"...AND THY FATHER, WHICH SEETH IN SECRET, SHALL REWARD THEE OPENLY. MATTHEW 6

      One of my favorite passages of  Scripture is taken from Jesus' 
Sermon  on  the Mount.   In  the  first half  of  chapter 6  from  the  
gospel  recorded by  Matthew,  one  phrase is stated  three times,  
“..and thy Father which seeth in secret (himself) shall reward thee 
openly.”  (The word, “himself” is only used in the instance of verse 
4. kjv)

     Looking  in verses 1 through 4 we find,   “Take heed that ye do 
not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no 
reward of  your  Father  which is  in heaven.  Therefore  when thou 
doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee,  as the hypo-
crites do in the synagogues and in the streets,  that they  may  have  
glory of men.  Verily,  I say unto you, They have their reward.  But 
thou when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right
hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which 
seeth in secret, himself shall reward thee openly.”

    Apparently, some men who came to the synagogue at the time this 
was spoken were  given to grand  public  displays  before the people  
to  draw attention to their offering.  Although the motive for giving to  
the Lord is not performed for reward, but out of obedience, there is a 
reward to the believer who gives.  Hypocrites of early times,  as well 
as today, lose any reward from the Lord when the gift is not in secret.  
This goes to  motive and  reflects on  the lack of  pure worship on the 
part of the giver.  Our Lord looks on the heart, not on outward action.  
He is,  however; cognizant of our outward actions, which are  critical.

       As we continue in this same passage,  the next reference is to 
prayer.  There is a statement about the way hypocrites perform wor-
ship.  “..they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the cor-
ners of the streets, "that they may be seen of men".   Verily I say 
unto you, They have their reward.   But thou, when  thou prayest,  
enter into  thy closet,  and when thou  has shut thy door,  pray to thy  
Father which is in  secret;  and thy Father which seeth in secret shall  
reward thee openly.”  At this point there is also further instruction on 
prayer, and a warning  against the use of “ vain repetition.”   Verses
8 through 13 give example of how to pray.)  The  principle is  clear as  
is the reference to  the giving of alms.  There are some who believe 
prayer  should always  be made in  private and  do not pray  in public. 
With that in mind; if you pray publicly, make  sure the  prayer is to  
the Father  without  cognizance of those around. ( I am not sure this
is possible.) The text does say, "When you pray..." and may mean 
we do not pray in public.  I have had issue with this and just make a
suggestion that we always pray to the Father, in the name of the Son
without taking into of those who might hear. 

   Effectual,  fervent  prayer should  always be in  private,  since this 
keeps us from falling in the same  pitfall as  hypocrites.  We should  
never  pressure anyone to  pray  in public if they are  the  least bit 
reticent,  for this is a valid point considering  the wording of  this pa-
ssage in Scripture.)

    Finally in this same chapter, verses 16 through 18, there is instruc-
tion on fasting.  The principle is the same  in earlier references.  One 
thing occurred to me several years ago on my first occasion to discuss 
this passage with teens.  The three forms of worship,  having the com-
mon principle, have more in common than this.  When you look at the 
last,  you find  persons who fast,  deny self,  will have that  he did  not 
consume to give to the poor in the manner prescribed.  He is  blessed 
openly, and  has more.  For,  as he  gives in obedience,  he is  blessed  
of the Lord.  He then gives thanks  to the Lord for that,  in prayer,  in
secret, and rewarded again.  All my life I have heard the  phrase time
and again,  “You  can’t out give the Lord.”  I believe we can take this
this  Scripture and  teach that principle.  It is a cycle of blessing avail-
able to each of us as we learn principles of  Scripture,  put them to the 
test  as in  Malachi 3:10 and  watch the Lord  work.  "Bring ye all  the 
tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house,  and 
prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of Hosts,  if I will not open you 
the windows of heaven, and pour you out a  blessing,  that  there shall 
not be room  enough to receive it."   Is Scripture showing us that chil-
dren of God can/must qualify for the  blessings of the Lord?   I find no 
place in  God's  Word  indicating  otherwise.   I  also believe  Matthew 
Chapter 6 teaches the motive in the giving of alms,  prayer and fasting 
have a great deal to do with the resultant blessing.  
   (You might choose to read verses 8 thru 11 of Malachi 3 for details.)

