The temptation was just that, a temptation. Just as if you or I were to be tempted, God provides a way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13). With Jesus this was provided in the spoken word of Scripture. God's word made alive by speaking it into the individuals life against an attack of the devil.
So it is to be a Christian in that when one is tempted, that they overcome! Not that they say God is teaching them a lesson, but that with the Word of the Father that one can overcome the trials of the devil and stand victoriously in this day and age.
In saying that God is no respecter of persons, it is also to say that He did not respect Jesus to be anything of Himself while on earth. Jesus acted out in faith and that action was pleasing to the Father and so Jesus was accepted by Him.
Thsi is good news for you and I! Because Jesus is our example. And - He gave us the power to live out that example! Yes, we have power to live it! We have authority to perform it! Praise God we walk as He walked upon this earth.
Did you get what I said? Did you really take that in by faith?
The Messiah is to the Jew the promised relation between God and Man.
To the nations, the Messiah is Jesus of Nazareth which opened the door by the revelation to Saul (Paul) on the road of Damascus that allowed all to come into the faith and fellowship with the living God.
But there is a window - a time of the gentiles - which is now! Flood in my brothers and sisters!
Twelve Religious Movements and their statements about the Messiah
- Christian Science - Jesus was the offspring of Mary's self-conscious communion with God, the Messiah is incorporeal, spiritual - the divine idea of God; and Mary's conception of him was spiritual, Jesus is not God.
- Unity - Jesus is the I in man, the self, the divine idea. Reveal yourself to yourself by affirming, I AM THE CHRIST.
- Spiritualism - The Messiah is not the Son of God. Any just and perfect being is the Messiah, nothing more than a medium of a high order, not divine except in the sense that we are all divine.
- Jehovah's Witnesses or Russellism - Jesus the Messiah was a man, neither more nor less, none other than the arch angel Michael, God created him, is dead, forever dead, suffered everlasting destruction, not resurrected bodily.
- Theosophy - the Messiah is less an external Savior than a living presence in the human spirit, in time all men become the Messiah.
- Rosicruciamism - The Son (the Messiah) is the highest Initiate of the sun period, not the only begotten Son of God.
- Baha'ism - Jesus the Messiah is only one of many manifestations of God, one of many messiahs, His sufferings were no more than those of other prophets.
- Mormonism - Jesus is both the Father and the Son.
- Unitarianism - The dogma we deny is the exclusive divinity of Jesus the Messiah, Our birth was as divine as that of Jesus.
- Modernism - A man so good that His deluded followers took Him to be a god.
- Christadelphianism - Jesus the Messiah is not divine.
- Seventh Day Adventism - In His humanity the Messiah partook of our sinful, fallen nature.
Spoken by Joseph Mattera, which gives a clear insight into
the New Birth and Salvation by the Messiah
Introduction
Often, many people view the resurrection of Christ merely as an historical event that supplies us with Christian doctrine without understanding the vast implications it has for believers. The following points will attempt to make the implications of the resurrection of Christ much more real and practical to us.
I. My New Life Gives My Life New Perspectives
When I experience the resurrection of Christ my personal values begin to change Joseph Mattera to more reflect the heart and character of God. What I once valued as a priority now becomes low priority so that eternal things can take the ascendancy. Jesus said that the things honored by man are detestable in the sight of God (Luke).
• Where once possessions possessed me, now I own nothing and steward everything.
• Where once I wanted to express my persona, now I want Christ in me to shine.
• Where once I lived for today, now I live in eternity.
• Where once I loved some people a lot, now I love all unconditionally with agape love.
• Where once I wanted to live for my purposes, now I endeavor to die to self for His purposes.
II. My New Life in Christ Gives Me a New Perspective for the World
Jesus said in John 3:3 that when we are born again we can see the kingdom of God. Seeing the kingdom has to do with noticing and understanding the personal design and rule of God in the created order. I do not see this world in a humanistic sense anymore, as people just doing their own thing by their own power, but as a place in which the ultimate power and government of this world comes from the present reign and lordship of Christ over all! This affects all that I do and how I think about this world.
