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I know a man who has seen the Lord Jesus in a vision. He described his physical appearance as common, ordinary, with nothing particularly attractive to him. But the grace of God was all over Him in such a way that this man could not help but think he was the most beautiful person he could ever imagine to meet!

Isaiah and the writer of Psalm 45 describe the same person, our Lord Jesus Christ, but their depictions are utter contrast! Study closely.

 

He had no dignity or beauty 

to make us take notice of him.    

There was nothing attractive about him,        

nothing that would draw us to him. (Is 53:2) 

                                                                                   

You have been beautified above the sons of men

Grace has been poured into Your lips 

Therefore God has blessed   

You for all time. (Ps 45:2 LSV)

Isaiah sees our Lord as common, without beauty, majesty, or dignity. In fact, Isaiah goes on to describe a wretched, abused, torn-up and mangled man. He becomes an appalling figure to be seen in revulsion. Isaiah paints Jesus as our suffering lamb, so abused it is hard to recognize him as a man.

The Psalmist sees our Lord as excelling the beauty of every other human being. He radiates glorious majesty. Gracious words pour from His anointed lips. He is described as riding majestically and victoriously for truth, humility and justice. He is totally blessed with power and dignity, and enthralling to behold!

Many of us wish we could be transported back and see the face of our Lord walking beside the lake, blessing the children, healing the lepers, and walking on water. We’d like to see his expression as he rebuked the religious leaders, as he knelt in prayer and as he fed the multitudes.

Many artists have imagined His face to portray it. Some people report having seen Jesus in a dream or vision. Perhaps you have. Just as we wear many facial expressions, we can be confident that our wonderful Lord does the same.

I am not confident that our Lord Jesus is so physically attractive that fashion magazines would wish to showcase him, but I am confident he is the fairest of all men!

Notice the beauty differences among woman. We’ve seen women who have the external features of beauty but for some reason do not communicate beauty. Other women, although not outwardly striking, come across magnetically attractive. It seems most of the appearance of beauty comes across in the confidence and poise of the woman.

Jesus utter confidence in his Father’s love, in his identity as Son, and certainty in life purpose carried charismatic attraction. Some seek to beautify through ornamentation. Jesus’ was ornamented, beautified by holy grace! One of the meanings and consequences of grace is beauty.

Remember how Paul called for women to be spiritually beautiful?

“I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” ( 1 Tim :9-10)

The woman in Proverbs 31 is “clothed with strength and dignity.” Virtue is a beautiful thing which adorns both godly women and men!

Peter told women, “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. (1 Peter 3:2-5)

There is no doubt that devoted women and men of God are more attractive than those who have not known the beauty of holiness. God beauty when sensed can be overwhelmingly rapturous! But it is not a beauty which can be painted on, or clipped on. It is a beauty to soak in and then radiate outward.

Isaiah saw Jesus not just as uncomely, but repugnant, as he took on the vulgarity of our sin. But the rewards of his labor left Him saturated, infused inwardly in the gracious beauty of the Lord.

      THERE IS AN “OTHER-WORLDLY”  BEAUTY IN HOLINESS

Four times, and more, in Scripture the Bible talks about the beauty, or splendor, of holiness.

Jehoshaphat, “appointed singers unto the LORD, that should praise the beauty of holiness.” (2 Ch 20:21)

O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. (Ps 96:9)

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. (1 Ch 16:29)

Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness. (Ps 29:2)

“Other” is a very good word for holy. Holiness is an “other-worldly” substance, and in it we find “other-worldly” beauty. You can’t paint on that beauty, but you can breath it in and dwell in it. You can soak it in and be clothed in it.

Ninety-four times in the NIV Bible the Spirit is referred to as the “Holy” Spirit. The word holy implies separate, other and distinct. God is not animal, mineral or vegetable. His is different. When we pray that our Father’s name be regarded as holy we are asking that the astonishing, uniquely grand things about Him would stand out! This is the work of the Holy Spirit!

To be holy for us means to move from commonness to an exceptional place of separated distinctiveness. The Holy Spirit resting on common people makes them distinctively uncommon.

