Category Archives: Uncategorized

March 7, 2026 · 2:43 pm

The Open Door and the Name We Dare Not Deny

Some doors in life swing open easily, while others remain stubbornly shut no matter how hard we push. But Scripture speaks of a door unlike any other—a door opened by Christ Himself, a door no human hand can close. That promise is not given to the casual believer, nor to those content with mere salvation. It is given to a specific kind of follower: one who grows, matures, and refuses to deny the holy Name by which we are saved.

Thesis: Christ promises His faithful followers an open door that no man can shut (Revelation 3:8) because they walk on with a little strength, keep His word, and refuse to deny His true name—Yahshua, the Hebrew name meaning “Yahweh is Savior.” Their spiritual growth, measured through the seven church ages, hinges on this unwavering acknowledgment of His Name.

The Seven Church Ages as a Gauge of Spiritual Growth

The seven churches of Revelation 2–3 are not merely ancient congregations; they are a spiritual growth chart for every believer who desires maturity in Christ. They reveal the progressive strengthening of the Holy Spirit within us—the “love from above, down, and through”—as it deepens and expands in the heart.

Each church age highlights a stage of development after salvation. They show what must be added, corrected, or overcome if we are to grow into the fullness of Christ. And among these seven, one stands out as the model of spiritual maturity: Philadelphia, the church of the open door.

Philadelphia: The Church of the Open Door

Christ introduces Himself to Philadelphia with a title that demands attention: “He that is holy, He that is true, He that has the key of David; He that opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens.” (Revelation 3:7)

Then He explains why He has set an open door before them:

1. They have a little strength. They are not mighty in themselves, but they walk on faithfully with what they have.

2. They have kept His word. They cling to His teachings with patient endurance.

3. They have not denied His name. They refuse to renounce, disown, or repudiate the true Hebrew name of the Savior.

This third point is the hinge upon which the entire passage turns. The Greek word for “deny” (Strong’s #720) means to refuse, to disown, to reject as untrue. Many today deny His name; they refuse to acknowledge the true name of God and His Son.

But Philadelphia does not refuse. They do not deny. They do not shrink back. And because of this, Christ sets before them an open door.

Why the Name Matters for Spiritual Growth

Scripture is not vague about God’s name. He declares it plainly: Every Bible student knows that “LORD” in all caps is the English stand‑in for the Hebrew name Yahweh. Therefore, the verse reads: “I am the LORD [Yahweh]; that is my name” (Isa.42:8 Strong’s #H3068).

Likewise, the name of Christ—Yahshua—means “Yahweh is Savior.” To deny His name is to deny the very meaning of His mission.

And here lies the warning: To deny His name is to stunt your spiritual growth.

Those who refuse to acknowledge the power and identity embedded in His name will not advance into the deeper things of God. They will not walk through the open door. They will not be kept from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world.

But those who honor His name—who refuse to deny it—receive astonishing promises.

The Promises to Those Who Do Not Deny His Name

Christ gives Philadelphia a cascade of blessings:

•           Their enemies will bow before them and know that God has loved them (Revelation 3:9).

•           They will be kept from the hour of temptation coming upon the whole earth (3:10).

•           They will receive a crown, if they hold fast (3:11).

•           They will become pillars in the temple of God—immovable, established, honored (3:12).

•           They will receive three names written upon them:

•           the name of God (Yahweh),

•           the name of the New Jerusalem,

•           and Christ’s new name.

These promises are not given to the lukewarm. They are not given to those who deny His name. They are given to those who grow—those who move through the seven stages of spiritual maturity until they reach the Philadelphia level of steadfast devotion.

The Open Door Leads to the Visitation of Christ

The next church age, Laodicea, reveals what happens after the open door is set. Christ stands at the door and knocks. Those who hear His voice and open will experience a personal visitation:

This is the culmination of spiritual growth—the intimate fellowship of the overcomer with Christ Himself.

But this visitation is reserved for those who have passed through the Philadelphia stage. Those who have not denied His name. Those who have kept His word. Those who have walked on with a little strength.

Conclusion: Proving the Thesis

We set out to show that Christ promises an open door to those who refuse to deny His name. The evidence is clear:

•           Philadelphia receives the open door because they have not denied His name.

•           They receive protection, honor, and divine visitation because they have kept His word and walked faithfully.

•           Their spiritual growth is measured through the seven church ages, culminating in maturity.

•           And Scripture affirms that God’s name—Yahweh—and Christ’s name—Yahshua—carry divine identity and power. Therefore, the open door Christ sets before His faithful ones is granted to those who grow spiritually, keep His word, and refuse to deny His true name.

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February 13, 2026 · 2:01 pm

100‑Fold Fruit‑Bearing Spiritual Growth (Conversations with the Seer)

“Formerly in Israel, if a man went to inquire of God, he would say, ‘Come, let us go to the Seer,’ because the prophet of today used to be called a Seer” (1 Samuel 9:9).

