Inspiration – Page 2 – James G. Owen, Author

God’s Glory in Light

We all have seen light in different forms. As we look into the sunlight, we know its bright and our blinded eyes will feel the effect, yet that light can be filtered to soft light and by its angle in the early morning as it rises upon the horizon. God’s light I imagine is bright, so bright that man would not be able to stand in his presence because of our corruptibility, but one day we will see Jesus, and our spirits will be fixed so that we can see God in his fullness. In this devotional I have given different ways of God’s glory in Light. Read on and enjoy.

First, God’s glory and the description of his glory is vast and deep. In 1 John 1:5, we read this about God’s glory.

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

There is no darkness in him because darkness in death. In his light there is light, hope, strength, love, confidence, mercy, grace, and faith. All of these are given to man if we are in communion with the Father.

God’s glory came to three of the disciples, James, Peter, and John, who were with Jesus upon the Mount of Configuration when Jesus was being strengthened before his death on the Cross. God came to them in a bright cloud and a voice came from the cloud. In Matthew 17:5 we read this from scripture.

“While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”

God’s glory came to the shepherds and encapsulated them. His glory was all around them, and they were able to see and sense his glory, the reason they were afraid. His glory came in the form of an angel. Sitting here in my chair I am thinking God’s glory was working through the angel in order to be seen. I am thinking of Moses who could not see God’s face and live in the moment, and this is the reason for my thought. In Luke 2:9 tells this:

“And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.”

God’s glory was seen upon Mount Sinai, also known as Mount Horeb, and people could hear the voice of God. They looked up and could see his fire. Deuteronomy 5;24 gives evidence of this scene.

^“And ye said, Behold, the Lord our God hath shewed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire: we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth.”

Lastly for this devotional, God’s glory is seen through his Son Jesus. Jesus is the light sent to this earth to redeem man, and to provide salvation for man’s soul. Also, Jesus is the image of God. Some of the attributes of God seen in Jesus that I will give here to furtherance his image of God are light, holiness, anointing, and perfection. In 2 Corinthians 4:4

“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.”

Jesus, the light of the world came to us, spent time with man, and he shared his word with his disciples so that his ministry and gospel would go on so that all men may hear, many to be drawn to his presence and experience his glory. Jesus was God coming to man giving hope to all that were downtrodden. When you think of God’s glory you will be thinking of Jesus.

Notes:

All scripture used is from the King James Version, Public Domain, Biblegateway

The Glory Shield

In the year 2019 in about the early Fall I believe, my pastor prophesied over me that God wanted me to write a book on the Glory of God. Soon after this prophesy, I began the study on the glory of God. My studies went into the hundreds of scriptures seems like and I sat and listened to God’s voice. I have several pages in my diary type notebook on this subject. Since I have done the study, I have not started on a book but began on other studies. As we are currently in a pandemic, I thought I would begin to share my thoughts, what I believe God has laid on my heart. I will do my best to relate to you these thoughts and lay out my heart to you. Now more than ever this study is needed to impart to the people. As devotionals go, they are small chunks of study in scripture. Small chunks that we can chew on during the day as we work, stay at home doing chores, or whatever we want to fill our days. I will give two chunks to think on and I do suggest and invite you to investigate the scripture I will give, and to think for yourself. To think as we read scripture is vital and then stopping to meditate and reflect on what we read because during this time God may lay something on your heart that is pertinent to your personal life.

First, let’s investigate Psalm 104:1-3.

“Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.

Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain:

Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters: who maketh the clouds his chariot: who walketh upon the wings of the wind:

His glory is described in these three verses as honor, majesty, and light. To expound on these three aspects of his glory would be to define them. Honor is seen has having a good name. God in his attribute’s integrity is what comes to mind, and purity. His manner and ways show perfection as well. In majesty he is sovereign, supreme, and has dominion over everything. His sovereignty is stated in his name, and that name is I AM. The I AM is described many times in the book of John and is his son Jesus. There is no other God. He is all there is, and he was at the beginning and will be at the end. He is everlasting. He is light, and this is the way glory has been taught from the pulpits. His light radiates and permeates everything, and he is everywhere at the same time. Our God is awesome and a big God. He controls everything and his glory is seen everywhere we look on earth. In this scripture his light reflects from the surface of the water. Even his light was seen through his son Jesus. His glory is everywhere!

