First-Things-First

ATA
First-Things-First

Chapter 1

Believe On Jesus As The Scripture Hath Said

Compilation
by
Joseph Burnsworth

Contact Information:
Email: Joseph@truthbydreams.org


Believe On Jesus As the Scripture Hath Said

John chapter 7

37. In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
38. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Are we catching what is being spoken here in verse thirty-eight? “He that believes on me, as the scripture hath said”. As if it’s possible that we can believe on Jesus in another way beside what the scripture has spoken. Is that even possible?

The answer is unfortunately, yes. We can believe and perceive Jesus differently than what the scriptures have laid out for us. When we rely on our own understanding, our own imagination or rather our perception, we can in essence create another Jesus, a false Jesus. So, is it any wonder we have not yet experienced the;

  • The *sign of the coming of the son of man,
  • The indwelling of the holy Spirit?

Do we keep looking?

  • Of being filled with the Holy Ghost (the Spirit being poured out upon all flesh)?
  • For the second coming of Christ?

I recall a vision in the night some years ago, of seeing what a false Jesus was as being compared to the real, authentic Jesus. I had just walked through like a barn of equipment (that works the land, the field), and was stepping outside into a clear sun shiny day. It seemed noontime.

To my surprise, the gloried, resurrected Jesus was suspended in the air right in front of me (as if he was about to ascend into the clouds of heaven). He was looking up and his body was very still, not a muscle of his was moving.

*Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes (states of mind) of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

It seemed I heard a small commotion to my right, so I looked that direction. I then noticed about 50 yards or so away was another Jesus. But this Jesus was not made of flesh and bone, but was made up of hard plastic (a molten image), a figure like item, and was about the size of army men toy figures that us boys used to play with. The item also had the same looking plastic stand, as its foundation, so as the figurine wouldn’t fall over. So now I understand that I’m seeing a toy, a true idol.

But then this toy figure image of Jesus, began to slowing moving and began rise upward into the sky, as if it was ascending into heaven (like an invisible string was pulling it upward). However, it came right back down as fast as it went up (ascending, then descending) and landed back on the earth, to the ground. This idol did this motion three times, and each time of no-avail of not being able to keep itself in the sky (not being received by God).

So, then I looked back in front of me hoping to see the real Jesus and to my delightful surprise he was there, still suspended in the sky. But this time I noticed something about his robe; and also a knowing came to me as well.

First I noticed his long flowing white seamless robe which was swaying in the wind, but again he was not moving a muscle; was very still, motionless. Then this knowing came as I’m watching…he was praying; and praying to his Father on behalf of me and all his disciples. Then I knew I was witnessing the prayer that Jesus had prayed found in the book of Saint John, chapter seventeen.

This was truly my journey. I believed in Jesus, but not as the scripture taught. So, it was being revealed to me that I had trusted and believed in a false Jesus, another Jesus; as I begin trusting in the scriptures (believing on Jesus) as the scripture had said.

So with that, let’s look closer to what the Son of man, knew by the Holy Ghost. The prophet Ezekiel, speaking as the Lord GOD….they say of “me”…doesn’t he speak parables?

Then said I, Ah Lord GOD! They say of me, “Doth he not speak parables”?
~ Ezekiel 20:49 ~

The doctrine and teachings of men (as concerning how the scriptures are taught and handled) can lead us from the true Jesus. Take a closer look at how the Lord gives the example of how man’s traditions and doctrines (by man’s private interpretation of the scriptures), causes a false worship (a false worshipper will arise, in the consciousness of those setting under its authority).

But in vain (in the vanity of man’s imagination) they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
~ Matthew 15:9 ~

Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
~ Mark 7:7 ~

Mark chapter 7

5. Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, “Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands”?
6. He answered and said unto them, “Well hath Esaias (Isaiah) prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, “This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me”.
7. Howbeit in vain (in the imagination of man/flesh) do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.
9. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

God saw afar and knew we’d mishandle and misinterpret the Word of God that the spirit of prophesy spake. We know this by the prophet of Isaiah by the statement of “their fear (wisdom) toward me is taught by the precept of men”.

