How Christ Abides in Us—Getting to His Sustained Presence

This knowledge is extremely important—if you want to walk with Him.

Seekers of God must believe He wants them to grow. Without that faith, they remain spiritually immature, blown about like leaves in the wind. Christ has given clear commands for growth: “Abide in Me” and “Add to your faith” the seven attributes of His divine nature (II Peter 1).

These commands—and the seven additions—are explored in my books The Eleventh Commandment and The Additions to the Faith. These attributes are attainable; if Peter, Paul, and John grew into them, so can we. [Get your free copy here: Ordering My Free Books in Paperback | Immortality Road]

Some may think, “Here he goes again about becoming like Christ.” But Scripture says teachers exist to mature the saints until we reach “the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:11–13). Growth into His fullness is our calling.

This abiding is the indwelling of His heart and Spirit. “Christ in you, the hope of glory” becomes reality as we learn and practice the seventh addition—agape love.

Recognizing a command is one thing; learning how to obey it is another. We abide in Christ by believing His words about His presence through the Spirit of truth. He is the vine; we are the branches. Remaining in Him produces “much fruit.”

This aligns with the seven additions. When they are added, we are never barren but full of fruit—“much fruit.” Abiding and adding work together to make our calling and election sure.

Abiding is the sustained presence of the Spirit within us, made possible by these seven qualities, culminating in divine love.

But how do we abide? How do we add? What is the actual way forward?

Christlike Prayer

We abide in Christ through prayer—but not self-centered prayer. True prayer aligns with Christ’s own prayers and with God’s interests. Worship must be “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

Our words to God should reflect what matters to Him. Christ taught this in the model prayer. Prayer shaped by His priorities gains His ear.

Dale Carnegie once wrote, “Talk in terms of the other person’s interests.” If this works with people, how much more with God? Self-focused prayers—“Bless me, help me get this job”—miss the mark. But if we speak with Him about His plan, His purpose, His Kingdom, He will listen.

Christ said the Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask. We ask—not command. When we pray according to His will and His plan, He abides in us.

God’s interests are revealed in the words of Christ, the prophets, and the apostles. He thinks about His Kingdom and His righteousness. Why not talk to Him about these things? Few do.

Thinking His thoughts is abiding in Him. Continuing in His teachings shapes our minds into His mind. Paul urges us, “Let this mind be in you.”

We gain His thoughts through knowledge taught by His servants, and we sustain His thoughts through prayer and study of His purpose.

Prayer becomes the rudder that keeps our minds on course toward the New Jerusalem and toward God Himself.

Abiding in Him

Love for Christ grows from gratitude for deliverance. “We love Him because He first loved us.” Because we love Him, we keep His words. Then He and the Father “make their abode” with us (John 14:23).

There is a progression: gratitude → love → obedience → abiding presence. He fulfills His promise: “I will never leave you.”

One of His commands is “pray.” Scripture emphasizes prayer repeatedly. It is essential. Praying according to His plan keeps us abiding in Him and bearing much fruit—fulfilling God’s purpose of reproducing His nature in us.

Christ promised that if we abide in Him and His words abide in us, our prayers will be answered (John 15:7). Abiding produces the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.

Spiritual Growth

Abiding in Him ensures spiritual growth. Look at Peter and Paul before and after the resurrection. If they grew into spiritual powerhouses, so can we. Their teachings—and Christ’s—center on abiding.

Conclusion

Abiding in Christ is not a mystical feeling but a deliberate walk of agreement with His mind, His words, and His purposes. As we pray according to His interests—His Kingdom, His righteousness, His plan for the nations—we open our hearts to the very thoughts of God. In that communion, His Spirit settles in us, shaping our desires and empowering our obedience. This is how Christ abides in us: through a steady exchange of His thoughts for ours, His will for ours, His love poured into our hearts. When we pray His way and think His thoughts, the vine’s life flows into the branches. Fruit appears. Growth becomes inevitable. And the Father’s purpose—to reproduce His own nature in His children—moves steadily toward fulfillment.

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The Warrior-King’s Judgments in Isaiah 26

And the Thought answered me and said, “Tell them who I AM”

Upon His return to earth, the Warrior-King will execute judgement upon the earth. “Right, righteousness, and judgement” are all translated from the same Hebrew word #H4941 in Strong’s. It means “to set things right.” Christ, the Warrior-King—Yahweh-in-human-form—is coming back, exercising mercy in doing His judgements. Many will reject Him, but His people will understand. For they will believe this: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” He will do the righteous thing in issuing His judgements.

Isaiah 26 stands as a prophetic hymn celebrating God’s future intervention in history—His judgments that shake the earth, humble the proud, vindicate the righteous, and usher in everlasting peace. This article weaves together multiple layers of divine judgment, each revealing a facet of the Warrior‑King who acts for His people.

1. Judgment That Establishes Righteousness in the Earth

Isaiah declares that when God’s judgments fall, they serve a moral purpose: to teach the world righteousness.

  • “When Your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness” (Isa 26:9).
    This is not random wrath but redemptive discipline. God confronts evil so that truth may flourish. Even the wicked, who refuse to see God’s majesty in times of mercy, will be forced to acknowledge it when His hand is lifted in judgment (Isa 26:10–11).

