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Turmoil in the Church - where is God

Psalms 74:8-11

8 They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have
burned up all the synagogues of God in the land.

9 We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there
among us any that knoweth how long.

10 O God, how long shall the adversary reproach? shall the enemy blaspheme
thy name for ever?

11 Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy
bosom.

Today every Indian Newspaper or most Indian Christians are talking of the
program Gar Wapsi - 'Home Coming' initiated by right wing Hindus. The right
wing Hindu organizations are reconverting 'Christians' back to Hinduism.

There may be some who approached them but by the News we read most of these
reconverts are happening because of intimidation, social pressure or by
buying them with worldly benefits (mostly we see the uneducated are the
ones). Every few days we read hundreds of Christians are reconverting. What
was very disheartening to hear was the assessment these right wing Hindus
have of Christians. They identify weak Christians and then collect funds to
get then reconverted. According to the News they budget Rs2lakhs per
Christian for the reconversion. Like they target Christians they are also
targeting Muslims. What was bad is according to them the Muslim is more
devoted to his or her religion therefore they budget Rs5lakh for
reconversion per Muslim.

What saddened me is not that Christians are becoming Hindus again but that
this has exposed is the quality of work whivh the Church has been doing.
Compare this to the work the Apostles did. The people they bough to Christ
were not just offered goodies but were threatened with death yet they
refused to give up on Christ, hundreds were massacred in public including
women and children yet they did not give up on their belief, they sang
worship hymns as they were being killed. This is a far cry from what we see
happening today. Can we blame God for this or for not intervening?

In today's message the psalmist points to a similar situation and questions
in verse 11 if God has withdrawn His protection over His people and stopped
loving them. But he realizes the problem is that there is no prophet (Man
of God) amongst them nor does anyone have knowledge of the happenings as to
when it will last.

The psalmist is inspired by the Spirit of God and knows that this was
coming therefore questions how long it would last. He also knew why, the
reason being lack of Men of God. Had they had a Man of God amidst them they
would have known how long problem would have lasted and in the first place
the problem would have not risen.

Today we are suffering the same problem. There are many who are
evangelizing and converting people to 'Christians' but are failing in
bringing them to the knowledge of the Lord and have a relationship with
Christ. Since they lack knowledge of the Truth for them Christianity is a
religion and our Lord is one among other gods. If they had the knowledge of
the Truth there is no way one can give up on the Lord, even death would not
be able to do so.

Evangelist and other Christians are making others 'Christians' by social
assurance or selling them blessing of the Lord like healings or restoration
of provisions. They are giving the Gospel and stopping there, they are not
giving them the Word. The Gospel (Good News) is like the trailer or preface
and the Word is the real movie or the novel. The Gospel gives hope and
assurance of salvation but the Word directs us and strengthens us into
knowing and receiving it.

I get very upset when people saying make the Word of God simple and easy
for people to understand. They confuse between the Gospel and Word. The
Gospel is indeed simple and meant for those who do are ignorant of Christ
but those who have accepted Christ we are not supposed to keep feeding them
the Gospel but start giving them the Word (after training them to live a
Christian life, that is come out from other things).

The reason the Church fails is because it does not follow the instructions
given by Jesus on being good shepherds. There are 2 instructions of great
importance that Jesus gave in regards to nurturing people spiritually.

Frist: Baptize them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit. That means to immerse them in the knowledge first of the
Father and then of the Son and then of the Holy Spirit, because the Father
reveals the Son and the Son reveals the Spirit. I have seen many foolish
Christians preach Christ to people who do not know God. The fact Christ is
the mediator between God and man the person needs to know God first to know
His Christ.

Second: Feed My lambs, tend My sheep and then feed My sheep. Jesus gave
these instructions to Peter after asking Peter 3 times “Do you love Me?”.
The Church is mostly doing the task of feeding the lambs and not moving
ahead after that. That is why we see the Church full of lambs and no mature
sheep (Men or Women of God).

Let this Gar Wapsi be an eye opener to us and let us change our ways of
working. Let us do things the Lord's way and not be lazy or be smarter than
God. If we do not it would not be far when we will see everything that is
build come down to the ground.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, we pray your people stop playing Church and understand the purpose of
salvation. Let them know rituals and traditions do not make anyone a
Christian. To be a Christian one needs to be renewed from inside and for
the change to happen the person needs to know You. It is by You and with
You that we can overcome our inner sinful man and thus regain the authority
You have given us as Sons of God, the power which the Angels hold...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Matthew 28:19 - Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations,
baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit:

John 21:15-17

15 So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon,
son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord;
thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

16 He saith to him again a second time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou
me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith
unto him, Tend my sheep.

17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me?
Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me?
And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I
love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.

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In the season He demands result

Luke 20:10 - And at the season he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that
they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the vinedressers
beat him, and sent him away empty.

We know the incident of Jesus rebuking the fig tree and how it died right
from its roots soon afterwards. We know Jesus did not hate trees or was a
hard headed and proud person who got angry because He was hungry and did
not get fruit so He cursed the tree to death. We need to know that fig
trees changes colors of its leaves when it is time for it to bear fruit. It
so happened that Jesus was passing with His disciples and from far He saw
the tree had changed color of its leaves indicating it was fruitful so
Jesus being hungry approached it, and when He came close He did not find
any fruit on it so He got angry and rebuked it and it died from its roots.

The very purpose of a fruit tree is to bear fruit. Would any person keep a
tree for long if it does not bear any fruit? Jesus wanted us to know when
it is time to bear fruit we need to account to God who is the provider and
owner of the vineyard as to what fruits we have borne.

Each tree has different season so also God has set a season for each and
every one of us and in the season God will take account of the fruit we
have borne. There are times we may try to fool God with Church activities
or social activities and put a picture that we are doing God's work. People
may be fooled by what we do, but at the end God who is all knowing and all
seeing is not fooled. He will not go by the how big tree or Church we have
set or how many people we have bought to read the Bible or to lift hands in
prayer meeting or the people we have healed or the people we have prayed
for things like jobs or other problems. He will demand us to show the
spiritual Fruits in us and in the people we have been put responsible over
(period).

If we are thinking till date whatever you and I have been doing and God has
not rebuked us for it, does not necessary mean God is please with it. We
need to investigate are our works in the Lord if they are bearing fruit?
Our season has not come till date and thus while time is at hand let us
self-audit our work as to what we are doing and have been doing. Especially
we being at the end of this year let us glance back and see the fruit have
we borne this year, so that we do not repeat the coming year doing the same
things. Let us renew ourselves in the ways of the Lord and do things His
way and not our way.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You are God and You are Spirit. Your Kingdom is not of this world
made of materialistic things which have life and after a time perish. Your
Kingdom Lord is more real and eternal and made of spiritual things which
man cannot imagine or conceptualize. Lord we pray as we pass through this
world and refined in You let us bear good fruit and that we not aim more
for being a big tree but being a strong rooted tree that also bears good
fruit in its season which You are in control of...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Matthew 7:18-27

18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree
bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast
into the fire.

