They smile at us from television, talk about enforcing justice – and say: “No one is above the law.”

“No one is above the law!” is the battle cry of our leaders (who commit more severe crimes after this soundbite is recorded).

In contrast, are our church-going Christians any better?  No.  Why?  Because they aspire for better, better, and better!

If this is the case – then how can any of us possibly be righteous?  How can we rise above?  We must be above The Law.

Proverbs 16:2
   All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

Proverbs 21:2
   Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

Many Christians wonder: How can we cease from sin?  How can we stop sinning?
How can we live a sinless life?
The answer is that we have to suffer in the flesh for doing that which is righteous.
1 Peter 2:19-20
   For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.
   For what glory is it, if, when ye be beaten for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

1 Peter 3:14
   But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;

1 Peter 3:17-18
   For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
   For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

If we suffer in the flesh, we have ceased from sin.
1 Peter 4:1
   Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

That is, don’t live to the lusts (desires) of men, but to the will of God – not with sexual fornication, excessive drinking, gluttony, debauchery, idol worship.
1 Peter 4:2-3
   That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
   For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries

Many professing Christians may interpret this as: don’t drink, don’t be sexual, don’t party – and then you’ll be without sin.
Certainly, The Law and its derivatives can validate this life of ‘don’t do this and don’t do that’.
Proverbs 20:1
   Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Hosea 4:10-11
   For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.
   Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart.

Luke 21:34
   And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.

The only problem is that if we put ourselves under The Law (and derivative rules), then we only cease to transgress if we are literally dead.
A dead body does not fornicate, deceive, envy, gossip, sow discord, etc.
Romans 3:19
   Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

John 8:5
   Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

Many Christians are dead while they are alive, as they don’t do anything interesting – and are pleased with themselves that they ‘don’t do this and don’t do that’.
In fact, the problem is when we drink and party, and have a good time (even sexy times) – without a connection to God.
Isaiah 5:11-12
   Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them!
   And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.

We cease from sin when we suffer in the flesh and when we have our connection to God.
1 Peter 4:1-3
   Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
   That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
   For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries

The writer, the apostle Peter, was sent to the Jews (the circumcision) to preach the New Covenant.
Galatians 2:7-8
   But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;
   (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:)

So, ‘the will of the Gentiles’ meant to the Jews to not have a connection with God – as only the children of Israel had a connection to God with the Old Covenant.

Without a connection to God:
Ephesians 5:18
   And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

With a connection to God:
Deuteronomy 14:26
   And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household

Numbers 6:20
   And the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before the LORD: this is holy for the priest, with the wave breast and heave shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink wine.

1 Corinthians 10:31
   Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:17
   And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Those under The Law tend to death – that is, want us to stop anything that possibly may violate a rule.
Matthew 11:19
   The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners.

Under the New Covenant (Testament), we are supposed to be without sin.
John 1:29
   The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

We are to live cleansed from sin.
1 John 1:7
   But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Titus 2:14
   Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

But we do not live sinless lives.  And judgement begins with those of God.
1 Peter 4:17
   For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

Ezekiel 9:6
   Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house.

What happened?
We turned our connection to God (grace – that favour from God) into lasciviousness (sexual immorality) – where we as the bride of Christ were unfaithful.  We turned away from God.
Jude 1:4
   For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

How did we turn away from God?
These ungodly men bewitched us.  We started with a Spiritual connection to God – but were perfected by the flesh.
Galatians 3:1-3
   O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
   This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
   Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Our suffering was in vain.  We went back to the flesh/physical/carnal/5 senses world where we perfected ourselves via our works – adhering to various rules including The Law.
Galatians 3:4-5
   Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain.
   He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

We became darkened – not walking in light, and did not have a connection to God (as we did not put on the good works of Jesus Christ) – but remained in the flesh/physical/carnal/5 senses with our own ‘good’ works.
Romans 13:13-14
   Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
   But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

What is the solution?  The answer might surprise you.  Law.

The New Covenant (Testament) has made the Old Covenant (Testament) vanish away.
Hebrews 8:13
   In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

What happened?
Under the New Covenant, we are to fulfill the Law – fulfill the Old Covenant – with spiritual connection.
Romans 8:4-5
   That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
   For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

If we remain in the world of the flesh/carnality/5 senses/physical, we cannot please God – but are enemies of God.
Romans 8:6-8
   For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
   Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
   So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

The Law in us is not on tablets of stone, but in the heart – flesh of the heart.
2 Corinthians 3:2-3
   Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
   Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in fleshy tablets of the heart.

The Old Covenant promises this.
Ezekiel 36:26-27
   A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.
   And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

The Law was on tablets of stone.
Exodus 24:12
   And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tablets of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

But Moses broke those tablets when the people transgressed and he had to recreate them.
Deuteronomy 9:17
   And I took the two tablets, and cast them out of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes.

