work of mine hands, in the midst of him, they shall sanctify my name, and sanctify the Holy One of Jacob, and shall fear the God of Israel.
24 They also that erred in spirit shall come to understanding, and they that murmured shall learn doctrine.

Recently we have discussed in great detail the concept of suppressing the immediate desires of flesh and subordinating them to the realities seen by intellect and our ability of abstract reasoning. Each of these is understood as thoughts considering the rewards and consequences of actions yet commenced. In this context we see choosing the shorter-term rewards and ignoring consequences as acts to satisfy the flesh and gratification being in most cases short lived and far outweighed by the resulting effects. On the other hand we understand delaying the reward (self-restraint) based on conceptualizing the near and longer-term implication we are able to subordinate the flesh (animal desires) to the spirit (the higher form of deductive reasoning enabling one to see the unseen).

This takes us again to the parameters of the decision-making process. Understanding and living by these self-imposed boundaries is fulfilling the law, as Christ fulfilled it.

In recent days we’ve looked at the Greek word pleroo, which is most often translated “fulfilled.” It literally means to cram full, as in there is nothing more that can be put into it. This is the mind that has entered the kingdom of God. It is the same mind that was/is in Christ and is the entire goal of the gospel, to have this mind produced (born) in us. Our being born again occurs as we let the former mind dominated by short-term thinking be overwritten (die) as this new understanding is elevated to governs our action and becomes our new nature. This is the difference between being shortsighted and foresight.

The Greek word for lifting up is anakupto. It is a word only used four times and also translated as, look up. It is used in Luke 21:28 as the Lord tells when we should look up, as we lift up our heads. The exchange begins as the Lord is asked the question of when will the events occur that end this age, and just after His having described them. He tells of a world in chaos. The passage ending begins by telling of Jerusalem being trampled under foot; this meaning the foundational teaching of the way of peace has been trampled under foot. It next tells of the sun, moon and stars being signs, and this connected to the distress of the nations, and the sea and the waves roaring. Those who study along know the sun and the moon as symbolizing church and civil government as God’s intended them to shine and reflect His light (as just rule) on the earth; and the stars as those living under this just rule and therefor also shining as fixed lights in (the kingdom of) heaven. Without these lights the earth devolves into a state of distress (of nations), and the sea characterizing the people being in a constant state of agitation (chaos).

In the following verse we see the cause when we are told of “men’s hearts failing them.” The word translated “hearts failing them” is only used this one time in all scripture. It is the Greek word apopsucho, apo meaning away or off, and psucho meaning to breath, and is translated as, wax cold. (Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.)

Psuche (from psucho) is the word meaning the spirit, and is translated as the mind, heart, life and soul. It is the center of cognitive thought, as in reasoning power of the intellect. The original text tells of men’s reasoning ability leaving them as they panic in fear of what they expect is coming on the earth. It is telling of panic and the decisions made. It is speaking of doing things in the short term based on what you feel will happen and in turn produces what a well reasoning mind would have seen as inflicting worse consequences than those used as the original premise. (Do you hear me Glen Beck?)

Here is the passage in Luke 21:
25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men’s hearts failing them (apopsucho) for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up (anakupto), and lift up your heads; for your redemption draws near.
29 And he spoke to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
30 When they now shoot forth, you see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
31 So likewise you, when you see these things come to pass, know you that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

The Greek word for head is kephale, from the primary word kapto. Kapto means to seize, and the relation to the head is in the part most easily seized upon (think rapture evangelicals). Two of the other times the word anakupto is used are in John 8:7 & 10 when telling of the Lord lifting himself up in judgment. This is His demonstrating right judgment in contrasting it with the shortsighted. The shortsighted is the same we see with the self-righteous in our day. They publicly display the past sins of others and in their self-righteousness demand public condemnation (as in some of the commercials run in Utah). Then they define us as not good or real Christians because we refuse to join them in their errors.