Secondly, his glory is a shield. In Psalm 84:11 this is what he says to all men.

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

In his shield of glory is light. He imparts his light through his grace, in unmerited favor to us, and he provided salvation to us through a man that was promised to us as a messiah in Genesis 3:15. This salvation came to us as a messiah for all mankind to believe upon him that he is able to forgive sin, and to conquer death. Death being the result of sin. He gave us grace and salvation because of his love for us.

He is a shield for those who know him, who know his son Jesus. A protector in time of trouble just as Psalm 3:3 says,

“But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.”

Through his wisdom, and glory he imparts to us knowledge of a shield of faith. It is in Ephesians 6 that we come to the knowledge of the shield of faith and the armor that we must put on everyday to fight life’s spiritual battles. During my study I looked at the Greek word for faith. Pistis which is found in Strong’s Greek lexicon as SG 4102 defining it as persuasion, to come to trust, having confidence, a guarantee, a revelation, and a reflection of the redeemed. What do you think when you read this definition? God tells us to enact our faith and that through his son Jesus’s name that we defeat the plans of Satan because we believe and have the confidence that what we spoke will come to pass. It is a demonstration that we have placed our trust in God. Sometimes when we enact our faith we will prophesy, give exhortations to encourage others, and having faith shows that we are his children.

As I studied on this last year, this is the thought that came to me on a Sunday morning. That thought is that his shield that we pick up is part of his glory. I saw this shield as a diamond shape with four points. At the top was his name, that is Jesus. To the right was power, to the bottom of the diamond I saw His light which incurs life, knowledge, wisdom, and these four aspects gave us the courage and strength to stand, to endure, knowing that the battles we face the victory has been assured because of our trust and faith in him. On the left part of the diamond I saw authority, and in my notes, I have 2 Corinthians 1:24, which is:

“Not for that we have dominion over your faith but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.”

It is by our faith we find the courage, strength, and trust to endure anything that we will face now in the times we are living and in the future.

In conclusion, I have given you a lot to think on. Sit and read. Pray and let all this sink in and let God speak to your heart. Tell him what you need. Tell him your heart. Ask him to give you everything you need to pick up the shield of faith and glory. Ask him to protect you and walk with you. He will go before you.

Notes:

All scripture used was taken from the King James Version, Public Domain, Biblegateway.

Strong’s Lexicon of Hebrew and Greek.

Troubles and Trials Shall Come, but there is Rest from the Storm

As I have spent my day listening to videos and taking care of needful things, my spirit hears the psalmist who wrote the 23rd Psalm. Who was this psalmist? He is a boy who defeated a giant, and grew to become king.

My thoughts on this psalm is how good God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has been good to me. I have had many troubles, trials, temptations, and the stress that life brings, but I am still here on Earth to testify that God gives peace and rest from all life’s storms.

God is my shepherd. One I can count on to come to me when I am in trouble, and always hears my cries. He is a father to me, and I am his child. He hears my distress in my voice, turns his ear, and says, “what is it my child?” I know I can trust God and tell him all my troubles because I have done so before, and he has always brought me through. God encompasses about me, protects me each day because I live in his covenant as a tithing, born again disciple. He is with me when I need and ask for knowledge, understanding, and wisdom so that I can mature and grow spiritually.

Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;
He leadeth me beside ^[a]still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He guideth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psalm 23: 1-3 ASV

God, my father and I have a special place we can go, a quiet place of my choosing, whether it be in the woods, my bedroom, or under my tallit. A place to listen to him after I have emptied my heart before him, and in this place I can find peace, and rest from the stress, the trouble that the devil has put me through, and also the distress I placed on myself.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of
he shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; for thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23: 4 ASV

He provides for me in every way, forgives, and restores me. He sets my feet again on the path of righteousness when I make a mistake, or sin, and I ask him to forgive me once again. There are times I find myself in darkness because of the sin when I stumble.

Trials come, and trials go, and I have learned to keep my eyes forward so that soon the trial will cease. These trials are learning periods of hard knocks which gives me the experience to teach others, and to steer them away from the path I sorrowfully took, so that these students will not go the path I once traveled.

