BIBLE STUDIES

BIBLE STUDY 10

John 10 , 24-38

The jews who were there gathered around him, saying : "How long will you keep us in suspense ? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly"

Jesus answered : " I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father's name testify about me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice ; I know them, and they follow me. I give them Eternal life, and they shall never perish ; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one".

Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them : "I have shown you many good works

from the Father. For which of these do you stone me ?"

"We are not stoning you for any good work", they replied, "but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God".

Jesus answered them : "Is it not written in your law : "I have said you are 'gods' ?

If he called them 'gods', to whom the word of God came, - and Scripture cannot be set aside - what about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world ? Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said : 'I am God's Son' ?

Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But If I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father".

If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly

The jews are troubled by Jesus' teaching, which preaches love, contrary to the law. He is a danger to the High Priests, to whom people are usually devoted, as many of the people are now following Jesus. They want him to be accused of blasphemy and sentenced to death.

for example :Matthew 5, 38-48"You have heard that it has been said : 'eye for eye and tooth for tooth' but I say to you not

to resist evil. But whoever shall strike you on your right cheek, turn to him also the other........For if you should love those who loves you, what reward in it ?........"

For all our actions are weighed by God. Every sinner bears his sin, and if we respond with the same sin, we are also liable for the same sin. It would be very sad to be punished by God the same way as our oppressors. When St Peter, Jesus' disciple, cut with his sword the ear of one of the soldiers who came to arrest Jesus, Jesus himself put the ear of the soldier back to its place. He saved Peter from being punished by the Father, as it is said :
" All who take the sword shall perish by the sword " (Matthew 26, 50-56). God is the protector, and nothing in this world happens without God's permission, in order to fulfill God's plan.
"Vengeance is mine, and recompence" (Deuteronomy 32, 32-36) (Romans 12, 18-20).

Matthew 5, 17-20 " Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them". [To fulfill the prophecy and to respect the 10 Commandments : Jesus is faithfull to those he loves, he is always present for them -resurection of Lazarus- He gives the Holy Spirit to his disciples, to those who chose to follow him, and to the Holy Church, his bride. (Revelation 21, 9-11) : One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, came and said to me : "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb". And he carried me away, in the Spirit, to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the Glory of God...]

I did tell you, but you do not believe

- You do not believe in God :

Isaiah 29, 13-16 : And the Lord said : " For as much as this people draw nigh unto me, and with their mouth anad with their ltps do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which hath been taught them....."

Matthew 15, 5-9: "Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying : this people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me ..."

- God the Father, who is in Jesus, has announced the coming of the Christ several times through his prophets.
(Isaiah 11, 1-10) ( Isaiah 9, 1-3) (Isaiah 7, 13-16) (Micha 5, 2-3)

- Jesus was born from a virgin. (Matthew 1, 18-25) (Luc 2, 1-7) (Matthew 2, 19-21) (Matthew 4, 12,17)

- Jesus, since he was 12 years old, has proved he was the son of God ( A child who teaches Doctors ),
has said it (Mark 14, 60-65) and many have testified about him (Marc 3, 11) (Matthew 16, 16).

But you do not believe because you are not my sheep

Jesus, the good shepherd, lead his sheep (his children, sons of Adam and Eve, who were created by God).

When he says :"you are not my sheep", he is speaking to the evil spirits incarnated in those who are questioning him.

- The demons, (fallen angels), were created by God, so they know him.

(James 2, 19) : "you believe that God is one, you do well. The demons also believe, and they shudder".

(Marc 5,7) : "what have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I adjure thee by God, torment me not.

(Luke 4, 41) (Matthew 8,29)

- But the evil spirits, produced by demons and flesh, were not created by God, and they do not fear God.

- Among the sons of Adam and Eve, some chose to follow God and the path of good, others not.

My sheep listen to my voice

My sheep hear my voice, When I speak to them, they listen.
A shepherd leads his sheep using his voice and his stick. The sheep listen carefully. With time, they have learned to recognise his voice and his messages through the tone of the voice, the words he uses...They know as well how to recognise the messages sent by the shepherd with his stick ( number or strength of the hits...)

As well as the sheep, those who follow Jesus Christ try to hear and recognise his voice, his messages, so they can be guided by him. They cry to the Lord, and wait for him to answer. Jesus himself talks to the spirit of each of his children
in many ways : dreams, visions, prophecy, voice in their ear...

(Jeremiah 33,3) (John 1,1 : " In the beginning was the Word)

(Numbers 12, 7-8) (Exodus 33, 11 : And the Lord spake to Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend)

I know them and they follow me.

- I gave to them the spirit of life, and I know the sheep which is faithful to me.
- I also know those which are not faithful ( the lost sheep: they go to evil).
- and those with little faith : they cannot find me because they don't seek me in my house.
(Psalm 22, 2-4) : "My God, I cry in the day-time, but you don't answer. In the night season. and I am not silent.
But you are holy, and you inhabit the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in you and you
delivered them."
(Psalm 99,9) : " Exalt Yaweh, our god. Worship at his holy hill, for Yaweh, our God, is holy".(Matthew 5,8) : " Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God".

My sheep follow me because they trust me, they do not worship other gods, they put their hope in me.
(Roman 8, 1-2) : There is therefore now no condemnation in those who are in Christ Jesus, who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death.
(2 Corinthians 12, 9) : " And he said to me: 'My grace is sufficient for you ... for whenever I am weak, then I am strong".

I give them eternal life and they shall never perish.

Let us meditate on the following questions : - what is "eternal life"?

- why should we seek eternal life?

- how should we look for eternal life?

What is eternal life ? (or "life near the living God")

(Genesis 6,3): Then the Lord said: 'My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh, and in the future, his days shall be no more than 120 years'

The body is made of flesh only, and therefore, it is the soul which needs rest.

(John 3, 6-8) : That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

The Lord is Spirit, and he is eternal, so the breath of life he gives to men is also spirit and eternal.

- If this breath of life stays pure and loyal to God, when the body dies, it enters heaven,

and dwells with God forever : 'I give them permission to abide with me forever, I free them from eternal death : they shall never perish'.

