For His Glory TX

Mike Balloun teaches today. 06/19/21 THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS CHAPTER 5:15-33 CONTINUING PRACTICAL AND SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTION (PART 1) VERSES: Genesis 24:67; Revelation 1:18-19; Luke 21:24; Acts 15:14; Daniel 7:13-14 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rihfuwvbnnppos4/AAD1AXtgRIeClmuB-YOYarcwa?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 CONTINUING PRACTICAL AND SPIRITUAL INSTRUCTION ON HOW TO IMITATE GOD FOR LIGHT IN WALKING IN WORTHINESS UNTO THE HEAVENLY CALLING. The days wherein the Church is called, are to be increasingly evil. (Matthew 13:33, 2nd Thessalonians 2:7) “Let them grow up together until the Harvest.” VERSE 14 “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest (the erring foolish unwise Christians that are darkened in conscience asleep among the dead), and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” VERSES 15-21 “See then that ye walk circumspectly (rightfully, diligently), not as fools, but as wise (5 wise virgins of Matthew 25:1-4), Redeeming the time (by prudent and blameless conduct, gaining as much time and opportunity as possible in view of persecution and pending death. The word generally means to buy up, to buy all that is anywhere to be bought, and not to allow the suitable moment to pass by unheeded but to make it one's own), because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise (as the 5 foolish virgins), but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit (that is to say; purchase additional Oil beyond just the Oil of justification that came with the gift of the Lamp) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God Christ” (all fitting to an environment for being instructed in Christ-likeness. Note that this should be fear of Christ as He is not only our Savior, but our Judge. The Greek is not God, but Christ). CHRISTIANS ASLEEP IN THE WORLD are without fear of Christ. For to live is to serve Christ, to serve is to love. This is the only reason appointed by God for a Christian to pass from womb to grave in this life. All the World wants to live longer, but to what end? To enjoy the pleasures of this World, giving little thought to what happens after having lived. Until we Christians have the light of what living is now all about, we live in vain darkness. We, like the World, and for the same reasons as the World, are overly concerned about how long we live. What does it matter that we live to be 100 and in the process gain the whole world? In the getting more in this life, we lost our purpose for living; the saving of the soul, and that by holiness towards God and righteousness towards man while alive. Luke 12:13-34… “Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ But God said to him, Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows....... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rihfuwvbnnppos4/AAD1AXtgRIeClmuB-YOYarcwa?dl=0

Mike Balloun teaches today. 06/12/21 THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS CHAPTER 5:1-14 BE IMITATORS OF THE FATHER VERSES: 1st Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:7-8, 22:12-15; Luke 12:4-5, 46-48 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hmvj2ls2b9x3zuc/AADwQOgiEz0lFfzJZ730Blg3a?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 Verse 1 of Chapter 5 continues the same thought from the last verse of Chapter 4, of becoming mature children in Christ. “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” [Ephesians 4:32] VERSES 1-5 Be ye therefore followers (imitators) of God as dear children: And walk in love (love and forgiving; this is the new overriding principle to guide our lives on Earth), as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor (the Father gave up His Son… the Son gave up Himself and in this was the far superior offering over bulls and goats to propitiate God and attain spiritual gifts unto maturing children who believe). But fornication (an unholy love in contrast to the love of God) and all uncleanness (homosexuality, sodomy, bestiality, masturbation), or covetousness (having love for money/material things), let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness (conduct for which you would be ashamed), nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (the very opposite of the command to love the brethren;), who is an idolater, (all these works of darkness by Christians are set against the Christ-likeness that the power of the Holy Spirit manifest within the divine nature imparted to God’s children when born again endeavors to accomplish and therefore unfits us for His presence. No saved person who persistently commits these sins…) hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (1st Corinthians 6:9-10 and Galatians 5:19-21, amongst many verses elsewhere, list the same types of behavior, and more, that excludes a Christian from the kingdom of heavens/Christ’s kingdom and from God’s kingdom… “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” … “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” More on the difference between the kingdom of Christ and of God to come…) Only saved children of God through Christ may call God their Father. Only born-again children have the sealing and gift of power of the Holy Spirit to imitate the Father. To imitate is the call of Paul to advance on from mere baby ‘justification’ in maturing behavior. (Hebrews 5:12-13) The great consequence of refusing to overcome the flesh is that we are to be then excluded from the First Resurrection inheritance in the Millennial Kingdom of Christ (Luke 20:35-36, Revelation 20:4-6) and the further eternal privileges exclusively to the Overcomer (of the Old Man/flesh) promised in Scripture in the overriding Kingdom of God that follows the Millennial Age of Justice. (1st Corinthians 15:22-28, Revelation 21:7-8; 22:12-15) As our ‘eternal life’ (redeemed from the eternal fate of our ‘father’ satan; in the Lake of Fire) rests upon ‘justification’, so our eternal glory and inheritance rests on our sanctification. As the first is secure to us through entirely the merits of Christ, the other is a reward to only those who are “accounted worthy”. In justification, we are passive but sanctification requires action for us to get victory over our old carnal nature, lest we be excluded from the 1,000 year reign of Christ and get shut out from residency in the New Jerusalem in the Father’s eternal kingdom. VERSES 6 & 7 “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not therefore partakers with them.” Children of disobedience grieve the Spirit and are controlled by the base, carnal, animalistic nature. Be ye imitators of the Father; changing your character and conduct from the Old Man to the New Man (being Christ-like/separated unto God) is the sure call unto glorious life. It’s the ‘beseeching’ of Paul for the followers of Christ... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hmvj2ls2b9x3zuc/AADwQOgiEz0lFfzJZ730Blg3a?dl=0

Mike Balloun teaches today. 06/05/21 THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS CHAPTER 4:10-32 PRACTICALLY APPLYING PAUL'S WORDS VERSES: John 14:1-3; Hosea 6:1-3; Philippians 3:8-14; 2nd Peter 3:8 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xkqtnppytmk5zp6/AAABlzd2cxRLEQXIwfkipBCla?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 In brief review of our last lesson and to set the tone for this one, there are three increasing stages of living in the presence of Christ held forth in Scripture for a Christian. 1) that presence while we are here yet on the Earth, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them…” 2) that of the “far better” place for the faithful in Hades, where they, after their body’s death, are taken; it being a far greater experience of the presence of Christ in this underworld ‘Paradise’/Garden… “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better…” and then at the First Resurrection, a faithful Christian will experience the fullest Presence of God when he is… 3) brought out of the Garden, and into the Palace… “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also…” [John 14:1-3] This difference in the degrees of His presence may be typed by the understanding that outside of Buckingham Palace is the Queen’s Garden, that which some of us have seen and appreciated from the upper part of a double-decker tourist bus, that which we may equate to experiencing His presence by faith with us while we are here alive on the Earth. Now it is the Queen’s private Garden into which one may only come by personal invitation into. It is a far greater presence with her that you may not come into otherwise, for it is heavily guarded and off limits to anyone but the Queen and her guests. When Christ was on the Cross, the criminal beside Him asked of Him to be included in His Kingdom when He came in to it. This would be, in this type, like asking of Him to come into His Royal Palace, unto a room prepared for him. But Christ responded with a promise, although wonderful, yet lesser in intimacy than his request, with these gracious words; “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” It is the much greater presence with the Queen than from the tourist bus top, yet it is not the most intimate place, which of course would be found within Buckingham Palace. Now the Garden within Hades, into which we hope we are welcomed upon our departure from this Earth, has there the far greater presence of Christ, He having “filled it” up with His presence. Yet, it speaks of no ‘Palace/Mansion’, for Hades is but an intermediate place for Christians when we die. From there, we look in hope to the future day, now fast approaching, when the Lord is prophesied to come back to this Earth’s heavenly realm and receive those He judges worthy. These will have formed in their lives His character, and will be brought into that most intimate place; the heavenly abode with Him. (Luke 20:34-36) It is the Resurrection of the worthies out from among the dead that is the 3rd and greatest of presences with the Lord. Permanently dwelling with Him in glory in His ‘Palace’ is what those faithful in Hades await. (And while there are no Mansions of glory in Hades, there are the King’s prisons; which are the lot of those who refuse the Redeemer’s Work… “Ye shall die in your sins.” And what of the Lord’s unfaithful servants who die in their un-repented sins? Is Scripture not clear enough that all will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ? It is the negative side of Paul’s beseeching, and the severe warnings of Scripture are not few. It is worthy of note that Christians are not called ‘sons’ but children in this Epistle.) In the first three chapters of Ephesians, Paul is revealing the Christian’s high calling to a future glorious Life, a very exciting affair. But in these last 3 chapters, Paul is dealing with the unexciting very practical news in the matter of living your life according to the knowledge given by Jesus the Lord, a life to be judged after its living, for the inclusion or exclusion from the Kingdom of Christ and Bride-ship. The members of Christ’s Body are to be gathered out of the World; then are to be perfected, individually and as a Church body. (The Head is trying to get the Body to come into alignment with it.) Out of the Body, Christ will develop, finally, a Bride...... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xkqtnppytmk5zp6/AAABlzd2cxRLEQXIwfkipBCla?dl=0

Mike Balloun teaches today. 05/29/21 THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS CHAPTER 4:1-10 HEOL / HADES / THE PLACE OF THE DEAD VERSES: 1st Corinthians 2:8; 2 Corinthians 5:6-11; Colossians 2:15; Psalm 22, 86:13; Luke 16 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1gv51xooup248i4/AADRUZhS6Fo2M-4kK1rSoIAna?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 WALKING WORTHY OF YOUR VOCATION The first 3 Chapters of Ephesians opens up before us the Mystery of the Heavenly Calling and our standing relative to it. The Chapters before us now speak to how we should “walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.” What is of the utmost importance to the Holy Spirit, reflected in Paul’s “beseeching” (a stronger word than begging), is that a Christian has the full understanding of Scripture that walking worthy has to do with the fact that every Christian is going to stand before the ‘Judgment Seat of Christ’. (Romans 14:10, Revelation 22:12) And that this Bema is where each Christian will answer for his ‘works’ done after they were born again unto eternal life and incorporated into His Body, for which we are all granted or extended heavenly position with all its spiritual blessings. (Ephesians 1:3;2:6, 2nd Peter 1:3) Although many Christians are generally aware of the need for service after becoming a Christian, they are woefully ignorant of what this critical walk in worthiness so as to attain unto the heavenly calling of reward is and also ignorant of what its potential loss with great consequences is. That ignorance results in hardly any advance in their walk for worthiness for they remain untrained children of God, dark in mind and hard in heart. (Ephesians 4:17-21… “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus…”) In the first verses of Ephesians 4, Paul continues to reveal the previously hidden purposeful realities of the Father’s calling in the unifying into one Body, in Christ, of all peoples and nations. From Christ Jesus/the Head comes the grace of the power to influence the heart of the believer and the gifts of the Holy Spirit unto the nurturing and maturing individually the Body’s members in selfless love. (Walking in unity and in grace and mercy with fellow brethren as seen in Ephesians 4:2-3… “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Romans 5:5… "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”) Everyone of us, who have received God’s gift of Redemption by faith in Christ Jesus throughout the 2000 years of this purposeful Age, have been granted the gift of the Divine Nature (in the rebirth of our spirit 2nd Peter 2:4) along with the provision/spiritual blessings of Grace and Mercy to meet the requirements of worthiness unto the prize of the High Calling, which is to be realized only in the First Resurrection. (Hebrews 4:16, Philippians 3:11-14) We have been given by Christ more than ample “goods” to prosper and we have no excuse for failing when the Master judges. (Matthew 25:14,24-30 with Ephesians 4:8 where it speaks of how Christ “…gave gifts unto man”, such as the gift of eternal life as well as the gift of the power of the Holy Spirit to walk in sanctification in order to walk worthy of our calling.) In brief explanation of the believer’s spiritual windfall, Paul describes the unseen unparalleled journey of the Son of God and its resulting sealing and power to us again from a different perspective. (Compare Ephesians 4:7-10 with Ephesians 1:19-23… “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.” “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from..... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1gv51xooup248i4/AADRUZhS6Fo2M-4kK1rSoIAna?dl=0

