We have really just began on our marriage pathway of life so everything there is still new and fresh. Love is great isn't it? Our Father's hand in appointing that certain someone for another is so important. For the first time in my life this is the case. Our Lord is so important to us both. While we have attempted to mishandle at times this precious gift... we have prayed our way through with the guidance of HIS Holy Spirit! Thank God for grace and mercy!
The re-newed blessings are the relationships once damaged by poor decision making on our part and with the help of the Devil's advocate to broadcast it... actually has strengthened us both!!! We are loved more and supported more by all those we once disappointed! They see us NOT for what has happened but for the blood bought believers we are! While we are far from perfection in our walks, both personal and joint, we do strive to help one another with courage, strength, love, and peace daily!
Life is about changes and nothing ever stays the same... so true! We are all blessed that we are not bound by poor choices of yesterday but rather optimistic in looking forward to a brighter and better tomorrow!
Welcome to The King of Peace Ministries Blog. We hope you find what you are searching for here within our writings and posts. Let us hear from you.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Thought of the day...
The LORD is my Shepherd, HIS voice I know... the devil growls like a wolf disguised as one of us sheep... my LORD and Shepherd shall protect His lambs and sheep from this impostor that has dared to invade this flock. Move swiftly my LORD, and let not one be lost to the hungry wolf as WE place all trust and hope in YOU, Lord of lords, and King of kings.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
The Song of Moses in Exodus 15 (David Guzik wrote in 2004)
Exodus 15 - The Song of Moses
A. The Song of Moses.
1. (1-5) First stanza: The Lord is a man of war.
Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying:
"I will sing to the Lord,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!
The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
He is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father's God, and I will exalt Him.
The Lord is a man of war;
The Lord is His name.
Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea;
His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.
The depths have covered them;
They sank to the bottom like a stone."
a. Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord: This remarkable song is assumed to have come spontaneously as Moses led the nation into the wilderness on the other side of the Red Sea.
i. God prizes these spontaneous expressions of praise and worship. This was a new song sung unto the Lord (as in Psalm 40:3).
b. I will sing to the Lord: One great principles of worship is that it is unto the Lord, not unto man. When we worship God in song, our audience is the Lord Himself and not the people around us.
c. The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! They praised God because He did what Israel could not do.
d. The Lord is my strength and song: When we let God be our strength, He will also be our song. We will sing because of the victory won by the great strength of the Lord. We will have a "singing joy" in our life because His strength will not let us down.
e. He has become my salvation: This is a glorious phrase. It recognizes that we cannot save ourselves, but God must become our salvation.
2. (6-10) Second stanza: You have overthrown those who rose against You.
"Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power;
Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces.
And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You;
You sent forth Your wrath;
It consumed them like stubble.
And with the blast of Your nostrils
The waters were gathered together;
The floods stood upright like a heap;
The depths congealed in the heart of the sea.
The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil;
My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy them.'
You blew with Your wind,
The sea covered them;
They sank like lead in the mighty waters."
a. Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces: Moses and the people described what God did to the Egyptians, and they gloried in the defeat of God's enemies. If we really love the Lord, we should glory in the defeat of God's enemies.
b. Your right hand: The right hand was thought to be the hand of skill and power. When God works with His right hand, it is a work of skill and power.
i. Obviously, this is the use of anthropomorphism, understanding something about God by using a human figure of speech, even though it does not literally apply.
ii. This idea of the right hand is used in the Scriptures more than fifty times, including these passages:
· Psalm 45:4: God's right hand teaches us
· Psalm 48:10: God's right hand is full of righteousness
· Psalm 77:10: Remembrance of the years of the right hand of the Most High
· Psalm 110:1: The Father invites the Son to sit at His right hand
· Habakkuk 2:16: The cup of God's judgment is held in His right hand
· Ephesians 1:20: Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father
3. (11-13) Third stanza: Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?
"Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like You, glorious in holiness,
Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
You stretched out Your right hand;
The earth swallowed them.
You in Your mercy have led forth
The people whom You have redeemed;
You have guided them in Your strength
To Your holy habitation."
a. Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? If the people of Egypt still did not know who the Lord was, the people of Israel did. They knew the Lord was not like any of the false gods of Egypt or Canaan.
b. Who is like You: Worship should proclaim the superiority of the Lord God over anything else that claims to be god. Israel soon and often forgot this, but we can remember it.
4. (14-18) Fourth and fifth stanza: The people will hear and be afraid.
"The people will hear and be afraid;
Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia.
Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed;
The mighty men of Moab,
Trembling will take hold of them;
All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away.
Fear and dread will fall on them;
By the greatness of Your arm
They will be as still as a stone,
Till Your people pass over, O Lord,
Till the people pass over
Whom You have purchased.
You will bring them in and plant them
In the mountain of Your inheritance,
In the place, O Lord, which You have made
For Your own dwelling,
The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.
The Lord shall reign forever and ever."
a. All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away: Moses and the children of Israel knew that the victory also said something to the enemies of Israel. They would become afraid when they heard of the great things God did for Israel.
b. Fear and dread will fall on them: Some forty years later Rahab the prostitute from Jericho told the Israeli spies: For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt (Joshua 2:10). The people of Canaan did hear of what God did for Israel and some responded with godly fear.
c. The Lord shall reign forever and ever: After such a great victory we can sense that Israel really believed this, and they were really ready to let the Lord reign over them. This state of victory and surrender did not last very long.
5. (19-21) Miriam, Moses' sister, leads the women in worship.
For the horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them. But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them:
"Sing to the Lord,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!"
a. Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron: This is the first mention of Miriam by name, and she is described as the sister of Aaron, so she is therefore also the sister of Moses (Exodus 4:14).
i. Numbers 26:59 seems to indicate that Moses had only one sister. We do know that it was his sister who supervised the launching of the basket onto the Nile River to preserve his life (Exodus 2:14) and arranged the hiring of Moses' mother as his nurse. Based on Numbers 26:59, we can say this was probably - almost certainly - Miriam. She was the older sister of Moses.
b. Miriam the prophetess: We also see that Miriam had some kind of prophetic gift. Later she used her leadership position in an unwise and ungodly way - to challenge the authority of Moses (Numbers 12).
c. All the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances: On this occasion Miriam led the "women's choir."
B. The bitter water is made drinkable.
1. (22) Three days into the wilderness.
So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.
a. Moses brought Israel . . . they went out into the Wilderness of Shur: God's man led them, but he led them an unusual way. Into the Wilderness of Shur was outside the major trade route along the sea.
b. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water: Three days is not a very long time. But it is long enough to forget the great victory and power of God. Now Israel faced a long trip through difficult and dry desert.
i. "Three days is the maximum time the human body can go without water in the desert." (Buckingham)
2. (23-25a) Bitter waters made sweet at Marah.
Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them.
a. They could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: It must have seemed like a cruel joke - after three waterless days, they finally came upon water - and found that water undrinkable.
b. So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree: By following God's direction, Moses made the waters drinkable and Israel found water in the wilderness.
i. How did the tree work? In his work on the Exodus journey, Buckingham thinks the chemicals in the sap of the broken limb drew the mineral content down to the bottom of the pools, and left only good water on top.
ii. He further speculates that even though the waters were now drinkable, there was still a significant magnesium and calcium content in the water. The laxative effect of this would clean out the digestive systems of the children of Israel, cleansing them of common Egyptian ailments such as amoebic dysentery and bilharzia, a weakening disease common among Egyptian peasants. In addition, calcium and magnesium together form the basis of a drug called dolomite - used by some athletes as a performance enhancer in hot weather conditions. At Marah, God provided the right medicine to both clean out their systems, and prepare them for a long, hot march to Sinai.
iii. We can say that God was not only interested in getting the children of Israel out of Egypt, He also wanted to get Egypt out of the children of Israel - both physically and spiritually.
3. (25b-27) The testing of Israel.
And there He tested them, and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you." Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.
a. And there He tested them: God tested Israel by giving them a command to obey. When God tells us what to do, He really gives us a test. Our obedience determines if we pass the test or not.
i. It had yet to be demonstrated by a test whether the children of Israel were worshipping people who occasionally murmured, or if they were a murmuring people who occasionally worshipped. Their true nature would be revealed in times of testing.
b. I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians: This was God's promise to an obedient Israel. In many ways, their physical health was directly connected to their obedience.
i. Dr. S.I. McMillen in his book None of These Diseases notes that many of God's laws to Israel had a direct impact of hygiene and health. Practices such as circumcision, quarantine, washing in running water, and eating kosher made a real medical difference in keeping Israel free from disease.
ii. Beyond the direct medical implications, obedience also means we are at peace with God - and free from a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety in life. This has an obvious benefit to the health of any person.
c. Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees: After the time of testing God had a time of refreshing for the people of Israel. He knew exactly what they needed, and He knew when to test them and when to rest them.
© 2004 David Guzik - No distribution beyond personal use without permission
A. The Song of Moses.
1. (1-5) First stanza: The Lord is a man of war.
Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying:
"I will sing to the Lord,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!
The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
He is my God, and I will praise Him;
My father's God, and I will exalt Him.
The Lord is a man of war;
The Lord is His name.
Pharaoh's chariots and his army He has cast into the sea;
His chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.
The depths have covered them;
They sank to the bottom like a stone."
a. Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord: This remarkable song is assumed to have come spontaneously as Moses led the nation into the wilderness on the other side of the Red Sea.
i. God prizes these spontaneous expressions of praise and worship. This was a new song sung unto the Lord (as in Psalm 40:3).
b. I will sing to the Lord: One great principles of worship is that it is unto the Lord, not unto man. When we worship God in song, our audience is the Lord Himself and not the people around us.
c. The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! They praised God because He did what Israel could not do.
d. The Lord is my strength and song: When we let God be our strength, He will also be our song. We will sing because of the victory won by the great strength of the Lord. We will have a "singing joy" in our life because His strength will not let us down.
e. He has become my salvation: This is a glorious phrase. It recognizes that we cannot save ourselves, but God must become our salvation.
2. (6-10) Second stanza: You have overthrown those who rose against You.
"Your right hand, O Lord, has become glorious in power;
Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces.
And in the greatness of Your excellence You have overthrown those who rose against You;
You sent forth Your wrath;
It consumed them like stubble.
And with the blast of Your nostrils
The waters were gathered together;
The floods stood upright like a heap;
The depths congealed in the heart of the sea.
The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil;
My desire shall be satisfied on them. I will draw my sword, My hand shall destroy them.'
You blew with Your wind,
The sea covered them;
They sank like lead in the mighty waters."
a. Your right hand, O Lord, has dashed the enemy in pieces: Moses and the people described what God did to the Egyptians, and they gloried in the defeat of God's enemies. If we really love the Lord, we should glory in the defeat of God's enemies.
b. Your right hand: The right hand was thought to be the hand of skill and power. When God works with His right hand, it is a work of skill and power.
i. Obviously, this is the use of anthropomorphism, understanding something about God by using a human figure of speech, even though it does not literally apply.
ii. This idea of the right hand is used in the Scriptures more than fifty times, including these passages:
· Psalm 45:4: God's right hand teaches us
· Psalm 48:10: God's right hand is full of righteousness
· Psalm 77:10: Remembrance of the years of the right hand of the Most High
· Psalm 110:1: The Father invites the Son to sit at His right hand
· Habakkuk 2:16: The cup of God's judgment is held in His right hand
· Ephesians 1:20: Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father
3. (11-13) Third stanza: Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?
"Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like You, glorious in holiness,
Fearful in praises, doing wonders?
You stretched out Your right hand;
The earth swallowed them.
You in Your mercy have led forth
The people whom You have redeemed;
You have guided them in Your strength
To Your holy habitation."
a. Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? If the people of Egypt still did not know who the Lord was, the people of Israel did. They knew the Lord was not like any of the false gods of Egypt or Canaan.
b. Who is like You: Worship should proclaim the superiority of the Lord God over anything else that claims to be god. Israel soon and often forgot this, but we can remember it.
4. (14-18) Fourth and fifth stanza: The people will hear and be afraid.
"The people will hear and be afraid;
Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia.
Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed;
The mighty men of Moab,
Trembling will take hold of them;
All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away.
Fear and dread will fall on them;
By the greatness of Your arm
They will be as still as a stone,
Till Your people pass over, O Lord,
Till the people pass over
Whom You have purchased.
You will bring them in and plant them
In the mountain of Your inheritance,
In the place, O Lord, which You have made
For Your own dwelling,
The sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established.
The Lord shall reign forever and ever."
a. All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away: Moses and the children of Israel knew that the victory also said something to the enemies of Israel. They would become afraid when they heard of the great things God did for Israel.
b. Fear and dread will fall on them: Some forty years later Rahab the prostitute from Jericho told the Israeli spies: For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt (Joshua 2:10). The people of Canaan did hear of what God did for Israel and some responded with godly fear.
c. The Lord shall reign forever and ever: After such a great victory we can sense that Israel really believed this, and they were really ready to let the Lord reign over them. This state of victory and surrender did not last very long.
5. (19-21) Miriam, Moses' sister, leads the women in worship.
For the horses of Pharaoh went with his chariots and his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought back the waters of the sea upon them. But the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them:
"Sing to the Lord,
For He has triumphed gloriously!
The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!"
a. Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron: This is the first mention of Miriam by name, and she is described as the sister of Aaron, so she is therefore also the sister of Moses (Exodus 4:14).
i. Numbers 26:59 seems to indicate that Moses had only one sister. We do know that it was his sister who supervised the launching of the basket onto the Nile River to preserve his life (Exodus 2:14) and arranged the hiring of Moses' mother as his nurse. Based on Numbers 26:59, we can say this was probably - almost certainly - Miriam. She was the older sister of Moses.
b. Miriam the prophetess: We also see that Miriam had some kind of prophetic gift. Later she used her leadership position in an unwise and ungodly way - to challenge the authority of Moses (Numbers 12).
c. All the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances: On this occasion Miriam led the "women's choir."
B. The bitter water is made drinkable.
1. (22) Three days into the wilderness.
So Moses brought Israel from the Red Sea; then they went out into the Wilderness of Shur. And they went three days in the wilderness and found no water.
a. Moses brought Israel . . . they went out into the Wilderness of Shur: God's man led them, but he led them an unusual way. Into the Wilderness of Shur was outside the major trade route along the sea.
b. They went three days in the wilderness and found no water: Three days is not a very long time. But it is long enough to forget the great victory and power of God. Now Israel faced a long trip through difficult and dry desert.
i. "Three days is the maximum time the human body can go without water in the desert." (Buckingham)
2. (23-25a) Bitter waters made sweet at Marah.
Now when they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter. Therefore the name of it was called Marah. And the people complained against Moses, saying, "What shall we drink?" So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When he cast it into the waters, the waters were made sweet. There He made a statute and an ordinance for them.
a. They could not drink the waters of Marah, for they were bitter: It must have seemed like a cruel joke - after three waterless days, they finally came upon water - and found that water undrinkable.
b. So he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree: By following God's direction, Moses made the waters drinkable and Israel found water in the wilderness.
i. How did the tree work? In his work on the Exodus journey, Buckingham thinks the chemicals in the sap of the broken limb drew the mineral content down to the bottom of the pools, and left only good water on top.
ii. He further speculates that even though the waters were now drinkable, there was still a significant magnesium and calcium content in the water. The laxative effect of this would clean out the digestive systems of the children of Israel, cleansing them of common Egyptian ailments such as amoebic dysentery and bilharzia, a weakening disease common among Egyptian peasants. In addition, calcium and magnesium together form the basis of a drug called dolomite - used by some athletes as a performance enhancer in hot weather conditions. At Marah, God provided the right medicine to both clean out their systems, and prepare them for a long, hot march to Sinai.
iii. We can say that God was not only interested in getting the children of Israel out of Egypt, He also wanted to get Egypt out of the children of Israel - both physically and spiritually.
3. (25b-27) The testing of Israel.
And there He tested them, and said, "If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you." Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees; so they camped there by the waters.
a. And there He tested them: God tested Israel by giving them a command to obey. When God tells us what to do, He really gives us a test. Our obedience determines if we pass the test or not.
i. It had yet to be demonstrated by a test whether the children of Israel were worshipping people who occasionally murmured, or if they were a murmuring people who occasionally worshipped. Their true nature would be revealed in times of testing.
b. I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians: This was God's promise to an obedient Israel. In many ways, their physical health was directly connected to their obedience.
i. Dr. S.I. McMillen in his book None of These Diseases notes that many of God's laws to Israel had a direct impact of hygiene and health. Practices such as circumcision, quarantine, washing in running water, and eating kosher made a real medical difference in keeping Israel free from disease.
ii. Beyond the direct medical implications, obedience also means we are at peace with God - and free from a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety in life. This has an obvious benefit to the health of any person.
c. Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve wells of water and seventy palm trees: After the time of testing God had a time of refreshing for the people of Israel. He knew exactly what they needed, and He knew when to test them and when to rest them.
© 2004 David Guzik - No distribution beyond personal use without permission
Saturday, December 5, 2009
FORMULA FOR JOY: FOUNDATION FOR THE POSITIVE LIFE A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
FORMULA FOR JOY:
FOUNDATION FOR THE POSITIVE LIFE
A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
ADD INTO YOUR SPIRIT LIFE:
GRATITUDE
HUMILITY
FORGIVENESS
FAITH
HOPE
PATIENCE
AND LOVE!
TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR SPIRIT LIFE:
RESENTMENT
ANGER
FEAR
WORRY
MATERIALISM
GREED
JEALOUSY
COMPLAINING
AND PRIDE!!!
FOUNDATION FOR THE POSITIVE LIFE
A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
ADD INTO YOUR SPIRIT LIFE:
GRATITUDE
HUMILITY
FORGIVENESS
FAITH
HOPE
PATIENCE
AND LOVE!
TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR SPIRIT LIFE:
RESENTMENT
ANGER
FEAR
WORRY
MATERIALISM
GREED
JEALOUSY
COMPLAINING
AND PRIDE!!!
Friday, December 4, 2009
The Marriage God Blessed
As Paul and I have began on a journey in life neither of us expected it to be this awesome. It is remarkable when God binds two souls together how you can't tell where one ends and the other begins. It is outstanding to absorb the verse, "What the LORD GOD has brought together, let no man put asunder". There is no force that is strong enough to divide the LORD in half... therefore as long as we remain strengthened by HIM nothing nor anyone can destroy HIS work in us.