But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.  (Jude 20)

Jesus our triumphant Hero, is ascended and ruling in heaven beside His Father, and our Father. He is phosphorescent in lightening-flashing colors of beauty. To be transported to heaven is to catch an eyeful of Jesus awash in the beautiful splendor of holiness!

Isaiah not only has a view of the uncomely, deformed Christ; He sees the glorified, beautified King, and declares an ecstasy; “Your eyes will see the King in His beauty and behold a land that stretches afar.”  Is 33:17

May we all be transformed as we behold, even today, our gracious, glorified, holy King!

One thing I ask from the Lord,
    this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the Lord
    and to seek him in his temple.  Ps 27:4

Building of the Temple by Gustave Doré

Steven C Johnson

Landing Strip Enterprises

 

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In June of 1999 I was working moving houses. It was big, challenging and dangerous. You didn’t want to end up like the wicked witch of the East. We put steel beams under houses and pumped them up with jacks. We cross braced them as they rose with stacks of timber, put wheels under them and pulled them down the road.

We were pulling a big three bedroom, two story house down the streets of Yakima, Washington. I would drive behind the house in a truck and occasionally get out to steer the back wheels on the house to navigate corners. Sometimes I would be on the roof lifting power lines. As I drove behind with my windows down I would watch people on the sidewalks and listen to their comments.

“It’s so big!”

“That’s a real mobile home!”

“Look the curtains are blowing.”

“Who would think you’d see a house coming down the street?”

“The Pizza is supposed to come to the house not the other way around.”

People would get on their phones and call their friends down the road, “Mable, you need to come out and see this. There is a house coming down the road!” Old and young would come out, gawk and add their commentaries.

As I was driving behind this parade, observing the people and overhearing their exchanges I was blindsided by an experience I could not have predicted; I suddenly found tears streaming down my face. I’m certain I was the only one weeping during this expedition. I asked myself, “What is this?” then realized I was watching a parable.

My spirit was hearing the Spirit of God saying that a day is coming, and is now upon us, when the world will come out to watch and marvel because the static, predictable Church is up and moving big and bold!

When a house sits ridged on its foundation  it is camouflaged in immobility.  People drive by obliviously. But when the house moves down the road they take notice! Let’s remember that Jesus is the Church’s foundation, and that Jesus is always on the move! Let’s move with Him that the world may notice!

Steven C Johnson

Landing Strip Enterprise

 

I love how Jesus died!

Listen to this blog and discover how wonder-full our Savior is at dying.

He has given us a pattern for dying well! 

The Cross and Resurrection are two sides of the coin which became our ransom!

Steven C Johnson

LandingStripEnterprises.Com

 

WHAT DID JESUS MEAN WHEN HE SAID,

“I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE?”

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From earliest childhood we learned about death through the fly on the window sill, the bird on the driveway and the dead kitty on the road. As we grew we learned of the mortality of those around us, and of our own end.

Death never seems right. It is always monstrously tragic. It is the grand-daddy of all fears. We instinctively long that life and health continue both for our loved ones and ourselves. Solomon spoke of our common desire for life and health to continue in Ecclesiastes.  “He has set eternity in their hearts.” Our deep longing is for nothing short of endless, happy, healthy life.

Job voiced our deep, primordial question; “If a man dies will he live again?”

Our Lord Jesus Christ gives the comforting, even beyond-imagination answer! His answer wipes away every tear shed beside a death bed. His answer calms the heaving sobs at the gravesite. His answer turns our sackcloth to joy and our mourning to dancing!

Our dearest heavenly Friend has got the answer. And it is solid, trustworthy and unshakable! He is the Universal Solvent for our universal wants.

Listen to what our Savior says to Martha in John 11:25-26. “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

What did Jesus mean when He said, “I am the resurrection and the life?”

The Bible teaching of the Resurrection of the dead has largely been forgotten and replaced by the teaching that when a person dies their spirit goes to live forever in heavenly bliss with God.

