Shana Tova Greetings: Listen to the Prophet’s message (2)

Shana Tova greetings

Yechezkel 37

Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)

37 The Yad Hashem was upon me, and carried me out in the Ruach [Hakodesh] of Hashem, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of atzmot,

² And caused me to pass by them round about; and, hinei, there were rabbot me’od in the open valley; and, hinei, they were very dry.

³ And He said unto me, Ben Adam, can these atzmot live? And I answered, Adonoi Hashem, Thou knowest.

⁴ Again He said unto me, Prophesy upon these atzmot, and say unto them, O ye atzmot hayeveshot, hear the Devar Hashem.

⁵ Thus saith Adonoi Hashem unto these atzmot: Hinei, I will cause ruach to enter into you, and ye shall live;

⁶ And I will lay gidim (sinews, tendons) upon you, and will bring up basar upon you, and cover you with ohr (skin), and put ruach in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall have da’as that I am Hashem.

⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and hinei a rattling, and the atzmot came together, etzem to its etzem.

⁸ And when I beheld, hinei, the gidim and the basar came up upon them, and the ohr covered them above; but there was no ruach in them.

⁹ Then said He unto me, Prophesy unto the ruach; prophesy, Ben Adam, and say to the ruach, Thus saith Adonoi Hashem: Come from the arba ruchot, O ruach, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.

¹⁰ So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the ruach came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their raglayim, a chayil gadol me’od me’od.

¹¹ Then He said unto me, Ben Adam, these atzmot are the kol Bais Yisroel. Hinei, they say, Our atzmot are dried up, and tikvateinu (our hope) is gone; nigzarnu lanu (we are cut off).

¹² Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith Adonoi Hashem: Hinei, O My people, I will open your keverot, and cause you to come up out of your keverot, and bring you into Admat Yisroel (the Land of Israel).

¹³ And ye shall know that I am Hashem, when I have opened your keverot, O My people, and brought you up out of your keverot,

¹⁴ And shall put My Ruach in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land; then shall ye know that I Hashem have spoken it, and performed it, saith Hashem.

¹⁵ The Devar Hashem came again unto me, saying,

¹⁶ Moreover, thou ben adam, take thee Etz Echad, and write upon it, For Yehudah, and for the Bnei Yisroel his chaverim; then take another Etz Echad, and write upon it, For Yosef, the Etz Ephrayim and for kol Bais Yisroel his chaverim;

¹⁷ And join them one to another into Etz Echad; and they shall become achadim (one) in thine yad.

¹⁸ And when the Bnei Amecha speak unto thee, saying, Wilt thou not show us what thou meanest by these?

¹⁹ Say unto them, Thus saith Adonoi Hashem: Hinei, I will take the Etz Yosef, which is in the Yad Ephrayim, and the Shivtei Yisroel his chaverim, and will put them with him, even with the Etz Yehudah, and make them Etz Echad, and they shall be Echad in Mine Yad.

²⁰ And the Etzim whereon thou writest shall be in thine yad before their eyes.

²¹ And say unto them, Thus saith Adonoi Hashem: Hinei, I will take the Bnei Yisroel from among the Goyim, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land;

²² And I will make them Goy Echad in the land upon the mountains of Yisroel; and Melech Echad shall be Melech to them all; and they shall be no more two Goyim, neither shall they be divided into two Mamlachot any more at all.

²³ Neither shall they make themselves tameh any more with their gillulim, nor with their shikkutzim, nor with any of their peysha’im; but I will save them out of all their moshavot wherein they have sinned, and will make them tahor; so shall they be My people, and I will be their Elohim.

²⁴ And Avdi Dovid [Moshiach] shall be Melech over them; and they all shall have Ro’eh Echad; they shall also walk in My mishpatim, and observe My chukkot, and do them.

²⁵ And they shall dwell in HaAretz that I have given unto Avdi Ya’akov, wherein your Avot have dwelt; and they shall dwell therein, even they, and their banim, and their bnei banim ad olam; and Dovid Avdi [Moshiach] shall be their Nasi l’olam.

²⁶ Moreover I will make a Brit Shalom with them; it shall be a Brit Olam with them; and I will establish them, and multiply them, and will set My Mikdash in the midst of them l’olam.

²⁷ My Mishkan also shall be with them; yes, I will be their Elohim, and they shall be My people.

²⁸ And the Goyim shall know that I Hashem set apart as kodesh Yisroel, when My Mikdash shall be in the midst of them l’olam (forever).

