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The Kingdom of God
Suffering and Grief
To: The City of Lights Community
Prophetic Voice Newsletter Issue 4
In this month’s Prophetic Voice
Newsletter, we have an opportunity to walk
deeper in the knowledge and understanding
of Jesus Christ
by the inspiration of the Holy
Ghost.
Our topic is that of suffering and
grief and will shine an awesome Light
of the Revelation of Jesus Christ!
We must first build some foundation for
our study.
Suffering and grief is not a popular topic
for discussion.
Yet, the events covered by the
broadcasting and news media organizations
constantly bombard every moment as
we “catch the news” with reports of
suffering
and grief in graphic pictorials around the
globe. Most generally the
"news" deals with accounts of
thievery, scandals, destructive actions or
forces,
and reports of pending death, elements of
war inflicting death,
those killed in accidents , murdered or
simply who died "in the news."
Keep in mind, most social laws of the
world are not God’s election of
laws.
They are the works and designs of men and
the works of the antichrist spirit.
Physical laws follow the designs of God's
plan for the universe.
These laws apply to every aspect of
everything created.
Isa 45:7 AMP
I form the light and create darkness, I
make peace [national well-being] and
I create [physical] evil (calamity);
I am the Lord, Who does all these things.
Very importantly, we need to understand
that God's divine purposes
work through all of creation...
Suffering and grief are a part of the
purposes of life on earth.
God shows us His pattern for mankind
through His Son.
John 16:32-33 TLB
33 I have told you all this so that
you will have peace of heart and mind.
Here on earth you will have many trials
and sorrows; but cheer up,
for I have overcome the world."
Heb 9:27 KJV
And as it is appointed unto men once to
die, but after this the judgment:
Let us examine a balanced walk as we study
the Kingdom of God.
God’s Word is the Good News!
Let's seek the Word of God, the Spirit of
Truth...
and let the precious person, Holy Spirit,
guide us to receive the deeper
understanding.
God made us a triune being and as such we
have
a physical body, a soul and a
spirit.
In fact, we are more spirit being than
flesh being.
Our soul/spirit being is eternal whereas
our flesh being will once again return
to the components of the elements of the
earth from which we were
formed.
The human body is composed of blood which
is approximately 80% water and
all the 20% remaining tissues, organs and
bones are element minerals and
trace minerals that are found in the crust
of the earth.
The bible distinctly states that flesh and
blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of
God.
Heaven is a spiritual realm.
God is Spirit and we must worship Him in
Spirit and Truth.
God the Father has a spiritual body.
Father God demonstrates just how much in
control that He is of all things!
He sent His Son to earth from Heaven.
He sent the Holy Spirit to abide in
His people.
=======================================
God the Son is both fully God and fully
man. He suffered many things.
Heb 2:17-18
So it is evident that it was essential
that He be made like His brethren in every
respect,
in order that He might become a merciful
(sympathetic) and faithful High Priest
in the things related to God, to make
atonement and propitiation for the
people's sins.
18 For because He Himself [in His
humanity] has suffered in being tempted
(tested and tried),
He is able [immediately] to run to
the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are
being tempted
and tested and tried [and who therefore
are being exposed to suffering]. AMP
Phil 2:6-8
Who, although being essentially one with
God and in the form of God
[possessing the fullness of the attributes
which make God God], did not think this
equality
with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped
or retained,
7 But stripped Himself [of all privileges
and rightful dignity], so as to assume the
guise
of a servant (slave), in that He became
like men and was born a human being.
8 And after He had appeared in human form,
He abased and humbled Himself
[still further] and carried His obedience
to the extreme of death, even the death of
the cross! AMP
=======================================
God the Son is both fully God and fully
man.
He was given the name of Jesus as His
identity on earth and the name
Emmanuel regarding His deity...God with
us.
Other names are given a symbolic name of
creatures God created
and had Adam to name.
As the Lamb (the Servant), He was slain to
redeem mankind back to God.
As the Lion of Judah, (the King and High
Priest),
He rules and reigns over all the universe.
God is one in three persons and His reign
is Dominion.
We are made in the image and likeness of
God so once translated
into His Kingdom of Heaven, we can expect
to walk in the manner
in which Jesus walked as a man by the
Spirit.
We have been given two spiritual
identities:
believers by faith and servers to others
by action.
As new spiritual creatures, we are to be
molded into the image of Christ.