Although there is a kernel of wonderful truth in it, you would be hard-pressed to find many Scripture passages which tell us, when we die we will go to heaven and live forever with Jesus.

What does the Bible actually, consistently teach and promise believers about eternal life? It is the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead! It runs parallel to our 2000-year-old prayer, “May your kingdom come on earth as in heaven.”

When Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life” he is saying He is one who will raise the dead from their graves. He has been given authority to raise the dead and will do that when he returns for us!

“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”  (See John 6:40, 44, 54)

“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out – those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned” (John 5:28-29). 

Jesus is in charge of the resurrection of all the dead. He is the One who will pull it off!

Let’s look at the hope of the resurrection which the Jewish people held to before Jesus even walked among them. The Old Testament is loaded with references to the staggeringly, glorious resurrection of all the dead – those in graveyards, those lost at sea, those secretly murdered, those who have returned to wind-blown dust.

Job is the first book in the Bible to share the hope in the resurrection. Job asks a question which is beyond curiosity. It is a question with an ache; “If a man dies will he live again?” (Job 14:14).   When we meet death through accident, disease, violence or old age what becomes of us? Is dust the end of our story? 

Materialists believe all that’s left is fertilizer.

Some imagine disembodied spirits haunting the earth.

Others believe our comic energy is absorbed into a greater whole.

Some believe we are recycled into other forms.

But the Bible teaches there is a day of resurrection for every man, woman and child, a great day, when our dust is reconstituted and we all stand before the great thrown of God for His evaluation.

“If a man dies will he live again?”  Philosophers and religionists fumble for the answer. Jesus Christ’s authoritative reply:   “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26).

Now let’s enlarge the passage where Job askes our universal question –

“If only you would hide me in the grave and conceal me till your anger has passed! If only you would set me a time and then remember me! If a man dies, will he live again?

“All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come. You will call and I will answer you; you will long for the creature your hands have made. Surely then you will count my steps but not keep track of my sin. My offenses will be sealed up in a bag; you will cover over my sin.”(Job 14:13-17).

I believe Job is the most challenging book in the Bible. No wonder we avoid it. Job finds himself utterly devastated with the loss of his children, his wealth, his health and his supposed friends. God’s wrath seems to be upon him. The only thing he can lose now is his life, and it looks like it’s coming quickly.

At this point Job would welcome death for he is overwhelmed with what seems to be the anger of God. “If only you would hide me in the grave and conceal me till your anger has passed!”

He may think, “When I’m dead, perhaps God’s anger will cool down. He might then remember me, and miss me, and call me forth from the grave.” He makes it a prayer, “If only you would set me a time and then remember me!”

He asks the question, “If a man dies, will he live again?” Then out of his heart comes an answer.

“All the days of my hard service I will wait for my renewal to come. You will call and I will answer you; you will long for the creature your hands have made. Surely then you will count my steps but not keep track of my sin. My offenses will be sealed up in a bag; you will cover over my sin.”

Job is looking, hoping, that God’s anger would pass, that God would remember him in his hiding place in the grave, that God would actually long for his creature, Job, and bring about a supernatural renewal! He is counting on God’s compassion to take away his sin and bring a day of renewal.

Now this is not the last of Job’s hope for the resurrection. When we come to Chapter 19

We can’t miss Job’s prophetic weight as he speaks of his Redeemer.

“I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth;

And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;

I myself will see him with my own eyes – I, and not another.

How my heart yearns within me!”    (Job  19:25-27)

Job has a hope in a living Redeemer! “I know that my Redeemer lives,”

This mysterious Redeemer will at The End stand upon the earth. Who is this mysterious Redeemer who will stand upon the earth at the end? He is called, “The Resurrection and the Life!”

Job anticipates that Redeemer arriving after his death. He sees that his skin and body tissues will turn to powder. But here is his resurrection hope.

“And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God;

I myself will see him with my own eyes – I, and not another.”

Job says that his very eyes, resurrected eyes, will see this standing Redeemer!

