The Bride and The Bride

Let’s remember who our authority is!

We need to replace the authority and control of Christians back into the hands of Christ (in order to understand the relationship of the bride… and the bride).

God’s ways and his guidelines for our lives, what He determines to be right or wrong is not alterable according to whatever cultures there are in the world. Man might change his environment and technology, modernism and liberalism might take one course after another, but God’s Word stays the same. For a person to dedicate himself to the Lord and to the Lordship of Jesus, he must follow according to God’s will…not his own. I’ve heard many so-called Christian preachers making a steady stream of what they consider to be logical, even theological, twists and turns to pervert God’s Word concerning the role of husband and wife, both in the church and in the home. Plainly, God’s word instructs wives to obey their husbands. There’s no getting around that. Well, not if we read God’s Word as it is: not in its twisted version that is promoted by modern day preachers in order to “keep pace” with the ungodly decline of morality in the world, in order to “not offend” anyone by preaching something that someone might not want to hear, in order to increase church membership, in order to take in more money. But there is great revelation in understanding God’s word concerning his directives for a Christian marriage; revelations that will not only strengthen marriages, but will strengthen the faith and understanding of single Christians as well. Paul has much to say about women and marriage, as well as women concerning the church, giving clear instructions:

Ephesians chapter 5:

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 3 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

During the course of his instructions, at one point the touches upon this key to understanding his deeper revelation and states, “This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” The guidelines for a Godly marriage apply to both the human and the spiritual relationships. They parallel each other. What applies to one, applies to both. Scripture says a woman is to obey her husband, even as the bride of Christ is supposed to obey Him. A man in his role as bride of Christ, takes upon himself the female role of a marriage, and has one husband: Jesus. A wife, in her role as bride of Christ, has two husbands: her natural husband and Jesus. Her commitment to Jesus is shown by not only her obedience to Him, but to her natural husband as well, because it is God’s word that instructs her to obey her natural husband; therefore, to disregard one husband is to disregard both. A Christian husband, in obedience to God himself, will not lead his wife into sin and there should never be a problem; a non-Christian husband is to be honored, only as he is not leading into unrighteousness. Titus chapter 2 says:

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: 2 That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience. 3 The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; 4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

He doesn’t say, “Obey only if you think he’s right” or, “Unless you really don’t want to.” He doesn’t say, “Only if you agree with him.” He simply says, “Wives, be obedient your own husband.”

Concerning spiritual matters, the husband’s responsibility is to lead his wife and family, just as Christ, through the indwelling Holy Spirit, is to lead and guide the members of his body, the church. We are to obey God’s word, regardless of whether we agree with what He says or not. Regardless of whatever difficulty or hardship will come of it. We are His wife; we are the bride. Whether male or female, we all take on the female role with Jesus (God’s word incarnate) as the husband. If a wife is not submissive to her earthly husband’s lead, scripture says that the Word of God is blasphemed (because it shows contempt for God’s Word, as shown through disobedience to it. See verse 5). Likewise, when Christians in their role as bride disobey God’s word or the leading of the Holy Spirit, we thereby reject our husband’s lead also and the Word of God is blasphemed; for it is then when our claim that Jesus is our Lord is proven false by our actions or attitudes. Jesus asked, “Why do you call me Lord and do not the things that I say?” Luke chapter 6 says;

46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

In spite of the claims of many that they love the Lord, Jesus said, “If you love me you’ll obey me.”

John 14:21; “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

These guidelines were written to the church…to Christians. To spirit-filled believers who obey the Lord, not the lip-service kind. It is only by that spiritual baptism that we are joined to the body of Christ:
1 Corinthians 12:13; “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

The brideship speaks of the relationship of both natural and spiritual marriage. This relationship cannot exist harmoniously between husbands and wives if both are not born again Christians. Either the wife will not understand the necessity of a submissive spirit and how it relates to her commitment to God, or the husband will be over-bearing and abusive in one form or another. Just as Jesus comes to us, in the form of the indwelling Holy Spirit, to lead and guide us into all truth and righteousness, for the perfecting of us into holiness and blamelessness; so, too, should a husband instruct in spiritual matters in the home. If we understand that the human relationship is to mirror the relationship between Christ and His bride (as individual members of the church), then we must also realize that Jesus does not demand that we become His bride. On our part, it’s a matter of our free will to be so. We follow God’s Word and precepts because we love Him and are committed to Him - because we will to do so. We follow regardless of whether we feel his presence or not, regardless of hardship or loss. We overcome temptation and endure trials, seeking only to please the One we are called to. We offer, as on an altar of sacrifice, our lives to him, our will, our obedience.

Romans 12:1; “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

We must be submissive voluntarily, not of force, but out of an inward heart that loves Him and wants to please him. Just as the Bride of Christ is to uphold and abide by the teachings of Christ as her husband, so should a Christian wife be towards her husband, who is her head, just as Christ is head of the church.

The bride is not only to follow Christ during times of anointing and blessings but to also follow in the hard times, of perils, trials and afflictions. Whether times are convenient or otherwise, easy or difficult. Submission, though given of ones freewill (to become the bride) is also a requirement if indeed the church (individually or collectively) is considered by Christ to be his bride, and Him their Lord.

