WAITING FOR THE BRIDE

Have you ever been in love, really in love; that all you can think about is her kind of love? Your heart is burning with excitement…”I can’t wait to see her! I wonder if she wants to see me as much as I want to see her. I can’t wait to show her my love, the time we spend talking about cute little nothings”.

Everything melts away in the stream of our intimacy, time flies by, nothing else matters when we are together..

Would you believe this is how God thinks about you? Jesus Christ, the (Creator of the Universe), Lord of Lords, King of Kings, and final authority over all things is absolutely and fanatically in love with his redeemed, the people whom He has purchased with His blood. The Church, it sounds so big and impersonal, doesn’t it? Actually this family is made up of innumerable multitudes of very special people like you. Everyone has their own fears, problems, and soap opera going on, but Jesus is thinking continually of each of His beloved – He is in love with you!

“How precious are your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I awake, I am still with thee.” Psalms 139:17-18

How could God, so awesome, so big, so busy, and sometimes (we think) so demanding, be in love with little old me? The truth is: the Almighty, all powerful, all knowing, all holy God created this whole big plan just to be in love with you. All the careers, endeavors, and passions we have as human beings are just a backdrop in which we may learn of relationship with God and with people.

“And He has made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.” Acts 17: 26-28

This life is a parabolic manifestation of the eternal reality. The marriage between husband and wife is a parable to know of our relationship with Jesus. All plants start with a seed, grow to maturity, produce fruit full of seed, the seed fall to the ground which is sown and produces more seed: all a picture of death, burial and resurrection. In fact, the first creation all died in Adam, and now Christ Jesus, the second Adam, has sown his Word into fertile ground which is us, and now we are raised into a new life. This was all made possible by the death on the cross and resurrection by the power of the Holy Spirit.

“Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which lives and abides for ever.” 1 Peter 1:23

“And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.” Revelation 14:15

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.” James 5:7

It is easy to get lost in this seemingly confusing jungle of life. It is good to know that the Creator, God does come to us as a Shepherd. He seeks us out at a time of our “ripeness” and reveals himself to us. With one touch of His spirit, His love changes us forever. We can never settle for the temporal things of the world. Now that we are born of heaven, there is a new hunger in our hearts to know him, to be with him, to receive more of him. Just like when you fall in love, aimlessly stumbling through life with friends, hoping someday something will happen to fill your dreams. Destiny will knock. Then, when you least expect it, boom! you meet that special person and you’ll never be the same. All those feelings you thought had been used up by hurtful relationships all return. Perhaps you’ve never felt that before…the burning in your heart right above the butterflies in your stomach every time you are about to see that special person all drive home this powerful truth…you’re in love.

Have you ever considered how God feels? His feelings are even more powerful than ours. He doesn’t bury his feelings or drown them with drinking. He is not in denial or simply afraid to love. He is passionately jealous for you, and the only reason He is waiting to return and take His bride in His arms and love her with all His heart is the sobering reality that many who are destined for this unfathomable event are not ready yet. Many don’t even know Him yet, others are confused and don’t want Him yet. Still, He paces the floor of heaven like a lion roaring over his pride, anticipating the day He will show her. He will cancel all of her doubts and fears once and for all, and finally, like a volcano erupting, like the rising of the sun or the Aurora Borealis dancing in the northern sky: He will come with a shout at the final trump. He will ride the clouds and split the sky and appear in His Glory. Then all walls will come down, all veils will be blown away. Everything will be laid open at the brightness of His coming. Why does He wait? Why has He set it all up like this? Why does He allow injustice and suffering and leave us here seemingly squandering our lives away?…. To prepare the bride to be able to receive His love and rule and reign. Because He is in love with us, and we will be with Him for eternity, He knows how to perfect us.

” But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 2 Peter 3;8-10

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into various temptations;3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4

He is in love with you and He will accomplish His plans to unite the eternal family once and for all in Glory to love on forever. Please humble yourself. Open your heart to Him. Tell Him how much you need Him; ask for Him to show you His face and His ways; to become one with Him. Seek and ye shall find. He is LOVE.

“ The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handywork. Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shows knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them has he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoices as a strong man to run a race.” Psalm 19:1-5

Russell David Hobbs

 

ARE YOU A ZOMBIE! ZOMBIES ARE REAL! 

 Do you find yourself still searching for the meaning of life or numbing your pain with pleasure?! Do you believe what the media tells you or do you have a source for truth? Do you follow people doing bad things?

Statistically speaking, you are probably a zombie!

The earth is covered with the walking dead, the majority of the billions of people we see walking  the earth are actually dead. Everyday people are eating, drinking, having sex, sleeping, addicted to sports, pornography, shopping, celebrity and gossip and the world rages on… but there is no Life in the masses, no real Life, no eternal Life force..

WHEN YOUR A ZOMBIE YOU DON’T KNOW IT…

Unless you have been born of the Eternal Spirit you are still dead in Adam the first human and of the earth which is bound to corruption…
Unless you are born again, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, connected to the living God, resurrected from the dead then you are still a zombie and do not have eternal Life. He who has the Son has life and he who does not have the Son of God does not have life, 1st John 5.12 

John 5.12 is talking about eternal Life, Zoe is Greek for life that is eternal now and forever.Those who have Zoe Life have passed from death unto Life even though they are still here walking around working, eating and drinking they are different from you. God is love, God is the Spirit and if you are not connected to Him you can’t know His love.

 Are YOU a Zombie? Are YOU Dead or Alive?

All people must be born of the Spirit! Otherwise we are walking zombies without life and slowly perishing. God told our first ancestors, “Do not eat of that tree or you will die” Adam and Eve didn’t die a natural death they were still walking around, they died spiritually when they disobeyed and ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In Adam all died. All people now are born as dead zombies, naturally alive but spiritually dead. For as in Adam all died, even so in Christ shall all be made alive, 1 cor 15.22. All zombies need regeneration, this is when God quickens our spirit by the Holy Spirit to make us alive to him. Only then can we SEE and understand God, His word and His kingdom.

Until you are born again you can not perceive the Kingdom of God and even know you are lost. Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly I say to you, Unless you are born again you cannot see the kingdom of God”. John 3.3

God or Religion? YOU can’t do both..