While we have many things to grow and absorb still yet, the LORD has done astounding things in both our lives spiritually up to this point. It is so wonderful to have a spouse with whom the anointing is shared. It is such a beautiful thing when you can love not only your partner but also yourself in them.
The marriage that God has blessed is blessed indeed. The Cross of Christ and The Holy Spirit play HUGE roles in our marriage covenant with the LORD GOD and our marriage bond with HIM. Together we worship the LORD in all things and a loyalty to the LORD makes loyalty to one another automatic!
I praise the LORD for all HE has done, is doing, and will do in the earth realm and the spiritual realm for all marriages HE has set as blessed and anointed.
Deborah Dodson-Ebarb, honored wife of Paul Ebarb
While we have many things to grow and absorb still yet, the LORD has done astounding things in both our lives spiritually up to this point. It is so wonderful to have a spouse with whom the anointing is shared. It is such a beautiful thing when you can love not only your partner but also yourself in them.
The marriage that God has blessed is blessed indeed. The Cross of Christ and The Holy Spirit play HUGE roles in our marriage covenant with the LORD GOD and our marriage bond with HIM. Together we worship the LORD in all things and a loyalty to the LORD makes loyalty to one another automatic!
I praise the LORD for all HE has done, is doing, and will do in the earth realm and the spiritual realm for all marriages HE has set as blessed and anointed.
Deborah Dodson-Ebarb, honored wife of Paul Ebarb
Progressive Sanctification (Growing in Faith and Godliness)
Progressive Sanctification
(Growing in Faith and Godliness)
See also Overcoming Sin to be posted at later date.
1.Keep growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3.18
2.Do not be content to be an immature Christian, as was the case with many Hebrew believers.
Hebrews 5. 11- 6 . 4
3.God works in us through his word to bring us to spiritual maturity, to sanctify us.
John 17.17.
Colossians 3. 16.
I Peter 2. 2-3.
Psalms 119. 11, 105
4.The Bible, the inspired, inerrant word of God is that by which he trains us in righteousness so that we may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3. 16-17.
5.The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, teaches us through his own word.
John 14. 25-26
6.The word of God is immeasurably effective.
Hebrews 4. 12.
7.Like a runner in a race, keep pressing on until you have gained the victory, as did the apostle Paul.
Philippians 3. 12-14
(NOTE: Paul had a healthy dissatisfaction with himself, although he was already a mature Christian. He would neither focus on past failure, nor would he allow himself to become discouraged after he did fall. He kept pressing on.)
8.Get rid of everything that might hinder you and run the race with perseverance.
Hebrews 12.1
9.Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith. Focus on all he did to save you.
Hebrews 12.2
10.Train yourself to be godly. Be like an athlete, who persists in training. That's what Paul counseled Timothy to do.
I Timothy 4. 7-8.
11.Put much effort into living a godly life.
2 Peter 3. 14.
12.Abide in Jesus Christ, the vine, through whom alone you can bear much fruit, to glorify God.
John 15. 1-8 (special attention to verses 1, 5, 8)
13.Imitate Jesus so that you will become more and more Christ-like.
I John 2.6.
14.The apostle Peter lists some Christ-like virtues we should seek after.
2 Peter 1. 5-9
15.We must be motivated to work at growing in faith and godliness by the victory we have through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 15. 57-58
2 Corinthians 7.1
Romans 12. 1-2
16. God uses his word to revive the soul, make wise the simple, give joy to the heart, give light to the eyes, and much more.
Psalms 19. 7-11
17.The Lord requires us to keep working out our salvation in every area of life, since he works in us by his word and spirit.
Philippians 2. 12-13.
18.God is graciously transforming every Christian more and more into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 3.18
(Growing in Faith and Godliness)
See also Overcoming Sin to be posted at later date.
1.Keep growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3.18
2.Do not be content to be an immature Christian, as was the case with many Hebrew believers.
Hebrews 5. 11- 6 . 4
3.God works in us through his word to bring us to spiritual maturity, to sanctify us.
John 17.17.
Colossians 3. 16.
I Peter 2. 2-3.
Psalms 119. 11, 105
4.The Bible, the inspired, inerrant word of God is that by which he trains us in righteousness so that we may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3. 16-17.
5.The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, teaches us through his own word.
John 14. 25-26
6.The word of God is immeasurably effective.
Hebrews 4. 12.
7.Like a runner in a race, keep pressing on until you have gained the victory, as did the apostle Paul.
Philippians 3. 12-14
(NOTE: Paul had a healthy dissatisfaction with himself, although he was already a mature Christian. He would neither focus on past failure, nor would he allow himself to become discouraged after he did fall. He kept pressing on.)
8.Get rid of everything that might hinder you and run the race with perseverance.
Hebrews 12.1
9.Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith. Focus on all he did to save you.
Hebrews 12.2
10.Train yourself to be godly. Be like an athlete, who persists in training. That's what Paul counseled Timothy to do.
I Timothy 4. 7-8.
11.Put much effort into living a godly life.
2 Peter 3. 14.
12.Abide in Jesus Christ, the vine, through whom alone you can bear much fruit, to glorify God.
John 15. 1-8 (special attention to verses 1, 5, 8)
13.Imitate Jesus so that you will become more and more Christ-like.
I John 2.6.
14.The apostle Peter lists some Christ-like virtues we should seek after.
2 Peter 1. 5-9
15.We must be motivated to work at growing in faith and godliness by the victory we have through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I Corinthians 15. 57-58
2 Corinthians 7.1
Romans 12. 1-2
16. God uses his word to revive the soul, make wise the simple, give joy to the heart, give light to the eyes, and much more.
Psalms 19. 7-11
17.The Lord requires us to keep working out our salvation in every area of life, since he works in us by his word and spirit.
Philippians 2. 12-13.
18.God is graciously transforming every Christian more and more into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 3.18
Monday, November 30, 2009
Marvin Gorman/ Foundation For Human Helps
http://www.marvingorman.com
We highly endorse and recommend you to visit this site. There you will find sermons you may download and bless your life with! You can also purchase several awesome books, dvds, and teaching cds to add to your library!!! There is no help like the LORD'S help and Brother Marvin Gorman at 76 years of age is wise to how to not only get it but to keep it!!! AMEN!
The Holy Spirit is working at a most awesome level through the gifts and ministries coming from this ministry and it's teachings! Services are wonderful and the anointing flowing is life changing! AMEN!
We highly endorse and recommend you to visit this site. There you will find sermons you may download and bless your life with! You can also purchase several awesome books, dvds, and teaching cds to add to your library!!! There is no help like the LORD'S help and Brother Marvin Gorman at 76 years of age is wise to how to not only get it but to keep it!!! AMEN!
The Holy Spirit is working at a most awesome level through the gifts and ministries coming from this ministry and it's teachings! Services are wonderful and the anointing flowing is life changing! AMEN!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Setting Limits for Your Child—Maintaining the Balance
Setting Limits for Your Child—Maintaining the Balance
The spectrum of parenting runs from very permissive to super authoritarian. How can we find the biblical balance that will benefit our children the most?
by Andy Burnett
We've witnessed both extremes: the 4-year-old boy grabbing all the candy he can get his hands on in the check-out line of the grocery store when his mother turns her back on him.
"Bobby, put that back!"
"But Mommy, I want some candy."
"No!"
"Mommy, PLEASE!"
"You heard what I said!"
"I'll take just this one then. Look, it's just a little piece."
"Well, all right. You can have one piece."
It's a sad situation to have to witness.
And then there's the other extreme: the 8-year-old girl (Jenny) pushing the grocery cart behind her mother, dutifully staying close to her striving to anticipate her mother's every need while keeping her baby brother entertained in the cart. Her mother barks orders at her, never thanking her, deriding her for her every perceived misstep:
"Jenny, what do you think you're doing? Stay closer to me! Watch out... you just about hit that other cart!"
Jenny drops her head in submission, the life being drained right out of her. It's also a sad situation to witness.
Are you establishing proper behavior guidelines for your child now? How would you rate your parenting techniques? Permissive? Balanced? Borderline tyrannical?
Teaching and Following Through
As parents we yearn to see our children grow up possessing a strong sense of right and wrong, coupled with the ability to exercise self-discipline—eventually developing their own sense of how to establish appropriate limits in their lives.
God holds us accountable for fostering in them this aspect of character. We must both teach and follow through—two traits comprising the essence of training.
Remember the story of Eli the prophet? Eli's inability to restrain his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, resulted in the slaughter of 30,000 Israelite soldiers, the death of his sons, the capture of the ark and ultimately his own death (1 Samuel 2:12 through 4:18).
There is evidence of Eli's instructing his sons, albeit apparently sporadically: "So he said to them, 'Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the LORD's people transgress'... Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father" (1 Samuel 2:23-25).
Eli's account offers us a prime example of the end result of teaching with no follow through (think of Bobby with his candy).
Jenny's story illustrates instruction found in Ephesians 6:4: "And you, fathers [this principle, by extension, applies to mothers too!], do not provoke your children to wrath..." At some point, probably in her teens, but maybe not even until adulthood, she most likely will rebel against not only her parents, but against many of the beneficial principles of her upbringing.
Neither Permissive Nor Oppressive
How do we, then, maintain the balance of establishing appropriate boundaries for behavior that are neither permissive nor oppressive? Let's address four principles that bear consideration.
1. Clearly define and consistently enforce guidelines and boundaries for acceptable behavior. When we play any game, it's not fun if we can't figure out the rules. Our children need to comprehend the rules—what behavior is and isn't acceptable.
When the boundary lines are in a constant state of flux, most (not all) children will continue seeking to find them. It gives the children an insecure feeling: "I never know what's going to cause Dad to lose his temper! One day he's laughing at me and the next he's yelling at me for the same thing!"
When clear boundaries are set, our children gain a great sense of comfort and security. Because just as sure as they know they'll be disciplined every time they cross that line, they also realize that as long as they stay within those boundaries, they will accordingly gain parental approval.
Consistently enforcing these limits requires parental diligence and teamwork. Parents must strive to discuss daily the status of each of their children's lives. Dad and Mom must be on the same page. If they're not, they must set aside private time away from the presence of the children to resolve their differences of opinion, and return as a united front. Otherwise children will play one against the other, creating again unclear boundaries.
Does Mom give in a bit easier than Dad, or vice versa? Does Dad tend to weaken his stance on guidelines when he's tired at the end of the day or when Mom's not around? Does Mom let up and let us get away with more when she's in a good mood? All of these factors represent a lack of consistency resulting ultimately in a feeling of insecurity with the child.
2. Discern the difference between an act of rebellion and a lack of education or misunderstanding of the boundaries. I remember on one occasion correcting my daughter before explaining her misbehavior. She had this surprised and hurt look on her face as I disciplined her. I realized in talking with her afterwards that she had no idea that what she had done was wrong. (I apologized and she forgave me.) I would have figured this out if I had talked with her first.
Education/instruction comes first. Discipline/correction occurs when the child comprehends the instruction but chooses not to heed it.
3. Establish age-appropriate limits. Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo in their book titled Along the Virtuous Way—Growing Kids God's Way discuss this concept:
"In an attempt to be gracious to their children, many parents unknowingly promote conflict by allowing their children freedoms that are not age-appropriate. These can be too many choices in decision-making, too many verbal freedoms, and too many physical freedoms. What do these freedoms accomplish? They cause a child to be 'wise in his own eyes' [Proverbs 3:5-7; 26:4-5, 12]. Being 'wise in his own eyes' means that a child thinks he has a self-sufficient wisdom that he does not possess" (page 243).
How do we know if our child is demonstrating characteristics of "being wise in his own eyes"? One example is demonstrated in decision making situations, where the parents, in an effort to be accommodating and selfless, allow the child to always dictate where the family will eat, what he will eat and what activity the family will do together afterward. The child develops a feeling of preeminence in decision making matters (becoming addicted to choice) instead of realizing his place in the family. This phenomenon tends to surface more frequently in single-child families.
The apostle Paul wrote it clearly, "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child" (1 Corinthians 13:11). We must not put our children in charge or encourage them to think that they are.
Secondly, in the area of exemplifying premature physical freedoms, the child will simply go where he wants to without asking permission. Thirdly, regarding showing signs of premature verbal freedoms, the child will make statements such as "I am going to...," instead of asking if he may do something (Ezzo, pages 247, 251).
As the Ezzos state, "If your child cannot handle not having a choice, it is time to remove choices from him. When he can handle not having a choice, he is ready for choices" (page 247, emphasis added).
We need to ensure that the amount of freedom and the choices our child can make gradually increase as he or she matures physically and emotionally toward eventual complete freedom of choice at adulthood. Stifling a child's age-appropriate decision-making abilities as he or she matures can be extremely frustrating for a child, damaging an otherwise healthy parent-child relationship.
Recall the Jenny scenario: She showed signs of exercising both diligence and responsibility. Had her mother recognized, valued and commended her for those strengths, expanding her boundaries and allowing her to take on more responsibilities in decision making, the little girl would have blossomed.
But still, as with young children, we can give our teens too much freedom verbally, physically and in decision making as well. I'm reminded of many parents who decided to allow their teens who had grown up in the church to decide for themselves whether or not they would participate in school athletic contests on the Sabbath. In some cases, the teens chose wisely. In other situations, they did not. The parents were then faced with the fact that they were allowing their child living under their roof to blatantly break God's law, one of the Ten Commandments.
Since we are responsible to God for how we raise our children (as Eli was), how can we allow this to happen? Do we say to our children, "It's your decision whether or not you want to lie, steal, kill, commit adultery, honor us as your parents, take God's name in vain or make idols"? God holds us accountable.
4. Be there for your children as your role changes. In the often-quoted parenting passage of Deuteronomy 6:1-9, the unwritten "given" is that the parents are constantly in the presence of their children. We cannot teach our children God's ways in the house, while we're walking by the way, when we're going to sleep at night, and when we awaken in the morning, unless we're right there with them.
The greater amount of time we spend with our children, the greater number of opportunities we have to share teaching moments with them—situations that occur with our children or with others around them from which lessons can be drawn, instances providing perfect illustrations to teach biblical principles. How many teaching moments do we let slip by that would have presented powerful examples of why we've established various boundaries in their lives?
I liked the way the Ezzos describe how our parenting roles change as our children mature. Notice how the boundaries change throughout the four roles or phases:
The Discipline Phase continues approximately until age 5. In this phase the parents' main objective is to lead the child's life—to gain control. Tight boundaries exist, but they are widened slightly as the little child follows his or her parents' directives. In this phase, "your task is to get control of the child so you can effectively train him. If you cannot train your child, you cannot train him to his full potential, nor will anyone else be able to do so" (Ezzo, page 285). At what age is it advisable to begin establishing boundaries? As soon as he or she understands the meaning of "no."
Secondly, the Training Phase continues to age 12. The authors analogize this phase to that of a sports trainer—one who works with a player in practice sessions, preparing him for competition, running him through drills and exercises, stopping play frequently to give further instruction, all prior to entering the game of life (page 285).
During the teen years through age 19, he or she progresses to the Coaching Phase. The coaching and instruction continues, but from the sidelines and only between plays and during timeouts.
"How well you coach your children determines how well they run through the plays of life. What kind of trainer you are determines how they respond to your coaching. The type of disciplinarian you are determines your ability to train your children. How well you have established your right to rule determines what type of disciplinarian you are" (page 285).
When the teen reaches adulthood, as each progressive stage has been successfully built upon the other, the parents enter the Friendship Phase with their son or daughter. Ultimately, that's the relational goal we desire with our children. "Although the parent-child relationship does not cease, both parent and child enter into a new season of life... The process began with tight boundaries, which gave way to responsible behavior leading to freedom" (page 286).
Maintain the balance as you set and enforce appropriate boundaries for your children. As your children follow those guidelines, may they come to understand the peace, comfort and security you and I experience as we walk within the boundaries established by our Father in heaven. UN
The spectrum of parenting runs from very permissive to super authoritarian. How can we find the biblical balance that will benefit our children the most?
by Andy Burnett
We've witnessed both extremes: the 4-year-old boy grabbing all the candy he can get his hands on in the check-out line of the grocery store when his mother turns her back on him.
"Bobby, put that back!"
"But Mommy, I want some candy."
"No!"
"Mommy, PLEASE!"
"You heard what I said!"
"I'll take just this one then. Look, it's just a little piece."
"Well, all right. You can have one piece."
It's a sad situation to have to witness.
And then there's the other extreme: the 8-year-old girl (Jenny) pushing the grocery cart behind her mother, dutifully staying close to her striving to anticipate her mother's every need while keeping her baby brother entertained in the cart. Her mother barks orders at her, never thanking her, deriding her for her every perceived misstep:
"Jenny, what do you think you're doing? Stay closer to me! Watch out... you just about hit that other cart!"
Jenny drops her head in submission, the life being drained right out of her. It's also a sad situation to witness.
Are you establishing proper behavior guidelines for your child now? How would you rate your parenting techniques? Permissive? Balanced? Borderline tyrannical?
Teaching and Following Through
As parents we yearn to see our children grow up possessing a strong sense of right and wrong, coupled with the ability to exercise self-discipline—eventually developing their own sense of how to establish appropriate limits in their lives.
God holds us accountable for fostering in them this aspect of character. We must both teach and follow through—two traits comprising the essence of training.
Remember the story of Eli the prophet? Eli's inability to restrain his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, resulted in the slaughter of 30,000 Israelite soldiers, the death of his sons, the capture of the ark and ultimately his own death (1 Samuel 2:12 through 4:18).
There is evidence of Eli's instructing his sons, albeit apparently sporadically: "So he said to them, 'Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the LORD's people transgress'... Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father" (1 Samuel 2:23-25).
Eli's account offers us a prime example of the end result of teaching with no follow through (think of Bobby with his candy).
Jenny's story illustrates instruction found in Ephesians 6:4: "And you, fathers [this principle, by extension, applies to mothers too!], do not provoke your children to wrath..." At some point, probably in her teens, but maybe not even until adulthood, she most likely will rebel against not only her parents, but against many of the beneficial principles of her upbringing.
Neither Permissive Nor Oppressive
How do we, then, maintain the balance of establishing appropriate boundaries for behavior that are neither permissive nor oppressive? Let's address four principles that bear consideration.
1. Clearly define and consistently enforce guidelines and boundaries for acceptable behavior. When we play any game, it's not fun if we can't figure out the rules. Our children need to comprehend the rules—what behavior is and isn't acceptable.
