The Testimony of Jesus

The Testimony of Jesus

Revelation 19:10

(10)  And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Revelation 1:2 who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.

Prophecy = speaks of the future

Testimony = speaks of the past

Calvary was the Lord’s trial, which the Gospels portray in detail.  The result of ultimate sacrifice is the Church – The book of Acts and the outpouring of the Holy Ghost and utltimately the Kingdom of God coming to the earth (Revelation 21-22 New Jerusalem). The epistles are the letters written to the Holy Ghost church, all scripture has prophetic significance.  But the prophetic text that describes the Victory of the Lord Jesus Christ has a special anointing on it, which the Lord referred to as the SPIRIT of PROPHECY!!!  The Revelation that was given to John, is specifically described as the Revelation of Jesus Christ. (Rev 1:1) which was prefaced in the OT prophets (Daniel is the backbone of Revelation). 

Daniel 11:32 and such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits. 

33  And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days. 

Studying and understanding the prophecies of scripture is a spiritual endeavor.  The understanding of the prophetic text is unveiled by the Holy Ghost – which is the Spirit of Jesus Christ. It is the Lord’s testimony culminating with the defeat of Satan, the antichrist, the false prophet, and ultimately ushering Jesus Christ as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  That my friend is Victory.  Calvary and the events of the Lord’s humble coming were the trial for Him – coming with ten thousands of his Saints – being crowned King of Kings – now that is TOTAL VICTORY!!!  Only those that are filled with His Spirit and baptized in His name shall truly being able to stand with Him on that day!!!  But that TOTAL VICTORY is put into the saints when His Spirit fills us!  We must stay in that VICTORY to see that day on the right side!

The LORD discussed this with his disciples – and we have it laid out with the events in order in the Olivet Discourse notice the highlight of the message:

Matthew 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) (see also Mark 13:14)

Isn’t it awesome that the prophetic scripture of Daniel the man who wrote of the Messiah and prophesized of the testimony of Jesus Christ would be the reference point that Jesus used when discussing the events with his disciples?  This validates that much attention must be given to the prophecies of the book of Daniel!  It is the book that Revelation quotes from more than any other book.

So what is the abomination of desolation?

Overview of Daniel   

History tells us that Daniel was 15 years old when he was taken hostage and exiled to Babylon.  His age was 17 when he interpreted the first dream of Nebuchadnezzar, 49 when he interpreted the second dream (chapter 4), 81 years old when the handwriting on the wall was translated at Belshazzar’s feast, and 81-83 years old when he was thrown into the lion’s den, and finally 84 years old when he received the 70 weeks prophecy.

70 weeks prophecy

Daniel 9:24  Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. 

25  Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.  (7 + 62 = 69 weeks)

26  And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 

Prophecy split into three sections

Ezra 1:1-2 (commandment to restore and build Jerusalem)

7 weeks AND 62 weeks = 69 weeks until Messiah is cut off (483 years total)

1 week (7 years) remain that are yet to be fulfilled

Abomination of Desolation (Final 7 years)

Daniel 9:27  And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. 

“He” of Daniel 9:27 is the ANTICHRIST – “the Prince that should come” and we know this conclusively because of other references:

1)      Daniel 11:31 speaks of the same event (Abom. Of Desolation), describing the Prince as “vile person” (v 21) and his heart is against the holy covenant (v 28) and have indignation against the holy covenant (v 30) and he will pollute the sanctuary of strength (v 31) and he will corrupt by flatteries (v 32). 

2)      Daniel 11:36 calls him a king and says he will exalt himself and magnify himself above every god.  He shall speak marvelous things against the God of gods, and (v 37) not regard the God of his fathers (must be a descendant of Abraham – possibly Islamic) he shall not desire women, nor regard any god – he will magnify himself above all!

3)      2 Thess 2:3-4 gives the same event as Daniel 11:36 and calls him the man of sin- the son of perdition, who opposes and exalteth himself above all that is called God or is worshipped – sitteth in the temple of God – shewing himself that he is God – the man of sin is the Antichrist!

How do we know that the seventy weeks are weeks of years instead of days?

The prophecy teaches the final week being 7 years.  Here are the verses that tell us that timeline:

1 + 2 + ½ = 3 ½ years (Half of 7 years)

The Antichrist is given power for 42 months (same as Rev 13:5)

Daniel 7:25  And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the saints of the most High, and think to change times and laws: and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and the dividing of time.

Daniel 12:7  And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.