Deuteronomy 10:1-2
   At that time the LORD said unto me, Hew thee two tablets of stone like unto the first, and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood.
   And I will write on the tablets the words that were in the first tablets which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.

We are not justified (made sinless, just as if we never sinned) by the works of The Law – but by faith in Christ.
Galatians 2:16
   Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

If we seek Christ so we are justified (sinless), and we are sinners (by putting ourselves under judgement of The Law, navigating life by law) – is Christ is the minister of sin?  No.
Galatians 2:17
   But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid.

We are not to rebuild The Law as Moses did.
Galatians 2:18
   For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

But, we are to emulate Christ – be justified (sinless) through Christ, that is, fulfill The Law.
Matthew 5:17-19
   Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
   For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
   Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

How do we fulfil the Law?  By bringing it to a new heart level, not that which is stone – (Scribes and Pharisees, being of The Law.)
Matthew 5:20
   For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Through The Law we are dead to The Law – living with connection to God.
Galatians 2:19
   For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.

We are not to rebuild the broken Law, as Moses did – but we bring it to a new level – a human level – not robotically following algorithms, but bringing The Law from stone (which stones us to death, due to transgression of The Law) to a heart level.
Leviticus 24:23
   And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones.

We are only under the Law of Love.
Mark 12:29-33
   And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
   And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
   And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
   And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
   And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

And Jesus raised the broken pieces of The Law to a new heart level of love.
Matthew 5:21-22
   Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
   But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew 5:27-28
   Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
   But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Matthew 5:33-35
   Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
   But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
   Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.

Matthew 5:38-39
   Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
   But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.

This new, higher level of righteous (from the New Covenant, not the Old Covenant) – is above The Law and free.
Galatians 4:24-26
   Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Hagar.
   For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
   But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

And the Old is cast away.
Galatians 4:30-31
   Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
   So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free.

Love fulfills The Law.
James 2:8
   If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well

Matthew 7:12
   Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

Yes, through The Law, we are dead to The Law and live unto God (by cultivating our love to God).
The prophet Haggai asked the people to ponder aspects of The Law.
Haggai 2:11-13
   Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying,
   If one bear holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt do touch bread, or pottage, or wine, or oil, or any meat, shall it be holy? And the priests answered and said, No.
   Then said Haggai, If one that is unclean by a dead body touch any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.

Haggai asked the people to think about the physical/fleshly/material/carnal/logical/5 senses situations where physical contact was made – and consider the holy (relationship to God – the spiritual) implications.
And then Haggai related these physical/fleshly/material/carnal/logical/5 senses expressions to our relationship with God (a leap from the physical to the spiritual relationship with God – which should be love, but is not in this case).
Haggai 2:14
   Then answered Haggai, and said, So is this people, and so is this nation before me, saith the LORD; and so is every work of their hands; and that which they offer there is unclean.

Man is a triune being: body, soul, and spirit.
The body/physical/carnal/fleshly is great (carnal means detected by our five senses) – but we must have our soul (mind, personality, consciousness) look towards the spiritual as well.
The Apostle Paul chastises those who remained focused only on the body/physical/carnal/fleshly.
1 Corinthians 3:3-4
   For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
   For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

Why does Paul chastise?  Because those who refuse to grow up beyond a childish level could not connect to the spiritual.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2
   And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
   I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

So many professing Christians remain in the carnal/physical aspects of The Law, and never make the leap to the spiritual.
Jesus chastises those who remain in the carnal/physical aspects of The Law, and never make that leap (which could result in the connection that is love).
Matthew 23:23
   Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

God wants us to make the leap from The Law’s fleshly sacrifices and burnt offerings to the spiritual (cultivating that connection to God – a love – via knowledge of God).
Hosea 6:6
   For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Yes, even before the New Testament (Covenant), God was weary of the physical/carnal/fleshly that did not make the leap to the spiritual.
Isaiah 1:11-15
   To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the LORD: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he goats.
   When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?
   Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.
   Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.
   And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

As the next line in Isaiah 1 indicates, do that which can result in love; (use the aspects of The Law to move to the spiritual):
Isaiah 1:16-17
   Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
   Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

With logical reasoning (soulish choice towards the spiritual), you can make the leap to the spiritual to become sinless (learn, judge, relieve, plead).
Isaiah 1:18
   Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Again, God wants the sacrifices of The Law to move us to do justly, love mercy, and be humble.
Micah 6:6-8
   Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old?
   Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
   He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

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

On the great day of judgement, we are not condemned if we walk not after the flesh.
We are condemned, however, if we walk after the flesh.
Why do we want to be of the flesh?  Because we want to be good people.

Under The Law, the high priests washed.
Exodus 30:19-20
   For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:
   When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not;

Leviticus 8:6
   And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.

