Curtis
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- Mar 27, 2015
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John the Baptist was commissioned by God to prepare a Highway in the desert for the coming of the Lord.
Luke 3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, THE WORD OF GOD CAME UNTO JOHN the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
Luke 3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, PREPARE YE THE WAY (Highway) OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.
( Parenthesis added by me as the word "way" means "highway" or road)
When the religious leaders of Jesus's day came out to see John in the desert they asked him who he was. His response to them was....
John 1:23 He said, I AM THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY (Highway) OF THE LORD, as said the prophet Esaias.
God spoke through the Prophet Malachi and said...
Mal 3:1 Behold, I WILL SEND MY MESSENGER, AND HE SHALL PREPARE THE WAY (Highway, Road) BEFORE ME: and the Lord, whom ye seek, SHALL SUDDENLY COME TO HIS TEMPLE, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
The word, “WAY” means “HIGHWAY or Road”. Believe it or not, God travels upon a highway system that very few people know about even though Jesus spoke about it. A highway that was narrow which leads to life, and very few will ever find it!! (Matt 7:14)
John the Baptist was to prepare this highway for the coming of the Lord. The purpose of any highway system is to transport someone or people from one place to another. One of the main purposes of this highway system is for the believer that they might depart from evil, and go somewhere else.
Pro 16:17 THE HIGHWAY OF THE UPRIGHT IS TO DEPART FROM EVIL: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
If I "keep" this highway (to keep is to protect) from sins in my life then it will preserve my soul.
If I want to know how John prepared this highway, all I need to do is ask myself what did John preach everywhere he went, because that would tell me how John prepared this highway system.
Luke 3:3 And he (John the Baptist) came into all the country about Jordan, PREACHING THE BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE for the remission of sins;
John's only message was to “REPENT” for the Kingdom of God is at hand!! (Matt 3:2)
The word, “REPENT” does not mean to feel sorry for your sins, it means, “TO CHANGE YOUR MIND” Renewing the human mind with God's Word will always change your mind!
Change our mind from what to what? From thinking on the things of this world to the things which is above where God is!
As the scriptures tell us the only people who walk after or according to the Spirit are those who have their minds set on the things of the Spirit, not on the things of this world or of the flesh. (Romans 8:5)
If we live in the Spirit then we should also “WALK” in the Spirit. ( Gal 5:25) Walking has to do with moving from one place to another. Standing in one place is not walking anywhere.
Walking in the Spirit has nothing to do with our two feet that are connected to our physical bodies. Coming boldly to God's throne of grace (Heb 4:16) by which God has called us to come can NOT be reached by walking using our physical legs, but we do need to walk to get there!!
There must be some kind of highway system that we walk on that leads to us to this place in the Heavens above.
There was a prophecy in the Old Testament that foretold of this coming highway system, that only the REDEEMED would be able to walk upon!!!
Isa 35:8 And AN HIGHWAY SHALL BE THERE, AND A WAY, AND IT SHALL BE CALLED THE WAY (highway) OF HOLINESS; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
Isa 35:9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; BUT THE REDEEMED SHALL WALK THERE:
Isa 35:10 And THE RANSOMED OF THE LORD SHALL RETURN, AND COME TO ZION with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: THEY SHALL OBTAIN JOY AND GLADNESS, AND SORROW AND SIGHING SHALL FLEE AWAY.
Sounds like a good place to escape evil.
Now I know exactly where this Highways system ends. It ends right at the doorsteps of Mount Zion the city of the living God The Heavenly Jerusalem where God sits enthroned in all of his Glory!!! (throne of grace)
Heb 12:22 BUT YOU HAVE COME TO MOUNT ZION and to the city of the living God, THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,
Heb 12:23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
Heb 12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
The people who use this highway which only the redeem can use, obtain everlasting joy, and gladness, with no sorrow of any kind!!
As the scripture tells us...
Psa 91:1 He that dwelleth in the SECRET PLACE of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
This was the very first thing the Lord my God taught me when I was just a young Christian 45+ years ago. The reason why I needed to understand this was because the Lord had a specific message he wanted me to give to his Church, and the only way I could get that message was I needed to know exactly how to come into his presence to be taught it.
This is one of the greatest things the Lord has ever taught me in my entire Christian life. It changed my prayer life from Oh hum, let's get this over with, to I can not wait to pray to come before the Lord in Spirit, and truth by way of this highway!!
What does “REPENTANCE” (to change your mind) have to do with this highway system? Everything!!! The only way we can bring our presence into the Lord's presence is by knowing, understanding, and believing his Word which causes one to experience what it says. (Faith without works is dead) Everyone who has true faith will always experience the works that faith produces!
The Apostle Paul also learned this, and he talks about it in scripture as one who was always coming to visions and revelations of God!
Col 3:1 IF THEN YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH CHRIST, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your MINDS ON THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE, not on things that are on earth. (This is repentance)
Col 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ who is your life appears, THEN YOU ALSO WILL APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY.
Number one: You can NOT experience this unless you first know and believe that you have already been risen with Christ, in His resurrection!! Reading the Bible and agreeing it to be true is NOT faith, but only mental assent, which does nothing. I must first take the scriptures off the pages of the Bible put them into my mouth, and begin to confess them every day. At first, my mind did not believe a word I said. Eventually, my mind became renewed to the Word of God and actually believed what I said, (why because it is true) but it did not happen overnight!!
Number two: I must seek the things that are above where Christ is seated!!!
Col 3:1 if then you have been raised with Christ, SEEK THE THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST IS, SEATED at the right hand of God.
I must desire to see these things where I am sitting on the right hand of God in Christ!!!
Number three: I must “REPENT” by “CHANGING MY MIND”, and begin to think upon the things above where I am are sitting in Christ in God, and not on the temporary things of this earth that are passing away!
Col 3:2 SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE, not on things that are on earth.
This is extremely important. I can not stress how important this is!!! If I am not hearing his voice or not seeing his Kingdom it is because I am not thinking on and or not seeking it!!!
Last but not least this is what will happen if you do all of the above as God has promised!!!
Col 3:4 WHEN CHRIST WHO IS YOUR LIFE APPEARS, THEN YOU ALSO WILL APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY.
This is not talking about when Jesus returns for his Church, this is talking about you coming into his presence where the throne of grace is!!!!
Paul experienced this in his life, and because of it there was a messenger of Satan sent to cause much trouble in his life, and the reason why was because of the MULTITUDE OF REVELATIONS that was given to him by God through prayer!!! (2 Cor 12:7)
Jesus also operated in this on the mount of transfiguration when he “PRAYED” in which there appeared with him IN GLORY Moses, and Elijah, along with Peter James, and John!!! (Luke 9: 28-31)
I have known about this Highway system for a very very long time, and everything the Lord has taught me in scriptures came as a result of me using this highway to come into my Lord's Kingdom so he could teach me his ways.
Isa 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and HE WILL TEACH US HIS WAYS and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
My body could never go there for flesh and blood can not inherit the Kingdom of God.
How is my spirit able to do this without my body?
Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Col 2:10 And YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power:
Col 2:11 In whom also YE ARE CIRCUMCISED WITH THE CIRCUMCISION MADE WITHOUT HANDS, IN PUTTING OFF THE BODY OF THE SINS OF THE FLESH BY THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST:
The sinful body of flesh can not come into God's Holy presence, but your spirit can because it has been circumcised (cut away) from the sins of the flesh!!!
Rom 8:8 So then THEY THAT ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD.
Rom 8:9 But YE ARE NOT IN THE FLESH, BUT IN THE SPIRIT, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, LET US ALSO WALK IN THE SPIRIT.
Walk in the Spirit to where?
Heb 4:15 For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 LET US THEREFORE COME BOLDLY UNTO THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY, AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.
Only by God's Holy Highway can anyone get there as Jesus tells us......
John 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
John 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I AM THE WAY (highway), THE TRUTH (reality), AND THE LIFE: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a NEW AND LIVING WAY (highway) WHICH HE HATH CONSECRATED FOR US, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
The Highway of Holiness is a "new" and "living way" into God'd presence, but only the redeemed can walk there.
Jesus is the highway to the reality of the God kind of life that is not of this world!
Luke 3:2 Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, THE WORD OF GOD CAME UNTO JOHN the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.
Luke 3:3 And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;
Luke 3:4 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, PREPARE YE THE WAY (Highway) OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.
( Parenthesis added by me as the word "way" means "highway" or road)
When the religious leaders of Jesus's day came out to see John in the desert they asked him who he was. His response to them was....
John 1:23 He said, I AM THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY (Highway) OF THE LORD, as said the prophet Esaias.
God spoke through the Prophet Malachi and said...
Mal 3:1 Behold, I WILL SEND MY MESSENGER, AND HE SHALL PREPARE THE WAY (Highway, Road) BEFORE ME: and the Lord, whom ye seek, SHALL SUDDENLY COME TO HIS TEMPLE, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.
The word, “WAY” means “HIGHWAY or Road”. Believe it or not, God travels upon a highway system that very few people know about even though Jesus spoke about it. A highway that was narrow which leads to life, and very few will ever find it!! (Matt 7:14)
John the Baptist was to prepare this highway for the coming of the Lord. The purpose of any highway system is to transport someone or people from one place to another. One of the main purposes of this highway system is for the believer that they might depart from evil, and go somewhere else.
Pro 16:17 THE HIGHWAY OF THE UPRIGHT IS TO DEPART FROM EVIL: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
If I "keep" this highway (to keep is to protect) from sins in my life then it will preserve my soul.
If I want to know how John prepared this highway, all I need to do is ask myself what did John preach everywhere he went, because that would tell me how John prepared this highway system.
Luke 3:3 And he (John the Baptist) came into all the country about Jordan, PREACHING THE BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE for the remission of sins;
John's only message was to “REPENT” for the Kingdom of God is at hand!! (Matt 3:2)
The word, “REPENT” does not mean to feel sorry for your sins, it means, “TO CHANGE YOUR MIND” Renewing the human mind with God's Word will always change your mind!
Change our mind from what to what? From thinking on the things of this world to the things which is above where God is!
As the scriptures tell us the only people who walk after or according to the Spirit are those who have their minds set on the things of the Spirit, not on the things of this world or of the flesh. (Romans 8:5)
If we live in the Spirit then we should also “WALK” in the Spirit. ( Gal 5:25) Walking has to do with moving from one place to another. Standing in one place is not walking anywhere.
Walking in the Spirit has nothing to do with our two feet that are connected to our physical bodies. Coming boldly to God's throne of grace (Heb 4:16) by which God has called us to come can NOT be reached by walking using our physical legs, but we do need to walk to get there!!
There must be some kind of highway system that we walk on that leads to us to this place in the Heavens above.
There was a prophecy in the Old Testament that foretold of this coming highway system, that only the REDEEMED would be able to walk upon!!!
Isa 35:8 And AN HIGHWAY SHALL BE THERE, AND A WAY, AND IT SHALL BE CALLED THE WAY (highway) OF HOLINESS; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
Isa 35:9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; BUT THE REDEEMED SHALL WALK THERE:
Isa 35:10 And THE RANSOMED OF THE LORD SHALL RETURN, AND COME TO ZION with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: THEY SHALL OBTAIN JOY AND GLADNESS, AND SORROW AND SIGHING SHALL FLEE AWAY.
Sounds like a good place to escape evil.
Now I know exactly where this Highways system ends. It ends right at the doorsteps of Mount Zion the city of the living God The Heavenly Jerusalem where God sits enthroned in all of his Glory!!! (throne of grace)
Heb 12:22 BUT YOU HAVE COME TO MOUNT ZION and to the city of the living God, THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,
Heb 12:23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
Heb 12:24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
The people who use this highway which only the redeem can use, obtain everlasting joy, and gladness, with no sorrow of any kind!!
As the scripture tells us...
Psa 91:1 He that dwelleth in the SECRET PLACE of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
This was the very first thing the Lord my God taught me when I was just a young Christian 45+ years ago. The reason why I needed to understand this was because the Lord had a specific message he wanted me to give to his Church, and the only way I could get that message was I needed to know exactly how to come into his presence to be taught it.
This is one of the greatest things the Lord has ever taught me in my entire Christian life. It changed my prayer life from Oh hum, let's get this over with, to I can not wait to pray to come before the Lord in Spirit, and truth by way of this highway!!
What does “REPENTANCE” (to change your mind) have to do with this highway system? Everything!!! The only way we can bring our presence into the Lord's presence is by knowing, understanding, and believing his Word which causes one to experience what it says. (Faith without works is dead) Everyone who has true faith will always experience the works that faith produces!
The Apostle Paul also learned this, and he talks about it in scripture as one who was always coming to visions and revelations of God!
Col 3:1 IF THEN YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH CHRIST, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Col 3:2 Set your MINDS ON THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE, not on things that are on earth. (This is repentance)
Col 3:3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Col 3:4 When Christ who is your life appears, THEN YOU ALSO WILL APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY.
Number one: You can NOT experience this unless you first know and believe that you have already been risen with Christ, in His resurrection!! Reading the Bible and agreeing it to be true is NOT faith, but only mental assent, which does nothing. I must first take the scriptures off the pages of the Bible put them into my mouth, and begin to confess them every day. At first, my mind did not believe a word I said. Eventually, my mind became renewed to the Word of God and actually believed what I said, (why because it is true) but it did not happen overnight!!
Number two: I must seek the things that are above where Christ is seated!!!
Col 3:1 if then you have been raised with Christ, SEEK THE THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE, WHERE CHRIST IS, SEATED at the right hand of God.
I must desire to see these things where I am sitting on the right hand of God in Christ!!!
Number three: I must “REPENT” by “CHANGING MY MIND”, and begin to think upon the things above where I am are sitting in Christ in God, and not on the temporary things of this earth that are passing away!
Col 3:2 SET YOUR MINDS ON THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE, not on things that are on earth.
This is extremely important. I can not stress how important this is!!! If I am not hearing his voice or not seeing his Kingdom it is because I am not thinking on and or not seeking it!!!
Last but not least this is what will happen if you do all of the above as God has promised!!!
Col 3:4 WHEN CHRIST WHO IS YOUR LIFE APPEARS, THEN YOU ALSO WILL APPEAR WITH HIM IN GLORY.
This is not talking about when Jesus returns for his Church, this is talking about you coming into his presence where the throne of grace is!!!!
Paul experienced this in his life, and because of it there was a messenger of Satan sent to cause much trouble in his life, and the reason why was because of the MULTITUDE OF REVELATIONS that was given to him by God through prayer!!! (2 Cor 12:7)
Jesus also operated in this on the mount of transfiguration when he “PRAYED” in which there appeared with him IN GLORY Moses, and Elijah, along with Peter James, and John!!! (Luke 9: 28-31)
I have known about this Highway system for a very very long time, and everything the Lord has taught me in scriptures came as a result of me using this highway to come into my Lord's Kingdom so he could teach me his ways.
Isa 2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and HE WILL TEACH US HIS WAYS and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
My body could never go there for flesh and blood can not inherit the Kingdom of God.
How is my spirit able to do this without my body?
Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Col 2:10 And YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and power:
Col 2:11 In whom also YE ARE CIRCUMCISED WITH THE CIRCUMCISION MADE WITHOUT HANDS, IN PUTTING OFF THE BODY OF THE SINS OF THE FLESH BY THE CIRCUMCISION OF CHRIST:
The sinful body of flesh can not come into God's Holy presence, but your spirit can because it has been circumcised (cut away) from the sins of the flesh!!!
Rom 8:8 So then THEY THAT ARE IN THE FLESH CANNOT PLEASE GOD.
Rom 8:9 But YE ARE NOT IN THE FLESH, BUT IN THE SPIRIT, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 IF WE LIVE IN THE SPIRIT, LET US ALSO WALK IN THE SPIRIT.
Walk in the Spirit to where?
Heb 4:15 For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 LET US THEREFORE COME BOLDLY UNTO THE THRONE OF GRACE, THAT WE MAY OBTAIN MERCY, AND FIND GRACE TO HELP IN TIME OF NEED.
Only by God's Holy Highway can anyone get there as Jesus tells us......
John 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
John 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I AM THE WAY (highway), THE TRUTH (reality), AND THE LIFE: NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME.
Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a NEW AND LIVING WAY (highway) WHICH HE HATH CONSECRATED FOR US, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
The Highway of Holiness is a "new" and "living way" into God'd presence, but only the redeemed can walk there.
Jesus is the highway to the reality of the God kind of life that is not of this world!
