December 2019 "Dearly Beloved" Articles
Dearly Beloved 12/31/19 "The Gospel of God Concerning Jesus Christ"
The Gospel of God Concerning Jesus Christ
Dearly beloved of God, there are two paths revealed in God’s Word; the just shall live by believing what God says, or people will believe the lie of the old serpent the devil. It has ever been so, though the lie is always couched in current schemes.
After opening the book of Romans with the gospel of God concerning Jesus Christ, the revelation describes how mankind changed the truth of God into a lie, and they became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.
They changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image like corruptible man or of birds, four footed beasts or creeping things; that is idolatry.
They changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator.
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/30/19 "The Rock and Chief Cornerstone"
The Rock and Chief Cornerstone
Dearly beloved of God, in Matthew 16: 18 the Lord Jesus Christ made a remarkable statement. “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Jesus Christ told Peter that he was “Petros,” which means, “A loose, movable stone; a rolling stone, in one place today and another place tomorrow.”
The Lord did not give Peter this name because of his steadfast, unwavering commitment, and unmovable stand; quite the opposite. Peter was a vacillating disciple; he blew hot and cold.
Just a few verses later in Matthew 16 we are told, from that time forth Jesus Christ began to show his disciples that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Peter took him aside and reproved him. “But he [Jesus] turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offense unto me: for thou savorest [to mind or to regard or care for] not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.”
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/29/19 "Let the Celebration Begin"
Let the Celebration Begin
Dearly beloved of God, while the world celebrates the coming new year, our Heavenly Father gave us new things that we can celebrate and rejoice in forever.
We rejoice in the new covenant that God made in Christ. We have the cup of the new covenant made in Jesus Christ’s blood. As often as we drink of it we remember that he gave his life to pay for our sins so we could have the remission of sins.
As often as we eat the bread of the new covenant we remember that he gave his body so that we were healed by his stripes.
Whenever we eat this bread, and drink this cup, we proclaim what the Lord accomplished by his death until he returns to gather us unto him.
Dearly beloved, we are new men in Christ. We are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus on the basis of his good works so that we might walk in what he accomplished by them.
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/28/19 "Did He Really Say?"
Did He Really Say?
Dearly beloved of God, we are the called of Jesus Christ; he paid for this call with his life. From the moment we confessed Jesus as Lord and believed that God raised him from the dead we have the certainty that we will be saved as the result of that call.
From that time forward, the Father sees us “in Christ,” which means that we are united with Christ in his accomplishments; we are as he is. Jesus Christ identified with us so that we could identify with him in his accomplishments. He became one with us as a human being, so we could be one with him as a son of God.
Now we stand before God “in Christ.” God seated us in His presence “in Christ” as holy, and without blame and unimpeachable in His sight.
God determined beforehand that we would be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/26/19 "He Will Fulfill It All"
He Will Fulfill It All
Dearly beloved of the Lord, the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil. His work will not be complete until he has fulfilled every jot and tittle of the Word and Will of God.
Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law for God’s justness for everyone who believes on him. He finished his earthly work of redemption and salvation. If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Is this the end of the matter?
No, Christ must yet redeem the dead in Christ from the grave and after that we who remain alive will be snatched up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. He is coming back for us, that where he is we may be also.
The Lord will transform these bodies of humiliation to be like his glorious body by the power he has to subdue all things to himself. From that time forward we will ever be with the Lord, but is that the last Word of the Will of God he will yet fulfill?
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/25/19 "Tell It Like It Is"
Tell It Like It Is
Dearly beloved of God, our Father tells us what is in His heart concerning us. We don’t have to embrace the false confessions of religion, nor imagine things that are not the truth. He revealed what was in His heart concerning us in His love letters addressed to us.
First of all, the Father reveals how much He loves us. He loved us so much that He gave His only begotten Son for us. I would say that makes us pretty valuable in His sight. He calls us His dear children, His dearly beloved, and highly favored children.
Our Father justified us in Christ by his work – by the giving of his life for ours. Our sins and short comings are forgiven by the riches of His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
He redeemed us in Christ from sin and its reign over us and He will send His Son to finish what he started. He is coming to gather us unto him in the air; to raise the dead in Christ and transform those of us who are living so that we are like him. We will obtain the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ!