And a dead or diseased body can infect – so wash yourself.
Numbers 19:13
   Whosoever toucheth the dead body of any man that is dead, and purifieth not himself, defileth the tabernacle of the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water of separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet upon him.

Leviticus 14:7-8
   And he shall sprinkle upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.
   And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and wash himself in water, that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days.

Temple Law, dead bodies and disease certainly warrant washing.
But the tragedy of the human race is that we want to be good people.
How do we instantiate this tragedy of being good?
By trying to be better.

We might look in the mirror, or consider our lives.  We might think about what we have done or what we could do.  Whether we are socialists or capitalists or Buddhists or anarchists, or fasting, spirit-filled Christians – the overwhelming majority of us, at some point in our lives, believe that we can be better.
The fathers of the Pharisees and Scribes, and the Pharisees and Scribes wanted to be good – so they instantiated how they could be better.
If hand washing is good for temple law and other Mosaic Law – then we should be better by washing before a meal.
Mark 7:5
   Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

And, we all do this.  If a clean room is good, then an even cleaner room is better.
If 20 years in prison for murder is good, then lobbying for 25 years is even better.
If two car brake lights are good – then adding a third is even better.
Some of these ideas might be great – and make us better.  But the tragedy is that we remain in the flesh.
The flesh is the physical is the carnal, which is the world of the five senses.
The Pharisees loved that which was visible – the carnal, the fleshly, the physical.
‘Everyone can see and know for sure that I am good and getting better!’
Luke 11:37
   And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.

And, of course, the Pharisee did what ’good’ people do: accuse.
Luke 11:38
   And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.

Rather than being concerned with the fleshly/visible realm, Jesus was concerned with the spiritual.
Luke 11:39-43
   And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
   Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
   But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
   But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
   Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.

Accordingly, their reckoning would be unseen.
Luke 11:44
   Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.

The Devil’s triumph, his death as Roy Batty (a counterfeit of Christ’s death), resulted in “I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe.”

The importance of the eyes in Blade Runner:

You might be a Seventh Day Adventist – or you might know people from that church.
You can go on youtube and see how these Adventists want us to adhere to the fourth commandment.
Exodus 20:8-11
   Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
   Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
   But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
   For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

If we adhere to the Sabbath Law, then we can do it better and better.
“I don’t drive my car on the Sabbath!”
“I don’t use running water on the Sabbath!”
“Well, I don’t use electricity on the Sabbath!”
We want to be better and better (in a fleshly/carnal/physical way – the stone).
“I go to church every week – and now twice a week with Bible study!”

Jesus confronted this drive to be better and better.
Luke 13:15
   The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?

Jesus challenges us to bring the Sabbath law to a new level above The Law – a human level of love (heart not stone).
Luke 13:16
   And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

A new human level.
Matthew 12:7-8
   But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.
   For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

Mark 2:27-28
   And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:
   Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Colossians 2:16
   Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days

With a darkened heart, we cannot attain to the spiritual level above, but we stay below in the earthly/carnal/bodilyphysical/sensual (sensual meaning 5 senses) realm.
James 3:14-17
   But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
   This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
   For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
   But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

In the realm of the 5 senses (the sensual), we remain in the lusts/desires of the 5 senses, and never attain to the spiritual.
Jude 1:18-19
   How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.
   These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

With unbelief (not faith), we do not bring the seventh day Sabbath day rest to a spiritual level above The Law.
Hebrews 4:4-6
   For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
   And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
   Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

Romans 3:31
   Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

With spiritual connection to God, we hear his voice, and do not have hardened hearts of stone.
Hebrews 4:7-10
   Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
   For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
   There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
   For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.

We are not labouring to be good and better and better.
We are labouring to have the peace of mind, that rest, without worry, of being connected to God.
Hebrews 4:11
   Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Matthew 11:28-30
   Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
   Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
   For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

With a spiritual connection to God, Jesus was concerned about grace – favour in God’s sight.
The wise and prudent, always trying to make a better world, focus on the fleshly.
Luke 10:21
   In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.

When the Pharisees questioned about The Law and the Sabbath, Jesus referenced King David.
Luke 6:3-4
   And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;
   How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?

Why did Jesus reference King David?  Because King David brought The Law to a spiritual level.
God took the kingdom away from King Saul, and gave it to King David, because King Saul violated The Law (by offering a sacrifice that only the priest should offer).
1 Samuel 13:8-14
   And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.
   And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering.
   And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him.
   And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;
   Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the LORD: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering.
   And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.
   But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.

