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Jesus who the bible said never sinned, healed the sick, delivered people
from demonic possession, raised Lazarus from the dead and as He was fulfilling His destiny to die on the cross; He felt that
He was abandoned by God our Father. Do we see here the humanity of Jesus our born again brother of what he went through and
see how he got inner strength from the Holy Ghost as we all have to do. All of the disciples scattered and became self conscience
by abandoning Jesus when He had His greatest need. It is obvious that they were in a shallow understanding of what covenant
meant and could not keep their commitment. I personally believe that these
last three that stood their ground represent something that we can use as an example of what a healthy covenant with God represents.
People who really covenant with God live and die by it because; it is not a covenant of convenience. We must truly function with the heart of God and look out after each other; that none of us fall
out of living in the shadow of God’s grace. God is a continual supplier of every thing we need, He is a loving Father
who knows our ins and outs and it is His good pleasure to supply us with our individual needs and enough for all the others
He has called us to help; whether it’s a dollar or a meal or a hug or a wise word of encouragement. Baby Christians who have not been descipled in their covenant; only function and worry about their needs and
they live an obligated life style that they think is love but; it is them only wanting support emotionally and financially
because they have no deep rooted security in believing that their Heavenly Father really loves them. This type of life style
is extremely painful and it causes them to look for love in all the wrong places because; they look for people instead of
God to be their sanctuary and unmovable security. It pains me and makes me hungry for God because of my growing pains to know
and walk in the wisdom of what I am saying here because; God My Father comes and saves and delivers me from myself and He has always been there for me when
I have become afraid and doubted what He has told me in my waking and sleeping hours of my life. He can be sooooooooo trusted and we must have this conviction deep
with in our souls. We start with Mary Magdalene as being one of the three
at the cross of Jesus. She was a prostitute and prostitutes in that day if they were caught were stoned to death. I believe
she must have been watching Jesus from a little way off in the early days of his ministry and would listen to him preach as
He went from place to place healing and loving all those who heard his words. I believe she hated the condition that her life
was in; and that she was in bondage to a life style that had plagued her most of life. In John chapter 8 we have the account where she was caught in adultery and she ran to Jesus for protection
and the Pharisees and Scribes wanted to put Jesus to the test telling Him that the law stated she was to be stoned to death.
Jesus looked at them and said “You that are with out sin can cast the first stone” and
her accusers all went away. Jesus asked her “where are those that were condemning you”
She said “they have all gone away” He said neither do I condemn you and
go and sin no more.” Again
we have the religious crowd living with a sin conscience attitude of punishing people who are living a life style in bondage
to a addiction of shame and separated from a loving God who’s only intension was to come out of heaven; and put His
divine position of safety aside so He could enter mankind and show them what a loving God we have who created the universe
and wants to share his wealth and love to all that life represents. This is the only way Jesus can have a fellow feeling like
us because; He walked the earth as we do today and understands our difficulties and trials and needs and wants. This
was Mary Magdalene’s first encounter with God in Jesus and she had become enslaved by searching for love in all the
wrong places through the men she was having affairs with. As she began to follow Jesus every where He went and listened and
saw the miracles He did; we have another encounter which is found in Luke 7: 36-50. “One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to dine with him, and He went into the Pharisee’s house and
reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the town who was an especially wicked sinner, when she learned that He was reclining
at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment perfume. And standing behind Him at His feet
weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears; and she wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed His feet affectionately
and anointed them with the ointment perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw it, he said to himself, If this
Man were a prophet, He would surely know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching Him for she is a notorious sinner
(a social outcast, devoted to sin). And Jesus, replying, said to him, Simon, I have something to say to
you. And he answered, Teacher, say it. (a social outcast, devoted to sin). And
Jesus, replying, said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he answered, Teacher, say it. A certain lender of money at interest had two debtors: one owed him
five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they had no means of paying, he freely forgave them both. Now which of them
will love him more? Simon answered, the one, I take it, for whom he forgave and cancelled more, and Jesus said to him, you
have decided correctly. Then turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, Do you see this woman? When I came into your house,
you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss,
but she from the moment I came in has not ceased intermittently to kiss my feet tenderly and caressingly. You did
not anoint my head with cheap, ordinary oil, but she has anointed my feet with costly, rare perfume. intermittently
to kiss my feet tenderly and caressingly. You did not anoint my head with cheap, ordinary oil, but she has anointed my feet
with costly, rare perfume. Therefore I tell you,
her sins, many as they are, are forgiven her because she has loved much and
who is forgiven little loves little and who is forgiven little loves little. And He said to her, your sins are forgiven! Then those who were at table with Him began
to say among themselves, who is this who even forgives sins? But Jesus said to the woman, your faith has saved you; go enter into peace in freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the results of sin.