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/24/19 "God is Light"
God is Light
Dearly beloved of God, God is light and there is no darkness in Him at all. He is light, not darkness. There is no variation in His will, and He does not change. He is the LORD; He changes not. He is the Father of lights; He does not even cast a changing shadow. He is light, not darkness.
God sent His Son who said that he was the light of the world. He came to declare God. He always did His Father's will.
God does not go around killing people, the devil holds the power of death. He is the one that holds people in bondage with the fear of death throughout all their lifetime. The devil is the one that kills, steals, and destroys people; not the One True God – He sent His Son so we could have life, spirit life, everlasting life, and so we could have it more abundantly.
The One True God does not oppress people; the devil does that. God anointed His Son with holy spirit and with power, and he went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil because God was with Him.
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/23/19 "Difficult Times"
Difficult Times
Dearly beloved of God, sometimes we are confronted with situations that seem difficult to us, but they are not so different from those that other of God’s people have faced throughout the years.
Put yourself in Mary and Joseph’s sandals through the series of events they went through leading up to the birth of Christ.
Mary would have been a teenager according to the timing of marriages in their culture.
I have lived through some difficult times, but I did not have to move my family to Egypt to escape the king’s attempt to murder my son.
At this time in history Judea was a captive nation under the rule of the Roman empire. Their high priest was born of the devil’s seed. There had not been a man of God in Israel for 400 years. Their king was corrupt and evil to say the very least.
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/21/19 "Sonship is for Lovers"
Sonship is for Lovers
Dearly beloved of God, if you had all the material possessions you ever desired and yet did not have love, what good would they be to you?
We all know when we are loved, don’t we? Since we know what that is like we should know how to be loving to others. Walk in the love of God and manifest it to those in need.
All of us have different needs at different times. Walk in the same manner as Jesus Christ walked; walk in the love of God. He loved his own to the furthest extent possible. He was the master of the situation.
He gave them an example of love when he washed his disciple’s feet. That was the most menial task a servant could do in a household. He demonstrated that there is nothing we could possibly do in love that is beneath us. Days later he freely gave his life for our redemption and salvation.
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/20/19 "A Wanderer No More"
A Wanderer No More
Dearly beloved of God, I thank God that I know my end because He has revealed it in His Word. There were years that I did not know the Word of God and the good pleasure of His will. I wandered aimlessly through life, lost, and hopeless. Not anymore!
Where there is no knowledge of God the people wander aimlessly.
“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 NIV
This is the Word and Will of God for all men. He would have all men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth.
“God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him [Jesus Christ, God’s only begotten Son] should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/19/19 "Impeached!"
Impeached!
Dearly beloved of God, our adversary the devil accused God’s people before Him day and night until he was cast down.
In English, to impeach means to “call into question the integrity or validity of (a practice),” according to Smart Lookup.
For example, the majority party in the House of Representatives just voted, on a strictly partisan basis, for the impeachment of our President. They have accused him.
At one time our adversary the devil accused us before God. He impeached us before God day and night until he was cast down. We were impeachable, but no longer.
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/18/19 "Perversions of Truth"
Perversions of Truth
Dearly beloved of God, the promised seed of the woman was born! The birth of Jesus the Christ miraculously fulfilled hundreds of years of prophecies and God intricately and precisely documented it with the witness of the stars. How God brought His Word, celestial events, and history together in one extraordinary moment of history is stunning.
In spite of everything God did to authenticate the birth of His Son it goes nearly unnoticed today because of the perversions of the old serpent the devil.
In the place of truth we are left with tradition.
Instead of the precision and glory of astronomical events in the heavens that signaled Jesus Christ’s birth, we are left with the corruption of astrology. Instead of the witness of the stars beginning in Virgo with the promised seed, tradition begins with the Ram.
Instead of the promised SEED of the woman, many celebrate the WOMAN instead.
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/18/19 "The Due Time of Christ's Birth"
The Due Time of Christ's Birth
Dearly beloved, although undetected by the world, prophecy, astronomical events, political events, genealogies, marriages, and two pregnancies intersected by divine design in due time for the birth of the promised seed, God's only begotten Son.
Luke 2:7: And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.
Jesus was Mary’s firstborn, but he was God’s only begotten Son.
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/17/19 "What a Relationship!"
What a Relationship!
Dearly beloved of God, since we received the complete new birth reality, we ought to walk in the reality we received as sons of God.
