Yom Teruah - Rosh haShanah (Feast of Trumpets)

Alan Horvath

Mark Biltz -- Part 1

Mark Biltz -- Part 2

The Rapture and the 7th Shmittah of 2014/2015

Supermoons 2014

Islamic Perspective: 12th Imam - Al Mahdi

Do Christians and Muslims Both Worship The Same God?

Source: http://p2alm.com/2013/08/18/do-christians-and-muslims-both-worship-god-is-yeshua-and-allah-the-same-being/

Many Muslims will tell you that Christians and Muslims both worship God. This declaration is often offered as a response to the noticeable differences in the way Christians and Muslims live out what they believe. It is only one attempt among many to quell fears that Islam is not really a violent belief system in spite of its fruits. 

Ultimately, the “fact” that Christians and Muslims both worship God becomes an evangelistic tool toward Christians, atheists and people of various religions. If this were true and we both do worship God, one might ask why they would rather people become Muslim than Christian and worship Allah rather than Yahweh. 

Why the need to evangelize to Christians at all? Essentially, this idea is just part of a giant public relations campaign to verbally promote Islam as a religion of peace in order to make it acceptable worldwide.

Anyone who reads the Bible and the Quran (along with the other Islamic writings) can tell right away that God and Allah are not the same. But, rather than compare verses between the Bible and the Quran, I’m going to take a different approach to answering these frequent questions to show you the most striking and astonishing difference between Yahweh and Allah.

Comparing Prophecies

I’m going to show you a comparison of Islamic prophecy with Bible prophecy (yes, Islam has end-time prophecy, too) and in doing so we will be able to actually identify beyond a reasonable doubt that Allah is a real being who is familiar to all of us whether we are Christians or not. What follows is a concise comparison of the main figures in Christian and Islamic eschatology (prophecy).

Christian Bible prophecy tells of three main persons of darkness and destruction who will be present on the earth at the time of the end. They are the Antichrist, the False Prophet and the Dragon, or Satan. After a time, all three will be defeated and destroyed by the returning Christian Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Islamic prophecy also tells of three main persons who will be present on the earth at the time of the end and who will wage war against a returning Jesus Christ. They are the Mahdi, the Muslim Jesus (Isa) and Allah. Islam also has an “antichrist” figure called the Dajjal. All three will wage war against the Dajjal. The Dajjal is, of course, the biblical Jesus Christ.

Let’s take a brief look at the Islamic end-time persons. 

The Mahdi is Islam’s awaited messiah. Muslims believe he will come to help them defeat the Christians and the Jews at the time of the end. He will rule the entire world. The Mahdi is the biblical Antichrist.

Isa is Islam’s Jesus figure. Muslims believe Jesus was a great prophet but they do not believe He was the Son of God or Savior of the world. The Muslim Jesus will “return” and deny he ever said he was God. He will join together with the Mahdi. He will teach people about Islam and eventually direct people to worship the Mahdi. He is obviously not the real Jesus. The Muslim Jesus is the biblical False Prophet.

The Dajjal is Islam’s Antichrist figure. According to Islam, the Dajjal will return and claim to be Jesus Christ. He’ll claim to be divine and He’ll fight for Israel. The Dajjal is actually the biblical Jesus Christ who returns as the King of kings.

In other words, Islamic end-time prophecy is the polar opposite of Christian end-time prophecy. Wrap your mind around that one. It’s an astounding realization!

I think you are already beginning to see the direction I’m headed, but let’s take a deeper look at two of these persons via Joel Richardson’s excellent research from his first of two outstanding books on biblical end-time prophecy “The Islamic Antichrist: The Shocking Truth about the Real Nature of the Beast”.

The Mahdi

The coming Mahdi is the Islamic savior of the world.

