Equal in sin

1 Corinthians 1:17

17

For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

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Sincerity is a sign of devotion. The letters of Paul are letters that reveal the times of a man who was truly sent out to spread the gospel of Christ. He was not finding ways to entice people's intellect. He was not finding ways to impassion people. He was sincerely hungry to clearly set the truth out before people.

Paul had at his disposal a lifetime as a Pharisee. He was well known and well respected, he was given authority to act on behalf of the Temple. But all of that background only served as a foundation for what came upon him by Christ Jesus. Yes, his knowledge of the Law was used when speaking to Jews in different regions, but for the Gentiles, he set that prominence aside, and became equal to them, so they could relate to what came through him.

The power of the Cross of Christ, is the atonement and the grace we have. That atonement and grace is our freedom to serve the will of God, by having holiness come through us as we deny ourselves. The sufferance of denying ourselves, is us carrying the cross like Christ. The power is the holiness that comes through us that humility.

Paul denied himself in ways that express how we should deny ourselves. The desires of the flesh is a main focus yes. But it is far more than that. We deny ourselves the natural reactions we carry in interacting with each other.

We naturally desire to set ourselves beneath or above one another. This is instinctual, and primal. But in spiritual terms, we are equal in God's eyes. Whether rich or poor, righteous or wicked. We all have the capacity to come to the Father through His Son. So, we deny our nature, and treat one another how we would have ourselves be treated.

Tonight, God set before me a chance to witness to an old friend. He only knew me from my days before the Lord called me. I desired only to explain Jesus to this man. I did not want to seem 'holier than thou'. I did not want to quote scripture which he would not comprehend. I did not want to speak of all the evil things I had done. I desired only to explain who Jesus is. And that is what I did. Then I prayed that the Lord would open this man's heart.

All we can do is be sincere. We are not capable of 'selling salvation', we are only capable of sincere truth. When ministers and churches set out to evangelize, they are spreading seeds on everything, hoping something will grow. It is only good soil that brings a seed into the process of growth that will bear good fruit in season.

The good soil, is the soul which the Lord has placed in front of you. When you testify to them, the Lord has already plowed the land, and readied it in ways that you are unaware of. The Lord opens up their hearts, and they receive the good news. Otherwise, souls become discouraged, frustrated, stone hearted, and even defiant. This is why 'big business' ministry does more damage than good. For many are invited..but few are chosen.

Paul did not speak with wisdom or eloquence, he spoke with sincerity. You, my family, should remain hungry to serve the will of God, and when the opportunity is set before you to testify, do so as one who is equal in sin, but who has atonement and grace to celebrate.

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A Good Harvest

Amos 9:13

13

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,

“when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains

and flow from all the hills

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John 4:34-38

34

"My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

35

Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

36

Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.

37

Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true.

38

I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

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Matthew 26:27-29

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”

-

Mark 2:22

And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

-

The reaper is the mediation through Moses. The reaper harvests souls, then though judgements and punishments, the soul becomes worthy, justified. This is the old wine in the old wine skin, a soul who walked a path of righteousness, and through the death of their flesh and judgement, is rendered worthy.

The new wine requires a new wine skin. The mediation of Christ Jesus atones for the sins of a soul that because of faith in this mediation, dies of it's worldliness and is reborn. Reborn so that in denial of themselves, can bear fruit that is holy, good. This new wine, these souls, are set within a flesh that sees no consequence for sin, because the atonement by the covenant Christ Jesus set out. The flesh dies, but the soul is saved.

If not for the mediation through Moses, the fulfillment of the Law would not have come, brought about through Christ Jesus. So all the effort of the angels and the obedience of the follower of the Law, made a path for the Holy One of God and the faithful. The disciples of Christ harvested what the angels had prepared in that generation to be reaped. They 'reaped what you have not worked for.', in Jesus name, (by his authority).

So from the mountains and hills flowed this new wine. And the temple was raised in three days, as the resurrected form of Christ Jesus, and true Israel became the body, of which Christ Jesus is the head. Because Israel is the children of Abraham, and the true children of Abraham are those who are faithful. We will be gathered, and we will live again as a new creation, and the land of promise and the cities rebuilt, are the foundation of a new heaven and a new earth.

