Victory Through Meekness

Mercy Saved Us And There Is Mercy For All

He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5

This is an awesome Truth and one that is so often overlooked: we are only saved by our Father’s mercy. We are not saved because we work for it, or because we belong to a certain church, or because we on our own believe. We are only saved because our Father has mercy on us. 

So the question is: does our Father just have mercy for those of us who believe? Is God’s mercy only reserved for those of us who have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to know and understand the glory of salvation? Why would we be the only ones; or are we? Let’s look at a couple of other verses and see what we are told about our Father’s mercy.

For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike]. Romans 11:32

And Peter opened his mouth and said: Most certainly and thoroughly I now perceive and understand that God shows no partiality and is no respecter of persons, Acts 10:34

We are shown that our Father saves us because of His mercy. We are also shown that He has mercy on us all and finally we are shown that He does not respect any of us over another. So if these verses are true, how can only a few of us be saved, while the majority of people aren’t? That just cannot be the case, because if it were, our Father would not have mercy on all and He would respect certain people over others.

The Truth is greater then what most preach. Our Father does have mercy for all and because of the success of Jesus we are all saved from Hell. We all may not be the Bride of Christ, Revelation 22:17. which means that we may not all be called to serve in the full power of Christ. Some of us may be the guests of Christ, which means some of us will be served. But all, both good and bad, are invited and allowed to stay at the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, Matthew 22:10.  Look at Israel, not all were of the Tribe of Levy, the only Tribe chosen by our Father to serve, yet all Tribes were Israelites. Not everyone is called to be a Pastor, but all are members of the Church. Some are called and chosen to serve and some are called to be served, but mercy is applied to all, 1 Corinthians 3:15. 

Jesus Controls All Flesh

[Just as] You have granted Him power and authority over all flesh (all humankind), [now glorify Him] so that He may give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. John 17:2

For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. Colossians 1:16

For in this city there actually met and plotted together against Your holy Child and Servant Jesus, Whom You consecrated by anointing, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel, To carry out all that Your hand and Your will and purpose had predestined (predetermined) should occur. Acts 4:27-28

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. Romans 8:28

It is easy for us to accept and believe that Jesus is active in controlling the flesh of those who have been empowered to accept Him. But the glorious Truth is that Jesus controls all flesh. He even controls the flesh of those who do evil. The worst of the worse, Jesus is in control of them as well. Look at what the Holy Spirit tells us, our Father anointed and consecrated both Pilate and Herod to carry out His will of torturing and killing Jesus. We also read in the Old Testament that our Father was in control of Pharaoh and hardened his heart to keep on attacking the Israelites. 

The peace of the Truth of Jesus being in control of all flesh is this: everything works out for our good. Hardships bring a faith and trust in people like nothing else can.

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. Romans 5:3

The Truth that Jesus even controls the evil people of this world also brings us great peace. It brings us peace because the wicked can only do what our Lord permits and allows them to do. Even satan, the father of the wicked, is controlled completely by Jesus. When the devil wanted to attack the Apostles, Jesus told him no, Luke 22:31. Jesus will never allow us to be tempted above that which we can stand, 1 Corinthians 10:13. So relax in the peace that Jesus is even in control of the evil people.

Bride Of Christ Part II

The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. Matthew 22:2 

And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise [of the Holy Spirit] is to and for you and your children, and to and for all that are far away, [even] to and for as many as the Lord our God invites and bids to come to Himself. Acts 2:38-39 

And the children were yet unborn and had so far done nothing either good or evil. Even so, in order further to carry out God's purpose of selection (election, choice), which depends not on works or what men can do, but on Him Who calls [them], It was said to her that the elder [son] should serve the younger [son]. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated (held in relative disregard in comparison with My feeling for Jacob). Romans 9:11-13

When Jesus spoke this parable of the Marriage Supper, the tradition of the people that He told it to was that the father of the groom chose the bride for his son. The glorious Truth for us is that we did not first call on Jesus to be our Lord, our Father first called and chose us to be saved. We were called and chosen to be the Bride before the world ever was created.

