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AVINU
Living Church Ministries
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I firmly believe that the Body of Christ is entering into the age of final conflict which is just before the event called a “falling away” in Hebrews 6:6. The “falling away” will occur as a result of the spirit of the Antichrist seducing pulpits to downgrade the power of the Holy Spirit as a keeping agent.
(NLT Study Bible Text,)
A Prayer of Praise (vv 24-25)
24 Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault (Jude 1:24).
Whether we choose to participate in the Will of God or not, He is able to keep those who trust in Him.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”7048″ img_size=”medium”][vc_custom_heading text=”παραπίπτω parapíptō “falling away.“” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left|color:%23571dad”][vc_column_text]The Greek definition of “falling away.”
παραπίπτω parapíptō denoting a falling away, an abandonment.
This phase of Biblical history is when a phenomenon called the falling away will cause people of faith to become shaken regarding what was previously trusted to be the Word of God.
Just as the serpent enticed Eve in the Garden with the psychology tactics of putting Eve on the spot by asking questions when caught off guard; today some individuals may ask questions that position themselves as those with authority. This questioning is similar to the Jewish culture of debating Torah meanings. Nevertheless, at the tender age of twelve years old, Jesus could stand in the Synagogue for days at a time handling questions from the Torah masters, while making inquiries of them demonstrating an extraordinary insight in the Holy Ancient Writings.
Unfortunately, Eve’s fascination with the serpent’s new translation of Adonai’s warnings concerning consequences of their disobedience began to sound better and better; thus his deception was accepted by Adam and Eve.
Just like the message in the Garden appealed to their flesh, the Antichrist will introduce a humanistic-friendly message of super-grace that will have more ‘wiggle room’ to sin, and considered as a new revelation.
The spirit of the serpent will return in the last days with the same tactics. A new type of preacher will surface, one who brings a positive message, while avoiding Scriptures with warnings of sin. Malevolent spirits will blindfold the Church and create a spiritual ignorance about consequences of disobedience.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Deliberate Sins” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left|color:%23571dad” css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text](NLT Study Bible Text,)
Faithfulness and Judgment
26 Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifice that will cover these sins. 27 There is only the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. 28 For anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Just think how much worse the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God, and have treated the blood of the covenant, which made us holy, as if it were common and unholy, and have insulted and disdained the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to us.
Hebrews 10:26-29[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”8559″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center” style=”vc_box_shadow_3d” css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_custom_heading text=”Those Who Love Me” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left|color:%23571dad” css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text](NLT Study Bible Text,)
21 Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”
John 14:21
(NLT Study Bible Text,)
23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.24 Anyone who doesn’t love me will not obey me. And remember, my words are not my own. What I am telling you is from the Father who sent me.
John 14:23-24
The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to bring us to a sincere relationship with Christ, a love that is so faithful to Christ that the believer will despise all other counterfeit behaviors. A child of God who is in such a healthy relationship will experience deep sorrow and heartbreak when sin causes broken fellowship with the Savior.
On the other hand, the Body of Christ can expect attempts where the spirit of the Antichrist will pluck Scriptures out of context to teach palatable, candy-coated messages while skipping over passages that warn us about rebellion.
For example, someone may refer to Romans 8:1 that states:
1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
But, then the person might leap over the function of the Holy Spirit which we see revealed in Romans 8:38-39:
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”8032″ img_size=”medium” style=”vc_box_shadow_3d” css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_custom_heading text=”ἕτερος héteros An Advocate” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left|color:%23571dad” css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]The problem is that we might not be knowledgeable of the “what and why” of the Holy Spirit in us.
First, let us examine the Greek words “Paraclete,” which means an Advocate, the Paraclete takes on a different meaning based on its spelling. paraklētos; parakaleō; paraklēsis
parakaleō to aid, help, comfort
(CWSB Dictionary)
to beseech. The act of exhortation, encouragement, comfort.
A paráklēsis, an exhortation, admonition or encouragement for the purpose of strengthening and establishing the believer in the faith (see Rom. 15:4; Phil. 2:1; Heb. 12:5; 13:22).
(CWSB Dictionary)
2087. ἕτερος héteros;
We know that our Advocate pleads our cause to God, but the ἕτερος héteros; is when the Advocate pleads God’s cause to US!
Yes, little is taught about the Holy Spirit’s ability to give us God’s heart, while correcting and guiding our paths.
One of the greatest tragedies that will befall the church is the silence regarding the performance of the Holy Spirit accomplishing the Will of our Heavenly Father within the believer. The Jewish Messiah left strict instructions about allowing the Spirit to take control of our human passions. As a matter of fact, on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit went right to work revealing Adonai, the God of our Salvation to Christ’s followers. The New Living Translation Study notes say the function of the Holy Spirit is to “communicate the truth about God and the other part of its function is to keep or maintain Jesus’ Presence in the world.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”8258″ img_size=”medium” style=”vc_box_shadow_3d” css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_custom_heading text=”Christ’s Precious Possessions” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left|color:%23571dad” css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text]When satan’s cohorts surround us to manifest his evil plans, our connection to Christ affords us protection, sustained by the Holy Spirit, whose job is to protect Christ’s precious possessions (us). Therefore, when we resist the devil and invoke the Name of Jesus Christ, the satanic kingdom flees.
(New Living Translation (NLT) Study Bible Notes)
4:16: another Advocate (or Comforter, or Encourager, or Counselor; Greek reads Paraclete; also in 14:26): See “Our Advocate” at 14:1–16:15. The Spirit continues Jesus’ work by advising, defending, and protecting believers.
14:16: gparaklētos (3875) John 14:26
14:16: cf: John 14:26; 15:26
14:17: The Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth (literally the Spirit of truth; see also 15:26; 16:13), communicates the truth about God. The Spirit maintains Jesus’ presence in the world, duplicating and sustaining Jesus’ work. And later will be in you: Some manuscripts read ‘and is in you.’
14:17: cf: Rom 8:15-16; 1 Jn 3:24
14:18: Jesus had already assured his followers that they would not be spiritual orphans and that he would return to them (14:1-4). While he is away, they will be filled with the Spirit, who will sustain them with his presence (14:12-17).
John 14:16-18[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”8604″ img_size=”medium” style=”vc_box_shadow_3d” css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_custom_heading text=”Paraclete, Holy Spirit” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left|color:%23571dad” css_animation=”fadeIn”][vc_empty_space][vc_column_text](CWSB Dictionary)
The Holy Spirit is also called the Paraclete because He acts as Christ’s substitute on earth. When Christ in John 14:16 designates Himself as a Paraclete, the same as the Holy Spirit, the word must not be understood as applying to Christ in the same sense as in 1 John 2:1 where it refers to our substitutionary Advocate who pleads our cause with the Father. It should rather be taken as He who pleads God’s cause with us (see John 14:7-9). The words parakaléō (G3870) and paráklēsis (G3874)
WOW!
Now, let us return to Romans, the eighth chapter, verses 4 thru 9.
4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.
5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.
9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) Romans 8: 4-9
(CWSB Dictionary)
5218. ὑπακοή hupakoḗ; gen. hupakoḗs, fem. noun from hupakoúō (G5219), to obey, listen to something, hearken. Obedience, compliance (Sept.: 2 Sam. 22:36), unknown in Class. Gr. Generally in the NT it refers to the obedience of a slave to a master (Rom. 6:16). Elsewhere it always refers to the faith which obeys God’s will in a special sense, of relationship and subjection to that which, in the sphere of divine power and revelation, is right (Rom. 5:19; Heb. 5:8). More especially, it refers to subjection to the saving will of God revealed in Christ and referred to as obedience to the truth (1 Pet. 1:22); obedience of faith (Rom. 1:5; 16:26); the unquestioning obedience that is demanded by Christ (2 Cor. 10:5). The word also stands alone as the manifestation of Christian faith (Rom. 15:18; 16:19; 2 Cor. 7:15; 10:6; Phile. 1:21; 1 Pet. 1:2, 14).
(NLT Study Bible Text,)
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2
(NIV 1984)
Be Holy
13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy because I am holy.”
17 Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22 Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24 For,
1 Peter 1:13-24[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Parakaleō, Comforter” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:24|text_align:left|color:%23571dad”][vc_column_text](New Living Translation (NLT) Study Bible Notes)
paraklēsis (3874): encourage, request. The verb (parakaleō) can mean to give comfort to another person, to urge a person toward action or a new thought pattern, to urgently request something, to cheer someone up, and so on. Generally, a positive attitude and desire to help is implied. The noun (paraklēsis) refers to the act itself of encouraging, requesting, etc.
see Rom 15:4; 1 Cor 14:31; Phil 2:1; Col 2:2; 1 Thes 5:11, 14; 2 Thes 3:12; 2 Tim 4:2; Titus 2:15; Heb 3:13
paraklētos (3875): comforter, helper, advocate. This noun is a person who helps or enables another person; see parakaleō (3870). Sometimes paraklētos has a legal meaning, referring to an advocate in a courtroom setting. It became a title for the Holy Spirit, whose role includes encouraging, strengthening, and supporting God’s people.
see John 14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7; 1 Jn 2:1; Revelation 22:21
(CWSB Dictionary)
(G2087), When Christ in John 14:16 designates Himself as a Paraclete, the same as the Holy Spirit, the word must not be understood as applying to Christ in the same sense as in 1 John 2:1 where it refers to our substitutionary Advocate who pleads our cause with the Father. It should rather be taken as He who pleads God’s cause with us (see John 14:7-9). The words parakaléō (G3870) and paráklēsis (G3874),[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]