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Abide in the Vine

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Truth that sets men free, can only be experienced when the Word of God is constantly obeyed and practiced.

TEACHING

LAYING AN EXCELLENT FOUNDATION

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Session 2 

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The Unknown God - Jesus Christ

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Knowing Jesus Christ and him crusified

1Cor 2:1 AS FOR myself, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming to you the testimony and evidence or mystery and secret of God [concerning what He has done through Christ for the salvation of men] in lofty words of eloquence or human philosophy and wisdom; 2  For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified. 3 And I was in (passed into a state of) weakness and fear (dread) and great trembling [after I had come] among you. 4 And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom, but they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit and power [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them], 5 So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God.

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  • AS FOR myself, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come proclaiming to you

    • the testimony and evidence or mystery and secret of God

      • ​There is a great Mystery that God had hidden from men in the Old Testament

      • A mystery is something hidden and it might even sound strange

      • A great secret that was revealed to the apostles had gone lost over the last 2000 years

  • For

    • I resolved to know nothing

    • (to be acquainted with nothing,

    • to make a display of the knowledge of nothing,

    • and to be conscious of nothing)

      • ​Paul the apostle made a strong descision NOT to preach on anything else but these two things

        • among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah)

        • Jesus Christ – As the Son of God and as God

        • and Him crucified.

          • Him Crucified – The Full Power of salvation through the cross

  • And I was in (passed into a state of) weakness and fear (dread) and great trembling [after I had come] among you.

    • And my language and my message were not set forth in persuasive (enticing and plausible) words of wisdom,

  • but

    • they were in demonstration of the [Holy] Spirit

    • and power

    • [a proof by the Spirit and power of God, operating on me and stirring in the minds of my hearers the most holy emotions and thus persuading them],

      • We must learn to operate under the Spirit’s power and not try do things by human effort

    • So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God.

      • We must not only teach the Word of God,

        • but through demonstration of the power of God proving who Jesus Christ is!

The Unknown God

Act 17:23  For as I passed along and carefully observed your objects of worship, I came also upon an altar with this inscription, To the unknown god. Now what you are already worshiping as unknown, this I set forth to you.

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  • For as I passed along and carefully observed your objects of worship, I came also upon an altar with this inscription:

    • To the unknown god.

      • Because we are gentiles by birth and by nature

        • We do not have

          • the background of the of Jewish understanding of the Old Testament prophets​

          • and do not understand the expectation the average Jew had regards the Messiah

        • We actually worship what we do not know!

    • Now what you are already worshiping as unknown, this I set forth to you.

      • The purpose of this teaching is to do exactly the same for those who thought they knew who Jesus Christ were

      • As Gentiles â€‹and not Jews we have a skewed perception and understanding of what was prophesied and expected

      • The church of Jesus Christ was infiltrated by paganism and Christianity became mixed with paganism

      • The Jews had a far better understanding of WHO Jesus Christ would be and was!

The Son is the Everlasting Father

Isa 9:6  For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace. [Isa. 25:1; Isa. 40:9-11; Mat. 28:18; Luke 2:11]

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  • For to us a Child is born,

    • Who was the child that was born? Yahshua – Jesus Christ!

  • to us a Son is given;

    • Who gave us a Son? God the Father through the Holy Spirit, Who over shadowed Mary

    • When was a Son given?

      • When He was born

      • He became a son of man – a human being

      • God in the flesh – The Word becoming flesh

  • and the government shall be upon His shoulder,

  • and His name shall be called

    • What is His Name?

      • His authority and dominion! His title!

    • Wonderful Counsellor,

      • Who was the wonderful Councillor?

      • Jesus promised Another Councillor - The Holy Spirit​

    • Mighty God,

      • When the Word refers to the Might God, it refers to the God of the Old Testament - The Creator​

    • Everlasting Father [of Eternity],

      • How can the Son be the Everlasting Father?

      • Who is first? The Father or the Son? The Father!

    • Prince of Peace.

      • Here Jesus is also called 'The Prince' â€‹

    • [Isa. 25:1; Isa. 40:9-11; Mat. 28:18; Luke 2:11]

The LORD is ONE

Deu 6:4 Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord [the only Lord].

  • A Jew or Israelite will not accept a triune God – For God is ONE LORD – One God – NOT three

    • The word One is echad – Plural for one!