- If this breath becomes depraved and unfaithful to God, it shall not enter heaven, which is filled with the glory of God. It will be cast in the pit for ever , because holiness cannot dwell with corruption.

Why should we seek eternal life ?

We should seek eternal life because it is a life full of Divine Delights, Love, and Peace.

It is not too late to come back to God during the time when we can find him, for God really loves mankind. He created us in his image, after his likeness. He loves us so much that he gave to us redemption through Christ Jesus his Son.

(Romans 6, 22-23) : " But now that you have been set free from sin, and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life Christ Jesus, our Lord." (Titus 3, 4-7)(Isaiah 55, 6-7) : " Seek the Lord while he may be found, call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways, and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon." (Isaiah 58,9) (Ezekiel 33,11)

(Ezekiel 14, 6) : " Therefore, warn them that the Lord God says : 'Repent and destroy your idols, and stop worshiping them in your hearts."

God also makes us promises :

(Jeremiah 29,11) : " For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Proverbs 22, 4)(Revelation 21, 6-7) : " Then he said to me : It is done ! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the b

egining and the end. To the thirsty I will give water, as a gift from the spring of the water of life.
Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children."

In the same way, God has no mercy for those who doesn't repent, who stay wicked and practise abominations

(Revelation 21, 8) : " But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, the murderers, the fornicators, the sorcerers, the idolators, and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." (Revelation 19, 19-21) (Psalm 140, 10-13)(Isaiah 3, 8-9) : " For Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen, because their speech and their deeds are against the Lord, defying his glorious presence. The look on their faces bears witness against them. They proclaim their sin like Sodom, they do not hide it. Woe to them ! For they have brought evil on themselves."

How to look for Eternal life ?

Our God is dressed with holiness and He lives among praise.

We also need to be dressed with holiness and praise him at all times.

We must sanctify our body, our heart, our soul, our thoughts.

(Joel 2, 13) : " Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate..."

(Ephesians 4, 30) : " And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. "

We also need to praise the Lord and sing for him each moment.

(Psalm 71, 8) : " My mouth shall be filled with thy praise, and with thy honor all the day "

(Psalm 34, 1-2) : " I will the Lord at all times, his praise shall continuously be in my mouth "

(Jeremiah 17, 7-8) : " Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.

They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out his roots by the stream.

He shall not fear when heat comes, and its leaves shall stay green.

In the year of drought, it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit.

And they shall never perish

A soul loved by God and full of Holy Spirit can never perish.

" I free them from the second death. I am their witness to the Father".

Revelation 1, 4-5 : " and from Jesus-Christ, the faithful witness, the first born of the dead, and the ruler of the the Kings of the earth "

Revelation 14, 3 : " and they sang a new song before the throne...and no one could learn the song, except the one hundred and forty-four thousand, who have been purchased from the
earth" (Hosea 13,14) (Revelation 19,20)

Revelation 20,6 : " Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection. Over these, thesecond death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will
reign with him for a thousand years"

Revelation 20,15 : " and if anyone's name was not found written in the Book of ltfe, he was thrown intothe lake of fire..." (Isaiah 66,24) (Isaiah 33,14) (Matthew 3,12)

Matthew 25, 34-46 : " Then the King will say to those on his right : come, you who are blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you...and then he will say to those on his left : Depart from me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and its angels..." (Matthew 24)

No one will snatch them out of my hand

The enemy wants to steal and destroy all that God has : his throne, his glory, the creation, the earth, God's children... But :

Those who are faithful to Jesus will not move away from him, even if they are desperate, and Jesus himself will never deliver them to their enemies, no matter how much he has to suffer for their salvation.

(Isaiah 49, 16) : "Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands, and your walls are continually before me "

(Isaiah 62, 6): " I have set watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem..." (Divine angels protects God's children)

(Isaiah 40, 31) : " But those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength.They will mount up with wings like
eagles. They will run, but not be weary. They will walk and not faint "

(Psalm 125, 1-3): "Those who trust in Yahweh are like mount Zion, which can't be moved, but remains forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so Yahweh surrounds his people from this time, forward and forever more. For the scepter of wickedness won't remain over the allotment of the righteous,so that the righteous won't use their hands to do evil"

(Philippians 4, 11-13) : "Not that I speak in respect to lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it. I know how to be humbled, and I know also how to abound..."

(Ephesians 6, 14-16) : "Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth, buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness..."

(Matthew 26, 38): Then he said to them " My soul is exeedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch with me..."

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all
- Who is God the Father ?
- What happens when God gives something ?
- God the Father is greater than the Son and is the greatest in the universe.

"My Father"

Jesus, (God made Flesh), never said that he was God, He said that he is King, and He is the Son of God, which was confirmed by God himself, when he said : "This is my beloved Son..."
( Matthew 3, 16-17) ( Matthew 17, 4-6) ( Luke 3, 21-22) ( Colossians 1, 12-18 )

Jesus always calls God his "Father", and advises us to do the same ( Luke 11,2 ).
God sees us as his children, the brothers and sisters of Jesus, as he made us to his image and according to hislikeness. He gave us the breath of life, and the Holy Spirit. ( 1 John 3, 1-3 )
Jesus is the Son of God : God himself is incarnated in him, through the Power of the Holy Spirit ( Luke 1, 5 )

Jesus is also the Son of Man : He was made flesh in the womb of the Holy Virgin Mary, and she herself was conceived without the original sin. Being a man, he is no longer God in his complete majesty and his great power, because the power of the flesh and of the body are very limited. ( Psalm 8, 4-5 ) ( Hebrew 2, 7-8 )

Who has given them to me:

(Nehemiah 9,6) : 'You alone are the Lord. You have made the heavens, the heavens of heavens and their host,

the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all of them, and the heavenly host bows down before you' (Isaiah 42,5) (Job 38,4) ( Psalm 136,5)

(Exodus 31,18) :' When God finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God'

(Haggai 2, 8-9) : '...The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says Yahweh of the Armies...and in this place will I give peace...' (Isaiah 54,12) (1 Peter 1, 17-21)

Everything belongs to God : heavens, earth, plants, animals, people, gems... he gives and he takes back when he wants. No one can curse what God has blessed and no one can bless what God has cursed.