He sets before me a table to dine, with fine linen cloth and tableware and treating me as royalty showing me grace, mercy, and love. My enemies observes his goodness and kindness by the actions of my living, and my light shines before men.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Thou hast anointed my head with oil;
My cup runneth over.
Psalm 23:5 ASV

Surely goodness and lovingkindness shall follow me all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah ^[d]for ever.
Psalm 23:6 ASV

His love is forever, and I have favor as long as I stay in his covenant, revere, and respect him by obedience in keeping his covenant. Jehovah is my Lord, my Savior, and his son is the Messiah. Forever will I trust, love, and praise his name for the peace of knowing I will reach heaven.

Notes:

All scripture given has been taken from the American Standard Version, Public Domain, Biblegateway.

Receiving the Wisdom of God

How do we receive wisdom from God? First, we must make repentance to God-the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob asking him to forgive us of our sins—to remove all the evil deeds we have done in our lives. In Hebrew, this would be teshuvah. We are to establish a relationship with him in righteousness, and to be able to receive anything we desire from him by asking. For sinful men, women, and children will not receive from God when we are living in sin.

After repentance and forgiveness is established in our hearts, we begin by listening to God as we pray, obeying his commandments, and what he tells us to do when he speaks to us. We must hide his word in our hearts, and we do this by serious study, memorization of scripture, and breaking down the passages to understand and find the meaning as it applies to our lives by meditating. If we do not understand what we are reading, then we can ask God to give us the meaning and learn by his Holy Spirit. For he will reveal it to us. So, stop and listen. If it doesn’t come soon, then think about it during the day.

Keep God and his word on your mind. As I read a scripture I may think about it during the day to see what God is going to say to me, or place a thought in my mind that I haven’t thought of before, and be prayerful throughout the day by unceasing prayer. Find moments during the day to pray privately, or voice a whisper as you go along. Apply his word in your heart and you will begin to understand.

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
Proverbs 2:1-3 KJV

Ask God for wisdom and understanding. Maintain these gifts by daily scripture readings, daily prayer, and keeping the line of communication open. Listen for his voice, or any other means in which he will speak to you. It may come through an audible voice, a voice that seems like someone is there but not, or he may choose dreams that usually occur in the last portion of the morning, being 0300 am to 0600 am before sunrise.

As you gain wisdom and understanding, you will find that you understand the reverence of God. As you become closer to him in a relationship to him, you will discover you understand him more and his knowledge. For he speaks to us as a father would speak to his children in instruction, and we gain from his experiences, knowledge, and wisdom. As we walk with God in righteousness and holiness we will understand his law, righteousness, and his judgments. We will discover we have discernment and know what is sin and what is not. We will know the path to walk because of our conscience leading us telling us right from wrong.

If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.
For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
Proverbs 2: 4-7 KJV

So, how do we know when wisdom is present? Discretion will commence and subsist. It will subsist as long as we are walking in righteousness. This discretion will deliver us from evil, and that means listening to his Holy Spirit, the visions he gives us, and instructions from his messengers.

He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
Proverbs 2:8-11 KJV

As we establish a relationship with God and we repent of our sins, we must not look backward any longer. For he forgave us, delivered us, and over time will bring us to maturity through hardships, troubles and trials, that will cause us to grow so that we may open new doors of spiritual opportunity for us with him. Through all of this is how we receive the wisdom of God.

Notes:

All scripture is taken from the King James Version Public Domain Biblegateway.

The Discovery of God’s Wonderful Plan of Forgiveness and Restoration

Everyday someone is looking for a discovery that one can apply to their life that will make their life meaningful with a destiny and purpose. Many look for years, but their answer may be in their bookshelf, a bookstore, church, or a friend who has discovered their destiny and purpose. Usually, it is the latter for people are social, and when they make a wonderful discovery they must run to tell it to others. Such is the discovery we will find in God’s plan of forgiveness and restoration. A wonderful plan, and a plan of beauty.

Beginning, God made a promise to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:15, that he will put enmity between the seed of Satan and the seed of Eve, and this seed will bruise the head of Satan, and Satan will only bruise the enmity’s heel. Here, we see a promise of a messiah, that he is more powerful than Satan because it tells of Satan’s defeat, that is, in bruising Satan’s head. The bruising I believe is a physical strike against one another. Who is this enmity? We find out later in the New Testament that he is the Messiah Jesus.