It seemed like every time we met for Bible study—7:00 a.m., every day—the conversation would eventually circle back to those who would become that cadre, predestinated to be the manifested sons. The Seer spoke of them often, his voice rising like wind through the pines, full of faith and certainty. (Romans 8:18–19)

“I tell you,” he said one morning, “it is a worthy goal in this life to aspire to the high calling of God in Christ. But it is a paradox, for although we must study and pray to ‘make our calling and election sure,’ God chooses whomsoever He wills for this honor. No man ‘takes this honor unto himself.’ It is only by His grace that we can run the race.” (2 Peter 1:10; Hebrews 5:4; 1 Corinthians 15:10)

“I see what you mean,” I said.

“So,” the Seer continued, “knowing about the manifested sons coming on the scene in these latter days—and believing it—is just one of the puzzle pieces we need in order to see the whole picture. Christ, in chapters 14 through 17, elucidates several more and lines them out as a kind of stepping‑stone path to glorification with Him.”

“What’s the next puzzle piece?” I asked eagerly.

“Once a person learns and believes that there is spiritual growth in God’s plan for their life—growth like Peter, James, John, Paul, and yes, like the Savior Himself—then they are ready to actually walk the walk toward perfection, toward complete spiritual maturity. As Paul exhorts us, ‘Let us go on unto perfection.’” (Hebrews 6:1)

“Perfection?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said. “Have you not read where Christ commands us, ‘Be ye perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect’? If someone has enough faith to get this far, then they may begin to receive the next great teaching, found in John 14 through 17.” (Matthew 5:48).

“What is it?” I asked.

“It is to believe in the oneness of God. In order to be one of His elect manifested sons—to be just like Christ—one must get the correct concept of the Godhead. And here in John 14, Christ sets the record straight.”

The Seer leaned forward. “Christ flat‑out commands all manifested sons to believe: ‘Believe Me… believe that the Father is in Me.’” (John 14:10)

“Is that it? Just believe Him?” I asked.

“Yes,” the Seer said. “It is really very simple, and yet man’s innate unbelief hardens his heart so much that the seed‑word about God’s essence cannot get in. In John 14:1 He says, ‘Believe in Me.’ Then, in verse 6, He says, ‘I am the way to the Father; the truth about where God is and what His plans are; and the life, for very eternal life dwells inside of Christ.’ (John 14:1; John 14:6)

“Then Christ says, speaking of where the Father is, ‘He that has seen Me has seen the Father… Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me.’” (John 14:9–11).

“Precisely,” the Seer replied. “Paul said that the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily in Christ. God is a Spirit. The Father is an invisible Spirit whose expressed image is His Son—Christ.” (Colossians 2:9; John 4:24; Hebrews 1:3).

I sat quietly for a moment, letting the Seer’s words settle. The morning light filtered through the trees, and his voice seemed to blend with the wind itself.

“So,” I finally said, “if the Father is the invisible Spirit inside the Son, then what does that mean for us? For ordinary believers?”

The Seer smiled. “Ahh, that is the next great mystery. Christ did not come merely to reveal who He is, but to reveal who we are meant to become. Listen carefully: the same Spirit that dwelt in Christ is the Spirit He promised to place inside of us. ‘I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.’” (John 14:18)

“You mean… Christ Himself comes to live inside us?”

“Exactly,” he said. “Paul called it ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory.’ And John said, ‘Of His fullness have all we received.’ The very life of the Father that filled Christ is the life Christ pours into His sons and daughters.” (Colossians 1:27; John 1:16)

I leaned forward. “But how does that actually happen?”

“Through yielding,” the Seer replied. “Through surrender. Through letting the old self die so the new life can rise. Christ said, ‘Abide in Me, and I in you.’ That is not poetry—it is spiritual reality. As we abide, the divine nature begins to grow in us, little by little, like a seed becoming a tree.” (John 15:4; 2 Peter 1:4)

“So spiritual growth is not striving,” I said slowly. “It’s receiving.”

“Receiving and responding,” he corrected gently. “For the Spirit will lead you, but you must walk. The Spirit will teach you, but you must obey. And as you do, something marvelous happens: the Father who was in Christ begins to express Himself through you. That is how manifested sons are formed—not by human effort, but by divine indwelling.” (Romans 8:14; Galatians 2:20)

I sat back, overwhelmed. “It’s almost too much to take in.”

The Seer nodded. “It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. And the Kingdom begins inside you.” (Luke 12:32; Luke 17:21)

The Seer closed his eyes for a moment, as if listening to something—or Someone—beyond the room. When he opened them again, there was a quiet intensity in his gaze.