2. Judgment That Brings Peace to God’s People

Isaiah contrasts the oppressive rule of earthly powers with the liberating rule of Yahweh.

  • “O LORD, You will establish peace for us” (Isa 26:12).
  • “Other lords besides You have had dominion over us” (Isa 26:13).
    God’s judgment dismantles the systems and rulers that enslave His people. Their memory fades like shadows because God Himself becomes the sole King of His people.

3. Judgment That Destroys the Wicked and Their Works

Isaiah speaks of the wicked as “dead” and “shades” who will not rise (Isa 26:14). This is not a denial of resurrection but a declaration that the oppressive nations and their tyrants will never again dominate God’s people.

  • “You have punished and destroyed them and made all their memory to perish” (Isa 26:14).
    This is judicial finality: God’s verdict wipes out the legacy of evil.

4. Judgment That Purifies and Expands God’s People

Even as God judges the wicked, He multiplies His people.

  • “You have increased the nation, O LORD… You are glorified” (Isa 26:15).
    Judgment and mercy operate side by side. God prunes the world so His people may flourish. [Stop for a moment and let this come into focus. Yahweh’s mind is on His people, and He will punish those nations who are against them so that they may grow in Him.

5. Judgment That Exposes Human Helplessness

Isaiah uses the image of a woman in labor who cannot bring forth a child.

  • “We have been with child… we have given birth to wind” (Isa 26:18).
    Human effort cannot produce salvation. Judgment reveals our inability and God’s sufficiency. Only God can bring resurrection life.

6. Judgment That Prepares the Way for Resurrection

Isaiah 26 contains one of the clearest Old Testament resurrection promises:

  • “Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy!” (Isa 26:19).
    Judgment clears the stage for the triumph of life. The Warrior‑King defeats death itself.

7. Judgment That Protects God’s People During Tribulation

God calls His people to hide themselves while His wrath passes over the earth.

  • “Come, my people, enter your chambers… hide yourselves for a little while until the fury has passed by” (Isa 26:20).
    This echoes Passover (Ex. 12:22–23) and anticipates the final protection of God’s faithful remnant.

8. Judgment That Exposes Hidden Bloodshed

God’s judgment is not only cosmic but forensic.

  • “The earth will disclose the blood shed on it and will no more cover its slain” (Isa 26:21).
    Every hidden injustice, every buried crime, every silenced victim—God brings it all to light.

9. Judgment That Strikes the Dragon (Isaiah 27:1)

Though technically the next chapter, Isaiah 27:1 completes the thought:

  • “In that day the LORDYahweh… will punish Leviathan the fleeing serpent… and He will slay the dragon that is in the sea.”
    This is the cosmic dimension of judgment. God’s victory is not merely political or historical—it is spiritual and universal. The Warrior‑King crushes the ancient serpent.

Unified Summary: The Nine Judgments of Isaiah 26–27

Closing Reflection Concerning  the Warrior-King’s Judgements

Isaiah 26 is not a single judgment but a symphony of divine actions—moral, political, spiritual, cosmic. It reveals a God who judges in order to save, who shakes the earth to establish peace, who exposes evil to vindicate the righteous, and who ultimately conquers death itself.

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Christ: From the Lamb to the Warrior-King

“Arm yourselves with the same mind”

Intro: To know Christ and the power of his resurrection, to know Him as He is, we must cease to look at him after the flesh. In other words, though we have known Him in his fleshly encounter with the cross, which is indeed important, we should not continue to look at Him from that perspective.  

Us dying with Him is the beginning of growing spiritually. But Christ has moved on, and He desires us to move on with Him. “Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more” (II Cor. 5:16).

Christ’s duty some 2,000 years ago was to serve as the Lamb of God that “takes away the sins of the world.” But now, He is the Warrior-King in exile, and He is coming back with a vengeance. For He has said, “Vengeance is mine, sayeth the LORD.” We cannot truly grow to full maturity in being His manifested 100-fold fruit-bearing sons and daughters unless we see Him as He now is.  We must begin to see Him, not only as our King, but also the mighty Commander of all heavenly forces who will purge this earth of evil during the glorious days of His return.

The New Testament presents Jesus Christ/Yahshua, not only as the sacrificial Lamb who redeems humanity, but also as the Divine Warrior‑King who fulfills and intensifies the Old Testament portrait of Yahweh as the God of war, the Commander of heavenly armies, and the One who fights to reclaim His creation. The Lamb who was slain rises as the Warrior/King who conquers, waging holy war to take back the earth from the powers of darkness.

The Old Testament Foundation: Yahweh the Divine Warrior

The Old Testament consistently portrays Yahweh as a God who fights for His people and wages war against evil. After the Red Sea deliverance, Moses sings, “The LORD [Yahweh] is a man of war” (Exodus 15:3). This is not metaphor but identity. Yahweh marches before Israel (Judges 5:4), thunders from Sinai (Psalm 68:7–8), and rides with “chariots… twenty thousand, even thousands of angels” (Psalm 68:17). He trains His people for battle (Psalm 144:1) and personally dons armor: “He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head” (Isaiah 59:17).

