Come and See – Chapter 10 of Gospel of John – Verily, Verily, – Part xii- Lovest Thou Me More Than These? –

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The Value of Christ – The Pure Sacrifice

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Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake ? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice. (John 13:38)

   The last Verily, verily in Chapter thirteen (13) addresses the depth of the fall of mankind. Peter STILL did not see himself as he really was: a lost sinner in need of a Savior. Man, in Adam, cannot see the depth of sin, neither does he understand the way of sin in the heart. When Peter spoke these words, he did not see the truth of what was in his heart, Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. (John 13:37) These words did not yet belong to Peter because later in his life Peter laid down his life for Christ. 

Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;  (2^nd Peter 1:13) Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. (2^nd Peter 1:14) Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. (2^nd Peter 1:15) 

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. (John 21:18) This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. (John 21:19)

   There has only been one in the eternal pages of eternity who could truly utter those words, I will lay down my life for thy sake. And it was not Peter, but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who laid down His life for ONLY His life could redeem and purchase man by the death of Himself. Humanity (in Adam) blinded itself to the very core of its own fallen soul, a soul cut off from God by sin and its awful darkness and evil. This would be a good example for every man, woman and child set out only to have good thoughts, see how long this intention lasts. Truly, some longer than others, yet, the bad thoughts will come to overthrow the good. Although Peter thought well that it would be good for him to lay down his life WITH his Lord, yet, without the true understanding of his own heart, and the monumental steps that His Lord was about to take to the cross, Peter could not see that the future steps of the Lord Jesus would change time and space, His steps would change the tangible and intangible, would change the natural and the spiritual, and would change the seen and the unseen. Both heaven and earth would be forever affected by that day. The tri-state of time would be forever changed: past, present, and future. The sun would be darkened over ALL the earth, the stars would not reflect their light, the moon would blush in darkness and close her eyes to the depth of evil and to the dread dark sin of mankind. The earth would shake from its very foundation, and the graves of the saints who slept would open and they would come forth. The veil of the Temple would be parted from top to bottom, and there would be a cry throughout all the earth, It is finished. Like a dry cloth absorbing moisture, the Lord Jesus would take sin upon Himself, who knew no sin.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2^nd Corinthians 5:21)

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (1^st Peter 2:22)

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (1^st Peter 1:18) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1^st Peter 1:19) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (1^st Peter 1:20).

   All of creation would be affected by the death of their Creator, Jesus Christ: the first begotten of the Father, and the fullness of the Godhead bodily. Could man, in Adam, add to this great day by the death of himself? No. No one could. The true Offering was present, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world, the Pure and Sinless Lamb, the Lamb without blemish within and without, the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world. And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8) He changed past, present and future by the grace and truth that was in Him. He fulfilled ALL righteousness and brought God’s righteousness to man. As Christ sat in the judgment seat amongst the pharisaical counsel He was in a divine sense their King and He was being judged for His purity and goodness. Their sin was being buffeted on Him as they struck Him with their blows, their sin did abound, but it was His soul sent by God the Father that was an offering for sin. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. (Isaiah 53:10) His soul was given to redeem His seed, for He shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

   Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. (Revelation 4:11) It is for Thy pleasure that they are and were created, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in the hand of His Son Jesus Christ. The Lord could live up to each and every word that He spoke, in the foretelling of His death. He knew what lay ahead, and He lived up to His own words, but Peter could not live up to his words. Peter did not have the divine will and purpose for what he had declared. Even now when we open our mouths, for any devout reason, we must make sure that our hearts are up to our task of the words from our mouths. I am sure in Revelation Chapter 2 that the words of truth that came from the mouth of Antipas caused his death. And as Stephen, I supposed that Antipas looked up and saw the Son of man standing at the right hand of God. And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. (Acts 7:56) Our place of strength is not on this earth, but at the right hand of God in Jesus Christ. We might stand for the truth here on earth, but whatever we do, we are weighted in the balances of heaven by the just weight of our faith in Jesus Christ.

   As we saw at the cross, the Lord commended His Spirit into the hands of His Father. Also, note Peter’s words in his 1^st epistle, Chapter 3, verse 18: For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit. Notice in this verse that the Lord Jesus was put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit that He had commended to His Father’s care. And in Acts 7, Stephen commended his spirit into the hands of the Savior.

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (Luke 23:46)

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. (Acts 7:59)

I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth. (Revelation 2:13)

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Warming at the Fire in Their Midst

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• And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire. (Mark 14:54)

• And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. (Luke 22:55)

• And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. (John 18:18)

   After walking through the gate into the courtyard of the palace of the high priest of Israel, Peter stood at the fire warming himself and watched the trial of His Lord. Through the diabolical works of devil, Satan had stolen the earthly priesthood from God, and installed his puppet priests, the Pharisees, in the place of God’s priests. Jerusalem had become Sodom and Egypt. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. (Revelation 11:8) This was where the Lord was crucified, and also it will be where the last two witnesses of God on earth are slain in Jerusalem that has become, and was, as Sodom and Egypt in the days of our Lord. When the Son of God was manifested, there was immense demon activity. Satan came out of the darkness to tempt the Lord, and the nation of Israel was in total moral and spiritual ruin. This moral decay and spiritual ruin were the focal points of the Lord’s ministry to the people of Israel. The political world was under the iron hand of Rome, the dark kingdom of war and violence. The populace eagerly viewed the battles in the Colosseum, death was on the tongues, and blood was in their hearts. This is the world of Adam that the Lord came into from heaven above.

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The Thrice Denial and the Thrice Holy God

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   God KNEW what it would take to redeem man unto Himself and that stepping through a veil or curtain from eternity into the earth in a visible form would not be enough. A Body would have to be prepared to take the sin of man upon Himself, and God’s own blood would have to be shed for the redemption of man.

   The Body that was prepared had to come in the LIKENESS of man, yet APART from sin. The Holy Spirit paints a portrait of this sinless Being, the Lord Jesus Christ, APART from man, yet in the LIKENESS as a man. This is the DIVINE moving among man to redeem man unto Himself. God was in this Holy Man from heaven, God was in Christ redeeming the world unto Himself, and God would give His own blood IN Christ Jesus. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28) 

   The Holy Spirit that worked in the hearts of the apostles is always accurate in His words, and He gives us the words of Christ with ALL accuracy.

