“A Prophet without honor in His Own country, family, and home.” Messiah Jesus is Lord and Savior!

Posted on January 2, 2014 by Julia Garrison's blog

Jesus was rejected more than any other prophet, and yet He was more than a prophet, for He is the Living Word of God who came in the flesh, the second person in the Godhead and the creator of all things in heaven and on the earth. False prophets are very popular because they speak of vain words to gain popularity and are not ordained by God. No one wants to hear of judgement and truth as it is not what they want to know. But Jesus came to give good news, and yet those who rejected Him were blind and deaf spiritually which is far worse than physically being unable to see and hear because of eternal condemnation for those who reject God’s Son, Jesus whom was foretold in the Old Testament by the ordained prophets of the new covenant of Israel and the grafted branches of those who are not natural born children of Israel who receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The prophets of God spoke of Jesus in the Old Testament and were very unpopular, abused, and the people ignored prophecy spoken by the Holy Spirit of God through them. These were the true prophets of God and in Revelation it speaks of the Spirit of prophecy being those who speak of the Lord Jesus Christ. Revelation 19:9-10 Then he said to me, “Write:’Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he said to me, “These are the true sayings of God.” And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY.”

Now Here is the rejection of the Lord Jesus at Nazareth in Mark 5:38-43, 6:1-7 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.” And they laughed Him to scorn. But when He had put them all out, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, “Talitha, cumi,” which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat. Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon?

And are not His sisters here with us?” And they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A PROPHET IS NOT WITHOUT HONOR EXCEPT IN HIS OWN COUNTRY, AMONG HIS OWN RELATIVES, AND IN HIS OWN HOUSE.” Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. Ultimately Jesus would be rejected, abused, humiliated, and nailed to a cross at Golgatha with two criminals on each side of Him. John 18:28-40, 19:1-4, 14-19 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. Pilate then went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this Man?” They answered and said to him, “If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you. Then Pilate said said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.” Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die. Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, “Are you King of the Jews?” JESUS ANSWERED HIM, ‘ARE YOU SPEAKING FOR YOURSELF ON THIS, OR DID OTHERS TELL YOU THIS ABOUT ME?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have you done?” JESUS ANSWERED, “MY KINGDOM IS NOT OF THIS WORLD. IF MY KINGDOM WERE OF THIS WORLD, MY SERVANTS WOULD FIGHT, SO THAT I SHOULD NOT BE DELIVERED TO THE JEWS; BUT NOW MY KINGDOM IS NOT FROM HERE.”

Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are you a king then?” JESUS ANSWERED, “YOU SAY RIGHTLY THAT I AM A KING. FOR THIS CAUSE I WAS BORN, AND FOR THIS CAUSE I HAVE COME INTO THE WORLD, THAT I SHOULD BEAR WITNESS TO THE TRUTH. EVERYONE WHO IS OF THE TRUTH HEARS MY VOICE.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no fault in Him at all. But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” Then they all cried again, saying, “Not this Man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber. So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands. Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.” Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” So he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus and led Him away. And He bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgatha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

JESUS IS RISEN WITH MANY WITNESSES IN John 20:11-16, 19-22 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. JESUS SAID TO HER, “WOMAN, WHY ARE YOU WEEPING? WHOM ARE YOU SEEKING?” She supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” JESUS SAID TO HER, “MARY!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is also to say, Teacher). Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “PEACE BE WITH YOU.” Now when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Then Jesus said to them again, “PEACE TO YOU! AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME, I ALSO SEND YOU.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.”

The Lord’s ascension to heaven is witnessed by the disciples in Acts 1:9-11 Now when He Had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner, as you saw Him go into heaven.”

“Obey God rather than men” Acts 5:27-42 and 2 Timothy 1:7-10

Posted on December 29, 2013 by Julia Garrison's blog

Peter and the other apostles preached to many and healed others without regard to obedience to men. Their hearts were on fire to tell the good news to others at all cost. Whether being imprisoned or beaten, this was of no concern to these chosen apostles of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. With this great courage they have received and shared with others, pray mightily in the Lord regarding your own heart. Is your heart on fire to tell the gospel of Jesus Christ regardless of loss of all things, imprisonment, and even death? Are you willing to lose your comforts of home and friends to go where Jesus tells you? Pray in the name of Jesus to reveal your heart and He is faithful to do so. Take to heart these truths for boldness, encouragement, and showing love for our Lord and others by telling others the good news of Jesus like Peter and the other apostles did in Acts 5:27-42 Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” Peter and the other apostles replied: “WE MUST OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN! THE GOD OF OUR FATHERS RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD–WHOM YOU HAD KILLED BY HANGING HIM ON A TREE. GOD EXALTED HIM TO HIS OWN RIGHT HAND AS PRINCE AND SAVIOR THAT HE MIGHT GIVE REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS TO ISRAEL. WE ARE WITNESSES OF THESE THINGS, AND SO IS THE HOLY SPIRIT, WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN TO THOSE WHO OBEY HIM.”

