BreadFromHeaven Ministries - School of Truth

Salt & Light Engage the Culture

2012-01-21T11:14:00.000-08:00

^{You are a child of the light, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation ... you shine in the world.}

Today 'Seed:

"Be especially careful when you are trying to be good so that you don't make a performance out of it. It might be good theater, but the God who made you won't be applauding." Matthew 6:1 (MSG)

If you grew up anywhere near Baptists, you probably remember the children's Sunday school song, "This Little Light of Mine." The intention behind the song is good. God's character must shine through our lives if we are to be effective change-agents for the Kingdom. But if we are supposed to be salt and light, why does Jesus caution His disciples otto practice righteousness in front of others? You might respond, "Well, He is really talking about pride. We should do God's will without displaying it." You would be right, if that's what this verse means. Unfortunately, the English doesn't capture the Hebrew idiom here. Once we understand the idiom, we will have a greater insight into Jesus' warning.

The Greek verb eleemosunen encompasses the entire English phrase, "practice your righteousness." But this is really a Jewish idiom, not an exhortation toward personal ethics. The idiom is about acts of charity. In other words, practicing righteousness is a shorthand way of recalling the three required acts of religious observance - charity, prayer and fasting. Jesus is not telling His disciples to avoid these things. He is telling them that their motivation for doing them is not to be governed by public display. This is about the manner and motive, not about the act itself. So, Jesus is really saying, "Pray, fast and give without the intention to be recognized for what you are doing." Does this mean that we are to pray, fast and give entirely in secret. Yes, if that's what it takes to keep our egos down. But no, not if we have already settled the issue of recognition. Do everything for the audience of One. Let Him be glorified - and the rest of it will work itself out without another thought.

Are we to pray, fast and give with a reward in mind? Yes, we are. But the reward that we have in mind is not celebrity status as a great religious person. The reward is to hear the words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into your master's joy."

Notice that Jesus assumes that His disciples will perform these Jewish religious rites. Not once does He suggest they are no longer required. Prayer, fasting and charity are essential for growth in godliness. Why? Because they put aside our agendas and focus our actions on God's agenda. Just doing them brings us closer to Him. The issue that Jesus addresses is why we do them, not if we do them.

Do you want to increase your righteousness today? Do you want to do those things that emulate God's character and draw you closer to Him? Then pray, fast and give. It actually doesn't matter how you feel about praying, fasting and giving. Do them no matter how you feel about doing them. Just remember to clear the motivation issue first. Do them for Him - and the rest will be easy.

Keyword: practice righteousness, pray, fast, give, eleemosunen, Matthew 6:1

The fact is, culture eats strategy for lunch. You can have a good strategy in place but if you don't have the culture and the enabling system, the [negative] culture of the organization will defeat the strategy."] --Dr. Samuel Chand

Renew Your Mind

"Understanding is the Master Key that unlocks the doors to all your goals ambitions and desires. Its is the ability to interpret life as God sees it-- the ability to see the total picture that God sees of a person or situation"

--Dr. Mike Murdock, The Wisdom Center

1 John 1:7 (MSG) But if wewalk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God's Son, purges all our sin.

Ephesians 5:8-9 (HCSB) ⁸For you were once darkness, but now ⌊you are⌋ light in the Lord.Walk as children of light- ⁹for the fruit of the light ⌊results⌋in all goodness, righteousness, and truth-

The Importance of Fathers

2011-08-19T11:30:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendar for your whole family September 30th 2011

Movie night

“God’s presence is your ideal environment”

Dr. Myles Munroe

Kedajuianna Brooks Goes to Shaoxing China 9 years old

2010-07-31T00:41:00.000-07:00

Kedejuianna Brooks, granddaughther of Ms. Marsha Brooks, a Student of Timothy L. Johnson Academy, Fort Wayne, Indiana, member of the "Voices of Unity"

2010 World Choir Games Gold Medalist

Kedejuianna, "Buddy" Dr. J. B. Pressey, Jr. is very proud of you.

DREAM OF GOLD- Voices of Unity - World Choir Games

2010-05-27T04:58:00.000-07:00

Now is the time of commitment for only God really knows what time it is. Today we have an opportunity as a community to support our children who have accepted an invitation to represent our city, state and nation at the 2010 World Choir Olymic in Shaoxing China July 15th thru 26th.

The Voices of Unity under the diectorship of Dr. Marshall White. Real Ministry is in the field. I am encouraging you to plant a financial seed that brings a harvest today and in the future. Dr. J. B. Pressey, Jr. BreadFromHeaven Ministries will travel with the team as a delegate and Chaplian. In addtion, He and his wife donated $5,000.oo in honor of his father who went to be with the Lord in January to support several youth in meeting their goals and his travel expenses. We encourage you to join us in helping our choir to bring home the "GOLD" and to add more value to our "All American City"

Support the Voices of Unity -Dream of Gold Choir Olymic Campaign

Make Your Donation Here [Churches, Businesses, Individuals, Organizations]: http://www.upaf.com/gold/donate.php

"Regcognition of a Divine and Uncommon Dream Birthed by God Will Unlock Your Greatest Ideas, Creativity and Energy to Create a Truly Uncommon Life for our Children"

Rev. Dr. Junius B. Pressey, Jr., Member Changing Lives Ministies
"We Are Changing Lives In Our Lifetime!"

PURPOSE OF PRAYER - Dr. Myles Munroe (part 1 of 6)

2009-09-07T08:36:00.001-07:00

The Power of Prayer, the langauge of God

2009-07-21T18:03:00.001-07:00

The Tenth Part (Tithe)

2009-07-15T03:55:00.000-07:00

"...When you have set aside in full the tenth part of your yield –in the third year, the year of the tithe - and have given it to the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, ..."
(Deuteronomy 26:12)

Every church gathering it seems like we hear the same questions: “Do I really have to tithe?” “Who should receive my tithe?” “Do those Old Testament rules really apply to me?” Maybe you don’t frame the questions with the same self-serving tone. After all, it’s pretty clear that the one who asks like this really doesn’t think that all his resources are God’s to begin with. His questions are about how little he can get by with (like Cain), rather than what little God actually requests. Nevertheless, tithing seems to be one of those topics that is generally misunderstood and certainly misapplied. It is particularly curious that Christians who claim that the Old Testament rules no longer apply because we are under GRACE still seem to think tithing is mandatory.

There are some crucial background assumptions behind this commandment to tithe. First, this is a commandment for those inside the community. It does not apply to people who are not followers. In contemporary terms, that means it does not apply to church attendees. It only applies to people who have died to self and volunteered to be ruled by the Lord according to His constitution. A lot of people who attend churches are not subject to this commandment because they really aren’t slaves of the KING of kings and LORD of lords. There is no sense at all in pressing them to give. Why should they? They are ruled by themselves. If they have not adopted voluntarily the government of Torah obedience [God's Teaching and Instruction], then there is no point in pressing them to tithe. They are not really in the community.

Second, notice who receives the tenth. The first group is the Levitical priests who are called to serve God. This is determined exclusively by bloodline. I’m sorry, but most pastors today are not Levites. They don’t qualify. The Levites receive some of the tithe because they are prohibited from owning any part of the land. The community takes responsibility for their sustenance because God excluded them from ownership.

Notice the other groups. The rest of the receipents are the disadvantaged – the orphans, the strangers and the widows. Under God’s commandment, the community is responsible for the welfare of those who cannot care for themselves. Orphans and widows are obvious. In an agrarian society, they had no means of livelihood. Someone had to step in. But the stranger? Why would God command His people to care for someone outside their group? The answer is also obvious. A stranger in the land is someone who has no means of support. He can’t make a living from his own crops. So, the community is required to care for him. We see care for both the widow and the stranger in the story of Ruth. This stranger is part of the community but not an owner in the community. Whenever the community encounters someone that God brings into its circle, care is part of the obligation.

Now the shocker! It looks like this verse says that this tithe happens only in the third year. Does that mean that the other years I am not required to tithe. No! The tithe is given every year, but in the third year the tithe is not consumed by the priests or the giver. It is exclusively set aside for the poor, the priests and the stranger. No tithes are given in the sabbatical year (the seventh year). Therefore, there is a four year gap between tithes set aside exclusively for these groups. So, nothing is given in the seventh year and everything given every four years (including the sabbatical year) is exclusively for the poor, the strangers and the Levites.