=======================================
The Birth of Jesus in the earth.
Matt 1:20-21
But as he was thinking this over, behold,
an angel of the Lord appeared
to him in a dream, saying, Joseph,
descendant of David, do not be afraid
to take Mary [as] your wife, for that
which is conceived in her is of
(from, out of) the Holy Spirit.
21 She will bear a Son, and you shall call
His name Jesus [the Greek form
of the Hebrew Joshua, which means Savior],
for He will save His people
from their sins [that is, prevent them
from failing and missing the true end
and scope of life, which is God].
AMP
Matt 1:23
Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant
and give birth to a Son, and
they shall call His name Emmanuel--which,
when translated, means, God with us.
[Isa 7:14.] AMP
=======================================
More Foundation
Now in line with our study title:
Suffering and Grief, let us look at these
two attributes
of man and deity as they were given in
Christ's names at His birth.
By the power of the Spirit, we are given
witness to Christ about His physical
and spiritual body. Jesus shows us His
resurrected transfigured body
that confirms He is both fully God and
fully man.
●At the tomb with
Mary
Mark 16:9
Now when Jesus was risen early the
first day of the week, he appeared
first to Mary Magdalene, out
of whom he had cast seven devils.
KJV
●In search of the risen
Lord...
Luke 24:24-26
24 And certain of them which were with us
went to the sepulchre, and
found it even so
as the women had said: but him they saw
not.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and
slow of heart to believe all that
the
prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these
things, and to enter
into his
glory?
●As He walked talking to two
disciples Luke
24:27-32
27 And beginning at Moses and all the
prophets, he expounded unto
them in all
the scriptures the things concerning
himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village,
whither they went:
and he made
as though he would have gone further.
29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide
with us: for it is toward
evening,
and the day is far spent. And he went in
to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat
with them, he took bread,
and blessed it,
and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they
knew him; and he vanished
out of their
sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not
our heart burn within us,
while he
talked with us by the way, and while he
opened to us
the
scriptures? KJV
●As Jesus greets the disciples and cooks a
fish breakfast
and fellowships with
them
John 21:7-14
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said
to Peter, It is the Lord!
Simon Peter, hearing
him say that it was the Lord, put (girded)
on his
upper garment
(his fisherman's coat, his outer
tunic)--for he was
stripped [for
work]--and sprang into the sea.
8 And the other disciples came in the
small boat, for they were not far
from shore,only some hundred
yards away, dragging the net full of fish.
9 When they got out on land (the beach),
they saw a fire of coals there
and fish lying on it
[cooking], and bread.
10 Jesus said to them, Bring some of the
fish which you have just caught.
11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled
the net to land,
full of
large fish, 153 of them; and [though]
there were so many of them,
the net was
not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, Come [and] have
breakfast.
But none of the
disciples ventured or dared to ask Him,
Who are You?
because they
[well] knew that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave
it to them,
and so also
[with] the fish.
14 This was now the third time that Jesus
revealed Himself (appeared,
was manifest) to
the disciples after He had risen from the
dead. AMP
●As Jesus appears to the
disciples Luke 24:33-49
33 And rising up that very hour, they went
back to Jerusalem,
where they
found the eleven [apostles] gathered
together
and those
who were with them,
34 Who said, The Lord really has risen and
has appeared to Simon (Peter)!
35 Then they [themselves] related
[in full] what had happened on the road,
and
how He was known and recognized by
them
in the
breaking of bread.
36 Now while they were talking about this,
Jesus Himself took His stand
among them
and said to them, Peace ( freedom from all
the distresses
that are
experienced as the result of sin) be to
you!
37 But they were so startled and terrified
that they thought
they saw a
spirit.
38 And He said to them, Why are you
disturbed and troubled,
and why do
such doubts and questionings arise in your
hearts?
39 See My hands and My feet, that it is I
Myself! Feel and handle Me
and see,
for a spirit does not have flesh and
bones,
as you see
that I have.
40 And when He had said this, He showed
them His hands and His feet.
41 And while [since] they still could not
believe it for sheer joy
and
marveled, He said to them, Have you
anything here to eat?
42 They gave Him a piece of broiled fish,
43 And He took [it] and ate [it] before
them.
44 Then He said to them, This is what I
told you while I was still with you:
everything which
is written concerning Me in the Law of
Moses and
the Prophets and
the Psalms must be fulfilled.