Yahweh is also the “LORD of hosts”—YHWH Sabaoth—the Commander of angelic armies (1 Samuel 17:45). Several translations render “LORD of hosts” as “LORD of armies.” His heavenly forces appear as “horses and chariots of fire” surrounding Elisha (2 Kings 6:17). The prophets envision Him going forth to battle: “Then shall the LORD/Yahweh go forth, and fight against those nations” (Zechariah 14:3).

This Divine Warrior theme is not peripheral; it is central to God’s identity as King. The question is: How does the New Testament apply this imagery to Christ?

The Lamb Who Conquers: Christ as the Fulfillment of the Warrior‑King

The New Testament does not diminish the Divine Warrior motif—it heightens it. The same God who fought for Israel now fights in and through His Messiah. The Lamb is not passive; He is slain and standing (Revelation 5:6), and His sacrifice becomes the very weapon by which He conquers.

1. Christ as the Captain of the Lord’s Armies

The mysterious “Captain of the host of the LORD” who appears to Joshua (Joshua 5:13–15) receives worship and speaks with divine authority. The New Testament reveals that Christ is the One who commands the angels: “the Son of Man shall come… with his angels” (Matthew 16:27). He will “send his angels” to gather His elect (Matthew 24:31). He is “revealed from heaven with his mighty angels” (2 Thessalonians 1:7). The Commander of the heavenly host in the Old Testament is the same One who leads the armies of heaven in Revelation.

2. Christ Wearing Yahweh’s Own Armor

Isaiah 59:17 describes Yahweh putting on a breastplate and helmet. Paul explicitly identifies this armor as belonging to Christ and shared with His people: “Put on the whole armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11). The “helmet of salvation” and “breastplate of righteousness” are not Roman metaphors—they are Yahweh’s own battle gear, now given to the saints because they fight under Christ’s command. Christ is the Divine Warrior who equips His soldiers with His own armor.

3. Christ Making War to Reclaim the Earth

Revelation 19 is the New Testament’s clearest Divine Warrior scene. John sees heaven opened and Christ riding forth:

  • In righteousness he judges and makes war” (19:11).
  • His eyes were as a flame of fire” (19:12).
  • Out of his mouth goes a sharp sword” (19:15).
  • The armies which were in heaven followed him” (19:14).
  • His title: “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (19:16).

This is Yahweh the Warrior of Exodus 15 and Isaiah 59 revealed in the person of Jesus/Yahshua. The Lamb who was slain now rides as the Warrior‑King to reclaim the earth from the dragon, the beast, and the kings of the nations.

4. Christ’s War in the Heavenly Realm

Revelation 12 describes a cosmic conflict: “There was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon” (12:7). Though Michael leads the battle, the victory is explicitly attributed to Christ: “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb” (12:11). The Lamb’s blood is a weapon. The cross is not defeat—it is the decisive strike in the war to reclaim creation.

5. Christ as the Stronger Man Who Overthrows the Enemy

Christ describes His mission in warrior terms: “If I cast out devils… then the kingdom of God is come” (Matthew 12:28). He speaks of binding “the strong man” (12:29) to plunder his house. This is conquest language. Christ invades Satan’s territory and liberates captives.

6. Christ’s People as Soldiers in His War

Believers are not spectators. They are enlisted. “Endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Timothy 2:3). They fight “principalities… powers… rulers of the darkness” (Ephesians 6:12). They overcome “by the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 12:11). His shed blood that has put our feet on the glory road is now being used in the full spiritual war that He is waging. The church participates in Christ’s ongoing campaign to reclaim the earth.

Conclusion: The Warrior‑King Reclaims His World

The New Testament does not present two Christs—a gentle Lamb and a fierce Warrior. It presents one Christ whose sacrificial death is the opening act of His cosmic war. The Lamb conquers by dying, rises to lead the armies of heaven, and returns to overthrow every rival power. The Divine Warrior of the Old Testament is revealed in the New as Christ, who fights not with earthly weapons but with truth, righteousness, judgment, and the power of His indestructible life. The war is not metaphorical. It is the real conflict for the dominion of the earth, and you and I are in the big middle of it—if we make our calling and election sure by forsaking childlike desires. Knowing this: It is now Christ the Warrior‑King in us, “the hope of glory.”

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Who Is the King? Yahweh the King of Glory Revealed in the Son

Psalm 24 opens with a majestic question: “Who is this King of glory?” (Psalm 24:8). The answer is unmistakable: “Yahweh strong and mighty… Yahweh of hosts, He is the King of glory” (Psalm 24:8,10). The Old Testament leaves no ambiguity—Yahweh alone is the King. Psalm 47:2 declares, “Yahweh most high… is a great King over all the earth,” and verse 7 adds, “God is the King of all the earth.” Isaiah 43:15 reinforces this truth: “I am Yahweh… your King.” Zechariah 14:9 summarizes the entire testimony: “Yahweh shall be King over all the earth… His name one.” There is one King, one throne, one divine ruler.

Yet the New Testament repeatedly identifies Christ as the King. The wise men ask, “Where is He that is born King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2). The crowds shout, “Blessed is the King of Israel” (John 12:13). Jesus Himself affirms, “Thou sayest that I am a King. To this end was I born” (John 18:37). Paul calls Him “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings” (1 Timothy 6:15). Revelation 19:16 seals the identity: “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

This raises a profound question: If Yahweh is the King, and Christ is the King, do we have two Kings? Scripture forbids such a division. Zechariah 14:9 insists there is one Yahweh and one King. The only biblical conclusion is that Christ is Yahweh the King of glory revealed in human form.

