is this okay?

Cigarettes, marijuana, alcohol, watching movies, etc.? What about thing that are not blatantly immoral? It is okay to eat an entire bag of chips?

Christ says, "Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me". Any indulgence of the flesh is wrong in that sense. Since disciples are called to keep their focus on Christ, glorify God in that they do, present themselves at living sacrifices to do His Will.... you should ask, "Is it the precise will of God to do this... and is it do His glory?" We seek to glorify God by life or by death, in every thing we do and in the way we live.  

It is a SIN to the be selfish and self-indulgent. it is the attitude that counts, and some things are just not done to profit or bless others, but simply to indulge self. Those activities can be discarded.

Engaging Both World and Word in Mortal Combat

We are not to confine God in the confines of religiosity.  We set aside one sacred day and one sacred place where we may meet with Him and bring adoration to Him. Then we go home, and our lives remained unchanged.

God is to come right into our lives. Let Him intrude. Let Him come home. Let Him assume authority over every area of our dealings with fellow man. Let God is brought into every square corner of our lives. Let us let God enter in every square corner of the world. 

Before the world was, His glory was with Christ. And Christ manifested the Name of God to the men God gave Him out of the world. Now that Christ is no longer in the world, but ascended to be with the Father, He has left us, His disciples who have received Him Word, in the world. It is through us that God acts and speaks. He has left us with His very essence – the Word, and it is through the Word that He moves in us and in the world. The disciples have the Word, and they have Christ within them. Repeatedly Christ petitions the Father to keep the disciples, that they may be united with God. The world at large will hate the Word of God and hate those who bear and those who proclaim it. That is to be expected. But those whom God calls out of the world by His Word and gives them Him Word, -these are called out of God, the Ecclesia.

The disciples become a visible community on the earth. Though called out of the world, they remain squarely in the world. Christ prays that God may protect them, not from the world, but from the evil one. Christ has no desire that the disciples be removed from the world. If so, the world no longer will have the Word of God, which it loathes and despises but which it very much needs.

The truth of God continues to sanctify the disciples through the Word. And through their Word, which they preach throughout the world much to the disgust of the world, more will come to believe in Christ. And these too will be united to God. 

The goal and mission of Christ is that the world may believe in Him, that He is sent of God – that they may believe the Word. 

The reason why the disciples are in the world, though they have been called out of it, is to proclaim the Word and bring many to believe in Christ. They exist as Christ exists. Christ longs that the disciples may join Him, where He is in glory, and behold the glory which the Father has given the Son, the love with which the Father loves the Son, the Son the Father, and the Son the disciples.

The disciples are those who have known Christ, and now Christ is in them.

Christ came through Him God might bestow eternal life – the knowledge of God and the Christ sent of God. Christ finished His Work. He called disciples out from the world, taught them and gave them the Word. Then He ascended. And the task of the disciples now is to preach the Word, to call others out from the world into the Word. And the only way this is done is for the disciples to go into every square corner of the world and saturate it with the Word. In the very darkest recesses of the world the disciples are scattered.

One would think they should remain together, that they may have a corner of the world that is purely grounded in the Word, away from sin. But the nature of the sanctity of the Word is that it is holy in the very midst of the unclean world. One reality is that the disciples are very much grounded in present circumstance and reality – the world. Yet the greater reality is that they transcend present circumstances and realities, and they have an eternal perspective and eternal life because of the Word. 

The disciple is not defiled by the world nor entrapped by it because the same Word that called them out of the world, sent them back into it to proclaim Himself, now keeps them and sanctifies them in the very midst of the world. 

Two things will happen then. Firstly, the world will resist the Word, for the Word is antithetical to the world and spells out its destruction. Secondly, and at the same time, many caught in the world will see the beacon of light and grasp out for it, receiving the transforming Word.

The Word goes out into the world through the called-out disciples that it may call out disciples unto itself.

And thus the world will grow increasingly antagonistic against the gospel and at the same time be increasingly saturated with it. The world is fighting a losing battle, a battle that already has been lost, against the Word. The Word has triumphed and ascended. As disciples, we may seem alone and scattered throughout a cold and unfriendly world. But the Word that has triumphed is within us, we need only trust God. Furthermore the more the world fights against the Word, the greater is the victory of the Word, for the evil one knows his time is short.

Is God Imaginary? #1 and #2

Godisimaginary.com seems to think so. Let's look at their "50 proofs" closely.

#1 and #2 Try Praying and Statistically Analyze Prayer - basically, pray a prayer asking God to heal all the cases of cancer in the world overnight, wake up in the morning, and realize it didn't come to pass. Oh dear, Jesus is lying. He said, "Ask and you shall receive". He doesn't exist?

Does this mean that God does not answer prayers, God does not have the power to answer prayers, or that God does not exist?

They quote several verses, such as,


In Matthew 18:19 Jesus says:

Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

In James 5:15-16 the Bible says:

And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

In Mark 9:23:

All things are possible to him who believes.

In Luke 1:37:

For with God nothing will be impossible.  

"If you would like additional proof, gather a million faithful believers together into a giant prayer circle. Have them all pray together in Jesus' name that God cures every case of cancer on the planet tomorrow. Pray sincerely, knowing that when God answers this completely heartfelt, unselfish, non-materialistic prayer, it will glorify God and help millions of people in remarkable ways. Now, we certainly have two or more people gathered together, and they have asked in Jesus' name, and we have not one but a million faithful believers who, by definition, have faith and believe. We have fulfilled every one of Jesus' requirements. Will Jesus answer the prayer now? Of course not. Your prayer will go unanswered, in direct defiance to Jesus' promises in the Bible. In fact, if you pray for anything that is impossible, your prayer will always go unanswered.
If you are an intelligent, rational human being, all of the examples mentioned above show you that the God of the Bible is imaginary. The Bible clearly promises that God answers prayers. Yet when we pray, nothing happens (for a complete discussion proving that nothing happens, please see this page). What Jesus says about prayer in the Bible clearly is not true. Therefore, one of two things must be happening:

• God is imaginary.
• God does exist, but he never answers prayers. Unfortunately, God is defined by the Bible to be a prayer-answering being. The contradiction between the reality of God and the definition of God proves that God is imaginary.