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Ezekiel 37

New King James Version (NKJV)

The Dry Bones Live

37 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. ² Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. ³ And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”
⁴ Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! ⁵ Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. ⁶ I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’”
⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. ⁸ Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
⁹ Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” ¹⁰ So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
¹¹ Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ ¹² Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. ¹³ Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. ¹⁴ I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’”

One Kingdom, One King

¹⁵ Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, ¹⁶ “As for you, son of man, take a stick for yourself and write on it: ‘For Judah and for the children of Israel, his companions.’ Then take another stick and write on it, ‘For Joseph, the stick of Ephraim, and for all the house of Israel, his companions.’ ¹⁷ Then join them one to another for yourself into one stick, and they will become one in your hand.
¹⁸ “And when the children of your people speak to you, saying, ‘Will you not show us what you mean by these?’— ¹⁹ say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Surely I will take the stick of Joseph, which is in the hand of Ephraim, and the tribes of Israel, his companions; and I will join them with it, with the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, and they will be one in My hand.”’ ²⁰ And the sticks on which you write will be in your hand before their eyes.
²¹ “Then say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Surely I will take the children of Israel from among the nations, wherever they have gone, and will gather them from every side and bring them into their own land; ²² and I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel; and one king shall be king over them all; they shall no longer be two nations, nor shall they ever be divided into two kingdoms again. ²³ They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions; but I will deliver them from all their dwelling places in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them. Then they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
²⁴ “David My servant shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd; they shall also walk in My judgments and observe My statutes, and do them. ²⁵ Then they shall dwell in the land that I have given to Jacob My servant, where your fathers dwelt; and they shall dwell there, they, their children, and their children’s children, forever; and My servant David shall be their prince forever. ²⁶ Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them, and it shall be an everlasting covenant with them; I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. ²⁷ My tabernacle also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people. ²⁸ The nations also will know that I, the Lord, sanctify Israel, when My sanctuary is in their midst forevermore.”’”

Shana Tova Greetings: Listen to the Prophet’s message

Shana Tova Greetings

Yeshayah 66

Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB)

66 Thus saith Hashem, HaShomayim is My kisse, and ha’aretz is My footstool; where is the Beis that ye build for Me? And where is the Makom of My Menuchah?

² For all those things hath Mine hand made, and so came they all into being, saith Hashem; but to this man will I look, even to him that is oni and of a contrite ruach, and trembleth at My Devar.

³ He that slaughtereth the bull is the slayer of a man; he that sacrificeth a seh, is a strangler of dogs; he that offereth a minchah, it is dahm chazir; he that burneth incense, blesseth idols. As they have chosen their own ways, and their nefesh delighteth in their shikkutzim (abominations),

⁴ I also will choose their illtreatments, and will bring their terrors upon them; because when I called, no one did answer; when I spoke, they did not hear; but they did the rah before Mine eyes, and chose that in which I took no pleasure.

⁵ Hear the Devar Hashem, ye that tremble at His word; Your achim that hated you, that cast you out from them l’ma’an Shemi, said, Let Hashem get honor, that we may see your simcha; they shall be ashamed.

⁶ Sound of tumult from the Ir, a sound from the Heikhal, a sound of Hashem that rendereth gemul (retribution) to His enemies.

⁷ Before she travailed, she brought forth; before her chevel (pain) came, she was delivered of a zachar (man child).

⁸ Who hath heard such a thing? Who hath seen such things? Shall Eretz be born in yom echad? Or shall a nation be born in a moment? For as soon as Tziyon travailed in labor, she gave birth to her banim.

⁹ Shall I bring to the moment of birth, and not cause to bring delivery? saith Hashem. Shall I cause to bring forth, and shut the womb? saith thy G-d.

¹⁰ Rejoice ye with Yerushalayim, and be glad with her, all ye that love her; rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn for her;

¹¹ That ye may nurse, and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may drink in, be delighted with the abundance of her kavod.

¹² For thus saith Hashem, Hineni, I will extend shalom to her like a river, and the kavod of the Goyim like an overflowing stream; then shall ye nurse, ye shall be borne upon arms, and be fondled upon her knees.

¹³ As one whom his em comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Yerushalayim.

¹⁴ And when ye see this, your lev shall rejoice, and your atzmot shall flourish like herbage; and the yad Hashem shall be made known to His avadim, and His indignation toward His enemies.

¹⁵ For, hinei, Hashem will come with eish, with His merkavot like the whirlwind, to render His anger in fury, His rebuke in flames of eish.

