The redemption plan-Shora Kuetu
THE REDEMPTION PLAN
by Shora Kuetu
Acts 4: 11 to 12
Tonight we are going to talk about God’s plan for redemption.
There are many Christians who go to hell and they need to know it.
There are also many who believe they are saved and it is not the case.
Let’s take a passage in Acts 4: 11 -12
“He is ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the
capstone.’ Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under
heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
Salvation is associated with the Name of Yehoshooa. Yehoshooa said to
the Samarian woman that redemption comes from the Jews, which literally
speaking means that salvation comes from Israel. Indeed, Yehoshooa has come
from Israel.
Here the word ‘salvation’ is in Greek: ‘soteria’, which is the same word used for ‘Saviour’ in Luke chapter 1 verse 69: “He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David…”
Salvation, soteria gives
‘saviour’ and ‘saved’. Therefore:
salvation, saviour and being saved.
Redemption is intrinsically connected to the Name: Yehoshooa. In fact,
His name, like you know, means ‘Yahweh is Salvation’. So, since we know that salvation is
associated with His name, let’s dig a bit in this name and try to know more
about this person, the person of Yehoshooa, especially His Past, His
origin.
I like a lot to dig. I don’t like to do things quickly, just to
scratch the surface, no.
And we are just going to see both Yehoshooa’s genealogies and then,
we’ll understand a bit the plan of redemption - plan foretold by Yahweh since
past eternity.
I.
Yehoshooa’s Genealogy according to Matthew
Here genealogy is biblos which gives scroll and, of
course, Bible.
What we are going to do tonight is unroll the scroll of Yehoshooa’s
book, of Yehoshooa’s life.
The God of the Bible is the God
of scrolls.
We are going to try to read a bit his history, to dig in to understand
a bit what redemption is.
We read in Matthew 1: verses 1-17.
1 “A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son
of Abraham:
2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob
the father of Judah and his brothers,
3 Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez
the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,
4 Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon,
Nahshon the father of Salmon,
5 Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father
of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,
6 and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon,
whose mother had been Uriah's wife,
7 Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah,
Abijah the father of Asa,
8 Asa the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Jehoram,
Jehoram the father of Uzziah,
9 Uzziah the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the
father of Hezekiah,
10 Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, Amon
the father of Josiah,
11 and Josiah the father of Jeconiah and his brothers at the time of
the exile to Babylon.
12 After the exile to Babylon: Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel,
Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel,
13 Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim,
Eliakim the father of Azor,
14 Azor the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Akim, Akim the father
of Eliud,
15 Eliud the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, Matthan
the father of Jacob,
16 and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was
born Jesus, who is called Christ.
17 Thus there were 14 generations in all from Abraham to David, 14
from David to the exile to Babylon, and 14 from the exile to the Christ.”
This is the 1st genealogy of Yehoshooa, the Saviour, nothing else but
the genealogy of Joseph – Jesus’ father by adoption. (Jesus the man’s father,
as God has no father-see S.Kuetu’s book ‘In the Hands of the Potter’- n.tr.)
Therefore, salvation is connected to adoption. Like you know it, we
have been saved, adopted. We are not born sons of God, but we are adopted. I
insist on this point. Joseph had adopted Yehoshooa as his own son. He isn’t his
legitimate son, his biological son. But, he has adopted him.
In this genealogy we have more characters that have nothing to do with
Israel.
So, for your information, Yehoshooa the man, His blood wasn’t 100 %
Jew.
As God, His blood was pure, of course. But as man, His blood was pure
too, but he was adopted by Joseph and therefore, one look at his genealogy let
us notice there were foreigners in His genealogy. We are going to see why.
1.
Tamar
First of all, we are told about Tamar.
Why? Because the plan of redemption regards all human beings. So,
nobody can be expelled by the Father, by the Lord, because, since past
eternity, God has foreseen to save all humanity.
We read in Genesis chapter 38: 1 -17
“At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a
man of Adullam named Hirah. There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man
named Shua. He married her and lay with her; she became pregnant and gave birth
to a son, who was named Er. She conceived again and gave birth to a son and
named him Onan. She gave birth to still another son and named him Shelah. It
was at Kezib that she gave birth to him. Judah got a wife for Er, his
firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the
Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death. Then Judah said to Onan: ‘Lie with
your brother's wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to produce
offspring for your brother.’ But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his;
so whenever he lay with his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground
to keep from producing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the
Lord’s sight; so he put him to death also. Judah then said to his
daughter-in-law Tamar: ‘Live as a widow in your father's house until my son
Shelah grows up.’ For he thought: ‘He may die too, just like his brothers. ‘So
Tamar went to live in her father's house. After a long time Judah's wife, the
daughter of Shua, died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to
Timnah, to the men who were shearing his sheep, and his friend Hirah the
Adullamite went with him. When Tamar was told, "Your father-inlaw is on
his way to Timnah to shear his sheep," she took off her widow's clothes,
covered herself with a veil to disguise herself, and then sat down at the
entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that, though
Shelah had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife. When Judah
saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. Not
realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her by the roadside
and said, "Come now, let
me sleep with you’. ‘And what will you give me to sleep with you?’ she
asked: ‘'ll send you a young goat from my flock’, he said: ‘Will you give me
something as a pledge until you send it?’ she asked. “
Notice that God has foreseen all nations in His plan for redemption.
Therefore the Jews couldn’t and cannot say that the Messiah/ Ma’shia has come
only for them. Not at all, because the Messiah’s ancestral line includes the
nations, all nations. (All earth people are included in His
genealogy.-n.tr.)
And who do we see between the ancestors of Yehoshooa? We see Tamar.
Tamar was a Canaanite. And strangely in Genesis chapter 9, Noah had cursed Canaan, his grandson.
What does it mean? This means that, in God’s redemption plan, all
cursed people can enjoy the eternal life.
In God’s salvation, all
persons declared cursed are able to be free from any kind of curse. No matter
what the malediction could be, God’s redemption can set them free of it.
Yehoshooa, whose Name means ‘Yahweh saves’ is enough powerful to erase all
curses. It’s wonderful!
Noah, Yehoshooa’s ancestor, has said cursed words, has proclaimed a
curse upon his grandson Canaan. And have you see the consequences of Noah’s
curse upon Canaan? All we have to do is look at the Canaanite story! We’ll see
that there is all kind of depravity, all kind of sins: homosexuality,
lesbianism, witchcraft, idolatry…
Therefore, Yehoshooa is powerful enough to break all curses done
through astrology, occultism, witchcraft, magic powers, sin …
And look why He takes Tamar a Canaanite, He will include her in His
scroll.
Remember that the genealogy means biblos, scroll, bible, book.