Mike teaches today 05/15/21. THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS CHAPTER 3:14-21 THE RICHES OF HIS GLORY VERSES: Hebrews 2:10-12; Colossians 1:27; 1st Corinthians 15:40-43 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e7y1291y114nhkd/AABESiuKWtPy0MObZ9RjbsU1a?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9​ PAUL’S SECOND PRAYER God’s revealed intent, even before the foundation of the World, was to have an heritage; a specialorindividual possession;anallottedportion, and that by “…bringing many sons unto glory, (and) to make the captain of their salvation (Jesus the Son of God/Son of man) perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth (Christ) and they who are sanctified (His Bride) are all of one (by special union designed by God in the power of the spirit/Holy Spirit): for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee…” (Hebrews 2:10-12 with Revelation 14:1-3, and John 17:6,9,11,12) The objective of God now that we have been granted life in the Gospel of His Son, is to show us His intent of union of the ‘Body’ with the Head by the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of Scripture. It is by love and faith that we comprehend His love towards the Body to be fit for union with His Son. That perfect union being realized in the first resurrection, where we will be brought up in glory from the underworld (Hades, in the center of the earth) in the uniting of our spirits and immortal bodies presented to the Father and then given unto the Son… “they two shall be one flesh”. God conceived in Himself that receivers of His salvation in His Son was the basis on which His sons’ eternal relationship with the Father would be set; and this He will accomplish through a certain ‘union’ with the Son. It is that union (mystery of marriage between Christ and His Bride) that is the central message/greatest part of the mystery of the heavenly calling “hid in God’ from the foundation of the Earth that is discovered to the believer in the Book of Ephesians. The second prayer of Paul is for the Body to come into the realization of the Father’s intent for this union with His Son. The knowledge facilitates the purpose of God that His Son’s Body comes into full sympathy and symphony with God’s will and goodness. It is today, in this ‘time’ of His patience, which is the time He allows an evil will to resist His will and goodness, and time to align ourselves with His Salvation Plan and restoration of all things, which are in a state of ruin. In order that He might capacitate or sanctify, that is to say to bring into full heartfelt agreement a revived being into a new creature who fully empathizes and is in full sympathy/unison with His heart by a certain determined union with the Godhead. The forces of resistance to that threatening union are satan, the World, and the flesh. They are united together to bear against the means by which God has determined as just and right; an increasing capacity through faith in developing exposure to His Written Word. And how can one come into full capacity in sympathy with another without love? It’s impossible. How is that love accomplished? By experience. And how are we to grow in this love? By faith energized by love, developed in the Scriptures and personified in us by the Holy Spirit’s power, which enables us to walk in the purposes that God intended for us to walk in. VERSE 14 “For this cause…” Paul’s prayer is… now that we have received the Gospel of redemption, that the saints would now comprehend the fullness of the purposes of God, namely that we are to be His heritage in Christ, who is both our Lord and ‘brother’ by the Father’s special designed union. “I bend my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” God is both Christ’s God, as He is God of all Men, and Father, as He is His eternal Son. We are then, in Christ, both servants and sons of God. All sought/desired blessings of the Father depend on our relation with Christ. VERSES 15 & 16 “Of whom the whole family in heaven and -- earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his (Holy) Spirit in the inner man…” Verse 15 sets forth again God’s eternal purpose of two spheres where His will is to be done; the heavens, from where all things stem, and the earth; the material realm. Two phrases are used in these first few chapters of Ephesians by Paul to describe God’s different or varied and abundant resources drawn upon to accomplish His eternal purposes involved in the salvation of man. One in the first chapter: “the riches of His grace” which speaks to man’s redemption and justification in Christ in no merit of his own (Ephesians 1:7); and now in this 2nd prayer Paul uses the descriptive term of...... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e7y1291y114nhkd/AABESiuKWtPy0MObZ9RjbsU1a?dl=0

Mike teaches today. 05/08/21 THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS CHAPTER 3:1-13 THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST VERSES: 1st Corinthians 2:7-8; Hebrews 4:16,10:2; Philippians 3:10-11 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ee8nzyc2iu7dro1/AAD3NzDXSKkTXN838EPD9PCra?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 Paul is revealing the Father’s hidden ancient plan, conceived before the creation of man; that of putting all things (both in the heavens and in the Earth) under His Son’s dominion by merit of His faithfulness. He kept all points of the Law of Moses while overcoming satan’s temptations and trials in the flesh as the incarnate Son of man and Seed of Abraham. He then, in the shedding of His guiltless Blood on the Cross, propitiated God for Adam’s treason that brought the death enmity to all mankind, being his seed. “To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved (Son). In Whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us…” [Ephesians 1:6-7] The Gospel of grace (that Paul had been ministering for years until he went to prison) has two sides; that of God’s: 1) undeserved favor unto eternal life for all those who receive Christ as their Savior and are then incorporated into His ‘Body’… and the provision for additional grace meaning 2) the ongoing greater divine influence upon the heart of the believer… to be exercised in good works ordained by God for those in Christ resulting in a worthiness to be manifest in the First Resurrection unto the glorious inheritance with Christ in the heavens above the Earth. Using the example of Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and their entering into the Promised Land, the first definition of grace (God’s undeserved, unmerited favor) is seen in God bringing them out of Egypt. Not much effort was required of them, whereas the second definition of grace can be seen in how God’s Divine influence upon their heart was needed in order to make it into the Promised Land. They had to draw upon God’s grace as it relates to sanctification/to overcoming the enemy to enable them to take up their sword and kill the Canaanites. This took much effort on their part and was a result of both God’s grace and man’s yielded will. Too many Christians live their lives in vanity once they are redeemed (from the World’s Egypt) and end up on the right side of the Red Sea, but on the wrong side of the Jordan River, having not entered the Promised Land. Paul’s initial message of the Gospel of God is by grace (undeserved love and favor) through faith in His Son’s Atonement in that He accepts all Nations on the merit of Jesus Christ’s offering of Himself alone. It was for the acceptance of the Gentiles into Christ that the Law of Moses was set aside, as the Law of Moses naturally is set against the New Testament One New Man concept of there being no difference between Jew and Gentile in Christ. And since Israel refused to accept Jesus as their Messiah, they, as a Nation, also were set aside in this Age of Grace and mercy in the calling out of the Gentiles a New Man by grace through faith in Christ Jesus. The Gospel of God is simply the foundation upon which Paul built the Mystery of the New Man, and the Heavenly Kingdom of God. After accepting the Gospel of God (which has to do with what Jesus did for us), the Gospel of Mystery message begins. It is after one is ‘saved’, having been redeemed and baptized and incorporated/hid in the Son’s Body. God foreordained that by additional grace (the power of divine influence upon the heart and the yielded will of the New Man), he would be conformed into the image of His Son and found by his good works worthy of resurrection glory in co-ruling with His Son in the heavenly realm. Paul’s gospel of the Mystery of the heavenly Kingdom was given to Him directly from Jesus Christ. He did not discern it out of his studies of the Old Testament, as none of the Prophets recorded in the Old Testament were aware of it, as the Message was hid in God. (Ephesians 3:9) Not even the Angels could see God’s Salvation wisdom. VERSE 1 “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles… (nations, so it is that this Epistle is to the many Gentile nations). For this cause, or as a result of the need for an intelligent servant to carry the full message of the scheme of God in His Son unto the nations, Paul was chosen. Being a Jewish zealot of the Law of Moses and his people, highly learned in the Torah, willing to kill for what he thought blasphemous to God, Christ chose Paul to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. Having been forewarned of sufferings, (there were many but borne in loving faith throughout his life) he now writes of his captivity, not referring to his suffering imprisonment.... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ee8nzyc2iu7dro1/AAD3NzDXSKkTXN838EPD9PCra?dl=0

Mike teaches today. 05/01/21 THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS CHAPTER 2:11-22 THE ONE NEW MAN OF JEW AND GENTILE VERSES: Genesis 2:22; Colossians 1:19-29; Luke 22:31-32 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/a2krnsh655my9y7/AADeCLzNns9sEiIrFwTQKXnea?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 Let us begin by summarizing where we have been taken so far in our understanding of the mystery of Paul’s gospel revealed in the letter to the Ephesians. In the 1st Chapter, God revealed that His designed intention was conceived before the foundation of the World. He would glorify His Son incarnate, Him being the victorious Son of Man which was validated in God’s resurrecting Him from among the dead, and would seat Him at His right hand above all things; heavenly and earthly. And that being in accordance to the furtherance of His salvation plan and restoration of all things having previously been ruined (both on the Earth and in the third heavens by satan). What is in view is that which had its manifest beginning in the Garden of Eden. “And God said, Let us (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” [Genesis 1:26] God’s intent before the foundation of the world was to have a being formed in His image, who would be appointed an inheritance in the heavenly realm. This New Creation was the mystery hidden in God. God made or molded Adam out of the earth and breathed into him life. He then became a living soul. God then brought forth the 2nd Adam, Jesus Christ, Who, being resurrected by God’s power from among the dead, in the express image of God (He being the New Creature), is now a life-giving spirit. (1st Corinthians 15:45-49) This answers to God’s full intent of that Passage… “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” which was the full collaboration of the Trinity, not in Adam so much as by the Father's sacrificial design through Christ Jesus His son in the power of the Holy Spirit. The Father “…hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.” So it can be understood that in the 2nd Chapter the mystical “Body” of Christ; (Christ being the “Head” ) are those answering to being knitted/builded in Him. They are those having eternal life and His divine nature by God’s gift of grace through faith, who are then extended the heavenly calling of reward for good works the Father had prepared for them to walk in. That which was hid in God (Ephesians 3:9) and foreordained begins to open up to us in the “mystery of the heavens” foretold by Jesus in parables (Matthew 13) and Words left unexplained (Matthew 16:18). It is that great mystery which was later fully entrusted to Paul; this being the mystery of the kingdom of the heavens. Now it is further written in Genesis 2:18, 22… “And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him… “And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made (builded) he a woman, and brought her unto the man.” On the basis of these ancient declarations of God, we see that from before the re-creation of the Earth, God intended to “create” a man in ‘Their’ image, not a living soul, but a glorified soul, as this New Testament Epistle now openly declares… “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus…” (Ephesians 2:10) to be a new creature of a spiritual type as opposed to the making/forming of Adam and Eve out of material earth and being flesh. For it is in resurrected and glorified Jesus Christ (the life-giving spirit) the fulfilling of the designed purpose of God is now to be realized. This being men ‘created’ in Their (the Father, Son and Holy Spirit’s) image. It is the only begotten Son being manifest as the 2nd Adam and His Bride as the New Creature being builded in Jesus Christ; that we find the design of God in replicating Himself in His complete image (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is now filled with meaning. Christ not only brings us to God, but much nearer than Angels, in that He unites us to Him through Him. The Head and His Body “raised up together in heavenly places” are then to have a future promised dominion. This dominion being not only over the earth as in the 1st Adam and his bride, placed then in their proper place to rule in the Eden of the Earth, but then the 2nd Adam and His Bride together, having been granted dominion over the Earth and the heavens, are then placed in Their proper sphere to rule from in the new Eden of the heavens. (The progression of God’s intent can be beautifully seen here.) It has been seen that un-fallen..... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/a2krnsh655my9y7/AADeCLzNns9sEiIrFwTQKXnea?dl=0