Now set aside the exact timing and ask yourself these questions: 1) If the third year tithe is exclusively for the Levites and the disadvantaged, how can we justify today’s collection for buildings, staff and programs? Aren’t we who are followers of the King asked to set aside our third-year tithe exclusively for the poor? 2) If there is no tithe at all in the seventh year, aren’t we violating God’s explicit orders when we ask (or demand) that every year’s offerings go to supporting the “church?” 3) What would happen if we actually tithed according to God’s design? Wouldn’t we have to change a lot of things that we do under the banner of “church” because we would no longer be pressing the congregation to support it all?

Gee whiz, maybe the “church” would cease operating like a corporation.

The system of tithing is God's "bail-out" plan for His community.

KEYWORDS: tithe, poor, Levite, sabbatical year, Deuteronomy 26:12

Renew Your Mind: Leviticus 27:30 ESV “Every TITHE of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord's; IT IS HOLY TO THE LORD. The tithe is already the Lord's; this law allows the rules for ordinary vows to govern the tithes as well

Leviticus 27:9-13 ESV “If the VOW is an animal that may be offered as an offering to the Lord, all of it that he gives to the Lord is holy. 10 He shall not exchange it or make a substitute for it, good for bad, or bad for good; and if he does in fact substitute one animal for another, then both it and the substitute shall be holy. 11 And if it is any unclean animal that may not be offered as an offering to the Lord, then he shall stand the animal before the priest, 12 and the priest shall value it as either good or bad; as the priest values it, so it shall be. 13. But if he wishes to redeem it, he shall add a fifth to the valuation.

Proverbs 3:9-10 ESV "...HONOR THE LORD with your WEALTH And with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will be bursting with wine.

"Tithing Is Proof That You Believe The Word Of God To YOU"

Why Preach the Reality of Hell?

2009-07-07T18:52:00.001-07:00

Hell is Real and is enlarging itself. Some have a covenant with Hell

Dr J. B. Pressey wants you to check out a photo on MySpace in the Knighting of Men album

2009-07-07T18:11:00.001-07:00

Dr J. B. Pressey wants you to check out a photo on MySpace in the Knighting of Men album

Shared via AddThis

Men Without Vision

2009-04-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

I have been young and am old, yet I have not seen

The righteous forsaken or his seed BEGGING bread

. Psalm 37:25

Do you suppose David might have been blind when he made this statement? I don't know about you, but I have seen God's people suffering, begging for food for the day. Maybe David was sheltered from destitution because he was the king? Is this just poetic license, or is David saying something that we don't quite understand?

Some of the answer is found in the context of this psalm. What is the psalm about? It's actually a contrast between the wicked and the righteous. The psalm instructs us not to envy the apparent success of the wicked. Yes, those who oppose God's instructions often appear to prosper. They have worldly success. They may be "rock stars" from the world's perspective. They seem to have glamour, fame, power and money. But they lose it all in the end. The perspective of this psalm is not on the day-to-day observable reality but rather on the final result of life in this world. Don't envy the wicked because the end of their game is cut off from God. Depart from evil. Stick with God's ways, even if it appears that you will suffer. Why? Because the end of life is not found here. What good is it to have all your success and pleasure now, and spend eternity regretting it? The wicked will perish. Don't get fooled with them.

Now we come to this verse. The Hebrew verb here is baqash [ baw-kash' ]. It doesn't mean just begging. In fact, it really means "to seek, to try to obtain or to require." You'll find it in Genesis 31:39 (seeking something stolen), Exodus 4:19 (seeking to take someone's life) and Nehemiah 2:10 (seeking what is good). It is often used for seeking the Lord's will, God's Word and God's face. Context tells us how to interpret the verb.

What about this verse? First, we need to understand its eschatological perspective. Yes, there may be times when God's children suffer. That is the inevitable result of living in a broken world. In fact, in some respects, followers Jesus Christ are called to suffering. But from a final perspective, no child of God will ever be left begging for nourishment. This psalm is about justice, and in the end, even if the child of God is knocked down seven times, yet he or she will rise again (Proverbs 24:16). By the way, being knocked down seven times is an idiom for being killed. Yet the righteous will still rise. It is the final condition that is in view.

Secondly, once we understand that we are to look for justice in the end, then we clearly know that none of the righteous will ever beg for bread. They will be fed because God guarantees their deliverance. That does not mean that life on this planet will always be full. It means that God will bring justice to the earth. The wicked will perish. The righteous will be redeemed. The followers of the Jesus Christ will come into the all-sufficient presence of the Lord.

Biblical perspective is often not the same as the seductive appeal of this world. The Bible treats this present life as practice for eternity. Oh, it's real, all right. But it's not the end of the story. We need to keep that in mind - always. The reason that we can count the present danger and suffering as minor is that we have a hope that is greater than this entire world. We see where we are going and that direction takes us toward a God of justice. The righteous, and the seed of the righteous, will never be left begging. They will attend the bridal feast of the Lamb - and be filled.

Renew Your Mind: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-23 (King James Version) REJOICE evermore. ¹⁷PRAY without ceasing. ¹⁸IN EVERY THING GIVE THANKS: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. ¹⁹Quench not the Spirit. ²⁰Despise not prophesyings. ²¹PROVE ALL THINGS; hold fast that which is good. ²²Abstain from all appearance of evil. ²³And 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.

Isaiah 14:27 (New Century Version) When the LORD [ EL] All-Powerful makes a plan, no one can stop it. When the Lord raises his HAND to punish people, no one can stop it.

Jeremiah 29:11 (New Century Version) I say this because I KNOW WHAT I AM PLANNING FOR YOU,“ says the LORD. “I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you HOPE AND A GOOD FUTURE.

KEYWORDS: begging, righteous, purpose, seeking, wicked, Psalm 37:25, baqash, seek, eschatological

VISION is the source and hope of life. The greatest gift given to mankind is not the gift of SIGHT,But the gift of VISION. SIGHT is the function of the eyes. VISION is a function of the HEART. Eyes that Look are common, eyes that SEE are rare. Nothing noble or noteworthy on earth was ever done without VISION ---Dr. Myles Munroe

Divine Reality: Satan is Real!

2009-04-13T05:36:00.000-07:00

This word was written as a result of the 'Nightline' Face-Off: Does Satan Exist? and a recent survey by the Barna Group "Most American Christians Do Not Believe That Satan or the Holy Spirit Exist" It's time for the body of Christ to EARNESTLY CONTEND for the FAITH which was once delivered unto the saints".

(Read Luke 8:27-37)

Jesus is traveling across the countryside when he encounters a man who has been driven insane by demons. This man lives in the cemetery. He is naked and feeds like a wild animal. Everyone knows about him and everyone fears him.

As Jesus comes near the cemetery, this miserable human being cries out, “Jesus, Son of the most high God, what are you doing here? I'm begging you, please do not torment me!”

Do you find this plea a little strange? Why would this man be so afraid that Jesus was going to torture him? Of course, we know now that it was the demons that were afraid of torture. They saw Jesus for what he was - not simply a great teacher and prophet but the final judge of the universe. Jesus’ very presence filled them with fear.

Jesus did release this man from his oppressors. The demons fled to a herd of pigs and drove themselves over a cliff. The man became himself again, clothed, calm and civil. But the reaction of the people in that community is just as strange as the pleading of the demons. When the townspeople came out to the cemetery to see for themselves what had happened, they found the man sitting quietly with Jesus, talking and listening. Luke says, “and they became frightened”. Luke tells us that these people asked Jesus to leave their neighborhood because “they were gripped with fear”. The Greek words here are phoboi megaloi syneichonto. If you sound out these words, you will recognize two of them. “Phoboi” finds its way into English in phobia - fear of. “Megaloi” becomes the English “mega” meaning “great”. This was no ordinary twinge of fear. Not like being afraid of the dark until we turn on the light switch. This was petrifying, deep seated fear. The kind of fear that paralyzes. If someone has a real phobia, they simply cannot function when it confronts them.

But the really telling word here is the one that we are least familiar with. Syneichonto comes from the Greek word synecho. This Greek word is found only in Luke’s writing. It has several meanings such as “to hold prisoner”, “to surround” and “to oppress”. The general sense of the word is to be controlled by something. As a physician, Luke uses this word to describe the oppression of sickness - illness that takes hold of a man making him a prisoner of his body. It carries the sense of being completely governed by something.