      • Many reasoned it means God is three,

      • but it only refers to God’s ability to function in many roles

Paul’s Revelation of Jesus Christ

Paul’s Religious Background and Training under Gamaliel

Act 5:33 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and infuriated and wanted to kill the disciples. 34  But a certain Pharisee in the council (Sanhedrin) named Gamaliel, a teacher of the Law, highly esteemed by all the people, standing up, ordered that the apostles be taken outside for a little while. 35 Then he addressed them [the council, saying]: Men of Israel, take care in regard to what you propose to do concerning these men. 36  For before our time there arose Theudas, asserting himself to be a person of importance, with whom a number of men allied themselves, about 400; but he was killed and all who had listened to and adhered to him were scattered and brought to nothing. 37 And after this one rose up Judas the Galilean, [who led an uprising] during the time of the census, and drew away a popular following after him; he also perished and all his adherents were scattered. 38 Now in the present case let me say to you, stand off (withdraw) from these men and let them alone. For if this doctrine or purpose or undertaking or movement is of human origin, it will fail (be overthrown and come to nothing); 39 But if it is of God, you will not be able to stop or overthrow or destroy them; you might even be found fighting against God!

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  • Paul the apostle was trained by the Jewish rabbi – Gamaliel (Acts 22:2)

  • Gamaliel was a teacher of the law – He was the lead rabbi in Jerusalem

  • According to Jewish traditions a rabbi would choose his own students

    • Sometimes a rabbi chooses only one student

    • Saul of Tarsus, who later became Paul, was the student that Gamaliel had chosen!

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  • Gal 1:13  You have heard of my earlier career and former manner of life in the Jewish religion (Judaism), how I persecuted and abused the church of God furiously and extensively, and [with fanatical zeal did my best] to make havoc of it and destroy it. 14  And [you have heard how] I outstripped many of the men of my own generation among the people of my race in [my advancement in study and observance of the laws of] Judaism, so extremely enthusiastic and zealous I was for the traditions of my ancestors.

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  • Php 3:4 Though for myself I have [at least grounds] to rely on the flesh. If any other man considers that he has or seems to have reason to rely on the flesh and his physical and outward advantages, I have still more! 5 Circumcised when I was eight days old, of the race of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [and the son] of Hebrews; as to the observance of the Law I was of [the party of] the Pharisees, 6  As to my zeal, I was a persecutor of the church, and by the Law's standard of righteousness (supposed justice, uprightness, and right standing with God) I was proven to be blameless and no fault was found with me.

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  • ​Saul was a very zealous Pharisee and was very well educated in the law and the prophets

  • Paul was the best student that Gamaliel had and outstripped many of his own people

  • Paul understood the prophesies about the coming Messiah

    • and what the prophets said about Him

    • and who He was!

  • Paul was a Jew and knew the God of the Jews

    • Salvation was from the Jews (John 4:22)

Paul’s second Testimony of his Conversion

Act 22:1 BRETHREN AND fathers, listen to the defense which I now make in your presence. 2 And when they heard that he addressed them in the Hebrew tongue, they were all the more quiet. And he continued, 3 I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but reared in this city. At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated according to the strictest care in the Law of our fathers, being ardent [even a zealot] for God, as all of you are today. 4 [Yes] I harassed (troubled, molested, and persecuted) this Way [of the Lord] to the death, putting in chains and committing to prison both men and women, 5  As the high priest and whole council of elders (Sanhedrin) can testify; for from them indeed I received letters with which I was on my way to the brethren in Damascus in order to take also those [believers] who were there, and bring them in chains to Jerusalem that they might be punished. 6 But as I was on my journey and approached Damascus, about noon a great blaze of light flashed suddenly from heaven and shone about me. 7 And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me [harass and trouble and molest Me]? 8 And I replied, Who are You, Lord? And He said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, Whom you are persecuting. 9 Now the men who were with me saw the light, but they did not hear [the sound of the uttered words of] the voice of the One Who was speaking to me [so that they could understand it]. 10 And I asked, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord answered me, Get up and go into Damascus, and there it will be told you all that it is destined and appointed for you to do. 11 And since I could not see because [of the dazzlingly glorious intensity] of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and [thus] I arrived in Damascus.

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  • BRETHREN AND fathers, listen to the defence, which I now make in your presence.

  • And when they heard that he addressed them in the Hebrew tongue, they were all the more quiet.

  • And he continued,

    • I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia but reared in this city.