When the boundary lines are in a constant state of flux, most (not all) children will continue seeking to find them. It gives the children an insecure feeling: "I never know what's going to cause Dad to lose his temper! One day he's laughing at me and the next he's yelling at me for the same thing!"
When clear boundaries are set, our children gain a great sense of comfort and security. Because just as sure as they know they'll be disciplined every time they cross that line, they also realize that as long as they stay within those boundaries, they will accordingly gain parental approval.
Consistently enforcing these limits requires parental diligence and teamwork. Parents must strive to discuss daily the status of each of their children's lives. Dad and Mom must be on the same page. If they're not, they must set aside private time away from the presence of the children to resolve their differences of opinion, and return as a united front. Otherwise children will play one against the other, creating again unclear boundaries.
Does Mom give in a bit easier than Dad, or vice versa? Does Dad tend to weaken his stance on guidelines when he's tired at the end of the day or when Mom's not around? Does Mom let up and let us get away with more when she's in a good mood? All of these factors represent a lack of consistency resulting ultimately in a feeling of insecurity with the child.
2. Discern the difference between an act of rebellion and a lack of education or misunderstanding of the boundaries. I remember on one occasion correcting my daughter before explaining her misbehavior. She had this surprised and hurt look on her face as I disciplined her. I realized in talking with her afterwards that she had no idea that what she had done was wrong. (I apologized and she forgave me.) I would have figured this out if I had talked with her first.
Education/instruction comes first. Discipline/correction occurs when the child comprehends the instruction but chooses not to heed it.
3. Establish age-appropriate limits. Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo in their book titled Along the Virtuous Way—Growing Kids God's Way discuss this concept:
"In an attempt to be gracious to their children, many parents unknowingly promote conflict by allowing their children freedoms that are not age-appropriate. These can be too many choices in decision-making, too many verbal freedoms, and too many physical freedoms. What do these freedoms accomplish? They cause a child to be 'wise in his own eyes' [Proverbs 3:5-7; 26:4-5, 12]. Being 'wise in his own eyes' means that a child thinks he has a self-sufficient wisdom that he does not possess" (page 243).
How do we know if our child is demonstrating characteristics of "being wise in his own eyes"? One example is demonstrated in decision making situations, where the parents, in an effort to be accommodating and selfless, allow the child to always dictate where the family will eat, what he will eat and what activity the family will do together afterward. The child develops a feeling of preeminence in decision making matters (becoming addicted to choice) instead of realizing his place in the family. This phenomenon tends to surface more frequently in single-child families.
The apostle Paul wrote it clearly, "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child" (1 Corinthians 13:11). We must not put our children in charge or encourage them to think that they are.
Secondly, in the area of exemplifying premature physical freedoms, the child will simply go where he wants to without asking permission. Thirdly, regarding showing signs of premature verbal freedoms, the child will make statements such as "I am going to...," instead of asking if he may do something (Ezzo, pages 247, 251).
As the Ezzos state, "If your child cannot handle not having a choice, it is time to remove choices from him. When he can handle not having a choice, he is ready for choices" (page 247, emphasis added).
We need to ensure that the amount of freedom and the choices our child can make gradually increase as he or she matures physically and emotionally toward eventual complete freedom of choice at adulthood. Stifling a child's age-appropriate decision-making abilities as he or she matures can be extremely frustrating for a child, damaging an otherwise healthy parent-child relationship.
Recall the Jenny scenario: She showed signs of exercising both diligence and responsibility. Had her mother recognized, valued and commended her for those strengths, expanding her boundaries and allowing her to take on more responsibilities in decision making, the little girl would have blossomed.
But still, as with young children, we can give our teens too much freedom verbally, physically and in decision making as well. I'm reminded of many parents who decided to allow their teens who had grown up in the church to decide for themselves whether or not they would participate in school athletic contests on the Sabbath. In some cases, the teens chose wisely. In other situations, they did not. The parents were then faced with the fact that they were allowing their child living under their roof to blatantly break God's law, one of the Ten Commandments.
Since we are responsible to God for how we raise our children (as Eli was), how can we allow this to happen? Do we say to our children, "It's your decision whether or not you want to lie, steal, kill, commit adultery, honor us as your parents, take God's name in vain or make idols"? God holds us accountable.
4. Be there for your children as your role changes. In the often-quoted parenting passage of Deuteronomy 6:1-9, the unwritten "given" is that the parents are constantly in the presence of their children. We cannot teach our children God's ways in the house, while we're walking by the way, when we're going to sleep at night, and when we awaken in the morning, unless we're right there with them.
The greater amount of time we spend with our children, the greater number of opportunities we have to share teaching moments with them—situations that occur with our children or with others around them from which lessons can be drawn, instances providing perfect illustrations to teach biblical principles. How many teaching moments do we let slip by that would have presented powerful examples of why we've established various boundaries in their lives?
I liked the way the Ezzos describe how our parenting roles change as our children mature. Notice how the boundaries change throughout the four roles or phases:
The Discipline Phase continues approximately until age 5. In this phase the parents' main objective is to lead the child's life—to gain control. Tight boundaries exist, but they are widened slightly as the little child follows his or her parents' directives. In this phase, "your task is to get control of the child so you can effectively train him. If you cannot train your child, you cannot train him to his full potential, nor will anyone else be able to do so" (Ezzo, page 285). At what age is it advisable to begin establishing boundaries? As soon as he or she understands the meaning of "no."
Secondly, the Training Phase continues to age 12. The authors analogize this phase to that of a sports trainer—one who works with a player in practice sessions, preparing him for competition, running him through drills and exercises, stopping play frequently to give further instruction, all prior to entering the game of life (page 285).
During the teen years through age 19, he or she progresses to the Coaching Phase. The coaching and instruction continues, but from the sidelines and only between plays and during timeouts.
"How well you coach your children determines how well they run through the plays of life. What kind of trainer you are determines how they respond to your coaching. The type of disciplinarian you are determines your ability to train your children. How well you have established your right to rule determines what type of disciplinarian you are" (page 285).
When the teen reaches adulthood, as each progressive stage has been successfully built upon the other, the parents enter the Friendship Phase with their son or daughter. Ultimately, that's the relational goal we desire with our children. "Although the parent-child relationship does not cease, both parent and child enter into a new season of life... The process began with tight boundaries, which gave way to responsible behavior leading to freedom" (page 286).
Maintain the balance as you set and enforce appropriate boundaries for your children. As your children follow those guidelines, may they come to understand the peace, comfort and security you and I experience as we walk within the boundaries established by our Father in heaven. UN
Preparing for Passover: A Seasonal and Yearlong Process
Preparing for Passover: A Seasonal and Yearlong Process
As we approach the Passover season, it is traditional to go through a preparation process. Entering the cycle of God's annual festivals should prod us to reflect on the meaning and significance of each of the seven festivals and seven steps in God's master plan.
by Herb Teitgen
As participants in the New Covenant relationship with our heavenly Father, we recognize the central role that His Son and our Savior and coming King plays in each of the seven festivals. The symbolism of the Passover lamb slaughtered by the heads of household in ancient Israel is one of the most clearly understood and expounded ceremonies in the New Testament Scriptures.
Symbolism of Passover Lamb
The apostle Paul affirms the ongoing celebration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread for Christians and recites the understanding of the symbolism of the Passover lamb in 1 Corinthians 5:7, "Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us."
The killing and shedding of the blood of the Passover lamb foreshadowed the death and shed blood of the Man prophesied to be born in Bethlehem and known as Jesus of Nazareth. Through His death and shed blood, human beings can receive redemption and forgiveness of sin (1 Peter 1:18-19; John 1:29). This powerful gift and accomplishment of Christ was possible because of who He was and how He lived His human life. The enormous price He paid was not for His sins, but for the sins of you and me and all mankind.
We in the Church of God do not celebrate as such the birth of Jesus, but we recognize the event as an intrinsic part of the process by which the Eternal, the Word of God, became a human being for the purpose of living a sinless life and then dying to become the Lamb of God and our Passover. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14). "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'" (John 1:29). The Word surrendered His God-level position and eternal spirit existence and was killed and remained dead for three days and three nights to pay the eternal death penalty for our sins.
Christ Is a Sinless Passover and a Merciful High Priest for Sinners
Just as the Passover lamb killed in ancient Israel had to be without blemish (Exodus 12:5), so Christ was without the blemish of sin (1 Peter 1:19; 2:22). The book of Hebrews reminds us of the sinless character of the Jesus, the Word made human. We are also given encouragement concerning His present position as our High Priest and Advocate. "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). "Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people" (Hebrews 2:17).
Christ resisted sin and suffered as He struggled to keep in subjection the human side of His nature. Through this experience He was prepared to aid and help us who are struggling to do the same. "For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18).
Humble Repentance and Overcoming Sin Continues Yearlong and Lifelong
We humbly accept His gift of forgiveness and mercy with thankfulness and repentance. We value our cleansed condition by endeavoring to stay clean. We follow His example by dying to sins through repentance and baptism (1 Peter 2:21, 24; Romans 6:3) and then rising from the dead figuratively to live in newness of life to practice righteousness (Romans 6:4-13) and love God and live His commandments (1 John 5:3).
When we realize why Christ died and how we are personally pardoned by His sacrifice, we need to have a humble and thankful response toward God and a merciful and forgiving response toward others. This attitude and approach is not one we have only at the Passover season but all year long and in fact all of our lives as imperfect human beings. The apostle Paul, as spiritually strong as he was, still acknowledged that he fell short in doing as he should (Romans 7:14-23). He then had to trust in Christ to deliver him from sin and its consequences (Romans 7:24-25).
We all fall short of God's perfect standards as we encounter temptations and challenges. We must be honest with ourselves throughout the year and admit and confess these lapses and sins. We don't wait until the Passover season to practice repentance and seek God's forgiveness and cleansing. We should deal with our sins and shortcomings in a timely manner—as we see them. Christ warns the churches in Revelation 2:5, 16 that He will come quickly if they don't repent. This implies that they need to quickly turn from error and sin when they are confronted by it.
The apostle John gives us both a warning and great encouragement in dealing with our sins and mistakes. "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" (1 John 1:8-9).
Individual Repentance and Overcoming Unifies Body of Christ
With an attitude of humility and thankfulness and appreciation of God's mercy, we are expected to extend that to other members of Christ's Body, the Church. By walking in the light of God's Word, we set an example for others to encourage them. We all are brought closer to God and to one another. "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). We walk in the light by living by God's commandments and also by repenting and changing when we fail to.
Jesus expounded on this principle in His model prayer. Following His instruction to pray for our "daily" bread, He also instructed us to ask God to "forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Matthew 6:11-12). Jesus reinforced this point in His next comments. "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14-15).
The apostle Paul also instructed us in this important lesson that is a part of preparing for Passover. "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32).
Paul addressed the serious mistake of observing Passover "in an unworthy manner." He encouraged the Corinthians and all of us to examine ourselves before we partake of the Passover symbols. We should review the importance of Christ's sacrifice just before the Passover season and also throughout the year. We both discern the pain that Christ suffered in His human body and also discern our relationship to His Body, the Church (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).
The preparation before the Passover season, when accompanied by a yearlong practice of humble repentance, is then a positive, unifying and encouraging experience that reminds us of God's mercy and His desire to prepare us as a body of believers for His Kingdom. We then partake of the Passover with joyful thanksgiving and love for one another. UN
As we approach the Passover season, it is traditional to go through a preparation process. Entering the cycle of God's annual festivals should prod us to reflect on the meaning and significance of each of the seven festivals and seven steps in God's master plan.
by Herb Teitgen
As participants in the New Covenant relationship with our heavenly Father, we recognize the central role that His Son and our Savior and coming King plays in each of the seven festivals. The symbolism of the Passover lamb slaughtered by the heads of household in ancient Israel is one of the most clearly understood and expounded ceremonies in the New Testament Scriptures.
Symbolism of Passover Lamb
The apostle Paul affirms the ongoing celebration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread for Christians and recites the understanding of the symbolism of the Passover lamb in 1 Corinthians 5:7, "Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us."
The killing and shedding of the blood of the Passover lamb foreshadowed the death and shed blood of the Man prophesied to be born in Bethlehem and known as Jesus of Nazareth. Through His death and shed blood, human beings can receive redemption and forgiveness of sin (1 Peter 1:18-19; John 1:29). This powerful gift and accomplishment of Christ was possible because of who He was and how He lived His human life. The enormous price He paid was not for His sins, but for the sins of you and me and all mankind.
We in the Church of God do not celebrate as such the birth of Jesus, but we recognize the event as an intrinsic part of the process by which the Eternal, the Word of God, became a human being for the purpose of living a sinless life and then dying to become the Lamb of God and our Passover. "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14). "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'" (John 1:29). The Word surrendered His God-level position and eternal spirit existence and was killed and remained dead for three days and three nights to pay the eternal death penalty for our sins.
Christ Is a Sinless Passover and a Merciful High Priest for Sinners
Just as the Passover lamb killed in ancient Israel had to be without blemish (Exodus 12:5), so Christ was without the blemish of sin (1 Peter 1:19; 2:22). The book of Hebrews reminds us of the sinless character of the Jesus, the Word made human. We are also given encouragement concerning His present position as our High Priest and Advocate. "For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). "Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people" (Hebrews 2:17).
Christ resisted sin and suffered as He struggled to keep in subjection the human side of His nature. Through this experience He was prepared to aid and help us who are struggling to do the same. "For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18).
Humble Repentance and Overcoming Sin Continues Yearlong and Lifelong
We humbly accept His gift of forgiveness and mercy with thankfulness and repentance. We value our cleansed condition by endeavoring to stay clean. We follow His example by dying to sins through repentance and baptism (1 Peter 2:21, 24; Romans 6:3) and then rising from the dead figuratively to live in newness of life to practice righteousness (Romans 6:4-13) and love God and live His commandments (1 John 5:3).
When we realize why Christ died and how we are personally pardoned by His sacrifice, we need to have a humble and thankful response toward God and a merciful and forgiving response toward others. This attitude and approach is not one we have only at the Passover season but all year long and in fact all of our lives as imperfect human beings. The apostle Paul, as spiritually strong as he was, still acknowledged that he fell short in doing as he should (Romans 7:14-23). He then had to trust in Christ to deliver him from sin and its consequences (Romans 7:24-25).
We all fall short of God's perfect standards as we encounter temptations and challenges. We must be honest with ourselves throughout the year and admit and confess these lapses and sins. We don't wait until the Passover season to practice repentance and seek God's forgiveness and cleansing. We should deal with our sins and shortcomings in a timely manner—as we see them. Christ warns the churches in Revelation 2:5, 16 that He will come quickly if they don't repent. This implies that they need to quickly turn from error and sin when they are confronted by it.
The apostle John gives us both a warning and great encouragement in dealing with our sins and mistakes. "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" (1 John 1:8-9).
Individual Repentance and Overcoming Unifies Body of Christ
With an attitude of humility and thankfulness and appreciation of God's mercy, we are expected to extend that to other members of Christ's Body, the Church. By walking in the light of God's Word, we set an example for others to encourage them. We all are brought closer to God and to one another. "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7). We walk in the light by living by God's commandments and also by repenting and changing when we fail to.
Jesus expounded on this principle in His model prayer. Following His instruction to pray for our "daily" bread, He also instructed us to ask God to "forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" (Matthew 6:11-12). Jesus reinforced this point in His next comments. "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matthew 6:14-15).
The apostle Paul also instructed us in this important lesson that is a part of preparing for Passover. "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:32).
Paul addressed the serious mistake of observing Passover "in an unworthy manner." He encouraged the Corinthians and all of us to examine ourselves before we partake of the Passover symbols. We should review the importance of Christ's sacrifice just before the Passover season and also throughout the year. We both discern the pain that Christ suffered in His human body and also discern our relationship to His Body, the Church (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).
The preparation before the Passover season, when accompanied by a yearlong practice of humble repentance, is then a positive, unifying and encouraging experience that reminds us of God's mercy and His desire to prepare us as a body of believers for His Kingdom. We then partake of the Passover with joyful thanksgiving and love for one another. UN
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
What About The Resurrection
This morning I found myself reading in a copy of The Herald of Christ's Kingdom (Issue May/June 2009, "Works of the Second Advent"). I have compiled a list of quotes and commentary notes for us to chew on (meditate). May this post enlighten and bring the joys of truth to our hearts this day. May the words herein slay giants whom lie in wait for us. The truth shall set us free and we claim that victory to-day!
When first studying the gospels we realize fairly quickly Christ addressed several categories of people. There were Pharisees and Saducees called out several times. These are interesting to examine closer.(See Acts 23.8)
The Pharisees seemed to get scolded quite a lot. But why? The Pharisees believed in the resurrection. They believed in the law of God. They believed themselves to be righteous within those laws. They believed a lie. Did you catch it? NO man (human) can live up to the laws of God and walk in this flesh. It isn't possible. This is why Christ Jesus is so important because he was perfect. He defeated death by overcoming temptation in victory through the Holy Spirit provided by our Father in the highest heaven. The Pharisees didn't understand the how and who.
The Saducees did not believe in the resurrection. They were more of a "what you see is what you get" kinda people. They believed you better live it up or make the most of it cause when you die... you are dead and that is it. Doesn't mean there were no good mannered and respectable people in their midst! Just means they were without faith in God and his ultimate plan. They didn't understand the what for and why.
"Adam Clark (1762-1832) was a British Methodist theologian and biblical scholar. He wrote a commentary on the Bible which took forty years to complete. This is what he said about the reurrection in endnote three, following 1 Corinthians chapter 15:
"The doctrine of the resurrection appears to have been thought of much more consequence among the primitive Christians than it is now. How is this? The apostles were continually instisting on it, and exciting the followers of God to diligence, obedience, and cheerfulness through it. And their successors in the present day seldom mention it! So apostles preached, and so primitive Christians believed; so we preach, and so our hearers believe. There is not a doctrine in teh Gospel on which more stress is laid; and there is not a doctrine in the present system of preaching which is treated with more neglect!"
"... - It makes sense to call death a sleep only if there is a prospect of an awakening from that sleep. Notice in the example of wicked king Ahab's sleeping, which in turn gives way to understanding the New Testament when it clearly states they all being dead will be raised to life again, even the ungodly."
