Be You Perfect

"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he spoke in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. Seeing therefore it remains that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:  Again, he limits a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. There remains therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief."  (Hebrews 4:1-11)

Most of the uses if the word 'rest' in the above verses are of the Greek word katapleo - which means "to sail down upon a place, to land or arrive". This word comes from pleuo - which means "plunging through the water, to pass in a vessel".  These words are describing a journey - consistent with "the way that leads to life". "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads to life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:14) The Greek word for way as used here is hodos - which means "road or journey". To enter into His rest is to enter into eternal life. There is a journey to enter into this place of eternal life, and it requires the Holy Spirit's guidance to get there. You cannot find it on your own. Your strength and understanding have nothing to do with entering in. Actually, all that is of us must be overcome by the Holy Spirit and the Lord Himself in order to bring us to the end of ourselves, the fulfillment of Galatians 2:20: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives 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."

When one travels in a sailing ship, the ship is driven by the wind. There is no other means of propulsion. This wind is the Spirit of the Lord. Almost every mention of the Spirit in the New Testament is the Greek word pneuma - which means "Spirit, wind, breath". The sailor has the option of steering the ship on a course of his choosing, but in the spirit this is counterproductive, since such decisions are made by the individual according to what seems right in his eyes. The vessel guided by his understanding, his carnal mind, will walk after the flesh and travel the broad path that leads to destruction. He will neither come to know the Lord along the path of his choosing nor will he enter into eternal life. He will hear the words "depart from me, you worker of iniquity, I never knew you".

The wise disciple that has set sail on this journey to eternal life will choose to let the ship go where it may, choosing to cast all his care upon the Lord, trust Him with all his heart, not engage the carnal mind and therefore not walk after the flesh, but rather be led by the Holy Spirit. In so doing he is laying down his life that he may find it. "He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it." (Matthew 10:39) The word for life as used here is the Greek word psuche - which means "life, mind, soul". It comes from the Greek word psucho - which means :to breathe voluntarily but gently". It is our mind, our soul, from which we must be delivered that we may allow the mind of Christ to be in us and subdue the carnal mind. We must believe to the saving of our soul. "But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." (Hebrews 10:39) If we allow ourselves to be crucified with Christ and be brought to the end of ourselves, we will continue to live, but we will be manifest sons of God with Christ living in us, speaking through us, doing mighty works through us, and manifesting His glory through us. "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)

We all are vessels, we are not our own, but we are bought with a price. "Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." (2 Timothy 2:19-21) Only those vessels which allow the Lord to deliver them from the carnal mind, the flesh, the world, sin, and self will be vessels of honor. Only vessels of honor will know Him. Only vessels of honor will attain eternal life. We are not made vessels of honor by simply being born again, for being born again is only the beginning of this journey. We are made vessels of honor as we submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and let Him have His way in us, knowing that He works all thing together for our good if we love Him and are the called according to His purpose. We must be obedient to His every command and dependent upon Him in all situations. He will faithfully work in us to bring us to maturity if we allow Him. He plan is simple, let go of all that is of you. We make it complicated by trying to figure things out, which means using the carnal mind and walking after the flesh. But He is faithful, and will gently break us and humble us to bring us into submission and overcome the carnal mind and all that is of the world in us if we faint not along this journey that leads to life.

It is God's grace that will bring us to overcome the carnal mind. Grace is not what most of the church believes it to be - "the unmerited favor of God". Such a thing does not exist. God's favor is upon the righteous - only. His favor is upon vessels of honor, or those walking on this journey that leads to life seeking to be vessels of honor. Those who choose to walk after the flesh will find neither life nor favor with God. The body of Christ is not the Bride of Christ. Christ is not marrying His body, but a Bride prepared for Him. "That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:27)

The word used in most cases for grace in the new testament is charisomai - which means "deliver, pardon, rescue". It comes from the Greek word charis - the meaning of which I like to use as a definition for grace. It means - "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life". This perfectly describes how God works in us. We decide moment to moment whether we will embrace the Spirit's influence and allow the Lord to transform us by the renewing of our mind, thereby progressively delivering us from the carnal mind's influence and purging that which is of the world out of us, or we will obey the flesh and do what we think is right, thereby progressively hardening our heart through the deceitfulness of sin as we walk after the flesh.

"Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost says, To day if you will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do always err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. So I swore in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom swore he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief." (Hebrews 3:7-19)

The above scripture is a warning concerning the price of sin. The word sin in the Greek is hamartia - which means sin, but comes from the Greek word hamartano - which means 'to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize)'. In John 8:34, "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin". But the carnally minded church clings to I John 1:9 which says "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness". Confession does bring forgiveness of sin, but it does nothing to deal with the root of sin. God's plan is to bring us to overcome sin, not be in bondage to sin. We either walk after the Spirit or we walk after the flesh. We are either slaves to Christ or slaves to sin. Most of the church honors the Lord with their lips but their heart is far from Him. Most of the church is not seeking to know the Lord but is comfortable with the false belief that they are "saved" because they are born again. Most, therefore, will "miss the mark and not share in the prize".

"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." Belief is not a one time, "nanosecond" conversion resulting in being born again. Belief is ongoing, the foundation of this journey which leads to life by virtue of making Jesus your Lord, your Master, and your King. He must be your life and all that pertains to self must be denied. "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. Truly I say to you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." (Matthew 16:24-28) Eternal life may be obtained in this life, but only as we enter into His rest.

"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it." Hebrews 4:1) The Greek word for fear as used here is phobeo - which means "to be frightened, alarmed, reverence". It comes from the word phobos - which means to "be afraid, exceedingly fear, terror". Entering into His rest is a promise - but only for those who seek the Lord with all their heart. Seek and you will find is another promise. Please realize, however, that all God's promises are conditional. They are given with the condition that you come to the Lord on His terms, not your own. We must learn to fear Him, which is to reverence Him and acknowledge Him in all our ways. He is our heavenly Father, to whom all honor is due. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We must realize that we have no wisdom of our own and all that is good in us is that which He imparts to us. "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield you your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know you not, that to whom you yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants you are to whom you obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as you have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. For when you were the servants of sin, you were free from righteousness. What fruit had you then in those things whereof you are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, you have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:12-23)

"There remains therefore a rest to the people of God." (Hebrews 4:9) The word rest as used here is the Greek word sabbatismos - which means "sabbatism". It is like being baptized into the Sabbath. It comes from the Greek word sabbaton - which means "Sabbath", but by extension includes the days in between the Sabbaths to reveal a state of constantly living in the Sabbath. "For he that is entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from his." (Hebrews 4:10) This is the place of being brought by the Lord behind the veil to enter into the Holy of Holies. It is the secret place of the Most High. "He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalms 91:1) His rest is a place of living in His presence. And no flesh shall glory in His presence. "For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, has God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence." (I Corinthians 1:26-29)

His rest is the place of passing into eternal life. There is no need for one to see physical death. Eternal life is available in this natural realm for those who will pay the price of laying down all that is of them in exchange for all that is of the Lord. This makes no sense to the carnal mind, which is why the carnal mind and all that opposes God must be overcome. We cannot overcome the things of this world, but the Lord can and will if we will allow Him by yielding to His Spirit and seeking to be obedient to Him in all things. He even provides the strength to do these things. "I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

Belief is a state of mind. Unbelief is also a state of mind. Belief is a product of embracing the influence of the Holy Spirit through the spirit. It is walking after the Spirit. Unbelief is a product of embracing the influence of the flesh through the carnal mind.. It is walking after the flesh. It is the will of God that His people walk after His Spirit  and lay hold on life - to enter into His rest. Along the way that leads to life, God will bring His servant to become spiritually minded - a manifest son of 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 has 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. (Romans 8:1-7)

The early church was taught to walk after the Spirit, to seek to know the Lord. This is why the early church was in unity. They walked after the same Spirit, they listened to the same Spirit, and they developed ears to hear what the Spirit said. They were in agreement. They were not encumbered with false doctrines that pervade the present day church system. Many strange and ear tickling doctrines are embraced by the modern day church that came into being only a few hundred years ago . The church of today looks nothing like the early church. The church of today is much like Israel, who rejected God by leaning to their own understanding, i.e., being carnally minded. There was a remant in Israel, however, that did seek after God, which has been the pattern throughout the word of God. Only a few have sought after God with all their heart. Few will find life because they embrace the leading of the flesh, and reject the suffering and reproach of Christ.

"Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it." (Matthew 7:13-14) Few find the way that leads to life because they unwittingly step off the path on which they began by being born again and choose to walk on the broad path that leads to destruction. To walk on the way that leads to life is to walk in belief, to walk after the Spirit, and to be spiritually minded. To walk on the broad path that leads to destruction is to walk in unbelief (marked by doubt and fear), to walk after the flesh, and to be carnally minded (trusting in yourself instead of trusting in the Lord). Most of the church is on the path to destruction.

To be spiritually minded is life and peace - to be carnally minded is death (destruction). They that walk after the Spirit do mind the things of the Spirit. They that walk after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh (they love the world and the things of the world more than they love the Lord). The carnally minded honor the Lord with their lips, but their heart is far from Him. This is shown forth in the letter to the church at Laodicea, which depicts the Harlot church. The Harlot is the unfaithful, carnally minded church that is so much like the unbelieving Israel and her treacherous sister Judah.

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things says the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot: I would you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of my mouth. Because you sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and know not that you are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you mayest be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eyesalve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:14-20)

The Harlot in the present day church is lukewarm. They are apathetic. They believe that they have been saved with nothing else to do but confess their sin, yet not acknowledge that they willfully sin with the belief that confession makes them right in the eyes of the Lord even though they walk in a manner contrary to His will. They keep up a spiritual facade so they can be honored by their carnally minded brethren. The Lord cries out to them to buy of Him gold tried in the fire - to become a living sacrifice which is our reasonable service. He urges them  to attain white raiment, which is being clothed upon with the righteousness given to those who seek after righteousness.. Those He loves He rebukes and chastens in order to bring forth a transformation that delivers His people from bondage, from fornication with the world. He is standing at the door of your soul, desiring to be let in that He may deliver you from His enemy - the carnal mind, and have intimate fellowship with you.

Paul says there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk after the Spirit. He is also saying there is condemnation to those who walk after the flesh. Again, walk after the Spirit and you will find life. Walk after the flesh and you will find death. The battle is in the mind. Satan is not afraid of the church at large. He is afraid of those seeking to be spiritually minded. He is defeated by those that become manifest sons -for he no longer has any means of influencing them. They have overcome the carnal mind.

"And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads. And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born. And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne." (Revelation 12:1-5)

The woman is a figurative description of the Bride of Christ; who is walking on the path that leads to life. She is protected during the first half of the tribulation as she seeks to minister to the Harlot church; whom Satan uses to fight her. Out of her comes forth  manifest sons of God, who are caught up unto God and to His throne. "To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Revelation 3:21) Manifest sons of God are the overcomers that have entered into His rest and have the mind of Christ. This is why Satan fears them, for they are no longer influenced by the carnal mind and he has no place in them. They will destroy his kingdom and he knows it. Satan fights long and hard to keep you from coming into the revelation of sonship. "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour." (I Peter 5:8)

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:5) The word let used here is the Greek word katecho -which means "have, hold fast, keep, possess, retain". If we let the mind of Christ be in us it is because we have chosen to walk after the Spirit and the Spirit has brought us to a place of imparting the mind of Christ to us as we are prepared to enter into His rest and become sons of God. Paul says in I Corinthians 2:16 that "we have the mind of Christ.” What Paul is saying is that we have access to the mind of Christ and the potential of apprehending it. It is the mind of Christ that influences us as we grow and mature along the way that leads to life. But as we grow and mature we also deal with the influence of the carnal mind. Two minds. "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." (James 1:8) The good news is that the Lord will bring us to our full potential if we simply do not give up. "Being confident of this very thing, that he which has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6)

"Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48) The word perfect as used here is the Greek word teleioo - which means "to complete, accomplish, consummate, finish, make perfect". To the carnal mind this is foolishness. After all, we are human and very flawed. The truth is we cannot make ourselves perfect, but that is not what the Lord is revealing. He is revealing that we can be perfected. We can be transformed into His image and be like Him in every way as we are brought to the end of ourselves. We must be crucified with Christ. Our great High Priest must grind us to powder and sprinkle us on the coals of the altar so we are consumed and become a sweet savor to the nostrils of God. It is at this place we are taken behind the veil and enter into His rest. The Lord takes us behind the veil to meet the Father. We enter the Holy of Holies on the day of Jesus Christ.

"So that you come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 1:7-8) The word end as used here is the Greek word telos -which means "definite point or goal, conclusion of an act or state". This end is the end of ourselves and the beginning of eternal life in the presence of the Lord. This is a special place where we continue to live and work on earth as vessels of honor fit for His use through whom He does the work to build His kingdom and destroy the works of the devil.

"Jesus said unto him, You have said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall you see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." (Matthew 26:64) Jesus will sit on the right hand of the Father until His enemies are made His footstool. He said hereafter, or from now on, you will see Me coming in the clouds of heaven. The appearance of God throughout the word was in a cloud because no man could see him and live. "And he said, You cannot see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. (Exodus 33:20) Clouds are "vessels of His appearing". This is how the Lord returns to earth, not in the flesh as He did the first time, but in His Bride, (His Wife whom He joins in marriage and the two are now one flesh), that have entered into His rest and through whom He now works. He has been appearing in those few who have been brought to this place in Him since the beginning. Remember, He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. But now in these last days, God is raising up many who have been given this revelation in preparation for the end time harvest, the greatest outpouring of God's Spirit ever witnessed.

The day of Jesus Christ is the time of His appearing. "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." (I John 3:2) John states that "now are we the sons of God", but then states that "it does not yet appear what we shall be". He is speaking of a present 'sonship' and a future 'sonship'. Paul says in Romans 8:14 "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." He also says in Galatians 5:18 “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” So both John and Paul are speaking of very mature believers, not the body of Christ as a whole.  I speak of the sons of God mentioned in Romans 8:19 - the manifestation of that which all creation waits to come forth.

"But we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." See Him - optomai - "gaze with wide open eyes". We will be like Him. Nothing of the flesh will exist in us - He will fill us. We will be pure in heart. "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God." (Matthew 5:8) We will enter into eternal life - without seeing physical death. "For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?"

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (II Timothy 4:8) "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." (Hebrews 9:27) To experience the day of Jesus Christ is to have been brought to a place of death to all that is of the flesh and raised up in the power of His resurrection. His judgement will occur on that day along with His reward - a crown of righteousness. Those who receive this crown will be one with Him and ever be with Him.

In Luke 17:30-37, Jesus revealed His appearing. "Even so shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, there will the eagles be gathered together."

Jesus  gives instruction and a warning to not look back as He says "remember Lot's wife". "And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for your life; look not behind you, neither stay you in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest you be consumed." (Genesis 19:17) Lot's wife was delivered then consumed because she disobeyed the commandment to not look back. "And Jesus said to him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62) We are being delivered from the world. We cannot take anything of the world with us and we certainly cannot keep the world in our remembrance.

Remember Revelation 12:4 - "the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born". The devil is tenacious. This is a life and death struggle for him. If you go on to manifest as a son of God then he loses his influence and you will be used to destroy his kingdom. It was the same in the Garden when he tempted Eve. If Adam and Eve had partaken of the fruit of the Tree of Life he would have lost his kingdom forever. He is the father of lies and he will tempt you as he did Jesus in Matthew 4:8. "Again, the devil took him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them. And said to him, All these things will I give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Be not like the Hebrews, who when they were delivered from Egypt desired to return, remembering how good their bondage in Egypt was because "We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic" (Numbers 11:5) Apparently there will be warfare at this time and that most likely in the form of temptation. Keep your eyes fixed upon the author and finisher of your faith and it will matter not what you face in that hour, for He will bring you through with a mighty hand if your desire is for Him.