He will not have a proxy see this standing Redeemer. He will see the Redeemer who has remembered him in the grave. He will come forth and see Him with his own living eyes!

Then comes this longing cry from Job’s inmost being; “How my heart yearns within me!” 

What a bottomless pining, aching yearning! Job believes that God ultimately loves him, that the Creator will long once again for His creature, as that creature lays in the grave, that there will come a renewal and a face to face with his great and wonderful Redeemer. This is longing inexpressible!

Job died 2000 years before his Redeemer stood on the earth the first time, and to this point 4000 years before the Redeemer would come again to stand upon the earth, and raise the dead. Job died with a heart-aching longing. “How my heart years within me!” To know the Redeemer is to yearn for Him, for He comes to bring something so much better!

So, Job asks our nagging question about mortality, but he also shares a vision of a caring, compassionate Redeemer who raises the dead! The deepest of all twin desires is satisfied – God’s longing for his creature hidden in the grave, and the creature’s longing for their Redeemer – met in resurrection!

David says in Psalm 16:9-10 “Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.”

Secure body! Not abandoned to the grave! God’s plans for David are eternal pleasures!

David continues, “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Now this passage is referred to as a prophecy of Christ’s resurrection, but it also speaks of the general resurrection.

Let’s look at other expressions of resurrection hope in the Old Testament.

Isaiah 25:6-8 speaks of grand Kingdom banquet. So huge it is a spread for all mankind! 

“On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine – the best of meats and the finest of wines.”

Those enjoying this colossal feast are those who presently lay in the grave.

“On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever.”

The shroud and sheet to be destroyed is death. Death receives a mortal blow! He will swallow up death forever! What a feast we will have at the resurrection table!

Consider Isaiah 26:19. “But your dead will live; their bodies will rise. You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy. Your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead.”

I was walking through a cemetery quoting this verse and clearly felt an evil spirit say to me, “Stop saying that!” Death and the grave are intimidated with what is about to come!

Jesus said there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed. Isaiah 26 goes on to say that the earth will reveal her bloodshed, and no longer cover her slain. Every grave, every secret murder of individuals or groups will be manifest. Can you imagine a dead woman rising and pointing, “This is the man who killed me?”

Daniel’s testimony of the resurrection is very pointed with no ambivalence.

“Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt”(Daniel 12:2). 

How many will rise? Multitudes!

Where do they come from? The dust of the earth!

Where do they go? To everlasting life, or everlasting contempt!

Daniel is assured of his own path, and death, and eventual resurrection!

“As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance” (Daniel 12:13). 

What a wonderful promise for Daniel! And for us!

Hosea let’s us know that death does not get the last word!

“I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death

Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?” (Hos 13:14). 

The grave is powerful but our Redeemer is more powerful. He ransoms us from the power of the grave! There is outright mocking of death. Death, where is your stuff? What happened to you plagues and destruction? You have become impotent and lost your grip because of our mighty, compassionate Savior!

The religious Jews of Jesus day believed in the resurrection of the dead. Yes, there were a few holdouts. The Sadducees did not believe (Acts 23:8). But look how the people of Jesus’ day were putting their hope in the God who raises the dead.

When Martha’s brother Lazarus was dead Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 

She responded with a faith in the general resurrection to come. Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day” (John 11:23-4).

Jesus affirmed the teaching about the great general resurrection of the dead on several occasions.

“The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. 

The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here” (Luke 11:31-32).

In Jesus exchange with Martha He goes on to declare, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” Then Jesus asks Martha, “Do you believe this?”  

It’s a great question for us to answer.

Do you believe Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life?

Do you believe He will, and He does, raise the dead?

Martha replied, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world” (John 11:26).

Do you believe it when Jesus says,

“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out – those who have done good will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned” (John 5:28-29). 

Do you believe Jesus when He says,

“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day”  (See John 6:40).

Yes, we can trust Him when He says,

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:44).

We can confidently rely on Jesus Christ to keep His promise!

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:54).

Paul said, “Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?” (Acts 26:8). After all, If God created us from the dust He can bring us back from the dust and give us glorified bodies!