    • At the feet of Gamaliel I was educated according to the strictest care in the Law of our fathers,

      • Paul was trained under the great Rabbi Gamaliel​

      • Paul was taught under very strict training according to the Law and the prophets

      • Paul knew the prophesies and knew what was prophesied by the prophets

    • being ardent [even a zealot] for God, as all of you are today.

    • [Yes] I harassed (troubled, molested, and persecuted) this Way [of the Lord] to the death,

      • putting in chains and committing to prison both men and women,

      • As the high priest and whole council of elders (Sanhedrin) can testify;

      • for from them indeed I received letters with which I was on my way to the brethren in Damascus in order to take also those [believers] who were there, and bring them in chains to Jerusalem that they might be punished.

    • But as I was on my journey and approached Damascus, about noon

      • a great blaze of light flashed suddenly from heaven and shone about me.

        • Saul had an encounter with the God of the Old Testament

        • Saul had a revelation of Jesus Christ

          • To know Jesus we must learn from the experience of others

          • or must have our own revelation of Him

        • Saul experienced the glory of the SUN of righteousness

          • the One who lives in an unapproachable light of Glory

      • And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,

        • Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me [harass and trouble and molest Me]?

        • And I replied, Who are You, Lord?

          • What would Saul have meant when He asked: “Who are You, Lord?”

            • When Paul â€‹referred to some one as Lord in Hebrew, He refers to the God of the Old Testament

            • The Word Lord could mean master or Adonia

        • And He said to me, I am Jesus the Nazarene, Whom you are persecuting.

          • ​

          • Act 26:14  We all fell to the ground; and then I heard a voice saying to me, in Hebrew, 'Sha'ul! Sha'ul! Why do you keep persecuting me? It's hard on you to be kicking against the ox-goads!' 15 I said, 'Who are you, sir or Lord?' And the Lord answered, 'I am Yahshua, and you are persecuting me!

          • ​

        • Now the men who were with me saw the light, but they did not hear [the sound of the uttered words of] the voice of the One Who was speaking to me [so that they could understand it].

        • And I asked, What shall I do, Lord?

        • And the Lord answered me, Get up and go into Damascus, and there it will be told you all that it is destined and appointed for you to do.

        • And since I could not see because [of the dazzlingly glorious intensity] of the brightness of that light, I was led by the hand by those who were with me, and [thus] I arrived in Damascus.

God’s Revelation to the Prophet Moses

Exo 3:11 And Moses said to God, Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt? 12  God said, I will surely be with you; and this shall be the sign to you that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain [Horeb, or Sinai]. 13  And Moses said to God, Behold, when I come to the Israelites and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they say to me, What is His name? What shall I say to them? 14  And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you! 15 God said also to Moses, This shall you say to the Israelites: The Lord, the God of your fathers, of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has sent me to you! This is My name forever, and by this name I am to be remembered to all generations.

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  • And Moses said to God, Behold, when I come to the Israelites and say to them, The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they say to me,

  • What is His name? What shall I say to them?

    • All the gods had Names

      • Moses wanted to qualify and quantify and define God

      • Moses wants God’s NAME – By what will He CALL upon God?

  • And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE; and

    • Here God reveals that He will never change

    • He is the SAME yesterday / today / Forever!

    • He who WAS / Who IS / Who IS TO COME!

  • He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you!

  • God said also to Moses, This shall you say to the Israelites: The Lord, the God of your fathers, of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has sent me to you!

  • This is My name forever, and by this name I am to be remembered to all generations.

    • By what Name does God want us to remember Him?

      • I AM! Shortened for I AM WHO I AM and WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE

The prophet Elijah calling people back to God

Mal 4:5  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. [Mat. 11:14; Mat. 17:10-13] 6 And he shall turn and reconcile the hearts of the [estranged] fathers to the [ungodly] children, and the hearts of the [rebellious] children to [the piety of] their fathers [a reconciliation produced by repentance of the ungodly], lest I come and smite the land with a curse and a ban of utter destruction. [Luke 1:17]

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  • Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet

    • Elijah = El is YAH – God is I AM!!

    • before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes.

      • Elijah comes before the terrible day of the LORD God comes

      • Elijah comes to prepare the people just like Noah, warning them to escape the wrath to come

    • [Mat. 11:14; Mat. 17:10-13]

  • And he shall

    • turn and reconcile the hearts of the [estranged] fathers to the [ungodly] children,

    • and the hearts of the [rebellious] children to [the piety of] their fathers

    • [a reconciliation produced by repentance of the ungodly],

  • lest I come and

    • smite the land with a curse and a ban of utter destruction.