“You see,” he said, “Christ didn’t just come to reveal the Father. He came to reproduce the Father’s nature in us. That’s why He prayed, ‘That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us.’ That is the blueprint of manifested sonship.” (John 17:21)

I nodded slowly. “So the oneness Christ had with the Father… that’s the same oneness He wants for us?”

“Exactly,” the Seer said. “Not a lesser version. Not a symbolic version. The real thing. The same Spirit, the same mind, the same love. Paul said, ‘Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.’ And John said, ‘As He is, so are we in this world.’ These are not metaphors. They are invitations.” (Philippians 2:5; 1 John 4:17)

“But how does a person actually enter into that?” I asked.

The Seer leaned back, folding his hands. “By beholding. By looking at Christ until His image becomes the image in your own heart. ‘We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory.’ Transformation is not achieved—it is received.” (2 Corinthians 3:18)

I felt something stir inside me. “So the more I behold Him, the more I become like Him.”

“Yes,” he said softly. “And the more you become like Him, the more the Father’s life flows through you. That is why Christ said, ‘He that believes on Me, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.’ Those rivers are the Father’s own Spirit, moving through His sons and daughters.” (John 7:38)

I sat quietly, letting the thought wash over me. The Seer continued, “And when that life matures—when Christ is fully formed in you—you will bear the hundredfold fruit. Not by striving, but by abiding. Not by effort, but by union.” But  God uses suffering to purge us. Like a vine is pruned, so He prunes us. This increases our spiritual fruit production—from 30-fold, growing into 60-fold, and, on into 100-fold. But that is for another time” (Galatians 4:19; John 15:5).

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February 7, 2026 · 12:15 pm

Connecting Dots–“In the Beginning”

Introduction

Occasionally, the mind drifts back to the big questions—the ones that tug at the edges of our spirit. This morning, mine drifted back to the word “beginning.” Moses used it. John used it. And both seemed to sense that “beginning” is far bigger than our small minds can grasp. Yet Scripture invites us to trace the lines, to connect the dots, and to see the picture that emerges.

Thesis: It is to connect the biblical “beginning” to the heart of God, showing how Spirit, Love, and Yahweh converge in His purpose to share His very nature with humanity through Christ. (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1; 1 John 1:1)

1. Back to the Beginning: Spirit, Love, God

When Moses wrote, “In the beginning,” and when John echoed the same phrase, they were not merely marking time—they were pointing us toward the heart of God. Scripture gives us three dots to connect: God is Spirit, God is love, and God is invisible. Put them together and the picture becomes clearer: the Supreme Being is the Invisible Spirit of Agape Love. And Scripture gives this Being a name—Yahweh. So the first dot is drawn: Yahweh = Invisible Spirit of Agape Love. (John 4:24; 1 John 4:8; Colossians 1:15; Exodus 3:14–15)

2. Love Alone—Yet Not Content to Be Alone

But love, by its very nature, longs to give itself. In the beginning, Yahweh existed with spiritual beings in the heavenly realm, yet He was still alone in one essential sense: there was no one who shared His nature, no one who could receive the fullness of His heart. Love needs an object. Love needs someone to bless, someone to lift, someone to pour itself into. And so, Yahweh formed a plan—a purpose rooted in His very essence. He would create human beings in His image so that He could share Himself with them. (Genesis 1:26–27; Ephesians 1:4–5)

3. How Love Reveals Itself

But how would Yahweh show these new creatures what love truly is? Humanity is wired to recognize sacrificial love. We honor the firefighter who gives his life for a child, the soldier who throws himself on a grenade to save his brothers. Something in us knows: that is the greatest love. Jesus Himself said it: “Greater love has no man than this, than to lay down his life for a friend.” And so, Yahweh determined to reveal His heart in the clearest way possible. He would form a prototype body, pour His Spirit into a chosen mortal, walk among us, heal us, teach us—and then lay down that mortal body as an offering for the sins of the world. (John 15:13; Philippians 2:6–8; John 1:14; 1 John 2:2)

4. The Path of Growth and the Purpose of Love

Yet humanity must first walk the dark path long enough to feel the need for a Savior. Only then can they offer their bodies as living sacrifices and receive His Spirit into their minds. As His Spirit grows in them, the old selfish ways fall away. They begin to love as He loves. Some will grow and grow until Christ is fully formed in them—until they reflect the very nature of the One who made them. And the picture that emerges is breathtaking: a people who share their Father’s purpose, who carry His love into the world, who become living expressions of the Invisible Spirit of Agape. (Romans 12:1; Ezekiel 36:26–27; Galatians 4:19; Romans 8:18–29)

Conclusion

So, yes—I’ve been connecting dots. And the more I connect them, the more I see a God whose plan is far more beautiful than we imagined. A God who began with love, acted in love, revealed Himself in love, and is forming a people who will live out that same love. (Ephesians 3:17–19)

