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DO IT NOW

DO IT NOW

by Berton Braley

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If with pleasure you are viewing
any work a man is doing,If you like him or you love him,
tell him now;

Don’t withhold your approbation
till the parson makes oration
And he lies with snowy lilies on his brow;

No matter how you shout it
he won’t really care about it;
He won’t know how many teardrops you have shed;

If you think some praise is due him
now’s the time to slip it to him,
For he cannot read his tombstone when he’s dead.

More than fame and more than money
is the comment kind and sunny
And the hearty, warm approval of a friend.

For it gives to life a savor,
and it makes you stronger, braver,
And it gives you heart and spirit to the end;

If he earns your praise – bestow it,
if you like him let him know it,
Let the words of true encouragement be said;

Do not wait till life is over
and he’s underneath the clover,
For he cannot read his tombstone when he’s dead.

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ALL I'VE ONLY EVER WANTED

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There was a very young pastor from Rio, who believed he had a call from God to go to the Amazon in Brazil.
The Amazon is full of tribes, some of them very dangerous. The church in Rio was delighted with a young man
willing to go to these tribes of the Amazon. They promised him support and everything. So he with his new wife,
just got married, went up into the far north to the Amazon jungle.
 
Within a few months the church in Rio had totally forgotten that he existed. There was no more support, and if there
was
it came in drips and drabs and dribbles. But also, he was having difficulty with the language, because each tribe had
its own language. The natives didn’t want to hear him and couldn’t understand his gospel. His wife was pregnant now.
And so, new baby, the tribes were not listening, no support, running out of food, running out of everything. By the time
the baby was born, everything was as bleak as it could be.
 
After a trip through the tribes and with no results except closed doors, he came back to his wife and he said, “Pack!
We are out of here! We are going back to Rio.” And he said, “I’m done. I’m finished with God. I’m finished with His
ministry. I’m out of here!” He said, “As you pack I’ve got to close this. I’ve got to have closure with God, to say I’m
finished with Him, I don’t want to hear from Him again, and if this is what He calls love, He can keep it!”
 
He went to a cabin on the edge of the jungle, and he screamed at God for the better part of a day. He cursed at
God, and he told God everything he could dredge up, until he was exhausted. He lay on the floor just absolutely
exhausted, having told God what he thought of Him. And as he lay there, the cabin was filled with the presence of God.
And he heard a voice within him, and it said, “I am so sorry that your work for me has interrupted our friendship.
Because all I’ve only ever wanted is your friendship, that you and I be together. And I would ask you to leave your
work for me so we can reconnect our friendship.”
 
That knocked him sideways. He’d never, ever thought of that. It was as if he’d rediscovered the gospel. And he
went back to his wife, and he said, “Unpack! We’re staying! I’ve got a new…I’ve got to work this out…this new.”
And he went back to the tribes, only this time with a totally different approach to the gospel. And they listened.
And suddenly money began to come in from not only Rio, but from all over Brazil.
 
The tears were flowing as the young pastor told this story through an interpreter, because he said,
”I never knew this was the gospel. Now I have a gospel. Now I’m living in the friendship of God and PS,
I work for Him."
 
(Transcribed from Webinar 379 – Pearl Perception
by Malcolm Smith - on YouTube)

 

 

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What Is God's Password?

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It’s a password world! No password, no access.
Contrary to popular belief, passwords are not the invention of our modern,
high-tech society. There are actually two password-protected places, which
God said long ago He would love for you to access.

Psalms 100:4:
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving…

The word "enter" is not a command, but rather a gracious invitation.
It is your heavenly Father’s smile and kind gesture for you to,
“Step right this way.”

God’s gates are not barriers that you must burst through by force.
His gates are an open doorway. They also include a space inside the
gates; a meeting place. His gates are the entrance into His presence.
He longs for you to become acquainted with this place of complete
acceptance.

I want to go! What is the password?
The password is THANKSGIVING!
Did you notice the “…ING” at the end of it?
This means that there is an ongoing element.
It is not a single-use password. This password never expires!
Every day you simply say with your heart,
“THANK YOU, Father,” and He enthusiastically
escorts you into His gates.

Once you have leisurely explored His gates,
He desires that you venture further.

Psalms 100:4:
Enter…into his courts with praise.

His courts are a more private enclosure, where the two of you
can uninterruptedly enjoy each other’s company. His courts are
where you will experience the closest union with Him.


The password that moves you from His gates into His courts
is PRAISE! I was surprised by how many formats praise can come in.
It can be a thrusting forth of the arms. It can be publicly or privately
making renown the qualities of God. It can be the plucking of the strings
of a musical instrument. Or it can be the vocal adoration of Him in song.
Praise can look and sound like anything from a one-man-praise-band to an
orchestra with full choir. It’s up to you.

Perhaps I should have started with, why would you even want to enter into His gates
and into His courts in the first place?

Psalm 100:5:
For the LORD is good (pleasant, agreeable, beautiful, bountiful, at ease, etc);
His mercy (lovingkindness, tenderness, favor) is everlasting (continuous, unending);

This is just one verse that describes the amazing attributes of God. The book of Psalms
is a great place to read all about Him. And while you are at it, let Him impress upon you
who He really is.

To you He is infinitely harmless and safe.
Enter into His gates, into His courts and stay as long as you like.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

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By Rosann (Holdren) Wiltse

  

When I woke up this morning, and remembered that it was my birthday, the first verse that came to mind was:

  

James 1:17:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

  

I wondered what the significance was of calling a gift both “good” and “perfect.”  I found out that a good gift is one that is “pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy, excellent, distinguished and honorable.” Along with that, a perfect gift is one that “lacks nothing that is necessary to having integrity, virtue and completeness.” (Doesn't it just feel good reading those words?!)

   

As I considered what this gift might be, my thoughts began migrating away from the gift and onto the Father.  I concluded that in order to give gifts like this, at His core He must BE pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy, excellent, distinguished and honorable, having integrity and virtue, able to and wanting to satisfy us COMPLETELY with His gifts. Call me a "Daddy's Girl," but this is a Father I want to hang out with on my birthday and every day for that matter!

      

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Forgive and Be Forgiven

Forgiven Witness Cards, Pack of 25 - By: Rusmir Mahmutcehajic

     

  -Order Gift Cards

   

  

by Judi Lynn Klug

  

God bless you in this New Year of 2024!  Praise the Lord that goodness and mercy will follow us every day of this year!!

  
Assuming you plan to pray in 2024, I thought the beginning of the year would be a good time to start with the beginning of prayer.

   

     Mark 11:25  And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

  

Jesus said that when we are going to pray, the first thing we are to do is to forgive.

  

Did anyone just come to your mind against whom you have ‘ought’? Anyone you hope you don’t see at your front door today? Start there.

   
Purposefully choose to forgive each and every one. Think it through prayerfully. List each person God brings to your mind and forgive each one specifically. 

    

Forgive their parents who did not teach them properly ...or their friends/family/co-workers who agreed with them, etc. Whatever the Lord shows you.
     

NOTE 1: Forgiving someone does not say that what he did was not wrong; we do not call evil good. Nor does forgiving him release him from God’s “hook”. But, by your choosing to obey God you are releasing You!

   

“Unforgiveness (holding a grudge/resentment) is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.”  

   

It is true. Whether someone else ever chooses to believe, repent or change, YOU can be freed from the enemy’s trap by your choice to obey God. ”What is that to thee? follow thou me.” John 21:22

   

When ye stand praying, forgive.

   

Have you ever thought, “they don’t deserve forgiveness; what they did was too bad”?

We are not called to compare ourselves to others. 2 Cor 10:12  So think a bit more…was what he did to you/someone you love worse than what Jesus forgave?

    

Hebrews 12:3,4  For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

   

Have you ever noticed your old man nature defending your own sin?

“Well, I haven’t done what she did!”
“OK, maybe I’ve done that, but not as often!”
“OK, maybe I’ve done it as often, but not as recently!”

  
King Saul kept saying he’d obeyed God….to which Samuel responded, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? 1 Samuel 15:13

   

Have you ever hoped people would forgive you? Then, do unto others is your commandment.
Matthew 7:12

   

Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Luke 23:34

   

NOTE 2: The soldiers knew what they were doing in the natural: they were doing their job of nailing another man to another cross. But they did not know of the supernatural ramifications that would come from nailing the only begotten Son of God to This Cross. Likewise, the people who hurt you knew what they were doing in the natural, but they probably still have no idea of the spiritual ramifications to their lives. 

