God’s Truth

God’s truth is made up of three things. Revelation, Inspiration and Illumination. These are important truths that are used in explaining the giving of Scripture by God, the recording of scripture and the understanding of it by believers. Therefore, it is Crucial that we comprehensive exactly what each if these terms mean and how they relate to each other.

We also need to understand the differences between these terms. These can be stated simply,

  1. Revelation: the giving of divine truth

Revelation is God revealing His truth to humanity. This truth could not be discovered through any type of human reasoning. It is entirely a work of God.

2. Divine Inspiration: the recording of divine truth.

Divine inspiration is concerned with the recording of truth. It refers to God supervising the writers of scripture to say exactly what He wanted to say. The result was Ho, y Scripture -the Bible.

3. Illumination: the understanding of divine truth by believers only.

Illumination is something we can experience through the work of the Holy Spirit. It refers to God giving understanding to His people of what His written Word means.

Before I was born again or even prayed, I tried reading the Bible and did not understand any of it. It honestly was a bunch of gibberish to me. It wasn’t until after I was born again and prayed for God to help me understand what I was reading that I began to understand.

Revelation is the disclosure of God’s truth to humanity, divine inspiration is the communication of that truth in written form. And illumination is the understanding of that truth. They can work separately, or together.

Sometimes there is divine inspiration, the recording of God’s truth, without revelation which is the supernatural giving of God’s truth. There’s an example of this in Luke 1:1-4,

“Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account most excellent Theophilus that you may know the certainly of those things in which you were instructed.”

Luke wants to inspire others, to his collected truth in the form of eyewitness accounts, facts, and evidence from the early church. We can learn from out elders (from generation to generation. Luke was present for many crucial events in the early church and was a co-worker with the Apostle Paul. In his travels, he likely met many key figures in Jesus’s earthly ministry. Biblical faith has always placed great emphasis on truth and reason. We don’t know who Theophilus is exactly. But we do know Luke seeks to strengthen his faith in the truth being taught about Jesus.

While Luke based his gospel on a variety of sources, the end result was divinely inspired scripture, but not divine revelation.

I cannot imagine not learning the things I have from my pastor. If you can I urge you to get connected with a Bible-believing church. And ask as many questions as you can to the elders. I used to feel dumb asking questions, but really there are no dumb questions when you want to learn about God and His Word.

Usually, divine inspiration and divine revelation go together. Revelation 1:1-2 says,

“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him (John) to show His servants things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel His servant John, who bore witness to the Word of God, and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, to all things that he saw. Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of his prophecy, and keep those things which are written I it, for the time is near.”

God divinely revealed these truths to John and then divinely guided the writings of the Book. This divine revelation, the giving of truth, worked with divine inspiration, the recording of that truth.

Divine inspiration can also occur with illumination. The writer would then understand the divine revelation they back been given. Paul wrote,

“For this reason, we also thank God without ceasing, because when you receive the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of man, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

Paul understood that he was passing along divine revelation to the people. He also understood what divine revelation meant.

There are a number of ways in which divine revelation inspiration, and illumination can work together, or separately. Each is a work of God.

Illumination is a supernatural event where the Holy Spirit helps people understand the meaning of the Bible. The best way to explain it. Is when you’re reading God’s Word and you get that Aha moment. You finally understand what God is saying to you.

My favorite Websites

What are your favorite websites?

I have three that are my go to.

walking Kabbalah.com – it is a Jewish website that has Hebrew letters with spiritual meanings.

LoveIsrael.org – it is an international Ministry of Baruch Korman. He is an instructor of who provides verse-by-verse teachings of the entire Bible from A Jewish perspective. He also has a YouTube channel.

Manyinthemakin.com – she is a southern lady who shares some amazing recipes that she serves her family. She also has a YouTube channel where she shows her recipes step-by-step.

Age Re-lived

Is there an age or year of your life you would re-live?

If reliving an age involved having the wisdom I have now then yes. At the age of 19, I would have left my town, headed for the city, and pursued a career in psychology.

At 19 years old I was trying to overcome the life a had as a child. At age 19 I was doing anything I thought would numb the pain I felt.

Burdens And Benefits

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens, even the God who is our salvation” -Psalm 68:19

God carries our burdens. Life is tough, and the burdens it hands us can be so hard to bear. But thankfully we do not have to carry them alone. God promises that if we cast our burdens on Him, He will sustain us and protect us from being overwhelmed.

Perhaps the greatest example of carrying burdens is the Apostle Paul. He was burdened with a thorn in his flesh. He prayed three times for God to take it away. Instead, God turned his burden into a benefit. He told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you.”

Sometimes God gives answers to prayers by taking things away, other times He answers prayers by adding things to us. That’s what He did for Paul.

I have prayed for God to take my migraine headaches away for years. No amount of medicine can take these things away, relaxation and meditation doesn’t help, and medication, that does work gives me side effects that are worse than the headaches.

One benefit I do have is a have a strong relationship with the Lord. I know when I pray, I hear from Him.