Mike teaches today 04/24/21. THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS CHAPTER 2:1-10 CREATED TO DO GOOD WORKS VERSES: Hebrews 1:1-3; Matthew 23:10-12; Romans 8:17; 1st Samuel 23:17-18 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4b2y1hwdhpaj1ah/AABYuxDlnlcH_LGB3uMXMecca?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 Read verses 1-10… The first chapter holds forth primarily what the Father’s designed will was before the foundation of the World for His Son. He is called the “Head” over all things to the Church, and the second chapter is more about the Father’s intent for defining His “Body”. Ephesians 1:22-23 “And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church. Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.” The following is a summary of what is being declared by Paul, and understood and confirmed by other Scripture. We have had Paul’s revealing of God’s desired will and design for Salvation and Restoration of all ruined things from before the foundation of this World in which we live. This was accomplished through His Eternal Son, manifest as the Son of man, resurrected from among the dead in a exceedingly great display of power and set far above all other beings, both in this Age and in that which is come. Christ is declared to be the ‘Head’ over the Church/called out ones, for that further work of His grace; that of the up-calling of the Father in the obtaining of many holy brethren worthy to co-rule with His Son; the Son of man, as kings and priest in the riches of His heavenly inheritance. All this is revealed in the first chapter. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, is resurrected the First-Born from among the dead, and was from eternity, the eternal Witness to all the counsels of God. (John 1) He is restored to the place and position at the right hand of the Father that He always had, even before the Creation. As it is written; in that through Him the Father had made all things. And when Adam sinned and brought ruin into His creation, He was the only One capable for the work of man’s redemption and God’s further restoration intent for man; that is the high calling unto the heavens. It is in this understanding the reason for His ascension back into Heaven after resurrection is adduced, as opposed to remaining on the Earth as Lord and Messiah of Israel. It would have been far short of the Father’s Salvation plan, and far short of the glory from where He ruled at the right hand of the Father before His incarnation. It was in the return to this high office that He had prayed for and was promised upon the completion of His work as the Son of man that He would fulfill the Father’s will to the praise of His glory. “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” [John 17:1-5] And now victorious over satan, He was raised up out of Hades (Acts 2), and from this world back to that place that He had vacated at the right hand of the Father. He is the Father’s greatest Prophet and Atoning High Priest, Who, now fully reveals and fills with meaning the counsels of the Father’s mysterious pre-creation will. He now shines forth in the radiance of the Glory of the Father in all Creation. (See Hebrews 1:1-3…“God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high…”) That through the Lord Jesus Christ we may be sealed by the Holy Spirit, and the Father might attain ‘sons’ by ‘adoption;’ with inheritance in heavenly places, joint heirs with Christ over all, to the glory and grace of the manifold Wisdom and Power of God. “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto..... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/4b2y1hwdhpaj1ah/AABYuxDlnlcH_LGB3uMXMecca?dl=0

Mike teaches today 04-17-21. THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1:15-23 THE SPIRIT OF REVELATION AND WISDOM VERSES: Galatians 3:8; Philippians 2:6-11; John 17:1 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ed843bo8i71v91p/AAAjFEZzvFX2PBFluQFngEB4a?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 (Read the verses) We began the study of this Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians written in 62AD, from imprisonment in Rome under the reign of Nero, with Paul’s opening statement/fuller disclosure which expounded on God’s Salvation Plan. This plan goes beyond just redemption, and also includes the restoration of all things (referring to restoring what what been ruined by satan such as the ruined earth seen in Genesis 1:2 as well as restoring the heavenlies which had been defiled by his rebellion), through the Atonement of His Son, designed in the Wisdom of God before the foundation of this World. It is to be comprehended in the understanding of the Mystery of the Kingdom of heavens introduced in the preaching of *John the baptizer and Jesus the incarnate Son of God. * Christ said that the dispensation of the Law of Moses was until John. This can be seen in that John, who proclaimed that the kingdom of heaven was at hand, preached a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins which was a different means of attaining righteousness than that demanded by the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses was a parenthetical dispensation temporarily inserted in the Abrahamic Covenant. Its interim purpose was in the furtherance of the Abrahamic Covenant, on its two levels. The intent of the Abrahamic Covenant being: 1) the blessing of all families of the Earth (Genesis 12:1-3) 2) the special called out ones (from among both Jews and Gentiles) to be transferred to the heavenly region at the Coming of the Lord. (Hebrews 11:9-10, 13-16; 3:1) Note that in the Abrahamic Covenant, Abraham’s seed was to inherit the heavenly sphere as well. (Genesis 26:4, Jeremiah 33:22) The entire Covenant with Abraham was dependent upon Jesus Christ, the Seed of Abraham. The Law of Moses was to teach that ‘righteousness’ that is acceptable before God may not be gotten or sustained by their ‘keeping’ of its commands. (Romans 5:20… “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound…” Galatians 3:8… “And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.”) Israel, called from Egypt, stumbled from the beginning in their moral behavior----thereby their being impossible to be blessed by their Holy God. He gave them the Law through Moses; that by the means of defined commands, that they should then discover their ‘exceedingly sinfulness’ in their inability to keep them (Romans 7:13) and be schooled in dependence upon God in faith, and to learn of their need for total dependence upon the grace of God through the promised Messiah that help in righteousness could only be gained (Galatians 3:19… “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.”)… and not by any religious self-effort. (Galatians 3:23-24… “But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”) As we have discovered in Acts 28; Israel under Covenant with Abraham, as his seed, was finally set aside (Lo ammi, meaning ‘not my people’) for a period of time, which is still ongoing. And the extension of God’s Salvation Plan in its fullness was offered to the Gentiles, in the calling out of another people for His Name, which then coincides with Israel as a Nation refusing to be justified on the principle of faith in God’s Grace provided by the Messiah, and were determined to continue in their vain attempt to establish their righteousness on the basis of their own works done under the system of the Law of Moses. The Law prepares the heart for Grace. The Age of observance of the Law of Moses unto righteousness was first set aside by John and its God-ordained purpose as it relates to righteousness attained by its keeping, which was fulfilled in Jesus Christ (although on a personal/individual basis the Law of Moses bears upon any conscience in conviction of sin, and when it has accomplished its purpose and brought the humbled soul before the Cross of Grace, that he might receive the grace of God in the gift of justification/redemption. Or that he might receive afterward, the additional conviction of conscience in repentance whereby he should draw further upon the provision of Grace in the Atonement of..... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ed843bo8i71v91p/AAAjFEZzvFX2PBFluQFngEB4a?dl=0

Mike teaches today. 04/10/21 THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1:4-14 PREDESTINED SONS UNTO THE PRAISE OF HIS GLORY VERSES: Romans 6:13, 8:29-39; Jeremiah 18:1-17; Ephesians 3:18 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/n4us3dzvimwuqak/AADwfjLmP2BUlx8OuBX_v2N2a?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 Reviewing verse 3… “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ.” Verses 4-14 Paul begins to articulate and expound on God’s plan and blessings in Christ. He here begins to lay out for our understanding God’s amazing plan realized in His beloved Son (which we will here make a less than feeble attempt to briefly put in a nut-shell). That Plan which included a new species of ‘being’ made in His own image who ultimately will become His adopted ‘sons’ accepted in His beloved Son of sacrifice, Jesus, being victorious in life and death as the Son of man, now resurrected from among the dead, seated in glory at the right hand of God, in Whom also God has granted them, being in Jesus Christ, an inheritance with Him in the heavenly places, to enter into the presence of God’s Glory. A human is a creature that begins as a living soul which is created very good but falls prey to satan’s wiles and is thereby condemned unto death. Death being the demise from which the shed Blood of the great Kinsmen Redeemer purchased us. In whom we are to hope after we have heard the herald of truth, and the mystery of God’s predestined will. And we have been sealed in New Testament promise of the Holy Spirit, in whose power we are now to be formed into the image of God’s perfect Son of man; Jesus Christ. God’s sovereign will is to be manifest in the predetermined fullness or completed times (the season typed in the Sabbath, which points to the Millennial kingdom, the 7th season of Tabernacles, which is after this current time of His patience in grace and mercy in the continuing calling out of His sons unto heavenly glory). This fullness of seasons being that appointed time of His investiture as King, taking by power and force, in the great future battle for the heavens of the Earth, the purchased possession of His Kingdom. (Note that though satan has already been defeated by all that Christ wrought in the Atonement, he still holds authority in the Earth. He rules like an incumbent president who has been beat out of office, but not replaced yet. Christ’s investiture is as His inauguration.) Christ will then claim the heavens of this World justly His own, in the gathering up the first-fruits of His faithful up into (at the mid-point of the last 7 years), the heavens which satan will not relinquish to them without a fight. It is a battle he loses and is cast down to Earth, along with the next territorial battle 3 ½ years later which he also loses and is then cast into the Pit of Hades in the center of the Earth. All this unto the praise of God’s Glory by all those who have beheld; by all those who have seen and experienced the severity of God, now on full display is His power over death, over His enemies, and His great love and goodness expressed towards His Son and Bride raised in glorious splendor from among the dead. It is a peace without end, with a new earth and new heavens. What the first Adam lost, the 2nd Adam (Christ Jesus) has exceeded in restoration. What God had created and presented to the first Adam is greatly increased in the inheritance of the Second Adam; a Bride, an eternal City, with Garden and the tree and river of life. That which He has conceived before the foundation of the World and brought to pass, He now receives long withheld praise and glory. (God is patient as He awaits the praise and glory due Him, that recognition of His majesty which is seen in Revelation 7:9-12.) The fullness then seen in that which is typical in the Angels who rejoiced and sang at God’s creation of this realm, and the rejoicing of Israel on the east bank of the Red Sea for God’s Deliverance. VERSES 4-5 “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Predestination (for a more expanded discussion of predestination see our lesson on Romans 8:29-39), as it relates to man in Scripture, has two parts, and means which God designed and foreordained before the creative works starting in Genesis 1:3. By the pleasure of His good will, and by His inherent wisdom, He pre-determined a King and Kingdom to come........ DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/n4us3dzvimwuqak/AADwfjLmP2BUlx8OuBX_v2N2a?dl=0