20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

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

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye
that work iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I
will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and
beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not,
shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and
beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Matthew 21:43 - Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken
from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.

Mark 11:12-14,19-21

12 And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:

13 And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he
might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but
leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.

14 And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter
for ever. And his disciples heard it.

19 And when even was come, he went out of the city.

20 And in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up
from the roots.

21 And Peter calling to remembrance saith unto him, Master, behold, the
fig tree which thou cursedst is withered away.

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Father and children

Matthew 1:2 - Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat
Judah and his brethren;

When a rose seed is put in a pot and that seed sprouts into a plant, do
people say that is a rose plant that grew from the seed taken from that XYZ
plant or would they say that is a plant of that pot? We all know it is the
pot and the soil in it that helps the seed sprout and grow but yet the name
is taken of the plant from which that seed came.

When we refer to genealogy in the Bible we see the name of the father is
taken and not the name of the mother. Many people think it is because the
society was male dominant that is why the father's name was taken, they are
wrong. One should understand life and how life populates to understand this.

We all know humans have a life term here on earth which is up to 120years.
This was not the case before the floods of Noah. During Noah and before
Noah people lived a very long life some even thousand years. It was after
God saw that man had become very evil that God set the age of man on earth
to be max 120 years. That means in the body man is restricted to 120 years
(normally) but that does not mean the spirit of man lives 120 years for
even though man dies his spirit continues to exist.

When God created the world He created all beings in spirit and set the
story of mankind, that is why God says in many verses things like He knows
us from the foundation of creation, the names of those who enter Heaven are
already written in the Book of Life even before they are born as humans.

Humans are beings created by God and thus do not have the ability to live
eternally within themselves like God (Father and Son do). When I studied
the spirit life of man I found it is about 3 thousand years. That is why we
see Jesus came just in time to fulfill His promise to Noah and his family.
That is why Peter states when Jesus went to Hell and preached the souls
there, those from the time of Noah were saved from Hell. Peter stated from
the time Noah because the souls before had perished in Hell and did not
exist. That means the soul like that of Adam and Eve did not exist in Hell
when Jesus went there. There are many other factors that confirm the life
term of 3 thousand years of spirit man.

We all know the world is many billions of years old and earth some million
years old, mankind itself is many thousands of years. So when I asked Lord,
how would a spirit having a life term of 3 thousand years exist for many
thousands of years? He opened my mind with understand plant life.

Plants have varying life terms, some very short of weeks and some very
large as in hundreds of years. This life starts from the time the seed
sprouts but the seed can be kept for hundreds of years irrespective of the
length of the life term of the plant. We see the same concept in man. When
God blessed or cursed man He did so from father to children for the seeds
were in the father and not in the mother.

A mother by her love, compassion and tender care can mold a child into a
good being but one needs to understand the seed still comes from the
father. The womb of the mother is like the pot that holds the seed and
nurtures it the initial days of its life but if the seed is not of a good
bred then a pot even with rich soil cannot do much.

My advice to all my sisters in the Lord, when you marry make sure your 'to
be' husband is in the Lord so that your children also are, else you would
need to do a lot of efforts and taking authority break spiritual curses and
sin nature that comes from the father unto the child up to the fourth
generation. If the to be father is in the Lord than it does not matter if
his fathers were or weren't. Once spiritual curse links are broken then
what was there before need not be bothered.

Curses or sin nature from mother also travels unto the child but not from
mother to child but via the father. When husband and wife become one when
they come together then via the husband the child inherits the good or bad
of the wife (that is why in Jesus' case even though the mother was a sinner
yet Jesus knew no sin for He did not have a human father). If the husband
is in the Lord and the wife is not then the husband can take authority and
break the link of curses unto the child.

Today's scripture shows the importance of the link of the father to the
child that is why in the genealogy the name of the father and not the name
of the mother are noted.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You made man in your image and You also set things in order so as for
man to understand the hidden things of the Heavens. Lord we pray your
people are not driven by emotions but with knowledge and understanding of
the Truth...

This payer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Genesis 5:1-2

1 This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created
man, in the likeness of God made he him;

2 Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name
Adam [the generations of Adam inherited the nature of Adam], in the day
when they were [are] created.

Exodus 34:6-7

6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD
God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and
truth,

7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and
sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of
the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the
third and to the fourth generation.

Genesis 6:3 - And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with
man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty
years.

Genesis 35:11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and
multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings
shall come out of thy loins;

Genesis 37:34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his
loins, and mourned for his son many days.

Genesis 46:26 All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came
out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were
threescore and six;

Genesis 1:26-28

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let
them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air,
and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing
that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he
him; male and female created he them.

28 And God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful, and multiply,
and fill the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the
sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth
upon the earth.

1 Peter 3:18-20

18 For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust,
that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but
quickened by the Spirit:

19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;

20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God
waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few,
that is, eight souls were saved by water.

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Fear or fear not

Today I receive just one word ‘fear’. It is very interesting factor to
study this word from scriptures.

The first time this word is used in the Bible is after the great flood
during the time of Noah. It was after that flood God blessed Noah and his
family and command them to prosper in all areas of their lives, He also
stated that this world and its living beings would fear Noah and his
generations. So we see the first fear factor was not man about man fearing
anything but all things in this world fearing man.

The word fear in English is always understood in a negative factor, it is
always considered as being frightened, but in Hebrew it more about being
alarmed so it can have both a negative and a positive factor. In the
negative it would mean being frighten but in the positive it would mean
being in awe of, or being amazed of.

When God created man, God created him in His image and thus was Son of God.
As Son of God, God set man to be king of this creation which we call world.
That means we were set to be kings not only of earth but the whole solar
system and all the trillions of stars and planets in it. When man sinned
the image in man got corrupted and thus man lost his authority as king.

When the Lord (God the Son) came as man Jesus, He was born without sin and
kept Himself free of sin thus having the perfect image of God was called
Son of God. As Son of God He had authority and was also called King (Prince
of God - Israel).

Through the Gospel of John the Lord tells us He came as man to restore our
authority as kings by restoring the image of God in us through the working
of His Spirit in us, that is making us again Sons of God. John refers to
man Jesus as Prince of kings (Chief King) since He came to led us and
become an example for us.

When we come to the word fear in the Greek language it becomes more
interesting.

The Greek word for fear is ‘phobos’. The negative part of fear remains the
same but in the positive part we see in one place it is referred as
‘reverence for one’s husband’. So here it is not like awe towards a person
or being far away but more as to someone connected or related.

Jesus being God who came as man, He again and again told us not to fear
anyone or anything else for the only person or being we need to fear is Him
for He is the husband to His bride that is us and He is Jehovah whom we
need to awe, He is the one who will come to meet His bride. He is the one
who as Son of man will come again to judge since God will not judge man but
as man who has overcome sin will judge man.

Another factor we need note is the Greek word ‘eulabeia‘ translated a
‘godly fear’ in Hebrew 12:28 actually means caution or discretion.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, when You made us You gave us dominance over everything You created in
this world. You made us kings but due to sin we lost our kingship. Lord You
came as man to give back our kingship. Lord You have again and again told
us to realize who we are and not to fear. Help us Lord to fear only You and
nothing g else...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Genesis 9:1-2

1 And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and
multiply, and replenish the earth.

2 And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of
the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the
earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they
delivered.

