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"Long-ish" post alert (may the reader take note).
May you all have peace!
I am sharing on this topic again because of the very profound truths regarding it that I received from my Lord recently. I don't HAVE to share it... but I CHOOSE to, as I believe what I learned may be useful to some others. I received it as I recently needed to make some very difficult decisions and wanted to do what was best for everyone involved in the process, but even more, do his will and not my own. And so I wanted... NEEDED... to be sure I was doing the right thing (i.e., kind and loving, especially as to JAH and Christ, then to all others). And so I asked him to tell me, SHOW me, if perhaps I was one of those people for whom such would be "better" to have a millstone tied about their neck and pitched into the sea." Matthew 8:16; Mark 9:42, and Luke 17:2. And then... I ducked.
No, seriously. I didn't turn my head away, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't expecting some "discipline" and so put my head down, so to speak (no, not "bowed" it; ducked, like I said). Because, well, perhaps some others think this of me (it seems so, if I am receiving their "message" accurately). To my great joy, however, what I received wasn't bad (although there definitely was some training!). Rather, it was wonderful... enlightening... and faith-strengthening... because once again, some truths were revealed! Because of the rejoicing such caused ME (and a few others I've already shared it with), I thought I would share it here, for those wishing to hear my Lord, the HOLY One of Israel and Holy Spirit, JAHESHUA, the Chosen One of JAH (MischaJah) gave to me THIS time on the matter of stumbling (oneself/others), as well as just who it is HE meant when speaking of those in the recordings of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
Before I do, I should give a little background. Over the past couple/few weeks or so, situations have arisen where a dichotomy exists between what folks SAY they want to know... and from whom... and what they TRULY want to know... and from whom. Some say they want to receive directly from Christ; however, their actions imply differently, as they won't GO directly to him. At the same time, they don't seem to "like" the words from some (particularly me); yet, when I refrain, I am being unloving because I am denying them "something." When I concede, however, if it's not with words such want to hear... well, unfortunately, sometimes their spirit can't hide their chagrin. Because I am a SERVANT, although a good-for-nothing one... and NOT a master... this has brought me GREAT grief over the years. I don't WANT to harm or offend ANYONE, but simply do my Lord's will. As with many others, sometimes doing that garners... I won't say animosity, although that is an accurate word... or jealousy, which is also accurate... but maybe just "bad feelings"... from others. A whole LOT of "who does she think she is?!" occurs, as I'm sure you can all guess - LOLOLOL! And for the most part, that doesn't really bother me, as I know who... and what... I am: a good-for-nothing... but obedient... servant. Of the MOST HOLY One of Israel, JAH of Armies, by means of His Son and Christ, the HOLY One of Israel, JAHESHUA, the Chosen One of JAH (MischaJah)... and so, to His Household, Israel, and those who go with.
While I have tried to carry out my task... which is the herald JAH and Christ in the hopes that some hearing would come to THEM and receive from them "living water," holy spirit... the water of life, which comes FROM the Life, Christ (John 14:6)... with JOY and REJOICING... it has/is not always easy to do. Some days are bettern than others, some topics easier than others, some truths more poignant that others... and some sheep more receptive than others (LOLOL!). I have always, though, tried to keep an eye on MYSELF... KNOWING that I had a heavier responsibility than perhaps some others... because to whom more is given more is expected. I have been given SO much more than I EVER could have expected... and I do not take one iota... or the responsibility that comes with it... lightly.
And so stumbling others... ANYONE... including myself... is almost a daily "weight" on my spirit, heart, and mind. And one I endeavor NOT to do. Unfortunately, that issue, stumbling, is a very handy "tool" that our Adversary uses... daily... on certain ones... and tries to use, if possible, on others. Indeed, it is only second to doubt/lack of faith. ANYONE who, for some reason, isn't ready... or willing... or ABLE... to exercise faith in Christ can use this "tool" as a reason, a justification as to why THEY aren't doing what THEY should. Someone isn't speaking to them right. Someone's words are offensive. Someone did... said... didn't do... won't say... isn't saying... someone, someone, someone. On many occasions, that "someone" is implied to be ME. And so, because I DO care, first as to JAH's will and Christ's... and did/do NOT want to be the cause of ANYONE stumbling... I asked. In order to know whether I WAS/MIGHT be stumbling others... ANYONE... went before my Lord and asked for clear, concise, and complete understanding... so that I would know IF I was doing it, if so how to NOT do it, and if NOT... how to KEEP from doing it.