(Numbers 22, 12) : 'God said to Balaam...You shall not curse the people, for they are blessed'

(Numbers 23, 7-9) : '...How should I curse someone God has not cursed ?...'

(Revelation 3, 7-13) : '...he who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one can shut, and who shuts and no one can open...behold, I have set before you an opened door, which no one can shut...

Hold firmly which that you have, so that no one takes your crown...'

(Matthew 6, 33-34) :
'But seek first God's kingdom, and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well'

God gives us his love, his Son Jesus to save us from God's wrath, multiple spiritual gifts, the Holy Spirit, faith, his Word, our daily bread, wealth, healing...We must take care of what God has given to us : no destruction, no neglect, no wasting ; we should share with those in need ; our body must be clean and sanctified, our soul stay pure. We need to produce the fruits of the holy spirit : love, joy, seek peace and justice, kindness, patience, be helpful to one another...

(Joshua 24,15) : 'If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose today whom you will serve; whether the Gods that your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh'

(Luke 12, 4-5) :'...don't be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do...Fear him, who after he has killed, has power to cast into Gehenna...'

God can also take back what he has given, because of his anger about abominations and sin, or because of his grief about our lack of faith no matter what he does for us ; or also to test our faith.

(John 4, 23-24) : '...when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth...'

(Proverbs 25, 21-22) : '...if your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat...for you will heap coals of fire on his head...'

Is greater than all:

Our God is the Creator and the Master of the universe.

He is omniscient ( he has the knowledge and the science of everything)

He is omnipresent( he is present everywhere at the same moment)

He is omnipotent (he is almighty, he is more powerful than everything and everyone)

We must fear God :

(1 Chronicles 16, 27) : 'Honor and majesty are before him, strenght and gladness are in his place.'

(Psalm 111, 3) : 'His work is honor and majesty, his righteousness endures forever'

(Psalm 93, 1) : 'Yahweh reigns, he is clothed with majesty, Yahweh is armed with strength,

the world also is established, it can't be moved.

(Psalm 24, 1-2): 'The earth is Yahweh, with its fulness. The world and those who dwell therein;
for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the floods,

God is greater than men, therefore he is greater than "The Son of Man". He is the heavenly Father.

(Isaiah 66, 1-2) : 'Thus says Yahweh : heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool : what kind of house will you built to me ? and what place shall be my rest ? For all these things have my hand made...'

(1 Kings 8, 27) ( Matthew 5, 34-35) ( Acts 7, 48-50) (Psalm 11, 4)

I give them eternal life and they shall never perish.

Let us meditate on the following questions : - what is "eternal life"?

- why should we seek eternal life?

- how should we look for eternal life?

What is eternal life ? (or "life near the living God")

(Genesis 6,3): Then the Lord said: 'My Spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh, and in the future, his days shall be no more than 120 years'

The body is made of flesh only, and therefore, it is the soul which needs rest.

(John 3, 6-8) : That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

The Lord is Spirit, and he is eternal, so the breath of life he gives to men is also spirit and eternal.

- If this breath of life stays pure and loyal to God, when the body dies, it enters heaven,

and dwells with God forever : 'I give them permission to abide with me forever, I free them from eternal death : they shall never perish'.

Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man

(John 3,16-18) : 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believe in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. He who believes in Him is not judged. He who doesn't believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.'

(John 3, 33-36) (John 1, 29) (John 1, 12-13) (Hebrew 1, 3)

God is Almighty, he is the Creator and Master of all things. He is powerful and terrible.

(Revelation 4,5) : ' Out of the throne proceed lightnings, sounds, and thunder. There were seven lamps of fire burning before his throne, which are the seven Spirits of God'.

(psalm 18, 5-15) (Exodus 19,16) (Revelation 8, 5) (Revelation 1, 19) (psalm 103, 19)

Jesus, Son of God has been given his kingdom by his father.

(Psalm 2, 1-12) : '...Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion. I will tell of the decree. Yahweh said to me : you are my Son...you shall break them with a rod of iron...'

( Hebrew 1, 7-9) (Isaiah 11, 4-5)

(Psalm 110, 1-7) : '...Yahweh has sworn, and will not change his mind :

"You are priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek"...

(Hebrew 5,6) (Hebrew 7, 1-13) (Genesis 14)

Jesus, the Son of Man, praise the Lord for his kindness, and the children proclaim he is holy name.

( Isaiah 61, 1-10) : " The Spirit of the Lord Yaweh is on me, because Yahweh has anointed me to preach good news to the humble... I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh, my soul shall be joyful in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness..."

(Matthew 21, 10-16) : "...Out of the mouth of babes and nursing babies you have perfected praise..."(Psalm 8)

No one can snatch them out of my father's hand:

The Almighty God has a plan for each of his creatures, and he imposes limits on the enemy.

(Job 2, 1-10) : ...'and the Lord said : behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only, against him do not stretch out your hand...'

(Revelation 13, 5-10) : '...and power was given to him to continue forty and two months...and it was given to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them...who that lead into captivity shall go into captivity, he that kill with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints'

The Lord dwells in Heaven; who could go to Heaven and reach God's hand ? Fire and storm come out oh his throne.

(Enoch 1, chapter 14, verses 13-25)

(Psalm 24, 3-5) : 'Who may ascend to Yahweh's hill ? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean handsand a pure heart...'

It is God who gives permission to someone to approach him.

(Enoch 1 , chapter 15, verse 1) : 'Hear, do not be afraid, Enoch, you righteous man, and scribe of righteousness. Come here and hear my voice...'

1- The Power of the Lord

God is wise, he is right and true, so is His Word : the word of God is wise, right, and true, that is why it is extraordinary powerful : it doesn't return to the Lord without being accomplished, it's a two-edged sword [which separates two opposites :good and evil, darkness and light, body and spirit...] : it always reaches its goal, and destroys obstacles.

(Numbers 23,19) (Isaiah 44,26-28) (Isaiah 45,23) (Isaiah 49,20) (Isaiah 55,10-11) (Jeremiah 23,20) (Jeremiah 23,29)

(Ezekiel 24,14) (Palm 149, 6) (Matthew 24,35) (1 Thessalonicians 2,13) (Hebrews 4,12-13) (Revelation 1,16) (John 12,48)

Jesus, Son of God and Son of Man, the Word made flesh, reached his goal : by taking away our sins, he delivered us from God's wrath, and he gave light to those who were walking in darkness. Flesh cannot be an obstacle to God's word. (prophecies about Jesus' birth and life.)