"For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame." The devil knows the word and uses every opportunity to cast a stumblingblock before you. But greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. "And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers." (John 10:4-5) "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." (Revelation 12:11)

"I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left." Jesus is speaking spiritually, figuratively. "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24) The Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, must reveal what is being declared in the word of God, otherwise we cannot understand it. There are not two men in one bed, it is the same man with two natures - his carnal nature and his spiritual nature which has been carefully built into him over the course of his walk with the Lord. The same with the two women grinding in a field and the two men in the field. A separation is taking place. I term this separation the merismos. Merismos is the Greek word meaning -"a separation, dividing asunder, gift".

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) The word 'word' as used here is the Greek word logos - which means "something said (including the thought), utterance". The Lord spoke creation into existence, and this scripture speaks of the Lord speaking a separation into existence - a separation between soul and spirit. He likens it to separating joints and marrow, which in the natural is impossible.

Marrow is the nutrient-rich spongy tissue at the center of large bones. Among other functions, the marrow produces blood cells. Life is in the blood. "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that makes an atonement for the soul." (Leviticus 17:11) The joints of the body house the marrow so that the marrow may produce blood. The two are connected. The spirit and the soul are connected in what we term the heart. Peter reveals this in I Peter 3:4. "But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

The spirit is not corruptible since it is the abode of the Godhead. The soul, however, is corruptible since it can be influenced by the flesh via the carnal mind and cause one to become self serving instead of obedient to God. God's plan is to deliver us from that which is corruptible so that we may be set free from sin and live eternally with Him. I repeat I Corinthians 15:54 -"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory." This occurs in the day of Jesus Christ as He speaks forth the merismos and brings separation between our spirit and our soul and we become free from the world and the carnal mind, now being spiritually minded - receiving the mind of Christ. We become one with Him. His image. His reflection. Galatians 2:20 -"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives 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. In the day of Jesus Christ we truly are in the world but not of it for "the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God," We can become vessels of honor fit for His use.

"Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, there will the eagles be gathered together." When we are taken by the Lord we become "flying eagles". The word of God is full of patterns of threes denoting levels of maturity along the way that leads to life. One of these patterns is shown in Revelation 4:7 - "And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle." There are four beasts shown, but the pattern is in the last three; for the first represents the corporate Bride of Christ who is the image of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. The other three represent those that make up the Bride in varying levels of maturity. The calf is immature, a child, but seeking to know the Lord, The man is much more mature. Paul referenced this in I Corinthians 13:11 - "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." The one that is of full age, of full maturity is the flying eagle. The flying eagle differs from the other two in that he is no longer earthbound. He is free to soar the heavenlies. He is a conduit between heaven and earth for He abides in both realms. He is seated with Christ in His throne. "To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." (Revelation 3:21)

The flying eagles are used mightily in the end times. They are given trumpets - a revelatory voice to declare that which God is about to do. "And I saw the seven angels which stood before God; and to them were given seven trumpets. And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three angels, which are yet to sound!" (Revelation 8:6&13)

The translators of the word of God  call them angels, but these are redeemed from the earth - not the angels around God's throne. I can only surmise that those who translated scripture could not figure how flying eagles could be operating in heaven and speaking on earth. They are the 144,000 which have the mind of Christ. "And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Zion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads. And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God." (Revelation 14:1-5)

The flying eagles are the "great and mighty army" of Joel chapter 2, which I call the 'mini version' of the book of Revelation. "Blow you the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord comes, for it is nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there has not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. A fire devours before them; and behind them a flame burns: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: And the Lord shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executes his word: for the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; and who can abide it?" (Joel 2:1-11)