The greatest dot of love is that Christ chose us in Him before He laid “the foundation of the world.” He chose us “in the beginning,” before this world was ever laid. That is the greatest dot—to see His love in already predestinating us, that we could be “accepted in the beloved” (Eph. 1:4-6). Belief of all this is connecting the dots of truth. We are with Him—Before, Now, and throughout Eternity. That is the biggest of dots! Kenneth Wayne Hancock [Request my books. Christ has already paid for them; they are free with free shipping. Be sure to “Like” this post. Subscribe and make a comment about the dots of truth that you are connecting. Request a free book here:  Ordering My Free Books in Paperback | Immortality Road

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February 3, 2026 · 10:33 am

God’s Promise of a New Heart and Spirit

God is a promise Maker. He shines His essence through His promises, revealing His character by the words He has spoken and fulfilled. Among His greatest promises is the pledge to transform us—from selfish, sinful human beings into people marked by love and genuine care. God promised to cleanse us, to give us a new heart and a new spirit. Through the prophet Ezekiel, He declared, “And I will give you one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you” (11:19). Again, He said, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you… and I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes” (36:26–27).

The promise is clear: a new, righteous heart and spirit. But how would He accomplish such a miracle? His promise is distilled from His spoken and written word. It is like a seed moving through its life cycle. “The seed is the word of God” (Luke 8:11). God has spoken His word about changing us into vessels fit to live forever. It is a promise—solid as the Rock of Ages.

How He Kept His Promise

Yahweh would clothe Himself in a chosen, prepared human being—His Son—who would become the sin sacrifice. Christ, the Anointed One, was the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Scripture testifies, “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me” (Heb. 10:5). Christ Himself said, “Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart” (Ps. 40:7–8).

His calling as the Sacrificial Lamb was written “in the scroll of the book.” And our calling is written in that same book. It is like a family record, beginning with Him, with spiritual DNA flowing through all who are called. In its pages we find our marching orders—where we stand as the seed of the promise germinates and grows into mature sons and daughters of God.

He has promised this transformation through His word, His eternal seed. But a seed only lives after it dies, is buried, and rises again.

This is where the lightning strikes. We must die with Christ, be buried with Him, and be raised with Him. This is the meaning of the cross. Whether we fully grasp it or not, Scripture declares that our old sinful self has already died with Christ. “For we know that our old self was crucified with Him… that we should no longer be slaves to sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin” (Rom. 6:6–7). Baptism symbolizes this reality—the old self going under, the new self rising (Col. 2:12).

This is the message of the cross: the place of spiritual change. These are the words that ground new believers in the basic teaching of repentance from sin. Without this, gatherings become little more than social events—hugs and potlucks.

Christ offers something far greater: an invitation to “sit with Him on His throne” (Rev. 3:21). This path is not for the casual or the complacent. It requires spiritual growth, the kind Christ described as entering through the narrow gate. “Wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction… Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt. 7:13–14).

Christ has promised us the opportunity to dwell with Him, to abide with Him, to reign with Him after the smoke clears. But this treasure lies along the narrow road. Revelation 2–3 outlines the seven overcoming requirements that lead to the throne. Meanwhile, the wide avenue is lined with potluck stations and easy religion.

Conclusion

The promise and the cross are not separate themes; they are one continuous work of God. The promise is the seed—His word declaring that He will give us a new heart and spirit. The cross is the soil in which that seed dies, is buried, and rises into new life. God keeps His promise by leading us through the very pattern Christ walked: death to the old, burial of the former self, and resurrection into the life He has prepared. The promise reveals His intention; the cross accomplishes it. And those who embrace both will grow into the sons and daughters written in His book from the beginning. Kenneth Wayne Hancock

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January 28, 2026 · 11:57 am

Who is Christ? The Invisible God Revealed

[God has brought you to this page. Don’t fly off to another flower of knowledge. Read the short “Introduction.” Then hit the “like” button, so that others can visit. Then immerse yourself in one of the greatest secrets of His divine plan, which includes you! You are here, aren’t you? It is yours; go after it!]

Introduction

Blindness is one of Scripture’s most persistent metaphors—not merely the inability to see with physical eyes, but the deeper inability to perceive who God truly is. Throughout the Gospels, Christ heals the blind, yet each miracle points beyond itself. These healings are signs, shadows, and living parables of a greater work: the opening of humanity’s spiritual eyes to recognize the identity of the Son (John 9:39; Matthew 13:13). For the greatest blindness is not physical; it is the inability to see Christ as He truly is. And the greatest healing is the revelation of His identity.

Many pursue spiritual truth with zeal, sincerity, and even sacrifice, yet remain unaware of the central mystery: Christ is Yahweh made visible—the Father dwelling in human form, the Seed and the Word made flesh (Colossians 1:15; John 1:14; 1 Timothy 3:16). Until this truth dawns upon the heart, the eyes remain dim. But when this revelation breaks through, the blindness lifts, and the believer begins to walk in the light of who God is.