45 Then He [thoroughly] opened up their
minds to understand
the
Scriptures,
46 And said to them, Thus it is written
that the Christ (the Messiah)
should
suffer and on the third day rise from (
among) the dead,
Then the Lord directs the disciples
attention to Heavenly realms
and gives them a DEEPER understanding for
suffering...
47 And that repentance [with a view to and
as the condition of]
forgiveness
of sins should be preached in His name to
all nations,
beginning
from Jerusalem.
48 You are witnesses of these things.
49 And behold, I will send forth upon you
what My Father has promised;
but remain
in the city [Jerusalem] until you are
clothed with power
from on
high. AMP
For the most part, suffering and grief
originate through the loss
of someone or something we value.
Loss is the absence of that which
we esteem such as a person, event, or
thing within our personal, social,
or spiritual life.
Suffering and grief are relational to our
belief system,
our thoughts and our ideas.
The promise of a greater realm or greater
reward comforts the impact of the
suffering that one must go through.
Acts 14:22 TLB
...they (Paul and Barnabas) helped the
believers to grow in love for God
and each other.
They encouraged them to continue in the
faith in spite of all the persecution,
reminding them that they must enter into
the Kingdom of God through many
tribulations.
In both the tangible (physical
characteristics) and the intangible
(emotions, attitudes and
beliefs). Grief is especially
apparent
when we experience a desire that is not
met.
As we are confronted with small losses of
unfilled desire, small amounts
of grief become a part of everyday
loss. For example, generally, loss
of
a job causes great suffering and
grief whether we recognize it or
not.
It creates an attack upon our finances
which is God's
economic foundational provision and
blessing. God blesses the works of
our hands.
When blessings are cut off, desolation
takes their place.
Good jobs are not easy to
attain. Much time, preparation
and expense
is usually involved in finding a new
job. Normally it requires much test
and trial to find new placement.
=======================================
Suffering and grief is also directly
linked to the loss of our health.
While going through the suffering
and grief, one often finds that
times
of traumatic events leads to
isolation. It is generally difficult
to talk
with anyone who is grieving.
Let's look at the disciples as they
experience
the pending loss of their Leader
while waiting with him in the Garden of
Gethsemane.
We see the following acts in the
scriptures of the Lord's
visit to the Garden of Gethsemane.
Extreme of emotions; sorrow, agony, grief,
anger, pain all
were demonstrated regarding the unknown
details of events that lie ahead.
The condition of the soul in reaction to
announcement of pending death,
the process of dying and the aftermath of
death are unpredictable
within the spirit of man except by the
revelation of the Holy Spirit.
Luke 22:44-45
And being in an agony [of mind], He prayed
[all the] more earnestly and intently,
and sweat became like great clots of blood
dropping down upon the ground.
And when He got up from prayer, He came to
the disciples and
found them sleeping from grief. AMP
Many times, grieving sets in before the
known event of a pending loss.
Anger is demonstrated in a fashion that
shows how one , may overreact
to a pending loss
Matt 26:51
51 And behold, one of those who were with
Jesus reached out his hand
and drew his sword and, striking the body
servant of the high priest,
cut off his ear.
Matt 26:52-53
52 Then Jesus said to him, Put your sword
back into its place,
for all who draw the sword will die by the
sword. [Gen 9:6.]
53 Do you suppose that I cannot appeal to
My Father, and He will immediately
provide Me with more than Twelve legions
[more than 80,000] of angels? AMP
John 18:26
26 One of the servants of the high priest,
being his kinsman
whose ear Peter cut off, saith,
Did not I see thee in the garden with
him? KJV\
=======================================
Here are several signs regarding denial
and isolation...
Matt 26:69-75
69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the
courtyard, and one maid came up to him
and said, You were also with Jesus the
Galilean!
70 But he denied it falsely before them
all, saying, I do not know what you mean.
71 And when he had gone out to the porch,
another maid saw him,
and she said to the bystanders, This
fellow was with Jesus the Nazarene!
72 And again he denied it and disowned Him
with an oath, saying,
I do not know the Man!
73 After a little while, the bystanders
came up and said to Peter,
You certainly are one of them too, for
even your accent betrays you.
74 Then Peter began to invoke a curse on
himself and to swear,
I do not even know the Man! And at that
moment a rooster crowed.
75 And Peter remembered Jesus' words, when
He had said,
Before a single rooster crows, you will
deny and disown Me three times.