"Christians should have no uncertainty abou thte doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. In fact the apostle calls it a fundamental doctrine: "Let us leave behind us then all the elementary teaching about Christ and concentrate on its compleation, withou t going over the fundamental doctrines again: the turning away from dead actions and toward faith in God: the teaching about baptisms and the laying on of hands; the teaching about the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment."
(Heb. 6.1,2)
(Recommended reading... 1 Corinthians 15)
When first studying the gospels we realize fairly quickly Christ addressed several categories of people. There were Pharisees and Saducees called out several times. These are interesting to examine closer.(See Acts 23.8)
The Pharisees seemed to get scolded quite a lot. But why? The Pharisees believed in the resurrection. They believed in the law of God. They believed themselves to be righteous within those laws. They believed a lie. Did you catch it? NO man (human) can live up to the laws of God and walk in this flesh. It isn't possible. This is why Christ Jesus is so important because he was perfect. He defeated death by overcoming temptation in victory through the Holy Spirit provided by our Father in the highest heaven. The Pharisees didn't understand the how and who.
The Saducees did not believe in the resurrection. They were more of a "what you see is what you get" kinda people. They believed you better live it up or make the most of it cause when you die... you are dead and that is it. Doesn't mean there were no good mannered and respectable people in their midst! Just means they were without faith in God and his ultimate plan. They didn't understand the what for and why.
"Adam Clark (1762-1832) was a British Methodist theologian and biblical scholar. He wrote a commentary on the Bible which took forty years to complete. This is what he said about the reurrection in endnote three, following 1 Corinthians chapter 15:
"The doctrine of the resurrection appears to have been thought of much more consequence among the primitive Christians than it is now. How is this? The apostles were continually instisting on it, and exciting the followers of God to diligence, obedience, and cheerfulness through it. And their successors in the present day seldom mention it! So apostles preached, and so primitive Christians believed; so we preach, and so our hearers believe. There is not a doctrine in teh Gospel on which more stress is laid; and there is not a doctrine in the present system of preaching which is treated with more neglect!"
"... - It makes sense to call death a sleep only if there is a prospect of an awakening from that sleep. Notice in the example of wicked king Ahab's sleeping, which in turn gives way to understanding the New Testament when it clearly states they all being dead will be raised to life again, even the ungodly."
"Christians should have no uncertainty abou thte doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. In fact the apostle calls it a fundamental doctrine: "Let us leave behind us then all the elementary teaching about Christ and concentrate on its compleation, withou t going over the fundamental doctrines again: the turning away from dead actions and toward faith in God: the teaching about baptisms and the laying on of hands; the teaching about the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment."
(Heb. 6.1,2)
(Recommended reading... 1 Corinthians 15)
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Insecurity, Insensibility, and Instability
INSECURITY, INSENSIBILITY, AND INSTABILITY
Insecurity, Insensibility, and Instability are the subjects of this lesson; however before we look into the Scriptures for our Father's insight let us better understand what the definitions of these 3 words are (for they are all states of weakness in which we make ourselves more easy targets for Satan to lay hold on us with his chains of bondage!)
INSECURITY- a state of anxiety about earthly needs
Ask yourselves the following questions:
1.Have I ever worried about my needs being met?
2.Have I leaned on myself or other people for support?
INSENSIBILITY- deadness of spiritual life
Ask yourselves the following questions:
1.Have I ever ignored my Father in Heaven?
2.Have I chosen to remain ignorant about Father's plan and purpose?
INSTABILITY- lack of firmness of convictions
Ask yourselves the following questions:
1.Have I ever allowed man's traditions to bring confusion into my worship?
2.Have I chosen to be spiritually a reed in the wind?
Now let us turn to the Scriptures to see what our Father has told us about these particular items and remember this...one is as important as the other. Our Christianity must be tightly linked together without holes in it! You can't have security without stability and can't have either of those with out sensibility! I have stated many times over that “COMMON SENSE” is one of the greater gifts of our Father.
Insecurity
A. Descriptive of:
Wicked...................................Ps. 37.1,2, 10 (whole chapter)
Riches.....................................I Tim. 6.17 (whole chapter)
Those trusting in themselves..Luke 12.16-21 (13-21)
B. Cure of :
Steadfast of mind....................Is. 26.3 (1-4)
Rely upon God's promises......Ps. 37.1-26
(pg. 2- Insecurity, Insensibility, and Instability)
Remember God's provision....Phil. 4.9-19 (4-20)
Put God first...........................Matt. 6.25-34 (24-34)
Insensibility
A. Kinda of:
Physical.................................Judges 19.26-29 (22-29)
Spiritual.................................Jer. 5.3, 21 (whole chapter)
Judicial..................................Acts 28.25-28 (whole chapter)
B. Causes of:
Seared conscience........................I Tim. 4.2 (whole chapter)
Spiritual ignorance.......................Eph. 4.18, 19 (whole chapter)
Wanton pleasure...........................I Tim. 5.6 (whole chapter)
Instability
A. Causes of :
Deception......................................Gal. 3.1; Col. 2.4-8 (whole chapters both)
Immaturity.....................................I Tim. 3.6 (whole chapter)
False Teaching..............................2 Cor, 11.3, 4; Gal. 1.6-11 (whole chapters both)
Lack of Depth................................Heb. 5.11-14 (whole chapter)
Unsettled Mind..............................Eph. 4.14; James 1.6-8 (whole chapters both)
B. Examples of:
Pharaoh..........................................Ex. 10.8-20
Israel..............................................Judges 2.17
Soloman........................................I Kings 11.1-8
Disciples........................................John 6.66
John Mark.....................................Acts 15.37, 38
Galations.......................................Gal. 1.6
*Where you have verses or the words “whole chapter” in ( ) this is so that you may actually pick up the complete subject and read through until the object is located in the entirety as it was written for the readers complete understanding and knowledge! Always pick up your subject and object when studying. God bless you.
Insecurity, Insensibility, and Instability are the subjects of this lesson; however before we look into the Scriptures for our Father's insight let us better understand what the definitions of these 3 words are (for they are all states of weakness in which we make ourselves more easy targets for Satan to lay hold on us with his chains of bondage!)
INSECURITY- a state of anxiety about earthly needs
Ask yourselves the following questions:
1.Have I ever worried about my needs being met?
2.Have I leaned on myself or other people for support?
INSENSIBILITY- deadness of spiritual life
Ask yourselves the following questions:
1.Have I ever ignored my Father in Heaven?
2.Have I chosen to remain ignorant about Father's plan and purpose?
INSTABILITY- lack of firmness of convictions
Ask yourselves the following questions:
1.Have I ever allowed man's traditions to bring confusion into my worship?
2.Have I chosen to be spiritually a reed in the wind?
Now let us turn to the Scriptures to see what our Father has told us about these particular items and remember this...one is as important as the other. Our Christianity must be tightly linked together without holes in it! You can't have security without stability and can't have either of those with out sensibility! I have stated many times over that “COMMON SENSE” is one of the greater gifts of our Father.
Insecurity
A. Descriptive of:
Wicked...................................Ps. 37.1,2, 10 (whole chapter)
Riches.....................................I Tim. 6.17 (whole chapter)
Those trusting in themselves..Luke 12.16-21 (13-21)
B. Cure of :
Steadfast of mind....................Is. 26.3 (1-4)
Rely upon God's promises......Ps. 37.1-26
(pg. 2- Insecurity, Insensibility, and Instability)
Remember God's provision....Phil. 4.9-19 (4-20)
Put God first...........................Matt. 6.25-34 (24-34)
Insensibility
A. Kinda of:
Physical.................................Judges 19.26-29 (22-29)
Spiritual.................................Jer. 5.3, 21 (whole chapter)
Judicial..................................Acts 28.25-28 (whole chapter)
B. Causes of:
Seared conscience........................I Tim. 4.2 (whole chapter)
Spiritual ignorance.......................Eph. 4.18, 19 (whole chapter)
Wanton pleasure...........................I Tim. 5.6 (whole chapter)
Instability
A. Causes of :
Deception......................................Gal. 3.1; Col. 2.4-8 (whole chapters both)
Immaturity.....................................I Tim. 3.6 (whole chapter)
False Teaching..............................2 Cor, 11.3, 4; Gal. 1.6-11 (whole chapters both)
Lack of Depth................................Heb. 5.11-14 (whole chapter)
Unsettled Mind..............................Eph. 4.14; James 1.6-8 (whole chapters both)
B. Examples of:
Pharaoh..........................................Ex. 10.8-20
Israel..............................................Judges 2.17
Soloman........................................I Kings 11.1-8
Disciples........................................John 6.66
John Mark.....................................Acts 15.37, 38
Galations.......................................Gal. 1.6
*Where you have verses or the words “whole chapter” in ( ) this is so that you may actually pick up the complete subject and read through until the object is located in the entirety as it was written for the readers complete understanding and knowledge! Always pick up your subject and object when studying. God bless you.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
The Second Month Passover Invitation for those wanting to attend in the Southwest Arkansas Area (Ark-la-tex)
April 21, 2009
This is an invitation to attend in the collective efforts of honoring Passover (Saturday, May 9, 2009) with a conglomeration of congregations on this the Highest Holy Day of the Christian year. As we would like to see Christians of all denominational borders join together uniting on this day of love and respect for our Father's sacrifice of HIS PERFECT LAMB (Son) made for us. Leaving all pagan traditions/man's traditions out of HIS (not our) humble remembrance. "Keep doing this in remembrance of me," Jesus said. Shall we not obey and think (doubt) our salvation for another year?
As you may have noticed the clock is ticking and the second month Passover is fast approaching, May 8th at sundown through May 9th until sundown. Therefore, it is essential your replies and inquires happen as quick and as swiftly as possible.
With this being the Generation of the Fig Tree (last generation/ the generation of contempt) the efforts and happenings seem to build too greater heights everyday. Our brothers, sisters, and children are starved of Biblical Truth. This is an opportunity to feed on the restoration, plant seeds of faith, hope and love, change lives of sin to lives of glory for God, and reap blessings from our Almighty and Loving Father through leading HIS sheep back to The Chief Shepherd, Yashua (JESUS). The Passover is all about THE LAMB of God and you embracing what HE did for YOU, a child of God.
We have a schedule to put together of those anointed in gifts of singing, playing guitar or other instruments, witnessing through testimonials, prayer warriors, and disciples of the Word. Therefore let anyone of us come forward to fulfill our calling (invitation) to accepting the grace in the atoning Blood of Christ. Simply make a note that you feel led to share your anointing with us and we will surely make room for it in our itenerary.
This shall be a joyous occasion. If the Holy Spirit stirs within you, an unction within your soul and spirit or within your prayer about the efforts of this commemorative event of all HE has done and will continue to do for us; contact:
The King of Peace Ministries
Elder Deborah Dodson 870-696-3580
Elder Paul Ebarb 318-579-0135
or e-mail to bee4eturnallife@yahoo.com
Directions or map are available upon request.
Together we shall seek the face of God and find the Holy Spirit in that Holy of Holies. Where two or more are gathered in MY NAME, I am there with them!!! We must not forget that very important key. Come and embrace the GRACE OF OUR FATHER!
This is an invitation to attend in the collective efforts of honoring Passover (Saturday, May 9, 2009) with a conglomeration of congregations on this the Highest Holy Day of the Christian year. As we would like to see Christians of all denominational borders join together uniting on this day of love and respect for our Father's sacrifice of HIS PERFECT LAMB (Son) made for us. Leaving all pagan traditions/man's traditions out of HIS (not our) humble remembrance. "Keep doing this in remembrance of me," Jesus said. Shall we not obey and think (doubt) our salvation for another year?
As you may have noticed the clock is ticking and the second month Passover is fast approaching, May 8th at sundown through May 9th until sundown. Therefore, it is essential your replies and inquires happen as quick and as swiftly as possible.
With this being the Generation of the Fig Tree (last generation/ the generation of contempt) the efforts and happenings seem to build too greater heights everyday. Our brothers, sisters, and children are starved of Biblical Truth. This is an opportunity to feed on the restoration, plant seeds of faith, hope and love, change lives of sin to lives of glory for God, and reap blessings from our Almighty and Loving Father through leading HIS sheep back to The Chief Shepherd, Yashua (JESUS). The Passover is all about THE LAMB of God and you embracing what HE did for YOU, a child of God.
We have a schedule to put together of those anointed in gifts of singing, playing guitar or other instruments, witnessing through testimonials, prayer warriors, and disciples of the Word. Therefore let anyone of us come forward to fulfill our calling (invitation) to accepting the grace in the atoning Blood of Christ. Simply make a note that you feel led to share your anointing with us and we will surely make room for it in our itenerary.
This shall be a joyous occasion. If the Holy Spirit stirs within you, an unction within your soul and spirit or within your prayer about the efforts of this commemorative event of all HE has done and will continue to do for us; contact:
The King of Peace Ministries
Elder Deborah Dodson 870-696-3580
Elder Paul Ebarb 318-579-0135
or e-mail to bee4eturnallife@yahoo.com
Directions or map are available upon request.
Together we shall seek the face of God and find the Holy Spirit in that Holy of Holies. Where two or more are gathered in MY NAME, I am there with them!!! We must not forget that very important key. Come and embrace the GRACE OF OUR FATHER!
Monday, April 20, 2009
The Passover Update
Just wanted to give you all an update on how Passover this year went here in Macedonia, AR. We had a great turnout and the atmosphere was filled with Praises to the Lord, fellowship, spiritual renewal, and communion between our spirits and hearts and the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
We all had a great time reading the scriptures and meditating on what all the Lord had delivered us from in the past and focusing on where He shall lead us in the future year at hand. The prayers and anointing were much needed by us all.
Sometimes we forget that the evil forces, to wit drag us down and out of the favor of God, do have powers in this evil world in which we live. However, we have to renew our thinking to know that we have been given powers over them through the BLOOD OF CHRIST! As long as we walk under the covenant of God (the Blood of Christ) we can and should execute the exercising of our power over the evil spirits (demons) of this world. This is not just a whim and wish... but a duty through our commissioning of Christ. We are not only to stay delivered from the evil ourselves... but to also help those who are struggling and desire to be set free.
I would recommend that we all read the following chapter of Isaiah and see exactly what our true commission has been all along.
Chapter 61
The work of Christ
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
The preferment
4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
8 For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Isaiah 61:1-11 (KJV)
May this move in your spirit this day!
Amen.
We all had a great time reading the scriptures and meditating on what all the Lord had delivered us from in the past and focusing on where He shall lead us in the future year at hand. The prayers and anointing were much needed by us all.
Sometimes we forget that the evil forces, to wit drag us down and out of the favor of God, do have powers in this evil world in which we live. However, we have to renew our thinking to know that we have been given powers over them through the BLOOD OF CHRIST! As long as we walk under the covenant of God (the Blood of Christ) we can and should execute the exercising of our power over the evil spirits (demons) of this world. This is not just a whim and wish... but a duty through our commissioning of Christ. We are not only to stay delivered from the evil ourselves... but to also help those who are struggling and desire to be set free.
I would recommend that we all read the following chapter of Isaiah and see exactly what our true commission has been all along.
Chapter 61
The work of Christ
1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
2 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.
The preferment
4 And they shall build the old wastes, they shall raise up the former desolations, and they shall repair the waste cities, the desolations of many generations.
5 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers.
6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.
8 For I the LORD love judgment, I hate robbery for burnt offering; and I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.
9 And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.
Isaiah 61:1-11 (KJV)
May this move in your spirit this day!
Amen.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Warning and Know How
WARNING:
SPIRITUAL WAR HAS BEEN DECLARED
THROUGH DARK FORCES THAT HAVE
BLINDSIDED OUR PEOPLE BY DISORIENTING
WITH CONFUSION, DECEPTION, AND
DISTRUCTION! THERE IS BUT ONE WHOLE
TRUTH, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH,
SO HELP US, LORD GOD! THE MIND (Spiritual Conductor)
IS THE BATTLEFIELD FOR THE SPIRIT-FILLED HEART (SOUL)
OF MAN! WHO PROTECTS YOU? WHAT ARE
YOU WEARING INTO BATTLE?
While it has surely been quite a while since my last entry unto your souls from mine, it has become abundantly clear as to why that very thing which I so joyously enjoy had been made silent. Our love stems outwardly as the fruit of our spirit becomes the product of our very soul. And when your watering system ceases from being a wellspring of living water and your root system must seek the waters of a stale cistern, it is hard to pull off sweet, good fruit fresh from the Throne of LORD God Almighty and Sovern!!!
The pressures of fulfilment of this great and awesome destination can be petrifying if we look down and see truly how far HE has already delivered us up and out of the fires of this garbage pit called hell!!! I have caught myself battling to climb up another rung on Jacob's latter, one of my very fore-fathers to wit is also known as Israel ( need we a reminder of the mysteries of our Wise Creator?).
What was I battling? Oh, why I would love to tell you but you are probably battling so hard right now that some of you won't be able to focus enough to even hear! However, there are some that have been given the gifts of: ears to hear, eyes to see, hearts to heal, hands to touch, love to share, wisdom to exercise, knowledge to unlock, understanding to climb, hope to continue, faith to deliver, and the Holy Spirit to move, bind, and proclaim of the victory to come!
Passover, the greatest gift memorialized forever throughout our generations as commanded by THE JUDGE and SUPREME HIGH GOD of any and all other gods, LORD of any and all lords, KING of any and all kings, is this coming April 9th at sundown in this year of our LORD 2009. That is only days away. I have brothers and sisters of faith looking to me, as a trusted Elder of faithful compassion and wise counsel with The Throne of our LORD leading me. Some are new to this awesome redemption from the deceptions of man's towers of Babel on every corner. Some have been partakers for several years now.
This is a powerful time to enter into the covenant of God. This is a powerful time to render yourself unto the GREATEST GIFT EVER GIVEN TO MANKIND, CHRIST YESHUA MESSIAH THE KING OF THE ONLY TRUE PEACE-FILLED SPIRIT! The holy days are an earthly story with a heavenly meaning; filled with foreshadows of the history coming to pass just as it began. However, this is that which I must tell you to combat just as I to date am battling against so strongly... GUILT! Guilt is the Devil's favorite and most effective fiery dart of all fiery darts that bombard our battlefields (mind). The opposing force that our Father gives us is FAITH of which shields us from the penetration of the lies (deceptions) that confuse and disorient us! And ask any soldier of this earth... they will tell you they would not like to be trapped in a fox hole with a bunch of confused and disoriented men and women in a heated battle. So why would or should we?
