What does it take to become a “friend” of the Lord?”
One of the most exciting and least recognized promises that the Lord made to the church was that He would make Himself real (manifest Himself) to His "friends, "the ones
Conspiracy Theory: The most dangerous conspiracy of Satan assaulted against the body of Christ at this present time
The most dangerous conspiracy of Satan assaulted against the body of Christ at this present time EXPOSED for the benefit of the generation who will overcome it
The Creative Day
Every elementary student in the United States and the western world is confronted by the apparent conflict between what is taught in the public schools and what is taught in Sunday School about the creation. And, without revelatory confirmation, parents and authorities in the church argue what they presume is the “faith” position, that God created the universe, the earth, and all living things on the earth in six, twenty-four hour days. But is this really the “faith” position? Does Genesis really present the creation of the material universe, the earth, and mankind as taking place in six twenty-four hour days?
The Other Tree
As a volitional creation, Adam could have chosen to eat the fruit of the Tree of Life, but he didn’t. The ultimate consequence for him and for all mankind was disastrous. Those who are born again believers in Jesus Christ have the same choice to make today. Will we eat from the tree that is Christ so that we glorify Him, or will we eat from the tree of our flesh, the world, and Satan, so that we unknowingly glorify the flesh, the world, and Satan?
What does it take to become a “friend” of the Lord
The answer may not be what you think, and those who qualify may not be whom you might expect to qualify. One of the most exciting and least recognized promises that the Lord made to the church was that He would make Himself real (manifest Himself) to the ones who demonstrated that they truly loved Him by their obedience (through faith) to the revealed truth, promises, and commands of the Lord. He who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves M e will be loved by my Father; and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him . John 14:21 NASB Then He said that those who demonstrated that they truly loved Him by “having” and “obeying” His commands, would be His “friends.” You are My friends if you do what I command you. John 15:14 NASB What He did not tell them was that their obedience to the rules, expectations of performance, and doctrines of their specific denomination would cause them to be His "friends."
Daniel’s 70 Weeks Prophecy UNSEALED and REVEALED
Daniel 9:24-27, was not unsealed by the Spirit of truth until the generation who would experience these events were present in the world. This prophecy is now unsealed for the generation who will experience it. "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased."
Worshipping in Spirit and Truth
The primary modern concept of worship in the majority of organized churches is the "worship service" where we sing corporate praises to our Lord. This is not altogether wrong. It is right for us to praise the Lord for what He has done, is currently doing, and will do for the body of Christ. And it is an opportunity for us to experience a deep emotive gratitude toward our Lord for what He has done and what He will do in the future. But there is a more important understanding of PRAISE that we desperately need to be aware of.
Asking in His Name
On the day He was betrayed and crucified, the Lord explained to His disciples how they would “hear” and obey His commands after His resurrection. He told them that He would come back to them as the Counselor, the indwelling Spirit of truth who would “guide” them into all truth, even revealing the future to them, and then He gave them the great promise recorded in scripture as John 14:12-14. "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it. John 14:12-14 NASB This amazing promise has been explained away through the ages by those who are spiritually impoverished as they seek an excuse for their failure to produce the miraculous works of the Lord. But the promise remains. He that believes in Jesus Christ will do the “works” of Jesus Christ in the world and whatever they ask in His name will be done, IF they "hear and obey" the voice of the Spirit, our counselor, and the voice of the Lord.
Why was the Lord tested in the wilderness?
The Lord's forty days of fasting and testing in the wilderness is an example of how each believer is tested in the world in order to achieve the fulness of who He has ordained and anointed us to be and do in the world.
The Appointed Time of Testing
Our Lord's fasting and testing by Satan in the wilderness for forty days was ordained by the Father in order for Jesus of Nazareth to begin His walk of faith in perfect communion and obedience to the Father for three and a half years. This was necessary in order for Him to become the lamb of God without sin who was ultimately crucified, buried, and risen on the third day having fulfilled all the Law and the prophets as a man. And it is Jesus of Nazareth, as a man who fulfilled all the Law and the prophets with whom the Father established an eternal covenant. We who are now included in that covenant are also ordained for times of testing so that God's anointing, ministry assignments, and spiritual gifts manifested through our obedient faith responses will glorify (manifest the presence of) the Lord. With that in mind the believer should not dread or avoid those times of testing, but willingly surrender our wills to the Lord during those appointed times of testing.