The Kingdom of God

Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes With Jesus. Today we are going to talk about the Kingdom of God. Jesus said, Pray you this way, Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done On Earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. It’s called the Kingdom of God. Jesus also said, For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. This is how the Kingdom of God works: Forgive, and you shall be forgiven. Give and you shall receive. Show mercy and you will receive mercy. May your Kingdom come Father; may your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. The Father has made His Beloved Son Jesus Christ to be King over all the Earth, because He humbled Himself unto the death of the Cross for our sins, to redeem unto Himself a holy people for His Kingdom with His own Blood. Jesus will soon be returning to the Earth to gather His people unto Himself, and to establish His throne in Jerusalem to rule and reign over the whole Earth for a thousand years; all His enemies being put under His feet; all those whom He has redeemed from the kingdom of darkness, whom He has chosen out of this present evil world, whom he has proven faithful through many trials and afflictions like unto His own sufferings, purging them, washing them and making them white; who have served Him, and who have loved Him with all their heart, being obedient and faithful in every good work according to His Father’s will, glorifying His Holy Name; they shall rule and reign with Him as kings and priests forever in His Glory. Hallelujah! 

Let’s turn to 1 Pet 1:1-25, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.  Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, Be you holy, for I am Holy. And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit; that’s  how we do this: you purify your souls by obeying the Word of God as the Holy Spirit leads you, as He reveals it to you, and leads you to walk in it; that’s what Jesus talked about, continue in My Word; you’ll be my disciple indeed, and you’ll know the truth, and the truth will make you free; in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever. 

Jesus said that since the time of John The Baptist, the Kingdom of God is preached, and every man presses into it. He said, Seek you first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. He said repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand. The Kingdom of God is not in word only, but in power. The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Jesus said also, The Kingdom of God comes not with observation, for the Kingdom of God is within you. When the Father raised Jesus from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit, He raised with Him a holy nation, a royal priesthood, a peculiar people to show forth His praises forever. This is the Kingdom of GOD! It is His Kingdom and He is GOD! HOLY, HOLY, HOLY, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND IS AND IS TO COME THE ALMIGHTY! He is worthy of all honor, praise, dominion, and blessing forever, and ever, and ever! Press into His Kingdom! Seek His Kingdom with all your heart! Eph 1:17-23, That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 

and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Eph 2:1-8, And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 

among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 

even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. He said, if you will seek Him with all your heart, you will find Him. He said, If you seek, you will find. If you knock it shall be opened. If you ask you shall receive. If you don’t know Jesus, ask Him: Lord, I want to know you! Please let me know you, and the power of your resurrection, and the fellowship of your sufferings! Please change me and cleanse me! Please give me holiness and eternal life with you! I give you all that I have; I give myself to you! Please take me and teach me your good way and make me a blessing to you and the Father, and to all the people in my life! Ask, and you shall receive! Seek, and you shall find! Knock and it shall be opened unto you! 

If you knew that there was a billion dollars in gold, hidden in a field somewhere, and you had just enough money, if you sold everything you had, to buy that field, would you not buy that field? (There is a price) And would you not dig and dig and seek and seek and knock and ask until you found that treasure? Will you really be content to love this wicked world and your measly pleasures and the futile honor of men, and not seek the God of all glory, who loved you so much that He gave His only Beloved Son, who never sinned, though He was tried and tempted in every way as we are, to suffer and die for your sins on the Cross of Calvary, that you might inherit eternal life with Him in His glorious Kingdom forever?  Really? Will you not repent, and turn to Him with all your heart? The Bible says, the things that God has prepared for those who love Him have not even entered into the heart of man! Jesus said, Come to Me!, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am gentle and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

The Kingdom of God is in righteousness. You must turn from your evil ways. You must seek His righteousness. He said if you seek after righteousness you shall be filled. Believe what Jesus did for you; His sacrifice and suffering on the Cross for your sins. Believe that the Father raised Him from the dead; He died for your sins, and it shall be imputed to you for righteousness. Rom 4:21-25, talking about Abraham, and how he believed God,  And being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform, and therefore it was accounted to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised for our justification. Rom 5:1, Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. God made Him who knew no sin to become sin on the cross, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. In Him there is peace. Jesus said, My peace I give unto you; not as the world gives give I unto you; the peace that passes all understanding. Through faith in Jesus we have peace with God, and we have joy in the Holy Spirit. The joy of the Lord is our strength. 

The Kingdom of God is in power. The Apostle Paul said, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes. Jesus said, Repent and believe the Gospel! If you will repent and believe the Gospel you will enter into God’s Kingdom and the power of God will work in your life to save you from all your destructions, to heal you, to deliver you, to provide for your every need, and to bless you and make you a blessing to many people, that you may bring forth fruit and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.