Isaiah chapter 29

13. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:
14. Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

So to those that are instructing and teaching the scriptures from their own perception and own imagination will come to nought. It’s the wisdom of wise men that will perish and the understanding of prudent men, which will be hid.

1 Corinthians 2

6. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect (those whose hearts has a willing mind towards GOD): yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8. Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Another witness of mans’ wisdom coming to nought is found in Johns’ vision, the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Revelation chapter 18

17. For in one hour (in judgement) so great riches is come to nought. And every shipmaster, and all
the company in ships (those being carried in the same message and belief system), and sailors,
and as many as trade by sea (through man’s own imagination), stood afar off,
18. And cried when they saw the smoke of her burning, saying, “What city is like unto this great city”!
19. And they cast dust on their heads, and cried, weeping and wailing, saying, Alas, alas, that great city, wherein were made rich all that had ships in the sea by reason of her costliness! For in one hour is she (the wisdom and understanding of mans’ doctrine) made desolate.

Again, man’s doctrine is also addressed by the apostle Paul.

Which all are to perish with the using; after the commandments and doctrines of men?
~ Colossians 2:22 ~

We perish when we partake of the doctrines of men; therefore the promise of eternal life will elude us. Paul gives reference to what happens to us when we follow after men that do not hold up the Head (Christ).

Colossians chapter 2

18. Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19. And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20. Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21. (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22. Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23. Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

Not giving heed to Jewish fables, and commandments of men, that turn from the truth.
~ Titus 1:14 ~

Apostle Paul gives warning found in:

II Timothy chapter 3:

2. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4. Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers’ lusts,
7. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
An attendee of a recent bible class asks the group, “How do you know you’ve been filled with the Holy Ghost?” The church was getting ready to celebrate Pentecost Sunday, as is taught as ‘the birth of the church’, which is celebrated annually, fifty 50 days past Easter, which was coming up that very next weekend.

All around the table, different long answers and explanations were shared. However, when he glanced my way, as if seeking a response from me, I replied, “I can give you an answer…in just four words”. Startled that an answer could be given within four words; he looked a bit puzzled as I said;

“WHEN…JESUS…IS…GLORIED”

What Happens When We Believe On Jesus AS the Scripture Hath Said?

The answer is presented as from out of the belly shall flow rivers of living water!

John chapter 7

38. He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
39. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

So when we glorify Jesus (the Word of God), the Holy Ghost will be given to us; that is, when we believe on Jesus as the scripture has taught. To glorify is to magnify.

*Belly is the heart of the soul (earth) and where the Word is sent.

Found in Matthew 12:40. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Expanded in Proverbs 20:27. The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

Apostle Paul gives us another witness to Johns report as well.

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise…
~ Ephesians 1:13 ~

After we hear the word of truth, our heart will trust, then we believe (on Jesus as the scripture hath said), then we are sealed with that Holy Ghost and with fire.

Believing on Jesus, but is it possible without, first…trusting in (coming to an agreement with) that Word sent?

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints…

~ Ephesians 1:17, 18 ~

After we hear the word of truth by that true doctrine, our heart will trust, then we believe, and then after, we are sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise (Holy Ghost and with fire).

But, how can we believe in whom we have not heard?

How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?
and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard?
and how shall they hear without a preacher?
and how shall they preach, except they be sent? (It’s the Word that is sent, true)?
as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

~ Romans 10:14, 15 ~

So, verse 16 of John chapter 3 is better understood…isn’t it?

John chapter 3
16. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him (as the scripture hath said) should not perish, but have everlasting life (rivers of living water).
17. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Those that believe on Jesus as the scripture hath said, the promise of eternal life; the outpouring of the Holy Spirit will manifest through the heart of our soul.

Living water, doctrine of God made plain, the Spirit being poured out upon all flesh, seeing the Lord face to face…prophesy, dreams and visions…should we say more? Yes, more to come.

Neither will I hide my face any more from them: for I have poured out my spirit upon the house of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.

~ Ezekiel 39:29 ~

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