“WHO IS THE LIGHT OF YOUR LIFE?”

“ And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19)

PRE-AMBLE by Robert.   

The deeper we get into the Den of Wolves, the more we are able to identify who the false teachers and prophets are, and how they are spreading their poison within the Ekklesia. 

The Holy Spirit lead me to two books in Scripture “John” and “1John” within these two I was shown what to provide as a witness to Yeshua’s modern-day disciples, in preparation, for their advancement into their battles ahead. Like the ancients who requested John to write his gospels in opposition to the heresy of Corinthus and Ebionites. [I] am using these Gospels to bring forward his responses as lessons for those modern-day disciples to use as our offense against our modern day heretics within the Ekklesia. 

OPENING PRAYER by Robert 

Heavenly Father I pray for those taking up this mantle and challenge. I ask Father for a constant hedge of protection to be built around them their homes and families. Place with them as your continuous protection four Cherubim angels at the four corners of their lives, homes, families, properties, and personal possessions. Fill them with your heavenly secrets, wisdom, discernment along with understanding. Provide them with patience, determination, and endurance to maintain Your battle. In all of this, I pray in your name Yeshua. Amen and Amen. 

OPENING COMMENTS by Robert

The Gospel of 1John brings forward witness of broad moral topics. And I believe the goal is to guide Yeshua’s Disciples, to John’s instructions and directives within those topics for those who are about to face many new challenges to their faith and walk.  

In the book of John, we are going to find the account of Yeshua’s life which is much different from the Synoptic Gospels of (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). We are going to be provided at the end of this Gospel (John 20:30,31) signs and wonders Yeshua performed giving us the ability to prove Yeshua is indeed the Son of God. Also, we will find several miracles mentioned only in this book Yeshua turning water into wine (John 2:1-12) as an example. 

The Gospel of John is divided into chronological portions: the pre-existence of Yeshua (John 1:1-18). His first year of ministry (John 1:19 – 4:54); His popularity during the second year (chapter 5), the opposition against him in His third year of ministry (John 12:12 -19:42); and the forty days following his resurrection (Chapters 20,21). These four portions hold many tools we will need to round out our instructions and directions as we enter into battle as “God’s modern-day Disciples.” 

When it comes down to it, John has laid out the whole story of what our battle is indeed about and why it occurred. The Apostle has given us the basis of why we are entering this war, the bottom line reconnecting our spirit directly to God through the Salvation and grace His Son Yeshua makes available. The Apostle John is gifting us with information pertinent to the returning of those lost sheep God is calling to return to the flock.  He is providing information and proof that who we speak of as our Lord is indeed the Word, Son of God. Thus there are no grounds on behalf of anyone within the Den of Wolves trying to argue that the deity of Yeshua does not exist or isn’t sufficient. 

The most understandable reason why the Son of God is called the Word seems to be, that as our words explain our minds to others, so was the Son of God sent to reveal his Father’s mind to the world. What the evangelist says of Christ proves that he is God. He asserts His existence in the beginning; His coexistence with the Father. The Word was with God. All things were made by him, and not as an instrument. Without him was not anything made that was made, from the highest angel to the lowest worm.

His existence, in the beginning, was the Word. This bespeaks his presence, not only before his incarnation but before all time. The beginning of time, in which all creatures were produced and brought into being, found this eternal Word in being. The world was from the beginning, but the Word was in the beginning. Eternity is usually expressed by being before the foundation of the world. The eternity of God is so described (Psalms 90:2). Before the mountains were brought forth. So Proverbs 8:23. The Word had a being before the world had a beginning. He that was in the beginning never began, and therefore was ever, (achronos) without beginning of time. So Nonnus.

The scope of John 1 is to confirm our faith in Yeshua as the eternal Son of God, and the real Messiah and Saviour of the World. That we may be brought to receive him, rely on him, as our Prophet, Priest, and King. And to give up ourselves to be ruled, and taught, and saved by him. This is the foundation of our walk as modern-day disciples entering into the “Den of Wolves” as “God” has called His disciples to do. Bring home those sheep which have strayed find them rescue them and return them to the flock. 

