"We see, in many a land, the proudest dynasties and tyrannies still crushing, with their mountain weight, every free motion of the Consciences and hearts of men. We see, on the other hand, the truest heroism for the right and the greatest devotion to the Truth in hearts that God has touched. We have a work to do, as great as our forefathers and, perhaps, far greater. The enemies of Truth are more numerous and subtle than ever and the needs of the Church are greater than at any preceding time. If we are not debtors to the present, then men were never debtors to their age and their time. Brethren, we are debtors to the hour in which we live. Oh, that we might stamp it with Truth and that God might help us to impress upon its wings some proof that it has not flown by neglected and unheeded." -- C.H. Spurgeon . . . "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31, 32 . . . . .

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Wednesday, August 23, 2023

THOSE TRIUMPHANT TRILOGIES Of HOLY WRIT ROMANS 6,7,8 - Chapter EIGHT: Part One of Three

Taken from the TTUF Study: Paul’s Epistle to the Romans – “On the Road of Righteousness” Chapter Eight: Part 1 of 3


Chapter Eight: Not Living in the ‘Condo’s’ Anymore!
~ By James Fire

Now let’s get into Ch. 8, the highest spire of the many towers of this cathedral – that is this book of Romans!

ROMANS 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit
.

After such a long treatise on the sinfulness of humanity and irrevocable slavery, this chapter is a strong, invigorating gust of refreshing air! After realizing what the LORD Jesus accomplished on the cross, we’re no longer condemned by a Holy God for unholy sins and transgressions, it’s a joy beyond compare, as well as a blessed, steadfast, and sure hope!

Not Guilty As Charged
The condemnation of the holy Law of God would have sealed the sentence upon us, but it no longer applies to those of us who “are in Christ Jesus” The latter half of this verse indicates this: “who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” are “in Christ”. It’s because we are not condemned, but saved by grace, born of God’s Spirit that we are now enabled to walk in the Spirit.

The very word ‘walk’ in the Greek means: “walking to demonstrate the ability” – those who walk after the Spirit are those born of the Spirit; those who walk after the flesh are those born of the flesh (JOHN 3:5-7; ISAIAH 42:5; EZEK 36:27; GAL 5:16-26).

Walk The Talk This verse refers to those who “walk AFTER the Spirit”, but don’t always live perfectly and not ever sin again. Grown adults who have been walking all of their lives can occasionally stumble and fall (something we did repeatedly as toddlers until we mastered the ability to walk).

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Wednesday, August 16, 2023

DEUTERONOMY 32: A REHEARSAL ON HOLINESS, A CALL TO FAITHFULNESS –

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez, and James Fire

DEUTERONOMY 32: ENDING ON A HIGH NOTE – by By Sonny Islas; check out the complete teaching here!

INTRODUCTION: We are now in Deuteronomy 32 where we’ll find Moses ending on a high note. He goes out with a bang in my book as He ends His ministry with a song/poem (Ch. 32) followed by a blessing (Ch. 33). Then in Ch. 34, Moses dies, his body is buried by God and his soul is reunited with the faithful ones who have before him - in heaven a.k.a. Abraham’s bosom.

DEUTERONOMY 32 (Subtitled: The Song of Moses)

Starting with DEUTERONOMY 31:30; 32:1-30.
“Then Moses spoke (not sang) in the hearing of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song until they were ended:

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Monday, August 14, 2023

STUDY In The Book of NEHEMIAH TRIUMPH by TRANSFORMATION – Part NINE

INTRODUCTION: Jerusalem was transformed, despite the efforts of her enemies; thus, the title of this verse by verse study, Triumph by Transformation. Just as the wall was completed, and the doors of the gates were set in place (this had not yet been accomplished as of the events recorded in NEH 6:1) here in this chapter, all was secured and the city safe from invasion.

Yet there is still work to be done here; Nehemiah’s calling had not yet been fulfilled. The people themselves likewise needed transformation. Hearts of the Jewish people were invaded by the ways of the world that needed to be extracted.
The houses within the city were left to the property owners to restore, yet Nehemiah would lend a hand in these objectives.

In regards to the New Testament saints of GOD, we have all been given victory by vivification (bringing to life); triumph by the transformative power of GOD through the spiritual rebirth. There is no means of victory otherwise. It’s the work of GOD’s Spirit that brings about the eternal effect of eviscerating evil from our souls and installing a holy heart suitable for His habitation.

And with such a miraculous transformation, our sinful citizenship in the kingdom of darkness has been overturned. We now have a saintly citizenship in the kingdom of GOD, all thanks and glory to the LORD Jesus Christ!

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Monday, August 7, 2023

DEUTERONOMY 31: A REHEARSAL ON HOLINESS, A CALL TO FAITHFULNES

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez, and James Fire

DEUTERONOMY 31: The CHANGING of GOD's GUARD – by James Fire; check out the complete teaching here!

INTRODUCTION: We are now in the final third of three sermons by Moses, presented to the younger generation of Israel, the children of those who were delivered from Egypt in the Exodus, that generation by faith who received the land promised to them by GOD:



The third and final sermon: DEUTERONOMY Ch. 27 to Ch. 34. (to the end of the book).
~ The charge to Israel: Ch. 31:14-21.
~ The book of the Law given: Ch’s. 22-30.
~ The Song of Moses: Ch. 32:1-47.
~ The death of Moses: Ch. 32:48 to Ch. 34:12.
Moses sang, then he died – I think this is the first time in biblical history that a “swan song” was given!

These will be Moses’ final words, and like the final words of Paul the apostle to his son in the faith Timothy before the apostle was martyred (2 TIM), these last words carry a certain weight, a particular substantiality of things most vital to the speaker and very important for the hearers. Consider the vital importance of these final words of Jesus Christ in the book of His Revelation:

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Sunday, August 6, 2023

THOSE TRIUMPHANT TRILOGIES Of HOLY WRIT ROMANS 6,7,8 - Chapter SEVEN

A Study in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans – “On the Road of Righteousness” Chapter SEVEN:

Chapter Seven: An ‘Illegal’ Bride


In medieval tribunals, sometimes exhumed corpses would be tried in court with the intent of convicting them of crimes post-mortem. If the practice wasn’t such a travesty, it would almost be comical! However, here in ROMANS 7:1, we read how the Law has no dominion over the dead; life is over, the appointment with judgment is fixed (HEB 9:27):

ROMANS 7:1
Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he lives?


At such a point, the Law no longer enlightens the dead, for the remedial influence of the Law is no longer valid; likewise Paul uses the analogy of marriage to demonstrate this point:

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Friday, August 4, 2023

The G.E.P.C Study – GALATIANS 3: Part ONE

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

INTRODUCTION: Now with the conclusion of Ch. 2, the apostle has completed his defense in regards to his apostleship, and while he has touched on the issue of faith vs. the Law up until this point, here in Ch. 3 and beyond, Paul begins to methodically examine, dissect, and properly divide Scripture to prove his points, namely that salvation is apart from the Law, that there is no way we can be justified through self-effort (“the flesh”), and that there needn’t be any division between Jews and Gentiles who are “in Christ”.

Justification is entirely by faith, apart from the Law (GAL 3:1-24) and the rule of the believer’s life is gracious, not legal (GAL 3:25-5:1).

His arguments extend beyond Ch. 3 of course but in the following chapters, the apostle is dealing with issues surrounding the characteristics displayed in the life of a Christian who is justified by faith alone (GAL 5:2-26) as well as the outworking of the new life in Christ Jesus (GAL 6:1-16).

So let’s get into this study and observe carefully what the LORD is telling us, because one way or another, we all put ourselves under some law that Satan would use to subtly seek to subvert our salvation and subject us to self-righteous attitudes and conduct! And the flesh loves to exalt self and its own prideful efforts and look down with disdain or disapproval on others “less spiritual” than us!

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Wednesday, August 2, 2023

DEUTERONOMY 30: A REHEARSAL ON HOLINESS, A CALL TO FAITHFULNESS

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez, and James Fire

DEUTERONOMY 30: Choose LIFE or Choose DEATH – by Sonny Islas; check out the complete teaching here!

INTRODUCTION: At this point in the story, Israel is at the brink of entering Canaan/The Promised Land. But again, before they go in, ‘big brother’ Moses repeats some God given instructions and serious warnings. Moses told them that if they obeyed God’s Word that God would bless them, but if they disobeyed God’s Word that God would curse them – in so many different ways.
[TTUF readers: Take note that what we have here is the Mosaic Covenant, a conditional beriyth that lays responsibilities on the people of Israel as well as other responsibilities that rest upon GOD. Check out: WALKING The COVENANT WAY – a series that examines all of the covenants of the Bible.]
In DEUTERONOMY 30 God basically tells them that they will turn away from Him and go into captivity BUT if they return to Him wholeheartedly that He would restore them. This promise is a picture of God’s mercy. God in His incredible patience and love towards Israel would never fully abandon the remnant (the repentant and obedient few). For one, because Jesus the Messiah comes from this group of people and because Yahweh really loved their Forefathers – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

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Tuesday, August 1, 2023

ABDUCTIONS FOR PROFIT –The TERROR Of BEING TRAFFICKED – SECTION THREE

This picture looks like a happy, healthy, typically lovely young lady. Looks can be deceiving - and not ALL trafficked people look like what we might expect...

This section will cover Identifying the Scenario – what conditions are present in this world at large as well as the situations that make the victim easy prey for the abductors.

In this section we will address the circumstances and environment, as well as the predisposition of the abducted that makes them vulnerable to traffickers.

This section will share the ‘prerequisites’ that prepare the trafficked victims for abduction. Absent these prerequisites, souls are less susceptible to being trafficked. So in this sense, these are preventative measures that parents and caregivers should be aware of and implemented so that the young souls in their charge can be protected from lures that are used by abductors.

Then there are the illegal immigrants. And the homeless. Those suffering addiction. The lonely, isolated homemaker. All of these are vulnerable; they are all in need, and in the severity of their need, they are more desperate and willing to trust someone that, barring those needs, would be far less likely to trust. Yet due to their circumstances, traffickers find these sort as ‘easy prey’.

Getting back to the youth: as previously stated, a great number of young people who are abducted are runaways. And who are the runaways?

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THOSE TRIUMPHANT TRILOGIES Of HOLY WRIT ROMANS 6,7,8 - Chapter SIX

We know that chapter breaks as well as the numbered verses found in the Bible are of man's construct. The Holy Spirit didn't create those - they are useful in order to turn to exact passages with relative ease.
However, that being said, there are instances in which the divisions of chapter breaks are quite appropriate and fitting.
There are even instances in which you will find chapters that form trilogies such as PSALMS 22, 23, and 24 that have a specific theme.
In these three PSALMS, you have the LORD JESUS as the Supreme Sacrifice in 22; the Good Shepherd Who currently shepherds His sheep throughout the church age in 23. Then 24 that speaks of the coming Messiah King to Rule and Reign!
There are other examples of these trilogies and their accompanying theme as well.

We will examine these trilogies in this sort series (some of which are excepts of expositional studies found here on TTUF. We'll start off with ROMANS Ch's. 6, 7, and 8!

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