Romans 8: 15 Rotherham: “For ye have not received a spirit of servitude [bondage], leading back into fear, but ye have received a spirit of sonship, whereby we are exclaiming - Abba! Oh Father!”
The word “spirit” appears twice in this verse. “A spirit of servitude” or bondage spirit is set in contrast to “a spirit of sonship”. We received a sonship spirit which makes us God’s children; not a bondage spirit which leads us into fear.
God is our Father now. Our relationship with Him is quite different than it was when we were in the flesh, dead in sin, ungodly and enemies of God.
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/16/19 "No More!"
No More!
Dearly beloved of God, Jesus Christ delivered us from the sentence of condemnation once and for all.
Jesus Christ said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me [God, his Father], hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:24
The revelation given in Romans concerning the work of Christ and what he accomplished, says:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 (The remaining words in the verse are not contained in the critical Greek texts.)
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/14/19 "The Undisputed Truth"
The Undisputed Truth
Dearly beloved of God, the world tells us that we are to believe “the undisputed truth” of climate change; then we are presented with conjecture, opinions, and suppositions that are anything but undisputed.
We have less than 12 years before the end of the world, they say. They can't even accurately predict the weather from one day to the next, but they think they can predict the climate years into the future; fools.
What would you expect to hear from those who believe the god of this world instead of the One True and Living God? They worship at the altar of humanism or the altar of spiritualism. Humanism is the religion of socialism.
The same people told us that the universe came from a “big bang.”
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/13/19 " 'Tis the Season"
'Tis the Season
Dearly beloved of God, the world is anticipating the Christmas season with all its festivities, but we are anticipating “to be received up in glory”, to be “called on high”, and we “we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will change our vile body so that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.”
We are anticipating “the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together up to him,” and all the festivities involved with “the hope of salvation.” It is “Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
Beloved of the Lord, God has called us “to the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.” In case that did not knock you off your seat, you may want to read it again. Now that is a Christ-in present! Thank God for His wonderful grace and mercy. We have reason to rejoice in this season.
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/11/19 "The Lordship of Jesus Christ"
The Lordship of Jesus Christ
Dearly beloved of God, the Bible reveals that there are two gods. One is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ; the other is the god of this world according to II Corinthians 4:4. Every one stands for one god or the other.
The One True God is not a man that He should lie according to Numbers 23:19. His Word is truth. Truth needs no defense; it only needs a witness.
Those who witness for the One True God are usually depicted as fanatics, heretics, or hypocrites by the god of this world and his minions. He uses lies, ridicule, slander, insinuations, character assassination, and false accusations to influence people to think evil about God’s saints and to carry out his purposes against them. Pray for more boldness to speak God's Word.
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/11/19 "The God-Breathed Word"
The God-Breathed Word
Dearly beloved of God, we learn in II Timothy 3:16 that, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God….” How much of the Scripture was given by inspiration of God? All of it!
The Scripture is the Word of God. The word “inspiration” in this verse is the Greek word “theopneustos”, which means “God-breathed.” The revelation here discloses that all Scripture – not some of it, not most of it, all of it – is God-breathed.
God is Spirit. He is not a man having flesh and bones, nor can He be seen, nor does He breathe like we do. What does it mean that the Scripture is “God-breathed?”
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/10/19 "The Only Way to Receive"
The Only Way to Receive
Dearly beloved of God, the how of receiving the things of God is by believing. Once we know God’s Word on a given subject, we know His Will concerning it, and what is available to us, what is possible from Him.
How do we receive the things of God once we know what He makes available to us? There is only one way to receive anything from God: by believing Him at His Word.
Jesus Christ taught his disciples this great truth. He said, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.” You can read the entire record for yourself in Mark 11: 12-24.
He said, “what things soever you desire,” “believe that you receive them…then you shall have them.” Whosoever believes will receive. It does not say that whosoever knows; it says believes. You believe, then you shall have. You believe, you literally take God at His Word and then you act on it, then you will receive.
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/8/19 "Freedom or Bondage"
Freedom or Bondage
Dearly beloved of God, fear is a snare. Snares capture its prey; they enslave. Fear does not come from the One True God.
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
A mind filled with fear is an unsound mind and it will not trust God to perform His Word.
“I sought the LORD, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
The LORD delivered him from everything that made him afraid. Think about that. This is true deliverance. What would our lives be like if we overcame all our fears?