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), saw fit and was pleased Galatians 1:15

This is so powerful, because it means that our Father knew all of our faults and weaknesses before He ever chose us. None of that matters to Him, only the grace of our Father matters. We have been given God’s free grace as He has called and chosen us to be His Son’s Bride. We have been called to be one with our Father through Jesus. We have been called to be new creatures and serve a world that desperately needs service. 

We Can't Help But Mess Up

And all mankind shall see (behold and understand and at last acknowledge) the salvation of God (the deliverance from eternal death decreed by God). Luke 3:6

For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike]. Romans 11:32

There is now absolutely no condemnation in Christ, Romans 8:1, and there is also absolutely no boasting in Christ, 1 Corinthians 1:29. Now here is the ultimate glorious Truth: everything is in Christ.

For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. Colossians 1:16

Our Father has a plan that has consigned all of us to totally and completely rely on Him. We all mess up. We cannot help it, because our Father made us that way. He made us this way so that we could not brag about what we have done or condemn ourselves for what we haven’t done. It is all our Father’s glorious power and grace that is operating in our lives. Here is what is so awesome, our Father even operates in the lives of those who don’t acknowledge Him or believe in Him.

For in this city there actually met and plotted together against Your holy Child and Servant Jesus, Whom You consecrated by anointing, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel, To carry out all that Your hand and Your will and purpose had predestined (predetermined) should occur. Acts 4:27-28

The Truth is that our Father controls everything, He has too. He has too, because nothing can be that He doesn’t bring into existence and control. Our Father is everything; He is the Alpha and the Omega, He is the Beginning and the End. 

Philippians 4:18-19

18 But I have [your full payment] and more; I have everything I need and am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent me. [They are the] fragrant odor of an offering and sacrifice which God welcomes and in which He delights.

19 And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

I was raised in a Full Gospel, you better tithe and offer church. Every sermon somehow revolved around us giving money to the church. The sermons would typically go like this, give and God will multiply your seed a hundredfold. The scripture used for this preaching can be found in Mark 10. But what was amazing to me is that no one was a multi-multi-billionaire. I mean if it were true that if we gave a dollar, then we would receive $100 back, there would have been a ton of people making billions. So it was either the preaching was wrong or the Bible was wrong and I choose to believe that it was the preaching. 

Look at Jesus’ life, was He super rich? Did Jesus have a huge home or His own private boat to take Him to preach, Matthew 8:20? Did He have His own pure breed donkey to ride upon to show people that He was blessed by God, Matthew 21:2? Was Paul, John, or Peter super rich? Did they have huge homes and massive amounts of worldly things? They didn’t and yet every one of their needs were fully met by our Father and they had far more than a hundred fold of what they had when they first started. They had more fellowship, more love, more faith, more hope, more joy, and more peace. They had so much peace they could be imprisoned and sleep like babies, Acts 12:7-8. They had so much that when the jail doors miraculously flew open, they stayed so that the jailor wouldn’t be killed, Acts 16:27-28. They raised the dead, healed the sick, made trips to Heaven, and all without money and worldly possessions. 

If you believe that our Father wants a bunch of rich worldly people, where is the example of Him doing it in the Bible? Did all of these people over all of the years just not have faith? Or, is our riches not of this world? The people in Acts sold everything that they had to share with each other and they did not become super wealthy because of it, Acts 2:45. They actually were so poor Paul would raise money for them as he traveled, 1 Corinthians 16:3. We are in this world, but we are not of this world and neither are our riches, John 17:14. 

Philippians 2:26-30

26 For he has been [homesick] longing for you all and has been distressed because you had heard that he was ill.

27 He certainly was ill [too], near to death. But God had compassion on him, and not only on him but also on me, lest I should have sorrow [over him] coming upon sorrow.

Epaphroditus labored with Paul and Timothy. He worked with a anointed man of God that was used to miraculously heal the sick, Acts 28:8. Yet we are told here that Epaphroditus was deathly ill? I was raised in a full gospel type of church. It was always preached that we got sick because we lacked the faith not to believe that we could be well. It always came back to our ability to believe and accept the healing that was already given to us. While it was never directly spoken, there was a level of condemnation directed at you for being sick. The question is: is this type of teaching true?