Mike teaches today. 04/03/21 THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1:1-3 LAYING THE GROUNDWORK VERSES: Romans 16:25-27; Philippians 2:6-11; 2nd Corinthians 12:1-3 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zyt0hse2n9z7g88/AACg9Qh5nTfCv4PdASa4ZJN9a?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 VERSE 1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at (Ephesus), and to the faithful in Christ Jesus…” (Paul was writing not just to those in Ephesus, but to the churches around that area. More on this later.) Paul begins by referring to himself as an apostle of Christ by the will of God. Upon Paul, Jesus Christ had bestowed an apostleship of an independent kind. Paul was set apart as an Apostle not by the 12 Apostles, but independent from the 12 Apostles in that he was given his apostleship from outside Israel and personally from above. In his Apostleship/Road to Damascus experience, he was made a witness of Jesus Christ not only as being resurrected but as He currently is in the Heavenly realm of Glory. To Paul was given the mystery of the kingdom of heavens in Jesus Christ hidden in God; an appointment by the will of God. In these first three chapters, Jesus is presented as ‘Christ’ by the Holy Spirit as the Holy Spirit unfolds God’s work with His Son, whereas in the last 3 chapters, He is referred to as ‘Lord’ in relationship to all those in Him. Thus, the first three chapters are about redemption through the Son, whereas the last three are about sanctification and following Him as Lord. His epistle is addressed ‘to the saints’… which is a title for those who are enrolled in the heavens (the Lamb’s Book of Life); those called to be saints by God as believers set apart unto God in Christ Jesus… as opposed to men being in their original standing in Adam. That reference to being ‘in Christ’ also distinguishes them apart from being Jews under the Old Testament referring to themselves as being “in Abraham” or “in Moses”. VERSE 2 “Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” The words ‘grace be to you’ is not just a salutation, but has a deeper significance of praying a blessing of power unto them; a tangible experience that relates to an infusion of power to their spirit unto the attainment of sainthood. There is only one Righteous “Son of Man” before God; that is Jesus, and ‘saints’ are united to Him and are thereby in a certain justified standing entitled to more ‘grace’/provision of power beyond being justified in Christ Jesus unto the perfection of ‘sainthood’. “…and peace, from God…”…men in general are under the law of Adam or the Law of Moses and are automatically under its wrath ‘for the law worketh wrath’, and are as a result, at ‘war’ with God. The realization of the Believer is that in Christ there is an ever available and increasing grace and peace “from God our Father”. Creator and Father are two different aspects of God. God has created man, but may not be called ‘Father’ by all men. (John 8:39-44) He is and is to be called Father by only those who are in Christ. As they alone are especially brought into a new being, or begat again by the Holy Spirit through their faith in God’s Christ “…and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Justifying peace does not now ensure there always is harmony in unbroken fellowship in this new family of God. Jesus; God’s Christ, the Savior, is advanced upon justification to Jesus Christ as our LORD. And as Master, He expects and requires obedience. (Luke 6:46; 12:46-47) VERSE 3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies heavenly places in Christ…” (In the Greek, the word ‘places’ is not there.) As mentioned above, the words “which are at Ephesus” in the first verse are generally accepted as not being a part of the original Letter, in that it was written as a circular among those Churches in close proximity to Ephesus as well…such as Colossae and Laodicea. This revelatory Letter in the expounding of the mystery of the Kingdom of the heavens was written by the Apostle Paul along with his letters to the Colossians, Philippians, and Philemon between the year 61 AD and 63 AD while he was imprisoned in Rome. It is a Letter designed to now expound on the Gospel long since given to him; ‘the revelation of the mystery, that was kept secret since the world began’ which was briefly referenced in the last three verses of Romans 16. We noted previously in our teaching of Romans 16, that the Gospel doctrine of Romans, written 3 years earlier, was not the mystery Gospel of Paul specifically given to him by the Lord in Arabia and in his supernatural translations of 2nd Corinthians 12:1-3, but the ‘general or simple’ Gospel of God as to man’s (Jew or Gentile) new relationship with God in Christ........ DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zyt0hse2n9z7g88/AACg9Qh5nTfCv4PdASa4ZJN9a?dl=0

Mike teaches today. 03/27/21 THE BOOK OF ROMANS CHAPTER 16 THE MYSTERY OF THE GOSPEL OF PAUL VERSES: Romans 2:16,11:25,16:25; Matthew 21:43; Acts 28:26-27; 1st Peter 1:9 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c6q8frr56wnoday/AACW_3_icKJx8Tw8Vp-DwCXBa?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 Romans 16:1-2 “Now I commend unto you Phebe our sister…” What is remarkable in Paul’s final address and salutation is the number of women he commends as in the service of the Lord; some 10 of them. This one, Phebe, in particular is worthy of honor and respect because of her service in the body of Christ as a deaconess, and help is due to her as she has been a helper to others and to Paul himself. Seems that these women are set in contrast to Eve in the Garden. They were being commended as faithful helpers to their spiritual husband, the Second Adam, as opposed to Eve to the first Adam. VERSES 3-4 “Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus.’” These are the same two helpers of Paul and the Lord in Acts 18. VERSES 5-16 Many of these salutations are to Jews, and not a few are said to be relatives of Paul. What is marked is the loving harmony that is to be found in Christ Jesus in Believers. VERSES 17-20 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” The practical application of the Truth that Paul has been teaching is unto the sincere right-minded Christian to be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. Being on guard for the serpent’s wiles is an allusion to the Garden of Eden, and the sure word of prophecy that the Seed of Woman (Jesus) is completing what He begun, “through their continued obedience now in the revealed Truth of these doctrines”. We are to beware also of the serpent’s days of deceiving and disturbing by planting religious tares among them who serve themselves and not the Lord, who would bring them back into the flesh either under the Law on the one hand or presumptuous freedom on the other, robbing them of their kingdom inheritance (“…causing hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and the such like… that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5 with Proverbs 6:16-19) These who are dividing and not uniting in love are to be anticipated and watched out for. Note that the Lord said (in Matthew 13:27-30) not to kill them, persecute them, or even to debate and argue with them, but to leave them alone. As Paul says, also to avoid them (compare that with “…after the first and second admonition, reject... Titus 3:10-11, Revelation 22:11) The Tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden is alluded to here as well. Some take almost a sense of pride of ‘knowing’ what evils are being perpetrated in the World. They keep abreast with those who are eating of that tree to see what they are doing. But the Word and Spirit direct us to ignorance of the works of evil, and direct us to have the wisdom to focus on what is good. If we truly had wisdom of what is good, we wouldn’t look in on the evil to see what is happening. It’s not our responsibility to inform all those around us as to what’s going on. We only need to focus on what’s good, and renew our minds on Him via His Word. We don’t have to look under the rug to see what is going on in the world. The exhortation is that evil and satan are in the working out of the purposes of God. We are to be patient and wise as He is, in this time of His calling out a people to overcome the flesh and satan in the power of the Atonement of Him Who has overcome. It is the time of satan’s bruising of the Believer, but soon He Whose feet he bruised will crush satan’s head under foot. Christ will return and His Wrath shall be poured out on all His enemies, and those who refuse to serve Him. The next 5 verses discover to us the one who wrote down this Epistle for Paul… Tertius. And then the 24th verse is the benediction… “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen.” Romans 16:25-27 “Now to him that is of power to establish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of....... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/c6q8frr56wnoday/AACW_3_icKJx8Tw8Vp-DwCXBa?dl=0

Mike teaches today. 03/20/21 THE BOOK OF ROMANS CHAPTER 15 GRACE FROM THE STRONGER TO THE WEAKER VERSES: Psalm 2:8-12; Psalm 18:43,49; Galatians 3:26-29; Revelation 14:1-5 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/n535nu9l8h3wx2d/AABri-4og7uJGpIR7lfa_km7a?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 ROMANS CHAPTER 15 MATTERS OF CONSCIENCE - GRACE FROM THE STRONGER TO THE WEAKER In the 14th Chapter, Paul speaks on the subject of maintaining loving fellowship among converted Gentiles and Jews and not judging one another on non-essential matters that don’t affect the soul’s salvation. Those incidental matters, which may be called ‘scruples’, can cause disputes among the brethren and can stir up divisions (this being applicable to all Believers still today). Some examples are those that would naturally cause offense between Jewish and Gentile converts; such as what others are eating or not eating, drinking or not drinking, and what ‘day or days’ should be considered as holy among them. Paul relates himself to those Christians who don’t have any restraint of conscience when it comes to food and drink; who consider all common food alike as being clean; and every day the same unto the Lord, as ‘strong’ in the faith, and those who have certain scruples, convictions, uncertainties about these matters as ‘weak’ in the faith. In the 15th Chapter, Paul, a known converted Jew to the growing sect of followers of Jesus the Christ, begins by putting himself in the same category as the ‘strong’ in the faith, as a tacit instructive word to Jews now believing in Christ on what should be their like behavior. VERSE 1 “WE then that are strong (in the faith) ought to bear the infirmities (scruples) of the weak, and not to please ourselves.” (compare with 2nd Corinthians 11:29) In saying believers should not seek to please themselves, Paul is invoking the greatest commandment to love others as we love ourselves and to love God. VERSE 2 “Let every one of us please his neighbor (Mark 12:31 our obligations go beyond the sphere of just the brethren) for his good to edification” (building up, construction, not demolition, helping to advance the spirituality for accepted entrance into the Kingdom together which all of us individually will be judged by the same Judge Hebrews 10:24). Our command is to not judge our fellow brethren on issues that are non-essential for qualifying for Kingdom entrance. Jesus Christ, the perfect One without any fault and above all, will be set forth now by Paul as the example from Old Testament Scripture as the selfless way one should live in order to please and Glorify God. VERSE 3 “For even Christ pleased not himself: but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.” (Psalm 69:9) (Likewise, we shouldn’t please ourselves, We should only please Him who sent us just as Jesus Christ only pleased He who sent Him.) The reproach that fell on Christ was for honoring God and doing the Father’s will; not His Own. We are challenged to imitate His loving forbearance in wisdom about non-essential disputable matters and to not please ourselves, especially among the brethren, even if we have heard the freedom of Truth directly from the Father. This is much in line with the Lord Who is above all but is merciful. The strong are not to control because they know what is the mind of Christ in these disputable matters. They are not to dictate terms and give acceptance to the fellowship to the one who conforms to them and reject the one who doesn’t. Another example is having different views concerning water baptism. Some believe that being baptized with water sprinkling is acceptable while others believe immersion to be the Scriptural means. Some believe an infant child may be baptized while another only those who understand what they are doing may be baptized. To be right in a matter is not always righteous. To be wrong in a scruple, or a different understanding and right in attitude is more righteous than to be right in a disputable matter and critical in attitude. A believer who has God’s heart would lovingly forebear, as Christ did, and would not berate those who disagree. To be received of Christ is what’s important. While our consciences may not always be right, it is always to be followed. If we go against our consciences, we are sinning. Needless to say, our consciences can’t conflict with the Word of God. We are speaking as it relates to disputable matters. The Holy Spirit will use and mature your conscience as He reveals the Word to you. That’s why it’s important for us to....... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/n535nu9l8h3wx2d/AABri-4og7uJGpIR7lfa_km7a?dl=0