In fact, we have ample scientific evidence to demonstrate that the belief in prayer is nothing but pure superstition, as shown in the next proof..."

Basically, it's the "pray to prove God argument".

Here are my points:

1) Sickness, death, and disaster come about because man is in rebellion against God. Man is therefore under the law of death and sickness and has no power over it. The reason bad things happen is because man is rebelling against God, and so God cannot protect him. God keeps true to His nature and to His promises by condemning evil and wickedness. Man only reaps what he sows. If you sow wickedness, you reap death, sickness, and destruction. Hitler is in HELL, not sleeping peacefully away, and so is every man who has done any wrong at all. Sickness is in the world because of sin - one little prayer is not going to change that. Only the salvation, victory, and ressurection of Jesus Christ can.

2) A God that you could prove would be an idol (Dietrich Bonhoeffer). An idol is a creation of man's mind and is subordinate to man. Man is a creation of God and is subordinate to Him. The very "wholly other" and "set-apart" nature of God is unprovable, Just as a baby in the womb cannot prove the existence of his mother, because he is much smaller than the mother, yet is entirely dependent on her, even so we are entirely dependent on God for life itself. He sustains the universe. The mind or eye of man is too small, too insignificant, too subordinate, to comprehend or prove God. If God were not to exist, we would cease to exist. If we would cease to exist, yea, even all the universe cease to exist, God would yet be. That's the whole "idea", if you want to call it that, of God.

3) Elaboration on point 2) - praying to prove God will not work because God is not going to stoop down and prove himself to an arrogant fool. James Chapter 1 says you will only have your request (in this case wisdom) fulfilled by God if you , "...ask in faith, with no doubting". Again James 5, quoted above, says that "The prayer of faith will save the sick." Again also in the verse quoted from John 14:12-14. Christians don't need to pray to God and seek proof of His existence. (Hebrews 11). We need to trust God as who He is and depend on His word. We believe  that all things Invisible, Spiritual and of God are a greater reality than the visible, physical, tangible realm. The nature of faith is a gift from God. The ability to believe and trust in God is given by God. (Ephesians 2).

4) With God nothing is impossible. However, He can be very independent of man. Is God your servant for you to order around? God has a will, a perfect will. He does all things as He desires and as it pleases him? Do you dare to order God around? God does His will, not man's. Prayer is petitioning God, the same as a man covering before a king, begging for something. That's how humble we ought to be in prayer. God hears our prayer, but is our prayer in His will? We can pray lots of things, but are we praying in His will? God answers the prayer of the faithful, of His children, of His disciples, and of those who cry out to Him in distress. God does whatever He likes because all that He does is perfect.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
(Rom 10:13)

5) God does what  He promises. And He tells His prophets before doing anything. His Word fulfills what He sets out to do. When we tell God to do THIS thing NOW, otherwise we won't believe in Him, this shows how little we know of Him. Again, God never promised to heal all cancer cases overnight. Nor is that in His expressed will or Word. He does, promise, that He is the Healer. In fact, in the Torah with Israel He promised that if they obeyed Him, He would put none of Egypt's diseases on them... if they obeyed Him. We see God smiting people for their sin, even His people, smiting people that they might turn to Him, or healing people for His own glory and acclamation. 

Everything I cry out to God for something, for example, for the electricity or running water to come back, or for the runaway chickens to come home, I beg Him. I don't pray hoping to see proof of His greatness. I believe in His supremacy. And sometimes He does do it, in His own time and way to teach me something, or He does not do it. I cry out to Him, and He hears my voice and acts according to His Own Will. I trust Him that He knows best.

A provable God is an idol. A god that can be proved by the minds of man is a god originating from the minds of man, and that god does not exist.

God vs. smartphones, cars, facebook, youtube

Amish Martha Miller gives sound wisdom to youth.

Discipleship - the Answer

The foulest, most loathsome gospel, is that which denies the living-ness of the Messiah. It denies and mutilates the grace of God. It is a perversion and an Antichristian doctrine that is not based on the Word of God but the carnal desires of men. 

Cheap grace – the denial of the living work of God, that salvation and faith cannot be lived out, that trust in God merely a lip-service. 

Perhaps for so long a church-goer has been embittered by the lack of God’s transformative power in the preaching, so much so that the preaching of righteousness becomes a heavy burden and devoid of liberty, grace, and truth. When we lose the grace of God in our preaching, and yet preach righteousness, it is the letter and the letter kills. People are turned away from the truth because of legalism, the clinging to outwards forms to disguise inner emptiness. We fail to drink from the fountain of living waters and in consequence can only preach legalism: the law of sin and death. 

We can cling to church buildings, styles of worship, modes of preaching, gospel presentations, and such, not evil, but empty - devoid of grace, devoid of truth, devoid of God, just a religion and a form.

Man’s solution to the preaching of works without the faith to produce it is to cut off works. There is no power, so why should people live righteous lives? Therefore, we should just live like the world. After all, anything more than complacency and any attempt to live unlike the world is only fruitless striving. Somewhere, deep inside, we are made righteous we God. We don’t need to do anything. To do anything is wrong- striving you see, fruitless pursuit of righteousness which we can never attain to and should not attain to. That is cheap grace and lawlessness – the law of sin and death. 