After reviewing the various Islamic traditions and opinions of the Muslim scholars, let’s now review and walk through a list of what we have learned about the person and the mission of the Mahdi as he exists in the minds of the 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide. Remember, this is the man that the Muslims of the world eagerly await:

• The Mahdi is Islam’s primary Messiah figure.
• He will be a descendant of Muhammad and will bear Muhammad’s name (Muhammad bin Abdullah).
• He will be a very devout Muslim.
• He will be an unparalleled spiritual, political, and military world leader.
• He will emerge after a period of great turmoil and suffering upon the earth.
• He will establish justice and righteousness throughout the world and eradicate tyranny and oppression.
• He will be the caliph and imam (vice regent and leader) of Muslims worldwide.
• He will lead a world revolution and establish a new world order.
• He will lead military action against all those who oppose him.
• He will invade many countries.
• He will make a seven-year peace treaty with a Jew of priestly lineage.
• He will conquer Israel for Islam and lead the “faithful Muslims” in a final slaughter/battle against Jews.
• He will establish the new Islamic world headquarters from Jerusalem.
• He will rule for seven years (possibly as much as eight or nine).
• He will cause Islam to be the only religion practiced on earth.
• He will appear riding a white horse (possibly symbolic).
• He will discover some previously undiscovered biblical manuscripts that he will use to argue with the Jews and cause some Jews to convert to Islam.
• He will also rediscover the Ark of the Covenant from the Sea of Galilee, which he will bring to Jerusalem.
• He will have supernatural power from Allah over the wind and the rain.
• He will posses and distribute enormous amounts of wealth.
• He will be loved by all the people of the earth. 1

After comparing Scripture to the above Islamic traditions, Richardson writes, “So in conclusion, we see that several of the most unique and distinguishing aspects of the biblical Antichrist’s person, mission, and actions are matched to quite an amazing degree by the descriptions of the Mahdi as found in the Islamic traditions. And now, even further, we see that Muslim scholars actually apply Bible verses about the Antichrist to their awaited savior, the Mahdi. This must be seen as quite ironic, if not entirely prophetic.” 2

The Islamic Mahdi is the biblical Anti-Christ.

And the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore. Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea, having ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns were ten diadems, and on his heads were blasphemous names. And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. I saw one of his heads as if it had been slain, and his fatal wound was healed. And the whole earth was amazed and followed after the beast; they worshiped the dragon because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for forty-two months was given to him. And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. It was also given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them, and authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation was given to him. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. [Revelation 13:1-8 NASB]

“And he will make a firm covenant with the many for one week, but in the middle of the week he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate.” [Daniel 9:27 NASB]

The Muslim Jesus (Isa)

The name “Jesus” as used below refers to the Muslim Jesus, not the biblical Jesus Christ. So, where number ten says “Antichrist”, it is referring to the biblical Jesus Christ or the Dajjal, Islam’s Antichrist figure.

Now let’s review the various defining characteristics and actions of the Muslim Jesus upon his return to the earth:

Jesus is said to return to the earth in the last days near a mosque in Damascus.
He will arrive at a time when the Mahdi and his army will be preparing to pray.
The Mahdi will ask Jesus to lead the prayer, but Jesus will decline in direct reference to the Mahdi, whom Jesus declares to be the leader of the Muslims. He will then pray behind the Mahdi as a subordinate.
He will be a faithful Muslim.
He will make a pilgrimage to Mecca.
He will visit Muhammad’s grave and salute Muhammad, whereby Muhammad will return the salute from the grave.
He will destroy Christianity.
He will repeal the jizyah tax, thus leaving Jews and Christians with the only options of conversion to Islam or death.
He will establish Islamic shariah law throughout the entire earth.
He will kill the Antichrist and his followers, made up largely of Jews and women.
He will remain on the earth for roughly forty years during which time he will marry, have children, and then die. 3
After comparing Scripture to the above Islamic traditions, Richardson writes, “Muslims await a man who will claim to be Jesus Christ… In the Bible, we see that it is for these very purposes that Satan will empower his False Prophet.” 4

The Muslim Jesus is the biblical False Prophet.