Remain faithful. Only witness to those who the Father sets before you, you will know who, because the Holy Spirit you carry will set words on your heart and mind, that will be heard by those who the Father has opened ears and hearts of. We are not of the same generation of transition. The great commission came and went.

We are in the last day. Being loving. Do not fall into the temptation of judgement and false teachings. Pray constantly. Build your personal relationship with the Father through your faith in His son. Only through Christ can a soul approach the Father.

The Ram and the Lamb

Isaiah 53:7

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

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Genesis 22:8

"And Abraham said: 'God will provide Himself the lamb for a burnt-offering, my son.' So they went both of them together."

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Genesis 22:13

"And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in the thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son."

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The lamb is what Isaac was supposed to be. The lamb, the innocent son of a man, to be sacrificed unknowingly by his human father. The burnt offering represented the transformation of something. In the burnt offering the whole animal was sacrificed, and the smoke pleased God. The transformation was from the physical plain to transcendent plain. The lamb that was Isaac, was exchanged for a ram that the Lord provided.

One cannot ignore the circumstances surrounding the crucifixion of Jesus as a fulfillment of the promise that the Lord made with Abraham.

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John 1:29

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

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Before Jesus had even had disciples, the prophet John the Baptist who carried the Spirit of Elijah, called Jesus the Lamb of God. The lamb is the sacrificial lamb that had yet to be offered.

The thicket the ram was caught up in, represent the entanglements of sin upon creation. Thickets usually had thorns. The brow of Jesus was pierced with a crown of thorns, upon his head was the sin upon creation.

The blade held high by Isaac earthly Father Abraham, and the symbolism of the spear that pierced Jesus that came from a sinner standing below his crucified form. The blade represents intent. God stayed the hand of Abraham, but instead allowed His own son be pierced. The Lord commanded the sacrifice of Isaac then commanded it be halted. The Jews demanded the Gentiles to crucify Jesus, and the Father remained silent.

"It is done."

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Genesis 22:16

16

"and said: 'By Myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son,"

17

"that in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;"

18

"and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast hearkened to My voice.'"

-

For Abraham's faithfulness and fear of the Lord, he became the Father of the chosen people. For Jesus' obedience, and service, he became the root of salvation for all mankind.

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Romans 14:8

If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

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John 10:27

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

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Christ Jesus is our Shepherd. We are his sheep. As he atoned for our sin, he gathers us in, and keeps us safe. But if we live we life by him, and if we die, we die for him. This is faith that becomes obedience. This is the maturity of those of the body of Truth.

Be willing to set aside everything to do what your faith calls from you. Do not let yourself become entangled in what you wander into. For the ram was ready for Abraham to be burnt, it could not escape. Be instead the servant that gives what he has, that follows his faith into death, for the sake of others, or more importantly, for the love of God.

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Hope Works

Romans 15:13

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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Hope is personal. Just as our relationship with God is personal. Hope is spiritual as it is of the unseen quality of God. Hope, remains with those who rely on faith, and love. Hope is not silent, it is an asking. When you hope, you are telling God what He knows is already in your heart. So in this way, hope is like a prayer, it is like a confirmation that you are showing God you trust Him.

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1 Corinthians 13:13

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

-

Love is the foundation of all the Holy Fruits, as God is Love. So when you hope, let it be that you are hopeful for reasons of love. To be hopeful for comforts, or control, or desires is seeking to have holiness work on your terms. Love is selfless. So what you hope for should be selfless as well. Since holiness comes through us, hope itself serves the will of God.

-

Romans 15:12

And again, Isaiah says,

“The Root of Jesse will spring up,

one who will arise to rule over the nations;

in him the Gentiles will hope.”

-

Hope is a form of reliance, and it is good to trust in God. As we did not grow in the Law, we are called to walk in faith, which includes placing our hope in Him. Hope is powerful, as it is holy. Hope is a yearning to have what is holy, manifest.