**OUR DEEPEST APOLOGIES FOR THE THE AUDIO AND VIDEO TROUBLE DURING THIS VIDEO. WE HAD A SHORT IN THE USB CABLE TO OUR AUDIO SOUND CARD.** Mike teaches today. 03-13-2021. THE BOOK OF ROMANS CHAPTER 14 RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR BRETHREN IN THE LORD VERSES: 1st Corinthians 8:913, 10:23; Colossians 2:6-3:4; Isaiah 45:23; Revelation 2:23 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qtqxhikqc2op0wj/AADJiZCHA7ghncz1vHPHMgEYa?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 VERSES 1-4 “Him that is weak in the faith (to be weak or unsettled in the faith Romans 4:19, or in their opinion) receive ye, but not to doubtful (contentious criticizing) disputations (searching out and pronouncing judgment on their opinions/beliefs). For one believeth that he may eat all things: -- another, who is weak (unsettled in the faith), eateth (only) herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.” Paul expounded ‘faith’ at the first of his Epistle to the Romans, and hope in the middle chapters, and now the Law of Love in unity of the brethren is further advanced in this chapter. Non-essential matters being disputed that cause divisions are addressed. Christians have different religious beliefs, or ‘scruples’ (the definition being afeeling ofdoubtor hesitation with regard to themoralityor propriety of acourse of action) often because of cultural upbringing. That’s really what is being addressed here by Paul. As a reminder, during the time period that the Jews had been expelled from Rome, the believers in Rome were all Gentile until Nero invited the Jews back. By the Holy Spirit, Paul was addressing a conflict amongst the brethren and shows them how to be one in the Lord, dwelling together in love. Paul instructs Christians not to receive other Christians into fellowship based on the provision that they give up their ‘scruples.’ It was then and still is tragic that Churches and groups split over ‘scruples.’ As to what is considered non- essential disputable matters or scruples is further defined for us. STRONG AND WEAK CHRISTIANS are referred to in these scriptures. The ‘strong’, Christian is one who is intelligently informed and convicted in certain principles of the Gospel; one whose conscience therefore does not condemn him for his actions (but strong in faith here does not mean mature in love). Whereas a weak Christian is depicted by certain actions determined by ‘scruples’ acquired and carried over by their background; the result of those strong in the faith and those weak in the faith is the possibility of separating confliction. Who then does Paul most encourage to adjust? It is the strong Christian who is to adjust his thinking for the sake of the weaker brother. (For example, a Christian who allows himself to eat pork shouldn’t do so in front of one who does not. Or a believer who allows himself to drink should not do so in front of a believer who would be caused to stumble because of his example.) We are spirit, soul, and body. We all have ‘consciences’ that are a part of our spirit’s makeup. When we are born-again, our conscience along with our spirits is enlivened/animated and made much more acute to right and wrong by the divine nature then imparted to us. Our conscience is then to be further instructed in the Word of God and will point us more clearly towards the light of God’s maturing Truth. Truth is like a light appearing far away on a dark night. We are drawn and directed by it; our conscience points us towards it, but it is dark and difficult to head towards it on an exact direct line, as there are obstacles that obscure the way. But as we draw closer to the light, we then see more clearly and avoid the obstacles and can take a more direct line towards it. ‘Scruples’ are the unseen obstacles that partially obscure our conscience and hinder the path to maturity. Scruples affect our consciences and are generally a part of what we have been taught as a part of our cultural upbringing or previous religious understanding. Therefore, our consciences cannot always be completely relied upon as pointing in the most direct way towards the light of Truth, although generally it does. Our renewed mind and conscience (having been illuminated by the spirit/Spirit) needs to be adjusted here and there by instruction in the Word that we might draw closer to the beacon of Truth and become fully elucidated; that is, to become a mature Christian. A maturing Christian is much freer than a scrupulous Christian..... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/qtqxhikqc2op0wj/AADJiZCHA7ghncz1vHPHMgEYa?dl=0

Mike Balloun teaches today. 03-06-21. THE BOOK OF ROMANS CHAPTER 13 RELATIONSHIP WITH GOVERNMENTS VERSES: Luke 20:21-25; Matthew 17:25-27; 1st Timothy 2:1-5; Acts 5:29; Genesis 9:6 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/kfyf1yeqe235wf9/AAD9ZrRNmD29BMWRU5ojX0jVa?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 We move forward, keeping our connection with what has preceded in Chapter 12, where the Roman Believers were encouraged in the understanding that God’s mercies had graciously been extended to them. This is seen from all the revelatory teaching laid out before them in the Epistle, highlighted in the ‘beseeching’ word of Romans 12:1… Therefore in the light of those great mercies; “present your bodies (souls) a living sacrifice…” So Chapter 12 was instruction on what our relationship with God, as followers of Christ, should be. That is followed by some instruction in Chapter 13 as to what our relationship with fellow Believers is to be, as well as some practical instruction on our relationship with unbelievers. Here in Chapter 13, instruction on relationships turns to focusing on the governing bodies in the World. It could be considered as further commentary on what Christ Jesus had previously said before His Crucifixion as to the responsibility of all men under the authority of Rome… “Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.” [Luke 20:21-25] This is to be understood along with… “What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them (those who authorized and those who took up tribute, and those who were subjects paying tribute), go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.” [Matthew 17:25-27] Though Christ’s Kingdom was not of this World, (and the principle He set forth for His followers is that they, with Him were free, and not of this World) it is to be understood that we are ‘positionally’ spiritual residents of a higher kingdom while experientially we are subjects of this World’s Governments. Thereby we are subject to the laws of the land’s Governments wherein we are now to sojourn. And as will be expounded in this Chapter 13, to obey is to not be under the judgment in opposition to authorities God Himself has established. It should be noted that the Holy Spirit set the Scriptures in opposition to what the Church in Rome later would ignore in the ill-conceived doctrines brought forth out of the Roman Catholic Church, that being the great error of declaring the Pope Christ’s representative in the Earth and above all other governments and kings. VERSES 1-4 “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good (that minister generally not being aware of the spiritual implications). But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.” In verse 1, it says, “Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers.” Every soul is used by Paul that it should be understood as a command beyond just Believers, which would include everyone on the face of the Earth. Here is found the clear state of reality; there is no governmental authority that is not to be considered appointed of God and therefore must be heeded. “Does that mean we are to obey ungodly men in authority? Yes. The letter to the Romans explicitly required them to honor the Emperor Nero as the appointed authority by God over the Empire of Rome. God has commanded Christians everywhere to adjust and obey those He appoints to rule. Thereby effectively rendering a Christian free from the necessity of following, practicing, analyzing, deciding who would be best or judging politics. Christians then should be, for the most part, directly uninvolved with governmental affairs of the World, other than the responsibility of praying for them. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and..... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/kfyf1yeqe235wf9/AAD9ZrRNmD29BMWRU5ojX0jVa?dl=0

Mike Balloun teaches today. 02-27-21. THE BOOK OF ROMANS CHAPTER 12 THE FELLOWSHIP OF BELIEVERS VERSES: Romans 3:5-6, 8:29; Hebrews 2:10, 8:10, 10:25; 2nd Corinthians 3:18 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3l12be1nk5mwlcx/AACcadBamn4Sw5lNX9-xBksYa?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 There are two harmonious lines of thought that are proceeding onward throughout the entire Epistle: That of addressing the arising problem of anti-Semitism growing in the Church of Rome, and secondly, that which serves the purpose of the first, that of an overview of God’s Salvation Plan for man. This includes an understanding in the advancement spiritually for the New Man on from redemption/justification unto sanctification, and finally to resurrection unto glory/glorification. The Apostle has finally addressed directly the first and determined purpose of his letter; anti-Semitism, in the 9th through the 11th Chapters. Now he will continue to advance the understanding of God’s Salvation Plan in the attaining of many sons unto glory. (Hebrews 2:10, Romans 8:29) And that by an appeal to consecration to God that leads to the instructing in the process of sanctification by way of required practical Christian behavior. First, a consecration in ongoing actions of the individual Believer, as it relates to relationships within the corporate ‘Body’ of Christ, then as it relates to relations with outsiders, and Governments; all expounded throughout Chapters 12-16. We can briefly summarize so far, that in the first few chapters we are all, Jews and Gentiles, discovered to be sinners, and that God mercifully justifies those who extend faith in Him, exampled in Abraham. In Chapter 5, we are forgiven through the Atonement of Christ. In Chapter 6, we are dead and buried with Christ and called to service. In Chapter 7, we discover we are, by our inherent conflicting nature, yet helpless unto profitable service to God in ourselves, even though we are born-again with His nature within us. Thus in Chapter 8, we discover that the command to overcoming the flesh is accomplished in following the spirit/Holy Spirit. So in Chapters 9-11, there is the stepping to the side for a moment to explain the dynamic of God’s callings of Jews and Gentiles, after which now in Chapters 12-16 Paul picks up the most critical and practical part of the “Gospel of God”. This is the keeping of unity with the Father and in the ‘Body’ of Christ as effective representatives of God. It is in effect a return to the objective teaching of ‘sonship’ through practical instruction on living in relationship as “brethren”; that fellowship consisting of Jews (Messianics) and Gentiles working together in service to God as the One New Man. This entails teaching on the gifts given by God, the curtailing of the flesh, ministering within and without the ‘Body’, and addressing those issues that would religiously tend to separate these two different cultures; such as the observance of Sabbath and special days, kosher eating, etc. Spirit/spirit-led conscience based upon solid teaching becomes the intended standard of guidance in Godliness. One in faith was the theme of the first part of the Book of Romans, one in hope is the middle part, and now one in love in these last four chapters. In the annulment of the Mosaic Covenant (annulled in regards to attaining righteousness) the common ground to relationship with God reverted back to the ground on which Abraham had been accounted as righteous. (Romans 10:4 with Romans 4:19-25) Jesus Christ is not “the end of the Law” but the end of it for the attaining of righteousness. The Law of Moses still retains its purposes; it was an additive (supplemental) to the Abrahamic Covenant; it was not then the primary. The Mosaic Law’s historical and typical applications, its condemnation and conviction of the sinner in immorality, its pointing towards Jesus Christ for salvation, and its reapplications in the Millennial Kingdom on Earth, all speak to its ongoing and future advanced relevance. (Some traits of the Mosaic Covenant are seen in the the future New Covenant with Israel.) But it fulfilled the purpose of God in that it has been established that man cannot be righteous before God through his works of the Law; due to a contrary nature residing within, thus driving the sincere seeker of God naturally to the way of faith, the means by which Abraham found favor with God. The ‘New Covenant’ with Israel that is to be instituted in the Millennial Kingdom of Christ is but an extension of the Abrahamic Covenant fulfilled in the spirit/Spirit of Jesus Christ, who then are to become the true sons of Abraham. Chapters 12-16 answer to faith and righteousness in grace’s provision in Jesus Christ’s Atonement. It also speaks to how Jews of the physical seed (who are..... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/3l12be1nk5mwlcx/AACcadBamn4Sw5lNX9-xBksYa?dl=0