• Now I view elected officials as civil magistrates called by God to represent His law on earth, instead of those merely representing the highest paying special interests and lobbyists.
• Now I view the economy as a way to confirm His covenant, instead of a way to finance lavish lifestyles or grant government entitlements.
• Now I view education as the primary responsibility of parents, instead of those who drink from the fount of John Dewey at Ivy League think tanks.
• Now I view the sciences as an opportunity to plumb the depths of God’s wisdom, instead of providing a naturalistic explanation to disprove His existence.
• Now I believe that significance is found more in service than in power, money, and titles.
III. My New Life in Christ Gives Me Another Chance Every Day to Fulfill My Potential
When Jesus rose from the dead He broke the power of Satan and death, thus giving every one of us a chance for ultimate victory in spite of our past. Every day we have a chance to make a difference and reach our potential because Christ bore our past failures on His body on the cross. He rose from the dead so we could look to a great future as we share with Him in newness of life (Romans 6:4-6).
• Now instead of believing in second chances, I believe in an irrevocable calling and election from God (Romans 11:29).
• Now instead of viewing failure as the end of my life, I view it as a necessary experience to build upon with God’s help.
• Now instead of viewing problems as obstacles, I view them as opportunities to advance His kingdom.
• Now instead of running from things that scare me, I realize they afford me the ability to grow in faith and courage.
• Now instead of focusing on what the devil is doing in people, I focus on how the Lord turns Satan’s triumphs into God’s greatest victories (Genesis 50:20; Romans 8:28).
• Now instead of focusing on what is wrong with my life and surroundings, I am focusing on what is right with God.
IV. My New Life in Christ Gives Me Supernatural Access to God’s Faith that Navigates the World
When Jesus was in the world He walked on water, fed thousands with a few loaves and fish, calmed a storm, and commanded departed human spirits to come back into their earthly bodies. Those of us in Christ have the ability to tap into the same kind of faith that can alter any situation obstructing the assignment God has for us to fulfill kingdom purpose. Jesus even told us in Mark 11:23 that by our faith even mountains can be moved. First Timothy 2:1-3 speaks about how intercessory prayer for civic leaders can result in bringing peace between nations. My new life in Christ enables me to walk as a king in this life under the King of all Kings, Jesus Christ.
• Truly, if a mountain is too high, then speak to it (Mark 11:23).
• If your road is too crooked, then believe that God will make it straight (Luke 3:5).
• If your valley is too low, then know that God will elevate the humble and broken (1 Peter 5:6).
• If your provision is not coming, then have a vision big enough for God to finance it.
• If there are too many problems, then God’s glory will manifest greater solutions.
• If your faith is small, then do something worth believing for (James 2:17).
V. My New Life in Christ Joins Me in Spirit to the Past, Present, and Future Community of Faith
As soon as someone becomes a believer they are instantly connected to the saints of old because we are part of the same family and use the same Scriptures they use. We also become part of the present community of faith, even if we do not want to attend a church, because God has made us all drink from the same drink, and partake of the same body (1 Corinthians 12:12-13). We also are joined to the future church because they too will experience the same blood and body of Christ, use the name of Jesus to pray, and have the same Father in heaven we have. What we are building today regarding our business, writings, teachings, friendships, family, prayers, and organizations will be those very things the saints of the future will build upon to hand over to the next generation of Christians.
The implications of this reality are vast:
• My prayers are joined together with the billions of prayers the saints have already prayed (John 17; Revelation 5:8).
• When I stand up in the arena of faith, I am surrounded by a cloud of many witnesses (Hebrews 12:1).
• When I read the Scriptures, I am reading the letters, laws, songs, and instructions of God’s covenant people both before and after the fall of Adam.
• When I drink of the Spirit, I am experiencing the same high-energy drink Peter drank (Acts 2:17).
• When I love my wife, I am mimicking Jesus who loves His church (Ephesians 5 22).