Do you know what costly, true, grace? It is the grace of God from the Messiah and in the Messiah poured out to the sinner. It fills him with forgiveness and repentance. God is revealed to the sinner, and God will never let him go. God has given the sinner undeserved riches – and filled him with the power of the Holy Spirit, the power to change. God washes him clean, and brings him into eternal life. The sinner is now righteous, and the Spirit of God in him transforms him into the image of God. This grace that was bestowed upon him now prevails upon him to leave all that he has, take up His cross, and follow the Messiah. Grace is God loves us, and God giving us the love in which we are consumed by Him and enabled to love the lost. 

Sometimes we just need to get down on our knees before God and cry out Him, asking Him to restore to us the true gospel, not in word only but in power. We badly need to the true, powerful, costly, precious grace of God. We need to be empowered to preach the true gospel of the Messiah, that says, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand” and “Take up your cross and follow me”. 

That’s right. The gospel we preach is the cross. If there is no cross, there is no forgiveness, no redemption, no atonement, no resurrection. There must be the suffering before there is the glory. Those who come to the Messiah’s cross will, with Him and through Him, experience the power of His resurrection. 

Discipleship needs to be restored – not the commandments of men but yoke of the Messiah. Yeshua calls to all those who are wearied and burdened, come and take His yoke, for it is easy and light. He calls all who thirst to drink of the living waters of life, and He will make living waters to flow out from you. He calls those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. He calls the blind, the death, the oppressed, the overburdened. He calls them to take up their cross and follow Him. In Him is life everlasting. In Him is peace. In Him are joy, and eternal rewards. 

What is the normal Christian life? To live the life of Christ. To be His disciple, following Him, and longing to be like Him, fixing our eyes on Him, hearing His voice, obeying Him in perfect trust.

What is legalism then? It is non-existent. You will follow Him because you trust him. You will obey Him because you love Him. He is your everything. Your life is bound in Him.

Keeping the Law

God desires obedience and not sacrifice. That does not mean that obedience does not require sacrifice. It means that one does not approach obedience through sacrifice, but sacrifice through a heart of obedience. That is the same for all the commandments, not just sacrifice. God wants sacrifice borne out of obedience, not sacrifice as opposed to obedience. 

Do you know what keeping the law is? Do you know what living a godly life is? Keeping the law is a living a life of perfect and complete obedience to the explicit and eternal will of YHWH for you.

God’s Law is Himself. He is the Law, the Instruction, the Banner of Righteousness. He is perfect, righteous, unchanging. His Law can never change any more than He can change, and why should He change, He being perfect? He is perfect and true. 

Two times in history God translated and revealed this law in the flesh, physically. God translated this Law from Himself firstly onto the tablet of stone. That was the Law of Moses. God brought down His law, from the heavenly places, from the Spiritual realm, into the realm of the physical. The law, and God, His righteousness, revealed to the children of Israel in that law, was manifested. 

The law was given on tablets of stone. This was the manifestation of God in His instructions to Abraham, Moses, and all the children of Israel. Again it was clear. It was not so much that the Commandments came between the Children of Israel and God but the principle and heart of the matter was perfect, unquestioning, obedience to the explicitly stated instructions of God. 

God told Abraham, “Go”. So Abraham believed God and went. God told Abraham, “Sacrifice”. So Abraham sacrificed. Abraham kept the law. He was obedient to the instructions of God. Did God tell Isaac to leave Abraham? No. Did God tell Moses to sacrifice his son? No. What matters is not the action but the heart of the matter is, doing whatever God tells you to do, when He tells you to do it, and exactly as He instructs. God told the children of Israel to go west. So they went west. He told them not to touch Sinai. They didn’t touch Sinai. 

The commands are eternal? Yes they are. God’s Will is eternal. His plans and purposes are eternal. It only takes common sense to tell you that though in one case God told Moses to hit the rock, and another to speak to it, that God is not going to tell you in one case to commit adultery and another case not to do it. 

There are so many instructions in the Law of Moses. Some are manifestations of the eternal righteousness of God, some are not. How do we know? The Law was perfect in itself. It was perfect in its time and place. 

That Law was inadequate. It left men as they were – in sin, in death, and in bondage. That Law could not change the hearts of men. It could only reveal what was right and wrong. There was no grace, no power, and no empowerment, to do what was right. It could not change the heart of man it could only expose its evil. The Work of the Law of Moses was not a final, authoritative, work that enabled God to proclaim, “It is done”. It was the shadow the greater that was to come. If the Law of Moses was the end of all things and the salvation of men, Yeshua need not have come.

In the Prophets we see that God is calling for the change of heart. The Prophets prophesied of that which is to come, that the hearts of men will be filled with the Spirit of God that will be a law to them, imbibed in them. The instructions of God need not come from a tablet of stone or through a man , but can be written in you, and spoken to y o u, and within you a power, a force, that causes you to walk in the right way, in perfection.   

However, the fullness and total righteousness of God has been revealed to us in its absolute perfection. Instead of God’s Word being transmitted down to stone, God Himself became flesh. This living, breathing, law could impart to man what the law of stone could not – salvation, righteousness, redemption, liberty, transformation, grace. The Law of Moses was a shadow of the greater Law that was to come. The Law was hadavar (the Word) written down. Messiah was to be the Word of God in flesh! Embodied! The scrolls pointed to the living work, that which was greater, that which was not just perfect and complete, it was glorious, far more glorious with the glory that would not fade away!

The Law of God I praise. It is the Perfect Law of Liberty, the Law of Faith, the Law of the Spirit of Life in the Messiah Yeshua, the Law that sets men free. Why does it set men free? Because it is perfect! It is done, completed,  and fulfilled, and only needs to be lived out. It is perfect because it has the power to change you and make you a new man. You will be birth again. You can drink from the fountain of living waters and never thirst again. You can enter, any time, into the presence of God because it is done. The High Priest was, and is, and is to come. The High Priest has and ever lives to make intercession for you. It is God, in You, filling you with the Spirit that He prophesied will fall upon all flesh. 

Can we keep the law? Absolutely. It is greater than keeping outwardly. It is living out that which already is perfect and complete within us. 

Now we have the guiding principles of the law. Firstly, love. Absolute lack of selfishness, self-justification, self-seeking, but an undivided and required affection for God with ones entire being, now made possible for us. And because we finally can enter into God’s love because of the love He has shown us, we are set free from every bondage we have to the narrow-mindedness of only thinking of one’s self. Now we are free, free in this Love of God to demonstrate this very love given to us to the entire world, to our enemies (previously not possible), as well as our brothers and our neighbors. The nature of the Torah is love. Affection for all except oneself. Let love be the guiding principle of your life. 

Secondly is faith, trust. Anything done out of distrust and doubt is gross sin. Whatever you do, say, or think, it must be found coming from a heart of total trust in the unfailing God. God showed Himself so strongly on behalf of the children of Israel, yet they did not trust Him enough to follow His command and enter Canaan. We must trust God completely. We must trust nothing else. He alone is trustworthy. He alone is the One who is True and Everlasting. Jude warns us that God, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterwards destroyed those who did not trust in Him.

We must also walk in accordance to the ways and thoughts of God, which are beyond us. We must not walk according to our bodily cravings, carnal intuitions, living out of our narrow perspective of life. We must walk in that which is abundant, eternal, that which is of the Spirit of God Himself. We are not supposed to walk according to the letter, that is, the physical expressions of the Law of God, but the Spirit, of God Himself, from which is the Law if birthed. If we guide our life according to physical expressions of the Law, we shall die, because we do not have that law written in our hearts that is why we must focus on the outward. We walk not according to what is seen but that which is not seen, that which is eternal and unchanging. 

That is why God didn’t give us a form or structure to worship Him and to serve Him. We are the form, our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Spirit, we are the living “church”, the body of those set-apart, because the Spirit of God dwells in us and we are sacred to God. 

The Law of Moses instructed them how to build a Temple. The Messiah (Law of God Made Flesh) is far more powerful, it transforms us into the Temple.

What does this mean? We have ultimate liberty and freedom in a way that was never known before.  Our faith is not about the outward, it’s about the inward transforming the outward. You are given the catalyst and do not need to work to make your ways right. You simply trust in God and He will make Your ways more righteous than you can ever make it. 

Look, grace is not about lawlessness, faith is not about professionalone. Our faith is not about talk, or simply about walk. It’s all about walking, living out the eternal life. 

Scripture References About the New Covenant Written In Song

Not in but out…

It’s interesting the influence New Age has had on modern society. Why, look at how vegetarianism has spread! I have to say, nothing in Scripture supports vegetarianism as it is today. Vegetarianism belongs to a Hindu/Buddhist/New Age worldview and not to a Biblical worldview.

Look at Hitler. He was a vegetarian, but of course vegetarians try to deny that. I think he probably was, and, in fact, was very, very kind and humane to animals. The Nazi Government was exemplary in its treatment of animals.

Compare Hitler with Yeshua/Jesus. Jesus ate fish, cooked fish too. Jesus ate the Passover lamb, and also drank wine.

Vegetarianism advocates being “pure” and “clean” in diet. Meat = immoral, cruel, killing animals.

Because of the fall, our bodies simply need meat. God gave us meat to eat. And He commanded the children of Israel to eat the Pesach lamb, among the many bloody and gory sacrifices to be performed.

Lets look at the Nazi example again. Look at how they treated humans by dehumanizing them. They were atrocious. Then let’s take a look at modern society. Wow… look how cool and popular being vegan is. Look at how abortion is so widespread. People don’t even flinch at it. In fact, they rally and fight and scream their approval of it, and react violently when it is revealed for what it is, murder. They refuse to see the truth. Look at how fetuses are used in making medicines! Atrocious!

The Nazis made babies into lampshades. Modern society makes aborted babies into medicine… Modern society fights and crusades for animal rights, yet treat unborn babies as trash. Somewhere, somehow, our priorities have all gone wrong, totally wrong.  

Romans 14 says that the weak eat only vegetables.                  

The nutrient –rich, dairy-rich, meat-rich, whole-grain rich, beautiful diet of Ancient Israelites was fantastic, and I believe, the way to go. Natural, raw milk is soooo good. When God created the heavens and the earth, He said it was good. I don’t dare say otherwise… I don’t think it’s right to replace God-given vitamins with man-made tablets.

Concerning healing, I believe in the costliness of Yeshua’s healing power. It cost Him to heal us. It cost Him pain. What cost God cannot be cheap for me. I cannot take healing like “cheap grace”. “ I believe I must sow not to the flesh, to live irresponsibly, but by the Spirit, to live by the wisdom of God, with the whole big perspective of eternity. No matter what I do and what I eat, I cannot heal myself. No matter what I do and what I try, I cannot deliver myself from sin. Yeshua alone is my salvation, wisdom, righteousness, healing. But He calls us to the set-apart life of discipleship. My body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. I should eat wisely, and responsibly.

Men like to believe that sickness is just a thing. Yet Scripture teaches us that bitterness, unforgiveness, disobedience, and sin cause sicknesses. Look at how stress causes sickness! Yeshua told us not to worry about our life. But of people would get angry at if you  even suggest that. The devil wants to deceive people and hold in them in bondage to sin *shrug*. What’s new?

The devil’s system, the world’s system, destroys our bodies, because the Adversary hates us. He hates us and wants only to steal, kill, and destroy. He feeds our temporary pleasures but is so cynical. Like Hitler was so cynical. He seemed to be pro-Germany, pro-church, a good man who wanted to better the nation after its Versailles humiliation. The temporal victory of Germany was nothing. He came to steal, kill, and destroy Germany. He reduced it to ruins and poverty and destruction. That’s the same way the devil works, seemingly for us, but deeply cynical and evil, nothing good at all, having only evil and destruction intended for us. Do not be deceived!