And he went outside and wept
bitterly. AMP
There is an anxiety that accompanies a
loss.
The extent of the anxiousness and actions
present themselves in our soul realm
of thought and emotions. These
produce stress on our whole body.
Physical weaknesses of all kinds such as
shaking, nervous jeters, clumsiness,
blurred vision, histamine reactions,
fatigue and loss of concentration result.
Internally, one may experience headaches,
increase of heart rate,
changes of blood pressures, and variable
types of breathing rates.
These signs also accompany various levels
of fear. Fear has torment.
(1 John 4:18)
Rather than finding ourselves in
isolation, we need support of family
and friends. Most people are unprepared
for the feelings they experience
in the face of loss. Every loss has
various levels of impact to our lives
and our expectations.
Few families talk about their suffering
and grief.
They are not skilled in expressing their
feelings and thoughts
in regard to the grieving process.
Most find themselves trying to deny the
existence of uncontrolled
and unwanted emotions.
It's usually when a person tries too hard
to control themselves
and their feelings that problems
result. The grief process sometimes
needs
more time to "play" itself out than family
and friends may expect.
When Jesus was Resurrected, He went to His
"family" of disciples to help them
through the grieving process.
Many had gone back to doing the things of
their past
and were finding great difficulty in doing
so.
Much energy is many times expended in
doing things that are routine.
Many times depression becomes the
overriding factor in a person's
life.
Energy levels and motivation seize to be
vibrant and enabling.
One experiences a listlessness and a
defeated attitude playing heavily
on every movement and decision.
In that grief involves physical, social,
spiritual and psychological elements,
we need the comfort and nurturing care of
the Holy Spirit even more in our
lives.
The reactions of loss many times cause one
to move away from all relationships
rather than to move into closer
relationship. Many times the results
are evident
in being angry with God and blaming Him.
God's ways are not our ways. Here is
what God counsels in our times
of grief and trials of sorrow.
Romans 5:3 AMP
3 Moreover [let us also be full of joy
now!] let us exult and triumph in our
troubles
and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing
that pressure and affliction and hardship
produce patient and unswerving endurance.
=======================================
In the case of a loss due to death of a
loved one... usually every aspect of life
is affected.
Now let us go to the heart of this matter.
Suffering is a divine attribute assigned
to every facet of life.
In this world there will be suffering!
Many are not equipped to handle the full
scope of grief,
sorrow and suffering. The reason is that
they have not been prepared with
the Truth of the Light of Heaven.
Prov 29:18
Where there is no vision [no redemptive
revelation of God], the people perish; AMP
The Hebrew meaning of the word perish
means to cease or stop.
In other words there is no place in Heaven
for those who do not have
a redemptive revelation of God.
Without the Revelation of the Lord Jesus
Christ in our lives,
there is no redemption.
When our mind is transformed by the Light
of Jesus Christ,
we learn that death has no sting. We
are encouraged to rejoice in all
things.
Death does not result in a perished state
for us.
Sorrow then can be turned into joy.
Knowledge of the ways of Heaven changes
our outlook on situations and
circumstances.
When the Lord as our Savior, He makes
things beautiful for situations.
We are given a bigger view of the
realities of life.
=======================================
Jesus is fully God.
Rev 21:23
And the city has no need of the sun nor of
the moon to give light to it,
for the splendor and radiance (glory) of
God illuminate it,
and the Lamb is its lamp. AMP
Life in Heaven is neither strange nor
unwelcome to those who have died
in the Lord. They are at home with
Him who has redeemed them by
His own death on the cross. Now do
not clutch frantically and faithlessly to
this fact,
but rest in it happily and
confidently. When a Christian
departs his home on earth,
he enters a divine spiritual home in
Heaven. Paradise is God's divine
destination for us.
His plan for mankind is that he shall
dwell amongst His people
eternally.
Heaven is the place from which we are
originated as we are made
new creatures in Christ with a new-born
spirit and soul on the earth, even
though we were born a biological flesh
body, a soul and a spirit.
Jer 1:5a
Before I formed you in the womb I
knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen
instrument],
and before you were born I separated and
set you apart, consecrating you; AMP
Gal 1:15
But when He, Who had chosen and set
me apart [even] before I was born and
had called me by His grace (His undeserved
favor and blessing), AMP
Isa 44:2a
Thus says the Lord, Who made you and
formed you from the womb, AMP
Isa 44:24
Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and He
Who formed you from the womb:
I am the Lord, Who made all things, Who
alone stretched out the heavens,
Who spread out the earth by Myself [who
was with Me]?-- AMP
Heaven is our destiny! Our Lord is
there. All saved (redeemed) persons
are there.