“So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them. [Matthew 24:26 NASB]

Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb and he spoke as a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. And he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, so that he even makes fire come down out of heaven to the earth in the presence of men. And he deceives those who dwell on the earth because of the signs which it was given him to perform in the presence of the beast, telling those who dwell on the earth to make an image to the beast who *had the wound of the sword and has come to life. And it was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast would even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed. And he causes all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free men and the slaves, to be given a mark on their right hand or on their forehead, and he provides that no one will be able to buy or to sell, except the one who has the mark, either the name of the beast or the number of his name. [Revelation 13:11-17 NASB]

So, is Allah God?

At the beginning of this article we asked the questions: Do Christians and Muslims both worship God? Is Yahweh and Allah the same being?

God’s Word tells us that at the time of the end, the Antichrist will establish a world-wide military, economic and religious state with the help of the False Prophet. Islamic eschatology also describes these same individuals.

In examining the paradox between Christian and Islamic end-time prophecy, we can know that the Mahdi is the biblical Antichrist and the Muslim Jesus is the biblical False Prophet. Since we know from Scripture that the Antichrist and the False Prophet are both empowered by Satan, who do you suppose Allah is when we plug him into this unholy trinity?

And the beast which I saw was like a leopard, and his feet were like those of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave him his power and his throne and great authority. [Revelation 13:2 NASB]

The unholy trinity is the biblical Antichrist (the Mahdi), the biblical False Prophet (the Muslim Jesus) and Satan the Dragon (Allah).

And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs; for they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them together for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty. [Revelation 16:13-14 NASB]

And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; [Revelation 20:2 NASB]

Can there possibly be a more distinct contrast between God and Allah?

Knowing this, consider what Christ said in the Olivet Discourse:

“They will make you outcasts from the synagogue, but an hour is coming for everyone who kills you to think that he is offering service to God. “These things they will do because they have not known the Father or Me. [John 16:2-3 NASB]

Is this not what Islam, the most antichristian religion to ever exist, does?

Wake up, Church!

At a time in history when the Church is most needed, we are asleep specifically when it comes to Bible prophecy. For decades the Church has been taught errant Bible interpretation claiming that we are awaiting a revived Roman Empire. This, plus the false idea that Christ’s return could happen at any moment (i.e. pre-tribulation rapture) and that nothing needs to happen before then, has contributed to blinding us from seeing the very prophecy from Daniel 11 and Isaiah 19 that is coming true today, right now, in the Middle East. As a result, the Antichrist’s future kingdom is aggressively grabbing the world politically, physically and spiritually while the Church is watching Europe, a geographic area of the world Bible prophecy has nothing to say about.

God is shaking up the Middle East and bringing about the formation of the Antichrist’s future kingdom but we can’t warn others of the danger that is coming when we don’t know we should be warning them. And because we do not recognize Islam for what it is, we have conceded to being put in a position where telling the truth about Islam is condemned and those who do so are labeled as “islamophobic” and “haters” sometimes even by Christians! Well, what else would you expect when we don’t pay attention despite Christ’s many warnings to do so [Matthew 24:42; Mark 13:37; et al]?

The spread of Islam is spiritual

Ultimately, all of this is why the rest of the world’s unexplainable attraction and submission to all things Islam despite its obvious goal of world dominance by tyrannical oppression through violence can best be explained as something spiritual in nature. It is a spiritual phenomenon. It is the great delusion [2 Thessalonians 2:7-11]. This is why secular analysis and even most Christian analysis no matter how good it is can’t make sense of what is happening. They do not recognize the severity of the concern because they are missing the eternal perspective that only God’s prophetic Word can give.

Consider right now that the West, having the same ambition of global governance through the United Nations, is militarily engaged with the budding kingdom of the Antichrist and that our President, by toppling governments in the Middle East and consistently siding with the Muslim Brotherhood, is encouraging, enabling and assuring its growth. That is astonishing! Everyone wants to know America’s role in Bible prophecy. Well, here it is. The nation of the world that is most free from tyranny is the greatest enabling force for the development of the most tyrannical rule the world will ever know! I say most free from tyranny because, unless something changes, we know where we are headed and the West’s continual descent into tyranny will allow this greater evil to thrive. It already is.