The Old Testament prepares us for this revelation by showing Yahweh appearing visibly as a Man. In Genesis 18, “Yahweh appeared unto him” and Abraham saw “three men” (Genesis 18:1–2). Yahweh eats, speaks, and walks with Abraham. In Genesis 32:24–30, Jacob wrestles with a Man yet declares, “I have seen God face to face.” Hosea 12:3–5 confirms the One he wrestled with was “Yahweh, the God of hosts.” In Joshua 5:13–15, the Commander of Yahweh’s army receives worship and speaks as Yahweh Himself. These appearances reveal a visible Yahweh, distinct from the invisible Father whom no man has seen (John 1:18).

The New Testament identifies this visible Yahweh with Christ. John 12:41 states that Isaiah saw Christ’s glory when he saw Yahweh on the throne in Isaiah 6. Jesus declares, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58), claiming the divine name revealed in Exodus 3:14. Paul writes, “In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9). Hebrews 1:8 records the Father addressing the Son: “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever.” Christ is not a second deity or a lesser King—He is Yahweh’s own visible manifestation.

Thus the Old Testament King—Yahweh—is the same King revealed in the New Testament as Yahshua the Messiah. The Father, who is invisible, dwells fully in the Son, who is His visible Image (Colossians 1:15; John 14:9–10). There are not two Kings, but one divine King revealed in two modes: the invisible Father and the visible Yahweh who became flesh.

Therefore, when David asks, “Who is this King of glory?” The Old and New Testament answer: It is the Father Yahweh, clothed in human form, who is called Christ, the Anointed One. He is “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings” (I Tim. 6:15).

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The Father Yahweh Revealed in Human Form

The Bible tells a big story about a God who is not far away, but One who steps into human history in ways people can see, hear, and even touch. The heart of this study is simple: the God we call the Father—Yahweh—has revealed Himself in human form throughout Scripture, and the New Testament shows that this visible Yahweh is the One we meet in Jesus Christ. The Bible doesn’t present two different gods, one invisible and one visible. Instead, it shows one God who makes Himself known through His own visible presence.

The Old Testament gives us several moments where Yahweh shows up looking and acting like a man. Abraham’s story in Genesis 18 is one of the clearest. The text doesn’t say an angel appeared—it says Yahweh appeared, and when Abraham looks up, he sees three men standing there. One of them speaks as Yahweh, receives Abraham’s hospitality, and even eats a meal. Later, Genesis 19:24 says, “Yahweh rained fire… from Yahweh out of heaven,” showing Yahweh on earth and Yahweh in heaven acting together. This is not a vision. It’s a real, embodied appearance of God.

Jacob has a similar encounter in Genesis 32:24-30. He wrestles all night with “a Man,” but afterward he says, “I have seen God face to face.” The prophet Hosea later confirms that Jacob wrestled with Yahweh Himself. Again, this is not a dream or a symbol. Jacob physically wrestles with a visible manifestation of God.

Moses meets this same divine figure in the burning bush (Exodus 3:1-15). The passage begins with “the Angel of Yahweh,” but within a few lines the voice from the bush is simply called “God,” and He identifies Himself as “I AM THAT I AM.” Joshua meets Him again as the Commander of Yahweh’s army, a figure who accepts worship and speaks with divine authority.

These stories all point in the same direction: Yahweh has no problem showing up in human form when He chooses to.

The New Testament picks up this thread and ties it directly to Jesus/Yahshua. When He says, “Before Abraham was, I AM,” He is claiming to be the same “I AM” who spoke to Moses. John tells us that when Isaiah saw Yahweh on the throne, he was seeing Christ’s glory (John 12:41). Paul says the Rock that followed Israel in the wilderness was Christ (I Cor. 10:4). And the New Testament repeatedly calls Jesus the visible “image of the invisible God,” the One in whom “all the fullness of the Godhead” lives in bodily form (Col. 1:9,15).

Jesus also makes it clear that the Father is not separate from this revelation. He says, “He who has seen Me has seen the Father,” and “the Father who dwells in Me does the works.” In other words, when Yahweh appears in human form—whether in the Old Testament or in the incarnation—the Father is being revealed through His visible Image. In the end, the Bible’s testimony is consistent. Yahweh has always been willing to step into human form, and the New Testament identifies that visible Yahweh as Yahshua, the Son of God, known as Jesus Christ. Through Him, the Father makes Himself known. The God who walked with Abraham, wrestled with Jacob, and spoke to Moses is the same God who walked the dusty roads of Galilee. The Father has always revealed Himself through His own visible presence, and that presence is Christ.

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The Open Door and the Name We Dare Not Deny

The Open Door and the Name We Dare Not Deny

Some doors in life swing open easily, while others remain stubbornly shut no matter how hard we push. But Scripture speaks of a door unlike any other—a door opened by Christ Himself, a door no human hand can close. That promise is not given to the casual believer, nor to those content with mere salvation. It is given to a specific kind of follower: one who grows, matures, and refuses to deny the holy Name by which we are saved.