Therefore, in the book of life, God, the Father has foreseen the
entire world. So, He is not unjust! Nobody can say: « God has destined me to
hell ». Not at all!
Tamar, the Canaanite. This is serious.
Yehoshooa has come to break Noah’s curse.
We should be surprised if Paul in Colossians 2:14 said that Jesus «has
cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that
stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. »
And know what? Another terrible matter is that Tamar, Judah’s
daughter-in-law slept with her father-in-law. There was incest; but this hasn’t
stopped Yahweh to use this woman as His ancestor. Why? For nations not to
say: « We have been excluded from the redemption
plan. »
In the redemption plan, the Father has foreseen the nations and all
kind of cases. Incest, witchcraft, magical practices…
2.
Perez
And the 2nd ancestor shown here is Perez.
Genesis 38: 18 -30
“He said: ‘What pledge should I
give you’? ‘Your seal and its cord, and the staff in your hand,’ she answered.
So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.
After she left, she took off her veil and put on her widow's clothes again.
Meanwhile Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite in order to
get his pledge back from the woman, but he did not find her. He asked the men
who lived there, ‘Where is the shrine prostitute who was beside the road at
Enaim’? ‘There hasn't been any shrine prostitute here.’ they said. So he went
back to Judah and said: ‘I didn't find her. Besides, the men who lived there
said,: <There hasn't been any shrine prostitute here>.' Then Judah said: ‘Let her keep what she has,
or we will become a laughingstock. After all, I did send her this young goat,
but you didn't find her.’ About 3 months
later Judah was told: ‘Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution,
and as a result she
is now pregnant.’ Judah said: ‘Bring her out and have her burned to
death!’ As she was being brought out, she
sent a message to her father-in-law: ‘I am pregnant by the man who
owns these,’ she said. And she added: ‘See if you recognize whose seal and cord
and staff these are.’ Judah recognized
them and said: ‘She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn't give her to my
son Shelah.’ And he did not sleep with her again. When the time came for her to
give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. As she was giving birth, one of
them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist
and said: ‘This one came out first.’ But when he drew back his hand, his
brother came out, and she said: ‘So this is how you have broken out!’ And he
was named Perez. Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist,
came out and he was given the name Zerah.”
Have you seen? It was Zerah who should have come out first. He had his
hand out, but Perez was born first, he made a breach. In fact, Perez means
simply ‘gap’.
As if God has made a breach on the separation wall, because there has
been a separation between the Hebrews and the other nations. And Yehoshooa has,
in fact, made a gap. (Jesus has collapsed the separation wall between nations
and Israel-n.tr.)
Know that in Ezekiel 22: 30 God
said: «So, I sought for a man among them
who would make a wall, and stand in the gap/breach before Me… » (and found
none, the verse tells us; He had to come Himself!-n.tr.)
In fact, for short it’s Yehoshooa, the son of man who holds the gap to
intercede for nations.
And Perez was a son born through an incestuous relationship. Therefore, it would be logic not to be
amongst Yehoshooa’s ancestors. God who is holy can’t accept that His Son have
an ancestor as Perez? Can He? What does it mean? For all kids born through incest…
I don’t say that you have to do it, we must encourage people to forbid
incest... but if this happens, that baby can’t be told that he is destined to
hell.
God has foreseen it in the Word of God! The redemption plan touches
all humanity.
3.
Ruth
In same passage, Matthew 1, the 3rd person we look at
is Ruth.
Last time we saw her, Ruth the Moabite. Genesis
chap. 19 versets 30 until 37.
“Lot and his two daughters left Zoar and settled in the mountains, for
he was afraid to stay in Zoar. He and his 2 daughters lived in a cave. One day
the older daughter said to the younger: ‘Our father is old, and there is no man
around here to lie with us, as is the custom all over the earth. Let's get our
father to drink wine and then lie with him and preserve our family line through
our father.’ That night they got their
father to drink wine, and the older daughter went in and lay with him. He was
not aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. The next day the older
daughter said to the younger: ‘Last night I lay with my father. Let's get him to
drink wine again tonight, and you go in and lie with him so we can preserve our
family line through our father.’ So they got their father to drink wine that
night also, and the younger daughter went and lay with him. Again he was not
aware of it when she lay down or when she got up. So both of Lot's daughters
became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she named
him Moab ; he is the father of the Moabites of today.”
Have you seen here? She belonged to a nation whose ancestor had been
born through incest, between Lot and hi solder daughter.
We saw 2 days ago, In Numbers and Deuteronomy 23 verse 3 & 4 that
the Ammonites and the Moabites were forbidden to have access at the All
Mighty’s Assembly.
Do you realise? It means that forever the Ammonites and the Moabites were not able to enter God’s presence.
So, they were condemned to hell, condemned to damnation. But that’s strange…for
God to choose Ruth! God has foreseen, has included Ruth’s name in His scroll.
Isn’t this an impressive fact!
And know that Ruth also represent the heathen nations, all nations
apart from Israel. All the other nations, different that Israel, which had been
excluded from priesthood.
I wanted especially to insist on the fact that redemption regards
humanity. That nobody can say that God has destined some people/persons to hell
and others to heaven. No! It’s false!
God has foreseen, wants that all humans be saved. In fact, the Word
tells us: «This is good, and pleases God
our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of
truth. » in 1 Timothy 2.
And Ruth is going to marry Boaz and Boaz alongside Ruth will become
Yehoshooa’s ancestors.
4. Rahab
Matthew chapter
1: 5” Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of
Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse,”
Solmon had Boaz from Rahab. Boaz had Obed, from Ruth. Obed was the
Father de Jesse. Rahab, we know her
story. Rahab the prostitute.
Pay attention! It’s terrible here!
From which city was she? Of Jericho- the 1st city conquered
by the Israelites after crossing the Jordan River. At its banks was Jericho.
Jericho was a Canaanite city. And Rahab, not only was she a Canaanite, so
belonging to this cursed people/nation by Noah, but she was also a prostitute!
And God adds her to His ancestral line. It’s incredible! Rahab!
And the Canaanites were great santanists.
So, imagine, brothers and sisters, and try to understand why when
Yehoshooa came He used to eat sometimes with prostitutes. In fact, Yehoshooa
went to see those persons on his genealogical line. (people similar to his
ancestors-n.tr.)
He went to see those come out of His line. There were not only Jews in
His genealogy. Hallelujah! The Lord is too powerful! Have you understood? And
so, when He was eating with prostitutes and the people used to say: « But, he
is a false prophet. He is a false prophet. » He replied: « Not at all, they are my ancestors. They are
my ancestors. They are my parents. This is my family. »
You can say high and loud: « I belong to God’s family. »
You’ve seen in Luke chapter 7: 36 -50
“Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he
went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. When a woman who had
lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the
Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood
behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then
she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. When the
Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself: ‘If this man were a
prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is--that
she is a sinner.’ Jesus answered him: ‘Simon, I have something to tell you.’