This essay explores that revelation. It traces the mystery of the Son, the Seed, and the Word; the nature of spiritual blindness; and the eye‑salve Christ offers to those who desire to overcome. For those “going for all the marbles”—those who long to feed lambs and sheep (John 21:15–17), to bear one‑hundred‑fold fruit (Matthew 13:23), and to sit with Christ on His throne (Revelation 3:21)—seeing Him rightly is not optional. It is essential.

I. Who Is Christ? The Visible Manifestation of the Invisible Yahweh

The question “Who is Christ?” is not academic; it is the axis upon which spiritual sight turns. Christ is not merely a teacher, prophet, or moral example. He is the visible manifestation of the invisible Yahweh (Colossians 1:15), the Creator God who spoke the worlds into existence. His Hebrew name, Yahshua, declares His identity openly: “Yahweh is the Savior” (Matthew 1:21).

The Son of God is not a second divine being standing beside the Father. Rather, the Son is Yahweh Himself come in human form. The Father, who is Spirit, took on flesh and walked among His creation (John 4:24; John 1:14). The Son is the human vessel with the Spirit within; the Father is the indwelling Spirit. Together, they form the one Christ—the Anointed One who reveals the Father perfectly because the Father dwells within Him (John 10:30; John 14:10–11; 1 Timothy 3:16).

II. The Seed, the Word, and the Mystery of the Son

Christ often spoke in parables—mysteries designed to conceal truth from the unready and reveal it to the hungry (Luke 8:10; Matthew 13:35). He declared, “The seed is the Word of God” (Luke 8:11). This is not a botanical lesson but a revelation of identity. The Seed is the Word; the Word is the Son; and the Son is the Father dwelling in flesh.

Thus, when Scripture says, “The Word was made flesh,” it unveils the mystery: Yahweh, the eternal Word, took on human form as the Son (John 1:14). The Seed planted in the earth is the Father’s own life embodied in the man Yahshua. To see the Son is to see the Father (John 14:9); to receive the Seed is to receive the very life of God (Galatians 3:16).

III. The Human Condition: Blindness to the Identity of Christ

Yet humanity remains blind to this truth. People may admire Jesus, respect Him, or even worship Him, yet still fail to perceive who He truly is. This blindness is not intellectual; it is spiritual. It is the inability to recognize that the Son is not a second divine person but the Father revealed in flesh (2 Corinthians 3:14; John 1:5).

This blindness is the same condition Christ addressed when He healed the physically blind. Each miracle was a sign pointing to the deeper healing He came to give: the opening of spiritual eyes to behold the Father in the Son (John 9:1–7; John 14:10–11).

IV. The Healing: Eye‑Salve of Truth

Christ diagnoses the condition plainly: “You are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (Revelation 3:17). But He does not leave His people in that state. He offers gold refined in the fire, white raiment, and—most crucially—eye‑salve to restore sight (Revelation 3:18).

This eye‑salve is the revelation of who the Son truly is. When the believer meditates on the Son—not as a figure within a three‑person framework, but as the human form containing the fullness of the Father—something shifts. The eyes begin to open. The heart begins to see. The blindness lifts (Ephesians 1:18; 1 John 5:20).

The believer beholds Christ not as a partial revelation but as the complete manifestation of Yahweh (Colossians 2:9). This is the healing Christ offers. This is the anointing that restores sight (John 14:9).

V. The Purpose: Preparing Overcomers for the Throne

This revelation is not merely doctrinal; it is transformational. Christ extends a breathtaking promise: “To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne” (Revelation 3:21), just as He overcame and sat down with His Father in His throne.

Those who receive the eye‑salve—those who see Christ as Yahweh in human form—are being prepared to rule with Him. They are the one‑hundred‑fold fruit bearers (Matthew 13:23), the kings and priests who will reign with Christ during His thousand‑year Kingdom (Revelation 20:4–6).

To see Christ rightly is to be equipped for this calling. To remain blind is to fall short of it (John 8:24). To see Christ rightly is to be equipped for this calling. To remain blind is to fall short of it (John 8:24).

Conclusion

Spiritual blindness is not cured by effort, intellect, or tradition. It is healed by revelation—specifically, the revelation of who Christ is. When the eyes are anointed with this truth, the believer sees the Son not as a distant figure or a partial expression of God, but as Yahweh Himself made visible, the Father dwelling in human form, the Seed and the Word made flesh (John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 5:19).

This is the eye‑salve Christ offers. This is the gold refined in the fire. This is the white raiment of the overcomer (Revelation 3:18). And this is the revelation that prepares the sons and daughters of God to sit with Christ on His throne (Revelation 3:21).

