The Words of my Father

2.06.2026

The Centrality, Supremacy, and Preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ

Below is but a small measure of revelation that my father had received from the Lord. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.

The Centrality, Supremacy, and Preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ
In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

We are continuing with our study of the Kingdom of God. What is the significance of "The Centrality, Supremacy, and Preeminence of the Lord Jesus Christ?" I want to share with you what that means to me.

The ONLY true "I AM" is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He is the GREAT I AM.

13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is His name? what shall I say unto them?
14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and He said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. Exodus 3:13-14

Did anyone ask, "I AM ... who or what?" Just fill in the blank with a multitude of words that attempt to describe the Lord. He is the King of glory; He is King of kings and Lord of lords; He is our Wisdom; He is our Righteousness; He is our Peace; He is the Prince of Peace; He is our Counsellor; He is the Just One; He is our Sure Foundation; He is the Chief Cornerstone; He is our Sabbath Rest; He is the Word of God; He is our Savior; He is the Mighty God; He is love; He is a consuming fire; His Name is Wonderful; His Name is above every name; His Name is Marvelous; He is our Glory and the Lifter of our head; He is our Messiah; He is the fulfillment of all of the Jewish feasts; He is our Emmanuel; He is our Advocate; He is our Apostle and High Priest; He is that Great Prophet; He is the Author and Finisher of our faith; He is our Good Shepherd; He is our Chief Shepherd; He is our Great Shepherd; He is our Teacher; He is our Rabbi; He is our Master; He is our Redeemer; He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah; He is the Captain of our Salvation; He is our Strength; He is our Refuge; He is our Defence; He is our Song; He is our Healer; He is our Deliverer; He is the Great Physician; He is the Creator of the universe and all things therein; He is the Lamb that taketh away the sin of the world; He is our Passover; He is the Bright and Morning Star; He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; He is the Light of the world; He is the Door; He is our Rock; He is our High Tower; He is our Shield; He is our Dayspring; He is the Day Star; He is the Bright and Morning Star; He is the Sun of Righteousness; He is our Mediator; He is the True Servant; He is our Faithful Witness; He is the only Begotten; He is the Firstborn; He is our Resurrection; He is the True Vine; He is the Balm of Gilead; He is the rose of Sharon; He is the lily of the valley; He is all we need; He is our All in All; and the government shall be upon His shoulders. There is none like Him. Who shall not fear Him Who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell? When David was assembling everything in preparation for building the temple,

10 Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be Thou, LORD God of Israel our Father, for ever and ever.
11 Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is Thine; Thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and Thou art exalted as head above all.

12 Both riches and honour come of Thee, and Thou reignest over all; and in Thine hand is power and might; and in Thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all.
13 Now therefore, our God, we thank Thee, and praise Thy glorious name.
14 But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of Thee, and of Thine own have we given Thee.
15 For we are strangers before Thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.
16 O LORD our God, all this store that we have prepared to build Thee an house for Thine holy name cometh of Thine hand, and is all Thine own.
1 Chronicles 29:10-16

No wonder that David was a man after God's own heart! Now everyone who reads this book and many, many more believers would all say, "Of course! Everybody (every Christian) knows that!" Actually, the devils also know that and they tremble!

19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? James 2:19-20

Therefore it is not a matter of knowing what the Bible says about the Lord; rather, it is about knowing Him! We can learn who Jesus Christ is by coming up against situations in which He is the only One who can help us. In 1968, when I was not quite one year in Christ, I read a book written by De Vern Fromke titled, "The Ultimate Intention." Although it is a very good book and very worthwhile reading, I only remember one thing in that book. The author went through a series of diagrams. The first diagram showed man (natural man) at the center of a circle, with the Lord on the outside of the circle. The next diagram showed the Lord inside the circle, sharing the center with man. The last diagram depicted Christ as the center of the circle. Here again, I assume almost every believer would say, "Of course! Every believer knows that!" But when I saw those three diagrams, the Holy Spirit did a new work in my heart. That word was made flesh within me. In eternity past the Father ordained that all things would be centered in His Son. The Lord Jesus Christ is the center of all things. Every believer agrees doctrinally but what about the reality ... the working out of that truth? Paul told the saints at Philippi (and us) to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12b).

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made.
4 In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
John 1:1-5

This passage in the New Testament parallels the one in Genesis,

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1

Note that the Bible does NOT say "the earth and the heavens." God is very orderly in all that He says and does. The heavens come first. The heavens govern the earth and the earthly. The earth takes its significance and importance from being related to something greater than itself ... to heaven. But heaven, or the heavens, is not a physical location (Luke 17:20-21). It is the place where God rules ... the kingdom of heaven.

And whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the heavens do rule.
Daniel 4:26

Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2

9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:9-10

The Divine intention in creation was that a harmony should exist between heaven and earth ... between God and all of His creation, where "harmony" means that everything and everyone is in tune with the Conductor. Before a symphony orchestra starts to play, each member of the ensemble gets in tune with the oboe. The note that the oboist plays is "A" because every stringed instrument has an "A" string. It is up to each individual member of the orchestra to tune his instrument to the same pitch as the oboe. Once all members are in tune to the "A" pitch of the oboe, the Conductor is then in charge. For us, the oboe is the Holy Spirit and our Conductor is the Lord Himself.