¹⁶ For by eish and by His cherev will Hashem execute judgment on kol basar; and the slain of Hashem shall be many.

¹⁷ They that set themselves apart as kodesh, and purify themselves to go into the ganot, following the one in the midst, eating basar hachazir, and the sheketz, and the akhbar (mouse), shall be consumed together, saith Hashem.

¹⁸ For I know their ma’asim and their machshevot; it shall come to pass, that I will gather kol Goyim and leshonot; they shall come, and see My kavod.

¹⁹ And I will set an ot (sign) among them, and I will send away those that escape of them unto the Goyim, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud (that draw the bow), to Tuval, and Yavan [Greece], to the isles afar off, that have not heard My fame, neither have seen My kavod; and they shall declare My kavod among the Goyim.

²⁰ And they shall bring all your achim out of all heathen nations for a minchah unto Hashem upon susim, and in chariots, and in wagons, and upon mules, and upon camels, to My Har Kodesh, to Yerushalayim, saith Hashem, as the Bnei Yisroel bring the minchah in a keli tahor into the Beis Hashem.

²¹ And I will also take of them for kohanim and for Levi’im, saith Hashem.

²² For as the Shomayim HaChadashim and HaAretz HaChadashah, which I will make, shall continue before Me, saith Hashem, so shall your zera and your shem remain.

²³ And it shall come to pass, that from one Rosh Chodesh to another, and from one Shabbos to another, kol basar shall come to bow down before Me, saith Hashem.

²⁴ And they shall go forth, and look upon the pigrei ha’anashim that have rebelled against Me; for their tola’at (worm) shall not die, neither shall their eish be quenched; and they shall be dera’on (loathsome, an abomination) to kol basar [See also on Gehinnom Dan 12:2].

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Isaiah 66

New King James Version (NKJV)

True Worship and False

66 Thus says the Lord:

“Heaven is My throne,
And earth is My footstool.
Where is the house that you will build Me?
And where is the place of My rest?
² For all those things My hand has made,
And all those things exist,”
Says the Lord.
“But on this one will I look:
On him who is poor and of a contrite spirit,
And who trembles at My word.

³ “He who kills a bull is as if he slays a man;
He who sacrifices a lamb, as if he breaks a dog’s neck;
He who offers a grain offering, as if he offers swine’s blood;
He who burns incense, as if he blesses an idol.
Just as they have chosen their own ways,
And their soul delights in their abominations,
⁴ So will I choose their delusions,
And bring their fears on them;
Because, when I called, no one answered,
When I spoke they did not hear;
But they did evil before My eyes,
And chose that in which I do not delight.”

The Lord Vindicates Zion

⁵ Hear the word of the Lord,
You who tremble at His word:
“Your brethren who hated you,
Who cast you out for My name’s sake, said,
‘Let the Lord be glorified,
That we may see your joy.’
But they shall be ashamed.”

⁶ The sound of noise from the city!
A voice from the temple!
The voice of the Lord,
Who fully repays His enemies!

⁷ “Before she was in labor, she gave birth;
Before her pain came,
She delivered a male child.
⁸ Who has heard such a thing?
Who has seen such things?
Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day?
Or shall a nation be born at once?
For as soon as Zion was in labor,
She gave birth to her children.
⁹ Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?” says the Lord.
“Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God.

¹⁰ “Rejoice with Jerusalem,
And be glad with her, all you who love her;
Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her;
¹¹ That you may feed and be satisfied
With the consolation of her bosom,
That you may drink deeply and be delighted
With the abundance of her glory.”

¹² For thus says the Lord:

“Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river,
And the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream.
Then you shall feed;
On her sides shall you be carried,
And be dandled on her knees.
¹³ As one whom his mother comforts,
So I will comfort you;
And you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”

The Reign and Indignation of God

¹⁴ When you see this, your heart shall rejoice,
And your bones shall flourish like grass;
The hand of the Lord shall be known to His servants,
And His indignation to His enemies.
¹⁵ For behold, the Lord will come with fire
And with His chariots, like a whirlwind,
To render His anger with fury,
And His rebuke with flames of fire.
¹⁶ For by fire and by His sword
The Lord will judge all flesh;
And the slain of the Lord shall be many.

¹⁷ “Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves,
To go to the gardens
After an idol in the midst,
Eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse,
Shall be consumed together,” says the Lord.