The Adversary’s system is described Mark 5. The painfully ill woman was abused by physicians. They extorted her money, and left her just as sick as before. That’s man’s way. The world’s way takes your money, your joy, your life, your hope, etc. The thief comes to steal, to kill, and to destroy. The medical system with its roots in demonic serpent-worship and exaltation of mammon cannot heal us. It will take our money, make us suffer, and leave us worse than before.

Yeshua is our merciful salvation, our healer, our deliverance. He alone can set us free from all curses.

Back to vegetarianism. It’s not of God. Hitler was a vegetarian, Jesus was not. However, remember most importantly that what a person eats is not the most important thing. Jesus said that what comes out of a man what defiles him. So, after, judging a man by his diet is not the fairest comparison. Look at the words, what came out of Hitler’s mouth! The hate, the evil, the blasphemy, the lies, the propaganda, the pure demonic stream of rubbish!

Look what Jesus is: life, truth, freedom. He came to set us free. He came to deliver us. Instead for being a man for himself, He was a man for others. Hitler only cared about his own idealogy, his own plans, and used the German people to that end. He was a totally self-orientated, self-autonomous man, who took his own . Jesus laid down His life. The cross was a supreme act of love and mercy.

Hitler was a prototype of the AntiChrist/Anti-Messiah/Pseudo-Messiah. Men in the flesh looked to him to solve their problems.

Look only to Yeshua, who said,

Blessed are the peacemakers, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.   

Shalom!

Discipleship

I could not have imagined, 2 years ago when I started this blog, that discipleship would become such an increasingly important and central issue in my life.

Discipleship first meant to me learning. Learning, studying, discussing, cross-referencing, searching out the original Greek and Hebrew, writing, memorizing, etc.

My favorite book that I absolutely love next to the Bible, is the Cost of Discipleship. 4 years or so ago, I picked up the Cost of Discipleship and immediately the words hit me, and I thought, "it's so beautiful'. It was poetic, it was clear, I could understand it immediately, though at that time I knew nothing experiential about discipleship. The first chapter, with its exposition on cheap grace was so vivid, so illustrative. I never knew words could be put together in such a way.

So when I started this blog I picked up a quote, "When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die."

Inseparable is Discipleship and Obedience, obedience unto death. Discipleship means obedience, obedience that costs, and I have come to learn that the only kind of obedience God calls us to is the kind that costs. Discipleship is antithetical to enjoyment and convenience.

Art Katz's writings showed me clearly that the convenient, easy, natural kind of Christian faith is nothing but dead religion. Discipleship, consisting of trust and obedience, was the kind of thing Abraham had with God.

Leave all. Follow me.

Wow. God hasn't changed at all.


Intrinsic to our walk with God as disciples must be humility. Constant humility. There's not a day we don't sin. There's not a day we put ourselves first. There's not a day where there's something I should not have said or done. Ugh... this life is hopeless. Nevertheless, my life must be hidden with Christ in God. My perfection is not something deep within that I have to search out. It's something that is found in Christ, in the Spirit, where all things of the flesh cease, where there is no condemnation.


Like i always say, "In the Spirit I am perfect. In the soul I am being perfected. In the body I will be perfected, and all by Christ and the cross". In the Spirit I am dead to all flesh. In the Soul I am dying, daily. In the body, well, physical death will come.


Ever present before me in my walk with God is the desire for that, for apostolicity. What a word. To bear on my life that apostolic bearing. That's what I must want. Through Him alone I can receive grace and apostleship to the obedience of faith to all nations. In other words, Christ has empowered me with the holy Spirit and put His sending upon me to make disciples of all nations.




That longing for authenticity, for perfection, for the cross. I want that apostolic faith, that faith which alone can save, that faithfulness unto death. I want to be a vessel of His making, from His pattern, according to God's will and not according to my own.

before doing something, before succumbing to that fleshly itch to do, I must always ask myself, is that apostolic? Is that purely of God? Is that something that sprang from my poetic, vissionary, idealistic, carnal, and sinful, soul, ie. mind will and emotions. Did this birth out of the Spirit or spring into my mind? Is this going to be something that counts for eternity.

I often fall into loving and living for the "well and good ". But it's a totally different thing to be running, living, looking for, and that is which of God, of eternity, of truth, of Christ 100% and of me 0%.

Discipleship means simple-minded obedience. Where's the rationalization, the comtemplation, the mental preparation..? Just obey? The Spirit of God moves within you and gives that bitter, horrid cup. The Spirit, power of God, drives to you obey. Fear of God overcomes you. It's the last thing you want to do, but you must. And it's now or never - not tomorrow, not anytime, not never. It's now. My mind conjures of pictures of hell fire and screamings of the disobedient. Shivering in fear, I obey, but only because I must and not because I want to.

Obedience is the opposite of self-autonomy. I want to be in control of my life. I want to make my own decisions. I want to think for myself. I will decide whether I will do it, when I will do it, and how I will do it. You can only give suggestions.
That's the individualistic, self-autonomic mindset. That's the opposite of unity, of love.


I told God many times: "No. Never. That's no and that's it." Thank God He didn't listen to me, that God He is stronger than me and makes me do His will, because He is merciful and kind and good and loving and won't let me remain as I am, because if I remain as I am, I will suffer His wrath. "Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts."

That's all for now.

Shalom, Beka.