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13) He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:14) All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:15)

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26)

   Although the Lord Jesus was manifest in the flesh, He contained and was controlled by ALL the divine attributes WITHIN Himself. These were all the divine attributes of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Scriptures makes it clear that all three are called HOLY.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (John 6:63)

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. (John 17:11) In John 17 the Lord Jesus addresses the Father as Holy Father.

   In Luke’s gospel, Chapter 1, verse 35, And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35) Both the Son and the Holy Ghost have the word Holy applied to them.

   In Luke’s gospel Chapter 4, verse 8, the Lord Jesus accredits to Himself, His divine nature, that He should be worshiped, and it is He who should be served. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. We should also look at Isaiah 6:1-3 to see the thrice holy God.

In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. (Isaiah 6:1) Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. (Isaiah 6:2) And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. (Isaiah 6:3)

   In the worship and address to the thrice Holy God, we see the word Holy applied to Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The angels know the difference between the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and thus, the angels address them as the thrice Holy God. These verses not only confirm the deity, but the relationship that the Son of God has with the Father and with the Holy Spirit. Now let’s return to the Pure Sacrifice.

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The Sinless Purity of Christ

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   On order to take away sin one had to be pure of sin in all aspects. The word of God proclaims that IN Him was no sin, and this is the reason for this: Adam could not redeem himself because in Adam WAS sin. It would take The Divine Nature in Christ’s holiness and righteousness to remove sin from the world. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (1^st John 3:5) The Holy Spirit in this verse leaves no doubt that the manifestation of the Lord Jesus Christ was without sin, and that IN Him was no sin. This gave Him the authority, the divine authority, over sin and death. He was truly sinless. Peter declared that He was a Lamb without spot, without blemish.

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (1^st Peter 1:18) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1^st Peter 1:19) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (1^st Peter 1:20) Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (1^st Peter 1:21)

Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (1^st Peter 2:22) Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: (1^st Peter 2:23) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1^st Peter 2:24) For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. (1^st Peter 2:25)

   We see more of the depth of Christ’s deity in 1^st Peter 2:22. In the words of the Spirit of truth we have the record and these words, Who did no sin. The Lord Jesus came into the world WITHOUT the Adamic nature. He was pure and sinless. And remained this pure and sinless both in His walk and in His suffering on this earth as the Lamb of God without sin. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) Yes, Christ was tempted in ALL parts like we are, yet, without sin. God IN Christ was tempted by Satan AFTER 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness and without food, He hungered. Yet, He did not bend even at the devil’s words to prove His deity. Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man. (James 1:13) He had come to be the Savior of man, to bear the sins of the world, and He refused to be tempted of the devil. However, the devil knew who He was. It was no mystery to the devil. After the Lord was born, the wise men arrived from the east when Christ was about two years of age, and Satan stirred up Herod to give the order to slay all the children of Bethlehem under the age of two. So the devil knew the presence of God in His temptation.

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (Matthew 4:1) And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. (Matthew 4:2) And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. (Matthew 4:3) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)

   In the course of the temptation of the Lord Jesus Christ, in each area of temptation, the devil could find nothing IN Him to respond to each of the tempter’s temptations. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. (John 14:30) The first temptation was to question the deity of the Lord. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. (Matthew 4:3) Christ answered with the word of God, But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)  The breath of God contained the word of God, and Christ (according to John Chapter 1) was the incarnate Word making Him both the Breath and Author of the word of God.

   The Lord Jesus was APART from sin, this means SEPARATED from sin. God, IN Christ, had a wall of righteousness around Him which separated Him from sin. Although He was tempted in all parts as we are, yet, He was APART, WITHOUT, and SEPARATED from sin. He also KNEW NO SIN. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2^nd Corinthians 5:21)

   He KNEW NO SIN . . . do you really want to understand this? When we are born into this world, we come into this world as the children of Adam with all the frailties of sin and life. We KNOW SIN not only as a participant of sin, but we are taught by sin, not only within us but around us for we are IN a sinful world. It is not the knowledge of sin, but we KNOW sin, much as we would know our parents, it becomes part of us in a really practical and active sense. You may say, This cannot be. Well, there are sins that we know well, and they become part of us, they take up residence within us, and they change our being by searing the conscience. Sin molds our character, and if a sin becomes dominant the evil will show in the victim’s face and deportment. Of course, the final outcome of all sin is death. With the multitude of sins, the voice of God is silenced. His word is denied not only by the individual, but by the populace. From the days of Nimrod,  sin has been directing the kingdoms of this world. Under the tutelage of Satan sin penetrates society by degrading society to the level of beasts and beasthood. However, sin could not affect the Lord Jesus because HE KNEW NO SIN. He had to be MADE SIN for us because there was no righteousness in all of mankind. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2^nd Corinthians 5:21) He had to bear OUR SIN upon His own Body on the tree, and He was MADE sin for us.

   Why is the word of God so important for the saint, for those who are bought with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ? Psalm 119 gives us ALL the reasons that we should cherish the word of God in all its instruction to us. If we want to drive away sin, we MUST hide the word of God in our hearts. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalm 119:11)

   The final sacrifice for sin came from above in the Body that was prepared for Him in the heavenlies. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. (Hebrews 10:5) He was the Lamb of God to bring the righteousness of God to man that IN Christ one can find complete forgiveness of sin and acquire the righteousness of God through faith which is IN Him. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:18) This special verse ends with the words of the Lord Jesus Himself that He spoke to Paul on the Damascus road. Let’s see some of the wonders of this verse, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Faith is found IN the Son of God for He is the Author and Finisher of ALL faith. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2) All faith is authored by the Lord Jesus Christ. Faith comes FROM and is IN Jesus Christ. And as the Lord Jesus gave the Law to Moses on the holy mount, He is also the Author of the Law of Faith. Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. (Romans 3:27) Paul stated in Galatians 2:20 I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me, and gave himself for me. One of the mysteries of faith is that NOT ALL man have faith. And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. (2^nd Thessalonians 3:2) And without faith it is impossible to please God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews11:6) Why all this background on the Lord Jesus, and faith, and righteousness? Because the world exists in a condition of unbelief, and lives in a state of delusion.