Interpretation of a message in tongues:

I am God Almighty. Those of you who are listening to my servant Rob, consider your ways, consider your doings, consider the cost, says the Lord. Trust Me. Call upon Me. Turn from your evil ways and I will give you eternal life with Me, with My Son, in His glorious Kingdom, if you will turn, if you will repent, but if you will harden your heart you will utterly perish says the Lord God.

Song:

The Kingdom is not meat and drink

But righteousness, peace, and joy

The Kingdom of God is not meat and drink

But righteousness, peace, and joy

Righteousness, peace, and joy

In the Holy Ghost

Righteousness, peace, and joy

In the Holy Ghost

 True Worship

Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes With Jesus. Today we’re going to talk about True Worship. Let’s turn to 2Ch 5:1-14, This is talking about the dedication of Solomon’s Temple:  So all the work that Solomon had done for the House of the LORD was finished; and Solomon brought in the things which his father David had dedicated: the silver and the gold and all the furnishings, and he put them in the treasuries of the House of God. Now Solomon assembled the elders of Israel and all the heads of the tribes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel, in Jerusalem, that they might bring the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD up from the City of David, which is Zion. Therefore all the men of Israel assembled with the king at the feast, which was in the seventh month. So all the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the Ark.  Then they brought up the Ark, the Tabernacle of Meeting, and all the holy furnishings that were in the Tabernacle. The priests and the Levites brought them up. Also King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel who were assembled with him before the Ark, were sacrificing sheep and oxen that could not be counted or numbered for multitude. Then the priests brought in the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the Temple, to the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the cherubim. For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the Ark, and the cherubim overshadowed the Ark and its poles. The poles extended so that the ends of the poles of the Ark could be seen from the holy place, in front of the inner sanctuary; but they could not be seen from outside. And they are there to this day. Nothing was in the Ark except the two tablets which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made a covenant with the children of Israel, when they had come out of Egypt. And it came to pass when the priests came out of the Most Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without keeping to their divisions), and the Levites who were the singers, all those of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, stood at the east end of the altar, clothed in white linen, having cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets— indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying: For He is good, For His mercy endures forever, that the House, the House of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the Glory of the LORD filled the House of God.   With one voice they lifted up praise and thanksgiving, with trumpets and instruments of worship, and with the Word of God, saying, For He is good, for His mercy endures forever. Then the Cloud, the Glory of God filled the House.  2Ch 6:1&2,  Then Solomon spoke: The LORD said He would dwell in the dark cloud. I have surely built You an exalted house, And a place for You to dwell in forever. Verse 40-42, Now, my God, I pray, let Your eyes be open and let Your ears be attentive to the prayer made in this place. Now therefore, Arise, O LORD God, to Your resting place, You and the Ark of Your strength. Let Your priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, And let Your saints rejoice in goodness. O LORD God, do not turn away the face of your anointed; Remember the mercies of your servant David. 2 Ch 7:1-3, When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the Temple. And the priests could not enter the House of the LORD, because the Glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's House. 

When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the Glory of the LORD on the Temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: For He is good, For His mercy endures forever. 

True worship requires a clear conscience, void of offence toward God and man. There must be repentance and confession of sin and real cleansing of filthiness and wickedness in order to come into God’s presence with a pure offering of praise. The Lord God gave the Children of Israel in old time; in the Old Covenant, the blood of sheep and oxen which they sacrificed unto Him to make an atonement for their sins before Him; that they might be forgiven of their sins and continue in fellowship with Him and not die. Now, in the New Covenant, He has given us the Blood of His Beloved Son Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, though He was tempted in every way as we are; He willingly gave Himself on the Cross to die for our sins, that through faith in Him, faith in His sacrifice and true repentance, we might receive forgiveness of sins and be cleansed, white as snow, from all our sins, and enter into fellowship with our God and Father; being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible; by the Word of God, which lives and abides forever; being His sons and daughters, serving Him in Spirit and in truth. Christ in you, the hope of Glory! 1Pe 1:18-23, knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious Blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart; this is how we purify ourselves: by obeying the truth, the Word of God, through the Spirit, the Holy Spirit;  having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever. He has also given unto us His Holy Spirit, that we might be filled with His Spirit and be led by Him in all that we do every day, denying ourselves and taking up our cross and following Jesus to obey His Word and walk in His ways and offer to God true worship in the Spirit.

Let’s turn to John 4:6-24, Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour. A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, Give Me a drink. For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman? for Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered and said to her, If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, Give Me a drink, you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water. The woman said to Him, Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?  Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock? Jesus answered and said to her, Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 

but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life. 

The woman said to Him, Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw. Jesus said to her, Go, call your husband, and come here. The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said to her, You have well said, I have no husband, for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly. The woman said to Him, Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet. 

Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship. Jesus said to her, Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is a Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in Spirit and truth. Mat 15:8&9, These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me, and in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. So it is today: true worship is of the heart; a heart that is given fully to God. God said of King David that he was a man after His own heart. David wrote the Psalms by the Holy Spirit and worshipped God and served Him with all his heart. So it is today; we must draw near to God with a true heart in repentance and faith in the Blood of Jesus; in the Holy Spirit, to offer unto God true worship in the Spirit and in truth; the Word of God. David gave us so many songs; psalms of praise and thanksgiving unto God. Eph 5:17-20,  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Col3:1-17, If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. In the church today there is much worship being offered to God in vain; being founded in the doctrines of men; doctrines of false grace; turning the grace of God into lasciviousness. People are drawing near to God with their mouth, but their hearts are far from Him as they embrace these false doctrines to justify themselves to walk in the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. Many are caught up in the beautiful music, the big sounds, the lights, and the glory of man, and they don’t realize that their worship is of the flesh, and many times of the wrong spirit, not in the Holy Spirit, and it is not acceptable to God.

Isa 1:13-20, Bring no more futile sacrifices; incense is an abomination to Me. The new moons, the sabbaths, and the calling of assemblies—I cannot endure iniquity and the sacred meeting. Your new moons and your appointed feasts My soul hates; They are a trouble to Me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rebuke the oppressor; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken. 

 Josiah

Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes with Jesus. Today we’re going to talk about King Josiah. Let’s turn to 1Kings 13:1-6, And behold, a man of God went from Judah to Bethel by the word of the LORD, and Jeroboam stood by the altar to burn incense. Then he cried out against the altar by the word of the LORD, and said, O altar, altar! Thus says the LORD: Behold, a child, Josiah by name, shall be born to the house of David; and on you he shall sacrifice the priests of the high places who burn incense on you, and men's bones shall be burned on you. And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the LORD has spoken: Surely the altar shall split apart, and the ashes on it shall be poured out. So it came to pass when King Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, who cried out against the altar in Bethel, that he stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, Arrest him! Then his hand, which he stretched out toward him, withered, so that he could not pull it back to himself.  The altar also was split apart, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the LORD. Then the king answered and said to the man of God, Please entreat the favor of the LORD your God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored to me. So the man of God entreated the LORD, and the king's hand was restored to him, and became as before. I’m not going to read any more, there’s a lot more here about this prophet and what happened to him, but he prophesied 

of King Josiah by name, and this was hundreds of years before Josiah was ever born.

Let’s turn to 2 Kings 22:1-20, Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath. And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the ways of his father David; he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.  Now it came to pass, in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, that the king sent Shaphan the scribe, the son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the LORD, saying: 

Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which has been brought into the house of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people. And let them deliver it into the hand of those doing the work, who are the overseers in the house of the LORD; let them give it to those who are in the house of the LORD doing the work, to repair the damages of the house— to carpenters and builders and masons—and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house. However there need be no accounting made with them of the money delivered into their hand, because they deal faithfully.  Then Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. 

So Shaphan the scribe went to the king, bringing the king word, saying, Your servants have gathered the money that was found in the house, and have delivered it into the hand of those who do the work, who oversee the house of the LORD.Then Shaphan the scribe showed the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest has given me a book. And Shaphan read it before the king. Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, that he tore his clothes. Then the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam the son of Shaphan, Achbor the son of Michaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah a servant of the king, saying, Go, inquire of the LORD for me, for the people and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that has been found; for great is the wrath of the LORD that is aroused against us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us. So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe. (She dwelt in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter.) And they spoke with her. Then she said to them, Thus says the LORD God of Israel, Tell the man who sent you to Me, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I will bring calamity on this place and on its inhabitants—all the words of the book which the king of Judah has read—because they have forsaken Me and burned incense to other gods, that they might provoke Me to anger with all the works of their hands. Therefore My wrath shall be aroused against this place and shall not be quenched. But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to inquire of the LORD, in this manner you shall speak to him, Thus says the LORD God of Israel: Concerning the words which you have heard—because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before Me, I also have heard you, says the LORD. Surely, therefore, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace; and your eyes shall not see all the calamity which I will bring on this place. So they brought back word to the king. 

2 Kings 23:1-27, Now the king sent them to gather all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem to him. The king went up to the house of the LORD with all the men of Judah, and with him all the inhabitants of Jerusalem—the priests and the prophets and all the people, both small and great. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant which had been found in the house of the LORD. Then the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant. And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests of the second order, and the doorkeepers, to bring out of the temple of the LORD all the articles that were made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven; and he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel. Then he removed the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had ordained to burn incense on the high places in the cities of Judah and in the places all around Jerusalem, and those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun, to the moon, to the constellations, and to all the host of heaven. And he brought out the wooden image from the house of the LORD, to the Brook Kidron outside Jerusalem, burned it at the Brook Kidron and ground it to ashes, and threw its ashes on the graves of the common people. 