And, of course, those who wish to may sigh and roll their eyes, if that is what their heart moves them to do. But not only MY life, but the life of my household, may be involved, so it is important enough to ME... to have an accurate understanding regarding this matter. So, then...
The discussion started with my Lord telling me that in order to understand what HE meant when speaking of those for whom it would be BETTER to have a millstone around the neck and hurled into the sea, I must entirely put away what I THOUGHT the term "stumbles" meant. Because most of what is thought to be true about is learned from those who claim to "know"... including religious leaders, scholars, etc., and particularly the WTBTS... and they are all in error. Let it go, so that HE could "build" [by writing on my heart] as to it. He didn't have to tell me twice - I KNOW him to be true and his words truthFUL... and so I did... and it was if I had never heard the term before.
He started with Peter and Paul. He said that when Peter was acting hypocritically toward the Greek Jews... Paul "opposed" him "face to face" and called him out on it, publicly. He said Paul did this because (1) Peter absolutely should have known better, given all he (Peter) had been told by and learned from HIM (Christ) but Peter had taken a "false" step. I will share WHY Peter did, below. And, so, he said Paul was (1) standing up for what was JUST, EVEN to one of the 12; and (b) protecting those Peter was treating unjustly; but also, in doing so (c) trying to save Peter from stumbling FURTHER. He said that had Peter been allowed to contined, had no one pointed out his error, would (Peter) have continued in his way, EVEN THOUGH HE KNEW IT WAS WRONG... because he was trying to impress MEN (the Hebrew men)... to his own detriment (he would have been styled an "evil slave", for treating the Greek Jews harshly by posturing for the HEBREWS, to the point of not only ignoring the Greek Jews, but particularly the Greek widows, whom he had PROMISE to care for). He said that Peter did this, stepped "falsely"... because he had ALLOWED some "leaven" to "ferment" in him. I will share the source of that "leaven" when I share WHY Peter stepped "falsely," in a bit.
He went on to say that Paul confronted Peter with the TRUTH, even though Peter was an apostle, and EVEN though he risked hurting Peter's feelings... for PETER'S own good, as well as those Peter had been mistreating. Because he (Peter) was in danger of ending up "OUTSIDE" (of the FATHER's love)... for "[liking and carrying on] the lie" (Revelation 22:15. He ended that example a WONDERFUL truth, and that is that the reason Peter was able to BEAR what he received from Paul was because he (Peter) was "grown up" enough to do so. He was NO LONGER a "babe"... or "little one"... but a "full grown man" in HIM (Christ).
Having hurt feelings over being told the TRUTH... or when hurt is not INTENDED then... isn't BEING stumbled (by someone else). It IS stumbling as a result of one stumbling oneself. Eccelesiastes 7:9
That is not to say that no one can BE stumbled by another; they can... but, for instance, in the manner of eating. Paul and James seem to be at conflict over this issue, with James saying (by holy spirit?) that food sacrificed to idols was to be abstained from (Acts 15:26). Paul, on the other hand, said one could eat whatever, to not be judging others as to what they should eat/not eat... BUT, that one might abstain FOR THE SAKE OF ANOTHER'S CONSCIENCE, and so as to not stumble THEM. (Romans 14:3, 17; 1 Corinthians 8:4, 10; 10:25, 31). Both of these dear brothers were right, but we do not have written for us ALL that transpired so as to know WHY.
James was right... BUT... he was not stating that such meat should NEVER been eaten. Rather, he was addressing the issue of what to do NOW THAT THE NATIONS WERE BEING BROUGHT IN. The discussion came about due to the issue of CIRCUMCISION. Some were teaching that those of the nations SHOULD be circumcised... which was a stumbling FOR those of the nations ("You mean, in order to serve this Christ, we have to have our manhood altered? Oh, uh... no thanks, then!"). Some were teaching that they need NOT be, though, which was a stumbling for some of the Jews ("Wait, you want us to eat/hang out with UNcircumcised folks?! But that's not just against the LAW, but goes all the way back to Abraham!! Uh, ummm, no thanks - we'll just with each other!").
So, a declaration HAD to be made that would appease the consciences... of EVERYONE: the Jews AND the people of the nations. Hence, no circumcision for the nations (since they weren't under the Law anyway - why add an additional and unnecessary burden, especially one that Christ himself hadn't imposed?)... so the nations were safe from harming THEIR consciences (which shuddered at messing with a man's "junk")... but no eating of food sacrificed to idols or consuming of blood for the Jews (which the people of the nations regularly did)... so the Jews were safe from harming THEIR consciences.