God made everything for His pleasure, for Himself, for His rest and enjoyment. This world is not our home ... it is not our resting place ... it is not our center of gravity. The heavenly realm is unknown to us by nature. We can read about that heavenly realm in the Bible and we can hear about it through anointed preachers and teachers (if we are so blessed), but we can never know that heavenly realm until we experience it. There is nothing second-hand about the spiritual life in Christ. In the Book of Exodus, each man was to gather the manna daily (except for the Sabbath day) for himself and for his family. That is why Jesus told Andrew and Peter, "Come and see."

All of the Bible speaks of the Kingdom of God. And all of the Bible points to the Lord Jesus Christ. In Luke 24:27, 30-32,

"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the scriptures?"

We conclude that the risen Christ is the Kingdom of God. If we abide in the Vine we abide in the kingdom of God.

There are five "Christology" Chapters in the Bible, which means that five specific chapters in the Bible, perhaps more so than any others, speak of the Person and nature of the Lord Jesus Christ. They are John, Chapter 1; Ephesians, Chapter 1; Philippians, Chapter 2; Colossians, Chapter 1; and Hebrews, Chapter 1.

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In Him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through Him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.
11 He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.
12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

The Word must likewise be made flesh within us ... Christ in you, the hope of glory.

15 John bare witness of Him, and cried, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for He was before me.
16 And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him. John 1:1-18

Ephesians 1:3-23:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

6 To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.
7 In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace;
8 Wherein He hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in Him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of His glory, Who first trusted in Christ.
13 In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power,
20 Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is His body, the fulness of Him that filleth all in all.

Although that chapter mentions the spiritual blessings that we receive and our inheritance in Christ, the predominant theme is God's purpose and His inheritance. It would be a good idea to read those verses every day, emphasizing the words He, Him, His, and Himself. Please read again Verses 15-19. Paul wrote that Epistle to the saints at Ephesus almost seven years AFTER he had labored among them for three years, teaching and preaching the Kingdom of God. I doubt that any church has ever received as much good teaching as did the Church at Ephesus through Paul. The saints at Ephesus were born-again, Spirit-filled believers who had received the best teaching that man can give. BUT why would Paul still pray for them that they might receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him ... if they had already received that gift? Could that also be a message for the charismatic community today? Do all of us likewise need that same Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him? Note that the knowledge of Him is far different from the knowledge of the written word.

Philippians 2:1-13

1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

The death required of each believer is the spiritual death to self. Paul said, "I die daily."

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

Colossians 1:9-29

9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

How can we walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing unless we are filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding? Again, why would Paul pray that prayer for the saints at Colosse (and for us) if they were already filled with that knowledge?

11 Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son:
14 In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him:
17 And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist.
18 And He is the head of the body, the church: Who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things He might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled
22 In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church:
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to His saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

[Paul said he warned every man (every believer). When was the last time that anyone warned you? And if so, what was the message of the warning? Note also that warning comes before teaching. Why? because it is all too easy to slip back into the desires of the flesh and the works of the flesh.]

29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.

It would be good to read those verses in Colossians every day.

Hebrews 1:1-14

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by Whom also He made the worlds;
3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
4 Being made so much better than the angels, as He hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.
5 For unto which of the angels said He at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He shall be to me a Son?
6 And again, when He bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him.
7 And of the angels He saith, Who maketh His angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire.
8 But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom.
9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.
10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands:
11 They shall perish; but Thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12 And as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.
13 But to which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies thy footstool?
14 Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

We have just read eighty-seven (87) Verses from the five Christology Chapters. In those 87 Verses, the words "He, His, Him, and Himself" occur 99 times. That does not count the 50 or more words "Thou, Thy, Christ, Jesus, Lord, Who, Whom, God," etc., which also refer to the Lord. We might also note that in the Verses quoted from Colossians, the words "all" and "every" occur some 16 times. The above verses are well worth reading carefully over and over again. All of these refer to God, not us, and HIS purposes. We are so preoccupied with OUR interests, OUR desires, and OUR plans, that we have little time to think about HIS interests, HIS desires, and HIS plans.

May the Lord continue to open our eyes to see Who He is and open our ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying to us in these perilous times in which we live. And may the Lord be glorified in our every word and deed. Amen.

2.05.2026

Spiritual Warfare

Below is but a small measure of revelation that my father had received from the Lord. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.