It’s here where I would remind you that our battle is not against flesh and blood [Ephesians 6:12]. “Muslim” is only the name given to a person who is under the influence of Islam. God desires all men to be saved and if He would be so gracious as to allow us to turn the tide of the cultivation of Sharia law here in our own country I believe it will only be through witnessing to Muslims about Jesus Christ [1 Timothy 2:1-6].

It’s time to get serious about who Christ is to you!


Bibliography:
1.  Richardson, Joel. The Islamic Antichrist: The Shocking Truth about the Real Nature of the Beast. WND Books, 2009. p. 44
2.  p. 57
3.  p. 64
4.  p. 71

Secret Iranian Documentary on the Coming of the Al-Mahdi

Islam is the Mark of the Beast (?)

Islamic State: 5-Year Plan for the Islamic Caliphate

Really amazing... quite obvious why they have left out Italy (Rome)! 

God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob NOT SAME as Allah - Bible Study

Source: Jon Courson 

Bible Code - The Hidden TORAH Message!

Truly amazing pattern in Hebrew! 

The Word of God is perfect! 

Is Jesus Christ the Real Deal?

Dwight Thompson hosts John Hagee, Bill Salus, David Reagan, Irvin Baxter, Gary Stearman

Source: TBN

Pope Francis says: "No individual salvation exists outside of Catholicism"‏

Oh my goodness!!!  What a big lie... totally contrary to what the Holy Bible says!  

Very sad day to have to read this horrible report! 

http://www.nowtheendbegins.com/blog/?p=22947

God have mercy! 

3D Holograms: A Reality

Check out this latest Michael Jackson holographic performance to the song "Slave to the Rhythm" at the Billboard Music Awards 2014:

Earlier, Celine Dion performed with Elvis Presley! 

Turkey's PM Hologram: 

Even India's Current PM Narendra Modi used 3D Holographic Projection during his campaign: 

Hmm... this technology is so powerful & is becoming so common place... could this be the precursor to the appearance of the real beast all over the world ??!?!

Here is Gary Stearman's take on 3D Holograms in terms of Bible prophechy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ilJGrSHlIU&list=UU_6yk4Q5RMk1MCUj5A2a-jw

Islamic Anti-Christ

Speaker: Walid Shoebat

Speaker: Joel Richardson

Program: Jewish Voice

What Time Is It?

A riveting message by Anne Graham Lotz (the daughter of Billy Graham):

More recently, she spoke at Maranatha Chapel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2aerX_OZPo

Also here is her message on the Day of the Lord:

MH370 in "Man of Steel" -- Disappearance a False Flag Event Like 9/11?!

Wow! Wow! Wow!

Is the disappearing of MH370 a preparation for the worldwide vanishing of true Christians at the rapture?! 

Now before we discount this information, remember 9/11 Twin Towers Attack? It was predicted in movies years before it actually happened! Check out this proof:

I report, you decide! 

Before and After the Rapture: A Video Presentation

The world's most powerful political leader?! My guess: The President of USA (not necessarily a European Union leader)

The world's most influential spiritual leader?! My guess: The Pope

Luke 10:18 Decoded

Luke 10:18: Jesus said, “I saw satan as Lightning fall from the heavens.” 

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“Lightning” in Hebrew is “Barak”. 

“Heavens or Heights of the sky” in Hebrew is “Bama” 

“From” to connect two words in Hebrew is “O” or "U". 

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Luke 10:18 decoded reads:

Jesus said, “I saw satan as Barack Obama."

I report, you decide! 

Obama - The Anti-Christ?

The following image was "officially" tweeted through the White House twitter account. Quite significant!

1) The picture of Obama in the White House though photo-shopped is "officially" released by the White House...Obama has a crown on his lap and a bow on the table in front.  

2) Revelation 6:2 -- the (anti-Christ) rider of white horse was given a bow and a crown...he will go around conquering (in the name of peace). Same imagery as that in the picture. 

3) The iron throne of King Joffrey (on which Obama is seated) -- Joffrey means "peace"... King of peace??? Anti- Christ (revelation 6 ready!). Revelation 4-5 to take place...which is the rapture and true Christians in heaven! 