And [yet] although my physical condition was [such] a trial to you, you did not regard it with contempt, or scorn and loathe and reject me; but you received me as an angel of God, [even] as Christ Jesus [Himself]! Galatians 4:14

Drink water no longer exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 1 Timothy 5:23

Timothy, Epaphroditus, and Paul were all sick. The writings of Paul seem to show us that he and Timothy were often sick. Did that mean that they lacked faith? Some people may say that they did, but look at what the Holy Spirit had Paul write about being sick.

So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength). 2 Corinthians 12:10

Other then Jesus, Paul was used by our Father more then anyone else in the New Testament. Paul was sick, so sick, that at first his physical condition offended the Galatians. Yet, he was used more in the New Testament then anyone other then Jesus. To be powerful in the power of our Father, Paul had to be weak in the flesh. So he took pleasure in being sick. That is Holy Ghost inspired and empowered humility.

There is now no condemnation in Christ, Romans 8:1. Everything works for our Father’s power, even sickness. Our Father had a sick guy lay hands on the sick and they recovered. He had a sick guy spread the Gospel of the Kingdom all across the Mediterranean. Sickness only strengthened Paul. It made him love more and care more. The glorious Truth is that the Holy Spirit will cause us to take pleasure in all things as He uses us to take no thought for our own lives.  

28 So I have sent him the more willingly and eagerly, that you may be gladdened at seeing him again, and that I may be the less disquieted.

29 Welcome him [home] then in the Lord with all joy, and honor and highly appreciate men like him,

30 For it was through working for Christ that he came so near death, risking his [very] life to complete the deficiencies in your service to me [which distance prevented you yourselves from rendering].

Philippians 1:22-24

22 If, however, it is to be life in the flesh and I am to live on here, that means fruitful service for me; so I can say nothing as to my personal preference [I cannot choose],

23 But I am hard pressed between the two. My yearning desire is to depart (to be free of this world, to set forth) and be with Christ, for that is far, far better;

24 But to remain in my body is more needful and essential for your sake.

Jesus Alone holds the keys of death. The Truth is that no one dies, until Jesus allows us to die. 

And the Ever-living One [I am living in the eternity of the eternities]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore; and I possess the keys of death and Hades (the realm of the dead). Revelation 1:18

Our peace in Christ is that we are new creatures in Him. So His Love and Compassion now dwells within us. This gives us the same desire for others that Jesus has. We can see this in what Paul is writing here in Philippians. 

Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Our peace is also that it is all of our Father’s power within us, all of the time. Our confidence is that we will be used 100% of the time to serve others, whether in life or in death.

And Peter, seeing it, answered the people, You men of Israel, why are you so surprised and wondering at this? Why do you keep staring at us, as though by our [own individual] power or [active] piety we had made this man [able] to walk? The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has glorified His Servant and Son Jesus [doing Him this honor], Whom you indeed delivered up and denied and rejected and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to let Him go. But you denied and rejected and disowned the Pure and Holy, the Just and Blameless One, and demanded [the pardon of] a murderer to be granted to you. But you killed the very Source (the Author) of life, Whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. And His name, through and by faith in His name, has made this man whom you see and recognize well and strong. [Yes] the faith which is through and by Him [Jesus] has given the man this perfect soundness [of body] before all of you. Acts 3:12-16

Our life is for others. Jesus ever lives to intercede for others and we are now one with Him. So our lives are now for ever living to intercede for others. 

Therefore He is able also to save to the uttermost (completely, perfectly, finally, and for all time and eternity) those who come to God through Him, since He is always living to make petition to God and intercede with Him and intervene for them. Hebrews 7:25

Philippians 1:2

2 Grace (favor and blessing) to you and [heart] peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

It is a reason for pride and exultation to which our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world [generally] and especially toward you, with devout and pure motives and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God (the unmerited favor and merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, and keeps, strengthens, and increases them in Christian virtues). 2 Corinthians 1:12

The word Grace actually means that our Father will cause us to be who and what He wants us to be. Our Father had Ezekiel and Joel both prophecy about this wonderful Truth.