When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all of his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” His speech persuaded them. THEY CALLED THE APOSTLES IN AND HAD THEM FLOGGED. THEN THEY ORDERED THEM NOT TO SPEAK IN THE NAME OF JESUS AND LET THEM GO. THE APOSTLES LEFT THE SANHEDRIN, REJOICING BECAUSE THEY WERE COUNTED WORTHY OF SUFFERING DISGRACE FOR THE NAME. DAY AFTER DAY, IN THE TEMPLE COURTS AND FROM HOUSE TO HOUSE, THEY NEVER STOPPED TEACHING AND PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST.

Therefore, we must continue to speak and teach in the name of Jesus regardless of the consequences here on this earth. We must continue and go from house to house proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ also. Let us who love the the Lord with all our heart, mind, and soul and our neighbor as our self show love to others by telling them the good news with boldness and courage without selfish ambition. When we do this we are showing our love for God first and people second. 2 TIMOTHY 1:7-10 FOR GOD DID NOT GIVE US A SPIRIT OF TIMIDITY, BUT A SPIRIT OF POWER, OF LOVE, AND OF SELF-DISCIPLINE. SO DO NOT BE ASHAMED TO TESTIFY ABOUT OUR LORD, OR ASHAMED OF ME HIS PRISONER. BUT JOIN ME IN SUFFERING FOR THE GOSPEL, BY THE POWER OF GOD, WHO HAS SAVED US AND CALLED US TO A HOLY LIFE–NOT BECAUSE OF ANYTHING WE HAVE DONE BUT BECAUSE OF HIS OWN PURPOSE AND GRACE. THIS GRACE WAS GIVEN US IN CHRIST JESUS BEFORE THE BEGINNING OF TIME, BUT IT IS NOW BEEN REVEALED THROUGH THE APPEARING OF OUR SAVIOR, CHRIST JESUS, WHO HAS DESTROYED DEATH AND HAS BROUGHT LIFE AND IMMORTALITY TO LIGHT THROUGH THE GOSPEL.

“Do Not Be Yoked Together With Unbelievers” 2 Corinthians 6:14-18

Posted on December 27, 2013 by Julia Garrison's blog

For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people. Therefore come out from them and be separate,” says the Lord. “Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be My sons and daughters,” says the Lord Almighty. 2 Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. These words we need to take to heart and remember that being yoked together is not the same as going and making disciples of all nations. Being yoked together means to join securely as if a yoke; bind. One example of being yoked together is chrislam, which is those claiming to be of the Christian faith being yoked together with Islamic faith. Another example is interfaith churches where many different religions come together to worship their god. The only True Living God cannot be yoked together to accept others to worship their false idols who are no more than man-made idols. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit of Truth are equally the same and One Living God, the Godhead.

Christianity, disciples of Jesus, believers of Jesus, followers of Jesus, children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, grafted in adopted children by the new covenant are all the same. Christianity is simply worshiping our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. Also, those whom are the seed of the promise of Abraham are the same as those whose faith is in God in the Old Testament as well as those who have faith in Christ Jesus and are grafted into the kingdom of God. The chosen children of God is based on Noah whom was a preacher and had faith in God and God spared he and his family when He sent the flood, wiping out all the evil in it. Through Abraham the chosen children, which is the promise of many being blessed would come in his lineage. As Jesus stated in the New Testament, He has more sheep to gather that are not of this fold. He came first to His people, the Jews, then the rest of the world, for all who would believe in His Name as the Son of God and Lord and Savior of the world. There is no longer any Jew, Gentile, Greek, man or woman. All are the same in the body of Christ. One day there will be One Shepherd and one flock which began in the old testament and finished in the new testament. The adopted children are grafted into the branch of the Jews and we will all be One flock with One shepherd Jesus when He returns and we have our new heaven and new earth. John 10:14-16 “I am the good shepherd; I know My sheep and My sheep know Me–just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father–and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to My voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.