Thesis: Christ promises His faithful followers an open door that no man can shut (Revelation 3:8) because they walk on with a little strength, keep His word, and refuse to deny His true name—Yahshua, the Hebrew name meaning “Yahweh is Savior.” Their spiritual growth, measured through the seven church ages, hinges on this unwavering acknowledgment of His Name.

The Seven Church Ages as a Gauge of Spiritual Growth

The seven churches of Revelation 2–3 are not merely ancient congregations; they are a spiritual growth chart for every believer who desires maturity in Christ. They reveal the progressive strengthening of the Holy Spirit within us—the “love from above, down, and through”—as it deepens and expands in the heart.

Each church age highlights a stage of development after salvation. They show what must be added, corrected, or overcome if we are to grow into the fullness of Christ. And among these seven, one stands out as the model of spiritual maturity: Philadelphia, the church of the open door.

Philadelphia: The Church of the Open Door

Christ introduces Himself to Philadelphia with a title that demands attention: “He that is holy, He that is true, He that has the key of David; He that opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens.” (Revelation 3:7)

Then He explains why He has set an open door before them:

1. They have a little strength. They are not mighty in themselves, but they walk on faithfully with what they have.

2. They have kept His word. They cling to His teachings with patient endurance.

3. They have not denied His name. They refuse to renounce, disown, or repudiate the true Hebrew name of the Savior.

This third point is the hinge upon which the entire passage turns. The Greek word for “deny” (Strong’s #720) means to refuse, to disown, to reject as untrue. Many today deny His name; they refuse to acknowledge the true name of God and His Son.

But Philadelphia does not refuse. They do not deny. They do not shrink back. And because of this, Christ sets before them an open door.

Why the Name Matters for Spiritual Growth

Scripture is not vague about God’s name. He declares it plainly: Every Bible student knows that “LORD” in all caps is the English stand‑in for the Hebrew name Yahweh. Therefore, the verse reads: “I am the LORD [Yahweh]; that is my name” (Isa.42:8 Strong’s #H3068).

Likewise, the name of Christ—Yahshua—means “Yahweh is Savior.” To deny His name is to deny the very meaning of His mission.

And here lies the warning: To deny His name is to stunt your spiritual growth.

Those who refuse to acknowledge the power and identity embedded in His name will not advance into the deeper things of God. They will not walk through the open door. They will not be kept from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world.

But those who honor His name—who refuse to deny it—receive astonishing promises.

The Promises to Those Who Do Not Deny His Name

Christ gives Philadelphia a cascade of blessings:

•           Their enemies will bow before them and know that God has loved them (Revelation 3:9).

•           They will be kept from the hour of temptation coming upon the whole earth (3:10).

•           They will receive a crown, if they hold fast (3:11).

•           They will become pillars in the temple of God—immovable, established, honored (3:12).

•           They will receive three names written upon them:

•           the name of God (Yahweh),

•           the name of the New Jerusalem,

•           and Christ’s new name.

These promises are not given to the lukewarm. They are not given to those who deny His name. They are given to those who grow—those who move through the seven stages of spiritual maturity until they reach the Philadelphia level of steadfast devotion.

The Open Door Leads to the Visitation of Christ

The next church age, Laodicea, reveals what happens after the open door is set. Christ stands at the door and knocks. Those who hear His voice and open will experience a personal visitation:

This is the culmination of spiritual growth—the intimate fellowship of the overcomer with Christ Himself.

But this visitation is reserved for those who have passed through the Philadelphia stage. Those who have not denied His name. Those who have kept His word. Those who have walked on with a little strength.

Conclusion: Proving the Thesis

We set out to show that Christ promises an open door to those who refuse to deny His name. The evidence is clear:

•           Philadelphia receives the open door because they have not denied His name.

•           They receive protection, honor, and divine visitation because they have kept His word and walked faithfully.

•           Their spiritual growth is measured through the seven church ages, culminating in maturity.

•           And Scripture affirms that God’s name—Yahweh—and Christ’s name—Yahshua—carry divine identity and power. Therefore, the open door Christ sets before His faithful ones is granted to those who grow spiritually, keep His word, and refuse to deny His true name.

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The Heart and Mind Made New: A Conversation with the Seer”

The little country church was already warm with song when the pastor motioned the Seer forward. He never asked for the microphone, but somehow it always found its way into his hands. He stood there—calm, steady, joyful eyes bright with that inward fire—and began as he always did, with the simple truth.

“Brethren,” he said, “we are gathered here today to hear again what our Father calls sin, and how He has provided the only way to be rid of it. This knowledge is the foundation of our faith. It is the doorway into the house of righteousness.”

He paused, letting the room settle. “The mind,” he continued, “is our boon or our bust. Victory or defeat—it all begins there. But the mind cannot stand on a sure foundation until the heart is made right with its Maker.” He opened his Bible and let the pages fall where they wished.

“Mankind is born into a spiritual condition that naturally breaks the Ten Commandments. People lie, cheat, steal, covet, commit adultery, and place a thousand things above their Creator. That is the human condition. And our Father calls it sin (I John 3:4). But now He is calling all men everywhere to repent of that old nature. And He has provided the way.

Long ago He promised us a new heart. “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD [YAHWEH]. “I will put my law in their minds. This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33).