And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall heed My ordinances and do them. Ezekiel 36:27

But [instead] this is [the beginning of] what was spoken through the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels] and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [divinely suggested] dreams. Acts 2:16-17

Look at what the Truth of Grace is: our Father will cause us to do what He wants us to do and this power will be poured out on all of mankind during the end times, Revelation 8:5. How awesome is that? We all look at events such as wars, elected officials, and natural disasters to see if the end is near. These things are not the signs of the end, Matthew 24:8. Grace is the only sign that the end is near. 

And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end. Matthew 24:4

When we see the power that was exhibited through Jesus and even greater power, John 14:12, then look for Jesus to return. 

Galatians 5:17-18

17 For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.

For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike]. Romans 11:32

   

And Jesus said to him, Why do you call Me [essentially and perfectly morally] good? There is no one [essentially and perfectly morally] good—except God alone. Mark 10:18

The flesh of God, which is Jesus, told the people that He wasn’t good. What? Jesus tells us that the perfect flesh of God wasn’t good. He tells us that the perfect sacrifice wasn’t good. So if the best flesh that ever lived couldn’t make the grade, how could we ever be good? The glorious Truth is that we can’t! The Truth that sets us free is that we weren't created to. We were created to mess up and live under mercy, not laws and works. We live under Grace, which is all free and undeserved.  

18 But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy] Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.

  

So the question is how many people are led by the Holy Spirit? How many people are led by the will of God? 

For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. Colossians 1:16

O Lord [pleads Jeremiah in the name of the people], I know that [the determination of] the way of a man is not in himself; it is not in man [even in a strong man or in a man at his best] to direct his [own] steps. Jeremiah 10:23

Man's steps are ordered by the Lord. How then can a man understand his way? Proverbs 20:24

John answered, A man can receive nothing [he can claim nothing, he can take unto himself nothing] except as it has been granted to him from heaven. [A man must be content to receive the gift which is given him from heaven; there is no other source.] John 3:27

The Truth is that all of mankind is led by God, whether we know it or not, so all of us are under mercy and grace. We don’t have to accept or even be aware that our Father is in control, for Him to be in control. What type of Father would He be if His children had to first empower Him?

For in this city there actually met and plotted together against Your holy Child and Servant Jesus, Whom You consecrated by anointing, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and peoples of Israel, To carry out all that Your hand and Your will and purpose had predestined (predetermined) should occur. Acts 4:27-28

Even those who say that they don’t believe or hate God, are led by God, so they too are under mercy and set free from the curse of the Law. 

Galatians 4:1-3

1 NOW WHAT I mean is that as long as the inheritor (heir) is a child and under age, he does not differ from a slave, although he is the master of all the estate;

2 But he is under guardians and administrators or trustees until the date fixed by his father.

There is so much peace in the Truth in the fact that our Father fixes the dates and times and seasons. Our Father knows better than anyone what is needed and the best time for it to come into being. Our Father fixed the time for Jesus to come to this earth. God fixed the time for Jesus to be born, He fixed how Jesus was to be born, and He fixed when and how Jesus was to die. Our Father was in total control of Jesus’ life and His destiny. I don’t know many people that will argue with this and actually most of us have a great deal of faith with this Truth. So here is my question: why do we freak out when the exact same thing is said about our own life’s? Why do we have so many issues with our own life’s being predestined by the grace and power of our Father, Who is God, when we do not have any issues whatsoever with Jesus’ life and death being predestined by Him?

This Jesus, when delivered up according to the definite and fixed purpose and settled plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and put out of the way [killing Him] by the hands of lawless and wicked men. Acts 2:23

To carry out all that Your hand and Your will and purpose had predestined (predetermined) should occur. Acts 4:28

3 So we [Jewish Christians] also, when we were minors, were kept like slaves under [the rules of the Hebrew ritual and subject to] the elementary teachings of a system of external observations and regulations.

External observations and regulations make us slaves to the flesh and put us in bondage to it. Think of the things that we hear so often in today’s religion: wear this, don’t wear that, go to a building on a certain day, eat this during this time, pray in this position, don’t go there, give this amount of money, and all of the other religious regulations and observations that enslave us to the works of the flesh. We take a scripture and make it a rule based on our own efforts and then we call it faith. Remember what the Holy Spirit showed us in Galatians Chapter 3: that if we rely on these human efforts then we are doomed to destruction. These types of rules that attempt to bring us into right standing with our Father are elementary, they have been done away with. 