I have chosen to take this part of  the Bible and it's principles literally.
There may be those who  read  this who believe  blessings of  the Lord 
are Spiritual, not material.  If that is true, it makes the passage no less
worthy of our consideration, since the Spiritual is eternal and material
blessing  is temporary having to  do only with  this  life.  However  you 
apply this is not really vital since it works either way. Another  sugges-
tion  brought  to  my attention is  the fact  that these  are not promises,
but principles.  If  we are foolish enough to give something for the pur-
pose of being blessed, that must be the  poorest in choices available to 
us.  Be a  person who  lives with  hands open to  those  who  have need 
and see our Lord work.

donporter                                                                                          May 22, 2013

PERFECT, COMPLETE, MATURE, SANCTIFIED... ****** IN DEPTH, ROMANS 5: 1-6******

     What does Scripture mean when the word, "perfect"  is used?  If we 
are not careful, there may be a tendency to think of  "perfect" as  with-
out flaw, in the negative,  in the positive we think absolutely complete. 
We  know in nature  there is no such thing as  absolutely complete  or 
without flaw,  for as one gets closer to a thing there is always a slight, 
but  real  inconsistency  showing.  So,  perfect,  complete,  or  sancti-
fied, in our experience on this earth, will always be relative;  however, 
in the Lord's sight, as He sees us He sees not us, but the perfection, 
maturity, completion and sanctification of his unique Son, Jesus Christ. 

   What do we do with Scripture calling for perfection or sanctification 
on the part of the believer or follower of our Lord, Jesus Christ? 
    In Genesis 6: 9 we find, "...Noah was a just man, perfect in his gene-
rations; Noah walked with God."  When we understand this, we recon-
cile  it with Scripture in Romans 5:19,  "For  as by  one man's  disobe-
dience  (Adam)  many  were  made sinners..."  Because  of  the sin of 
Adam, Noah was a sinner and anything but perfect. Continuing in the 
passage:
        "...so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."  
     (Righteous means sinless in the sight of God and in a practical 
       sense, without flaw in the sight of God and mankind.)

  Therefore, Noah and anyone who will be "perfect," is made that way 
 because of  the obedience  (death on the cross) of the  perfect Savior, 
      who was God but was made a man.  In Hebrews 5: 8-9 we read, 
 "Though he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which 
 He suffered, and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal 
 salvation unto all that obey him." Was there a flaw in the Son of God? 
God forbid;  He had to suffer death on the cross;  everything  relating
 to his incarnation in order to identify with us, making him the perfect 
sacrifice.   Perfect means more than  to be without flaw.  It also  means
means well fitted, as  a piece cut to fit in wood work, where the  initial 
piece will  not fit.  The second is perfect,  but must be fitted to the first 
though the first is  flawed.   Though  our  Lord  Jesus Christ  is "...one 
with the Father"  He chose to submit to death on the cross to pay the 
penalty for  my sin... (and yours.)
Hebrews 2:10-18, This would not have been possible had he sin of His 
own. (Even in His incarnation, He is one with the Father.)  Where it is
possibleble,  it is best to refer to our Lord  in the present tense,  since 
He  is always the same, never changing.  His incarnation might be the 
exception?  He did that for us.  Now He is now returned to being with 
the Father.  You  will  note that  the Son is "Perfect" still,  even in his
incarnation.  During the incarnation (on the cross)  the Father turned 
from  the Son on a temporary  basis  for you and me.  God the Father 
does not, cannot, countenance sin, even when it is on His Son.

    The word, "perfect," also means mature and is included in the sanc-
tification process of each believer.  Although we may be perfect in the 
sight of  our Lord in view of  his sacrificial  death effecting  our atone-
ment, we are still far from perfect in fact, since we are flesh and blood.  
He is dealing with our sin nature and the process of maturity or sanc-
tification is ongoing.  Not one of us is perfect or mature in any sense. 
                                                                                     Romans 4: 3-8, kjv

    "For what saith the Scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was 
counted unto him for righteousness.  Now to him that worketh is the 
reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  But to him that worketh 
not, but believeth on him that  justified the ungodly,  his faith is coun-
ted for righteousness.  Even  as David  also describeth  the blessed-
ness of  the man,  unto whom  God  imputeth righteousness  without 
works;  
    Saying, 'Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, 
whose sins is covered.  Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord 
imputeth not iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile."  
Psalms 32: 1-2, see Romans 4: 8

     We might summarize this principle this way; our perfection or
completion,  maturity or  sanctification are in  process and is the 
business of God.  He brings things into the lives of his children to 
effect this work.  We will discover in the process; that the Lord is 
always just in his dealing with us and whether pleasant or unplea-
sant,  we must not complain about  our lot.  For who of  us knows 
which happenings of  life are authored by our Lord to bring about
perfection,  completion,  maturity,  sanctification for our ultimate 
good and benefit to the Kingdom of God.  There are no conflicts
in our lives just apparent conflict.  As my Lord empowers,  I will
refrain from complaining or grumbling and learn to accept every-
thing that comes my way as from the hand God.