4) In the same picture, there are also three dragon eggs with colors white, green and red. Revelation 6 discusses these three as riders on the white, red, and pale horses---- signifying war and death! Black egg not shown...but throne on which Obama sitting is black.... Economic collapse and famine also coming! 

5) Rick Wiles states that this picture indicates that Obama is ready to be the Anti-Christ. http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/rick-wiles-points-game-thrones-tweet-prove-obama-antichrist

Source: PurviGiggle

Maranatha!  

Are Islamic Prophecies Pointing to Barack Obama?

Source: Perry Stone

The Third Temple in Jerusalem's Temple Mount

The Temple Institute in Jerusalem, Israel is determined to build the Third Temple on the most contested site in the whole world - The Temple Mount. 

When will this temple be built? 

FIRST: The Nation Created 
In 1948, Israel became a nation. 
In 1949 (January-July), Israel signed several armistice agreements with her neighbors Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria to finally obtain nationhood (blood red moons: 1949-50 coinciding with the Biblical feasts of Passover and Tabernacles)

SECOND: The Capital City Won
In 1967, Israel won over Jerusalem city in the 6-day war (blood red moons: 1967-68 coinciding with the Biblical feasts of Passover and Tabernacles)

THIRD: The Temple Rebuilt?? 
Will Israel obtain permission to build her temple on the Temple Mount in 2014-15? (blood red moons 2014-15 coinciding with the Biblical feasts of Passover and Tabernacles)

Clearly, the Israeli Jews are eager to build their temple: Check out these two videos depicting the sentiments of the citizens...

The Most Preposterous Belief: Biblical Rapture!

I do believe in the biblical upcoming phenomenon called the "Rapture" or "Harpazo." After all my studies, I lean towards a pre-7year-tribulation view.  I also believe in the imminency of this "catching up to meet the Lord Jesus in the air". 

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1 Thessalonians 4:15-17

Amplified Bible (AMP)

15 For this we declare to you by the Lord’s [own] word, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede [into His presence] or have any advantage at all over those who have previously fallen asleep [in Him in death].

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we, the living ones who remain [on the earth], shall simultaneously be caught up along with [the resurrected dead] in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air; and so always (through the eternity of the eternities) we shall be with the Lord!

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The following rapture teaching by Chuck Missler is one of the most comprehensive I've ever come across... 

Video Courtesy: Chuck Missler

Further, Pastor Jon Courson, explains how even the early church / fore-fathers taught about the pre-tribulation Rapture (i.e., the Rapture is not a new viewpoint or recent teaching):

Video Courtesy: Jon Courson

"Noah and the Last Day": Movie

Source: The Way of the Master

"Evolution vs. God": A Movie

Source: The Way of the Master

"180" Movie: Pro-Life

Source: The Way of the Master

'God is Good': Poem by Alban Lyndem

Alban wrote this beautiful poem while studying Bible verses concerning having faith in difficult times.. 

You love me too much to let my faith grow cold
Your plans and purposes may still be untold
How can I lose sight of You when things are tough
That's when I need You more when the road is rough

Your ways are sovereign and upon that truth so holy
I place my trust and put my hope faithfully
And through these times You're strengthening me
When at my weakest, that's when I can see

I will learn to rest and cast my burdens, everything
Your peace descends and passes all understanding
I rejoice because You are the God of my salvation
I thank You for Your great love and Your redemption

Boring Genealogy?? Look Again! (Genesis 5)

Adam begat Seth who begat Enosh who begat Kenan who begat Mahalalel who begat Jared who begat Enoch who begat Methuselah who begat Lamech who begat Noah.
- Genesis 5 

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Adam means "man"

Seth means "appointed"

Enosh means "subject to death" or "mortal"

Kenan means "sorrowful"

Mahalalel means "from the presence of God"

Jared means "one comes down"

Enoch means "dedicated" or "teaching"

Methuselah means "dying he shall send" or "his death shall bring"

Lamech means "to the poor and lowly"

Noah means "rest or comfort"

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Putting all those names together... we have the story of salvation - from the garden of Eden to the cross of Calvary...