March 1, 2020
In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

Tonight I want to share with you that which I have received from the Lord concerning the topic of spiritual warfare. In the natural realm we see a war on crime, a war on drugs, a war on illegal immigration, a war on poverty as well as wars within families. Kids today do not know how to cope. I heard one minister recently say that 80% of young people are on alcohol and drugs. Of course our young people are also into unclean sex, rock and roll music, horror films, dirty magazines and the LGBTQ realm, which is everywhere. That is the work of the enemy. Why do we Christians see these conditions existing within our children? One reason is because in many families, both father and mother now work away from home 5 days a week, with day care for the younger children and home alone after school for the older. But the primary reason is because we parents have relegated our responsibility of teaching our own children the ways of the Lord. We have said, "We are too busy. Let the 'church' teach our children." But the Lord declares in His word that the primary training ground for teaching our children is in our individual families. That specific exhortation to obedience is found at least three times, in Deuteronomy, Chapters 4, 6, and 11. Now some may say, "But brother, that is in the Old Testament." Very true, but obedience to the Lord never changes, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, and today, and forever. God's moral law has never changed.

We also see wars between Christian families. Many years ago two Christian families lived next door to each other, just a few blocks from where we live. Both families had dogs. One Christian man said their neighbor's dog had left dog poop on his yard, so he deliberately took some dog poop and put it on his neighbor's front stoop. At some point they determined to go to court over the matter of a shed boundary. I tried to arbitrate their differences, but to no avail.

Of course we also have wars between nations, almost all of which have involved religious reasons. Jesus said in Matthew 24 that in the end times we would see wars and rumors of wars. But all of those wars, and more, just deal with symptoms, not the real problem.

If you were to ask 10 different Christians about spiritual warfare, you would probably get at least three different sets of answers. Some would perhaps dismiss entirely the need for spiritual warfare and refuse to acknowledge the war. Instead we fight against each other. Many more would say that we Christians have power over all the power of the enemy and that we should just bind the enemy and/or rebuke the devil when things don't seem to go the way we think they should. I have a different understanding of spiritual warfare. Many years ago in a small gathering of believers I deliberately said, "Resist the devil and he will laugh at you." At that point the hostess said, in a rather loud voice, "What?" in obvious unbelief. Then I said, but "Submit yourself therefore unto God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) There is a big difference. Christian man, in his own power and strength, is no match for the devil.

13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth.
14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so.
15 And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?
16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. Acts 19:13-16

We were born from above into a war that we did not start, whether we believe it or not and whether we understand it or not. That war began when an angel named Lucifer rebelled against God in eternity past and persuaded one-third of the angels to go with him (Revelation 12:4). Lucifer then became the devil, Satan, that old serpent, the great dragon, Beelzebub, the prince of the world, the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). God's answer to that rebellion is recorded in Isaiah 14:12-15.

12 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations!
13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.
15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Every Christian is aware that when Adam and Eve sinned, they were banished from the Garden of Eden and therefore could no longer partake of the tree of life. They also relinquished their right and authority to have dominion over all the earth to the devil. But when Jesus died on the cross at Calvary, He did at least two things. First, through His death and resurrection He made it possible for whosoever will to re-enter the Garden of Eden, and second He redeemed that authority back to Himself. Prior to the crucifixion of Jesus, we read, in John 18:36,

"Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if My kingdom were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is My kingdom not from hence."

As a result of the death and resurrection of Jesus, He fulfilled Colossians 2:14-15

14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.

So the Lord Jesus has already won the victory; He has already won the battle against the devil. Jesus said to some Jews who believed on Him, in John 8:44,

"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."

Isaiah 42:22, "But this is a people robbed and spoiled; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison houses: they are for a prey, and none delivereth; for a spoil, and none saith, Restore."

That verse is current events. Far too many of God's chosen people are weak, wounded, prisoners, and in bondage. I believe the primary work of the Lord today is recorded in Isaiah 11.

Whereas Verses 1-5 of Isaiah 11 may refer to the work of Jesus at Calvary, Verses 6-16 definitely have not yet been fulfilled because we do not see the lion lying down with the lamb. More importantly, Isaiah 11:11 says that the Lord will set His hand again the second time to recover the remnant from 8 different aspects of bondage. That has definitely not yet been fulfilled. But the Lord is in the process of preparing His last day remnant.

1 Peter 5:8-9, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world."

The effect of that war is everywhere. We are still at war with the powers of darkness. The chosen people of God are not prepared for battle in the day of the Lord. In natural wars, a large number of men are usually killed. But in the realm of the Spirit, there are more spiritual casualties because we Christians do not fight with the right weapons.

Let me suggest to you that the pathway to understanding and overcoming in true spiritual warfare must focus primarily on accentuating the positive ... namely Christ in you, the hope of glory. We will see this truth later in Ephesians 6. Now as long as the devil is not bound and as long as we are on earth in these physical bodies, we will be subject to spiritual warfare. Further, the more we mature in Christ, the more we become subject to the lies, temptations, and assaults of the enemy. Why? because we become more of a threat to the enemy.