The more we rely on the spiritual aspect of God, the more we honor Him through His Truth. Jesus, brought hope to the nations of the World. Without Jesus, there is hope but it bears no good fruit, as it does not recognize His Authority. For a wicked man can hope for the death of his enemy, or his wealth to accumulate, or his nation to conquer. So hope is being used on his terms to satisfy his will.

This is why, when you hope, it should be for things that glorify the holy power of God. Based in love, selfless love, hope coming from a soul under grace glorifies God through the Authority who brought that grace. So we hope for things that serve the will of God, that do God's works; which is believing in the one He sent.

-

Grace upon you to serve His will

To the Others

#World

They that remain hidden and who have been given time to correct the ways of man by their charge: You live within cities, and you turn families against themselves, pushing them into separation which is your charge. They look to Christ or they look to themselves. Those who look to Christ repent. Those who look to themselves will find they justify their acts in front of the Lord who sees all. Yet, you have taken this charge too far, and have brought bloodshed upon their heads. They kill their children and isolate their parents so that they die in hurt and in sorrow. You know what it is to be gentle, and you know what it is to have mercy and show compassion; but you have done none of these things. The cities into regions into nations and kingdoms. You who have ten under you who are of a thousand who are of ten thousand, you stand together and you mean to show that the flesh can be satisfied and the world can harvest itself by your will. You render none, your harvests do not reach the Father because the seeds you plant grow until the bloom and are then rent from the ground. You gain nothing, because you desire nothing but destruction and revenge for the judgement upon you. The living did not bring this on themselves, and you have not shown them what it means to be living. They consider only what they know, and what you have supplied them is nothing. In the time you have been given, you chose to decimate hope, and remove any chance of reconciliation. You have marked them with your own bitterness, they are your shadow, and your light is darkness. You know that all things are possible. And if you were to be given no hope, you would have already been destroyed. If you were not already shown mercy, you would have already been destroyed. If you were not shown compassion you would have been muted and without influence. But you were shown mercy, and you were given hope, and the compassion you were shown was to you but an insult. An insult because you had no intentions of repenting, or producing fruit worthy of repentance. Blood of the innocent and the starvation cries of children and widows reach the highest places. The fury and wrath that is gathered up will forever burn away at you. What must be done, you have now sealed as your fate. Their are some among you who have pleaded with you, for themselves and for your sake. They will be judged, but they will be not be held accountable for the rest of you. They petitioned you, and spoke clearly to you, and did so facing your chastising and your abandonment of them. Their hands will be clean of you, and they will no longer remember or be remembered for their acts. But you, you grouped your will, and you set curses upon one another to bind you in oath, and your children, separated from you, increased your bitterness. But you did not reach out to them, you did not instruct them or council them. Instead you allowed them to approach knowledge of their own terms. And they spread evil throughout the entire world, and mankind took it into itself and where separates further from the Truth. Of the 200 of which there is one, you carry with you great debt. A debt which was given time to repay. You chose to relinquish and to remain without wisdom which was available. What seemed impossible was still of potential, and you instead remained in fear of your loss, though you had not gained anything and had a great debt. You were born into eternal potential and will find yourselves in eternal loss. You were told you would not know peace, and you still did not repent. You were shown the cost the Holy One took upon himself to save mankind, due to your misgivings and deceit, yet you remained unmoved, and looked for your next reaction to counter. Of the 200 of which there is one, is written ALL SIN. The dawn is come. Your time is up. You shall not be left to your own makings, your vine will be torn from the land, and your children will be destroyed in front of you. The sum of your works equals the holiness you acted on, which is none. Your time is up. The dawn is come. What the Almighty has prepared for you comes through His Authority who you led mankind to destroy his temple. But after destroying his prophets the Authority set himself as a lamb for slaughter and you did what your did, believing in yourself free. But he overcame with righteousness and life could not be claimed from Him. You could not understand because you never listened. So he claims what is not his and he takes what he was promised. Yet you still do not listen, and you fight what you should embrace. This servant is nothing, but in his nothingness, he has shown more faith than your combined eternal presence and your damnable children. You broke him, and humiliated him, and struck him down with senseless hatred. You saw him weep his repent, and you saw him produce fruit worthy of repentance. You saw him humbly seek out holiness to serve others with. You saw him stumble and you saw him ask for strength to continue to serve. Yet, you did not see, nor did your hear. But before he was called by the Lord, you knew him, and you saw potential in him that suited your design, and you molded him into your fold, and even when you offered him a crown, he looked at what was before him, and he stepped back, and gave up all that would complete him, because he knew the Truth was not in it. What great destruction you set upon him. What a loathsome day for a single soul to be at the mercy of the merciless. Yes, you showed yourself to him. And he fell on his face trembling, and when he gathered strength to stand, he whispered, "Forgive them Father, they know not what they do." A Holy Elect. A Chosen of the Holy One of God. One who strives to have holiness come through them despite themselves. Your eternal potential summarized in the acts of an empty vessel. To be filled and overflow, and yet you did nothing, and fed off one another, and became hosts of wickedness in the heavenly realms. He even prayed forgiveness of you. His sincerity was his own. So you will be destroyed. And you will be forgotten. And what is done is done. The dawn has come. Your time is up. -