‘Tell me, teacher,’ he said. ‘Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One
owed him 500 denarii, and the other 50. Neither of them had the money to pay
him back, so he cancelled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him
more?" Simon replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt
cancelled.’. ‘You have judged correctly,’ Jesus said. Then he turned toward the
woman and said to Simon: ‘Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You
did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and
wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the
time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my
head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many
sins have been forgiven--for she loved much.
But he who has been forgiven little loves little.’ Then Jesus said to
her: ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ The other guests began to say among themselves:
‘Who is this who even forgives sins?’ Jesus said to the woman: ‘Your faith has saved
you; go in peace’.”
Your faith has saved you, go in peace!
Do you see?
This is Yehoshooa’s life and because of it, He was never understood by
the Jews, by the religious people. Nevertheless, they had the Torah.
And reading it, meditating the 2 genealogies of Yehoshooa, we can
understand that he could be among the publicans, the sinful persons, the
prostitutes… simply because they are His ancestors, they were touched by the
same sin as his ancestors. He has come to take them back.
What does it mean?
The prostitutes could identify with Rahab. When satan comes to condemn
a prostitute woman to tell her:
«There is no way for you to be saved. » Thus, all prostitutes can say:
«Rahab belongs to the ancestral line of the Saviour, so me, too, I can reach redemption. »
Rahab, a foreign woman. So, she is in Yehoshooa’s line, which holds
foreigners inside.
You see? There is Ruth, the Moabite, Tamar the Canaanite, Rahab the
Canaanite despite the fact that Canaan had been cursed. It’s incredible! And in fact, truly, redemption
concerns those cursed.
The Lord has said: I haven’t come to save the righteous to repentance,
but the sick. »
And we are all sick.
5. Manasseh
In His line, there is also the king Manasseh. He was the worst king of
Israel. And it’s him who had been chosen to take part of Yehoshooa’s genealogy.
Do you understand, brothers and sisters? Yehoshooa is able to save the
prostitutes, foreigners… able to save children born out of incest/viol etc. and
able to save the evil, unrighteous kings.
No matter what sin presidents might live in, if they repent, they too
can be saved. And it’s incredible. That is the reason why the Gospel shouldn’t
be limited to poor also. It regards presidents, too. Therefore, we see the necessity to walk into
sanctification to be able to touch people. It is possible.
And this is wonderful.
6. David
Matthew, the brother I love a lot, our brother has shown and developed
Yehoshooa’s genealogy because he talked to the Jews. His message concerns the
Jews first and then his compatriots, different than Luke‘s recount. That is the reason why in this line, Matthew
also talks of David. Because in this line, in this genealogy, he shows
Yehoshooa like belonging to David’s line/genealogy. So, Yehoshooa the King.
And what do we see here? It’s magnificent what Matthew shows us here.
We notice something terrible!
We take a passage in Matthew
chapter 1 verses 18 to 25:
“This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was
pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found
to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a
righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind
to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord
appeared to him in a dream and said,: ‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to
take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in
her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are
to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’
All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had said through the prophet:
<The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will
call him Immanuel>--which means, "God with us." When Joseph woke
up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as
his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he
gave him the name Jesus.”
Joseph, son of whom? Son of David. So, this genealogy is Joseph’s genealogy,
the adoptive father. The son of David. Therefore, through marriage or
matrimonial line, Yehoshooa has taken Joseph’s
line, has appropriated to Himself Joseph’s genealogy. By the means of
marriage. Genesis 2: 24 ”For this reason
a man will leave his
father and
mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.” All has been made on purpose. From eternity, everything has been
foreseen so that a man called Joseph and all his ancestors, Joseph’s ancestors,
too would adopt the Son of God. All Joseph’s ancestors, condemned to their
sins, all these people, condemned because of their sin have automatically
become Yehoshooa’s ancestors so that they can be saved thanks to marriage
interconnections.
Therefore, we shouldn’t neglect marriage. There is an alliance inside.
It is a covenant.
In other words, through Joseph adoption, by adopting Yehoshooa,
without even realising all men covered by their ancestors’ sins could now
access redemption.
That is the reason why satan didn’t want Joseph to take Mary. You see?
Do you really understand? If Joseph had refused, it would have been hot stuff.
We, the others (the nations-n.tr.), we couldn’t have been adopted by God. So
God sent an angel to tell Joseph: « Don’t be afraid, Take her. »
Because he accepted it, the others of us, we can say: « Hallelujah,
praises to God because we have received grace, we have been saved. »
Ephesians 1:
3-12 “Praise
be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the
heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him
before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love
he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance
with his pleasure and will-- to the praise of his glorious grace, he loves. In
him we have redemption through his accordance with the riches of God's grace
that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to
us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in
Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their
fulfilment--to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head,
even Christ. In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to
the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his
will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the
praise of his glory.”
Therefore, the adoption, here the Greek language emphasizes the
position. And it is wonderful what i am going to say now. The position.
Do you know why many Christians run after men? I am not going to get
tired by saying it to you brothers and sisters: run therefore more after God
than after men. Stop running after men, after pastors, priests, monks, nuns
etc. You have to grow. You know, personally, I don’t want to die before my
time. So, I don’t want people that are idolaters. I want to go to heaven but I
want to bring people to Christ. A Christian who is taught enough will not run
after pastors because he/she understands that he/she has been adopted. We are
not born children of God, but we become them. So, the adoption offers us the
position of child of God. This is magnificent!
Therefore, when we talk about redemption, we necessarily see adoption.
We can’t talk about salvation without talking about adoption.
So, we have seen the 1st genealogy of Yehoshooa, we have
seen how Joseph, David’s descendant, will adopt Yehoshooa. In conclusion, if
Yehoshooa the man has been called king of Israel, it is due to the fact that he
has been adopted by Joseph. Joseph’s adoption was the one that conferred
Yehoshooa the man the royal position He has. If the angels were able to
announce that Yehoshooa- king of Israel was about to be born in Bethlehem is
because he had been adopted by Joseph, whose was David’s descendant. David was
one of Joseph’s ancestors and therefore, if Yehoshooa was able to reclaim
David’s royalty it was thanks to the fact that he was the object of adoption
–the adoption made by his adoptive father: Joseph.
And the Father has done the same thing with us. Bu adopting us, we,
too, we occupy the position of sons and daughters. The position of Bride of the
Lamb.