Almost 50 years ago, I bought a book titled, "The Kingdom of the Cults," a rather large book that detailed most of the erroneous practices and teachings of almost all of the cults known to man at that time. But every time I tried to read that book, the Lord would not let me read it. Why? I believe that we should not waste our time investigating anything of Satan's realm. Otherwise we are giving center stage to the enemy.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: 1 Peter 3:15

My wife has always liked to work outside in the yard, with trees, grass, and shrubs. Almost 50 years ago she received a revelation about how to have good, healthy grass - not by focusing on getting rid of the weeds but by concentrating on feeding the roots of the grass. If the grass roots are strong and healthy, the weeds will automatically get choked out.

1 Corinthians 12:18, "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased Him."

That verse is true both spiritually and naturally. Many years ago the Lord quickened to me that He placed me and my wife and family geographically just outside the Beltway that encircles Washington, D.C. not for me to do something or say something but primarily just to BE part of a group of believers to help to hold back the forces of evil in Washington, D.C.

I doubt that any Christian would disagree that in any situation we could and should ask our self, "What would Jesus do?" or "What DID Jesus do in a specific situation? In Luke 4:1-13, we read the pattern of spiritual warfare set forth for us by the example of Jesus.

1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
2 Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days He did eat nothing: and when they were ended, He afterward hungered.
3 And the devil said unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
5 And the devil, taking Him up into an high mountain, shewed unto Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6 And the devil said unto Him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.
7 If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.
9 And he brought Him to Jerusalem, and set Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
10 For it is written, He shall give His angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
11 And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.
13 And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from Him for a season.

From Verse 1, to overcome in spiritual warfare, we must be full of the Holy Ghost. That is not the same as being baptized with the Holy Ghost. "Being full of the Holy Ghost" means that we are abiding in the Vine or walking with the Lord. The members of the Church at Corinth were baptized with the Holy Ghost but certainly were not walking with the Lord. Note that Jesus was tempted in three areas. The same three temptations apply to each born-from-above believer.

The first temptation by the devil concerns our physical body. Barring an unusual miracle we must at some point eat natural food. But this area of temptation includes more that natural food; it concerns the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes ... all things that we mortals consider pleasant to the flesh, such as food, drink, sex, and entertainment in all forms. None of those things are necessarily evil unless they become excess and dominate our life. But our natural body too often dictates our thoughts or our spiritual worship. "I think I will just rest today. I don't feel like going to the church meeting; I don't feel like praying." Paul said,

But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. 1 Corinthians 9:27

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. Romans 12:1

The second temptation, from Luke 4 Verses 5-8, concerns our soul and our relationship with the world. It speaks of our reputation, successes, our name, prosperity, our influence, our mental prowess.

One pastor, who was a dynamic preacher, once told me privately that the church meeting place has to look very prosperous in order to attract more people. That is why he unilaterally bought $10,000 worth of new platform chairs (with church donations) even though the chairs that his church had looked almost new. That is why a mega-church in our geographical area spent at least 180 million dollars to construct a huge stone complex, complete with a gymnasium, cafeteria, and a 3-story concrete garage for use by their members. The world system (cosmos) wants our soul.

Paul told Timothy (and us) in 2 Timothy 2:3-4,

"Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier."

The third area of temptation, from Verses 9-12, concerns our spirit, or the religious arena. The devil took Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem. The temple speaks of the popular theology, the traditional, the established, the formal, professional Christians. But Jesus said that He will build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.

Now, what can we conclude from all three levels of temptation? several things. First, the devil knows scripture as well or better than many of us. The devil also knows what the Church is to do. He will try to get us to accept some lesser goal.

Ephesians 3:8-12, "Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him."

The devil will frequently quote scripture, but twist scripture just enough to tempt us and sidetrack us. The devil bombards us with lies. Second, the devil tries to create doubt in our minds. He wants to render us inactive, kill, steal, and destroy. When tempting Jesus the devil said (twice), "IF thou be the Son of God, then..." Moreover, the devil always wants to undermine our personal relationship with the Father. The devil also has a goal to turn us away from the true goal of giving all the glory to God.

Now, how did Jesus overcome all of the temptation from the devil? as a Lion or as a Lamb?The strength of the Lion is expressed by the humility of the Lamb.

Now how can we or how do we overcome? The same way that Jesus did. The Bible is full of paradoxes: the way up is down; the way down is up. The character and nature of Jesus within us is our most effective weapon. It is that same Lamb character within us that overcomes all of the lies of the enemy. We overcome by knowing, understanding, and walking in the Truth. We overcome by first allowing the Holy Spirit to develop within us the same humility and meekness exhibited by Jesus when He walked the face of the earth as a Man.

Revelation 12:7-11, "And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."

Now let us look briefly at Ephesians 6:10-20.

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.

The prerequisite for spiritual warfare is to be strong in the Lord. The power of His might speaks of the Holy Ghost.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

A principality is a demonic ruler over a region.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

The scripture exhorts us twice to put on the whole armor of God. That is something we must do, by the power of the Holy Ghost within us.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

Our loins speak of our body. The breastplate of righteousness protects our heart or spirit.

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

The helmet protects our head or mind. We use the sword of the Spirit to fend off the lies of the enemy.

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Why is prayer and supplication listed last? because the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Note that prayer should be for all saints. The Lord is interested in a body, not just a few selected saints.

