Behold the BRANCH of the root of Jesse and Jacob.  The Messiah who came first as a Servant to His people will come again as King.  The Son of GOD who became a man and offered Himself willingly for our sIns was rejected by the nation of Israel, crucified by the determined counsel of GOD, and resurrected by the Spirit of GOD.  Man's might, Human power did not accomplish this; GOD Himself had it all planned out from the foundation of the world.  There is no plan B.  Since Adam sinned there has always been salvation offered through the Messiah, Jesus Christ.  Those that looked for His first coming looked ahead to His sacrifice as the Lamb of GOD.  Those who believe now look to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith and His rapture of His own.  Tribulation saints look to His final return and redemption of all that are His at His coming.  Those who know Him during His millennial reign will see Him as He is and still have to believe that He is GOD.

In all ages, salvation is by faith.  Faith in the forgiveness of our sIn through the power of GOD when we surrender to Him on His terms.  Jesus is calling all men to Himself to be saved.  Faith in His finished work on the Cross.  Jesus put to death the flesh that we might be made the righteousness of GOD in Him.  Faith in His provision and protection.  Jesus offers you eternal life, abundant now and everlasting.  The Spirit of GOD within those that receive is the down payment on that promise.  Repent, Believe, and Receive to be born again by the Spirit of GOD.

If the Spirit of GOD testifies with your spirit that you are a child of GOD, share His grace with those around you as a good steward of His gifts unto you.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

Here Zechariah sees a vision of a courtroom scene: with Joshua the High Priest representing Israel and Our Lord in His appearance as the Angel of the LORD defending him.  We see Satan, the accuser of the brethren coming in to resist Joshua and our Lord and he is quickly challenged and put in his place.  Our Lord Jesus, our advocate states the case of Joshua and Israel as delivered, Holy because of Him, chosen and cleansed; not because of any special righteousness or privilege on their part, but because of Jesus the Messiah who has called us out of darkness and into His marvelous light. 

In Christ we are clean, in Christ we are holy, in Christ we are forgiven and are priests with GOD and with man.  All saints, the members of His Church are a Holy people, a chosen generation and because of His Grace we can boldly approach the throne in Faith.  Not because of us, but because of Him and in Him we have our being, our life, and our purpose.

Without His righteousness, all our righteousness is as filthy rags.  All our self effort is for nought, and we are men most miserable.  But thanks be to GOD for all His wondrous mercy and grace.  At the Cross we receive forgiveness of sIn, resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.  An abundant life that starts with the new birth the moment we surrender to GOD on His terms and are born again, and continues as He lives His life in us and through us to make us more like Him.  That is good news, the greatest news mankind has ever heard.  Don't reject GOD's free gift to you.  Stop fighting Him and repent that you will be saved.

If you are already have the victory that comes in Christ Jesus, be faithful and obedient to His call, His commission and His commandments today.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

Zechariah continues his prophecy concerning Jerusalem and Israel in this vision of a man outlying the future of the city of GOD as the capital of the whole world.  In a future time of peace the city will be a haven of safety and security where Jesus Christ, The Son of GOD who is GOD the Son will rule for a thousand years.  The city whose name means the provision of peace will once again be home to the Prince of Peace.

It also had a immediate prophecy that was closer to Zechariah's time in that this was the time of Nehemiah, the rebuilder of Jerusalem's walls in the return of the captives to Israel following GOD's judgment on the sIn of the nation.  Just as this prophecy came true in that day, it is just as sure for the future day of peace with GOD that will follow GOD's judgment on the whole earth.

GOD hates sIn, He cannot allow it in His presence, nor can He let it go unpunished.  However, just as the name Jerusalem implies for the world, GOD sent His Son, the Prince of Peace to be our provision for peace with GOD.  Jesus Christ is our Jireh Shalom, our provision, our peace, and through Him and Him alone can we be reconciled with GOD.  When we surrender completely to Him on His terms, He can work to break down the walls of sIn and rebellion and rebuild the walls of safety and security as we rest in Him.

Let Him have His perfect way in you.  Let His will come to pass and His Word accomplish that which it went forth to do.  Be born again by the Spirit of GOD today.