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The Trial of Faith at the Fire

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   Many who will read these lines will not believe them because of the overwhelming unbelief in this world. Let us revisit with Peter again as he warmed himself at the fire.

And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire. (Mark 14:54)

And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:  (Mark 14:66)

And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. (Mark 14:67)

But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew. (Mark 14:68)

And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. (Mark 14:69)

And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto. (Mark 14:70)

But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. (Mark 14:71)

And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept. (Mark 14:72)

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And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. (Luke 22:55)

But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. (Luke 22:56)

And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not. (Luke 22:57)

And after a little while another saw him, and said, Thou art also of them. And Peter said, Man, I am not. (Luke 22:58)

And about the space of one hour after another confidently affirmed, saying, Of a truth this fellow also was with him: for he is a Galilaean. (Luke 22:59)

And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. (Luke 22:60)

And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.  (Luke 22:61)

And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:62)

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But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known unto the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter. (John 18:16) Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not. (John 18:17) And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold: and they warmed themselves: and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself. (John 18:18)

And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it, and said, I am not. (John 18:25) One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, saith, Did not I see thee in the garden with him? (John 18:26) Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew. (John 18:27)

   As you read these verses, there is a passage in the book of Job that fits this scene. Yet man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward. (Job 5:7)

  Peter had measured himself against other men as we often do this in all societies. Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended. (Matthew 26:33) Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. (Matthew 26:34) Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples. (Matthew 26:35) Little did Peter understand what was in him, but the Lord gave Peter a prophecy for the Lord Jesus is the Spirit of all prophecy. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. (Revelation 19:10)

     Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice. In John 13:38, we have the Spirit of prophecy in the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. The denial will come from Peter’s lips three (3) times . . . three times he denied the Lord. In these Scriptures, we also see the Spirit of God injecting Eve into the scene. It was a certain maiden who provoked Peter. And when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the hall, and were set down together, Peter sat down among them. (Luke 22:55) But a certain maid beheld him as he sat by the fire, and earnestly looked upon him, and said, This man was also with him. (Luke 22:56) And he denied him, saying, Woman, I know him not.(Luke 22:57)

   The Lord had told Peter that the tempter (Satan) had desired to sift Peter as wheat, yet the Lord stated that He had prayed for Peter. As the hedge around Job, Satan could only go thus far and no further. I believe that the Spirit of God, working in Peter and through Peter’s personal experience, led Peter to write, in 1^st Peter 5:8 and 9.  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1^st Peter 5:8) Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1^st Peter 5:9) To be tempted by one’s own lusts, or by the world and the things of the world is a heavy load on the child of God, but when the adversary sets his teeth to tempt the child of faith and puts his demonic eyes on this child of God it is truly a trial of faith.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1^st Peter 1:3)

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (1^st Peter 1:4)

Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1^st Peter 1:5)

Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (1^st Peter 1:6)

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (1^st Peter 1:7)

Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1^st Peter 1:8)

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls. (1^st Peter 1:9) 

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The Trial of Our Faith by Fire

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   Separate yourself from all men, and from all noise around you because your thoughts need to be clear to understand these words. We have entered into an evil age, and the trial of our faith is going to be tried by fire. Beloved, in the coming days, our adversary is going to call for blood. The trials will come in the storm against us, but always remember that the Captain of our faith is in the ship with us. The waves may overwhelm us, but they cannot overwhelm Him. The winds may have a deafening roar, but with a still small voice, He will bring peace to the soul. The words, Peace, be still is for us to take rest in Him, and as Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, was told to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, so also, we should do the same.

To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. (2^nd Chronicles 20:16)

Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. (2^nd Chronicles 20:17)

And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD. (2^nd Chronicles 20:18)

And the Levites, of the children of the Kohathites, and of the children of the Korhites, stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high. (2^nd Chronicles 20:19)

And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper. (2^nd Chronicles 20:20)

And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. (2^nd Chronicles 20:21)

   Our adversary, yes, the same adversary that came against Peter and your brethren, is STILL going to and fro throughout the whole earth. The ways and tactics of Satan are the same tactics as in the days of Job, and the same diabolical methods that were successful in the garden are employed in the war against the Lord’s children of faith. Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. (Job 1:6) The evil rebellious heart of Satan has not changed. He is the same adversary to us, the children of God, as in the days of Job. Each one of the apostles suffered from his abuse, and Peter through his own personal experiences knew the wiles of the devil as a roaring lion. In 2^nd Corinthians 11, the apostle Paul exposed the false apostles, the ministers of Satan, who were spiritually abusing the Corinthians. Paul gives us a list of his own personal trials, truly the trial of his faith, to show the difference between these false apostles and his apostleship.

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. (2^nd Corinthians 11:23)

Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. (2^nd Corinthians 11:24)

Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; (2^nd Corinthians 11:25)

In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; (2^nd Corinthians 11:26)

In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (2^nd Corinthians 11:27)

Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. (2^nd Corinthians 11:28)

Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? (2^nd Corinthians 11:29)

If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. (2^nd Corinthians 11:30)

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. (2^nd Corinthians 11:31)

In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: (2^nd Corinthians 11:32)

And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands. (2^nd Corinthians 11:33)

   This was truly the fiery trial of Paul’s faith. The trials of the men of God in the infant church disclose a wide spiritual contrast with the modern church and their men of renown. The Nicolaitan cult (that began in the first church of Ephesus through its teaching and approval of worldly pleasures and vices) is in full swing today through their ‘love and prosperity doctrines.’ And do not discount ‘the doctrine of positive thinking,’ which is the ‘feel good philosophical doctrine’ where followers can achieve the goods of the world, and the benefits of heaven right here on planet earth. What is the Nicolaitan cult? It is man, in Adam, interjecting himself into what once was the outward visible appearance of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. They have changed the church immensely for their own wealth, position and pride through men approving other men that are not approved of God. Casting out the gifts of God and bringing in theological academia and casting out the word of God and the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Modern day Laodicea denies the Lord Jesus Christ every time that they open their doors. The men of renown love their buildings and their towers that will reach the heavens. It is a shame that all their efforts will draw these words from the Lord Jesus Christ: depart from me ye workers of iniquity for I NEVER knew you. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:23) The trials of faith of Peter and Paul answered the question of their apostleship, and it also tells us that these same trials are accomplished in our brethren. Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1^st Peter 5:9) Beloved you are not alone. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and [that] all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. (2nd Timothy 4:71) As both Paul and Peter endured their trials, and the trials of our brethren, each and every day we can all say as Paul, nevertheless the Lord stood with me. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, (Acts 27:24) Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. (Acts 27:24)