19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

The basic principles of spiritual warfare are set forth at Jericho, the first battle AFTER the Israelites entered the Promised Land. The Lord had promised the land of Canaan to the Israelites, but they still had to go up and possess the land. The walled city of Jericho at that time period was considered impregnable. It is said that Jericho had walls that were thick enough to run chariots on the top. Jericho exhibited all of the abominations of the ancient world: the lowest and vilest forms of immorality; demons were worshipped; the moon was worshipped; religious prostitution was commanded; and human beings were sacrificed.

Jericho, which means both "city of fragrance" and "city of the moon," represents man's efforts and intellect, independent of the Lord. It speaks of the material, the physical, the natural.

Jerusalem speaks of the spiritual. The relationship of the moon to the sun is the same relationship as the intellect to the spirit. The moon does not shine with its own light but is totally dependent upon the sun. So Jericho is a stronghold that speaks of a counterfeit fragrance.

There are things that God wants us to do and obstacles that need defeating in our lives, so we can turn the world upside down for Jesus. The walls of Jericho represent growing opportunities for us in our relationship with the Lord. He already knows that we can overcome them in His strength, but WE need to learn that. Let's make one thing clear: God never puts a wall of Jericho in our life to defeat us. Any test we face is to make us stronger, not grind us into the dust.

A man named Todd Bolen, in his Seven Fascinating Facts about Crossing the Jordan River. August 17, 2016, wrote the following: In 1854 an expert swimmer was unable to make it across the river near Jericho because the river was too wide and the current too strong. How wide was the Jordan River when the Israelites crossed the river? We do not know since the book of Joshua does not tell us. The depth of the river was probably deeper since sediment would have moved down the river since the time Israel crossed the river. The crossing of a turbulent river at flood stage would have been difficult and was most likely greater than 100 feet wide and greater than ten feet deep.

But the real miracle is not how wide or how deep the river bed was when Israel crossed the river, but that they crossed a dry river bed at flood season. It revealed God's power and care for His chosen people Israel. Joshua 3:14-17 says that the river rose up in one heap at the city of Adam when the feet of the priests, bearing the ark of the covenant, "dipped in the edge of the water" and instantly the river bed also became dry. We can praise our God for His care of His own. (end of his blog)

About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho. Joshua 4:13

Undoubtedly Joshua, as the leader and captain of those 40 thousand warriors, thought that he needed a strategic plan concerning how to dispossess all of the inhabitants of Jericho.

13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto Him, What saith my lord unto His servant?
15 And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

Joshua 5:13-15

So the Lord made it very clear to Joshua that He, the Lord, was in charge of the battle, not Joshua. Likewise, from Isaiah 9:6, the government must be upon the Lord's shoulder, not on the shoulders of pastors or men called elders. We think that we must win the battle, but the battle is the Lord's. Jesus won the war at Calvary. Too many times we assume too much responsibility.

In Joshua, Chapter 6, the Lord revealed His plan for the Israelites to take the city of Jericho. Our plans will be effective only if they are the Lord's plans.

1 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.
2 And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
3 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
4 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.

Not the long straight trumpets generally used, but the same kind that were to be employed on the first day of the seventh month (Leviticus 23:24), and to announce the year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:9). The trumpets were made out of rams' horns, which is the same as the shofar.

"Shofar" means to "burn into" like a branding iron burns into the flesh of an animal. The very loud sound of the shofar burns into the heart, drawing people to attention.

5 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.
6 And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.
7 And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD.
8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.
9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.

So the children of Israel walked around the walls of Jericho in silence, but they listened to the blast of the rams' horns. That must have been quite a message to both the Israelites and the inhabitants of Jericho. For the Israelites, it served to build up their faith and trust in the Lord. Faith comes by hearing, not by talking. For the inhabitants of Jericho, the blasts increased their fear.

11 So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.
13 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
16 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.
17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
18 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble
19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.
20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

There is a time to keep silence and there is a time to shout. But we shout to the walls of Jericho only when the Lord says to shout. The Lord is not deaf; neither are the devils. Can you imagine the deafening noise when 40,000 men plus the priests suddenly interrupted the silence with a shout?

21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.
22 But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.
23 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.
24 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
26 And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.
27 So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.

2 Corinthians 2:14, "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place."

What a powerful verse! God ALWAYS causes us to triumph in Christ, but we will always lose the battle if we are not "in Christ." The phrase "in Christ" means much more than being born again and baptized with the Holy Ghost. In a later message or two I want to elaborate on what it means to be "in Christ." The word "savour" means "fragrance." What is the fragrance of His knowledge? It is the knowledge of Christ, which cannot be hidden. His very presence is something which we cannot hide. When we know Him experientially, when we possess Him, when we are in Christ and He is in us, a sweet-smelling fragrance is emitted.