In this case, the townspeople were under the complete control of their oppressing fear. Instead of welcoming Jesus, instead of celebrating thIs man’s recovery, they succumbed to a deep-seated panic about the spiritual world. They were terrorized by the change in the familiar. For years they had witnessed this man in the cemetery, a shadowy figure of themselves. Naked, afraid, nothing more than a frightened animal that could not be contained. They had grown accustomed to this man in their community. Yes, he was despicable. Yes, he was loathsome. But he was theirs. He belonged to them as he was, a reminder of their own inner torments. Now, suddenly, he no longer contained their darker side. He had been transformed into a simple man, sitting at the feet of his healer.

“Depart from us”, they cried. Leave us alone. We don't want to face our fears. We don't want to open up those terrible nightmares, those secret acts, those hidden thoughts. Let us keep our demons. They are comfortable.

Jesus came upon this man and released him from his oppression. The demons begged Jesus not to torture them. They cried, “Leave us alone”. Now the townspeople uttered the same cry. “Jesus, don't come near us. Leave us alone. Don't torture us by removing the evil within. Don't make us face ourselves. We don't want you to heal us. We are afraid to be without those secrets.”

There is a terrible panic when God begins to open our lives. Things we do not want to see, deeds we do not want to remember, all these and more God seeks to cast from us. Many of us are like the townspeople of Gerasenes. We are gripped with a petrifying fear of being made whole. We just don't see how we can live if we can’t hold on to those past ways, even if they are demons in our souls. This nation was gripped on March 26, 2009 while watching NightLine " Face-Off - Does Satan Exist?, as an apostate Bishop Carlton Pearson publicly denies the existence of Satan and the Bible as the inspired WORD of God. This man is unwilling to face his deepest fears.

In our lesson Jesus did not press the issue with these people. He never does. He passed them by. But the man who was healed knew the truth - freedom costs - but it is worth the price.

Keywords, demons, fear, spiritual warfare, truth, Luke 8:27-37

Renew Your Mind: Luke 16:23-24 (King James Version) ^{Luke 23}And in HELL he lift up his eyes, being in TORMENMTS, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. ²⁴And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I AM TORMENTED IN THIS FLAME. HELL IS REAL!

Philippians 2:10-11 (King James Version) That at the NAME of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things UNDER the earth; ¹¹And that EVERY tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Ephesians 6:12 (King James Version) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Colossians 1:13-17 (King James Version) Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: ¹⁴In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: ¹⁵Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: ¹⁶For by him were ALL things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: ALL things were created by him, and for him: ¹⁷And he is before ALL things, and by him ALL things consist. Satan is real because this verse explains that Jesus created ALL angelic rank and they lost thier position of authority.

Finally, 1 Timothy 4:1-2 (The Message) The Spirit [ The Holy Spirit] makes it clear that as time goes on, some are going to give up on the faith and chase after DEMONIC illusions put forth by professional liars. ²These liars have lied so well and for so long that they've LOST their capacity for truth.

To Tithe Or Not To Tithe?

2009-03-23T17:21:00.001-07:00

This is a well researched study on the study of Tithes and Offering.
In addition, great articulate with clarity to the hearers. Fear should not be the only motivator for one to give, it should be out of an attitude of thankfulness for what God has already done to bless you.

2009-01-15T19:25:00.000-08:00

Theological -
Conformity to Fact or Truth

"...But you must MASTER it..."
Genesis 4:7

Everything important happens in the first three chapters of Genesis. Oh yes, plus the appendix of the story of Cain. This verse is absolutely crucial. Why? Because it says something about the essence of the Fall that we absolutely must know. It says that sin did not destroy the nature of Man.

Read the story again. You probably think you know it, but I’m guessing that you haven’t really paid attention to all the details. After the Fall, Cain brings his sacrifice. It is rejected. We are not told why. Cain is angry and distressed. God comes to Cain and tells him that sin crouches at the door, ready to take possession of him (that is an important word too). God advises Cain to do what is right and everything will be just fine. Then God warns Cain to master his inner voice. What does this imply? It implies that Cain is able to do just what God says. It implies that Cain can make a choice to do what is right, that Cain has the ability to master (mashal) sin’s desire and that Cain’s offering will be accepted. It’s all up to Cain.

That seems entirely reasonable, doesn’t it? After all, it is clearly what the text says, it makes Cain responsible for his actions and it shows us that God responds to our real choices. It seems reasonable – until you start to read the history of theology. In that history you will find a theological concept called Total Depravity. This idea, popularized by John Calvin but developed more than 1000 years before Calvin, claims that when Man fell, his nature was totally corrupted. From that point on, nothing that Man did could be considered good. In fact, Man did not have the ability to make right choices. He was cursed with a sinful nature that made choosing the way of God impossible. He was forever trapped in evil intentions and actions. He had no way out except by God’s act of grace. Total depravity leads to the doctrine of sinful nature, a concept imported into the translation of the NIV and other Bibles. It suggests that no matter what Man does, it is worthless and morally corrupt without the intervention of the Savior. The bottom line of this theological stance is this: in the Fall Man lost his ability to choose God.

That doesn’t seem to square with this text, does it? It certainly looks like God expects Cain to control himself and do what is right. But if Cain as a fallen man is totally depraved, then this is a charade and a sham. Cain cannot choose what is right and God is just playing with him. Something doesn’t add up.

Lest you think that this is just theological jargon and really doesn’t affect you, consider what happens to the idea of evangelism under the doctrine of total depravity. First, it means that every non-believer must be rescued by any means necessary. Evangelism becomes intervention focused on winning souls, not building relationships. All that is required is to get the non-believer to cross the line into a saved state. Secondly, it means that no good done by any non-believer really has any value at all. In fact, all non-believers are inherently worthless. They are not even capable of morally correct choices. Unless God intervenes, they are eternally lost. Therefore, while I may be called to present the gospel as the only real solution to life, I don’t have any further obligation toward these people. Their minds are corrupt, so unless God brings about understanding, there is nothing more for me to do.

Evangelism from this perspective is proclamation without relationship. It is announcement of the non-believer’s darkened state of existence, the delivery of saving information and justified disengagement. I give the message but God has to save. And I can deliver the message as a tract, a billboard, a television commercial or any other information-transfer mechanism. Actually building relationships is unnecessary. That’s not my job (and they are incapable of understanding anyway).

Isn’t it strange that Yeshua seems to have never taken this path? His life revolved entirely around relationships - deep and abiding ones. Do you suppose that we got off track somewhere along the way?

Renew Your Mind: 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (God's Word) WHOEVER IS A BELIEVER "IN CHRIST" is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence. 18 GOD HAS DONE ALL THIS . He has restored our RELATIONSHIP with him through Christ, and HAS GIVEN US this ministry of RESTORING RELATIONSHIONS. 19 In other words, God was using Christ to restore his relationship with humanity. HE DIDN'T HOLD PEOPLE'S FAULTS AGAINST THEM, and he has given us this message of restored relationships to tell others. 20 Therefore, we are Christ's representatives, and through us God is calling you. We beg you on behalf of Christ to become reunited with God. 21 God had Christ, who was sinless, take our sin so that we might receive God's approval through him.

Galatians 6:2-5 (God's Word) HELP CARRY EACH OTHER'S BURDENS.. In this way you will follow Christ's teachings. 3 So if any one of you thinks you're important when you're really not, you're only fooling yourself. 4 Each of you must examine your own actions. Then you can be proud of your own accomplishments without comparing yourself to others. 5 Assume your own responsibility.

2 Timothy 2:2 (God's Word) You've HEARD my message, and it's been confirmed by many witnesses. ENTRUST THIS MESSAGE to FAITHFUL individuals who will be competent to teach others. To escape sin's slavery, that old self had to die with Jesus when you believed in Him for the forgiveness of your sin. Death is the legal termination of a slave owner's contract. At that moment, sin became the powerless one. Its authority was "done away with." You are free. You never have to sin again.

2009-01-07T05:47:00.000-08:00

Humanities fatal flaw:

Believing we can do it

“Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen [ELECTED] for yourselves, but the LORD WILL NOT ANSWER you in that day.”—1 Samuel 8:18

The United States of America’s political beauty contest is over. USA has a new king. While the world applauds the peaceful transfer of power, the righteous should quake. We have seen it all before—and all too often. The fatal flaw of humanity is the belief that we can find our own answers to problems. All we need is a new leader, a new perspective, a change in the right direction. The tragic mistake is that the same corrupted nature mounts the throne again. Change never solved anything. Righteousness is the only path away from judgment and destruction, and the rejection of righteousness as a way of life guarantees a terrible result no matter who sits on the throne. It’s only a matter of time.