King David was after the heart of God.
Acts 13:22
   …I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

How was King David after the heart of God?  Because King David brought The Law to a spiritual level – a human heart level (not stone).
King David delighted in The Law – with a rejoicing heart.
Psalm 19:7-8
   The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
   The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

King David said that the righteous have The Law in their heart.
Psalm 37:30-31
   The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.
   The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

King David passed this wisdom to his son, King Solomon.
Proverbs 3:1-6
   My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:
   For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
   Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the tablet of thine heart:
   So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
   Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
   In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Both King Saul and King David dealt with The Law’s sacrifices performed by priests.
God dethroned King Saul, when King Saul offered a sacrifice that only the priest should (not the king) under The Law – but King David brought sacrifice to the heart level (not written in stone) by saying:
Psalm 40:6-8
   Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.
   Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me,
   I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.

Psalm 51:16-17
   For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
   The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

Thusly, King David was able open the doorway to the New Covenant (Christ being 'son of David'), because David not only ruled properly as a king, but also sacrificed as a priest (proper sacrifice the King David way, not the King Saul way).
Psalm 110:1-4
   {A Psalm of David.} The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
   The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
   Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
   The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

New Covenant kings and priests by the order of Melchizedek:
1 Peter 2:9
   But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood  

Revelation 1:6
   And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever.

Revelation 5:10
   And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Importantly King David says ‘mine ears have thou opened’ in Psalm 40:6.
John 10:27
   My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me

John 8:47
   He that is of God heareth God's words…

We have to listen to the Lord – perceive what God has for us.
Mark 4:9
   And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

But for fellowship, two way communication, you might say that God doesn’t hear your prayers.
This was the case for King David.
King David had to plead with God to listen to David.
Psalm 143:1
   {A Psalm of David.} Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.

Psalm 140:6
   I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.

Psalm 39:12
   Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were.

David wanted that grace connection, not judgement in God’s sight, but favour.
Psalm 143:2
   And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.

David suffered in the flesh – his body, his soul were being persecuted by his enemies.
Psalm 143:3
   For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.

Psalm 27:12
   Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

Psalm 17:9
   From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

And with his suffering in the world of the physical/bodily/carnal/5 senses – David suffered in the flesh to bring a perceived world of the 5 senses to spiritual connections with God – sensing at the spiritual level, something in the heart.
Psalm 143:4-5
   Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
   I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.

It’s not easy – it’s a struggle where we suffer in the flesh to bring 5 senses world to perceive the spiritual.  Standing in the gap between heaven and hell is never easy.
David tried to make that leap by the bodily (stretching hands) and with his soul’s decision.  But his spirit failed to connect and find the face of God and hear God.
Psalm 143:6-8
   I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
   Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
   Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

We hope for that which we cannot perceive in the fleshly/carnal/bodily/physical/5 senses world.
Romans 8:24
   For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

And when David struggled to connect spiritually to God…
Psalm 51:10-11
   Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.
   Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

Psalm 31:22
   For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.

…hope allowed God to strengthen perception through the heart.
Psalm 31:24
   Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Those with the New Covenant, rather than being under The Law, are trying to breach into the spiritual kingdom.
Luke 16:16
   The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Suffering in the flesh – that is leaving the safety of a fleshly/carnal/physical/5 senses world that we can logically navigate – is never easy.
Standing in the gap – and pressing into the kingdom of God with hope that God will bear witness to our plight – is never easy.
But standing in this gap between heaven and hell, and not having any safety or comfort (either from the carnal/physical world or that heaven above to which we hope to enter) is the only way we can possibly have a spiritual connection to God through proper heart perception.

In contrast, most modern-day, self-described prophets gain a following through soulish manipulation that is flattery.
Proverbs 29:5
   A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.

Unfortunately, so many people have been programmed by the machine (and they don’t even know it) – to believe that congratulatory behavior such as: “You’re doing such great work for the kingdom of God!”  “No, you’re doing amazing work for the kingdom of God!” – is loving behavior.
(The programming from the machine never admonished prideful commendations.)

With deception in the heart:
Psalm 12:2-3
   They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
   The LORD shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things

Ezekiel 12:24
   For there shall be no more any vain vision nor flattering divination within the house of Israel.

These modern-day, self described prophets – these flatterers speak from their own spirit and heart (not connected to God).
Ezekiel 13:1-3
   And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
   Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;
   Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!

These flatterers never stood in the gap, the hedge.
Ezekiel 13:5-6
   Ye have not gone up into the gaps, neither made up the hedge for the house of Israel to stand in the battle in the day of the LORD.
   They have seen vanity and lying divination, saying, The LORD saith: and the LORD hath not sent them: and they have made others to hope that they would confirm the word.