Wives should be submissive, even to unsaved husbands (as long as it’s not contrary to God), that the husbands be won by their godly living. 1 Peter chapter 3: 1 says:

“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.”

In this scripture, the word “conversation” does NOT mean the verbal kind; “conversation” means manner or life, behavior, and conduct.

New Testament teaching also states that if a wife seeks an answer to a question…she should ask her husband at home. 1 Corinthians 14:35 says;

“And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home.”

This also, is two-fold, relating to both natural and spiritual marriage. As a Christian, it is the husband’s responsibility to give spiritual leadership and guidance just as it is the work of the Holy Spirit to lead His Bride. For a wife to seek guidance outside of her husband shows lack of faith in him, lack of trust and commitment to him as her head. Such a wife might come to her husband after having asked him a question of spiritual concern and say, “Well, the guy down the street said thus and so…” and “The pastor said it should be this way or that way,” or, “Well, you know what a great Christian that brother so and so is and he said…” But this just belittles her husband and shows her lack of faith in him as her leader in spiritual matters. He might easily think (to himself anyway), “Well why didn’t you marry brother so and so then, or the pastor?”

This type of lack of faith undermines his authority and demonstrates to him that he does not have a marriage that’s within the will of God. Yet if a wife honors God’s word (therefore, her own commitment to God) by placing herself willingly under her husband’s leadership and responsibility, then the faith she places in him will result in him fulfilling his role to both his wife and God as well. The same could not be more true with the relationship between the Bride of Christ and the Lord Jesus Christ, her husband!

Once again, whether we are male or female, we all take on the female role of bride to the bridegroom, and scripture says again, “Wives, if you have a question, ask your HUSBAND,” which is Jesus. When we have a question, we should ask Jesus in prayer, listen to the promptings of His indwelling Spirit, or simply read His word to learn of his answer. Scripture says HE (as indwelling Spirit) shall lead you and guide you into all truth and righteousness. Again, scripture says, “Ye need not that any man teach you”:

1 John 2:27; “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”

Again, scripture says, “If any lack wisdom…” then here is who to ask!

James 1:5 “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

If any of you have a question, ask your husband (Jesus), not the preacher down the street. The preacher down the street is not your husband. Not brother so-and-so who is always so spiritual…He’s not your husband either.

Jesus, and the apostles as well, warned us that a multitude of false doctrine would arise and would deceive many. Cunning and crafty false teachers would be abundant, bringing damning heresies and cause many to fall away.

And where are false Christian teachers and pastors but in the ‘religious world?’ And where are “doctrines” taught but in the “religious world“? What’s the answer? A simple obedience to “ask your husband.”

Remember in the natural guidelines for a Godly home that Paul gave, he also said, “This is a mystery but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” If indeed we are truly born of the spirit Christians, we have a husband to ask. And what lack of faith it must show to the Lord that we have in Him when we question something and run to someone other than Him! The same applies to a wife who doubts the spiritual leadership of her husband in the home; it undermines his authority and creates conflict. We should remember the scripture in Mark 3:25 that warns:

“And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.”

All a natural husband can do is, first of all, be dedicated to the Lord as a Christian himself, then give his family leadership according to Godly principles. It is then his wife and family’s responsibility, in obedience to God’s Word, to follow his instruction. This way of life cannot be forced or demanded by an earthly husband any more than God demands our obedience to Him.

Commitment and willful submission is a choice. Spiritually, as the bride of Christ, we have a choice through the grace of God to become his bride. He does not demand we be so, but at the same time there are guidelines we must follow in order to be accepted of Him. His true bride…follows Him.

Many churches call themselves the Body of Christ, the Bride, His followers, but do not teach even the basic principles of salvation, repentance, the meaning of baptism and certainly not the necessity of the infilling of the Holy Spirit (the very experience by which we are joined as members to the body of Christ!).

1 Corinthians 12:13; “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

After a few visits to a church you can easily discern a body of believers who worship the Lord Jesus Christ as being their Lord as opposed to those who merely claim Christianity but are not. In Christ’s church there will be a sensing of God’s presence, even upon walking into the building. There’ll be a joy of coming together to worship, and a song service that is sincerely heartfelt and has music that reflects reverence for an awesome and Holy God. There will be peace, joy, and love. So it will be likewise in a Christian home; where there is God’s order. There will be a love for Jesus, a reverence of His Holy Spirit and for God’s Word. There will be peace, joy and love. There will be a “lightness of being” in the home, which is the lack of any oppressive spirit.
In the church that does not place Jesus as Lord, there will be backbiting, hatred, envy, a struggle for position, and all manner of sin within the members. There will be lack of commitment toward God and His word. They will not preach the strength of God’s word or the power of God because they have no power with God!

There’ll be an inner turmoil within the church that is anything but Godly. So it is likewise within the individual home where God’s order is not maintained; inner turmoil, lack of joy and peace, confusion and lack of direction, a struggle for position, a lack of unity, discontent, bitterness and un-forgiveness, anger, and rage. We should be careful to follow God’s guidelines.

Usurping Authority

Of the church toward Christ, and of the wife toward her husband

Usurping authority is taking upon oneself authority that is not ones to take.