Man... appointed... subject to death... sorrowful... from the presence of God... One (Jesus) comes down... dedicated/teaching... His death shall bring... to the poor and lowly... rest or comfort ! 

This is the GOSPEL (Good News)! John 3:16 - God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 

Hallelujah! THANK YOU, LORD! Your Word is flawless!

The Heavenly Father's Love Letter to You (English and Tamizh)

English: 

Tamizh:

Romans 8:38-39

English Standard Version (ESV)

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Passion - A Poem

I had wept through the movie "The Passion of the Christ". Such pain and ordeal that our Savior went through! 

I was reminded of what the Holy Spirit had spoken to me about the violence/gore depicted in the movie... "the real event was much worse than shown in the movie!"

May we never lose sight of or make light the cross of Jesus Christ!!

Post-Movie Meditation 

Folks had warned me loud & clear that I couldn't take the violence
But I was not a puny insect who by a repellent mat is silenced.
I would watch with open eyes the last great hours of my Lord
Through which He His passion and His love for me has shown.

From the very first scene of the movie I saw His heart open
Greatly humbled was I to see Him determined to be broken
Who am I that Someone should love me deeply, fully so?
His death was not for 'no reason' but for the life He'd foretold.

Unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, there ain't no life
Unless you and I do our part there won't be an end to the world strife
We need the greatest measure of His presence more and more today
It is time to listen to Him to obey; He has so much He'd like to say.

I truly repent the many days I didn't acknowledge the price
Our Lover shed His own pure blood, brought Isaiah 53 to life.
Nothing, no one better than Him, so commit our lives to Him anew
No more living in the past, but pressing on to the life brand new.

I thank You Father that You have such awesome a plan
To bring Your lost people back to You, back to where we belong.
I thank You that the fruit of the Tree of Life awaits.
Thank You that the reward for those who die to self is great.

Sacrifice... But Don't Compromise

My husband was a student in college that time (15 years back) and also serving the Lord ministering to other students on campus. With the zeal he had for the Lord, a lot of his time went towards ministry and not enough towards his own academics. He seemed to be getting lower marks...

At that time... the Lord Jesus inspired him that "when you love someone (even Me)... you would need to sacrifice... but do not compromise."

Serving the Lord (Whom we love) can be a sacrificial act... but that does not mean that we compromise in other areas while serving Him.

Image Source: hpccr.wordpress.com

Kenosis

But He (Jesus) made Himself of no reputation...

- Philippians 2:7

This phrase in Greek is ‘kenosis’, or, literally, ‘he emptied himself’. Jesus emptied Himself. Of what? Of His divinity? No. When Jesus came as a Man, He was still God. Then of what did He empty Himself? He emptied Himself of His Divine powers.

The implications of the doctrine of kenosis are huge because it means that everything Jesus did — the miracles He ministered, the prayers He prayed, the teachings He gave — were not done in His own power. Jesus healed and prayed and taught through the power of the Holy Spirit as He followed the Father’s directives.

Because I didn’t know this for probably 20+ years, when I read that Jesus walked on water, I thought, ‘Big deal. He’s Jesus’; when I read that He overcame temptation, I thought, ‘Big deal. He’s Jesus’; when I read that He spent the night in prayer, I thought, ‘Big deal. He’s Jesus.’ Thus, the miracles and stories of the Gospels were irrelevant to me as far as they related to being an example or model for me.

I didn’t understand kenosis. I didn’t grasp Philippians 2. I didn’t comprehend that when Jesus came to earth, He emptied Himself of His Divine abilities — which means everything Jesus did, He did as a man just like me. Before He did anything, Jesus had to be obedient to the Father, to pray, to put Himself on the line, to be empowered by the Spirit — or nothing would happen. That’s why He said, ‘Of my own self, I can do nothing,’ (John 5:30) — and neither can you.

When a man who is serious about loving and serving God understands the kenosis of Philippians 2, he’ll never look at Jesus the same way. He’ll see that Jesus’ life is truly a model for anyone willing to be directed by the Father and empowered by the Spirit.

Text Source: Jon Courson
Image Source: All About Gratitude