Mike Balloun teaches today. 02-13-21. THE BOOK OF ROMANS CHAPTER 11:22-36 GOD’S GOODNESS AND SEVERITY VERSES: Hosea 2:1-23; Matthew 13:38-39, 22:2-14; Isaiah 1,11:11, 59:20-21; Job 2:1-6; Hebrews 8:8-13 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mu244xc5wzxwrys/AAAIdgnkU_dWnoqm6_XEwpPla?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 VERSE 22 “Behold therefore the goodness (loving mercy) and severity (justice and holiness) of God: on those indeed who fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continuest in (His) goodness; else thou also shalt be cut off.” These final verses in Romans 11 have Hosea 2 in view; see verse 19… “And I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment (severity), and in loving kindness, and in mercies (goodness).” Where God ‘then betroths Israel unto Him forever’, is only after ‘Jacob’s Trouble’ and at the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom. What is shown in Hosea 2:1-23 is that two principle attributes of God, expressed by Paul in Romans 11, do not at all oppose one another, but declare the balance of His Majestic Character; that of Righteousness and Justice on the one hand and Love and Mercy on the other. The first 13 verses of Hosea 2 have to do with the severity of God, in His, the Husband’s righteousness and judgments on Israel during their estrangement climaxing in ‘Jacob’s Trouble’. Hosea 2:14 begins His alluring loving kindness and mercies towards His wayward wife at the beginning of that great and final trouble (Matthew 24:21) directing her in His comforting protection out into the wilderness. (Revelation 12:14) This is comparative to the days following the redemption out of Egypt (verse15). And after 3 ½ years of purifying her, then at Christ’s Return…verse 23…“And I will ‘sow’ her (His restored wife) unto me in the (Millennial) earth (and they shall come forth as many as the sands of the sea), and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy (for two thousand years); and I will say to them (the Nation of the New Man) which were not my people (while Jacob was not estranged), Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.” Israel has historically recognized God’s demand for justice and righteousness and emphasized it, but wrongly sought it by way of trying to establish their own righteousness, outside of faith, in their continued failed observance of the Law of Moses. This to the want of His unmerited Mercy that was all the while being pointed to and provided outside the Law. But they, in their long-standing and persistent stubbornness, being chastised from head to toe (Isaiah 1), finally contracted God’s righteousness and judgment in exponential severity, being cut off. (For what purpose would God continue to chastise them if they were already bruised head to toe and still not submitted to Him? This brings about their sure future demise during the time of Jacob’s Trouble.) In misunderstanding God’s severity towards Israel, modern-day Christendom, having received that Mercy and minor grace of justification outside the Law, has emphasized His love and mercy at the expense of fear and devotional service unto sanctification and have attributed all his Righteous Judgment to have been expended upon stiff-necked Israel for their not receiving and crucifying Christ. They think that ‘since we Gentiles have received Christ as Savior, we are the rightful recipients of His Loving Kindness and Mercy.’ Not rightly discerning the designs and workings of God, they then have wrongly overemphasized His love and mercy unto themselves. And in a similar way, as Israel settled into a false sense of religious superiority; so the like presumption has now robbed the Gospel Church of the wisdom and knowledge found only in gratefulness and the reverential fear of Him. Drawing upon the power of grace in devoted obedience to His Christ’s commands, constitutes to them a continuation in His Goodness, lest the same severity be experienced in their being cut off. Christianity over the centuries has experienced the leavening of traditions of religiously-minded men, the flesh, lust, and law. The dark ages were days of salvation by works of the flesh (rote ritual/outward works) in the Catholic church (the Catholic Church being the predominant representative of Christianity at that time). The fullness of 3 measures of religious leaven; by man-appealing doctrines of increasing darkness over centuries answers to today’s lukewarm Christendom. (Matthew 13:33) Which can lead us to no deeper sanctifying spiritual growth relationship with God (the like error of Israel before) beyond merely the merciful gift of justification, which is most assuredly required by God to maintain one’s standing in God’s Goodness, declared throughout the unleavened...... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mu244xc5wzxwrys/AAAIdgnkU_dWnoqm6_XEwpPla?dl=0

Mike Balloun teaches today. 02-13-21. THE BOOK OF ROMANS CHAPTER 11:22-36 GOD’S GOODNESS AND SEVERITY VERSES: Hosea 2:1-23; Matthew 13:38-39, 22:2-14; Isaiah 1,11:11, 59:20-21; Job 2:1-6; Hebrews 8:8-13 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mu244xc5wzxwrys/AAAIdgnkU_dWnoqm6_XEwpPla?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 VERSE 22 “Behold therefore the goodness (loving mercy) and severity (justice and holiness) of God: on those indeed who fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continuest in (His) goodness; else thou also shalt be cut off.” These final verses in Romans 11 have Hosea 2 in view; see verse 19… “And I will betroth thee unto me forever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment (severity), and in loving kindness, and in mercies (goodness).” Where God ‘then betroths Israel unto Him forever’, is only after ‘Jacob’s Trouble’ and at the beginning of the Millennial Kingdom. What is shown in Hosea 2:1-23 is that two principle attributes of God, expressed by Paul in Romans 11, do not at all oppose one another, but declare the balance of His Majestic Character; that of Righteousness and Justice on the one hand and Love and Mercy on the other. The first 13 verses of Hosea 2 have to do with the severity of God, in His, the Husband’s righteousness and judgments on Israel during their estrangement climaxing in ‘Jacob’s Trouble’. Hosea 2:14 begins His alluring loving kindness and mercies towards His wayward wife at the beginning of that great and final trouble (Matthew 24:21) directing her in His comforting protection out into the wilderness. (Revelation 12:14) This is comparative to the days following the redemption out of Egypt (verse15). And after 3 ½ years of purifying her, then at Christ’s Return…verse 23…“And I will ‘sow’ her (His restored wife) unto me in the (Millennial) earth (and they shall come forth as many as the sands of the sea), and I will have mercy upon her that had not obtained mercy (for two thousand years); and I will say to them (the Nation of the New Man) which were not my people (while Jacob was not estranged), Thou art my people; and they shall say, Thou art my God.” Israel has historically recognized God’s demand for justice and righteousness and emphasized it, but wrongly sought it by way of trying to establish their own righteousness, outside of faith, in their continued failed observance of the Law of Moses. This to the want of His unmerited Mercy that was all the while being pointed to and provided outside the Law. But they, in their long-standing and persistent stubbornness, being chastised from head to toe (Isaiah 1), finally contracted God’s righteousness and judgment in exponential severity, being cut off. (For what purpose would God continue to chastise them if they were already bruised head to toe and still not submitted to Him? This brings about their sure future demise during the time of Jacob’s Trouble.) In misunderstanding God’s severity towards Israel, modern-day Christendom, having received that Mercy and minor grace of justification outside the Law, has emphasized His love and mercy at the expense of fear and devotional service unto sanctification and have attributed all his Righteous Judgment to have been expended upon stiff-necked Israel for their not receiving and crucifying Christ. They think that ‘since we Gentiles have received Christ as Savior, we are the rightful recipients of His Loving Kindness and Mercy.’ Not rightly discerning the designs and workings of God, they then have wrongly overemphasized His love and mercy unto themselves. And in a similar way, as Israel settled into a false sense of religious superiority; so the like presumption has now robbed the Gospel Church of the wisdom and knowledge found only in gratefulness and the reverential fear of Him. Drawing upon the power of grace in devoted obedience to His Christ’s commands, constitutes to them a continuation in His Goodness, lest the same severity be experienced in their being cut off. Christianity over the centuries has experienced the leavening of traditions of religiously-minded men, the flesh, lust, and law. The dark ages were days of salvation by works of the flesh (rote ritual/outward works) in the Catholic church (the Catholic Church being the predominant representative of Christianity at that time). The fullness of 3 measures of religious leaven; by man-appealing doctrines of increasing darkness over centuries answers to today’s lukewarm Christendom. (Matthew 13:33) Which can lead us to no deeper sanctifying spiritual growth relationship with God (the like error of Israel before) beyond merely the merciful gift of justification, which is most assuredly required by God to maintain one’s standing in God’s Goodness, declared throughout the unleavened...... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mu244xc5wzxwrys/AAAIdgnkU_dWnoqm6_XEwpPla?dl=0

Mike Balloun teaches today. 02-06-21. THE BOOK OF ROMANS CHAPTER 11:1-21 THE MYSTERY OF THE BLINDNESS OF ISRAEL VERSES: Isaiah 49:1-6; Matthew 21:43; Isaiah 29:10; Acts 3:22-23; Leviticus 26:28 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fmprr4yxskt2tpi/AABawZgoyNmdFAsKph4aUyvUa?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 Paul has reached the critical point of his Letter. The Mystery of which Paul refers to in verse 25 of this Chapter is that Israel the nation and its people are set aside in judgment as God’s witnesses in the Earth, and the ‘Gentile’ Church would take their place. For Israel, as a people of God, will not be restored during this Age of Mercy and Grace; the timeframe wherein He calls out another people for His Name, out of the ‘Gentiles.’ This had begun shortly after Pentecost with the Gentile Cornelius being saved. (Acts 10) The Jews in general continued their united rejection of Christ their Messiah and claimed they are a people of Moses throughout the 30 plus years associated with the Book of Acts up until 70 AD. This is when God cut them off, by the hand of Titus, and destroyed the Temple, and with it the Jewish means by which they could serve God through observance of the Mosaic Law. VERSES 1-6 “I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid (using the strongest negative in the Greek, this is expressed as an emphatic ‘No! Not ever!’). For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the Scripture saith of Elijah? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” Are they to remain forever in that cast off state? NEVER! So says Paul, as he gives example of when God told the prophet Elijah, who thought himself alone in Israel as a man of God, that He had reserved unto Himself 7000 men who had not bowed to other gods. There is now, and has always been a remnant elect, by God’s Grace, which Paul himself could attest to, as one himself in his day. In his Road to Damascus experience, Paul was cast down upon the ground in the Glory of Christ, and was then bidden to arise and he arose. Paul then is a type for the last days remnant Jew! It was election and justification by undeserved grace and not by merit of his or their own when they again will be grafted back in. (Paul’s scales over his eyes being symbolic of their being blinded and his being filled with the Holy Spirit and subsequent ministry as the Apostle to the Gentiles symbolizing the scales of unbelief dropping from the Jews’ eyes at the time of Christ’s Coming and them being used as ministers on Earth as lights unto the Gentiles/nations in the millennial kingdom!) VERSES 7-10 “What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded. (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day. And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompense unto them: Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back always.” As Paul has already said, Israel was seeking to establish their own righteousness before God, and for that “…the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes…” [Isaiah 29:10] And to add injury to a long-standing insult, in their pride they refused to receive (and still refuse today) the imputed righteousness of Christ outside the Law, which God, by His prophets, had all along promised to provide outside the Law of Moses. “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” [Psalm 69:21] And so in this great display of pride, God judged them unworthy to have the part of the “New Man” heavenly kingdom calling (the heavenly portion of the Abrahamic Covenant) and gave it to another. “Wherefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.” [Matthew 21:43] (What was being taken from them was the heavenly portion of the kingdom inheritance that was promised to Israel through Abraham’s faithfulness, of which he is an inheritor of. The inheritors of the heavenly inheritance being the antitype for.... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/fmprr4yxskt2tpi/AABawZgoyNmdFAsKph4aUyvUa?dl=0