So Here we must assess what, when, where, who, and how, we are going to meet with our fallen brothers and sisters who were deluded believe they know God and His Son Yeshua. Remember we are in the Den of Wolves and will be dealing with those who follow a doctrine which has false teachings and prophecies. Those within the Den will need particular attention and skilled, knowledgeable handling to be drawn back to the flock. In our last article “Yea though I Walk Through The Valley of Death” I displayed a video showing the type of individual you will be meeting, confronting and dealing with. Further Jesse Penn-Lewis gave us a Description of what we would encounter through dealing with these individuals. If you missed the article here is a link to it to see or refresh your memory.

https://romboughrobert.wordpress.com/2018/02/14/yea-though-i-walk-through-the-valley-of-death/

The apostles declared what they had seen and heard, that believers might share their comforts and everlasting advantages. They had free access to God the Father. They had a happy experience of the truth in their souls and showed its excellence in their lives.

This communion of believers with the Father and the Son is begun and kept up by the influences of the Holy Spirit. The benefits Yeshua bestows, are not like the meager possessions of the world, causing jealousies in others. But the joy and happiness of communion with God are all-sufficient, so that any number may partake of it; and all who are warranted to say, that indeed their fellowship is with the Father, will desire to lead others to partake of the same blessedness.

John shows us how to have the same communion with Yeshua through his testimony of the evidence given concerning Yeshua’s person and excellence. (1 John 1:1,1 John 1:2). John states the knowledge thereof gives us communion with God and Yeshua, (1John 1:3), and joy (1John 1:4). A description of God (1 John 1:5). How we are to walk (1 John 1:6). The benefit of such walking (1 John1:7). The way, to forgiveness (1 John 1:9). And last the evil of denying our sin (1 John 1:8 – 10). Here is where we make a choice here is what John reveals as the choice. There is a difference between committing a sin and continuing to sin. Even the most faithful believers sometimes commit sins, but they do not cherish a particular sin or continually choose to commit it. 

While the necessity of a holy walk is insisted upon, as the effect and evidence of the knowledge of God in Yeshua, the opposite error of self-righteous pride is guarded against with equal care. All who walk near to God, in holiness and righteousness, are sensible that their best days and duties are mixed with sin. God has given testimony to the sinfulness of the world, by providing a sufficient, effectual Sacrifice for sin, needed in all ages; and the sinfulness of believers themselves is shown, by requiring them continually to confess their sins, and to apply by faith to the blood of that Sacrifice. Let us plead guilty before God, be humble, and willing to know the worst of our case. Let us honestly confess all our sins in their full extent, relying wholly on his mercy and truth through the righteousness of Yeshua, for a free and complete forgiveness, and our deliverance from the power and practice of sin. 

These are the instructions John has brought to us to demonstrate as part of our tools, speech, an example of revealing the truth through actions rather than words. We are warriors of truth armored, trained, educated, and supported by Yeshua. And as such must act accordingly as the battle-ready soldiers of truth, we are. 

The disciples had shut the doors for fear of the Jews; and when they had no such expectation, Yeshua himself came and stood in the midst of them, having miraculously, though silently, opened the doors. It is a comfort to Yeshua’s disciples when their assemblies can only be held in private that no doors can shut out Yeshua’s presence. (Matthew 18:20) For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. 

When He manifests his love to believers by the comforts of his Spirit, he assures them that because he lives, they shall live also. A sight of Yeshua will gladden the heart of a disciple at any time; and the more we see of Yeshua, the more we shall rejoice. He said, Receive ye the Holy Ghost, thus showing that their spiritual life, as well as all their ability for their work, would be derived from him, and depended upon him. Every word of Yeshua which is received in the heart by faith comes accompanied by this Divine breathing; and without this, there is neither light nor life. Nothing is seen, known, discerned, or felt of God, but through this. After this, Yeshua directed the apostles to declare the only method by which sin would be forgiven. This power did not exist at all in the apostles as a power to give judgment, but only as a power to declare the character of those whom God would accept or reject in the day of judgment. They have clearly laid down the marks whereby a child of God may be discerned and be distinguished from a false professor, and according to what they have declared shall every case be decided in the day of judgment. When we assemble in Christ’s name, especially on his holy day, he will meet with us, and speak peace to us. 

 

Some will recognize the Word and have accepted Him. John the Baptist came to bear witness concerning Yeshua. Nothing more fully shows the darkness of men’s minds, than that when the Light had appeared, there needed a witness to call attention to it. Yeshua was the true Light; that great Light which deserves to be called so.