Since the election, several prominent Christians have spoken out about the ineffectiveness of prayer to change the outcome of the election. I’m afraid that equating partisan politics with faith is myopic misunderstanding. Samuel told Israel long ago what the results would be for choosing to be governed like other nations. The fact that United Sates of America changes its leaders by a democratic process doesn’t really matter. Nationalism is not faithfulness. It’s far more likely that prayer seemed ineffective because God is no longer answering. Generations of disregard for His commandments eventually construct a lead ceiling. Praying for Nineveh was pointless. What Nineveh needed was repentance.

It must have been an ominous day when Samuel uttered the words lo-ya’ane. Imagine being warned that God would not answer your pleas. What kind of life could you possibly expect knowing that God was no longer accessible? Yet this dire warning did not stop Israel. Why? Because Israel wanted to be like everyone else. Israel wanted a change. They looked at Egypt and Assyria and saw power and glory and wealth, and they said, “We want what they have.” They placed their hopes in men—and they got exactly what Man can provide—no guarantees of anything.

In the history of every civilization there is a tipping point, a point where God stops listening. The inevitable consequences are collapse, destruction and judgment. Who am I to say that we in USA have reached that point? I am no prophet to the nation, certainly not like Samuel, but I can see that righteousness is no longer the model for living in my country. It hasn’t been for a long time. This path of “CHANGE” is as dangerous as it gets. And I’m afraid. I’m afraid that God might stop listening. This has nothing to do with who was elected president and who wasn’t. Frankly, I’m not sure that either choice could turn the tide. Ego, hubris, power and seductive promises riddled both sides of the aisle and the people voted their own morality. I am afraid because I read the history of Israel and I know the God of the Bible. I am afraid because I see civilizations that think they can ignore Him. None has ever escaped. I want the Lord to answer our cries, but I’m afraid. Maybe we’ve gone too far. Maybe it’s too late. I pray that it isn’t, but I know that the moment will come when it is, unless Nineveh’s response is ours.

Renew your mind: “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”—Proverbs 6:16-19 (King James Version)

“Because I have called and you have refused [to answer], have stretched out my hand and no man has heeded it, And you TREATED as nothing all my counsel and would accept none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when the thing comes that shall cause you terror and panic—When your panic comes as a storm and desolation and your calamity comes on as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then will they call upon me [Wisdom] BUT I WILL NOT ANSWER; they will seek me early and diligently BUT THEY WILL NOT FIND ME.”— Proverbs 1:24- 28 (Amplified Bible)

“Sin will take you higher than you want to go

and keep you longer than you want to stay.”

—the late singer Marvin Gaye

2009-01-01T10:57:00.000-08:00

When Are We Going to Get Over It?

Dr. Andrew Manis

Macon State College Department of History

For much of the last forty years, ever since America "fixed" its race problem in the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts, we white people have been impatient with African Americans who continued to blame race for their difficulties. Often we have heard whites ask, "When are African Americans finally going to get over it?
Now I want to ask: "When are we White Americans going to get over our ridiculous obsession with skin color?

Recent reports that "Election Spurs Hundreds' of Race Threats, Crimes" should frighten and infuriate every one of us. Having grown up in "Bombingham," Alabama in the 1960s, I remember overh earing an avalanche of comments about what many white classmates and their parents wanted to do to John and Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King. Eventually, as you may recall, in all three cases, someone decided to do more than "talk the talk."

Since our recent presidential election, to our eternal shame we are once again hearing the same reprehensible talk I remember from my boyhood.
We white people have controlled political life in the disunited colonies and United States for some 400 years on this continent. Conservative whites have been in power 28 of the last 40 years. Even during the eight Clinton years, conservatives in Congress blocked most of his agenda and pulled him to the right. Yet never in that period did I read any headlines suggesting that anyone was calling for the assassinations of presidents Nixon, Ford, Reagan, or either of the Bushes. Criticize them, yes. Call for their impeachment, perhaps.

But there were no bounties on their heads. A ND even when someone did try to kill Ronald Reagan, the perpetrator was non-political mental case who wanted merely to impress Jody Foster.

But elect a liberal who happens to be Black and we're back in the sixties again. At this point in our history, we should be proud that we've proven what conservatives are always saying -that in America anything is possible, EVEN electing a black man as president. But instead we now hear that schoolchildren from Maine to California are talking about wanting to "assassinate Obama."

Fighting the urge to throw up, I can only ask, "How long?" How long before we white people realize we can't make our nation, much less the whole world, look like us? How long until we white people can -once and for all- get over this hell-conceived preoccupation with skin color? How long until we white people get over the demonic conviction that white skin makes us superior? How long before we white people get over our bitter resentment s about being demoted to the status of equality with non-whites?

How long before we get over our expectations that we should be at the head of the line merely because of our white skin? How long until we white people end our silence and call out our peers when they share the latest racist jokes in the privacy of our white-only conversations?

I believe in free speech, but how long until we white people start making racist loudmouths as socially uncomfortable as we do flag burners? How long until we white people will stop insisting that blacks exercise personal responsibility, build strong families, educate themselves enough to edit the Harvard Law Review, and work hard enough to become President of the United States, only to threaten to assassinate them when they do?

How long before we starting "living out the true meaning" of our creeds, both civil and religious, that all men and women are created equal and that "red and yellow, black and white" all are precious in God' s sight?

Until this past November 4, I didn't believe this country would ever elect an African American to the presidency. I still don't believe I'll live long enough to see us white people get over our racism problem. But here's my three-point plan:

First, everyday that Barack Obama lives in the White House that Black Slaves Built I'm going to pray that God (and the Secret Service) will protect him and his family from us white people.

Second, I'm going to report to the FBI any white person I overhear saying, in seriousness or in jest, anything of a threatening nature about President Obama.

Third, I'm going to pray to live long enough to see America surprise the world once again, when white people can "in spirit and in truth" sing of our damnable color prejudice, "We HAVE overcome."

Andrew Manis is author of Macon Black and White and serves on the steering committee of Macon's Center for Racial understanding.
It take a Village to protect our President!!!

The author of five books, Dr. Manis is a frequent lecturer and has become one of Central Georgia's leading authorities on the history of race relations, especially in the South. His most recent book, Macon Black and White: An Unutterable Separation of the American Century, published in 2004 by Mercer University Press and the Tubman African American Museum, earned him the 2005 Georgia Author of the Year (History Division) award, and he was a semifinalist for the 2005 Robert F. Kennedy Book Award. Manis’ previous book, a biography of Birmingham civil rights leader Fred Shuttlesworth, won a number of prizes, including the 2000 Lillian Smith Book Award. In addition, he has written many magazine articles about religion and religions in the South.

2008-12-30T06:28:00.000-08:00

The Essence of Sin

The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?" 2 The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. 3 It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.' " 4 The serpent told the Woman, YOU WON'T DIE. Genesis 3:1-4 (The Message)

The first entrance of sin into the world was Satan's subtle suggestion to Eve that God's word might not be true and authoritative after all. Then came Satan's blatant "Ye shall not surely die" (v. 4), openly charging the Creator with falsification. Ever since that time, the basic root of every sin has been unbelief--the implicit denial of the Creator's Word.

Therefore, God's judgment on human sin will be in relation to His Word. Jesus said: "There is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me" (John 5:45-46). He also said: "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day"(John 12:48). In principle, the Lord Jesus tells us that both Old Testament ("the law of Moses") and New Testament ("the law of Christ") will be witnesses against us at God's judgment throne.

In fact, at the final judgment, the "books" are specifically said to be the basis of God's condemnation of the unsaved: "And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened . . . And the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works" (Revelation 20:12). These books surely include the books of the Bible, wherein are written the laws of God, against which men and women are to be judged. Since even one transgression makes one guilty (James 2:10), none could ever stand at the judgment by his own works. But since unbelief is the effect of sin, faith in God's Word, and in the person and work of the Savior revealed in God's Word, brings forgiveness, salvation, and righteousness.

Renew Your Mind: The child of God immediately loses the following six things upon sinning. A seventh may be lost.

1. The loss of light (1 Jn. 1:6).
2. The loss of joy (Ps. 51:12; Jn. 15:11; Gal. 5:22; 1 Jn. 1:4).
3. The loss of peace (1 Jn. 3:4-10).
4. The loss of love (1 Jn. 2:5, 15-17; 4:12).
5. The loss of fellowship (1 Jn. 1:3, 6, 7).
6. The loss of confidence (1 Jn. 3:19-22).
7. The possible loss of health and even physical life (1 Cor. 5:5; 11:30).