       

Ephesians 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

   

How has God forgiven you? Completely! Unequivocally! That is how we are to forgive. And we can, because we are not better than those who wronged us. We no doubt think our own sins are smaller, but if the person who hurt us had never been born, our own sins would have nailed Jesus to the Cross in order to save us.

    

That is how we remain humble and able to forgive other people no matter what they did.

  

God says to forgive, and if we say that we serve Him, then we obey Him and forgive, from a heart eternally grateful that He chose to forgive us!

  

NOTE 3…It may take time to think of everyone in your life whom you have not forgiven. That’s OK; God in Christ in you will remind you of someone else while you’re driving or working. Just gulp, repent, and forgive. With the holy spirit’s help. you’ll get good at it!

  
Next step? Forgive Yourself.

  

 NOTE 4: If your sin was done ignorantly/unpremeditated, it’s easier to forgive yourself, but some people get stuck in pride, thinking, “I should have known better.” Well, you didn’t. So you showed you need a Savior. Now tell the devil to take his accusations back to hell with him, repent and move on stronger in the Lord!
   
     1 John 3:20  If our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

   

You know some things about you--and the accuser always tries to use then against you. But! God knew everything you’d ever say or do before you said or did them, and He chose to send His Son Who chose to take the punishment for you!  You are forgiven! Your debt has been paid! You are free to move about the cabin of Life!

   

Repeat after me: “I am highly favored!”

   

The Greek word charitoo is used only two times in God’s Word. Luke 1:28: The angel Gabriel came to Mary and said, “Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee.”

And…Ephesians 1:6: God “has made us accepted in the beloved.”

   

Who is highly favored? Mary…and you!!!
Repeat after God: “I am highly favored!”

   

Jesus said, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Matthew 25:40  If you refuse to forgive yourself, you are disobeying, because YOU are one of His brethren.

   

If you refuse to forgive yourself, you are telling Jesus that you know better than He, and that He was a fool to die for you.

     

NOTE 5: But….what if your sin was premeditated? What if you actually meant to hurt someone? How do you forgive yourself for that?  A man named Saul purposefully hurt people. It was his job...to find Christians and drag them to prison where many of them were murdered. But God saw his heart, Jesus showed up on the Road to Damascus, Saul repented and God called him to the apostleship. Then this man, Paul, went on to receive and write almost half of the New Testament that we have today! 

     

And remember this, as Paul began his ministry he had to go back to the towns where he had dragged fathers. mothers and brothers out of their homes to their deaths. I'm sure he sat down in many a home lacking that person directly because of Paul ….. and yet he taught them about the love of God and the gospel/good news of Jesus Christ. Wow.

   

So, forgive those who have wronged you. Forgive yourself. Then stand against the wiles of the devil, pray with boldness, and enforce the victory Christ bought for you!

  

Meditate on the verses in this article. Get quiet with your Lord, ask forgiveness, accept His cleansing and pick up stronger than ever to walk with Him in 2024!!!

   

God bless us, every one.

  

Judi Lynn Klug

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Father's Day 2023: The Sovereignty of God

 

SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

by Andrew Wommack

 

 

My heart was really stirred this last month. I attended a meeting where an old friend of mine was ministering. He had been through some terrible things that nearly destroyed his faith. He became bitter and angry at God for the things that had happened. When I heard him, he had humbled himself and was again loving the Lord and excited about the future. Praise the Lord! However, in the process, he had come to believe that it was the Lord that caused all his problems. He had resigned himself to the “sovereignty of God.”

I believe this is the worst doctrine in the church today. I know that this is a shocking statement and is near blasphemy to some people, but the way sovereignty” is taught today is a real faith killer. The belief that God controls everything that happens to us is one of the devil’s biggest inroads into our lives. If this belief is true, then our actions are irrelevant, and our efforts are meaningless. What will be will be.

If we believe that God wills everything, good or bad, to happen to us, it gives us some temporary relief from confusion and condemnation, but in the long-term, it slanders God, hinders our trust in God, and leads to passiveness.

 

THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

The word “sovereign” is not used in the King James Version of the Bible. It is used 303 times in the Old Testament of the New International Version, but it is always used in association with the word “LORD” and is the equivalent of the King James Version’s “LORD God.” Not a single one of those times is the word “sovereign” used in the manner that it has come to be used in religion in our day and time.

Religion has resulted in the invention of a new meaning for the word “sovereign,” which basically means God controls everything. Nothing can happen but what He wills or allows. However, there is nothing in the actual definition that states that. The dictionary defines “sovereign” as, “1. Paramount; supreme. 2. Having supreme rank or power. 3. Independent: a sovereign state. 4. Excellent.” None of these definitions means that God controls everything.

It is assumed that since God is paramount or supreme that nothing can happen without His approval. That is not what the Scriptures teach. In 2 Peter 3:9, Peter said, “The Lord is…not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” This clearly states that it is not the Lord’s will for anyone to perish, but people are perishing. Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat” (Matt. 7:13). Relatively few people are saved compared to the number that are lost. God’s will for people concerning salvation is not being accomplished.

This is because the Lord gave us the freedom to choose. He doesn’t will anyone into hell. He paid for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2; 1 Tim. 4:10), but we must choose to put our faith in Christ and receive His salvation. People are the ones choosing hell by not choosing Jesus as their Savior. It is the free will of man that damns them, not God.

People virtually have to climb over the roadblocks that God puts in their way to continue on their course to hell. The cross of Christ and the drawing power of the Holy Spirit are obstacles that every sinner encounters. No one will ever stand before God and be able to fault Him for withholding the opportunity to be saved. The Lord woos every person to Him, but we have to cooperate. Ultimately, the Lord simply enforces the consequences of people’s own choices.

God has a perfect plan for every person’s life (Jer. 29:11), but He doesn’t make us walk that path. We are free moral agents with the ability to choose. He has told us what the right choices are (Deut. 30:19), but He doesn’t make those choices for us. God gave us the power to control our destinies.

Typical teaching on the sovereignty of God puts Jesus in the driver’s seat with us as passengers. On the surface that looks good. All of us have encountered the disastrous results of doing our own thing. We desire to be led of the Lord, and teaching that nothing happens but what God wills fits that nicely. However, the Scriptures paint a picture of each of us being behind the wheel of our own lives. We are the one doing the driving. We are supposed to take directions from the Lord, but He doesn’t do the driving for us.

Man has been given the authority over his own life, but he must have the Lord’s direction to succeed. Jeremiah 10:23 says, “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” God created us to be dependent upon Him and our independence is at the root of all our problems. As if it wasn’t bad enough for man to try to run his affairs independently of God and His standards, it has been made even worse by religion teaching us that all our problems are actually blessings from God. That is a faith killer. It makes people totally passive.

James 4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” This verse makes it clear that some things are from God, and some from the devil. We must submit to the things that are of God and resist the things that are from the devil. The word “resist” means, “Actively fight against.” Saying “Whatever will be will be” is not actively fighting against the devil.

If a person really believed that God is the one who put sickness on them because He is trying to work something for good in their life, then they should not go to the doctor or take any medicine. That would be resisting God’s plans. They should let the sickness run its course and thereby get the full benefit of God’s correction. Of course, no one advocates that. That is absurd. It is even more absurd to believe that God is the one behind the tragedy.

Acts 10:38 says that Jesus healed all those who were oppressed OF THE DEVIL. It was not God who oppressed them with sickness. It was the devil. It’s the same today. Sickness is from the devil, not from God. We need to resist sickness and, by faith, submit ourselves to healing, which is from God through the atonement of Christ.

I know someone is thinking, What about the Old Testament instances where God smote people with sickness and plagues? There is a lot I could say about that if I had the space, but a simplified answer to that question is that none of those instances were blessings. They were curses. God did use sickness in the Old Testament as punishment, but in the New Testament, Jesus bore our curse for us (Gal. 3:13). The Lord would no more put sickness on a New Testament believer than He would make us commit a sin. Both forgiveness of sin and healing are a part of the atonement Jesus provided for us.

Deuteronomy, chapter 28, should forever settle this question for all who believe the Word of God. The first 14 verses of Deuteronomy 28 list the blessings of God and the last 53 verses list the curses of God. Healing is listed as a blessing (Deut. 28:4). Sickness is listed as a curse (Deut. 28:22, 27-28, 35, 59-61). God called sickness a curse. We should not call it a blessing.