AND Our Father has turned this firey furnace up several notches as to try us all by the fires of conviction and truth that cuts into our ceared fleshy thinking! We all had better get to climbing up that latter as the world is being engulfed as hell has and is (that is past and present, my friend) enlarged and enlarging itself full throttle ahead! Those plagues within those vials are going to be as gasoline poored onto this earth of fire! Need we remind ourselves that OUR Protector is not here yet therefore when those 4 winds cut loose... well, surely we all know what wind feeds fire with! If we aren't far enough up on that latter Jacob was given when this wrath unleashes to keep us (our souls) soaked in the latter rains of truth... well, we shall be sorrowful in our wounds of being kissed by the fire of fires, also known as convictions/judgements; or even worse yet being a fatality in spirit when this befalls us in totality.
The coming of the Lord is nearer than ever before and the prophecies just keep unfolding as the history takes less and less time to repeat itself. Christ has sped up the time and yet we sit dazed and confused! It is time to raise our head from the sands of time and seize that victory for HIS NAMES SAKE! Cause I don't know about you, but I am getting sick and tired of just being sick and tired all the time and getting no where fast!
In order to do this... we have to suit up in the armor of God which is really simple! While I am not talking down to you I am about to school you as our Father has schooled me. Remember, HE does have to talk DOWN to us from where HE sets with the BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE... THE THRONE of thrones!
Ephesians 6 reads in verses 10-20:
“For the rest, my brothers, be empowered in the Lord and in the might of the strength of HIM. Put on the whole armor of God, in order to be able, (YOU) to stand against the wiles of the devil. Because NOT is to us wrestling against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world's rulers of the darkness age of this, against the spiritual (powers) of evil in the heavenlies. Because of this take up the whole armor of God, that you be able to resist in the day of the evil and all things having worked out to stand. Stand therefore having girded about the loins of you with truth, and having put on the breastplace of the righteousness, and having shod the feet with (the) preparation of the gospel of peace; above all having taken up the shield of faith, by which you will be able, all the darts of the evil one, having been made fiery to quench. And the helmet of salvation take, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; through all prayer and petition praying at every time in (the) Spirit, and to same thing this watching in all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints, and on behalf of me, that to me may be given speech in opening of the mouth of me in boldness, to make known the mystery of the gospel for which I am ambassador in a chain, that in it I may speak boldly, as it behooves me to speak.” (Original text translation from Greek to English, Green's Interlinear Bible)
Now let's compare with the King James Version:
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high (places). Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all taking the shield of faith, where with ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
So, we can see it is VERY important to PICK UP & PUT ON the armor of God... this is an action! We have to actually DO something here! It doesn't just automatically leap onto us! AND we see this is what allows us to stand up! And I can surely testify that without it we can't ever get passed that beat down feeling, you know the one when the Devil is riding on your back with doubts, confusion, lies, and destruction through guilt!
Our salvation must be protected from all these evil tactics of the Devil to rob of us it. We must KNOW the truth to possess it to hold us together in battle. We must believe that through faith we can cast mountains (huge problems, adversities) into the sea. We must believe that we have authority over evil spirits of this world through Christ Yeshua. We must believe that in our hour of need He is there with us! We must believe that HE died, was buried, and was resurrected so that you and I might have salvation through HIS grace and purchased blood of the unblemished perfect lamb slain! We are purchased through the blood if we are true believers. We are bought and paid for out of the slavery of sin if we be true Christians. We have faith, hope, and love to see us through. Pray for our enemies... nothing quicker will avenge God's wrath on someone than forgiveness! For this makes our accusors false witnesses before the Throne of God. Do it HIS way and see results verses doing it the devil's way and getting even sicker from the burdens of lies and deception.
Fight the good fight! Paul said this in one of his many epistles in the NT. Why is it that such a simple phrase can be so twisted and tormented by us? We are instructed to FIGHT! There is NO peace on earth, nor shall there be until the return of LAW AND ORDER through the Son of God at the 7th Trump when EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW! We must warn as many as we can... some will hear, some will not. Some will persecute and talk about you at every turn, but this is a marker of doing it right. It is when everything is rocking along to good that we should worry. It is when we have no opponents that we should worry about where we are in our walk with God for on this earth a non-believers shame, doubt, guilt only oppress us IF WE ALLOW it too do so. Those who persecute us, help us to stick to the truth and follow the example set for us by Christ Yeshua and even the other saints, apostles, prophets, and disciples of whom remained like-minded (spirited) as Christ.
Examining ourselves PRE-Passover is very important. It is important to seek the circumcision of your heart before setting down at the Passover Table to sup with the LORD. This high holy day is very personal between you and He. This is a day of humble recognition of who our Father is, who our Brother is, and what we should be in the coming year. This is a memorial of the greatest gift ever paid for anyone... and HE paid it for you and me. AMEN?
SPIRITUAL WAR HAS BEEN DECLARED
THROUGH DARK FORCES THAT HAVE
BLINDSIDED OUR PEOPLE BY DISORIENTING
WITH CONFUSION, DECEPTION, AND
DISTRUCTION! THERE IS BUT ONE WHOLE
TRUTH, NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH,
SO HELP US, LORD GOD! THE MIND (Spiritual Conductor)
IS THE BATTLEFIELD FOR THE SPIRIT-FILLED HEART (SOUL)
OF MAN! WHO PROTECTS YOU? WHAT ARE
YOU WEARING INTO BATTLE?
While it has surely been quite a while since my last entry unto your souls from mine, it has become abundantly clear as to why that very thing which I so joyously enjoy had been made silent. Our love stems outwardly as the fruit of our spirit becomes the product of our very soul. And when your watering system ceases from being a wellspring of living water and your root system must seek the waters of a stale cistern, it is hard to pull off sweet, good fruit fresh from the Throne of LORD God Almighty and Sovern!!!
The pressures of fulfilment of this great and awesome destination can be petrifying if we look down and see truly how far HE has already delivered us up and out of the fires of this garbage pit called hell!!! I have caught myself battling to climb up another rung on Jacob's latter, one of my very fore-fathers to wit is also known as Israel ( need we a reminder of the mysteries of our Wise Creator?).
What was I battling? Oh, why I would love to tell you but you are probably battling so hard right now that some of you won't be able to focus enough to even hear! However, there are some that have been given the gifts of: ears to hear, eyes to see, hearts to heal, hands to touch, love to share, wisdom to exercise, knowledge to unlock, understanding to climb, hope to continue, faith to deliver, and the Holy Spirit to move, bind, and proclaim of the victory to come!
Passover, the greatest gift memorialized forever throughout our generations as commanded by THE JUDGE and SUPREME HIGH GOD of any and all other gods, LORD of any and all lords, KING of any and all kings, is this coming April 9th at sundown in this year of our LORD 2009. That is only days away. I have brothers and sisters of faith looking to me, as a trusted Elder of faithful compassion and wise counsel with The Throne of our LORD leading me. Some are new to this awesome redemption from the deceptions of man's towers of Babel on every corner. Some have been partakers for several years now.
This is a powerful time to enter into the covenant of God. This is a powerful time to render yourself unto the GREATEST GIFT EVER GIVEN TO MANKIND, CHRIST YESHUA MESSIAH THE KING OF THE ONLY TRUE PEACE-FILLED SPIRIT! The holy days are an earthly story with a heavenly meaning; filled with foreshadows of the history coming to pass just as it began. However, this is that which I must tell you to combat just as I to date am battling against so strongly... GUILT! Guilt is the Devil's favorite and most effective fiery dart of all fiery darts that bombard our battlefields (mind). The opposing force that our Father gives us is FAITH of which shields us from the penetration of the lies (deceptions) that confuse and disorient us! And ask any soldier of this earth... they will tell you they would not like to be trapped in a fox hole with a bunch of confused and disoriented men and women in a heated battle. So why would or should we?
AND Our Father has turned this firey furnace up several notches as to try us all by the fires of conviction and truth that cuts into our ceared fleshy thinking! We all had better get to climbing up that latter as the world is being engulfed as hell has and is (that is past and present, my friend) enlarged and enlarging itself full throttle ahead! Those plagues within those vials are going to be as gasoline poored onto this earth of fire! Need we remind ourselves that OUR Protector is not here yet therefore when those 4 winds cut loose... well, surely we all know what wind feeds fire with! If we aren't far enough up on that latter Jacob was given when this wrath unleashes to keep us (our souls) soaked in the latter rains of truth... well, we shall be sorrowful in our wounds of being kissed by the fire of fires, also known as convictions/judgements; or even worse yet being a fatality in spirit when this befalls us in totality.
The coming of the Lord is nearer than ever before and the prophecies just keep unfolding as the history takes less and less time to repeat itself. Christ has sped up the time and yet we sit dazed and confused! It is time to raise our head from the sands of time and seize that victory for HIS NAMES SAKE! Cause I don't know about you, but I am getting sick and tired of just being sick and tired all the time and getting no where fast!
In order to do this... we have to suit up in the armor of God which is really simple! While I am not talking down to you I am about to school you as our Father has schooled me. Remember, HE does have to talk DOWN to us from where HE sets with the BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE... THE THRONE of thrones!
Ephesians 6 reads in verses 10-20:
“For the rest, my brothers, be empowered in the Lord and in the might of the strength of HIM. Put on the whole armor of God, in order to be able, (YOU) to stand against the wiles of the devil. Because NOT is to us wrestling against blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world's rulers of the darkness age of this, against the spiritual (powers) of evil in the heavenlies. Because of this take up the whole armor of God, that you be able to resist in the day of the evil and all things having worked out to stand. Stand therefore having girded about the loins of you with truth, and having put on the breastplace of the righteousness, and having shod the feet with (the) preparation of the gospel of peace; above all having taken up the shield of faith, by which you will be able, all the darts of the evil one, having been made fiery to quench. And the helmet of salvation take, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God; through all prayer and petition praying at every time in (the) Spirit, and to same thing this watching in all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints, and on behalf of me, that to me may be given speech in opening of the mouth of me in boldness, to make known the mystery of the gospel for which I am ambassador in a chain, that in it I may speak boldly, as it behooves me to speak.” (Original text translation from Greek to English, Green's Interlinear Bible)
Now let's compare with the King James Version:
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high (places). Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all taking the shield of faith, where with ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
So, we can see it is VERY important to PICK UP & PUT ON the armor of God... this is an action! We have to actually DO something here! It doesn't just automatically leap onto us! AND we see this is what allows us to stand up! And I can surely testify that without it we can't ever get passed that beat down feeling, you know the one when the Devil is riding on your back with doubts, confusion, lies, and destruction through guilt!
Our salvation must be protected from all these evil tactics of the Devil to rob of us it. We must KNOW the truth to possess it to hold us together in battle. We must believe that through faith we can cast mountains (huge problems, adversities) into the sea. We must believe that we have authority over evil spirits of this world through Christ Yeshua. We must believe that in our hour of need He is there with us! We must believe that HE died, was buried, and was resurrected so that you and I might have salvation through HIS grace and purchased blood of the unblemished perfect lamb slain! We are purchased through the blood if we are true believers. We are bought and paid for out of the slavery of sin if we be true Christians. We have faith, hope, and love to see us through. Pray for our enemies... nothing quicker will avenge God's wrath on someone than forgiveness! For this makes our accusors false witnesses before the Throne of God. Do it HIS way and see results verses doing it the devil's way and getting even sicker from the burdens of lies and deception.
Fight the good fight! Paul said this in one of his many epistles in the NT. Why is it that such a simple phrase can be so twisted and tormented by us? We are instructed to FIGHT! There is NO peace on earth, nor shall there be until the return of LAW AND ORDER through the Son of God at the 7th Trump when EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW! We must warn as many as we can... some will hear, some will not. Some will persecute and talk about you at every turn, but this is a marker of doing it right. It is when everything is rocking along to good that we should worry. It is when we have no opponents that we should worry about where we are in our walk with God for on this earth a non-believers shame, doubt, guilt only oppress us IF WE ALLOW it too do so. Those who persecute us, help us to stick to the truth and follow the example set for us by Christ Yeshua and even the other saints, apostles, prophets, and disciples of whom remained like-minded (spirited) as Christ.
Examining ourselves PRE-Passover is very important. It is important to seek the circumcision of your heart before setting down at the Passover Table to sup with the LORD. This high holy day is very personal between you and He. This is a day of humble recognition of who our Father is, who our Brother is, and what we should be in the coming year. This is a memorial of the greatest gift ever paid for anyone... and HE paid it for you and me. AMEN?
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The Six Days before the Passover and The Week of Unleavened Bread
Ap. 156
“Six days before the Passover” (Jn. 12 : 1)
(We will read from sources within the gospels)
6th day before The Passover, the 9th Nisan = sundown April 3, 2009 = Friday evening until Saturday, 4th @ sundown
Luke 19 : 1-23; Matt. 21 : 1-17; John 12 : 1
5th day before Passover, The 10th of Nisan = sundown April 4, 2009 = Saturday evening until Sunday, 5th @ sundown
John 12 : 2-11 * 1st of 3 “Lord's Supper's” 1 of 2 anointings took place
4th day before Passover, The 11th of Nisan = sundown April 5, 2009 = Sunday evening until Monday,6th April @ sundown
(The Gentile “Palm Sunday”)
Mark 11 : 1-11; Luke 19 : 29 – 44; John 12 : 12 – 19
3rd day before Passover, The 12th of Nisan = sundown 6th April, 2009 = Monday evening until Tuesday, 7th @ sundown
Matt. 21 : 13 – 22; Mark 11 : 12 – 19; Luke 19 : 45 – 48; John 12 : 20 – 50
2nd day before Passover, The 13th of Nisan = sundown 7th April, 2009= Tuesday evening until Wednesday, 8th @ sundown
Matt. 21 : 18 – 22; 22 (whole chapter); 24 (whole chapter); 25 (whole chapter);
26 : 1 -13* ; Mark 11 : 20 – 33; 12 (whole chapter); 13 (whole chapter); 14 : 1 – 9*; Luke 20 (whole chapter) 21 (whole chapter)
*2nd of 3 “Lord's Supper's” & 2nd of 2 anointings took place
The day before Passover, The 14th of Nisan = sundown 8th April, 2009 = Wednesday evening until Thursday, 9th @ sundown
“The Preparation Day” -- The day of the crucification. First Day of Unleavened Bread (according to Mark 14 : 12 & Luke 22 : 7)
Matt. 26 : 14 -27, 66; Mark 14 : 10 – 15, 47; Luke 22 : 1 – 23, 56; John 13 : 1 – 19, 42
*3rd of 3 “Lord's Supper's ( a/k/a The Last Supper )
“The First Day of the Feast”-- “The High Day” (Yom tov),The 15th of Nisan = sundown 9th April, 2009 = Thursday evening until Friday, 10th @ sundown
The First Night & First Day in the Tomb.
To be explained @ passover... Deut. 26 : 5
1st part Hallel* 2nd part Hallel* The Greater Hallel*
Psalm 113,114 Psalm 115 – 118 Psalm 120 – 138
*Hallel = Hebrew word for Hallelujah
The Second Day of the Feast – “The (Weekly) Sabbath” -The 16th of Nisan = sundown 10th April , 2009 = Friday evening until Saturday, 11th @ sundown
The Second Night & Second Day in the Tomb.
The Third Day of the Feast - The 17th of Nisan = sundown 11th April, 2009 = Saturday evening until Sunday, 12th @ sundown
The Third Night & Third Day in the Tomb.
Matt. 27 : 63; 28 : 1 – 10; Mark 8 : 31; 16 : 8 – 31; 16 : 1 – 18; Luke 24 : 1 – 49; John 20 : 1 – 23
(Our Saturday sunset: “the third day” of Matt. 16 : 21; NOT the third day of the Feast!)
Sequence of Events following The Lord's Resurrection
Matt. 27 : 61 Mark 15 : 47 Luke 23 : 55, 56 John 20 : 1 – 29 [30,31]
Matt. 28 : 1 - 20 Mark 16 : 1 - 20 Luke 24 : 1- 53* John 21 : 1 – 23 [24,25]
Ap 166
1st commission-- Luke 24 : 47 – given in Jerusalem on the evening of the day of the resurrection. Were to proclaim “repentance & remission of sins”!
2nd commission-- Mark 16 : 15 – 18 - given for the personal ministry of the Apostles, to be fulfilled BEFORE the destruction of the temple & of Jerusalem.
3rd commission-- Matt. 28 : 19,20 – proclamation of:
(a) The King (parables Luke 19 : 12; 26 : 64)
(1.)The summons to Gentiles to submit to Jesus Christ, as King of Israel.
Ps. 2 : 10 – 12)
(b.) “The Gospel of the Kingdom” -- for a witness to all nations, immediately before the end of this age (Matt. 24 : 14; Rev. 14 : 6)
Final deliverance of Israel (Ps. 2 : 9, vrs 6 then fulfilled!)
The Fourth Day of the Feast - “ The First Day of the Week” - The 18th of Nisan = sundown 12th April, 2009 = Sunday @ sundown until Monday, 13th @ sundown
The Fifth Day of the Feast- The 19th of Nisan = sundown 13th April, 2009 = Monday, 13th @ sundown until Tuesday, 14th @ sundown
The Sixth Day of the Feast- The 20th of Nisan = sundown 14th April, 2009 = Tuesday, 14th @ sundown until Wednesday, 15th @ sundown
The Seventh Day of the Feast- The 21st of Nisan = sundown 15th April, 2009= Wednesday, 15th @ sundown until Thursday, 16th @ sundown
“Six days before the Passover” (Jn. 12 : 1)
(We will read from sources within the gospels)
6th day before The Passover, the 9th Nisan = sundown April 3, 2009 = Friday evening until Saturday, 4th @ sundown
Luke 19 : 1-23; Matt. 21 : 1-17; John 12 : 1
5th day before Passover, The 10th of Nisan = sundown April 4, 2009 = Saturday evening until Sunday, 5th @ sundown
John 12 : 2-11 * 1st of 3 “Lord's Supper's” 1 of 2 anointings took place
4th day before Passover, The 11th of Nisan = sundown April 5, 2009 = Sunday evening until Monday,6th April @ sundown
(The Gentile “Palm Sunday”)
Mark 11 : 1-11; Luke 19 : 29 – 44; John 12 : 12 – 19
3rd day before Passover, The 12th of Nisan = sundown 6th April, 2009 = Monday evening until Tuesday, 7th @ sundown
Matt. 21 : 13 – 22; Mark 11 : 12 – 19; Luke 19 : 45 – 48; John 12 : 20 – 50
2nd day before Passover, The 13th of Nisan = sundown 7th April, 2009= Tuesday evening until Wednesday, 8th @ sundown
Matt. 21 : 18 – 22; 22 (whole chapter); 24 (whole chapter); 25 (whole chapter);
26 : 1 -13* ; Mark 11 : 20 – 33; 12 (whole chapter); 13 (whole chapter); 14 : 1 – 9*; Luke 20 (whole chapter) 21 (whole chapter)
*2nd of 3 “Lord's Supper's” & 2nd of 2 anointings took place
The day before Passover, The 14th of Nisan = sundown 8th April, 2009 = Wednesday evening until Thursday, 9th @ sundown
“The Preparation Day” -- The day of the crucification. First Day of Unleavened Bread (according to Mark 14 : 12 & Luke 22 : 7)
Matt. 26 : 14 -27, 66; Mark 14 : 10 – 15, 47; Luke 22 : 1 – 23, 56; John 13 : 1 – 19, 42
*3rd of 3 “Lord's Supper's ( a/k/a The Last Supper )
“The First Day of the Feast”-- “The High Day” (Yom tov),The 15th of Nisan = sundown 9th April, 2009 = Thursday evening until Friday, 10th @ sundown
The First Night & First Day in the Tomb.