Of course Jericho represents the first, but not the last stronghold of the enemy that we must overcome AFTER we enter the Promised Land. Other strongholds, which hinder our maturing in Christ, are our carnal mind, as exemplified by the Church at Corinth (that resulted in division into separate parties because each party thought they knew all about Christianity); Judaizers and legalism as exemplified by the Galatian churches; asceticism, Gnosticism (secret knowledge of Christ), depreciation of Christ, strict ceremonialism as found in the Colossian church (severe self-discipline and avoidance of all forms of indulgence).; legalism and antinomianism, being spiritually proud with the rivalry between two spiritual sisters at Philippi; and the substitution of head knowledge for knowing the Lord as exemplified by the Church at Ephesus. The Thessalonian churches: Jesus will come back immediately, therefore let us quit our jobs.

2 Corinthians 10:3-5, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

Jericho was taken because the presence of the Lord was manifested. The power of His might was not in the silence, not in the sounding of the shofars, not in the shouting, but because of the presence of the ark of the covenant. After the victory at Jericho, the Israelites received no spoil. We get no glory from that which God has done. God takes only that which goes through the fire, namely the silver and gold, and vessels of brass and iron. Those went into the treasury of the Lord. But perhaps the greatest spoil was the salvation of Rahab, who had been a harlot ... the lowest of all people in Jericho. But David came from her, and eventually so did the Man Jesus.

In Christ we are more than conquerors and fully equipped to overcome all obstacles and prevail in all spiritual warfare in order to fulfill His purposes for His glory. He alone is worthy! Amen!

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

The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 2 Peter 2:9

Because thou hast kept the word of My patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Revelation 3:10

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love Him. James 1:12

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:14-15

A Pure Language

This writing of my father's was the last that he wrote, and was not able to speak during his weekly on air broadcasts, for the Lord had determined that he had fought the good fight, and had finished his course. A beautiful message indeed. I hope this will be a blessing to you. All that is written below are the words of my father.

4/27/23
In loving memory of my father
Robert Louis (Bob) Padgett
July 28, 1931-May 22, 2023

The word "language" appears 29 times in the Bible. Most of the time, the word "language" refers to a natural language, such as the Jews' language or the Syrian language. As usual, if we want to understand the significance of any scriptural term, we should go back to where the word is first mentioned in the Bible. Therefore, we will start with Genesis 11:1-9, which describes the origin of Babylon, which speaks of the efforts of man to reach God. Among other things, that seems to imply that God has built into the human race, starting from Adam, an innate desire to seek God. How else can we explain the offerings of Cain and Abel?

Genesis 11:1-9,
1 And the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there.

They journeyed from the east. How did they get to the east (of Eden) in the first place? through Cain, whose posterity are called Kenites. There are hundreds of millions of Kenites today. Some of them are even in our churches. (Matthew 13:25-40)

Genesis 4:16, "And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden."

Nod is the Hebrew root of the verb "to wander," or "vagrancy," specifically vagrancy from the Lord. There have been, ever since Cain, two kingdoms in the earth today. They are truth vs. error; light vs. darkness; love vs. hate; God vs. Satan, Babylon vs the Kingdom of God, etc.

Returning to Genesis 11, verse 2.

2 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.

Substitutes! and a lack of patience, because the normal way to make brick was to let the sun dry the bricks. My, how we all need more patience.

Genesis 11, verse 3.

3 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

In Christendom, the modern-day version of a tower speaks of the pointed spires of church structures. Note in verses 2 and 3 the three occurrences of "let us," in contrast to "let God," such as

Psalm 68:1, "Let God arise and let His enemies be scattered" and

Romans 3:4, "God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged."

With respect to "let us make us a name," we have assigned names to businesses, boats, streets, airplanes, houses, lands, cars, churches, and children after our self, in an effort to perpetuate our name. I have said many times that whenever a church takes a name, that is the first step down a slippery slope to missing what the Lord has for us.

First Corinthians, of course, is primarily a letter of correction that Paul wrote, concerning a variety of errors (at least seven) that had crept into that church. It is worth reflecting that the members of The Church at Corinth calling themselves by different names is the FIRST error addressed by Paul. He addresses this problem even before the (rampant) fornication, which he first mentions in Chapter 5. Why the order? Perhaps because "he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body" (Chapter 6:18), but the naming process had affected EVERY believer (Chapter 1:12).

After the fall, as a result of losing his God-given dominion, man also lost his authority to give out names. Of course, man has continued to exercise the function of giving names, even though he no longer has that authority. This is an external outworking of the rebellion of man. For example, in Genesis 4:16-17, "And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, ... and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch."

Psalm 49:10-13, "For He seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others. Their inward thought is, that their houses shall continue for ever, and their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man being in honour abideth not: he is like the beasts that perish. This their way is their folly: yet their posterity approve their sayings. Selah."

So the dominion (and the right to "name") originally given to Adam, but lost in the fall, now belongs to the Lord Jesus Christ as a result of the redemption purchased at the cross of Calvary.

Philippians 2:8-11, "And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father".

Any believer walks in a very precarious position when he begins to make a "name" for himself. It is very easy to make a name for yourself, but it requires some compromises along the way. Anyone who has an apparent gift that appeals to the senses (such as healing or miracles) or a reasonable message of "truth" (or even a word that sounds pleasant to the ears) can relatively quickly establish audiences in numerous places. Before long, you can become a speaker at the large conferences and make yourself nationally known. There are currently, in the United States, perhaps hundreds, of such "names" that will one day be humbled by God in the sight of man. Some already have been. Many of these "names" will surprise you.

Even if man begins to acquire a "name," but not through his own efforts, there is still potential peril, albeit of a different variety. Such a person is subjected to significant attacks by the enemy. There is no better example than Jesus Himself. Not only did Jesus not make a name for Himself, He MADE Himself of NO reputation (Philippians 2:7). Jesus never sought the applause of men.

The "best" name for any believer may be summed up by Revelation 2:17,

"To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it."

The overcomer (not just anyone who has accepted the saving grace of our Lord) is promised a new name ... the believer's new name.

But even better than that is the name of Jesus ... name above ALL names! the name to which every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!

Now if your church group gets rid of your "name", will that solve all of your church problems? Not at all! If you have come away with that impression then you have missed what we have tried to say about names. To mechanically implement any change will, by itself, accomplish very little. Leaders somehow need to convey the spirit of what we have just described about names, not the letter.

Genesis 11, verses 4-9," And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech. So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth."

Two more sets of verses which contain the word "language," which in the natural realm means the principal method of human communication, but in the spiritual realm speaks of the pure language that the Lord is in the process of bringing about in His chosen vessels.

There will come a time when God's people will all "speak the same thing" as it were, for we read in

Zephaniah 3:8-9, "Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve Him with one consent."

Those verses have not yet been fulfilled. "The people," of course, refers to the Lord's chosen people. Think of it - a pure language. I doubt that the pure language will be English or Spanish or any other natural language. It will be the language of the Spirit ... we will all be praising and worshipping the Father for an eternity.

Zechariah 14:21, "Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah shall be holiness unto the LORD of hosts: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts."

The last part of that verse ... "in that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the LORD of hosts," tells us that until the Lord returns, our churches will always have impostors, including false teachers.

Now let us consider what is Truth, followed by how we come to the knowledge of the Truth. What is the relationship between a pure language and the truth? basically, the pure language speaks only about the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

Ephesians 4:11-14, "And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ."

What is truth? Pilate asked this question in response to a statement Jesus had made to him.

John 18:37-38, "Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in Him no fault at all."

That same question has been asked multitudes of times since Pilate asked it. Pilate looked Truth straight in the eye and asked, "What is truth?" No one is able to give an answer that will satisfy every person or group of believers. It means one thing to some, another thing to others. What is hidden from our view when we think of truth? it was NOT referring to modes of baptism nor the basic plan of Salvation. I could safely rule out the various prophetic interpretations and teachings that have become threadbare with age and misuse. What was Jesus referring to when He used the word "truth"?

Was Jesus talking about the same thing that Paul was referring to when he wrote, in 2 Timothy 3:7, "Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." Paul used the "epi" word here for "knowledge" (epignosis - knowledge above knowledge).

Does it take a special "knowledge upon knowledge" to learn the Truth that Jesus was referring to? There are so many places in the New Testament where "epignosis" is used that it might seem to indicate that we cannot find real truth when we operate only in the natural wisdom and abilities which we have.

Almost everyone who has a doctrine to promote, puts great emphasis on "the truth" when they expound what they think the scriptures are saying. Certainly, every church would say they believe the Bible is the word of God. Of course, what they mean is that their interpretation of the word of God is true.

God does not, necessarily, endorse one person's special doctrine over the other. As a matter of fact, Jesus was NOT referring to doctrinal beliefs when He used the word "TRUTH." Not at all! TRUTH, as Jesus used the word in many places, is referring to what is real, and enduring, as opposed to that which is unreal and temporary. I do not believe that when time is no more we will have Bible studies in heaven.

God has promised to shake mightily the earth. When the shaking is finished, one kingdom will remain. Do you know which one?

Many so-called "doctrines of truth" will also go by the way of the shaking because they were honeycombed with error or were used with ulterior motives. There ARE people who "hold the truth in unrighteousness." They, and their teachings, as well as those who gave them heed, will perish in the shaking.

We must get into a higher realm of relationship to Jesus if we are to enjoy many of the things which were purchased for us on Calvary.

Ephesians 1:16-21, "Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge [epignosis - knowledge upon knowledge] of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:"

TRUTH, as Jesus referred to it, is inseparably linked with GRACE.

John 1:14, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

It is also linked solidly with the Spirit of God.

John 4:23-24, "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in SPIRIT and in TRUTH: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in SPIRIT and in TRUTH."

We can and must worship Him in SPIRIT and in TRUTH.

TRUTH goes far beyond mere doctrinal beliefs and practices. The secret of understanding TRUTH lies in the fact that it has been contrasted to, of all things, the LAW of Moses.