Notice, I stated, "harming THEIR consciences"... and not necessarily harming someone ELSE's. Because, by means of the blood of Christ, which CLEANSES consciences (through forgiveness of sins)... these COULD have returned to an UNCLEAN conscience, if they had to do something THEIR conscience was AGAINST. Meaning, it is not MY eating or drinking... or being circumcised that harms YOUR conscience... but YOUR eating/drinking... or being circumcised... that does! MY error is when I lead/try to make YOU do something "against" your conscience. Contrary to the WTBTS misteaching, is it NOT simply when I do/say something (that does not bother MY conscience)... but another can't handle (and to show this, we have the example of Christ himself, which example I will expound on further on).
And so, if YOU eat meat sacrificed to an idol, the reality is that it's YOUR business. If you do it in private... or out of MY sight... well... who cares? Who is there to judge you? Certainly not Christ, because HE said ALL food is clean. You might not to do it in front of me, though... if you KNOW my conscience is "weak" in that regard. Why? Because you might entice ME to eat, too, which would "go against" MY conscience... and so be a "sin"... for ME. Because my CONSCIENCE... is not longer CLEAN. Your DOING so (eating in front of me) is not the sin. The sin is if YOUR eating leads ME to eat... when MY conscience can't handle it... that going against MY conscience then becomes sin... FOR me... which sin YOU may have had a hand in causing. In THAT manner, I am "stumbled," because I sinned.
My Lord then related as to another kind of stumbling, something we ALL do... and many times... and that is, in what we say. As dear James wrote:
"We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check." James 3:2
Since we ALL stumble in our words, none is able to judge another as to words. Only One there is whose words were and are ALWAYS perfect (Proverbs 8:6-9), and it only when we are speaking HIS words that we ARE speaking in perfection. In ALL other instances we ALL are subject to saying the wrong thing, stumbling with our words. But did you notice, James did not say we all STUMBLE OTHERS with our words, but that WE stumble ourselves... with them? Why? Because... OUR words are imperfect and so subject to be wrong... even causing us to "sin."
How? At least one way would be to call another "You despicable fool!" Or when we curse, call down evil, or swear. When we make empty vows. When we blaspheme. But the most common way... is when we lie. When falsehood is found in our mouths... and for most of it, that's pretty much on a regular basis. Matthew 5:34; 26:74; John 4:17; Acts 5:3, 7-9; John 8:44
But my Lord reminded me: it is not only our tongues than can cause up to stumble. And so he told us that if our (own) eye, foot, hand... caused us to stumble... we would do well to pull it out/cut it off... rather than risk Gehenna. He asked me, though, "Who of mankind actually do that WHEN such cause us to stumble? And one is thought of one when he/she does?" And so, most of us let that part of our body which CAUSES us to stumble remain... even cause us to sin and stumble FURTHER. YET... because of teachings like that of the WTBTS and others as to stumbling, we will cry and call for OTHERS to not "stumble" us. Perhaps even wishing for Gehenna for THEM!
And, because with the same judgment that we are judging, we will BE judged... those who "are stumbled" by others... yet stumble THEMSELVES... AND others... stand to be judged by their own mouths!
Even so, most stumbling is not permanent but temporary, as with Peter... who stumbled more than once and COULD have been responsible for "stumbling" others, either through his denial of Christ, his lack of faith at my Lord's resurrection, his concern about Lazarus' destiny, his hypocrisy with the Greek Jews... and probably a plethora of things WE will never know of in THIS life. Like Peter, even though we take a false step, even stumble we should GET BACK UP... and continue walking. Why? Because, as Paul wrote, as to those who TRULY love Christ:
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, [u][b]will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ [Jesus] our Lord." Romans 8:35-39
And so, I was glad to hear all of this, as you can probably understand! Even so, while all of this calmed my heart some... it did not really address my concerns as to the one for whom a millstone around the neck and pitching into the sea was "better." OR... how such could BE better than, well, what could be WORSE?? But before I could even ask the question, my Lord explained:
None of this is the stumbling he was speaking of, especially those instances where TRUTHFUL words were spoken... and we can know that because some were stumbled... by HIS truthful words. And not stumbled temporarily... or "sort of"... but literally... and permanently (at least, in this life). As I promised to share with you above, he took me to this account:
"On hearing [to eat his flesh and drink his bloo], many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”
"Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, [Jesus] said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! The spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For [Jesus] had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”
"From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him." John 6:60-66
They actually LEFT off following him. And permanently. EVEN though his words were TRUE. Why? Because they couldn't BEAR the words he was telling them: that they had to eat his flesh/drink his blood. Such words "offended" them. They believed they believes them to be "against" [what THEY thought] God's Law said. Sadly, because of they allowed their own issues to stand in the way of TRUTH... they stumbled. Not WERE stumbled (BY Christ)... but OVER him... by what he said TO them.