The early message of the Church was that Jesus is alive, He is the first fruits of all the rest of us who will rise from the dead, and our promise of resurrection life is found in Jesus! What an amazing, yet certain, hope we have in our standing Redeemer! We stand heads up in anticipation and confess with Job, “I know that my Redeemer lives and will stand on the earth in the latter days!”

Take heart my friend! Your yearning for Him, and His for you, is about to be met in explosive re-creation!

I end with a powerful quote from Joseph Addison (May 1 1672 – June 17 1719), an English politician and writer.

“When I look upon the tombs of the great, every emotion of envy dies in me;

when I read the epitaphs of the beautiful, every inordinate desire goes out;

when I meet with the grief of parents upon a tombstone, my heart melts with compassion;

when I see the tombs of the parents themselves, I consider the vanity of grieving for those whom we must quickly follow;

when I see kings lying by those who deposed them,

when I consider rival wits placed side by side,

or the men that divided the world with their contests and disputes,

I reflect with sorrow and astonishment on the little competitions, factions, and debates of mankind.

When I read the several dates of the tombs, of some that died yesterday, and some six hundred years ago,

I consider that great Day when we shall all of us be contemporaries, and make our appearance together.”

Steven C Johnson

LandingStripEnterprises.Com

The James Webb Telescope 

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Sometimes we can rattle off a Scripture verse yet be unaware of its context. This morning in Men’s group this phenomena manifest. We were looking at the wonderful verse, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”  2 Cor 5:17

The lesser known, preceding verse,  says, “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer” (2 Cor 5:16). The truth of our new creation is worthy of hours of reflection. But this verse is loaded with practicality and possibilities.

I am intrigued with the reality that we may look beyond the envelope and find the letter within. If you are at all like me you greet someone and think to yourself, “She has a funny accent.” “He’s tall.” “She slouches when she sits.” “He keeps repeating that word.”

I work intentionally to look deeper than the face and external features, asking the Holy Spirit for in-sight to discover the gold within. God has given us the spiritual ability to look deep. It is an ability that all of us can exercise and perfect, but it takes intentionality.

Our Lord Jesus knew what was in a person. He was able to look deep. He saw Peter perfected before he ever got close. He saw the treasure in the heart of the woman at the well. He sees the gold in his people even when it is hidden in failed flesh. Like our Lord Jesus we should look for the new creation in others. When we look deep we find treasures, even if they are surrounded by scrambled thinking, vulgar words and a stinky attitude.

I love to picture Jesus walking on water, embracing the little children and touching the leper, yet there is so much more of my Lord Jesus I would like to see! Three disciples realized Jesus’ fluorescent glory on a mountain top.

John in revelation saw Jesus in another light, or Jesus in His true shining!

His eyes were like blazing fire. 

His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, 

and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.  

In his right hand he held seven stars, 

and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. 

His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead.   Rev 1:14-16

We no long recognize Jesus according to the flesh. We also should no long recognize our fellow saints according to the flesh. We know there is a great glory, sometimes hidden, in the lives of our fellow brothers and sisters. Wouldn’t you like to see more!

Our Father has given us the equipment to see by his Spirit deeper into the lives of others, to perceive the treasures within. I encourage you to extend the focus of your eyes beyond the surface and discover the wonders of the new creation in your fellow Saints!

 

Would you like to give a review of Steve’s new book, Compounds of Encouragement? If so, send us a note and you will receive a free PDF or audio copy of the book. Specify which you prefer. Some comments may be included in the book. Thanks!

 

Steven C Johnson

Landing Strip Enterprises

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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God compressed himself into a space on the mercy seat above the ark of the Covenant. In the greatest “communication” God compressed Himself, voiced himself, into human flesh, showing up as man. What powerful mystery! Even the Apostle Paul declared the Flesh-God, a profound mystery.

Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:

He appeared in a body,

was vindicated by the Spirit,

was seen by angels,

was preached among the nations,

was believed on in the world,

was taken up in glory.   1 Tim 3:16

Our Mystery is substantial, not ethereal! Our auditory, visual, and tactile senses discern the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. The shepherds and later the wisemen witness The Mystery. Later still the followers of The Word testified to it.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched – this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.  The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.  1 John 1:1-2 

I prefer calling Christmas “Incarnation Day.” God became incarnate among us wearing human flesh to save creatures made of flesh. “Incarn,” means “in flesh.” All of us are born with flesh, but how exceptionally unusual for God to show up wearing it!

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death–that is, the devil.  Heb 2:14 

The story of Christmas is a rescue mission, but the hero is not a local. He is from out-of-town. Jesus comes down from highest heaven to redeem us! Heaven’s purposeful war strategy utilized a virgin, a baby, a cross and tomb, and a few other items like hosts of angels. These weapons decimate the judgments of death and hell and all their powers! 

One of the greatest powers Jesus conquers is the spirit of the antichrist! The antichrist is “anti-flesh.” Note how the Apostle John warns us;

Many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.  2 John 7 

 

    Who is the antichrist?

Most people think of the antichrist as a man who is a really bad dude. “We’ll have to watch out for him when he shows up.” The far greater danger is “the spirit of antichrist,” which is already in the world. If we cannot discern and overcome that spirit we will be cannon fodder for individuals who operate as antichrists. Many Christians have been decimated by the subtleties of the spirit of antichrist. The Apostle John warned us:

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now it is already in the world. 1 John 4: 1-3

Have you noticed how stealthily, how subtly, this satanic spirit has operated? Each Christmas the radio plays more “Santa and sleigh-bells” and less “Christ-has-appeared-among-us.” I noticed in a large box store that out of hundreds of “Christmas” cards only two had a Christ-message. The message of incarnation, God taking on flesh, has been watered down to dissolve its potency. Nativity has been replaced by naivety.

The anti-Christ is the diabolical Grinch who steals, “Today in Bethlehem is born for you a Savior.” 

       What is antichrist’s malicious, seductive, intent?

Satan doesn’t want earthlings to know Jesus walked among them in flesh.

Antichrist reduces Jesus to a vague, warm, but powerless, spiritual feeling.

He clouds the realization that Jesus is physical, concrete and touchable.  

He obscures Jesus physical incarnation and His ultimate tangible, sizzling, dazzling return.

He muddles the reality that Jesus raises us physically at the resurrection.

 

      Antichrist slanders Jesus, saying:

“Jesus only appeared to have flesh.”

“Jesus can’t relate to you because he doesn’t understand your fleshly struggles.”

“Jesus is powerless to help you in your day-to-day fleshly world.”

“Don’t expect Jesus to do anything world-changing. He will only grant you an indistinct ‘spiritual’ comfort.”

“Don’t expect to live a life of overcoming sin because nobody who has flesh can overcome.”   

“Don’t expect much from Jesus because there is not much to Him. He’s vague and insubstantial.”

The spirit of the anti-Christ is fine with us “spiritualizing” everything. This deceiving spirit is fine with otherworldly ideas of our Jesus, but not striking, bold moments of awareness of His tangible presence.

 

      YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN SEDUCED BY ANTICHRIST IF:

You divide the world into “spiritual” and “material.”  

You have an abstract, theoretical, or hyper-spiritual image of Christ.

You are more interested in going to heaven than seeing heaven physically transform earth.

Your hope is in dying and going to heaven rather than the resurrection of the dead.

You settle for Jesus healing the “spiritually” blind and deaf, but don’t expect Jesus to heal the blind and deaf physically.

You don’t expect to see tangible answers to your prayers.

 

PROCLAMATIONS FOR CRUSHING THE ANTICHRIST SPIRIT

Sometimes we must shake ourselves and speak out loud the reality of our substantial Savior. We can take the truths of Incarnation Day and crush the nay-saying antichrist! Speak out truths like these:

I am a Christian materialist!

There is no division between spiritual and physical.

Jesus pre-existed eternally and “incarnated” as a baby for me.

Jesus solidly, physically lives for me.