Both the physical bride and the spiritual bride of Christ are guilty of “taking matters of headship” into their own hands. Once again, what pertains to the earthly marriage, pertains to the spiritual. 1 Timothy chapter 2 says:

“11 Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 12 But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man [the man…singular…her husband], but to be in silence. 13 For Adam was first formed, then Eve. 14 And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.”

In those verses, the term “the man” is singular. “Suffer not a woman to teach [her husband] or to usurp authority over the man.” This, being singular, pertains to her husband and her husband alone, not men in general. A wife should not go over her husband’s authority or his position as head of the house anymore than the Bride of Christ should attempt to violate God’s laws and establish her own! As if the Bride becomes a higher authority than Jesus the husband! Such is what most churches of the world have done, but then, they aren’t really the true Bride. This does not mean that she cannot voice her opinion; to the contrary, she should! A man’s position as head of the house is as Christ over his bride. His word is the final authority and he is to govern.


A Word About Pants

If you look up the word “pants” in the concordance, you won’t find it. What you will find, in the Old Testament (still in effect), is that a woman should not wear the apparel of a man. They didn’t have pants in those days. For the proper understanding of this scripture, it must be remembered that the things of God are “spiritually discerned” and that sometimes God’s Word relates to the physical, but also sometimes relates in a way to be understood spiritually. True, physically God is totally against “cross dressing.” It is God’s design for men to be men and women to be women. To be otherwise goes against God and nature. But go beyond that to spiritual apparel…

A king wears the clothes of a king. If a servant put on the kings clothes, well!, he could be killed for that! A king would not put on the apparel of a court jester! Because he is a king. What is the order of the home? Man is the head of the house. That’s his ‘apparel.’ That’s his office, his position. ‘Head of the house’ is his apparel as scripture tells us all the way from Adam and the garden of Eden to the New Testament. Parallel to women not wearing the “apparel” of a man is the verse that says that women should not “usurp” authority over the man. In modern times (although this phrase is becoming less and less in the world), when we would see a woman dominating her husband and being in control, what do people say? “Well! You can see who’s wearing the pants in that family!”

Which piece of clothing is worn by whom matters little; it is outward, not inward (Except, of course, for cross-dressing and the inward attitude behind that).

This is not to say that the bride cannot change the husbands mind, even as Abraham petitioned God (after God said he was going to destroy the city of Sodom) to NOT destroy the city if a few righteous people could be found, we can also negotiate. We can talk things over with God. We can question him and ask why (but there is a difference between questioning and challenging). He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings, the creator of heaven and earth and all the universe. It is unthinkable that this all-powerful, all-holy, and righteous God would even bother to be involved with the affairs of man and not consider him as no more than animals or specs of dust in a vast ocean…yet He does!

How dare we ask more of Him…yet we do. How incredible it is to think that He cares about us. It is inconceivable that, still, we dare to question His Word or His authority. If we are to have the opportunity to serve Him at all, then let’s worship Him in Spirit and in Truth, as the scriptures teach. Let’s let it be according to “Thy will,” and not “our” will; according to scripture and not twisted doctrine that suits our wants or our culture. That’s what commitment to God is all about.

1 Corinthians 14

34Let your women keep silent in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak (teach); but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. 35 And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak (as in ‘speak with authority,‘ teach) in the church.

Many women certainly are also spirit filled, anointed Christians and have many great revelations of God’s Word. The Christian world is no doubt enhanced by them sharing what they are given by God. They share these revelations, and rightfully so, with their husbands and children and those they witness to, bringing others into the sheepfold of God. Spirit-filled women are certainly of no less value to God or the community as they live Godly lives, evangelize, and do great things.

Some of the greatest prayer warriors are women. They serve a great function in this world; of that there is no doubt. Nevertheless, the are kept out of any “authoritative” position that allows them to “have rule.” This goes back to the garden of Eden and has never been rescinded since God said, “Man shall rule over thee.”

मेताफोर्स एंड Parallels

There are some verses in the New Testament that I have read many times and have been puzzled by them. I ponder them for a moment, knowing that I’m not grasping what is being said, then keep reading onward to things more easily understood. I think about those things I do not understand, and sometimes I feel like I have a vague understanding, or like I’m ‘on the verge’ of a ‘breakthrough’ of enlightenment and then that ‘breakthrough’ feeling slips back into the fog; leaving me as puzzled as I ever was. One of those portions of New Testament text that I’ve often been puzzled by is John 6: 53-55; “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.” Eat His flesh, drink His blood? This is an obvious metaphor; but what does it mean? Two things need to be understood here; flesh, and blood. Having addressed the topic of 'eating his flesh'and 'his flesh is meat' already, the below article concerns 'drinking His blood'.


Blood

“Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.” (John 6:53-55).

Drink His blood? The disciples could only understand this in the physical sense, so it naturally repulsed them (John 6: 60-63). Besides, the OT repeatedly condemns the drinking or the consumption of blood. But the references to His blood, is metaphoric. It must be so, for God’s word forbids ingesting (physical) blood, and Jesus never violates God’s word. Jesus also says in John 6:53; “…Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.”