And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome. (Acts 23:11)

   The Spirit of God also tells us, as the children of God, Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. (Hebrews 12:4) Only the Lord Jesus knows what is coming for each one of us who are bought and paid for by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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The World on Fire

in Their Denial of God

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    We live in the dreaded time of change. Ungodly men have come to power and they have the mind of Hitler’s Munich before the commencement of World War II. Hitler rose to power by stealth and lies, and Satan moved over the whole country of Germany. There were those who followed the wickedness of Hitler, and those who consented, and those who stood still, and then there were those, as Job, who were marked by the devil to be tormented, persecuted, and murdered. Today, in the United States and throughout the world, not only do we have a national sin of abortion, but the whole world has swallowed this diabolical sin. This puts the whole population of the world under this cloud of evil. The populace of the whole world has become passivists approving this murderous war against the unborn. A million can be slain by the knife of a surgeon, and no one cries out. Seven people are murdered by a hateful madman with a gun and the whole world cries out against the gun. There is no balance nor moral thought because the condition of the whole world is insane in their sins. They are being judged today and they do not see His judgment upon them. They have blinded themselves by a bandana of sin over their eyes. Man has cast off God, and God is preparing the final judgment of this world.

   As Adam and Eve hid from the Word of God in the garden (And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden, Genesis 3:8), so also all of mankind are truly exposed by the word of God and this is why man hides from the word of God using his own guilt to minimize and condone his own sin. But this does not change the fact that the world politically and religiously has been exposed by the word of God.

   The seeds of Revelation Chapter 6 have already been sown in the hearts of man as mankind is being prepared to welcome Lucifer as their god. The adversary of man, the devil, is watering these seeds for the sure judgment of God awaits them because man will no longer find a hiding place from the Almighty God. (Revelation 6:15)

And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; (Revelation 6:15) And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:(Revelation 6:15) For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:17)

  It is Satan’s will and purpose, through the sinister governments that rule over this world TODAY, to bring the total the entire world into slavery using his vile demonic ministers of politicians, leaders, and religious men of renown. Of course, the purposed and deliberate targets of the wickedness of Satan will be, and are, the children of God.

   Although in the book of the Revelation man is seen as a beast, but many do not see the trilogy in his number in 6-6-6. Satan has had many beasts throughout time. The first was Cain, and onward from Cain to the line of Cain and his evil seed. We see more demonic activity not only in society, but throughout the vastness of the entertainment industry in its byproducts, such as the immoral and vicious blood thirsty video products labeled ‘games,’ and morally sexually deceptive objects cunningly designed for children called ‘toys.’ All of these harmless sweet merchandising schemes are set to destroy the minds of buyers.

Side Note: The Plan and The Players of the Fires of War. The evil lust of murder is multiplying in the minds and hearts of mankind. It is not only the insane individual, but the insanity of entire governments bringing forth plagues on their own people, and forcing nations into war. The war of late has been deliberately planned and nurtured by evil leaders. The Ukraine is a pawn between two superpowers, Russia and the United States drawing in other powers and other nations. The so-called intelligence agencies of the United States (aided by other nations and other powers) have worked clandestinely for many years overthrowing country after country . . . . and now, after successfully overthrowing their own country through stealth and lies and fraudulent elections, these hidden powers are attempting to not only overthrow Russia, but to protect their financial thievery, secretive laboratories, and their nuclear illegal ambitions. While they still remain in the shadows protected by news liars, their activities in the Ukraine are openly evident as the people of the Ukraine endure needless pain and suffering.

   Russia is portrayed as the evil empire, yet the evil empire is hiding in darkness in Washington, D.C. There is no such reality as ‘good guys’ and ‘bad guys’ scenarios. Politically speaking, there are two types of people: movers and the moved. Remember when Russia put nuclear missiles into Cuba, Washington did everything they could to remove them, even an attempted war against Cuba and the massacre of the Bay of Pigs under President, John F. Kennedy. Compare what occurred in Cuba in 1961 with the recent ground war around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in Enerhodar, Ukraine and ask, Why was this nuclear power plant so heavily invested by the United States government? Could it possible be that the United States was actively producing nuclear material that could be used to make nuclear weapons on the border of Russia, possible closer than Cuba is to the United States? There is much more to this story of the nuclear power plant in the Ukraine for this has been going on for quite a long time. Was this one of many reasons for Putin’s invasion of Ukraine? Never, ever accept everything that comes from the lips of proven news liars. Since Russia has been marked as the evil empire that we should fear, and the United States has been labeled as ‘the good guys’ by most western news agencies, Russia will continue to feel the wrath of the owners of the western news media. These same liars show video after video of corpses lying side by side and inform us of the atrocities against the people of Ukraine by the military of the ‘bad guys.’ However, at a closer look, are all of these covered shapes dead bodies? When a hand holding a smoking cigarette emerges from under a covering then maybe, just maybe, these covered shapes may not be corpses after all, but filmed by a crew that has perfected the art of ‘misinformation,’ otherwise known as LYING. This preplanned and pre organized turmoil between the United States and Russia places the world on the edge of a nuclear war. War is another heinous distraction  to redirect the eyes of the world from where their eyes should be focused  . . . .  which is the evil within their own national leaders controlled by global financial powers. War is just another means of control to them and nothing more because they are not touched by war since they are the movers and we are the moved. This is not a TV prime time series, nor a news video about which national leader (or leader of a satellite country) is the most caring, brave and courageously kind. How do I know this? Listen to them, they care not because if they cared then their nations would be prosperous and healthy, and their children would be safe. Judge a leader by the condition of their nation. ♦ End of Side Note.

   We must remember that the demon in Mark’s gospel was seen as a lunatic, and when we stand back and look at things around us with the word of God, we will see the lunacy of the devil in this world. What I have written is not a message to the world, for we know that the world is not going to repent, and we see what man will do to hide himself from the face of God in the end of Revelation Chapter 6. This message is for the child of God bought with the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the God of heaven and earth, and just for our learning and remembrance I will post the entire Chapter of Revelation Chapter 6 as it was given to the apostle John. We are only seeing the seeds of what is to come in this Chapter, but prior to these seeds sprouting, the children of God will suffer much persecution. I am not speaking of the false church, but the true saints of God.

And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. (Revelation 6:1)

And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. (Revelation 6:2)

And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. (Revelation 6:3)

And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. (Revelation 6:4)

And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. (Revelation 6:5)

And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. (Revelation 6:6)

And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. (Revelation 6:7)

And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth. (Revelation 6:8)

And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: (Revelation 6:9)

And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? (Revelation 6:10)　

And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. (Revelation 6:11)

And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; (Revelation 6:12)

And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. (Revelation 6:13)

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. (Revelation 6:14)

And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; (Revelation 6:15)

And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: (Revelation 6:16)

For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Revelation 6:17)

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The Spirit of Christ Rejected

and The Fires of Denial

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    We live in the age of Laodicea. There is much church attendance, but very little spiritual attendance. There is much love for the world, but little true love for the Lord Jesus. This is the time of the culmination of the great falling away. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; (2^nd Thessalonians 2:3). Why is this the culmination and not the beginning of the great falling away? It follows many patterns both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament. As Israel, in the Old Testament, cast God out of their nation and replaced Him with Baal, so also when God was manifested in the flesh as the Son of God, they cast Him out of the world. Since then, the professing church has cast out the Son of God from His own church beginning in the early days of the apostles with the church at Ephesus. The word of God does not say that they lost their first love, but the word of God says that they LEFT their first love. They TURNED AWAY from the Lord Jesus Christ. Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love. (Revelation 2:4)The church at Ephesus LEFT their first love for another. The world and demonic religion came into the church at Ephesus in the ministers of Satan, the Nicolaitans which God HATES. But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. (Revelation 2:6) So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate. (Revelation 2:15) Not only did the infant church LEAVE the Lord Jesus, but in doing so, they did despite to the Spirit of grace. Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? (Hebrews 10:29) When Satan drew the infant church away from Christ and the Spirit of grace, the false church (Nicolaitanism) has also deviously sanctified themselves under a banner falsely called Christianity. (Surely, we understand how falseness spreads because as citizens of a country that has been overtaking through a false voting system, announced by false reporters, to support false leaders with a false front person under the banner falsely called freedom we can thus understand how the infant church, from its very beginning slowly LEFT their first love.) And I repeat again that this infant church of Ephesus did not lose their love, but deliberately LEFT and turned AGAINST their first love for the love of man in Adam. This brought on the complete rule of man IN the church up to this very present time. The professional religionists refused the rule of Christ and the rule of the Spirit of grace. They obtained the title that they are none of His although they use His name. Sit down and contemplate, who rules the pulpit of your church? Who rules the preacher of your church? Who or what system or organization appointed the preacher of your church? Was it man in Adam or Jesus Christ through His Spirit of truth and grace? See how hot it gets near the fire?  And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire. (Mark 14:54) Are you just warming your hands when you should be warming your hearts? By following man’s traditions and the rudiments of the world you are not following Christ. You cannot do both. As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (Colossians 2:6) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:7) Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. (Colossians 2:8)

   The work of the Spirit of Christ is within, and is a transforming power to enable us to walk in the power of the Spirit transforming us from the children of Adam to the sons of God. And this power to become the sons of God comes directly from the Lord Jesus Christ. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12). Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13) We walk in the power of the SPIRIT, and not in the power of the flesh.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: (Romans 8:3)

That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:4)

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5)

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (Romans 8:6)

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7)

So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (Romans 8:8)

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  (Romans 8:9)

   DO YOU GET IT? Now at the fire in the palace courtyard, the flesh was weak. Three times Peter denied the Lord. Although this was before the Holy Spirit was given, there is a lesson here not only for Peter, but for us as well. It is this. Do not trust the flesh. The flesh is the enemy of the Spirit. We see this in Galatians Chapter 4, Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. (Galatians 4:28) But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. (Galatians 4:29)    These verses not only have a temporal meaning with Isaac and Ishmael, but it also has a spiritual meaning as well. The battle that every saint fights is against his own flesh, and the only way to combat this is to let the Spirit of Christ thrive in one’s heart, cling, mediate and study the word of God in prayer. We should remember the words of Peter in John 13:37, Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.The words spoken at the fire while warming himself contradicted the words that Peter spoke to the Lord Himself. I will lay down my life for thy sake.In verse 38 the Lord revealed the truth of ALL flesh. Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice. (John 13:38)

   The Lord, in His all seeing capacity and His omniscience, looks on the heart, and can read the hearts of all men. But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. (1^st Samuel 16:7) This is the only time that this phrase is used in all of Scripture . . . the LORD looketh on the heart. What Samuel could not see, God could see in the heart. For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars. (2^nd Chronicles 16:9) Asa was a godly king, however, his heart was lifted up in pride. His flesh would not allow him to see his pride; therefore, God gave him a disease in his feet for he had corrupted his walk through his flesh. As so many who boast of their work and walk and not God’s work. God had overcome Asa’s enemies. God had defeated the Ethiopians who had an army of more than a million men, and many chariots, and Asa with a small army AND GOD defeated the Ethiopians. We ask the same question as the apostle Paul, Where is boasting then? Think of it, what have we to boast about? It was Christ who died and who rose from the tomb of death. All we have is what we have IN Him, not in our flesh. We are the recipients of His grace, not the founders. Many act as if they have the keys of heaven and can lock out whom they will, but Christ is the Founder of grace and truth. As Peter was warming himself at the fire, his heart became colder and colder with each denial until he reached the third and final denial. THEN he remembered the very words of the Lord, which He spoke to Peter with prophetic truth and value. (John 13:38) But this is not all, for the Spirit of God tells us more. In the course of the Lord’s trial, as He endured the scoffing and the beating the Lord turned at the exact time of Peter’s third denial, and His eyes fixed on Peter, and Peter’s heart was stricken with unimaginable grief.

And Peter said, Man, I know not what thou sayest. And immediately, while he yet spake, the cock crew. (Luke 22:60) And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. (Luke 22:61) And Peter went out, and wept bitterly. (Luke 22:62)

   Not a word, just a look, and the prodding of the Spirit . . . . it was the Spirit who brought to remembrance the very words of the Lord Jesus through the eternal fixating eyes of God in Christ, that look confirmed His words in Peter’s heart.

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: (Luke 22:31) But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. (Luke 22:32) And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. (Luke 22:33) And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me. (Luke 22:34)

Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice. (John 13:38)

   I desire that we, as the children of God, should see our own weakness in the flesh, and to strive against our frailties by the Spirit of Christ that is within us for this purpose. When the cock crowed and Peter saw the look from the Lord, Peter immediately separated himself from man and from the fire. Peter went out and wept bitterly. Not only had the Lord’s prophecy been fulfilled, but as Peter fled from the fire, the very words of his denial burned into his conscience. His mind, heart and soul smoldered in grief. Peter also remembered his own words that he had spoken to the Lord: I will lay down my life for thy sake . . . Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Yet, in spite of Peter’s words, and while the Lord was being beaten, He prayed for Peter and interceded for him as Melchizedek, the Great High Priest.

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. (Hebrews 4:14) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1^st Timothy 2:5)

   There is only one Intercessor between God and man, and this is the High Priest of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Melchizedek of eternity. The Lord was facing His greatest hour and yet, as Peter, left the fire, the Lord was still interceding for Peter. Peter saw his own heart exposed and wept bitterly.

   The trial of that day was one of many trials yet to come for God’s servant: prison, mocking, lessons at the hand of the Spirit of Christ, and as all of us experience, the chastening hand of God the Father. From the moment of our salvation when God gives us the title of ‘sons’ we are responsible in this evil world to walk and to present ourselves as the sons of God. The battle ground of the earth, the present evil world, teaches many lessons about ourselves. The one phrase of combat in the book of Ephesians is ‘be strong in the Lord, and in the power of HIS might.  Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (Ephesians 6:10) Through the Lord’s strength He fits and clothes us for the battle against this world. It is HIS might that puts on the WHOLE, the COMPLETE armor of God through the indwelling and presence of the Living Word of God.

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12)

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)

Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (Ephesians 6:14)

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (Ephesians 6:15)

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (Ephesians 6:16)

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:17)

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; (Ephesians 6:18)

And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, (Ephesians 6:19).

  We are to put on the WHOLE armor of God that in the evil day, the day of temptation, the day of trial, the day of rejection, the day of persecution, the day of peril, and the day of blood we will be able to stand strong in the power of the Lord’s might. With the WHOLE armor of God, and with the correcting hand of God’s righteousness we will enjoy the peaceful fruits of His righteousness. Peter’s heart was in turmoil, he wept over his own failure because his conscience continually reminded him of the very words that he had spoken.

—— ♦——

The Fire of Coals

in Grace and Truth

——♦ ——

   After the Lord’s resurrection and the third time that He appeared to His disciples He was  by the fire of coals on the shores of Galilee . (John 21) As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread. (John 21:9)

This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. (John 21:14)

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. (John 21:15)

He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:16)

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:17)

  This is how the Spirit of God reminds us of Peter’s denial in this third appearance of the Lord, when He asked Peter point blank, and with no exceptions, Lovest thou me? This does not disconnect us from the love of our brethren, in fact, our sincere and devoted love for Christ brings forth a love within us for our brethren, however, the Spirit of God is specific here in John 21 that as we are thrust on the Lord’s love for us, we should LOVE HIM preeminently ABOVE ALL OTHERS. He MUST remain our FIRST LOVE. No matter how our flesh, or man, or the world tries to draw us away, we should never give it up as Ephesus.

   One should consider the epistle to the Ephesians in the matter of their love. Paul, through the Spirit of Christ, drew them back to the Center of their first love. Both the Nicolaitans with the mixing of the priesthood of Diana within the infant church had perverted the word of God to include the lascivious doctrines and immoral teachings of the goddess Diana. Notice that in the 1st Chapter of the epistle to the Ephesians that the Spirit of God centers on the will of God and on His Sovereignty, thus this Chapter ends with these verses. And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (Ephesians 1:22) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:23)

   In the church of the Lord Jesus Christ there is no other Head, He is Sovereign over ALL things. To deny His sovereignty is to deny Him. He is the ONLY love of the Church. The true Bride looks on no other. Her desires are centered in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. When mankind, in his religion refuses that divine love, they are just another lost group of lost sinners with no faith, and void of grace. Satan strives to dethrone God and His Christ. Remember that even at the cross, they mocked and denied the Sovereign of creation. They refused their own King, and the record that the Holy Spirit presents to us in Luke Chapter 23 is so infamous because it reveals the vast evil and enmity of both heart, and mind. The account that any group could be so vile and belligerent is hard to believe.

And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. (Luke 23:35) And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, (Luke 23:36) And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. (Luke 23:37) And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. (Luke 23:38)

As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: (Isaiah 52:14)

   You would think that man would be satisfied within himself that he had cast the Prince of life out of the world, but this is not so. This same vileness and enmity and hate came out of the same people in the book of Acts, Chapter 7 at the stoning of Stephen. We see Stephen looking up into heaven and seeing the Son of man, the lord Jesus Christ, standing at the right hand of God. However, let’s consider the Savior in heaven looking down on His servant Stephen. The recognition and the power that He gave Stephen to simply fall asleep in Jesus also assure us that the Lord watches over us as He also watches the world very closely. His eyes go to and fro throughout the whole earth, His Spirit KNOWS the thoughts and intents of the heart of every man. There is nothing hidden behind closed doors, and dark rooms cannot stop His piercing eyes from seeing the conspiracies of hatred against His realm. All things are open and naked in His sight. Before you deny Him, or utter your betrayal and conspiracy within whatever organization or group that you belong to, God KNOWS and God will reward and judge every person according to their works.

   You ask, Why is the world so evil? I truly thought you would never ask . . . the number one instigator of evil is Lucifer, Satan, the old serpent, the devil. The number two on this list is man. ALL of mankind is born of the seed of Adam, which the Lord was NOT. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ. (Galatians 3:16) He was that divine Seed from the Father. He was and is that holy thing.

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? (Luke 1:34) And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. (Luke 1:35)

    And He shall be called the Son of God. He would be Immanuel, by interpretation, God with us. Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14) Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Matthew 1:23) This should express to all the complete deity of the Lord Jesus Christ for Adam had no part in it. It was God who chose the woman of virtue to be the recipient of the holy seed. This was a Supernatural Seed of grace and truth. And He would be the Savior of mankind. The perfect Light of heaven was in Him. Yet, man, in his enmity and hatred of God, cast the Prince of life out of the world. I ask all the people of this world, How is this going for you? Are you happy in the misery of this evil world? Can you see that mankind is coming to the brink of his total social collapse? Man has NO moral code, nor control over any code. 

   The chaos and blood shedding in the streets of Jerusalem under the reign of Manasseh brought to pass the captivity of Israel. Now Satan has brought the same moral chaos to the world, and this will be the worlds final captivity. The author of evil, Satan himself, has enslaved the souls of mankind. This evil is abounding and the entire world has been flooded with the madness of evil. We stand on the hill of truth and grace looking over the Slough of Despond in the valley of evil where every person is doing that which is right in their own eyes promoting sin at every turn, and at the same time falsely proclaiming their lies as truth.

   So where do we find our refuge? The child of God clings to the Lord Jesus, and meditates on the word of God day and night. As the psalmist, we should hide the word of God in our hearts. Centuries past, the psalmist gave us the formula that if we hide the word of God in our hearts, it will prevent us from sinning against God. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalm 119:11) These words are just as effective today as when they were first given by the Spirit of God to the psalmist. Let me show you something special: when I hide the word of God in my heart, then the word of God becomes my counselors, a multitude of counselors. Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors. (Psalm 119:24) It is in the testimonies of the Lord that He spoke in sundry times and in diverse manners. All these are my counselors as the wicked wait to destroy the children of God. It is the grace and truth out of God’s word through the Spirit of Jesus Christ that counsels me. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies. (Psalm 119:95) Psalm 119 embraces me with the arms of God’s word and love. He not only protects me from my enemies, but through His word reveals them to me. Many have wondered why we have Psalm 119, it is the longest Chapter in the word of God, and it cradles all the facets of the word of God. I guess, if you were to seek out the reason for Psalm 119 you could get a partial answer in the last verses of Psalm 118, Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee. (Psalm 118:28) O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 118:29)

   Within Psalm 119 is the way of grace and mercy. For in God’s goodness He has showered His children with the very words of grace and truth. It is good to reflect on the very words of God, and to reflect on the words of the Lord Jesus in John 21:15, So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. Since you are on the internet reading this article,  you are quite aware that the words that I am writing go all over the world. Although no one will see — through your minds eye place your name in this verse, _________, lovest thou me more than these? Now, I will place my name in this verse, Michael Haigh, lovest thou me more than these? This is my answer before the world, and before the Lord Jesus Christ, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. This is the voice within me from my heart, soul and spirit, and the witness of the Spirit of Christ within gives me the assurance that He will keep me in His love and He will keep me in the battle against His enemies to show the poor souls of this world the truth of the Living God.

   I was once asked a question by an enemy of God who was very angry at the message that I had just given to the congregation, he said to me with a face twisted in bitterness, Do you think that you are the only one with God’s truth? I replied, No, but then I added, but I am one among the only ones who have the truth. He was furious, but I was well pleased with the Spirit’s answer, for the answer came from the unction within me, and it was the answer to my own spirit that grace and truth prevails. The world and religion have stepped away from grace and truth, and they have also stepped away from its Author, Jesus Christ. We can all remember back through our lives warming ourselves by the fires of this world, and we can see where we stand now in grace and truth. You cannot have grace without truth, and it may sound strange to the unrepentant heart, but you cannot have truth without grace. Grace and truth come through faith, and faith opens the eyes of the heart to grace and truth in Jesus Christ. All of God’s attributes are seen and fulfilled in the manifestation of His Son Jesus Christ. Through His life, and His death, and His resurrection, He holds the scepter of righteousness in His right hand. But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. (Hebrews 1:8) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (Hebrews 1:9)

   This throne is established in righteousness which the Lord fortified in His manifestation and in His sacrificial death. His resurrection was the result and proof of the Lord Jesus fulfilling all righteousness, and that through His righteousness He has made a way for man to follow. He has opened the doors of eternity in God’s righteousness. And we, as the children of God, are servants of that throne while we are here in this world. Each one of us has warmed ourselves at the fires of the world either before we trusted Christ in faith that is in Him, or shamefully kept out mouths shut when among the unsaved. Denial is just not verbal. We can deny the Lord Jesus by denying the Spirit’s voice within us. When the Spirit of God wants us to speak, we close our mouths, and we have all been there. I ask myself, just as I ask you, How many times have we failed to speak, to throw out that life line of grace and truth? And how many walked away still in darkness because I kept my mouth shut? It is a good thing that the Lord knows the heart, and we can thank Him for His grace through faith that He grace and faith does not depend on me, but the sovereign power of God alone. When the child of God recognizes within himself a past or present failure there is only one thing to do, and that is to repent and make a present commitment to the Lord.

   Peter received great strength from the Lord while on the banks of Galilee. The Lord had shown His sovereignty over all things in the great catch of fishes and then later dealing with Peter and requiring Peter to feed His sheep. The word of God is the eternal manna from above, it is a feast divine that dwells in the heart. The heart that is searching can only find peace in Christ, and food in the word of God. It is just as true to today as it was when the Lord Jesus spoke these words, . . . . It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4)He is God breathing on us through His word, through the Spirit of Christ who IS the manifestation of God and the Word. The Lord Himself stated that the words that He spoke were Spirit and Life, and we should all see the truth in this: His word is holy, and that His holy word is untouched by man. I know what you are thinking, but consider this, the voice that spoke to Moses face to face was the SAME VOICE that in the past spoke to Abel, it was the same voice that spoke to Enoch, and gave the prophecy to Enoch that the Lord would come with ten thousand of His saints. The same voice that spoke to Noah, the same voice that spoke to Abraham, the same voice that spoke to Jacob, the same voice that spoke to Joshua, the same voice that spoke to Gideon, Samuel, David, Solomon, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, Josiah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, and all the prophets SPEAKS TODAY TO US. Through thousands of years the same voice witnessed of His own Being to mankind, and it was the same voice that spoke in His manifestation as the Son of God. It is the same voice by His Spirit that has not only GIVEN the holy word of God, but keeps it, line upon line, precept upon precept, not one jot nor tittle has fallen to the ground. The sovereignty of God runs through the whole Godhead: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and in His complete sovereignty the Lord gives, maintains, and keeps His word. There is no delete key in God’s sovereign will concerning His word. Within the word of God there are assurances of God’s preserving power over His word, and His preserving power over my faith IN His word. For through faith I have divine power that gives me complete faith and belief in His word. When Peter (through a smitten conscience) remembered what Christ had told him, Peter went out and wept bitterly at the very words that his Lord had spoken.

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lovest thou me more than these?

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As Peter reflected on the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, we also reflect on these same words, and we see our own reflection of our lives in God’s word. God’s word is to be taken on the value that He is directly speaking to us. This shows the living part of God’s word, and that it is ministered directly by the Lord Jesus Christ, and according to John Chapter 1, Christ is the complete reservoir of God’s word, the embodiment of the holy word of God. We could just pass over Peter’s denials, but in that we would miss the voice of the Spirit within ourselves. The word of God is given not only to stir our consciences, but to cleanse and use it in our lives as it was given in the garden to Adam before the fall. So therefore, our conscience will, as Peter’s conscience, remind us of our denial and sin. This is still God for us. If we have a tender conscience and a tender heart, then the Spirit of God will keep us close to His word. In our natural life, our blood flows through our whole body, and without this, we would not have life. In the life of the new born child of God, the Spirit of Christ begins and dwells within the heart, and His Spirit runs through our whole body giving us spiritual life so that His Spirit can instruct us in all spiritual truth. The word of God in the Bible is a wonderful thing, and His word is truly truth, but this truth needs to be related from the pages of Scripture to the heart of the child of God by the Spirit of truth. This is the divine bond of the Spirit of Christ within us, and it will have divine results within the newborn creation. At the moment of salvation at the first breathe, at the first whimper, the Spirit of God is present. He is there to feed the infant, to draw the infant to the word of God, and to fill the heart, the soul and the spirit with the very words that God has breathed. Our spiritual growth should never end. We are to continually grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. We are to do this according to His word. And believe me, the Spirit of God can tell what His word is or what it is not. Peter did not summarize the words of the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter remembered the exact words that the Lord had spoken. And with that look from His smitten Lord, Peter KNEW the authority behind that word. Although Peter felt the pangs and pain of grief of his own failure, something else besides grief was transpiring within Peter, but what was transpiring? Peter, as ourselves, had to see the end of Peter. Peter realized the utter failure of the flesh. That within all of mankind there is no good thing. This prepared him for the Lord’s third appearance to His disciples after His resurrection on the shores of Galilee when Christ asked Peter three times . . . . lovest thou me more than these? . . . . Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? . . . . Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?

This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead. (John 21:14)

So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. (John 21:15)

He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:16)

He saith unto him the third time, 　Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. (John 21:17)

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not. (John 21:18)

This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. (John 21:19)

   Each denial of Peter was answered by the voice of the Lord asking, Lovest thou me? At the third time that Peter was required to answer this question, Peter’s conscience brought back to remembrance the scene by the fire and his three denials, and the echo of the crowing of the cock. Nevertheless, in spite of Peter’s failure, the Lord of grace and truth gave Peter his great commission.

   The repetition of Feed my lambs . . . Feed my sheep . . . Feed my sheep not only was a counterpoint of Peter’s thrice denial, but it was the assurance of God’s love and care for His own. These are the sheep of John Chapter 10 that are called by His name and kept by His love. 

To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. (John 10:3)

And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. (John 10:4)

Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. (John 10:7)

All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. (John 10:8)

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. (John 10:11)

I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine. (John 10:14)

As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. (John 10:15)

And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, [and] one shepherd. (John 10:16)

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27)

   Peter would go forth and feed the Lord’s sheep, he was faithful to the commission he received that day, and we have the witness of this in both 1^st and 2^nd Peter. His ministry bridges time: past, present and future. He reminds us that the prophets of old spoke and wrote the word of God by the Spirit of Christ that was in them. Peter reminds us of the present as new born babes desire the sincere milk of the word that they may grow thereby. And Peter looks into the future when the heavens will be on fire and the elements will melt and where there will be a new heaven and a new earth. Through the centuries up to this present time, as the Spirit gave the words to Peter, those words are timeless to all peoples in the world. Peter’s words are as fresh today as the moment that they were first written more than two thousand years ago. Many words that the Spirit gave to Peter in his epistles relate to Peter’s own experiences and his own trials by God in order to perfect His servant. Therefore, when Peter and Paul, John and Jude wrote their epistles they had lived the trials of their faith. Peter received lessons before the cross, in the upper room, and after the cross: Peter showed his confidence in the flesh twice, and two times the Lord corrected him. The first time it was according to Peter’s walk, and the second time, it was according to Peter’s faithfulness. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. (John 13:8)

Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. (John 13:37) Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice. (John 13:38)

   When you read the first and second epistle of Peter, you perceive a man who has walked the fires of this earth. Although the words 1^st Peter 1:23 were given by the Spirit of Christ, we see the trail of the trials of fire that Peter experienced. Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. Do you see it? The living word of God which liveth and abideth forever, and that His word is incorruptible, look up the meaning of incorruptible and its synonyms. Peter could always go back to two fires: one in the court yard of the high priest with the fires of denial, and at the Sea of Galilee with the fire of the coals, which the Lord prepared, and not man. One was a fire of denial, the other was a fire of grace and love. Loves thou me more than these? . . . . Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.

   Every man, woman and child has to answer this question from their heart, soul and spirit. Loves thou me more than these? I repeat the words of the Lord Jesus, Lovest thou me more than these? These are the words of the Sovereign of the universe, the very Creator of all things, and He speaks to every heart, soul and spirit, you will either answer the question at the fires of the world in unbelief, or you will answer the question at the fires of grace and love. Sin demands judgment. For sin bringeth forth death, but the gift of life came by Jesus Christ in grace and truth. He bore the fires of judgment on God’s brazen altar, which was the cross, read what He suffered within His own Being in Psalm 22. And see the suffering that He bore in the book of Isaiah, 52:13-15. And read ALL of Isaiah Chapter 53.

Lovest thou me more than these?

Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.

Amen and Amen.

© Copyright 2022, Michael Haigh

This article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.

All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJV)