THOUGHTS ABOUT THE ROAD
Thoughts about the narrow road (and the name of the Lord)
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except trough Me.” (John 14:6) Jesus is the only way into heaven and as long as we are on the road we are in Christ because Jesus is the way. Believer can bury his talent (portion of Christ’s mind) and stop walking on the road. Jesus did command a paralytic lying on a bed: “Arise, take up your bed (fixed mindset) and go...” meaning: collect your belief formation and proceed into the promised land, your home. (Mat.9:5,6)
Hardship and distress are the results of a standstill. “5 He who overcomes will be arrayed in white garments, and I will in no way blot his name out of the book of life, and I (INSIDE AND UNITED WITH HIM) will confess his (NEW) name (PERSONALITY) before my Father, and before his angels. 6 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the assemblies.” (Rev.3:5,6) “For in Him we live, move, and have our being” (Acts 17:28)
Jacob was received by his father by pretending (and CONFESSING) to be Esau his older brother to have the blessings which belong only to the first-born. Jesus is the firstborn from the dead (Rev.1:5) and we are registered in the heavenly church of the Firstborn (Hebr.12:23). Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.(Col.1:15)
Isaac did recognise Esau his favourite son instead of Jacob by finding hairy skins on his hands (deeds) and on his neck (speech / confession). Remember that we did not unite with holy Jesus but with sinful Jesus on the cross and Christ end his human wandering as utterly sinful like Esau. (Hebr.12:16)
“Indeed all the nations may walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of Yahweh our God forever and ever.” (Micah 4:5) (Old Testament believer’s confession)
If Yahweh is the FAMILY-name(?), then the full name of Jesus is Jesus Christ (/Messiah) Yahweh. Adopted children get the family name in adoption when receiving the Holy Spirit and bride will have the family name of the bridegroom.
On top of that we New Testament believers get the first name as well because Jesus took humanity into Himself on the cross (John 12:32, Rom. 6:6). And now we are His branches by faith holding HIS Name and HIS everlasting Life also, if only our faith can reach it, if only we can understand and trust His promises. “Through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins” (Acts 10:48) Eph.3:15 NKJ “...from whom (Jesus Christ) the whole FAMILY is named.” “Let it be according to your faith.”
Of course all “Christians” do not believe this and if they begin to reach the concept, well meaning “teachers” quickly advise otherwise. Commandment: “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain…” (Ex.20: 7 NKJ) is translated in Finnish Bible: “You shall not pronounce (/utter) the name of the Lord in vain...”which rendering is not according to original text and is only a lesser part of the commandment. (I guess that original text didn't match with their understanding and idea of salvation. By (or through) His name we must be saved. Acts 4:12)
What comes to the concept of heavenly family: I have long wondered why the Holy Spirit is translated into masculine form in the New Testament translations (He not She). I got the impression that the original text avoided the definition in this mater?
Prov.1:20...22, 4:6...8 20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares. 21 She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words: 22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge? 5 Get wisdom. Get understanding. Don’t forget, and don’t deviate from the words of my mouth. 6 Don’t forsake her, and she will preserve you. Love her, and she will keep you. 7 Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding. 8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you. She will bring you to honour when you embrace her.
Christians who are not interested of God’s word are on a danger zone. Christ is Word. How can you love Christ if you don’t like to study His word with “I don’t need anything” (new, which differs from my faith) attitude. The real believer is the one who believes what Jesus is saying and not the one who believes God’s existence. Even demons believe Christ’s authority and His Lord-ship.
Prov.8:12..36 Wisdom speaks like a person portraying HER personality, nature and gifts.
Other name of Holy Spirit is Spirit of Wisdom. 2 Yahweh’s Spirit will rest on him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Yahweh. (Isaiah 11:2)
The spirit is the “nucleus” of a person who owns soul (mind will and emotions/ blood & mindset/spiritual body). What we like to hear and read will change our mindset (pottery), but God has fixed a soul (God is Potter). “God is Spirit, and those who worship (radiate, imitate) Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24) “But he who is joined (on the cross by faith) to the Lord is one spirit (or Spirit) with Him” (New creature, combination of Lord and old I myself). (1 Kor. 6:17 & Rom. 6:6)
For whoever desires to save his life (old life of old I myself with its tendencies) will lose it (and all it’s temporary earthly benefits), but whoever loses his (own old) life for My sake will find it (everlasting happy and blissful new life, life of Christ). (Mat. 16:25, Luke 9:24)
Everyone has the desire to spread his ideology, faith and mindset and convert others, but only God’s “agenda“ produces love (love of Christ in Him) which is basis of future life in heaven. That is truth on a natural level also: Man has desire to join (have sex) with a woman but only with love and commitment it will be “a life giving” want.
The basic way to proceed on the road of “renewal of mind” is to test everything and keep what is good. God does His best to humble us and lower our egoism to help us advance further to the promised land. (Deut. 8:2,3) We Christians are stubborn (stiff-necked and rebellious) people. (Deut. 9:5,6)
3 The ox knows his owner, and the donkey his master’s crib; but Israel doesn’t know. My people don’t consider.” 5 Why should you be beaten more, that you revolt more and more? The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. 6 From the sole of the foot even to the head there is no soundness in it, but wounds, welts, and open sores. (Isaiah 1:3,5&6 The World English Bible / Public Domain)
“My son, don’t take lightly the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him; 6 for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines, and chastises every son whom he receives.” “He (chastises us) for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness.” (Hebr.12:6,10)
One of the main statements of the Faith Movement is that God chastises us only by His word. However in Job’s case God took responsibility of harder treatment by removing His protection.
Then Elohim (God, plural) said (singular),” Let Us make man in Our image, according to our likeness...” (Genesis 1:26) There must be reason why God made woman (Eve) from the rib of man (Adam): By my understanding He did follow the pattern of heavenly family. Holy Spirit proceeds from Father and Son. Any-how, it is not so important if you believe He or She. Important thing is to know God’s nature, and I don’t speak Greek or Hebrew so I am open for correction.
Yet as to where we have reached, let us WALK on the same ROAD (Fil.3:16 Finnish Bible translation) (with the same rule and mind being fellow- imitators of me).
Brothers, be imitators together of me, and note those who walk this way, even as you have us for an example. For many walk, of whom I (Paul & GOD) told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory (braid to be something) is in their shame, who think about earthly things. (Fil. 3:17...19)
If you ask one of the wide road “Christian” travellers about his way, you probably add one extra enemy into the list of back- biters. “Anyone” likes the one who disturbed his peace of mind (his sabbath rest, like pharisees did hate Jesus the Sabbath – Breaker).
“By pride comes nothing but strife, But with the Well-advised is wisdom” (Prov.13:10)
4 The Nephilim (giants, fallen of mighty ones) were in the earth in those days (days of Noah), and also after that, when God’s sons came in to men’s daughters and had children with them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown. 5 Yahweh saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of man’s heart was continually only evil. 6 Yahweh was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him in his heart. 7 Yahweh said, “I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground… (Gen.6:4,5)
11 Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition (or instruction), on whom the ends of the ages have come. (1Cor.10:11) I understand that all that did happen to the natural Israel is an example for the spiritual Israel (Christianity).
Nowadays if fallen angels join with the humans we think about demon-possessed men. One of the fruits is an enlarged ego (narcissistic person). One has the excessive desire to expand his ideology and realm (land annexation) with minimum empathy. Hitler and Stalin might be good examples.
Christian’s wish to evangelise the world and give humans the everlasting life instead of seizing their possessions. We are in the middle of spiritual warfare.
The devil’s purpose (first step) is to make pagan religions equal with Christianity by multiculturalism and emigration to “Christian realm”: to destroy nationalism and by it’s byproduct christian culture to make it harder to find the Truth. Well meaning “Christians” help him as much as they can in the name of Christianity, humanism and pity. If God had saved ancient pagan Canaanites the result would have being disastrous for Jews. (Remember Balaam’s advise for Balak.) 14 Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity (lawlessness) have? ...15 What agreement does Christ have with Belial (Satan)? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever? (2Kor.6:14,15)
At the time of the end king of the North (“Antiokhos Epifanes” king of Seleucid Syria symbol of Antichrist and heresy) will attack and beat the king of Egypt (symbol of Western secular humanism/ atheism) and also enter the Glorious Land (Christian realm) and many countries shall be overthrown.(Dan.11:40...42) Some Christians think that Muslims in collective form is the coming Antichrist? It might be, but I personally think it is the “left-behind Church” after apostasy. The Antichrist can’t come as long as Christians have the Holy Spirit and are alive. After “The falling away from the faith” the Antichrist is formed from the former body of Christ. Antichrist can be individual person (wrong prophet), collective body of apostate persons (big harlot, “big City of spiritual apostate Jerusalem”) and on natural level even Muslim organisation (and/or Mahdi).
Definition who will qualify as Antichrist is:”They went out from us (Christians/Abraham, father of faith)” (1John2:19)
Anthiokhos Magnificent (Creek transl.) made Temple of Jerusalem (now spiritually Christians) a place of Zeus worship instead of temple of JHVH. Those who still openly obey the law of God were killed. (Now spiritually killed by converting them to receive another jesus and spirit/seven worse spirits than what they originally had.)
Jesus warned us Christians about Apostasy. Son of perdition, man of sin is revealed after the falling away (from the faith) showing himself that he is God (holding the NAME of JHVH?!) (Tess.2:3,4)
“I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet-colored beast, full of blasphemous names, having seven heads and ten horns.” And on her forehead a name was written, “MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF THE PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.” (Rev.17:3,5)
How I render this is: That within Christian history big harlot (apostate believers) divided into many denominations with different Christ-images (seven heads) have hold the POWER to dictate the doctrine to congregation (ten HORNS/ dogmatic theology). The beast represents the organisation on which the harlot is riding; but we must remember that genuine Christians as well have always being inside the beast like Jonah was in the belly of a sea-beast and body of Christ was in the tomb. I guess that for young Christians to be in a bit of a heretic church is a better option than to have no Church at all?
I recently listened to the teaching of Sam Shamoun on the internet. Sam’s topic was that Muslim’s god’s (Allah) name was originally Baal like our God’s (El or Elohim) name was JHVH (pronounced Yahweh or Jehovah?) Muhammad drop the name Baal off and did use only the general name Allah. Most famous battle of Baal and JHVH did happen on Mount Carmel, where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18). Pharisees accused Jesus of doing His miracles by the name of Beelzebub ruler of demons (Matt.12:24) (Baal- Zebub / “Lord of flies”)
22/12/24 Erno Miettinen
Unless stated otherwise the verses in this bible are referenced from a public domain bible.