Most people can’t see the difference in all the religions- Islam, Hinduism, Catholicism, Mormonism, Buddhism, paganism…they try to put Jesus in the mix. The problem with all religions is they try to make you be better or to be “like God”  That may help people’s behavior but it does not bring reconciliation with God, forgiveness of sin or the new life. If you are still without God’s Spirit, dead in your trespasses no matter how smart or good you try to be you can’t keep the laws of God or become righteous. To compare yourself with others or say you are righteous by your works is Self Righteousness! God solved this problem with the gospel! 

THE GOOD NEWS FOR THE BAD NEWS- The Gospel;

 Death of Christ- Just as prophecy foretold, the Creator God came in the flesh to die a substitutionary death on a cross at the hands of men. The Lamb of God was slain, his blood was shed to take away your sin that you choose to commit and sin we inherited from Adam. 

Burial of Christ – Messiah was then buried for three days and three nights. We are “buried” when we die to our own righteousness and “good works” trying to make God accept us or be better than the “bad people”. We rest when we trust only in God’s work on the cross.For he that is entered into his rest has ceased from his own works as God did from his. Hebrews 4.10

 Resurrection of Christ- Jesus Christ, the messiah was raised from the dead by the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit. When you become a new creation in union with God the Eternal Spirit, he quickens you and then you are raised from the dead to sit in heavenly places with Christ and walk in a new life!

 If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation, the old things are passed away, behold all things become new. 2nd Corinthians 5.17.  And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: Ephesians 2.6 And you has he quickened who were dead in your trespasses ( zombies) Ephesians 2.1

All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life that was slain from the creation of the world Revelation 13.8

 Christ must be risen in YOU-

 Christ is born in us just like he was born in Mary, by the Word of God. The angel spoke the Word of God and she received it by faith, then Christ was born in her. Will YOU receive the Word now?

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God John 1.1, And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord, be it unto me according to your word and the angel departed from her. Luke 1.38

We must be born of the Word of God. Being born again not by corruptible seed but by non-corruptible seed the Word of God which lives forever, 1st Peter 1.23 

But as many as received him, to them he gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name John 1.12

That if you will confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you shall be saved, For with the heart man believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Romans 10.9,10 

Who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins sat down on the right hand of majesty on high. Hebrews 1.3 

 The Goal is Christ in YOU-

 Most preaching today misses the point on the real need for Jesus Christ! Yes we do need our sins taken away so we can go to heaven BUT the greater need is that we must be made alive by the Holy Spirit so we can walk with God now because he is Spirit. When I die, I don’t care where I go as long as it’s where God is.The problem we have is becoming alive instead of dead in our trespasses. Life, ETERNAL LIFE is returned when we receive the Messiah and we are regenerated by His Spirit. We are first born as zombies that must be born again, born from above.

God is Spirit and they who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth. John 4.24

 To whom God would make known what is the riches of his glory of this mystery among the gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory, Colossians 1.27

When Jesus said to her “I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in me though he were dead yet shall he live” John 11.25, he was not just suggesting something to say at a funeral. He is our only hope, He is Life!.Jesus said “I am the way, the truth and the life and no one comes to the Father but by me”. John 14:6.

This sounds exclusionary to some but he is God and his way and it is the only way to be connected to God, this is why he came. People argue and debate because they are still blind and our human nature does not want to deal with God telling us what to do. But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness to him, neither can he know them for they are spiritually discerned, 1 Corinthians 2.14

 I WAS A ZOMBIE then the Holy Spirit convinced me of truth and I  received Christ..

 Pray now to receive him. For prayer or help in understanding email 

25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

Russell David Hobbs

FOOD REVELATION LEADS TO FOOD REVOLUTION

The Love of Money is the Root of All Kinds of Evil, “It’s Work to Chew”

A restaurant is a church for the physical body.  When the church is run God’s way, people are blessed.  Most people have never experienced a scriptural church. Very few people have ever experience a scriptural restaurant.  The movie theater is church for the soul (mind, will and emotions).  Movies work on the mind to move the emotions and, ultimately, change your will. When we subject ourselves to church, restaurants or movies, our entire being is affected greatly.  Society today and public opinion is a product of what we have all been fed over the past decades.

All of these establishments feed parts of our being; the “ministers” of these, (writers, directors, bartenders, cooks, clergy, counselors, ticket takers and crooks) transfer the spirit behind each organization into our being. Everything under the sun was created by God; our challenge is to discern which of these is life and which is death, then choose life!

Most churches today serve a steady diet of “low fat” homogenized milk and “enriched” white bread made with “refined” flour instead of the unleavened bread of the real gospel. The hard sayings of Jesus hurt finances.  This so-called bread made of “refined” flour is an adulterated version of the wheat that God has given us.  Through the process of bleaching and pulverizing, it becomes easier to chew, yet hardly nutritious. then it must be “enriched” with synthetic vitamins because it is depleted from its natural state. Jesus calls himself “the bread of life,” the Word of God made flesh. Sometimes the gospel preached today is so refined that it has become a perversion of truth, to the point that it is Antichrist. Galatians 1;6-12. It is palatable, it looks good, but it is deceptive and leads a person to feeling “full,” but not content. Modern teachers have reduced the gospel to behaviorism with Jesus and put Jesus name on it, the philosophy of the world in Jesus’ name. The true gospel, the whole sprouted grain, is the only power that leads to salvation (1 Cor. 1:18) and it brings death to the carnal mind of the hearer. But the truth releases us to eternal liberty!  Which bread do you feed on: the anti-Christ refined bread which is profitable for its ministers or the real thing, which has great cost? If we shortcut in this life by eating the junk that feels good for a moment we will pay by experiencing poor health and spend time and money on doctors. If we shortcut in this life by embracing watered down sugarcoated teaching we will pay for it by missing out on the power and presence of God and bearing eternal fruit for our Lord and master.