Do you realise, brothers and sisters, our position in heaven? We are
seated at the right hand of the Father, in Yehoshooa. Brothers, this is
terrible.
From the moment someone converts and gives his/her life to Yehoshooa,
truly this person is taken by God, resurrected spiritually, He immediately
takes him/her to heaven, establishes him/her in Christ, in His Son and makes
him/her sit where Christ is seated. (The Bible says in Revelation that we are
seated with Christ in the Highest and according to revelation he sits on the
throne and also because we are in His Hands all the time-n.tr.) What does it
mean? Therefore, by adoption, we are seated upon the same throne as God. No
angel has this position, not even Michael is seated upon the throne.
So what man, which demon could destroy a person who has been adopted
by Adonay? Resurrected and established in Christ, seated at the right hand of
the Father?
I don’t think you can even imagine.
So, remember this, especially when you are there, running after the
men of God, which would mean you would have understood nothing. When brother
Shora says: « Don’t run after him », you
say « No, he is mean. He doesn’t exercise his ministry, his function. ». Not at
all! And when we decide not to run after men, when we don’t want to be in the
pastoral care, here and there, people will say: «He is prideful. » It is not
about being prideful, no; it is because I know who I am!
They have written it on the Cross; they have put a panel up saying: «
This one is the king of Israel, the king of kings. » It is thanks to Joseph.
When Pilate in John 18 pose la question à Yehoshooa «Are you king? »He
says: « yes, I am king. I was born a king. »
It was thanks to Joseph.
If Yehoshooa is Israel’s king, as a man I mean, the nit is due to
Joseph, because of Joseph. And no one could chase Jesus away from his kingdom.
But what about us, sisters and brothers? The Father has established us; too, we
have been adopted.
May God help us, may He open our eyes to understand.
Romans chapter 1 verset 1 Paul, Jesus Christ’s servant, called to be
apostle, put aside to announce God’s Good News , Gospel which had been promised
long before by God through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures and which
regards His Son (born out of David’s posterity), according to the flesh.
Born out of David’s posterity. According to the Spirit or to the Flesh?
Because He had 2 natures, 100% man and 100% God. And He was born as David’s
posterity, David- the greatest king of Israel; this thanks to Joseph. Therefore, you can notice Jesus’ position as
king. When someone is a king, he has a position/a rank. It is not only a
function, but also a position. Therefore, us, as Christians saved by grace,
adopted by the Father, we have a position. That is the reason why Paul has
said: « He has predestined us in His love to be His adoptive sons.» Adopted by whom? By Yehoshooa.
Now, sisters and brothers, tell me, who could touch this person who
has been adopted, established, entered a family as a son, entered God’s Family? WHO could even point a
finger to that person?
Children of God!
It means that God has caught you (in His net, you dirty man, dirty of
sin and washes daily, sanctify you by His spirit. Don’t sit on the net
pretended to be clean! Powerful word ‘net’ coming out of Shora’s book, you see
brothers and sisters-n.tr.) and gave you
a position of authority, He has raised you up to lead, He brought you to a
government position. But all do is fight and fight for minor functions/jobs and
roles in your local church! For instance: who’s going to have the microphone, who
is not! « No, these people, they suffocate
me. »; « No, but they stop me from exercising my anointing. » But, you haven’t
grasped the message!
As a little duckling, we start trembling and screaming out
uncontrollably! A minor worry regarding our job, oh dear, dear, there is panic
on the ship.
So, your position is which?
That is the reason why when we are being confronted with hardships, we
often go quickly to sisters and brothers and say: « Don’t you worry! »
You know that when Yehoshooa has entered Jerusalem in Luke 19 and people asked: « Who is he?
» The crowd has said: « It is Jesus, the
king of Israel. »
Luke 19: 38 "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the
Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"
All this, the adoption I mean, thanks to Joseph!
And why have you been adopted? To celebrate the glory of God! Saved to
celebrate the glory of God! And this is terribly wonderful. And not saved to
groan and moan, not to know which ministry have you been given… Not for this,
my friends, this is not the purpose. Saved as sons and daughters of God to
celebrate the glory of our Father!
In chapter 1 of Ephesians,
the verb ‘to celebrate’ the glory of God appears 3 times.
The adoption!
And the Bible says in Romains chapter 8 verses 14 -16 “
those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive
a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of
sonship. And by him we cry: ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit himself testifies with
our spirit that we are God's children.”
My brothers and sisters, this is magnificent!
How could it be possible that prostitutes could be made daughters of Abraham,
daughters of God and not simply daughters of God, but also inheriting persons?
I don’t know if you can imagine…
The Bible says that we inherit of God. An inheriting person inherits
ALL! We are also inherited the throne. That’s why we are seated above. We have
inherited the life because Go dis life, Go dis life. We inherit also of
Yehoshooa because the Bible says that Yehoshooa belongs to us.
There is adoption in salvation. There is the position we occupy in redemption.
There is authority and certainty.
And this is terrific, brothers and sisters!
And this is the genealogy of Yehoshooa through Joseph, according to Matthew.
Adopted.
And when satan was able to come and attack Yehoshooa, saying to Him: «
No, but you are no king of Israel. », Jesus replied: «Of course, I am, my
adoptive father, my ancestor is David and he was the greatest king of Israel.
So you can’t reign here because it’s He the King, I am the One who has
inherited his throne. »
When God was telling David, through Nathan, in 2 Samuel 7: 11 b-13 « 'The
Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: ‘When
your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring
to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his
kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish
the throne of his kingdom forever. »
He was speaking of Yehoshooa. Nathan didn’t know back then that there
would be a man named Joseph. Nevertheless,
despite his unnoticed life, Joseph played a great role.
« Oh no, Miriam/Mary is pregnant! So, I can’t marry her as I wasn’t
the first. » This was Joseph. But told him: « Yes you are, you are going to
take her because behind this future decision of yours there are many consequences . There are many
lives which will be touched and made free. » Us, the rest were all behind. And
thanks to Joseph’s obedience, we can say: « Hallelujah, glory to God! »
That is why we have to obey God.
II.
Yehoshooa’s Genealogy according to Luke
Luke 3: 23 -38
23 “Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his
ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph,
24 the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of
Melki, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,
25 the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son
of Esli,
26 the son of Naggai, the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son
of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda,
27 the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son
of Shealtiel,
28 the son of Neri, the son of Melki, the son of Addi, the son of
Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,
29 the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of
Matthat,
30 the son of Levi, the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of
Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,
31 the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of
Nathan,
32 the son of David, the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of
Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
33 the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of
Perez,
34 the son of Judah, the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of
Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,
35 the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of
Eber,
36 the son of Shelah, the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son
of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,
37 the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son
of Mahalalel,
38 the son of Kenan, the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of
Adam, the son of God.”