There are certain terms that are synonymous; Jesus said that the words He spoke were spirit, and life. The bible also says in many places that the ‘life is in the blood’. But we’re not speaking here of physical words, life or blood; but spiritual. For John 6:63 says “it is the spirit that quickeneth…” (gives life). Let’s look at one of the first mathematical laws of algebra to better understand some spiritual truths. That law is this; if A = C, and B = C, then A = B. This only makes sense. The same is true spiritually; The Spirit = life (eternal), His blood is life (eternal) therefore partaking of His blood is = to partaking of His Spirit and partaking of His Spirit is = to partaking of His blood. Remember, that God is a Spirit, and that Spirit became flesh (and blood) and dwelt among us in the person of Jesus Christ. For Jesus to say “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you” is the same as saying , “Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”

1 Corinthians 12:13 compares the baptism of the Holy Spirit as paralleling ‘drinking’, while Ephesians 2:18 declares that our access to the Father (eternal life) is by that same spirit; “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
Ephesians 2:18; “For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” Then Romans 8:9 explains that without that spirit we are not considered his own.; “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” So it is no wonder that Jesus said “He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.”

Switch now to the tree of life…again, life. Adam and eve were driven from the garden, lest they eat the tree of life, which is now forbidden to them. Eternal life was forbidden to them, and all of mankind in general. Now Jesus comes and says something forbidden (the taking of blood) must be consumed. His Blood, wherein is life. Life, eternal life lost at the Garden of Eden was now made accessable through His blood, which is a restoration of being able to partake of the tree of life.



To be born of the Spirit, (ye must be born again) is to be a partaker of (and equal to) drinking his blood spiritually. When we become partakers of the Holy Spirit (born again), we become partakers of the Spirit of Christ. So being, the spiritual blood of Christ, His spiritual dna through being born of Him (the Holy Spirit) now flows through our veins; cleansing us, giving us HIS nature and character. That is why all those, who are born again, of the same Holy Spirit, are brothers and sisters. We all have the same spiritual dna, even as it says in Acts 17:26; “And hath made of one blood all nations of men…” And what does this new spiritual dna do for us, aside from imparting to us the Holy Spirit? If you’re old enough, you might remember a phrase of old; “it’s in the blood.”
“It’s in the blood” was usually referenced to mean that actions of a person were ‘natural to them’ because that particular trait was noticed in other members of their ancestry. What they were doing was ‘in their nature’ to do because it is ‘in the blood’. This is parallel to the truly born again experience whereby a person becomes ‘a new creature’ in Christ. His old nature becomes replaced with His ‘new nature’. His old life (of sin) becomes replaced with a new life dedicated to Christ. 2 Peter 1:4 declares; “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Galatians 6:15 says; “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.” The purpose of this baptism of the Holy Spirit, the drinking in of the blood of Jesus, is to give us spiritual life. To transform us, to help us to take on the nature and the character of Jesus. To help us to follow Him, and hear His voice as he leads us from milk to meat, to perfect us. To mature us in Him, even as 1 John 4:17 declares; “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.” This is the goal. To drink His blood, means to take on His life. To live as He lived, and that is to be obedient to the will of God. To partake of His blood; is to partake of His life.

“Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.”

To TEE, a child of God, and to ALL those who suffer

My wife and I were in a church recently wherein there was a man at most every service who was bound to a wheel chair. Being motorized, he would often navigate his way from his home to the church to praise and worship the Lord. He was faithful. One day my wife spoke to me about him and said,
“this man glorifies the Lord by being in that wheel chair.” She was right! Anyone can praise the Lord and worship Him when things in their life are running smoothly. But to praise Him and worship Him when your life is going through difficulty, gives glory and a testimony to the power of God in an individual’s life. How strong that person’s love and commitment towards God in the face of adversity testifies to the strength of the power of God within that person. In an unbelieving world, it testifies to the reality and the presence of the power of God.

We all have read, and have heard about the trials of Job. A righteous man. One who loved God and served Him with fasting, prayer, sacrifices and offerings. No matter what came Job’s way, his faith in God did not waiver.
The trials of Job, losing all of his abundant material wealth, and then his children, followed by being plagued bodily, were not because Job had sinned. He was not being punished or chastised. He was being tested.

We have all been taught that Job was a man of commitment and had great faith in God. But what we NEED to see also, is that not only did Job have faith in God… but God had great faith in Job!

When Satan came before God, flaunting in God’s face the fall of man; God pointed to Job. Job 1:8 says;

And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

We all know what happened after that; Satan declared that Job only served the Lord because he was so blessed and protected, then Satan prompted the Lord to allow Job to be tested through affliction. Poor Job! Job was unknowing of the contest, and for reasons unknown to him, though he had done no wrong, he was now being destroyed! God had great faith in Job to allow such a great test. The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corthinians 10:13 that God will not put upon us more testing than we can bear, and that statement alone tells us just how much faith God had in the degree of Job’s dedication.


The apostle Paul had an affliction. His affliction did not come because of sin or chastisement, but from Satan. Paul even called it “a messenger of Satan”

2 Cor 12: 7-10 tells us;

And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

This ailment that Paul had been given was from Satan, and it kept Paul from becoming overly proud and preaching to others from a standpoint of personal accomplishment! Though he was never healed of his ailment, he continued to preach the power of God and faith despite his personal affliction.

Jesus told him, “my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Like the worshipper who goes to church in a wheelchair, service after service, unstoppable in his praise and worship of the Lord regardless of circumstance, our weaknesses, our infirmities, our hardships, give testimony to the reality of the power of God that He gives us to transcend circumstances and give us an inward joy of being a disciple of Christ that the world cannot understand.

When Jesus told Paul that His strength was made perfect in weakness, Paul responded to that knowledge by saying

“Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

When we are seemingly ‘at our weakest’ in our afflictions, and continue to persevere and give praise and glory to God, it is then when we display the strength of our faith in Him. It is then when we give living testimony to the power of God in our lives that the power of the Holy Spirit, is able, to keep us inwardly strong and looking unto Him, through the fire of trial and affliction. Paul stated in Romans 8: 35-39;

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that 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 creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

In all of these things, especially these things of hardship, does our faith glorify and give honor to the Lord who called us. His strength is made perfect by our weaknesses. We could combine Paul’s declaration that nothing can separate us from the love of God, with Job’s determination and say ‘nothing shall separate us from our love of God!’

My wife spoke a word of wisdom by saying that it matters far more to the Lord the manner in which we go through adversity, than the adversity itself! How true that is! Adversity and affliction will most certainly happen (we are appointed unto affliction), but how we react to those adversities reveal what is inside of us, our level of commitment, even our degree of maturity in the Lord.

The apostle Peter, died a horrible death, as did also the other apostles, but when the Lord prophesied ( John 21:19) about what Peter’s death would be like, that Jesus was

“signifying by what death he should glorify God.”

It is not so much by our ‘blessings’ that give glory to God, as much as our successful accomplishment of hardship when we are at our worst earthly distresses. One of my wife’s favorite things to say is that “it matters far more to the Lord how we go through the adversities of life than the adversity itself.”

My heart goes out to those in the ministry, whether from the pulpit or within the flock, who testify to power of God to heal, yet when they are afflicted they are not likewise healed. Those who encourage faith in those they talk to, yet their own ‘faith in Him’ does not seem to be fruitful. To those who speak of miracles, yet they suffer such hardship. Of all people, these are the ones who might ask, “why me?” After all, the old testament prophets demonstrated their anointing. Even in the new testament, the Lord worked with them with signs following. Still to this day we have those signs within our congregations and testimonies are given to that effect, but when the ministry itself suffers the fire of affliction without remedy, some might feel very alone, not to mention the humiliation. How can he be one whom God has worked miracles through, and speaks of miracles to come, if he has not received them when he has need himself? How can he encourage others to reach out to God in faith when by his own example God has not responded to him? As Christians, we try to keep earthly things in their proper perspective of minor importance, and give weight to the greater matter of spiritual things. But it’s hard to place the spiritual things as having a greater reality when in the physical world we are devastated by the reality of pain, sickness or other calamity! Suddenly the reality of the physical world seems overwhelming and the things of the spiritual man start to disappear as if in a vapor. It seems as if during those times of the greatest need we have for our heavenly Father is when we feel the most alone. Might I add that Jesus went through those same feelings of being ridiculed and alone. “He saved others,” his tormentors said, “why can’t he save himself?” “Physician”, who had healed others, “heal thyself!” And at His darkest moment Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?!” Ah but, who better to be afflicted than the ministry! The ministry is the most perfect choice for such trial. The most perfect choice, for feelings of being alone or even abandoned! Why?
Remember the scripture, “for to whom much is given, much is required?”

The Lord most certainly leads and guides his disciples. He teaches us about faith, commitment, trust, patience, perseverance, obedience, hope, love, sin and judgment. He shows us, by examples in life, by miracles, by divine appointment, by both blessings and chastisements. He shows us all the things He wants us to know. Step by step He shows us and as we learn and follow He shows us more. Like a teacher in a schoolroom, the material to be learned is brought to light. Things to be learned are explained to us and we rejoice with new knowledge. We ask questions and the answer to those questions are explained by the teacher. Once the teacher has given us all the information of the particular learning session, we are tested.
A test is to reveals not what the teacher knows, but what we have truly learned. What would it profit us during a test, if the teacher were still there explaining things? The Lord teaches us, reveals His word, gives us understanding and revelation. He expects us to pay attention and use what He has taught, but when a periodic test begins to happen, it should not surprise us if ‘The Teacher is Silent During Testing.’ Even Jesus, immediately after being filled with the Holy Spirit was tested by Satan and was not given further spiritual assistance until after it’s successful completion. The Teacher is Silent During Testing. What good would it be, if we felt the anointing of His presence during a test.

When the time for occasional testing comes along, be it from the Lord or Satan, we must go through it, and sometimes go through it without feeling the anointing of His presence which gives us strength. Those that minister the gospel, have been taught to a greater degree because of their dedication, and therefore the best choice to be afflicted and tested based upon the abundance of what they have been given to teach others. To whom much is given, much is required… and that leads to greater testing. Let us remember, even though at times of testing, that God does not promise to keep us from trials and afflictions but He promises to be with us through them, even though we feel alone.

Considering these things then, that when we are weak and continue to serve Him, we show his strength; then let us be like the Apostle Paul and glory in our infirmities. Instead of feeling abandoned or unloved, let us realize that, like Job, God is giving us no more than what He thinks we can bear. Let us understand that, like Job, God is having faith in us! What an opportunity then!, to have the chance to live up to what He has given us to bear! Let’s not disappoint Him. Let’s have the same attitude as Job when he was tested and said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him!” Let us all, no matter what, keep praising Him, keep loving Him, continuing in faith and obedience through the trials of life.

