The word “carried up”, comes from an interesting Greek root word and that Greek word comes from even another Greek root word! These two Greek words translate as a reversal. Jesus descended into the earth as a man child born to Mary in the little village of Bethlehem! After his mission of the Cross and resurrection he reversed his order and ascended back to Heaven! Sometimes we use the word rapture to describe the ascension however the word rapture is not in your Bible! So when Jesus completed his first mission on earth the Father punched his ticket to return home! However Jesus mission on earth is not complete for he will return at his second coming with his church! The word Heaven used in verse 51 is also an interesting word! Heaven is God’s residence! In the Old Testament it is called the Holiness of Separation! The Holy Heaven! It includes the sky above the earth, the sun moon and stars! It is everything above the earth! From where Christ descended from and to where he ascended to! Heaven includes the throne room where Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father! It includes the host of angels with the Saints worshipping God around His throne! It includes the 24 elders! A rainbow is wrapped around the thrown signifying the Covenant! They walk on a floor of crystal glass! nothing hidden! No sin there! Streets are paved with Gold! Gold is not a rare metal there! Jesus is in prayer there for the Saints down here on earth! He does not pray for the world but for the believers on earth! Nationalism is alive and well in Heaven! Believers in the earth have access to Heaven! Believers on earth are purchasing a two way ticket to Heaven and the unbelievers a one way ticket to Hell. For those that trust Christ He has purchased our tickets to Heaven with His own blood! People that choose Hell buy their own ticket purchased with their unforgiven sin! Jesus can check our reservations by looking in the Lamb’s Book of Life! Does your passport have a visa stamped Heaven? We choose our own hell or Heaven! Your eternity is your choice! Choose this day who you will serve! Let your Hell be reversed by choosing Jesus! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Tag: elders
Crowns! Revelation 4:10
In the Kingdom of Heaven it is His work that will be crowned, not yours! Anything in you that He has not wrought Himself will count for nothing! Johannes Tauler (1300-1361). Comment: This statement might let the hot air out of your balloon? Just a piece of humble pie will help us! Let us look at Revelation 4:10 The events described in Chapter four is the Rapture of the Church! The earthly residence of the Church is moved to Heaven! There are other scriptures that support this like the dead in Christ being raised first! The events found in this chapter are astounding to say the least! People are not falling to sleep in church here! Part of the scene here is the 24 elders clothed in white rainment and having gold crowns on their heads! Old is gold especially in Heaven! Remember the Sanhedrin was made up of 70 elders who many believe the Apostle Paul had been a member. We get our word Presbyterian from this Greek word! The elders were worshiping Christ around the Throne of God! Then they cast down their crowns before the Throne of God! There are different root words used in our Bible for our English word crowns! The word used here is not a King’s crown! Tell me more? It is a crown given to those as would have won a military battle! You might call it the Medal of Honor! The crown was woven of oak or ivory! Wood was used like in the Cross or the crown of thorns. Then it was dipped in gold! You have probably heard of the oak leaf cluster! Given to brave soldiers in battle! The 24 elders had enough sense to know that they conquered in Jesus Name! So this old theologian who lived in the 1300’s got it right! James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Rulers in Church and Government!
Ruling elders are declared to be the representatives of the people! Charles Hodge (1797-1878) Comment: Sorry Charles but 137 years later we are far removed for our American Constitution! In the church today the congregation does not elect the elders! Just as in politics today our representatives in Washington no longer represent the people! They represent themselves and the quest for power! So goes the church today! Then we wonder why people are turned off to the church? Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Centralized Worship! Deuteronomy 12:5
The place God shall choose is the Prophetic reference to God’s selecting one place in the Promised Land for a fixed central sanctuary to which Israel would worship in. This was necessary since the people would no longer be camped around a portable Tabernacle, but would be dispersed into the towns of Canaan. The New Testament version of this would be Hebrew 10:25 where it says,” Not forsaking the assembly of ourselves together as the matter of some is; but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching. ” Private devotions and worship is important but remember that worship right now around the Throne of God in Heaven is public worship! This worship consists of billions of Saints, Angels and the 24 elders surrounding Christ and the Father! There will be no Lone Rangers in Heaven! No hermits! Jesus visited the Temple in Jerusalem often and so did Paul! In an NFL football game you can be a spectator or sit on the bench or you could play on the field! Which are you? Things are supposed to be done on earth as it is in Heaven! Jesus said where two or three are gathered in my name there will I be! Public worship here on earth is dress rehearsal for Heaven! God has a plan for your life and when you follow the plan things work out! Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Moses Gets Rocked! Numbers Chapter 20