Luke 23:43
And He answered him, Truly I tell you,
today you shall be with Me in Paradise.
AMP
2 Cor 12:4
Paul was taken into the 3rd heaven...
Was caught up into paradise, and he heard
utterances beyond the power of man
to put into words, which man is not
permitted to utter. AMP
Those of us who are destined to Paradise
believe in Jesus Christ.
He came to preach and demonstrate the
Kingdom of Heaven on earth.
We should receive much comfort and
inspiration from our faith.
We will be at Home, have a new name and a
new language!
We should not be anything else but happy
in the thought of heading Home.
And certainly we should be joyful in our
sorrow when God
releases a loved one from this world of
woe to take them Home to Himself.
The passing of the redeemed from this
world is not a departure into an unknown
world.
When we walk by the Holy Spirit in this
earthly realm, we are given experiences
that confirm the reality of the Kingdom of
Heaven.
The miraculous gifts of the Spirit, the
tender and energizing touch
of God in special times of ministry and
worship, and the signs and wonders
which follow believers gives us a taste of
Heaven's realm.
The Spiritual presence of the Holy Ghost
is being released in great measure
in the earth even as this article is being
written!
As of October 19th 2007, we entered
into a new year with the Lord...
a new beginning of a spiritual and
relational move of God!
Word of Knowledge:
God has some awesome things to demonstrate
to the world through those who
will yield themselves to His purposes and
His plans for this century!
Heaven is coming to earth in an manner
beyond our ability to think or
dream!
God is shaking the heavens, earth and hell
in a new dimension of demonstration
that He is the Lord of all things.
Much suffering and grief will come to all
mankind.
Refuge is in building relationship with
the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.
All things of the "flesh" and carnality
will be
go through a purging and a
purification. God wants a people
consecrated
to Him, His love and His plans for the
church.
We are going to see Jesus Christ in a
measure never imagined since
the birth of the church! We are
going to be like Paul.
For Him, his own death was looked upon as
a glorious release, not from the
Mamertine dungeon where he penned his last
epistle, but from his ailing, failing
body.
He counted all things as joy.
note: When you read Paul's letters to the
churches, you will marvel at the
Revelation of Jesus Christ that he shares!
=======================================
Spirit ... the 3rd dimension
The Kingdom of Heaven on earth is
experienced in three dimensions...
body, soul and spirit. Life in
Heaven is experienced in the 3rd
dimension...
The dimension of Spirit: the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
...Unity of Light in Life, Truth, and
Spirit
When a child of God goes Home with Him, he
goes to an abiding place
designed and made specifically by
Christ. When we say farewell to
those
who love us here, we go to be with God who
loves us with an eternal love!
Rev 7:17
For the Lamb Who is in the midst of the
throne will be their Shepherd,
and He will guide them to the springs of
the waters of life; and God
will wipe away every tear from their
eyes. AMP
The springs of the waters of life is the
7-fold Holy Spirit.
Revelation 5:6 AMP
...the seven Spirits of God [the sevenfold
Holy Spirit]
Who have been sent [on duty far and wide]
into all the earth.
There is only one Holy Spirit of God.
Note that the Holy Spirit is...
omnipresent (present everywhere),
omnipotent (have absolute power and
authority),
omniscient (knowing everything)
(Here are the 7-fold Holy Spirit
attributes recorded in Isaiah 11:2
AMP)
And the Spirit of the Lord shall
rest upon Him--
1. the Spirit of wisdom
2. the Spirit of understanding
3. the Spirit of counsel
4. the Spirit of might
5. the Spirit of knowledge
6. the Spirit of reverential fear of the
Lord
7. the Spirit of obedient fear of the Lord
Jesus anointed us with the same Holy
Spirit that anointed Him at the River
Jordan.
1 John 2:20;27
20 But you have been anointed by [you hold
a sacred appointment from,
you have been given an unction from] the
Holy one, and you all know [the Truth]
or you know all things.
27 But as for you, the anointing (the
sacred appointment, the unction)
which you received from Him abides
[permanently] in you; [so] then you have
no need that anyone should instruct you.