For those who are “going for all the marbles,” nothing matters more than this: to see Christ as He truly is. For in seeing Him, the blindness lifts, and the believer steps into the fullness of God’s purpose (John 17:3). Kenneth Wayne Hancock

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December 1, 2025 · 2:55 pm

The Scapegoat Symbol—The Laying on of Hands

Believers “shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover,” said Christ.

In the Aaronic priesthood, the priests laid hands on the head of the goat. This symbolized the transferring of the sins of the people onto the sacrificial goat. One goat was sent out into a forgotten wilderness where God would no longer remember their sins. The other was sacrificed and placed on the altar to be burned as a sacrifice to Yahweh.

That passage is found in Leviticus 16:7–10, 22. It describes the Day of Atonement ritual where two goats were chosen: one sacrificed to the Lord, and the other (the “scapegoat”) symbolically carried the sins of the people into the wilderness. That was under the Old covenant.

Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection bring us the New Covenant where our sins have been forgiven. By believing in His Sacrifice for us, our sins are completely forgotten, removed far away, as though they had never happened. He has transmitted our old sinful self unto Christ by the laying on of hands of the pastor, His death symbolized when we are baptized. Christ is our scapegoat, and with his shed blood, our sins are departed. They are sent far away, never to return. This is the forgiveness that God has given us.

“For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin—because anyone who has died has been set free from sin” (Romans 6:6-7).

The Parallel Between Sins Departing and Healing

There is a meaningful correlation between the Old Testament ritual of Aaron laying hands on the scapegoat and the Christian practice of laying hands on the sick. In both instances, the act of laying on of hands represents the departure or removal of something harmful—sins in the case of the scapegoat, and sickness in the case of healing. This parallel invites reflection on Christ’s words: “Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are departed, sent away from you,’ or ‘Your disease is departed, sent away from you’?” Both declarations emphasize the power of faith and the transformative act of laying on of hands, symbolizing the removal of burdens, whether spiritual or physical.  kwh

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November 16, 2025 · 9:56 am

I’ll Tell You What’s Harsh!

There are two futures for two groups of people, according to God’s prophetical word. His offspring will dwell in the light of healing and righteousness. But the unbelievers will in the end be trodden down as “ashes under the soles of the feet of the righteous” (Mal. 4:3).

Is this prophecy harsh? Some would say it is. But the prophet wrote this down under the inspiration of the Spirit of God. Harsh? No, I will tell you what’s harsh. Crashing the dollar, prosecuting stupid wars, running up the national debt to over 37 trillion dollars. That’s $37,000,000,000,000—37 with twelve zeros, a number too big to fathom, much less pay back with interest.

It is harsh, when international bankers and their patsy political cronies destroy the economies of the world. Harsh is when you trash the dignity of the common man and woman, when you make them peasants with pocket computers, ripe for the picking. That is harsh!

Nevertheless, some will become the ashes, and some will be walking on those ashes. A glimpse of the ashes can be seen in James 5:1-6. “Go to now, you rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you…”

What kind of miseries? “The kings of the earth shall bewail” the destruction of the Babylon world system, “when they shall see the smoke of her burning…” There’s your ashes. The world system is coming down to utter destruction (Rev. 18:9-20). God has reserved a few heavenly hailstone visitors with fiery intentions to create the ashes. This is when God will have avenged us on the world system. He said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.”

We must remain, therefore, patient and content to grow into Christ, with the bread of life as our food (Ephesians 4:15). If we do this, then the harsh stench of judgement won’t come around our door.  kwh

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November 12, 2025 · 11:09 am

Asking God in a Proper Manner Brings Power

You may think you’re asking God in prayer simply because you use the word “ask.” I used to believe the same—until I realized I wasn’t truly asking. I was announcing. Saying, “God, I am asking You to heal William,” is a statement, not a question. There’s no humility in a declaration. It’s a proclamation of what I want, not a request for what He wills.

Instead, I should have prayed, “God, would you please heal William? Would you touch him and comfort him? Would you make him whole?” These are questions—humble, heartfelt, and open to God’s response. As I wrote them, I felt my heart soften. Asking invites intimacy. It acknowledges God’s sovereignty and our dependence.

God already knows our needs. He doesn’t require updates or explanations. What He desires is humility—a posture of the heart that seeks Him sincerely. “He is near to the humble,” Scripture reminds us. Asking cultivates that humility. It aligns our hearts with His, drawing us into deeper communion.

Moreover, God delights in being asked. He welcomes the boldness of faith-filled questions. He relishes opportunities to show His love and power. Asking demonstrates trust—it reflects the same faith that flows from His own heart. He tests and proves us, not to shame us, but to transform us. He invites us to challenge Him with His own promises: “Prove me now herewith… if I will not open you the windows of heaven…” (Mal. 3:10). He rises to the occasion, not for our glory, but for the sake of His name.