The Seer lifted his eyes. “The Father poured Himself—He who is Spirit—into a chosen vessel. In English we say Jesus Christ, but His Hebrew name is Yahshua. That Man from Galilee carried our sins in His own body. He died, was buried, and rose again after three days and three nights. But here is what most churches never teach: we sinners must place our old spiritual heart, our old sinful nature, upon the cross with Him. Not symbolically. Not poetically. But in a revelatory spiritual act.”

He tapped the pulpit lightly. “We must let the old nature die with Christ, be buried with Him, and then—by faith in the operation of God who raised Him from the dead—we too may walk in newness of life, never to sin again (Romans 6:1–6; Col. 2:11–13; I John 3:9). All we must do is believe that He was raised. For believing in His resurrection opens the door to believing in our own resurrection.”

He closed the Bible gently. “Paul explains it plainly: ‘Being made free from sin, you became the servants of righteousness’ (Rom. 6:18). And the Master Himself said, ‘Whosoever commits sin is the servant of sin… and no man can serve two masters’ (John 8:34; Matthew 6:24).”

That was the heart of his message that morning.

Later, back at the mission, we met briefly for a bit of questions and answers. I finally asked him about what had been stirring in me all morning.

“You mean,” I said, “a person can change so much that they won’t do the bad things they’ve always done?”

He nodded. “Exactly. It is possible. ‘For with God all things are possible… all things are possible to him that believes.’”

“But the preachers,” I said, “they teach the opposite. They say as long as you live, you’ll sin.”

The Seer sighed—not in frustration, but in sorrow. “I know what they teach. But they are confused from the start. They have never narrowed down in their minds what sin is. They do not see that sin is the breaking of the Ten Commandments. They do not see that the old Adamic nature is the engine that produces sin. And they do not see that God has provided the way out. But that way costs us our old life.”

“That’s why people don’t want this message,” I said. “They know they’ll have to change.”

“Exactly,” he replied. “A classic case of wanting one’s cake and eating it too. Scripture plainly states that the Savior destroyed the works of the devil—which is sin (I John 3:8).”

I leaned forward. “Where on earth is sin destroyed?”

The Seer paused, letting the weight of the question settle. “There is only one place on earth where sin is destroyed,” he said softly. “In the heart of God’s sons and daughters. When His offspring believe this astounding truth, and think on it, and fill their minds with His word about it, then they begin to put on the armor of God. This prepares them for the spiritual battle that will come. When our new heart breathes the Spirit into our mind, then the battle is fought, and the victory is won. In God’s mind, it has already happened!”     Kenneth Wayne Hancock, fulltime missionary, 1971-1985

[What is your experience with the cross? Share your testimony in the “Comment” section]

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100‑Fold Fruit‑Bearing Spiritual Growth (Conversations with the Seer)

“Formerly in Israel, if a man went to inquire of God, he would say, ‘Come, let us go to the Seer,’ because the prophet of today used to be called a Seer” (1 Samuel 9:9).

It seemed like every time we met for Bible study—7:00 a.m., every day—the conversation would eventually circle back to those who would become that cadre, predestinated to be the manifested sons. The Seer spoke of them often, his voice rising like wind through the pines, full of faith and certainty. (Romans 8:18–19)

“I tell you,” he said one morning, “it is a worthy goal in this life to aspire to the high calling of God in Christ. But it is a paradox, for although we must study and pray to ‘make our calling and election sure,’ God chooses whomsoever He wills for this honor. No man ‘takes this honor unto himself.’ It is only by His grace that we can run the race.” (2 Peter 1:10; Hebrews 5:4; 1 Corinthians 15:10)

“I see what you mean,” I said.

“So,” the Seer continued, “knowing about the manifested sons coming on the scene in these latter days—and believing it—is just one of the puzzle pieces we need in order to see the whole picture. Christ, in chapters 14 through 17, elucidates several more and lines them out as a kind of stepping‑stone path to glorification with Him.”

“What’s the next puzzle piece?” I asked eagerly.

“Once a person learns and believes that there is spiritual growth in God’s plan for their life—growth like Peter, James, John, Paul, and yes, like the Savior Himself—then they are ready to actually walk the walk toward perfection, toward complete spiritual maturity. As Paul exhorts us, ‘Let us go on unto perfection.’” (Hebrews 6:1)

“Perfection?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said. “Have you not read where Christ commands us, ‘Be ye perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect’? If someone has enough faith to get this far, then they may begin to receive the next great teaching, found in John 14 through 17.” (Matthew 5:48).

“What is it?” I asked.

“It is to believe in the oneness of God. In order to be one of His elect manifested sons—to be just like Christ—one must get the correct concept of the Godhead. And here in John 14, Christ sets the record straight.”

The Seer leaned forward. “Christ flat‑out commands all manifested sons to believe: ‘Believe Me… believe that the Father is in Me.’” (John 14:10)

“Is that it? Just believe Him?” I asked.

“Yes,” the Seer said. “It is really very simple, and yet man’s innate unbelief hardens his heart so much that the seed‑word about God’s essence cannot get in. In John 14:1 He says, ‘Believe in Me.’ Then, in verse 6, He says, ‘I am the way to the Father; the truth about where God is and what His plans are; and the life, for very eternal life dwells inside of Christ.’ (John 14:1; John 14:6)

“Then Christ says, speaking of where the Father is, ‘He that has seen Me has seen the Father… Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me.’” (John 14:9–11).