Ezekiel Sermon #6: The Temple

Ezekiel 40:2

"In the visions of God brought He me into the land of Israel, and set me down upon a very high mountain, whereon was as it were the frame of a city on the south."

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The last eight chapters of Ezekiel are the building of a temple which has not come to be. The mystery behind it not being built is solved by the birth of Jesus Christ. The temple became his body, and it is eternal. After Jesus ascended, believers that carry the Holy Spirit became the Temple, the body of Christ, Amen.

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1 Corinthians 3:10,11

10

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.

11

For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

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Ezekiel's temple prophecy spoke of a temple that was under the covenant of the Law. It had rooms for sacrifices, baths for cleansing, and was under ordinance to follow Sabbaths. We know that a new covenant was made. We know that the blood of the Holy Lamb of God was the final atoning sacrifice for all sin. We know that the cleansing of sin is done from the inside, not of the flesh. And we know that the Sabbath was replaced with 'Today', as everyday we are to celebrate and honor the Love of God by having the fruits of Love come through us, while we deny ourselves.

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Hebrews 8:6-12

6

But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.

7

For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another.

8

But God found fault with the people and said:

“The days are coming, declares the Lord,

when I will make a new covenant

with the people of Israel

and with the people of Judah.

9

It will not be like the covenant

I made with their ancestors

when I took them by the hand

to lead them out of Egypt,

because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,

and I turned away from them,

declares the Lord.

10

This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel

after that time, declares the Lord.

I will put my laws in their minds

and write them on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

11

No longer will they teach their neighbor,

or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’

because they will all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest.

12

For I will forgive their wickedness

and will remember their sins no more.”

13

By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

-

The covenant the Lord God made with Moses was to fulfill righteousness through man. This was completed through Christ Jesus. The new covenant supplies glory to God through faithfulness to His Authority.

Ezekiel's temple will not be built. Instead there is a temple in the living, which the Spirit of Truth resides in. Forgiveness of sin is the grace we have, so we can reconcile ourselves to the Almighty. That grace was founded through the Father's righteous gift of His Holy One sacrificing his temple, his flesh, for our salvation. The slain Lamb was raised three days later, and carried with him the keys to death. We have a mediator that lives forever, and the Holy Spirit which will reside with us forever.

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1 Corinthians 3:16

16

Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?

Hallelujah.

Knowledge and Time

Ephesians 3

2

Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you,

3

that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.

4

In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

5

which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.

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Understanding requires a knowledge base. That means, that formal knowledge must be available to understand why something is happening. In terms of faithfulness, the Holy Spirit guides us, and we require no understanding. For example, parables spoken by Christ. Their meaning is set upon us by the Holy Spirit. But when it comes to understanding why something happens we must have some form of knowledge. And because knowledge varies, understanding is only as complete as the knowledge that is available at the time.