Then he tore down the ritual booths of the sodomites that were in the house of the LORD, where the women wove hangings for the wooden image. And he brought all the priests from the cities of Judah, and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba; also he broke down the high places at the gates which were at the entrance of the Gate of Joshua the governor of the city, which were to the left of the city gate. Nevertheless the priests of the high places did not come up to the altar of the LORD in Jerusalem, but they ate unleavened bread among their brethren. And he defiled Topheth, which is in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter pass through the fire to Molech. Then he removed the horses that the kings of Judah had dedicated to the sun, at the entrance to the house of the LORD, by the chamber of Nathan-Melech, the officer who was in the court; and he burned the chariots of the sun with fire. The altars that were on the roof, the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars which Manasseh had made in the two courts of the house of the LORD, the king broke down and pulverized there, and threw their dust into the Brook Kidron. Then the king defiled the high places that were east of Jerusalem, which were on the south of the Mount of Corruption, which Solomon king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth the abomination of the Sidonians, for Chemosh the abomination of the Moabites, and for Milcom the abomination of the people of Ammon. And he broke in pieces the sacred pillars and cut down the wooden images, and filled their places with the bones of men. Moreover the altar that was at Bethel, and the high place which Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, had made, both that altar and the high place he broke down; and he burned the high place and crushed it to powder, and burned the wooden image. As Josiah turned, he saw the tombs that were there on the mountain. And he sent and took the bones out of the tombs and burned them on the altar, and defiled it according to the word of the LORD which the man of God proclaimed, who proclaimed these words. Then he said, What gravestone is this that I see? So the men of the city told him, It is the tomb of the man of God who came from Judah and proclaimed these things which you have done against the altar of Bethel. And he said, Let him alone; let no one move his bones. So they left his bones alone, with the bones of the prophet who came from Samaria. Now Josiah also took away all the shrines of the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made to provoke the LORD to anger; and he did to them according to all the deeds he had done in Bethel. He executed all the priests of the high places who were there, on the altars, and burned men's bones on them; and he returned to Jerusalem. 

Then the king commanded all the people, saying, Keep the Passover to the LORD your God, as it is written in this Book of the Covenant. Such a Passover surely had never been held since the days of the judges who judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel and the kings of Judah. But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover was held before the LORD in Jerusalem. Moreover Josiah put away those who consulted mediums and spiritists, the household gods and idols, all the abominations that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, that he might perform the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD. Now before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart, with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses; nor after him did any arise like him. Nevertheless the LORD did not turn from the fierceness of His great wrath, with which His anger was aroused against Judah, because of all the provocations with which Manasseh had provoked Him. And the LORD said, I will also remove Judah from My sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the house of which I said, My name shall be there. 

The Lord spoke to Josiah, and He said, Because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before the Lord, when you heard what I spoke against this place and against its inhabitants; that they would become a desolation and a curse, and you tore your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, says the Lord. Josiah’s heart was tender toward the Lord. He loved the Lord God, and he purged Jerusalem and all  Judah and Israel from their abominations and their idols, and he proclaimed a passover, the likes of which was never done in all of Israel, not since the days of Samuel. In verse 22:2 it says, And he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left.

Let’s turn to 2 Tim 3:1-5, But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 

For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, (or covetous), boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! This is idolatry, and it is rampant in the church of Jesus Christ today. The church is full of idols and abominations and wickedness, as it was in the days of the kings of Judah and Israel. Come out from among them and be  separate! 2 Cor 6:14-18, Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: I will dwell in them and walk among them; I will be their God and they shall be my people. Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. Chapter 7, verse 1, Therefore, having these promises beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. The Scripture says, Holiness, without which no man will see the Lord.

Do you love God?  Will you love Him and keep His ways, even unto death? Or do you love yourself, and your pleasures, and the things and glory of this world, to your own destruction?  How is your heart? Is your heart tender like Josiah’s? Are you willing to humble yourself before the Lord, and give Him all your heart? The Lord already humbled Himself, and gave Himself a living sacrifice for you.

