Encouragement

Islam 635 AD
Gospel of John 100 AD

Some 535 years later, over five centuries, the Quran is written by Muhammad.

John was an eyewitness to Jesus’ coming. For 3 1/2 years he walked with him, talked with him, ate and drank with him, and witnessed Him as the Son of God. Seeing miracles and words of truth, hearing His teaching, watching Him defy natural law by walking on the waters of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus raised the dead and was raised from the dead. Was crucified, buried, and seen by John and the disciples after the resurrection.

John writes at the end of his book, “But there are also many other things which Jesus did, which, if they were written in detail, I expect that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written.” ‭‭(John‬ ‭21‬:‭25‬ ‭NASB2020)‬‬ So many things He did that libraries of the world could not catalog them.

Muhammad, the author of the Quran, says, “Jesus had not died before going up to God, nor will he die before the day of resurrection.” The interpretation by most Muslims is that Jesus entered heaven alive.

He entered heaven alive but as the resurrected Christ, the only begotten Son of God.

John, with Mary the Mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene were there at the cross as witnesses of His death. They saw His suffering and heard His words spoken by Him. It is written that He died, was buried, and rose again on the third day, just as He said.

For Muhammad, who was not an eyewitness, some six centuries later, to deny this overwhelming evidence proves without a doubt the validity of the Bible as fact and not fiction. The inaccuracy of the Quran and Muhammad’s writings concerning Jesus cannot be substantiated. The overwhelming number of eyewitnesses and the documentation written in the gospels, of Jesus’ life, cannot be denied, only believed.

-KC

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”

‭‭John‬ ‭14‬:‭15‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

““Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.””

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭1‬:‭23‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

The name “Emmanuel” points to the prevalent biblical theme of God’s presence with His people. The idea of “God with us” is the embodiment of all of God’s promises to Israel and to all who will trust in Him. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost’s great love to be shared with created man and woman.

The Almighty God who has endured the continual sin and rebellion of man since the beginning continues to call him and make a way to be eternally united with Him.

In Genesis we see God coming down in the cool of evening to be with Adam and Eve. The scripture says they heard the sound of God walking in the garden to be with them.  We can see by God’s response that this was their time of fellowship with one another and it never had been missed.

The next question gives us insight.

God calls out, “Adam where are you?” Of course, He knew where they were, but a deeper question was heard by them. They hid themselves, for they were exposed and ashamed.  From that time on God sets out to redeem man and take back creation to live forever—We in them and them in us.  

Jesus makes it very clear that He is not leaving them as orphans. He is leaving for a moment, but, “I will come to you.” There will be no separation, but He will ask the Father to give you another Helper and He will abide with you forever. He will abide, He will dwell not just with you but He will be in you, and will remain. Just in the beginning of this chapter, Jesus says the Father is in Me and I am in the Father.  The Helper is promised by Jesus. He will be with us and in us, He will abide with us forever. Thus confirming the promise: I will never leave you nor forsake you, no never, and lo I will be with you always, even to the ends of the earth.

He, the Holy Ghost, like Jesus, is Emmanuel, God with us, forever. So we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, the sound from heaven, once again coming to earth to be with the new creation. Sons and daughters of God.  Receive ye the Holy Ghost!

-KC

When He, God the Holy Spirit comes, you will be endued with power.

One of the most revelatory insights into the Trinity and its oneness is Jesus’ introduction of God the Holy Spirit to His disciples. He leaves no doubt concerning who He is, His relationship to them, and what He will do when He comes.

“When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.”

John‬ ‭15‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV

Jesus begins by verifying who the Holy Spirit is coming from and the full agreement of the Father and the Son’s endorsement of Him as the Spirit of truth. This is a wonderful picture of the Godheadand their love for one another. This love, this oneness, is unmistakable and unfathomable. Jesus said, “God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth.” There is no greater promise given to us than the promise of the Holy Spirit. Flowing to us from the Father and the Son.

He is not an it nor is He a denomination. This is man’s attempt to indoctrinate and try to explain God to our intellect, our unrenewed mind.

Not to receive the Holy Spirit as God is very serious. We see in the early believers a stark example of how important it is to see Him as God.

The following passage proves the Holy Spirit is God.

Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit, and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God.”

Acts 5:3–4

Peter is clear and it cannot be denied. Satan, the father of lies, has filled the heart of Ananias to lie, not just a lie, but a direct lie to God Holy Spirit. He is not an it. He is God the Holy Spirit, sent from the Father and the Son, as promised by Them as one.

Receive ye God, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of truth.

-KC

Mayday – Emergency procedure word used internationally as a distress signal, call recognized all over the world.

This morning I woke up to May 1, a holiday celebration for so many people. Then this distress call came to mind. I heard “Mayday Mayday Mayday” in the Spirit. If ever in my lifetime the world needed so much help it is on this May 1, 2023. When used it is to be said three times so there is no confusion as for the call.

For believers all over the world, our Mayday call is Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, A very ready help in trouble.”‬‬ Jesus’ promise to us is that He will send another Helper—He—the Holy Ghost.

The world’s distress is becoming greater and greater, yet we who believe, our Mayday call is to the One who can only help us. Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Calling on our Helper, the Holy Ghost today.

-KC

Christian is only used three times in scripture. Jesus related to His disciples as followers. A disciple is one under the lordship of Jesus’ authority for discipline and to produce maturity.

The closer you get to Jerusalem the more powerful the religious spirit is—a form of godliness that denies the power thereof. It is amazing that the three major religions lay claim to Jerusalem and are centered in Jerusalem; Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

The word Christian has become a catch-all term bringing the scripture by men’s traditions to no effect.

Repentance comes before forgiveness and is to be preached: turn away from sin to receive forgiveness of sin. Turn from following the world, change direction (180), receive forgiveness and follow Him. The call to repent is how the spiritual distance between us and God is reduced and how we draw near to Him and He draws near to us. Some 46 times in scripture is the call to repentance. This is how faith—real faith—comes. By hearing the word of God, which is proclaimed first, then forgiveness, faith in God is revealed.

The mind cannot be opened to renewal without repentance, which is the first response toward God’s love for us. Hallelujah!

-KC