Israel is taken by the two wings of the eagle to the wilderness for 3-1/2 years

Revelation 12:14  And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

42 months (3-1/2 years, Half of 7 years)

The Gentiles tread on the court of the temple for 42 months

Revelation 11:2-3

(2)  But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.

The Antichrist is given power for 42 months

Revelation 13:5

(5)  And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.

1260 days (Jewish calendar 360 days, Half of 7 years)

1260 / 360 = 3.5 years

Revelation 11:3

 (3)  And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth.

Revelation 12:6

(6)  And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days.

Conclusion

What is Jesus’ testimony?

The testimony of the Ancient of Days

Daniel 7:9

I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

In Daniel He is referred to as the anciet of days in chapter 7 and also as the Stone “made without hands” that specifically comes and destroys the images (representing the kingdoms of this world) and the image crumbles and the STONE becomes a MOUNTAIN (Daniel 2) which filled the entire earth. 

Revelation 1:13-16

And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.  (14)  His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire;  (15)  And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.  (16)  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

Revelation  19:11-16

And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  (12)  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  (13)  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  (14)  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  (15)  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  (16)  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

What a testimony!  The Messiah was foreseen in Daniel and referred to as the Ancient of Days – the Son of Man!  (Also seen in the fiery furnace with Daniel’s 3 friends) but in Revelation John sees Him in TOTAL VICTORY!!!!  Flesh is covering Him – dipped in blood and His name is called The WORD OF GOD (John 1:1) His Saints are following him on white horses – clothed in fine linen, white and CLEAN!  The Word of God became flesh (John 1:14) and dwelt among us.  We beheld His glory as the only Begotten full of Grace and Truth.  He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.

Daniel 2:44  And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 

45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure. 

The SEVENTH Trumpet

Revelation 11:15

(15)  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

Zechariah 12:9-11

(9)  And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

 (10)  And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

(11)  In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.

This is why the Apostles asked the LORD in Acts 1:

Acts 1:6-8  When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 

 (7)  And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

(8)  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Revelation 1:5-8

(5)  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

(6)  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

(7)  Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

(8)  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

The 1000 year Reign of Christ on the earth

Revelation 20:4-6

(4)  And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (5)  But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.

(6)  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

We are currently spiritually living in the kingdom of God (Romans 14:17).  The events we have discussed here is the transition from the Spiritual reality into the Physical reality – WHEN THE FULLNESS OF TIME comes.  (Just like the first coming of the Messiah).  Rest assured in the Church under our great Pastor – we are right where we need to be to find ourselves on the right side of the events!

Galatians 4:1-7

(1)  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

(2)  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

(3)  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

(4)  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

(5)  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

(6)  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

(7)  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

We HAVE the testimony of Jesus Christ applied to us when we obey the gospel!  We are under tutors and governors right here in the Church!  When the Lord is going to come back to judge the world – He will put an end to the enemies of the Church.  He will restore the kingdom and He will rule the Earth for 1000 years!  We are being trained right now, under the authority of the Apostolic Ministry- we are being perfected to be the trusted servants and CHILDREN of the King of Kings! 

The Holy Spirit and the human soul

1 Timothy 1:1-11
(1) Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope;
(2) Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
(3) As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
(4) Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
(5) Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
(6) From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
(7) Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
(8) But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
(9) Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
(10) For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;
(11) According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
1 Peter 4:8
(8) And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

What is charity?  LOVE with a PURE MOTIVE.  UNSELFISH LOVE

The happiest people on the earth are those that have been purged of selfishness, who live as Apostle Paul told Timothy:

1 Timothy 1:6
The end of the commandment (purpose for being preached to, for being discipled)
1. CHARITY OUT OF PURE HEART
2. GOOD CONSCIENCE (ready to meet the LORD)
3. FAITH UNFEIGNED - (no limits to what you BELIEVE)

That is a powerful people - they that do KNOW their GOD shall BE STRONG!

The Missing Stones

The Missing Stones

Matthew 7:21-23

(21)  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

(22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

(23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Iniquity – anomia – lawlessness, being ruled by self-will rather than being ruled by the sovereign Will of God.

What Jesus is saying is “depart from me, ye that are ruled by your own will.”

This same term is used to describe the fall of Lucifer.

Ezekiel 28:13-15

(13)  Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.

(14)  Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.

(15)  Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.

Exodus 28:16-20

(16)  Foursquare it shall be being doubled; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof.