    • [Luke 1:17]

    • The Earth will soon be struck by a terrible ban of utter destruction – 2/3 of mankind will die

Before Abraham was  - I AM

John 8:51  I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, if anyone observes My teaching [lives in accordance with My message, keeps My word], he will by no means ever see and experience death. 52 The Jews said to Him, Now we know that You are under the power of a demon (insane). Abraham died, and also the prophets, yet You say, If a man keeps My word, he will never taste of death into all eternity. 53 Are You greater than our father Abraham? He died, and all the prophets died! Who do You make Yourself out to be? 54 Jesus answered, If I were to glorify Myself (magnify, praise, and honor Myself), I would have no real glory, for My glory would be nothing and worthless. [My honor must come to Me from My Father.] It is My Father Who glorifies Me [Who extols Me, magnifies, and praises Me], of Whom you say that He is your God. 55 Yet you do not know Him or recognize Him and are not acquainted with Him, but I know Him. If I should say that I do not know Him, I would be a liar like you. But I know Him and keep His word [obey His teachings, am faithful to His message]. 56 Your forefather Abraham was extremely happy at the hope and prospect of seeing My day (My incarnation); and he did see it and was delighted. [Heb. 11:13] 57 Then the Jews said to Him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham? 58 Jesus replied, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I AM. [Exo. 3:14] 59  So they took up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus, by mixing with the crowd, concealed Himself and went out of the temple [enclosure].

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  • Your forefather Abraham was extremely happy at the hope and prospect of seeing My day (My incarnation);

    • Abraham met God face-to-face - He prophetically saw the day when God would come to His own people​

    • God incarnated - God came to the earth in the form of a man

  • and he did see it and was delighted. [Heb. 11:13]

  • Then the Jews said to Him, You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?

  • Jesus replied, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you,

    • before Abraham was born, I AM.

      • To whom did God reveal Himself as I AM? To Moses! [Exo. 3:14]

      • Who is I AM? God Himself? YHWH / The LORD / God the Father

  • So they took up stones to throw at Him,

    • ​Why does the Jews want to stone Jesus? Jesus claimed to be God!!!

      • but Jesus, by mixing with the crowd, concealed Himself and went out of the temple [enclosure].

The Revelation of Jesus Christ

The Apostle John’s Revelation

Rev 1:10  I was in the Spirit [rapt in His power] on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a great voice like the calling of a war trumpet, 11  Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last. Write promptly what you see (your vision) in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia--to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea. 12  Then I turned to see [whose was] the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, 13  And in the midst of the lampstands [One] like a Son of Man, clothed with a robe which reached to His feet and with a girdle of gold about His breast. [Dan. 7:13; Dan. 10:5] 14  His head and His hair were white like white wool, [as white] as snow, and His eyes [flashed] like a flame of fire. [Dan. 7:9] 15  His feet glowed like burnished (bright) bronze as it is refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. [Dan. 10:6] 16  In His right hand He held seven stars, and from His mouth there came forth a sharp two-edged sword, and His face was like the sun shining in full power at midday. [Exo. 34:29] 17  When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead. But He laid His right hand on me and said, Do not be afraid! I am the First and the Last, [Isa. 44:6] 18  And the Ever-living One [I am living in the eternity of the eternities]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore; and I possess the keys of death and Hades (the realm of the dead).

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  • I was in the Spirit [rapt in His power] on the Lord's Day,

    • and I heard behind me a great voice like the calling of a war trumpet,

    • Saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last.

      • Who is the Alpha and the Omega? The God of the Old Testament! The Creator of all things

    • Write promptly what you see (your vision) in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia

      • to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea.

  • Then I turned to see [whose was] the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,

    • What did John expect to see when He turned around? God on His Mighty throne in heaven! Like Isaiah saw Him

  • And in the midst of the lampstands [One] like a Son of Man,

    • What did John to His surprise see? Someone LIKE a son of man

      • He saw someone who looks like a MAN!!!

    • How did this Man look?