The day of the Lord differs from the day of Jesus Christ. The day of Jesus Christ is a time of personal appearing by the Lord to a believer. The day of the Lord is the time where the Lord establishes His Lordship over all His creation. The flying eagles bring tribulation to all that is carnal, that which is God's enemy. They bring life to those who will embrace their message -"the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness". Those who go forth with them will bow the knee to the Lord and go on to be His Wife in marriage in the Garden of Eden, which was created for His Bride and soon to be Wife. Those that reject the message of this great army will be left behind as in a desolate wilderness where there is no spiritual life.  The 144,000 will turn into a 200 milion man army by the end of the first half of the Tribulation - the end of the church age. The marriage of the Lord and His Bride will take place in 3 1/2 days in the Garden of Eden in the middle of the Tribulation period. Then the New Jerusalem - the Wife of the Lamb - will return to minister to those who were not part of the church. They will receive the same message of 'Know the Lord' that the church received. Those that embrace this message and endure to the end will go on into the Millennium.

You have the potential to be part of this great outpouring of His Spirit and be used mightily by the Lord in His Harvest. "Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray you therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest." The Lord is preparing His servants now. His true servants are hidden - separated from the world that He may bring them to enter into His rest. The fact that you are reading this signifies His calling upon your life. You were drawn to read this by the Holy Spirit. I pray you will hearken to the word of the Lord and embrace this revelation.    

"And he said unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he said unto me, These are the true sayings of God. And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See you do it not: I am your fellowservant, and of your brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19:9-10) John saw a flying eagle who was sent out of time to bring him this revelation. Seek to know the Lord. Seek to enter into His rest. Seek and you will find. "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8) "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." (James 1:6)   

"Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That you be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 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, Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Remember you not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now you know what withholds that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (II Thessalonians3:1-12)

In this portion of scripture, Paul is encouraging the people of the church at Thessalonica to "be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand". I have discussed the day of the Lord - which is the Tribulation period, and the day of Jesus Christ - which is a time of the personal appearing of the Lord to a believer whom He is about to take behind the veil to enter into His rest. The day of Christ, of which Paul speaks here, refers to that which Paul reveals in 1 Thessalonians 4:13. It is this portion of scripture which had caused some misunderstanding, resulting in fear that the people might have missed out on a very climactic event for a believer.

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (I Thessalonians 4:13-18)

To understand scripture, we must understand the spiritual language that is used, which  can only come as the Holy Spirit gives us revelation as a result of our seeking to know truth. The word sleep as used here is the Greek word koimao - which means "be dead". Those that have physically died in the Lord have already passed on to a spiritual state and will be brought with Him to this event - which is the marriage of the Bride to the Bridegroom (the day of Christ). "Even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him." There is no need to sorrow for them. "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout." The Lord is in the third heaven and He will descend to the second heaven, which is the air, which is the Garden of Eden - a place prepared by God for His Bride. The dead in Christ shall rise first. The dead in Christ are those who are living, yet have entered into His rest. They have died to the things of this world and have manifest as sons of God and are like Him in every way, for He is living in them. "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds". Those that are alive are those that still have somewhat left to be overcome in them; they have not yet entered into His rest. I believe Paul later entered into His rest, but had yet to accomplish this at the time of this writing.

"And so shall we ever be with the Lord." The Bride of Christ will become one with the Lord as His Wife in the middle three days of the Tribulation period. There is a "rapture", but not as the church teaches. The Bride of Christ, prepared for the Lord and is without spot, wrinkle, or blemish, is called to join the Lord in the Garden for the marriage, ascending from earth. After the marriage, the Wife will return to earth to finish the work of extracting all the life that can be harvested from those who were not born again. They will minister to them as they did the church, and those that receive the message of the Wife and hold on to the end, will find life in the new Millennium. The end of the church age will come just prior to the marriage supper. The Harlot church, Babylon, who refused to embrace the Lord's ways, will be destroyed.