They never left the comfort of navigating the world by the logic of the fleshly/carnal/physical/5 senses.
They never struggled in by standing in the hedge, hoping that God would bear witness to their struggle.  They never endured the temptation to go back to the safety of the flesh, where navigating the rules by fleshly perception would get them through.
A leap to the spiritual – brought down by the carnal:
Romans 7:14
   For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

Back to the flesh’s navigation of law:
Romans 7:15-20
   For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
   If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
   Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
   For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
   For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
   Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

Delight in the law of God – but then a return to being under a Law which will condemn:
Romans 7:21-25
   I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
   For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
   But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
   O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
   I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

The words of a flatterer are of comfort and safety in the flesh – not putting this burden upon the Lord.
Psalm 55:21-22
   The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.
   Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Standing in the gap, not clinging to the fleshy/physical/5 senses/carnal/logical ways of your tribe – being weak and vulnerable as you patiently hope that God will intervene in your life – is the only way that the magic will happen.

The situation:
Daniel 3:15
   Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?

The response (reliance on God – with no turning back to the fleshy/physical/5 senses/carnal/logical safety):
Daniel 3:16-17
   Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
   If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.

Loving not your life unto death – the reality that God may or may not bear witness to your plight:
Daniel 3:18
   But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Fleshly/physical/carnal/5 senses/logical versus the Spirit:
Daniel 3:19-20
   Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
   And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

Magic:
Daniel 3:25
   He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Similarly, Ezra eschewed the fleshly/physical/logical and proclaimed a fast in hope that God would have his almighty hand on their heart.
Ezra 8:21-23
   Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.
   For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him.
   So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us.

Strength only in the Lord:
Ezra 8:31-32
   Then we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go unto Jerusalem: and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.
   And we came to Jerusalem, and abode there three days.

Again, with Stephen, magic:
Acts 6:8-10
   And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
   Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
   And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake.

Fleshly/physical/carnal/5 senses/logical versus the Spirit for Stephen:
Acts 6:11-15
   Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God.
   And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,
   And set up false witnesses, which said, This man ceaseth not to speak blasphemous words against this holy place, and the law:
   For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us.
   And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – and Ezra with his people stood in the gap, departing from the safety of navigating this world of 5 senses, logic, and physical tribal normality.  All were saved by that moment of magic, that moment of favour, grace from God above.

Magic via being in weak – standing in the gap – no security from the fleshly logical of our tribe – and desperate for that favour from the heavenly:
Revelation 12:11
   And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Stephen, like those in the fiery furnace and Ezra’s travellers – relied on God’s grace for that victory.

But life on the edge – means you might fall off.
Acts 8:2
   And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

Committed to God – but paying the price:
Acts 7:54-60
   When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
   But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
   And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
   Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
   And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
   And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
   And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

In our carnal/physical/bodily/5 senses world, it is not easy to perceive the heavenly.
Ezekiel 1:10
   As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.

Revelation 4:7-8
   And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.
   And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Seeking God’s face (through the heart):
Psalm 27:8-9
   When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.
   Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

Psalm 13:1
   {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?

Psalm 102:1-4
   {A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD.} Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.
   Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily.
   For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth.
   My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread.

But when God appears in human form, we think that we can find the face of God.
But it’s not that easy – and we have four different accounts of Jesus – the same man, but from four different approaches.

Matthew: Jesus as the royal lion with genealogy related to King David and Abraham.
Matthew 1:1-17
   The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
   Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren;
   And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram;
   And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon;
   And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse;
   And Jesse begat David the king; and David the king begat Solomon of her that had been the wife of Urias;
   And Solomon begat Roboam; and Roboam begat Abia; and Abia begat Asa;
   And Asa begat Josaphat; and Josaphat begat Joram; and Joram begat Ozias;
   And Ozias begat Joatham; and Joatham begat Achaz; and Achaz begat Ezekias;
   And Ezekias begat Manasses; and Manasses begat Amon; and Amon begat Josias;
   And Josias begat Jechonias and his brethren, about the time they were carried away to Babylon:
   And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;
   And Zorobabel begat Abiud; and Abiud begat Eliakim; and Eliakim begat Azor;
   And Azor begat Sadoc; and Sadoc begat Achim; and Achim begat Eliud;
   And Eliud begat Eleazar; and Eleazar begat Matthan; and Matthan begat Jacob;
   And Jacob begat Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.
   So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