THE REMOVAL OF SIN: "And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more" (Hebrews 10:17). In contrast to the Old Testament's yearly remembrance of sin, the New Testament believer's sin is forever forgotten. This is due to the shed blood of Christ who entered into the holiest of all to make a perfect atonement for us.There are a number of descriptive phrases in Scripture to show just how completely God has done away with those sins that once plagued us. They are as follows:Isaiah 44:22: "I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee." Sins are compared to clouds in that there are a large number of them; they cause darkness; they completely obscure heaven; they come between heaven (God) and earth (man), and they are a sign of an impending storm (judgment). Yet now, in Christ, those sins that separated us from God have once and for all been blotted out. Psalm 103:12: "As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us." Because of Christ, we will never meet up with our sin again. Micah 7:19: "He will subdue our iniquities; and cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." Iniquity has been conquered (subdued) and sin hurled (cast) into the deepest sea. It is destroyed, lost, and irrecoverable! Isaiah 38:17: "But thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back." God hurls sin behind His back because it is abominable and loathsome. He will never look at it again. He has completely separated Himself from it. The reason why all of this is true is found in II Corinthians 5:21, "For He hath made Him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."

Genesis 4:7

God's Economic Program

2008-12-25T08:02:00.000-08:00

In all labor there is PROFIT,
But the talk of the lips leads only to poverty.
(Proverbs 14:23)

Actions, not words. That’s the essence of Solomon’s wisdom on the subject of profit. But it isn’t just Solomon who advises those who will listen. Behind Solomon’s insight is a Scriptural principle that is evident from Genesis to Revelation. Where men and women commit themselves to strenuous toil (‘eseb), God promises that something extra will remain. The word is motar. Translated as “PROFIT”, it really means what is left over. It carries the idea of results, excess, advantage or benefit. In other words, it is a biblical fact that all labor under the banner of God’s governance will produce something extra. It’s just a fact of common grace. And more importantly, it’s an expectation of the way the world is designed.

Of course, this verse also says something about the opposite approach. Talking and talking and talking doesn’t lead to any benefit at all. It leads to poverty, and bailouts, the lack of the very things necessary for life. Hebrew is incredibly practical. You can’t eat words. If you want results, you will have to work for them. God’s economic program is built on His design. You and I were designed to work, not to wait for someone else to give to us. We are entitled to the fruits of our labor. That’s all. That’s why Paul (who is very Hebraic) can say, “If someone won’t work, don’t feed him.” It might not sound very altruistic, but it is nevertheless an inescapable element of God’s design. Work is part of what it means to be human. Animals might be suited for hibernation, but men and woman are not.

In Hebrew, this little reminder contains a nice alliteration. Motar comes from hard work but mahsor (poverty) results from useless verbiage. These Hebrew words set the framework for God’s purposes regarding our labor. If you want to see what happens to human life where society is reduced to words without work, visit any third world country with unemployment greater than 60%. What you will find is animal existence, human beings reduced to survival behavior. Often this is not the result of lack of things to do. It is the result of those in power talking about the problems instead of providing the economic means and safety needed for real work. Even in Zimbabwe , where unemployment reaches 90%, there is plenty to do, but the government is more concerned with maintaining power and accumulating wealth than it is with providing the economic stability necessary for people to be rewarded for their efforts. In fact, the development of a welfare system has probably done more damage to human consciousness than any other social program. Welfare certainly exists in the biblical record, but it is a function of the community in an effort to restore people so that once again they become workers. Somehow we have lost sight of that divine goal.

Motar is only used three times in the Bible. The other occurrences are in Proverbs 21:5 and Ecclesiastes 3:19. The first instance tells us that the thoughts of the diligent lead to motar. The Hebrew worldview includes the action of thinking in alignment with God. The second instance tells us without God there is no advantage (motar) of Man over beasts. All end up in the grave. Do we as a nation want to see profit? Then we must work, but work with God in mind. Common grace ends at the grave, but God’s motar doesn’t.

Renew Your Mind: Psalms 103:1-5 (King James Version) BLESS THE LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. BLESS THE LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; 4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Proverbs 10:2 (King James Version) "....Treasures of wickedness PROFIT nothing:....".

Ecclesiastes 8:12 (King James Version) Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet surely I know that IT SHALL BE WELL with them that FEAR GOD, which fear before him:

VALUE THE GOD-CONNECTION
[Ps.35:27; Job 22:21; 2 Chr.26:5]

2008-12-14T17:18:00.000-08:00

Eyes Completely Colosed - Living In A World Without 'Chozin"

The Lord has made you go into a deep sleep. He has closed your eyes. (The PROPHETS are your eyes.) He has covered your heads.

(The seers are your heads.) Isaiah 29:10 (New Century Version)

You and I can be very glad we did not live in the time of Isaiah. The apostasy of Israel in those days caused God to make a terrible decision. Because Israel refused to accept the responsibility that went along with God’s grace, God had to take steps to chastise them. In this case, the steps God took were drastic. Destruction, captivity, famine and chaos became the tools God used to bring His children to their senses. Yes, it’s a very good thing that we don’t live in those days. In those days, God blinded the people by taking away the ones who could reveal God’s purposes. Once He removed the PROPHETS, they floundered like men in a pitch-black cave.

The Hebrew word for PROPHET is naviy from the root navat (to look intensely, watch, consider). Please put away the idea that a prophet sees the future. While this is occasionally part of the prophet’s message, the preoccupation with foretelling did not enter the believing community until late in the second century AD after the “church” began its steady progression toward Greek metaphysics and pagan mysticism. The Hebrew PROPHET was a man called by God to deliver God’s message. That is all. He was a spokesman for God. He did not bring his own opinion, evaluation or creative application. He said what God said. End of story.

The root word is instructive. It portrays life in the house of the covenant. The prophet is the eyes of the people of the covenant. He points them toward the way of life by unpacking and revealing what God says. There is a rather terrifying implication. Without eyes, the house is a place of death.

So, why did God take away the eyes of His children? Why did He cause them to become blind? The answer is all about their behavior. They ignored God’s purpose for their election. They did not become the distribution point of grace to the world. They looked after themselves first and foremost. They accumulated rather than distributed. They acted as an exclusive hierarchy of regulation rather than an inclusive community of forgiveness. They denied the priority of God’s commandments. They worshipped man-made institutions and success. They stopped training their children in the ways of the Lord. They were sexually immoral. They took advantage of the weak and the poor. They lived for gain. They served a profitable justice. They followed leaders who did not demonstrate godly character. They clamored for fame. They believed in prosperity for themselves. They turned aside from duty. They let their passions loose. They did not control their appetites or their imaginations.

Therefore, God brought judgment upon them. He led them blindly to destruction. He took away their eyes.

Of course, that was a long time ago. We’re not like that, are we? All those actions and attitudes that characterized the children of Israel don’t look familiar to us, do they? We aren’t blind. We know exactly what we are doing. Can I get someone to turn on the light, please.

Renew Your Mind: Hosea 12:10 (Amplified Bible) I have also spoken to [you by] the PROPHETS, and I have multiplied visions [for you] and [have appealed to you] through parables acted out by the PROPHETS.

Hosea 12:13 (New Century Version) Later the Lord used a PROPHET to bring Jacob’s descendants out of Egypt; he used a PROPHET to take care of the Israelites.

Matthew 10:41 (King James Version) He that RECEIVETH a PROPHET in the name of a PROPHET shall receive a PROPHET'S reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.

Luke 1:67-77 (New Century Version) Then Zechariah, John’s father, was FILLED with the HOLY SPIRIT and PROPHESIED: 68 “Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to help his people and has given them freedom. 69 He has given us a powerful Savior from the family of God’s servant David. 70 He said that he would do this through his HOLY PROPHETS who lived long ago: 71 He promised he would save us from our enemies and from the power of all those who hate us. 72 He said he would give mercy to our fathers and that he would remember his holy promise. 73 God promised Abraham, our father, 74 that he would save us from the power of our enemies so we could serve him without fear, 75 being holy and good before God as long as we live. 76 “Now you, child [John the Baptist], will be called a PROPHET of the Most High God. You will go before the Lord to prepare his way. 77 You will make his people know that they will be saved by having their sins forgiven.