Knowing that God is not the author of my problems is one of the most important revelations the Lord has ever given me. If I thought it was God who killed my father when I was twelve, and some of my best friends before I was 20, if it was God who had people kidnap me, slander me, threaten to kill me, and turn loved ones against me, then I would have a hard time trusting God, if He was like that.

On the contrary, it is very comforting to know that God only has good things in store for me. Any problems in my life are from the devil, of my own making, or just the results of life on a fallen planet. My heavenly Father has never done me any harm and never will. I KNOW that.

I am not saying that there is nothing to learn from hardships. Most of you reading this article have come to the Lord because of something in your life that overwhelmed you and caused you to turn to the Lord for help. That situation was not from God regardless of the results. It was you turning to the Lord and the faith you placed in Him that turned your life around, not the hardship.

If hardships and problems made us better, then everyone who has had problems would be better for them. Those who have the most trouble would be the best. That simply is not so.

Let me illustrate this with a story about my son, Joshua. When he was only a year old, I was loading lumber on a large truck in the heat of a Texas summer. I had Joshua with me, and he was having a big time playing in the lumber yard. By mid-afternoon, he was tired and sleepy and started to lie down in the dirt for a nap. I knew his mother wouldn’t like that, so I put him in the cab of the truck to lie down and take his nap.

He had been wanting to get into that truck all day, and when I put him in there, he revived. I had to roll the windows down because it was hot, and Joshua was leaning out the windows and waving at me in the side view mirrors. I told him to lie down and even gave him a spanking, but he didn’t take heed. He leaned out the window too far, fell out of the cab, hit his eye on the running board and landed on his head.

I ran up to him, prayed over him, and held him until he quit crying. Then I told him that was why I told him to lie down and go to sleep and not lean out the window. I used that situation which caused him pain, to teach him, but if Joshua would have been like the sovereignty teachers of today, he would have gone out and told all his friends that his father made him fall out of that truck to teach him to obey. That’s not so. I did what I could to restrain him. I would be very hurt if that’s the way Joshua thought I was.

Likewise, I don’t believe it blesses our heavenly Father for us to blame Him for all the problems that come into our lives. Sure, He will comfort us when we turn to Him in the midst of our problems, but He doesn’t create the negative circumstances that hurt our lives.

God is sovereign in the sense that He is paramount and supreme. There is no one higher in authority or power, but that does not mean He exercises His power by controlling everything in our lives. God has given us the freedom to choose. He has a plan for us. He seeks to reveal that plan to us and urge us in that direction, but we choose. He doesn’t make our choices for us.

In many instances, it is our wrong choices that bring disaster upon us. In other cases, our problems are nothing but an attack from the devil. In some cases, natural forces of an imperfect world cause us pain. Our tragedies are never the judgment or correction of God. Jesus came to give us abundant life. The devil came to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Don’t ever get that confused. If it’s good, it’s God. If it’s bad, it’s the devil.

This is a fundamental doctrine of Christianity that must be understood properly if you want victory in your life. Believing that God controls everything renders a person passive. Why pray and believe for something better? Whatever God wants will come to pass. That simply is not true.

The Lord is the answer to all our problems. He is not the problem.

If you would like more ministry on this pivotal point, please order my teaching entitled, “The Sovereignty of God.” There is much more detail on the teaching than I was able to put into this article. This teaching will change your life.

I suggest that after you listen to it that you share it with someone else. I really believe that confusion on this subject is how Satan pushes his will off on most people. This teaching could change someone’s life.

 

 

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This weekend celebrates Pentecost, the Birthday of the Church.
This is what it means to me...
  
  
  
"My Pentecost Experience"
  
by Steve Sann
 
  
  
With shoulder length hair at the age of 16, in those early years of high school I prided myself a dedicated proponent of Eastern Thought: Zen Buddhism, Hinduism, Transcendental Meditation and the like. The Beatles, the Beach Boys and a host of others were evangelizing youth with these hip, new-age beliefs. As so many youth, Christianity had become a religion non grata. The effects were worldwide. Who could argue that Christianity was not the root cause of our corrupt Western civilization, I reasoned?
   
Meanwhile, I viewed myself as a New Leftist, a student activist, hailing the hip counterculture, while marching in anti-Vietnam and Civil Rights protests. (The ABC documentary, "1968: A Crack in Time" on YouTube, does a fine job of capturing the destructive forces impacting America's youth at that time.)
 
 
Consequently, one rock concert, I recall getting in the face of the straight-laced churchgoers at the entrances, who were soliciting, witnessing and handing out church tracts. Passionately, I felt they were misleading others with thier pro-establishment Jesus-tripe. After grappling sharply with them over their doctrines, they labeled me a lost soul, and I labeled them hypocrites. Not much was resolved in those heated discussions.
 
Even though I had run for class president and was appointed the editor of the school newspaper (while, ironically, the editor and founder of the underground school paper), I reluctantly explained to my family that college just wasn't my bag. Instead, upon graduation I would hitchhike west and east until I found that one person who could point out to me where to find God, which I deduced was some kind of cosmic life-force that I needed to locate. To me, God's pronoun was "it". I was convinced that certainly there will be at least one person who could share with me that answer.
.
Little could I foresee that all this was about to abruptly come to an end. In 1971, as a 17 year old junior in High School, I was told about the class on Power for Abundant Living. 
 
Having almost zero knowledge of what I had signed up for, I was mostly baffled why my older brother's friend Allen had suddenly become so animated about the Bible, of all ridiculous things! After all, wasn't the Bible the bourgeoisie tool Karl Marx had warned us about: the slave chain used by Churchianity; the "opiate of the masses"? At least, that was the ideology of the hipsters back then who, of course, have become the thought leaders of today's world.
 
In discussions that would have made the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi blush, Allen logically and confidently swatted down my frontal attacks on the Bible with the simple truths he had gleaned in PFAL. He shared stunning incidents of prayer power, miracles and healings. Although I still didn't trust the whole Bible, it had me at "hello."
 
The rest of the two week PFAL Class story is a history we are all familiar with: By the 6th evening, I was born again. At the 12th session I spoke in tongues for the very first time.
 
At that resilient young age, PFAL quickly catapulted me into the shocking realities of the heretofore unknown. The unfolding of creation up through the Great Mystery -- it was all making amazing sense. I'd never experienced that in eastern philosophies. With my world being turned upside down, my previous all-important beliefs and political activism faded more and more into insignificance. I began to see that the Word of God was the true counter-culture movement that our world desperately needed!
 
The evening of the 12th session was perhaps the most upending of all. Although Dr. Wierwille had introduced us to speaking in tongues, it didn't occur to me that I was going to be asked to do it myself. After all, I had attended with the attitude of an observer, not a participant.
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And yet, I did it. I stood there and I spoke in tongues aloud. Most importantly, I knew that those foreign words were not my own. They had to originate from this new spirit inside me. There was no other possible explanation.
 
At that moment, speaking in tongues became to me the absolute proof in the senses realm that I was born again, heaven-bound, and all hell couldn't stop me from going -- just as the unseen teacher on the audio class tape had explained.
 
That was My Pentecost Experience! And that's what Pentecost means to me: when I broke through the final frontier into the fields of gold.
 
Such is the impact of the Power for Abundant Living Class.
 
And such is the impact of speaking in tongues.
 
The very next rock concert I attended was Rock of Ages 1971, after several days hitchhiking. This time at the entrance, the Christians who got in my face were older ladies (19 or 20 year old's) who were greeting newcomers with holy hugs and kisses.
 
Today, speaking in tongues has become more than just a one-off experience for most of us: it has become a closely-held and trusty tool in our weaponry. Fifty-seven years later, I can truly attest I am more blown-away by the many benefits of speaking in tongues than I was even on that miraculous spring evening of 1971. Proof of salvation is only one of the array of features that speaking in tongues holds for us.
 
For your convenience, we at the Way Corps Site offer this brief list of benefits, designed to inspire you to speak in tongues more and more.
 
Please remember: "Jesus said I should, and Paul said I could."
 
S. I. T!
 
 
a. We pray bypassing our earthly understanding. Praying by the spirit in another language, we are able to pray for needs beyond our understanding and perception (I Cor. 14:14-17);

While praying beyond your understanding, the spirit addresses your personal needs—for example, in your family, finances, spirit, soul, and body.

 

b. We intercede for others according to God’s will. The spirit searches the hearts and lives of others, making requests for needs which we, in our limited perception, are unaware. (Rom. 8:26,27);

This makes us global prayer warriors. Interceding for others, the spirit identifies and prays for the needs of your loved ones, and world-wide for all the saints.