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Genesis 3:15 KJV

God’s plan of Salvation was shown in scripture by Jesus going about healing, delivering, forgiving, and resurrecting within the land of Israel, mostly in the land of Galilee. In reading scripture we will see symbolism that shows that God feeds his children with physical food, but there is the feeding of one’s soul spiritually by the teaching of his commandments of the Torah, or the first five books of the Old Testament. Jesus’s name in Hebrew is yeshua, meaning to save, deliver, and redeem. All three are within God’s plan. How so? In Isaiah 61:1, Jesus quotes this verse to the synagogue in Nazareth and proclaims he is the messiah, that he is anointed to bring good news to the poor, bind up the broken-hearted, and proclaim freedom to those held captive in sin and darkness.

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;
Isaiah 61:1 KJV

How did God in his plan bring about salvation that will provide forgiveness and restoration? He tells us that he loved us so much that he gave his son to die for us as a sacrifice, to shed his blood, blood that was not defiled by sin because this man was conceived of the Holy Ghost and Mary. Therefore, he was the perfect sacrifice because man’s seed was defiled by sin. He brought salvation to us through his blood by dying on a cross for all mankind. Only a pure source could be the sacrifice. If we believe upon Jesus who died for us on the cross we then will be saved, just like the thief on a cross next to Jesus who asked to be in paradise when Jesus came into his kingdom.

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.
John 3:16 KJV

How does forgiveness lead to restoration? When we are forgiven by God we will notice that a change has occurred within our spirit. Afterward, we know we must walk a different path, and to get into fellowship with other disciples of Jesus by attending church and fellowship to continue to grow. Many of us have had problems of addiction, sinned by adultery and fornication, bad relationships that has left us broken and hurt. All of this mess can lead to long term healing because it is emotional stress, guilt, and shame. We must be loved by others who have walked this path and have overcome all of it. What must we do? Stay on the road to restoration because God has a plan for us to bring us into hope and a purpose in our future. That plan is for us to work for his kingdom to bring others into it and to keep others from spending eternity in spiritual death in a place we all have heard of as hell. He uses our talents and gifts to minister to one another in order to fulfill our destiny. And remember this, going through restoration God will never leave you, nor forsake you. When we make the habit of reading God’s word to grow spiritually we will find that there will be times of difficulty, but don’t despair because these difficulties, or trials are designed to strengthen us and to bring us into a greater anointing and to a different fork on our road to restoration and spiritual perfection.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

Within this plan I see the beauty of God’s love, a wonderful plan that God brings us from a sinful, irreparable state to one of redemption, perfection, and life! We cannot do all of this along for it takes digesting God’s word —the Bible, prayer, and the counsel of godly friends and pastors. All we have to do is to have faith, walk the road of righteousness, and the mindset that we will make it, we will win the race and prove God’s wonderful plan of forgiveness and restoration.

Notes: All scripture given is taken from the King James Version Public Domain Biblegateway.

Listen Closely To What You Hear

In this world we are living in we must listen closely. We hear many things during the day by listening to people while at work or school, or we may be listening to TV show for news or an opinion. Truth may be spoken, or untruth. Whatever we hear we must think and begin to discern what is right or wrong. We must ask the question, what I heard is it true? Or is it wrong? We might say to ourselves that doesn’t sound right, or it makes me feel funny. My gut is telling me to go do some research and read up on the subject. We may find that we will have to read past history to understand an issue that we heard people talk about. We must be on our game.

And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
²And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
Mark 4:21-24 KJV

We must show integrity when we talk to people because they may be activating the principles in the above paragraph. As Christians we must test the spirit to see if it is true, and to go to scripture to rightly divide. We must be alert because of the things we hear in this world is untrue. As a conversation is started we must tell the truth and project it. We must let our light shine while showing love and kindness to the world. We may encounter a sour spirit, or be contested when we speak the truths of God, but we must also be aware that the tests that come is telling us we are imparting truth, and these spirits do not like it. When people talk take note of their countenance. Through the eyes and the facial expressions will give you clues to whether what you are hearing is true, and whether or not they are of God’s kingdom. Make sure your countenance and your moods reflect the love of God as well, and that the word you have for that day for certain people is well received.

Those of us who are faithful and are walking in the righteousness of God must tune our spiritual ears, our spirits to hear God’s voice as he speaks to our minds—our souls. As God speaks he will give you sound bites, a measure of a word to give to people that speaks for them at a specific time.