     "And we know that all things work together for good to them that 
love God,  to them who are the called according  to his purpose.  For 
whom  he did foreknow,  he also did predestinate  to be conformed to 
the  image of his Son,  that he might be the firstborn among many bre-
thren.  Moreover whom He did predestinate, them he also called: and 
whom he called,  them he also justified:  and whom he justified, them 
he also glorified. What can we then say to these things? If God be for
us, who can be against us?"  
                                  Romans 8: 28-31  (Read the complete chapter...)
  
  I am awe struck when I consider just what Jesus Christ has done on 
my behalf,  is doing on my behalf  and will yet do for and  in me.  Can 
we claim any part in this work, except to submit to him in everything 
and fall on our faces in thanksgiving to our Lord.

Romans 5: 1-6, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with 
God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  By whom we have access by faith 
into  this  grace  wherein  we stand, and rejoice in  hope of the glory of 
God.  And  not only so, but  we glory in  tribulation:  knowing  that tri-
lation worketh  patience;     
    And patience, experience; and experience, hope; And hope maketh 
not ashamed;  because the love of God is spread  abroad in our hearts
by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us, for when we were yet, with-
out strength, in due time Christ died from the ungodly." You and Me 

PRAISE THE LORD!!!       donporter 5.07.13, edited 2.08.17

THY WORD IS TRUTH, John 17: 17

        "And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among
        us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the 
      only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
                          John 1: 14

        Jesus Christ: "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.
                         no man cometh to the Father but by Me." 
                                                                        John 14:6

                         Reasons to obey the Word(s) of God:

1.  God is Sovereign and he speaks to mankind in three aspects.
a. He has made His laws known to us  and we  suffer greatly
as we fail to heed them.
b. God has given promises as  part of  His Word and our lives
are better or worse according to whether we give attention
          to them.
c. Our God has given testimony or divine instruction concerning
facts of  faith and principles of right living.  I am convinced of
         a direct link between following these instructions and eternal
         reward or loss.

2.  God’s Word is true.  (TRUTH)
a. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life...”
      Since He is God, not only is the Word true, but God IS truth.
    It is impossible to separate Jesus from His Word.  “The Word
    became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory,
    full of grace and truth."  John 1: 14
b. Psalms 191: 151, "All thy commandments are truth..."  They
      can be counted upon as unchanging and give stability to life.
c. Hebrews 10:23, "He is faithful that promised."  Psalms 119:90
“thy faithfulness is to all generations."  We must be familiar with
the promises of God if we would pray intelligently. (otherwise?)

 3. The power of God is demonstrated in and through His Word.
a. In Genesis as God created, He said it and it happened.
   Except for man, all of creation was by His Word.  Man was
     formed from the dust of the earth and God “breathed” the
     breath of life into man(kind).
b. During all history and prophecy of the Bible, the "Word of
   the Lord” (God Breathed) was always the acting agent.
c.Jesus, during His earthly stay, spoke Words and things 
      happened.  It is always thus.  In the Gospel of John...
Chapter 1, verse 14 we see:  "And the word became flesh and
dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only
begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

“God’s Power is in His Word and his Word can only be “truth.”
We may go so far as to say if it were not true and God spoke it; it
would then be true.  On the other hand, Our Lord can only speak
 truth.  (What do you say?)

     "They are not of this world, even as I am not of this world.  
       Sanctify them through Thy truth.  Thy word is truth.  As 
       thou has sent me into the world, even so have I also sent 
       them into the world."  John 17: 16,17,18

 donporter  4.08.13    jlrsbnch@msn.com  edited 2.17.15

THE CHURCH: THE MAJOR DECISION, Tozer...