A good example of this is found throughout the bible, old and new testament. Knowledge is not complete, so understanding is not complete. The flood is said to have covered the entire world, yet, the entire world was not recognized for thousands of years. To Enoch, the world was a disk, the weather was supplied through storehouses, and the stars rotated around the earth. What the angels showed him, was limited by his knowledge base. So his understanding was only as complete as his knowledge.

The tree of knowledge is however, complete. As it is a part of God who is all things, and in terms of creation, He is of its beginning and end and everything in between. As well, His Authority, the Truth, is within all things. So knowledge itself is best understood through the Truth. The Truth does not supply knowledge to mankind, mankind endeavors to survive through its knowledge. Knowledge does not sustain faith, in fact, the incomplete understanding from incomplete knowledge serves only the will of the individual.

Individuals react to what is in front of them. Their actions are based solely on their understanding. It is the key reason we must be renewed by our faith. Our knowledge base is set aside when we set ourselves aside to rely on the Holy Spirit to act through us. Worldliness is in itself based on not just desires, but our reliance on knowledge.

This is how we know that judgement is not meant for believers. Judgement is worldly, based solely on the individual or groups understanding, which is stunted by it's incomplete knowledge. And even if it was possible to have perfect knowledge, that understanding would be incomplete without the Truth as a guide. It is the undoing of man to assume judgement and 'control'.

Wisdom comes from faithfulness. Wisdom speaks in terms of the spirit, and is devoid of reliance on knowledge and understanding. Wisdom is founded in Love and supported by Truth. Wisdom is eternal because of this.

So today, we are in a time that knowledge is ever increasing, and with it, understanding. But both are nothing without the Truth. The enemy would have believers rely on knowledge and put aside their faithfulness. Because knowledge is of the physical and approaches God on its own terms. Knowledge will replace love with its understanding of love. Knowledge will approach goodness with its understanding of goodness. Knowledge will replace peace with its understanding of peace. And it will continue to do this will all the unseen qualities of God, until reliance on knowledge replaces faith and mankind considers itself and its conscience as God.

Faith and acts based on faith are spiritual. They honor the Holy Spirit, the Authority of Jesus whose blood paid for the grace we have so we could reconcile our souls to the Father. In a world of corrupted knowledge, that does not recognize the Truth, how few believers will be able to stand in front of Jesus and say they carried the Truth forward.

Judgement comes for all besides the chosen few. Judgement is necessary because time and knowledge have deceived the world into reliance upon them.

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Romans 12:2

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.

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Ezekiel Sermon #5: True Justice

Hebrews 10:30

For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people."

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Romans 12:19

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

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Deuteronomy 32:35

It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them."

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In Ezekiel's time, he prophesied against the nations who acted against Judah and Israel. Even though Judah and Israel were brought to ruin by His hand, the Lord makes it clear that vengeance is His alone.

The authority of God brings about justice, while the ways of man bring about retribution, isolation, and injustice. When we do unto others as we would have done unto us, we are acting in love, despite the actions of our enemies. But when we react with retribution, we are claiming ourselves to be what is just. Blind retaliation is the fuel of evil.

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Ezekiel 25:14

"And I will lay My vengeance upon Edom by the hand of My people Israel; and they shall do in Edom according to Mine anger and according to My fury; and they shall know my vengeance, saith the Lord GOD."

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Ezekiel 25:3

"and say unto the children of Ammon: Hear the word of the Lord GOD: Thus saith the Lord GOD: Because thou saidst: Aha! against My sanctuary, when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel, when it was made desolate, and against the house of Judah, when they went into captivity;"

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Ezekiel 25:15

"Thus saith the Lord GOD: Because the Philistines have dealt by revenge, and have taken vengeance with disdain of soul to destroy, for the old hatred;"

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When we consider control, we consider action that is made based on knowledge of good and evil. Knowledge gives a sense of control. But knowledge not based in Truth is incomplete. So knowledge becomes a weapon of blindness. When we seek understanding from the Holy Spirit, the knowledge we have is then rooted in the Truth, and wisdom is born. This is why we set our hearts on God, because everything is under His Authority. So a healthy fear of God is the beginning of a Love for Him.