You know that when we meditate Yehoshooa’s genealogy, in Matthew and
in Luke, many Christians read it quickly, they don’t stop over it…nevertheless,
there are so many truths which don’t stop at the surface, but go deeper. There
is so much truth inside these verses. It is incredible son of, son of, son of…
It is important all this!
And what really touches me here in particular is one of Yehoshooa‘s
ancestors: Lamech.
1. Lamech
This man was the first in the Bible history who practised polygamy.
So, Yehoshooa is able to save polygamists.
Do you know that Yehoshooa has saved you not as God, but as man? It is
vital to know He saved us as Adam, the last Adam that is. Adam means
‘terrestrial’. In order to save humanity, to save man, God had to become man.
So, for this purpose an entire genealogy of men needed to come into being; an
entire family of sinners needed to be born to save us.
Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean that the polygamists have to stay like
that, no, they have to repent.
(From the creation of man, God
made a woman for a man; He didn’t make 2 women for Adam. Same with Abraham: due
to his disobedience – having Ismael through Agar, his slave-, his descendants,
Israel of today has a lot of trouble with Ismael’s descendants. Obedience with
deeds is what God asks from us.-n.tr. )
Genesis 4:19 Lamech
married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah.
There he is the 1st polygamist of human history. He was full of pride, but nevertheless, he
remains between Yehoshooa’s ancestors.
2.
Noah
We are also told about Noah. We have talked about it last time, but
this time we speak of him from a different angle. Noah was the 1st
drunkard of the Bible.
Even alcoholics can be saved.
Hallelujah!
That is the reason why Yehoshooa offers us the new wine. When he was
asked at the wedding in Canaa: « But people have drunk the old wine and now are
all drunk, you bring another wine, a better wine. »
God is great! Don’t you believe it?
This is Miriam/Mary’s line.
3. Shem
We also see Shem between Yehoshooa’s ancestors, according to the
genealogy given by Luke. Mary’s genealogy.
When we speak of anti-Semitism, we think only of the antipathy against
Jews, but its’ false. It is the
antipathy towards the Semite people, which are the descendants of Shem. But,
Arabs also belong to the Shem’s descendants. They are also Semites. Shem’s
descendants. Nevertheless, Arabs also belong to Shem’s descendants; they are
Semites. What does mean? It means, our brothers and sisters originated from
Maghreb can also be saved.
Hallelujah!
He can save Canaanites, He also saves Arabs; Black people – He saves
them, too. Incredible!
God is wonderful.
4. Solomon
And you also know that in Mathieu’s genealogy, we are also talk Solomon.
I was about to forget him.
David has taken/stolen someone else wife. He had Solomon with this
wife. She was Uri’s wife: Bath Sheba. So, God takes Solomon and puts him into
/adds him to Yehoshooa’s line.
Have you seen all this mixture? Some are complicated cases. It’s as if
they have been aligned.
There are these 2 queues of sick people and then told: « See, you are
the Saviour’s ancestors because, for His ministry of Saviour to be justified,
you, all, have to be sick. That is why He has come: to save sick people. »
Lord, You are wonderful.
If someone condemns Arabs saying: « You are going to die, you Muslims,
» Arabs can say: « brother/ sister it is written in the bible that Shem, our
ancestor is also Yehoshooa’s ancestor through Miriam/Mary. Therefore, we can be
saved. »
That is why Yehoshooa has said «
Go and make disciples of all nations! »
That is why God has told Abraham « Lift your eyes to the sky. Can you
count the number of stars? That’s how huge your posterity will be. » The
nations.
5. Adam
Have you seen? We finish with Adam.
And this is wonderful what God is teaching us here.
Why Adam?
If you disregard all this people/ancestors, at last, you will
necessarily reach Adam.
Acts 17: 26 “From one man he
made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he
determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.”
All men are born of the same blood or of the same soul. All men, all Yehoshooa’s
ancestors had in them the same blood: Adam’s, which is a polluted blood,
corrupted by sin.
Genesis chapter 3: 20 “Adam named his wife Eve, because she would
become the mother of all the living.”
Here we have thus the confirmation that Eve is the mother of all human
beings.
Adam and Eve- these 2 passages
teach us that all men , all human beings have come out of Adam and Eve – with
all the different races; white, black, Arabs…all of us, we are all issued of
the same blood, a polluted/dirty blood.
The Word is clear, sisters and brothers.
Romans chapter 5 : 12 “Therefore, just as sin entered the world
through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men,
because all sinned-“
Through a single man, Adam, sin has entered but unless we talk about
His ancestors, we can’t understand it well. Why do we need redemption? Because
our ancestors have been contaminated, and us, too, we are due to Adam, our
ancestor who was a sinner, who has fallen into sin/temptation. And the Word tells
us here that through a single man sin has entered the world. You can’t give
something you don’t have! Adam’s blood, after the fall, was polluted,
contaminated by sin and therefore, he has sent his genes to his posterity.
All have sinned and are deprived of God’s glory. Romains 3: 22b-23. There
is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Now what happens next?
Here, it is about Adam’s race. Adam simply means ‘terra’, earth. And
God can save Adam’s race, but He had to become Adam. Do you see?
1 Corinthians chapter 15: 45 “So it is written: ‘The first man Adam
became a living being’; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.”
So, there are 2 Adams.
God, to save Adam’s descendants, including Adam, He had to be like
Adam, like us. That is the reason why the Word tells us that he appeared as a
true man. You see?
We have seen that Ruth has been saved or better said ransomed by Boaz.
Boaz has married her because he was Naomi’s relative. And because Ruth had been
Naomi’s son’s wife, through marriage, Ruth had become part of Naomi’s family
and therefore, part of Boaz’s family. Adopted!
In order to save man, God hasn’t 132 times, so He can identify Himself
to us.
Philippians 2: 5 to 7: “Your
attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature
God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made
himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant..”
He has turned up as a real man. This is the mystery of piety and is
indeed great! (1 Timothy 3:16-n.tr.)
When you are going to tell Muslims that Yehoshooa is God, both God and
the Son of God, they will not understand because it is a mystery.
He came like a real man, proper human being.
Hebrews chapter 2: 14 -15 “ Since the children have flesh
and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might
destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil-- and free those
who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”
Do you see here? The Bible tells us that the children, meaning the
rest of us (the nations), Adam’s descendants have participated to the blood and
flesh, meaning to a physical birth. For a baby, 9 months are needed inside the
mother’s womb before birth. And well, what happens in there? For saving us, God
has said: « The best way to save them,
it to be (born) like they, to do what they do, to be able to defeat satan. »
He hasn’t defeated satan as God, but as man.