“Precisely,” the Seer replied. “Paul said that the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily in Christ. God is a Spirit. The Father is an invisible Spirit whose expressed image is His Son—Christ.” (Colossians 2:9; John 4:24; Hebrews 1:3).

I sat quietly for a moment, letting the Seer’s words settle. The morning light filtered through the trees, and his voice seemed to blend with the wind itself.

“So,” I finally said, “if the Father is the invisible Spirit inside the Son, then what does that mean for us? For ordinary believers?”

The Seer smiled. “Ahh, that is the next great mystery. Christ did not come merely to reveal who He is, but to reveal who we are meant to become. Listen carefully: the same Spirit that dwelt in Christ is the Spirit He promised to place inside of us. ‘I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.’” (John 14:18)

“You mean… Christ Himself comes to live inside us?”

“Exactly,” he said. “Paul called it ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory.’ And John said, ‘Of His fullness have all we received.’ The very life of the Father that filled Christ is the life Christ pours into His sons and daughters.” (Colossians 1:27; John 1:16)

I leaned forward. “But how does that actually happen?”

“Through yielding,” the Seer replied. “Through surrender. Through letting the old self die so the new life can rise. Christ said, ‘Abide in Me, and I in you.’ That is not poetry—it is spiritual reality. As we abide, the divine nature begins to grow in us, little by little, like a seed becoming a tree.” (John 15:4; 2 Peter 1:4)

“So spiritual growth is not striving,” I said slowly. “It’s receiving.”

“Receiving and responding,” he corrected gently. “For the Spirit will lead you, but you must walk. The Spirit will teach you, but you must obey. And as you do, something marvelous happens: the Father who was in Christ begins to express Himself through you. That is how manifested sons are formed—not by human effort, but by divine indwelling.” (Romans 8:14; Galatians 2:20)

I sat back, overwhelmed. “It’s almost too much to take in.”

The Seer nodded. “It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. And the Kingdom begins inside you.” (Luke 12:32; Luke 17:21)

The Seer closed his eyes for a moment, as if listening to something—or Someone—beyond the room. When he opened them again, there was a quiet intensity in his gaze.

“You see,” he said, “Christ didn’t just come to reveal the Father. He came to reproduce the Father’s nature in us. That’s why He prayed, ‘That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us.’ That is the blueprint of manifested sonship.” (John 17:21)

I nodded slowly. “So the oneness Christ had with the Father… that’s the same oneness He wants for us?”

“Exactly,” the Seer said. “Not a lesser version. Not a symbolic version. The real thing. The same Spirit, the same mind, the same love. Paul said, ‘Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.’ And John said, ‘As He is, so are we in this world.’ These are not metaphors. They are invitations.” (Philippians 2:5; 1 John 4:17)

“But how does a person actually enter into that?” I asked.

The Seer leaned back, folding his hands. “By beholding. By looking at Christ until His image becomes the image in your own heart. ‘We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory.’ Transformation is not achieved—it is received.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

I felt something stir inside me. “So the more I behold Him, the more I become like Him.”

“Yes,” he said softly. “And the more you become like Him, the more the Father’s life flows through you. That is why Christ said, ‘He that believes on Me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.’ Those rivers are the Father’s own Spirit, moving through His sons and daughters.” (John 7:38)

I sat quietly, letting the thought wash over me. The Seer continued, “And when that life matures—when Christ is fully formed in you—you will bear the hundredfold fruit. Not by striving, but by abiding. Not by effort, but by union.” But  God uses suffering to purge us. Like a vine is pruned, so He prunes us. This increases our spiritual fruit production—from 30-fold, growing into 60-fold, and, on into 100-fold. But that is for another time” (Galatians 4:19; John 15:5).

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Connecting Dots–“In the Beginning”

Introduction

Occasionally, the mind drifts back to the big questions—the ones that tug at the edges of our spirit. This morning, mine drifted back to the word “beginning.” Moses used it. John used it. And both seemed to sense that “beginning” is far bigger than our small minds can grasp. Yet Scripture invites us to trace the lines, to connect the dots, and to see the picture that emerges.

Thesis: It is to connect the biblical “beginning” to the heart of God, showing how Spirit, Love, and Yahweh converge in His purpose to share His very nature with humanity through Christ. (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1; 1 John 1:1)

1. Back to the Beginning: Spirit, Love, God

When Moses wrote, “In the beginning,” and when John echoed the same phrase, they were not merely marking time—they were pointing us toward the heart of God. Scripture gives us three dots to connect: God is Spirit, God is love, and God is invisible. Put them together and the picture becomes clearer: the Supreme Being is the Invisible Spirit of Agape Love. And Scripture gives this Being a name—Yahweh. So the first dot is drawn: Yahweh = Invisible Spirit of Agape Love. (John 4:24; 1 John 4:8; Colossians 1:15; Exodus 3:14–15)

2. Love Alone—Yet Not Content to Be Alone

But love, by its very nature, longs to give itself. In the beginning, Yahweh existed with spiritual beings in the heavenly realm, yet He was still alone in one essential sense: there was no one who shared His nature, no one who could receive the fullness of His heart. Love needs an object. Love needs someone to bless, someone to lift, someone to pour itself into. And so, Yahweh formed a plan—a purpose rooted in His very essence. He would create human beings in His image so that He could share Himself with them. (Genesis 1:26–27; Ephesians 1:4–5)