But just as His anointing teaches you
concerning everything and is true and is
no falsehood, so you must abide in
(live in, never depart from) Him [being
rooted in Him, knit to Him],
just as [His anointing] has taught you [to
do].
=======================================
Our Lord spoke of His "going out" from
this life as an accomplishment.
By His death something was to be
accomplished, that is, something to
be fulfilled, completed, carried out to
the full. We know it was the Divine
promise
of redemption through the sacrifice of His
own Blood. His death was to be
His provision as the "way out" of sin and
judgment for the
rest of the human race. His
departure is the means of which He is
leading us out of bondage.
All are destined once to die. To die in
Christ as one who is redeemed is indeed
a delightful departure from this
world. Physical and emotional
suffering
and pain is no longer experienced.
Hebrews 12:2 KJV
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher
of our faith; who for the joy that
was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down
at the right hand of the throne of God.
It is to the throne room of God that we
set our sights!
It is at the center of Heaven's City of
Lights!
Revelation 21:23-27 AMP
23 And the city has no need of the sun nor
of the moon to give light to it,
for the splendor and radiance (glory) of
God illuminate it, and the Lamb is its
lamp.
24 The nations shall walk by its light and
the rulers and leaders of the earth
shall bring into it their glory.
25 And its gates shall never be closed by
day, and there shall be no night there.
[Isa 60:11.]
26 They shall bring the glory (the
splendor and majesty) and the honor of the
nations into it.
27 But nothing that defiles or profanes or
is unwashed shall ever enter it, nor
anyone
who commits abominations (unclean,
detestable, morally repugnant things)
or practices falsehood, but only those
whose names are recorded in the Lamb's
Book of Life.
=======================================
On the webpage Ministers on Fire of the
City of Lights,
you can read about Adam, and Noah and
God's commands of Light
for their lives. The major realms of
judgment are presented in regard to the
events
surrounding God's commands to
mankind. On that webpage, the
question is asked
as to whether you can see a loving and
merciful God
in His acts of judgment. Watch how
kairos time is demonstrated...
Now comes the awesome witness of how
merciful God and the provision's
He made for all mankind through the
crucifixion of His only begotten
Son...
1 Peter 3:19-20 AMP
In which He went and preached to the
spirits in prison,
20[The souls of those] who long before in
the days of Noah had been disobedient,
when God's patience waited during the
building of the ark in which a few
[people],
actually eight in number, were saved
through water.
God raised Jesus from the dead by the Holy
Ghost! Jesus descended into hell
and while there preached the Gospel to the
captives of all the generations from Adam!
©myartusa.com
God has a plan for each and every
life. It is to board the Ark
of Jesus Christ
and to serve in caring for others in which
He will comfort and protect us as
we weather the trials and tribulations of
this world.
We do so when we keep our sight toward
Heaven and the work of the Cross of
Christ!
When we make peace with God by believing
in His free gift of the work
of His Son, we receive the promise of
God... the Spirit Life, eternally in His
Kingdom,
in His presence...Today and forever from
age to age!
When Jesus was resurrected, and walked on
the earth for 40 days,
it is recorded by John that the graves
gave up their dead and so many miraculous
events
were done that there would not be enough
space
in the world to contain the
records. This statement also
gives insight
to the figurative speech that is used by
John when he is taken to Heaven and
Christ is revealed to him in symbolic
language.
(Not every word of the Bible can be taken
literally. Much of it is poetic
language. However, it is inerrant!)
John 21:25
25 And there are also many other things
which Jesus did, the which,
if they should be written every one, I
suppose that even the world itself could
not
contain the books that should be written.
Amen. KJV
Upon His resurrection many saints,
believers who had died were seen...
Matt 27:52-53
The tombs were opened and many bodies of
the saints who had fallen asleep
in death were raised [to life];
53 And coming out of the tombs after His
resurrection, they went into the holy city
and appeared to many people. AMP
After His forty days, upon His ascension,
Jesus takes those who were in hell,
who received the Gospel, with Him to
Heaven. Keep in mind that these are spirit
beings
in their spirit bodies. They would not be
seen with the natural eye.
The scriptures represent these spirits of
mankind as those in hell's gates
from the beginning. In contrast, Jesus is
both God and man and could be physically
seen as the Bible testifies above.
Ps 68:18
You have ascended on high. You have led
away captive a train of vanquished foes;
You have received gifts of men, yes, of
the rebellious also,
that the Lord God might dwell there with
them. [Eph 4:8.] AMP
Eph 4:10-11
He Who descended is the [very] same
as He Who also has ascended
high above all the heavens, that He [His
presence] might fill all things
(the whole universe, from the lowest to
the highest).