THE FOLLOWING WAS TAKEN FROM A WEBSITE DEDICATED TO
THE PRESERVATION OF THE TEACHING OF THE LATE A. W. TOZER.
A LINK TO THAT SITE WILL FOLLOW AT SUCH A TIME AS I LOCATE
IT AGAIN.   donporter 4.07.13

https://www.biblegateway.com/devotionals/tozer-on-leadership/2014/07/19
(select, copy and paste)

The business of the Church is God. She is purest when most engaged with 
God and she is astray  just so far as she follows other interests, no matter 
how "religious" or humanitarian they may be.  A. W. Tozer, July 19, 2008

The Church: The Major Decision

Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in 
faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was com- 
mitted to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.--2 Timothy 1:13,14

There is a great decision that every denomination has to make sometime 
in the development of its history. Every church also has to make it either 
at  its  beginning  or  a little later--usually a little later.  Eventually every 
board  is  faced  with  the  decision and has to keep making it,  not by one 
great decision made once for all,  but by a series of little decisions adding 
up to  one great  big one.  Every  pastor has to  face it and keep renewing 
his decision on his knees before God. Finally, every church member, every 
evangelist, every Christian must make the decision. It is a matter of judg-
ment upon that denomination, that church, that board, that pastor, that 
leader, and upon their descendants and spiritual children.

The question is this: Shall we modify the truth in doctrine or practice to 
gain  more adherents?   Or shall we  preserve the  truth in doctrine and 
practice and take the consequences?...

A commitment to  preserving the truth and practice of  the church is what 
separates me from a great many people who are perhaps far greater than 
I am in ability. This is my conviction,  long held and deeply confirmed by a 
knowledge of the fact that modern gospel churches, almost without excep-
tion, have decided to modify the truth and practice a little in order to have 
more adherents and get along better.
                                                                                       
 (the late A. W. Tozer)                                       donporter 4.07.13

STUDY OF THE MOON AS THE CHURCH

Notes taken on 9/19/02 at Anchor Baptist Church, Penrose, NC
A fascinating look into the symbolism around the Lord, His Church
and the World. (earth)

Opening Remark:  Scripture says that after Christ’s departure from
the earth, that the world would be plunged into darkness.
(I immediately thought of the “Dark Ages” of "church" rule
 over religious and political life of the known world.)

Genesis 1: 16:  “Then God made two great lights; the greater light
to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night.  He made the
stars also.”

Speaker stated that the term “atha”  actually used in the original
text, related to “things to come.”  His premise was that Jesus the
Christ is actually involved in this verse.  (hidden, mystery)

Three entities:  Sun, Moon and Earth.

                             Sun - Jesus Christ
                             Moon - Church of Jesus Christ
                             Earth -  the world system

1. The sun, represented by Christ, is the brightest object in the sky,
 rules during the day.

2. The moon, representing the church, reflecting the light of the sun,
 has no light, power of it’s own and is clearly seen only at night or in
times of darkness.  (Church seen during times of Spiritual Darkness)

3. The church (moon) did not appear until the time Christ returned to
the Father and the church  (through the power of the Holy Spirit who
must have a host  in order to  function on the earth) is here,  God the
Spirit, so God has a presence on the earth.

4. The church is God’s instrument in the world. (The Lord has chosen
to reach out to this darkened world through His church.)

5. The moon is feminine, Sun is masculine.  God/Christ is referred to
in the masculine gender and the church is referred to in the feminine
gender.  (A spiritual thing, not physical.)  Bride of Christ.

6. The moon follows the sun around in the sky on a predictable and
straight path.  Astronomers  predict  where the Moon will  be at  a 
given time.   (The church must be predictable and follow the path, 
but the visible church strays when influenced by the world system.)

7. The moon/church is both global and local.  The moon  is physically
seen locally, but it is also seen in all corners of the earth. The church
is both local and universal.

8. The moon/church has evident marks of turbulent past. Some of
the craters on the moon were made by outside elements, but some
of the marks on the moon were made from inside, volcanic, forces
causing sink holes.  The church also has  had scars  from the  past, 
due to outside forces and  scars from  the past also due to internal 
eruptions.  Acts 20: 29 - 30

9. The moon and the church are still in their place and still reflect
light from the light source.

12. How many men have walked on the moon in history?  (12)
      All that come after them must walk in their footsteps.
      How many men first walked with Christ as his disciples?
      All that come after them must walk in their footsteps.