We are to be careful of what we listen to because within a news story, a conversation, or just a sentence may vex, or upset your spirit, and you may lock down on that message and continue to play that over and over because it may offend you, or your heart is studying for the reason it was told to you. It may come to you in a manner that is unintended of offense, or deliberately. So listen closely to what you hear and receive. Truth can be spoken boldly, but propaganda can also be spoken boldly to gain entrance into your heart.

Those who are discerning will know the truth, because truth will bring joy. When people give of their hearts a good word, or of counsel then a blessing will come to them by the way of God, or by those whom they have helped. This is because they were careful to listen to the voice of God. How do I know if I am hearing the voice of God? Those of us who are followers and have God’s spirit within us will know because the Holy Spirit will bear witness with the other. Scripture tells us that we who are God’s children will know his voice.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
John 10:27 KJV

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
Luke 6:38 KJV

So, be careful to what you are listening to on TV, in a movie theater, or in a conversation. What we hear does affect us and our spiritual lives, which affects our personal lives as well. Remember, if you question what you hear research it, read God’s Word, and most of all pray about it and ask God for guidance.

Notes: All scripture given is taken from the King James Version Public Domain, Biblegateway.

The Sons of God Explained

I have read and studied for a very long time now, off and on for the past eleven years about the identification of the sons of God—the bene Elohim. Following are the results of my examen from scripture and other readings.

In Genesis 6 we first read about the giants that came upon the earth, and that the sons of God came and took wives of the human daughters and had children with them. Who were these bene Elohim? In the Hebrew the bene Elohim refer to the angels of God. In one source it was stated that these angels came down to earth to teach men of the law of God which was not written in those days from Adam to Noah, and gave the law orally so that the people could believe in their creator and God. When these angels became enamored with the daughters of men then they left their estate—the habitation and became the fallen ones, the Nephillim. This is one probable statement of the sons of God.

And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
Genesis 6:1-2 KJV

Another thought, which I have hold to currently is that the sons of God were angels that rebelled against God and was thrown out of heaven because of Lucifer’s pride and influence on the 1/3 of angels he took with him as an army to insurrect against God. The children of the union of these sons of God with the daughters of men created the giants, which is called the seed of Satan in Genesis 3:15. These giants, the seed of Satan is one form of the enmity expressed in this scripture.

How do we know that the sons of God were angels? When we go to the book of Job we find that the angels of God along with Satan came and presented themselves in the presence of God. This is the conference between Satan and God about the testings that Job were to go through. This discourse is presented twice in the book of Job, I believe to serve as a witness and state that the sons of God are angels. Another instance in Job is at Creation the morning stars, another type of angel, and the sons of God rejoiced at the beauty of God’s creation that he created complete in six days. For these angels shouted for joy. This is scriptural proof that the sons of God were angels. So why is this important for us to know now?

Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan came also among them.
Job 1:6 KJV

Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said,
Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?
Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof;
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Job 38:1-7 KJV

Later, when Jesus was born and began his ministry he taught the law and salvation. That salvation was to come through him and his death, resurrection, and ascension to the Father. Here in lies where men, women, and children who believe upon Jesus as Messiah and that believing upon him brings us eternal life. When we believe upon Jesus who brought the world salvation, and ours, then we who believe in him by faith and follow him have become sons and daughters of God by adoption. With our confession of our sins we are adopted into the family of God as children because we have been separated from God by sin.

Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Romans 8:12-25 KJV

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:24-29 KJV

Will the sons of God that came to the earth and had children return? In scripture we have seen this twice in the form of Nephillim and Rephaim. The bible says as in the days of Noah so shall it be. By this statement we would have to see, but it is highly probable. Before we conclude, what happened to the angels who married the daughters of men? Peter explains that these angels who sinned, that left their habitation were chained in hell waiting for their day of judgement. In scripture we do read that four angels that are under the rivers will be loosed. Are these four part of the number of angles who married the sons of daughters? That is question that needs more exploration.

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;
2 Peter 2:4 KJV

And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.
Jude 1:6 KJV

But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
Matthew 24:37 KJV

What has happened in the days of Noah will return to this earth as described in Matthew 24. I would invite you to read this whole chapter.

In a short discourse this is who the sons of God are as explained in scripture.

Notes: This Season of Angels, Perry Stone, ppgs 109-110, Faithwords First Edition, October 2018.

All scripture used is taken from the King James Version, Public Domain Biblegateway.