The glorious Truth for us is that if something is required of us to do, it is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit, our Strength, to cause us to do it. Works of the flesh will not save us and the lack of a work will not remove us from our salvation. They are just works. If a work is desired by our Father for us to do, then Jesus will Shepherd us in the work and His power will cause us to accomplish it. Sometimes we may be fully aware of what is happening and sometimes we may not, but the responsibility all lies with Jesus. Jesus is responsible because He is our Head, He is our Vine, and He is our Lord. 

Galatians 3:1-2

1 O YOU poor and silly and thoughtless and unreflecting and senseless Galatians! Who has fascinated or bewitched or cast a spell over you, unto whom--right before your very eyes--Jesus Christ (the Messiah) was openly and graphically set forth and portrayed as crucified?

   

2 Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the [Holy] Spirit as the result of obeying the Law and doing its works, or was it by hearing [the message of the Gospel] and believing [it]? [Was it from observing a law of rituals or from a message of faith?]

We can ask ourselves the exact same question that Paul asked the Galatians: which one of us received the Holy Spirit by obeying Saturday as our Sabbath, or by not making an idol, by having no other god’s, by not coveting or murdering, by being circumcised, by honoring our parents, or by not lying about others? Be honest here, most of us were not keeping any of these things that our Father commanded the children of Israel to do when we were born again and filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Let’s bring the focus of this question into the religious rules of today and ask ourselves the same question again. Which one of us was saved and filled with the Holy Spirit by not drinking, by wearing certain clothes, by wearing a certain hairstyle, by going to a certain building on a certain day, by tithing, by offering, or by not saying certain words, or thinking certain thoughts? None of us were saved by doing these works. The Truth to grab hold of here, and it can only be grasped through the strength of the Holy Spirit, is that we weren’t saved by religious laws and we aren’t kept by them either. Our Father chose us before the world ever was and He birthed us right in the middle of most of us doing crazy and stupid things, just as He did with Paul, Galatians 1:15 & Acts 9:2-8.

No one is able to come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me attracts and draws him and gives him the desire to come to Me, and [then] I will raise him up [from the dead] at the last day. Acts 6:22

For the promise to Abraham or his posterity, that he should inherit the world, did not come through [observing the commands of] the Law but through the righteousness of faith. Romans 4:13

Likewise, my brethren, you have undergone death as to the Law through the [crucified] body of Christ, so that now you may belong to Another, to Him Who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. Romans 7:4

We were saved because our Father did it for us. We are righteous because Jesus now Authors and Finishes our Faith, Hebrews 12:2. And we are now dead to the Law and all religious laws except Love. Yet even Love is not ours to worry about, Jesus lives to cause us to Love with the full and complete power of His love, John 17:26. The Holy Spirit will never let us be fooled or bewitched by false teachers who claim that we must first do anything on our own or who place a bunch of so called religious laws before us to keep. 

Galatians 2:7-10

7 But on the contrary, when they [really] saw that I had been entrusted [to carry] the Gospel to the uncircumcised [Gentiles, just as definitely] as Peter had been entrusted [to proclaim] the Gospel to the circumcised [Jews, they were agreeable];

   

8 For He Who motivated and fitted Peter and worked effectively through him for the mission to the circumcised, motivated and fitted me and worked through me also for [the mission to] the Gentiles.

   

Do you see a difference here in verse 8. Paul is giving God the glory for using Peter to tell the Truth, but earlier to James and the other leaders, Paul says whether they were leaders or not he didn’t know. The Truth is that the leaders in Jerusalem were probably being taught more by Paul than they were teaching Paul. For guys  who were caught up in works that probably had to really bug them. They were seeing Paul being used powerfully and they are trying to work on their own and they are just not seeing the same results. But how could they deny what our Father was doing through Paul? 

9 And when they knew (perceived, recognized, understood, and acknowledged) the grace (God's unmerited favor and spiritual blessing) that had been bestowed upon me, James and Cephas (Peter) and John, who were reputed to be pillars of the Jerusalem church, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, with the understanding that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised (Jews).