Formalism by George Muller

(Taken from George Muller of Bristol - the Free Ebook here)

I have often remarked the injurious effects of doing things because others did them, or because it was the custom, or because they were persuaded into acts of outward self-denial, or giving up things whilst the heart did not go alone with it, and whilst the outward act WAS NOT the result of the inward powerful working of the Holy Ghost, and the happy entering into our fellowship with the Father and the Son.
Everything that is a mere form, a mere habit and custom in divine things, is to be dreaded exceedingly: life, power, reality, this is what we have to aim after. Things should not result from without, but from within. The sort of clothes I wear, the kind of house I live in, the quality of the furniture I use, all such like things should not result from other persons doing so and so, or because it is customary among those brethren with whom I associate to live in such and such a simple, inexpensive, self denying way; but whatever be done in these things, in the way of giving up, or self-denial, or deadness to the world, should result from the joy we have in God, from the knowledge of our being the children of God, from the entering into the preciousness of our future inheritance, etc. Far better that for the time being we stand still, and do not take the steps which we see others take, that that it is merely the force of example that leads us to do a thing, and afterward it is regretted. Not that I mean in the least by this to imply we should continue to live in luxury, self-indulgence, and the like, whilst others are in great need; but we should begin the thing in a right way, i.e., aim after the right state of the heart; begin inwardly rather than outwardly. If otherwise, if will not last. We shall look back, or even get into a worse state than we were before. But oh, how different if joy in God leads us to any little act of self-denial! How gladly do we do it then! How much does the heart then long to be able to do more for Him who has done so much for us! We are far then from looking down in proud self-complacency upon those who do not go as far as we do, but rather pray to the Lord that He would be please to help our dear brethren and sisters forward who may seem to us weak in any particular point; and we also are conscious to ourselves that if we have a little more light or strength with reference to one point, other brethren may have more light or grace in other respects. 

Free Apostolic Wallpaper

This is what art I make when I listen to Art Katz. 

"A Call to Apostolicity"

The Zealousness of a People Set Apart

The Quakers sought to distance themselves from all forms of flattery and frivolity, which came in the manner of gambling, playing games of chance, instruments, singing, and dancing, theatre, drama, hunting, reading of sensual, thrilling, immoral, or romantic novels of any sort, wearing immodest or colorful worldly fashions, expensive or decorative furniture, addressing people in flattering titles, and non-productive conversation such as gossiping. The Quakers were a sober, peaceful, and stolid sort of people, far from being extravagant. They spoke little and valued silence. They worshipped without ceremony or program, often spending long hours of silence waiting on the Lord. I have much to learn from them!

It is better to be silent than to speak foolishly. Waiting on the Lord in silence requires a still and reverent spirit. Reverence for God was another characteristic of the Quakers. People found Quakers mystical as a body of believers, and they firmly believed in sanctification through belief and action.

The Moravian Brethren were a community. They lived, worked, and centered their lives for the brethren and had a strong emphasis of meditating on God’s Word daily, as well as strong center of prayer, prayer  that lasted a hundred years! They were pietists, emphasizing on the importance of a vigorous relationship with God and piety. A very devout and persecuted group, yet also very mission minded. They were the first to send missionaries, men and women who gave up everything and risked their lives to bring the gospel. They were also very orderly, and had watchman night and day who would pray and guard the community. A strong emphasis on Biblical living, community, and devotion was characteristic of the Moravians. The fruit of their ministry touched the entire world, including the Methodists. They were fond of quietness and rest too; aye.

The early Methodists are another group I admire. They resembled the Quakers in dress, except they were a very frugal, studious and methodical group. Unlike “unprogrammed worship”, the nature of the Methodists was of orderliness, consistency, and diligence. They had such a burden for souls, and suffered much to bring the gospel throughout the Americans. Circuit riders endured untold hardships and loneliness, abandonment and scorn, yet persevered to the very end, many laying down their lives for the lost. This sort of weary lifestyle caused many to die young. They had such an abhorrence of sin of any kind, and as a fellowship they would try and question one another so as to root out all sin. They took sanctification very seriously, and had an awesome fear of God. Anything frivolous or prideful was immediately condemned. Methodists firmly emphasized the actions of living faith and were very scrutinous regarding the fruits of salvation. What indeed drove them on was feverous love for God and fear of Him.

I know such a body of believers today and I see in them such graciousness of manner and fervent love for God. They have such an anointing of the Spirit and longing for nothing else but the presence of God. Many have given up their youth, family, success, and education all for one end: to serve Yeshua. And the fruit of their lives can be seen in the way they know the Word of God and in the way they love one another. Surely by this all men shall know that these are Yeshua’s disciples. They do not care what the world thinks, but simply what God wills. They shun the world unconsciously and are a living protest against the complacency and compromise of the Church. They live each day seeking the Spirit of God, His mind and His heart. Such joy, such peace that is among such a fellowship so in love with God that they do not care the least when the world scorns and mocks them; they seek Him to the uttermost, in much humility and fear of the Lord. In sorrow and sacrifice the love of God has proved victorious.

What drives us to live set-apart lives is the fear of God and great zeal for Him. In the reality of the Spirit there really is nothing hypocritical, superficial, or pseudo spiritual. We ought to love Him with all we are, that naturally leads us to live holy lives in ways that are pleasing to Him. We ought to want His kingdom so much as to loose from ourselves all fleshy and carnal burdens, pleasures of this life which are sinful. We ought to seek the image and character of the Messiah so much in His life, and study His Word, meditating on it day and night, praying without ceasing, concerning ourselves with nothing less than the knowledge of Yeshua the Messiah and Him crucified.

We can know the method and go through the motions without the grace and apostleship of our Lord, but it will result in fruitlessness and waste. It is empty religion that puts upon men burdens that are a pious luxury for a few but a foolish tempting of God for the disciple who has to go one living from day to day. Only the call and cross of our Master Yeshua the Messiah is necessary; no other burden need we place, for we have nothing to fear – if any man runs after Christ, all these other burdens He will cast away from them for the saving of their soul. Only one commandment and requirement is necessary and that is the commandment that is the very being of Yeshua Himself upon the cross – He is our righteousness, our redemption, and His act stands as a requirement to those who here give up their lives that they might eternally live.