Boycott

I felt the poison surge through my body after a few bites of the French fries at a local chain restaurant. Then the revelation hit me, the spirit of the world is transferred through the food, music and servants of these greed establishments.  The three week old grease alone would have been enough to kill me, but there was more.  My whole being had felt light, free and loved, but as soon as I submitted myself to this “ministry of greed” I felt dead.  Now you may be thinking, this is crazy, but until you have lived on pure food, cooked with love, you can’t relate.  We must boycott the world in every way and live a separated life like John the Baptist who Jesus called the greatest man ever born of a woman. Purity and quality are the call, come out and be separate, touch not the unclean thing. Let us cook in our homes more often than not until our restaurants are established. Then the people will all boycott the greed centers and come to God’s feeding grounds. Like when a person gets saved, they leave the bar and come to the church.  When a person gets revelation offood, they leave corporate restaurant slavery and cook at home or find restaurants that serve quality food.  Revelation brings on revolution!  Repentance comes from the Geek word metanoia which means change in the mind, “be transformed by renewing your mind.”  In modern civilization our quality of life has been diminished.  Sure, we can fly around the world in 5 hours or watch the Pope speak on TV from Rome, but try and find a fresh wholesome meal prepared with loving hands, the closest thing you’ll find is a “health” food store full of neurotic, new age gurus munching on sprouts. Today, the highways are lined with corporate clones of the latest test marketing winner, the latest combination of successful chains. These profit centers are staffed by people who are there only to punch a clock for a paycheck and trained like robots to throw a chemical-laden entree in the microwave, then rush it to you table.  Then, they have the audacity to try to push a corporate dessert sales pitch down your throat.  So impersonal, these excuses for restaurants must dazzle you with cute names for the plates, walls cluttered with fake antique junk and music so loud, conversation is impossible. The people’s knowledge of food is way ahead of availability, in our fast paced life, many are forced to compromise their diet for convenience in the restaurant revolution, God’s prophets of the food industry will see that the ministers must be of utmost character, walk in holiness and have a genuine burden for the customer.

The tyrant king that rules this world teaches his slaves how to feed the masses overcooked scraps with cute names, laughing as he watches the people line up for fried junk, twelve packs of watered down beer and lottery tickets. But, the revolution has begun: people of truth taking the land, eating pure food, even if they must boycott restaurants that kill.

The Times and Trends

People Do the Best they Know How to Do

We are living in a renaissance, a reformation; even a time of revolution.  In the area of religion, God is bringing the church into a unity never witnessed before through revelation of the simplicity of grace.  People now know the vanity of the “Party hard” lifestyle of the disco 70’s and the decadent 80’s.  The reality of AIDS turned the life styles of people in the late 80’s back to the church and seeking healing. This need led many people back to the church or twelve-step programs for answers. Some church bodies actually know the answer, many do not.  God in His sovereignty will accomplish His work. Nevertheless, in the are of diet, which I consider the second most important aspect of our lives, we see an awesome transition taking place. The talk shows, magazines and conversations are buzzing with information on food and a real quest for truth is evident. God rains on the just and the unjust, all knowledge He shares with His prophets eventually gets parroted by the world through the media and true doctors.  In the end, He will receive all Glory! Nevertheless, today everybody is hearing “low fat, eat fruits and vegetables” and the food pyramid is even on cereal boxes.  The problem is, the restaurants are very slow at re-tooling to stay up with the demand for quality.   People simply look for the best deal in the shortest amount of time to meet their need for food. With the real motive of restaurants being “to make money,” management grudgingly employs “low fat” items or day-old salads in a box. We must look to God and learn His ways. God created mankind, He created food for man, even in our fallen state, He has made provision.  The less we manipulate the natural state of fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains and meats; the more nourishing they are to our being.  We do not eat because we are hungry, we are hungry because we need to eat when our body is depleted of certain necessary minerals, proteins, enzymes, or vitamins.  By design we were made to eat; this was touched on in the first chapter. Without revelation, no amount of information you memorize (or calories you count) are going to enlighten you on the simplicity offood.  Modern man, in his quest for quality of life and pursuit of happiness, continues to find it in the least expected places: God, His creation and relationships. The word “radical” has been popularized by the youth.  Radical means “root.”  As man finds his roots, he finds revelation.  Just as science took thousands of years to discover the world was round, the Bible proclaimed this truth before the question was asked.  So, it is with health, the Word of God tell us many things about how to take care of this great gift, our body but people, in their “sophistication” scoff at “that ancient book.”