go enter into peace in freedom
from all the distresses that are experienced as the results of sin.
convenience. We must truly function with the heart of God and look out after each other; that none of us fall out of living
in the shadow of God’s grace. God is a continual supplier of every thing we need, He is a loving Father who knows our
ins and outs and it is His good pleasure to supply us with our individual needs and enough for all the others He has called
us to help; whether it’s a dollar or a meal or a hug or a wise word of encouragement. Baby Christians who have not been descipled in their covenant; only function and worry about their needs and
they live an obligated life style that they think is love but; it is them only wanting support emotionally and financially
because they have no deep rooted security in believing that their Heavenly Father really loves them. This type of life style
is extremely painful and it causes them to look for love in all the wrong places because; they look for people instead of
God to be their sanctuary and unmovable security. It pains me and makes me hungry for God because of my growing pains to know
and walk in the wisdom of what I am saying here because; God My Father comes and saves and delivers me from myself and He has always been there for me when
I have become afraid and doubted what He has told me in my waking and sleeping hours of my life. He can be sooooooooo trusted and we must have this conviction deep
with in our souls. We start with Mary Magdalene as being one of the three
at the cross of Jesus. She was a prostitute and prostitutes in that day if they were caught were stoned to death. I believe
she must have been watching Jesus from a little way off in the early days of his ministry and would listen to him preach as
He went from place to place healing and loving all those who heard his words. I believe she hated the condition that her life
was in; and that she was in bondage to a life style that had plagued her most of life. In John chapter 8 we have the account where she was caught in adultery and she ran to Jesus for protection
and the Pharisees and Scribes wanted to put Jesus to the test telling Him that the law stated she was to be stoned to death.
Jesus looked at them and said “You that are with out sin can cast the first stone” and
her accusers all went away. Jesus asked her “where are those that were condemning you”
She said “they have all gone away” He said neither do I condemn you and
go and sin no more.” Again
we have the religious crowd living with a sin conscience attitude of punishing people who are living a life style in bondage
to a addiction of shame and separated from a loving God who’s only intension was to come out of heaven; and put His
divine position of safety aside so He could enter mankind and show them what a loving God we have who created the universe
and wants to share his wealth and love to all that life represents. This is the only way Jesus can have a fellow feeling like
us because; He walked the earth as we do today and understands our difficulties and trials and needs and wants. This
was Mary Magdalene’s first encounter with God in Jesus and she had become enslaved by searching for love in all the
wrong places through the men she was having affairs with. As she began to follow Jesus every where He went and listened and
saw the miracles He did; we have another encounter which is found in Luke 7: 36-50. “One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to dine with him, and He went into the Pharisee’s house and
reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the town who was an especially wicked sinner, when she learned that He was reclining
at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment perfume. And standing behind Him at His feet
weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears; and she wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed His feet affectionately
and anointed them with the ointment perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw it, he said to himself, If this
Man were a prophet, He would surely know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching Him for she is a notorious sinner
(a social outcast, devoted to sin). And Jesus, replying, said to him, Simon, I have something to say to
you. And he answered, Teacher, say it. (a social outcast, devoted to sin). And
Jesus, replying, said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he answered, Teacher, say it. A certain lender of money at interest had two debtors: one owed him
five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they had no means of paying, he freely forgave them both. Now which of them
will love him more? Simon answered, the one, I take it, for whom he forgave and cancelled more, and Jesus said to him, you
have decided correctly. Then turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, Do you see this woman? When I came into your house,
you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss,
but she from the moment I came in has not ceased intermittently to kiss my feet tenderly and caressingly. You did
not anoint my head with cheap, ordinary oil, but she has anointed my feet with costly, rare perfume. intermittently
to kiss my feet tenderly and caressingly. You did not anoint my head with cheap, ordinary oil, but she has anointed my feet
with costly, rare perfume. Therefore I tell you,
her sins, many as they are, are forgiven her because she has loved much and
who is forgiven little loves little and who is forgiven little loves little. And He said to her, your sins are forgiven! Then those who were at table with Him began
to say among themselves, who is this who even forgives sins? But Jesus said to the woman, your faith has saved you; go enter into peace in freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the results of sin.
go enter into peace in freedom
from all the distresses that are experienced as the results of sin.