And thus, He delivers all those who by fear of death have been kept in
servitude all their life. Because
definitively he doesn’t come to the rescue of angels, He came to save us,
Abraham’s posterity.
He didn’t do it for the angels. Angels don’t need to be saved because
they are holy. Therefore, Yehoshooa hasn’t come as an angel with wings (…).
Verse 17 “For
this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he
might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he
might make atonement for the sins of the people.”
In all things. Similar to whom? Like His brothers and sisters! His
brothers and sisters how were they?
Oh, well, like us, like you and me. His brothers and sisters were
eating bread, so He did too. His brothers were crying, so Jesus cried too. Of course!
His brothers and sisters needed sleep, so He used to sleep, too…while God
neither dozes of, nor sleeps. Of course brothers and sisters! God’s
love is that He has become incarnated to become similar to us. Meaning He was
hungry like us all. He could have gotten physically hurt.
By the way, He was physically hurt. Betrayed. He had cried. He was
made out of water and blood like you and me. He has told the apostles: « Have a
look, it’s me. A spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones like you see I do. »
Verse 18 “Because he himself suffered when he was
tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”
This is the true Saviour! Opposite to all other deities, to all other
Gods that remained Gods. Nevertheless, our God has become like us, brothers and
sisters. Hallelujah! This makes the difference! Therefore He was able to save
us completely/perfectly because He knew us. There is no suffering we could have
been submitted or will be submitting to that God, Yehoshooa hasn’t known. None.
God has taken your place. God has taken your shape. God has eaten like
you. God has stayed in Mary’s womb 9 months like you and me. Therefore, when He
presents your problems to the Father, He knows what He talks about. That is He could
save us best.
If He had saved us as God, it wouldn’t have worked because men would
have said: « But you have stayed there in your high heaven; you can’t possibly
truly save us. »
You can’t offer condolences to someone who has lost his/her father
unless you, too, have lost a father. You would be able to say: « I lived
through this, my brother/sister. »
Therefore, when Yehoshooa comes to save us, He says: « I have been
here. My ancestor had done the same thing like you did. » « But, Lord have you
seen? I am a prostitute». « Well, Rahab was too, she is my ancestor. » « Ah!
Ok. ». « Lord, listen I was born through incest. » and He replies to you: « Well,
Perez was the same. » or to this: « Lord, I am Adam’s descendant. » He says: «Oh
well, I am the last Adam. »
« But, listen, Lord, I am dead.
I am going to die. » « But I have known death and I have defeated it as man. »
« Wow! Lord, I am not scared of
death. »
Because when we are saved, we are not scared of death anymore.
What a Saviour! It is incredible, brothers. It is awesome!
A God who become man, who has eaten the same food as the apostles…
Imagine someone coming to see you. Of course, you offer him/her food.
So, envisage this: a very rich king coming to see you, in your little,
filthy, smelly hut. You offer him something to eat and he sits down in your
spot and starts eating. ..Of course, you are going to say: « But, it is
impossible. Taking into account his
position, his authority, he descends at my level. Well, this is not possible! »
Well, this king is Yehoshooa, Saviour. He hasn’t stayed in his heaven
up there saying: « Believe in me, come to me. » He has descended. He can
perfectly save Adam’s race.
Adam said: « It is over. I have sold the earth. » But, the Father has
foreseen another Adam.
What are we told about Adam? That he has been created in the image of
whom? “Let’s make the man in our image.”
Here it is the Father we have here THE IMAGE OF THE FATHER and
there ADAM.
« Let’s make man in our image ».
Man has been created in the image of God.
Man wasn’t the
image of God! See: the Father the IMAGE ADAM
But he was
created in the Image of God.
Colossians 1: 15 says that Yehoshooa is the IMAGE OF GOD. Donc le premier Adam était la copie de Yehoshooa. “verse15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all
creation.”
The copy has failed, but the original hasn’t failed, brothers and
sisters!!!
Our heavenly Daddy has made things in double. He knew that copies were
going to fail. The Jerusalem here on earth was the copy of the heavenly
Jerusalem. The tabernacle here below is the copy of the high tabernacle. It is
like this, brothers and sisters! The Father knew that Adam, the copy was going
to fail; He kept the original, hidden mystery.
Satan has begun to fight Adam’s descendants, the copies. We all have
been copies of Adam. And satan has
fought us. The Father has sent great prophets, but they were copies too. They
all have been defeated by death. Elijah has come, Moses has come, Elisha…defeated
by death! But the original was kept.
But, in His perfect plan regarding the redemption for humanity, the
Father had Yehoshooa, the real Adam.
So, we have ‘A’ for Abraham, ‘D’ for David and ‘M’ for Messiah.
Do you see? All has been foreseen from the beginning.
What does it mean? The Father knew that the first Adam was going to fail,
the copy. And He has foreseen the last Adam, Yehoshooa and in the first Adam
there was also Abraham.
6.
Abraham
Why Abraham? Because as we have seen Abraham was part of Yehoshooa’s
family, one of Jesus the man’s ancestors.
We have seen in Genesis 12 that God will start a new creation with
Abraham. God told Avram (later named Abraham) « get out of your land ». He got
out of his country Mesopotamia, out of Babylon. And he was told: « I will make
a great nation out of you. ». And because of this, he became the Father in
faith.
It was as if Abraham was another Adam. With Abraham God starts a new
creation, a new people, a new nation. This is wonderful!
The Father in faith.
Therefore, to be saved we need faith. It’s terrible. « Woman, your faith has saved
you. » That’s how Yehoshooa is. In conclusion, without faith we are not able to
reach redemption.
God has foreseen Adam, A, Abraham le father of faith. He had believed.
Have you seen Abraham’s faith when God told him in Genesis 22 « Sacrify
your son! »? Abraham has listent to God. Nevertheless, even with no example of
resurrected man, Abraham believed God would be able to resurrect his son.
See true faith? «I can‘t see, but I believe Go dis able to do things. »
So, with redemption is the same. «I believe I am saved. » We believe
it by faith.
7. David
And then, we have David.
Why David? Because David is the greatest king of Israel. Parce que David est le plus grand roi d’Israël. God has established royalty with David.
And this is wonderful. All was foreseen in Adam.
III THE MESSIAH
Then we have Ma’shia.
When Yehoshooa has come, he did it to save Abraham’s posterity,
meaning the Jews, the Hebrews first. His mission was like this not because He
didn’t want to save the nations, but firstly He chose the physical descendants
of Abraham so that these last ones might spread
His Word into the nations.
And the Father had everything foreseen. This is profound, magnificent.