¹⁸ “For I know their works and their thoughts. It shall be that I will gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come and see My glory. ¹⁹ I will set a sign among them; and those among them who escape I will send to the nations: to Tarshish and Pul and Lud, who draw the bow, and Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands afar off who have not heard My fame nor seen My glory. And they shall declare My glory among the Gentiles. ²⁰ Then they shall bring all your brethren for an offering to the Lord out of all nations, on horses and in chariots and in litters, on mules and on camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the Lord, “as the children of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel into the house of the Lord. ²¹ And I will also take some of them for priests and Levites,” says the Lord.

²² “For as the new heavens and the new earth
Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord,
“So shall your descendants and your name remain.
²³ And it shall come to pass
That from one New Moon to another,
And from one Sabbath to another,
All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord.

²⁴ “And they shall go forth and look
Upon the corpses of the men
Who have transgressed against Me.
For their worm does not die,
And their fire is not quenched.
They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”

Journey to see God: See what God looks to see

Today we learn to see what God looks to see in us. One theme stands out: be obedient to His word.
_________________Bible verses: (English Standard Version)
Humble and contrite; tremble at God’s word
But this is the one to whom I will look: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at My word. Isaiah 66:2b
Hear the word of the Lord, you who tremble at His word: your brothers who hate you and cast you out for My name’s sake have said, ‘Let the Lord be glorified that we may see Your joy’; but it is they who shall be put to shame. 66:5
Delight in the Lord’s word
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night…for the Lord knows the way of the righteous.. Psalm 1:1-2, 8a
Fear the Lord
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Proverbs 1:7a
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom, and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek like silver and search for it like hidden treasures,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-5
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, Isaiah 11:2-3
But I, through the abundance of Your steadfast love, will enter Your house. I will bow down toward Your holy temple, in the fear of You. Psalm 5:7
Worship God: bow down, give thanks and praises, know His name and trust Him alone
I will give thanks to the Lord with My whole heart; I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most high. For those who know Your name put their trust in You, for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. Psalm 9:1-2, 10
Have faith in God: seek Him
By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, Hebrews 11:4
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death…now before he was taken he was commended for having pleased God. Hebrews 11:5
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6
Hold fast to God in love
Because he holds fast to Me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows My name. Psalm 91:14
Made God your dwelling place
Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place-the Most High, who is My refuge- no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. Psalm 91:9-10
Bible Example 1: Belief in the word of God, fear God, and took action evident of repentance.
The case of the Nineveh city.

Jonah 3:5 “And the people of Nineveh believed God.”
Jonah 3:10 “When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that He had said He would do to them, and He did not do it.”
Bible Example 2: How a self-seeking king lost his kingship because of his fear of men rather than fear of God; disobedience to God because he took God’s word lightly.
The case of king Saul, in 1 Samuel 15:22-23 
“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king.”
Bible Example 3: Have faith in God and His word! The case of the centurion.

Matthew 8:8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under My roof, but only say the word, and My servant will be healed,”

8:10 when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who followed Him, “truly I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith.”

Bible Example 4: Jesus.

Matthew 3:17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
John 7:16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but His who sent Me.”
6:38 “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will but the will of Him who sent Me.”
John 8:28-29 So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. 29 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.”

All about "ground" : what have you given in to the enemy?

“War On The Saints” - Summary of "Ground” （领域；地盘；滋生地）
by Penn-Lewis (宾师母）

Evil spirits must have ground: p. 54.
Degree of ground for possession cannot be defined. p. 94.
Ground can be deepened. pp. 95, 161.
Cannot interfere with faculties unless ground given. p. 154.
They deceive and attack to obtain ground. p. 199.

The ground given to evil spirit for access: mind
Every thought accepted from them. pp. 69, 155, 156, 158.
Wrong conceptions suggested by them, of spirit things. p. 160.
Wrong interpretation of their workings, by believing their lies. pp. 94, 175, 176.
spirit, soul, and |body | Passivity of spirit, soul or body. pp. 70, 72, 86, 118, 122, 149, 172.
Accepting of counterfeits. p. 69.

Note: (a) The fallen nature is permanent ground, needing to be dealt with perpetually on the basis of Rom. 6. pp. 187, 188.
(b) Acts of sin may also give ground. pp. 94, 95.

Results of ground given: Faculties dulled, rendered inoperative, etc. pp. 118, 175.
How ground is given to e.s.: By CONSENT, i.e., act of will consciously; deliberately given, or obtained by guile. pp. 101, 111, 242, 243.
Col. List II, p. 102.

How ground has to be dealt with:
Must be found out and given up, i.e., give up "thought," or "passivity," etc. p. 93.
Light on ground obtained by prayer. pp. 111, 190.