1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready
always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope
that is in you with meekness and fear:

Hebrew 12:28 - Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let
us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly
fear:

Revelation 1:5 - And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and
the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth.
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

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It takes courage not to worship the lord of this world

Daniel 3:7 - Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of
the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of music, all the
people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden
image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

We read in the book of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar made a great golden
statue and commanded all his subjects to bow down and worship it when his
musicians played different musical instruments. We know all the subjects
obeyed the king except for 3 persons namely Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego. They knew their God and had the courage to refuse to bow down or
worship the gods of the king or the golden image made by the king. We all
also know the story that transpired later, how the Lord showed His glory by
saving them through the fire.

It is just amazing how the Lord gives the perfect, unthinkable verse on the
right moment. Today the world is bowing down and worshiping an image made
by the king of this world (the Beast). This image is a golden image that
looks perfect and good. It is only because Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
knew their God therefore they could discern and they had no fear of this
world therefore they did not bow.

Speak to Christians and many know the story of ChristMass yet all look for
a christ in this golden image that is created by the ruler of this world.
People fear to stand up and say NO to not bowing down to this image due to
fear of society putting them into a social fire speaking and mocking them
as being extra smart.

I am happy I know my God and have the courage to say NO to bowing to the
golden image. I know how people mock me and make fun of me for speaking
against this golden image. But I also know one day God will sure manifest
His glory in me. I look forward for more to stand up and say what has
Christianity to do with this celebration called 'ChristMass' and what has
this 'christ' born in a stable to do with our Christ who was born in a
manger (wooden box used to feed donkeys) outside an inn and that too not in
December but on the Feast of the Tabernacle (September).

[Prayer Starter]

Lord your Word says your people suffer not because of problems but because
they lack knowledge. They lack knowledge of who You are and who they are in
You. Lord we pray You open doors of wisdom and understanding to your
people, that they learn to discern not just black and white but also the
grey for You hate more those who stand in the grey than those who stand in
the black. Lord, may they obey You the real King and not the king of this
world...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Daniel 3:1-28

Leviticus 23:34-43

34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this
seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the
LORD.

35 On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile
work therein.

36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on
the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an
offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall
do no servile work therein.

37 These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy
convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt
offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every
thing upon his day:

38 Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all
your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the
LORD.

39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered
in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days:
on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a
sabbath.

40 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees,
branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the
brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days.

41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It
shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in
the seventh month.

42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall
dwell in booths:

43 That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to
dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the
LORD your God.

Luke 2:7 - And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in
swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for
them in the inn.

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Like lightning and Noe floods will be the days of the Son of Man

Luke 17:24-26

24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth from the one part under heaven,
shineth to the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in
his day.

25 But first he must suffer many things, and be rejected by this
generation.

26 And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of
the Son of man.

Lightning is one of the wonders of nature that never fails to amaze man, at
time causing awe and many a times causing fear. If one studies how it
happens and what happens, it will cause more fear than awe.

The sky (clouds) carries a positive charge and the earth hold a negative
charge. When the difference between them increases more and more it starts
to open an area where in a spike of electricity will run between them in a
form of a spark or lightning. All this sounds good and okay but when we
understand the values and the power that is involved here we will be in
awe. People who have measured lightning have recorded up to 2,000,000 volts
during summer and up to 6,000,000 volts in winter. One person put the
energy equivalent to energy stored in 100 to 150 liters of petrol. So we
see the power that moves between is just mindboggling.

Today's message talks of the second coming of Jesus Christ and His coming
is compared to 2 factors one is lightning and the other the floods of Noah
(Noe).

We see in both the cases one can know when it will happen yet one will not
be able to tell the exact second and minute it will happen. In the case of
lightning when the difference of charge increases beyond a certain limit
one can expect lightning to take place. In the case of Noah when evil
increased beyond a certain permissible limit then did God cause the floods
to come forth.

If one is a scientist and has measuring equipment in place he or she would
be able to tell you the point after which lightning would strike. He will
assure you before that point there would be no lightning. It is after that
point only he or she would say now there is a possibility of lightning.

The same is with the case with Noah. Noah spent 100 years building the ark
and it was after a few days after the ark was ready, did God instruct Noah
to enter it and await the floods. The floods did not come before Noah made
the ark nor while he was entering the ark with his family and all the
animals. It was only after he entered and settled down did the Lord allow
the flood to come.

The coming of Jesus Christ is told by many time and again but only those
who like the scientist have knowledge of the situation or like Noah have
faith that God will make fruitful the works of his hands, do not worry of
the coming of Jesus Christ immediately. It is lack of knowledge of
scriptures that people keep screaming that the coming of Christ is at hand.

The verse in between is the key to know the time. People think this verse
talks of crucifixion of Jesus Christ; they think it talks of His suffering
and being crucified; they are mistaken. We need to remember wherever Jesus
used the term Son of man it could be referring Him in His human nature or
even mankind itself as made by God.

The Lord is telling us before the end comes mankind itself would be
rejected that means there would be no humanity and all the prophecies would
have to come to pass. For instance the Gospel has to be preached to the
ears of every lost sheep so that they hear His voice and return to Him,
unless this comes to pass the end will not come. Like this there are many
other prophecies which need to come to pass before the point the lightning
strikes or the flood comes in other words Jesus Christ comes again. Most of
the prophecies are depend on us, so if we work on them we can quicken or
delay the coming of Christ (thou not beyond a certain point).

[Prayer Starter]

Lord You have caused the world to exist in seasons, although the hour of
your coming again is not known but the day or season is given and observing
the season we can prepare for your coming. Lord, give discernment to your
people to know the season and give them a heart to prepare for your coming
again so that they are blessed in You and not at the receiving end of your
wrath...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Acts 1:6-11

6 When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord,
wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?

7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the
seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you:
and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and
in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up;
and a cloud received him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold,
two men stood by them in white apparel;

11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?
this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in
like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

Luke 12:54-56

54 And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the
west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.

55 And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it
cometh to pass.

56 Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but
how is it that ye do not discern this time?

Matthew 24:32-39

32 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and
putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is
near, even at the doors.

34 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these
things be fulfilled.

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven,
but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man
be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered
into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall
also the coming of the Son of man be.

Matthew 24:14 - And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the
world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.


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Keep the law or the Law

Acts 15:23,24 - And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The
apostles and elders and brethren send greeting to the brethren who are of
the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia: Forasmuch as we have heard,
that certain who went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting
your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we
gave no such commandment:

This Sunday a couple of boys whom I have been ministering in the knowledge
of the Kingdom of God met me and shared an experience they went through
that day which made me soo glad.