(17)  And thou shalt set in it settings of stones, even four rows of stones: the first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and a carbuncle: this shall be the first row.

(18)  And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond.

(19)  And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst.

(20)  And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper: they shall be set in gold in their inclosings.

Stones on the Priest’s Breastplate

Sardius, topaz, carbuncle

Emerald, sapphire, diamond

Ligure,  agate, amethyst (Missing from Lucifer’s covering)

Beryl, onyx, jasper

Holy Ghost Strength – the New Testament Priesthood

Gad – Overcoming Life (Victory over sin)

Issachar - Servant  (Burden Bearing)

Asher – Fruit Producing (Royal Dainties)

Hebrews 6:9

(9)  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

Romans 9:30-33

(30)  What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

(31)  But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

(32)  Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

(33)  As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed

Elohim Genesis 1:26

Elohim - A plural Hebrew word


Many folks have used this term to empahsize the supposed theory of the "triune" nature of God as they believe is revealed in the Old Testament. What would be the answer to this teaching from a Oneness believer as myself? How could I defend the Oneness of God with such a verse as this one that seem to being identifying God with a plural pronoun? Keep in mind that the Old Testament was written by the Hebrew people, and these people strongly believed and were instructed by God that He was the ONLY Creator and ONE God. Therefore, for someone to come years later and attempt to understand God through philosophy, vain deceit, through the rudiments of the world, and after the traditions of men and use these pronouns to teach contrary to the understanding of the original writers can be descried as nothing more than ignorance. We will now build a foundation of why the original writers believed in the Oneness of God:

Deut 4:35 Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him.
Deut 4:39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else.
Deut 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:
Isaiah 43:11 I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.
Isaiah 44:8 Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any.
Isaiah 63:16 Doubtless thou art our father, though Abraham be ignorant of us, and Israel acknowledge us not: thou, O LORD, art our father, our redeemer; thy name is from everlasting.
Malachi 2:10 Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?
Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Isaiah 44:24 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;
Now after reading these scriptures, we must be extremely careful not to compromise what the LORD has explained to us. What most theologians and traditional bible scholars do is use the reasoning that God can still be ONE and yet have a "triune" nature. They do not believe that the doctrine of the trinity, "three persons in One God" compromises these scriptures. Then if you ask about this doctrine, and try to understand how God could be ONE but three persons at the same time, you cannot understand it. Then you are told that this is a divine mystery that cannot be understood. HOWEVER. We must be careful that our doctrine be molded by scripture, and NOT mold scripture to fit our doctrine. I believe that there is a simple answer to the plural pronouns in Genesis 1:26 that do not compromise the scriptures at all, and I believe that God intended for us to understand these matters for the scripture tells us:

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

When the apostle Paul writes such words as CLEARLY SEEN and BEING UNDERSTOOD... to me defines that this issue SHOULD NOT BE A MYSTERY. Believers in a triune nature of God are logically stating the following:

Clearlry Seen + Being Understood = A Divine Mystery

Call me simple minded if you will, but common sense tells me that if God said I could clearly see and understand even his eternal power and Godhead, then that means I should not call it a mystery. So now we will explain our understanding of these matters by the help of God.

We have taken the original Hebrew from a Strong's Concordance and we will examine the original verse from Hebrew translation:

Hebrew Elohiym el-o-heem' ‘amar aw-mar' `asah aw-saw' 'adam aw-dawm'
English God said make man
Hebrew ‘tselem tseh'-lem’ dmuwth dem-ooth' radah raw-daw' ‘dagah daw-gaw'
English image likeness dominion fish
Hebrew yam yawm owph ofe shamayim shaw-mah'-yim bhemah be-hay-maw'
English sea fowl air (sky) cattle
Hebrew 'erets eh'-rets remes reh'-mes ramas raw-mas' 'erets eh'-rets
English earth creeping creature any creeping creature earth
The "Plural Majestic" of the Hebrew language