To be explained @ passover... Deut. 26 : 5
1st part Hallel* 2nd part Hallel* The Greater Hallel*
Psalm 113,114 Psalm 115 – 118 Psalm 120 – 138
*Hallel = Hebrew word for Hallelujah
The Second Day of the Feast – “The (Weekly) Sabbath” -The 16th of Nisan = sundown 10th April , 2009 = Friday evening until Saturday, 11th @ sundown
The Second Night & Second Day in the Tomb.
The Third Day of the Feast - The 17th of Nisan = sundown 11th April, 2009 = Saturday evening until Sunday, 12th @ sundown
The Third Night & Third Day in the Tomb.
Matt. 27 : 63; 28 : 1 – 10; Mark 8 : 31; 16 : 8 – 31; 16 : 1 – 18; Luke 24 : 1 – 49; John 20 : 1 – 23
(Our Saturday sunset: “the third day” of Matt. 16 : 21; NOT the third day of the Feast!)
Sequence of Events following The Lord's Resurrection
Matt. 27 : 61 Mark 15 : 47 Luke 23 : 55, 56 John 20 : 1 – 29 [30,31]
Matt. 28 : 1 - 20 Mark 16 : 1 - 20 Luke 24 : 1- 53* John 21 : 1 – 23 [24,25]
Ap 166
1st commission-- Luke 24 : 47 – given in Jerusalem on the evening of the day of the resurrection. Were to proclaim “repentance & remission of sins”!
2nd commission-- Mark 16 : 15 – 18 - given for the personal ministry of the Apostles, to be fulfilled BEFORE the destruction of the temple & of Jerusalem.
3rd commission-- Matt. 28 : 19,20 – proclamation of:
(a) The King (parables Luke 19 : 12; 26 : 64)
(1.)The summons to Gentiles to submit to Jesus Christ, as King of Israel.
Ps. 2 : 10 – 12)
(b.) “The Gospel of the Kingdom” -- for a witness to all nations, immediately before the end of this age (Matt. 24 : 14; Rev. 14 : 6)
Final deliverance of Israel (Ps. 2 : 9, vrs 6 then fulfilled!)
The Fourth Day of the Feast - “ The First Day of the Week” - The 18th of Nisan = sundown 12th April, 2009 = Sunday @ sundown until Monday, 13th @ sundown
The Fifth Day of the Feast- The 19th of Nisan = sundown 13th April, 2009 = Monday, 13th @ sundown until Tuesday, 14th @ sundown
The Sixth Day of the Feast- The 20th of Nisan = sundown 14th April, 2009 = Tuesday, 14th @ sundown until Wednesday, 15th @ sundown
The Seventh Day of the Feast- The 21st of Nisan = sundown 15th April, 2009= Wednesday, 15th @ sundown until Thursday, 16th @ sundown
Monday, April 6, 2009
A thankful heart (piog A New Thing Ministries)
A New Thing Ministries
A Thankful Heart...
I am a person who likes to write things down - I always have. I have a list in my purse most of the time of things I would like to find or pick up next time I am shopping.
I also keep journals of things God shows me in the word or things He speaks to me. I keep written down messages I have heard over the years that really spoke to me. Many, many times I will go back through old notes to encourage myself in the Lord.
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about all the things I am thankful for - that God has done for me in the past. The Psalmist said 'I recall the many miracles God has done for me. They are constantly in my thoughts. I can't stop thinking about them.'
Notice the thoughts of God's goodness was always on his mind. There are many reasons to recall the goodness of God. Psalm92: 1-2 says "It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your loving-kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night."
Why is it good? For one reason, it is good to give thanks to God because it recognizes Him as the priority in our lives - which is most vital during challenging times. When we give thanks our hearts are renewed to the truth that although everything around us may change and things may be going on in the world that we don't like, however, He never changes - He always remains the same.
When we are thankful to God no matter what is going on around us, we are saying that although life may be hard, He is still good - all the time - all the time. God is good and we choose to be thankful for that simple truth.
Finally, let me share with you what being thankful does for us. It changes us. Isaiah 26:3 reminds us, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." Being thankful causes you to have peace, even in the midst of a storm.
When we are thankful, we find that we can do as the word of God says and proclaim, 'whatever my lot - You have taught me to say, 'It is well with my soul.' We are able to count our blessings rather than complain about our burdens.
Expectation replaces anxiety when we recall the wonderful things God has done for us. Worship replaces worry when we think back to the goodness of the Lord and how it has been seen in our lives.
Worry will gain you nothing however, reminding yourself of what God did for you last time will keep you in peace as your mind is stayed on Him. Complaining won't get you anywhere - on the other hand, declaring His marvelous works and continuing to declare that God did it for you in the past and He will do it again will cause your miracle to come bursting through.
It's good to give thanks to God. It's good to remember all He has done. In the Old Testament, every time God did something really big for His people, He would have them make a memorial, or place a stone there - to simply remember and leave a mark that God is good and His goodness was seen on that day.
How about you? Has His goodness been seen in your life? If it has, and I know it has, make a memorial - at the very least, write it down. Place it before your face and remind yourself that God is good - all the time. His goodness is with you every step of the way and the more you remember that - the more you will live in an atmosphere of expectancy and we know that in an atmosphere of expectancy - things happen.
What are you thankful for today? I have so many things - but even this day, I am going to begin to journal, not only sermon notes, not only words from God, but also to make a memorial of thankfulness, a memorial of all those times that I said by faith 'it is well with my soul' only to find out that it REALLY was well with my soul after all - simply because He is good. So good.
Let's pray together today:
God, I know You are good - we all know You are good. I thank You that You never change, even when things change around us - You remain the same - You remain good. God, I want to thank You for all the things You have done for me, my family and our readers. Thank You for Your faithfulness to us. Thank You for blessing our partners. God, I ask that You remind us today of all the good things we have seen in our lives. And God, I ask that Your goodness be seen, actually be seen, in the life of every single person reading this prayer. May your abundant goodness be seen in their life today. We would have lost hope, God, if we had not believed we would see the goodness of God in the land of the living, I thank You that we see with our eyes...that goodness... this day. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, and I declare Amen and So Be It.
Kim Potter
If our motivations are a blessing to you - consider sowing a seed today!!!! A New Thing Ministries appreciates your giving. Your giving enables us to take the word to the world on a daily basis. It enables us to pray for and connect with those who we would otherwise never meet. You are a blessing and we declare your seed blessed and producing a great harvest.
The laws of God are clear, when we sow seeds of faith through giving; we receive harvest and increase in our lives. Gal. 6:7 in the Philips Translation says 'A mans harvest in life will depend entirely on what he sows.' I declare and expect harvest in our partners lives daily.
Each of you is vital to the fulfillment of God's plan. Those who provide prayer and financial support are as vital as those who dig the soil and plant the seeds of Gods word. One would not be effective without the other. Yet together, they can do more than they could ever do alone. As we partner together, we lift up the name of Jesus and God is glorified - thank you for helping us do that. May your harvest be seen this season..
When you send your donation, please include your email address.
A New Thing Ministry
PO Box 750
Dayton, TN 37321
You may also sow a seed online by going to our website at
www.anewthingministries.com and clicking on the 'give to this ministry link.'
Please send your donation in US Funds only.
Think On These
Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.
A discovery is said to be an accident meeting a prepared mind.
There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.
April 4 , 2009
In This Issue
A Thankful Heart
Thank You
Think on These
Our Sponsors
From our Partners
Change Email
Our Sponsors
JBs Teacher Supplies
ad-3
Health - Three Dimensional
Please visit our sponsors - they help keep the inspired word coming to you each day!
Join Our Mailing List
From Our Partners & Readers
After asking for supernatural blessing last month, INDEED i was bless with supernatural blessing. I was bless with additional 2000 from the most unexpected source. by helping my friend to sell his unwanted "junk" I continue to seek and claim for supernatural blessing with my humble donation. amen
To Change Your Email...
If you need to change your email address or add a new email address, simply scroll to the bottom of the
email and
update your profile.
To forward the
email to friends,
simply click on forward email.
To opt out or cancel the motivation, go to update profile and opt out - you will then be removed from all the mailing lists.
A New Thing Ministries...where God is indeed doing a new thing!
Prayer Request
We would be honored to pray with you - we expect great results. The word of God says the prayers of a righteous man makes great power available. It also teaches us that there is great power in agreement, allow us to agree with you today. Send your prayer requests to the link below.
breanne@anewthingministries.com
A Thankful Heart...
I am a person who likes to write things down - I always have. I have a list in my purse most of the time of things I would like to find or pick up next time I am shopping.
I also keep journals of things God shows me in the word or things He speaks to me. I keep written down messages I have heard over the years that really spoke to me. Many, many times I will go back through old notes to encourage myself in the Lord.
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about all the things I am thankful for - that God has done for me in the past. The Psalmist said 'I recall the many miracles God has done for me. They are constantly in my thoughts. I can't stop thinking about them.'
Notice the thoughts of God's goodness was always on his mind. There are many reasons to recall the goodness of God. Psalm92: 1-2 says "It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your loving-kindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night."
Why is it good? For one reason, it is good to give thanks to God because it recognizes Him as the priority in our lives - which is most vital during challenging times. When we give thanks our hearts are renewed to the truth that although everything around us may change and things may be going on in the world that we don't like, however, He never changes - He always remains the same.
When we are thankful to God no matter what is going on around us, we are saying that although life may be hard, He is still good - all the time - all the time. God is good and we choose to be thankful for that simple truth.
Finally, let me share with you what being thankful does for us. It changes us. Isaiah 26:3 reminds us, "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." Being thankful causes you to have peace, even in the midst of a storm.
When we are thankful, we find that we can do as the word of God says and proclaim, 'whatever my lot - You have taught me to say, 'It is well with my soul.' We are able to count our blessings rather than complain about our burdens.
Expectation replaces anxiety when we recall the wonderful things God has done for us. Worship replaces worry when we think back to the goodness of the Lord and how it has been seen in our lives.
Worry will gain you nothing however, reminding yourself of what God did for you last time will keep you in peace as your mind is stayed on Him. Complaining won't get you anywhere - on the other hand, declaring His marvelous works and continuing to declare that God did it for you in the past and He will do it again will cause your miracle to come bursting through.
It's good to give thanks to God. It's good to remember all He has done. In the Old Testament, every time God did something really big for His people, He would have them make a memorial, or place a stone there - to simply remember and leave a mark that God is good and His goodness was seen on that day.
How about you? Has His goodness been seen in your life? If it has, and I know it has, make a memorial - at the very least, write it down. Place it before your face and remind yourself that God is good - all the time. His goodness is with you every step of the way and the more you remember that - the more you will live in an atmosphere of expectancy and we know that in an atmosphere of expectancy - things happen.
What are you thankful for today? I have so many things - but even this day, I am going to begin to journal, not only sermon notes, not only words from God, but also to make a memorial of thankfulness, a memorial of all those times that I said by faith 'it is well with my soul' only to find out that it REALLY was well with my soul after all - simply because He is good. So good.
Let's pray together today:
God, I know You are good - we all know You are good. I thank You that You never change, even when things change around us - You remain the same - You remain good. God, I want to thank You for all the things You have done for me, my family and our readers. Thank You for Your faithfulness to us. Thank You for blessing our partners. God, I ask that You remind us today of all the good things we have seen in our lives. And God, I ask that Your goodness be seen, actually be seen, in the life of every single person reading this prayer. May your abundant goodness be seen in their life today. We would have lost hope, God, if we had not believed we would see the goodness of God in the land of the living, I thank You that we see with our eyes...that goodness... this day. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, and I declare Amen and So Be It.
Kim Potter
If our motivations are a blessing to you - consider sowing a seed today!!!! A New Thing Ministries appreciates your giving. Your giving enables us to take the word to the world on a daily basis. It enables us to pray for and connect with those who we would otherwise never meet. You are a blessing and we declare your seed blessed and producing a great harvest.
The laws of God are clear, when we sow seeds of faith through giving; we receive harvest and increase in our lives. Gal. 6:7 in the Philips Translation says 'A mans harvest in life will depend entirely on what he sows.' I declare and expect harvest in our partners lives daily.
Each of you is vital to the fulfillment of God's plan. Those who provide prayer and financial support are as vital as those who dig the soil and plant the seeds of Gods word. One would not be effective without the other. Yet together, they can do more than they could ever do alone. As we partner together, we lift up the name of Jesus and God is glorified - thank you for helping us do that. May your harvest be seen this season..
When you send your donation, please include your email address.
A New Thing Ministry
PO Box 750
Dayton, TN 37321
You may also sow a seed online by going to our website at
www.anewthingministries.com and clicking on the 'give to this ministry link.'
Please send your donation in US Funds only.
Think On These
Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.
A discovery is said to be an accident meeting a prepared mind.
There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness.
April 4 , 2009
In This Issue
A Thankful Heart
Thank You
Think on These
Our Sponsors
From our Partners
Change Email
Our Sponsors
JBs Teacher Supplies
ad-3
Health - Three Dimensional
Please visit our sponsors - they help keep the inspired word coming to you each day!
Join Our Mailing List
From Our Partners & Readers
After asking for supernatural blessing last month, INDEED i was bless with supernatural blessing. I was bless with additional 2000 from the most unexpected source. by helping my friend to sell his unwanted "junk" I continue to seek and claim for supernatural blessing with my humble donation. amen
To Change Your Email...
If you need to change your email address or add a new email address, simply scroll to the bottom of the
email and
update your profile.
To forward the
email to friends,
simply click on forward email.
To opt out or cancel the motivation, go to update profile and opt out - you will then be removed from all the mailing lists.
A New Thing Ministries...where God is indeed doing a new thing!
Prayer Request
We would be honored to pray with you - we expect great results. The word of God says the prayers of a righteous man makes great power available. It also teaches us that there is great power in agreement, allow us to agree with you today. Send your prayer requests to the link below.
breanne@anewthingministries.com
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Psalm 23 breakdown
Psalm 23
The Lord is my Shepherd = That's Relationship!
I shall not want = That's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = That's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul = That's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = That's Guidance!
For His name sake = That's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of t he shadow of death = That's
Testing!
I will fear no evil = That's Protection!
For Thou art with me = That's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = That's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies =
That's Hope!
Thou annointes t my head with oil = That's Consecration!
My cup runneth over = That's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life =
That's Blessing !
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = That's Security!
Forever = That's Eternity!
The Lord is my Shepherd = That's Relationship!
I shall not want = That's Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures = That's Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters = That's Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul = That's Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness = That's Guidance!
For His name sake = That's Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of t he shadow of death = That's
Testing!
I will fear no evil = That's Protection!
For Thou art with me = That's Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me = That's Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies =
That's Hope!
Thou annointes t my head with oil = That's Consecration!
My cup runneth over = That's Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life =
That's Blessing !
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord = That's Security!
Forever = That's Eternity!
PIOG_ A New Thing Ministries- It's Not All About YOU!
It's Not All About You...
If you ever want to fully enjoy life, if you are ever going to experience the joy of the Lord, if you want God to pour out His blessings and favor in your life, then you are going to have to get your mind off yourself. You must learn to be a giver and not a taker. We were not made to function as takers, but we were created to give. God is the greatest GIVER of all - He loved so much He gave His all and then some.
You will only find true fulfillment through a life of giving. You won't find it until you learn how to give your life away.
I know we talk about receiving blessings of God often, and that is God's desire for us - but He desires that we first, give, give of ourselves. You see if all we ever think about is our problems, and what we need to get for ourselves, we are going to be miserable people. I once heard the lyrics to a song that said 'it's hard to see when my eyes are on me.' I believe that to be true.
I know we all have challenges - but I just wonder what would happen if for a week, or even a day - we ask God to show us how we could be a blessing to someone else. Imagine, if all 7500 of our readers took one day and just decided to be a blessing - as big a blessing as they could to someone else. Oh the joy that would fill that day!
Instead of grumbling about our problems, how about if we ask God to show us someone whose problems are more challenging than ours and then ask God to give us a way to meet their need.
Instead of worrying about paying a bill, how about if we ask God to give us seed to meet someone else's need.
Instead of cooking dinner for our family, how about if we ask God who we could take groceries to today.
Can you imagine a world like that? I can, it is called the Kingdom of God. You see, in a Kingdom, every thing belongs to everyone - there are no people who own it all, but it is shared among them all.
In Acts 4:34, the Bible says 'nor was there anyone among them who lacked, for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold and laid them at the apostles feet and they distributed to each as anyone had need.'
You see, my friends, when that kind of atmosphere exists, we see miracles, just as they did in the book of Acts. When that kind of heart is in believers, everything will change and there will be no lack.
Did you know that you are someone else's miracle? Did you know that you have, in your hand, somebody's provision? Did you realize that you have the touch someone needs to make it through the day? Did you know that you have a word for someone that will enable them to press on through to victory? Well, you do. And if we are only thinking about ourselves, we will miss it when God tries to reveal it to us.
I see so much in the church that I don't like. People, who claim to know God, gossiping and putting other people down because it is the only way they can make themselves look good. Christians giving their word and then backing off it.