      • clothed with a robe which reached to His feet and with a girdle of gold about His breast. [Dan. 7:13; Dan. 10:5]

      • His head and His hair were white like white wool, [as white] as snow, and His eyes [flashed] like a flame of fire. [Dan. 7:9]

      • His feet glowed like burnished (bright) bronze as it is refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. [Dan. 10:6]

      • In His right hand He held seven stars,

      • and from His mouth there came forth a sharp two-edged sword,

      • and His face was like the sun shining in full power at midday. [Exo. 34:29]

  • How did John react when He saw and experienced His glory?

    • When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead.

    • But He laid His right hand on me and said, Do not be afraid!

      • I am the First and the Last,

        • Who is the First and the Last? God the Creator of heaven and earth!

        • This was what the prophet Isaiah prophesied [Isa. 44:6]

      • And the Ever-living One [I am living in the eternity of the eternities].

      • I died,

        • How could God have died? In Christ God died for the sin of the world

      • but see, I am alive forevermore;

      • and I possess the keys of death and Hades (the realm of the dead).

Peter’s Faith in the Name of Jesus Christ

Act 3:3  So when he saw Peter and John about to go into the temple, he asked them to give him a gift. 4  And Peter directed his gaze intently at him, and so did John, and said, Look at us! 5  And [the man] paid attention to them, expecting that he was going to get something from them. 6  But Peter said, Silver and gold (money) I do not have; but what I do have, that I give to you: in [the use of] the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk! 7 Then he took hold of the man's right hand with a firm grip and raised him up. And at once his feet and ankle bones became strong and steady, 8 And leaping forth he stood and began to walk, and he went into the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

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  • But Peter said, Silver and gold (money) I do not have;

    • but what I do have, that I give to you:

      • in [the use of] the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk!

        • There is true power in understanding

          • the NAME of Jesus Christ

            • We must have a revelation â€‹of WHO Jesus Christ is!

          • And the authority in that NAME

          • The NAME of a person is not only His Name but His legal authority and power

          • Jesus told His disciples ALL authority in heaven and on earth has been give to Him.

          • Therefore people had to be baptised in the NAME of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!

  • Then

    • he took hold of the man's right hand with a firm grip and raised him up.

      • And at once his feet and ankle bones became strong and steady,

      • And leaping forth he stood and began to walk,

  • and he went into the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God.

 

Act 3:12 And Peter, seeing it, answered the people, You men of Israel, why are you so surprised and wondering at this? Why do you keep staring at us, as though by our [own individual] power or [active] piety we had made this man [able] to walk? 13  The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our forefathers, has glorified His Servant and Son Jesus [doing Him this honor], Whom you indeed delivered up and denied and rejected and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to let Him go. [Exo. 3:6; Isa. 52:13] 14  But you denied and rejected and disowned the Pure and Holy, the Just and Blameless One, and demanded [the pardon of] a murderer to be granted to you. 15  But you killed the very Source (the Author) of life, Whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16  And His name, through and by faith in His name, has made this man whom you see and recognize well and strong. [Yes] the faith which is through and by Him [Jesus] has given the man this perfect soundness [of body] before all of you.

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  • And Peter, seeing it, answered the people, You men of Israel, why are you so surprised and wondering at this?

  • Why do you keep staring at us,

    • as though by our [own individual] power

      • It is NOT our authority or power that heal people

      • It is NOT by our faith or effort – BUT rather because of Jesus’ faith

      • God does not do it because of us, but because of Jesus Christ and in spite of us

    • or [active] piety we had made this man [able] to walk?

      • It is NOT our holiness or purity or relationship with God

      • It is NOT our godliness

      • It is NOT because of our righteousness

      • IT IS THROUGH the righteousness of God, IN CHRIST

  • The God of Abraham and of Isaac and of Jacob, the God of our forefathers,

    • has glorified His Servant and Son Jesus [doing Him this honor],

    • Whom you indeed delivered up and denied and rejected and disowned in the presence of Pilate,

    • when he had determined to let Him go. [Exo. 3:6; Isa. 52:13]

    • But you denied and rejected and disowned the Pure and Holy, the Just and Blameless One, and demanded [the pardon of] a murderer to be granted to you.

    • But you killed the very Source (the Author) of life, Whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.

    • And His name, through and by faith in His name,

      • What give us true power when we pray or ask in the Name of Jesus?

        • When we understand who He IS and what He has DONE!

      • has made this man whom you see and recognize well and strong.

    • [Yes] the faith which is through and by Him [Jesus] has given the man this perfect soundness [of body] before all of you.