And if you are already a child of GOD, share His Word that they might live.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

The vision of Zechariah.  A vision of the Angel of the Lord, our Lord Jesus Christ, The Eternal Son, in a pre-incarnate form to bring a message of warning and judgment to Zechariah.  GOD had brought destruction to the people of Israel because of their sIn.  While they seemed to be at rest and had returned to the land GOD had promised to them, their judgment was not yet complete.  And this vision also holds for a future time, when GOD will once again turn His attention to His people, and draw them back to Himself that they as a people and nation might be saved.  It is also a time of great destruction brought upon the whole earth in judgment for our rebellion against a Holy and Righteous GOD.   Along the way, GOD has and is orchestrating events to prepare the way, not only for His first coming, as the GOD-Man, but also His second as Judge and King. 

Receiving His free gift of love and forgiveness by surrendering to Him on His terms now, means we are safe and secure not only from His wrath at judgment, but also from anything that He might send in judgment of this world.  That doesn't mean that Christians are exempt from calamity or natural disasters, but it does mean that when GOD sends specific judgments on sinners He is not aiming at us.  It also does not mean that we are forgiven to go out and sIn as much as we want; NO it means we now want to sIn less and less, and that our desire is to be like Christ and that we are free from the penalty of sIn.

Those that are not in Christ, having never received His mercy and the new life that comes from being born again are still under condemnation because of sIn.  And while seeming to be at rest in this life, will experience a judgment to come that GOD must accomplish on those that die in their sIns.  He is Holy and just, and must punish sIN, but He is not willing that any should perish and wants you to come to a knowledge of repentance and of Him.

If you already know Him, tell others that they might believe and become a child of GOD through Jesus Christ.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

While there have been many miraculous deliverances of Israel and Judah before, there is coming a future time when not only is GOD going to deliver Israel with a mighty hand, He is going to overthrow all her enemies with a final complete victory like no other.  All those that oppose GOD and GOD's people will be overcome in that final battle.  Just as today in which no choice is a choice to reject GOD, all people will choose sides and line up for this great and terrible battle against Israel that GOD Himself will destroy His enemies.  Not only will this battle be a decisive judgment against evil but He will judge the earth as well.  He will show that He is the GOD of Creation and only He is worthy of worship and praise.  Then Jesus will rule on this earth for a thousand years, before we enter into eternity with Him.

Until that day comes, while GOD is still working through His Church to bring people to a saving knowledge of Him, there is time.  Time to repent.  Time to surrender to GOD on His terms and be saved.  Time to live for Him, as He lives in you to accomplish His work.  Believe in His finished work on the Cross today.  Don't wait until you have no more time.

If you are already one of His, share the love of Jesus Christ with all you meet that they might receive the gift of grace and live eternally.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

As we return to our journey, I hope that you had a great holiday.  

We now look at what GOD has to say against Judah and the Philistines.  It reminds us that no matter how bad it seems now, GOD still cares for His people and will pour out His wrath against her enemies.  Especially the inhabitants of Palestine, that have been against Israel for most of their history.  Their days are numbered.  GOD's judgment will finally and completely eradicate those descendants of Canaan that have trouble the Israelites for so long.  This future day is still to come, but it is as sure as the other proclamations GOD has put forth.  It will come to pass.

But He is also going to judge His own as well.  All those that oppose Him will be destroyed.  All those that are His, will be purified and chastised.   His work and plan is to remove sIn and restore those that will to Himself.     Along the way, He allows events or orchestrates them to purify His own and restore all things.  He loves us so much that He paid for sIn at the Cross of Calvary.  It has always been His plan.  There is no plan B.  But, He will not force anyone to come to Him, He only requires us to completely surrender to Him on His terms.  Those that don't will be cast aside, not because of anything they did, but because of their refusal to receive Jesus Christ and be saved. 

Don't be like the Canaanites and continue to oppose GOD and the ways of GOD until it's too late.  GOD's wrath and judgment will be exacted just as He promised, on nations and on people.  Surrender today.