 Psalm 23

Greetings in the name of Jesus. This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes With Jesus. Today we’re going to talk about Psalm 23, but before we do, we’re going to start in Psalm 22. Let’s turn there now. Psalm 22:1-24, My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, And from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent. But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in You; They trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; They trusted in You, and were not ashamed. But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see Me ridicule Me; They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him! But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother's breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother's womb You have been My God. Be not far from Me, For trouble is near; For there is none to help. Many bulls have surrounded Me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. They gape at Me with their mouths, Like a raging and roaring lion.  I am poured out like water, And all My bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It has melted within Me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded Me; The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots. But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion's mouth And from the horns of the wild oxen! You have answered Me. I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel! For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from Him; But when He cried to Him, He heard. It is only because of what is revealed here in Psalm 22 of the sufferings of Christ that we can enter into the blessings of Psalm 23. Psalm 23:1-6, The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever. The Lord is my Shepherd. In order to partake of the promises in Psalm 23, first of all, the Lord must be your Shepherd. You must be following Him. If you are in rebellion against Him; continuing in any sin, refusing to repent; if you are in any unforgiveness, you are not following Him. Jesus died for your sins, and the sins of those people who did you wrong. He loved you and gave Himself for you and suffered for you that you might be forgiven and enter into fellowship with Him, and the Father, and with the people of God. So forgive them and love them so that you may be forgiven. In 1 John 1:8-10 it is written, If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. You must confess it! If you feel like you can’t face it; if you feel like you can’t forgive, cry out to Jesus! For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be delivered. He will help you. He loves you. Come to Me, Jesus said, take my yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest unto your souls. Jesus gave Himself on that Cross to pay your ransom for all your sins, and to bring you into eternal life with Him; to forgive you, and wash you, and fill you with His Holy Spirit, that you might be led by His Spirit to follow Him in the righteous paths that the Father has planned for your perfection; to make you holy, separate from this present evil world, that you may walk with Him and serve Him all your days in holiness and righteousness, and bring forth fruit that remains to His Glory. Let’s turn to Mat 7:21-23, Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness! Not everyone who says Lord, Lord, is going into the Kingdom of Heaven, but they that do the will of the Father. 

If the Lord is your Shepherd you will be seeking first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all those things that you need will be added unto you; you shall not want. Luke 12:22-34,  Then  said Jesus to His disciples, Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith? And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. He will bless you. He will make you to lie down in green pastures. You will have good food, all that you need, with His blessings. But if you set your heart on the things that you want and need, and seek those things, you will not be able to follow Jesus. He will lead you beside still waters; a place where you can drink and be satisfied and refreshed and find rest. 

As you follow Him, He will lead you in paths of righteousness to restore your soul. The Lord has paths for you to walk in that will deal with your heart, and bring about righteousness in you. He will expose things in you and bring you to repentance and cleansing. Your soul will be restored from all the damage of sin and rebellion, pride and self-righteousness. If you’re going to follow Jesus you must stay on the path He has for you and let Him deal with your life and break you and make you righteous, until He leads you to the next path. Sometimes it hurts; sometimes it’s difficult and painful, but if you are following Him, He is with you for your greatest good, and it’s for His name’s sake, not yours. He will bring you to the place where your greatest desire is to glorify His name and please the Father; no longer yourself, and He will make you fruitful if you will be faithful to Him and follow Him unto death.

Eventually you will come to the valley of the shadow of death. No matter what He brings us to, we need not fear any evil, because He is with us, and He will bring us through that valley. His rod and His staff will comfort us. Jesus Christ has absolute authority over every power of darkness, over every principality, over every man, over every name that is named; that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord to the Glory of God the Father. He is Lord! As His sheep, if we will stay close to our Shepherd, and follow Him, we need not fear the wolves, the lions, or the bears, nor any other predators. His rod and His staff are in His hands to defend us, protect us, and comfort us. I will fear no evil for you are with me. In fact, Jesus will prepare a table before us in the presence of our enemies, right in front of those who want to destroy us, He will feed us, He will bless us, and anoint us with His Holy Spirit. Let’s turn to Luke 12:35-40, Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.  And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. 

Let’s turn to 1 Cor 10:12-24, Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. I speak as to wise men; judge for yourselves what I say.  The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? For we, though many, are one bread and one body; for we all partake of that one bread. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the fellowship of the Blood of Christ? We are blessed because of the Blood of Jesus; washing us and cleansing us, white as snow; that we might enter into communion with Jesus and the Father, and with one another, through His sacrifice of Himself on the Cross. Through repentance and faith toward Him our cup runs over; the blessings will come upon us and overtake us: the blessings of true righteousness, the blessings of true love, the blessings of the Holy Spirit, and the blessings of the Word of God; the blessings of true fellowship with the Lord through the Holy Spirit, and with one another. We will be blessed and our families will be blessed. Our work will be blessed. Our companies will be blessed. Our cities will be blessed and our nation will be blessed, IF we will repent and turn to Him with all our heart, and truly and wholeheartedly follow the Lamb of God wherever He leads us. And He will lead you if you are willing to follow Him. If you want to go your own way, and seek your own pleasures, He will not be leading you into all these blessings, and you will wander in your own wilderness until He deals with your life to bring you out of rebellion, dead religion, self-righteousness, and the doctrines of men, to really follow Him in the Spirit, and in truth; to truly love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and your neighbor also, as yourself. As we love God, and love one another, forgiving one another, walking in the light, we will have true fellowship with Him and with one another, and surely His goodness and His mercy shall follow us all the days of our life, and we will dwell in the House of the Lord forever. 