In Acts 16: 23-26; When Paul and Silas were in the bondage of prison they did not pray to be released from it, but instead they praised God with song from the prison they were in! And angels came and set them free. Let us likewise praise Him in spite of harsh conditions and though the flesh might suffer affliction our
Inward man becomes set free of circumstances, enriched, strengthened and gives glory to God.

Understanding Jewish Phrases and Terms

First came the written Torah; the books of Moses as given to him by Yahweh, and they were set and unchangeable laws. But in time there became an Oral Torah, which was a combination of; interpretations of the Law as it might apply to various situations (much like the supreme court interprets the constitution to make rulings in various situations), religious traditions, and sayings of Rabbis who were held in high esteem. The Oral Torah eventually became written and was titled; the Talmud. In order to understand some of the sayings in the Bible, we need to refer back to some of the Hebraic teachings in the Talmud that give us an understanding.

One of the New Testament quotes that is better understood by knowing some of the Talmud is given in Luke 10:10-11;

“But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say, “Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you…”

Rabbis taught from village to village and in the countrysides. They taught in temples, in homes, under a shade tree or anywhere people would gather to be taught. In order to learn from a Rabbi, to be more fully taught by him, his followers (students/disciples) had to travel with him on his journeys in order to continue on with their learning. To follow a Rabbi was a total commitment because it meant leaving everything behind including, at least temporarily, their livelihood and their families. The Rabbi, as well as his students, were dependent on people of the area to care for them with food, lodging if possible, and a place to meet if their homes were large enough. Since Israel is a dry place, much fine dust would surround the group as they walked; so to travel with a Rabbi meant to be covered with the dust of his feet. Thus, this was considered a good thing. It obviously meant you following a Rabbi while being taught by him. A Hebraic saying says;

“Let your home be a meeting house for sages (Rabbis) and cover yourself with the dust of their feet, and drink in their words thirstily”

To be covered with the dust of a Rabbi was a good thing; for it meant you were being taught by him the Torah and the ways of God. The proclamation Jesus gave in Luke 10:10-11 was simply to declare to those who would not receive them, that they rejected those whom God had sent to profit them spiritually.

Profiting from Teaching God’s Word

Rabbis were forbidden to charge a fee for teaching scriptures, for it says in m.Avot 4:5 “He who makes profit from the words of Torah has brought about his own destruction” And Derek Eretz Zuta 3:3 says “Do not charge for teaching Torah, accept no remuneration for it.” Those who taught scripture were not to charge a fee for doing so, but they ate and were sustained by those whom they taught. In the Old Testament; the priests lived on a certain number of the flock and grain brought to the temple. This same standard of not charging a fee for teaching was carried over into the New Testament era. In Luke 10:4-10 Jesus instructed not only to take no money, but not even to carry a purse (to put money in);

“Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way. And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house. And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again. And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.”

Jesus also said in Matthew 10:8; “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.” This is a recurrent doctrine of both old and new testaments and is also mentioned in Peters letters to the Elders of the churches to; “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind…” (1 Peter 5:2).

Followers of Rabbis Often Referred to as ‘Sons’

The Rabbi became like a father to his followers, having a special relationship of honor that was even above one’s own earthly father. Disciples were often called ‘sons’ of the Rabbi; just as those who followed the great Prophets were called the “sons of the prophets”. This tradition of being considered a ‘son’ began with Elijah and Elisha,
(2 Kings 2:1-12) where not only does scripture speak of Elijah’s followers being called sons (51 sons to be exact) but Elisha even referred to Elijah as ‘father’. This is why Jesus referred to those who followed the teaching of the Pharisees as ‘their sons’ ( Luke 11:18-19). It is also also why Jesus referred to the Pharisees as sons of Satan, and declared that their father was Satan, in John 8:44, because by their actions they were followers of Satan; “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.”

When we are truly born again, through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, that same indwelling Spirit becomes our guide and our teacher; therefore we are followers of God. Therefore we call no man on earth our father (concerning spiritual matters) as did those who followed Rabbis. We are no longer called sons of the prophet or sons of Rabbis but sons of God. We follow only Him. That’s why Jesus said in Mt 23:8-10; “But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.” Jesus said this for we are to be the sons of God, not followers of men. 1 John 2:27 affirms (written to spirit-filled believers); “But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.” That’s why
John 1:12 says; “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God…” No longer does God lead His children through others, that they might be called ‘their’ sons, but we must be led by God to be called ‘His Sons’. Romans 8:14 says; “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” (See also Phil 2:15 and 1 Jn 3:2).

Taking the Yoke

‘Taking the yoke of Torah’ was a rabbinic expression for accepting God’s reign over one’s life – to live according to His Will. It means to submit your life to the obedience of God’s word. A disciple was expected to place himself in obedience and dedication to the Rabbi and to the Rabbis teaching of scripture. This is how a disciple “takes the Yoke” of the Rabbi; which, if the Rabbi taught the Torah correctly, equates to the yoke of the God’s Word.

