TRIUMPHANT TRILOGIES – Examining JOHN 15,16 & 17: Ch. 15 Pt. 1 of 3

Examining JOHN 15 – Part 1 of 3

INTRODUCTION: It’s been said that “imitation is the best form of flattery” – that is to say, that which is esteemed is copied. And on a purely human level, we can and often do copy one another because we see something worthy in someone, something commendable, something we feel should get propagated.

Yet when it comes to the Christian life, while of all people who ever lived, none comes close to the life and heart of Christ Jesus, we cannot imitate Him by our own power or efforts! We need the Holy Spirit (hence one of the primary reasons for the necessity of spiritual rebirth) in order to imitate Christ. Apostle Paul encouraged the Corinthian church to imitate his example as he himself imitated Christ’s own (1 COR 4:16; 11:1).

And it’s a joy to our LORD to see our petitions for Him to enable us in following Him! We need to be intentional in our cultivating the life of Christ in us with all that the LORD has provided us with, and this brings us to JOHN 15!

JOHN 15:1
"I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

Notice that here Christ refers to Himself as “the true vine”, as opposed to a false one, or an unproductive one?

Who else is referred to as a vineyard in Scripture?

ISAIAH 5:1-4
1 Now let me sing to my Well-beloved A song of my Beloved regarding His vineyard: My Well-beloved has a vineyard On a very fruitful hill. 2 He dug it up and cleared out its stones and planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst and also made a winepress in it; So He expected it to bring forth good grapes, But it brought forth wild grapes. 3 "And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, Judge, please, between Me and My vineyard. 4 What more could have been done to My vineyard That I have not done in it? Why then, when I expected it to bring forth good grapes, Did it bring forth wild grapes?

I believe this is GOD the Father speaking to His “Well-beloved” His only begotten Son, the LORD Jesus. We know that the vineyard referred to in this chapter is Israel (vs. 7), and it was because Israel was not upright in heart before the LORD, that the beginnings of apostasy had taken root that the LORD sent Isaiah the Prophet to them, and warn of coming judgment.

How long did GOD warn Israel and plead with them to turn back to Him? More than 150 years!

So then when the Son of Abraham, the Son of David (MATT 1:1), Y’shua Mashiach (Jesus Christ) came, He did always those things that pleased the Father and indeed brought forth an abundance of the very best of spiritual fruit – and He continues to do so today, through His body, the church!

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WALKING IN WISDOM: PROV 28 - Lifestyles of the Poor and Righteous

INTRODUCTION: Once we finish this chapter, we have only three more to go before we complete the book of PROVERBS! Pastor Sonny directed me to turn my attention to the book of Psalms afterwards and I’m excited! The Psalms are rich with encouraging counsel, the worship of GOD in all His majesty, there are uplifting and joyous verses that set our souls ablaze with contented gladness; Psalms has a fair share of prophecy, and even some historical content.

For the video presentation of this teaching as given at SHINE BRIGHT Church, Tucson, AZ, click here!

ALSO Check out SHINE BRIGHT Church's New official website! 

Yet as we continue in the book of Proverbs, we are so grateful for GOD’s wisdom made available to us in these pages! When you have access to the counsels of the Creator, what need to we have for Humanistic, Psychological philosophies? Amen?

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WHERE ARE YOU STANDING – ON THE PROMISES OF GOD?

Regarding Israel and all the promises GOD has made with His people, including covenants and blessings, we know that the LORD will be as faithful to those promises as He has always been.

ROMANS 11:29
For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable (not able to be changed, reversed, or altered in any way).

NUMBERS 23:19
"God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

GOD is a GOD of Truth, Who cannot lie, and yet we have this passage out of PSALM 89:

PSALM 89:35-37
Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David: 36 His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before Me; 37 it shall be established forever like the moon, even like the faithful witness in the sky."

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The G.E.P.C Study – PHILIPPIANS 3 – PART 1 of 2

Going Through Paul’s epistles to Galatia, Ephesus, Philippi, and Colossae

INTRODUCTION: The joy of the saint is counterintuitive to the mind of this world system. In fact, it’s typically diametrically opposite. We don’t express our satisfaction, contentment, peace and joy by the things in our lives or even of this world so much as by the Person of Christ. It’s why this truth resounds so powerfully in our hours of trial and woe:

“the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (NEH 8:10c; PSA 21:1).

This is also why we acknowledge the fruit of the Spirit as something apart from mere human emotion. I can be happy in my circumstances that are favorable – and equally unhappy about those that are not!

But our peace and joy are based on the grace of GOD that runs independently of our circumstances. This allows the saint who is walking in the Spirit to have a life of stability, on the ROCK of our salvation – even when the floor drops out from under their feet!

1 SAMUEL 2:2
"No one is holy like the LORD, For there is none besides You, nor is there any rock like our God. (See EXOD 15:11; De 3:24; 4:35; 32:4,30-31; 2Sa 22:1-51; Ps 86:8; 89:6,8)

So we continue now in our study of PHILIPPIANS and take half of Chapter 3…

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TTUF Review on the Film DAVID

More and more biblically themed movies are coming out today in contrast with the Hollywood Woke-agenda that promotes decidedly anti-Bible, even anti-moral films. The largest of these studios is Angel Film Productions, a Mormon founded and owned film studio (Sound of Freedom, Truth and Treason, King of Kings (an animated film) and the extremely popular The Chosen series (which I strongly oppose as anything remotely biblical). Another is the Kendricks Brothers Productions that brought us films like War Room and The Forge.

Previously we saw an Icon Production film (owned by Mel Gibson and Bruce Davey), The Passion of the Christ – an enormously successful film that Hollywood opposed. While the graphic nature of the film came closer to the historical Passion than any other film produced, it still actually fell short of the real event. It also was laced with various Roman Catholic themes but I find it a useful tool to present to the unsaved to give them a better grasp of the physical sufferings our LORD endured, and follow up with what His sacrifice was really about, and what it accomplished.

When I saw a clip for another Angel Studios animated film, David, I liked what I saw visually and thematically, but I was cautious. Would there be Mormon theology laced in this film?

As the premier came closer, I saw more and more clips from the film, and looking at the remarks after opening day, it seems this was very well received. The enthusiasm was palpable by adults, young people and children.

So we decided to go and see the film for ourselves.

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HOLY CHILD, DIVINE CHRIST and MARY SINGS TO HER SAVIOR

HOLY CHILD, DIVINE CHRIST and MARY SINGS TO HER SAVIOR

PART ONE by James Fire; PART TWO by Sonny Islas

PART ONE-HOLY CHILD, DIVINE CHRIST

LUKE 1:26-45
26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!"
29 But when she saw him, she was troubled [disturbed, alarmed] at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was [I.O.W. “what could this possibly mean??”]. 30 Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 "And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name JESUS.
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