People saying 'God told me to do this' but then when it doesn't turn out the way they believed it would, they blame everyone but themselves. I am telling you this today - God is not pleased with this behavior and before we leave this earth, judgment will come on this type of behavior.
Don't be one of those who are involved with gossip or putting others down - don't even hang around such a person - you may as well be hanging around a garbage dump. Instead, keep your mind and your heart clean and undefiled by keeping company with people of character and integrity. Okay, some how I got off my subject, but apparently it needed to be said.
Today is April 1st. The world calls it April Fools Day. Instead of fooling people today, I want to give you a challenge. Make it a blessing day instead - but not for yourself - for someone else. Ask God who you can be a blessing to today. Ask Him to stretch you today and cause you to be someone's miracle.
If you can, sow a seed today to someone in need. If you can, cook a meal today for someone who needs a hot meal. If you can, hug someone today and tell them that you are standing with them through this season and you are praying for them.
You can pay someone's bill. You can buy someone a car. You can buy someone a sandwich. You can give someone a much needed encouraging word from God. You can give someone a high five and say 'job well done' or maybe you can just stop and tell them how nice they look today.
Blessings come in large and small packages - it may be something huge and it may be a smile - this I do know - God wants us to be a blessing - so will you join with me today and ask God to cause you to be a blessing to someone else all day today?
Will you listen carefully for His voice leading you to bless this one or that one? Will you do that with me?
God is so good to us - all the time - let's share some of His goodness with others today - okay? Now, send me emails and let me know how it goes!!! Can't wait to hear from you. And I expect to hear from ALL of you about how you sought God about being a blessing, what He told you to do, and how it went - so get going - we have a lot of blessing to do this April 1st. Let's start this month off right, being a blessing!
If you ever want to fully enjoy life, if you are ever going to experience the joy of the Lord, if you want God to pour out His blessings and favor in your life, then you are going to have to get your mind off yourself. You must learn to be a giver and not a taker. We were not made to function as takers, but we were created to give. God is the greatest GIVER of all - He loved so much He gave His all and then some.
You will only find true fulfillment through a life of giving. You won't find it until you learn how to give your life away.
I know we talk about receiving blessings of God often, and that is God's desire for us - but He desires that we first, give, give of ourselves. You see if all we ever think about is our problems, and what we need to get for ourselves, we are going to be miserable people. I once heard the lyrics to a song that said 'it's hard to see when my eyes are on me.' I believe that to be true.
I know we all have challenges - but I just wonder what would happen if for a week, or even a day - we ask God to show us how we could be a blessing to someone else. Imagine, if all 7500 of our readers took one day and just decided to be a blessing - as big a blessing as they could to someone else. Oh the joy that would fill that day!
Instead of grumbling about our problems, how about if we ask God to show us someone whose problems are more challenging than ours and then ask God to give us a way to meet their need.
Instead of worrying about paying a bill, how about if we ask God to give us seed to meet someone else's need.
Instead of cooking dinner for our family, how about if we ask God who we could take groceries to today.
Can you imagine a world like that? I can, it is called the Kingdom of God. You see, in a Kingdom, every thing belongs to everyone - there are no people who own it all, but it is shared among them all.
In Acts 4:34, the Bible says 'nor was there anyone among them who lacked, for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold and laid them at the apostles feet and they distributed to each as anyone had need.'
You see, my friends, when that kind of atmosphere exists, we see miracles, just as they did in the book of Acts. When that kind of heart is in believers, everything will change and there will be no lack.
Did you know that you are someone else's miracle? Did you know that you have, in your hand, somebody's provision? Did you realize that you have the touch someone needs to make it through the day? Did you know that you have a word for someone that will enable them to press on through to victory? Well, you do. And if we are only thinking about ourselves, we will miss it when God tries to reveal it to us.
I see so much in the church that I don't like. People, who claim to know God, gossiping and putting other people down because it is the only way they can make themselves look good. Christians giving their word and then backing off it.
People saying 'God told me to do this' but then when it doesn't turn out the way they believed it would, they blame everyone but themselves. I am telling you this today - God is not pleased with this behavior and before we leave this earth, judgment will come on this type of behavior.
Don't be one of those who are involved with gossip or putting others down - don't even hang around such a person - you may as well be hanging around a garbage dump. Instead, keep your mind and your heart clean and undefiled by keeping company with people of character and integrity. Okay, some how I got off my subject, but apparently it needed to be said.
Today is April 1st. The world calls it April Fools Day. Instead of fooling people today, I want to give you a challenge. Make it a blessing day instead - but not for yourself - for someone else. Ask God who you can be a blessing to today. Ask Him to stretch you today and cause you to be someone's miracle.
If you can, sow a seed today to someone in need. If you can, cook a meal today for someone who needs a hot meal. If you can, hug someone today and tell them that you are standing with them through this season and you are praying for them.
You can pay someone's bill. You can buy someone a car. You can buy someone a sandwich. You can give someone a much needed encouraging word from God. You can give someone a high five and say 'job well done' or maybe you can just stop and tell them how nice they look today.
Blessings come in large and small packages - it may be something huge and it may be a smile - this I do know - God wants us to be a blessing - so will you join with me today and ask God to cause you to be a blessing to someone else all day today?
Will you listen carefully for His voice leading you to bless this one or that one? Will you do that with me?
God is so good to us - all the time - let's share some of His goodness with others today - okay? Now, send me emails and let me know how it goes!!! Can't wait to hear from you. And I expect to hear from ALL of you about how you sought God about being a blessing, what He told you to do, and how it went - so get going - we have a lot of blessing to do this April 1st. Let's start this month off right, being a blessing!
For once an uplifting story about a spirit filled Veteran remembered
This Is The Way... A Different Breed of Warrior
by Robin Webber
A soft-spoken Southern man served in the U.S. military during World War II, yet he refused to carry a gun. The army brass tried for over two years to kick him out of the service, but a grateful nation upon war's end awarded this most unlikely of heroes the Medal of Honor, two Bronze Stars and three purple hearts.
That's right: This one man earned six medals for heroism. This hero without a gun waged a different kind of fight. Meet Desmond Doss.
But I don't want you to meet him as just one more aging veteran from the conflict of long ago, because you really can't. You see, he died in 2006. But neither do I want you to immediately meet him in a foxhole of long ago and far away. No, let's go back a bit to events and values that molded Corporal Doss to become worthy of our notice.
How could one brother kill another?
Doss grew up in a typical Depression-era family. One of his earliest memories was staring at an illustrated picture of the Ten Commandments hanging on their living room wall. One caption that vividly stood out in his mind was the scene of Cain beating Abel next to the inscription of the Sixth Commandment: "You shall not kill."
At a young and tender age, it startled Doss that one brother could kill another. Family members would recall how the lad would reach out and touch that illustration. These simple images on a country home's wall would shape and define his character a half a world away in years to come.
One specific occasion in his youth solidified his belief regarding firearms. His father and uncle got into a tussle and a gun was drawn. His mother got in between his dad and her brother to stop the fight.
Both men backed down because they didn't wish her harm. But all Doss could see through his wide-open eyes was a reenactment of the vivid picture of Cain attacking Abel. His mother gave him the gun and asked him to dispose of it. After that event, Doss vowed never to touch a gun again.
Call me a "conscientious cooperator"
When World War II arrived, he chose to become a combat medic. He made his position clearly known. He would not carry a gun as would many medics. He refused to call himself a conscientious objector. He preferred the designation of "conscientious cooperator." Yet right from the beginning he got one clear message: "You're in the army now. We'll tell you! Don't tell us!"
The officers attempted to break his morale by assigning him to a rifle company. There he would either cave in to peer pressure, or he would be considered a pest and be pushed out of the service due to intolerable peer abuse.
Most simply didn't "get" this soft-spoken and easygoing person with the strange beliefs. He was ostracized. One guy threatened, "If we go into battle together, I'll shoot you."
Unfortunately, most of his detail didn't realize he had chosen to be there as a medic to save lives—theirs!
Honoring the seventh-day Sabbath
At Fort Pickens another of Doss's beliefs would become an issue. He was a seventh-day Sabbath-keeper. H e would not work on the Sabbath. He would pray and meditate on that day, as well as attend Saturday church services. At nighttime he would study from the pocket-size Bible his wife had given him.
His fellow soldiers would curse him and throw their boots at him as he knelt by his bed to pray. It just seemed as if he had too many privileges—even though he would work around the clock on Sunday and be given the grimiest of chores to break his morale.
Matters came to a head at an Arizona training camp. A commanding officer ordered Doss to take a gun from him on threat of court-martial, even though it specifically stated on his papers that he did not have to carry a gun. He was given two chances. He refused both times. He knew he would be in trouble if he only compromised once, because he would then do it again and again.
The officer had to catch his own rifle to keep it from falling, and then he tore up the furlough pass for Doss to visit his wife and brother. It was a low moment for him.
Finally, his father's legislator intervened and his officers were put on notice regarding an Act of Congress to respect the rights of conscientious objectors. The man that they tried to drum out of the service on the issue of "mental instability" was the same "conscientious cooperator" who had repeatedly told his officers, "Don't doubt my courage. As you take life, I'm going to be right by your side saving life. I'll be just as good a soldier as you." Those words were about to come true.
The legacy begins
From Guam to Okinawa this different breed of warrior would develop day by day and person by person an incredible legacy. The 77th Division shipped off to war and Desmond Doss was right beside them and often out in front of them.
He was again alerted to the danger of not carrying a firearm. The enemy had chosen to intentionally target the easily identified medics as they performed their courageous labor so as to demoralize the troops.
But out he would go, again and again, among the wounded. He did most of his work at night, crawling from person to person in the muddy tropical landscape. In one battle on Guam, as Doss moved forward without a firearm along with the troops, the same officer who had threatened a court-martial fled the battle scene.
Ultimately, the 77th was given orders to replace the decimated 96th on Okinawa. The task before them was to take Hacksaw Ridge on a looming 400-foot-high escarpment. Nine times in seven days the troops were driven off the escarpment. Eight commanders were lost in 36 hours!
Finally the orders came down: "Hacksaw Ridge—do or die!" Volunteers were requested to drape a cargo net on the ridge so men could rapidly charge up the cliff. Three volunteered. Doss was one. A photograph shows the lone figure of Doss standing at the top of the ridge, cargo net in place. It was the last recorded impression, as the photographers would advance no further due to the fierce fighting.
On April 30, 1945, Doss requested that he might pray for his comrades before the next assault. On that particular day, not one man died in Company B.
"Lord, help me get one more"
On the third assault of the escarpment, the Japanese launched a major counteroffensive. U.S. troops were being bayoneted and shot as they fled down the net. But many troops remained on top, unable to flee. Doss was there in place to save lives. He knew the enemy would torture the wounded men, so he refused to leave.
Over the next 12 hours, he would drag the wounded one by one, sometimes two by two draped under his arms, a distance of 400 feet to the cliff's edge. He would then lower them one by one, 75 in all, down the 70-foot cliff by rope.
Each time he returned for another comrade, he would simply pray, "Lord, help me get one more!" Years later, one Japanese veteran during an interview stated, "I believe that man was in my sights, but each time I would shoot, the gun jammed."
May 5, 1945, was to be the final assault on Hacksaw Ridge. It happened to be a Saturday. Yes, the Sabbath! All were ready to go except one person, Doss! He was the only medic in the vicinity.
Another commanding officer who had tried to drum Doss out of the service put the entire offensive operation on hold. By now, Doss had become the "safety blanket" of the 77th.
Lost without his Bible
In that skirmish, he would take shrapnel from a grenade that fell in his foxhole. Even as he was being carried out on a litter, he rolled out of it to care for another soldier. As he did, he was shot again.
As he was being taken to a hospital ship, he realized something precious had been lost on the battlefield. His Bible was out there! His source of strength was missing, and without it he felt lost. He wrote to the men of Company B and asked if they might help. Some of the same men who had jeered at him, thrown their boots at him and made his life miserable went into the field of battle and found his "sword," the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12).
Upon return to the United States, President Harry Truman would personally award this "hero without a gun" the nation's highest military honors for valor. But his good deeds came at a cost. His wounds would leave him 100 percent disabled. Wrong doses of treatment for tuberculosis contracted in the islands would leave him nearly deaf.
"Desmond did that every day!"
In a documentary titled The Conscientious Objector, one of Desmond Doss's wartime companions said it best about this different breed of warrior. He said that some men are awarded the Medal of Honor for one moment in time in which they perform an incredible act of courageous daring on behalf of their fellow man. He then simply added, "Desmond did that every day!"
The corporal's saga recalls the time when Joseph told his brothers who had betrayed him, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive" (Genesis 50:19-20).
Doss's determination before possible punishment echoes the words of three men in Babylon who when put to their time of testing regarding another commandment replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up" (Daniel 3:16-18).
Our spiritual battles
Doss's actions were based on his heartfelt convictions, and they serve as an example of how to "endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 2:3) in the day-to-day struggles confronting us. This man's light and the savor of his convictions (Matthew 5:13-14) slowly turned the wrath of his comrades into admiration until they couldn't advance without him.
It brings to mind the future prophetic reality of Zechariah 8:23, which speaks of a time when "ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. '"
Desmond Doss lived his faith in the crucible of war. As Christians under the New Covenant, we fight a different warfare than the wars of this world. Our calling is not to walk alongside those who would take life, but to stand for the One whose "purpose is to give life in all its fullness" (John 10:10, New Living Translation) and who fights our battles for us as the Captain of our salvation. Order our booklet The Ten Commandments and give special notice to the chapter regarding the Sixth Commandment.
The apostle Paul often pointed out as examples those who stood in "harm's way" in order to crystallize and galvanize our own Christian walk. It is in that spirit and intent that we can learn from this "different breed of warrior" about the lesson of "this is the way, walk in it" (Isaiah 30:21).
It was from the mouth of one who once despised him that the echoing lesson of Isaiah can be heard. Some men are awarded the Medal of Honor for one incredible act of courageous daring, but "Desmond did that every day!" WNP
by Robin Webber
A soft-spoken Southern man served in the U.S. military during World War II, yet he refused to carry a gun. The army brass tried for over two years to kick him out of the service, but a grateful nation upon war's end awarded this most unlikely of heroes the Medal of Honor, two Bronze Stars and three purple hearts.
That's right: This one man earned six medals for heroism. This hero without a gun waged a different kind of fight. Meet Desmond Doss.
But I don't want you to meet him as just one more aging veteran from the conflict of long ago, because you really can't. You see, he died in 2006. But neither do I want you to immediately meet him in a foxhole of long ago and far away. No, let's go back a bit to events and values that molded Corporal Doss to become worthy of our notice.
How could one brother kill another?
Doss grew up in a typical Depression-era family. One of his earliest memories was staring at an illustrated picture of the Ten Commandments hanging on their living room wall. One caption that vividly stood out in his mind was the scene of Cain beating Abel next to the inscription of the Sixth Commandment: "You shall not kill."
At a young and tender age, it startled Doss that one brother could kill another. Family members would recall how the lad would reach out and touch that illustration. These simple images on a country home's wall would shape and define his character a half a world away in years to come.
One specific occasion in his youth solidified his belief regarding firearms. His father and uncle got into a tussle and a gun was drawn. His mother got in between his dad and her brother to stop the fight.
Both men backed down because they didn't wish her harm. But all Doss could see through his wide-open eyes was a reenactment of the vivid picture of Cain attacking Abel. His mother gave him the gun and asked him to dispose of it. After that event, Doss vowed never to touch a gun again.
Call me a "conscientious cooperator"
When World War II arrived, he chose to become a combat medic. He made his position clearly known. He would not carry a gun as would many medics. He refused to call himself a conscientious objector. He preferred the designation of "conscientious cooperator." Yet right from the beginning he got one clear message: "You're in the army now. We'll tell you! Don't tell us!"
The officers attempted to break his morale by assigning him to a rifle company. There he would either cave in to peer pressure, or he would be considered a pest and be pushed out of the service due to intolerable peer abuse.
Most simply didn't "get" this soft-spoken and easygoing person with the strange beliefs. He was ostracized. One guy threatened, "If we go into battle together, I'll shoot you."
Unfortunately, most of his detail didn't realize he had chosen to be there as a medic to save lives—theirs!
Honoring the seventh-day Sabbath
At Fort Pickens another of Doss's beliefs would become an issue. He was a seventh-day Sabbath-keeper. H e would not work on the Sabbath. He would pray and meditate on that day, as well as attend Saturday church services. At nighttime he would study from the pocket-size Bible his wife had given him.
His fellow soldiers would curse him and throw their boots at him as he knelt by his bed to pray. It just seemed as if he had too many privileges—even though he would work around the clock on Sunday and be given the grimiest of chores to break his morale.
Matters came to a head at an Arizona training camp. A commanding officer ordered Doss to take a gun from him on threat of court-martial, even though it specifically stated on his papers that he did not have to carry a gun. He was given two chances. He refused both times. He knew he would be in trouble if he only compromised once, because he would then do it again and again.
The officer had to catch his own rifle to keep it from falling, and then he tore up the furlough pass for Doss to visit his wife and brother. It was a low moment for him.
Finally, his father's legislator intervened and his officers were put on notice regarding an Act of Congress to respect the rights of conscientious objectors. The man that they tried to drum out of the service on the issue of "mental instability" was the same "conscientious cooperator" who had repeatedly told his officers, "Don't doubt my courage. As you take life, I'm going to be right by your side saving life. I'll be just as good a soldier as you." Those words were about to come true.
The legacy begins
From Guam to Okinawa this different breed of warrior would develop day by day and person by person an incredible legacy. The 77th Division shipped off to war and Desmond Doss was right beside them and often out in front of them.
He was again alerted to the danger of not carrying a firearm. The enemy had chosen to intentionally target the easily identified medics as they performed their courageous labor so as to demoralize the troops.
But out he would go, again and again, among the wounded. He did most of his work at night, crawling from person to person in the muddy tropical landscape. In one battle on Guam, as Doss moved forward without a firearm along with the troops, the same officer who had threatened a court-martial fled the battle scene.
Ultimately, the 77th was given orders to replace the decimated 96th on Okinawa. The task before them was to take Hacksaw Ridge on a looming 400-foot-high escarpment. Nine times in seven days the troops were driven off the escarpment. Eight commanders were lost in 36 hours!
Finally the orders came down: "Hacksaw Ridge—do or die!" Volunteers were requested to drape a cargo net on the ridge so men could rapidly charge up the cliff. Three volunteered. Doss was one. A photograph shows the lone figure of Doss standing at the top of the ridge, cargo net in place. It was the last recorded impression, as the photographers would advance no further due to the fierce fighting.
On April 30, 1945, Doss requested that he might pray for his comrades before the next assault. On that particular day, not one man died in Company B.
"Lord, help me get one more"
On the third assault of the escarpment, the Japanese launched a major counteroffensive. U.S. troops were being bayoneted and shot as they fled down the net. But many troops remained on top, unable to flee. Doss was there in place to save lives. He knew the enemy would torture the wounded men, so he refused to leave.
Over the next 12 hours, he would drag the wounded one by one, sometimes two by two draped under his arms, a distance of 400 feet to the cliff's edge. He would then lower them one by one, 75 in all, down the 70-foot cliff by rope.
Each time he returned for another comrade, he would simply pray, "Lord, help me get one more!" Years later, one Japanese veteran during an interview stated, "I believe that man was in my sights, but each time I would shoot, the gun jammed."
May 5, 1945, was to be the final assault on Hacksaw Ridge. It happened to be a Saturday. Yes, the Sabbath! All were ready to go except one person, Doss! He was the only medic in the vicinity.
Another commanding officer who had tried to drum Doss out of the service put the entire offensive operation on hold. By now, Doss had become the "safety blanket" of the 77th.
Lost without his Bible
In that skirmish, he would take shrapnel from a grenade that fell in his foxhole. Even as he was being carried out on a litter, he rolled out of it to care for another soldier. As he did, he was shot again.
As he was being taken to a hospital ship, he realized something precious had been lost on the battlefield. His Bible was out there! His source of strength was missing, and without it he felt lost. He wrote to the men of Company B and asked if they might help. Some of the same men who had jeered at him, thrown their boots at him and made his life miserable went into the field of battle and found his "sword," the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12).
Upon return to the United States, President Harry Truman would personally award this "hero without a gun" the nation's highest military honors for valor. But his good deeds came at a cost. His wounds would leave him 100 percent disabled. Wrong doses of treatment for tuberculosis contracted in the islands would leave him nearly deaf.
"Desmond did that every day!"
In a documentary titled The Conscientious Objector, one of Desmond Doss's wartime companions said it best about this different breed of warrior. He said that some men are awarded the Medal of Honor for one moment in time in which they perform an incredible act of courageous daring on behalf of their fellow man. He then simply added, "Desmond did that every day!"
The corporal's saga recalls the time when Joseph told his brothers who had betrayed him, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive" (Genesis 50:19-20).
Doss's determination before possible punishment echoes the words of three men in Babylon who when put to their time of testing regarding another commandment replied, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up" (Daniel 3:16-18).
Our spiritual battles
Doss's actions were based on his heartfelt convictions, and they serve as an example of how to "endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 2:3) in the day-to-day struggles confronting us. This man's light and the savor of his convictions (Matthew 5:13-14) slowly turned the wrath of his comrades into admiration until they couldn't advance without him.
It brings to mind the future prophetic reality of Zechariah 8:23, which speaks of a time when "ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. '"
Desmond Doss lived his faith in the crucible of war. As Christians under the New Covenant, we fight a different warfare than the wars of this world. Our calling is not to walk alongside those who would take life, but to stand for the One whose "purpose is to give life in all its fullness" (John 10:10, New Living Translation) and who fights our battles for us as the Captain of our salvation. Order our booklet The Ten Commandments and give special notice to the chapter regarding the Sixth Commandment.
The apostle Paul often pointed out as examples those who stood in "harm's way" in order to crystallize and galvanize our own Christian walk. It is in that spirit and intent that we can learn from this "different breed of warrior" about the lesson of "this is the way, walk in it" (Isaiah 30:21).
It was from the mouth of one who once despised him that the echoing lesson of Isaiah can be heard. Some men are awarded the Medal of Honor for one incredible act of courageous daring, but "Desmond did that every day!" WNP
Twilight on the Land
Twilight on the Land
I was 17 when I saw my first vampire film. I laughed till I cried. Today I am 57 and I do not laugh at images and stories of vampires. Today I shudder.
by Darris McNeely
It was 1968 when the original Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi in the title role, came to my hometown movie theater in a rerelease. I had read about this famous movie, and some friends and I decided to go and see what it was all about.
When the count made his first appearance in the movie, it was one of those dramatic shots where he was looking up a staircase at a woman who would become the object of his twisted affection. Lugosi was dressed in that famous black outfit with the cape and had a leering look in his eye. The scene was intended to frighten moviegoers, and maybe it did in 1931 when it was originally released. But by 1968 we were a jaded lot. The entire theater audience howled with laughter at the sight of the "sinister Count Dracula"!
A different story today
Vampire stories are no laughing matter today.
Lately, I have been reading about the latest twist on the vampire story. Twilight, the first of a series of novels by Stephenie Meyer, has recently been made into a movie and is seeing commercial success just as her books have.
Twilight begins a four-novel saga about a teenage girl named Bella who moves to Washington state to live with her father after the remarriage of her mother. She begins life in a new high school and meets a "young" man named Edward who, as the story progresses, she discovers is a vampire and lives with a "family" of vampires.
The relationship builds through four novels with the story of adolescent love building between Bella and Edward. Bella's attraction for Edward moves her to desire to become a vampire and join their relationship for "eternity." Edward resists, and it takes four books until a resolution is reached where Bella sacrifices her human life for the desire of her heart.
This series has the familiar elements of the vampire story with a few twists. Instead of living off human blood, Edward subsists on animal blood. But Twilight does continue the idea of the "undead" vampire, living between the two opposites of life and death forever. It focuses on the tension between good and evil, light and darkness.
In fact, on the cover of the novel, one finds a bright red apple, symbolizing the so-called "forbidden fruit" of the Garden of Eden, and inside is a quote from Genesis 2:17 with the reference to the knowledge of good and evil. Perhaps this is a reference to the forbidden love between the human Bella and the vampire Edward.
Let me say something at this point. I have not read the books. Nor do I intend to. I have not seen the movie and don't intend to. I'll get into why later.
I have read about the movie and the book and, as I have already stated, I have seen other vampire movies over my life, so I think I know the genre pretty well. Beyond that I know what the Bible teaches about good and evil, life and death, and good and evil spirits. I also know where the Bible warns us against the deceptions of the end of the age.
Subtle deception
It is the subtlety of deception that surrounds this latest tale that has me worried. Twilight has cast the story of vampires within the explosive emotional web of adolescent sexuality. Everyone who has lived through that period of life personally understands the powerful attractions of sex, desire and forbidden love at that stage of life. Adolescence is when so many futures are molded and shaped, fashioned and formed and, sadly for many, destroyed or forever altered.
Physical attraction, love, sex and commitment to another are powerful emotions that by themselves are not bad. They are part of human life designed by God to be developed, controlled and enjoyed within the boundaries set by His law.
Visualizing these powerful feelings within the sordid, twisted and blatantly evil world of demons and vampires is a monstrous and blasphemous heresy. The popularity and commercial success testifies to the truth that people today cannot discern between good and evil. "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20).
When I hear the story of a young girl who is willing to leave her family and give up being a human to join herself with a vampire, I see a demonic subtlety. Here is another way to teach that death is preferable to life. The culture of death has another arrow to shoot at young, moldable minds.
I see also the idea promoted that one can leave righteous faith and embrace evil, feeling good about it because it is done in the name of "love." These are powerful stories hitting the culture at a time when there is a growing void of values. The religious faith of the land is not strong enough to push back against this growing tide of interest and fascination with the occult.
Confusion of a people
What happens when a nation allows the occult to make inroads into its culture? An example from ancient Israel is instructive.
In 1 Kings 22 we are told of a council of war between the kings of Israel and Judah. Ahab and Jehoshaphat were planning war against Syria to regain land that Israel had lost. Ahab had allowed the worst of the cult of Baal to come into the nation through his wife, Jezebel. The remaining vestiges of the true worship of God had been driven underground. This was the time of Elijah's great witness against the land for its abandonment of the God of Abraham.
At the council Jeshoshaphat asked whether there was "a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him?" (verse 7). When finally the prophet Micaiah was brought before the two kings, he revealed an amazing vision from the throne of God that showed the depth of confusion within the nation.
Micaiah saw God sitting on His throne and the spiritual host of heaven around Him. The extent to which God had given King Ahab and his people over to deception is shown in this dialogue. "Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, 'I will persuade him.' The LORD said to him, 'In what way?' So he said, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets'" (verses 21-22). God was allowing Ahab to be persuaded into a battle he could not win.
The depth of spiritual confusion was so great in Israel that it impacted the decisions made at the highest level. A lying spirit could work through false prophets to persuade the king to an action that resulted in his death and defeat in battle. There was a twilight upon the land. This "spiritual twilight"—where the people wavered between opposing ideas of right and wrong, righteousness and unrighteousness, and good and evil—mirrors our land today.
When the influence of evil spirits is pervasive in the ideas and imagination of a culture, you see a nation in serious decline. I currently see America in a time of transition and crisis. The continuing economic problems defy the traditional solutions typically used by government. A new president with a team of brilliant advisers will work very hard at correcting the economic slide.
Is there a connection between spiritual deception—a fascination with the occult and other ideas of the spirit world and what lies behind the world we see—and political confusion that leads to decline? I look at the land and read the Bible and hold deep concern for the future.
Spiritual warfare
The Bible tells us we are in a spiritual war with dark forces who seek to confuse, disorient and destroy. We can live a comfortable life and not fully appreciate the battle that rages around us in the spiritual dimension. The passage from 1 Kings quoted above is a glimpse into a part of that dimension we do not see with our mortal eyes.
But the Bible is very plain in teaching us the reality of this spiritual battle, and it gives us the knowledge and tools to do combat. In Ephesians 6 it says, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (verses 10-12).
This is why I don't want to view or read any stories about vampires and the occult. I don't need to put those thoughts and images into my mind. When I saw the pictures and movie trailer to Twilight, I saw the new age of subtlety that Satan the devil is employing to tune in a generation of people to his wavelength. The images of vampires in this telling are not something to laugh at. They are something to avoid.
The apostle Paul warned us to give no "place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:27). All of us struggle enough with temptation in our daily lives. Why add to that problem by dwelling for any period on twisted love stories of humans and vampires? It is not godly nor does it give us focus and direction toward the Kingdom of God. WNP
Related Resources
Is There Really a Devil?
The Bible reveals much about an unseen power that works behind the scenes, shaping our world to its will and agenda. Are you being taken in? Discover the real source behind so many of the world's problems. Learn about the being who is determined to bend your thinking to his own.
Good News Commentary: November 27, 2008 - Twilight
It seems we human beings have always yearned to be something more than what we are.
The Spirit World's Dangerous Dark Side
Strange practices and religions such as Wicca, Santeria, voodoo and channeling are growing in popularity. What's behind them? Are such things harmless, or is there more to them than meets the eye?
Is There Really a Spirit World?
Both popular culture and religion bombard us with references to the spirit world. But is it real? What’s it all about? Where can you turn to sort out fact from fable?
I was 17 when I saw my first vampire film. I laughed till I cried. Today I am 57 and I do not laugh at images and stories of vampires. Today I shudder.
by Darris McNeely
It was 1968 when the original Dracula, starring Bela Lugosi in the title role, came to my hometown movie theater in a rerelease. I had read about this famous movie, and some friends and I decided to go and see what it was all about.
When the count made his first appearance in the movie, it was one of those dramatic shots where he was looking up a staircase at a woman who would become the object of his twisted affection. Lugosi was dressed in that famous black outfit with the cape and had a leering look in his eye. The scene was intended to frighten moviegoers, and maybe it did in 1931 when it was originally released. But by 1968 we were a jaded lot. The entire theater audience howled with laughter at the sight of the "sinister Count Dracula"!
A different story today
Vampire stories are no laughing matter today.
Lately, I have been reading about the latest twist on the vampire story. Twilight, the first of a series of novels by Stephenie Meyer, has recently been made into a movie and is seeing commercial success just as her books have.
Twilight begins a four-novel saga about a teenage girl named Bella who moves to Washington state to live with her father after the remarriage of her mother. She begins life in a new high school and meets a "young" man named Edward who, as the story progresses, she discovers is a vampire and lives with a "family" of vampires.
The relationship builds through four novels with the story of adolescent love building between Bella and Edward. Bella's attraction for Edward moves her to desire to become a vampire and join their relationship for "eternity." Edward resists, and it takes four books until a resolution is reached where Bella sacrifices her human life for the desire of her heart.
This series has the familiar elements of the vampire story with a few twists. Instead of living off human blood, Edward subsists on animal blood. But Twilight does continue the idea of the "undead" vampire, living between the two opposites of life and death forever. It focuses on the tension between good and evil, light and darkness.
In fact, on the cover of the novel, one finds a bright red apple, symbolizing the so-called "forbidden fruit" of the Garden of Eden, and inside is a quote from Genesis 2:17 with the reference to the knowledge of good and evil. Perhaps this is a reference to the forbidden love between the human Bella and the vampire Edward.
Let me say something at this point. I have not read the books. Nor do I intend to. I have not seen the movie and don't intend to. I'll get into why later.
I have read about the movie and the book and, as I have already stated, I have seen other vampire movies over my life, so I think I know the genre pretty well. Beyond that I know what the Bible teaches about good and evil, life and death, and good and evil spirits. I also know where the Bible warns us against the deceptions of the end of the age.
Subtle deception
It is the subtlety of deception that surrounds this latest tale that has me worried. Twilight has cast the story of vampires within the explosive emotional web of adolescent sexuality. Everyone who has lived through that period of life personally understands the powerful attractions of sex, desire and forbidden love at that stage of life. Adolescence is when so many futures are molded and shaped, fashioned and formed and, sadly for many, destroyed or forever altered.
Physical attraction, love, sex and commitment to another are powerful emotions that by themselves are not bad. They are part of human life designed by God to be developed, controlled and enjoyed within the boundaries set by His law.
Visualizing these powerful feelings within the sordid, twisted and blatantly evil world of demons and vampires is a monstrous and blasphemous heresy. The popularity and commercial success testifies to the truth that people today cannot discern between good and evil. "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isaiah 5:20).
When I hear the story of a young girl who is willing to leave her family and give up being a human to join herself with a vampire, I see a demonic subtlety. Here is another way to teach that death is preferable to life. The culture of death has another arrow to shoot at young, moldable minds.
I see also the idea promoted that one can leave righteous faith and embrace evil, feeling good about it because it is done in the name of "love." These are powerful stories hitting the culture at a time when there is a growing void of values. The religious faith of the land is not strong enough to push back against this growing tide of interest and fascination with the occult.
Confusion of a people
What happens when a nation allows the occult to make inroads into its culture? An example from ancient Israel is instructive.
In 1 Kings 22 we are told of a council of war between the kings of Israel and Judah. Ahab and Jehoshaphat were planning war against Syria to regain land that Israel had lost. Ahab had allowed the worst of the cult of Baal to come into the nation through his wife, Jezebel. The remaining vestiges of the true worship of God had been driven underground. This was the time of Elijah's great witness against the land for its abandonment of the God of Abraham.
At the council Jeshoshaphat asked whether there was "a prophet of the LORD here, that we may inquire of Him?" (verse 7). When finally the prophet Micaiah was brought before the two kings, he revealed an amazing vision from the throne of God that showed the depth of confusion within the nation.
Micaiah saw God sitting on His throne and the spiritual host of heaven around Him. The extent to which God had given King Ahab and his people over to deception is shown in this dialogue. "Then a spirit came forward and stood before the LORD, and said, 'I will persuade him.' The LORD said to him, 'In what way?' So he said, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets'" (verses 21-22). God was allowing Ahab to be persuaded into a battle he could not win.
The depth of spiritual confusion was so great in Israel that it impacted the decisions made at the highest level. A lying spirit could work through false prophets to persuade the king to an action that resulted in his death and defeat in battle. There was a twilight upon the land. This "spiritual twilight"—where the people wavered between opposing ideas of right and wrong, righteousness and unrighteousness, and good and evil—mirrors our land today.
When the influence of evil spirits is pervasive in the ideas and imagination of a culture, you see a nation in serious decline. I currently see America in a time of transition and crisis. The continuing economic problems defy the traditional solutions typically used by government. A new president with a team of brilliant advisers will work very hard at correcting the economic slide.
Is there a connection between spiritual deception—a fascination with the occult and other ideas of the spirit world and what lies behind the world we see—and political confusion that leads to decline? I look at the land and read the Bible and hold deep concern for the future.
Spiritual warfare
The Bible tells us we are in a spiritual war with dark forces who seek to confuse, disorient and destroy. We can live a comfortable life and not fully appreciate the battle that rages around us in the spiritual dimension. The passage from 1 Kings quoted above is a glimpse into a part of that dimension we do not see with our mortal eyes.
But the Bible is very plain in teaching us the reality of this spiritual battle, and it gives us the knowledge and tools to do combat. In Ephesians 6 it says, "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (verses 10-12).
This is why I don't want to view or read any stories about vampires and the occult. I don't need to put those thoughts and images into my mind. When I saw the pictures and movie trailer to Twilight, I saw the new age of subtlety that Satan the devil is employing to tune in a generation of people to his wavelength. The images of vampires in this telling are not something to laugh at. They are something to avoid.
The apostle Paul warned us to give no "place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:27). All of us struggle enough with temptation in our daily lives. Why add to that problem by dwelling for any period on twisted love stories of humans and vampires? It is not godly nor does it give us focus and direction toward the Kingdom of God. WNP
Related Resources
Is There Really a Devil?
The Bible reveals much about an unseen power that works behind the scenes, shaping our world to its will and agenda. Are you being taken in? Discover the real source behind so many of the world's problems. Learn about the being who is determined to bend your thinking to his own.
Good News Commentary: November 27, 2008 - Twilight
It seems we human beings have always yearned to be something more than what we are.
The Spirit World's Dangerous Dark Side
Strange practices and religions such as Wicca, Santeria, voodoo and channeling are growing in popularity. What's behind them? Are such things harmless, or is there more to them than meets the eye?
Is There Really a Spirit World?
Both popular culture and religion bombard us with references to the spirit world. But is it real? What’s it all about? Where can you turn to sort out fact from fable?
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