"“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first". (II Thessalonians 2:3) Paul said in Acts 20:29-31 "For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears." The church continued in the first Apostle's doctrine for perhaps 500 years before it began to entertain strange doctrines and move progressively farther away from the truth. This "falling away" has been going on for probably 1500 years. The present day church looks nothing like the early church which God Himself built. Satan taught man how to control the church for their own profit and organized religion has destroyed what God created. The church became divided by denominations birthed in disagreement over scripture. Carnally minded leaders have emerged in abundance  competing for the attention and financial support of the people. The love of money has marked the present day church which has become businesses which use God as a commodity and make merchandise of mens souls.

"And that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." (II Thessalonians 2:3-4) The common belief in the church is that this scripture speaks of the Antichrist, who ushers in a one world government and a one world religion and requires his mark to be placed upon man in order to buy or sell. This belief includes a rapture of the church so God's people are protected while God allows the Antichrist to wreak havoc upon His creation and He Himself joins in the mayhem by sending all kinds of suffering on the earth. If you believe this is the nature and character of God, then you are deceived and do not know Him.

There is no earthly Temple and there will be no earthly Temple built. God chose a people and taught them His laws. His chosen rejected Him which opened the way for the Gentiles to come into the kingdom of God. Through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the way was made to be no longer under the law, but under grace. We no longer need to perform physical acts of sacrifice and shedding of blood to atone for our sin. The blood of Christ cleanses us from sin. Through faith in Jesus Christ we had the law written upon our hearts instead of tablets of stone. We became Jews, not outwardly according to the circumcision of the flesh, but inwardly according to the circumcision of the heart. God did not do all this just so He could return us to the law by  rebuilding  the Temple. There is and will be no physical Temple where this mythical character will sit.

This "man of sin"and the "son of perdition" is not a physical person. The "beast" in the book of Revelation is not a physical person. This entity is the carnal mind. "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." (Romans 8:3-8)

The carnal mind is the enemy of God. It is not subject to the law of God and cannot be made subject to the law of God. That's why the carnal mind must be overcome by the Lord as He leads us on the way to life. Self, ruled by the carnal mind, will sit as God in our hearts, our temple. "Know you not that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple you are." The carnal mind "opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God". "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jeremiah 17:9) You may be born again, but your heart is not right, it is desperately wicked, until the Lord overcomes the carnal mind in you as you walk after His Spirit.

"And now you know what withholds that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity does already work: only he who now lets will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders." (II Thessalonians 2:6-9)

Now we know,( by revelation among those with ears to hear what the Spirit says), what "withholds"  (Greek word katecho - which means "to hold fast, retain, possess"), that he might be revealed in his time  (and his time is coming). For the mystery  (musterion -which means "silence, secret") of iniquity (anomia - which means "illegality, violation of law, wickedness, unrighteousness") does already work (and has been working for some 1500 years), only he who now lets (kategoros - which means "plaintiff, accuser") will let, until he be taken out of the way.

For over 1500 years the light in the church has been growing progressively dimmer. Darkness has enveloped most of the church as false doctrine has been embraced by many. "Take heed therefore that the light which is in you be not darkness." (Luke 11:35) Satan is the one that is withholding, or rather possessing the darkness by silently, secretly convincing the church that his lies are truth. He leads them into iniquity while thinking they are serving the Lord. "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." (Matthew 24:12) Satan can only do what he is allowed by God to do. He has been pleading his case before the Lord as a plaintiff in the High court of Heaven for all this time so that he can continue his deception and destruction of those who believe him. The accuser of the brethren holds many in bondage because of their agreement with him. "Because you have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: Therefore thus says the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believes shall not make haste. (Isaiah 28:15-16)

"And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders." (II Thessalonians 2:8-9) The carnal mind will be revealed as the enemy of God through the ministry of the great and mighty army of Joel 2, the 144,000, starting at the beginning of the Tribulation period. Satan will be taken out of the way as he will be powerless to stop this mighty move of the Spirit of the Lord. Just as He did in the creation of the world, God will again declare "let there be light". The brightness of His coming in those who have become one with Him will set many captives free from their blindness  They will know the truth and the knowledge of truth and the embracing of the word of the Lord will set them free. Satan will try to stop this, but all he will be able to continue ruling over is a desolate wilderness.