My High Priest sympathizes with me because He became like me.

He knows the pain of my stubbed toe, and personal rejection.

He knows what it is to be exhausted and feel hunger.

He knows the pleasures of family and friends.

Jesus touches me in tangible ways, not just vague mystical ways.

When I pray I expect my Lord to respond with tangible answers.

He delivers and heals my flesh.

My Lord Jesus Christ is solid!

 

Jesus was born in the flesh

Lived among us in the flesh

Ministered to mortals wearing flesh

Died in flesh

Rose in flesh

Ascended in flesh

He reigns in Heaven in flesh. [What does that tell us about heaven?]

He is returning in flesh, to our material world.

The antichrist was overcome at the cross. I will no-longer allow the antichrist to slink around. I uncover and expose Him! I certify the physical victory!

My Lord Jesus has crushed the world of denial of the antichrist by coming in the flesh to save all flesh!

Steven C Johnson 

LandingStripEnterprises.Com

 

To further fortify yourself in God’s wonderful plan to dwell in flesh and bless His creatures made in flesh look to the Scriptures below. They will be bullets for your gun that you may decimate the spirit of the antichrist.

 

 INCARNATION BULLETS FOR YOUR GUN

 

Scriptures are bullets for our spiritual guns. Take the following incarnation passages to pow, bang and rat-a-tat-tat against the power of the antichrist. Abide in our dearest Lord Jesus and let His word abide in you. It is open season on Giants. Happy hunting!

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. 

Mic 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

though you are small among the clans of Judah,

out of you will come for me

one who will be ruler over Israel,

whose origins are from of old,

from ancient times.

John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Rom 8:3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. 

Gal 4:4 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law

Phil 2:5-8 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death-

even death on a cross!

Col 1:15-20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginningand the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

2 Cor 5:19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

Heb 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

Heb 1:6 And again,when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,

“Let all God’s angels worship him.”  

Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Heb 2:14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—

Isa 9:6-7 For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

 

 

Many know that God is offendable. But is God pleasable? The answer is yes!

LISTEN TO THIS BLOG HERE!

A parent who loves their baby can be pleased when it simply coos and squeaks, when it grabs a toy, rolls over, sits up, or takes a first step. Many parents are easy to please. It is a slander to think that God is hard to please.

 

Before our son was born I had a troubling question; “Will I love him?” I had never met him. Would I find him lovable, have the capacity to love or come up short? At his appearing the doubts vaporized. I loved Brian immediately – before he hit a home run, did well in school, took out the garbage or milked the goats. He was mine. He was a wonder. And he was easy to love. My pleasure with him only increases as I behold his tiny and great accomplishments.

Every sincere Saint hopes to hear, “Well done good and faithful servant.” The conscientious Christian, focused on their failings and flaws, may forget that Father God is pleasable. They wonder if their flaws will disqualify them from hearing the “Well done.”

The sober truth of Scripture is that God is a righteous judge. Each of us will stand to give account of our lives for our thoughts and actions. Our Lord even weighs our motives. Each of us should tremble over the holiness and justice of God. That weighty truth has a counter balance. It is the mercy of Christ at the atonement seat, and the pleasability of God. God’s grace in Jesus our Savior covers the sins of the humble believer, giving the Father the ability to look for the smallest excuse to be pleased and proud.

We have a schnauzer named Smitty. I’m teaching him to sit, stay, lay down, get up, get down, fetch and give, jump and roll over. When he tries to respond to my commands I affirm him. I do it often.  He’s a smart dog and catches on. Perhaps he could use a better master. My point is that I choose to be pleased with the smallest effort, and I affirm with pats, vocalizations and treats. I pray I may be as eager to please God as Smitty is to please me.

What I know is that God is better at affirming me than I am with my dog. Could He be affirming us more than we know? We know there is an ultimate blessing of “Well done.” But don’t you think there is a moment by moment “Well done” going on in the Spirit when we are making the smallest obediences and eagerly seeking to please Him? Perhaps if we were more sensitive we would hear our Lord’s affirmations and at-a-boy or girls frequently. Perhaps our worries, “Am I doing this right? Am I a flunky?” prevent us from hearing His loving approval.