 

c. God speaks to our spirit unfolding His mysteries, guidance and truths, spiritually renewing, strengthening and edifying you (II Corinthians 5: I Cor. 14:2,4; Jude 20; Eph. 3:14-19; John 14:25; 16:13);

When we speak to God in the spirit, He speaks back. He not only reveals spiritual and biblical truths, but opens your eyes to wisdom and insight in all aspects of your life, and of others, as well. In addition, He builds up your spirit, preparing and strengthening you in the operation of the other manifestations.

 

d. We praise and bless God by giving thanks well, speaking the wonderful works of God (I Cor. 14:16,17; Acts 2:11);

When we “bless with the spirit” we are energizing the Christ within us to bring forth perfect praise to God. If translated, we would hear a litany of the great things God is doing, His nature and His love for his people. So, by the spirit we “give thanks well”, we are “speaking the wonderful works of God.”

 

e. We offer the “true worship” the Father seeks. We “worship God in the spirit” (Phil. 3:3). Jesus Christ foretold: “…the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:21-24);

Man has always sought after various methods of worshipping God, most of which actually bring more glory to the “worshipper,” but little satisfaction to God Himself. God is spirit, and cannot be truly worshipped in the flesh. Rather, by worshipping in the spirit, scripture assures us we are pleasing Him, as we with confidence properly “worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

 

f. It engenders intimacy with the Father, sharing our heart’s secrets with Him (Rom. 8:15; Gal 4:6; Rom. 8:27; I Cor. 14:2).

On the surface, it is difficult to become acquainted with the heart of a man. But the inner desires and secrets of our hearts the spirit shares with the Father. We speak tenderly with each other, as a child with His Father.

  

g. The spirit continually reaffirms to us that we are the sons of God. (Rom. 8:14-17; Eph. 1:13,14).

Speaking in tongues is the absolute proof in the senses realm to you that you have received eternal life, are born-again and have received the spirit. It confirms to you that the promises of the Word are true. 

 
Comments? Write us below.   Or email Steve at allbusiness7711@gmail.com
  
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Kevin Carter was able to overcome cancer, using His knowledge of the Word coupled with alternative methods.
 
Please take a look at "My Healing Journey," link below:
  
 
   
   
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
  
 
  
 
  
 
  
http://waycorps.ning.com/profiles/blogs/happy-birthday-church-my-pentecost-experience
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Read more…

My Healing Journey

   Kevin’s Health and Healing Journey.

  Kevin’s Health and Healing Journey, Written by Melody Ann Carter.

  This journey started in the year 2019, when my husband, Kevin Carter, had a PSA test and it was 9.  The normal range is 0 to 4. It is typically an indicator that something is inflamed and could either be an infection or cancer – specifically Prostate Cancer.  At the time, Kevin’s doctor wanted to perform a biopsy but we declined.  We wanted to look into what all of that would entail and what we found out confirmed our concerns.  They would poke about 21 holes in the prostate.  No thanks.  They said it wasn’t invasive….uhh…ok.  Still No Thanks. So, we ordered some prostate supporting supplements and gave it some time.  Then the Planned-demic hit and Kevin could not be seen by a doctor with the VA unless he wore a mask which he refused to do, as he has asthma.  So, we waited. Some fear was building up in Kevin’s heart and when we went to Florida for a meeting with Rev. Rico Magnelli and others, Kevin had 2 folks pray for him.  Rev. Ray Weidenhammer was one of them and he told Kevin to watch his mind.  So, Kevin built the Word in his mind and got rid of the fear. I started going to a Naturopath in Hamilton, Montana in 2021, and saw Dr. Mark Kelley.  No masks were required.  Kevin went to see him and in December of 2021, Dr. Kelley drew blood right there in his office and had it sent off to check Kevin’s PSA.  Kevin had no other indicators that there were any problems with his prostate but the numbers came back at 214.  The doctor said it could possibly be an infection so he put Kevin on a strong antibiotic for 3 weeks and said he would check his numbers again after that.  The next blood work came back at 330…not good.  Instead of going down, it kept going up.  He started giving Kevin infusions of Vitamin C, and Ozone…alternating weeks…Vitamin C one week, and Ozone the next.  We did that for about 2 months. [Side note: because I became Dr. and Mrs. Kelley’s nanny for their 2-year-old, Dr. Kelly gave us ½ price on everything we needed done.  What a blessing!  Thanks God.] Kevin’s numbers were checked again.  This time his PSA numbers jumped to 770.  Dr. Kelley did not know what more he could do and suggested that Kevin utilize the VA to get a CT scan and find out what was going on.  He did that and his numbers went to 1525 and other things showed up in the scan that concerned the VA doctor.  Kevin asked him how long he thought he had to live.  The doctor told him, if he could get this under control, maybe 2-5 years.  We alerted our family to what was going on and prayed a lot for God to show us what we needed to do.  We went back to Dr. Kelley to get some glutathione infusions to help flush out the fluid used to do the CT scan.  (We later found out that glutathione was feeding the cancer, along with whey protein, and NAC – which we had been taking throughout the scamdemic. I’ll share more later how we found this out.)God showed Kevin that Montana held nothing for him and that he needed to be around family.  We made the decision to move back east to be near our daughter, Sarah, and her family in NC, and our son, Jason, and his family as they were moving to Crestwood Kentucky from Norwood Massachusetts, to plant a church called Compass Church. Jason and Jenny found a house and we moved east on April 30. 2022.While packing the truck, friends came over to help.  Kevin was too weak to do much, and he may have popped a rib out as he was in a lot of pain, so our friends jumped in and packed the truck for us.  I had been packing up the house for months and Kevin had been packing up the garage, so it just needed to get into the truck.  We drove across the country, and because I had him on a strict diet – no sugar, no dairy, no carbs – because they all feed can Our initial plan was to move near our daughter and her family close to Asheville NC.  So, after dropping our stuff off at our son’s new home in Kentucky where they allowed us to store our things until we got settled, we went to stay with our daughter and her family to look for housing.  While there, Kevin went to the VA in Asheville and got another PSA test.  This time it was 2500+.  We were getting very concerned about where this was heading so we called around to see who in the area did alternative medicine as we decided Kevin would not get any chemo or radiation.  We watched family and friends die from chemo – as it is a poison.  It makes no sense to dismantle and destroy your God-given immune system. So, we went to one lady in TN and that was a disaster.  She wanted $900 just to talk with us and on the phone she said it would cost around $50K a month for treatments.  After seeing her office, asking her what this first visit would cost, we said NO THANKS and left.  This was all very overwhelming but we kept praying for God to lead us and give us wisdom.  After that, I came up with a phrase I used a lot – which is – “We will do what we can, when we can, how we can, and what we can afford.” A friend of my previous Naturopath was helping us – we were paying him for the phone calls, and he suggested these shots that I would give to Kevin daily for 30 days that would build up his white blood cells (at least I think that is what it was for) – but the cost was $10K.  Kevin called his sister and she agreed to pay for that.  We received the refrigerated bottles of injection material and needles… and though I was very uncomfortable giving Kevin the shots in the bum, I did it anyway for a week and then we decided to do it every other day, and then once a week.  We weren’t sure what we were doing but we tried it anyway.  We also continued to look for a place where Kevin could get vitamin C infusions without having to wear a mask.  We finally found a place in Asheville called Forum Health and Dr. Clayton Bell was very helpful.  He recommended something called RGCC – which is basically taking Kevin’s blood and sending it to Greece so that they can take out the cancer cells and tumor cells and grow them to see what kills them and what feeds them.  This is how we found out that the 3 things we were giving Kevin was actually feeding the cancer.  So this was HUGE!!  An answer to prayer.  It cost about $4500.  Our daughter, Sarah, had started a GOFUNDME and there was enough money to go ahead with this.  At this point, the end of May 2022, we drove back to Kentucky to help Jason and Jenny and their 2 children move into their new home. The hand of God was certainly involved in all of this.  Our initial intention was to move back to NC but it became apparent as Kevin grew worse, that we would need to stay in Kentucky.  Kevin’s back and hips were wonky and he couldn’t get in and out of bed so we finally found a comfortable rocker recliner (after 3 tries) so that he could sleep in the rocker.  At this point, he had to get up frequently throughout the night to urinate.  Jason and Jenny had given us the main floor bedroom suite with bathroom and walk in closet, for as long as we needed to stay.  We ended up staying there for 5 months. We continued to stay in touch with Dr. Bell in NC and another naturopath who worked with Forum Health in Austin Texas – Dr. Terri Beim.  Dr.  Beim was a wonderful Christian woman who put together a 4 month rotation of supplements for Kevin according to the reports from the RGCC (Greece blood testing).  She also had other recommendations such as: • Grounding – putting your bare feet directly on the ground outside for 15 minutes a day.  There are amazing benefits.  Kevin would get a book and sit outside barefoot and read for a while and come back inside.  • Go for a walk twice a day and get out of your head (don’t focus on your situation) look at the sky, the trees, listen to the birds and• Pray. One of the wonderful things that Dr. Bell did for Kevin immediately was get him on a research trial to receive for free, Yew Tips in capsules, for as long as he needs them.  Yew trees are found in Montana and the Yew tips are known to stop the replication of cancer cells.  So, he started taking 9 capsules a day.  He continues to take them and can call for more free bottles if he wants them.  They were $100 a bottle so that saved us a lot of money. In June 2022, Kevin started going to a chiropractor who helped him get his hips working better as well as his ribs which were still hurting him.  We also got in touch with the VA in Louisville and set up a Bone scan and MRI. The bone scan showed that there was cancer throughout his spine from the base of his neck, ribs, and shoulders to his prostate, tail bone and hips.  This was also very concerning.  The MRI showed many tumors and lesions on his bladder and liver, I think.  As you can imagine, things were not looking good. Though his doctor continued to recommend chemo, we stuck to our belief that it was not the best solution and we just needed to facilitate Kevin’s own immune system and allow it to heal him up.  We continued to proceed with our health protocols and prayed for God to show us anything else we needed to do. It was recommended to Kevin to take a hormone blocker shot which would put him into a “man”opause scenario and stop all testosterone but we both agreed, we didn’t want to do that at this time.  I had talked to Dr. Kelley about the hormone blocker shot and he shared with me the dangers of one of the shots called “Lupron” which could cause dementia and heart problems as well as other concerns. So we declined that route. On June 3rd, we also applied for disability with the VA to get financial compensation because we found out from our son, Ben, that the PACT ACT which recently came into play was helping military folks who were exposed to Agent Orange and other bio hazardous materials.  Many men in their late 60s were getting a very aggressive prostate cancer from the exposure to Agent Orange. Kevin was on the Kitty Hawk Aircraft Carrier during Vietnam, so he fit the bill because they carried refugees who were exposed to Agent Orange, on the ship, which exposed everyone on the ship to Agent Orange.  Kevin was required to go to a third party medical center to get his PSA checked among other proofs of having prostate cancer.  We found out a few days later that his PSA was at 3137. YIKES! He was awarded the disability and began receiving compensation within a few months.  This was very helpful because it costs a lot to purchase all the supplements that Kevin needed.  At one point, Kevin was hurting so much that he wasn’t sure he was going to survive this, and we talked about what I would do if he fell asleep.  It was a very heavy time, and we didn’t know what to expect so we stayed the course and continued with our protocol.  Little by little, Kevin started to feel better.  The ribs got better, the hips got better, and he was able to once again sleep on the bed with me in our room. We found a place across the KY border, in Indiana, that did infusions and we decided to go there and get alternate infusions of Vitamin C, Peroxide, and Colloidal Silver. Since he was going once a week, it was recommended that he get a “Port” put in just under his right collar bone, so that they wouldn’t wreck the veins in his arms.  The infusions could go right into that port.  Little did we know – this Port opened a whole new series of events that almost took Kevin out. And yet looking back – it could have saved his life exposing something we didn’t know was there and forcing us to make a decision we otherwise may not have made. On July 20th, Kevin went to Dr. Samman at First Urology to get a port put in.  It was an in-office procedure, and I took Kevin home after that.  There was a clear plastic bandage over the spot and before going to bed, we checked the bandage and were shocked to see a pocket of blood had pooled inside the bandage about 2 inches by 2 inches square.  We showed Jason and Jenny, and they called Rebecca Barlow who is a nurse and lived 2 houses away.  She came and looked at it and said we should go to the VA emergency room, so we did. They didn’t know what to do with a port, so they changed the bandage and we put a lot of pressure on it to stop the bleeding and put new bandages on it.  The next day we went to get a peroxide infusion and told the nurse there what happened. [ Something else I found out about some of the infusions (because I learned to ask a lot of questions) was that they were giving Kevin infusions with something called D5W.  I looked it up and it’s basically sugar water!  I was shocked that they would put this into someone’s body who has cancer since sugar feeds cancer.  Needless to say – we never went back. Later in the day and into the night, the bleeding started again, and we were told to put ice on it to slow it down and to come into the office where he got the port to see if he needed to have the port removed.  So, we went the next day and the doctor said he had never seen anything like this.  A hematoma was starting to develop, causing a bruised looking area on his chest near the port.  But instead of removing the port we agreed to see if it would stop bleeding.  Dr. Samman put a very tight bandage on it and we prayed that it would work.  That night there was blood everywhere. So, we called Dr. Samman as he gave us his cell number. Dr. Samman said to go to Norton Hospital and his good friend, Dr. Dwividi, who was an excellent surgeon would take care of him.  We went to the ER at Norton Hospital, and it was recommended not to remove the port until the next day when the surgical team could look at it. On Saturday, July 23rd, Dr. Donica came in and removed the port and sutured any remaining bleeding areas.  Kevin was sent home around 8 pm.  I didn’t think it was a good idea.  We were back at the ER at 11 that night.  My son Jason came with me.  I was crumbling. Also, Kevin almost passed out in the ER room…he was losing that much blood. Around midnight, the ER doctor put a heavy sandbag (15-20 pounds maybe?) on the wound to help stop the bleeding.  He also inserted silver nitrate sticks(?) Into the wound to stop the bleeding. I was crying and had to walk out of the room. I could tell it was hurting Kevin.  Jason stayed with him. To make a long story short… he was admitted to the hospital, had several surgeries to stop the bleeding, had many pints of blood given to him as his hemoglobin was down to a dangerous 5, and many bags of fibrinogen (something the liver makes to help the blood coagulate properly). The surgeon didn’t know why he was bleeding so much.  Kevin now had a huge bruise (hematoma) inside his body – the blood was going into his chest and down his arm.  It was not a pretty sight.  Yet through it all, Kevin was speaking God’s Word to all of the nurses and doctors and staying positive. The oncologist came to see us and told us he knew what was going on and it was called D.I.C. – Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation.  He said the cancer was misbehaving and causing the liver to not produce fibrinogen.  So, he highly recommended that Kevin get on some pills called Casodex as a precursor to going on a hormone blocker.  He said it was his testosterone feeding this monster and we needed to cut off its fuel.  He said it would be wrong to not do this.  He used to be a Christian minister and was able to ease Kevin’s heart about being basically a eunuch.  He shared how Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednigo were all under the Prince of the eunuchs and could have possibly been made eunuchs because they were captured.  We looked into that possibility and there are different opinions on that topic but basically it helped Kevin to understand that it would not prevent him from being able to minister God’s Word to others.  We were concerned that he would feel terrible all the time as well as be depressed because we were told that from another doctor.  So, Kevin got started on the Casodex and a month later he started on the hormone blocker shots (Solodex) and will need to continue doing that every 3 months for the rest of his life.  His PSA numbers started coming down and the last time we had it checked in February of 2023, it was down to 24.  Thank God! A note here to see the hand of God once again: (while Kevin was still in the hospital) Our daughter, Sarah, felt God nudging her to pray and fast for 72 hours from Friday night to Sunday morning.  When she called Jason, he felt that same nudge and they agreed to tell their friends and anyone who wanted to join them in praying and fasting for Kevin.  He was able to go home the next Tuesday.  The bleeding had stopped after 3 days of taking the Casodex. He came home on Tuesday, August 2nd. During those last few days in the hospital, my son, Jason, and his wife, paid for my youngest son, Ben, and his wife, to fly in and see Kevin and me.  I had no idea how much I needed them until they were there.  I was worn out from going back and forth to the hospital in downtown Louisville.  What a blessing!  Our family has a wonderful habit of circling the wagons around those of us in need.  And this was one of those times.  I am so blessed to have such an amazing family. Other things that helped in this healing journey were 2 friends – skilled in the healing arts, that gave us advice on different approaches and as God worked in us, we would do some of them as we could.  Again, we would do what we can, how we can, when we can, and what we could afford.  Chrissy Skeltis and Pam Etchison were so instrumental in this healing journey.  Chrissy told us about a Resonant Light machine that sends out frequencies that help heal the body.  It was $10K so Kevin again called his sister and she paid for it.  We will forever be grateful for her giving. (We found out after having the bloodwork sent to Greece that the other injections we were giving to Kevin did not have any affect on the cancer….so that was a wasted $10K!) But those are some of the lessons we learned…(That is why this RGCC was a major component to Kevin’s healing) We started using the Resonant Light Frequency machine and noticed improvements.  We still use it to this day…(May 2, 2023)Kevin had gotten down to 154 pounds and was looking terrible.  Chrissy said to start eating Ezekiel bread, grass-fed steak, and other things to put the weight back on.  Kevin’s clothes were so loose that we went shopping and bought some pants and shirts that would fit him and look better on him so he wouldn’t feel like he was losing so much weight.  Some of the other recommendations were to jump on a rebounder 5 times a day for 1 minute each time to open the lymph system and help clean it out.  Also walking twice a day which he could only do once in a while until his strength was built up.  Here is a simple but strange one – rub castor oil on the belly button in a clockwise circular motion once a day. ( We found out that castor oil kills parasites and also dissolves tumors.  The belly button acts like a port and takes the oil to all parts of the body just like when you were in your mother’s womb and that umbilical cord brought all the nutrition from the mother to you. Fascinating!)He was encouraged to drink bentonite water each morning first thing.  It has a whole list of benefits.  He started taking a tablespoon of mushroom powder (Agarius Blazei) in warm chicken bone broth once a day. He also took a tablespoon of turmeric with a tablespoon of liquid coconut oil to help with inflammation and pain. Most of these he still takes to this day along with many supplements. Another friend had recommended early in the journey to eat a tablespoon of tomato paste as it has a compound called lycopene, an antioxidant, which is helpful for the prostate. One of the important things that Kevin was told, was to picture himself doing the things he loved to do – golfing, working, hunting, etc… One other thing we did that had a huge impact on Kevin’s healing was – we bought him a puppy.  Yep – Kevin saw this mini Bernedoodle named Elyse and he fell in love with her.  We used his truck money to buy her and it was worth it.  That sweet little pup made him belly laugh so many times and she sat on his lap and covered him with kisses….something I wasn’t willing to do…hahahaha.  She was his from the start and her love and attention took his mind off of himself.  To this day, she still sits on his lap and at night when he comes to bed, she covers his face with kisses and he loves it.  Elyse means “God is my oath”.As of this date – Kevin looks and acts and feels pretty normal for a 69-year-old man. When we felt he was past any real danger last September, we decided to start looking for our own home.  We purchased and moved into our new home October 18th, 2022, and Kevin installed a wood floor in the living room and bedroom, after pulling up the carpets.  He has installed a wooden fence with wire around the back side of our yard to keep our dog in.  He is living his life and we are thankful to God, our family, and our friends for this miracle of recovery and deliverance. Today, May 2, 2023 marks our first year in Kentucky.  A wild year has passed and we are grateful to be here with our family. Kevin now weighs 187. We are blessed.

Read more…
 
Easter 2023 
Communion: Forgiveness and Healing
By Gene Slavit
 
 
 
 
During this time of year, many people think back on Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. They are reminded of his last supper and how he instituted “holy communion” as a memorial of what he would accomplish.
 
Growing up at Sacred Heart Church, I was never told about the relationship between forgiveness and healing. This was especially true when I received the communion wafer weekly, and at times even daily. I knew that I needed to be forgiven, and I often needed physical healing. But could communion help?
 
Jesus Christ was God’s response to man’s need for forgiveness and healing. Jesus Christ is our Passover.

 

 

I Corinthians 5:7:

… For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us.

 
 
Forgiveness and Healing: Children of Israel
 
What does it mean that Jesus Christ is our “passover” today? To better understand this, we need to see what the original Passover lamb in the Old Testament did. It brought spiritual and physical deliverance when it was sacrificed.
  
 
Exodus 12:3,6-8,13:
 
Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
 
And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
 
And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
 
And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 
  
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you….
  
  
The sacrifice of the Passover lamb had two parts: 1) forgiveness—where the lamb’s blood redeemed the children of Israel from the destroyer; and 2) healing—where the lamb’s broken body brought physical wholeness to all who ate of it. When the children of Israel left Egypt after eating the Passover lamb, everyone was in excellent health.
  
  
Psalms 105:37:
  
He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble [wavering or stumbling] person among their tribes.
  
   
Forgiveness and Healing: Spiritual and Physical Wholeness
 
Sin is broken fellowship with God. When we are born again, we receive remission of sins (Acts 2:38; Romans 3:25). If we sin after that time, we confess our sins and God “is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). That gives us spiritual wholeness. When we believe what we have spiritually, we can claim the physical healing that Christ accomplished for us.
  
  
I Peter 2:24:
  
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
  
 
  
Jesus Christ bore our sins on the tree. He shed his blood for our forgiveness from sins. That is why we can “live unto righteousness.” And his body was broken on the tree so that we are healed.
 
Forgiveness and healing is God’s will for us. He forgives all our sins so that we have spiritual wholeness and fellowship with Him. He also heals all our diseases.
 
 
Psalms 103:3:
 
Who forgiveth all thine iniquities [sins]; who healeth all thy diseases.
  
 
 
The Lord promised to forgive Israel’s sin, and then to heal their land.
 
 
II Chronicles 7:14:
 
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
 
  
 
When Hezekiah was told that he was about to die, he sought the Lord with tears. God sent Isaiah to tell him that he was forgiven and healed. Hezekiah would live another fifteen years, and during that time he would have a son who was an ancestor of Jesus Christ.
 
 
Isaiah 38:5:
 
Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.
 
  
 
Forgiveness and Healing: Through the Accomplished Work of Jesus Christ
 
Jesus understood the relationship between forgiveness and healing.
 
 
Luke 5:23-25:
 
Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
 
 
Like the original Passover lamb, Jesus Christ came to bring forgiveness of sin and physical healing. John the Baptist declared who Jesus was and what he was to do. He was the “Lamb of God.”
 
 
John 1:29:
 
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
 
 
Jesus Christ shed his blood for the remission of our sins.
 
 
Matthew 26:28:
 
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
 
 
His body was broken for our physical healing. Jesus Christ bore our sicknesses.
 
 
Matthew 8:17:
 
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
 
When we celebrate communion, we fully share in Christ’s accomplishments for us. That is what the Greek word for “communion” literally means.
 
 
I Corinthians 10:16:
 
The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion [fully sharing] of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion [fully sharing] of the body of Christ?
 
 
Forgiveness and Healing: What Christ Has Done for Us
 
Isaiah prophesied long ago of what Christ would do for us.
 
 
Isaiah 53:5:
 
But he was wounded [broken open] for our transgressions [rebellion], he was bruised [crushed and smitten] for our iniquities [perversity and evil thinking]: the chastisement [rebuke, instruction] of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes [wounds] we are healed.
 
 
Our redeemer, Jesus Christ, was “broken open” and poured out his sinless blood (Matthew 27:4; I Peter 1:19) to overcome our rebellious actions. No matter what we have ever done contrary to God’s will, it can be forgiven by the outpoured blood of Christ. His open wounds forgave our open transgressions.
 
Our advocate, Jesus Christ, was “crushed and smitten” to nullify our perversity and evil thinking. He overcame the death-dealing power of the Devil (Hebrews 2:14). No matter what evil thoughts we have ever entertained or hidden darkness we have concealed from others, they are forgiven by the inner contusions and unseen ruptures that Christ endured. His bruises brought release from our iniquities.
 
Our lord, Jesus Christ, took the most vicious “rebuke” imaginable. For almost forty hours, he was subjected to the taunts and vile cursing of devil-possessed Roman soldiers and Judean religious leaders. Even as he hung dying, he was mocked to come down from the cross and save himself as he had saved others (Matthew 27:42; Mark 15:31; Luke 23:35). Yet, because he knew that the Father was with him, he maintained a peaceful heart. It was God’s goodness and the joy set before him that gave him the strength to endure (Hebrews 12:2). No matter what devious methods Satan uses to wreak turmoil within our souls, we can stay peaceful in Christ’s atoning work. His chastisement brought us a peace that “passeth all understanding” to guard our hearts and minds (Philippians 4:7).
 
Our savior, Jesus Christ, had his face beaten and his body ripped apart. His “stripes” brought the utmost in pain and suffering. What an immense price that our loving heavenly Father paid for our physical healing. Because we are so precious to Him, He gave us the precious gift of His Son. And Jesus Christ freely gave himself for our healing. By his stripes we have been healed (I Peter 2:24).
 
 
Forgiveness and Healing: Spiritual, Mental, Physical
  
When we confess Jesus as lord and believe that God raised him from the dead, we are saved—made “whole” (Romans 10:9,10). We not only have a physical body and soul life (including mental ability), but also the gift of holy spirit.
 
I Thessalonians 5:23:
 
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 
 
Jesus Christ makes us whole in every category of life: body, soul, and spirit. Isaiah 53:5 declares what Christ would do for us spiritually (forgiveness of our transgressions and iniquities), mentally (rebuked to bring us peace), and physically (his stripes for our healing). Today this is a finished reality.
 
Spiritually—our internal and external sins are forgiven. We are made the righteousness of God in Christ.
 
 
II Corinthians 5:21:
 
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
 
 
Mentally—he took on the adversary’s worst abuse so that we can have peace and sound minds.
 
 
Ephesians 2:14:
 
For he is our peace….
 
 
II Timothy 1:7:
 
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
 
 
Physically—his stripes overcame our sickness and disease. Now we have wholeness, good health, and healing. That is why he instituted the memorial of communion.
 
 
I Corinthians 11:24-26:
 
And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
 
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
 
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
 
 
Let’s be thankful for God meeting our need for forgiveness and healing by way of His wonderful Son, Jesus Christ. Let’s claim today what Christ has done for us as we eat the bread and drink the cup. By believing, receive and thank God for your physical as well as spiritual wholeness.
 
 
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For a new hymn to sing about what Jesus Christ has done for us, please click here: 
 
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First of All… Pray for Our Freedoms

First of All… Pray for Our Freedoms

Each January, after we smile and wish ourselves another “Happy New Year!,” many of us look about pensively and view the “free-world” of the West in rapid decline.

Consequently, each January, we would do well to remind ourselves of our year-long first-of-all calling to protect those freedoms.

Especially in America, “the last bastion of freedom,” our freedoms are fleeting. Every seam that unites us as "one nation under God" appears to be coming undone. History teaches us, that once a country forsakes its sense of national identity, a nation-wide unraveling is often not far behind.

Morally, economically, spiritually—our country is losing its way. And tragically, most good men and women who could provide leadership are either confused on the underlying issues, bound up in their own affairs, or simply afraid of becoming a political target. Our common enemy, on the other hand, is focused, well funded and well staffed.

Who can come to our aid in these troubled times? 

When governments threaten the believers’ freedoms, Scripture tells us this: we are the men and women called to arise. We are to respond by prayer in the spirit.

II Timothy informs us that all believers share one, basic, vital responsibility to their country. And that is to intercede for their freedoms, so the Word can continue to be reach out.

 

II Timothy 2: I-3:  [emphasis added]

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior.  


Under the grindstone of Big Government, the lowly citizen feels powerless to affect change.  Yet—as a Son of God with Power—we have Christ’s authority to engage in the fight for freedom. 

In truth, our spiritual influence over Satan's kingdom is so impactful, so significant, that the Apostle Paul exhorts us: make prayer the absolute "first of all" thing we do.

Certainly, there are countless things God would have you do in life. Yet, as He reveals here, there is no greater priority than prayer.

Why?  Because, when we pray in the spirit, trusting God, His power is released to do precisely what He needs it to do.  Prayer can be even more influential than running for political office and ‘setting the world on fire,’ as influential as that could be. But instead, by prayer, God’s fire is ignited!

Let’s examine this verse further.

For whom are we to pray?

"For kings, and for all that are in authority". 

Why are we to pray for these governmental authorities?

"That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."

It’s not enough to pray for the candidate we favor to win the election.

Of greater importance, we are to pray to restrain our governments from hindering God’s work, and us.  This is Paul’s main thrust. Or, to put it bluntly—we pray that our governments will stay out of our lives—and our children’s lives—leaving us free on this earth. I say, “our children’s lives,” because if our children do not pray, we should pray in their stead. That’s something we can do for them and the other believing saints today.

 

Ephesians 6:18:

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

 

We and our loved ones are just passing through Satan's kingdom.  Yet, we are to consider ourselves ‘protected property’—God’s property! Specially set apart and sanctified, we are in this world but not of this world.  As God's people, we are promised the Father's protection and prosperity.  That is His Word’s guarantee.

Nevertheless, praying without faith, God’s promises can only sporadically come to pass. Lowering one’s shield of faith invites Satan’s attacks (Ephesians 6).

Prayer is the weapon we wield. It stands to reason, if God tells us His priority is our vigilance in prayer, then God’s priority must be to answer those prayers!

 

James 5:14, 15:

And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

 

Unsurprisingly, our greatest tool to protect our countries, our peoples, our families—is “the prayer of faith”! Of course, not a “beggars’ prayer” with weak-willed words, but with faith-filled boldness – standing on our Christ-bought authority with great expectation. As Jesus prescribes in Mark 11:23, speak to the problem.

We have the authority as men and women of God to command the protection and success for God's servants in today’s world.  If we don’t do it, it won’t get done.

In the eyes of the watchmen, freedom stands at a crossroads in history, while America drifts listlessly toward the rocky crags. Freedoms hard-fought for are easily lost, and even more difficult to regain.

In these critical times, each of us shoulder a burden of responsibility. Our first-of-all responsibility to unborn generations is to pray—with believing confidence—for God to keep His promise: that God's people and their children “may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.”

 

-- Steve Sann

allbusiness7711@gmail.com

 

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Glad Tidings to ALL People

Gene and Sherry Slavit may be emailed at:

 

 

GeneSlavit@gmail.com

Plus, enjoy over 500 articles at:

cropped-cropped-cropped-Lighthouse-Beach-Pigeon-Pt.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1freedomlifelight.com/glad-tidings-to-all-people/

  

 

 

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Christ in You in 2022 !

Conversation opened. 1 read message.
Christ in You in 2022

... God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is

Christ in you, the hope of glory.  

Colossians 1:27

 

 

 Steve Sann

 

Just as the war cry "Remember the Alamo!"  ignited the Texas Revolution, and just as "Give me Liberty or give me Death!" galvanized the American Revolution, "Christ in You!" is to be our battle cry, the mantra of every knowledgeable Christian today.

 

Spoken out loud, these three words "Christ in you!" should strike an electrifying chord of confidence and liberty in each of our hearts. Hey, let's let freedom ring!

 

Why is the phrase "Christ in you!" so powerful? Because, embodied in these three simple words is the very essence of ALL that Christ accomplished for us.

 

Within us, we have Christ's righteousness, his wisdom, his authority, his access to the Father.

 

We have his faith, his love, his joy, his peace.

 

We have all his abilities, all his talents, and most importantly all his authority and power are resident, latent within you.

 

Colossians 2:9,10:

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

 

We are ".... his body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." ­Ephesians 1:23.

 

Christ, who is seated at God's right hand in the heavenlies, is completely in us and we are completely complete in him. All that Christ is, we have become in the spirit.

 

Superseding even the Texas Revolution and the American Revolution, Christ in you is the ultimate revolution critical to free mankind.

 

As we bring forth his abilities, each of us can become Christ personified, even through our own chosen personalities.

 

Christ in you is how God views us, and it is how God wishes us to view ourselves. Our self-image is to be... Christ.

 

We are to meditate, envisioning ourselves walking in the same authority as Christ, bringing healing and deliverance to the world! As you act on your Word-based dreams ­your vision of yourself God infuses you with His spirit. Have you tried it? You’ll find that God opens doors for you to operate Christ's abilities.

 

In our sleepy, little town we have a traditional, old fashioned soda fountain in our local drug store. It's become a popular after-school hang-out.

 

Late one afternoon, as my wife and I pulled up outside, we were alarmed at a most disturbing site. Gazing through the storefront window from inside our car, we saw one of the high school boys struck by a full-on epileptic seizure. His head was gyrating uncontrollably, bouncing up and down off the counter.

 

At that moment, Terry and I turned to each other, and knew what to do... "Let's throw this thing out!".

 

From inside our car, we spoke quietly and directly at that spirit. We didn't pray about it. We didn't schedule a counseling session. Instead, we sternly took charge with our Christ-in-us authority.

 

We spoke to that spirit inside the building as if it was right there in the car with us, unbeknownst to the boy or anyone else in the store at that time.

 

"I command you stop that seizure in the name of Jesus Christ, and leave that boy alone!"

 

The boy didn't know what hit him, but the spirit sure did. The spirit became suddenly notified by God that there was a new sheriff in town, and abruptly the seizure halted. Taken by surprise, the boy looked up and all around, confused at what had just happened.

 

Later, in speaking with the boy and his friends, it became evident that his problems were deeper than even epilepsy. Over the years, he had learned to utilize his demon spirit to attract sympathy and attention.

 

Just like the Apostle Paul acted against the spirit of divination in the slave girl in Acts 16, we can disrupt and deter spirits that influence our communities, our country, and even wield global dominion.

 

Acts 16:16-19:

Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 

This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 

And this she did for many days.

But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour. 

But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.

 

Both the boy in the soda shop and the girl in the market place have a lot in common: they each are profiting from their spirit controllers. Such is the way of the world, isn't it though? Our culture, our communities, schools, and governments are constantly influenced by those who have made peace with their demons. And they utilize them to elevate themselves.... much to our detriment.

 

However, those of us with a Christ-in-you attitude can push back against these powers-that-be, disrupting their control. From the quietness of our prayer rooms, we can affect the world. We can speak directly to the problem "in the name of Jesus Christ!"  THIS authority WE control, when Christ-in-you is alive inside our hearts.

 

Contrary to popular opinion, we are seated with Christ far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” – Ephesians 1:21.

 

In 2022, there’s no better time than now to show forth the Christ in you! Our country needs it, our families deserve it, and the people of the world are calling more than ever for a new revolution!

 

So, let’s begin anew with Christ in you in 2022!

  

 

 

­Comments? Please email Steve at allbusiness7711@gmail.com.

 

 

 

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Dear Fellowship,

 
The longer we live, the more we will have invested in the return of Christ, the more what it stands for will mean to us.
 
John Crouch was a great help and example to the body of Christ in his gentleness and love for us. He gave us a greater understanding of the stars in relation to the Bible. He was a rare gem in that he was a man wise of science and Godly wisdom of the scriptures. He taught us true science and true scriptures don't contradict each other.
 
I always saw him as one of the "not many" from 1 Corinthians: "not many wise men, not many mighty, not many noble that are called."   He took the challenge to give us a better understanding figures of speech in the Bible.
 
We are very thankful for his life and teaching. We are looking forward to the return of Christ.
 
Here is a video we put together with some footage we had of John Crouch
 
In remembrance of Rev. John Crouch, the sharpest knife in the drawer:
 

Until then,

 

Victor Wierwille

 

###

 

 

Dear Saints,

 
The Celebration of Life for John Crouch will be on Friday morning, February 11, at eleven o’clock.
 
The Gary L. Kaufman Funeral Home
7250 Washington Blvd
Elkridge MD 21705
 
The service will be live streamed:
 
 
Enter John’s name or find his obituary and click on it.
 
 
Thank you for all your love and prayers for Pauline, and Robert and me.
 
Our God truly is the God of all comfort!
 
 
God Bless You,
Love,
 
Gervais Crouch
 
 
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Jesus teaches the proclamation of the Kingdom

                                               Jesus teaches the proclamation of the Kingdom

As a preface to this study take note of the Apostle Paul’s statement in Romans 15:8

8Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of (to) the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers: 

The circumcision were the group Jesus was teaching in the book of Matthew 4 and 5

The verses in Matthew chapters 4 and 5 are addressed them. Many modern readers read these verses as if they directly apply to them. The teaching content of the sermon on the mount was for people of that day and time. About 2022 years ago

We begin this study in the book of Matthew 4:23-25

23And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

24And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.

25And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.

 

At this time Jesus had open access to the synagogues and there were people believing his words and receiving healings to the end they would follow Jesus from location to location. He finally settled at the mount opened his mouth and taught

Math 5: 1-9

1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:

2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.

5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.

8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

 

Jesus taught the disciples present. These were not the run of the mill of a random crowd, nor were the members of the multitudes gathered. Their condition is stated as “Blessed” and because of their receptiveness they

“shall be filled” Most of the assembly present had come to learn and conduct

themselves by following the words from Jesus.

They were the merciful to obtain mercy.

They were the pure in heart who shall see God.

They were peacemakers in their time called the children of God.

 

 

 

Math 5:10-12

10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

 

The circumcision the believers of Jesus at this time were told by Christ : men shall persecute, and speak falsely, for my sake and told them how to behave

during the times of their actions. Rejoice and be exceeding glad.

 

Math 5:13

13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

 

Verse 13 contains the figure of speech metaphor. The people were not made of salt. They represented something. They represented a truly believing group of people. Real salt if exposed to the environment it is good for nothing, this represents the persecution of the evil speaking persecutors. Who the circumcision were not to react to but to rejoice in spite of, if they did they would no longer be of any good for the Lord in his

work to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom.

 

Matthew 5:14-16

14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

In Matthew 5:14 contains another metaphor. “Ye are the light of the world”. They

were not literally made of light but Jesus called them that. Something about these

Jews represented light. The audience Jesus was teaching were knowledgeable of

The Old Testament having been instructed in them since youth.

 Let us read some of these verses:

Psalm 27:1

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

 

Psalm 97:1-12

97:1

The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

 

97:2

Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.

 

97:3

A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.

 

 

97:4

His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.

 

 

97:5

The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

 

 

97:6

The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.

 

 

97:7

Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.

 

 

97:8

Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.

 

97:9

For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods.

 

 

97:10

Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.

 

 

97:11

Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

 

 

97:12

Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

 

Psalm 119:1-16

 

119:1

Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

 

119:2

Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

 

 

119:3

They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

 

 

119:4

Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.

 

 

119:5

O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

 

 

119:6

Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

 

 

119:7

I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

 

119:8

I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

 

 

119:9

Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

 

 

119:10

With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

 

 

119:11

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

 

 

119:12

Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

 

 

119:13

With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.

 

 

119:14

I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

 

 

119:15

I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

 

 

119:16

I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Proverbs 4:18-23

4:18

But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

 

 

4:19

The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

 

 

4:20

My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

 

 

4:21

Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

 

 

4:22

For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

 

4:23

Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

This mindset is why they were qualified to be called The light of the world

by our Lord.

 

Matthew 5:14-16

14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 

Despite the adversity of the times, Jesus told them to “let your light so shine before men” The light (the truth they had in their being) was to be displayed to the end that anyone observing the disciples actions could see their good works and glorify (Greek is    

Doxazo) God.

 

Matthew 5:18-20

18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 

A jot is the smallest Hebrew letter (=y) it looks like the English character apostrophe the “tittle” is also small. The point Jesus is making to the multitude is that everything in the old testament will come to pass. In Verse 19  He tells them  just what to continue doing and when the kingdom of heaven arrives (this event is still to come) they shall be called great (Greek is megas=massive).

 

20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

 

In the times Jesus was teaching righteousness was determined by an individual’s actions. Not met by the scribes and Pharisees.

In our Day and time biblically a person’s righteousness was accomplished by Christs work.

Rom 3:21

But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Rom 3:22

Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:                             

                            

 

During the teaching on the mount Jesus eluded to the works of the scribes and Pharisees.

5:21

  

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

5:27

  

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

5:31

  

It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:

5:33

  

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:

5:34

  

But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:

 

Jesus completes the sermon on the mount as summarized in Matthew 7:21

7:21

  

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

 

 

 

 

 

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Christmas Greetings!

 
Christmas Greetings!
 
  
 
In this season, even the world pauses to remember old times and to take stock, anticipating substantial and novel things to come, even if they not know why.
 
 
But we know why! God sent His Son into the world, to show a presence and a wonder in his day. His presence continues to this day by his spirit, and so does the wonder.
 
 
For us, it’s a privilege to remember that child and the greatness with which he walked before the Father on earth, and how he today, by his spirit, has worked in our lives. Looking forward to a new year, and to what may come, the promises come down to us through the centuries just as powerful as then and reverberate, showing that he will not abandon us or forsake us. 
 
They rejoiced in the day of his birth, anticipating what great things were to come to pass; so we anticipate today his coming again in glory.
 
 
It is written: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8.
 
 
 
Merry Christmas!
 
 
 
Scribed by John and Gervais Crouch
  
  
Comments?
  
Email:  allbusiness7711@gmail.com
 
 
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