13. Moon has bright and dark parts caused by mountains (bright)
and valleys (dark).
John 16, Tribulation
Ecclesiastes 11: 8  remember
In Peter’s writings he talks about firey trials.

14. Every culture on earth refers to a man in the moon caused by the
contrasts of dark/bright, and if it weren’t for the dark areas, we would
never see the “man in the moon,” generally thought by some Bible
scholars to represent Jesus Christ.

16. The moon (church) makes burdens lighter, since the moons gar-
vity is about 1/6th of the earth’s gravity.  1 Peter 5: 17

17. Prior to the gathering of “moon rock,” evolutionist taught that
the moon had broken off from the earth during the “Big Bang” and
had actually been flung into space from the Pacific ocean.
(These “scientists” were hot to get the moon rock back to earth and
to analyze it.)  The material brought back from the moon was found, 
by true scientists, to be unlike anything from the Pacific ocean or any-
where else on the earth.  (You don’t hear that theory so much now.)

18. The moon shows only one side to the earth (bright side heated
by  sunlight) and  never shows the other side which is cold.  So the
moon is either hot or cold, never luke warm.  Remember what the
Lord said about a person being luke warm and neither hot or cold?

19. The temperature is said to be fervent or about 212 degrees
Farenheit on the visible surface of the moon.  On the back side
of the moon, the temperature can be -180 degrees F.

20. Lunar Eclipse:  This is caused when the earth is positioned
between the sun and the moon.  When the world gets between
the Lord and the church, there is an eclipse of the light of  the
church.

21. The moon always shows the light side to the earth. Just as,
the earth does  not see the dark side of the church.  Imperfect 
as the church is, we must always let them see Christ in us.

22. Also, we note that the moon is never less than full to the
sun, meaning that when God looks at the church he sees the
reflected light that is Jesus Christ, His Son.  He does not see
the dark side of the church, since he has separated our sin from
us as far as the east is from the west, never to remember them
against us.....

“their sins and iniquities I will remember no more......”

23. When the sun looks at the moon, he sees himself........

24. What keeps the moon in balance.  The gravitational pull of
the earth and the gravitational pull of the sun keeps that balance.
If the pull of the sun were not effective, then the moon would
head straight for the earth and destruction.  If the pull of the
earth were not effective then the moon would head straight for
the sun.   To the church, this principle means the pull of the "Sun"
(representing God,) were not a factor, the Church would be pulled
to destruction on the earth.  If the pull of the "earth" were not a 
factor, the church would be pulled into the Lord God, Amen.

donporter,sr

WE MUST TAKE MATTHEW 6:33 LITERALLY...

We must take Matthew 6: 33 literally?       

The Scripture  for discussion plainly states:  "Seek Ye First the 
Kingdom of  God and His righteousness and all these things will
 be added unto you."   Matthew 6: 33.  

This follows a list of world  necessities and earthly wealth  men 
seem to be seeking with all their energy, knowledge and wisdom.  

These things are important to those who will  be successful in the 
sense of material prosperity.  The status symbols for western and 
ancient cultures,  no doubt,  are very similar,  but does one make
the best use of talents, time or energy seeking temporary or finite,  
status and wealth or would our God-given talent, time and energy 
be better served pursuing goals of eternal  significance?  

It is plain from Scripture;  We must use our talents, time, and ener-
gies wisely,  if we are to be truly successful  in pleasing our creator.   
The best use of our gifts is to seek the prosperity of the Kingdom 

of God and the righteousness of God, rather than  pursuit of earthly 

wealth or  trying to establish righteousness (self-righteousness)  on 
our own.  The invisible is eternal, and visible, concrete things pass.

Secondly, the question remains; what does "Seek ye first..." actually 
mean in our lives?  Obviously it means our interst should  be eternal.

Does it not mean as well;  we should rise every morning and be about 
focusing on eternal  matters while we are fresh and  as we complete, 

for  that day  responsibilities  our Lord has for us,  we turn mundane,

temporal pursuits.  There may be two benefits  in this approach:  
          (1) We will  have the satisfaction  of  fulfilling our God
                given responsibilities first, while we are fresh. 
          (2) If we happen to use the whole day in activity directed  
                by our Lord,  nothing  is  lost  since God  promises to 
                supply our needs if we seek Him first.  
Another consideration is the fact; if we put Him first, He will make 
the rest of the day go really well, in every respect.