They had gone to a church with regards some music equipment for a worship
session and when they reached there a person told them to wait for the
people there would like to speak to them, so these young lads waited. Soon
a team of people started talking to them and they realized this was a
church whose top agenda was to celebrate the Sabbath on Saturday. When the
first team failed to convince them, they went back and updated another set
of people and that team met the boys. This church had a strong congregation
of 300 people. Soon after any teams tried they got tired trying to convince
the boys and let them off.

The people there were quoted mostly the Old Testament and the boys quoted
mostly the New Testament. They stated the law of Sabbath and said we should
worship God on the Sabbath which falls on Saturday and the boys asked them
if worshipping God on other days was against the Law of God. As they quoted
scriptures from the Old Testament the boys quoted from the New.

Today's message a group of people who broke away from the Apostles and went
out to the people in different cities and started commanding them to keep
the law of Moses and this started troubling the people. The fact these
people broke away from the Apostles meant that the understanding they
carried did not go alone the understanding the Apostles had. We know the
Apostles' understanding of scriptures was more true than the understanding
other people had during that time. Even today the letters of the Apostles
are unquestionable.

We see today many people who believe in Jesus Christ but have not being
baptized in the Holy Spirit or have not surrendered to His Spirit land up
becoming religious people for they try to serve God in the flesh. This
happens because their spirit is suppressed by their love for this world or
things of this world. They try to fit God and this world in the same box.
They will say God, God but will not want to give up things of the world
even if these things go against the Kingdom of God. To fool themselves and
others they take up religious rituals and foolish points and put them high
up their agenda and console themselves since they religiously keep them.

Understand any and everything that's connected to the Kingdom of God is
from within or spiritual. Even a good thing like praying can be misused.
For instance if I say a thousand words and sit for hours praying but if not
one of these words come from within me then this praying will take me away
from God instead of building a better relationship with God, the same with
fasting or going to Church service. Our God is Spirit and He desires we
worship Him in Spirit and in understanding. If we make our worship a ritual
this same 'good thing' starts to anger Him. So it is better to respect God
and do not do anything if it is not done from within.

People who talk of Sabbath, clean and unclean food, religious prayer
timetable, religious fasting timetable etc. show their spiritual immaturity
and how far they are from the Kingdom of God.

If we are new in the Lord and do them it is excusable and may be necessary
but if we are years in the Lord or have great grace over us and yet
continue doing them then we are heading towards destruction.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord God You are Spirit and your Kingdom is not of this world. Our flesh is
temporary and will perish to dust but the person within has hope to live
eternally in You. We are called to be your Sons therefore are led by the
Spirit and not by the flesh. Lord we pray we overcome the flesh and stop
fooling ourselves by works of the flesh but do the works of faith, works of
the Spirit...

This prayer we make in Jesus's Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by
Jesus Christ.

John 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of you keepeth the
law? Why go ye about to kill me?

John 7:23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law
of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a
man every whit whole on the sabbath day?

Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets:
I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill [full fill - make complete].

Hebrew 7:15-19

15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of
Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the
power of an endless life.

17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of
Melchisedec.

18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for
the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope
did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Romans 8:2-8

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from
the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh,
God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin,
condemned sin in the flesh:

4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not
after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but
they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life
and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to
the law of God, neither indeed can be.

8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

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Come in and know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God

Mark 4:11 - And he said to them, To you it is given to know the mystery of
the kingdom of God: but to them that are outside, all these things are done
in parables:

In today's message the Lord is telling us a few are given the privilege to
understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of God and for the others what they
hear is parables.

There are 2 things of great importance in today's message that one needs to
understand so as to be able to understand the mysteries of the Kingdom of
God.

The first is our position of dwelling and second the word parable.

Jesus refers to those whom the mysteries of the Kingdom of God are not
revealed as those that dwell outside. Thus if one needs to know the
mysteries of the Kingdom of God one needs to dwell inside.

To dwell inside needs one to acknowledge the presence of God every moment
of one's life. There can be no kingdom if there is no king. Unless we do
not throne God as King of our lives we will not be dwellers of His Kingdom.
That means God needs to be top priority in our thoughts, our work, our
relationship, our desires etc. It is only when we sacrifice our worldly
selves and seat God in everything connected to our lives will we be
dwellers of His Kingdom and this will enable us to know of the mysteries
His Kingdom.

Coming to the word parable it comes from the Greek word parabole which
comes from the root word paraballo which means to compare. We in English
have the word parallel which also comes from this word. Two parallel lines
do not touch each other for they are always at a distance from each other.

When we do not dwell in the Kingdom of God we know God somewhat and know
His Kingdom somewhat. We may not be wrong but we also will not be right.

This is the case with most preachers today. The things that they preach
cannot be written off as wrong but we also see they are so far from the
truth. They may point to the purpose of the Kingdom of God and move in that
direction yet they never reach the goal.

God is telling us do not dwell a life parallel to the Kingdom of God and
have a parallel understanding of the Kingdom of God. God is saying come
inside, dwell in His Kingdom by making Him King in our lives and we will be
revealed the mysteries of the His Kingdom.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray that sense comes into us to know if we desire this world we
will perish. Encourage us Lord to desire your Kingdom. Help us to enthrone
You as King in our lives so that we know of the things that give life to
our spirit and soul. May our bellies flow with understanding that gives
life...
This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.


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Do not be young always

Acts 5:6 - And the young men arose, wrapped him up, and carried him out,
and buried him.

In this world all want to be young always. Most of the AD world campaigns
are based on selling dreams of being young always and people do fall for
them since they have a desire to be young always. No one likes skin to look
wrinkled, hair grey, body bending over, knees being unsteady, eyes being
weak etc.

It is so true that the values of the Kingdom of God are so opposite to the
values of this world. When it comes to youthfulness the Kingdom of God has
a different perspective for youthfulness at it is desired here.

In the flesh youthfulness is good but when it comes to the inner-man (soul)
or spirit, youthfulness means immaturity and Bible says people suffer due
to immaturity. Lack of understanding and spiritual growth is what is
projected as being youthful in the Kingdom of God.

I have heard many times people state when we go to Heaven we will see each
other there as we are here. When I ask them what age would our bodies be?
They say as young people. Imagine meeting your father, mother, grandparents
and great great grandparents as teens!

Let me tell you, youth will have great problems in entering Heaven. Heaven
is no place for youth for Heaven is a place only for those who mature.
Heaven is not a place for children of God but a place only for Sons of God.
That is why Jesus paid the price so that we could receive His Spirit and
the Spirit would mature us into Sons of God through the Word and thus
enable us to enter Heaven.

In today's message we see when Ananias died it was the youth that got up to
do the job of burying him. It was not that the others were senior citizens
or that the youth were giving respect to the elders. We see the same when
it came to serving in the community kitchen. The Apostles refused to take
the task for that would hamper the more important things of the Kingdom of
God. They assigned the task to the spiritually young who we read later grew
in maturity and became mighty Men of God.

When Jesus said be like little children to enter the Kingdom of God, He did
not means we should be childish but that we should be innocent as a child.
In this world as we spend more time the world influences us and tries to
fill us with its values. That is why a child being innocent of the things
of this world can have stronger faith then an adult.