Why were these stumbled, though? Why COULDN'T they bear/receive what he said... WITHOUT taking offense? The account says it was because the Father wouldn't allow it. But, and this is what my Lord shared with me, there was a reason WHY He wouldn't allow it. Which takes me to the another "revelation" my dear Lord gave me as to "stumbling." He directed me to read the following, from the NWT:
"Pride is before a crash,
And a haughty spirit before stumbling." Proverbs 16:18
And then he had me read Proverbs 8:13, which states:
"The fear of JAHVEH means the hating of bad. I hate self-exaltation and pride and the evil way and perverse speech."
And...
"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." Proverbs 11:2
He said that when he said to these, that UNLESS they ate his flesh and drank his blood, they would have NO life in themselves... their PRIDE would not let them RECEIVE this truth! Because of THEIR pride, which the Father HATED... they were not allowed "in"... so as to understand the SPIRITUAL meaning of the truth my Lord had said to them. And so, by not only ignoring his words, but stumbling over them so as NOT to eat/drink of HIM... they passed/stumbled OVER him... so as to have NO life... in THEMSELVES... and thus, will NOT be a part of the FIRST resurrection.
BUT, they are still not of those, at least at that time, of whom my dear Lord said it would be BETTER to have a millstone tied to their neck and pitches into the sea. No, for THAT, there was an entirely different group of people from ANY that he and had discussed thus far. And so he told me:
He was referring to those who stand in HIS way, who SHUT UP the kingdom of the heavens... so that others stumble over HIM, the "STONE of stumbling"... which you all already knew, of course. NOT people "stumbling over" (because of) hurt feelings/pride/fear, etc. Because, contrary to yet another WTBTS, such ones haven't BEEN stumbled (by someone else) but HAVE stumbled (themselves), which you may have just learned.
So who WAS he referring to? To those who belong to/are a part of:
1. Babylon the Great
2. The Wild Beast
3. The False Prophet
4. The Adversary
Why? Listen to what my Lord SAID:
"It would be BETTER... to have a millstone tied around their necks... and pitched into the sea."
Why is BETTER to be pitched into the sea, with a millstone around one's neck? Wouldn't that pull such one down to the deepest depths? It WOULD! BUT... the SEA... GIVES UP THOSE DEAD IN IT!
Babylon the Great, the Wild Beast, the False Prophet, and the Adversary, however, are ALL... DESTROYED BY FIRE! The Adversary, Wild Beast, and False Prophet are all destroyed by being hurled into the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:10)... and BTG, is "completely burned by fire" (Revelation 18:8)!! And, so, while there is resurrection, albeit perhaps to judgment... from the SEA (Revelation 20:13)... and even the DEEPEST parts of it... there is NO RESURRECTION from the Lake of Fire... or being COMPLETELY burned with fire. That is the point of something BEING "completely burned."
Of course, as I've shared with you before there are those who use Christ's words to (try to) control others. For instance, as to what others might wear, eat, celebrate, say, etc. ("Oh, if you wear/eat/observe/say THAT, you might STUMBLE Brother/Sister SoandSo/their CONSCIENCE" or "Oh! Your skirt/beard/words are STUMBLING me/my CONSCIENCE!""). Such WEAKNESS of conscience, however, is not necessarily the responsibility of others. For the most part, it is one's own... and the weaker... the more dangerous for one. Because there are all manner of those SEEKING those of WEAK conscience... to MISLEAD... with ALL MANNER manmade and INSTILLED "laws" as to ALL MANNER of things!
If each one is looking at... and listening to CHRIST, however, as all are instructed by Christ himself to do... rather than at his/her fellowman... then one CAN'T be stumbled by the other. Because one is taking HIS/HER cue as to what to do/not do from CHRIST, and NOT from his/her fellowman.
That does not preclude one or one's fellowman from pointing out... even vehemently... that such a "way" is not OF Christ (as Paul did with Peter... and as Christ SAID we are to do - Matthew 18:15-18). Indeed, if there is some TRUE danger to the other (i.e., hypocrisy, unrighteous anger, injustice... blasphemy...), then one is OBLIGATED to point it out, yes, by LOVE? Indeed, if God's SPIRIT is truly IN such one, they almost can't NOT do so. Because HIS spirit will BEAR WITNESS with the error IN such one and BOTH spirits... his AND Christ's... will "GRIEVE." If one is in union with Christ, it is by means of a union of SPIRIT... which union also becomes of the MIND... so that the two, he and they, are one. And so, if HE, the Holy Spirit, grieves... SO does the one joined TO him. Because when ONE member of the Body hurts, ALL of the Body hurts! Does that mean all feel the pain? Maybe not. Not if they're not "in tune" with the HEAD of the Body. But if so, ANY grief HIS spirit feels... is felt by these. Indeed, it SHOULD be felt... by the ENTIRE Body.