And when Paul said that Yehoshooa is the last Adam, it means simply
that he came to complete the work that the Father has started with the first
Adam, because the first Adam has failed. Nevertheless, the last Adam was successful.
That is the reason He went to the cross; he said it clearly: « It is
over ».
It is over. All has been accomplished.
You can reach eternal life despite your origin, despite your sins, if
you open truly your heart to the Lord.
And redemption according to Romans 8: 24 tells us that we are saved
through hope. Because it is in hoping that we are saved. In fact, hope that is
able to be seen is not hope anymore: what we can see, how could it be hoped
for? But if we hope what we are not able to see, we then wait with
perseverance.
See, what Paul says here? Because it is in hoping that we are saved.
We have acquired redemption through faith in Yehoshooa. We are saved
in Him in hoping. It means that we have to work for our redemption like the
Word tells us. We have to work for our own redemption. We don’t have to say: « I
have given my life to Yehoshooa and I stop here. » No, it’s a mistake. We are
saved by grace, it’s true, but afterwards there are the works of redemption
that we have to produce, to make, because many men say that this salvation we
can’t lose.
Nevertheless, we will see this
tomorrow this doctrine of Augustine of Hippone, who is the 5th century has
developed it and which later was spread by Calvin who used to say that people
can’t lose their redemption. He talked about the double predestination, meaning
that our Lord, our God has destined certain people to heaven and others damnation.
It’s false! We have to keep being saved; we have to stay in redemption. We have
obtained it and God gives us the necessary tools to be able to keep it.
Therefore, we have to work for our own, personal salvation. This happens in
hope, so we hope.
Speaking of
redemption, there are 3 redemptions:
I.
The Redemption Principle
We are saved thanks to the work of the Cross.
The day of our conversion, the moment when a person accepts to abandon
sin and follow Yehoshooa, this person, no matter what his/ her Deeds made in
his/her life, all is wiped out. All is forgotten by the Lord. Gone.
(For us humans, it is so hard to forget our past sins, but God truly
does. It is almost impossible for us not to try not to go fishing again in the
sea of forgiveness where our Lord has cast away our sins, but we should do it
with our own sins and others, too. If God has cleaned, let’s not call it
‘dirty’.-n.tr.)
Therefore, he/she receives immediately the eternal life, the redemption,
thanks to Yehoshooa.
And this is the 1st type of redemption. It’s the redemption
principle.
III.
The Redemption of Each Day
The 2nd type of redemption is the redemption of each day.
God keeps on saving us in the daily life. God saves us each day.
Because the word redemption means simply deliverance. Deliverance, security,
certainty, conservation.
Therefore God saves us and in the same time, also gives us the power,
the necessary means to be able to keep our deliverance, our redemption.
Therefore, each day, all day, God saves us.
Each day satan tries to make us fall into sin, into several sins.
And God, through His grace, saves us, protects us… if we are, of
course, obedient to His Word. He gives us the power to be able to be obedient, too.
The necessary means.
Each day satan puts out traps, pitfalls and God saves us all days.
IV.
The Final Redemption
And the 3rd type of redemption it is what we call
total/final redemption.
Hebrews chapter 9: 27 - 28 “Just as man is destined to die once, and
after that to face judgment,
28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people;
and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to
those who are waiting for him.”
Do you realise? Here we are told that there are people who wait for Yehoshooa
for their redemption. Therefore, it is us. For our own redemption. Therefore, the 3rd
redemption regards the soul, the spirit and the physical body. This is what we
call total redemption… according to 1 Corinthians
15. Thought the body is seeded infirm, but he resurrects gloriously.
The total
Redemption
We need to be able to be saved from ourselves, brothers and sisters,
from the flesh which has desires opposite to those of the Spirit. We need to be
saved from this world, saved from evil thoughts. And well, we sigh for the definitive
relief, for the total redemption which will be given to us at the visible
return of our Lord Yehoshooa.
This is wonderful!
We wait for Yehoshooa for our total redemption.
We are so tired.
And we are saved in hoping like we have seen it.
We don’t have to say: «That’s it, I am a Christian and therefore, now,
I lead my life as I please, I live as I want. » No! If we are saved, we have to
also make the works of redemption. We can’t call ourselves Christians and go in
a night club. It is not possible. It doesn’t work like this. They are
incompatible. The Word is clear: « He/she who is born of God doesn’t practice
sin. »
No! This is clear.
And that is why we need to know what we want.
He/she who has received God’s redemption has no need to be told that
lusting is evil. That stealing is evil. That lying is evil. God’s Spirit
convinces him/her of it. Independently of your will, you run evil.
After all, Redemption is a person. The person of Yehoshooa. That is
what we call redemption. Before being deliverance, a healing, a certainty,
redemption is firstly a person that we need to reach, to receive.
And not only receiving, but also following. Therefore, he/she who
calls himself a Christian, saved by Yehoshooa and doesn’t follow Him, he/she is
not saved. So, the religious people say:
« We are saved by grace. May God be blessed; we can live our life
according to the world without following Jesus, without His Word. » But, these
persons are not saved because Yehoshooa is the way, the truth and the life.
But we have to borrow it! This way is the way of truth and this way
leads us to life. This is redemption. We are on a path that is opposite the
world’s path. It is a narrow path. Tight. The gate is very, very tight, to narrow
and very little people pass through it. Matthew 7 tells us about it. This is redemption. The way is not wide. And it is difficult and that is why so few people
will be saved.
We are going to finish with Matthew chapter 7: 13. "Enter
through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads
to destruction, and many enter through it.”
« Ah! I am saved because I sing in church, because I preach, because I
know the Word. » It is not true, my friend.
We have already seen that no matter what our sins are, we can reach
redemption thanks to Yehoshooa.
Enter through the narrow gate.
It is tough here. It is an order. If we want to have life.
Enter through the narrow gate.
We all have to enter the narrow gate. This is the gate, according to
John 10: Jesus says: ‘I am the gate.’
This, He is the gate which leads to sacrifice.
Therefore, when we enter redemption we enter death. Death to yourself. Death to your culture.
Death to your customs and traditions. A person who has redemption is a person
who sees people as God does. He/she doesn’t see black, white, yellow, he/she
sees the hearts now.
There is no Jew, no Greek, no man, no female. They are all one in
Yehoshooa.
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road
that leads to destruction, and many enter through it and there are many who go
that way. But narrow is the gate, tight the road that leads to life, and a few
find it.
When Yehoshooa says: « I am the Way »…this is the way we need, this
one. The
way leading to life. But how is this way? Narrow. Full of persecutions,
rejections, sufferances. Therefore, in redemption there is the notion of
suffering. And many don’t want to suffer. When they are criticised a bit, they
start to withdraw: « Oh no, Christian life is hard. » Of course, brothers and
sisters. We need to fight the good fight and keep the faith. Do you think that the enemy will leave you in
peace especially now when you have received the eternal life?