Let Our Conversation Be

The world, like a jungle, is so full of philosophies and decisions to make.  Sown into this runaway train is the corruption of sin, now motivated by greed.  We see antacids sold on TV commercials, a quick fix that will sooner or later cause heart trouble.  These acids are made to break down foods in this complex system.  With no thought of changing the eating habits, people choose the world’s philosophy and try to “fix” problems scientifically, but never give up sin or eating junk. The key to knowing the truth that will set us free is given only when we humbly receive the truth.  We must believe that God is and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, Hebrews 11;6  Seek wisdom and get understanding; this is the chief thing, Proverbs 4;7.  God gives us the knowledge to discern good and evil and the wisdom to live hi way in this deceptive world rather than touched by the plague of sin from Adam.  The foodthat we consume in our spirit, soul and body must be pure.  If any part of our being is craving impure food, whether it is pornography, deceptive theology, or Twinkies, this is evidence Satan has some place in us.  Jesus said, Satan has come and found nothing in me.  Why? because Jesus was dead to the world. The lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life had no power over him.  Satan has sown the lie into the creation with one lie to Adam’s wife, “You shall be as gods.”  All ambitions, search for significance, pride and independence are fruits of this sin: the pride of life! 1 John 2: 15-17.  The lust issues are easily exemplified by people craving television and junk food for the satisfying of the eyes and mouth.  The only way of liberty is to receive the truth through acknowledgement that Jesus is Lord, Adonai, the creator God of the universe.  He is the Door. Then, we receive the love of the Father.  The idea that people spread today about “accepting Jesus as Lord” is preposterous.  He must accept us, through the blood he shed on Golgotha (Skull Hill).  We confess unto salvation and believe; then we are justified by faith, then the sanctification begins.  Today, most Christian leaders only scratch the surface of sanctification.  The work is done by the Holy Spirit, not by our works, but the more we believe, yield, and die daily, the sooner He can accomplish this glorious work seen in 2 Thessalonians. 5:23. That our body, soul and spirit be found blameless on the day of the Lord’s return.  Our spirit is sanctified by the power of God immediately when we are saved. Our soul is sanctified b renewing our mind, Romans 12:1-2, and thirdly our body is sanctified as we yield it to God in a lifestyle that serves and gives glory to Him. The central point of this chapter is brought out in 2 Timothy 2;4, “the soldier of Christ shall not be entangled in things of the world.” Our whole society is centered around eating, drinking going to movies, and then, if we feel like it, visiting a lukewarm church for two hours on Sundays. This is NOT what the glorious Lion of Judah gave His blood for. He has purchased a spotless bride who is in love with Him, full of discernment, doing nothing that grieves the Holy Spirit.  Modern American Christians think that grace means we can “do anything we want now.” As far as salvation, this is true, we are indeed saved by grace, but to take this gift and walk this life in temporary pleasures and selfish endeavors proves ungratefulness.  Eat swine’s flesh, scream for your favorite sports team, and live the American dream, but those who love the Lord hear His voice and live for a higher caslling.  He called us to glorify His truth in every area of our life.  To glorify God is simply to do things His way, this acknowledges that He is God and He knows how things should be done.  Whether in food choice, preparation, or in church worship and government; we are blessed when we follow God’s plan for His creation.  We are the apple of His eye, He created the universe for us. Satan hates God because he is jealous, and he hates man because we are made in the image of God.  Today, there is an Antichrist voice that says man is a cancer on the earth and must be controlled so as not to hurt mother nature; this is demonic.  God made all the beauty, the splendor and the function to show us His ways and His character.  We are the main characters in the drama of life, the top of the food chain, the king of the hill, the object of His love! Man in his arrogance has tried to do it better than God since the Garden, where the serpent first led Adam into rebellion. Man has walked this path throughout history.  The original lie was “you shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” Genesis 3:5. From that day all the way through to the Revelation where we see the number of the beast is “666, the number of man,” we see the same propensity of man trying to manipulate God, his fellow man, and the creation.  Man tries to set up a throne, or maybe just a “name” for himself.  The Antichrist, despite what many believe, is not the devil, but a man trying to be God. 2 Thessalonians. 2:7.

Let us bring this truth into the arena of food.  God has provided all we need to live on this earthly plane, even in this fallen state.  Firstly, in the Garden, all man had to do was pick fruit and receive nourishment. After the fall, God said, “Now you will eat by the sweat of your brow.” This is when agriculture started.  Vegetables became the main nourishment. Later, after the flood when the canopy that covered the earth was burst and the first hard rain fell Genesis 1:6, it was a new day and God said you may eat of the clean animals and not the unclean animals.  God told Noah to take seven of all of the clean animals into the ark and only a pair of all of the unclean animals.  The clean animals were created for man’s food and  used for sacrificed in the Levitical priesthood. The unclean animals were created to clean the earth and the sea.  Deuteronomy 14 shows the difference in the animals. “Thou shalt not eat any abominable things.” (see vs. 3-21) Noah had the revelation of clean and unclean animals before the law was brought through Moses.  The point here is that God made this place for us with plenty of resources for the prosperity our spirit, soul and body.  The more we manipulate the food, the less profitable it becomes for our health and the more profitable it becomes for the factory owner or restaurateur.  Back to the stages of food development: first, the Garden with fruit, secondly, from the sweat of the brow, agricultural vegetables and third, the post-flood consumption of meat, then the modernization of the flood supply for the masses of people. The industrial age brought forth much technology, causing the gentrification of the food supply, Sadly, quality was compromised by the canning, freezing and cooling methods.  Now, we are experiencing the fifth and final stage: the “post-industrial return to purity.” Today we see the affects of high tech seeds sown over the past hundred years.  Hospitals are full of people with food-related diseases. People think it is normal to feel badly most of their lives.  They take pills to ease the pain, then sign their will in a hospital bed.  We are faced with a complex problem of reeducating people in an era where most do not want to give up their addiction to junk food and try the more excellent way. We have become a society of abusive behavioral patterns, partially by choice, but mostly because there is no choice. People can only live according to the options available to them.  The single mom is working, and she gives her son $5 for dinner. He walks to the corner to choose between McDonalds, Burger King and Taco Bell.  His choice is very limited.  Next, he goes to the $1 movie where the choices are no more inspired than the corporate restaurant slavery chains he just burped out. Man never had to deal with chemical-laden food until after WWII. Throughout the ages, if you ate a vegetable, all you got was a vegetable.  Today, we must read ingredient labels and ask the restaurant if they use MSG or worse.  Many enlightened carnivores have given up eating out and must prepare quality foodat home. We are at the threshold of a food revolution.  Yes, there are a few stores which provide whole foods, and the whole world is talking about health, low fat diets, and eating healthier. However, the restaurants still don’t get it.  Most people do not know how good it feels to eat pure, fresh foods, prepared with loving hands,  and in an environment of peace, with anointed servants.

“The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” Example; God created sugar cane and man has manipulated the cane in much the same way that cocaine is processed. By using an ether process which changes the chemical structure forming a rock, which we call “refined sugar.” the sugar has longer shelf life and is more addictive. If you don’t know how powerful it is, try to stop all use of it.  Cocaine is processed the same way as refined sugar: both are from natural sources and then manipulated to form addictive drugs.  God has given us honey, one of the single most nourish foods on earth. He has made bees labor year round for us to inherit the blessing of honey in a land of “milk and honey.”

This subject is not a new issue, and most people just think it is over emphasized but until a person experiences a clean life, without alcohol, caffeine, processed food, and  all adulterated substances, one cannot know the power of these chemicals.  Like a person living in a dirty room who one day opens the curtains and the sunlight pours in, exposing the filth; they either clean up and change or close the curtains to cover it up again.  Most people do not change until faced with a life-threatening disease.  For the love of God and beauty, others see the revelation and enjoy doing what brings glory to God.  God, our loving Father, has shown the way.  The full effect of this philosophy cannot be felt until the healing foods take over, and the power of the poison is deleted.  John the Baptist lived a separated life and walked in power.  Today, eating and drinking is entertainment.  Like ancient Rome, our society bombards us with the philosophy: “Eat, drink and be merry, lest tomorrow we may die.” Faith moves us to swim upstream, like salmon and conquer for the sake of truth, laying down our immediate lust and plow fields for tomorrow. Try it now and pray for revelation from God for the food you consume to fill your body, soul and spirit and he will give you power to be healthy, fruitful and more happy.