John 8 (see verses 7 & 10)
1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what say you?
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those your accusers? has no man condemned you?
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn you: go, and sin no more.
12 Then spoke Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
13 The Pharisees therefore said unto him, You bear record of yourself; your record is not true.
14 Jesus answered and said unto them, Though I bear record of myself, yet my record is true: for I know whence I came, and whither I go; but you cannot tell whence I come, and whither I go.
15 You judge after the flesh; I judge no man.
16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
17 It is also written in your law, that the testimony of two men is true.
18 I am one that bears witness of myself, and the Father that sent me bears witness of me.
19 Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, You neither know me, nor my Father: if you had known me, you should have known my Father also.
20 These words spoke Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.
21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and you shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
22 Then said the Jew (those thinking themselves the true believers), Will he kill himself? because he said, Where I go, ye cannot come.
23 And he said unto them, You are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 I said therefore unto you, that you shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
25 Then said they unto him, Who art you? And Jesus said unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning.
26 I have many things to say and to judge of you: but he that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of him.
27 They understood not that he spoke to them of the Father.
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father has taught me, I speak these things.
29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father has not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him.
30 As he spoke these words, many believed on him.
31 Then said Jesus to those Jews who (actually) believed on him, If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples indeed;
32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
33 They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how say you, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin.
35 And the servant abides not in the house for ever: but the Son abides ever.
36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.
37 I know that you are Abraham’s seed; but you seek to kill me, because my word has no place in you.
38 I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and you do that which ye have seen with your father.
39 They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus said unto them, If you were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.
40 But now you seek to kill me, a man that has told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
41 You do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.
42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, you would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
43 Why do you not understand my speech? even because you cannot hear my word.
44 You are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
45 And because I tell you the truth, you believe me not.
46 Which of you convinces me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do you not believe me?
47 He that is of God hears God’s words: you therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.
48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou are a Samaritan, and has a devil?
49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honor my Father, and you do dishonor me.
50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeks and judges.
51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that you has a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and you say, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
53 Art you greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom make you yourself?
54 Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honors me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
55 Yet you have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, You art not yet fifty years old, and has thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
To all those who believe I say, “Fulfill the perfect law of liberty.”

Galatians 5
14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; You shall love thy neighbor as thyself.
15 But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

Romans 13
1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resists the power, resists the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation.
3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shall have praise of the same:
4 For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he bears not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore you must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake.
6 For for this cause pay you tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves another has fulfilled the law.
9 For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
10 Love works no ill to his neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
11 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put you on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

So the news media, the socialists, communists and the anarchists, the political establishment, the Mormons and the prosperity doctrine evangelicals, and all the other forced redistributionists, are all ferociously calling Trump and anyone who supports him (voting for or not) haters espousing hate. This is the new world these same people have created that demonizes and defines anyone who stands in the way of their self-justified, self-righteous agenda and their chosen and anointed ones. Of course they will all vigorously deny it and tell you of what will happen if we don’t listen to them and do things the way they say. Matthew 24:22 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened. 23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. 25 Behold, I have told you before. 26 Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not. 27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shines even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The Greek word translated above in verse 24 as “false Christs” is pseudochristos. It is a compound word from, pseudo meaning lying to deceive, and anointed. Pseudo literally means to utter an untruth as means to deceive (as in falsely accusing all those who oppose you). Christos is from the word chrio, literally meaning to consecrate someone into an office or religious service.

What we see in the above passage in Matthew 24:27 is the Lord telling of the way to know when the true anointing comes. It doesn’t come from an earthly source. It comes as an enlightening from heaven, and is what the root word that chrio is derived from says. The word is chraomai, and it is telling of knowing it by the effect it has, as the cause being known by the effect. (Matthew 21: 24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? 26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. 27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.) It is telling of seeing the unseen, as in seeing the Spirit light upon someone as a dove, or as in knowing the Sun is in the clouds by the light.

Here is the Strong’s definition of chraomai: to furnish what is needed; (give an oracle, “graze” (touch slightly), light upon, etc.), i.e. (by implication) to employ or (by extension) to act towards one in a given manner.

Job 37
15 Dost thou know when God disposed them, and caused the light of his cloud to shine?
16 Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him which is perfect in knowledge?
17 How thy garments are warm, when he quiets the earth by the south wind?
18 Hast thou with him spread out the sky, which is strong, and as a molten looking glass?
19 Teach us what we shall say unto him; for we cannot order our speech by reason of darkness.
20 Shall it be told him that I speak? if a man speak, surely he shall be swallowed up.
21 And now men see not the bright light which is in the clouds: but the wind passes, and cleanses them.
22 Fair weather cometh out of the north: with God is terrible majesty.
23 Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.
24 Men do therefore fear him: he respects not any that are wise of heart.

The experts can’t understand basic immunology. One of the things that isn’t understood is why at certain points in time the body stops recognizing disease as such and the immune system stops destroying it. In the case of our society here is a loose analogy. We see the same ideas arise that we once dealt with and combated with truth of the consequences. In our time we have eliminated truth and with it any ability to recognize the then combat the disease, and we glorify the injurious consequences. But with continued exposure to dead disease cells eventually comes immunity. That is what we see happening in our society. If we survive the immune response it will be because all the disease has been eliminated before too much of the healthy organs have been damaged. The cure is a well (healthy) reasoning mind untainted by the world (pure heart). The smart cure is to not attack the healthy as we are. Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
My advice is to look to the light and thereby know. Be the poor in spirit (those not thinking they already know it all) and yours is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it gives light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18 For truly I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Revelation 3
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things says he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens;
8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
10 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.
11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
12 Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.
17 Because thou says, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knows not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou may be rich; and white raiment, that thou may be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou may see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches.