11 And His gifts were [varied; He Himself
appointed and gave men to us]
some to be apostles (special messengers),
some prophets (inspired preachers and
expounders),
some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel,
traveling missionaries),
some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and
teachers. AMP
Suffering and grief are relational to our
belief system...
our thoughts and our ideas.
Today, Jesus is Emannuel, God with Us by
the Living Word of God
and the Holy Spirit abiding within us on
earth.
God is not Jesus, but Jesus is God...God
is One in Three Persons!
There are those who proclaim that Jesus is
God Only.
see: God the Blessed Trinity
Your future is decided by who you choose
to believe.
The Scriptures clearly declare the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Can you receive how important it is to
capture the truth of the Word of
God?
Our perception determines our
perspective. We are programed
to react in certain manners within our
cultures.
There are three primary applications of
the Word of God to suffer:
1. Tolerate: allow; permit
2. Feel pain
3. Endure; sustain
We can suffer when our doctrine does not
witness to the truth of the Holy
Bible.
Should we compromise and adjust the Word
of God to fit our ideas and
objectives?
No! Eternal damnation can be the
results!
We must search the scriptures for
agreement.
A witness is where two or three scriptures
agree.
2 Tim 3:16-17
Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by
His inspiration) and profitable for
instruction,
for reproof and conviction of sin, for
correction of error
and discipline in obedience, [and] for
training in righteousness
(in holy living, in conformity to God's
will in thought, purpose, and action),
So that the man of God may be complete and
proficient, well fitted and
thoroughly equipped for every good
work. AMP
Suffering is a major topic in God's
view! Disobedience brought death
into the world! Let's briefly
consider Apostle Peter's spiritual view on
our topic of suffering.
Peter calls his body a "tabernacle" or a
tent. The body at its best is a
frail
dwelling place for the soul and spirit of
man.
(read Psalm 39) Like the children of
Israel in Egypt, we are pursued by
relentless foes,
the world, the flesh and sometimes the
devil
(he is not omnipresent and gets more
credit than he deserves).
Weakness , sickness, old age, all pursue
hard after us.
We suffer and grieve as we experience pain
in these conditions.
The body in which we live is important,
but, not as important as the "man"
who lives in the body. We are merely
"strangers and pilgrims" here on earth. (1
Peter 2:11)
One day, we are going to move out of this
tent.
Peter tells us that it is only proper that
he stir us up by putting us in remembrance
of these things. It is easy to
become wrapped up in the things of this
brief life
and in this passing world that we forget
our coming exodus.
Have you consider your exodus? We do
not know its coming.
Only God Knows the time and the
season.
But, He makes a way that is
perfect.
Alright, you now have the above
perception to consider.
It is one of the physical realm. Can
you also apply it to understanding
the spiritual realm whereby the body is
looked upon as the Church,
the Ark of Christ; the tabernacle or tent
where the ark of God is housed?
Emmanuel, "God with Us"...
Now be directed to a perspective view...
How calmly and assuredly Peter
speaks of his death!
Though it was to be shameful and painful,
he refers to it as his exodus,
his "way out," and he manifests not fear
or consternation. Death to
this child of God would be a sweet
release. And so he planned his own
funeral
and prepared a comforting word for the
blessing of those who would be left behind
until their day of exodus. Peter was
a good shepherd!
He fulfilled Jesus's instructions...
Peter cared for Christ's "sheep."
Peter's perspective was that of the future
and in serving others!
This assuring word is for both you and
me. We can look forward to the
end of life without fear.
Death for each believer will be the sweet
release
of being "absent from the body" and "at
home with the Lord."
(2 Corinthians 5:8) Death and the
grave are not a blind alley, but a
thoroughfare
into Heaven itself. Men may talk
about the Great Unknown,
the Leap into the Dark, the Great Beyond,
but such is not the language of God's
Word.
Death for the believer is an
exodus. God has given us His
pattern through both
the Old Testament and the New Testament.
It is the same! The exodus is
a way out and a way in, the way out of
life's trials,
tribulations, suffering and grief...
It is the way into the Promised Land, the
presence of the Lord and those loved ones
who have gone on before. Heaven is
Real!
God is the way maker! His ways are not our
ways, His thoughts are higher than our
thoughts.