• While I may be in a small congregation, I am also part of a large church.
• While I may think I am in a large mega church, I am really in a very small congregation.
• Instead of individual destiny, I now enjoy corporate purpose.
• Instead of making private choices of faith, I know I am affecting other members of the same Body of Christ. Thus, instead of being an individual sinner I am now a significant saint!
VI. My New Life in Christ Gives Me Access to God’s Spirit, Who Knows All Things
According to 1 Corinthians 2:10-12 God gives His Spirit to those who have a new life in Christ, so that we can make educated decisions based on God’s knowledge of the future instead of our own. This ability to know the future is only given to those who exercise faith in God and are sensitive to His Spirit.
• Truly, hindsight may be 20/20 but foresight is based on Hebrews 11:3.
• Even though I am not omniscient, I can be prescient and prudent (Proverbs 22:3).
• Because God knows all things, it behooves me to know what He desires to reveal.
• Because He knows the future, I do not have to be afraid of the present.
• Because the past, present, and future are in Him, then my present and future can be ordered by Him (Psalm 37:23).
VII. My New Life in Christ Gives Believers Internal Strength to Overcome All Temptation
As believers, we have the power of the risen Christ inside of us to prioritize His kingdom assignment and live moral and upright lives fully committed to the fidelity of God’s will. In spite of all the distractions, dissenting voices, challenges, and circumstantial obstacles around us, our new life furnishes us with more than enough ability to walk in life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3-4).
Based on this truth:
• The power of the blood of Christ is greater than the fiery darts of the enemy (Ephesians 6:10-17).
• As long as my priorities are His kingdom priorities, then my priorities will be His priorities to protect and secure (Matthew 6:9-13).
• When God’s will becomes my will, then God will strengthen me for His kingdom assignment (Philippians 4:13).
• When His voice becomes greater than my voice, then my voice will become greater than all other contrary voices (Mark 1:3).
• When I manifest His will instead of echoing my own sentiments, then He will manifest His purpose for me in spite of other people’s sentiments for or against me.
• Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4).
Prophecy and Fulfillment
of the Messiah
The Suffering and Exaltation of the Messiah
Prophecy: Isaiah 52:13-53:12
13 See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him-
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man
and his form marred beyond human likeness-
15 so will he sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.
Isaiah 53 1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4 Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
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 her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
10 Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.
11 After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many, and made
intercession for the transgressors.
Fulfillment: 1 Peter 2:22-25; Romans 5:6-8; Philippians 2:6-11
The Servant's Mission and Calling
Prophecy: Isaiah 42:1-9
1 "Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him
and he will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not shout or cry out,
or raise his voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
4 he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
In his law the islands will put their hope."
5 This is what God the LORD says-
he who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
6 "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
7 to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
8 "I am the LORD ; that is my name!
I will not give my glory to another
or my praise to idols.
9 See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you."
Fulfillment: Matthew 12:9-21
Israel's Redeemer and a Light to the Nations
Prophecy: Isaiah 49:1-7
1 Listen to me, you islands;
hear this, you distant nations:
Before I was born the LORD called me;
from my birth he has made mention of my name.
2 He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me into a polished arrow
and concealed me in his quiver.
3 He said to me, "You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will display my splendor."
4 But I said, "I have labored to no purpose;
I have spent my strength in vain and for nothing.
Yet what is due me is in the LORD's hand,
and my reward is with my God."
5 And now the LORD says-
he who formed me in the womb to be his servant
to bring Jacob back to him
and gather Israel to himself,
for I am honored in the eyes of the LORD
and my God has been my strength-
6 he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant
to restore the tribes of Jacob
and bring back those of Israel I have kept.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."
7 This is what the LORD says-
the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel-
to him who was despised and abhorred by the nation,
to the servant of rulers:
"Kings will see you and rise up,
princes will see and bow down,
because of the LORD, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."
Fulfillment: Luke 4:16-20; Romans 11:25-26
The Rejected Cornerstone, Chosen by God
Prophecy: Psalm 118:22-23
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
23 the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
Fulfillment: Matthew 21:33-44
Delivered Out of the Jaws of Death
Prophecy: Psalm 22:1-31
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from the words of my groaning?