I live one day at a time because life’s burdens can be crushing. I have been through a lot in my life. Some burdens I have caused myself and some God gives us. Everyone I thought I would never get through. But God gives us His promise that He will carry us.

There is a poem written by Mary Stevenson, “Footprints.” It dates back to 1939, to when she was a teenager.

Most people have heard it, as “footprints in the sand.” I think of all the times Jesus carried me. Watched over me, and protected me.

God knows how much we can bear and His grace is surely sufficient for each of us. Every day. God has the power to turn every burden into a benefit, and every mess into a message.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil. For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours forever and ever” -Matthew 6:11

Historical Event

What historical event fascinates you the most?

The Life Of Jesus

Jesus is the greatest being to be born on this earth -our perfect example. He is Lord of Lords, the Creator, our Savior , and He came to earth so that we could live with God again.

Jesus was born in humble circumstances. Born of a virgin in a small village and a remote corner of the world. That humble birth fulfilled the hopes and dreams of all of us. He was the Son of God with infinite knowledge and power, yet He was author, immortal and susceptible to hunger and pain. Jesus fully experience the challenges and sorrows of this life. He knows each of us and understands us perfectly.

Even as a young man, Jesus was teaching the word of God. At 12 years old, He taught in the temple, and all that heard Him were astonished at His understanding. When Jesus began His ministry, He fasted in the wilderness for 40 days. He was tempted by Satan and overcome that temptation. He was also baptized in the Jordan River by his cousin John the Baptist, even though He was without sin, he was still baptized by immersion in order to teach us obedience to God.

Jesus healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, and even brought the dead back to life. Although His works were considered blasphemous behavior by the Jewish Pharisees. Jesus continually reminded people that His works were aligned with God‘s will so “That the Father may be glorified through the Son.” (John 14:13).

Jesus is a perfect example of love. During His life on earth, He cared for the poor. He healed the sick and He never turned away children. His love was endless and available to all of us.

Jesus taught that we must forgive. Even as He hung and died on the cross. Jesus forgive the people who killed Him.

He became the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. Yet, so many people hate and deny him still to the day.

Ways Jesus Proved He was Messiah

“He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world but was manifest in these last times for you, who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory so that your faith and hope are in God” -1 Peter 1:20

Jesus is unique. There are numerous things that set Him apart from other religions with biblical prophecy and proof to back up each of them.

From the very beginning, God had a plan. And through hundreds of prophecies in the Old Testament, God prepared the world for the coming of His Son. Jesus really did live and die for the sins of humanity.

Over the years anthropologist’s have dug up proof of His existence. And there are over 300 prophecies that are fulfilled through Jesus.

Here are a few:

Biblical prophecy,

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, being small among the clans of Judah, out of you one will come out to me that is to be the ruler in Israel, whose goings out are from old, from ancient times” – Micah 5:2

Fun fact: Ephrathah means Bethlehem.

Prophecy fulfilled:

Jesus was born in Bethlehem

After Jesus birth, King Herod gathered the chief priests and scribes to ask them where the Messiah would be born. They responded by citing the Old Testament prophecy revealing that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem..

They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet,”

“And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler who will shapers my people Israel” – Matthew 2:5-6

“Has not the scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem, where David was?” – John 7:42

Biblical prophecy:

Jesus was born of a virgin

“Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” -Isaiah 7:14

Prophecy fulfilled:

“Behold the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, ‘God with us” Matthew 1:23

Just as Isaiah said, the Virgin Mary did indeed conceive and have a Som who is called Immanuel. Jesus being born of a virgin and the prophecy of this event show God’s infinite power and knowledge. He defied nature to bring His Son to earth.

In biblical times, foundations of buildings were built from stone, starting with a single stone placed in the corner as a guide for the entire structure. The cornerstone was essential to the structure of the building and ensured each wall would be balanced, straight and solid.

God’s Word tells us Jesus was sent to be the cornerstone for the world, but He was rejected in the process.

Biblical prophecy:

Jesus was rejected by His people:

“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing. It is marvelous in our eyes” -Psalm 118:22-23

Prophecy fulfilled:

In the book of Matthew, there’s a conversation where Jesus uses David’s words from Psalm 118 to remind the Pharisees of who He was:

Jesus said to them,

“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes” -Mathew 21:42-43

There are more than 300 other prophecies Jesus fulfilled with 100% accuracy, something no psychic, medium, or any other religion can guarantee.

God promises He would see a Savior to the world. And He did

The Lamb On The Cross Becomes The Lion Of Wrath

Many people believe that Jesus will return a second time as the Lord of grace and mercy. But make no mistake He will return as the Lion of wrath.

The first time Jesus came to earth, He comes as a sacrificial lamb. When He comes again, He’ll come as a Lion of conquest. The sacrificial servant becomes the conquering King.

The Lamb of God

God sent John the Baptizer to prepare the way for Jesus, John had been baptizing people in the Jordon River. When he saw Jesus coming, he said “Behold the lamb of God,” he was referring to Him as the perfect and ultimate sacrifice for sin. (John 1:29, 1:36).