As we know however, what eventually became taught was a combination of not only the written Torah, but the Oral one as well. Since the oral one was rabbinic rulings based on interpretations of the written one, the oral one became equal to the written with the passing of time and in many cases began to supercede the written word. Eventually, the Oral even became contradictory to the written; yet it was the oral Torah (the Talmud) that was adhered to. In this manner man effectually ‘made their own religion’ through misinterpretations and corruptions of scripture that was originally pure and from God Himself. (Sounds like what has happened in the churches of today, doesn’t it? Church groups pick and choose only certain scriptures that they misinterpret in order to validate their own beliefs and doctrines, while carefully avoiding any and all scriptures that contradict their teaching!). One if the instances where Jesus addressed the issue of the Talmud being taught although it was overriding scripture is found in Mark 7:1-13;

1 “Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. 2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? 6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. 10 For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: 11 But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. 12 And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; 13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.”

Remember though, the Oral Torah which became the Talmud was also from the sayings of great and wise teachers and they contained many of the idioms of expression that even Jesus also used. To discount the Talmud in all points would be a huge mistake.

Binding and Loosing

Binding and loosing refer to decrees made by the interpreters of the Torah. Whatever ruling they made concerning a question became ‘binding’. It became a law. The adherents of the Law then, were ‘bound’ to it. This is much the same as any contract we have in the world today that is said to be ‘binding’. Loosing, then, is to set one free of an obligation. It can also be the rescinding of a decree. Over the centuries and millenniums, many of the multitude of decrees in the Talmud were not only contrary to scripture but there were literally thousands of them! The Talmud has roughly 6000 pages. Jesus spoke of the Pharisees and some of their unrighteous decrees and said of them; “…they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders…” referring to all the decrees now being such heavy burdens (as an ox under a heavy load), grievous to be borne (hard to live under) and lay them on men’s shoulders (the YOKE) (Matthew 23:4). Jesus came to ‘set the record straight’ as we say. He came to set right what had gone astray with the Law. While He was in the process of doing this the Pharisees were continually accusing Him of violating the ‘Law’; at least, the law as they knew it. After all, the Talmud had been passed down for centuries. They accused Him of healing on the Sabbath day in violation of the Law. They accused Him and His disciples of not washing their hands before eating; another violation. At one point they asked Him, “Art thou come to destroy the Law?” To this question Jesus answered; “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” (Mt 5:17-18). Let me explain these two verses in detail with a clearer explanation of the words, ‘I am come’ and the words ‘fulfill’. “I am come” denotes purpose. This is certainly one of God’s reasons for His coming into the world; “I am come…to fulfill the law”. The word ‘fulfill’ here means to sustain, to correctly interpret, to establish. In other words He was saying He had no intention whatsoever in doing away with or undermine the Law at all, but His purpose was to correctly interpret the written word. He further said in verse 18 that the Law would not pass away but would outlive the earth itself! “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” The word ‘fulfilled’ at the end of the sentence is clearer defined as ‘accomplished’…’till all be accomplished’ and of course that does not take place until this present world is destroyed.

Take My Yoke Upon You

Jesus, the great teacher, the Rabbi of Rabbis, gave an invitation; “come unto me” and “learn of me.”

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Mt 11: 28-30).

It was an invitation to cast off the heavy burden of yoke of the Pharisees that needlessly overburdened the people, and take HIS yoke which is easy and light; which is a return to unadulterated scripture given as God intended. No, it does not do away with the Laws as given to Moses, it simply gives a correct understanding of them.

“And I will give you rest” Jesus said.” Surely, this casting away of man’s rulings and a return to God’s word is a fulfillment of God’s calling that was given in Jeremiah 6:16;
“Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.”

Said another way, ‘take my yoke upon you,’ we have to remember who Jesus was; the Word of God made flesh. To take His yoke, was once again an expression for accepting God’s reign over one’s life – to live according to His Word and His Will. Even as it says in 2 Corinthians 5:15; “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”

The more I study the Old Testament the more I realize that both Testaments say the same thing; only the wording is different. The part of ‘The Law’ that was done away with was the continual sacrifices for sin and ordinances that Jesus accomplished ‘once and for all’ the scriptures say. Even in these things that are no longer in effect because of Christ,
It was only because those Old Testament directives were metaphors that pointed to Jesus and the new covenant in the first place. They were a shadow of things to come, whereas Jesus was what they were alluding to all along. The bible isn’t two books containing the Old and the New Testaments; they are one book. The Old was not complete until the New. In fact, calling the ‘New Testament’ by its current name is something man did, not God. The New Testament is more of an ‘explanation’ of the Old Testament. It would be better to call the ‘New Testament’ the New Covenant; after all, that’s what the bible calls it.

I hope you have enjoyed this information as much I have in discovering these things!

Thou Art Truly a Son of God

Steve Nixon

I was raised not believing there was a God, but also not believing there wasn’t.

My exposure to the things of God began years prior to ‘church-going’. It started when there became so many supernatural events in my life in which I was amazingly protected or had been shown obvious care, that I finally had to concede that, yes, there really is a God. Logic would then demand that since there really is a God, as many people had said, then it stands to reason that both heaven and hell were real as well. At that point there is only one right-thinking conclusion; seek God. I was extremely fortunate to be born in America, whose religion was by far predominately Christian, so the God that I wanted to find out about was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The God of Israel.