Mike Balloun teaches today, 01-30-21. THE BOOK OF ROMANS CHAPTER 11 LAYING THE GROUNDWORK VERSES: Amos 9; Jeremiah 30-31; Ezekiel 37; Zechariah 12-14 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/m7ycoctsfrga4a9/AAB24VhPJqPwl9MHX9Tkh3Cpa?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 The Book of Romans, for clearer understanding, may be divided into these 6 topics: Chapters 1-2… Condemnation……. (both Jews and Gentiles) Chapters 3-5… Justification……. (imputed righteousness of God for both) Chapters 6-8… Sanctification…… (imparted through struggle; spirit with flesh) Chapters 9-11…Prophetic……(the blindness of Israel, the restoration of Israel) Chapters 12-15…Practical……. (application after previous instruction) Chapter 16……. Practical and Prophetic (loving application and Mystery) In Romans 11, we have the Mystery of the blindness of Israel and the Gentile Church, and the final and concluding work of God in the restitution of all things. (Acts 3:21 with Matthew 17:11) It’s God’s Millennial New Covenant and theocratic appointment of restored Israel (both Judah and Ephraim… Ezekiel 37) over the then to be judged Nations which is central to End Time events that is being characterized by Paul in this Chapter. This being the central theme of all the numerous Old Covenant unfulfilled prophecies. All the writings of the prophets of God are full of statements that directly deal with God’s finishing work with Israel and to that which Paul lightly touches upon here. That being that Israel has yet in its future a final severe judgment unto ‘death with resurrection’ to follow, that time prophesied of is Jacob’s Trouble. (Jeremiah 30 &31, Amos 9, Revelation 12:14-17, Matthew 24:15-22) This death and resurrection of Israel is numbered in days and is forecast to be those specific prophesied days just preceding and accompanying Christ’s Return from Heaven. This is when Jesus shall fulfill all Old and New Testament Scriptures prophetic to Israel’s restoration as a place and people as He restores them also to their lost gifts and callings. This death and resurrection that few modern-day Jews are aware of (and even fewer Christians are aware of) looms on the not-too-distant and approaching horizon. Well, we might ask; what is the extended prophetic warning lesson to the Gentiles here in this Chapter? It is the New Man leaven of pride which will fully rise that is foreseen. Such a spiritual pride that is as blinding as Israel’s. (Revelation 3:16-17) These End Time Christians, blinded in the darkness of religious pride, who when the faithfully patient First-Fruit offerings of the living overcomers of the New Man (Gentile & Jewish followers of Jesus) are gathered up out from among them, are set before His Tribunal Throne rejoicing in the unseen heavens just above the earth. (Revelation 3:10;12:5 with Revelation 4:2, Psalm 103:19, and Daniel 7:9-10) Then the unprepared, un-ripened, Laodicean-type of believers remain in the field in hope of being ripened and harvested, having been tested in the intense heat of the great Temptation Hour which precedes the great gathering up in the full Harvest towards the end of that appointed 7 year Tribulation period. (Revelation 14:15) It is these lukewarm blind Christian believers who now experience the ‘cutting off’ and are left in the field (Romans 7:22) on the Earth to experience the Great Temptation, which answers also to Jeremiah’s End Time prophecy of Jacob’s Trouble for those then living Jews. The destinies of the two groups of God’s people (prideful Laodicean-like Christians and prideful stubborn Jews) are interwoven. All the final day energies and resources of these Christians who are left behind, but awakening to their Hebraic roots, are to be called upon. They are now being called upon to fear God and to lovingly lay down their lives for their Jewish brethren. The heat of the sun of testing, great trial, and maturing beats down relentlessly on the tribulation Christian. In that 2000 years ago the Jews were cut off as the enemies of God that Gentiles might be saved, so now the Gentile New Man believers in Christ (who were found asleep, un-watching, and unfaithful when the faithful were rewarded by being caught up and kept from the Temptation Hour) find themselves as the Jews were before them, cut off from the fatness of the Olive tree. Theirs now is the saving sanctifying opportunity in that they might be allies and instruments to save the remnant Jews’ physical lives. The Land of Israel is to be ran over by the avenging ‘slayer’ (Ezekiel 21:11) and ransacked, and Jews will then be hotly pursued throughout the earth. It is not anti-Semitism on a human prejudice social level that we or Scripture are speaking of, it is much deeper and darker. It’s the demonic forces who are then desperately in full battle..... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/m7ycoctsfrga4a9/AAB24VhPJqPwl9MHX9Tkh3Cpa?dl=0

Mike Balloun teaches today 01-23-21. THE BOOK OF ROMANS CHAPTER 11 PRELIMINARY THOUGHTS (DEATH UNTO LIFE) VERSES: Jeremiah 16:14-15; Romans 11:11, 11:25 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/80fq8pql5qwben5/AAAdG1gL0I0V6V0tqxU837QUa?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 DEATH unto Life is the revelation of the principle of God’s maturing method for His eternal purposes for mankind. The Life of the Messiah Jesus Christ and His soulical death requirement sets forth this principle. It is seen historically that Israel, after having covenanted with God to be His priests in the earth to all Nations, continually resisted that certain selfless death after their justification. They have skirted His soulical requirements by insisting on a useless type of righteousness of their own. That righteousness attained by checking off a performance list of do’s and don’t’s, without allowing God’s heart to touch the core of their being. Walking in their observance of the Law of Moses without the heart of God behind it. Judgments from God have followed due to their continued stubborn hardness to His methods and plans. This will ultimately be severe enough to cause Israel to come to a reconciliation with their need for a selflessness, realized in soulical death (dying to the desires of the carnal soul). That is to say, a final surrender to their own perpetuating of a religious carnal life, separate and apart from the directives of God, and finally realize the fullness of their Covenant calling. This calling being to be a people of God out from all other peoples as His priests to all the other nations. And further, it is to be realized by the Gentiles that if the Messiah and Israel would need to suffer unto this kind of selfless death, so would they have to manifest the same death to self in their lives. Suffering serves the furthering of His purposes for the bringing forth of a new creature from mankind, who have the Glory of God as the purpose of their existence. Not to serve themselves, but to love God with all their hearts, minds and souls, in the willingness and practical application of giving themselves up even unto physical death for others. (That death unto selfishness being what the Book of Romans ultimately has in view; that being displayed in Gentile appreciation and love of their brethren and wayward Israel.) This is the true reflection of God’s manifest manifold wisdom and glory. Those undefeatable traits of acquired character through Gospel Covenant with Christ, being now manifest unto the unseen spirit powers now ruling in this world. It is a true and frightening testimony to their sure demise and future replacement, seen in His purposes that declare the character warrant and necessary to rule in His Kingdom. The mandate has gone forth, and the Severity of God was realized in Israel’s negative response to God’s proclaimed purposes. The question was; will the Church rise up in this selfless, loving faith and yield to suffering in the power of the Spirit in answer to God’s Glory? Or like Israel before them, do they expect on the basis of some pretentious religious skirting, that God will wink at their half-heartedness and declare their works better than stubborn Israel’s before them? Would He establish them without merit to replace those that were to manifest His great Glory and Power as examples of selflessness that deserve to govern over this World in their stead? NO! The New Man can be cut off as well for rejecting the death message, and not qualify to rule and reign as priests either. Paul was designated the Apostle unto the Gentiles. His purpose being to reveal the mystery of the inheritance of the heavenly kingdom understanding. It was in this revealed understanding that he was first appointed as one to initiate the challenge of God to Israel. Israel being His estranged wife/those now stubborn Jews, to whom He, by first directive, proffered this great inheritance to, yet they persisted in rejecting it. And although the Nation slipped into stone cold hard-heartedness, Paul yet tried to snatch out a few through jealousy. Those who understood his expounding of Scripture to mean that God now was turning to the Gentile, willingly accepted justification in Jesus Christ and the Covenant of the heavenly kingdom inheritance, from which they found themselves cut off. We (Gentiles/New Man) are not an end in God’s salvation plan in and of ourselves but a part. And we can also be the means by which He will restore Israel (on the one hand by a few who selflessly give their lives in loving care, and on the other hand by the final judgment of God in the cutting off of His Gentiles’ calling in answer to their Christian pretense and persistence in religious Babylonianism). If we don’t have the correct.... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/80fq8pql5qwben5/AAAdG1gL0I0V6V0tqxU837QUa?dl=0

Mike Balloun teaches today 01-16-21. THE BOOK OF ROMANS CHAPTER 10:1-21 ISRAEL’S PRESENT CONDITION VERSES: Numbers 35; Ephesians 2:14-16; Isaiah 8:14, 51:1-8, 61:10; Deuteronomy 30:10-20; STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/l6j7fgrgywjiu4o/AADyToqthg6GAbfSVElyqq3Sa?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” [Romans 9:30-10:3] Paul has been laying the groundwork to rebuke and enlighten the Roman Gentile believers in Jesus Christ to the realities of God’s Salvation Plan for all mankind. Due to Emperor Claudius’s banishing of all Jews from Rome, the Gentile believers in Christ had developed the idea that God had finally finished with Israel. (This is when Replacement Theology crept in.) They were developing anti-Semitism due to their ignorance of God’s Salvation Plan. The challenge before us here in these ‘short’ lessons is to present the fullness of Truth as it relates to today’s present New Man, in order to minister according to practical needs and also to minister a revelatory historical and future directional picture by combining the prophetic word and bringing out the reality from the shadows of the Old Testament. Both in order to clearly define the different mysterious moves of God in His Salvation Plan on a personal level and for all mankind. We must take Chapters 9-11 all together, not tear them apart to prove this or that theological misunderstanding and misrepresentation. It is only in this broader understanding of the prophetic and shadowing of the Old Testament that we will see clearly the intent of Paul’s letter to the Romans and not distort it by chopping up these 3 Chapters to suit our particular theological fancy. Who is Israel that Paul is writing about here? Who are the elect of God he has been referring to? It is not saved Messianic Jews converted to Christ. It is not saved Gentiles. It is unsaved Israel, as can clearly be seen in verse 2 where Paul says it is his heart’s desire for them to be saved. It is unsaved national Israel estranged from God throughout these three chapters that Paul is referring to. They were/are in a current state of stubborn blindness and deafness in true Biblical righteousness, and their condition is a result of the Judgment of hardening by God, of which Isaiah had warned about. The 9th Chapter told of their past calling out of God, and now in the 10th Chapter is the understanding of their present state or condition with God (if Paul had stopped here at the end of the 10th Chapter, we might of agreed with those Roman Gentile believers; in that God has surely replaced Israel). But Chapter 11 is where Paul confronts growing anti-Semitism and replacement theology as he then openly declares the sure saving in the future restoration of Israel. Now the lost Israel of that day, over which Paul grieved, was because of his knowing their blindness to be chronic, and was due to God’s pronounced judgments from Isaiah’s day, that will, according to Scripture, last until the end times, when only a continued remnant of the living will ultimately be saved. That insight brings Paul naturally to an ultra compassionate place for Israel. The remnant of that future Day could be compared with the remnant of which Paul was a part of at Christ’s first coming; wherein Paul received the calling of the New Man under the Seed (Jesus) of Abraham. Whereas the elect of Israel in the last days are after the calling of the seed (progeny) of Abraham. (Revelation 7:1-8) More on that in a moment. Before we go any further in Romans 10, let us state some Scriptural prophetic and typical understandings little known about to mainstream modern-day Christians; that will help us take the meaning of what Paul is saying in its entirety. First, is the Scriptural understanding that God has 3 First-Born Sons…Jesus Christ, Israel (Jews) and the New Man (Jewish and Gentile Christians). The Father has one Bride; Israel (typically Sarah) but..... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/l6j7fgrgywjiu4o/AADyToqthg6GAbfSVElyqq3Sa?dl=0

