All Posts - Blogs - Way Corps Site

Sort by

How God has and can work with us

Posted by Steve Jaynes on April 30, 2009 at 1:02am

Does God have to instigate signs, miracles and wonders or can believers by seeing a need and wanting to help start to operate a manifestation? As we read records of signs, miracles, and wonders, in the Bible from the Old Testaments through the Gospels an even in the book of act and the epistles we can see very clearly when men and women got the Word from God as what to do. Here is a small sample of verses.KJV 1 Kings 17:1-13 And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith, that is before Jordan.This is clearly at Gods instructions. God told Elijah what to say, where to go, and how to do what he was to do, step by step. God worked with Gideon the same way, step by step.KJV Judges 7:2 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against me, saying, Mine own hand hath saved me.KJV Judges 7:4 And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go.If you were to read the whole record about Gideon you would see that God talk and told him what to do and how to do it all the way through. The same is true of Jeremiah.KJV Jeremiah 1:4 Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,KJV Jeremiah 1:13 And the word of the LORD came unto me the second time, saying, What seest thou? And I said, I see a seething pot; and the face thereof is toward the north.KJV Jeremiah 2:1 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,This goes on throughout the book of Jeremiah. But does God have to give people word by word instruction as what to do? Has God given authority to some by way of spirit? If God says that you have the power and authority to heal does God have to tell you again? What about all the manifestations?At different times in the Bible God has had to work with people differently because of what was available to mankind spiritual and what the different people could believe. In the Old Testament period of time a relatively small amount of people had spirit available to them and they had different levels of believing and sometimes different levels of spirit. Elisha had more spirit than Elijah. In the Scriptures we can read about the different criteria that are needed for operating different manifestation. Like ‘speaking in tongues’ can be operated at any time in your private pray life or in a believers meeting if interpreted. ‘Prophecy’ is operated in a believer meeting also. All the other manifestation have their criteria also and can be searched out by reading what the Scriptures say. In my book “How to Read the Bible for Understanding and Power” I go through this very thoroughly. But for now I just want to say that God has given us power and authority to help others. Like Jesus said “freely you received freely give.” Elisha asked for and received a double portion of spirit.KJV 2 Kings 2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.When I read the Scriptures I see a big difference between these to men, Elijah and Elisha. One man whom God told what and how to do everything (today we would call it being micromanaged). The other man who just walked out believing in his authority and power. In his double portion of spirit. Today it would be like a man who had the authority over a group of people doing a job. He would just tell people what he wanted done and they would do it because he has the authority to do so. Much like the centurion had.KJV Matthew 8:5-10 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him, And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him. The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.Jesus marvelled at his mans believing and his understanding of authority. There is much to learn about our authority.(On my web site I have recorded a teaching series that I call “Following Dominion, Power and Authority through the Scriptures” In this series we look at some of the dominion, power and authority that believers had throughout the Bible starting with Adam to some of the Old Testament believers to the Gospel period on to what Jesus commissioned on to us. I found it very interesting to follow and plenty of learning about how God has and can work with us.)Go to 1 Samuel, Chapter 17. I want to show you this record of David and Goliath, in chapter 17, verse 26. I suggest you read this entire chapter sometime in your leisure and get really blessed. I just want to point out some things here.1 Samuel 17:26 And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?Goliath was standing up and saying “I defiled the armies of the living God. You find a man that will come fight me.” That’s what he was saying. He was very big and tall and strong man. Everybody was afraid of him and he was defiling the armies of the living God. In fact he was defying God. David says, you remember David was just a boy at this time, who is going to fight this guy? What David was saying was that Goliath is defying the living God, “who is this uncircumcised?” We would call him something else, we call him an unbelieving so and so. And in verse 27, he says.1 Samuel 17:27-28 And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him. And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.David was standing up for God and saying, “Who can stand against God?” The older brother says, “You be quiet. You little brat, you are the youngest one, what do you know. You should be home taking care of the sheep. So you shut your mouth.” That’s what he was saying to him. But David is saying, “Hey, who is going to believe God?” God can take care of Goliath. In verse 29 it says.1 Samuel 17:29 And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?David said, “What have I done. Is there not a cause? Is there not a reason for someone to believe God here? This guy is defiling the armies of the living God. God is real.” That’s what David is saying. God is real.1 Samuel 17:30And he turned from him toward another, and spake after the same manner: and the people answered him again after the former manner.What is David doing? He is speaking it into being. God is not going to let David’s words fall to the ground, because David is standing for God. David is saying God will do this. God is that big. How much believing in God do you have? None of these people had any. In reading this whole record you would see that Goliath yelled and threatened the people for forty days. Goliath came for forty days, yelling at the people. David gets there one day and says, “Did everyone forget God here?” That’s what he is saying. Did you forget God?You know something; we have Goliaths in our lives. We at times may have big opportunities and problems that we have to face. Some of them are very big, very dangerous, very life threatening. Like diseases, sickness, financial problems, relationship problems, and very dangerous weather problems. Just think what goes on in people’s lives. Is God big enough to take care of them? Well David, who trusted in God’s power to deliver, took care of Goliath all right. Look at verse 45.1 Samuel 17:45-46Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee; and I will give the carcases of the host of the Philistines this day unto the fowls of the air, and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.David is speaking it into being. He is saying and confessing, “this day God’s going to bring it to pass, and I will smite thee and I will take thy head from thee and I will give the carcass of the host of Philistine this day unto the fowls of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” God can bring to pass the impossible as we believe in God’s care for us. David knew and believed in God’s power and God’s might. He knew it wasn’t in his own ability but he knew that with God with him he couldn’t lose.As I search the Scriptures I see that at times how God has worked with people like one would micromanage others (guiding them all the way) and at other times believers knew their power and authority as it is written in the Word and just acted and spoke it and brought deliverance to themselves and others. What power we have if we only knew it! Let’s get our examples from the Word.May God Bless You, AbundantlySteve