myself and He
has always been there for me when I have become afraid and doubted what He has told me in my waking and sleeping hours of
my life. He can be sooooooooo trusted and we must have this conviction deep with in our souls. We start
with Mary Magdalene as being one of the three at the cross of Jesus. She was a prostitute and prostitutes in that day if they
were caught were stoned to death. I believe she must have been watching Jesus from a little way off in the early days of his
ministry and would listen to him preach as He went from place to place healing and loving all those who heard his words. I
believe she hated the condition that her life was in; and that she was in bondage to a life style that had plagued her most
of life. In John chapter 8 we have the account where she was caught in
adultery and she ran to Jesus for protection and the Pharisees and Scribes wanted to put Jesus to the test telling Him that
the law stated she was to be stoned to death. Jesus looked at them and said “You that are with out sin can
cast the first stone” and her accusers all went away. Jesus asked her “where are those
that were condemning you” She said “they have all gone away” He
said neither do I condemn you and go and sin no more.” Again we have the religious crowd living with a sin conscience attitude of punishing
people who are living a life style in bondage to a addiction of shame and separated from a loving God who’s only intension
was to come out of heaven; and put His divine position of safety aside so He could enter mankind and show them what a loving
God we have who created the universe and wants to share his wealth and love to all that life represents. This is the only
way Jesus can have a fellow feeling like us because; He walked the earth as we do today and understands our difficulties and
trials and needs and wants. This was Mary Magdalene’s first encounter with God in Jesus and she
had become enslaved by searching for love in all the wrong places through the men she was having affairs with. As she began
to follow Jesus every where He went and listened and saw the miracles He did; we have another encounter which is found in
Luke 7: 36-50. “One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to
dine with him, and He went into the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table. And behold, a woman of the town who was
an especially wicked sinner, when she learned that He was reclining at table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster
flask of ointment perfume. And standing behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears; and she
wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed His feet affectionately and anointed them with the ointment perfume. Now when
the Pharisee who had invited Him saw it, he said to himself, If this Man were a prophet, He would surely know who and what
sort of woman this is who is touching Him for she is a notorious sinner (a social outcast, devoted to sin). And
Jesus, replying, said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he answered, Teacher, say it. (a
social outcast, devoted to sin). And Jesus, replying, said to him, Simon, I have something to say
to you. And he answered, Teacher, say it. A certain lender of money at interest had two debtors: one owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.
When they had no means of paying, he freely forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more? Simon answered, the one,
I take it, for whom he forgave and cancelled more, and Jesus said to him, you have decided correctly. Then turning toward
the woman, He said to Simon, Do you see this woman? When I came into your house, you gave me no water for my feet, but she
has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she from the moment I came in has not
ceased intermittently to kiss my feet tenderly and caressingly. You did not anoint my head with cheap, ordinary
oil, but she has anointed my feet with costly, rare perfume. intermittently to kiss my feet tenderly
and caressingly. You did not anoint my head with cheap, ordinary oil, but she has anointed my feet with costly, rare perfume.
Therefore I tell you, her sins, many as they are,
are forgiven her because she has loved much and who is forgiven little loves
little and who is forgiven little loves little.
And He said to her, your sins are forgiven! Then those who were at table with Him began to say among themselves, who
is this who even forgives sins? But Jesus said to the woman, your faith has saved you; go
enter into peace in freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the results of sin.
go enter into peace in freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the results
of sin. she has
loved much and who is forgiven little loves little and who is forgiven little
loves little. And He said to her, your sins are forgiven! Then those who
were at table with Him began to say among themselves, who is this who even forgives sins? But Jesus said to the woman, your
faith has saved you; go enter into peace in freedom from all the distresses that are experienced
as the results of sin. go enter
into peace in freedom from all the distresses that are experienced as the results of sin. I believe I could speak volumes on what I have written here however, the point
I want to make is the commitment that we see; and the thankfulness and changed life when someone encounters the love of God
and our lives being unctioned with passion from with in by the Holy Ghost
who empowers us to pursue God. Yes, it is only by the unctioning of the Holy
Ghost that keeps our covenant alive and active in our relationship with the Lord. Scripture tells us to “taste
and see that the Lord is good.” It is as we live and are experiencing our Godly covenant that; enslaves
us to love the Lord and makes us sell out and give our best and most precious possession we have; which is really !ourselves!. It is my hope and prayer that you who are reading this are sensing the love and holding power of the Lord
in your life. You will notice that she did not use some cheap perfume and ordinary oil and a towel but her own hair to wash
and anoint Jesus feet. She was unashamed and publicly proclaimed and showed her faith and trust in Jesus in spite of all the
criticism and rejection that she had to deal with. This is what a covenant Christian does in operating in their given arena
of life. I would have thought of all the people to be at the cross it would
have been Peter the outspoken and impulsive one and yet he was the one that denied Jesus at His greatest moment of need. You
can be very brash and braggadocios when there is no hardship and suffering however, when the rubber meets the road; we find