2 O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, and am not silent.
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the praise of Israel.
4 In you our fathers put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5 They cried to you and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not disappointed.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by men and despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads:
8 "He trusts in the LORD ;
let the LORD rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him."
9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you
even at my mother's breast.
10 From birth I was cast upon you;
from my mother's womb you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13 Roaring lions tearing their prey
open their mouths wide against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted away within me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16 Dogs have surrounded me;
a band of evil men has encircled me,
they have pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones;
people stare and gloat over me.
18 They divide my garments among them
and cast lots for my clothing.
19 But you, O LORD, be not far off;
O my Strength, come quickly to help me.
20 Deliver my life from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
22 I will declare your name to my brothers;
in the congregation I will praise you.
23 You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or disdained
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.
25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
they who seek the LORD will praise him-
may your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the LORD,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
28 for dominion belongs to the LORD
and he rules over the nations.
29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him-
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness
to a people yet unborn-
for he has done it.
Fulfillment: Mark 15:16-37; 16:1-7
Risen from the Grave
Prophecy: Psalm 16:7-11
7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
11 You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Fulfillment: Acts 2:22-33
Exalted to God's Right Hand
Prophecy: Psalm 110:1-6
1 The LORD says to my Lord:
"Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet."
2 The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion;
you will rule in the midst of your enemies.
3 Your troops will be willing
on your day of battle.
Arrayed in holy majesty,
from the womb of the dawn
you will receive the dew of your youth.
4 The LORD has sworn
and will not change his mind:
"You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek."
5 The Lord is at your right hand;
he will crush kings on the day of his wrath.
6 He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead
and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.
Fulfillment: Matthew 22:41-46; Acts 2:34-36; Acts 7:56; Hebrews 7:11-22
A Promised Ruler From Bethlehem
Prophecy: Micah 5:2
2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times."
Fulfillment: Luke 2:1-7; Matthew 2:1-6
The Sign of Immanuel
Prophecy: Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Fulfillment: Matthew 1:18-23
To Us a Child Is Born
Prophecy: Isaiah 9:6-7
6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
Fulfillment: Luke 1:31-33; Romans 1:1-4; John 1:1-4; Colossians 2:9
God's Anointed Ruler and Son
Prophecy: Psalm 2:1-12
1 Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the LORD
and against his Anointed One.
3 "Let us break their chains," they say,
"and throw off their fetters."
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then he rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 "I have installed my King
on Zion, my holy hill."
7 I will proclaim the decree of the LORD :
He said to me, "You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.
8 Ask of me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will rule them with an iron scepter;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery."
10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Fulfillment: Matthew 3:17; Revelation 19:11-16
The Branch From Jesse
Prophecy: Isaiah 11:1-10
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him-
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -
3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD .
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;
4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.
6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.
7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.
8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,
and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.
9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.
10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner
for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his
place of rest will be glorious.
Fulfillment: Romans 15:12; Revelation 21:1-7
The Seventy "Sevens"
Prophecy: Daniel 9:24-27
24 "Seventy 'sevens' are decreed for your people
and your holy city to finish transgression, to put
an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring in
everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy
and to anoint the most holy.
25 "Know and understand
this: From the issuing of the decree to restore and rebuild
Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there
will be seven 'sevens,' and sixty-two 'sevens.' It will be
rebuilt with streets and a trench, but in times of trouble.
26 After the sixty-two 'sevens,' the Anointed One will be cut
off and will have nothing. The people of the ruler who will
come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end will
come like a flood: War will continue until the end, and
desolations have been decreed.
27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one 'seven.'
In the middle of the 'seven' he will put an end to sacrifice
and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up
an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that
is decreed is poured out on him.
Fulfillment: Hebrews 7:27; 9:24-28
The Divine Visitation to the Temple
Prophecy: Malachi 3:1-6
1 "See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the
way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking
will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant,
whom you desire, will come," says the LORD Almighty.