"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (II Thessalonians 2:10-12) Many, actually most of the church, will not receive the truth. I believe the message of the Bride will be "come out of her (the Harlot church) my people" and "know the Lord". The  cry of the Harlot will be "grace,grace, grace". The Harlot, deceived by the lies of the father of lies, will remain convinced that she already knows the Lord and is bound for heaven. She will see the Bride as deceivers who do not walk in truth. Although the Harlot is encountering the Lord Himself in the Bride, it will be as in the days of Jesus walking in the flesh and was rejected by many. They will rejoice when the Bride is called to come up to the Garden for the marriage. "And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth." (Revelation 11:10). The "two prophets" or the "two witnesses" are Spirit and Truth. "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:24)   

"Because these received not the truth that they should be saved, God shall send them strong delusion (plane -meaning "fraudulence, deception", which comes from the word planos - meaning "imposter, deceiver). "Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are his. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity." (II Timothy 2:19) The Lord knows what is in our hearts. He knows those that seek Him out of a love for Him. He also knows those of His body that love the world more than Him; those that have pleasure in unrighteousness. He sends strong delusion to those of His body who walk after the flesh, who embrace unrighteousness that they should believe a lie. God is merciful and desires that none should perish, but He will not give revelation and understanding to those whose hearts are not right before Him.

 "For whosoever has, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever has not, from him shall be taken away even that he has. Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which says, By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive. For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them." (Matthew 13:12-15) Throughout the word of God it has always been the few who have sought to know the Lord. Few have chosen to lay down their lives that they may find life. Many are born again but do not continue on the way that leads to life.

 "For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow his steps." (1 Peter 2:21) If you choose to follow Jesus, He will lead you to the Cross - to be crucified with Him. It is a path filled with pain, suffering, affliction, persecution, and rejection: the fellowship of His sufferings. This is a hard message for the carnal mind. The wisdom of God is foolishness to those who perish. The spiritual mind rejoices for it understands that the embracing of these things brings forth change. Our vile, corruptible self can be transformed into a vessel of honor fit for His use, one who is led by His Spirit and is used mightily by Him to build His kingdom and destroy the works of the devil. But we must die to the things of this world. "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." ( 1 John 2:16) "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16) The way that leads to life is about having the world overcome in us; the overcoming of sin. It is about freedom through being a slave to Christ, thereby being delivered from the bondage of being a slave to sin. "Jesus answered them, truly, truly, I say unto you, Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin." (John 8:34)   

"He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned." (Mark 16:16)  The word believes as used here is pisteuo - which means "faith". "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6) "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness." (Romans 1:17-18) We walk by faith, not by sight. We believe to the saving of the soul. Belief is an ongoing part of the journey that leads to life. To believe not is to step off the way that leads to life onto the broad path that leads to destruction. "Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." (Hebrews 3:12) Unbelief keeps the carnal mind controlling you and walking after the flesh. To be carnally minded is death. To have life, we must believe and be baptized. The baptism which is mentioned in Mark 16 is the baptism of Jesus with the Holy Ghost and with the Refiner's fire. "John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I comes, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire." (Luke 3:16) Through Jesus we are baptized into His death.

"Know you not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death has no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he lives, he lives unto God. Likewise reckon you also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield you your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God." (Romans 6:3-13)

In conclusion, I pray that the message of this writing stirs you to desire all that God has for you. We have been given a potential that is truly exceedingly, abundantly beyond all we could ask or think. You can be part of the end time harvest, the greatest outpouring of God's Spirit ever witnessed. There are multitudes walking in darkness who know not the destruction that awaits them if they continue in their walk after the flesh. You have the potential to be used to set many captives free and lead many to righteousness. "And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever." (Daniel 12:3).