John 3
5 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.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind blows where it wills, and thou hears the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knows not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hates the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
24 For John was not yet cast into prison.
25 Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.
26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizes, and all men come to him.
27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifies; and no man receives his testimony.
33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
34 For he whom God hath sent speaks the words of God: for God gives not the Spirit by measure unto him.
35 The Father loves the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abides on him.

Continuing: How is intelligence what is described in the scriptures as the spirit? The answer is in the common aspect of seeing the unseen. It is seeing what isn’t yet seen through an understanding mind, using intellect to assemble the pieces in the abstract. (Suffer with me for just a moment through an analogy: in scripture the number 11 is said to represent confusion. I surmise it is so because it is the first number that can’t be counted using the digits of one’s hands. It can only be counted using abstract thought to add in the next representation and all subsequent. If incapable of doing so all further progress is stifled as one pushes forward in a state of confusion in which values are unable to be comprehended.)

This point of enlightenment when we are changed from the natural man and become the spirit is defined in scripture as our translation. This implies our being changed into a form in which we are able to understand. The Greek word is methistemi (meta-stasis), meaning successions of connected states. This is also telling of a process of cause and its effect.

The word is only once used as “translated.” It is in Colossians 1:13 telling of the process being of hearing and believing. This concept of hearing and it producing a change in man’s thinking pervades the scriptures. The result (effect) is directly related to whom one listens (cause). The only way to overcome this is also ironically connected to whom one listens. Man listening to man’s wisdom (the experts and prognosticators) both keeps man in a state of confusion, or if once enlightened returns him there. (2 Peter 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever. 18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. 20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. 21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. 22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.)

This is the time and state of our world. There is only one way out of the darkness.

Colossians 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and brings forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:
7 As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
8 Who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit.
9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which works in me mightily.

Psalms 121 posted yesterday used the Hebrew word shamar three time translated as “preserve.” It is a primary word meaning to hedge about, as in to guard, protect, or attend to. It would appear to be connected to another primary word, shama, meaning to intelligently hear, often implying acting as result of what is heard. This is what 2 Corinthians 4 is saying when it speaks of the life of Jesus being made manifest in our mortal body. It is telling of our speaking because we have heard and do believe in what we haven’t seen (with our natural eyes) but do understand (with the spiritual eyes of our intellect). Psalms 121 tells us it is the LORD who gives us His understanding if we will listen, and He is the One who preserves us.

Psalms 121
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keeps thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

Men in our time are stirring and agitating other men into violence while these instigators blame those listening to them. These are false prophets telling of coming events they themselves are creating and then claim what they have generated is some sign of their understanding. These are the dogs returned to their own vomit, and to wallowing in the mire they themselves stirred. They are the holier than thou crowd sitting in their closed circle telling each other how holy they are. Therefore the publicans and harlots will enter the kingdom of God before them.

Matthew 21
21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority does thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?
24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.
25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?
26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.
27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.
28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country:
34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another.
36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise.
37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son.
38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him.
40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen?
41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
42 Jesus said unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?
43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spoke of them.
46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

In this context read these following chapters.

2 Corinthians 3
1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?
2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.
7 But if the ministration of death, written and engraved in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not steadfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away:
8 How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
9 For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.
10 For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excels.
11 For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remains is glorious.
12 Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech:
13 And not as Moses, which put a veil over his face, that the children of Israel could not steadfastly look to the end of that which is abolished:
14 But their minds were blinded: for until this day remains the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
15 But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their heart (understanding – reasoning mind).
16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away.
17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 4
1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;
2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:
4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.
8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
10 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.
11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
12 So then death works in us, but life in you.
13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Yesterday we looked at our crossing over (Bethabara beyond Jordan) from being imprisoned by our natural (animal) nature by way of rising to the liberty and life found in the elevation of our intellectual (spirit) nature. In that message was briefly mentioned the Greek word peripoiesis in describing our (humanity) being saved as a result of our first being immersed (baptized) in the Lord’s teaching and it (His mind and therefore Him, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) becoming the foundation upon which all our thought and actions are governed (by the divine mind). Today a deeper look at the word (peripoiesis) as its meaning tells of this process of crossing from death to life (darkness to light).

Peripoiesis is said to mean acquisition, which thereby results in preservation. It is from the compound word peripoiomai, meaning to make around oneself. It is from the words peri, with a root meaning of crossing over as in piercing through something (death); and poieo, meaning to make or do (as in a result – the effect of a cause).

The word peripoiesis is only used five times. The first is in a very descriptive explanation of manner as it is translated as “purchased possessions” while telling of our inheritance after we have been sealed (marked by this baptism of the holy Spirit) after we believed. This appears in Ephesians 1:14 (aphesis – liberty, deliverance, forgiveness, remission – see the two previous posts).

Ephesians 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness (aphesis) of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 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,
14 Which is the earnest (good faith deposit) of our inheritance until the redemption (promised full amount is fulfilled) of the purchased possession (peripoiesis), unto the praise of his glory.
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.

The next time the word is used it is in 1 Thessalonians 5:9 in telling of our being awake and sober, as those who “obtain” salvation.

1 Thessalonians 5
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain (peripoeisis) salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Peripoiesis is translated “obtaining” in 2 Thessalonians 2:14 telling of the glory obtained by those who believe the truth. It tells of overcoming those who sit in the seat of God, opposing this traditional teaching and as what restrains us from elevating our new man. The obtaining is in overcoming those who hold us down. These are the same we are told of in Ephesians 5: “12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

2 Thessalonians 2
1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth (holds down) that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth (holds down) will let (hold down), until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
13 But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining (peripoiesis) of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,
17 Comfort your hearts, and establish (strengthen – turn resolute) you in every good word and work.

The forth use of the word is in Hebrews 10:39 (see previous posts) in telling of our being strengthened and made resolute as we believe to the “saving” of the soul. This is belief in the same truth spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:12 & 13 above. Those who draw back unto perdition (apoleia – lose or ruin, as in not preserved) are the same spoken of above as those who refuse the truth and in doing condemn themselves to forever being held down (imprisoned).

Hebrews 10
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

The fifth and final use of the word is in 1 Peter 2:9 as “peculiar” in defining us as God’s possessions who have come out of darkness into His great light.

1 Peter 2
1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking,
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
7 Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
8 And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar (peripoiesis – acquired) people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.
17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.
18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.
19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judges righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

Psalms 121
1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keeps thee will not slumber.
4 Behold, he that keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.
6 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.

2 Peter 2
1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who secretly shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingers not, and their damnation slumbers not.
4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
9 The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.
12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;
13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;
14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:
15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor (who cursing the people God chose), who loved the wages of unrighteousness;
16 But was rebuked for his iniquity by a dumb (jack)ass speaking with man’s voice, which forbad (told him not to go that way because he saw the angel of the LORD) the madness of the prophet (false prophet who sold his soul).
17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.
18 For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
20 For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.
22 But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

Continuing from yesterday and the idea of our being saved by first being thoroughly submersed (baptized) in the teaching of the Lord and then preserved (saved – peripoiesis) as it permeates our thinking and becomes the foundation of our comprehension of existence. As we saw in the previous post, this is our being born again as our natural mind is overwritten with the new nature of the spirit man, the spirit man being that which now understanding the underlying spirit (God’s intention in His creating us). In this man willfully subordinates his animal desires and the ensuing reflex actions, and elevates his new nature of understanding the consequences of his actions on others individually and society in general (the general welfare). We understand this as the formula of liberty and optimal civilization by self-government. This is the state of general welfare our form of government was intended to promote as its intention. It is founded in government that protects and defends the God given rights of all, rich or poor, equally as we live in this state of liberty, and pursue happiness (generally – generic, as in all without distinction).

Now is a good time to be reminded of the definition of the word general.

From Merriam-Webster:
1: involving, applicable to, or affecting the whole
2: involving, relating to, or applicable to every member of a class, kind, or group <the general equation of a straight line>
3: not confined by specialization or careful limitation
4: belonging to the common nature of a group of like individuals : generic
5a : applicable to or characteristic of the majority of individuals involved : prevalent
b : concerned or dealing with universal rather than particular aspects
6: relating to, determined by, or concerned with main elements rather than limited details <bearing a general resemblance to the original>
7: holding superior rank or taking precedence over others similarly titled <the general manager>

This takes us to the idea and meaning of the word welfare. Here is the traditional meaning of the word before it took on its modern meaning of government payments in exchange for votes: “The state of doing well especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, well-being, or prosperity.”

The inevitable next question is, does our government in its current corrupted form resulted in good fortune, happiness, wellbeing, or prosperity? This is a question that relates to one of the points from yesterday and it as necessity for living in a state of reality as the basis for right reasoning. When answering the above question we must do it in the context of the general cause and effect, government as cause in its current roll as the major influencing factor in all aspects mentioned and being therefore and logically the producer of the effect.

Again, it’s a good time to remind ourselves of the definition of intelligence as what separates us not only from all other animals but also as what separates us from our own inner animal nature. It is an endowment of our creation that is only of value to us if we use it. It is also a fact, proven by the evidence seen the effect, we live in a world that reject its qualities in all aspects relating to what actually influence our civilization (security in good fortune, happiness, well-being, or prosperity). The world we live in judges by measuring the external while the internal declines into a state of chaos.

Here are a few definitions again from Merriam-Webster:

Intelligence:
1a (1) : the ability to learn or understand or to deal with new or trying situations : reason; also : the skilled use of reason (2) : the ability to apply knowledge to manipulate one’s environment or to think abstractly as measured by objective criteria (as tests)
b : Christian Science : the basic eternal quality of divine Mind
c : mental acuteness : shrewdness
2a : an intelligent entity; especially : angel
b : intelligent minds or mind <cosmic intelligence>

Intellect:
1a : the power of knowing as distinguished from the power to feel and to will : the capacity for knowledge
b : the capacity for rational or intelligent thought especially when highly developed
2: a person with great intellectual powers

How has the government declined into its current state of total corruption? Here it is again in the words of Calvin Coolidge as he warns that all the prosperity and advancement would become nothing more than a “barren scepter in our hand.” He was saying this in reference to the move then underway toward socialist ideas. What we see (evidence) is this move having been planted now in full fruit. It by necessity having destroyed well reasoned thought by intention now leaves man unable to understand the situation he finds himself in. Without an ability to understand or even acknowledge reality he is unable to properly evaluate and therefore use his intellectual capacity to overcome his environment. This is what Coolidge also told of when he said the ideas that were attempting to supplant those of our founding where not “progress” as their champions espoused, but rather devolution into a former less civilized time and state.

We would all do well in reading again and understanding at least the closing paragraphs of president Coolidge’s speech. It was given on July 5th, 1926 in commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

” We are too prone to overlook another conclusion. Governments do not make ideals, but ideals make governments. This is both historically and logically true. Of course the government can help to sustain ideals and can create institutions through which they can be the better observed, but their source by their very nature is in the people. The people have to bear their own responsibilities. There is no method by which that burden can be shifted to the government. It is not the enactment, but the observance of laws, that creates the character of a nation.

About the Declaration there is a finality that is exceedingly restful. It is often asserted that the world has made a great deal of progress since 1776, that we have had new thoughts and new experiences which have given us a great advance over the people of that day, and that we may therefore very well discard their conclusions for something more modern. But that reasoning can not be applied to this great charter. If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions. If anyone wishes to deny their truth or their soundness, the only direction in which he can proceed historically is not forward, but backward toward the time when there was no equality, no rights of the individual, no rule of the people. Those who wish to proceed in that direction can not lay claim to progress. They are reactionary. Their ideas are not more modern, but more ancient, than those of the Revolutionary fathers.

In the development of its institutions America can fairly claim that it has remained true to the principles which were declared 150 years ago. In all the essentials we have achieved an equality which was never possessed by any other people. Even in the less important matter of material possessions we have secured a wider and wider distribution of wealth. The rights of the individual are held sacred and protected by constitutional guaranties which even the Government itself is bound not to violate. If there is any one thing among us that is established beyond question, it is self-government – the right of the people to rule. If there is any failure in respect to any of these principles, it is because there is a failure on the part of individuals to observe them. We hold that the duly authorized expression of the will of the people has a divine sanction. But even in that we come back to the theory of John Wise that “Democracy is Christ’s government * * *.” The ultimate sanction of law rests on the righteous authority of the Almighty.

On an occasion like this great temptation exists to present evidence of the practical success of our form of democratic republic at home and the ever-broadening acceptance it is securing abroad. Although these things are well known, their frequent consideration is an encouragement and an inspiration. But it is not results and effects so much as sources and causes that I believe it is even more necessary constantly to contemplate. Ours is a government of the people. It represents their will. Its officers may sometimes go astray, but that is not a reason for criticizing the principles of our institutions. The real heart of the American Government depends upon the heart of the people. It is from that source that we must look for all genuine reform. It is to that cause that we must ascribe all our results.
It was in the contemplation of these truths that the fathers made their declaration and adopted their Constitution. It was to establish a free government, which must not be permitted to degenerate into the unrestrained authority of a mere majority or the unbridled weight of a mere influential few. They undertook to balance these interests against each other and provide the three separate independent branches, the executive, the legislative, and the judicial departments of the Government, with checks against each other in order that neither one might encroach upon the other. These are our guarantees of liberty. As a result of these methods enterprise has been duly protected from confiscation, the people have been free from oppression, and there has been an ever-broadening and deepening of the humanities of life.

Under a system of popular government there will always be those who will seek for political preferment by clamoring for reform. While there is very little of this which is not sincere, there is a large portion that is not well informed. In my opinion very little of just criticism can attach to the theories and principles of our institutions. There is far more danger of harm than there is hope of good in any radical changes. We do need a better understanding and comprehension of them and a better knowledge of the foundations of government in general. Our forefathers came to certain conclusions and decided upon certain courses of action which have been a great blessing to the world. Before we can understand their conclusions we must go back and review the course which they followed. We must think the thoughts which they thought. Their intellectual life centered around the meetinghouse. They were intent upon religious worship. While there were always among them men of deep learning, and later those who had comparatively large possessions, the mind of the people was not so much engrossed in how much they knew, or how much they had, as in how they were going to live. While scantily provided with other literature, there was a wide acquaintance with the Scriptures. Over a period as great as that which measures the existence of our independence they were subject to this discipline not only in their religious life and educational training, but also in their political thought. They were a people who came under the influence of a great spiritual development and acquired a great moral power.

No other theory is adequate to explain or comprehend the Declaration of Independence. It is the product of the spiritual insight of the people. We live in an age of science and of abounding accumulation of material things. These did not create our Declaration. Our Declaration created them. The things of the spirit come first. Unless we cling to that, all our material prosperity, overwhelming though it may appear, will turn to a barren scepter in our grasp. If we are to maintain the great heritage which has been bequeathed to us, we must be like-minded as the fathers who created it. We must not sink into a pagan materialism. We must cultivate the reverence which they had for the things that are holy. We must follow the spiritual and moral leadership which they showed. We must keep replenished, that they may glow with a more compelling flame, the altar fires before which they worshiped.”

Today (again) a brief examination of true liberty founded in self-control, and it as the result of a well (healthy) reasoning mind. It is the internal state of order that comes independent of external events. It is intellect that overcomes the reflex action of the inner human animal nature, and what enables man to be civilized (able to live in peace with other humans). Civilization can’t be produced by altering the external adorning (kosmos), but rather only with a mind that is able to understand and reason existence. In other words you can’t give people stuff to make them content. Contentment is a state of mind that comes from understanding cause and effect and these as laws that cannot be overcome. This understanding, as it relates to contentment, is in realization that the only thing a person can control is themselves and their reaction to the external events. You can’t control incoming cause only the reaction as effect. The laws of nature and nature’s God are what define action and reactions, which are the whole duty of civilized man. This is the mind (id-entity) of Christ (born again and overwriting our animal nature), and is also foolishness to those who refuse to live by it (because it include self-sacrifice (self-subordination, as in subordination of the animal man to the spirit)).

The point is this is what we see in the never-ending discontent of those who are fixated on things rather than acknowledging the self-evident truth as it manifests before their eyes. They are forever stirred and agitated by assertions they are being denied something and the lies that they will be content if they get it. They are never content and only pacified during the momentary intoxication if they do get what they want. This itself proves a self-evident truth that says happiness is what is to be pursued, and it shouldn’t be confused with intoxication that comes from satisfying something lusted for. This experience (experiment) repeats over and over as those caught in the decline know something is wrong but are imprisoned by believing wants are needs. They refuse to admit they are destroying themself and everything they contact. The destruction itself becomes to them intoxicating. Either way it is always destruction.

The evil is in those who, in politics and religion, use agitation and the resulting misery to fulfill and perpetuate their self-centered lust for power and the intoxication that accompanies it. All the while claiming themselves the most righteous (saying, get away from me, because I am holier than thou).

Yesterday’s post includes a passage from Acts 2 wherein Peter speaks of this very subject. The post included a more descriptive translation of several words to highlight their deeper meaning. Here is the portion of today’s focus followed by the same verses as they appear in the King James Version.
Acts 2
38 Then Peter said unto them, return to place you departed, and be submersed every one of you in the id-entity of Jesus Christ and be released from the imprisonment of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this generation gone astray.

Acts 2 (KJV)
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

The Greek word translated “remission” in verse 38 above is aphesis, also translated as deliverance, forgiveness, and liberty. The word is used twice when recording the Lord’s quoting from Isaiah 61:1 & 2 in Luke 4:18. It is translated as “deliverance” and “liberty.”

Luke 4
17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
Here is the full chapter of Isaiah.

Isaiah 61
1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
8 For I the Lord love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the Lord hath blessed.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth brings forth her bud, and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

The final time the word aphesis is used is in Hebrews 10:18 in warning of this being the conclusion and totality of the message. It is the work of the Holy Spirit and there is no recovering from rejecting it. This is what we are told when aphesis is translated as “forgiveness” in telling us that blasphemy (vilification) against the Holy Spirit will result in never-ending imprisonment (liberty being impossible if this teaching is rejected and vilified).

Mark 3:29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation.

Hebrews 10 (see verse 18)
1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.
2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
3 But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.
4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he says, Sacrifice and offering thou would not, but a body hast thou prepared me:
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.
7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.
8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou would not, neither have pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;
9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He takes away the first, that he may establish the second.
10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 And every priest stands daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.
14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.
15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,
16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.
23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins,
27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:
29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongs unto me, I will recompense, says the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.
31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
32 But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions;
33 Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used.
34 For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.
35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great compensation of reward.
36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Let’s begin with the article that briefly appeared as Drudge’s headline yesterday. It told of the Cruz’s beliefs as described by the elder Cruz during a 2012 sermon. The article included a linked video of the sermon in which Cruz the elder defines their belief in the end times being when an anointed leader comes and takes power over the nation (and the world) and presides over a massive wealth transfer from the wicked to the righteous. They define Cruz the younger as being proven as the “anointed” one by his then recent election to the Senate.

The anchor verse Cruz uses in his videoed sermon is Proverbs 13:22, which he quotes as saying, “The wealth of the wicked is stored for the righteous.” The sermons goes on to describe this as them being those who will take charge of the wealth of the wicked, as “God’s bankers,” and will be those who will redistribute it to who they define as the righteous.

The article was quickly removed from Drudge. In this and other cases it has been suppressed with all the effectiveness of those covering up any truth about Obama’s church, and its similar beliefs in the same Prosperity Doctrine. It is forced redistribution that takes from those who it defines as the transgressors (wicked).

This is where Cruz’s and any doctrine such as this becomes a threat to our form of Constitutional Government. Cruz cannot believe in forced redistribution and also believe in the Constitution’s vigorous enforcement at the same time. His beliefs rest in a forced compliance by extra Constitutional means and such force is more reminiscent of Islam than any form of Christianity my Lord preached. It totally violates the Lord’s message I have been preaching of civilization by mutual respect founded in reciprocal security (see previous posts).

These above aspects create a paradox for those who believe in Cruz. They claim any who refuse to follow their “anointed one” are by this as definition proving to be the wicked. Is this the same aspect and evidence they will use to decide who the “wicked” are when they are appointed over us?

In recent days Rush has described a conversation he had with Cruz some time prior to his beginning his run for the presidency. In this conversation Cruz described his strategy for winning as including energizing those evangelicals who sat out the 2012 election and thereby allowed Obama to win reelection to the presidency. This is at the root of defining who the wicked are and the intensity of their accusations against them. There must be demons to fight against as they are doing “God’s will,” and any who stand against them must necessarily be anti-God.

So enters Glen Beck, also member of a church that believes it has a valid claim to rule over the nation and the world. Beck has been one the loudest voices in the community of these believers stirred and agitated into the hate against any who refuse to submit. We also now see the final effects as the leftist and anarchists join them in destroying the threat to their savior. This is how Cruz and Beck agitate (manipulate) evangelicals to vote. Set the fire and step back and watch it burn.

One of the reasons I recently stopped supporting Cruz are the above contradiction and the underlying truth found. As with so many other TV preachers he seems to believe they have a right to say what ever it takes to separate people from their money. The other common trait is all doctrine becomes subordinate and malleable toward their elevation, and any who speak against them are the devil.

I know this will draw the scorn and demonization as described above. This is not my intention but rather I seek to open the eyes of the blind. I think those who believe what they believe will believe what they believe. I think we are headed for a Trump win in the primary followed by Cruz’s followers sabotaging the general election. They will vengefully attempt to assure their predictions come true as they attempt to hand power again to the leftists and socialist to prove their self-fulfilling prophesy to be true.

I will close with another proverb directed to Cruz, Beck and their believers.

Proverbs 26:24 He that hates dissembles with his lips, and lays up deceit within him; 25 When he speaks fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. 26 Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be showed before the whole congregation. 27 Whoso digs a pit shall fall therein: and he that rolls a stone, it will return upon him. 28 A lying tongue hates those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Mark 8:34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

Revelation 22
1 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.
2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.
3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:
4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God gives them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
6 And he said unto me, These sayings are faithful and true: and the Lord God of the holy prophets sent his angel to show unto his servants the things which must shortly be done.
7 Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keeps the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
8 And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things.
9 Then said he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow-servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
10 And he said unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.
16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that hears say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
18 For I testify unto every man that hears the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
20 He which testifies these things says, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

http://theconservativetreehouse.com/2016/01/17/ted-cruzs-father-my-son-anointed-to-take-control-of-society/

What is more important, to be able to repeat issue points in exactly the way that your followers want to hear them or to have a pure heart? The regurgitation of the issues is in form merely spouting laws, while a pure heart understands the underlying intention the statement’s implementation is meant to achieve. Re-cognition is much better than memorization. It is the difference between superficial and depth in comprehension. It is the dividing line between the establishment, having self-ascended into control over the process and an infallible entitlement to administer and promulgate their specific form, and the pure purpose of the original intent.