How ought we to live as a people waiting for the return of our Lord?

“We can do nothing else but watch and wait,

Which means enthusiastically,
Totally taken up,

Deaf towards anyone who would make us confused with doubts,

Blind towards anything that comes between us and that future of God.

Only one thing is of importance to us.

We want to receive God

We want to know God

We want to hear God

We want to see God

We want to serve God.

We want inconceivably nothing else,

In any case, nothing like we want God!”

Why I’m Not Just a Natural Girl

I’m thinking a lot about natural things lately: the sun, the sky, herbs, making sprouted grain bread, drinking natural goat’s milk. But this morning as I worked the soaked grain bread with the plastic spatula I was reminded of what Scripture says.

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

(Romans 8:13 KJV)

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

(Romans 8:5-6 KJV)

If I live naturally, eat naturally, breathe naturally, and wear 100% all-natural cotton, it doesn’t make one bit of difference. I’m going to die. If we live according to the natural, and sin according to the natural, we die according to the natural.

It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

(1 Corinthians 15:44 KJV)

To be natural to be limited to our senses, to this realm, and to this earth. We don’t have spiritual understanding or spiritual awareness. According to what we see and think, we act. The flesh of a man consists of his physical flesh and his soul: his mind, will, and emotions.

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

(1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV)

No matter how natural we are, we cannot avoid death, and we cannot avoid sin. Sin is natural to us, because we were born into it. Is there something pure and undefiled about creation, something tranquil and florescent? No. Creation was created in glory. Now Creation is subject to futility.

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

(Romans 8:22 KJV)

If we have ears to hear and eyes to see, we would see that everything of the flesh has a death sentence of it. If we have ears to hear, we would hear the groans and wailings of creation, its restlessness, its longing, to be restored and to see the sons of God in glory.

The value of worldly and earthly things is hyper-inflated. Like a giant bubble, it is colorful, attractive, sailing happily and smoothly.  One prick is all it takes for the world’s values, systems, programs, concepts, accomplishments, to drop as a little soapy splat on the infinite pavements of eternity. It will be no more.

I don’t just want to be a natural girl, or grow into a natural living woman, eco, green, organic and all-natural. I want to be a spiritual being. I want to have eternal life. I want a spiritual, eternal body. I want to have the eyes of the Spirit, to have discernment and not divination. I want to be a work of God’s hands, built according to His pattern, not according to self. I want to hear the voice of God that thunders, and deep within me stirs me to rise up, take up my cross, and follow Him, He being the sole object and focus of all my being.  

We can be as natural as we like, but unless we grasp, lay hold up, and root ourselves into that which is of God and of the Spirit, when we die, it will be as the natural grass of the field that naturally fades away. Here today and gone tomorrow.  

We won’t make a dent on destiny. We won’t affect eternity. We will just live happy, and die happy, that’s the end. How sad, if all we live for is this life. Futile. Vanity. Worthless. Passing.

But if we live for the kingdom, the eternal Kingdom, and the eternal Messiah, what joy, what life and peace!

God, make me a spiritual girl. Not merely an intelligent girl, pretty girl, witty girl, natural girl, talented girl, sweet girl, useful girl, or good girl, but a spiritual girl. Hey, but wait. Now in the Spirit there is no longer male nor female, circumcised nor uncircumcised, Jew nor Greek. Messiah is all and in all.

Are we going to bury our talents in this earth, or multiply them as an investment into eternity?

A Poem by Rebekah Mui, “Oh My Precious Hyper-Inflated World”

Oh My Precious Hyper-Inflated World,

Don’t go away, leave me, in a bit,

Stay around and don’t your surly lips curl,

I will be so ever good and sweet,

Fill your pockets with dainties you will never eat,

Dear me how quickly time goes by.

Hark! All time’s wasted by and by,

Why not invest a little quick pleasure,

Something tangible to treasure,

Something possible to measure,

Enjoy my own little gesture,

Feeding this little twinkie who will take my heart,

Fly away; drop and die, and drown.

What’s the harm.

Just a little fun.

Take a break from this endless sojourn,

To chat with the locals, tales to spurn,

While the hurricane nears the ground,

You don’t want to leave the town,

Your heart and your destiny forever bound,

In Futility.

With Him and In Him.

We think often about the glory of the Church in Christ. In eternity, and even now, we are literally His body, in Him and of Him.

It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

(2 Timothy 2:11-13 KJV)

We are yoked with Him.

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.

(Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)

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.

(1 John 4:17 KJV)

And as He is the Son of God, we are made partakers of the divine nature, and are made sons of God.

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

(1 John 3:1-2 KJV)

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.

(2 Peter 1:4 KJV)

What a glory! It is an eternally supreme and wondrous glory, indescribable.

And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

(John 17:22 KJV)

 And we the Body of Christ will be made One, just as One as He, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are One, and we are One in Him!

I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

(John 17:23 KJV)

And we will be perfected in this Oneness and glory, so that the majestic glory of Christ will be the glory of His saints!

But what is the nature of this glory?

When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day.

(2 Thessalonians 1:10 KJV)

We like to think of the glory, but what precedes and catalyzes this glory? Why does the Father exalt the Son in such glory?

Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 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.

(Philippians 2:4-11 KJV)

Namely the cross. The cross of Yeshua the Messiah is the suffering before the glory, the labor before the birth, the pain before the joy, the shame before the exaltation, and the deaf before the life.

We are to take up our cross and follow Him. Yoked with Him, together with Him, we die. He puts to death everything of us – our inherent flesh, our inherent body, our inherent nature, our inherent goodness, and our inherent evil. Remember – we are born into the knowledge of good and evil, lest we think Christ puts to death our evil, we must not forget He put to death every good of ours, which when weighed by the eternal holiness of God is not goodness at all, nor right-doing, but filthy rags of wickedness. No matter how beautiful the fruit, it is bad, because the tree is bad, rotten, and deformed.

