THE ORIGINAL ISSUES -

QUESTIONS OF THE REBELLION AND HOW THEY ARE ANSWERED

The rebeller, Satan challenged Father on three original issues, the fullness of answers...

1.  Father's sovereignty, His right to rule.
2.  Man only comes to Father for what he can get out of Father.  
3.  Man's will forfeit everything just to save his own skin.

Mankind’s faithful obedience under religious persecution is at the source of the rebuttal of The Second Great Issue, the Question of Integrity. “Mankind only loves God for what man can get out of God,” and “When tested as to the flesh, mankind will turn away from God.” Satan has stated that mankind will turn from God in time of bodily peril or material lack. God allows the tests to be performed, as undeniable proof that those who really love God don’t do it for selfish gain.

Down through the centuries, Satan has shown to be the Great Opposer to Father and to man. He has used people as false religious leaders, ensnaring millions in the web of conspiracy and false doctrines. He has killed and oppressed man by untimely death, disease and illness, and physical and emotional trauma and persecution. He has had righteous and faithful mankind thrown into prison, the sea, the scorching desert; tortured by man and wild beast; and burned and dismembered. But, he cannot destroy the life of a child of God. Only man himself can do that, by seeing only the temporary material blemish of mortal life, and choosing to follow Darkness instead of the Light.

The stigmata is the living sign that the wounds of Jesus Christ are on a surrendered body to Father, one who has given themselves to God, Our Father, that their very body may be used as an answer to saving His own skin!  A blessing within a blessing.

Likewise, we have many, many times seen those smitten with Divine suffering in many countries who have also kept their integrity, even to death, rather than calling out evil against God. How many lions have had their fill, how many swords their righteous blood, in bringing to pass this accusation? Among the imperfect but humble hearts of mankind, there are also those who have been desirous to resolve this issue without being expressly called to this opportunity. These offer themselves for resolution in the issue of suffering by offering their own skin in imitation of the Christ; Padre Pio and Saint Francis of Assisi are of that number, bearing the wounds of the stigmata, in their own flesh.  There are several people now who currently are giving the testimony on their own skin to answer this question.  There will be many more that will be experiencing the stigmata. 

See www.stigmatahealing.com

In the one of the most well known stories in the Bible that demonstrates this and outlines the actual issue brought up before Father, we can see the reply of Job as the true answer of praising God, The Father.

 1 In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. 2 He had seven sons and three daughters, 3 and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.

 4 His sons used to take turns holding feasts in their homes, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. 5 When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would send and have them purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, "Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." This was Job's regular custom.

Job's First Test

 6 One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. 7 The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
      Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."

 8 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil."

 9 "Does Job fear God for nothing?" Satan replied. 10 "Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. 11 But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face."

 12 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger."
      Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.

 13 One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15 and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

 16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

 17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

 18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

 20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said:
       "Naked I came from my mother's womb,
       and naked I will depart. 
       The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
       may the name of the LORD be praised."

 22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job did not curse God, He praised God!  How beautiful that Job showed what needs to happen every time we face evil, every time we face hardship.  His answer was love.  In the case of Job, though suffering from revolting disfigurement and festering sores and scabs that peeled and became black all over his body, he did not rebel against God. Through nightmares, fever and excessive thinness, and pain both day and night, he kept his integrity!  Love of God, Our Father.  Praise His Holy Name!  Gloria in Excelsis Deo!

This is what we are all asked to do, answer these 3 Great issues:

1.  Father's sovereignty, His right to rule.
2.  Man only comes to Father for what he can get out of Father.  
3.  Man's will forfeit everything just to save his own skin.

How to answer these:

For the first question, Father's right to rule.  Throughout the ages we have seen mankind and the inability to produce a government that would not crumble.  Even the longest, they crumbled.  We can make this simple by granting Father's right to rule.  To rule of us and over everyone.  This is the epitome of the statement "Thy Will Be Done."

Who are we in the grand scheme of things to think we can outline our lives for ourselves better than God, who is all knowing and whose Love is beyond knowledge?  Why wouldn't we turn it over to God to steer our course, to let Him who created us, show us His will for us.  Thy Will Be Done!  We can use this for everything, include Father in every decision!  We can because He gave us that ability to be hardwired to Him.  In prayer, for all things, He can guide our steps.  The earth has become the focus of God's right to rule.

"O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth." (Isaiah 25:1)

"Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10)

The answer is here!  Letting God, Our Father rule and show us the way.  Blessed be His name!

For the second question (man only comes to Father for what he can get out of Father):

We are not here to serve ourselves but Father.  We do this through following the two greatest commandments given to us by His Holy Son, Jesus Christ:

He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind' ; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Luke 10:27)

The Lord made all of us with Free Will.  How much more beautiful and fantastic can it get than the one who made us, loving us so openly, longs for us all to come to Him and embrace the love we were born to accept, to receive His love. 

Can we learn to be more childlike without being childish?  Can we see how much Father loves us?  Can we see a relationship beyond bartering through prayer and trying to get around His will for us?  We can come to Father to love and serve the Lord.  We can be His mobile sacred space that we may be spreading His love everywhere we go!  We can be in partnership with God, being the conduit of love for all those in need.

How wondrous!

For the third question, man will forfeit everything to save his own skin:

Job's Second Test

 1 On another day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. 2 And the LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?"
      Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."

 3 Then the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason."

 4 "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face."

 6 The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life."

 7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.

 9 His wife said to him, "Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"

 10 He replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?"
      In all this, Job did not sin in what he said.

This serves to prove more things, that Job, by not turning from God not only obeyed God, Our Father, but praised Him!  And Father has demonstrated in this outline that Satan has restrictions.  All those who think or have thought that Satan is all powerful can see right here, in the story of Job, that is not true. 

The Accuser is given ability to afflict, but is kept on restriction in what he can do and how far he can go.  God is the One to trust, He will be your protection.  Ask God, calling in the Holy Angels to protect and defend you.

Many will benefit from knowing that Satan is kept on restriction.  If he was all powerful, wouldn't it be obvious that he would not be restricted. 

Man calls out to God in times of peril, in times of near death and even death.  Man cries out "save me God", "God help me" and "God, I commit myself to your arms."

God, Our Father, is the ruler of all.  We are here to love and serve Him who created us, out of love, offering all that we are and all that we have to Him who loves us beyond any love we have known.

 THIS IS ALL ANSWERED BY ALL OF US...DO WE CHOOSE LOVE OR FEAR?

GOD IS LOVE!

CHOOSE LOVE!!!