When we discuss the “establishment” this is what is meant. This is how we can see the neo-establishment (the Beck, Cruz, Tea-evangelical wing) becoming so caught up in implementing their form, only accepting people using all the right words to show they are members of their enlightened group, devolved into being exactly opposite what they claim as their intentions. They are slave to the process as defined by them and to hell with anyone who disagrees.

This inevitably takes us to 1 Corinthians 13 and it speaking of all the things that will fail, and of charity that will never fail. Once again we need to be reminded of what this word means. It is the Greek word agape, from the word agapao. The meaning is said only to be love as in a benevolent or moral sense. In studying the word it appears it could be a derivative of ago and apo. Ago has the meaning of leading, and apo means to take off or away. This understanding gives agape a meaning of removing or taking something by leading to do so.

The above meaning is what Christ did for us and we are called to do for others. It is found in the second of the two great commandments. The idea is also found in Ephesians 4:8 as it quotes Psalms 68:18 (taking (leading) captivity captive).

In Matthew 22 when the Lord tells of the two great commandments He concludes His statement with telling that all the Law and the Prophets hang on these. As we have looked at in the past, the word “hang” is from the Greek word kremannumi. It is the word used to describe the Lord’s being “hanged” on a tree. The word literally means suspended. The Lord is telling of many things in using this one word. It is the suspension of the sentence against us, and is conversely the suspension of our entering the kingdom until we realize this underlying principle. The primary point of the Law and the Prophets is to get us to the point of understanding the prime intention.

Matthew 24
31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.
33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
34 But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together.
35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.
43 He said unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,
44 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?
45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

There are none as blind as those who refuse to see. (They don’t need to see, they already know everything. They only lack one thing, the mind of Christ.)

The idea of the Law and the Prophets hanging on “charity” is the full understanding of loving God and our neighbor as our self. It is God who teaches us this way and in loving Him we love, honor, and obey His commandment to love our neighbor. (Again it is our being taught the way to New Jerusalem. As we have studied many times, Jerusalem is from yarah and shalam. Yarah meaning to flow, figuratively meaning to teach and being founded upon such teaching. It represents the prime teaching of God as it flows directly from Him (the water of Shiloah that flow under Zion). Shalam is peace found in mutual security in life, liberty and estate. It is reciprocal respect between people.)

1 Corinthians 13
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing.
4 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;
6 Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 Bears all things, believeth all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Charity never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
13 And now abides faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

The idea in Ephesians 4:8 is explaining what holds us captive is superficially knowing words and able to repeat them, but failing to understand and therefor act out their pure intention. This is what the teaching of Christ does; it takes captive what has taken us captive.

Ephesians 4
1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he says, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9 (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, makes increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.
17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
19 Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
20 But ye have not so learned Christ;
21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.
26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
27 Neither give place to the devil.
28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needs.
29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

Psalms 68
1 Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.
2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melt before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.
3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice.
4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rides upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him.
5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
6 God sets the solitary in families: he brings out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
7 O God, when thou went forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:
8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
9 Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, whereby thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.
10 Thy congregation hath dwelt therein: thou, O God, hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor.
11 The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.
12 Kings of armies did flee apace: and she that tarried at home divided the spoil.
13 Though ye have lien among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.
14 When the Almighty scattered kings in it, it was white as snow in Salmon.
15 The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.
16 Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desires to dwell in; yea, the Lord will dwell in it for ever.
17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place.
18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them.
19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto God the Lord belong the issues from death.
21 But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.
22 The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring my people again from the depths of the sea:
23 That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies, and the tongue of thy dogs in the same.
24 They have seen thy goings, O God; even the goings of my God, my King, in the sanctuary.
25 The singers went before, the players on instruments followed after; among them were the damsels playing with timbrels.
26 Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, from the fountain of Israel.
27 There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.
28 Thy God hath commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.
29 Because of thy temple at Jerusalem shall kings bring presents unto thee.
30 Rebuke the company of spearmen, the multitude of the bulls, with the calves of the people, till every one submit himself with pieces of silver: scatter thou the people that delight in war.
31 Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
32 Sing unto God, ye kingdoms of the earth; O sing praises unto the Lord; Selah:
33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice.
34 Ascribe ye strength unto God: his excellency is over Israel, and his strength is in the clouds.
35 O God, thou art terrible out of thy holy places: the God of Israel is he that giveth strength and power unto his people. Blessed be God.