(Isaiah 9,1-3) (John 1, 1-14) (John 8,12) (Ephesians 5,8) (1Peter2, 9) (Genesis 1)

God reveals his glory to his anointed ones : as his glory is unique, his prophets receive similar visions and prophecies, no matter the space and the time.(Enoch 1, chapter14, v 15-25) (Ezechiel 1, 23-28) (Revelation 4,2-6)

2- The service of the holy Angels

The word of the Lord is powerful in itself, and in addition, myriads of angels are always ready to realise God's will and to make sure that his orders are executed to perfection.

Each category of angels has a main mission (for example seraphims sing in celestial choirs). However, some of them can be appointed to other tasks, according to their rank (management, messenger...), or to a specific mission into the creation.

In each category, angels are given one or several tasks to do, for example working at the throne of God, or at the throne of the Virgin Mary, or with other categories of angels, or with men, animals, plants, luminaries...

Angels have many powers, like " téléportation : they move so quickly that it takes to them less than a millisecond to reach their destination. Walls and doors are not an obstacle to them".

Some angels can move items (telekinesis), others are burning flames...

(Genesis 3,24) (Isaiah 6, 1-2) (1 Thessalonians 4, 16) (Ephesians 1, 20-22) (Jude 1, 8-9) (Hebrews 12,22)

(Revelation 8, 6-21) (Revelation11, 15-19) ( Revelation 16, 1-21) (Psalm 103, 20-21)

3- The hand of the Lord

God made us in his image, and after his likeness, which means that God has one head, a body, hands and feet.

(Revelation 4,2) : "Immediately, I was in the Spirit. Behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne..."

God has scriptures written on his hands :
(Isaiah 49,16): "Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..."
So humans also have scriptures written on their hands : those criss-cross lines on the palms, of which people try to find the meaning since the beginning of time, through science or divination. But people can understand only what God want them to know, and many things are kept secret until the time they must be accomplished.

*What is the hand of God:

The human being's hand is able to catch, hold, work, build, destroy...like God's hand.

Engraving and writing help for something or for an event to be printed in the world's memory.

God's ways are inscrutable, and his thoughts are not our thoughts.

Therefore, God's hand is THE BOOK OF LIFE.

*The divine inscriptions:

The book of life is, like the bible, composed of two main books :

- The book of knowledge of good and evil (left hand of God), composed of three chapters:

The origin of evil, the acts of all creatures, the last judgement.

- The book of the Elected (right hand of God),also composed of three chapters :

The wonders of God, the list of the elected, the book of praise

(Enoch 1, chapter 9) (Psalm 139, 12-14) (Job 12,10) (Isaiah 59,1) (Psalm 31,15)

(2 Corinthians 5, v 17-18) (Revelation 15, 1-4) (Psalm 89,13) ( Isaiah 49,2)

I and the Father are one

Jesus, the Son of Man, is, as we,ll as everyone, made in God's image and after God's likeness.

However, it is the Spirit of God himself who was made flesh in Jesus, and Jesus' flesh is free from sin. It was God's plan. When making himself flesh, he was able to sanctify the flesh and also the spirit ofhis beloved creatures, and take them back from the enemy's hands. When Adam and Eve sinned, they lost the purity of their spirit and also the virginity of their flesh : the enemy had snatched their crown.

Jesus, through his sacrifice, took it back and returned the crown to God's children.

And when Jesus died, he returned his Spirit to God, the enemy could not steal it.

Jesus looks upon his sheep souls, especially when God recalls them. He is our advocate before the Father.

Through Jesus, God was reconciled with his creature. God is "one" again with men.

No one goes to the Father except through Jesus (John 14, 6-7) (John 1) ( John 6,45-47) (John 7, 29)

When Jesus said "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit", (Luke 23,46), h is spirit returned to God, back to its place,in the middle of God's hands, between the 2 parts of the book of life. God is omnipresent, so his Spirit is hovering over the book of life : the part of God's spirit which was given to Jesus is the one between the two parts of the book of life, with the last judgement on the left hand of God, and God's wonders on his right hand.

Jesus is, truly (left hand),truly (right hand), the alpha and the omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the bright morning star (which leaded the three kings), the first born from among the dead (he is the Son of Man, the first to rise from the dead, in order to preside the last judgement (Revelation 22) (Revelation 20, 9-15)

Before giving up his spirit, Jesus said : "It is finished" (John 19,30). which means that he fulfilled his mission, all the scriptures on the roll about the Son of Man have been accomplished.

I have shown you many good works from the father

During his life, Jesus, the Son of Man, was lowly, He acknowledged God's authority and proclaimed it.

He was God's instrument. God used Jesus to teach his children, to show them the way,to heal them and do miracles.

It is God who performs miracles, who has wisdom, and who gives it to his anointed.

Jesus was son of God, so his wisdom and his knowledge of God were far beyond the understanding of men.

( when he was 12 years old, Jesus was already teaching to the scribes and to the people in the Temple of God ).

When we are humble, we give place to God, so he can use his power. While vainglory puts off God and denies him.

Because he said : "For dust you are, and unto dust shall you return" (Genesis 3, 19)

For which of these do you stone me ?

All that Jesus did was praying, fasting, teaching, healing, drive out demons....Why did some people hate him and stoned him ?
By doing this, they proved that they were against prayer, fast, teaching, healing, driving out demons...

They can't answer to Jesus, as it will reveal who they really are, and they are afraid of being unveiled by Jesus.

They can't answer for example "you are stoned because you are telling the truth to people" or "you are stoned because you drive out demons". Most of them were high priests, and to escape this uncomfortable situation, they quickly try to find a charge against Jesus.

But for a blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.

- about blasphemy : read bible study 2

Jesus was not blasphemous, He cannot be blasphemous against himself or against his Father.