Choose you this day whom you will serve; whom you will follow. As for me and my house, we will follow our Lord Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd. Jesus said, I am the Good shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

 Holy Ghost Prayers

Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes With Jesus. Today’s program is called Holy Ghost Prayers. Let’s turn to Rom 8:26-30, Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified. Let’s turn to 1Cor 14:14&15, For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. An extremely important reason to be filled with the Holy Spirit is that He may lead you in effectual prayers. When you receive the Holy Spirit, you will receive your Heavenly language also, that you might pray in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance; praying as He leads for the things you really need to pray for. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 1 Pet 3:12, For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous and His ears are open unto their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. As you continue to be filled with the Spirit and led by the Spirit in all things, you will be fulfilling the righteousness of the law. Rom 8:4, The righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. You will be being led by the Spirit in your prayers; praying with the understanding, and praying with the Spirit also. You are righteous as you are being led by the Spirit to obey the good Word of God; obeying Him and prospering, even as your soul prospers.  

As you pray in the Spirit in other tongues, the Holy Spirit will be leading you in intercession, in warfare, and in worship. He will lead you in battle against the powers of darkness, and His power will be manifesting as you continue to believe the Word of God. The Holy Spirit will be praying in you, through you, and for you, and others, and He will rise up in you against the powers of darkness that are seeking to destroy you and others. He will lead you in Holy Spirit worship. The Father is a Spirit, and He seeks to be worshipped in Spirit and in truth; in the Holy Spirit, with the Words of God. Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs; singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s turn to Eph 6:10-18, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. Here we have a description of the whole armor of God; the equipment and means with which we need to carry out our warfare against the powers and principalities in the heavenlies that are set against us to destroy us. We must avail ourselves therefore of Holy Spirit prayers, all the time, praying always with all prayers and supplication in the Spirit; prayers in tongues, and prayers in our language, watching thereunto with all perseverance. As we continue in this the Holy Spirit will rise up in us in prayer; effectual, fervent, and righteous prayers. Jude 1:20&21, But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 

We must seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, Ask, seek, and knock. Shall not the Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask? Remember that the Kingdom of God is not in word only, but also in power. Let’s turn to 1 Cor 2:1-5, And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. Chapter 4, verse 20, For the Kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. So with our prayers; if our prayers are only in word and not also in power, they will not be effectual. Also, they must be in faith. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Mar 11:22-26, So Jesus answered and said to them, Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses. When we pray, we must believe, and we must forgive. 

1 Tim 2:1-8 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. I desire therefore that  men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; Phil 4:6&7, Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. As you continue in prayer, in the Holy Ghost, you will be edifying yourself and others. Only the Spirit knows what you really need to pray, and as you yield to Him in prayer, He will lead you far beyond all that you could ask or even think. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God; to them who are the called according to His purpose. Many a time in recent days I have been praying, when the Holy Spirit began to pray in me a strong prayer in other tongues. These prayers are very powerful. Even though I don’t know what is being spoken, I am sure that they have been effectual in dealing with the situations we have been going through. Also, many a time, as I am praying in tongues, the Holy Spirit will lead me in binding powers of darkness; binding witchcraft, or loosing people from the onslaught of evil coming against them. He knows exactly what is going on in the spirit, and how it needs to be handled. I always ask the Lord to send the Holy Spirit to pray in me and through me according to the present need, and He always responds. Ask and it shall be given; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you. For whoever asks receives, and he that seek finds, and to him that knocks it shall be opened. It’s not by might; it’s not by power; but it’s by my Spirit says the Lord. 