When God gave statutes to Moses He mentioned they were for the children of
Israel and not for Israel. Celebrating feasts was one of the statutes for
the children of Israel. As mature people we do not celebrate feats for
ourselves but only for those growing in the Lord so that they understand
the story behind it. So if we are not doing it for the purpose of educating
others then we need to give a thought to it. It is like eating not because
we are hungry but eating just because the food is good and we know how
unhealthy that would make us over the time.

We can desire youthfulness in our body but in our spirit and inner-man let
us check are we maturing or still being young. Let us mature and become
Sons of God and not remain children of God.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray your people mature and grow in Spirit and in authority. Jesus
as man on earth You should You were a man of authority and people called
You Son of God. You made a way for us too to become Sons of God and thus
You can us authority and also your Spirit to build us into people of
authority. We pray the world comes to know You when they see You in us...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scripture]

Acts 6:1-8

1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied,
there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their
widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and
said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve
tables.

3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report,
full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of
the word.

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a
man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and
Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid
their hands on them.

7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples
multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were
obedient to the faith.

8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles
among the people.

Luke 2:40 - And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with
wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Mark 1:27 - And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among
themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with
authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

John 5:26-27

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to
have life in himself;

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is
the Son of man.


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For to you Christ is born this day
Luke 2:11-16
11 For to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is
Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign to you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15 And it came to pass, when the angels had gone away from them into
heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even to Bethlehem,
and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to
us.

16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe
lying in a manger.
Birth of our Savior is one of the greatest joys not only for mankind but
also for the Angels and we see in today’s message the Heavenly Angels
appear to the shepherds singing “Glory to God in the Highest and on earth
peace, good will toward men”. It did not surprise me when a historian told
me during this era history does not record any battle or war anywhere on
earth. A proof of this peace is that during this era the Jewish King Herod
made many great monuments some of them exist even today. Like it is said
when there is peace there is prosperity and up building of society. All the
Jews during this era were literate for basic education was a must for boys
as well as girls like we have in some of the developed countries today.
This we can see reflecting in the way Jesus spoke to the masses. From this
we see the very presence of Jesus on earth affected the whole of mankind,
so for every Christian celebrating the birth is a must so as to welcome
peace and prosperity into all areas of one’s life.

We see the whole world celebrates Christmas but we do see the effect of
peace and prosperity in the lives of the people. If one googles world
disasters during the period of December and January one would be surprised
to note most of the worst world disasters occurred during this period. We
also have 21 out of 25 of the worst disasters ever recorded in the history
of modern man happening in the last 25 years.

We see Christians trying to emphasis on reducing the commercialization of
Christmas by giving importance to the christ of Christmas. Like Jesus said
all who use the word Christ do not necessary imply to Him since many would
come as Christ and we should discern them through the Word and His Spirit.
To understand who is this christ of Christmas is, one needs to add back the
alphabet ‘s’ that was taken away from the name so it becomes ChristMass.
Now if one studies the Catholic Mass even though the liturgy quotes
scriptures and prayers that seem to be directed to God and Jesus yet one
needs to observe what they do, just not what they say to get the real
picture.

The most important part of the Mass is the Eucharist and the Eucharist does
not symbolize the bread broken and shared among Christians as remembrance
of the Body of Christ broken for us. The Eucharist was introduced into the
Catholic Church in 1200AD. It is a direct symbolization of the sun god
which is given great importance in the Catholic Church (I may sound crazy
but look around in paintings and sculptures of Catholic Churches especially
in Europe and you will know what I mean). 25th December was the day the
birth of the sun god was celebrated by the pagan Romans. In efforts of
trying to stop the Roman Christians from celebrating this feast by using
worldly tricks the Church itself got tricked into celebrating this feast
but in the name of ‘Christ’. They first celebrated a High Mass on this day
and later renamed it to Christ Mass. They now have caused the whole world
to bow to this sun god (Eucharist) in the name of ‘Christ’.

One will find hardly any resistance from any unbeliever to celebrate
Christmas since it is does not affect their belief. The Catholic Church did
the same with Resurrection Day by making people worship the goddess
Ashtoreth (Easter) during that day.

Let me give you an example of how traditions puts strong blindfolds on
people and do not let them see the truth.

Ask any Christian where was Jesus born and they will tell you in a stable.
Ask them who were around and they will say just Mary, Joseph and some
animals, like sheep, other cattle, including the donkey they rode. Why this
understanding all because of the word ‘manger’.

Now read the verses 6 and 7 of the same chapter.

6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished
that she should be delivered.

7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in
the inn.

Firstly the word manger does not mean stable but means a wooden box used to
feed animals.

Secondly the verse says since the inn was full Mary gave birth to the child
and placed Him in the manger. The manger was outside the inn for the
donkeys that were tied outside the inn. So what does the scripture say? It
says while they were waiting outside the inn for a room Mary delivered the
child and Joseph placed the child in the wooden box kept to feed the
donkeys. All this happened outside the inn.

Another fact - all are told there was a star that moved in the sky during
His birth so people make the Christmass star. You will find them all over
the place during Christmass.

Firstly ask any educated person having basic general knowledge if stars
move? They will tell you stars do not move. The heavenly bodies or objects
in space that move are planets, asteroids, comets and meteoroids. The
movement of stars and large bodies are so slow and coordinal to each other
that they look constant or always still.

If one uses astronomical software like Starry Night and simulates the
positions of the sky during this period one will see there was an object
that moved in the sky when Jesus was born and that was not a star but a
planet. The Greeks used to call planets as ‘wandering stars’. It was the
largest planet Jupiter also known as King (wandering star) by the Greeks
that is clearly visible in the sky. They also referred to a star Regales as
a King star (not wandering) and this star was close to Jupiter. One would
see many scriptural clues of the birth of Christ being fulfilled with the
position of the sky visible from this part of the world.

The wandering star King (Jupiter) moving in an oval pattern over the King
star (Regales) in the constellation of Leo (lion - Judah) and the
constellation of Virgo (virgin) with the moon below it and the Sun rising
at the bottom, all in the same view. This happening about nine months
before the birth (conception) and nine months later on the day of the birth
of Jesus we see like Jupiter on top of (touching) Venus making them look
like one object (star) and the brightest in the night sky. This happened
not in December but in September later the ‘wandering star’ moves and
appears to stop again that is on 25th December. This is when the wise men
met Jesus offer their presents to the few months old child (not infant).

Now which was the day Jesus was born?

Actually this day is been celebrated by the Jews from the time of Moses as
commanded by God, but like the other feasts they did not know what the
feast meant and how they were a shadow to events connected to Christ. The
feast that is connected to the birth of Jesus is the Feast of the
Tabernacle (Sukkot). Jesus Christ is the perfect Tabernacle for us and
became an example for all mankind. We see Mary and Joseph could not find
place in any inn for all Jews are called to live not in their houses during
this feast. This date can also be confirmed by tracking the birth of John
the Baptist who was born 9 months before Jesus was conceived in the womb of
Mary. There are also other scriptures that confirm this date but they are
more complex.

