Tuesday, December 9, 2008

MITN X, Verses 21 - 42

21. But when you begin to colonize the earth with this message of the kingdom (the Nation of Heaven), a clash of cultures will occur here, and chaos will ensue. Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child; and children will take a stand against their parents and will have them put to death.

22. Initially, it will seem as though you will be hated by all for My name's sake, but he or she who, in spite of this resistance, perseveres and endures to the end…who stays strong until they see the full manifestation of the Omega of God…will be saved from destruction.

23. But, at the same time, use wisdom. If you need to flee to another geographical location to avoid the persecution, then do what you have to do to survive. But I promise that you will not have resorted to going through all the places of refuge in Israel before the revelation of the Son of Man Comes.

24. The bottom line is this…a disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a servant above his master. In other words, this inevitable persecution only reveals how very connected you are to Me.

25. So if you look at the whole thing correctly, you should be content – even pleased and satisfied – that you, My students, get the very same treatment that I get! Don’t you see the implication here? Obviously, it means that when the public sees you, they see Me…just as when they see Me, they see the Father! And if they have been brutish enough to call, Me, the Master of the House, “Beelzebub, the Lord of the Flies from the Outhouse”, what can you expect them to call you?

26. But, at the end of the day, none of that stuff even matters. So have no fear of them…take your cues from me, and refuse to be intimidated by any of it. Eventually, everything that needs to be revealed will be revealed, and truth will triumph!

27. And what I now say to you in the dark, I want you to begin to tell in the light…and what you hear whispered in the ear, I want you to fearlessly shout from the housetops.

28. And do not be afraid of those who can only kill the temporal, physical body, because they can’t touch the part of you that is both internal and eternal. If you were going to fear anyone, you would have legitimate reason to be afraid of Him who has the power to destroy that part of you which is internal, and to then throw the external part onto the garbage dump at Gehenna!

29. So you can be fearless in spite of persecution, because the only One who actually has the power to destroy you is your loving, caring Father! Are not two little sparrows sold for a mere penny? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's consent and notice.

30. And you are each so uniquely special and important, that even the very individual hairs growing out of your head are actually all numbered.

31. So don’t fear anyone or anything…the Father who keeps inventory of your hairs obviously considers you to be much more valuable than many sparrows.

32. But even though you are so loved, your actions will define your terms with Me because of the universal laws of sowing and reaping. So everyone who acknowledges Me before men and confesses Me, regardless of the repercussions, I will also acknowledge him before My Father Who is in heaven.

33. But whoever denies Me before men in their hour of persecution, I also will deny before My Father in their hour of need.

34. This relationship is a two-way street, so don’t think that I have come to just bring unconditional peace upon the earth. Let me be clear…I am demanding your total allegiance. So, in a sense, I have not come to bring peace, but a sword,

35. because My standard of discipleship, especially during this time of national transition, could potentially part asunder a man from his father, and a daughter from her mother, and a newly married wife from her mother-in-law.

36. The demand that I am making on you could create a scenario in which a man's foes will be the very members of his own household.

37. See, I want you to love me with same abandon with which I love you. So he who loves and is loyal to father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves and takes more pleasure in son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

38. The thought of you possibly having to choose between your family or Me may be as painful for you as a death on a cross. But he who does not take up his cross and follow Me is simply not worthy of Me.

39. Why does it seem that I am making it so difficult for you with such high expectations of commitment? It’s because I want you to walk in a higher, more exalted kind of life. Whoever compromises to find his lower life will lose the higher life, but whoever loses his lower life on My account will ultimately find the higher life.

40. But here’s the payoff for walking in such loyalty to Me. It will give you a place of honor in the kingdom that will create a new reality…a reality in which he who receives and welcomes and accepts you receives and welcomes and accepts Me. And it follows that he who receives and welcomes and accepts Me, receives and welcomes and accepts Him Who sent Me.

41. In this new kingdom reality, he who receives and welcomes and accepts a prophet, simply because he is a prophet, will actually receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives and welcomes and accepts a righteous man, simply because he is a righteous man, shall receive a righteous man's reward.

42. The coming of this kingdom, for which you may, indeed, be persecuted, is going to change everything…so much so, in fact, that whoever gives to one of these “little ones”…one of those who has seemed insignificant and unimportant in the natural world…even a cup of cold water, just because he is My disciple, will be openly and permanently rewarded. When you think of it in this way, you will realize that anything you may go through for the advancement of the kingdom will be worth it!

23 comments:

Unknown said...

In other translations it is easy to miss the loving, caring Father spoken of in MITN's verse 29...but here in MITN X, He is in every verse... affirming, protecting, preparing, removing fear and wooing us all to more in Him.

wordver: merit
I agree...MITN certainly has it!

NTL said...

Bish,
Usually when I'm reading what you have written, I'm seeing in my spirit what you are saying, but just now, I heard you say what you have written, and my spirit is leaping. Write on.

NTL said...

Bish,
It's as though a bright light turns on as I read each verse. We all know the song, "This Little Light of Mine". With that thought in mind, as we read what is being revelated to you, and as the old traditional teachings fall away, more and more, I believe we'll sing a knew song, "This Big Bon Fire of Mine".

Anonymous said...

Pic 1 - Disciple - Love it!

Here's what I see: A partridge in a pear in a Tree. (Numbers 11:20, Gen. 1:12 & Gen. 2:9)

His eye reminds me of 1 Sam. 17:37 & Matthew 10:29.

His nose bridge resembles a hunter's horn (Prov.25:2).

Near the mouth of the horn could be Jesus' first sweaty blood droplet (Luke 22:44).

The outer structure of his nose also looks like a flower (Matthew 6:28 & Hsa 14:5). Beside that, maybe a beaker - Isaiah 44:3?

The right contour of Disciple's face (countenance) resembles a muscular calf & foot, suggestive of much travel.

His tongue may be proclaiming 2 Sam. 23:2.

Anonymous said...

Love the lead-in line! ..."when you begin to colonize the earth", expect atmospheric disturbances. What's in that righteousness, peace and joy beaker that's so provocative?

22. …who stays strong until they see the full manifestation of the Omega of God… A real faith challenge. My natural mind considers those 24 elders who fall down & cry HOLY! every time they glimpse a NEW facet of God. (and who knows how long they've done that) But, my spirit counters, "Oh yeah? What about those times Jesus said all things are possible?"

23. Reminds me of John 8:59, when Jesus "passed through the midst" of the angry mob. (how?!)

34 -39. I love that Jesus is Abba's sword and that words are central to all relationships.

41. Wow... we know what inhabitants of earth realm inflicted on prophets of old. So...what reward has Abba prepared for prophets "right here" - New Kingdom Reality?

What is a righteous man's reward? What about those like Stephen? And, what's a child's reward?

Love how reading MITN, smells & tastes like a big bowl of thanksthinking.

Anonymous said...

It will be so enlightening, when we are so walking in the new, now, that the past will be a thing of it's self.

River said...

Growing up I saw two sisters.
One with a heart for God.
The other turning Him away.
I have seen the one who turned Him away pass on with no one at her funeral but her grandchildren.
She made no friends and said no one will Christianize me.
She died a bitter old woman in her late 70's early 80's
The other sister still alive in her late 80's early 90's. She has a heart for God and is ready to share all the good things He has.
All the scripture says to me is
You choose what to do with your life.
Follow Him
Reject Him
It's your chose.
Follow Him the reward is great
Reject Him and what can we say.
OH WELL!!!
He is so good !!!
Why would anyone want to reject Him???

tracy said...

Thank you Bishop. That was beautifully worded and I certainly needed to hear it today, all of it.

tracy said...

Where is everybody? And does anybody have an answer as to why people can be so mean an hateful? A little story for your (and my stewing) pleasure...My mom and dad are at the library today , both of them are disabled at the young ages of 58 and 59. They go to park in the handicapped spot and a woman in the parking lot begins to scream at them calling my mother some very creative curse words. The woman and three young girls follow my mom and dad into the library and proceed to call my dad mentally retarded and just harass them at every turn until mom and dad finally just left. I really wonder what could be so wrong in someone's life that they would lash out in such a mean and hateful way. Anybody got a cupcake and rainbow story that wwould make me feel better??

tracy said...

Oh minor detail this was apparently over a parking spot. Must have been some special spot.

Anonymous said...

Very Cool
Draw me close to YOU
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear YOU say that I'm YOUR friend

YOUR all I want

Anonymous said...

Tracy,
River splained about the woman who rejected Christ, hadn't made any friends and died alone. The women who attacted your mom and dad apparently are living in total darkness to the love that the Lord can bring them, if only they would recieve. What do you say we decree in agreement, That the Holy Spirit sends the right laborer into their lives to love them to Christ.

Anonymous said...

somebodies cartridge must be about empty. word ver- inkofill-

Linda Luke said...

So true Avatar!!! It's like Matthew comes alive in a whole new way drawing one to the Father because His love is so transparently magnetic here!

Love, love the happy, healthy lil sparrows and vs 29! Reminds me that He's got it all under control~no worries~chill~to be grateful and think on whatever is pure, good and lovely!

Oh Tracy...there are some sad people out there in desperate need of a Savior for sure! Bless your parents! Sending you a blog cupcake with rainbow sprinkles!....and a cup of cheer! =)

JOY to the world...the LORD HAS come...IS here!

Pamela said...

Yes, and what's even greater is their response, what would have happened if it was 2 sets of people and neither one of them was letting the Holy Spirit move in their lives. It could have been tragic. I have little tests of "Spirit" lately. I had a guy take the parking space I was waiting for at a Christmas Concert I went to at a CHURCH!!!. I do say I have even been aware of my responses or lack of responses and I am proud that the Holy Spirit has been working in me. Because, I use to be a real Hot Head, and I would have made my mother really proud 2 years ago. Somebody would have been saying “you eat with that mouth?“ See now that is funny, and I read today that we need to laugh at least 12x per day to be healthy. But, on a serious note, we all need to be in agreement may the Holy Spirit bring the right person(s) into their lives, that they may see the light instead of being in the dark place they obviously are in and pray that they are rescued from being lost and not knowing that Christ is dwelling in them, that the Holy Spirit will use someone who needs to be used to help bring the revelation to them. I pray this in Jesus name amen. I love you guys; Have an awesome day in Christ. Pamela

PattiL007 said...

Again...Beautiful, Bishop.

Blessings Blog Fam!

PS...I'll be there :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Bishop,
Just prayed for you and the meeting to be productive and very successful...I was busy over in Douglasville.

I agree for unity, bridge-building and ONENESS!

Sunday you mentioned something about the Jetsons...funny that the whole week Zachary and I have been watching the Jetsons on a DVD from the library...I hadn't watched them in about 15 years or more.

God bless...I'll plan and join on the blog tomorrow, God willing...gotta go.

Anonymous said...

Bishop, may I say thank you again that I am sitting in this awesome place. I know you are not (The Savior) but a type of savior, however reading MIYN is likened to sitting at Jesus feet gleaning his wisdom and revelation and love when I read Matthew in the Now. I am blessed and priviledged to be one of the few who has read it first, off the press before the global congregation gets the opportunity to read it.

Although I thought I understood the gospel of Matthew, it is like looking through a familiar window that has had a spring cleaing.

It is beautiful as a Christmas gift, a gift from your spirit to ours.

I appreciate you and your gifts.

Speaking Spirit

Friend4Life said...

Good Evening Blog!! Missed ya'll.

MITN...can't wait to get it on CD & book. I am trying to catch up on all the chapters that you have written so far.

Hope it's ok I changed my picture to one of yours from the blog. Praying for Peace all over the world. Thank you Holy Spirit for your Presence here..all over the EARTH.

~Peace & Love~

Oh Anonymous @ 2:24--I need to refill my color cartridge. (smile)

Anonymous said...

I am grateful for the way that your language makes me/us feel like we are such an integral part of what you are doing.

Your command of the Word continuously amazes me. It is clear that you have given yourself to the Word's command over you as well.

This evening at the prayer conference when you went to the podium and quoted the scriptures from memory that you had been given to read and actually delivered a now message in context with them I wanted to jump up and say yea that's my daddy to the others there.

Thank you again for this wonderful gift. It continues to inspire thought in my soul and heart concerning the greatness of our Loving Father.

Erik said...

Hey Bishop,

I hear you were flexing tonight at the URS , woo hoo, speaking scrips in context, fluidly without physical props -- of course, Is anyone surprised? No ! Is everyone blessed ? -- Of Course.

Bishop Jim Swilley said...

Thanks, Anon9:41...and thanks to those of you who came to the service tonight...the purpose of the meeting was for unity, of course, but it also had to do with showing support for Mr. Oden, who has been getting a lot of opposition in Rockdale since his election...

I appreciate those of you who have commented on MITN, but posting it every day seems to have slowed the dialogue here way, way down, and has reduced this cyber-community to just a handful of bloggers...

I may need to give it a rest for a few days...

Donald said...

26. But, at the end of the day, none of that stuff even matters. So have no fear of them…take your cues from me, and refuse to be intimidated by any of it. Eventually, everything that needs to be revealed will be revealed, and truth will triumph!

Nuf said!!!