May 10th 2020
Dear Friends, Build Yourselves Up In Your Most Holy Faith And Pray In The Holy Spirit. (Jude 1:20).
2 Peter 1:21 (NIV)
For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus left this earth, He promised to leave the Holy Spirit behind, so that this Spirit could direct the thoughts of mankind toward positive beliefs instead of having negative thoughts, all the time! However, before we can get this direction for our mortal lives, we must first accept Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Savior. Members of mankind who seek salvation from some source other than Jesus Christ, will not get the assistance of the Holy Spirit, as this Spirit will only be available to immortal souls that have taken on Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Did you get the distinction between the two previous sentences? The Holy Spirit is not available until you have started living an immortal life in this world of only mortal life. In this cursed mortal world, we all live for a mortal time frame, and then we all die! When we die, we then start living in an immortal world, waiting until the new world for immortal souls is created. We have evidence of this only from the Bible, which contains prophesies that were given to men to write by God!
There are other so-called Holy Books, which members of mankind have written, and many people believe these books to be given to them by God. All the people who are following these books are being prepared to end up in hell when they die in this mortal life. Every member of mankind is born into this cursed world with an immortal piece, which is their soul. In this life we all have an opportunity to have this soul directed toward the God in heaven! There is only one God, and thus, only one way for us to gain salvation for our soul during this mortal lifetime. Jesus taught about this situation and He referred to it once as a choice of which gate mankind could choose to enter. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14). It seems here Jesus is telling us that most people will choose not to follow Him, but they will follow someone else, which causes them to enter a wide gate, instead of the narrow gate He offers. “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” Notice Jesus says this wide gate puts you on a path “that leads to destruction.”
Paul wrote a lot about suffering, and when we read about his life, we find that his suffering was experienced mostly after he found salvation through his faith and hope in Jesus. Paul says we should rejoice in suffering, which does not seem like a particularly good ad to try and entice people to follow Jesus. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:3-5). During this time of some suffering and loss of freedom as we are requested to stay home, as much as possible. And now as we are being allowed to start moving around and enjoying freedom, we are told we need to wear a mask to cover our mouth and nose, to protect others from our breathing vapors. Many people will choose to not follow such instructions, and thus, they will possibly infect others with the COVID-19 virus!
In case you haven’t picked up on it yet this commentary is emphasizing the effects of the Holy Spirit and how having the Holy Spirit in your life will greatly improve your life, but it may also cause you to experience some struggles, as you will have feelings for those who are suffering. Paul wrote about how having this Spirit allows us to see more clearly the sufferings of others and thus of being willing to try to help them. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. (Romans 15:13-14). I found it interesting that there are 90 references to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament (NIV), and none of them in the book of Revelation! So, in the new world there will be no real need of this Holy Spirit to teach, guide and direct us. Remember, Jesus left the Holy Spirit on this cursed world to guide and to teach us about our salvation, and about how to pray.
Most of us reading this commentary today likely owe our hope of a chance for salvation to the teachings of Paul, as he became the Apostle who brought the knowledge of Jesus Christ to us Gentiles. I have written to you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:15-16). As Paul puts it, “so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God.” Since Jesus came no more animal sacrifices are needed to forgive mankind’s sins!
Titus wrote about this new opportunity offered through God’s grace for all of mankind to connect with God through the Holy Spirit. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:3-7).
The writer of Hebrews wrote about how this Holy Spirit will speak for us before God. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." (Hebrews 10:15-17). Through the Holy Spirit, God recognizes us and not only that, but God will choose to forgive and forget our shortcomings, "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." Peter wrote about how Christians become servants of others because the Holy Spirit reveals that we are serving God through service to others. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. (1 Peter 1:12).
During this stressful time there are people needing help, so keep watch for someone you can help!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
2 Peter 1:21 (NIV)
For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus left this earth, He promised to leave the Holy Spirit behind, so that this Spirit could direct the thoughts of mankind toward positive beliefs instead of having negative thoughts, all the time! However, before we can get this direction for our mortal lives, we must first accept Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Savior. Members of mankind who seek salvation from some source other than Jesus Christ, will not get the assistance of the Holy Spirit, as this Spirit will only be available to immortal souls that have taken on Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Did you get the distinction between the two previous sentences? The Holy Spirit is not available until you have started living an immortal life in this world of only mortal life. In this cursed mortal world, we all live for a mortal time frame, and then we all die! When we die, we then start living in an immortal world, waiting until the new world for immortal souls is created. We have evidence of this only from the Bible, which contains prophesies that were given to men to write by God!
There are other so-called Holy Books, which members of mankind have written, and many people believe these books to be given to them by God. All the people who are following these books are being prepared to end up in hell when they die in this mortal life. Every member of mankind is born into this cursed world with an immortal piece, which is their soul. In this life we all have an opportunity to have this soul directed toward the God in heaven! There is only one God, and thus, only one way for us to gain salvation for our soul during this mortal lifetime. Jesus taught about this situation and He referred to it once as a choice of which gate mankind could choose to enter. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13-14). It seems here Jesus is telling us that most people will choose not to follow Him, but they will follow someone else, which causes them to enter a wide gate, instead of the narrow gate He offers. “For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” Notice Jesus says this wide gate puts you on a path “that leads to destruction.”
Paul wrote a lot about suffering, and when we read about his life, we find that his suffering was experienced mostly after he found salvation through his faith and hope in Jesus. Paul says we should rejoice in suffering, which does not seem like a particularly good ad to try and entice people to follow Jesus. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. (Romans 5:3-5). During this time of some suffering and loss of freedom as we are requested to stay home, as much as possible. And now as we are being allowed to start moving around and enjoying freedom, we are told we need to wear a mask to cover our mouth and nose, to protect others from our breathing vapors. Many people will choose to not follow such instructions, and thus, they will possibly infect others with the COVID-19 virus!
In case you haven’t picked up on it yet this commentary is emphasizing the effects of the Holy Spirit and how having the Holy Spirit in your life will greatly improve your life, but it may also cause you to experience some struggles, as you will have feelings for those who are suffering. Paul wrote about how having this Spirit allows us to see more clearly the sufferings of others and thus of being willing to try to help them. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. (Romans 15:13-14). I found it interesting that there are 90 references to the Holy Spirit in the New Testament (NIV), and none of them in the book of Revelation! So, in the new world there will be no real need of this Holy Spirit to teach, guide and direct us. Remember, Jesus left the Holy Spirit on this cursed world to guide and to teach us about our salvation, and about how to pray.
Most of us reading this commentary today likely owe our hope of a chance for salvation to the teachings of Paul, as he became the Apostle who brought the knowledge of Jesus Christ to us Gentiles. I have written to you quite boldly on some points, as if to remind you of them again, because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:15-16). As Paul puts it, “so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God.” Since Jesus came no more animal sacrifices are needed to forgive mankind’s sins!
Titus wrote about this new opportunity offered through God’s grace for all of mankind to connect with God through the Holy Spirit. At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:3-7).
The writer of Hebrews wrote about how this Holy Spirit will speak for us before God. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." Then he adds: "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." (Hebrews 10:15-17). Through the Holy Spirit, God recognizes us and not only that, but God will choose to forgive and forget our shortcomings, "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more." Peter wrote about how Christians become servants of others because the Holy Spirit reveals that we are serving God through service to others. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. (1 Peter 1:12).
During this stressful time there are people needing help, so keep watch for someone you can help!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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