One of the greatest Patriarchs gets into trouble with God along with his brother Aron the Priest! On their journey from Egypt they get in a rough place in the desert of Zin. A dry desert with no water! How would you like two million people at your customer service counter complaining they have no water? They complained to Moses and told him it would have been better if he would have left them in Egypt! Moses goes to God and He tells Moses to take his rod along and speak to the rock! The rod represents his authority! God did not tell Moses to use the rod but simply speak to the rock! So Moses instead of speaking to the rock hits the rock twice with his rod! He got the same results as speaking to the rock as water gushed out of the rock but was in disobedience to God! Moses name means to be drawn out of the water. However in this case the water got him in trouble! It was the same water that saved him on the Nile River but this time not in obedience! Moses was saved by the water as a baby by the obedience of another! We are saved by the obedience of another Christ on the Cross! Moses and Aron got punished and did not enter the Promised Land! Leadership is not easy! The rewards are great and so are the risks! God may have or is performing Miracles through you but remember He can use anyone or anything! To steal God’s Glory has consequences! We must not be presumptuous in regards to God’s character! We do not live in fear of God but recognize His ways are always higher than our ways! Moses today is most likely one of the 24 elders seated before the Throne of God in Worship! If we sin and make a mistake repent quickly and give the outcome to Christ for the rest of your eternity! Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
Jesus Prays in Gethsemane Matthew 26:36-46
The word Gethsemane is a Hebrew word that means an oil press. Gethsemane was an olive garden with olive trees with an olive press most likely located on the western slope of the Mount of Olives. Have you ever been severely pressed in your soul, mind and body? Ever feel like you are being squeezed to death? Combat soldiers in battle experience this as death knocks at the door. If you were being executed for a crime you committed you could rationalize that I deserve it. If you were being executed for a crime you did not commit would you voluntarily step forward for execution? That is what Jesus did for you! Jesus and His disciples entered the garden late at night. Cold and darkness surrounded them as Roman soldiers were in the hunt for them. Jesus takes Peter, James and John into the interior of the garden with him to pray. While Jesus prays he becomes exceedingly sorrowful even unto death! Let this cup pass from me but if not your will be done. Meanwhile the disciples fall asleep? Jesus cautions his disciples to watch and pray and not to enter into temptation for the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Jesus prays again the second time the same prayer. The disciples fall into sleep again! Jesus prays again the third time the same prayer. Then the Chief Priest, elders and soldiers come and take him away. In Jewish culture if you say something three times that is the most you can say it. Peter do you love me? Peter do you love me? Peter do you love me? On the third day Jesus rose from the dead! Three strikes and your out. Jesus spoke to the mountain on the mountain three times and then He let God’s will and providence for His life and purpose be done! Let not our prayers be a fire escape but let His will for our lives be done so that others may benefit! When olives are squeezed they produce oil which is used for light and heat. Jesus was squeezed so you could have light in the dark world we live in. Jesus was, is and always will be the light of the world! Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com
The Respectful Are Respected! 1 Timothy 5:1-4
Instructions from God for a good outcome in your life! Respect elders. Encourage elders. Treat the younger as your brothers and sisters. Care for widows. What happens inside our homes counts! Important! The Christian home is the alternative community that is opposite to the dark, broken dysfunctional world that we live in. Politicians just reflect our broken culture. Church should be different. Debt free and living for others! Live more responsible with more to give away! Problem is the world does not see us any different from them. Just reminds them of themselves and what they hate. We must reinvent a new way of living. When the Church lives most unlike the world it has it’s greatest impact of reaching the world for Christ. Honor those in front of us. The older are farther along and have met things we have not. Wisdom comes from God and through time! Remember the word time means “to honor.” Old is gold. American culture spends between 90-100 Billion dollars each year for anti-aging gimmicks. Hopeless and expensive ways to try to stay young. The Bible teaches that grey hair is a gift from God. The elderly have great opportunities to help the younger. Many of the young today do not know how to ask questions. Be responsible to help widows. Seek out widows in need. John 19:25-27. Take care of your mother. With all the suffering and pain of the Cross and near death Jesus thought about his mother. A disciple took her from the execution place to care for her in his home. Why did not James take care of her? Mary was also his mother. If you read Acts Chapter 12 you will see James was killed a short time later. Joseph her husband had already passed away. Mary was vulnerable and Jesus saw it. John was the older disciple. Take care of a widow not related to you. James 1:27. Pure religion is to take care of widows and orphans and to keep your heart pure. Be family for them. Do 3 things. Find a widow. Look for them. Find, love and serve them. If you do you will come back here one year later and be a changed person. Joy and peace will enter into you. Honor your parents. Repay your parents. Practice your religion. Look not at them as a burden. Ask them how you can help them. Problem is not all parents are honorable. You could have had dysfunctional and abusive parents. Romans 12:17-18. Repay evil for evil? No! Do not become who you hate! Live at peace with everyone. Forgive. Break the cycle of family violence. Honor parents who are not honorable. Ephesians 6:2. Honor your Father and Mother and life will go well with you. The peace of God will accompany obedience. As a parent myself I do not always get it right. Neither will you. You get one shot in life at parenting. Parents work hard and then kids are gone. When we forgive we give away what we get back. Parents do the best they can at the time. Would we do differently if we could do over again? Yes. God gives us His Grace! Source; Pastor Brady Boyd, New Life Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Message given on Sunday, October 13, 2013. Thankyou. James and Hamsa Sasse. GodWhoisGod.com