So birth of Jesus Christ is more than rejoicing of coming of our chief
King, it is about glorifying the perfection of God in man and the hope of
us again becoming Sons of God.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, as You said the hold of deception is so great on mankind that if it
was not for your Spirit even the Elect would not be saved from it. Lord we
pray your people do not behave like blind men even after knowing You. We
pray they walk in light, in the knowledge and understanding of the truth.
We pray they grow in discernment and mature more and more in spirit...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Revelation 12:1 - And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman
clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a
crown of twelve stars:

Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11

1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the
king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his
star in the east, and are come to worship him.

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which
they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where
the young child was.

10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with
Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had
opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and
frankincense, and myrrh.

Luke 1:7-13, 41

7 And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both
were now well stricken in years.

8 And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before
God in the order of his course,

9 According to the custom of the priest’s office [this date can be tracked
from Jewish customs], his lot was to burn incense when he went into the
temple of the Lord.

11 And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right
side of the altar of incense.

12 And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is
heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call
his name John.

41 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary,
the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit:



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Chronology of events by Jesus

Luke 21:10-28

We read in these verses Jesus informs the people about the chronology of
events that are to come along with their order, from the His time of
speaking this. If one analysis these scriptures they are in 2 sets, one set
from 10-19 and the other set from 20-28.

Some people state the events of 70AD fulfilled the scriptures of 20-26 but
the events in 27-28 did not happen so the prophecy failed and Bible also
fails as Word of God.

Yes in some way they are right in stating the events of 70AD were warned by
Jesus and were fulfilled in the verses 20-26. But that does not mean
everything else that Jesus said before and after failed even though most of
verses 10-19 have come to pass.

Firstly we need to understand the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke are
historic records of Jesus and documentation of His teachings, they do not
have even one prophecy. All what Jesus spoke in them understood as
prophecies were revelation or understanding of prophecies already given by
those before Him. The Gospel of John is the only book in the New Testament
which holds prophecies concerning mankind (not to be misunderstood with
word of knowledge concerning an individual or an event). It is only when we
go through the original scriptures to which Jesus referred do we understand
what Jesus stated.

We also need to understand in the Bible many things were done first in the
shadow and later with in its fullness. Like we see the prophecy of
desolation of the temple did happen and is recorded in the historical books
named Maccabee 1 and 2. These books are part of the Apocrypha’s since they
were not part of the canons (official set of books of the Bible). It was in
1400AD the Catholic Church tried to add them so as to justify some of their
traditions or beliefs which are not according to scriptures. In these books
what is recorded as desolation of the temple gives us a good idea of how
the real end will come.

What the Lord wants to tell us is the true fulfillment of these scriptures
(20-26) is due in our time. You may think it is for the Jews who live in
Israel, it is not. Today’s message is for Christians and the Jerusalem or
Judea it speaks of here is not the Jerusalem that exist today or Judea
which hardly exists (former Judea is today part of Palestine control West
Bank region).

The Lord is tells us to leave Jerusalem and go to Israel, to leave Judea
and go to the mountains. These mountains are not those which are part of
west bank but to Mount Zion. The Israel of the Kingdom of God is not the
country Israel nor is the Jerusalem of the Kingdom of God the city that is
part of the country Israel. In short these are not names of places but
terms used to defy spiritual states or state of spiritual maturity.

In other words the Lord is telling us the time of great deception is at
hand and people who do not take God and study of His Word seriously will be
victims of the great deception which is at hand. So if you think your just
reading the Bible is okay then think again, if you think hearing preachers
especially TV preachers is good enough for you then think again for very
likely you are the best candidate for deception. To be sure you are free of
deception you need to first have a hunger and thirst for the knowledge and
understanding of the Kingdom of God and a good relationship with the Holy
Spirit. If these 2 are in place then only we will be like houses founded on
the Rock which withstands all calamities.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray You increase our hunger and thirst for your Kingdom, it
knowledge and understanding. We pray You set a fire in our bones that we be
filled with passion for You. Let us be led by your Spirit O Lord that our
every step will land of sturdy ground...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Luke 21:10-28

10 Then said he to them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom
against kingdom:

11 And great earthquakes shall be in various places, and famines, and
pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.

12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute
you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought
before kings and rulers for my name’s sake.

13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.

14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye
shall answer:

15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries
shall not be able to speak against nor withstand.

16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsmen,
and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.

17 And ye shall be hated by all men for my name’s sake.

18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.

19 In your patience possess ye your souls.

20 And when ye shall see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that
her desolation is near.

21 Then let them who are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them who
are in the midst of it depart from it; and let not them that are in the
countries enter into it.

22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written
may be fulfilled.

23 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that nurse infants, in
those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon
this people.

24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away
captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the
Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles shall be fulfilled.

25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars;
and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the
waves roaring;

26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for expectation of those things
which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and
great glory.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up
your heads; for your redemption draweth near.


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Serving God and praying to Him

2 Timothy 1:3 - I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure
conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers
night and day;

When we read today's message many would feel the person stating he thanks
God whom he serves which the forefathers did but with a pure conscience and
without ceasing, that means non-stop remembering the person (Timothy) in
his prayers which he does day and night.

Now if one puts the actual writer of this that is Paul and understand his
position and background then one would say Paul is lying or over
exaggerating this sentence.

Firstly Paul was half Jew and half Roman; his mother was a Jew and his
father a Roman. His father and grandfather did not know God (Bible does not
record them to be alive after or even before Saul became Paul). Secondly
Paul travelled a lot, preached, ministered to people and also ran a
business of making and selling tents, so a busy person like him would
hardly get free time. He must have sat alone or with others and prayed in
the early morning and in the evenings regularly. He must have also taken
time off in between to pray in private but stating he prayed day and night
unceasingly is an over statement if one thinks of prayer as what people do
in church or at prayer meetings. Also Timothy was not the only person dear
to Paul; he had many others for whom he also prayed, so how could he claim
he prayed for Timothy unceasingly.

Let me address the first part first. The issue is the word 'from' in Greek
'apo'. The word has 2 dimensions, one that projects separation and the
other place of origin. In English we usual use the word 'from' as a place
of origin like 'I will call you from office'. Knowing the background of
Paul, here he is not using this word as place of origin but as a
separation. Paul is stating he serves God unlike his forefathers did; he is
serving Him with a pure conscience.

Jews and others, including Christians today serve or work for the Kingdom
of God but very few do so with a pure conscience. The purity is about the
intention their intention is not the purpose of the Kingdom of God but
their own glory, their ego or their foolishness. Just yesterday at a
meeting I was pulled up by a few members for helping other teams to further
the Kingdom of God, they told me the rule does not allow. A very
interesting sentence a person told me 'we need to stand before God and
answer Him'.

Imagine me standing before God and God asking me if I kept the rules of
that organization or if I was a true Christian and did what He commissioned
me for? Will God be pleased when I tell Him I was a good member of that
organization or will He be please when I tell Him I was a true Christian
and did what His Son commanded of me?

Paul says he separated himself from the ways of his forefathers and served
God for the purpose and expansion of God's Kingdom, not expansion of his
own fame, or to please society, or keep manmade rules.