Let’s turn to 2 Cor 10:3-5, For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. As we pray in the Spirit; as we are truly led by the Holy Spirit in effectual, fervent prayers, our weapons of warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God. He will be leading us by His Holy Spirit to pull down strongholds, cast down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the true knowledge of God. And we will be bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. In this way, by His power and might, we will be aligning ourselves and others with the will of God, that His good purposes may be fulfilled in our lives, and in the lives of others. Much of our trouble and bondage in our lives is brought about through deceit and lies, and evil imaginations and thoughts. As we continue in the Word of God and Holy Spirit prayers we will truly be Jesus’ disciples, and He will be teaching us His Word by the Holy Spirit, and leading us in the knowledge of the truth, to overcome the things that have us and other people in bondage; out of darkness, into His marvelous light. This can only be accomplished through the Spirit and the power of His might. Carnal prayers will not get it done. The only way you can deal with powers of darkness is in the power of God. The only way you can deal with lies is in the truth; even as Jesus overcame the temptations of the devil by speaking the Word of God to him in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Song:

Oh the weapons of our warfare are not carnal

But they are mighty, they are mighty

Oh the weapons of our warfare are not carnal

But they are mighty in the Holy Ghost

For they are strong to the pulling down of strongholds

They are mighty, they are mighty

Oh they are strong to the pulling down of strongholds

They are mighty in the Holy Ghost

 The Grace Of God

The grace of God is given through the sacrifice of Jesus for us to walk in the Spirit and fulfill all righteousness. He will lead us in doing good works. The grace of God does not “cover” walking in the flesh. Rom 8:13, If you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Verse 14, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. Jesus will be giving unto every one of us according to our works; He will reward us. The grace of God is the gift of righteousness through the gift of God’s Son, so we can be dead to sin in Him, and alive unto God; married to another; to Jesus who was raised from the dead, to bring forth fruit unto God, walking with Him, obeying the Father, led by the Holy Spirit as sons and daughters of God. The grace of God enables us to put to death the deeds of the body, the works of the flesh, through the Spirit, that we might live in Christ. We are no longer slaves of sin, but we have become slaves of God, bought by His Blood. We are not our own. Our past sins are forgiven, we are become righteous in Jesus through the gift of His righteousness. Then we continue in Him, yielding to the Holy Spirit to do the will of God every day, not yielding to the flesh, but putting it to death through the Spirit. We continue in His grace, confessing our sins, being forgiven and cleansed; walking with a pure conscience. It is the grace of God given to us that we can now come to God and confess any sin and be forgiven and cleansed, and it is not imputed to us because of faith in Jesus’ sacrifice, because of the grace of God. If we will not confess it to God, if we will not repent from the heart, but continue in sin, we trample under foot the Son of God and count the Blood of the Covenant wherewith we were sanctified an unholy thing, and we do despite unto the Spirit of Grace! 

 Our Faith

Our faith is in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who died; gave Himself for our sins on that brutal Cross, just outside the walls of Jerusalem on that dark, cold day 2000 years ago. He loved us and washed us from our sins in His own Blood. As we believe in His sacrifice and in His resurrection it is imputed to us for righteousness. God loved us when we were dead in trespasses and sins and gave His Son to suffer for us that we might live in Him and walk with Him, doing His will, doing righteousness, being led by His Holy Spirit. We are saved by His grace, not of ourselves, it is the gift of God; God gave His Son. To say that, therefore we can do whatever we want and say we are in faith, under grace, though we continue in sin, is an abomination and a lie, and a grievous sin against Christ, who has emphatically promised that He is going to give unto every one of us according to our works.

The apostle Paul said, we establish the law through faith. Jesus said, not one jot or tittle of the law shall be done away till all be fulfilled. Sin is the transgression of the law. The righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. The Holy Spirit will lead us in love; loving the Lord and keeping His Words, doing the will of the Father, loving one another. Love does no ill to his neighbor, therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. When you commit fornication, or lie, or steal you are not loving your neighbor; you are sinning against them and yourself and God.  Repent and return to Him, confessing your sins, and He will abundantly pardon and cleanse you, and you will be built up in Him. But if you will not repent, from your heart, you yourself will pay for your own deeds, having done despite unto the Spirit of grace. Be not deceived; God is not mocked; for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap, and there is no respect of persons with God.

 Why Did Jesus Die?

The Father in Heaven did not give His Son to suffer and die that brutal death on the Cross for you to make a way for you to get money and power and fame. NO! He loved you so much that He gave His only beloved Son to die for your sins; to give Himself a living, perfect, sinless sacrifice on that Cross, and wash us from our sins in His own Blood; to justify us and save us from the wrath of God which will soon be poured out on all those who, in spite of His great sacrifice for them, will not repent of their lies, and their fornications, and their thefts, and their idolatries; and to purify for Himself His own special people, zealous of good works, to serve Him forever in His glorious Kingdom. As we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, doing righteousness, being led by the Holy Spirit; denying ourselves and our lusts and desires, taking up our cross and following Jesus every day to do the will of our Father in Heaven, glorifying Him, being faithful in all the work which He has given us to do, all things that are needful will be added to us. We don’t need to even think about them.

 Behold The Man

Greetings in the name of Jesus! This is Rob Haymes. This is 15 Minutes With Jesus. Today’s program is called Behold The Man.  