This glory comes only by the cross and nothing else. Next time I think of something great I want to do for God, I must put the cross to it – to death with myself! I must judge the effect and potential of such a doing with the power and glory of the cross, and my own works pale and shrink in estimation. What can we do that exceeds the wonder of the cross, what else can please God? Nothing save the cross of Yeshua the Messiah, by whom the world has been crucified to me and I to the world.

Being yoked to Him, therefore, imagine ourselves chained to Him at the time of His rejection, trial, scorn, and crucifixion. Imagine the jeers of the crowd, the lashes of the whip; whatever fell of Him falls on you, for you are yoked with Him.

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

(Isaiah 53:3 KJV)

If they persecuted Him, will they do not persecute you? If they despised Him, they will despise you. If they reject Him, prepare to be rejected. Want to be His disciple? Want to be a Christian (follow of Christ)? Then you must take up your cross, following on behind Him, yoked alongside Him, and bound in Him.

Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

(Luke 6:26 KJV)

No, we will no be spoken well off; people will hide their faces from us, we will be despised by men, and not esteemed. We will be little and worthless both in the sight and men and ourselves. We will be utterly cast down, humiliated, and stripped of everything that makes us hold our head up high.

And that the Son of God, to whom belongs all glory and honor, should submit Himself to such a state, humble Himself under the agony of the cross, to take upon Himself all our suffering and shame! It then becomes only reasonable that we who love Him do the same, to follow in His steps, in Him. It becomes remarkably easier for us, because He is the one bearing the burden of the yoke. His grace poured out on us compels us and leads us on. Even the cross is not a work of ourselves, but the only thing required of us is to yield ourselves under the yoke. Then He will drive us, lead us, and His grace carries us, fills us with a hope beyond understanding, a faith beyond reason, and a love beyond bounds that will make us run towards the final eternal goal – the salvation of our souls, the Kingdom of Our Lord and of His Messiah.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

(Isaiah 53:5 KJV)

Are we willing to lay down our lives to Him in total surrender, knowing that wounds, bruises, chastisements, and stripes will be our lot, and yet in those suffering be filled with utmost joy? This then is the glory of the saints, for we suffer with Him.

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

(1 Peter 4:19 KJV)

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

(1 Peter 4:16 KJV)

See Him, carrying the cross, walking the Way of Suffering, mocked, spit upon, kicked, jeered. He looks back at His disciples. There you stand, you who have followed Him thus far. Yet now you can choose to be identified with Him, or hide your face and disappear in the crowd. Will you stand out? Would you walk forward, and stand with Him. Would You follow Him to the cross, pick up one Yourself, and then continue the rest of the way, led by the Son of God who laid down His life?  Yet is any man suffers are a follower of Messiah, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God on this behalf!

It is easy to declare “O Lord, I will follow you to the death!” But this statement will not validate itself – it is spoken in ignorance, firstly of the implications of the cross and its cost, and secondly of the state of your own heart and your ability.

The disciples learnt a tough lesson at the eve of the Cross, for they had neither counted the cost nor checked their wallet, but out of impulsiveness and immaturity made such a statement.  

The rich young ruler counted the cost of discipleship, for the Lord made him to understand on no uncertain terms its requirement, but did not find in himself the ability. Thus he was heartbroken. That last stronghold in his life, the last barrier between himself and the cross, was not his money or his love but his pride, or self-trust. Finding in himself no such power, he turned away, so near to eternal life that he could almost breathe its everlasting refreshment, but so far away, as to miss it altogether.

We only need fall at His feet in tears and great longing, “Lord, forgive me for I am not able. I have this not in myself. I cannot follow you. But I throw myself onto Thy mercy and avail my soul before Thee.” Then His strength will be made perfect in our weakness.

And thus we shall come to understand the grace of God, for thus it shall be poured out on us.

But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; (1 Peter 3:14 KJV)

For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

(1 Peter 3:17 KJV)

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

(Revelation 2:10 KJV)

By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

(Hebrews 11:24-25 KJV)

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

(2 Timothy 3:12 KJV)

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

(Romans 8:17-18 KJV)

Yea, as Christ suffered and died, so if we suffered with Him, we shall be glorified together!

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

(Isaiah 53:7 KJV)

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

(Isaiah 53:4 KJV)

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

(Isaiah 53:5 KJV)

Are we today willing to bear and carry the sorrows of His people? Are we today willing, in this suffering, to be judged by them as being punished by God for our own sins? Are we today willing be wrongfully accused, yet remain silent. To be right, yet treated as wrong?

God, make us willing to be made willing. Make us willing to yield under Your yoke, to lift up our hands in surrender to the nails and thorns that beflicted our Master Yeshua on the cross?

Make us choose the narrow way, to drink the deeply bitter cup of sorrows, griefs, afflictions, and the cross. Let us not only say with our lips that we are willing to drink Your cup, but with our hearts, souls, and minds, bound to the cross. We will not evade the cross, nor run from You in the time of Your affliction, but make us O Master to be willing to be shamed with You.  

There is not in us a desire for the Messiah’s cross, but an inborn distaste and repulsion against it. The Adversary fights against us with might and main, roaring in all the savageness of evil, circling us as wolves, waiting to bite and devour our souls. Yet Messiah ever lives to make intercession for us. The Spirit travails for us with unutterable groaning. Creation moans in restless longing. The Father preserves us to the end.

 Make us O Lord, let us be a vessel of Your making, a sacrifice to Your pleasure! Keep us faithful O Lord, never let our heart grow cold. May we persevere with all the perseverance of hope, through the fires, darkness, turmoil, and wrangling of this present age to be presented a purified, blameless, glorious, comely Bride, the Church and Body of our Messiah.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

(1 John 3:2 KJV)