Monthly Archives: December 2024

Christmas Story Through Revelatory Eyes

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The Christmas story has much more to it than shepherds, wise men and a manger. We all know the birth of Christ and the amazing moment of time not only for the earth but all creation. Emmanuel, God is with us. But what lead up to this moment most don’t know and the spiritual activity we assume was normal when it was far from it. During this time:

Prior to Christ birth there was the 400 silent years The Jews returned from Babylonia captivity. Israel did give up their mixture but didn’t spend the time in preparation for the Messiah to come. Aaron’s priesthood was restored but the temple was neglected and so was the teachings of God to the people. Because of this the people stopped tithing, began to mistreat their wives and married pagans.

The language shifted from Hebrew to Aramaic and Greek. Along with this some of the customs were adopted as well. Antiochus the Great captured Israel and sold the priesthood which Desecrated the Holy of Holies.

Then the Maccabees Revolution BY Judas Maccabeus came in 165 BC. Called the “hammer” of Maccabee it was to break the walls of darkness and restore light back to temple practices. But 1oo years later in 63 BC Rome gained control of Israel.  Pompey entered the Holy of Holies and desecrated it.

From here the new priesthood would become politically motivated and 2 groups were formed. The Sadducees who were liberal and practiced Greek ideas. They did hold to the Torah – first 5 books. The other group the Pharisees were conservative, and long with scribes made laws without regard to the effect upon the people. Multiple synagogues were erected for worship and social activity. Religious and civil matters governed by Sanhedrin who was the Chief priest with 70 lesser priests.

The Daniel 8:14 prophecy of desecration of the temple was fulfilled over 2400 days. All of these events caused the bulk of the Jews to doubt a messiah was coming and felt abandoned by God. They never pursued what Malachi had instructed them.

In this state Jesus is birthed.

Jesus’ birth was one of great events the earth had seen. Born of a virgin, God incarnate. The supernatural was unleashed upon the earth in a new dimension. Suddenly the silence broke. God was speaking and speaking with great signs and wonders. Spiritual dreams, signs in the sky, prophecy, angelic visitation and supernatural conception all showed a new season had come to the earth. A supernatural season. A new birth of freedom was upon all.

We have Joseph and Mary, but we also have Elizabeth with John the Baptist in her womb. Whose spirit communicated with Jesus before birth causing Elizabeth to feel the supernatural excitement. We have wise men who came to Jesus following a supernatural sign. They believed when a new star appeared a new king was born.

Zacharias who was a priest in the temple who had been believing for the Messiah just happened to be in the temple and the angle of God spoke to him. Incense was offered one time a year as it symbolized the prayers of the nation. That’s why it said he was waiting for his moment. Who was given the privilege to offer the incense was by casting lots and you were only allowed one time in your life this privilege. So, this is his only time in his entire life to do this! ALL EYES ARE ON HIM. During this time a large number of people are praying at times of incense. He had an angelic visitation from Gabriel like Mary did and He lost his ability to speak because he doubted God but gained it back at the birth of John.

There is also Simeon who the Holy Spirit was upon him as well and he was waiting for the Messiah. He had the highest title of honor being a Rabbi. He also was a great Sanhedrin and the president of a college. Along with Anna, a prophet who was an intercessor serving God in prayer and fasting, she was a widow of 44 years who spoke of the coming messiah. She was 84 years old, which was very special to live that long, but what she knew in her spirit of the coming Messiah was keeping her alive.

Elizabeth who brought forth John went into hiding for 5 months, the number of grace. It was the hiding of God like the 400 silent years before the revealing of God. John was birthed before Jesus. The prophet before the Apostle. The prophet pointing to the next office. John’s name means Jehovah has graced. The word birth means genesis! Both john and Jesus were “genesised” coming from the origin point. John was in the lineage of priesthood so later in the wilderness he would be seen as a prophet priest.

The Angel Gabriel comes to Mary in the 6th month, representing the month of humanity and mankind. Luke 1:26. She is told she is highly favored. It is not the angels opinion but Gods, which the angel is convey the message to her. Mary has to wrestle with this message. It is a new identity she has to receive. She has fear and the angel comes back and says fear not. She was fearing being an outcast and possibly stoning being pregnant out of marriage. But when she accepts the angels’ words she has found favor (past tense) she then conceives! She conceives after she has accepted her identity.

Now Mary brings forth the savior.  But also brings forth the Chief Apostle and High priest of a new order of priesthood after the order of Melchizedek. Our savior is born. Our apostle is born. Our high Priest is born.

So, what am I saying? There was so much symbolism, so much supernatural activity, so much God intervention, angelic activity, signs and wonders in this moment of time. Yes Jesus was born with all of heaven invading the earth. A new course was being set for us today. A new and living way had life surrounding it.             

Where do Doctrines Come From?

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Today we have lots of beliefs and much more even some open belief system. Where do doctrines we practice come from? Are they biblically based? What really makes a doctrine? Ill try to just give a quick overview and you can do some more digging.

The word doctrine is actually a Latin word, doctrina, meaning “teaching, and instruction”. It is defined as a belief system that has a body of teachings or instructions, which has principles in how that belief system is operated. Again, all belief systems have a foundation that comes from a doctrinal statement of what they truly belief.

Men have categorized biblical doctrine into class of study. You have heard of these as these are the main classifications.

  • Anthropology           Doctrine of Man
  • Angelology              Doctrine of Angels
  • Hamartiology           Doctrine of sin
  • Soteriology              Doctrine of salvation
  • Christology              Doctrine of Christ
  • Ecclesiology            Doctrine of the Church
  • Eschatology            Doctrine of future things
  • Pneumatology         Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

Now all these help us see what we truly believe and to also see just how broad and all-encompassing certain topics are. Before we set these in place we looked at experiences that happened in belief systems. We looked for expressions of these experiences and these became sources of early doctrine. These are seen in orthodoxy:

  • Revelation.
  • Tradition.
  • Bible.
  • Liturgy.
  • The Councils.
  • The Fathers.
  • The Saints.
  • Canons.

Now both of these sources can have lots of pitfalls and over emphasis. They also are coming from how men decided to categorize or what they felt was valuable. Many times, this is based on personal preference or even opinions.

But the bible is noticeably clear only speaking of “Doctrines” through five distinct areas.

  • Doctrines of men    Man made rules to help maintain disciplined life. Generally, ends in control or intellectualism.
  • Doctrine of devils     False doctrines detrimental to all humankind
  • Doctrine of God       Foundational spiritual laws governing all existence, as we know it.
  • Doctrine of Apostles    Guidance of the church into understanding the above two doctrines
  • Doctrine of Christ     How the spiritual principles of God affect humankind.

Doctrines of men is everything we listed out in the above two sections as truth is put into a man-made structure for interpretation. The belief statements in a ministry can include their own perspectives. Rules verses freedom or a heavy focus on certain actions. If there is manipulation you are seeing doctrines of men.

Colossians 2:22 (KJV 1900) — 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Mark 7:7 (KJV 1900) — 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Ephesians 4:14 (KJV 1900) — 14 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;

The doctrine of demons is the mixture of Biblical truth and occultism or practices. It is the worship of angels, or deities and even men. It is the enshrining of relics, altars and burning of incense. It is focusing upon departed saints as well. The doctrine of demons comes through men and many times is mixed with the doctrines of men. Much of the time it works with a religious spirit as well. It is where eastern meditations come from, astrology, yoga, new age, wicca, magick, Qabalah, Chaos magic, satanism, freemason, Daughters of Eastern Star, Astro project, ceremonial magic, Transcendental Meditation, and a host of others that are embrace and even promoted in church structures.

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

2 Timothy 4:2-42 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 43 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Next, we have doctrines that come from God. These would be sovereign actions or laws. They show forth his creative position as the creator and the covenant keeping God.

Deuteronomy 32:2 — 2 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:

God’s doctrines show forth his righteous position as a righteous judge. As the lord of his creation. As one who is providential and works in the hearts of men and humanity. That he is supreme in love, authority, and decision. Paul’s said it best in:

2 Timothy 3:16–17 — 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Next, we see the doctrines of Christ in Heb 6:1. There is much to say about this as most people do not even realize these doctrines are something we should have a firm grip on.

Hebrews 6:1–4 — 1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

Notice it says plural dead works, baptism and laying on of hands. This section of scripture would take many blogs to understand, and I suggest you study this out on your own. I do have a video on it in the Pathway Discipleship Video series on YouTube.

But Jesus came as one to model what the doctrines of God were and how they were to be placed in our lives. John 7:16  Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. His doctrine was only an extension of the fathers. But he made the fathers doctrines his very own. Mark 4:2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine… 

They were very adamant to maintain the right doctrine and did not take it lightly if the doctrine was getting off or was false. To have right doctrine was a sign that you truly belonged to God the Father and the Son. But if the doctrine someone had was off it was not to be allowed the privilege of entering your house nor was the person carrying it.

2 John 9 -10 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

So, the help maintain the Doctrine of God and Christ we have the Apostles Doctrine. It was a governing of both doctrines and a further explanation of how to walk it out between us.

Acts 2:42 — 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

It was how the kingdom of God and the interaction of the king redeemed man. It was a doctrine of cause and effect, and a doctrine of actions. The expectation was believers would do what Jesus, and the father had already determined. There would be heart felt devotion and self-courage. So, it was a doctrine of:

  1. Doctrine of Governmental Oversight of the Kingdom and the Church
  2. Reinforcement of the Teaching of Jesus and the working of the Holy Spirit
  3. The advancement of the Kingdom
  4. Establishment of new doctrines based on the current moving and advancement of the church through the Holy Spirits activity.

This can best be summed up in the following verse Paul spoke of to the Ephesian church.

Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

  • One Body               Kingdom thinking not denominationalism.
  • One spirit                The Spirit does not contradict Himself.
  • One hope                Only one way of eternal life
  • One calling               To be conformed into the image of Christ.          
  • One faith                 Only one belief system
  • One baptism           Repentance (metanoia)
  • One God                 The Most High God