Russell David Hobbs 1995

TO THE CHURCH OF THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS

OR “A LETTER TO GOD’S FAVOR-ITES”

                “For who makes you differ from another?  And what do you have that you did not receive?  Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you glory as if you had not received it?” I Corinthians 4:7 NKJV
The Body of Christ longs to fulfill her destiny on the earth and please our Lord Jesus Christ.  Saints pray continually, “Lord, let your will be done, show us your ways, please save the lost, our families, and heal our land.” These prayers can be heard at church meetings all around the world, but there is a major stumbling block to the realization of these desires.  The problem is that the Church is self-righteous!  Just ask the world how they perceive Christians. Do they answer, “Oh, these people are so humble; they love each other?”  No, they say, “the Church is a bunch of hypocrites.” We all know this is used as an excuse, but it was NEVER said of Jesus.   The common attitude in the Body of Christ today is, “We don’t need more doctrine. No more theology! We just need relationship!”  Let us examine this subtle scheme of the serpent to hinder growth in the Body of Christ.  Do we need deeper relationships?  Yes, of course, but the truth frees us to experience deeper relationships.  When our ears are closed to foundational teaching that has the power to challenge our thinking, the house is not built on the Rock of Christ.
Peter writes, “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” 2nd Peter 1.2 We see here that knowledge of God, the Father, produces grace and peace, and Grace is the revelation that the Church still needs today.  Many churches use the word “Grace” on their signs, but they don’t truly understand what it means.  “Grace” in Hebrew comes from “chen,” which means “favor” or “to bestow,”  which comes from a word meaning “to stoop over.”  In the new testament mentions of grace the Greek, “charis” means “gift.” Grace is given, it is a gift.  Grace means favor, and if everyone was given favor, it would no longer be “favor.”  Most Christians have taken a big dose of the leaven of the Pharisees, they said things like, “I fast twice a week.  I tithe on all my stuff, God, I thank you that I’m not like those evil sinners. But many christians today think “thank you Lord I’m not one of those who drink too much, beat their wives, and only go to church on Easter.”
Paul received the mystery of Grace long before the other apostles, born out of season he said  “I am what I am by the Grace of God.”  Paul understood that he would still be a murderer if the Lord of Glory had not come to him, struck him from his horse so lovingly, and “called” him into the kingdom of light. “But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the Children of Israel.  For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Acts 9:15-16 NKJV
 Here we see the Lord’s call on Saul.  We must see this revelation to know that God is for us, saving us was His plan all along, and saving others is His plan, as well.
The striving we see in the church today to beg and convince God to do things for us; to “help” us win souls; and to show His Glory in the earth: is the fruit of the humanistic stronghold in the minds of modern man.  Our real call is to reckon ourselves dead, alive unto God, and to receive the revelation and anointing to know that, “We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. “ Ephesians 2:10 KJV  Until the born-again believers understand that we did absolutely NOTHING to be saved, then we are still self-righteous.  “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, The people He has chosen as His own inheritance.” Psalms 22:12 NKJV
In 1 Corinthians 1:2 the Word says,  that we are sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be Saints,(paraphrased). The word “sanctified” means “set apart.”  Jesus, the chief shepherd has set us apart from the world.  A little lamb cannot find his way to the Shepherd; rather, the Shepherd must find and save the lost sheep.
Parables are spiritual truths formed into the creation, part of God’s design that we may know the heart of God.  God chose to use the parable of birth to show us the picture of our regeneration.  We did not choose to be born the first time, and we didn’t choose to be born-again either.  We were birthed by God and the faithful servants He used to bring us in.  Most Christians today believe that they made a good “decision” based on the information at hand and “accepted” Jesus into their hearts.  The Bible clearly states that all believers were born by the will of God not by the will of man.  “Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  John 1:13 NKJV  Like an adopted child taken from familiar surroundings, we kick and scream when our Father strips away the things we depend on: friends, position; even our righteousness.  Only after time has passed, we see His faithful love and know that he brought us out of the darkness into His kingdom of light.
This truth is again seen in Romans 9:16 KJV   “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.    Romans 9:18 NKJV “Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens”.  This scripture challenges all we hear in today’s humanistic society.  The truth will absolutely slay the carnal mind, which is the enemy of God according to Romans 8:7… and leave us with no glory of our own.  “That no flesh should glory in His presence.”  I Corinthians 1:29 KJV    As long as the Christian thinks he chose to be saved, “accepted” Jesus, or made an intellectual decision, he cannot really understand or humbly rejoice that his name is written in the Lambs Book of Life. (Luke 10:20b paraphrased)  We don’t rejoice about something we earn; we rejoice in the Love of God that is given over and over again.  Even though we fall short of our calling, He is steadfast and gentle to keep us.    We are kept by the power of God.  We are chosen by God.  Read 1 Corinthians 1:21-31 and see that the Jews require a sign, the Greeks seek wisdom and yet, in 1 Corinthians 1:24, 27 KJV, God says, “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”   “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.”  We see in these two scriptures that both Jews and Greeks stumble, but if you are called, you will see the light.  I realize that this controversy is not new, but the end-time bride of Christ is receiving this revelation to have the strength to endure.  John 15:16 “You did not choose Me, but I chose you”……
“THE LIE”
Satan has sown the lie of “self” so deep into mankind, only the revelation of Christ by the Holy Spirit can free us to be able to see that God wants us saved and victorious, even more than we want that for ourselves.  It all started in the Garden.  Well, actually it all started when Lucifer said, “I will be like the most high”, I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the most high.”  Isaiah 14:14 After being cast down he went to the Garden and said to Eve, “You will be like the most high”. Satan saw that trying to be God cost him all that he had.  He then wanted to bring man down with him so he went for Eve. This, wanting to be God, is the mystery of iniquity. Man ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil and evil religion is still going strong keeping the majority of people from Christ. Man in control, with God involved as his ritual only, this is antichrist. God wants to be in every area of our life, not only His name used on our rituals.
 “Let no one deceive you by any means; for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way.” II Thessalonians 2:3, 4, 7:
Millions of people meet every week all over the world and sing songs; “I want to be like you, Lord.” We hear teachings about how to be like God. That is evidence that the leaders are missing the point. We will never be like Jesus. We must die to self, that Christ may be formed in us  “My little children of whom I travail in birth until Christ may be formed in you.” Galatians  4:19 Our whole secular culture is trying to be like God without God!  Watch the latest celebrities and influentials of the world,  the spirit they walk in is: to be good, to do good, and to be as gods. Behavioral Christianity is the most popular idea today in the church and in the world.  That is why the church is powerless. When we know the truth of the gospel,  then we will do greater works than Jesus did John 14:12, but with much persecution. Why is there no persecution today in America? Because the true gospel is rarely preached!
“The Truth”
Paul’s gospel, the one with power, brings an absolute death to the flesh. Jesus is called the “rock of offense” because you can’t add Jesus to your life, you must lose your life to find it. We are buried in baptism.  This is not just a cute ceremony, it is death. Not only the fact that we are dead and hid in Christ;  “For you died and your life is hidden with Christ in God,” Colossians 3:3 but we die daily that the Christ may live and work through us. To “reckon ourselves dead” is the expectation to all believers endeavoring to bring forth fruit. This is the resurrection life! In Hebrews chapter 6 verse 1, we see the principles of the doctrine of Christ. The first step is repentance from dead works.  In this doctrine, we find our death. Most people believe this refers to the old covenant sacrifice and law, but the concept here is much deeper. Repentance comes from the word “metanoeo” which means a transformation of the mind, to reconsider, a change in our minds about what makes us right with God..righteousness.
The Bible says that God makes us the righteousness of God in Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21. Most Christians think that repent means to tell God we’re sorry about sin.  That is confession, not repentance.  In Acts 2: 38, Peter, a Jew, was preaching to Jews who came to Jerusalem for Pentecost.  He said, “Repent.”  He was not saying “To be sorry for their sin” but to “change their minds about righteousness.  Oh, and about the man that you crucified 53 days ago, he was the Messiah!” Then in Acts 2:39 Peter says, “This is the promise, to as many as the Lord shall call.” In the old covenant, “repent” means “ to return” because the Jews were with God, but then left, seeking after idols. In the New Testament “repent” means “to change your self-righteous outlook of thinking, like ‘I’m a good person” and receive the love of the truth. God has done it all through his son’s death on the cross. “Repent”, to the Jews, was a call to turn back by changing their minds about righteousness. “Repent” to people now, is a call to change our minds about how to be righteous before God and the call is to all walks of life, most  have never been with God
 Grace is the ability to experience a supernatural event. Salvation is only possible through supernatural ability (grace), to confess unto salvation that Jesus is Lord. Romans 10:9, proves that God must initiate each individual salvation. People think the gospel and Grace are out there in the air (omnipresent), and God is waiting for them to choose. In Titus 2.11, where he says that salvation has appeared into the men, he refers to God manifest in the earth, not that grace is automatically extended to all. Only when God quickens a person individually can they believe in their heart and confess unto salvation. Each person who is saved is a unique and personal work by the Almighty God, an individual “enablement” unto eternal life.
 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved)” Ephesians 2:4-5
Beloved, a dead man does not make a decision and has no power to make himself alive.  We cannot even ask God to save us without faith, and we would not know the need to be saved without the conviction of the Holy Spirit.  We receive faith when we are quickened.  “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.  I do not frustrate the grace of God, for if righteousness came by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:20-21.  As the gospel is preached, the word of faith is planted in a person and simultaneously the Holy Spirit quickens.  Then, and only then, we confess unto salvation, “Oh.., Jesus is Lord!”  Like Mary, we just say “Okay.”  The Word is planted, the Holy Spirit waters, Christ is born in us, and we exchange lives with Jesus Christ.  Read Luke 1:28-38 and Mathew 1:18-25 and discover that man had little choice in these matters.  When God sent an angel to tell Mary what was going to happen, He offered her no choice.
 “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:8-10  God initiates the work.  “Being confident in this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Philippians 1:6
Like Abraham, we acknowledge that He is Lord and are counted righteous, not of dead works, but by trusting in the work of the Lamb on the cross. The Father accepts us through the blood of His Son, proven by the Holy Spirit.  Our “accepting” Him is preposterous.
The first “dead works” were done by Adam and his wife when they made garments out of fig leaves.  God gently showed them a more excellent way: Sacrifice!  They must have felt a little offended when he did not accept their “works,” but not as offended as Cain felt when his works were rejected.  Cain had no excuse when we conclude that Adam told his son of the first sacrifice: when God covered the original sin with the blood and skins of an animal. Abel received the revelation of sacrifice and pleased God.  These two remnants have lived on throughout history.  Babel was the epitome of anti-christ works, and today we see the “new Babylon” being manifest.  The point here, however, is portrayed vividly through Jacob and Esau.  In Romans, chapter 9, we see the best picture of election.  In verses 11-12, “for the children, being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth; it was said unto her, ‘the elder shall serve the younger’.” This whole chapter is necessary to reveal the heart of God, “all Israel is not Israel.” God has designed his creation with some principals that are difficult to understand.  We are transformed from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light, then begins the transformation by the renewing of our mind.
 “I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:1-2
The spirit of the world today says, “All dogs go to heaven,” but most people really believe that all people should go to heaven. This makes sense to our carnal minds.  Reality comes, however, when we begin to see things God’s way.  Isaiah 43:4 says, “Since thou was precious in my sight, thou hast been honorable and I have loved thee, therefore I will give men for thee, people for thy life.”  When God commands Joshua to go into the Promised Land and take dominion, he was commanded to kill all those evil Satan worshippers.  Joshua was not told to hand out nice gospel tracts.  If degenerate people were not wiped out when God brought judgment, we would never have had the opportunity to live.  God’s ways are higher than our ways.
“FAVOR-ITES”