      • We need to have unmovable faith,

      • Which is a perfect trust in Jesus’ Words, and the righteousness He has granted us

The Angel of the LORD

The Burning Bush

Exo 3:1 NOW MOSES kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the back or west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb or Sinai, the mountain of God. 2 The Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, yet was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned. 4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush and said, Moses, Moses! And he said, Here am I. 5 God said, Do not come near; put your shoes off your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground. 6 Also He said, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

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  • NOW MOSES kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian;

    • and he led the flock to the back or west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb or Sinai, the mountain of God.

  • The Angel of the Lord appeared to him

    • Who appeared to Moses?

      • The Angel of the Lord!

        • How did He appear to Moses? – through a flame of FIRE!

        • This was the SAME flame of FIRE which appeared like a pillar of FIRE in the wilderness

        • This was the same flame of FIRE that appeared when William Branham was born

    • Where did the Angel appear?

      • out of the midst of a bush;

        • The Angel of the LORD GOD appeared out of the midst of a bush

  • and he looked, and behold,

    • the bush burned with fire, yet was not consumed.

      • The Angel of the LORD appeared like bush that was burning, but was NOT consumed

  • And Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight,

    • why the bush is not burned.

  • And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see,

    • God called to him

    • From Where did God call to Moses?

      • out of the midst of the bush

        • God was speaking from the PLACE where the Angel of the LORD GOD was

      • In what form did God chose to appear to Moses?

        • A flame of FIRE / Pillar of FIRE!!!!

      • and said, Moses, Moses!

    • And he said, Here am I.

    • God said, Do not come near; put your shoes off your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy ground.

      • Why was the PLACE Holy ground now?

        • Because of the Presence of God that touched the place!

    • Who appeared to Moses? Jesus or God!

      • Also He said, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

        • God appeared to Moses

        • Thus Jesus Christ is God - the Father of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob!!!

    • And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

The Commander of the Armies of the LORD

Jos 5:11  And on that same day they ate the produce of the land: unleavened cakes and parched grain. 12  And the manna ceased on the day after they ate of the produce of the land; and the Israelites had manna no more, but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year. 13  When Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up, and behold, a Man stood near him with His drawn sword in His hand. And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, Are you for us or for our adversaries? 14  And He said, No [neither], but as Prince of the Lord's host have I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, What says my Lord to His servant? 15  And the Prince of the Lord's host said to Joshua, Loose your shoes from off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy. And Joshua did so. [Exo. 3:5]

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  • And on that same day they ate the produce of the land: unleavened cakes and parched grain.

  • And the manna ceased on the day after they ate of the produce of the land; and the Israelites had manna no more,

    • God is very consequent in what He is doing

    • The Manna was not needed for they can now eat of the food produced by the land

  • but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

  • When Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up, and behold,

    • a Man stood near him with His drawn sword in His hand.

      • Joshua sees a Man?

      • Joshua sees a Warrior!

  • And Joshua went to Him and said to Him,

    • Are you for us or for our adversaries?

  • And He said,

    • Who is this Man or Mighty Warrior?

      • No [neither], but as Prince of the Lord's host have I now come.

      • but I am the Commander of the army of the LORD

  • And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him,

    • What says my Lord to His servant?

      • Joshua recognized this Man / Mighty Warrior / Angel as the LORD!

  • And the Prince of the Lord's host said to Joshua,

    • Loose your shoes from off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy.

      • If this was ONLY an angel – why did Joshua bow before Him without Him telling him not to do so?

      • This was the Angel of the LORD

      • This was the Mighty Warrior Himself – The LORD GOD - YHWH

      • This was the SAME Angel who appeared to Moses, yet appeared in another form

        • A Commander / Mighty Warrior

      • Who is the Commander over All the angels? Archangel Michael (Rev 12:7-9)

    • And Joshua did so. [Exo. 3:5]