(Mark 3, 23-30) (Matthew 12, 22-32) ( Luke 11, 14-26)

- You, a mere man

God made man in his physical image and after his spiritual likeness, and gave him authority on everything on earth (animals, plants...), and man could domesticate animals, plants, waters... and use the richness of nature and earth to produce food, built houses : God wants man to be like himself, and be able to create, produce, organize,control his destiny, be independent.

When he created Adam, God wanted someone just like him among all the creatures, another God like him, who would have been by his side, to whom he could talk to face to face. So, if men, which are sinners, are God and children of God, what about the Son of Man, the " Word that was made flesh" , whom God has sanctified because he lives in Jesus ?

(Genesis 1, 26-31) (John 1) (Exodus 33,11) (Deuteronomy 5,4-5)
(Numbers 12, 6-8) ( Exodus 33, 18-23) (Exodus 24,10-12)

Claim to be God : Jesus is the Son of God, he was begotten by God, but man was created by God.

Man begets children, he does not create them. So, Jesus is truly God, but man was made in God's image and after God's likeness (Psalm 2, 7)

Is it not written in your law : "I have said, You are Gods"

(Psalm 82) : God presides in the great assembly, he renders judgement among the gods : "How long will you defend the unjust, and show partiality to the wicked ? Defend the weak and the fatherless, uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy, deliver them from the hand of the wicked.The gods know nothing, they walk bout in darkness, all the foundations of the earth are shaken. " I said 'you are gods, you are all sons of the Most High, but you will die like mere mortals, you will fall like any prince". Rise up, o God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.

- The Great Assembly : the divine assembly of the last judgement, on which the Spirit of God dwells, with Jesus, the holy archangels, the holy angels working in God's tribunal, the martyrs and the saints. (Revelation 20,40) (Revelation 20, 11-12)

-He renders judgement among the Gods : God is love, he loves his creatures, especially those to whom he gave a spirit close to God's spirit, like angels (who were created before men), and men (created in God's image after God's likeness).

Angels have the power to incarnate, by God's will or voluntarily.

Here, "Gods" refers to angels, called "Sons of God", incarnated or not , fallen or not (Genesis 6, 2) ( Job 1, 6)

and also to men, created in God's image and after God's likeness, sinners, and for whom Jesus died on the cross.

Also, in regards to power and strength judges can be considered as gods, because they have the power to decide what people should do.

- How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked

Many complaints were made against poor people by usurers, because the people could not pay back their debts. Unrighteous judges used to send those poor people to jail, or make them and their family work without any salary.

They were not given time to pay their debts, and the judges won't listen to what they have to say or to or to suggest.

Women were not given justice against men, rich people were given justice against poor people, widows and orphans were mistreated. ( 2 Kings 4, 1-38 )

- Defend the weak and the fatherless, uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed.
Rescue the weak and the needy, deliver them from the hand of the wicked

God is righteous, and he loves righteousness. He doesn't want to see the poor, the weak, or the orphans mistreated.
They are helpless in front of their oppressors, only God can save them. It is God who allows judges to make sound judgements over his people,so that justice can be done and so peace remain. (Exodus 18 ) ( Acts 7, 33-36 )
Why are most of those judges so unjust ? Which glory for them in being unrighteous ?

- The Gods know nothing

These judges and many other people do not want to be righteous, they do not understand that they are also gods, and many of them are really wicked. They say the verses of the law but they have no understanding of the law. They pray on public places so they can be praised, They do not know that "the fear of God is the beginning of Wisdom", and that in being righteous, they can obtain mercy and have salvation. (Proverbs 1,7) (Proverbs 9, 10 ) (Psalm 111, 10)

( Hosea 4,6 ) ( Jeremiah 5, 4) (Isaiah 29,13) (Matthew 15,8) (Matthew 6, 5-8) (Matthew 25,37-41)

They walk about in darkness, all the foundations of the earth are shaken
The wicked do not want to change, neither to repent.They refuse the knowledge and the light of the holy spirit.This behaviour stops them from walking on a lighted path. They practice unrighteousness and do not know which way they should follow. (Psalm 119, 105-106) says : " Your word is a lamp for my feet, and a light on my path..." (Proverbs 6, 23)(2 Peter 1, 19). they are like the virgins of the parable (Matthew 25, 1-13) who did not bother to take enough oil for their lamps.
A community or a country are based on rules and principles that everyone must follow, in order to maintain peace.
God himself gave the "ten commandments" to his servant Moses ; these rules set by God are not followed, so order and justice do not exist anymore. Behaviours and law are most of the time based on injustice, and the cries of the innocent people rise up to God. (Luke 11, 42-44) (Matthew 23,13)

I said you are gods, you are all sons of the Most High, but you will die like mere mortals, you will fall like any prince'

This verse is about those who rely on impunity, power, magic, witchcraft... They think that they are above any law but this is not the case. Even if they manage to escape man's law on Earth, God's law is based on righteousness, and there is no escape from his judgement. Human beings are mortal, and the fate of the soul and the spirit (incarnated or not) , remains in the hands of God.

( Psalm 9, 8-10 ) ( Matthew 5,13 ) ( Revelation 12, 7-12 ) ( Revelation 19, 19-21 ) ( Revelation 20 )

Rise up, o God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.

This verse remind us that God is Almighty, only Judge of the creation, his own inheritance. Through this prayer, those who put their trust in the Lord, ask him to render his judgement and deliver them from the hands of the enemy, for they know that the end of all things has come, as God has already announced it.(Jeremiah 10,12) (Jeremiah 32,17) (Psalm 59, 16-17) (Matthew 2,10) (1 Thessalonicians 5,15) (Luke 6, 43-45) (Matthew 16,26) (Isaiah 52,15) (Romans 15,21)

If he called them 'gods', to whom the word of God came

God himself calls angels and men "Gods", and "Sons of the Most-High" when talking to them.

Jesus himself taught men how to pray and say "Our Father, who art in heaven..."

God considers us as his children, and therefore he gives power to all men and all angels, even the
sinners, to consider themselves children of God, and to proclaim it. ( Psalm 82 ) ( Matthew 6, 5-9 ) ( John 1 )

and Scripture cannot be set aside

Scripture cannot be set aside, neither by God, because it's the written word of God, and he uses his word to create and to
render a judgement , nor by a creature. The word was made flesh in Jesus, the Son of Man, the Saviour, who came for the salvation of men, and to proclaim the Good News of God's forgiveness. God always forgives the sinner who repents and who does not repeat the same sin again. Sins of the flesh are forgiven, but sins against the Holy Spirit are not

forgivable. (Isaiah 55,10-11) (Matthew 9, 10-11) (Luke 7, 48) (Luke 12, 9-10)

What about the one whom the Father set apart as his very own and sent into the world ?

The flesh can be incarnated by all sorts of spirits (of men or of angels), whether they are good spirits or evil spirits. If the flesh is incarnated by a good spirit, it is automatically sanctified, and remains sanctified through fasting, while the spirit remains sanctified through prayer. If the flesh is incarnated by an evil spirit, it is automatically defiled, and remains defiled.

Jesus is incarnated by God's spirit, so he is "holy, holy, holy" and was sent into the world for the salvation of sinners, through the suffering of his flesh on the cross, and to teach them how to remain sanctified by fasting and praying.

(Joel 2,12) (2 Corinthians 5, 17-19) (Romans 5, 20-21) (Isaiah 6, 3) (1 Timothy 2,5).

Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said : 'I am God's Son' ?

Those who accuse Jesus of blasphemy accuse God of being a liar, and bring curse on themselves and on their children who are like them, because they do not recognise God's authority in Jesus, and they do not consider God's word.

Mark 3, 28-30 says : " Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins, and every slander they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. They are guilty of an eternal sin. He said this because they were saying : he has an impure spirit ".

The works of the flesh are perishable, But God is Eternal, and spirits also are eternal.

Jesus was able to ask his Father forgiveness for those who crucified his body, but he cannot save a soul who denies together God, the Spirit of God incarnated in Jesus, and the love who makes "one" God and Jesus.

Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father

In his teaching as well as in his prayers, Jesus always talks about his Father who sent him. In those verses we are studying, he talks 9 times about his Father. Jesus doesn't give glory to himself, he gives glory to his Father.

( John 5, 17 ) ( John 14,2 ) ( Matthew 11,4-5 ) (Matthew 26,42)

But If I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works

The words "God" and "Spirit of God" are abstract values, spiritual values, which are not always easy to understand in this world, while people's actions, healing and miracles can be seen, heard, eaten... (manna from heaven, water changed into wine by Jesus), Jesus' wonders were made openly, especially when he was among the crowd.

(1 John 4,20) (Matthew 11, 5) (Isaiah 29, 18) (Isaiah 35, 5-6) (John 20, 19-29) (John 7, 18-30)

Thatyoumayknowand understand

Which means : "If you believe the works of my Father, you will know that I am the Messiah, and you will have to accept it".

( In fact, they don't want to accept that Jesus is the Christ, because for them he is a mere man, a poor among the poorest people at that time ) ( John 7 , 27-28 ) ( John 7 , 37-38 )

The Father is in me (Jesus, The Son of God)

The reason why Jesus is the beloved Son of God, is because a "part" of God's spirit has incarnated Jesus. In him God put all his love.( Luke 3, 21-22 ) ( Psalm 2, 7) ( Isaiah 42, 1) ( Matthew 17, 4-6 )

And I in the Father (Jesus, The Son of Man)

Jesus also loves his Father, he does the will of God, Jesus's will is to be the instrument of God, for the Glory of God, so that the Scriptures can be fulfilled.( 1 John 3, 23-24 ) ( Psalm 40, 7-10 ) ( Luke 4, 16-20 )

BIBLE STUDY 11 : Mark 8, 29

"What about you?", He asked them, "Who do you say I am ?" Peter answered "You are the Messiah".

This answer was inspired to St-Peter by God himself, because time had come for Peter and the other disciples to built the Church, and to preach as Jesus did, For that, they needed to built their faith.

Today, this question applies to us as well, but Jesus doesn't expect the same answer, which has already been taught to us. He wants a much more personal answer from us.

Who is Jesus for us ?
Is He an image too far from us ? Is He the one in whom we have put our hope ?

Is He the first one in our thoughts when we wake up ? He who takes away our fears ? The one we love above all ? He who does miracles in our lives ? The one before whom we bow our head everyday ?
The one we trust ? The one to whom we sing songs ? He who inspires us ? The one we need ?
"Blessed are those who believe without seeing me" (John 20, 28-31)

Who is Jesus for us ? He who deliver us from God's wrath? Our solicitor before God ?

He who comes for the judgement of the living and the dead, and we can't wait any longer for his coming?

Are we sanctified and ready for judgement day ? Do we really believe that Jesus will accept us in heaven?

Are we ready to ask for forgiveness right now and are we ready to avoid repeating the same sins ? (Hebrew 10, 37-39) (Hebrew 11, 1-3)

Who is Jesus for us ?
Is Jesus a part of us ? Do we feel his presence in our life ? Is he the one who guides our thoughts, our words, our actions ? Is He the unique, true and everlasting Love of our life ? (John 17, 1-26)

BIBLE STUDY 12 :Matthew 10, 34-39
" Don't think I've come to make life cosy : I've come to cut - make a sharp knife - cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law, cut through these domestic cosy arrangements and free you for God. Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies.If you prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me. If you prefer son and daughter over me, you don't deserve me. If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me. If your first concern is to look after yourself, you'll never find yourself. But if you forget about yourself and look to me, you'll find both yourself and me. "

Remember the martyrs of all times, the apostles, and the saints, who never denied Christ and never lost their faith till their last breath, starting with the holy innocents (children under 2 years killed by King Herod when Jesus was born) who did not commit any sin.

Also, let us not forget that Jesus-Son of Man, never denied his Father, and never denied himself as the Son of God, till his death on the cross.

Daniel 7, 20-22 : ... I was watching, and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days came...

Revelation 13, 6-8 : ...Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle,and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given to him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world...

Revelation 14, 9-13 :...Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice : " If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead and on his hand, he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented...Here is the patience of the saints, here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus...

Romans 8, 24-27 : For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is not hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have ? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently...And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God.

Jeremiah 31, 15 : Thus says Yahweh : a voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted....

Matthew 2, 1-12: ..."where is he who is born King of the Jews ? For we saw his star on the East, and have come to worship him". When King Herod heard it, he was troubled...

Matthew 2,16-18: Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry...

Don't think I've come to make life cosy

The Scriptures had announced the coming of a Saviour for Israel (Isaiah 59, 20-21) (Romans 11, 25-27).

These two texts are about sin, while the Jewish people were waiting for someone who will deliver them from the yoke of the Roman empire and from any servitude. The Saviour announced by God is Jesus-Christ, who came to deliver God's children from the yoke and the servitude of sin, and to remove eternal death and perdition of souls.

Ephesians 6, 11-13 : Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore, put on the full armour of God, so that when the days of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Indeed, fighting against men is not enough, most of all we need to fight against demons and evil spirits, incarnated or not, originators of all evil doings on earth, because all evil actions and situations (individually or collectively), have been scheduled in the spiritual world by God's enemies. It is people prayers and Holy Angels works which counteract evil wishes (war, hunger, individual or collective woes, misfortune, illness...)

PRAYER IS A CALL TO THE DIVINE LIGHT, THE ONLY ONE ABLE TO ANNIHILATE DARKNESS.

The “invisible world" is in fact the real world, made invisible to the flesh following Adam's disobedience to God.

Before his disobedience, he was totally part of that world, seeing God and his angels and the spiritual world.

The fallen angels and the watchers (also fallen) who gave birth to the evil spirits, allowed a terrible growth of sin.

(1 Corinthians 15, 56-57) : "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus-Christ"

Regarding God, there is no sharing between He and his enemies. It is not possible and even not recommended to put God at the same level of the devil and worship at the same time God and the devil. It is not possible to do God's will and the devil's will at the same time.Either we are with God, either we are against God.

(Matthew 7, 21-23) : Not everyone who says to me "Lord, Lord" shall enter the kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my father who is in Heaven. On that day, many will say to me : Lord, Lord, did we not prophecy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name ? And then will I declare to them
"I never knew you, depart from me, you evildoers"
( Revelation 3, 14-16) : And to the angel of the church of Laodicea, write : "The words of the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the beginning of God's Creation : I know your works. You are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot ! So because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth.

Each person and every mission designed by God are assisted by an angel who must ensure that God's will is fulfilled: Angel who makes the prophecy happen, Angel who cast out demons, Angel who heals... However, some people may claim that they are sent by God when they are not, whilst others who are sent by God fall into temptation and become seduced by evil, like the "Watchers" in the ancient times. They either turn completely against God or are seemingly perfectly at ease doing God's will when it suits them, all the while following the devil's ways.This increases the judgement against them, they may be the most severely punished on judgement day. The holy angels sent by God to help that church cannot work easily, the holy spirit cannot dwell in that place. Which reigns there is a malefic atmosphere, a malefic spirit, a malefic angel.

FIRST COMMANDMENT : Exodus 20, 1-8(verses 1-3) : And God spoke all those words, saying : "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other god before me".

God is constantly watching, and makes wonders for us each day, He needs to remind this to us all the time, as his people quickly forgets God's wonders, while looking for idols to venerate. This is truly outrageous for our God.

(Isaiah 43, 10-11) (Isaiah 45, 6-7) (Deuteronomy 5, 6-21) (Deuteronomy 6, 1-21) (Deuteronomy 32, 15-21)

(verses 4-5) : You must not make yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea; you must not bow down to them or worship them...

These two verses work together. Taking into consideration the first verse only, leads to unnecessary controversy.

Worshipping creatures is outrageous for God, but any representation which aim is to worship God or to be used for the service of the Lord is allowed.(Exodus 25,8-11) (Exodus 25, 17-22) (Exodus 26) (Exodus 37, 6-9) (Ezekiel 40, 16-26) (1 Chronicles 28, 11-12) (2 Chronicles 3, 10-12) (2 Chronicles 4, 3-7) (Revelation 11, 19)

(Exodus 25,22) : There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims that are on the arc of the covenant, I will deliver to you all my commands for the Israelites.

(Numbers 21, 6-9) : ... Yahweh said to Moses, "Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a standard, and it shall happen that everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live...

(2 Kings 18, 4) : ...He removed the high places, and broke the pillars, and cut down the Asherah, and he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for to those days, the children of Israel did burn incense to it...

John 3, 13-15 : As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up...(Jesus on the cross)

Isaiah 48, 5 : Therefore I told you these things long ago. Before they happened I announced them to you,so that you could not say : "My images brought them about, my wooden image and metal God ordained them".

Colossians 3,5 : Put to death therefore your members which are on the earth : sexual immorality, uncleanness, depraved passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

At the time when Jesus came into the world, he did not come to bring peace. For his first mission, he was the Redeemer, and the Fighter against the evil forces which operate on earth. He will bring peace to his children when he comes back. He came to show the way to his children so that they can be reconciled with the Heavenly Father. The path that leads to heaven is difficult, and imposes a drastic choice : Follow Jesus or not, chose between the Heavenly Father and God's enemy, without any ambiguity.

I've come to cut - make a sharp knife

The struggle between the forces of good and the forces of evil started in Heaven, at the time of the revolt of the demon and his angels, and continues until now, in heaven, on earth, in the sea and in the whole creation.

(Revelation 12) (Ephesians 6,11-13) (Enoch chapter 15, book of the Vigilants)

To choose God is to fight against the evil forces with all the weapons that God gave to his children :

- Jesus, the word of God made flesh, who lived among men (1 John 1) (John 1)

-The word of God, which is sharper than a double edged sword (Hebrews 4, 12)

- The Holy Spirit, holiness, faith, perseverance.love of God and love of our neighbour (Psalm 119, 104-106)

- The Virgin Mary, who is the perfect example for those who want to follow Christ.

Cut between son and father, daughter and mother, bride and mother-in-law, cut through these domestic cosy arrangements and free you for God.

Members of the same family have very often different points of view and different beliefs, and are animated with different spirits.

The behaviours are sometimes totally opposed, especially in the "large family", result of weddings and other events.

Quarrels can happen between those who follow Jesus and those who don't follow him. Some christians of the same family belong to different congregations. These divergences can lead to the split of the family. Fast and Abstinence can also bring quarrels.

Psalm 41, 9 : Yes, my own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, who ate bread with me, has lifted up his heel against me.

Mark 6, 4 : Jesus said to them : a prophet is not without honour, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house.

Psalm 55, 12-14 : If an enemy was insulting me, I could endure it. If a foe was rising against me, I could hide. But it is you, a man like myself, a companion, my close friend, with whom I once enjoyed sweet fellowship at the house of God, as we walked about among the worshipers.

Jesus and Judas

Luke 22, 14-23 : ...But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. The Son of Man will go as it has been vudecreed, but woe to that man who betrays Him...

Well-meaning family members can be your worst enemies

We all know the family tragedies still caused by incest, domestic violence, human sacrifices, jealousy, inheritance,money...

(Psalm 106, 36-38) : " ...Yes, they sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons..."

Since Jesus came into the world, the very "True Friends of Jesus" are hated by the world.

(Revelation 12, 17) : And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus-Christ.

(Matthew 10, 21-22) : Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his son. children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. You will be hated for my name's sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

John 15, 18-25 : If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you.....

If you prefer father or mother over me, you don't deserve me :

When we follow Jesus, we constantly have to make choices, some of them being very delicate, often non accepted by our family.

Expl :Mark 3, 32-34 : A multitude was sitting around him, and they told him "Behold,your mother and your brothers are outside ,
looking for you". He answered them " who are my mother and my brothers ?" Looking around at those who sat around him, he said : "Behold, my mother and my brothers ! For whoever does the will of God, the same is my brother, my mother"

At that special moment,Jesus was doing his Father's will, and did not want to be disturbed even by his mother.

At 12 years old, he escaped his mother's and his father's vigilance, so he could be able to teach in the Temple.

If you prefer son and daughter over me, you don't deserve me.

The children must not be an excuse to disobey God or to ignore His call. Among the apostles, many,(especially St Peter) were married, but they left wife and children to follow Christ. It is God himself who provides for the families of those he calls for a special mission.

The parents should not dissuade their children to become priest for example, or to pray "too much". The Virgin Mary knew that at some point her Son will suffer a lot. but she never tried to dissuade him to save the sinners. She did her best to be near him at every moment.

She loves God and she wants to remain obedient to him.

If you don't go all the way with me, through thick and thin, you don't deserve me.

Whoever who wants to worship God in spirit and in truth, makes the evil one angry. The enemy will try to dissuade him as he did with Jesus, Moses, Job, and many others, sending enemies and temptations on their way. Following Jesus is a real way of the cross,

which must be done, the same way Jesus has been forced to carry himself the cross on which he has been crucified, till the place of crucifixion. To be victorious, we need unshakeable faith in Jesus, courage, perseverance, and hope to have eternal life.

FAITH IN JESUS

(John 5, 24) : Truly, truly I tell you,whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life and will not be judged, but has crossed over from death to life.(Hebrews 11,13-40)

(Philippians 4, 6-7) : Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

(Romans 6, 3) : Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death ?

(Psalm 125, 1) : Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken, but endures for ever.

(Romans 15, 16) : ...to be a minister of Jesus-Christ to the Gentiles. He gave me the priestly duty of proclaiming the Gospel of God, so that the Gentiles may become an acceptable offering to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

(Acts 21, 13) : Then Paul answered : "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart ? I am ready, not only to be bound, but also to die in
Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus".

(James 1, 6) : But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

(John 8, 31-32) : Jesus therefore said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you remain in my Word, then you are truly my disciples.You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free".

(Romans 1, 16-17) : For I am not ashamed of the Good News of Christ, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the Gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed - a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written : *The righteous will live by Faith.

We cannot see God, we only can see, hear, or feel the actions of God in our own life or in the world, and believe (or not believe) that they come from God. Faith starts with what we feel in our inner self, with what our soul and our spirit experience and believe as being true.

It is not possible to believe in only what we see with our eyes : we know that we have thoughts, but do we see our thoughts ? We remember our dreams, but do we see them ? Can we see our imagination ? Or can we see with our eyes the love that we feel ? ...

Hebrews 12, 14-17 : ...and to be holy. Without holiness, no one will see the Lord...

... when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected...he could not change what he had done.

COURAGE

Psalm 31, 24 : Be Strong and let your heart take courage, all you who hope in Yahweh.

Psalm 119, 60-61: I will hasten and not delay to obey your commands. Though the wicked bind me with ropes, I will not forget your law.

Luke 6, 22-23 : Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man 's sake. Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven ; for their fathers did the same things to the prophets.

(2 Timothy 1, 7): For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of sound mind.

(Luc 22, 37): It is written "and he was numbered with the transgressors" ; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes , what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.

" I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it " NELSON MANDELA.

(1 John 4, 18) : There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fear is not made perfect in love.

(1 Peter 2, 21) : Who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness ; by whose stripes you were healed.

PERSEVERANCE

(1 Corinthians 10,13) : No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing, he will also provide the way out, so that you may be able to endure it.

(Hebrews 12, 1-13) : ... looking to Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God...

(2 Timothy 2, 15) : Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by him, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.

(Psalm 46, 1-2) : God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we won't be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas ...

(Romans 5, 3-5) : Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering works perseverance, and perseverance, proven character, and proven character, hope...

(Ephesians 5, 19 -20) : As you sing Psalms and Hymns and Spiritual Songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times, and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus-Christ...

(Luke 9, 58) : Jesus told him " Foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to rest..." (Luke 10)

(Isaiah 58, 6-8) : Isn't this the fast that I have been choosing : to loose the bonds of injustice, and to untie the cords of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke ? Isn't it to share your bread with the hungry, and to bring the homeless poor into your house, when you see the naked, to cover him with clothing, and not to raise yourself up from your own flesh and blood ? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will spring up quickly, and your vindication will go before you and the Glory of God will guard your back.

(Galatians 5, 1) : With freedom did Christ set us free : stand fast therefore, and be not entangled again in a yoke of bondage.

HOPE OF BEING GIVEN ETERNAL LIFE

(Philippians 3, 20-21) : But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Saviour from there, the Lord Jesus-Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies, so that they will be like his glorious body.