Luke: Jesus as a man with genealogy traced to Adam.
Luke 3:23-38
   And Jesus himself began to be about thirty years of age, being (as was supposed) the son of Joseph, which was the son of Heli,
   Which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi, which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Janna, which was the son of Joseph,
   Which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Amos, which was the son of Naum, which was the son of Esli, which was the son of Nagge,
   Which was the son of Maath, which was the son of Mattathias, which was the son of Semei, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Juda,
   Which was the son of Joanna, which was the son of Rhesa, which was the son of Zorobabel, which was the son of Salathiel, which was the son of Neri,
   Which was the son of Melchi, which was the son of Addi, which was the son of Cosam, which was the son of Elmodam, which was the son of Er,
   Which was the son of Jose, which was the son of Eliezer, which was the son of Jorim, which was the son of Matthat, which was the son of Levi,
   Which was the son of Simeon, which was the son of Juda, which was the son of Joseph, which was the son of Jonan, which was the son of Eliakim,
   Which was the son of Melea, which was the son of Menan, which was the son of Mattatha, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David,
   Which was the son of Jesse, which was the son of Obed, which was the son of Booz, which was the son of Salmon, which was the son of Naasson,
   Which was the son of Aminadab, which was the son of Aram, which was the son of Esrom, which was the son of Phares, which was the son of Juda,
   Which was the son of Jacob, which was the son of Isaac, which was the son of Abraham, which was the son of Thara, which was the son of Nachor,
   Which was the son of Saruch, which was the son of Ragau, which was the son of Phalec, which was the son of Heber, which was the son of Sala,
   Which was the son of Cainan, which was the son of Arphaxad, which was the son of Sem, which was the son of Noe, which was the son of Lamech,
   Which was the son of Mathusala, which was the son of Enoch, which was the son of Jared, which was the son of Maleleel, which was the son of Cainan,
   Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

John: Jesus as the flying eagle of the sky light, directly from God.
John 1:1-5
   In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
   The same was in the beginning with God.
   All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
   In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
   And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Mark: Jesus as the ox, the working slave.  No genealogy is recorded in Mark as the slave has no recorded genealogy.

However, others relate Mark’s gospel to the lion, saying that Mark emphasizes the kingship of Jesus.  And some say that Luke’s gospel is the face of the ox, by saying that the sacrificial nature of Jesus is emphasized.  And others say that Matthew is the man face, as well as other permutations.

In short, that leap from our carnal 5 senses to the spiritual with a heart connection to God simply is not easy.
Luke 16:15
   …but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

1 Samuel 16:6-7
   And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the LORD'S anointed is before him.
   But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

Symbolism aside, God didn’t entrust spiritual connection from the heart to those of the animal kingdom.  He entrusts this to humans.  And most humans will not rise about the fleshly level.
1 John 3:20-22
   For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
   Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
   And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

So, God wants a large human population to create the remnant that will be his own people.
Matthew 13:38-39
   The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;
   The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

Revelation 14:14-16
   And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
   And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.
   And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.

We need labourers to create a large human population.
Luke 10:1-2
   After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
   Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

In contrast, the Devil comes to kill and destroy the human race.
John 10:10-11
   The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
   I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

The Devil wants to reduce the human population.
Have you noticed how much of the world is a death cult?

The only way that the human race can grow is through having children via heterosexual sex.
Biblically, this is to be within marriage.
So much of our world is about stopping hetero-sex and marriage – and if it cannot be stopped, then delay marriage and hetero-sex.

From making sure that young people are in school for decades, to putting girls on birth control, to promoting gender-bending, to raising real estate prices making it difficult for young people to find a home, to promoting abortion, to encouraging women to enter the workplace, to vilifying teenage pregnancy, to guilting men for looking at women, to promoting unhealthy fattening foods – so much of our world’s activities will delay and stop marriage and hetero-sex.

And, being unable to leap to the spiritual level, the modern Church is part of this death cult.
That is, the Church today cannot see with spiritual eyes from the heart – the love and oneness between man and woman that relates to Christ and his bride.
Ephesians 5:23-25
   For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
   Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
   Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

If you were enter a church and talk about Mary becoming pregnant via the Holy Spirit…
Matthew 1:18
   Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost.
…and you were to contemplate about the Holy Spirit being related somehow to semen (semen replaced by the Word and communion in us, (because Christ had no biological heirs), us in the heart – and heart relating to genitalia)– and this redeeming us from being under The Law (including ‘circumcision of the male genitalia’ rules from Law)…
Galatians 4:4-5
   But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
   To redeem them that were under the law…

…and how the circumcision was a preview of the blood sacrifice of Jesus from the line of King David (genealogically) – and the oneness of man and woman – and how ‘atonement’ means this oneness…
Mark 10:7-9
   For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
   And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
   What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

…you would be thrown out of this church.  The Church would say that you speak of pornography, and that you are of filthy speech – because the Church can only see these issues on the fleshly/carnal/physical/bodily/5 senses level.

The modern Church wants the comfort and safety of the flesh – doing things by the rules and traditions – not straying into the struggle of an uncomfortable world of pondering the relationship of the sexual intercourse to the relationship of Christ to his bride/God to mankind.  Any leap to the spiritual is stifled.

The Church would say that this is best dealt with by ‘modesty’ – so that the 5 senses cannot perceive the prepared, attractive bride of Christ – when she is completely covered up in her burka.

Thusly, the only way to grow the harvest for the Lord (hetero-sex/marriage for procreation) is stifled in these churches which claim to be of God.

Derek Prince, being a travelling teacher of the Bible, remarked that the Devil had a member on nearly every church board.
Accordingly, we can see how, as example, church preachers criticize Hollywood movies or popular music not for glorification of envy or gossip or materialism or arrogance or selfishness or sowing discord – but for any sexual or nudity content.
The Devil will do anything and everything to reduce the human population.  Your local church is likely part of his death cult.

You might say that your church understands and explores the relationship of God to mankind and man to woman.  Your church has ‘head coverings’ and/or long hair for women.  But, again, this is fleshy/physical/5 senses.
1 Corinthians 11:3
   But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Headcoverings for women:
1 Corinthians 11:4-6
   Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
   But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
   For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

Or perhaps just long hair:
1 Corinthians 11:13-15
   Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
   Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
   But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

As you walk into your church with head-covered and long haired women, your church remains in the fleshly.  (It’s so easy and comfortable to remain in the rules, and play along like everyone else in that church – which is not suffering in the flesh.)

With the leap to spiritual from the fleshly, we need to look up to the spiritual.
This power on her head is from above – angels and God.
1 Corinthians 11:10-12
   For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
   Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
   For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.

We see that the beauty of her hair and accessories like head-coverings accent and enhance that gorgeous woman – and this visual beauty (to man and mankind) relates to the Grace of finding favour from God.
Esther 2:17
   And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins;

Genesis 6:8
   But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

But you might wonder why God chose ‘head-coverings’ as his example (fabric covering skin that is already covered by hair)?  If God chose any other type of fabric, such as clothing like skirts, dresses, shirts, coats – we would have fed into the fleshly/physical rules of the modesty cult, and become better, better and better by covering her body up more – shaming men for being attracted to the female form.  And the human race probably wouldn’t have made it to one billion souls for the harvest.

Jesus warns Christians not to be deceived.
Mark 13:5-8
   And Jesus answering them began to say, Take heed lest any man deceive you:
   For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
   And when ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.
   For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be earthquakes in divers places, and there shall be famines and troubles: these are the beginnings of sorrows.

Luke 21:7-9
   And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
   And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
   But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.

And, the New Testament warns of deception.
Titus 1:10
   For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision

2 Thessalonians 2:3
   Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

2 Timothy 3:13
   But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Unfortunately, most church and synagogue goers are more deceived that most.
Why is this the case?
Because the few control the many.

The New Testament pattern of a church is supposed to be about multiple leaders, not just one pastor or preacher.
James 5:14
   Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord

Acts 14:23
   And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

Acts 13:1-3
   Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.
   As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.
   And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Acts 15:22-23
   Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Barsabas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren:
   And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia

The New Testament pattern of a church is not one person (or a few people) having a sermon every week – telling them his own opinion on matters.  It is to have many leaders/senior people.
Ephesians 4:11-12
   And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
   For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:28-31
   And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
   Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?
   Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret?
   But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

And, for proper fellowship, we are to speak with each other, not just have one person on the pulpit talking at the congregation (and getting no feedback from the congregation).
Colossians 3:16
   Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Romans 15:14
   And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.

James 5:16
   Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

1 Corinthians 14:26-28
   How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.
   If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
   But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God.

Sharpen the blade.
Proverbs 27:17
   Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.

False doctrines like ‘modesty’ or the fake ‘virgin mary’ gain believability in these churches where the congregation has no opportunity to admonish the messages from the preacher.
Even in elementary school or high school, the students can put up their hands to question the speaking teacher.

Church goers arrive at church, follow the itinerary, stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down (which is psychological priming for obedience) – and shake hands for about a minute, and leave.   The next week they do the same thing all over again.
(Controlling what people wear and eat, and when they stand up and sit down, and discouraging feedback – is classic cult conditioning.)

And so many modern-day, self-described prophets say: “Do not question me.  I am a prophet of God!”
Psalm 105:15
   Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.

But, as these prophets are wrong about pretty much everything, we are not to fear them.
Deuteronomy 18:22
   When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

However, the New Testament pattern for prophecy is different from the Old Testament.
Any prophecy given is to be judged by others of the faith.
1 Corinthians 14:29-32
   Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the others judge.
   If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace.
   For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted.
   And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets.

Why is faith counted as righteousness?
Romans 4:3
   Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Because with faithful endurance, we don’t navigate this world comfortably in the world of the flesh/physical/bodily/5 senses.
We persist to stand in the gap, patiently relying on a moment of God’s Grace.
Hebrews 10:38-39
   Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
   But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

We do not lift up ourselves soulishly in a proud sense, but wait for spiritual connection to be raised up by God.
Habakkuk 2:4
   Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

With this suffering, where we eschew our tribe and the norms of the world, we get to know God – as he one day hears as we cry out (similar to King David crying out in the Psalms).
Matthew 7:21-23
   Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
   Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
   And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Luke 13:25-27
   When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
   Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.
   But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.

By being spiritual, not fleshly, we are not under The Law.
Galatians 5:16-18
   This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
   For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
   But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

There is no law against those with spiritual connection to God.
Galatians 5:22-23
   But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
   Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Yes, we have sin…
1 John 1:7-10
   But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
   If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
   If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
   If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

…but there is no sin imputed, when there is no law.
Romans 5:13
   (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

We must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:10
   For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

But when there is no Law of any kind, the Lord will not impute sin.
Romans 4:15
   Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.

Romans 4:8
   Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.

Psalm 32:1-2
   {A Psalm of David, Maschil.} Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
   Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.

Without sin:
1 John 5:18
   We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

1 John 3:6-9
   Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
   Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
   He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
   Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

If we rely on fleshly/physical/sensual/natural/bodily/carnal sight – and not spiritual sight through the heart – our sin remains.
With fleshly/physical blindness – our sin is gone.
John 9:39-41
   And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
   And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
   Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

To understand the leap to the spiritual, where there is no law – and sin is taken away, picture this:
You live in a small town with a 55 mile per hour speed limit on its roads.
You drove 70 miles per hour, and the police officer gave you a speeding ticket.
Yes, you broke the law.
Next week, you drove 70 miles per hour, but no cops were present.
Yes, you still broke the law.
But, the mayor of the town, knowing that all his citizens are good drivers, then abolished the 55 mile per hour speed limit.  He left your speed to your judgement.
You then drove 70 miles per hour.  With or without the police present, you didn’t break the law.
Without any speeding law present, how can the authority or anyone condemn you of anything?
2 Corinthians 5:19
   To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

Those who are not of the fleshly, but of the spirit…
1 Corinthians 2:13-14
   Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
   But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

…are not judged themselves, but properly judge all.
1 Corinthians 2:15
   But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

1 Corinthians 6:2-3
   Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?
   Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?

With spiritual connection to God as Jesus has:
John 5:30
   I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

Exodus 33:11
   And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend.

No other prophet since had this type of connection to God.
Deuteronomy 34:10
   And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face

Thusly the Law of Moses could only come from Moses – the man who already had that connection to God.
For the rest of us, to connect with God, we need leave the safety and comfort of the physical/fleshly world of the works of The Law.
In that gap, we struggle, as Job did – without a connection to God, without physical/fleshly/carnal/5 senses safety and comfort.
Job 6:1-2
   But Job answered and said,
   Oh that my grief were throughly weighed, and my calamity laid in the balances together!

Job 7:3-5
   So am I made to possess months of vanity, and wearisome nights are appointed to me.
   When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise, and the night be gone? and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.
   My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust; my skin is broken, and become loathsome.

Even rejected by God:
Job 16:11
   God hath delivered me to the ungodly, and turned me over into the hands of the wicked.

Job 19:6
   Know now that God hath overthrown me, and hath compassed me with his net.

But still pleading to connect to God:
Job 13:15
   Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.

Job 16:20-21
   My friends scorn me: but mine eye poureth out tears unto God.
   O that one might plead for a man with God, as a man pleadeth for his neighbour!

Romans 7:18
   For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

The crucifix, the most painful and horrible way to die, is what God thinks of our fleshly nature.
Romans 6:6
   Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Ephesians 4:22-23
   That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
   And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;

Galatians 6:13-14
   For neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law; but desire to have you circumcised, that they may glory in your flesh.
   But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

Accordingly, Jesus lost his connection to God on the crucifix.
Mark 15:34
   And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Even being cut off from connection, Jesus still relied on God for spiritual connection.
Luke 23:46
   And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

And, following in Christ’s footsteps, we struggle without that connection to God, and no safety or comfort in the flesh – having faith like Christ that God will one day bear witness to our plight – renewing our connection with God.
Galatians 2:16
   Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

The Law’s purpose – to bring us to Christ:
Galatians 3:19
   Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.

Galatians 3:23-26
   But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
   Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
   But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
   For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:13-17
   For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
   For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
   For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
   The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
   And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Navigating this world by law (towards righteous actions) should end with faith in Christ.
Romans 10:4
   For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

No one is going to force you to follow in Christ’s footsteps into the gap, the hedge.  You only take up your cross willingly.
Mark 8:34-36
   …he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
   For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
   For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

It will cost you living in the fleshly/logical/physical/5 senses world.
Standing in the gap will cost you your relationships, and everything you have.
Luke 14:25-33
   And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,
   If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
   And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
   For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
   Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
   Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
   Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
   Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
   So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

You have everything to lose – but so much more to gain.
Mark 10:28-31
   Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
   And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
   But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
   But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.