Hebrews 1:1-2 (New Century Version) "IN THE PAST spoke to our ancestors through the PROPHETS many times and in many different ways. 2 BUT NOW in these last days God has spoken to us through his Son. God has chosen his Son to own all things, and through him he made the world.

2 Peter 1:20-21 (King James Version) Knowing this first, that NO PROPHECY of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the PROPHECY came not in old time by the will of man: but HOLY MEN [PROPHETS] of God spake as they were MOVED by the HOLY GHOST

Revelation 19:10 (Amplified Bible) ".... WORSHIP GOD! For the substance (essence) of the truth revealed by JESUS is the SPIRIT OF ALL PROPHECY [the vital breath, the inspiration of all inspired preaching and interpretation of the divine will and purpose, including both mine and yours].

"When Any Minister Of God Speaks Under The ANOINTING,
You Are Hearing The VOICE of GOD.
(2 Chronicles 20:20; 1 Peter 4:11)

2008-12-12T16:39:00.000-08:00

F.A.M.L.I (Fatherhood And Marriage Leadership Institute) Skills

Restoring Love

“A new commandment I give to you, that you

LOVE ONE ANOTHER , even as I have loved you,”

John 13: 34)

One word does not say it all! In our society, almost everything that we describe by the verb “love” is based on Greek concepts. Our possessive desires (“I love that dress”), our infatuations (“I love fast cars”), our quest for gratification (“I love being rich”), our passionate fixations (“I love my job”), even our identification with relationships (“I love you”) almost always is an expression of either Eros or Phileo, the two rock-bottom pillars of a Greek worldview. That’s why the New Testament authors, who were thoroughly Hebrew in their thinking, chose the obscure word Agape to express the kind of love that does not fit the Greek categories.

Eros is not about erotic love. Yes, it includes erotic sexual attraction, but it is really about the desire to possess. It is “love” that seeks to own, to take and to use. That is not always a bad thing. After all, I love wisdom. I love beauty. I want to make both part of my life. As an expression of possession, this kind of love is focused on me, myself, and I. I am the beneficiary of the action, even if it involves a consensual relationship with another. Eros is a fickle partner simply because Eros makes its bed in my heart – and I can’t be trusted. Don’t believe me? Just ask yourself how many infatuations you have experienced (not just about other people), how many passions you have passed through or how many daydreams have ended up nightmares. Eros is the seductive hope of a better self projected onto something outside me.

Phileo doesn’t make it either. Of course, brotherly affection is important. Sometimes phileo is almost used as a synonym of agape. But it is very rarely used to describe love of God. Love of God is most consistently described with agape. Phileo pictures the love I have for those who are like me. It is brotherly in the sense that I share a common bond. Today we might say, “I really like you,” and mean that you and I have a lot in common. It’s the kind of love that belongs to match-making according to “areas of compatibility.” But things change. What we like today is not what we liked ten years ago. That’s why Phileo friends drift apart – and, by the way, so do Phileo-based marriages. Phileo might be a step away from the self-enhancement Eros ego, but it is not strong enough to produce the love that lasts forever.

If you want to understand how agape really differs from Eros and phileo, you need only consider one statement from Jesus, who has a Hebrew mind-set: “Love your enemies.” When it comes to enemies, Eros and phileo are bankrupt. I simply cannot love those I hate or those who would keep me from being what I wish to be if all I have in my arsenal is Eros and phileo. This is why Greek religion could never deliver on the concepts of FORGIVENESS and REDEMPTION. The gods could not be permanently placated because they were never really on my side or in my favor.

What can we take away from this little examination? Let’s start here: Who is my enemy? The paradox of life is that my “perfect” enemy is the one given to me in marriage. That person is uniquely placed to prevent me from wasting my life in Eros and Phileo. That person knows my victories and my failures, my ego excuses and my deflations, my hopes and my fears. There is no other person on earth better equipped to slap away my blind desire to possess. There is no other person on earth better positioned to prevent me from surrounding myself with like-minded admirers. My WIFE (spouse) is the perfectly designed grinding wheel to smooth all my rough edges, even when it hurts.

Now we begin to understand the context of AGAPE. Agape love is displayed by loving the one who has the greatest power to harm and the greatest potential to heal. Why does marriage model my relationship with God? Because it is God’s intention to turn perfect enemies into perfectly united lovers. That’s what He did with us. That’s what we are supposed to do too.

Renew Your Mind: 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (Amplified Bible) Therefore if ANY person is [ Ingrafted ] "IN CHRIST" (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! ¹⁸But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him]. ¹⁹It was God [personally present] "IN CHRIST", RECONCILING and RESTORING the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but canceling them], and committing to us the MESSEAGE of RECONCILITATION(of the restoration to favor).

"Falling In Love" is the mental picture that Illustrates

dethronement of self and the elevation of another"
--Dr. Mike Murdock, the Wisdom Commentary Vol. 1

2008-12-12T14:00:00.000-08:00

The POWER of The SEED, The WATER and The WORD

"So then neither is he that PLANTETH anything, neither he that WATERETH, but God that GIVETH the increase" 1 CorInthians 3:7)

This verse is a salutary corrective to the common somewhat boastful claim of the evangelist or the personal "soul winner"--that "I won Joe to Christ," or "I led Martha to the Lord." On the other side of the coin is the similar man-pleasing testimony that "I was won to Christ by Pastor Brown's sermons." While it is commanded and is urgently important that each Christian be a FAITHFUL and EARNEST witness for Christ, it is needful to give God alone the credit for one's salvation, since it is only He "that GIVETH the increase." We can be grateful whenever God uses something we have preached or written or said to bring someone to Himself, but He is by no means limited to such human efforts, and it is the sin of pride to take credit for what only the Holy Spirit can accomplish.
The Christian's ministry is necessarily limited to "PLANTING" and "WATERING," but these constitute a tremendous responsibility and is a privilege of eternal value. And even these are productive only if centered around the Holy Scriptures, because both the SEED which is PLANTED and the WATER which enables it to grow are said to be the WORD OF GOD. Even the great evangelist, the Apostle Paul, must say: "I have planted, Apollos watered; BUT GOD gave the increase" (1 Corinthians 3:6)।

Nevertheless, we do have many gracious promises that, if we are faithful in planting and watering, God will give the increase, and we can share His joy. "He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him" (Psalm 126:6). "For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7).

Renew Your Mind: Proverbs 11:18 (King James Version) ".... But to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward..." Luke 8:11 (King James Version) "..: The seed is the WORD OF GOD..."

Revelation 7:17 (King James Version) For the LAMB which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters:....."
John 3:5 (King James Version) Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of WATER and of the SPIRIT, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God।

"Every Believer Must Understand that God PLANTED us in the earth purpose. What we might not understand is the planting and growth process"
---Dr G. Vincient Dudley Sr. D. Min, Power of the Seed
New Life In Christ Interdenominational Church, Lebanon, IL

2008-12-11T07:05:00.000-08:00

With The End In Mind

FINISH!

I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course,
I have kept the faith.
(2 Timothy 4:7)

God is not interested in you just crossing the finish line. Do you know that? Do you know that getting to heaven is not the goal, that dying “saved” is not what this race is about? When Paul uses the verb teleo, he says a lot more than simply taking the checkered flag, because teleo is not just finishing. It is bringing an end to a desired goal with perfection. It is the natural result of a “good fight,” a contest that emphasizes excellence and beauty. Is that what you are pursuing? Are you struggling to finish in such a way that the end glorifies God? Or are you such trying to cross the line?

When Jesus says that He has finished the course and glorified the Father, he captures the full meaning of teleo. He shouts from the cross (it is not a whimper), Tetelestai (“It has been accomplished!”) In beauty, excellence, harmony and virtue, Jesus finishes the course. That’s the standard. Is that what you have in mind?

We have a natural tendency to water down the goal. We would like God to just accept the fact that we’re running. We want Him to give us the blue ribbon no matter how we end up crossing the finish line. But God is a mentor, trainer and coach who won’t settle for less than His image stamped into our character. In God’s program, finishing well is the goal, no matter how long it takes to get there. The race is not to the swift but to the obedient.

We need these words from Paul. We need to know that there are men and women who have finished well. In fact, there is a great crowd of witnesses, cheering me on when I feel like giving up because my progress toward beauty and harmony seems so slow. I remember that the man who said, “I have finished the course,” is the same one who struggled with a thorn, who had a personality conflict with a brother, who cried out that he did what he didn’t want to do. I need to know all this because, in order to finish well, I need hope that God will stick with my training plan until He accomplishes what He wants, not until I think I’ve had enough.

The Author and Finisher is the One Who pushes me toward the high goal of beautiful perfection. He is the Author because it is His plan. He is the Finisher because He led the way – and He lifts, encourages, teaches, trains, mentors, and manages us as we follow Him. When the course gets really rough, when we falter and stumble, we know He won’t quit on us. He has the end in mind. So must we.

Now dominate your turf!

Renew Your Mind: Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NCV) I say this because I know what I am planning for you," says the Lord. "I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future. ¹²Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³You will search for me. And when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me!

Every Victory Is Worth The Price.
Never Forget It!

2008-12-11T06:31:00.001-08:00

The Answer To Holiness

Psalms 22:4 (AMP)

Our fathers trusted in You; theyTrusted
(leaned on, relied on You,and were confident)
and You delivered them।

Pay very close attention to the implications in this verse, especially since what is says is so rare in Old Testament literature. While we find dozens of uses of the verb batach exhorting and commanding trust in God, there are less than a hand-full of verses that actually say the people of Israel did trust in God. This verse is one of those rare occasions.

We are so used to the idea that Israel trusted God that we fail to recognize that most of the uses of bathach describe cases of false trust. Batach certainly means, “to feel secure, to be unconcerned, to rely on someone or something,” but most of the time we find that people find security in the wrong things. The very short list includes wealth, households, military might, political alliances, other people, religious rituals and, last but certainly not least, ourselves. The Bible puts it quite plainly. Anyone who places security in these things will become double-minded. Disappointment stands in the wings, ready to jump to center stage.

Actually, all human experience confirms this Biblical truth. There is simply no security in this world. If we are foolish enough to trust in what the world has to offer as substitutes for the divine, we will discover, sooner or later, that we made a terrible mistake. Nevertheless, in spite of universal human affirmation, we go right on placing our trust in the list of Biblical errors. Money, power, influence and even intimacy, become welcomed substitutes for real security. Since we all know better, but we go right ahead acting like fools(and then bemoaning the tragedy that follows), we must ask the obvious question: why are we so gullible?

Let me declare that the answer is in this verse; not in what is says but what it implies. This verse does not say that the fathers trusted in God because He delivered them. It says that they trusted God, and (as a result of that trust) they were delivered. What is the difference? This is the critical observation. If I trust God because I believe that He will do such-and-such, then my faith is not really in God but in the subsequent action He will perform on my behalf. In other words, I have faith in His deeds, not “IN HIM”. But if I trust God simply for Who He is, then He can respond in grace and mercy toward me. Why? Because I have learned to trust a person, not an action. I have discovered that I can have an intimate, secure relationship based on His character. I do not need to see Him act in order to know that He is reliable. The reason why we are constantly persuaded into placing our trust in the list of false security is that we are still looking for action items. We have not stepped forward in faith and anchored our lives in the character of God. We do not understand what it means for God to be holy. We think of God in terms of actions. Our vocabulary reflects this when we are asked to describe the message of the Bible in a single word and we come up with “love,” or “mercy,” or “forgiveness.” Very few of us would first think of “holy.” We are geared toward God’s acts (and taught to think like this) rather than toward God’s being.

Psalm 78:22 complains that the father did not trust God. This is the typical occasion. Which use of bathach describes you?

Renew Your Mind: Psalms 4:5 (AMP) Offer just and right sacrifices; trust (lean on and be confident) in the Lord. Psalms 29:2 (AMP) Give to the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness or in holy array. Isaiah 35:8 (NCV) A road will be there; this highway will be called "The Road to Being Holy." Evil people will not be allowed to walk on that road; only good people will walk on it. No fools will go on it.

”Respect The Presence Of God”

Jehovah Shammah, God is always there

(Eze 48:35)

2008-12-08T15:04:00.000-08:00

My Last WORDS To Future Generations

“Truly I say to you, this GENERATION will not pass आवे
until all these things have occurred।”
(Matthew 24:34)

What a lot of agony and confusion accompanies this verse! Everyone wants to know the signs of the end time. Century after century, well-meaning believers have proclaimed the end of days is near. Yet here we are, still fighting the good fight. What are we to make of all this?

Matthew 24 is the great revelation of Jesus about the end times. There are a lot of instructions here, but they all revolve around the final parable – the fig tree. How do you know when the fig tree is about to give fruit? Simple. You watch for the tender shoots. As soon as you see them, you know that the fruit is on the way. If someone runs up to you and says, “The fig tree is blooming,” but you know that it is the middle of winter, you don’t even bother to run to the garden. It’s the wrong time of the year. The signs come before you take action to gather the fruit. So it is with the end. No one knows the day, but we can SEE the signs.

The conundrum is this: the signs are not quite as obvious as tender shoots on the fig tree. At least they don’t appear to be as obvious. Of course, that might be because we are so anxious to see the fruit that we ignore what the real evidence is. In the same way, we are so preoccupied with knowing what will happen that we see “blossoms” everywhere, even if the evidence doesn’t quite fit. As a young adult, someone told my aunt that God wanted her to know that the Lord would return before she died. She died thirty years ago. I remember The Late Great Planet Earth phenomenon. I am sure you have similar stories. The problem is not on God’s end. The conundrum is with us. Are we motivated because we see the need for absolute holiness and preparation, or do we want to know in order to have one more answer? According to Jesus, the SIGNS will be clear. Look for fig tree shoots. When the sun darkens, the moon does not give light and the stars fall from heaven, then get ready. When the Son of Man comes, it won’t be a secret. Everyone will know it. There is no point in running around the “garden” inspecting all the evidence in hopes of seeing green shoots if the stars are still shining at night. Wait. Be patient. Persevere.

The Greek word for GENERATION is genea. Not surprisingly, we see this in our word “GENERATION.” It is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew toledot. The Hebrew word suggests a picture of the seal that guarantees authority. In other words, the point of a generation is to pass the authority of the family from one to another. In the biblical world, this is not the same as a contemporary forty-year span from father to son. In fact, the word toledot can cover hundreds of years. Consider the statement in Genesis 6:9 about the generations of Noah. Are we to imagine that Jesus meant that all the signs that He revealed would be evident in the same forty or fifty years of a single lifetime? Not if we understand the range of years that a word like toledot can cover. So, since Jesus clearly knew that GENERATION had a much bigger scope than our idea of a few decades, what is the purpose of this teaching: to give you the time when the end will come, or to emphasize the need to be aware and ready? If you want some entertainment, read the latest speculative version of the end times. But if you want to be in line with Jesus, get ready. When He comes, you’ll know it. Just make sure that it isn’t too late.

Renew Your Mind: 2 Corinthians 2:9 (King James Version) For to this END also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things.

Psalms 22:27-28 (King James Version) ^{Psalms 27}All the ENDS of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the KINDREDS of the nations shall worship before thee. ²⁸For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.

Psalms 119:96 (Amplified Bible) I have seen that everything [human] has its limits and END [no matter how extensive, noble, and excellent]; BUT Your commandment is exceedingly broad and extends without limits [into eternity].

Psalms 39:4 (King James Version) LORD, make me to know mine END, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.

Psalms 119:33 (King James Version) Teach me, O LORD, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

Matthew 24:13 (King James Version) But he that shall ENDURE unto the END, the same shall be saved.

Mark 13:33 (Holman Christian Standard Bible) "...Watch! Be alert!...."

"UNDERSTANDING Is Also SEEING God's Purpose

In Some Of Life's More Unpleasant Events"

2008-12-08T14:54:00.000-08:00

Nations that Forget God

Today's Seed:

"The WICKED shall be turned INTO HELL,

And ALL the NATIONS that forget God."

(Psalm 9:17)

The subject of hell is widely ignored today, even by evangelical teachers and pastors. Heaven is commonly mentioned at funerals, of course, since almost everyone attending a funeral wants to think that the deceased has gone there (assuming there turns out to be such a place). Hell is rarely acknowledged as even a possibility, on the other hand, even for mobsters or other criminals.

Nevertheless, HELL [ SHEOL ] real and it is going to be more fully populated than heaven. The Lord Jesus said (and He should know!), "Broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: . . . Narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it" (Matthew 7:13-14).

But just who are the "wicked" that will be turned into hell? According to the Bible, "There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10), and "the whole world lieth in wickedness" (1 John 5:19), by the principle of Hebrew poetic parallelism, our text would indicate that "the wicked" are those who "forget God," where the connotations of "forget" is "become oblivious to."

Can whole nations become oblivious to the true God of creation--and do business and legislate and conduct all their affairs just as though God no longer existed? If so, those nations (or at least those citizens of those nations who practice such wickedness) are in mortal danger. "Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross" Psalm 1119:119).

In the days of old, the leaders of the city resided daily at the city's gates. The gate was the place of business and government interaction. Everyone had to enter or exit through the gate which made it the obvious location of commerce and political affairs. Genesis 19:1 says, "...and Lot sat at the gate of Sodom..." Many biblical scholars believe that high rankling officials such as governors or mayors, High Priests, and Judges dwelled daily at the gates of their city. Something evil was going on at the city gates. (Read the story of Lot, Absalom, and Eli the High Priest)

But "Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6) and "blessed are all they that put their trust in him" (Psalm 2:12). We who trust Christ therefore surely need to work and pray earnestly for our nation, and our people, that we return to genuine love of God and His Word.

Renew Your Mind: Psalms 91:1-16 (The Message) You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow, ²Say this: "God, you're my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe!" ³That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. ⁴His huge outstretched arms protect you— under them you're perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. ⁵Fear nothing—not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, ⁶Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon. ⁷Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you. ⁸You'll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch the WICKED into corpses. ⁹Yes, because God's your refuge, the High God your very own home, ¹⁰EVIL can't get close to you, harm can't get through the door. ¹¹He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go. ¹²If you stumble, they'll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling. ¹³You'll WALK unharmed among lions and snakes, and kick young lions CALL ME and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times; I'll rescue you, then throw you a party. ¹⁶I'll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!"

And the Lord said - "Tell My people that THEY DO NOT HAVE TO FEAR. Things Will get ROUGH - Things will get TRUBULENT - BUT I will keep them safe IN THE EYE OF THE STORM'"

2008-12-08T14:27:00.000-08:00

The Sex of Humanity: Gender Bias

Today's Seed:

Greet Andronicus and JUNIAS, my kinsman, and my fellow-prisoners,

Who are outstanding among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.

Romans 16:7

The role of women in the church is perhaps one of the more incendiary issues among conservative denominations। Marshalling verses from Paul’s letters, especially from remarks in Corinthians, many people argue that Scripture teaches that women should not have prominent leadership positions, especially positions of authority over men in teaching and preaching. This view affects translators as well, and in this particular passage, attempts have been made to make the text be consistent with the doctrine rather than allowing the text to speak on its own. A very tiny change leads to a very big mistake.

In the Greek text of Paul’s letter, Paul names a couple, Andronicus and Junia (that’s right, Junia, not Junias) as exemplary fellow-laborers for the gospel. The actual Greek word is ‘Iounian [ee-oo-nee'-as ]. Now, this could be a contraction of the masculine Junianus, but there are no other examples of this type of contraction. Furthermore, several famous Greek scholars argue that this is really the transformation of the name into a form that expresses a direct object (Greek is not like English. It changes the form of the word to express relationships like direct object, possessive case, etc.). That means that this person’s name is ‘Iounia, or in English “Junia,” a woman. In other words, Paul is recognizing a couple where both the man and the woman are “outstanding among the apostles.” In fact, this couple were Christians before Paul, probably indicating that they were Greek proselytes and Messianic believers in the early church in Israel. The early church fathers understood Paul’s remark to be about a married couple, both of whom were apostles।

Several notable Greek scholars argue that the grammar of the phrase “outstanding among the apostles” can only be understood to mean that Junia was an apostle. We certainly know that there were more people considered apostles than the original twelve. Even Chrysostrom (one of the earliest theologians of the church) recognizes Junia as an apostle। In spite of the NIV and the NASB and other contemporary translations to make this woman into a man, the Greek won’t allow it. Neither will the evidence from history.

Why is this important? Because if Junia, a women, is an apostle, then it hardly makes any sense to claim that women in the early church were not allowed to teach or preach or be leaders. What else does an apostle do? How can we possibly understand Paul’s positive acclaim for Junia if this same Paul instructs that all women are to be silent in all churches? The propagation of the idea that women are to be segregated to roles different than men flies in the face of biblical teaching, including Pauline teaching. It is inconsistent with equality under Christ, it ignores the Hebrew role of the ‘ezer (from Genesis) and it is in opposition to the interpretation of the church fathers. We have invented this idea and it’s time to get rid of it. Translations of the text that propagate this bias verge on heresy. They reveal the misogyny of the translators, not the intent of the Most High God. It mystifies me that we could be so easily led astray by the change of one letter (from Junia to Junias), but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Everyone comes to the text with an interpretive scheme. That includes me. Let’s pray that God will gently remove the blinders so that we can see the truth through His Spirit, not our bias.

The Bible has many examples of women who were leaders,teachers, and prophetesses who exercised authority over men
A. Miriam is stated to be a leader of the Exodus alongside Moses and Aaron (Micah 6:4)

B. Deborah served as a judge in Israel (Judges 4-5).

C. Huldah was a prophetess consulted by both men and women (2Kings 22:14).

There were prophetesses in the New Testament who carried the authority of their Office Teaching men

(Luke 2:36-38; Acts 2:16-18; 21:8-9;1 Cor 11:4-5)

History has conclusively demonstrated that women have been very effective spiritual leaders and pastors

2007-09-25T07:24:00.000-07:00

Spiritual Warfare for the Family
Core Values Of A Marriage

Ecclesiastes 4:9 (KJV)
Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour।

1. Everything we do must point people to the Lordship of Jesus.

Truth of the Word leads people to the One who is .Truth We must deepen people's relationship with Jesus, not make them dependent on us, See people and situations through eyes of faith

2. Powerhouse homes flow in the power of the Holy Spirit.

After believers are born-again, there is a second, distinct experience in which the Holy Spirit empowers believers (Acts 1:8)

The power of the Holy Spirit changes the believer from within (Fruit of the Spirit) and flows

out through the believer (Gifts of the Spirit)

Lasting change comes spiritually, not intellectually

3. Marriage is a covenant relationship.

It reflects the covenant relationship between Jesus and the Church

Each covenant partner agrees to be faithful no matter what the other one does It is unconditional

It is until death

4. Marriage between a man and a woman is the basis for God's plan for family.

God intends for family to produce healthy sons and daughters in the image of their Father

All aspects of family life flow from and relate back to the marriage relationship

Addressing family issues must include developing a healthy marriage

5. We are to make disciples of all nations.

Discipling is more than disseminating information

Discipling includes training, modeling and accountability– modeling is a transparent demonstration of process rather than perfection in the lives of the discipler

Discipling is based in relationship

6. We are to produce fruit with the seed of reproducibility.

We are all to bear fruit and multiply - Our role in the earth is to give to others what God gives to us

Although gifts and talents of people vary, others must be able to duplicate each model produced

Everyone who ministers in MMI should be making disciples at the same time

7. When a couple marries, their individual call and destiny are blended together

Both husband and wife are equally called of God -We are responsible to seek out those who will disciple us in our call. Each spouse needs to respect, honor, and nurture the gifts and talents of the other

Couples need to be taught how to blend their gifts and talents to equip them in the synergism of a one-flesh team

8. Homes are points of outreach to a lost world.

Marriage and family reflect God's relationship to His Church -Marriage Mentoring leaders are ordinary couples demonstrating the power of God in our homes, jobs, and lives

We are to teach couples how to reach their neighborhoods, communities, and other spheres of influence

9. God views families generationally.

Decisions and actions of one generation affect successive ones

One generation has the power in Jesus to stop generational curses

One generation has the ability to perpetuate blessings generationally

Christians must think and plan generationally

10. We are an army.

We have an objective and a mission

We need to honor spiritual authority to be in spiritual authority

We need to recognize and honor the different roles of those serving in the army

We must be dedicated to fighting until we see victory manifested

We are not individual soldiers who get to pick and choose with whom, when and where we will serve

Renew Your Mind: Genesis 2:18 (KJV) “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” When the marriage is crumbling, there is nothing else to fill that particular “emptiness”. God created man for a mate.

a) Know Your Mate.
b) Your Mate is affecting you.
c) Your Mate grows your weaknesses or your strengths
d) Your Mate multiplies your agitation or your peace.
e) Your Mate is helping to create the climate of torture or triumph at your house.

“Never Give Up”