Think about what we are being shown: after twelve years of preaching the church finally recognized Paul and began to fellowship with him. So what church was Paul working with before that? So many believe that you have to be in a church and answering to church leaders to be used by our Father, so what church allowed Paul to preach before? The glorious Truth is that Paul wasn’t answering to a bunch of so called religious leaders and our Father still used him powerfully to proclaim the Truth that was setting people free. So once again, do not fret about it if our Father does not have you in a church. Because the Truth is that He has you in The Church that has not been made with human hands. Our Father will never allow us to fail. If He has us going to a physical church then great and if He doesn't great, He is our Father either way! 

10 They only [made one stipulation], that we were to remember the poor, which very thing I was also eager to do.

In Christ we cannot help but to be eager to help the poor. We are one with Jesus and He is very concerned with the poor, so we can be no other way. 

Give, and [gifts] will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will they pour into [the pouch formed by] the bosom [of your robe and used as a bag]. For with the measure you deal out [with the measure you use when you confer benefits on others], it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:38

Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one of them claimed that anything which he possessed was [exclusively] his own, but everything they had was in common and for the use of all. And with great strength and ability and power the apostles delivered their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace (loving-kindness and favor and goodwill) rested richly upon them all. Nor was there a destitute or needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses proceeded to sell them, and one by one they brought (gave back) the amount received from the sales And laid it at the feet of the apostles (special messengers). Then distribution was made according as anyone had need. Acts 4:32-35

The Holy Spirit gives us our Father's measure to help the poor. We have our Father's physical, spiritual, and soulful abundance to be able to be charitable unto every good work, 2 Corinthians 9:8. 

Galatians 1:1

PAUL, AN apostle--[special messenger appointed and commissioned and sent out] not from [any body of] men nor by or through any man, but by and through Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and God the Father, Who raised Him from among the dead--

The Holy Spirit has Paul begin this letter by letting the people know that He is an Apostle only because our Father commissioned and appointed him to be one. The reason that this is so important is because when our Father appoints us to be something, we will be it. Paul was not looking for this commission of an Apostle, it was chosen for Him by our Father before he was ever born.

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), saw fit and was pleased To reveal (unveil, disclose) His Son within me so that I might proclaim Him among the Gentiles (the non-Jewish world) as the glad tidings (Gospel), immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood [did not consult or counsel with any frail human being or communicate with anyone]. Galatians 1:15-16

For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. Ephesians 2:10

Our Father knows the beginning and the ending of all things, so He knew who He was going to use and how He was going to use them before this world ever was. We may know we are being used, or we may not know that we are, but either way in no way limits our Father’s selection of us and His call for us. Our peace in this Truth is that if we are called and chosen to serve we will always have the full and complete power of our Father causing us to be what it is that He needs and when He needs it. It is always our Father’s power within us doing the works of His righteousness.

Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in Me? What I am telling you I do not say on My own authority and of My own accord; but the Father Who lives continually in Me does the ( His) works (His own miracles, deeds of power). John 14:10

For he was a good man [good in himself and also at once for the good and the advantage of other people], full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit and full of faith (of his belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through Whom we obtain eternal salvation). And a large company was added to the Lord. Acts 11:24

End of Times Matthew 24:42-44

42 Watch therefore [give strict attention, be cautious and active], for you do not know in what kind of a day [whether a near or remote one] your Lord is coming.

We may not know the exact hour, but we are empowered with the Holy Spirit to know the season, of our Lord’s return. Our Groom will not overtake us as a thief would overtake an unsuspecting person. The Truth is that we will be intimately acquainted with our Wedding Feasts Plans. 

43 But understand this: had the householder known in what [part of the night, whether in a night or a morning] watch the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be undermined and broken into.

44 You also must be ready therefore, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.

Sounds like Jesus places a ton of responsibility on us here, doesn’t it? I mean I have heard these verses preached dozens of times and the sermons always tell me that I better get it right. But as always the Truth sets us free from all fear. The first thing to alwaysremember is that without Jesus we can do nothing.