Israel was God’s chosen in the old covenant time. This relationship was a shadow of things to come. Christians today easily accept the fact that God had a “chosen” people in Israel, but struggle with a “chosen” people now.  Hebrews 13:8 says, “God does not change.” In Romans 9 Paul writes of Pharaoh, God extends mercy upon whom He will.  Aren’t you glad God has shown mercy to you? When it says God hardened pharaoh’s heart, we must realize that God did not need to touch pharaoh’s heart with “hardener,” He simply turned up the heat of circumstances. Pharaoh was in the Adamic nature and hatred is the fruit. The point is:  God plucks some out of the fire and leaves others in, He has mercy on whom He has mercy and no one “deserves” it. Today he says all Israel is not Israel.  Romans 9:6. “But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are Israel.”  Some people from every nation, tribe, and language will be saved exactly like the Lord sovereignly orchestrates it, to be His Holy nation, peculiar people, His church, the royal priesthood. Only when we see and accept this truth can we give God all the glory and rejoice that our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life from the foundation of the world.  “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and will ascend out of the bottomless pit and go to perdition. And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world, when they see the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.” Revelation 17:8.
When Jesus said these words to his disciples, “Rejoice not that the demons are subject to you, but rejoice that your name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life,” He was making it clear that they were learning that they were chosen to be with him forever. When this day comes in a believer’s life, he can finally cease from dead works and all fear of losing his salvation. Salvation is not ours to find or lose; it is the person of Jesus Christ, God manifest in the flesh and He loses no one. We are kept by the power of God.  In the old covenant we conclude God saved some while others were left.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8. A young Jewish boy had little choice in being born into a family that was saved on Passover.
“Free-Will”
Now, let us deal with the concept of free-will. Adam was walking with God, free and full of glory. Adam had free-will to obey God or disobey God. When he chose to buy the serpent’s lie, he lost free-will for all of us. In Adam, all died, but in Christ the second Adam, all are made alive.   “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22 When a person is regenerated by the Holy Spirit (made alive in Christ) their free-will is reinstituted. This explains why some Christians witness to people and shake their heads in disbelief when someone rejects Christ. “It’s so easy, just believe, asked Jesus into your heart and go to heaven”, they say. These zealous ones do not realize that no one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws them in His time. The word “choose” is found in the Bible, but never does God speak this word to the lost or to those who are not in covenant with him already. “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts, we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple.” Psalm 65:4  So, why are we so surprised when the flesh rejects God? Paul said, “There is no good thing in me, in my flesh that is.” Only when the living God quickens the spirit are we able to receive the love of truth, and confess unto salvation. When born-again leaders fall, it is only evidence that they have not been walking in the Spirit, but instead fulfilling the lust of the flesh. We must get over the shock at the wickedness of the flesh. We all know how selfish our own flesh is.  Only when we accept this, will the lost see us as humble and thankful, the redeemed.
We do not know who will be saved or when. Therefore, we must preach the gospel to every creature, but not with an attitude that it is all up to them. “And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord, and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.”Acts 13:48 “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.” Acts 16:14
People who are dead in trespasses are slaves to sin. (Romans 6:18-20). We, the redeemed, are slaves to righteousness. We must gently but boldly share the truth in love with lost people. Some plant, others water, but God gives the increase. Unless we abide in him we bring forth no fruit. God is sovereign and he uses people where they are. We do not have to be doctrinally perfect to win the lost, but the more revelation we have, the more we can worship God in spirit and in truth. Our life is worship, not just when we are in the church building. Our free-will as born-again believers is exercised in our daily choosing to serve God or serve others. The exhortation to us is to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Only when we know that God initiated our redemption are we in the right perspective to serve God from a true motive.  We, unlike the cults, are not winning souls to earn approval from God or get our own planet, but the love of God constrains us to do so.  All glory to God.
“THE CONTRAVERSY”
This controversy of election and pre-destination has been debated for centuries. Satan always subtly perverts the most life changing doctrines. He knows that if people know the truth he is unarmed. The Church has dealt with this by “roping off” certain doctrine as divisive and not dealing with them for the sake of unity. Well, God chose Paul, Peter and John to deal with these issues and their epistles became canonnized scripture. The carnal mindset is “let’s take the path of least resistance”. The enemy distorts truth causing division. The Pharisees, “the separatists” were a perversion of the truth of election. John the Baptist said, “Think not to say we are children of Moses” (in other words don’t believe you are some special people because of your great grandfathers religion with God) but bring forth fruit of repentance”. The truth is, sovereign Grace, or election as it is called causes a son of God to be ever humble and have no confidence in the flesh. Satan tries to bring the opposite effect. The effect of this truth in a person’s life depends on whether the revelation is mixed with the Holy Spirit love, bringing forth humility and thanksgiving, or mixed with the carnal nature bringing forth pride and the Pharisee spirit. Most churches and denominations that believe in election and predestination are very dead and separatist. ·No part of the body has it all. The Charismatic camp is strong in the gifts and live worship, but very weak in doctrine. The traditional old denominations are “dead” because this revelation was not mixed with zeal. Reformation came forth as a result of revelation received by men of faith such as Martin Luther and John Calvin, this “Reformed Theology” was the beginning of church renewal, all these men believed strongly in sovereign grace and election. The controversy of who initiates salvation and the possibility of a person losing his salvation was an issue in the early church. In all the epistles, the theme of God’s sovereignty was emphasized to combat the anti-christs of the day and establish believers in the truth of God’s sustaining power. We are kept by the power of God. The “Works Mentality” was sown again after the apostles died and the Roman Catholic Church exploited the lie until reformation, then Reformed Theology brought liberty. Today the battle still rages; the truth versus the lie.
“THE BIG PICTURE”