out who are Jesus friends who are able to ( lay down their lives for one another) and those who are and those who are mere
acquaintances. It is us walking in our love covenant with
the Lord that gives us patience to wait on those who are only acquaintances now in our lives and we hope and pray that they
will become friends who know how to pray the prayer of faith and miracles take place and relationships are restored. As you
can see; we can have no relationship of selfishness and convenience in covenant love. We next come
to John the youngest of the Apostles. We have a man with the heart of a child. In Matthew 18:3 Jesus said this. “The
disciples came up and asked Jesus, Who is really the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And He called a little child to Himself and put him in the midst of them, and said,
Truly I say to you, unless you repent change, turn about and become like little
children trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving, you can never enter the kingdom of heaven at all. Whoever will humble him self therefore and become like this little child trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving is greatest
in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives and accepts and welcomes one little child like this for My sake and in My name
receives and accepts and welcomes Me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in and acknowledge and cleave
to Me to stumble and sin that is, who entices him or hinders him in right conduct or thought, it would be better and more
expedient and profitable or advantageous for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk in the
depth of the sea.” I could teach and preach maybe twenty sermons on these verses alone. However, let me point out a
few things pertaining to our covenant relationship with the Lord. There can
be no trusting, loving and forgiving unless you are walking in covenant with the Holy Ghost. These are all
God’s characters. When we talk about born again believers, who are permanently God’s children, they are already
in the kingdom of God however, knowing our covenant is what empowers us to operate in the kingdom. Enter is a action word
of thought and movement and any mingled seed that has been sown in our heart and mind contrary to the true meaning of covenant
is a poison in allowing our soul to prosper. That is why Jesus was so emphatic when He stated the consequences of teaching
false doctrine and how we had to watch that we do not offend or damage the heart of a child because of the sensitivity a born
again believer must have in living the abundant life. True fellowship and
assembling in God’s name happens when the Holy Ghost has His perfect way and God’s children come together to have
a God covenant relationship with one another. I am grieved to say that the body of Christ has just tasted a surface empowerment
of this type of gathering. We are not talking only about corporate worship here but about the scripture in Acts that tells
us that; we need to go house to house breaking bread (having the Lord’s Supper and eating together studying the scriptures
and confessing our faults one to another and praying for one another. People who are living in covenant with God are actively doing these things. *** We can sense through some of John’s writings that he had a trust and was awed by the experiences he
was having with Jesus as they went town to town as he saw him healing the sick, raising the dead and setting people free from
demons (the same thing we should be doing in our arena of life.) In John
1:14 John said, "we actually saw Jesus glory.” His glory is defined by His grace which;
acts as a divine influence upon our heart, that is kind, tenderhearted and totally honest in its evaluation of our thoughts
and actions. As we encounter this type of a relationship with someone; it will totally transform our life. It is as we come
to know the Lord in this way that gives us a total appreciation and a desire deep down in our soul to just express our gratitude
to Him at all times for His friendship. In 1 John
2:1 John states. “We are writing about the Word of Life in Him who existed from the beginning, whom we have
heard, whom we have whom
we have seen with our own eyes, which
we have gazed upon
for ourselves and have touched with our own handstouched with our own hands. And the Life an aspect
of His being was revealed made manifest, demonstrated, and we saw as eyewitnesses and are testifying to and declare to you
the Life, the eternal Life in Him Who already existed with the Father and Who actually was made visible was revealed to us
His followers. What we have seen and ourselves heard, we are also telling you, so that
you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. . And
this fellowship that we have which is a distinguishing mark of Christians is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ
our Savior. And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy in seeing you as being included may be full”
I ask the question. “Are we really living with the same experiences
John had as a he hung out with the Lord?” This distinguishing mark is like a King who signs a decree and stamps
it with a royal stamp showing His final authority in all matters pertaining to His kingdom rule. We who are born again were
branded as God’s children and our revelation of this fact grows as we covenant walk with God.
We have another encounter that defines John relationship with Jesus found
in the last supper encounter where it says a young man rested his head on Jesus breasts and asked Him what the different Apostles
were called to do and Jesus answer was “ Just be obedient to what I have called you to do.”
This took place because a heated discuss came up among the Apostles of debating who was going to be the greatest in God’s
kingdom. In Luke 22: 25-30 Jesus says this. “The kings
of the Gentiles are made into gods by them and exercise lordship ruling as emperor-gods over them; and those in authority
over them are called benefactors and well-doers. However, this is not to be so with you; on the contrary, let him who is the
greatest among you become like the youngest, and him who is the chief and leader like one who serves.
For who is the greater, the one who reclines at table the master, or the one who serves? Is it not the one
who reclines at table? But I am in your midst as one who serves. And you are those who have remained throughout and persevered
with Me in My trials; and as My Father has appointed a kingdom and conferred it on Me, so
do I confer on you the privilege and decree, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging
the twelve tribes of Israel.”” Savior.
And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy in seeing you as being included may be full”What we have seen and ourselves heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy
fellowship as partners and partakers with us. . And this fellowship that we have
which is a distinguishing mark of Christians is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ our Savior. And we
are now writing these things to you so that our joy in seeing you as being included may be full” I ask the question. “Are we really living with the same experiences John had as a he hung out
with the Lord?” This distinguishing mark is like a King who signs a decree and stamps it with a royal stamp
showing His final authority in all matters pertaining to His kingdom rule. We who are born again were branded as God’s
children and our revelation of this fact grows as we covenant walk with God. We have another encounter that defines John relationship with Jesus found in the last supper encounter where
it says a young man rested his head on Jesus breasts and asked Him what the different Apostles were called to do and Jesus
answer was “ Just be obedient to what I have called you to do.” This took place because
a heated discuss came up among the Apostles of debating who was going to be the greatest in God’s kingdom. In Luke 22: 25-30 Jesus says this. “The kings of the Gentiles are made into gods by them
and exercise lordship ruling as emperor-gods over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors and well-doers.
However, this is not to be so with you; on the contrary, let him who is the greatest among you become like the youngest,
and him who is the chief and leader like one who serves. For who is the greater, the one who reclines
at table the master, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am in your midst
as one who serves. And you are those who have remained throughout and persevered with Me in My trials; and as My Father has
appointed a kingdom and conferred it on Me, so do I confer on you the privilege and
decree, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”” Savior.
And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy in seeing you as being included may be full” I
could teach and preach maybe twenty sermons on these verses alone. However, let me point out a few things pertaining to our
covenant relationship with the Lord. unctioned with
passion from with in by the Holy Ghost who empowers us to pursue God.
Yes, it is only by the unctioning of the Holy Ghost that keeps our covenant alive and active in our relationship
with the Lord. Scripture tells us to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” It is as we
live and are experiencing our Godly covenant that; enslaves us to love the Lord and makes us sell out and give our best and
most precious possession we have; which is really !ourselves!. It is my hope and prayer that you who are reading
this are sensing the love and holding power of the Lord in your life. You will notice that she did not use some cheap perfume
and ordinary oil and a towel but her own hair to wash and anoint Jesus feet. She was unashamed and publicly proclaimed and
showed her faith and trust in Jesus in spite of all the criticism and rejection that she had to deal with. This is what a
covenant Christian does in operating in their given arena of life. I would
have thought of all the people to be at the cross it would have been Peter the outspoken and impulsive one and yet he was
the one that denied Jesus at His greatest moment of need. You can be very brash and braggadocios when there is no hardship
and suffering however, when the rubber meets the road; we find out who are Jesus friends who are able to ( lay down their lives for one another) and those who are and
those who are mere acquaintances. It is
us walking in our love covenant with the Lord that gives us patience to wait on those who are only
acquaintances now in our lives and we hope and pray that they will become friends who know how to pray the prayer of faith
and miracles take place and relationships are restored. As you can see; we can have no relationship of selfishness
and convenience in covenant love. We next come to John the youngest of the Apostles. We have a man with the heart of a child. In Matthew 18:3 Jesus said this. “The disciples came up and asked Jesus, Who is really the
greatest in the kingdom of heaven? And He called a little child to Himself and put him in the midst of them, and said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent change, turn about
and become like little children trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving, you can never
enter the kingdom of heaven at all. Whoever will humble him self therefore and
become like this little child trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives
and accepts and welcomes one little child like this for My sake and in My name receives and accepts and welcomes Me. But whoever
causes one of these little ones who believe in and acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin that is, who entices him
or hinders him in right conduct or thought, it would be better and more expedient and profitable or advantageous for him to
have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk in the depth of the sea.” I could teach and preach maybe
twenty sermons on these verses alone. However, let me point out a few things pertaining to our covenant relationship with
the Lord. There can be no trusting, loving and forgiving unless
you are walking in covenant with the Holy Ghost. These are all God’s characters. When we talk about born again believers,
who are permanently God’s children, they are already in the kingdom of God however, knowing our covenant is what empowers
us to operate in the kingdom. Enter is a action word of thought and movement and any mingled seed that has been sown in our
heart and mind contrary to the true meaning of covenant is a poison in allowing our soul to prosper. That is why Jesus was
so emphatic when He stated the consequences of teaching false doctrine and how we had to watch that we do not offend or damage
the heart of a child because of the sensitivity a born again believer must have in living the abundant life. True fellowship and assembling in God’s name happens when the Holy Ghost has His perfect way and God’s
children come together to have a God covenant relationship with one another. I am grieved to say that the body of Christ has
just tasted a surface empowerment of this type of gathering. We are not talking only about corporate worship here but about
the scripture in Acts that tells us that; we need to go house to house breaking bread (having the Lord’s Supper and
eating together studying the scriptures and confessing our faults one to another and praying for one another. People who are
living in covenant with God are actively doing these things. *** We can sense through some of John’s
writings that he had a trust and was awed by the experiences he was having with Jesus as they went town to town as he saw
him healing the sick, raising the dead and setting people free from demons (the same thing we should be doing in our arena
of life.) In John 1:14 John said, "we actually saw Jesus
glory.” His glory is defined by His grace which; acts as a divine influence upon our heart, that is kind,
tenderhearted and totally honest in its evaluation of our thoughts and actions. As we encounter this type of a relationship
with someone; it will totally transform our life. It is as we come to know the Lord in this way that gives us a total appreciation
and a desire deep down in our soul to just express our gratitude to Him at all times for His friendship. In 1 John 2:1 John states. “We are writing about the Word of
Life in Him who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard, whom we have whom we have seen with
our own eyes, which we have gazed upon for ourselves
and have touched with our own handstouched with our own hands. And the Life an aspect of His being
was revealed made manifest, demonstrated, and we saw as eyewitnesses and are testifying to and declare to you the Life, the
eternal Life in Him Who already existed with the Father and Who actually was made visible was revealed to us His followers.
What we have seen and ourselves heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may
realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. . And this fellowship
that we have which is a distinguishing mark of Christians is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ our Savior.
And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy in seeing you as being included may be full” I ask the question. “Are we really living with the same experiences John had as a he hung out
with the Lord?” This distinguishing mark is like a King who signs a decree and stamps it with a royal stamp
showing His final authority in all matters pertaining to His kingdom rule. We who are born again were branded as God’s
children and our revelation of this fact grows as we covenant walk with God. We have another encounter that defines John relationship with Jesus found in the last supper encounter where
it says a young man rested his head on Jesus breasts and asked Him what the different Apostles were called to do and Jesus
answer was “ Just be obedient to what I have called you to do.” This took place because
a heated discuss came up among the Apostles of debating who was going to be the greatest in God’s kingdom. In Luke 22: 25-30 Jesus says this. “The kings of the Gentiles are made into gods by them
and exercise lordship ruling as emperor-gods over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors and well-doers.
However, this is not to be so with you; on the contrary, let him who is the greatest among you become like the youngest,
and him who is the chief and leader like one who serves. For who is the greater, the one who reclines
at table the master, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am in your midst
as one who serves. And you are those who have remained throughout and persevered with Me in My trials; and as My Father has
appointed a kingdom and conferred it on Me, so do I confer on you the privilege and
decree, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”” Savior.
And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy in seeing you as being included may be full”What we have seen and ourselves heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy
fellowship as partners and partakers with us. . And this fellowship that we have
which is a distinguishing mark of Christians is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ our Savior. And we
are now writing these things to you so that our joy in seeing you as being included may be full” I ask the question. “Are we really living with the same experiences John had as a he hung out
with the Lord?” This distinguishing mark is like a King who signs a decree and stamps it with a royal stamp
showing His final authority in all matters pertaining to His kingdom rule. We who are born again were branded as God’s
children and our revelation of this fact grows as we covenant walk with God. We have another encounter that defines John relationship with Jesus found in the last supper encounter where
it says a young man rested his head on Jesus breasts and asked Him what the different Apostles were called to do and Jesus
answer was “ Just be obedient to what I have called you to do.” This took place because
a heated discuss came up among the Apostles of debating who was going to be the greatest in God’s kingdom. In Luke 22: 25-30 Jesus says this. “The kings of the Gentiles are made into gods by them
and exercise lordship ruling as emperor-gods over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors and well-doers.
However, this is not to be so with you; on the contrary, let him who is the greatest among you become like the youngest,
and him who is the chief and leader like one who serves. For who is the greater, the one who reclines
at table the master, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am in your midst
as one who serves. And you are those who have remained throughout and persevered with Me in My trials; and as My Father has
appointed a kingdom and conferred it on Me, so do I confer on you the privilege and
decree, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”” Savior.
And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy in seeing you as being included may be full” I
could teach and preach maybe twenty sermons on these verses alone. However, let me point out a few things pertaining to our
covenant relationship with the Lord. ( lay down their lives for
one another) and those who are and those who are mere acquaintances. It is us walking in our love
covenant with the Lord that gives us patience to wait on those who are only acquaintances now in our lives and
we hope and pray that they will become friends who know how to pray the prayer of faith and miracles take place and relationships
are restored. As you can see; we can have no relationship of selfishness and convenience in covenant love.
We next come to John the youngest of the Apostles. We have a man with the heart
of a child. In Matthew 18:3
Jesus said this. “The disciples came up and asked Jesus, Who is really the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
And He called a little child to Himself and
put him in the midst of them, and said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent change, turn about and become like little children trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving, you can never enter the kingdom of heaven at all.
Whoever will humble him self therefore and become like this little child trusting,
lowly, loving, forgiving is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives and accepts and welcomes one little child
like this for My sake and in My name receives and accepts and welcomes Me. But whoever causes one of these little ones who
believe in and acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin that is, who entices him or hinders him in right conduct or
thought, it would be better and more expedient and profitable or advantageous for him to have a great millstone fastened around
his neck and to be sunk in the depth of the sea.” I could teach and preach maybe twenty sermons on these verses alone.
However, let me point out a few things pertaining to our covenant relationship with the Lord. There can be no trusting, loving and forgiving unless you are walking in covenant with the
Holy Ghost. These are all God’s characters. When we talk about born again believers, who are permanently God’s
children, they are already in the kingdom of God however, knowing our covenant is what empowers us to operate in the kingdom.
Enter is a action word of thought and movement and any mingled seed that has been sown in our heart and mind contrary to the
true meaning of covenant is a poison in allowing our soul to prosper. That is why Jesus was so emphatic when He stated the
consequences of teaching false doctrine and how we had to watch that we do not offend or damage the heart of a child because
of the sensitivity a born again believer must have in living the abundant life. True
fellowship and assembling in God’s name happens when the Holy Ghost has His perfect way and God’s children come
together to have a God covenant relationship with one another. I am grieved to say that the body of Christ has just tasted
a surface empowerment of this type of gathering. We are not talking only about corporate worship here but about the scripture
in Acts that tells us that; we need to go house to house breaking bread (having the Lord’s Supper and eating together
studying the scriptures and confessing our faults one to another and praying for one another. People who are living in covenant
with God are actively doing these
things. *** We can sense through some of John’s writings that he had
a trust and was awed by the experiences he was having with Jesus as they went town to town as he saw him healing the sick,
raising the dead and setting people free from demons (the same thing we should be doing in our arena of life.) In John 1:14 John said, "we actually saw Jesus glory.” His glory is defined
by His grace which; acts as a divine influence upon our heart, that is kind, tenderhearted and totally honest in its evaluation
of our thoughts and actions. As we encounter this type of a relationship with someone; it will totally transform our life.
It is as we come to know the Lord in this way that gives us a total appreciation and a desire deep down in our soul to just
express our gratitude to Him at all times for His friendship. In
1 John 2:1 John states. “We are writing about the Word of Life in Him who existed from the beginning, whom
we have heard, whom we have
whom we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon for ourselves and have touched
with our own handstouched with our own hands. And the Life an aspect of His being was revealed made manifest, demonstrated, and we saw as eyewitnesses
and are testifying to and declare to you the Life, the eternal Life in Him Who already existed with the Father and Who actually
was made visible was revealed to us His followers. What we have seen and ourselves heard,
we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. .
And this fellowship that we have which is a distinguishing mark of Christians is with the
Father and with His Son Jesus Christ our Savior. And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy in
seeing you as being included may be full” I ask the question. “Are
we really living with the same experiences John had as a he hung out with the Lord?” This distinguishing mark
is like a King who signs a decree and stamps it with a royal stamp showing His final authority in all matters pertaining to
His kingdom rule. We who are born again were branded as God’s children and our revelation of this fact grows as we covenant
walk with God. We have another encounter that defines John
relationship with Jesus found in the last supper encounter where it says a young man rested his head on Jesus breasts and
asked Him what the different Apostles were called to do and Jesus answer was “ Just be obedient to what
I have called you to do.” This took place because a heated discuss came up among the Apostles of debating
who was going to be the greatest in God’s kingdom. In Luke 22: 25-30
Jesus says this. “The kings of the Gentiles are made into gods by them and exercise lordship ruling as emperor-gods
over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors and well-doers. However, this is not to be so with you;
on the contrary, let him who is the greatest among you become like the youngest, and him who is the chief
and leader like one who serves. For who is the greater, the one who reclines at table the master,
or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am in your midst as one who serves. And you are those
who have remained throughout and persevered with Me in My trials; and as My Father has appointed a kingdom and conferred it
on Me, so do I confer on you the privilege and decree, that you may eat and drink at
My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”” Savior.
And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy in seeing you as being included may be full”What we have seen and ourselves heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may realize and enjoy
fellowship as partners and partakers with us. . And this fellowship that we have
which is a distinguishing mark of Christians is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ our Savior. And we
are now writing these things to you so that our joy in seeing you as being included may be full” I ask the question. “Are we really living with the same experiences John had as a he hung out
with the Lord?” This distinguishing mark is like a King who signs a decree and stamps it with a royal stamp
showing His final authority in all matters pertaining to His kingdom rule. We who are born again were branded as God’s
children and our revelation of this fact grows as we covenant walk with God. We have another encounter that defines John relationship with Jesus found in the last supper encounter where
it says a young man rested his head on Jesus breasts and asked Him what the different Apostles were called to do and Jesus
answer was “ Just be obedient to what I have called you to do.” This took place because
a heated discuss came up among the Apostles of debating who was going to be the greatest in God’s kingdom. In Luke 22: 25-30 Jesus says this. “The kings of the Gentiles are made into gods by them
and exercise lordship ruling as emperor-gods over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors and well-doers.
However, this is not to be so with you; on the contrary, let him who is the greatest among you become like the youngest,
and him who is the chief and leader like one who serves. For who is the greater, the one who reclines
at table the master, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who reclines at table? But I am in your midst
as one who serves. And you are those who have remained throughout and persevered with Me in My trials; and as My Father has
appointed a kingdom and conferred it on Me, so do I confer on you the privilege and
decree, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.”” Savior.
And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy in seeing you as being included may be full” I
could teach and preach maybe twenty sermons on these verses alone. However, let me point out a few things pertaining to our
covenant relationship with the Lord. a little child to Himself and put him in the midst of them, and said, Truly I say to you, unless you repent change, turn about
and become like little children trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving, you can never
enter the kingdom of heaven at all. Whoever will humble him self therefore and
become like this little child trusting, lowly, loving, forgiving is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever receives
and accepts and welcomes one little child like this for My sake and in My name receives and accepts and welcomes Me. But whoever
causes one of these little ones who believe in and acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin that is, who entices him
or hinders him in right conduct or thought, it would be better and more expedient and profitable or advantageous for him to
have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk in the depth of the sea.” I could teach and preach maybe
twenty sermons on these verses alone. However, let me point out a few things pertaining to our covenant relationship with
the Lord. There can be no trusting, loving and forgiving unless
you are walking in covenant with the Holy Ghost. These are all God’s characters. When we talk about born again believers,
who are permanently God’s children, they are already in the kingdom of God however, knowing our covenant is what empowers
us to operate in the kingdom. Enter is a action word of thought and movement and any mingled seed that has been sown in our
heart and mind contrary to the true meaning of covenant is a poison in allowing our soul to prosper. That is why Jesus was
so emphatic when He stated the consequences of teaching false doctrine and how we had to watch that we do not offend or damage
the heart of a child because of the sensitivity a born again believer must have in living the abundant life. True fellowship and assembling in God’s name happens when the Holy Ghost has His perfect way and God’s
children come together to have a God covenant relationship with one another. I am grieved to say that the body of Christ has
just tasted a surface empowerment of this type of gathering. We are not talking only about corporate worship here but about
the scripture in Acts that tells us that; we need to go house to house breaking bread (having the Lord’s Supper and
eating together studying the scriptures and confessing our faults one to another and praying for one another. People who are
living in covenant with God are actively doing these things. *** We can sense through some of John’s
writings that he had a trust and was awed by the experiences he was having with Jesus as they went town to town as he saw
him healing the sick, raising the dead and setting people free from demons (the same thing we should be doing in our arena
of life.) In John 1:14 John said, "we actually saw Jesus
glory.” His glory is defined by His grace which; acts as a divine influence upon our heart, that is kind,
tenderhearted and totally honest in its evaluation of our thoughts and actions. As we encounter this type of a relationship
with someone; it will totally transform our life. It is as we come to know the Lord in this way that gives us a total appreciation
and a desire deep down in our soul to just express our gratitude to Him at all times for His friendship. In 1 John 2:1 John states. “We are writing about the Word of
Life in Him who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard, whom we have whom we have seen with
our own eyes, which we have gazed upon for ourselves
and have touched with our own handstouched with our own hands. And the Life an aspect of His being
was revealed made manifest, demonstrated, and we saw as eyewitnesses and are testifying to and declare to you the Life, the
eternal Life in Him Who already existed with the Father and Who actually was made visible was revealed to us His followers.
What we have seen and ourselves heard, we are also telling you, so that you too may
realize and enjoy fellowship as partners and partakers with us. . And this fellowship
that we have which is a distinguishing mark of Christians is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ our Savior.
And we are now writing these things to you so that our joy in seeing you as being included may be full” I ask the question. “Are we really living with the same experiences John had as a he hung out
with the Lord?” This distinguishing mark is like a King who signs a decree and stamps it with a royal stamp
showing His final authority in all matters pertaining to His kingdom rule. We who are born again were branded as God’s
children and our revelation of this fact grows as we covenant walk with God. We have another encounter that defines John relationship with Jesus found in the last supper encounter where
it says a young man rested his head on Jesus breasts and asked Him what the different Apostles were called to do and Jesus
answer was “ Just be obedient to what I have called you to do.” This took place because
a heated discuss came up among the Apostles of debating who was going to be the greatest in God’s kingdom. In Luke 22: 25-30 Jesus says this. “The kings of the Gentiles are made into gods by them
and exercise lordship ruling as emperor-gods over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors and well-doers.
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