That LAW had no LIFE in it. It was only a model of something which would be real. The LAW had no mercy, no GRACE in it. Only stern rules and regulations and lifeless ceremonies.

GRACE came in JESUS CHRIST. TRUTH came in the Person of JESUS CHRIST. TRUTH is a relationship to God through JESUS CHRIST. It is the reality of JESUS in our lives.

The one who speaks God's Word and the testimony of Jesus is hated and persecuted. Why? because the word of the Lord is holy, pure, and righteous, while man, on the other hand, is unholy, impure and hypocritical. Man comes in touch with an element which affects his life like a fire, and he must either permit this purging fire to burn off from himself things inconsistent with a Holy God; himself becoming a part of the purifying fire, or else he will rise in bitterness against it, trying to quench his agony and anger on the instrument through whom he has heard the voice of God.

On the other hand, one speaking about God's Word can be elevated and honored of men, because he places himself as a guardian angel between God and the people in order that the Word of God might not reach and disturb them. In order to prevent this, he places himself as an interpreter of the Word, just as if God had chosen him, to explain what God means, as if God Himself were unable to make his meanings clear, but depended upon an interpreter to be correctly understood. In so doing, he is preventing them from entering into His Kingdom with his watered down messages.

In our day, truth has come to mean whatever portion of Scripture we have chosen to rally around and proclaim. But the term "truth" has always meant more than an interpretation of Scripture.

John wrote, in John 1:17, "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

Here, Truth is contrasted to the Law of Moses. Paul drew the same contrast between the Spirit and the law of Moses, which he called the "letter."

Romans 2:29, "But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God."

Romans 7:6, "But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter."

Folks today who refer to the Bible as the "letter" are not using the term correctly, for Jesus said, in

John 6:63, "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life."

Jesus defined truth this way:

John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh to the Father but by me."

Doctrines from the Bible may be true, but they do not qualify to be called "Truth" in the sense that it is used in the Bible.

Jesus defined the Spirit of Truth as being Himself.

John 14:17, "Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

John 15:26, "But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, He shall testify of me:"

Jesus is more than a doctrine or a compilation of doctrines. Paul contrasts Truth with unrighteousness:

Romans 2:8, "But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,"

He also contrasts Truth with iniquity:

1 Corinthians 13:6, "Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;"

Deuteronomy, chapter 32, verses 1-44 is a very important chapter in the Old Testament. It is called the song of Moses, but it records God the Father speaking through Moses. I will read only the first four verses, which specifically relate to this message. However, I strongly suggest that every Christian who has access to the internet to google Song of Moses Shepherds Chapel. A minister by the name of Arnold Murray has a two-part message on Deuteronomy, chapter 32.

Deuteronomy 32:1-4, "Give ear, O ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth. My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He."

"All His ways are judgment." Perhaps when most of us professing Christians read or hear the word "judgment" in scripture, we do not receive the true meaning of the word. Think of a modern-day trial in a courtroom before a judge. Two parties are involved ... a prosecutor and a defendant. The "winner of the trial" gets the reward. In our case, the prosecutor is the devil who accuses the brethren and we Christians are the defendant. Guess who wins the trial and receives the reward.

Deuteronomy 32 is so important that the Lord put a reference to it in Revelation, chapter 15, in the New Testament.

Revelation 15:2-4, "And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest."

Who are those who had gotten the victory over the beast, over his image, over his mark, and over the number of his name? the overcomers over all of time. If any professing Christian wants to know how to become an overcomer, read Revelation 15:2-4 and Deuteronomy 32:1-44. And please listen to the message on Song of Moses Shepherds Chapel.

Truth, then, consists of a manner of life or characteristics of our lives. We live Truth, or we live unrighteousness. We live Truth, or we live iniquity. Our lives or lifestyles are spoken of as being our "song" in Revelation 14:3-5.

"And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, being the fistfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God."

Living for, and satisfying the desires of our flesh constitutes changing Truth into a lie. Right living is the essence of Truth. We live in Truth. We worship in Truth.

What is the bottom line? From

John 8:31-32, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on Him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

We were set free at Calvary if we have been born again. Set free for what purpose? Certainly not so we can continue to do our own thing. That simply enters us into the race. We were set free at Calvary so that the Lord can make us free indeed.

John 8:34-36, "Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

What do we have to "do" for the Son to make us free indeed? Nothing that we cannot do. Just say "Yes, Lord" to His every word to us ... the voluntary, unquestioning obedience to the rhema word of the Lord through the Holy Spirit. That is true worship.

Let us determine in our hearts to press on to know the Lord.

Hosea 6:1-3, "Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."

The former rain is when we were born again. The latter rain is when we offer ourself to Him as a burnt offering ... commit ourself completely, without any reservation to the King of kings and Lord of Lords.

None of us are worthy. Only the Lamb of God is worthy to open the seals of the book. In the final analysis, it is all about the Lord Jesus.

Revelation 4:10-11, "The four and twenty elders fall down before Him that sat on the throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."

Lord, create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us. Lord, we desire that pure language that you have in store for us. Amen and amen.