When one of our tiny children learned to tumble, twirl in dance, bake their first muffin, or squeak well in the band, approximating the right note, we are pleased and say, “Well done!” Our Lord Jesus said, “If you being evil know how to give good gifts to your children [in this case a praise or affirmation] how much more will your Father…”

Do you know you can find dozens of verses about the pleasability of our loving Father? Reflect on these:

OUR WORDS AND THOUGHTS CAN PLEASE GOD

Ps 19:14  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Ps 104:34  May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the LORD.  PRAISE CAN PLEASE HIM

Ps 69:30-31 I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.  This will please the LORD more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.

 OUR FATHER IS PLEASED WHEN WE KEEP HIS WORD

Prov 22:17-18  Pay attention and listen to the sayings of the wise; apply your heart to what I teach,for it is pleasing when you keep them in your heart and have all of them ready on your lips.

JUSTICE, MERCY AND HUMILITY PLEASE GOD

Mic 6:8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

PRESENTING OUR LIVES IN WORSHIP PLEASES GOD

Rom 12:1  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.

RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE AND JOY PLEASE THE FATHER

Rom 14:16-18  Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil.  For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit,  because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

GIVING MATERIAL GIFTS CAN PLEASE THE LORD

Phil 4:18 I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

CARRING FOR YOUR FAMILY PLEASES THE LORD

1 Tim 5:4 But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God.

A FAITHFUL WALK WITH GOD IS PLEASING

Heb 11:5-6 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

SHARING WITH OTHERS PLEASES GOD

Heb 13:16  And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

 FIND OUT WHAT PLEASES THE LORD

Paul said in Ephesians 5:10 “… find out what pleases the Lord.” Once we discover this we can get active and do our best to create pleasure in the heart of our Heavenly Papa. What if we discover pleasing God is easier than we thought?

 HAVE A DETERMINATION TO PLEASE GOD

1 Thess 4:1  Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

John 5:30 for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

1 Thess 2:4 We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.

PRAYERS THAT WE MAY PLEASE GOD

Heb 13:20-21 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Col 1:10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God

In the wonderful and terrible days in which we live, learn what pleases the Lord, and resolve to create pleasure in your Father’s heart!

Steven C Johnson

Landing Strip Enterprises

So sad and happy to announce Mom’s promotion. Leona Jane Peck Johnson was promoted 11/9/22 much to the delight of heaven, a waiting Savior, friends and family!

Words will never do. First rate human being, wife, mom to three, grand to four, and great-grand to seven – with one on the way.

Generous, loving, affirming, good humored, confident, humble, thoughtful – and a few dozen other frail words describe a woman of stellar quality. Dad and Mom produced one of the worlds all-time best love stories, plus kids, grands and greats who had no doubt they were loved. Her smile, congeniality and faith in the goodness of God will be welcomed by heaven’s residents.

Her many memories and stories will be missed. We look forward to The Day of Reunion in Christ!

 

Engagement announcement

 

  

Mom with Steve, Sue and Scott

 

Leona and Lloyd, one of the world’s great love stories

 

Lee with Nathan, one of the seven great grand kids

Last shot of Mom.  Miss you!  See your soon!

Steven C Johnson

Landing Strip Enterprises

 

 

This movie will mess with you digestion but it is important to see. Our Lord Jesus said, “There is nothing hidden which will not be made know. There is nothing secret which will not be revealed.” 

Sometimes it is mandatory to see things which cause revulsion. If you are not watching for lions you can never go on a lion hunt. “Watch and pray.”

Watch this as a believing Christian who is in the war to win! Declare over evil, “No! That’s not the Kingdom of God!” Then pray, “Thy glorious Kingdom come on our planet as it prevails in the highest heaven!” 

I urge you to pass this on! Tomorrow may not offer another opportunity.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This movie is for free until Oct 31st.  

Steven C Johnson

Landing Strip Enterprises