3. How Love Reveals Itself

But how would Yahweh show these new creatures what love truly is? Humanity is wired to recognize sacrificial love. We honor the firefighter who gives his life for a child, the soldier who throws himself on a grenade to save his brothers. Something in us knows: that is the greatest love. Jesus Himself said it: “Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down his life for a friend.” And so, Yahweh determined to reveal His heart in the clearest way possible. He would form a prototype body, pour His Spirit into a chosen mortal, walk among us, heal us, teach us—and then lay down that mortal body as an offering for the sins of the world. (John 15:13; Philippians 2:6–8; John 1:14; 1 John 2:2)

4. The Path of Growth and the Purpose of Love

Yet humanity must first walk the dark path long enough to feel the need for a Savior. Only then can they offer their bodies as living sacrifices and receive His Spirit into their minds. As His Spirit grows in them, the old selfish ways fall away. They begin to love as He loves. Some will grow and grow until Christ is fully formed in them—until they reflect the very nature of the One who made them. And the picture that emerges is breathtaking: a people who share their Father’s purpose, who carry His love into the world, who become living expressions of the Invisible Spirit of Agape. (Romans 12:1; Ezekiel 36:26–27; Galatians 4:19; Romans 8:18–29)

Conclusion

So, yes—I’ve been connecting dots. And the more I connect them, the more I see a God whose plan is far more beautiful than we imagined. A God who began with love, acted in love, revealed Himself in love, and is forming a people who will live out that same love. (Ephesians 3:17–19)

The greatest dot of love is that Christ chose us in Him before He laid “the foundation of the world.” He chose us “in the beginning,” before this world was ever laid. That is the greatest dot—to see His love in already predestinating us, that we could be “accepted in the beloved” (Eph. 1:4-6). Belief of all this is connecting the dots of truth. We are with Him—Before, Now, and throughout Eternity. That is the biggest of dots! Kenneth Wayne Hancock [Request my books. Christ has already paid for them; they are free with free shipping. Be sure to “Like” this post. Subscribe and make a comment about the dots of truth that you are connecting. Request a free book here:  Ordering My Free Books in Paperback | Immortality Road

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God’s Promise of a New Heart and Spirit

God is a promise Maker. He shines His essence through His promises, revealing His character by the words He has spoken and fulfilled. Among His greatest promises is the pledge to transform us—from selfish, sinful human beings into people marked by love and genuine care. God promised to cleanse us, to give us a new heart and a new spirit. Through the prophet Ezekiel, He declared, “And I will give you one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you” (11:19). Again, He said, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you… and I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes” (36:26–27).

The promise is clear: a new, righteous heart and spirit. But how would He accomplish such a miracle? His promise is distilled from His spoken and written word. It is like a seed moving through its life cycle. “The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11). God has spoken His word about changing us into vessels fit to live forever. It is a promise—solid as the Rock of Ages.

How He Kept His Promise

Yahweh would clothe Himself in a chosen, prepared human being—His Son—who would become the sin sacrifice. Christ, the Anointed One, was the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Scripture testifies, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me” (Heb. 10:5). Christ Himself said, “Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart” (Ps. 40:7–8).

His calling as the Sacrificial Lamb was written “in the scroll of the book.” And our calling is written in that same book. It is like a family record, beginning with Him, with spiritual DNA flowing through all who are called. In its pages we find our marching orders—where we stand as the seed of the promise germinates and grows into mature sons and daughters of God.

He has promised this transformation through His word, His eternal seed. But a seed only lives after it dies, is buried, and rises again.

This is where the lightning strikes. We must die with Christ, be buried with Him, and be raised with Him. This is the meaning of the cross. Whether we fully grasp it or not, Scripture declares that our old sinful self has already died with Christ. “For we know that our old self was crucified with Him… that we should no longer be slaves to sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin” (Rom. 6:6–7). Baptism symbolizes this reality—the old self going under, the new self rising (Col. 2:12).

This is the message of the cross: the place of spiritual change. These are the words that ground new believers in the basic teaching of repentance from sin. Without this, gatherings become little more than social events—hugs and potlucks.

Christ offers something far greater: an invitation to “sit with Him on His throne” (Rev. 3:21). This path is not for the casual or the complacent. It requires spiritual growth, the kind Christ described as entering through the narrow gate. “Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction… Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:13–14).

Christ has promised us the opportunity to dwell with Him, to abide with Him, to reign with Him after the smoke clears. But this treasure lies along the narrow road. Revelation 2–3 outlines the seven overcoming requirements that lead to the throne. Meanwhile, the wide avenue is lined with potluck stations and easy religion.

Conclusion

The promise and the cross are not separate themes; they are one continuous work of God. The promise is the seed—His word declaring that He will give us a new heart and spirit. The cross is the soil in which that seed dies, is buried, and rises into new life. God keeps His promise by leading us through the very pattern Christ walked: death to the old, burial of the former self, and resurrection into the life He has prepared. The promise reveals His intention; the cross accomplishes it. And those who embrace both will grow into the sons and daughters written in His book from the beginning. Kenneth Wayne Hancock

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