By his Spirit and grace he enlightens all that are enlightened to salvation; and those that are not illuminated by him, perish in darkness. Christ was in the world when he took our nature upon him and dwelt among us. The Son of the Highest was here in this lower world. He was in the world, but not of it. He came to save a lost world because it was a world of his own making. Yet the world knew him not. 

When having an Advocate with the Father; one who has undertaken, and is fully able, to plead in behalf of everyone who applies for pardon and salvation in his name, depending on his pleading for them. He is  “Yeshua,” the Saviour, and “Christ,” the Messiah, the Anointed. He alone is “the Righteous One,” who received his nature pure from sin, and as our Surety perfectly obeyed the law of God, and so fulfilled all righteousness. All men, in every land, and through successive generations, are invited to come to God through this all-sufficient atonement, and by this new and living way. The gospel, when rightly understood and received, sets the heart against all sin, and stops the allowed practice of it; at the same time, it gives blessed relief to the wounded consciences of those who have sinned.

The following is a warning of what we must continuously be aware of and fight against. John shows what can be used as tools but what must never enter into our lives as sought after possessions to be held admiringly. Matthew Henry (1662 -1774) describes them in this commentary perfectly. The things of the world may be desired and possessed for the uses and purposes which God intended, and they are to be used by his grace, and to his glory, but believers must not seek or value them for those purposes to which sin abuses them. The world draws the heart from God; and the more the love of the world prevails, the more the love of God decays. The things of the world are classed according to the three ruling inclinations of depraved nature. 1. The lust of the flesh, of the body: sinful desires of the heart, the appetite of indulging all things that excite and inflame sensual pleasures. 2. The lust of the eyes: the eyes are delighted with riches and rich possessions; this is the lust of covetousness. 3. The pride of life: a vain man craves the grandeur and pomp of a vain-glorious life; this includes thirst after honor and applause. The things of the world quickly fade and die away; desire itself will ere long fail and cease, but holy affection is not like the lust that passes away. The love of God shall never fail. Many vain efforts have been made to evade the force of this passage by limitations, distinctions, or exceptions. Many have tried to show how far we may be carnally-minded, and love the world, but the plain meaning of these verses cannot easily be mistaken. Unless this victory over the world is begun in the heart, a man has no root in himself but will fall away, or at most remain an unfruitful professor. Yet these vanities are so alluring to the corruption in our hearts, that without constant watching and prayer, we cannot escape the world, or obtain victory over the god and prince of it.

CLOSING PRAYER by Robert

Heavenly Father accept our humble presence before your throne. Recognize the weaknesses of our nature and fill us with your strength so we may continue receiving your wisdom to move forward as discerning disciples. Bring us closer to your bosom that we know and recognize your Spiritual presence as we gather in your name. Demonstrate your patience that we may witness it understand it and share it with those we minister to. We plead for you to use our commitment to its fullest and most productive purpose as a testimony of your Love and Compassion. This we pray in your name Yeshua. Amen and Amen. 

CLOSING COMMENTS by Robert

General Patton World War ll most revered General stated and I paraphrase “A soldier who is well trained and equipped will be victorious in all battles he may engage in.” The Apostle John has given us the most detailed weaponry available. The Lord has given us the greatest weapon ever conceived described in Hebrews 4:12 For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  

Our task then is to go forward within the “Den of Wolves” being as wise as Serpents and Gentle as Doves using the information provided by John as the Word of God wisely knowing it’s power. Our goal as modern day disciples like Yeshua, “who sought to save that one soul”, by waiting for the Samaritan woman, seek out those one soul’s God is calling to return to the flock. 

Is this a deep calling “Yes”? Is it worth our effort “Yes” Are we answering our Father’s call to return to following His Laws “Yes”? It all started here where we were given a choice who to follow as we see in this link and in so doing have been lead and taught by the Holy Spirit in preparation for these battles. 

https://romboughrobert.wordpress.com/2017/10/13/its-your-choice/

Remember I am just the messenger and the choices to be made are yours. Keep in mind what the Watchman is obligated to in Ezekiel 33 I believe applies to all who have received the knowledge of the warning and messages applies to you as well. It boils down to choices of the individual. May our Lord continue blessing you as you go forward walking in His light and peace.

Robert