It was the Passover; the time of the deliverance from the horror of darkness which the Children of Israel had suffered, being in bondage in hard labor in Egypt 400 years. Moses instructed them to choose a lamb without spot, faultless, and to roast it in the fire, placing the blood of the spotless lamb on their doorposts, that the angel of death would not come into their houses. The Lord said to them, And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where you are, and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be on you when I strike the land of Egypt. 

It was the Passover, and Jesus and His disciples gathered together in an upper room to eat the Passover meal together. That same night in which He was betrayed, Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, He brake it and said, Take, eat; this is my body which is broken for you. This do in remembrance of Me. After the same manner also He took the cup saying, This cup is the New Testament in my Blood; this do, as often as you drink it in remembrance of me.

It was the Passover, and Jesus travailed in prayer, that He might take the cup which the Father had given Him, to become the Lamb of God, and to be slain for the sins of all of us; to bear our sins in His body on the Cross, and to wash us from our sins in His own Blood. It was His love for the Father, and their love for us that enabled Him to overcome His own flesh and go to the Cross.

It was the Passover, and they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Hall of Judgement. Let’s turn to John 18:28-40, Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. Pilate then went out to them and said, What accusation do you bring against this Man? They answered and said to him, If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you. Then Pilate said to them, You take Him and judge Him according to your law. Therefore the Jews said to him, It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death, that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die. Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, Are You the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?  Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here. Pilate therefore said to Him, Are You a king then? Jesus answered, You say that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice. Pilate said to Him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, I find no fault in Him at all. But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews? Then they all cried again, saying, Not this Man, but Barabbas! Now Barabbas was a robber. John 19:1-18, So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, Hail, King of the Jews! And they struck Him with their hands. Pilate then went out again, and said to them, Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him. Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, Behold the Man!  Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, Crucify Him, crucify Him! Pilate said to them, You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God. Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, Where are You from? But Jesus gave him no answer. Then Pilate said to Him, Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You? Jesus answered, You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin. From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, Behold your King! But they cried out, Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him! Pilate said to them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar! Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away. And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. 

Behold the Man!; Jesus, the Son of God; conceived in the Virgin Mary’s womb; the Word was made flesh, therefore that Holy Thing that was born of her is called the Son of God. He is a man, in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Jesus was tempted, yet He never yielded; He never sinned. If He could be tempted, then He could have sinned. He was a man! Because He loved the Father, because He loved us, He never yielded. He overcame every temptation with fasting and prayer, speaking the Word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit, walking in the power of the Holy Spirit. He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed of the devil. He overcame in the Garden of Gethsemane to offer Himself a perfect sacrifice on the Cross, and shed His Blood, His sinless life, to deliver us all from so great a death: eternal separation from God and all His goodness, in eternal torment, receiving the full reward for our own evil deeds. The Father is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance and be saved from His wrath that will consume all the wicked; those that reject the sacrifice of his Beloved Son on the Cross for their sins. Jesus died for our sins, without fault, as Pilate confirmed, and He rose again to justify us, and to give unto all of us who believe in Him eternal life, to serve Him and the Father in His glorious Kingdom. Because He humbled Himself to the death of the Cross, the Father has given Him a name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in Heaven, on the Earth, and under the Earth, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Confess Jesus as your Lord, and believe that He rose from the dead, and you shall be saved! For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, His name is Jesus, shall be delivered.  

Behold the Man!, mocked and spit upon, beaten and scourged with a Roman lash, a crown of thorns on His head, in a purple robe, giving Himself for you, a living sacrifice for your sins; your sins, not His! He was without fault; the only man that never sinned!

Behold the Man!, on the Cross, every bone out of joint, His body marred more than any man, for you!; for your sins! There He cried out, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do! This is love!; not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and gave His Beloved Son to die for our sins; mocked, scorned, rejected of men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; surely He has borne our sorrows and carried our pains, yet we did esteem Him stricken, smitten of God and afflicted, 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! The Father saw the travail of His soul for us and was satisfied. He died for our sins!

Let’s turn to John 20:19-31, Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, Peace be with you. When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  So Jesus said to them again, Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you. And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, We have seen the Lord. So he said to them, Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe. And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace to you! Then He said to Thomas, Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name. 

Behold the Man!, risen from the dead!, victorious, glorified, justified from all the sins that were laid on Him: our sins; He was crucified for our sins and raised again for our justification; Rev 1:5-18,...Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the first born from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the Earth; to Him who loved us and who washed us from our sins in His own Blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father; to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen! Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him, and all the tribes of the Earth will mourn because of Him; even so, Amen! I am Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End says the Lord, who is, and who was, and who is to come; the Almighty. I, John, both your brother and companion in the tribulation and kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was on the island that is called Patmos for the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, saying, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, and, what you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia: to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamos, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea. Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire; His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters; He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength. And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen!