Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. Mt. 21:5
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Jn 14:6
July 25, 2022
The Presence of Christ Changes Everything
The Immaculate Conception and birth of Jesus Christ marked the entrance of the Messiah and a New Kingdom.
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Mt 1:23
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Mt 4:17
The arrival of the Messiah riding a donkey into Jerusalem was the entrance of truth ready to put down evil and the lies of the devil.
For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. Ps 33:4
The poor hailed His entrance because it meant deliverance to them. The Pharisees and Sadducees were in fear because their leadership was in jeopardy. The truth is that Jesus did not come to endorse the established leaders; He came to set their captives free from abuse. Those captive had been abused by ruthless leaders for over 400 years, but the Father had heard their cry. It was time to respond to them with deliverance from bondage. This was not the time to shore up the leadership of the wicked. This was their time to be dethroned. Truth cannot reign until the lie and liar are overthrown and only righteousness can do it. Sometimes people have become very comfortable with evil, have compromised their truth for the lie, have given up hope and now just want to be left alone. The entrance of Jesus, the Truth, is decision time. Truth is always right and should always be our priority. What if the poor had cried out upon seeing Jesus: “Oh, no, don’t take away our leaders!” The truth is that eventually they did say that when their leaders led the people to cry: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return. Jer 5:3
His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter. Isa 56:10-11
Jesus had come now to set the captives free but some of the poor and captives loved their wicked leaders too much to be set free. Proof of this practice is borne out when we look in our own day at the ex-president who took a vow from his subordinates to stay loyal to him even after being exposed as a liar, thief, insurrectionists, traitor, derelict of duties and guilty of faithful leadership. It is amazing how many people agreed to the vow of secrecy and remained loyal. Everyone knew the character of this man when he first took office because he never apologized for his sinful ways nor did he change once endorsed by the false religious leaders. In fact, he got worse; but his benefactors were in bed with him now and had to see their plan all the way through, even to the denial of truth.
The Cloud of Darkness Exposed by Christ’ Presence
Evildoers love to have the cover of righteousness to masquerade their scheme. That was the scene when Jesus came to Jerusalem but He rebuked their masquerade. Jesus told how the derelict religious leaders loved to wear long robes, make long prayers, and sit in the high seats but devour widows’ houses (Lk 20:47). The leadership of Rome and the Jewish synagogue were contrary to God’s way and Jesus came to establish a righteous rule.
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. Pro 16:6
The Messianic prophecy was known through all the Old Testament prophets that the Savior was coming. Through all their crying and tears, the hope endured. He was coming!
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Jn 1:14
For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Jn 1:17
Even leaders from heathen nations had heralded and celebrated Jesus’ arrival with precious gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Yet the Jewish religious leaders of the Temple did not prepare for His coming. They had no need of a deliverer because they were in power and thriving. They eventually confessed their true loyalty: “We have no king but Caesar (Jn 19:15).” They denounced the very hope of their people.
The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit. Jer 2:8
Jesus said: “. . . I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. (Mat 9:13).”
The wealthy were thriving and at peace because they had mastery over the poor. The poor on the other hand were those who were being crushed and robbed by the wealthy and needed the relief that Jesus brought. For them Jesus came to be their righteous ruler and king. Like today, the poor have always needed an advocate, a counselor that they could trust, someone in the high place that would listen to their righteous appeal. Like today their leadership was full of people who only wanted to take from them rather than reveal the love of God that they had a right to expect from their religious leaders. Jesus came and he healed their sickness, fed the hungry, spoke truth to expose the lies of the devil and brought them comfort for their suffering.
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound… Is 61:1
Choice Between Kings
Much like the false church in our time that claimed the ex-president was sent by God to be their leader, whom they put in the place of God, while he ignored their sickness of Corona virus, making the pandemic worse; false leaders do not care about God’s people. They have a fake leadership that claims all the power but none of the responsibility. The ex-president told them to drink a hydroxychlorquine, a potentially lethal drink. As national leader he watched many of his followers die and offered no real solution. He led citizens to perform insurrection against their own government. Where he was elected to solve their problems, he instead led his followers to be sentenced to terms of imprisonment. Yet the people today like in Jerusalem were led by their false religious leaders to deny the truth and cry for their Caesar. Even though he has been dethroned, they still cry for his return. Many today would rather have their Caesar to lead them than the True Savior because they have compromised the truth for the lie. They have been deceived by false religious leaders who seek the comfort of this world and have led the people to seek material wealth rather than salvation and all the promises of God.
The enemy of our soul competes for our heart and devotion. Those that are looking for the Savior will like the disciples Peter, Andrew, James and John count their mundane life in this world as dung and follow the Savior. “I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me (Ps 119:30).” Though worldly leaders cry for them to stay, their heart will long for true freedom, not religious traditions. “He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal (Joh 12:25).” Though their leaders perform the false miracles of Pharaoh’s court, walk near the Savior like Judas, or bewitch them for money like Simon rebuked by Peter; they must continue to seek God’s truth. Jesus accused some leaders of the synagogue of being the blind leading the blind.
If you have spent your whole life crying out for truth, you should recognize it when it comes just as Peter and Andrews did. You would leave your net where it was, leave behind all that could not save your soul and follow Jesus. No fake oil or balm can heal a sin sick soul. Multitudes ran to John to repent at the preaching of the Word and they were ready to follow the Savior when He came. Only those snatched back by their false leaders missed out, but the real Savior and healer was in town to open up the kingdom.
Choosing To Be Whole
There is a carnal church that is satisfied with material things for solace but there is a spiritual church that can never be satisfied with such carnal things. Their soul cries out for something this world cannot provide and Jesus came to feed the souls of those that are spiritually hungry. Have you ever gone to church hungry only to return home to read the Word of God for spiritual sustenance?
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Isa 55:2
Who would not put down their dead food for the soul satisfying living waters that Christ alone provides. Unfortunately for some, accepting truth means putting down the lie they hold so dear. “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another (Eph 4:25).” Today the big lie is: “We are right because we are white”. The religious Jews had said: “We are right because we are Jew, the chosen people of God”. Jesus rebuked this saying of the Jews (Mt 3:9). If you are not able to put down the lie for God’s truth, the Word of God reveals you are still in darkness, regardless of your preferred title.
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. Jn 3:19
But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Jn 3:21
And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Mt 20:27
Some people are already satisfied with their life where they are. Jesus came for those that are brokenhearted, spiritually lost, sick, and in need of comfort. For them, He will be everything they need to be whole. He will expose every lie and bring truth. The carnal church led people to believe they needed material things to be happy. So people sought for wealth to buy everything they desired with cash or card. They may be living a life of luxury now on the pay-later plan while spiritually poor but they will have to pay for it eventually in eternity. Their life style is not real even though they may possess a worldly contentment of having reached the full life they sought through material things. When Jesus comes by they consider themselves full and in need of nothing so they let the Savior pass them by.
It shall even be as when an hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite: so shall the multitude of all the nations be, that fight against mount Zion. Isa 29:8
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Isa 55:1
The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. Ps 145:18
Though Jesus rode the donkey into Jerusalem only once to be received as Savior, He ever liveth and is at the throne ready to receive everyone who calls on His name. The Word of God has gone out and some have heard it but failed to believe. Some have believed and yet lack wholeness. King David was a witness for us and compels us to: “…taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him (Ps 34:8 ).”
The lie and liar have manifested and deceived many but the voice of the Lord still compels mankind to “Come”. We have seen the failure of this world’s efforts to satisfy the soul and how its leaders do not know which way to go next. The Holy Spirit whispers softly, choose life instead of death and Jesus instead of the deceiver. Jesus is the way, the truth and the life; and truth has come to set the captives free. The Father has sent the Son to reconcile the world unto Himself through His shed blood and now all mankind is forgiven of sin and can draw nigh the Father in life eternally. The good news is that this blessing is for all people, at all times, and in every place the gospel is received. Jesus has come and the kingdom is ready.
For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Ps 100:5
Truth and Life Ministries of Christ with Apostle Joyce Reba Payne 