1. Knowledge of ground, and ground given up. pp. 189, 190. Example: p. 192.
2. Must face truth about ground. p. 183.
3. Ground must be discovered in detail for full dis-possession from e.s. pp. 192, 193.
4. Ground given up specifically on points wherein deceived. p. 190.
5. Ground traced to radical cause, i.e., thought and belief. Example: p. 192.

N.B. "Ground" cannot be cast out. p. 180.

How ground is removed or given up:

1. By revoking consent given in the past, knowingly or unknowingly, i.e. by steady refusal. pp. 190, 193, 198, 200, 242.
2. Persistent refusal needed until liberty is obtained. p. 193.

Ground may pass away gradually. p. 200.
Ground may pass away unknowingly by standing on Rom. 6. p. 95.

Why ground does not pass away when given up. pp. 192, 193.
How dispossession takes place:
As ground is removed the evil spirit depart, or lose hold. p. 111.
Believer dispossessed as ground passes away, i.e., wrong thoughts, passivity, etc. pp. 190, 193.
Faculties gradually released as ground is given up. p. 193. Example: p. 192.
Ground refused to evil spirit. is ground retaken for God, e.g., faculties surrendered to evil spirit when released are recovered for God. pp. 190, 193.
Need of watching lest fresh ground given. pp. 190, 191.
In conflict, because of evil spirit reattempt to deceive, and re-enter, need of watchful and exhaustive refusal. pp. 241-249.

EXPLANATIONS
Ground to be given up: e.g., a thought or belief discovered as deception, and "given up."
Ground which admits evil spirit keeps evil spirit in possession: e.g., evil spirit works on passivity which is ground for them to work upon. If not removed keeps evil spirit in possession.
Ground to be re-taken from the foe: e.g., the faculties recovered for use. p. 190.
Ground newly given: e.g., a new deception through believing one of evil spirit lies.

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Notes. All supernatural manifestations by evil spirit in believer denote that there is ground for their workings. See pp. 149, 154, 273, 274.
The believer fighting to freedom, must watch lest new ground is given by wrong interpretation of manifestations of evil spirit p. 175. See Tables on p. 176.
Need of watchfulness against "excuses" suggested by evil spirit to cover ground, or divert dealing with it. p. 175.
For further knowledge of "ground" see Column Lists pp. 102, 184.

Journey to see God: surgery without pain

Today we learn to do surgery without physical bleeding or pain. What comes out of a man that defiles a man? Mark 7:20

Mark 21-23 For from within out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.

Mark 7:6-9 Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me, and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men -the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do, all too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.

Mark 7:13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down, and many such things you do.

Jesus taught that there is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things that come out of Him, those are the things that defile a man. Mark 7:15

He spoke of the reason of the defilement: men make the word of God of no effect through their handed down tradition.

Tradition of men become their commandments. When men uphold tradition, which is all externally focused, men actually reject God’s commandment, which is inner focused.

External matters keep the physical aspects of men clean. But they cannot clean the inside of men. God looks at the heart of men and not the external activities. The inside of men, including, the mind (thoughts) and emotion remain unclean unless washed by the word of God. Ephesians 5:26

The word of God washes and sanctifies us our hearts. The word of God does effective surgical operation on us, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, discerning thoughts ad intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

The word of God profits those who hear them with faith. Heb 4:2

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Heb 11:3

Jesus told His disciples that the words that He spoken (which did the works of God) were spoken on God’s authority. God actually dwells in Him and does the works. John 14:10

When a believer keeps God’s commandments (God’s word), two things happen: the Holy Spirit dwells with him and will be in him; God the Father and Jesus the Son will come to him and make their home with him. The Holy Spirit will teach him all things, guide him into all truth, tell him things to come. John 14:15, 17, 23, 26; 16:13

Jesus prayed to God to sanctify His disciples by His word, which is truth. John 17:17

God’s words not only sanctify a believer, God’s words mixed with faith are the specified conditions for one to receive answer to one’s prayer. “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” John 15:7

When we read and hear the words of God and believe, we are being cleansed. We are required to keep them continuously to remain clean and being in fellowship with God. Jesus reminded thus of His disciples,

“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.” John 15:3

“If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” John 15:10

Jesus prayed to God about his disciples having received and kept the word, in John 17 in the following very crucial verses:

4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.

6 I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They have kept Your word.

7 Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You.

8 For I have given to them the words which You have given Me, and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me.

14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.

16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

20 I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;

21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

What did Jesus say in these verses?