I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. John 15:5

The next thing to remember is that our Father will always cause us to be more than conquerors.

Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. Romans 8:37

Amid all things, which includes even keeping watch, Jesus empowers us to be successful. Jesus never will leave us and He never will forsake us, Hebrews 13:5, especially during the end times. During the last 3 1/2 years of this age in earths history there will be many mighty messages that we are used by our Father to preach, Acts 2:17, Revelation 10:1, 14:6. During the end times our Father will be using us to preach the gospel of the Kingdom to every tribe, tongue, and nation, Matthew 24:14. This is the one sign that will show us that our Groom is ready to return. We will not be overtaken as by the thief. We will be walking in the full power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit. Before our Lord returns we will be glorious, without spot, wrinkle, or blemish, Ephesians 5: 27. 

There is no fear in the perfect love of our Father, 1 John 4:18. So there is no fear for us messing up during the end times. In Christ our yoke is always easy and our burden is always light, Matthew 11:30. Jesus will always cause us to be faithful and wise. The Holy Spirit will always teach us all things and He will always bring to our remembrance everything that Jesus has ever said, John 14:26.

Faith comes for us by hearing these Truths and the Truth sets us free.

End of Times Matthew 24:37-39

37 As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

The Truth is that the world will get more and more evil as the end times approach. The guests of the Wedding Feast will trust more and more in themselves and their own abilities as the end approaches. They will become more smug about their own strength and will as the day approaches and they will punish those of us who have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to not trust at all in ourselves. Even though we will be hated by our future guests, we will we will be strengthened with the full power of the Holy Spirit to bless them as they curse us, Luke 6:28. The Holy Spirit will cause us to forgive them even though they may kill us, Acts 7:60. And our Father will cause us to feed those who hate us and He will glorify us to give them water to drink as they despise us, Matthew 24:45. 

38 For just as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, [men] marrying and [women] being given in marriage, until the [very] day when Noah went into the ark,

39 And they did not know or understand until the flood came and swept them all away—so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Ask yourself: did our Father kill all of these sinful children of His with the flood only to leave them suffering eternally in Hell? Did our Father kill His kids so that He could get His justice on them?

In which He went and preached to the spirits in prison, [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. 1 Peter 3:19-20

Our Father doesn’t get even with His children for being bad. Our Father doesn’t get justice over His children. Our Father corrects us and gets His justice over sin. The people in Noah’s day were very bad. So our Father ended their fleshes ability to be bad and He sent their spirits to Hades to be corrected. He did this so that their souls could be saved. Why else would Jesus go and preach to these people? Did Jesus go to Hades to just preach to these people to tell them that they really messed up and that they really blew it. Did He go there to rub salvation in their faces? Or did He go to Hades to set the captives free? 

Look at Jesus’ parable of the Rich Ruler and Lazarus, Luke 16. The Ruler was an absolute jerk on this earth. He died and was sent to Hades. When the ruler was in Hades he finally saw the Truth. His flesh no longer blinded him from what is right and wrong, Romans 6:7. When the rich man saw the Truth he began to have compassion on those people who were still in their flesh on the earth. Hades wasn’t a place for our Father to get even with His disobedient child, it was a place for our Father to correct him. The ruler began to place the needs of others above himself in Hades. 

Many tell me though that the ruler was told that the chasm was too big and so the ruler could never get out of there. But look at what Jesus was telling us in His parable, the chasm was too big for man to get people out of Hades. The ruler was calling on Lazarus and Abraham, not on Jesus. Only Jesus holds the keys to Hades, Revelation 1:18. Jesus went to Hades and set the captives free from Noah's time and He will do it again on the Last Day. The people who have been sent to Hades will see Jesus and they will call on Him to save them. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord, Romans 14:11. When those who have been released from Hades call on Jesus for help, do you really believe that as they are saying to Jesus that He is Lord, that He will then tell them to go to Hell? Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever, Hebrews 13:8. Jesus never condemned people on this earth when they cried out to Him, so He cannot do it on Judgment Day either. If He would, then He would not be the same as He was yesterday. 

I am telling you all that Jesus was very very successful by going to the Cross. His love has covered all of our sins, 1 Peter 4:8.