      • This was the same thing that happened to the prophet Moses

      • God was now with Joshua AS He was with Moses

The Mighty Archangel Michael

The Woman, the Male Child and the Dragon

Rev 12:1 AND A great sign (wonder)--[warning of future events of ominous significance] appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and with a crownlike garland (tiara) of twelve stars on her head. 2 She was pregnant and she cried out in her birth pangs, in the anguish of her delivery. 3 Then another ominous sign (wonder) was seen in heaven: Behold, a huge, fiery-red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven kingly crowns (diadems) upon his heads. [Dan. 7:7] 4 His tail swept [across the sky] and dragged down a third of the stars and flung them to the earth. And the dragon stationed himself in front of the woman who was about to be delivered, so that he might devour her child as soon as she brought it forth. [Dan. 8:10] 5 And she brought forth a male Child, One Who is destined to shepherd (rule) all the nations with an iron staff (scepter), and her Child was caught up to God and to His throne. [Psa. 2:8-9; Psa. 110:1-2] 6 And the woman [herself] fled into the desert (wilderness), where she has a retreat prepared [for her] by God, in which she is to be fed and kept safe for 1,260 days (42 months; three and one-half years).

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  • The Women with 12 stars on her head gave birth to a Male child

    • Jesus Christ came forth out of the 12 tribes of Israel

    • This Male chid also represent ALL who will grow up into being and doing what Jesus Christ has done

  • We must remember that John sees this vision AFTER Jesus was already caught up into heaven

  • Who was this child? Was it Jesus?

    • Yes – but that is only a partial revelation

    • This male child is a son!

    • He is NOT only the Son of God, but also A son of God

  • What is the Son or a son destined to do?

    • to shepherd (rule) all the nations with an iron staff (scepter)

      • God gives His sons the SAME authority He had given to His Son - Jesus Christ

The Angel Michael in Spiritual Battle

Rev 12:7 Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels went forth to battle with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought. 8 But they were defeated, and there was no room found for them in heaven any longer. 9 And the huge dragon was cast down and out--that age-old serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over; he was forced out and down to the earth, and his angels were flung out along with him. [Gen. 3:1, Gen. 3:14-15; Zec. 3:1] 10  Then I heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying, Now it has come--the salvation and the power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God, and the power (the sovereignty, the authority) of His Christ (the Messiah); for the accuser of our brethren, he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night, has been cast out! [Job 1:9-11] 11  And they have overcome (conquered) him by means of the blood of the Lamb and by the utterance of their testimony, for they did not love and cling to life even when faced with death [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].

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  • Then war broke out in heaven;

    • When did war break out in heaven?

      • In the beginning?

      • When pride was found in Lucifer? (Ezek 28:14-15)

      • At the fall of man? (Gen 3:1-7)

  • Michael and his angels went forth to battle with the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought.

    • Michael had angels under Him – They were called His angels

      • Thus Michael is the Commander of the Armies of God

    • When was the battle in heaven revealed and prophesied about? (Gen. 3:1, Gen. 3:14-15)

    • Who had the power to cast down Satan - Jesus Christ!!!

      • Jesus Christ!!! But the Word that cannot be broken says: MICHAEL did!!!

      • Who then is Michael? Jesus Christ – God Himself in an Angelic body as the Prince or the LORD of the hosts

      • The Archangel Michael IS the Angel of the LORD

    • But they were defeated, and there was no room found for them in heaven any longer.

      • How did God cast Satan out of heaven?

        • Through the cross (Col 2:14-15)

    • And the huge dragon was cast down and out--that age-old serpent,

      • who is called the Devil and Satan,

        • The dragon = Satan and the Devil

        • Thus the Archangel Michael = Jesus Christ

      • he who is the seducer (deceiver) of all humanity the world over;

      • he was forced out and down to the earth,

      • and his angels were flung out along with him. [Gen. 3:1, Gen. 3:14-15; Zec. 3:1]

  • Then I heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying,

    • Now it has come--the salvation and the power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God,

      • What is the salvation of God? Salvation from sin and sickness and eternal condemnation!

      • How did God provide Salvation? Yahshua – I AM Salvation! Through Jesus Christ

      • Thus God used Michael to cast out Satan?

      • If Jesus Cast out Satan, then Michael is Jesus’ Angel in Heaven – As He is in heaven!!!

      • and the power (the sovereignty, the authority) of His Christ (the Messiah);

        • The Power of God = The Power of His Christ

      • What did God provide in and through this salvation?

        • The power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God

      • for the accuser of our brethren,

        • he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night,

        • has been cast out! [Job 1:9-11]

      • How do we overcome the Devil and Satan?

        • And they have overcome (conquered) him

          • by means of the blood of the Lamb and

          • by the utterance of their testimony,

          • for

            • they did not love and cling to life

            • even when faced with death

              • [holding their lives cheap till they had to die for their witnessing].

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