In Jesus’s role as Savior of the world, the Bible portrays Him as the sacrificial Lamb. But when He comes again, He will not only come as the King of Kings. H will come as the conquering lion. He will come as the Judge. And He will come to administer God’s wrath upon all those who have rejected His love and His grace. He will no longer be the sacrificial Lamb of peace. After all He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, a Lion of wrath, ripping apart all those who cross His path. The fury of His wrath and His anger and the fury of His rage will be against the wicked. He will let loose on the a band if destroying angels (Psalm 78:49 NLT).

God’s entire sacrificial system from the 2-year-old lamb’s blood put on the doorposts for the Jewish people to escape the curse of death during Egypt King Pharaoh did not release them as slaves to the point of Abraham being commanded to sacrifice Isaac in a thicket and provided the Lamb for us through Jesus, His “one and only Son” Only a sacrifice coming from God, can be sufficient enough to atone for the sins of the whole world. This leads us prophetically to the coming of the Messiah. This Messianic prophecy is woven throughout the Old Testament in preparation for Jesus’s coming as the Lamb of God. This Old Testament sacrificial offering of a lamb symbolically atoned for the sins of the people.

The first time Jesus came, He came as a Shepherd in search of His sheep, and He came as the sacrificial Lamb of God. He will come again, just as He said He would. But this time, He will come as King and Judge, wielding His power and authority. He will come as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. The symbol of the Lion represents majesty’s strength, courage, justice, and might. The lion after all is the King of the beasts.

The tribe of Judah refers to one of Jacob’s twelve sons named Judah. The descendants of all twelve of these sons formed the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus was a descendant of Judah. The lineage includes David and Solomon and makes its way all the way down to Joseph, Jesus’s earthly fathe

Lion of the Tribe of Judah

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, from the lineage (David), has conquered. Only He is worthy to open the scroll and it’s seven seals. Only Jesus, the certified Lamb of God, who died and paid a ransom with His life for the sin of the whole world. He conquered death and rose again, only He is worthy to judge the world with might and justice. As God justly judges the wicked and pours out His wrath.

His desire remains the same, to bring all of humanity to salvation. After the sixth week is opened, 144,000 people representing the twelve tribes of Israel will be sealed and protected during this judgment. They will go out and preach the good news to everyone everywhere and many will come to Jesus during the tribulation. This is confirmed by an angel as many believers from every nation and tribe and people and language come out of the tribulation and worship God.

Something Everyone Should Know

What’s something you believe everyone should know.

Jesus didn’t just do something. He didn’t just do a lot. He did it all. We must understand fully what He has done for us, or we will never fully understand who He is. If we miss out on the enormity of His work on the cross, then we will never realize how much we need Him. Jesus is not just a nice addition to our lives. He is not just a nice self-help program.

Jesus was punished for our sins. The Innocent Son of God took our punishment to bring us peace.

Kid At Heart

What does it mean to be a kid at heart?

Our biological age does not reflect how we feel. People’s subjective age rather than their objective age accurately predict how young our brain really looks. There is now research that actually backs this up. How young or old you feel reflects how our body ages.

I have a friend that is 78 years young. She drives a motorcycle and has a very active in life.

Being a kid at heart is acting and thinking like a young person. Balancing knowing when to take life seriously and when to have fun. enjoying every stage is about finding something to love in life.

The Umbrella Of Protection

I will shield you from the fallout. Know that I God am protecting you. What will fall on others will not fall on you. Stay under the umbrella of My protection, and I will guard you and keep you.

God promises His protection when we follow and obey Him. When we are not living under God’s authority it’s like we walk out of the covering of His protection. I feel like we have walked out of the covering as a nation.

I see myself being hidden under the umbrella while the ashes fall around me.

God has been taken out of every mountain of influence. Schools, Family, Government, Media, Art and Entertainment, Business.

Political influences are changing the climate of the nation. We see it everywhere. But there are things we can do to be immune to its effects.

Proverbs 2:7 in the Message Bible says,

“God is a rich mine of common sense for those who live well, a personal bodyguard the candid and sincere.”

Everything thing is under God’s control. God knows that everything that befalls the world and He has plans that we do not need to be concerned about. He tells us to trust in Him and we will find rest. He will keep you in perfect peace if we obey Him and repent of our sins.

With everything that is happening in the world today, we need to fix our minds on Him. Be promised if we focus on Him He will keep us in perfect peace.

History is Him, the past, the present, and the future. Things will turn out just as He has planned. The courses of the nations are set and determined by His foreknowledge.

Though the nation’s rage, He is on the throne. He will work His plan to the glory of His Kingdom.

As long as we follow Him, We will be under His umbrella of protection.

The nations are in turmoil. But regardless of what happens, God can protect us and keep us at peace as we look to Jesus, the King of Kings.

“For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed, but My lovingkindness will not depart from you, and My covenant of peace will not be removed, says the Lord who has mercy on you” – Isaiah 54:10

Follow the King of Kings, serve and trust Him, and He will keep you safe and lead you along the way everlasting to everlasting.