If you are already one of His, tell others of His love for them so that they might be saved.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

As it is the American Holiday of Thanksgiving, I am taking a detour from our 'minor' journey to remember on this day how much we all have to be thankful for.

I hope that everyone has a good holiday.  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.  The believer in Jesus Christ gives thanks IN all things, not necessarily FOR all things.  But all to the Glory of GOD. 

But most of all we give thanks that GOD sent His Son to pay for the sins of the whole world.  Those that acknowledge their sIn, repent and receive Jesus Christ by faith will be saved.  That is really something to be thankful for, not just today but every day.

We give thanks every day, but remember on this day especially all that GOD has provided.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

There is coming a day in which GOD will pour out His wrath on all those that are in opposition to Him.  That day is not a single 24 hour day, but a time that starts immediately following the removal of His Church, His ambassadors, from this world and His attention turns once more fully to the nation of Israel as His people.  It continues for 7 years as GOD judges the wicked, purifies the earth, and draws Israel and believing gentiles back to His presence.  It will not be a pleasant time, nor should we wait for that day.  Many will not  live through it, either because of the great calamities that GOD is causing during that time, or because of the sIn of men who hate GOD and GOD's people and carry out their devilish schemes against them because they can't reach GOD.

GOD is not willing that any should perish, but He is not going to intrude Himself where He is not wanted.  Surrender yourself completely to Him on His terms and He will respond and save you.  It is my sincere wish and desire that all that read this acknowledge their sIn against a Holy GOD and repent that they might be redeemed and made righteous for His Kingdom.  I pray that that is your response to Him today.

And for those that He is not aiming at because you are His, accept the chastening of the Lord and be found faithful to His Word and work.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

Regardless of what calamities come our way, regardless of what GOD allows to happen, regardless of the evil that occurs in this sinful, broken world we will and must trust GOD through it all.   Those that are safe and secure in Christ are commanded to give thanks in all things, and to be careful for nothing; no small task apart from the power of GOD to live in us and through us to accomplish His purpose.  For the unbeliever who is apart from GOD, in fact he is at war with GOD, he cannot rely on this promise since GOD's wrath rests upon him and he is condemned because of sIn.  It sounds harsh to us, but it is completely fair and just to GOD, who has condemned all sinners to death. 

It is only through the grace and mercy of our Loving GOD through the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the Cross that we are spared the punishment we so richly deserve and so we can rejoice.  We can sing, and worship, and walk with GOD without the fear of His retribution against those that oppose Him.  Habakkuk's warning to those that sIn against a righteous and Holy GOD is to be heeded, but it ends in a triumphant song of praise for our GOD.

I pray that you will hear and receive that He extends His hand of mercy to you.  If you already know Him, share His love to others.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet

Whether the idols of that time, or the idols of today; graven images of wood, stone, film or playing field are not to be worshiped, adored, or followed.  The false prophets of false religions speaking lies are to be judged according to the Word of GOD, that their lies shall be exposed.  Even today's idols of stage and screen, or on the playing field should not be listened to just because of their 'entertainment value'; but their words should be tested against what GOD teaches, and when it doesn't measure up it needs to be rejected and refuted.  Worshiping that which is not GOD robs Him of His Glory, Glory in which He deserves because He alone is the GOD of the Universe.  He created all things, including us and deserves our worship.  He is worthy.  All the earth is to silenced in awe of His Majesty.  Compared to the Glory of GOD; which we see in all creation around us, especially the heavens and all the multitude of stars; we are nothing and have nothing to say. 

It is only through the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross of Calvary that we can even approach the Throne.  And for those of us that have been born again, that Throne is a Throne of Grace.  Grace and Mercy given unto us because we repented of our sIns, and received Him.  We surrendered to GOD on His terms and believed in Him that we might be saved.  When we forsake our idols, and ourselves and place our faith in the only one who can deliver us, we are forgiven and made a new creature in Christ.  I urge you to accept this free gift of Salvation today.

And if you already know the peace that GOD gives, share Him with everyone you meet that they might receive the blessings of the Prince of Peace.

In Christ,
Jefferson A. Sweet