My first church, like so many people, was a Baptist church. There I felt drawn to the altar, dedicated my life to the Lord and asked Him to be my saviour. At that time I was forgiven for my sins and baptized.

The experience of cleansing was a great experience and I was told that I was now saved and ‘born again’. But in time I began to feel like something was wrong and reading the bible caused me to wonder if I was really ‘saved’ or not. I sure didn’t manifest a lot of the things, inwardly or outwardly, that the bible spoke of. My wonder turned into worry, and worry after a while gave feelings bordering despair. Bringing up my wonderings to others resulted in them showing me ‘certain’ scriptures that, when separated from other scriptures validated my salvation. Such validation did not stop my inner feeling of something just not being right. I was missing something. But what?

As my worry grew, I went to bed one night and had a vision. Visions often occur during sleep, but visions are different than dreams. (That’s a whole different subject). In my vision an angel came near to me while was sleeping and in a very soft voice just above a whisper said, “Thou art truly a son of God”. Then the angel said again, a little bit louder, “Thou art truly a son of God” and then a third time a little louder still, “Thou art truly a son of God.” I had a sense of peace because of that vision, and worry over the matter subsided. Although I no longer worried, after a while I began to wonder at the angel’s words. ‘A son of God?’ Not a child of God, but a son. I was still fairly new to my exposure to the bible but, wasn’t there only one son of God? Isn’t that Jesus? I did not doubt at all the vision I had; I knew what I saw and heard in that vision and the peace I felt afterwards. But I didn’t understand how I, or anyone, could be called a son of God. For 40 years I never told anyone of that vision. It all makes sense now, and because it makes sense now I wonder why I didn’t understand all along (I guess that’s normal).

Several years later found me very busy. We had moved from the city and I was commuting many miles to and from work and raising a family. During this time I was less focused on spiritual things and after a while that feeling of ‘missing something in my life’ returned. I began to yearn for a closeness to God; and yearning became a hunger.
At that time, the Lord directed my steps to a local church where they preached against sin, worldliness and wrong attitudes. They preached a total commitment to the obedience God and God’s Word. Anytime I walked into that church, I could feel this awesome awareness of God’s presence as if electricity was in the air. I would go there and tremble.
God’s spirit was there, and it was powerful. Not many visits later found me back at the altar again, getting baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and for the first time in my life receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost. At that baptism I spoke in a language I did not know, and did not understand. I remembered that utterance though, and through curiosity and research I learned later that what I spoke was Hebrew and what was said was, “behold, salvation!” It was at this second baptism, that I learned the vast difference between ‘being cleansed through the forgiveness of sin’ (which many mistake for ‘being born again’) and the true born again experience of receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. There were very dramatic changes in my life because of the indwelling of the Holy Ghost and a new awareness of the reality of God and the seriousness of His Word. Things pertaining to God and His kingdom became a living reality and physical reality seemed to suddenly be far less real or important. Now I had received the true born again experience and even it’s manifested signs that I had read about in the bible but never had.

Having this new life now, after several months, I began to wonder about my vision that had taken place years earlier; “Thou art truly a son of God.” I knew that this new experience was the true new birth, and never doubted it for a moment. So how could an angel tell me what I heard in the vision? I knew the vision was true also. I had no answers. But every few years I would think of it again and wonder, “how can both of these be true?” Just within the last few days I learned the answer to my inner questionings… 40 years after the vision.

In order to understand some of the sayings in the bible, I’m beginning to study some of Jewish culture. It’s very interesting like; “my yoke is easy” (what is ‘yoke’ actually referring to) and ‘wipe the dust off your feet’ (is that an insult? I don’t think Jesus would want to us insult people… so what does that mean?). There are many things in scripture that we would far better understand if we look to the culture of the nation that the scriptures were given to. (To the Jew first, and then to the Greek [gentiles] Rom 1:16, Rom 2:9-10). I’ve learned that rabbi’s traveled the countryside, going from town to town. They would teach in homes, under shade trees, on the shore of the sea of Galilee or anywhere they found room They were sustained by the hospitality of the locals. Those that learned from these teachers had a difficult life, for in order for them to learn, they had to follow the rabbi as he traveled, and that meant leaving their homes and means of income, at least for the time at hand. These disciples (those following) were called ‘sons’. If you followed a Rabbi in such a committed way then you were a ‘son’ of that Rabbi. Perhaps because you would be the ‘offspring’ of his teaching (but I don’t know that). My vision, I’m sure which was meant to give me some inner peace, was acknowledging that I was a disciple, a student, a true seeker while at the same time not verifying whether or not I was really a ‘born-again’ Christian. Which I wasn’t, at least not at that time. There is a difference, between a ‘believer’ and a ‘receiver’. InActs 19:1-6, the apostle Paul came upon a group of believers and asked them, “Have you receive the Holy Ghost since you have believed?” And they said no, and that they’d never heard of it. Then he laid hands on them and they received this same baptism that I did. I cannot help but believe in my heart that if a person is serious about their commitment to God, if they have a yearning and open heart instead of a skeptical and closed mind, if they seek Him with all of their being then they will find Him in this same manner.