His heart is set to reveal His thoughts to
us
through the Revelation of His Son,
Jesus Christ. It takes the
mind of the Spirit
to access the throne room and the mind of
Christ...
John 16:12-15 AMP [Jesus speaking],
I have still many things to say to
you, but you are not able to bear them
or to take them upon you or to grasp them
now.
13 But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the
Truth-giving Spirit) comes,
He will guide you into all the Truth (the
whole, full Truth). For He will not speak
His own message [on His own authority];
but He will tell whatever He
hears [from the Father; He will give the
message that has been given to Him],
and He will announce and declare to you
the things that are to come
[that will happen in the future].
14 He will honor and glorify Me, because
He will take of (receive, draw upon) what
is Mine
and will reveal (declare, disclose,
transmit) it to you.
15 Everything that the Father has is Mine.
That is what I meant when I said that He
[the Spirit] will take the things that are
Mine
and will reveal (declare, disclose,
transmit) it to you.
Father God has shown through His Son,
Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit,
evidences of the power to recognize others
in their spirit bodies.
We will know our loved ones and others in
Heaven's realm!
Evidence has been given above in the
revelation of Jesus on earth and in
addition,
we can climb the mount of transfiguration
with Peter, John and James to receive
additional confirmation that we will know
even as we are known!
Matt 17:1-3
And was transfigured before them: and his
face did shine as the sun,
and his raiment was white as the light.
And, behold, there appeared unto them
Moses and Elias talking with him.
{You should read this entire
account. It will reveal the Father
and the Son!}
Let us build our faith as we receive more
perspective of Heaven:
Heaven is the place from which Jesus came
before His Incarnation,
for 'the Word was with God" (John
1:1) He said, I came down from
Heaven
(John 6:38, 42) At the Ascension He
was "carried up to Heaven" (Luke 24:51),
"received up into Heaven" (Mark
16:19).
The disciples saw Him taken up into
heaven" (Acts 1:11)
Before His departure from earth He said,
"In my Father's house are many abiding
places:
if It were not so, I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for
you." (John 14:1,2)
You can see from these Scriptures that
Heaven is a place where God the Father,
God the Son,
and God the Holy Ghost dwell, and the same
place to which all the redeemed go
when departing this life. We
have the assuring Word from the Lord that
He personally is seeing to its readiness
when we make our exodus to go be with Him.
Revelations 21:4
God will wipe away every tear from their
eyes; and death shall be no more,
neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and
mourning) nor grief nor pain any more,
for the old conditions and the former
order of things have passed away.
AMP
God’s Word is the Good News!
This message is a demonstration of the
Word of Exhortation.
Exhortation is one of the spiritual gifts
of the Holy Spirit.
Exhortation is the spiritual gift to
encourage, comfort or warn.
Many times the enabling gift of the Word
of Wisdom.
or the Word of Knowledge will accompany an
exhortation.
The exhorter has the motivation to guide
others
in the practical steps to solve their
problems.
I pray this Letter has both enlighten you
in the truth of the Word of God
and has given a clear understanding of the
plan of God for creating mankind on
earth.
Recall that war broke out in Heaven. God
made angels
and men in His character: a free will
agent. He has provided a way to
re-enter Paradise.
His commands are as viable today as they
were in the creation of Heaven and the
angelic beings.
The Bible reveals that God loves his
creation of man so much that
he has given his angels charge to protect
us.
Rev 22:17
The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the
church, the true Christians) say, Come!
And let him who is listening say, Come!
And let everyone come who is thirsty
[who is painfully conscious of his need of
those things by which the soul is
refreshed,
supported, and strengthened]; and whoever
[earnestly] desires to do it, let him
come,
take, appropriate, and drink the water of
Life without cost. AMP
Please encourage others to visit the City
of Lights.
They will be mightily blessed as you are
blessed.
You will be blessed because they are
blessed!
Use the Letters to build deeper
relationships with your friends and
family.
There are multitudes of 'talking" points
in these letters.
Isaiah 1:17-18 NKJV
17 Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.
18 "Come now, and let us reason together,"
Says the LORD,
God bless you and give you peace...
let suffering and grief have its
perfecting purposes
in your life and may you find joy to
replace your mourning as you experience
the
Revelation of Light: Jesus Christ.
Jeremiah 31:13 KJV
...for I will turn their mourning into
joy, and will comfort them, and make
them rejoice from their sorrow.
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