Asking God questions—when done with reverence—places the outcome in His hands. It’s not manipulation; it’s surrender. He has bound Himself to His word: “Ask, and it shall be given.” “Pray for the sick, and they shall recover.” These are not empty phrases. They are divine assurances. But they begin with a humble spirit that dares to ask: “Father, would you please heal him?”

This kind of prayer doesn’t just seek results—it seeks relationship. It tunes our hearts to His rhythm. It opens us to His will, His timing, and His grace. And it builds faith. As Mark 11:24 declares, “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

Faith is the key. Not faith in our words, but faith in His goodness. So let us move from announcements to true asking. Let our prayers be shaped by humility, softened by surrender, and strengthened by faith. God is listening—not to our demands, but to our hearts. And when we ask truly, He answers.     Wayne Hancock

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November 10, 2025 · 7:27 am

How Trials Become Opportunities for Profound Spiritual Growth

A growth toward becoming like Christ

God’s greatest blessings often come wrapped in the paradox of divine distress—those unique circumstances that, though deeply challenging, become the very ground where agape-love is cultivated within us. These trials and tribulations are in fact opportunities of profound spiritual growth. They provide us with the inescapable chance to love our enemies, to rise above instinct and pride, and to embody a love that is not of this world but of God Himself.

The process by which agape-love is birthed within us is what the Scriptures term “SonPlacing”—the divine intention and plan that God has for every believer. This love, however, is not kindled amid laughter, comfort, or abundance. Like all births, it comes forth from travail, pain, and endurance. The apostle Paul, in his famous discourse on love in 1 Corinthians 13, describes this love as enduring and patient. He writes that love “does not seek after the things which are its own, is not irritated, provoked, exasperated, aroused to anger, does not take into account the evil which it suffers” (1 Corinthians 13:5, Wuest). This passage paints a picture of love that is not reactive, but proactive—a love that transcends circumstances and personal offense.

At the heart of agape-love is forgiveness. The maturation of this divine love is triggered by the experience of being sinned against. If you desire to possess this love, the only appropriate response to hurt or injustice is forgiveness, no matter the situation or depth of the wound.

In Scripture, the words translated as “forgive” and “forgiveness” come from four distinct Greek terms, each rich with meaning. Collectively, they convey the ideas of “sending forth,” “sending away,” “bestowing favor unconditionally,” and “releasing.” Forgiveness, in this sense, is not merely letting go of a grudge or forgetting an offense. It is an absolute annulment of transgression and its consequences, akin to a debt that is not just paid but completely canceled and erased from all records.

Letting Go

This radical form of forgiveness requires that both the failure and any thoughts of retaliation are forever released, as if thrown into a supernal incinerator—never to be retrieved or remembered. Forgiveness, then, is not just about letting go of what was done to us, but also about creating a new reality, one in which the offense is as though it never occurred.

As the psalmist writes, “Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” This is the heart of forgiveness: an act so complete and transformative that it rewrites the narrative of our souls.

A Liberating Experience

Forgiveness, fundamentally, is not a human invention but a divine act. It originates in the heart of God and is extended to us through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. When we accept this sacrifice, we experience an unconditional release from the penalties our fallen, carnal nature has accrued. The apostle Paul reminds us, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Yet God’s forgiveness is not merely a legal pardon—it is a personal, liberating experience that the church has long called “Salvation.” As we turn our lives toward God, our infractions are erased, and we become spiritually washed, free, and invigorated with new life and energy.

This forgiveness is, at its core, the ultimate gift of love. When we receive forgiveness from God, the seed of divine love—agape—is sown into our hearts. Jesus illustrated this truth in his parable when he asked, “Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?” Simon answered, “I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most.” To receive great forgiveness is to be moved to great love. This initial blossoming of love is what Scripture calls phileo-love—a joyful, grateful affection that springs from having received something wonderful and undeserved. It is, however, only the embryonic stage of agape-love, which is deeper, more self-giving, and unconditional.

Jesus further clarifies this process: “Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” This passage reveals that the depth of our capacity for love is directly linked to our experience of forgiveness. Forgiveness received from God for the “good” in our lives produces phileo-love, an affectionate and responsive love. But the journey does not end there. To mature into agape-love, we must extend forgiveness from ourselves, especially in response to the “evil” or wrongdoing we endure from others.

To Love as God Loves

This is the critical transition point in the development of divine love within us. To love as God loves, we must move from being recipients of forgiveness to being dispensers of it. It is not enough to bask in the joy of being forgiven; we must also become agents of forgiveness. This is perhaps the greatest challenge and highest calling of the Christian life. It demands that we forgive those who have hurt us deeply, those who have betrayed or wronged us, just as God has forgiven us. In doing so, we participate in the life of God Himself, becoming channels through which His agape-love flows into the world.