The question is a matter of priorities and faith.  (1) Where do King-
dom endeavors rank on our "to do" list.  (2) Do we have the faith 
required in the taking of the Lord God at His Word, hanging our very 
existence on His Words?  No doubt,  this change in lifestyle may  be 
traumatic early on,  but look at it  from the  perspective of  the  Deity. 
 It is the best,  possibly  our only wise course of action.  If we are to 
please our Lord we have no option.  Each day, we will seek the King-
dom of God and His righteousness first.  He is then free to add all the 
necessities to us "according to His riches in  glory." (our best source)

I am convinced we will be blessed beyond measure in Spiritual terms,
and be free of temporal needs.  God being my help,  I will begin today,  
to live life in this manner, trusting Him with the results.  The Apostle 
Paul said it best under inspiration;
                               "I can do all things through Christ
                               which strengtheneth me"  Philippians 4-13 
How could I do less?  Would it not be disobedience to do less, and fail 
to apply it in my life every day?  There is yet one other consideration: 

I Corinthians 10: 31 reads, "Whether, therefore ye eat, or drink, or 
whatsoever ye do,  do all to the glory of God."  In context, the pas-
sage is speaking to our witness in  things we allow, but truth is truth 
no matter the context and this just might be a more excellent way to 
consider the matter.  

No one would suggest our Lord would have us neglect our families, or 
fail to provide necessary provision, but we must establish priorities on 
eternal matters.  He is not forbidding us to eat, drink, wear clothes or 
plan for the future.  He is stating; if we obey the directive to put Him 
first, it becomes His  responsibility to see  to our  physical  necessities.  
We go  wrong when we  fail to follow Him and  are driven by  the flesh 
rather than the Spirit of God.  ("As many as are led by the Spirit of 
God, these are the Children of God." Romans 8: 14)  ...

 As you and I seek to implement this  new "attitude" in our walk with 
our lord, we will be opposed.  I have seen it already.  Along with pro-
phets of old, our Lord or any who would walk with the Lord will have 
resistance, even persecution.  If we permit obstacles of any sort to
thwart our determination to walk in a Godly manner, we are no better 
off than the one who “put his hand to the plow” then looked back,  as 
recorded in Matthew.  (To clarify one phrase, "no better off;"  We 
might have said,  we  are no better. 

To have said that would have taken the act of following  Christ rightly

to be works.   It's all of  grace.  We cannot say we are  better since we 

are obeying this one principle of the Kingdom of God.  We  recognize,

although we are  in obedience in one area;  we still miss the mark  so

many ways, we  dare not  point the finger or consider ourselves to be

better than any one of God's children.  There are no "Super Saints."   
Every day we find ourselves, for the most part, unprofitable servants.  
By God's grace, mercy and power within, of His Holy Spirit,  we will 
eventually attain the victory in Christ,  but never in this flesh or  self.  

May God bless  your efforts and mine  in His Kingdom as  we look to
Him, giving  Him the glory by acknowledging His grace,  mercy and 
care  on our behalf.  That can only be accomplished "in Christ."                                            

  donporter      9.07.12   edited 2.10.17

UNDERSTANDING THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST

Understanding the Revelation of Jesus Christ              March 17, 2013

The New Testament book, called the Revelation of Jesus Christ is 
said by some to be very difficult to be understood.  Others contend,
with some diligence, it is quite possible to learn from this book as 
long as you know the general outline.  It is said this outline is con-
tained in the verses 17-20 of the first chapter.  “Do not be afraid; 
I am the first and the last.  I am He who lives and was dead, and 
behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen. And I have the keys of Hades 
and of Death.  Write the things which you have seen, and the things  
which are, and the things which will take place after this.  The mys-
tery of  the seven stars which you saw in  My right hand and the 
seven golden lamp stands; The seven stars are the angels (messen-
gers) to the seven churches and  the seven lamp stands which you 
saw are the seven churches."


 The book, of course, has much symbolism which has specific mea-
ning and may, with some effort, be understood. The verses, outlined 
below, are the keys to understanding the Revelation of Jesus Christ.  
Using this outline and much Spirit led study of  Scripture, this book 
will come alive to the faithful seeker of truth.

                                 1. Things you have seen.
                                      2. Things which are.
                                           3. Things which are to come.  

                                                                                         donporter  3.17.13