But who can endure the day of his coming?
Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a
refiner's fire or a launderer's soap.
3 He will sit as a refiner
and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine
them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men
who will bring offerings in righteousness,
4 and the offerings
of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD,
as in days gone by, as in former years.
5 "So I will come near to you for judgment. I will be quick
to testify against sorcerers, adulterers and perjurers, against those
who defraud laborers of their wages, who oppress the widows
and the fatherless, and deprive aliens of justice, but do not fear
me," says the LORD Almighty.
6 "I the LORD do not change.
So you, O descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed.
Fulfillment: Matthew 21:10-13
The World Ruler from Judah
Prophecy: Genesis 49:10
10 The scepter will not depart from Judah,
nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,
until he comes to whom it belongs
and the obedience of the nations is his.
Fulfillment: Revelation 5:5-14
Description: The Coming of Zion's King
Prophecy: Zechariah 9:9
9 Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!
Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!
See, your king comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
Fulfillment: Matthew 21:1-11
Mourning for the One They Pierced
Prophecy: Zechariah 12:10-13:1
10 "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants
of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look
on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him
as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as
one grieves for a firstborn son.
11 On that day the weeping in
Jerusalem will be great, like the weeping of Hadad Rimmon
in the plain of Megiddo.
12 The land will mourn, each clan by
itself, with their wives by themselves: the clan of the house
f David and their wives, the clan of the house of Nathan and
their wives,
13 the clan of the house of Levi and their wives,
the clan of Shimei and their wives,
14 and all the rest of the
clans and their wives.
Zechariah 13: 1 "On that day a fountain
will be opened to the house of David and the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.
Fulfillment: John 19:31-37; Revelation 1:7
The Exalted Son of Man
Prophecy: Daniel 7:13-14
13 "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was
one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven.
He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.
14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples,
nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion
is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom
is one that will never be destroyed.
Fulfillment: Matthew 24:26-30; Mark 14:60-62
The New Covenant
Prophecy: Jeremiah 31:31-34
31 "The time is coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
and with the house of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them,"
declares the LORD .
33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel
after that time," declares the LORD .
"I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
34 No longer will a man teach his neighbor,
or a man his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,'
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,"
declares the LORD .
"For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more."
Fulfillment: 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; Hebrews 8:7-13
As spoken by Jeff Jansen of the importance of understanding The Messiah in US
(Those who believe in The Messiah)
There is an emphasis coming into the body of Christ over the next few years that will be the central theme of everything that we are to become. In every move of God there is an emphasis and the emphasis of “CHRIST IN US” will be the central theme in this next move of God.
When Paul was writing to the Ephesians church he stated Ephesians 4:12 that His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints that they should do the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body ...
v-13 UNTIL we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the (full and accurate) knowledge of the Son of God that (we might arrive)at really mature manhood (NIV: at that perfect man), the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ and the completeness found in Him.
Paul prayed for the Gallatin church in Galatians 4:19 he says “My little children, for whom I am again suffering birth pangs until Christ is completely and permanently formed (molded) within you.
There is a maturing happening now that will lead the body of Christ in attaining oneness in the faith and in the full and accurate knowledge of the Son of God. Paul says it is “Mature Manhood”.
The Bible says that the whole of creation is waiting for a manifestation or a coming forth of the “Sons of God”, Romans 8:19. This is a theme in scripture ... the whole of creation is waiting for a revealing of authentic sonship as we approach the end of the age.
There is maturing taking place ... a coming to fullness of all things both good and evil. Things that we have known in a limited measure in the past are going to come to maturity and be made fully known.
For instance in the gifts of the Spirit and the prophetic anointing and different levels of authority, we have a limited measure of it now but God is bringing us to the fullness of it as mature sons and daughters and all of it will work and be activated by love.