Coming to the later part, when I was a Catholic we were given a chain of
beads called a Rosary. We were condemned to narrating some 'prayers' while
using this chain of beads (at one of the Catholic Retreat Centers in South
India they projected if a person would not say the Rosary regularly at
least once a day the person would go to Hell). For years and years I did
this never knowing what I was doing. Many a time truly feeling for God and
at times crying while narrating these prayers for I truly loved God. But
later when I was baptized in Christ and understood the importance of the
Word of God, while I was narrating the rosary I started giving thought to
what I was saying and confirming if these went alone with the Word of God.
Later I realized even though my heart cried to God but in my words I was
mocking and blaspheming Him for these prays when against his Word. How
could I in any sense call that prayer? My praying was angering God more
than building my relationship with Him.

We find many Believer Christians are under the bondage of 'prayer'. Like
the Catholics they narrate many words, make long prayers or say things that
go contrary to the Word of God. The main problem is they do not know what
prayer is and how to pray, most of the time they shout, scream and make
aggressive actions and call it 'powerful prayer'.

People get surprised when I tell them the most powerful prayer of Jesus
were the two words He spoke 'Thank You' and His weakest prayer was when He
made a long prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane where He struggled. When I
am asked to prayer over a person like for healing on say a non-believer or
someone spiritually new in the lord I would prayer with many words and
loud, may even shout but when I am asked to do the same for a person
knowing the Lord, grown spiritually I may just lay hand or touch that
person and may not verbally speak even a word. When praying over I speak
more for the person to hear and increase in faith but for those grown in
faith I just allow the anointing to flow.

Let us not be under bondage of a ritual which people call 'prayer' that
keeps us for functioning as Christians. Let us understand what prayer is
and be in prayer unceasingly while we do the mission we are commissioned to
do as Christians. Let our purpose be of greater importance than the means.
Once the purpose is given it right priority than the means automatically
comes in right standing.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, we pray Lord your people understand the CROSS truly. Let them not
look at the wooden object but understand the purpose. You did not desire
they know the suffering You went through but just receive the fruit of what
You did and are doing. Let them know why the Ark of Covenant was given more
importance and kept in the Holy of Holies. Because You gave more importance
to the purpose therefore You gave Yourself as a sacrifice and your Name is
lifted up...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Acts 21:39 But Paul said, I am a man which am a Jew of Tarsus, a city in
Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city: and, I beseech thee, suffer me to speak
unto the people.

Acts 22:25 And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said unto the centurion
that stood by, Is it lawful for you to scourge a man that is a Roman, and
uncondemned?

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Ephesians 1:10-12

10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather
together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which
are on earth; even in him:

11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated
according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of
his own will:

12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in
Christ.

Matthew 15:36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave
thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the
multitude.

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Carnal law of Moses

Hebrew 7:14, 15, 16 - For it is evident that our Lord sprang from Judah; of
which tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood and it is yet far
more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchizedek there ariseth
another priest, who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but
after the power of an endless life.

This is a very interesting message Paul calling the Law of Moses a carnal
law!

Since a few weeks a sister has been discussing with me on FB about swine
meat being unclean and Christians should not eat. She agreed with me that
eat or not eating did not affect the salvation of man but yet she insisted
that we should follow the Law since it is given by the Lord through Moses.
The same was her view with Sabbath to be celebrated on Saturday and not
Sunday since it was changed by Catholic Church around 500AD. I wish I had
remembered today’s scripture while discussing the topic.

In today’s message we read Paul calling the Law that was given via Moses as
being a carnal law meaning a law of the flesh. Paul does not anywhere
disrespect the Word of God, nor state God made a mistake when He gave the
Law through Moses, nor does he state that this Law is step 1 and then a new
Law was given through Jesus as step 2 (He used the word renewed - which
means improved or extended for better result, so the old remains while a
sub clause improves for better result).

Jesus said every Word stands eternal and every prophecy has to come to
pass. He Himself fulfilled everything written in the books of Moses and the
Prophets. No place in the New Testament does He nor any of His disciples
state we should not follow the Old Testament but yet the things they spoke
sounded totally unlike what is written in the Old Testament.

Jesus and His disciple did not change anything from the Old Testament but
only gave the right understanding of it i.e.

1) The OT speaks of violence and NT seems to talk of non-violence but yet
we see the NT speaks of violence and war not in the flesh but in spirit, a
spiritual war. The weapons it asks us to take are not metal swords and
metal shield but spiritual sword (Word of God - Truth) and spiritual shield
(faith).

2) The OT talks of sacrifices and NT also talks of sacrifices. The OT talks
of sacrifice of blood (animals) but the NT says the Blood sacrifice of
Jesus Christ is an eternal sacrifice and the only sacrifices we need. It
asks us to offer a sacrifice of our carnal nature and of overcoming it.

3) The OT talks of the Promised Land as an earthly land while the NT talks
of the Promised Land as Heaven.

These are just few of the things where we see between the OT and NT, even
though they talk of the same things but yet they project them in total
different dimensions, one seems to put it as earthly or in the flesh while
the other puts it as Heavenly or spiritual.

In today’s message we see Jesus who is known as the eternal High Priest was
taken from the tribe of Judah and not from the tribe of Levi. It may seem
God broke His own word but that is not the case. Let me explain this is a
short way with the example I started this message with of not eating swine
meat.

In English language the vocabulary are phonic and almost all have no
meaning or reason as to why they are associated with that person, place or
thing. For example a person’s name in any language is moved into English by
keeping the phonics of the word but we see in the languages used in the
Bible the phonics were never given importance but the meaning of the word
are maintained. So if the name of a person was ‘Shorty’ in one language in
the other language the person would not be called ‘Shorty’ in the other
language but will be called the word that means shorty in that language.

Let’s take the word swine in Hebrew means enclosed or hidden. If one sees
the nature of this animal or any other animal one would understand why God
inspired Adam who was still in the Image of God and had not sinned, to give
the appropriate names to the animals. The pig is disliked for it has the
nature to consume any things that looks or seems to be edible, in other
words it does not thoroughly discern the things it consumes. The Hebrew
word translated as flesh comes from the root word that means message. So
when Jesus said if one does not consume His flesh he or she will not have
eternal life, He was talking of accepting His message and making it part of
one’s self and not of eating human flesh. So also when God said not to
consume swine flesh, God was not talking of actual pig meat but of not
consuming the nature of the swine that is consuming or believing anything
that seems good. We see this is one of the most serious problems of our
church that they spiritually consume swine meat that is believe any and
everything that people preach in the name of Christianity.

If we take today’s message, decode it and expound it by the meanings of the
main words and their symbolizations, we would understand how awesome the
Word of God is, how His Word does not change and who it was and is
fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Hebrew 7:14, 15, 16 [expounded] - For it is evident that our Lord sprang
from being praised / lifted up [Judah ="he shall be praised"]; of which
tribe Moses spoke nothing concerning priesthood and it is yet far more
evident: for that after the similitude of King of Righteousness
[Melchizedek means king of righteousness and also symbolized a dual role of
Priest and King] there ariseth another priest, who is made, not after the
law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray your people do not behave like spiritual pigs keeping let law
in the flesh and not discern everything that is spoken in the name of Jesus
Christ or in the name of Christianity. Lord we pray they behave like your
Sons led by your Spirit understanding everything in its true nature, using
wisdom that is divine...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Ephesians 6:11-17

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against
the wiles of the devil.