« Oh! Lord, since my conversion, I don’t stop having impure thoughts…they
assault me like never. » But, it’s normal!
« Lord, since my conversion, I have another nature that climbs, that
gets out, that turns up which I don’t recognise anymore. » But, it’s normal! Because there is darkness. This sinful nature has
been hidden by darkness and when light has come, now you realise that: « Wow! Is
this really me? Is this me who talk to my husband/wife like this? »; « Ah, but
I am not Izabel. »; « But, on the contrary, yes, you are an Izabel, my sister,
God is going to mould you even more. » And « Of course, you are an Ahab, my brother;
you have given away your place to your wife. »
(Or, we are real tyrants and we
realise that when we repent and come to the Lord. -n.tr.)
That is why the Lord saves us and leaves us still on earth. He moulds us. He
perfections us, brothers and sisters.
The Word can save our souls. It is not always easy!
The gate there, when we enter it, we leave all the languages. We have
plenty of baggage: 40 kg, 200 tonnes.
« Jesus, here I am. Ah I have been saved. » And the Lord says : «
Yes, you are saved, but now leave your luggage outside. » and you reply: « No,
no, no, no, no… » And Him, He says: «Yes, yes, of course… »
There, for instance in your right, your suitcase is full of anger,
then in your left, the other suitcase is full of money, you are rich like Zacchaeus
used to be. He was very rich. When Yehoshooa
went to his house, what did he say? « Today salvation has come into this
house. »And what Zacchaeus said? He replied: « Lord, I want to give
everything I have. This entire luggage here, that excess there… »
This is redemption. You have to let go of all these useless kilos. « Lord,
I take off these 40 tonnes. » Hallelujah! Praise God! And then, you feel free
as a feather.
And people look at you and say: « But you are not like before. You
don’t smoke anymore. What has happened to you? But, come, come... we go and
have a smoke... » And you say: « No, my friends it’s over. But you
don’t speak as before. You don’t dress like before. ». « But, of course, God
has changed me. »
People do notice it. And, if you get killed, you go to heaven.
Me, too, if I die today, I go to heaven. It is not pride, but I am
sure, I have seen my place up there. A day an angel has come and showed me my
place. He made me sit on a throne. What grace!
You have to know that you have received from the Lord. What have you
received?
I am 100% sure. If I die...there will be at least 3 or 4 corteges. And
trumpets. (of angels-n.tr.)
A day while in heaven, I saw Christians dressed in white. They were
all joyful. There were corteges, convoys coming from earth, full of Christians
that had just died and they were about to be received in heaven… it was indeed
terrific. They were told: « Welcome into
the Father’s House. ». And I was there saying to myself that I am not able to
be taken back to earth. I was hiding in a corner, looking from far away like
this and then an angel came and told me: «Come on Shora, you return. ».
Redemption!
We have access to eternal life! Do you realise? We have access to the
tree of life. Redemption!
It means that there will be a life with no end, it will never stop. We will never be bored. We will spend our time
on the same throne. We will swim with Gabriel, with Abraham for an eternity.
There are plenty of lakes, rivers, stream up there. Finished the heat of the
Sun. Finished the studies that never
end. High-school certificates, university degrees and all these diplomas…
Finished! Finished all council, justice, police troubles...councils and courts...
Finished with HIV, with lust. Finished all these harassments, all paperwork… Finished!
Administration and legal procedures … Finished brothers and sisters…
In heaven, we will be at rest.
You are going to see your Father on the throne.
«Hi Daddy. How are you today Dad? ». « Come, come my child. »
You climb like this on the steps of the throne and you sit in His lap,
you put your head on His chest. And you listen to the beats of His heart. And
each beat calls your name. And you listen
and listen. You are in the arms of love. And you look into His eyes and see how
they really are. You look at His hair and then start to caress His hair... «
Daddy! »
Wow! Lord, my God.
One day I was in His arms of love and I was completely overwhelmed: « Daddy. »
I was taken to heaven while I was praying. I was sitting in my bed,
like this, kneeling and an angel came to see me; he took me to heaven, he put
me in the Father’s arms. And He caressed my head. And I was there: « Daddy, I
love you. » He told me: « I love you too. » My friends, what a joy! I was so
healed, so filled with the Father’s love.
It will be for eternity, because we are saved, we are going to visit
planets because our Father has made them. And there are plenty. There are
planets only with gardens. And we are going to visit some with Gabriel.
« Gabriel come with me; let’s go visit this and that. » « Ok, let’s go, Shora. »
Brothers and sisters, we are going to fly, be carried away by the wind
of God’s Spirit.
I like nature. I also like everything that is, galaxies, planets… One
day, an angel came to see me. He took me to heaven and we have passed, crossed
beyond our galaxy. I could see myself, we left earth and we reached into space,
we saw our galaxy and Andromeda, too, our neighbouring galaxy. And I was stars;
it was wonderful. And we climbed and climbed and we reach heaven. Oh! Jesus of Nazareth!
Wow!
The universe is so huge.
And the angels are there, in adoration. There will be people working. There
will be some sewing clothes… There are planets where people sing, birds that
sing. It is wonderful! Immense gardens. And all creation there breathes the
Father’s creation.
The earth is that dirty some angels who don’t even want to come here.
When they have top go on a mission here, they can’t wait to get back to heaven.
And all the Pauls, the Peters, the Jacobs, James and Johns have gone
before us are there. They are there waiting. They are about to worship the
Father. They are about to welcome the Bride, who is Yehoshooa’s Spouse, the One
who is made perfect day by day, sanctified/accomplished, ready to go during the
Rapture, brothers and sisters.
Redemption!
Brothers and sisters, I remember a day before God touched me, when I
was swimming in a pool with my cousin. We used to run after women that time.
I remember it very well, I found myself at the bottom of the pool. It
was at least 3 or 4 meters deep. I was there at the bottom of the pool. Nobody
saw me in trouble. There were so much people. Nobody noticed I was about to drawn.
And I said: « Oh! I am going to die
without Jesus! I go to hell. » And a force has grabbed me, has pulled me
out of there. Brothers and sisters, when I got out I told to myself: « Shora, it’s over ...From now on, there will be prayer. »
And since then I haven’t given up, brothers. Ah, no, redemption, we
have to keep it.
Salvation, it is
a terrible treasure.
In conclusion,
if you can be saved, you also can save your family. You can save your husband;
you can save your wife, your children… by preaching the love of God in the name
of Yehoshooa.
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