Throughout church history we see a battle against the church, the enemy works to exaggerate and distort, to prevent balance and unity. Jesus said, “God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth”. John 4:24. The Early Church, the apostolic beginning of the church, started as a balanced body of believers. “They continued steadfastly in the apostle’s doctrine, and there were many signs and Wonders”. Acts 2:42-43. The Church had solid teaching and theology mixed with manifestations of the Spirit and the charismatic reality. The Church today is divided. Unity is the cry, but many leaders want to unite by compromise. God will not allow his remnant to compromise. On one hand we see churches that are strong in the Spirit, these move in the gifts and lead in the live worship movement but are weak in theology. On the other hand the seminary-fed bible churches and major denominations are strong in the truth of the Word but very weak in the revelation of the Holy Spirit and their services are “dead”. Today we are at the threshold of the apostolic manifestation of the end-time Bride, where the Lord is raising up new “Davids” to proclaim truth that will bring the body into true unity, in Spirit and in Truth! First, the filling of God’s people with the revelation of God’s love, denominational walls will continue to come down in this mighty outpouring of the Spirit. We are learning to “be filled” together. Next, we will see a generation of new teachers, speaking with authority, the oracles of God. Teaching the corporate body the truth of Christ and his purpose from Genesis to Revelation unashamed of the gospel and unafraid to deal with “hard sayings”. “Sauls” who cling to tradition and safe teaching must repent or retire because God is jealous for His people and He will set us free, here on earth!
It is a new day! The end-time Bride has the best of all the camps put together, to be unstoppable. From the Faith movement we know we can prosper and rule in the marketplace, from the Charismatic renewal we know worship and the gifts of the spirit and from Reformed theology we know who we are in Christ, unshakeable by the devils lying tongue of accusation and condemnation. Going to the alter week after week to get saved again only proves that Satan can still tell people that they have not done enough or they aren’t pleasing to God. We can never do enough, that is why the Lamb was slain before the foundation of the world, to show us God’s infinite love and provide our salvation with no chance of failure. “And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world”.  Revelation 13:8  When we focus on what he has done, we will accomplish more. In any relationship, when we focus on the other person and they focus on us, this promotes a growing intercourse.
Let us run to the alter by faith to receive more of his gracious love knowing we are accepted through the blood of the lamb without shame and go forth proclaiming the works of God. For He is the Creator, the Redeemer and the faithful Husband throughout eternity. Nothing or nobody can stop God and his plan to display his Glory!
” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39   “If God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much long-suffering, the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?” Romans 9:22-24
“HARVEST”
The perspective we must receive on the plan of salvation is seen in James 5:7 “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.”
The Creator of the universe is a husbandman, who planted this vineyard in faith, expecting a good harvest. I don’t need to prove that God is successful in all that he does, this is quite obvious to us all. The celebration in heaven will not be compromised by saints lamenting over their friends who didn’t choose Jesus, because we didn’t pray enough or we didn’t witness enough, we could never do enough. In heaven we will all see from God’s perspective. While it is still called today let us serve God fervently for He desires to use us.
Adam means “of the earth”, the first man was of the earth, then God breathed the spirit into him. The second Adam was from above; I  “The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven.” Corinthians 15: 4 7
Jesus took on the creation to harvest us from the vineyard. Paul spoke as being a sort of first fruits; the early church was the first harvest. In Revelation 13:8, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship Him (beast), whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” We see that those that are “of the world” are bound to follow the beast, (Greek word for world here is earth) but those who have been born from above, follow the Lamb, the quickening spirit, I Corinthians 15: 4 5 “And so it is written, the first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.” God has sown his word into good soil and is reaping a harvest. The whole creation is going according to God’s plan, a vineyard equipped with trials and tests to perfect His Bride.
The perspective that will set us free is when we realize we are “here for the ride”; we are not in control; He created us; He redeemed us and we are secure in His hands. Like a damsel screaming from the tower of the castle, our knight in shining armor has come to our rescue.  So many Christians today emphasize the devil and his power and influence; he can do nothing to the redeemed except what the Father allows, for our perfecting. Peace is found in knowing that the Lord is God. Satan’s biggest tactic is to exaggrate his power, like a mosquito with a big mouth, he screams in the ears of saints, accusing us,· accusing God, until we give in and step out of the secret place and take our life back into our own hands. The three Hebrews in Nebuchadnezzar’s furnace knew God’s sovereign faithfulness. Knowing the truth enough to die for Him, they subjected themselves to the altar of fire knowing that God knew their situation, now we know God orchestrated it for His Glory and our learning.
“WHO IS IN CONTROL?”
 Man has learned to control his environment. Through air conditioning systems man controls the atmosphere of living spaces, with firearms man can control great numbers of people and with economic manipulation backed by nuclear threat, rulers seemingly control continents. Humanistic philosophy promotes man controlling his eternal destiny by choice. This has crept into the church causing much confusion. In reality man does not control his destiny. God orchestrates the affairs of man. The footsteps of the righteous are ordered by the Lord. Proverbs 16: 9. The redeemed saints of God are exhorted to seek those things that are above.  “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”  Colossians 3:1-3
As born again Christians we do walk in relationship with the living God and he leaves much of our destiny to our own level of faith and how much we act on His word. “According to your faith be it unto you”. By obedience we possess all our inheritance in Christ or shrink back into unbelief and crawl into heaven as by fire. But never does the Bible speak of us initiating salvation, once we’re saved, we are Sons and our inheritance is very exciting. The world, on the other hand, those of the earth are at the mercy of the god of this world.
  “For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill His will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled” Revelation 17:17.
We see here who is in control -absolutely! Control is the issue. We have psychologists using this buzzword. The United Nations is gaining power to control the world. Technology is advancing to control the people of the earth, but we need not fear, our Father is in control! The reason this concept is so hot now is because God has boiled this issue up to the surface. As we draw closer to the end of days, more and more of the war between light and darkness will be revealed. As kingdom is divided against kingdom, the Holy Spirit is dealing with every person on the planet to bring about the manifestation of the Sons of God. The purpose of this modern epistle is not to stir controversy or excuse saints into lethargy. The purpose is to exhort believers to let go of their own righteousness and let God be God. He started this place, He will accomplish His plan. Give Glory where Glory is due. In humility we compel the lost to receive the promise of the ages. To any person living on the earth today, I plead you to repent (change your mind about righteousness) seek truth to know if you are in the faith, to know if your name is written in the Lamb’s book of Life!
 “But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, where unto He called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thess.
Thank you
Russell David Hobbs