He then assured me that, as he has told me before, for one joined to HIM... there is NO stumbling block. Because, by means of listening to HIM... and following HIM... one will know where to put their "foot" so as to NOT "step falsely"... or to the point of stumbling himself/herself so that it would be better to be tied to a millstone and pitched in the sea. He said those TRULY of His Body, while perhaps speaking imperfectly... or having arms, feet, eyes... and even pride... that cause THEM to stumble... or words that stumble other... are not of that group for whom it would be BETTER... because THEY don't PROHIBIT any from coming to him... nor do they stand in any's way. To the contrary, they EXHORT... ALL... to go to HIM. They don't lead others AWAY... or BLOCK his way... including by wickedly and heinously convincing them NOT to eat his flesh and drink his blood! They don't shut UP the kingdom of the heavens before such ones.
They... POINT THE WAY... TO the Way!
As his BRIDE... they JOIN him in saying "COME!" to ALL those wishing and thirsting... TELLING them of the FREE gift... rather than hiding it from or blocking/denying them access TO it!
Many's feelings in Israel were "hurt"... all the way back to Cain, whose hurt feelings... and PRIDE... caused HIM to stumble, SO grossly, that he murdered his own brother. Because that pride... led to hate... which led to murder. Of his own brother. And many SINCE have done similar, literally killed another, even a brother. Out of pride, even jealousy. And many since have sought to murder many others, including those who spoke the TRUTH to them, because of pride that led to hate. It was this way with Joseph, Moses, David, the Prophets, Zechariah, John the Baptizer, the Apostles, and even Christ himself. Many who couldn't bear the words of these, let their PRIDE take over, so that they stumbled... and fell. All they way to hating these, their brothers, and in some instances even murdering them. Some even bore false witness against these so as to deliver them up to BE murdered. All because they could not bear the truth that these told them.
All who did so stumbled... OVER Christ... because of their hurt feelings... allowed by pride... which led to hatred. Which led to either walking away from HIM... and, sometimes, even to murdering another in the process. But JAH still showed mercy toward Cain. So, even CAIN is not among those for whom it would be BETTER to have a millstone tied around the neck and pitched in the sea.
Those who are DENYING OTHERS ACCESS TO CHRIST, however, and so shutting up the kingdom of the heavens may not fare so well. They not only stumbling OVER Christ, themselves, not only murdering and blaspheming themselves... but leading OTHERS to do so! (Matthew 23:13, 15).
And in doing so, they are sharing in the sins of Babylon the Great... the wild beast... the false prophets... and so, the Adversary, who gives them ALL their power!
And THAT is who Christ meant as to those who would do BETTER with the millstone and sea. Because woe to them, as THEY will receive part of her plagues. Which includes, at some point, being completely... burned... with... fire.
Truly, it IS better to have a millstone tied around the neck... and be tossed into the sea!
Hence, the word of the MOST HOLY One of Israel, JAH of Armies, through His Son and Christ, the HOLY One of Israel and Holy Spirit, JAHESHUA, the Chosen One of JAH (MischaJah)... to HIS belongings that are IN her is:
"Get OUT of her... MY people!"
THAT is the kind of stumbling Christ meant... and warned about. And it is THAT stumbling for which some will fare far, far worse... than those who DO have a millstone tied about their necks and pitched into the sea.
I, SA, have shared with you as to this matter just as I received it from my dear, dear Lord (PRAISE JAH!!!)... the HOLY One of Israel and Holy Spirit, JAHESHUA, the Chosen One of JAH (MischaJah). May those with ears to hear, hear, if they so wish it, and get the SENSE of these truths... as well as may those WITHOUT ears... but wishing them... RECEIVE them... so as to hear when he, the [HOLY] Spirit and his Bride say to YOU:
"COME! Take LIFE's water... which "water", the blood, breath, and seed of the MOST HOLY One of Israel, JAH of Armies... is poured out from the innermost parts of His Son... he Who IS the [Tree of] Life... FREE!"
Servant to the Household of God, Israel, and ALL those who go with... and a slave of Christ,
SA
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"I am proud to say that I will not lift one finger ( except my middle finger) for the WTBTS." 