We are the Same Species as God
We need to understand that all of creation is beautiful and wonderful in its own way, the plants and trees, the angels, the planetary system, but only man is the same SPECIES as God. Genesis 1:26 says man was created in the image of God. We are made in His image and in His likeness and only man is created the same species as God.
Satan is only an angel, he is not of the same species as we are. He is not the same image, family or roll as we are. Satan is very aware of this fact and from the beginning it was his ambition to destroy the family of God in the earth.
When Adam and Eve were created God had a family both a son and a daughter. Just think about what this really meant to God. He had a son and a daughter of His own family in the earth! Satan could never be that nor could angels ever compete with this position. God had a son and a daughter in His likeness made after His image with His DNA in the earth.
There is a Kingdom principle or law over creation that we see in Genesis that everything brings forth after it’s own kind and likeness. Birds are birds ... they bring forth birds after their likeness and kind. Cattle bring forth cattle after their own likeness and kind. Fish bring forth fish after their own likeness. An apple tree bring forth apples each after its own variety and kind, seed bearing herbs bring forth see bearing herbs and God brought forth god! Sons of God. Jesus actually stated this in a confrontation with the scribes in the gospel of John. Lets look at it.
Jesus made this statement in John 10:30-38 “I and My Father are One”. Again the Jew brought up stones to stone Him. Jesus said to them, My Father has enabled Me to do many good deeds (Merciful supernatural acts of miracles, healings, signs and wonders). For which of these do you mean to stone Me? The Jews replied We are not going to stone you for a good act, (acting in miracles of healing), but for blasphemy, because You, a mere Man, continually make Yourself out to be equal with God.
Jesus answered, Is it not written in your Law, I said, You are gods? (Psalm 82:6)
v-35: So men are called gods, men to whom God’s message came and the Scripture cannot be set aside or cancelled or broken or annulled ...
Lets look at Psalm 82:1 “God stands in the assembly (of the representatives) of God: in the midst of the magistrates or judges He gives judgment (as) among the gods”. Psalm 82:6 says “I said, You are gods (since you judge on My behalf as my representatives) indeed, all of you are children of the Most High.
Jesus was saying that we are all children, family of the most high God and if we are family we are born of Divine seed. Think about it ... Our children look like us don’t they? Psalm 82:6 say’s we are small “g” gods because we are His children and act as His earthly representatives judging and acting on His behalf. Notice it is small “g” gods. This word “god” is the same word used in Genesis I, in the beginning “God” created the heavens and the earth. The word used to describe “God” is “Elohim” which means “Creator”. We are God’s small “g” creator gods in the earth establishing His earthly government as ambassadors of His supernatural kingdom.
Everything brings forth after its own kind and we are His offspring ... Made in his image ... We are the same family and of the same SPECIES as God.
Sons and Daughters of God
We need to understand as it relates to the angels that Lucifer was insanely jealous of man and has tried from the beginning to hide the fact that man was literally the family of God and made in His likeness. Without a doubt the most successful lie he devised and implemented is simply called ...EVOLUTION. Lucifer knew that if he could just get us to believe that we evolved from a lower species he could successfully separate us from Gods family. Lucifer was never a son of God nor could he ever be so he set out to destroy the apple of God’s eye ... the human race ... the sons of God.
We know that through the fall of Adam we surrendered our position or right to be called the son’s of God and in turn became the son of God’s enemy Lucifer taking upon his likeness and becoming progressively formed into his image. He is the prince of the power of the air the spirit that is now at work in the children of disobedience. But through the Cross of Calvary and the blood of Jesus Christ God had a remedy for it all.
John 1:12 says
“But to as many as did received Him He gave the authority, power, privilege, the right to become the children of God, that is to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name. We must be born again. Jesus Christ was born not just to restore us to right relationship with Himself, heaven was to be the end result of it all. But Jesus Christ died to restore access to God that was lost in the Garden. Now through the blood of Jesus God has opened to us a new and living way and has restored to us the long lost relationship title deed of “Sons of God”.
Which brings us to Colossians 1:27 which says “To whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is CHRIST WITHIN and among you, THE HOPE OF GLORY!