Eternity: What is it?

Today, I am reflective. I have been wondering about eternity, what it is, and how it effects all of us. Man has pondered this question for centuries and the answers that man seeks is found in the Word of God—the Bible. As I read the scriptures today I wrote down my definitions for eternity. They are:

eternity is without time
time never ending
life as a continuance
eternity is continuance

Within scripture we find that the King James Version used the word “world” for eternity. Curious, I went to the Hebrew to find the word for world, and found the Hebrew word owlam. Here, this definition from the Strong’s Hebrew says eternity is time out of mind, or always. Eternity is perpetuation.

Is eternity used by God for us to hope for in terms of our obedience to gain from this sinful world? The answer is yes, but there is more to how God used the word eternity. In his word spoken by Solomon, the wisest man in the world, he spoke of eternity as a veil, that God used eternity to be set in the hearts of man to conceal the works of God so that man would not discover his works from the beginning to the end. Why would God, the God I call Jehovah and Jesus, conceal these works from man? Here are my thoughts:

If we were to know the works of God, or created to know the works of God we would work to make ourselves like him in spirit, and continue the pride set in us by sin, and this pride would be for eternity and render us unredeemable; meaning without the means of salvation.
God wants a relationship with man. The knowledge we have he wants us to search for him. Eternity in our hearts gives us an innate knowledge that we are eternal beings, whether we are good or evil.
It is a communication by God to man that God is real and exists. We are to receive this communication of knowledge by faith as well.
His desire to protect his image. We are made in his image and he wanted us to have a means of salvation. We are innocent and have not seen God’s reality has the angels have seen and experienced. He wanted us to be with him for eternity. He does not wish for anyone to perish.

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11 KJV

What other way would God use the word eternity? God speaks to us in his word of eternity in our “time” so that we can understand eternity. Peter wrote that a day is like, or is as, a thousand years. Is this literal? I perceive Peter is trying to explain eternity to man in terms of time that we will understand. There are people who believe that 1000 years is a day, but I think it is a comparison. Does eternity have a past? I think that eternity only has a past when God mentions it in his word, or refers to history on Earth. We think of time as past, present, and future. In our thinking we see a past because we have known a past in our dimension of time. Thousands of years to us will seem like eternity. God looks forward I do believe, and we should as well. Looking backward we see our failures, and that may angst our hearts if looked at negatively, or with a heart of a desire for the old life.

How will we know God’s definition of eternity, or “time”? The only way to explain this is to tell everyone to be obedient to God’s word, and at the end of our time on earth we will come to know God’s eternity when we enter it. No matter, we will enter eternity whether we are obedient or not, but our destination will be different if we do not obey his commandments. I want to know God’s eternity by living by faith, in righteousness, and know I have eternal life being able to see light, and partake of life in God’s eternity in his heavens, new universes and earth, and other planetary creations he has prepared for us.

Eternity is God. For he has been and always will be.

Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?
Isaiah 43:13 KJV

Notes:

All scripture has been taken from the King James Version Public Domain Biblegateway.

messie3vie.fr website, Strongs H5769

The Power in a Name

Names have meaning. Oftentimes I have wondered if the meaning of our names impact our lives. I do know a name that has impacted every life who have received the name, and brought it into the hearts and minds. I have seen the fruits of this name in the works of salvation, redemption, deliverance and healing’s. With this name, it has impacted my life greatly by the aforementioned fruits. The name that has so much power, actually all power, is from the word in Hebrew yesha. The meaning of this name is in salvation, redemption, deliverance, and healing. The name I speak of is the name of Yeshua, and in the English is Jesus.

The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence.
2 Samuel 22:3 KJV

Believe on his name. In the scriptures it tells us if we receive his name, namely believe upon Jesus, then he will give power to those who receive his name. How do we receive power by his name? It is through the act of repentance asking Jesus to forgive us of all our sins. When we pray for forgiveness then the power to use his name will come upon and within us. What are we to do after we are forgiven of our sins. We have been given the power to go into all the world and preach the gospel, to work miracles, and pray for people to be healed. All of this is done in the name of Jesus.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 1:12 KJV

Declare his name. His name is to be declared upon and throughout all the earth. Everyone will know his name, and hopefully everyone that will shall come to repentance and not only know his name, but know the Son of God Jesus. There is a prophecy in a prayer that Hannah prayed in 1 Samuel 2 where she is praying for thanksgiving of a male child and declares that every person, nation, and generation will declare that God is the only One that is God, that he is all power, and has the power over life and death.