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/7/19 "What Makes It Happen?"
What Makes It Happen?
Dearly beloved of God, God blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm. The new birth comes complete with everlasting life and much, much more. It comes as a total complete package.
When we are born again we get sonship rights in the kingdom of God, privileges as a son of the Living God, and power from on high, the ability to operate the nine manifestations of the holy spirit. Every child of God is complete in Christ Jesus, filled to the full, having all in all of us.
All of this is ours by the grace of God, not by our works. It is all ours by the work of Jesus Christ our Lord. Our part is to believe that he is our Lord and that God raised him from the dead. It is all ours by the grace of God and it was the good pleasure of the Father to make it available to us in Christ.
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/6/19 "A Man After God's Own Heart"
A Man After God’s Own Heart
Dearly beloved of God, God looks on the heart, not the outward appearance.
I Samuel 16 through I Kings 2:11, as well as I Chronicles 10:14 through chapter 29 covers David’s life. It would be well worth your time to read about him. This portion of Scripture covers his life from the time he was a young man until he was an old man to the end of his life.
There is great learning in the relationships he had with men like Samuel, his family, King Saul, Jonathan, Nathan, his wives, his children, and the priests, warriors, and advisers that served with him, and more.
We can also learn a great deal from how David faced situations; situations from the time he received the spirit of the LORD until the end of his life.
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/5/19 "What's it Look Like Today?"
What’s It Look Like Today?
Dearly beloved of God, the weather report for my area today is clear and sunny, but we ought to be more concerned about our mental outlook than we are for what the weather looks like today.
We live in a society where we are mentally beaten up day after day with introspection and judgment. Social justice warriors, the politically correct, and religionists alike shove condemnation down our throats day after day after day; nothing but condemnation, condemnation, condemnation.
Is this how God instructs us to think? Does He want us to focus on our flesh, the past, and our own ineptitude? If you buy into the ideas of this evil age you will never rise up to believe who you are in Christ and consistently walk with the power that is yours in Christ.
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/4/19 "No Lump of Coal for You"
No Lump of Coal for You
Dearly beloved of God, Christmas is coming and presents, presents, presents. You see dearly beloved; our Heavenly Father only gives every good and every perfect gift. He is “the Father of lights, with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” He only gives good gifts, and He has something for everyone.
For those who are not yet a child of God, God has the gift of everlasting life for you. “That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” One size fits all. There are no exchanges with this gift. This gift also comes with accessories.
“Then Peter said unto them, ‘Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the gift of [from] the Holy Spirit.”
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/3/19 "Who Does What?"
Who Does What?
Dearly beloved of God, let’s keep it straight; God is God and we are not.
We believe God at His Word – God fulfills His Word. We pray to God – He hears and answers our prayers. We minister to people – He energizes His spirit in us to bring about the deliverance they need by the manifestations of the spirit. We study – by His spirit, He opens the eyes of our understanding. God gave His Word – we renew our minds to it. We witness – God leads us and backs up His Word with signs, miracles, and wonders following. Do you see the pattern?
We do what God expects us to do, and we can be confident that He will do what He says He will do.
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/2/19 "The Healer of Broken Hearts"
The Healer of Broken Hearts
Dearly beloved of God, it’s that time of year once again; the holidays. The holidays mean different things to different people. They can be a wonderful time to be together, but they can also be a challenging time for us emotionally.
If you have experienced the death of a loved one, suffered through a divorce, been estranged from family, or friends, or experienced some other traumatic loss, the holidays can be a very difficult time.
Life is not a Hallmark movie. Reality is many times miles apart from the false expectations portrayed in the movies. It is a wonderful life, but not like the one with Jimmy Stewart in it.
Read more ...Dearly Beloved 12/1/19 "A Very Present Help"
A Very Present Help
Dearly beloved of God, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Just twelve words, but they speak volumes.
II Kings 18:2 tells us that Hezekiah was 25 years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem for 29 years.
Sennacherib king of Assyria besieged all the fenced cities of Judah and took them in the 14th year of Hezekiah’s reign and he surrounded Jerusalem.
We read in Isaiah 38:1ff, God sent Isaiah to tell Hezekiah to set his house in order because he was going to die. Hezekiah prayed to the Lord and asked Him to deliver him.
Read more ...