Mike Balloun teaches today 01-09-21. THE BOOK OF ROMANS CHAPTER 9 THE BELIEVING JEW AND GENTILE; THE CHURCH OF THE NEW MAN VERSES: Jeremiah 18:1-12; Matthew 16:16,18; Psalm 2:7-8 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e8jf9ayyh92djhv/AACpABcesbuPvnoBqC7tFBCZa?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 The doctrinal Truths of both Jews and Gentiles being called to an imputed righteousness before God and then furthermore called as one to sonship based solely upon faith in Jesus Christ’s 2-part Atonement has reached its climax in spiritual understanding in Chapter 8. Now, in Chapters 9-11 we get to the motivation for which Paul wrote this, his most lengthiest letter. Let’s review briefly the historical setting. The Jews who had started the Church in Rome were lay proselytes that came back from Pentecost. (Acts 2:10) So the returning Jews to the Assembly at Rome were part of an assembly that was generally Jewish that began to receive Gentile believers in their Messiah into its group. After these developments, it happened that the Emperor Claudius banned Jews from Rome and so then the congregations became solely Gentile. Over those years, the Gentiles developed the idea of replacement theology in that the Jews’ persecution and expulsion was seen as sort of a confirmation of God that the Gentile Church was to replace Israel as God’s favored in the earth. Then, when Nero became Emperor, he wanted the Jews to return to Rome some 13 years later, for mostly financial reasons. Upon their return, they were not readily received back into their previous Assemblies, as there arose a theological split or divide between Gentile and Jewish believers in Christ. It was mainly to address this grave problem that Paul wrote this Letter to Roman believers, no doubt at the request of believing Jews who had been banned and now were returning to Rome. One such example being Aquila, and his wife Priscilla, tentmakers whom Paul had met and stayed with in Corinth. (Acts 18:1-3; Romans 16:3) Paul had not started the church of believers in Rome, and although he had wanted to travel there, he had never been. His connections there were limited. He needed to establish himself to them in the ministry of the revealer of the mystery of the kingdom of heavens on which is the basis of the New Man. He is not going to preach the Gospel in this letter per se, for these Romans are saved, but lays down the groundwork of some of the necessary basics of the Gospel (not the entirety) so that he might, after having gained their confidence as competent and unbiased, that then in the 9th through the 11th Chapters he might fully expound on the critical error (to be discussed) and needs of the Roman believers. Thus, in the First Chapter of Romans, he writes of the natural and openly sinful nature of Gentiles when unaffected by God’s brooding Spirit. In Chapter 2, Paul begins to establish the common ground for Jews and Gentiles in that Jews also are as sinful as Gentiles, only they are more secretive about it. And so in Chapter 3, we see that on the basis of their both being equally judged and condemned sinners, naturally alien from God, that ALL are under the Wrath of God as un-righteous sinners. Thus, Paul proceeds to establish God’s willingness to extend His forgiveness to them both through the means of justifying faith alone in Him. Chapter 4 introduces the main character to the theme being developed; Abraham, whom Paul expounds upon as a Gentile without circumcision or the Law that extended God-liked kind of faith towards Him, resulting in an imputed righteousness, revealing that the Jew and the Gentile are on the same undeserved ground with God. Paul declares that they are ‘all sons of Abraham, not by being Abraham’s seed or by works of the Law, but by faith through grace. Therefore, in the eyes of God, there are not two groups, Jew and Gentile, but ONE by faith in Christ. In Chapter 5, he declares all men, both Jews and Gentiles, are sinners before God as all men are of the first Adam’s seed, and in a like manner, all men are justified in Christ the 2nd Adam by faith. Both Jew and Gentile are again put on the same ground in the free gift of Christ’s Atonement, in that though sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ. And whereas faith was the theme of the first 4 chapters, here in this chapter, he introduces the power of the Holy Spirit in hope and love in answer to Christ’s Atonement. He’s still expounding on the idea of Gentiles and Jews standing before God as the same now in the grace of Christ. Chapter 6 introduces the idea of service to God after regeneration, and discusses the downside of backsliding....... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/e8jf9ayyh92djhv/AACpABcesbuPvnoBqC7tFBCZa?dl=0

Mike Balloun teaches today 01/02/21. THE BOOK OF ROMANS CHAPTER 8:29-39 ALL ARE CALLED, BUT FEW CHOOSE VERSES: 2nd Corinthians 2:8,5:19,10:12; Deuteronomy 1:34-35; 1st John 2:2,5:19; John 3:16 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1mi4y9vrb4arqxb/AAAHQi93ckWk1vvgcwbhVY8ha?dl=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 Romans 8:29-39 are verses having to do with the love of God expressed in the working of good through all things towards those who are loving Him and called according to His purpose. That purpose being to have many sons. These verses also have to do with our love for God expressed through obedience to Him. Our love of God is dynamic and quantifiable by God Who searches our hearts. That love expressed towards God is determined by our following the spirit/Spirit in ‘child training’ obedience which leads us unto sanctification (spiritual and moral maturity, as seen in the life of Abraham Romans 4). The circumstances of life become training opportunities for those who love God. (He’ll mature us if we don’t resist.) For loving obedience leads to true sanctification, which is to say, our conforming to the image of Christ. (Verse 29) Romans 8:29-39 are clauses that are describing the experience of those who are fulfilling Verse 28 (“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”). They are intended assurances for those who are actively loving God in the pursuing of Him according to His expressed purpose. These 11 verses are not to be considered general statements made unto all Christians alike. But in reality, they are generally miss-appropriated to be for the merely justified Christian who is not actively loving God in obedient faith. Two ideas feed the wrong thinking behind these verses. ignorance of God’s foreordained 2-part Atonement in Christ; eternal life and eternal glory lukewarm presumption The sincere Christian must ask himself these questions: Does the Holy Spirit teach anywhere in Scripture that certain loss will be the experience of a believer in Christ who continues in wicked behavior? Does the Holy Spirit confirm anywhere in Scripture that the believer in Christ will be rewarded according to his faithful works? The light of the full Gospel will shine in when the blinds are lifted from the window. All Christians shall be judged by Christ. (Romans 14:10-12, 2nd Corinthians 5:9-10, Hebrews 10:30). That Judgment principle will be according to good or evil works: (Matthew 16:24-27, Revelation 2:23; 22:12) VERSES 29 & 30 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate (foreordained) to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” KEY WORDS…The word PREDESTINATION is used here wrongly, thus it is understood to mean that God has predetermined all thatwill happen. It is generally thought tomean ‘eternal life for some and not forothers’. The better word would be FOREORDAINED which means to decree or appoint something beforehand. FOREKNEW/FOREKNOWLEDGE is an awarenessof something before ithappensorexists. To foreknow something does not mean it is necessarily foreordained or appointed to happen. We understand from Paul’s Letters that God has set forth the Nation of Israel as typical/figures/examples of how He intends to deal with the Nation of the New Man/Christian. (1st Corinthians 10:6&11) The 10th Chapter of 1st Corinthians deals with Israel’s deliverance from Egypt and their following experiences on their way to inherit the Promised Land. Paul presents these happenings as types of a Christian’s spiritual experience. In that after a Christian’s deliverance, with promises of a future Kingdom inheritance set before us, there is the like possibility of a mirrored failure in obtaining God’s purposes of our redemption, as it was with Israel. (Paul warns of this presumptuousness in 1st Corinthians 10:12 “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.”) Another New Testament example of this same typology is Hebrews 3:18-4:6 where again the Holy Spirit warns the Christian of the dangers of presumption and unbelief which will disqualify the Believer in Christ, who like Israel, after having been delivered from the kingdom of bondage, and then receiving the promise of inheritance, then failed to obtain the promise. In type, dying on the right side of the Red Sea but on the wrong side of the Jordan River. (Having experienced the victory at the Red Sea, but remaining in the wilderness, not getting past the Jordan River to their intended inheritance. The anti-type is being justified but..... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1mi4y9vrb4arqxb/AAAHQi93ckWk1vvgcwbhVY8ha?dl=0

Mike Balloun teaches today. 12/19/20. THE BOOK OF ROMANS 8:24-28 THE ADOPTION OF FIRST-BORN SONS VERSES: 2nd Timothy 2:12, 3:12; Hebrews 2:10; Romans 5:5; 2nd Corinthians 2:11 STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/u6qg2lfzraf9n9m/AAAv5o16KgBGDGxgtqz9faMFa?dI=0 AUDIO: Subscribe to Receive Updates from For His Glory TX: http://eepurl.com/o7-J9 Truth is like an amazing string of pearls all connected together in this Chapter. We have said in effect that the largest pearl of the Book of Romans is described in Romans Chapter 8, which is also the centerpiece of the Gospel of God. The centerpiece being adoption in “son-ship” to the Father. (Hebrews 2:10 speaks of this same theme of “bringing many sons unto glory”.) As mentioned before, the believers being addressed in the Book of Romans in that day would be very familiar with the Roman’s laws of adoption so would be able to understand the concepts being reflected in these passages. For example, under Roman law, a father may appoint an adopted son as heir to His estate and to carry on His name. This beautifully types the new man as the adopted son, being able to inherit with the natural sons. (Those of the natural {Israel} having an earthly pre-eminence and the new man having the heavenly.) Beside this one great pearl of Truth is strung the pearl of revelation of the regenerated spirit set at enmity with the carnal flesh. Another pearl of revelation is the necessity of the Father’s ‘child training,’ and the ongoing involvement of the indwelling gift of the power of the Holy Spirit in that process. Another pearl of understanding being the necessity of following the spirit/divine nature/new man and Holy Spirit in sufferings to attain unto that adoption. Another pearl here found is that creation suffers and groans in futility of purpose, in anticipation of the future manifestation of these trained first-born sons with their bodies resurrected from among the dead to join Christ in His coming Kingdom glory as heirs to rule in renewed creation. Another pearl of revelation truth is found in the prayer groanings of the sincere seeker, which are from the unction of the Holy Spirit. Another great pearl is how all things are working to the good of those who love God and are called according to His gracious purpose just previously stated (to be counted as a first-born son). Another is that the Sovereign all- powerful God has foreordained that He shall have sons conformed to the image of His Son and they shall also be glorified. (God did not ‘predestinate’ specific people to become sons. In the event of justification, He secured the then sure possibility of having many sons in the shedding of His love abroad in their hearts. Surely some will advantage themselves in the possibilities, and surely the Father’s Wisdom would successfully use life’s circumstances to make sure His purposes would not be entirely vain.) Nor is it the least of these pearls to know that nothing can separate a regenerated believer from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. We shall take these last 2 pearls as we come to them later. By way of quick review to get the text, we read from verses 22 through 28… “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first-fruits (the born again spirit) of the (Holy) Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption (harvest), to wit, the redemption of our body. VERSE 24 “For we were are saved (the past tense event of the ‘spirit’ rebirth as a result of faith in Christ) in by hope (of the future glorious first resurrection of the body): but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? Israel was ‘saved’ and had the first-fruit of God’s Salvation plan, that of coming out of Egypt, but the ‘hope’ then set before them was the future inheritance for a peculiar people. That future being of the Promised Land, the harvest so to speak; the fullness of God’s Salvation purpose for them. VERSE 25 “But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.” Having been justified/redeemed as typical of Israel out of Egypt, but recipients of the Promise of inheritance only, the desert experience like unto Israel is before us. Suffering the wilderness course that we might know ourselves (have God reveal to us the exceedingly sinfulness of our sin as in James 1:22-25) and respond accordingly before gaining an inheritance and having preeminence over the nations of the Earth is in order. Patience and hope is necessary to run the race unto the reward of inheritance, but patience and hope in God’s promise are not enough that we should not be overcome by our enemies. We need help. VERSE 26 “Likewise (as whole creation, and...... DOWNLOAD COMPLETE STUDY NOTES: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/u6qg2lfzraf9n9m/AAAv5o16KgBGDGxgtqz9faMFa?dI=0