Healthy Immune System Needed to Protect Against Swine Flu

Posted by Cheryle Geiger on April 28, 2009 at 6:06am

Immune HealthThe majority of health issues can be related to a weak immune system. Your immune system loses its abilities silently.Free radicals are bad. They cause cell mutations, damage immune function, cause wrinkles and aging and are a contributing cause behind many diseases including cancer, heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and others. Free radical damage is a factor behind almost every known disease according to some researchersSo one key to keeping a strong immune system is to forfeit the white sugar, white flour, and the processed foods, and instead go for the lean proteins, veggies and fruits.You are looking for high antioxidants. Antioxidants are found in plant pigments. Let me explain further.These plant pigments are more than coloring agents for fruit juices, wine, and other beverages. They also contain an array of health-promoting benefits.Eaten in large amounts they will protect our immune systems, anthocyanins are antioxidant flavonoids that protect many body systems.Anthocyanins possess a strong ability to work deeply in the human body. These essential phytonutrient pigments are the chemical components that give the intense color to many fruits and vegetables. They provide powerful protection and have diverse physiological effects that are possible through their powerful antioxidant abilities.The powerful acai berry takes this to a whole new level. While anthocyanins are why many doctors and health professionals recommend drinking red wine, the acai berry contains as much as 33 times more anthocyanins that grapes.Be a friend to yourself and take care of your immune system by eating healthy, drinking plenty of acai, green tea, water, and eat lots of foods that contain that antioxidant protection that you need to stay healthy.For your health and wellness check out my source for this antioxidant protection

The manifestation of Believing

Posted by Steve Jaynes on April 21, 2009 at 5:53am

I heard a definition on the manifestation of believing that I would like to share with you for your consideration.It’s the knowing confidence that you get from the spirit within you to bring to pass any and all the manifestations. You might not have total confidence as you start but you have some. You have a desire to bring the promises of God to pass and bring God’s deliverance to yourself or others. You see the need and know the promises of God so you start, you begin to operate the spirit within you, and God gives you the believing that you need to bring to pass the impossible. As you act by believing God, God by way of the spirit gives you the extra believing that is needed to bring to pass the deliverance. That’s the manifestation of believing.In other words or example, someone comes up to you and wants to be healed. They have heard the teaching from God’s Word. They have some believing to be healed. They ask you to heal them. You have some confidence to heal, but may not have total confidence. But, you have some. So you just start just like you start speaking in tongues or interpreting or prophesieth. You speak one word at a time and you do not know all the words until you are finished. You are not nervous about getting all the words. You just speak one word at a time. You start, you speaking, and you acting. God gives you all the words as they are needed. In the same way you start and by way of manifestation of Believing the extra believing is there and the person gets healed.I don’t know about you but I had to think about this and search the Scriptures to see if it fits. We will need these back ground verses in our minds to start our search of the Scriptures. Look at how Jesus did it and Jesus said that we are able to do the works that He did and greater.In Mark 9:14-29And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them? And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.The prayer and fasting indicates a strong desire to see God’s deliverance made available to others. If we are going to see God’s deliverance we need to have the love of God and the strong desire to really help people. We also need to teach others the Word of deliverance that is in God’s word. We will need to teach about believing. Both the healer and the one needing healing must believe. See how Jesus got started. He asked questions. He taught about believing and the power of God. He got started and kept at it until the deliverance was completed.Look at Philippians, Chapter 2, and verse 13. This is a tremendous verse that you will need to in keep in your heart and your mind and your life as much as you can, everyday of your life.Philippians 2:13For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.It is God that works within you. When you are born again you get God in Christ in you. “God which works within you, both the will and to do of his good pleasure.” God is with us all the time, just keeps that in mind as we go through this teaching. We can bring to pass the impossible by our believing according to the criteria that’s written in God’s Word. Look at Mark Chapter 11, verse 22.Mark 11:22-23And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God [or have believing in God or a real simple translation is ‘believe God’]. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.Jesus Christ says: “Believe God, believe His word, and believe all that He says He can do. Believe God. If you are going to say something you have to open your mouth right. You say it, ‘say to this mountain be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea and shall not doubt in his heart but shall believe that those things which he said shall come to pass. He shall have whatsoever he sayeth.’ You say it, you say like Jesus Christ said to the girl that was dead lying on the bed, get up and she got up. He said it. Remember Samuel, the Scriptures say that God let none of his words fall to the ground. God will not let your words fall to the ground, if you believe in God, have confidence in God and you are within the criteria of God’s Word. You say it, you start out by acting. You command it to happen, you say it. You say whatever it is you need to say. Now to say to a mountain, be cast into the sea, is quite a big thing. But you can do it. You can bring the impossible to pass by your command, by saying it.Now we are going to look at some of the criteria for this. What gives you the right and the ability to do this? One of them is God has given us the authority to take the place of Christ. Another thing we need is to have confidence and trust and faith in God and His Word. In Romans Chapter 10, verse 17.Romans 10:17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.As you pick up your own Bible and you read it, you are hearing the Word of God. You are hearing it in your head in the morning and late at night, may be afternoon, wherever you pick up your Word of God and you read it. You are hearing it. You are hearing the Word of God and as you hear that Word of God it builds your believing. So believing comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. How do you have faith or believing and confidence? You read it or hear God’s Words. You consider the Word. You consider, remember from Psalms it said to mediate day and night on God’s Word. You think about God’s Word. That produces confidence and conviction that God is able to bring to pass what he promised in His Word. You just believe that God can do it. One of the things you really have to see as you read God’s Word is how much God loves you. How much God cares for you and how much power God has within you? God loves you and wants you to have what you need to be blessed and have power for victorious living. Go to 1st John, chapter 5, and verse 14, and it says.1 John 5:14-15And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.He what? He hears us. Once we know a promise from God’s Word we know what His will is. Then we have the confidence, we have the believing, we have the trust that if we ask anything He hears us. If we know that He hears us, we know that whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petition that we desire of Him. We know that we have it. We don’t have to wonder about it. That builds our believing. That increases our confidence and trust in God. We know that God can bring to pass the impossible. We know that. As we act and believe on it we can command it to come to pass according to His will. Go to 3rd John, verse 2.3 John 1:2Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.Ok, you know something? This means that we can ask for many things, because God wants us to prosper and He wants us to be in health. People sometimes look at the words that I just read from 1st John 5 and they want to look at it very narrowly. They want to say this is the confidence that we are having in Him, that we ask anything according to his rules and regulations and you better follow them or you will not get anything! That’s how they look at. They put as much limits as they can on it.He hears us. And if we know that He hears us whatsoever we ask, we know we have the petition that we desire of Him. I say this means many, many things, because look at 3rd John 2, “I wish above all things that thou may as prosper and being in health even as thy soul prospers.” God wants you to be prosperous so we can ask many things. He hears us and we know that we have the things that we ask for from God. Look at Romans Chapter 4, verse 17.Romans 4:17(As it is written, I have made thee [this talking about Abraham] a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth [means make alive the dead] the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.Abraham believed God. He believed that God can quicken those that were dead, verse 18.Romans 4:18-21Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.He heard the promise of God and staggered not, but was strong in believing giving glory to God, and being fully persuaded that what He had promised He was able also to perform. He just believed that God could do it. He looked to God who was able, God could do that. That’s what he was thinking. God is able to do this.Let’s go to the Old Testament in 1st Samuel Chapter 14. We are going to look at Jonathan an Old Testament believer who had holy spirit upon him and see what he did when he trusted God. In 1st Samuel, Chapter 14, go to verse six.1 Samuel 14:6And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.What do we see here? Would you say that Jonathan has a hundred percent confidence in God or fifty percent confidence or just some confidence? I would say he has some confidence in God, but I wouldn’t say he had total confidence. He hasn’t got total believing at this point, because he says, “‘it may be’ that the Lord will work for us. Where there is no restraint to the Lord to say by many or by few.” He has some believing at this point and he starts to believe by doing something, by acting. Look what happens next.1 Samuel 14:7And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.Do, some action is going on here; see what happens is you begin to operate the manifestations. You begin and as you begin God will give you the manifestations of believing and the extra believing you need to pull it off. You see that. You start, you move ahead with it and you say “do all that is in my heart, I am with thee according your heart.” What an armourbearer though. Jonathan goes like this. “Hey, I’d like to go and try to really believe God really big now, what do you think?” And his armourbearer says, “Yeah go ahead. I will be with you. I will believe with you. Let’s do this.” What would have happened if the armourbearer says don’t you do that? It might weaken his believe, right. We don’t have to worry because that didn’t happen.1 Samuel 14:8Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.Jonathan is starting to act. He is starting to do. God is going to back him up; God is not going to let Jonathan’s words fall to the ground. Jonathan says we will pass over unto these men and we will discover ourselves onto them.1 Samuel 14:9-10If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them. But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.Jonathan is getting some more confidence, and he is saying this is what we are going to do. If they say stand there we are just going to stand there. If they say come we are going to go get you that means God is going to stand for us. How does he come up with this? “For it is God which works within you, both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” If you have some believing in God, God will fill in the rest as you act. That is the manifestation of believing.1 Samuel 14:11-12And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves. And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.What happened between ‘maybe God will work for us’. Perhaps God will work for us’ and what we see here. His believing has been increased, and he is ready to do it. The Lord has delivered them into the hands of Israel.1 Samuel 14:13-14And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him. And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, which a yoke of oxen might plow.These two men got up and they whipped twenty men in a short period of time. They had confidence in God, that God would take care of them, that God would meet there need. I did not read that they got direct revelation from God saying ‘this is what you need to do.’ They knew God’s heart for man; they knew that this army was defiling the army of God, because Israel was God’s chosen people at that time. As you and I read God’s Word and we build confidence in God, we can say and command. We decide, you decide to bring it to pass because you know of God’s care for people from knowing God’s Word. As you read God’s Word you’ll see God’s care and love and concern that God has for people. When you see a need you can say, “Perhaps God will take care of that for you.” And you start and ”God which works within you both to will and to do of His good pleasure."You can see this same type of believing and action in the Scriptures and I have looked at many them and pointed them out in my Book “How to Read the Bible for Understanding and Power”. Search the Scriptures about David and Goliath, Esther the queen, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and more. See the different levels of confidence or believing they had. See what happened when they started to get involved. See if there levels of believing increased and if they saw God’s deliveranceSteve Jaynes

Jenny Thompson Director of "The Health Science Institute" Talks About the Gardasil Vaccine

Posted by Cheryle Geiger on April 19, 2009 at 6:00am

Jenny Thompson Director of "The Health Science Institute" Talks About the Gardasil VaccineFrankly I thought this would be the best way to get this information out to you so I'm sending it via this blog. Please take a moment to watch the U Tube video., and pass it along.32 Girls Have Died11,916 adverse events already reported to the CDC… and counting.Pain and swelling. Life-threatening muscle weakness. Blood clots in the heart and lungs.And the deaths of 32 innocent girls and young women.You might think I'm talking about a deadly new disease or a global epidemic…I'm not.Sadly, it's more sinister than that. The health threats listed above have all been linked with Gardasil, the so-called "cervical cancer vaccine." And thanks to Pharma giant Merck, desperate parents and naive young women believe this vaccine saves lives… they couldn't be more wrong.That's why HSI's Jenny Thompson has released a new video in which she exposes the deception for what it is…and reveals some truly shocking information no one else is talking about.And you are the very first to see it.Please, if you have daughters, granddaughters or friends who might be considering this terrible vaccine, you must watch this video. And please forward it to anyone you think would benefit from the vital information it contains.If you think you know the whole story on Gardasil, I think you'll be shocked by what you're about to see.Just click here to start .It's just a few minutes long…and those few minutes might just save a young girl's life.

Give Unto Caesar

Posted by Ken & Sue Brown on April 18, 2009 at 8:30am

Having just come through tax time, I thought a few Biblical considerations about taxes and such might be appropriate.Jesus’ words, “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's”, have been quoted many times to document the Master’s instructions as pertaining to a believer’s financial responsibility to his government as well as to God. The illuminating context of this statement, however, is usually ignored.Jesus was not sitting on a hillside teaching his disciples about their responsibilities to their government. He was responding to men who were endeavoring to trap him in his words, men who were trying to get him to say something for which they could accuse him. His response was not a teaching; it was merely evasive, and his words were very different from what he taught one of his disciples behind closed doors.Let’s take a look at the context of Jesus’ statement above before going on to the other record of Jesus’ remarks about taxes.Matthew 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.16 And they sent out unto him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest thou for any man: for thou regardest not the person of men.17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.22 When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way.Jesus was being confronted by two different groups of men who had two different sets of beliefs but were conspiring together to get Jesus. The disciples of the Pharisees ascribed to the doctrine of the Pharisees including their strict intrusive rules about tithing. The Herodians were Herod’s partisans. They were far more interested in not allowing anything to detract from Herod’s activities on Caesar’s behalf, including collection of taxes. The two groups together posed a question to Jesus that was unanswerable without giving one group or the other ammunition to accuse Jesus, or so they thought. Had Jesus given a direct response, he would have been attacked no matter what the response was.Jesus recognized their wickedness and avoided the confrontation. His response was essentially a non-response, a line that could be interpreted just about any way. He didn’t even so much as specifically admit to owing either party anything; just give to Caesar what is his and to God what is His. This was an avoidance of the confrontation, not a teaching.Let’s look at Jesus’ other remarks on paying taxes. The record is in Matthew 17:24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute?25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented [preceded, anticipated] him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?The record does not say why Peter said yes, but the context indicates that Peter did not actually know the answer to the question. Once they were in the house (and could thus speak privately), Jesus did not wait for Peter to ask him about it, he anticipated Peter’s question and spoke to him about the situation. The kings of Biblical times (especially the Roman emperor) generally made a practice of conquering other lands and extracting their wealth to supply the king’s desires and the needs of the kingdom’s domestic citizens. Peter, knowing this responded with, “of strangers,” to Jesus’ question, whereupon Jesus drew a parallel between the “children” of the kings of the earth being free and the situation with his and Peter’s tax responsibility.26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.Jesus’ next statement also shows that he recognized no responsibility to pay the tax collectors. He did not, however, want to be in the fight so he instructed Peter what to do to keep from offending them.27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.I believe that putting words in someone else’s mouth is an unsanitary disgusting practice, so please do not do that to me. I did not just say we have no responsibility to pay taxes. Actually, I did not personally say anything other than to present two things that Jesus said.Are we ethically and morally free of our nation’s imposed tax burdens as Jesus indicated that he was? Do we pay just to keep from being in trouble, or do we have a moral obligation to pay our tax bill? Are there differences between our situation and his such as to declare void his conclusion as it might pertain to our circumstance? What do you say? All opinions are welcome, but I am particularly interested in what you might be able to bring to the table from God’s Word that would shed light on this moral question.

Paradise for Pirates

Posted by Billy Britt on April 15, 2009 at 8:16am

On Easter Sunday, three Navy Seals sharpshooters put an end to the piracy of the American flagged Maersk Alabama . The Seals also ended the short miserable lives of three Somali Muslim pirates.This is a victorious conclusion to an odyssey that began when Somali brigands took hostage 53-year-old freighter Captain Richard Phillips.When Captain Phillips’ ship was attacked he surrendered himself in order that his men could remain safe on board the 17,000-ton freighter.This is a reminder that honor can still be found among American leaders.As the final stages of the drama unfolded the Seals were given permission to use deadly force to end the stand off. The orders to shoot to kill were to be followed if Captain Phillips’ life was in “imminent” danger. These orders were issued from the White House with President Obama’s approval.This is a much welcome success compared to previous responses to terrorist threats, a la Carter’s hostage fiasco and Clinton’s Black Hawk Down debacle.Some will call it a lucky win for Mr. Obama; I call it a sign of American exceptionalism.Yes, a heroic merchant marine and a fierce and professional military operation are still signs of America’s greatness.Lest indicative of American greatest, was Mr. Obama’s assertion in Turkey last week when he denied that the United States is, “or ever will be” at war with Islam.While it is difficult to be at war with a religion, it is also seems disingenuous to say that the United States is, “or ever will be” at war with radical Islamic fundamentalist.This is not the first time in our nation’s history that American seafaring ships were the targets of Jihadist pirates.In the 18th century, Barbary State pirates looted American and British ships taking hundreds of thousands of our citizens into slavery. Yes, Muslims have a history of slavery that is still in practice today.In 1786, Thomas Jefferson, then the ambassador to France, and John Adams, ambassador to Britain, met in London with Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja, the ambassador from Tripoli. The Americans asked Adja why his government was open and illegally hostile to American ships? They reported to the Continental Congress that the ambassador had told them, “It was written in their Koran, that all nations which had not acknowledged the Prophet were sinners, whom it was the right and duty of the faithful to plunder and enslave; and that every Muslim who was slain in this warfare was sure to go to paradise.” Jefferson reported what Adja also told them that for healthy sums of money, Muslims would make peace.Jefferson did not like the plan, but contrary to his advice in 1880 the US government paid 20% of its annual expenditure to Islamic pirates.In 1801 after Jefferson took office as President of the US, Yussif Karamanli, the Pasha (Leader)of Tripoli, demanded $225,000 from the new administration as insurance against Barbary pirates.Jefferson refused to pay or negotiate with the terrorist, which led to the First Barbary War (1801–1805). This was the first of two wars fought between the United States and the North African Muslim states known as the Barbary States. In these war actions the US Navy and Marine Corps put down the Ottoman Pirates and their Islamic Jihad.The opening line of the Marines’ Hymn enshrines the victory over the Muslim pirate, “From the Halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli…”This was the United States’ first military action overseas and its mission was simple; destroy all Barbary pirates, free the American slaves, captives, and put an end to the Ottoman Moors ability to wage war in the name of Islam.Last Sunday, three, Navy Seal’s issued three one-way tickets to paradise for three Muslim pirates. We are told they believe that innumerable virgins awaited them upon arrival in paradise, to which I say, next?

Stones of Remembrance

Posted by Karen (Hemmalin) McGrath on April 13, 2009 at 3:08pm

Hi Everyone,This is a blog on Stones of Remembrance.When the Children of Israel passed over the Jordan, Joshua had them set up stones to remember the wonderful things that God had done for them. If you would like to post your Stones of Remembrance, to share and remember the wonderful things that God has done for you, I would be honored and blessed if you would like to do so on this blog.They can be anything at all, especially including times of special revelation and spiritual phenomena, if you don't mind the terminology. love & blessings, Karen

How To Use Nutrition To Help With Stress

Posted by Cheryle Geiger on April 8, 2009 at 1:00pm

How To Use Nutrition To Help With StressAre you on stress overload and noticing that is it affecting your health?What does nutrition have to do with relieving stress? Our bodies can handle a lot more than we think if we will take care of them. You can not drive your car for very long if you do not add gasoline or oil when the gas gauge says it is low or the red light comes on saying it needs oil or a tune up right?Is nutrition and stress linked together? Every 24 hours our bodies need nutrients to function at their best for that day, in my opinion this is critical to our healthy aging.Start out your week with the mindset that you are going to do the best you can do to eat healthy. Here are a few reminders.Each week make out your meal plan for the week. Starting each day with a nutritious meal, that could mean a healthy protein shake, oatmeal and raisins or an omelet. You decide, remember your goal is to stay pro active so that you can handle your busy schedule with focus and more energy.Drink at least 10 glasses of water, and green tea, “Green tea has been used as a medicine in China for 4000 years.”“For example, in 1994 the Journal of the National Cancer Institute published the results of an epidemiological study indicating that drinking green tea reduced the risk of esophageal cancer in Chinese men and women by nearly sixty percent. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol.”Eating a salad loaded with veggies for lunch will help you get the fiber that is needed. We need 35 grams of fiber each day. There are numerous salad recipes available to you. If you make your own salad you will be saving money and getting the right veggies that are needed to reach your goal. Remember every 24 hours you need the proper nourishment to keep your body fit, energized, and aging slowly.Add snacks to your meal plan, plan on having several pieces of fruit each day, carrots, celery, and other veggies you like to snack on throughout the day, add a snack bag of raw nuts, and there you have it, your in between meals snacks ready to go.Dinner can be simple as well.Dr Oz says make sure you are getting your vitamins daily.Being Pro Active is key to healthy aging, set aside the time that is needed for yourself, ask your health consultant to help you figure out what you are lacking or what you could add to what you are already doing. Have a yearly exam with blood work so that you can stay on top of your health. You don’t want to wait for symptoms before you finally get serious about your life.We only pass this way once…be Pro ActiveThe importance of keeping our immune systems strong.“The strength of our body’s natural defense system determines our body’s ability to resist infection and the growth of abnormal or cancerous cells.”Our bodies are bombarded with free radicals even when we exercise.Antioxidants act as “free radical scavengers” to prevent and repair damage done by these free radicals, so we need to keep high levels of antioxidants flowing through our bodies to protect our cells. Here are a few ideas for foods high in antioxidant protection.Carrots, squash, spinach, kale, beets, peppers, broccoli, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, kale, collards, cantaloupe, peaches, apricots, blackberries, blueberries, red grapes, prunes, acai, and all other (bright-colored fruits and vegetables!)So you get the picture, there are an abundance of foods we can choose from especially now that Spring is here, we have a nice variety of fresh fruits and veggies to eat.The obstacle that gets in our way is not planning. If we plan once a week to have the fresh foods that we need for the week in the refrigerator, and pantry we will eliminate the hassle of that old saying “what should I eat”? If we have these items cleaned and ready to go that lessens the hassle even more. Our schedules during the week get hectic so this will help prevent last minute bad decisions, e.g. unhealthy fast foods.I guarantee if you plan this way your body will reward you.You will feel better, look better, have more energy, sleep better and awake fresh and ready to start your day. You will be able to handle what comes at you with a fresh new view, a healthy view from a nourished, rested and energetic individual.

Wherefore the Box?

Posted by Billy Britt on April 7, 2009 at 3:30am

The phrase “think outside the box,” is a long-used maxim that is in dire need of retirement. A leftover of the 70s and 80s pop-business seminars, it is a slogan so logically flawed it is the intellectual equivalent of suggesting your brother-in-law open a Pontiac automobile dealership.Of course, the saying was intended to encourage people to think differently in order to find a new perspective.But do we really want everyone doing this? I mean the box is there for a reason!Do we really want the guy driving the school bus to be thinking about anything other than driving the bus? We don’t want them thinking about nuclear fusion in a mayonnaise jar.Do we want armed police officers acting in a manner inconsistent with procedure?René Descartes, whose writings became the foundation of Western philosophy said, “Cogito, ergo sum” (English: “I think, therefore I am”).While the nuance of Descartes’ meaning is much deeper than this context, (I cannot resist using Latin whenever possible, because I want to think I am thinking).However, most people only think they think, what they are really doing is parroting the thinking of others, and this, by itself, is not necessarily harmful, as long as it is not granted the weight of personal reasoning.Ergo, the box.If one lacks the ability to think within the box we certainly should caution them from wondering beyond their existing bounds.The fundamental reason that the box was invented is so that there is a method to the madness. Only those who have mastered the fundamentals need worry about much else.What are the fundamentals?They are the basics of classical education, not what is the Similac-laced brain rot that passes for academics in today’s public schools.They are the Trivium, which are, grammar, logic and rhetoric.Educator Sister Miriam Joseph explained, “The function of the Trivium is the training of the mind for the study of matter and spirit, which together constitute the sum of reality.”Simply put, grammar is the use and workings of language, logic is the organizing of thought and analysis and rhetoric is using language to instruct and persuade.Sister Miriam Joseph described the three parts as follows, “Logic is the art of thinking; grammar, the art of inventing symbols and combining them to express thought; and rhetoric, the art of communicating thought from one mind to another, the adaptation of language to circumstance.”Now, a person does not need a PhD to learn to think, (many times the PhD hurts more than it helps). However, it is a learning process, something that requires work.Many times people mistake reaction for thought; the two are very different actions with very little in common.Reaction is easy it is hardwired in the brain, thinking on the other hand is messy and requires a discipline process.People on the whole tend to be either reactionary or reasonable. Our species may be taking a step backwards because we no longer consider reason and logic above pure emotion. (Take a look at TV, and the Internet.) While we in the mean are better informed we are yet taking less time to evaluate the data placed before us. Basically, we have entered the Age of Unenlightenment. We have knowledge but lack wisdom to truly process.I know a mind can be like a bad neighborhood; you don't really want to go in there alone. Yet, I want to think, so, I go heavily armed.Thinking, let’s face it, it is difficult, time consuming and extremely chaotic. This is why most people avoid it like a dental drill, they wait until it has decayed and then want someone else to fix it.So, the next time someone suggest an out of the box thinking experience decide if they may really be looking to open a Pontiac dealership.Love

Thankful for the keys on How the Bible interprets itself

Posted by Steve Jaynes on April 7, 2009 at 1:46am

We have been so bless and helped in our lives because we have learned how the Bible interprets itself. We know that the Scripture interprets itself in the verse, or in the context, or where it has been used before and lots more. I wrote a book that came from a Class that I taught titled “How to Read the Bible for Understanding and Power.” Here is how I ended the chapter on “How the Bible interprets itself, with a little editing just for you.A question that I hear from time to time is. It says in God’s Word that He knows before we pray what things we have need of. God asked us to pray. Why? This is the questions I hear from time to time. Why do we have to pray to God when He knows what we need before we ask? Do you know what the answer is? I don’t know. God says to pray. That’s all I know. I don’t try to guess. I don’t make something up. I don’t use my best working knowledge of what I think it might be. (I am not saying there is not an answer, I am just saying I do not know.) This has been the problem, too much speculation, too much guessing. We need to let the Word interpret itself. We need to search the Scriptures and to say what the Scripture say without embellishing them with our opinions. We need to let the Scripture say what they say without adding misleading terms. We need to consider the exact words that are written in each verse and to consider those words in their context. We should read and look carefully at the words in each verse along with the context. We may need to read the entire book in which the record is written in to get the complete context.Some people who have some knowledge of God’s Word have been asked questions, and not wanting to look unintelligent or to look smart have said, “I think it means this”. We should tried very hard never use those words “I think it means”. I don’t mind saying “I don’t know.” But if the Scripture doesn’t interpret itself in the verse or in the context, the story around it, then the interpretation might be found in previous usage, or where it has been used before. Bibles are like dictionaries. They are, because if you come across a word or a group of words and you don’t understand what that word means, you can look at the first use of that word. You can look up the word where it was used before, and get a real good understanding of what that word means. The first use of a word is very important and it expresses an idea, an explanation. The explanation is usually complete enough to carry throughout the entire Bible. If God ever changes the usage of a word or an expression, he always explains it. To show you this, I want to go to Genesis chapter 1 verse 5 and it says.Genesis 1:5And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.“And God called the light day and the darkness he called night”. Now we know what the light is called. God calls it the day. Now we also know what the darkness is called. God calls it night. Now, throughout the entire Bible, this will be true unless God changes it. Look at the rest of that verse. “The evening and the morning were the first day.” In the Bible reckoning of time they start their day at sunset. We will need to recognize this in God’s Word. This becomes very important in the records of the crucifying of Jesus Christ. They needed to get him buried before the sun went down, because then it will start the next day. He needed to be buried before the high Sabbath with started at sunset in biblical reckoning of time. A usage of a word and its meaning remains true throughout the entire Bible, and it will not change unless God changes it. This is true of all the truths in God’s Word. That’s why a Bible is like a dictionary at times. The first time a word is used will usually give you the meaning of the word.It may be necessary at times to consult concordances, lexicons, dictionaries, and other resources to find the first use of words or to find where other places where the word is used for more scope on how the word or words are used in their context, and to see if God has made any changes to the word or words. However, it is especially important to consider all resources in light of what the Scripture says, in the verse, its contexts, and other Scriptures dealing with the same subject.We should always keep the Scripture as our primary source for what is truth. Remember what Dr. Wierwille taught us, It the Word and nothing but the Word. But Dr. Wierwille was not the only one that said it, Jesus Christ said it too and so did the apostle Paul.Remember what these verses say.John 5:39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.It does not say search what someone has said is means. It plainly says to search the scriptures.Acts 17:11These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so [true].It is the Scripture we are to search to find the answers. We use research resources to help us find the Scriptures that we want to search. What about Biblical studies and books that we can read? The Bible says that we are to search the Scriptures daily to see if it is true. The only real profit in these studies or books is the Scriptures that are written in them and a little pointing out things here and there. The Scripture is what has been given to us for profit. Some of these books are even bigger than the Bible itself. This doesn’t make that much sense to me. It is like saying that God did not do a good enough job in given us His Word. He needs some man who is so smart to fix it, and to make it better. I believe that God did a great job and that no man can do as good a job as God did. God in His Word ask us to search the Scriptures not what man says about it. With so much writing and ink used there is no way not to have some speculation, opinion or misleading terms. We should search the Scripture and to say what the Scriptures say without embellishing them with worldly terms, philosophy, history, or any other outside influence. The Scriptures themselves as they were originally given ought to be consulted and considered as the final word.Something else that I have notice is that in all the manifestations that I have heard God says things like. “Go to My Word, in My Word are the answers to that you need, trust in My Word and so on.” I never hear, “Go and get so and so book and read it.”Colossians 2:8Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.I once was reading all around the Word myself. I had piles of Biblical studies on my desk and piles of CD’s and tapes. I knew what others have worked out from their study of the Bible. But that is not what the Bible says to do. What they taught may have been right, but it could just as easily been wrong. A few years ago I was reminded of what my teacher of God’s Word taught me. That if I put all my other reading material away and read nothing but the Bible that people would not recognize me and that I would not even recognizes me. So I did it. I packed up all Biblical studies put them away for three months, and started to read and search just the scriptures. That was a few years ago now and those boxes are still packed away. I found the benefit and profit to my life as I search the Scriptures. If I hear something that I think may make sense I search the Scriptures to see if it is true. I have learned never to take any man’s word as truth, but to search the Scriptures daily to see if it is.You might ask me, is my book another Bible study? That is a good question. I have a few reasons for doing this book. One of them is to get you to God’s Word or back to the Word, to get you to start reading the Bible for yourself, to get you to start searching the Scriptures daily for yourself. One other reason for the book is to assist people who want to know how to read their Bible by giving them an outline or a road map through the Bible. My pray for my book is, that others would use this book alongside their own Bibles to see where the Scriptures are written in your own Bibles. Then you could read the context around verses. And as students learn how to navigate through the Bible and get more comfortable with their Bibles that you will no longer need my book.I ended the chapter there.I recorded the class and wrote a book on “How to Read the Bible for Understanding and Power” if anyone is interested. Information about the book and class is on my web site. www.howtoreadthebible.net There is an outline and other information.In His LoveSteve Jaynes

Christ Our Passover - Part 1

Posted by John Alton on April 5, 2009 at 8:30am

Christ Our Passover - Part 1

Introduction
As the calendar revolves once again we are brought to that time of year when Christ our Lord was crucified. God in his wisdom and foresight deemed that this should happen so that man could be legitimately redeemed. The power and importance of Christ' death is matched and surpassed only by God's raising up of his dead body back to life never to die again. Because we are at this time of year I thought it would be a good time to post this study on the subject of Christ Our Passover.

1 Corinthians 5:7b For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:

As I have continued in my endeavors to "search the scriptures" a couple of years ago I began to see that the phrase "Christ Our Passover" held a far deeper truth than I had previously been aware of and over these past few weeks I have been sharing this study in fellowship and thought this would also be a good forum to share what I have learned from the scriptures
In presenting this I went back to the beginning and looked at the details regarding the selection of the Passover Lamb on the 10th day of the month and that it was to be a lamb without blemish, the time of day it was to be sacrificed on the 14th and how it was to be eaten that evening with unleavened bread which was also the first day - (a High day) of the feast of unleavened bread. We also looked at how this related to the day and time that Christ himself was crucified. We also looked at aspects that relate to the Passover such as the use of leaven as a metaphor for doctrine, and also understanding that in the Hebrew calendar the new day started at sunset. All of these points are well known and documented and do not need to be repeated here.

To appreciate the truth that Christ is our Passover then the more we can understand just what was involved in the original Passover then the more we can appreciate just what it means for Christ to be our Passover.
We read about this original Passover that God instigated in Exodus 12
Selection
Exodus 12:1-5
Flesh And Blood
Exodus 12:6-11
Judgment
Exodus 12:12-13
The Feast of Unleavened Bread
Exodus 12:14-16
Re-Iteration of the Passover and its continued observance
Exodus 12:21-28

Two Aspects of the Passover
There are two symbolic aspects in the sacrificing of the Passover lamb.
Blood - The shedding of blood is required for the remission of sins.
Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
It took faith on the part of the children of Israel that by sacrificing the lamb and then spreading its blood upon their doorposts and lintel that God would pass over them and they would be spared from Gods executed judgment. Note they were not to put any blood on the threshold over which they walked.
Flesh - The flesh was to be eaten roasted with fire and bitter herbs for physical life and nourishment. In scripture fire many times represents Gods judgment.
They were also to eat un-leavened bread with the Passover meal and all though out the following week in the feast of unleavened bread.The eating of unleavened bread at the Passover meal and the feast of unleavened bread reminded the Children of Israel of two things.

One, they were to rid themselves of all outside influences. When the Children of Israel lived in Egypt and were surrounded by its idolatry and the decedent luxuries of that nation which was the richest in the world. Egypt's financial wealth came by God, through Joseph at the time of the great famine.
Two. Making un-leavened meant that for the bread to be decent the flour had to be ground daily which reminded Israel of the hard work they were forced to do in Egypt. Also if enough flour were ground for several days the bread made without leaven would be heavy which also served as a reminder of the heavy labor they were forced to endure whilst slave's in Egypt

The Passover a "Type" for Christ
Christ the Lamb
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.
1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:Matthew 26:27-28
27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Today it is common knowledge that Jesus shed his blood for the remission of our sins. He was the "lamb of God" he was the Passover lamb.Jesus died at the same time thousands of Jews were killing their Passover Lamb, little did they know that God was sacrificing his lamb for their remission of sins.Jesus died at 3:00pm outside the city gates just as many Jews were slaying their Passover Lamb at the same time also outside the city gates.

The Passover
I think it is generally a fair statement to make that Christ as our sacrifice for sin, Christ as the "Lamb of God" sums up what most think of as Christ our Passover Yet the more I look at scripture I see that this is really only half the story.
The service of the Passover has two parts corresponding to the flesh and blood.
The Lamb was slain and the flesh eaten and the blood of the Lamb was spread on the doorposts and lintel to protect them from Gods judgment which he executed upon the idolatry of Egypt.It was not until midnight that God would go over Egypt and upon seeing the blood of the Lamb He would not allow the destroyer to enter into that house but would PASS OVER that house and they would be spared from Gods judgment.
The Passover Lamb was a type for the coming Christ and just as the Passover service has two parts so does Christ have two advents. In his first advent he was the slain lamb of God, this is the first part of the type. In his second advent he is OUR Passover which means he is our protection our covering from Gods executed judgment.
Again look at what the Pass Over is all about.
Exodus 12:21-28 21Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. 22And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. 23For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. 24And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. 25And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the LORD will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. 26And it shall come to pass, when your children shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service? 27That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped. 28And the children of Israel went away, and did as the LORD had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they.

When Moses instructed Israel to put the blood of the lamb on the doorposts and lintel of their homes this was to protect the Children of Israel from Gods judgment of Egypt.This is why this whole sacrifice is called the "Passover", because God would upon seeing the blood "pass over" that house. Moses instructed Israel that in the future generations this was the explanation of the service that on this night God passed over the house of Israel and would not allow the destroyer to kill their firstborn.
This whole service as outlined in Exodus is called the "Passover" its not called the sacrifice of the lamb or named after any other aspect it is called the Passover which is all about Gods judgment and Gods "passing over" of judgment on those who have the blood of the lamb out there and on show for all the world to see.
The Passover Lamb was a type for the coming Christ the first part of the type was that Christ was sacrificed for our sins the second part of the type is that the blood of Christ will protect the saints from Gods judgment at the end of this age
Exodus 12:1313And 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, when I smite the land of Egypt.
Token in verse 13: is defined as (in the sense of appearing); a signal (literally or figuratively), as flag, beacon, evidence, mark, sign

The children of Israel had to literally put the blood of the lamb right there on the outside of their homes right on their front door. They could not hide it somewhere inside their homes it was to be outside and on show. Because ultimately the Lamb was a type for Christ, even back then through the blood of the lamb they were giving God a "sign" they were giving "evidence" that they believed that the blood of the Messiah would cover their sins even if they did not understand the full significance of what they were doing.

This is fully consistent with the lack of understanding the Old Testament saints had of the sacrifice of Christ.
Today Christianity's most ardent cry is that Christ died for your sins, yet all through out the Old Testament this was a "mystery" God had revealed clues but the full understanding of what these prophecy's meant was hidden from man and were not revealed to man until taught by the Lord Christ himself after he had been resurrected.Why could Philip in Acts 8 teach the eunuch from Ethiopia the meaning of Isaiah 53, because Christ after his resurrection had taught his disciples "beginning at Moses revealed all things regarding himself". Luke 24:27, 45-47

Christ is our Passover not just the lamb that was slain for our sins but also our Passover which is our protection from the judgment and wrath of God.Just as the blood of the lamb protected Israel from Gods judgment upon the idolatry of Egypt so it is for us that the blood of Jesus Christ will protect us from the future judgment of God against the ungodly.

Romans 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

This is what Christian Salvation is all about. Salvation basically means to be made safe, to be rescued and to be delivered. If a house is on fire and a fireman comes in and rescues you from the burning blaze you have been made safe, you have been saved you have been rescued.
The end of this age will culminate in God executing His judgment upon the earth and ultimately the pouring out of Gods wrath, on those who have refused to acknowledge the supremacy of God and his Son Jesus the Messiah and repent. Those who in their lives have repented and followed Christ those will be saved from the wrath to come.

To be continued….

The Marvelous Mystery Tour

Posted by DonnaJo (Langford) Dembinski on April 5, 2009 at 7:30am

Last summer at Christian Family Fellowship Ministry's Family Camp Wayne Clapp and Jon Nessle taught a series they called The Marvelous Mystery Tour. They are producing a DVD and syllabus of the class that will be released in a few months. Yesterday, April 4, 2009, Wayne visited Southern Michigan and gave forty-one of us a four hour preview of that class- part taught live, part on DVD.We met in a lovely room in a Warren, Michigan banquet hall at 9:00 a.m. and enjoyed visiting with each other for about one-half hour, then we got started with prayers and manifestations. Wayne was introduced, and began the live portion of the teaching. We continued at a comfortable pace including breaks and a deli buffet lunch. and a question and answer period, until about 3:30 p.m.The people attending were from Detroit, Westland, Saginaw, Ypsilanti, Midland, Chesterfield, Sterling Heights, Warren, and Center Line, Michigan, Tipp City, Ohio, and Windsor, Ontario, Canada- just across the river.We had lots of fun and fellowship, and learned more about what true worship is, and who we are in Christ. What more could a girl ask for?Love,Donna Jo

Please celebrate with us!

Posted by Karen (Hemmalin) McGrath on April 1, 2009 at 9:16pm

This weekend our oldest daughter, Erica, is singing at Carnegie Hall with her college singing group, The ENC Chambers Singers. Please celebrate with us!God has been so gracious to us, especially with worship. He has allowed our time-honored family tradition of spiritual worship to be restored and to continue to the next generation. All of our children are talented singers, musicians and worshippers. Thank you, Father!We are so proud of Erica. She makes me think of how proud God is of each of us, as we worship Him on the stages of our lives. He says in Ephesians that it will take all of eternity for Him to show His kindness to us. ♥Many blessings to each of you. May His Word continue to leap off the page and become kinetic within you! love, Karen

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.

Note: this page contains paid content.