Our Father in heaven has nine spirits associated with His being. Can you name all nine spirits that make up our Father's spirit in heaven? Let me list them for you one by one. First, there is love, second, there is kindness, third, there is mercy, fourth, there is grace, fifth, there is justice, sixth, there is compassion, seventh, there is forgiveness, eighth, there is wisdom, and finally, the ninth spirit of our Lord God is patience. You can order the nine spirits of our Lord God in any way you may wish; however, the order just mentioned is the one that represents the layers of creation that our Lord God is. Our Lord God is the creator of all things, and each one of the nine spirits that make up our Lord God is known by each and every one of us.
How is this possible? That is something that can be explained to our material minds. Since we are made in the image of our Lord God we then have His spirit within us. We; however, cannot even conceive what even one of these nine spirits is. Most of humanity can feel all nine of these spirits; however, we cannot imagine how they came into being. For us, each one of these spirits is usually a definition that we read in the dictionary. Still, that only describes what we understand it to be from our limited physical brain. Each and every spirit of our Lord God is spiritual in nature and not physical. These spirits cannot be created by matter or even perceived by matter. They are present in our lives, and still, we cannot touch them, only feel them in an emotional sense. Where do our emotions come from? Are they real or created by chemical reactions? What chemicals could you possibly combine to create love, mercy, or any other of the seven remaining spirits? Why does a mother love her baby so much? Even more than her husband, whom she may have known much longer. Yet, when her baby is born, her whole being is turned to the healthy and proper way to raise her newborn child and her husband must take a backseat to the baby's needs.
It seems that love is at the root of each of the other eight spirits since we express kindness, mercy, grace, justice, compassion, forgiveness, wisdom, and patience to those we love. We want those we love to experience each of these spirits so that they can be happy and filled with joy, although we always fall short of expressing the nine spirits in our daily lives. We create laws that will hopefully guarantee the pursuit of happiness for everyone else in our communities, our State, and our nation. That is what the U. S. Constitution guarantees, "The pursuit of happiness." Does it not seem strange that our forefathers would have, above all else, sought to ensure our happiness? In today's world, that may seem a bit odd.
Our founding fathers believed in three fundamental rights, the pursuit of happiness, free will so to choose our way in life, and the liberty to do so. We should all be aware that freedom is at the heart of what it means to be a Christian. After all, we are all enslaved to this world, and the ruler of this world, as our Lord Christ Jesus said, is none other than Satan. Here is that quote from our Lord Christ Jesus from John 12: 31, and it reads, (31) "The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out."
So, as Christians, we all yearn to be free of Satan. How was this so? It was so since our Lord God loved us so much that He granted us free will; to choose our own way in life. Our Lord God could have it no other way because denying us free will would mean we were all born slaves. We should note that in this world our free will can be taken from us. Here, we are also slaves to sin. That is far from what our Lord God wanted for us. Instead, our Lord God wanted us to be free and happy and loving toward one another. Are we that way in our daily lives? It does not seem so. Yet, we yearn internally and externally for that loving freedom in our lives. That is what it means to be free, never having to feel restricted or controlled, which is the way it is in heaven.
Our Lord Christ Jesus not only came to this world to free us from Satan by sacrificing himself on the cross to redeem our sins. Our Lord Christ Jesus also came to reveal our Father in heaven to us. Our Lord God spoke through Christ Jesus while speaking to us directly through him. And, from knowing the life that our Lord Christ Jesus lived on Earth, which was free of sin and loving everyone he came to know, we witnessed his grace, compassion, mercy, patience, kindness, wisdom, justice, forgiveness, and above all, love. You see, that is how our Lord Christ Jesus revealed our Father to us. He was a very loving man and helped so many desperate and fearful people to find their way home once again. That is how we know our Father in heaven. Through our Lord Christ Jesus himself.
In John 12: 49-50, it reads as follows: (49) "I don't speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. (50) And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say."
Now, I want you to remember this verse since it is very revealing after you read more of what our Lord Christ Jesus spoke of. This is very important to consider since we have been taught that the Israelite people were very close to our Lord God. Then we discover through our Lord Christ Jesus' own words, that is not the case.
In John 8:19-20, our Lord Christ Jesus, when speaking to the Pharisees who taught the Israelite people concerning who our Lord God was, had this to say: (19) "Where is your father?" they asked. Jesus answered, "Since you don't know who I am, you don't know who my Father is. If you knew me, you would also know my Father." (20) Jesus made these statements while he was teaching in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, because his time had not yet come."
You see, our Lord Christ Jesus is telling the Pharisees they did not know our Lord God. What god were the Pharisees teaching the Israelite people about since obviously, they were not teaching the Israelite people concerning the true Lord God?
Continuing now with John 8:23-59, listen to what our Lord Christ Jesus said to the Pharisees and the people in the Temple on this day.
(23) Jesus continued, "You are from below; I am from above. You belong to this world; I do not. (24) That is why I said that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I Am who I claim to be, you will die in your sins."
(25) "Who are you?" they demanded. Jesus replied, "The one I have always claimed to be. (26) I have much to say about you and much to condemn, but I won't. For I say only what I have heard from the one who sent me, and he is completely truthful." (27) But they still didn't understand that he was talking about his Father.
(28) So, Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man on the cross, then you will understand that I Am he. I do nothing on my own but say only what my Father taught me. (29) And the one who sent me is with me--he has not deserted me. For I always do what pleases him." (30) Then many who heard him say these things believed in him.
(31) Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. (32) And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
You see here, our Lord Christ Jesus speaks of freedom; however, freedom from what. Certainly not the Romans, then freedom from what? Well, of course, it would be our freedom from Satan himself. That is why our Lord God sent his Son to Earth to rescue us from none other than Satan.
(33) "But we are descendants of Abraham," they said. "We have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean, 'You will be set free'?"
(34) Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin. (35) A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. (36) So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free. (37) Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there's no room in your hearts for my message. (38) I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father."
(39)" Our father is Abraham!" they declared.
"No," Jesus replied, "for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. (40) Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing. (41) No, you are imitating your real father."
They replied, "We aren't illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father."
(42) Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. (43) Why can't you understand what I am saying? It's because you can't even hear me! (44) For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. (45) So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don't believe me! (46) Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don't you believe me? (47) Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don't listen because you don't belong to God."
(48) The people retorted, "You Samaritan devil! Didn't we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?"
(49) "No," Jesus said, "I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father--and you dishonor me. (50) And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God is going to glorify me. He is the true judge. (51) I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!"
(52) The people said, "Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say, 'Anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!' (53) Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"
(54) Jesus answered, "If I want glory for myself, it doesn't count. But it is my Father who will glorify me. You say, 'He is our God,' (55) but you don't even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But I do know him and obey him. (56) Your father Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad."
(57) The people said, "You aren't even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham."
(58) Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born, I Am!" (59) At that point they picked up stones to throw at him. But Jesus was hidden from them and left the Temple.
Now, what do you think the people must have thought when they looked up after picking up a stone to throw and find our Lord Christ Jesus was nowhere to be seen? I bet they felt a bit scared or perhaps a lot scared. Others were probably looking right at our Lord Christ Jesus when he disappeared. They must have been stunned or even shocked to see him suddenly disappear before their very eyes. First, he was there speaking to them, and then suddenly "poof," he was gone. And, he was probably no more than two or three feet away from the people as they had all crowded around him to hear what he might say next. I bet that crowd fell into a stunned silence. Do you think our Lord Christ Jesus got his message through to them that day? Yes, I bet our Lord Christ Jesus did get his message through, in a stunning way.
Is it not something that the Israelite people thought they knew our Lord God only to find out they did not? Many turned away from Christ Jesus when they learned that he had not come back to lead an army against the Romans and return them to their former glory. The Israelite people wanted a warrior messiah, not a loving messiah who wanted them to love their enemies and pray for their enemies? 'Not on your life!', many of them said. So, you see, there is a big difference between the Lord God in the Old Testament and the Lord God in the New Testament. Our Lord Christ Jesus also came to teach us of the love and compassion our Lord God had for all of his lost children. He wanted to save us from Satan and bring us home to him once again.
Now you know the rest of the story.
Inspired by our Lord Christ Jesus.
Typed by Wayne Hill.