By our ministry to minister Jesus to the world we will be declaring his name in the teaching of his ministry, miracles, and healing’s to the people who don’t know him and that are in bondage to the devil in the many diverse types of sins.

For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
Romans 9:17 KJV

The Power in the name. Those of us who have been forgiven has been given the authority to use the name of Jesus from him to minister to the needs of the people. With his name we are give the power to bind and loose. We can bind evil spirits and evil deeds, and we can loose positive things throughout the earth. If one would read the first three gospels we see Jesus going about Galilee healing the sick, lame, blind, raising the dead, and setting the captives free through deliverance. He is no longer here on earth, but we who believe upon him have the authority in his name to perform the same good works. These works are helped to come to fruition by the Holy Ghost who came as a Comforter when Jesus ascended to the Father in Heaven.

And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
Acts 9:14 KJV

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
John 2:23 KJV

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
John 14:13-14 KJV

When we ask in the name of Jesus for needs he will answer because we have simply asked. If you have a need ask Jesus and the need will be met.

This name of Jesus is above every name. For no name has such authority. This name is the name of God. It’s root is in the Hebrew word yah which means I AM, and God says he is the I AM, that I AM in the Old Testament. This name is great and declares that Jesus is the Resurrection and the life, the bread of life, the truth and the life. What other name would have such power? I cannot think of any other name.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
Phillipians 2:9

The power in the name is Jesus. He is God, the Creator.

Notes: All Scripture given is taken from the King James Version Public Domain Biblegateway.

Who is God?

Many people through the ages have asked this question. Many have found the answer by reading the bible given to them, heard many preachers, teachers, and disciples of the Lord Jesus tell of him. So, I asked myself the question and how I would explain the God of Israel, the God that Christians also call Jesus. Here are my thoughts.

God is Elohim. Elohim, a Hebrew word that is plural. Throughout scripture we see the definition of Elohim taught as the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost. In the Old Testament we do see the trichotomy mostly in symbolism involving the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father is direct in the Torah and the Tanach. The Son is spoken of, for instance, as the Captain of the Hosts and also as messiah types like Moses. The Holy Spirit is seen as water, wine, and oil in these scriptures. As we move along to the New Testament, which is a renewed covenant we see all three working through these writings being directly spoken of in context. God is made up of three persons, yet he is One. We are made in his image as body, soul, and spirit—three, yet one.

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Genesis 1:1 KJV

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 14:26 KJV

God is Light. In the beginning of creation, God presents himself as light. He is the light of creation until he creates the sun to provide a light through the seasons. In the new earth to come God returns as the eternal light where his people dwell forever. We also see in his person that God is light, in which there is no darkness, meaning God is perfect, life is in himself, and in his being sin is not found. He is holy. With his light and knowledge he reveals the deep and hidden things, which he has written into his word, the bible for man to find. When we need strength, encouragement, wisdom and knowledge we can go to the scriptures and find light for the soul which quenches the thirst we have for our spiritual needs. Within him is light. He is made up of light, and light dwells within him. He is bright, and so bright that no man can physically look upon him and live. This he tells Elijah so that he can go into the creft of the rock and God can show his back to him because God’s glory—his light, the shekinah would strike him dead. Why? Because we do not live in glorified bodies. Our bodies are corrupted by sin that came through the sin of Adam and Eve.

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
1 John 1:5 KJV

He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness, and the light dwelleth with him.
Daniel 2:22 KJV

God is Light and Salvation. When I need light I go to Jesus to ask for strength and his light to light my paths so that I may stay and live in righteousness, for God is my strength that I need daily to ward off evil. He is life, and life on earth depends upon light to continue, and we must need light to continue living within our spirit man, the spirit that God breathed into us. When we are living righteously, we have his light and his light is sensed by all in the world, both those who live for Jesus, and by those who don’t. When we read his word, listen for his voice to guide us, with these paths we see his light and his goodness and love.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lordis the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 27:1 KJV

For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
Psalm 36:9 KJV

This is how I would describe God to anyone in the world. There is only one path to eternal life, and that is through Jesus the Son of God, the logos—the Word.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1 KJV