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Ephesians 4:21,22

21

when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus.

22

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

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Ephesians 4:30-32

30

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

32

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

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In Christ Jesus, we are called to seek out what is holy and replace our own desires with it in our acts. We are called to love our enemies, and in prayer; forgive those who trespass against us. In this way, we are honoring the authority of the Lord, and being as lambs for slaughter; innocent of retribution, and blameless in his sight.

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1 Peter 1:16

14

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 

15

But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;

16

for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

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This is what the Lord wanted from His nation Israel. He wanted them to have His holiness, His righteousness come through them for others to witness His Glory. Today, through Christ Jesus, believers are called to do the same. We are the body of Truth, of which Christ Jesus is the head. We are called to seek out what is holy and replace our own desires with His holiness in our acts.

Let the Lord bring justice. Let perfect knowledge based in Truth separate you from those around you. Do not return to a false sense of control. Yes, you will suffer in denial of yourself. No, your enemies and loved ones will not understand. But allowing holiness to come through your acts will leave you blameless. Blameless before God who judges each person by their heart.

We know that the Lord exacts justice in a perfect way.

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Hebrews 10:30,31

30

For we know him who said, “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge his people.” 

31

It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

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Ezekiel Sermon #4: Seek Holiness

Ezekiel 22:26

"Her priests have done violence to My law, and have profaned My holy things; they have put no difference between the holy and the common, neither have they taught the difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from My sabbaths, and I am profaned among them."

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Matthew 23:25,26

25

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

26

Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

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The repent, and producing fruit worthy of repentance; was what the water baptism of John the Baptist ministered. The repent of sin was ministered by Prophets before John. But producing fruit worthy of repentance is what made a clear path for the Holy Spirit baptism.

The water baptism was a ritual, it cleansed the body, and the entire body being submerged represented the great flood of Noah's time. The flood washed away wickedness from the land. The water baptism submersed a body, symbolically cleansing it. This cleansing did not cleanse away sin, the repent and sin offerings did that for those who followed the path of righteousness.

But what was happening was sin was continuing to happen. The sinner would not repent then supply acts that were worthy of that repent, meaning they would continue to sin. Obedience to the Law was represented by obedience to the temple, but then obedience to the temple turned into placing faith in what gold could buy in terms of redemption for sin. This meant none would find faithfulness in the unseen qualities of God, but were instead placing faith in the power gold had through the temple to redeem.

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Romans 1:20

20

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

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What is common to man and what is the holiness of God became one and the same. The authority of the Lord was ignored, and instead gold became the authority of His temple. Because of this everything the Priests taught and instructed served to make a sinner worse than they were before.

Today, those who claim to be a part of the body of Christ, also struggle with this. False teachings, praying to idols, tithe requirements, cleansing rituals, celebration of pagan holidays, allowing inequality in the houses. But most importantly, they lack faith in the strength of the Lord in their weakness, and return to the ways they had when the Lord called them. They do this because they approach grace on their own terms. Instead of growing closer to the Father through His son, they continue sinning, and end up in a worse situation then they were before.

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2 Peter 2:20

20

If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and are overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning.

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This is why, besides the chosen who are without consequence, the righteous and the sinners will all face judgement.

In Ezekiel's time, The Lord spoke strong words through His Prophets. In our time, we only have to seek guidance from the Holy Spirit. This is why we are told to remain in prayer. We have to ask, seeking guidance, and request it from the Holy Spirit. Which brings me to what I must share with you today.

The silence in sin. Our human hearts and minds are not capable of goodness. If we do not seek first, we will act on our own. And then what is considered good will be done, instead of what is good. Everything not done in faith is sin.

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Isaiah 5:20

20

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.

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Righteousness is of the Father, and Jesus did the Father's will. The mind of Christ Jesus is within the Holy Spirit. There is nothing impossible through faith. Repent in faith, and bear fruit worthy of that repent through the strength of Christ in the Holy Spirit. Persevere, carry on.

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