ELOHIM - The Hebrew Noun used to designate God. Notice that this is the noun used in the verse to describe God. It is true that Elohim is a plural noun in this verse. But hold on, please do not leave with just that understanding, you must understand why this is so. In Hebrew tradition, it was always a correct formality to speak of majesty and kings using the plural out of respect for that royalty. This is why Elohim is used to describe God, out of Majestic respect to God, never was it intended for someone to read the verse with the understanding that the Hebrews were referring to there God as more than One person!!! The Hebrew language is an elementary language that does not compare to the complexity of the English language. Understanding this logic, you must also keep in mind that the Hebrew language does not ../include what we refer to as "pronouns". As you read the above verse, notice that the English line does not ../include conjunctions or pronouns, as this is exaclty how it was written in the orginal language. When the Hebrew scriptures were translated into Greek, Latin, and English, the translators used pronouns and conjunctions to correctly give understanding in the respective language. Because ELOHIM is PLURAL, when the translators added pronouns into the scripture, it was necessary for the pronouns added to agree with the tense of the noun that it represented. Therefore, the translators were absolutely correct with the translation using US and OUR as plural pronouns to describe God, however keep in mind that the plurality of Elohim was merely a custom of respect to majesty. Also please read verse 27 which says...

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

If there had been a "trinity" I would have to ask the question which person of God was man created in? The first, second, or third?

Of course this is silly. The answer is simply that God's image was Jesus Christ (John 1:1,14 2 Cor 5:19, Colossian 1:15) an image that God created before the foundation of the world, but did not become a reality until the fullness of time came. (Galatians 4:4). Remember that the Bible says that Jesus was slain before the foundation of the world, and that He was the Word with God from the beginning of time. This does NOT MEAN that God was talking to His Son from the beginning of time, It means that God had the plan of Salvation, and the plan of manifesting Himself in flesh before the foundation of the world. It was not until Mary concieved through the power of the Holy Ghost that the Son of God became a physical reality. Before Bethlehem the Son of God was not manifested, but was simply known to His people as the ONLY GOD. Isaiah 63:16.. Thou O LORD are our Father and our Redeemer, and thy name is for everlasting....

Fall into the hand of the LORD

Luke 21:19

(19) In your patience possess ye your souls.

1 Chronicles 21:1

(1) And Satan stood up against Israel, and provoked David to number Israel.

If we are not careful to keep in our spirit that God is in control of every step of our lives, (even in Tribulation) then we can let the devil “provoke” us, as he did to David, to number Israel. This really spoke to my heart to never ever forget that God is always in control of every detail of life. The fact is that most of His Creation is in blindness to this fact. That is why Paul spoke this:

Titus 3:1-5

(1) Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work,

(2) To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

(3) For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

(4) But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

(5) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Part of the renewing of the Holy Ghost must be a realization and fresh awakening of the fact that our lives are “hid in Christ”, the realization that God is in control even if we don’t see it. The washing is to clean us of walking contrary to God, the renewing is the vision and awareness of being completely in His control. (Even before we surrendered to His Will) It is hard to be moved to tears by the goodness of God in our lives, since we committed to Him and even before we did!!!! I think that is so important to live as an example of this pattern, we should be moved to compassion to do good to others, even if we don’t expect an immediate response: JUST TO BE AN EXAMPLE OF OUR MASTER!!! Because we can look back and see Him giving to us BEFORE we ever gave to Him. Our walk and giving of our lives to His Will is reinforced by these examples, so will others do if we use the same pattern to them. If they make the wrong choice that is between them and God! Notice David’s action after Judgment was pronounced:

1 Chronicles 21:11-13

(11) So Gad came to David, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Choose thee

(12) Either three years' famine; or three months to be destroyed before thy foes, while that the sword of thine enemies overtaketh thee; or else three days the sword of the LORD, even the pestilence, in the land, and the angel of the LORD destroying throughout all the coasts of Israel. Now therefore advise thyself what word I shall bring again to him that sent me.

(13) And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let me fall now into the hand of the LORD; for very great are his mercies: but let me not fall into the hand of man.

What a revelation David had of God’s mercy! Certainly it was his experiences as a boy, running from Saul, that made him know the Master this way! This is what a backslider needs to come to the Revelation when he has walked away from God, the hand of man is going to wear them out! The hand of the LORD HAS VERY GREAT MERCIES! David not only believed it, but his actions proved HOW MUCH he believed it:

1 Chronicles 21:22

(22) Then David said to Ornan, Grant me the place of this threshingfloor, that I may build an altar therein unto the LORD: thou shalt grant it me for the full price: that the plague may be stayed from the people.

David was MOVED to REPENTANCE. I can’t say that I see that being out of fear of God, I see it as David believing in His MERCY! That is the most powerful motivator of serving God, people that only serve out of fear can only give so much, but those that are MOVED by His MERCY, have an unlimited amount of resources.

1 Chronicles 21:27

(27) And the LORD commanded the angel; and he put up his sword again into the sheath thereof.