Our Life Giver


The weakness of all men and women is sin. This in the broadest sense has its foundation in the worship of self. The very first sin recorded was that of Eve aspiring to be as God (Genesis 2:1-5).
How can a created being such as Satan aspire to be like his Creator?
And yet, men and women everywhere on this earth, professing Christians and pagans, willingly defy the laws of worldly and spiritual life, temporal and unending, for the fleeting worship of self and the pleasures thereof.
An old Chinese jewel of wisdom states: The ego massage is undoubtedly a pleasant past-time, but hardly the most rewarding.

It can only mean that they don't know God.

And yet our heavenly Father has provided an easy way for us to get to know Him.

The Lord God gives life, decides for how long, and takes life.

All things are created for God's glory, not for ours.

The Living, Loving, Almighty God.
God the Father,
God, the Son,
God the Holy Spirit.

This writing was compiled over a period of weeks under the leading of the Holy Spirit and may seem disjointed. Please endure to the end.

All things belong to the Creator, even the Sabbath:: Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.; (Exodus 19:5-6); And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.; (Mark 2:23-28)

What should we give our Life-giver back?: But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.; (Mark 13:9-13)


God the Father:: But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation.; (Jeremiah 10:10); But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.; (Matthew 19:26); And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.; (Mark 14:36); And his mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue loosed, and he spake, and praised God. And fear came on all that dwelt round about them: and all these sayings were noised abroad throughout all the hill country of Judaea. And all they that heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, What manner of child shall this be! And the hand of the Lord was with him. And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began: That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us; To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life. And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways; To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us, To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.; (Luke 1:64-79); And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.; (Luke 2:8-14)

God the Son:
Jesus of Nazareth, with blood coursing through His veins, was crucified and died, cutting the blood Covenant with God on behalf of man, was raised from the dead as the Lord Jesus Christ by the Life giving (Spiritual) Power of God to make a Spiritual path to the Celestial City for our benefit, for the ultimate glory of God.: If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.; Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.; (Philippians 2:1-13)
Vainglory: vain or empty pride in one's own performance, idle boastfulness.

We are God's family through the Lord Jesus Christ - the Leader of the Way.
We must endeavour to get into God's presence, like the crowds that pressed so close to Jesus that He could hardly breathe. He needed to gather strength Himself when going off somewhere to pray.

God, the Holy Spirit:: 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. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible. And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her. And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.; (Luke 1:35-55)


Requital

For you also?
I recently had a wake-up call, fortunately it was heard.
Without excuse, this old man had become uncharitable of the faults of others; an intolerant driver of our car, an impatient driver of supermarket trolleys; until I rode over the toes of a bystander in a crowded supermarket aisle, and had to apologise (in anger). Whew!
Only afterwards, when sitting in the car in the parking lot was it realised what a bad attitude this was and I repented to the Lord God.
Later it was revealed that I was thinking of I, how selfish I had become; but in reality the Lord's name had been dragged in the dirt by one of His servants, and as such was repentance made.
By His providence was the following used as a gentle prod by the Owner of this servant:: I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God. And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile: And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return. For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: they shall not be sold as bondmen. Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour; but shalt fear thy God. Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession. And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever: but over your brethren the children of Israel, ye shall not rule one over another with rigour. And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger's family: After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him: Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself. And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubile: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him.; (Leviticus 25:38-50)

Out of this we see firstly that there is a difference between a servant and a bondservant.

Secondly, there is a year of jubilee.
According to Vine's Expository Dictionary:
The Lord commanded Israel "And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land." (Leviticus 25:8-9). Every fiftieth year was to be hallowed, and liberty proclaimed to all inhabitants; it was a time for remembering God's provision and for exercising compassion.
As far as was possible, the year of jubilee restored the people to the original standing which they had had fifty years previously. Property was to be recovered by its original owners, and each man returned to his own family and possessions. Debtors were to be released from their debts, slaves from their bonds, and no property could be sold. If a man, through poverty, were forced to sell part of his property, it was the duty of his kinsman to redeem it, or, if there were no kinsman, the original owner might buy it back. The one exception was in the case of houses built in walled towns, thus making a distinction between houses, which were built by man, and the land, which was God's. The celebration of jubilee in the fiftieth year prevented a man from accumulating too much land, while it saved others from destitution; it was a constant reminder that the Lord had brought His people out of slavery to the Promised Land, of which He was the supreme Owner.

Thirdly we see the intervention of a Kinsman.
According to Vine's Expository Dictionary:
The kinsman (also redeemer and avenger) had three rights, (1) to purchase back the forfeited inheritance for an Israelite who, owing to poverty, had sold his land, as Boaz did for Ruth (4:3-5), or to hold land in possession for a poor kinsman till the year of jubilee; (2) to ransom his kinsman from bondage to a foreigner; (3) to avenge the death of his slain kinsman, as a point of honour.

Blessed Jesus Christ is our Kinsman!

Why did God make all these laws?: For unto me the children of Israel are servants; they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.; (Leviticus 25:55)
By obeying these laws the Israelites acknowledged that the Lord God Almighty was their God.

Today, there is almost universal hate of the nation of the Jews, not so?
Is it because they continue to honour God and the god of this world is at war with Him?
Is it not because they are still God's Covenant people?

While the New Covenant is different to the Covenant of the Law, we who are reborn of the Spirit worship the same God - the God of Creation; the Living God: and we should each wear the Spiritual ambassadorial garment of God on and in our bodies as a witness before the unbelievers.

The Amalekites were distant relatives of the Israelites, yet were their bitter enemies, were afraid of them and chose to go to war as the Children of Israel were moving about:: Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said unto Joshua, Choose us out men, and go out, fight with Amalek: to morrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in mine hand. So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And it came to pass, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed: and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. And Joshua discomfited Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. And the LORD said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: for I will utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi: For he said, Because the LORD hath sworn that the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.; (Exodus 17:8-16)
Here we see that when Moses held up his old shepherd's staff Israel prevailed. This was the same staff that turned into a snake at the burning bush and that Moses held over the red sea to part the waters. This was the staff of God's power not so? When the staff was held up Israel prevailed, when the staff was not visible Amalek prevailed. This was God's banner to Israel, the banner of supernatural power.

Jehovah-nissi. God is our banner.

God is our Lord and we should make that known to all and sundry.
The Israelites were under the Covenant of the Law and had to follow the Law for all to see:: Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God. Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD. If ye walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and do them; Then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. And I will give peace in the land, and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you. And ye shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new. And I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people. I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen; and I have broken the bands of your yoke, and made you go upright.; But if ye will not hearken unto me, and will not do all these commandments; And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant: . . . .; (Leviticus 26:1-15)
We are under the Covenant of conviction by the power of the Holy Spirit:: If ye love me, keep my commandments.; (John 14:15); He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.; (John 14:21); Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.; (John 14:23)

If we are serious about following God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, not so? For sure.
We also have a guardian angel walking with us, not so? Definitely.
Why not then hold up the banner of Jehovah wherever we go, declaring to the worldly people and the spiritual people that the God of Life is our God?
What do you think will happen when we each walk into a crowded room?
The unclean spirits will not take much notice of us, but they shall see God's presence in their (Satan's) kingdom. They shall fear.
The worldly people shall see that we are different by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The Muslim faith generally causes bodily fear in worldly people.
The Christian faith generally causes spiritual fear in the unclean spirits that control worldly people.
Try it at a party and see for yourself.

So, are you carrying the Spiritual banner, the example, of Jehovah, the Creator around with you?
Are you suffering persecution as a result thereof?
Are you obtaining victory in your Christian walk; in your prayers, your witness, your example?

Bear in mind that it is God who converts someone, not you.

Albert Finney, one of the first modern preachers in the time of great Christian revival had this to say:
Great sermons lead people to praise the preacher. Good preaching leads people to praise the Saviour.


Some relevant passages of Scripture to lift us up:: And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.; (Genesis 14:18-20); Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.; (Exodus 20:12); And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.; (Exodus 20:18-20); Behold, the heaven and the heaven of heavens is the LORD'S thy God, the earth also, with all that therein is.; (Deuteronomy 10:14); Who hath prevented me, that I should repay him? whatsoever is under the whole heaven is mine.; (Job 41:11); The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.; (Psalms 24:1); If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.; (Psalms 50:12); With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.; (Psalms 91:16); For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.; (1 Corinthians 10:26); He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.; (Romans 4:20-22); For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men.; (Romans 14:17-18)

Glory to the Living God!
: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 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: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 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. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 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.; And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.; (Romans 8:1-15)
: This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.; Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 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? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But call to remembrance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; Partly, whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions; and partly, whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.; (Hebrews 10:16-39)
We see here that the saving of the soul is future tense.
: Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:; (Ephesians 1:1-3); I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.; (Galatians 2:20)