Practically speaking, this transformative process often unfolds in the midst of our greatest struggles and heartaches. The “battlefields” of life—those moments of conflict, disappointment, and loss—are not merely obstacles to be overcome but are opportunities for the birth of something holy within us. When we choose to forgive, to let go of resentment and to release both the offense and the offender into God’s hands, we are shaped into the likeness of Christ.

Our capacity for agape-love expands, and we come to embody the very love that once saved us. In summary, the journey toward agape-love is a path marked by both receiving and giving forgiveness. It is a process initiated by God’s mercy and sustained by our willingness to forgive others as we have been forgiven.

Each circumstance of divine distress becomes a sacred invitation to practice this love, to transcend our natural inclinations, and to participate in the very heart of God. Ultimately, it is through forgiveness—the letting go, the creation of a new reality, and the refusal to keep score—that agape-love is born, matures, and overflows from our lives, blessing not only ourselves but all those around us. [A summary of a portion of Garrison Russell’s book SonPlacing found here: https://sonplace.com/xulon/sonplacing/sp_chp15.htm ]

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October 21, 2025 · 9:10 am

The Final Act of the Play, “The Book of Life”

Every war waged on the battlefields of this blood-stained earth, every government’s shady dealings in back rooms with the super-rich, every sober gathering of this world’s elite as they plot out the next step to One World Government, and every humble gathering of God’s people who are concerned with the above–everything has led us to the final act in the performance of The Play that the Creator is staging.

The Final Act of The Play

The final act written by the Author of the Book of Life is soon to be finished.  It stars the Creator Himself as the protagonist, that glorious and righteous Spirit-of-Love clothed in His heavenly spiritual body.  He is known in the English speaking world as Jesus Christ, and in Hebrew His name is Yahshua [meaning “Yah Is Savior” in Hebrew].  The climax of The Play happens during this final act, which is known as the “time of the end” of this present evil world system.

In it we see the prince of darkness as the antagonist, with every advantage, who goes about deceiving the whole world and almost everyone in it.  He is an invisible spirit, “the prince of the power of the air,” who enters into the minds of humans, tempting them to do evil things.  And he has tricked all but a select few into believing him that he is the “Peace-giver” and not Christ–that he is the savior of the world.

The Leader of the One World Government

Satan will dwell fully in the antagonist, who is known by many names in scripture: the Anti-Christ, the Deceiver of the brethren, the devil, the Beast, et al.  He is the counterfeit Christ, come to save the world from itself, for in the final act, wars, famines, earthquakes, tsunamis, asteroid collisions and more shall plague the earth, according to the script of The Play, written in the Book of Life, found in the Bible.

So the whole world will “wonder after” this handsome, cosmopolitan leader of the One World Government, this New World Order.  He will be a sweet talker, with honeyed lips and candied words couched in viral smiles and will schmooze his way into the hearts of the masses.

Many have been his prototype: Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Charlemagne, the many Popes who still hold the old pagan title Pontifice Maximus, Napoleon, Hitler, and now those in our day who call for, or who are sympathetic with the NWO and its One Word Government.

We are living in the end time!  I knew about this some forty years ago, but then it was in the mists of the future, like looking back into the mists of the past.  It was covered up, difficult to get information on.  We called it a conspiracy, but now its actions are done in the open.  They are blatant and audacious, for they believe that because of the apathy of the masses, they will succeed.  It is stunning to see it go that way so rapidly.

The Climax

This is the setting for the climax in which Satan’s government will fall, smashed to pieces by Christ’s “stone kingdom,” the Kingdom (Government) of Heaven.

Christ will bring down this evil worldly empire in a spectacular way.  “Vengeance is mine, saith the LORD, I will repay.”  He will use his hidden army of heavenly projectiles, the asteroids, to smash into the earth, destroying the super-rich’s plans for world domination.  This is God’s secret weapon; you can read all about it in Revelation 8 and 9.

We all know now that civilizations would be ruined by just one asteroid impact.  Movies and documentaries have given us a preview of coming events written in the prophecies.

The Unveiling of God’s Sons and Daughters

These disasters will set the final scene of the final act of  The Play.  It is during these horrible happenings that God brings forth on the earth His royal treasure–His sons and daughters.  These are redeemed from among mortal man.  These at this time will be revealed to the suffering inhabitants of the world as His progeny, His handiwork, the culmination of His patience.  For they are His offspring, the results of His reproductive process–His reproducing Himself!

Unbelievable?  “With God all things are possible.”  “I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.”

These will be His rulers in the new government that He will set up literally in the earth in the aftermath of the destruction of the evil world system.  They are the crowning creative act of the Holy One.  They are the epitome of His eternal purpose.  And they will be the key players in the New Play that He will produce and direct in the next age.                                                                           Kenneth Wayne Hancock

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