He had finished the work God gave Him to do on earth. The work glorified God.

What was the work He referred to in this context? He has manifested God to the disciples.

The disciples heard the word of God through Jesus, believed and kept the word. By doing so they no longer belonged to the world and the worldly system. The world therefore hated them. The world runs on the commandment s of the evil one. The evil one uses lies and deceptions to subject his subjects to bondage. People are defiled by such stuff living inside of them, just as what Jesus had exposed in Mark 7:6-23 on the inner defilement of men. Take heed that Jesus Himself sanctified Himself by the word. Jesus’ prayer applies to all who believe. God’s words cleanse and sets us apart from the world.

By hearing, believing and keeping God’s word in us, we are joined to the Lord and are one spirit with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17

By this we abide in Jesus. John 15 (on vine and branches)

Jesus thus promised those who believe in Him: “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” 8:31-32

Journey to see God: see the divine Father and Son relationship

The relationship between God the Father and Jesus the Son of God, has been repeatedly declared by Jesus while on earth, as the Son Of Man. Jesus was Spirit-filled and walked in the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God. Let us read His words on His divine relationship with God and learn from Him the right way of knowing God. What did Jesus say about God? How we may relate to God? John 1:18 “No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.”

Jesus declared His status (and relationship with God) clearly in the temple, 7:28-29 “You both know Me, and you know where I am from; and I have not come of myself, but He who sent Me is true, Whom you do not know. But I know Him, for I am from Him, and He sent Me.”

John the baptist testified for Jesus, “And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” 1:34 He testified Jesus’ relationship with God. “ He who comes from above is above all…and what He has seen and heard, that He testifies…For He Whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure. The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life;” 3:31, 32, 34-36

Jesus spoke of God as His Father, and He declared the true purpose of the temple of God. “Take these things away! Do not make My Father‘s house a house of merchandise!” 2:16

He told off His earthly parents, “Why do you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father‘s business?” Luke 2:49

At Jerusalem, Jesus went into the temple and drove out those who bought and sold in the temple…and would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. hen He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves’?” Mark 11:15-17

He testified that His mission on earth was the mission of God for mankind. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17

Jesus spoke of Himself as the gift of God and that He gives living water; a ‘fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” (the Holy Spirit who gives the rebirth). 3:10, 14

He spoke of how a believer relates to Godby his action. “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.’ 3:21

Jesus declared that God is Spirit and looks for those who worship in spirit and in truth. 4:23-24

Jesus declared how God works pertaining to human. “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” 5:17 God works. God is always working.

What work God works and Jesus also does? Jesus explained further on this subject in 5:19-21 “…the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son , and shows Him all things that He himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will.” 37 “And the Father Himself, who sent Me, has testified of Me.” 43 “I have come in My Father‘s name,”

God works through Jesus. “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him Whom He sent.” 6:29

6:27 God the Father has set his seal on Him. Therefore Jesus can give us the food which endures to everlasting life.

6:32 “My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.” 37 “All that My Father give Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”

Jesus clearly declared what the will of Godregarding salvation through Jesusis. 6:39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.” 40 “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

God draws us to Jesus. God teaches us to go to Jesus. “Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.” 6:45

There is a connection of life between Jesus and the Father. It is in the Holy Spirit(the Spirit of God and the Spirit of Christ) and the words of God. 6:57 “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so He who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life.”

“unless one is born of water and the Spirit, He cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” 3:5-6 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 7:

Concerning the words Jesus spoke: 7:16-17 “My doctrine is not mine, but his who sent Me. If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.” 8:26 “but I speak to the world those things which I heard from Him.” 8:28-29 “that I do nothing of myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things. And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father does not leave Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.”

31-32 “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

38 “I speak what I have seen with My Father,” 47 “He who is of God hears God’s words;” 51 “If anyone keeps My word He shall never see death.” 55 “I do know Him and keep His word.”

Jesus spoke of the love relationship between Him and the Father in chapter 10:

10:15 “As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.”

17-18 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again…and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” 25 “The works that I do in My Father’s name.”

29 “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My father’s hand.’

30 “I and My Father are one.” 32 “Many good works I have shown you from My Father.” 36 “I am the Son of God.” 31 “If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me.” 38 “that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him.”

(This study is based mainly on the gospel according to John, chapters 1-10, unless otherwise specified. Some of the verses are quoted in excerpts. Readers are urged to refer to the Bible yourself so that you would not miss out the original full texts.)

love of God in Christ Jesus