12 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.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on
the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to
quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is
the word of God:

Matthew 10:33-39

33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my
Father which is in heaven.

34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send
peace, but a sword.

35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the
daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in
law.

36 And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and
he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy
of me.

39 He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for
my sake shall find it.

2 Corinthians 6:1-10

1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive
not the grace of God in vain.

2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of
salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold,
now is the day of salvation.)

3 Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed:

4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much
patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,

5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in
fastings;

6 By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy
Ghost, by love unfeigned,

7 By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of
righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

8 By honour and dishonour, by evil report and good report: as deceivers,
and yet true;

9 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as
chastened, and not killed;

10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as
having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

John 6:53-57

53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye
eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in
you.

54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I
will raise him up at the last day.

55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I
in him.

57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that
eateth me, even he shall live by me.


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Have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness

Ephesians 5:10-13

10 Proving what is acceptable to the Lord.

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but
rather reprove them.

12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done by them
in secret.

13 But all things that are reproved are made visible by the light: for
whatever doth make manifest is light.

Today's message is a very, very important for Christians especially those
who work in the Lord's Vineyard. This message may surprisingly imply to a
very large section of these people.

If we go through our recent messages we will understand this message, for
the Lord has led us to this message after taking us through and making us
understand the previous messages. Paul did not write this message to
non-Christians and also did not write this message to Christians warning
them of non-Christians but wrote to Christians warning them of Christians.
We need to understand the terms so as to understand today's message.

The term 'darkness' means resisting light and in the Bible also means
ignorance to divine things. Knowledge and understanding of God and His
Kingdom is everywhere for He made everything in an image of things hidden
(unseen) but doubt and sin in man does not allow him to see or understand
them. Nobody can say I do not know that God exist and what His Kingdom is
about after living in and seeing His creation.

The term 'partake' means being a distributer of or being associated with.

The term 'reprove' means to refute or convict and the grammar here is
similar to what Jesus used when He said "Repent ye, and believe the
gospel". It is sharp and direct.

Paul in his letter was warning them about Christians who seem to be doing
the Lord's work but are doing things that go against the Kingdom of God.
These people are more dangerous than those who openly do evil for those who
do evil in the natural can be easily identified and avoided but these
people may seem good but they actually are greater enemies to the Kingdom
of God. People do not realize a greater punishment is in store for those
who know Jesus and call Him Lord, Lord but yet live in the desires of their
flesh and satisfying their carnal man. Jesus cursed the fig tree not
because it had no fruit but because it showed it was fruitful by changing
the color of its leaves but did not have any fruit (fig trees changes color
in season when it bears fruit).

Paul inspired by the Lord instructed the Christians to be not involved with
people who do work in the name of the Lord but do not bear fruit. There are
many who do activities and who keep 'Christians' busy and do not let
'Christians' to be the Christian they are called to be.

Let me take an example of our Churches. Most Pastors get very worried when
a member does not show up in Church even for one day and gets someone to
call them. This is good if that person is new in the Lord and growing in
the Lord. But if that person is mature and doing the Lord's work, the
Pastor still expects that person to be present at Sunday services avoiding
ministering to others so that there is crowd in church. Many Pastors have
made the congregation an audience to whom they need to preach to. It does
not matter if their preaching is changing lives or not, if just one person
gets blessed in 2 or 3 months is enough for them be proud and boast of the
good they are doing.

One person told me only those who have gifts have preaching's that
manifests in the lives of those hearing. He literally made the Word of God
void of its power and he also forgot gifts are things which any person can
ask the Lord and He gives, so what holds him back from receiving that gift
which manifests and changes people's lives?

Faith comes from understanding the Word of God (believing the Truth). Jesus
did not say 'my gift has healed you' but said 'your faith has healed you'.
If one does not give the right understanding of the Word, then how can
faith grow?

A Church is like school where children grow in understanding and are sent
out of the school to grow further like a college and then to do work, that
is how society is build. If children do not come out of school and always
remain in school then what will happen to society, it will soon or later
decay and collapse.

The mission of every Pastor should be to build, enrich, reinforce and
enable his congregation to go out and build others, not to build his church
or ministry but build the Kingdom of God.

It is a shame and failure of a Pastor if any member has been a long member
of his congregation attending Sunday service regularly it shows his failure
in doing his work of pastoring. It shows he is entertaining his people and
playing 'Church'. It shows he has become an obstacle in that person's life
and cause of their spiritual destruction.

The Lord is telling us it is time we bring these things that are done in
darkness into light. Let us neither be party to them nor encourage them. If
you are a victim of such a 'Church' it is time you move on and find a good
Pastor who is doing his duty faithfully. It is better to join a small
congregation that helps you grow in the Lord then to a join a large
congregation which entertains you and makes you pay a great price later.

Church is a body and if that body does not grow in strengthen and ability
but just grows in size then it is called a sick body. Let's not made a
large sick body and call it the Body of Christ.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, we pray all that is done in your name but not according to your Name
be exposed. We pray your people not pretend to be your people but live a
life that shows You are a Living and Almighty God. We pray Churches no
longer play church but be places where your people grow in You to be led by
your Spirit and become Sons of God...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Acts 2:46-47

46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking
bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness
of heart,

47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added
to the church daily such as should be saved.

Acts 6:1-10

1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied,
there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their
widows were neglected in the daily ministration.

2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and
said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve
tables.

3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report,
full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of
the word.

5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a
man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and
Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:

6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid
their hands on them.

7 And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples
multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were
obedient to the faith.

8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles
among the people.

9 Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue
of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia
and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.

10 And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he
spake.

Acts 8:5-8

5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto
them.

6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip
spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did.

7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were
possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were
healed.

8 And there was great joy in that city.

Acts 8:26-31, 35-40

26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go
toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza,
which is desert.

27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of
great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge
of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,

28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this
chariot.

30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias,
and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and
preached unto him Jesus.

36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the
eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?

37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.
And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both
into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.

39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord
caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way
rejoicing.

40 But Philip was found at Azotus: and passing through he preached in all
the cities, till he came to Caesarea.


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Sacrifice of bullocks in Gilgal

Hosea 12:11 - Is there iniquity in Gilead? surely they are vanity: they
sacrifice bullocks in Gilgal; yea, their altars are as heaps in the furrows
of the fields.

In Nepal we read just as of now about 2.5 million Hindus have gathered to
show their devotion to a Hindu goddess and they believe sacrificing an
animal would bring good luck to them. Today’s newspapers states this year
about 5000 to 6000 bullocks have been killed and about 100,000 goats and
other animals have been slaughtered as of yesterday and this event is still
on with a day or 2 remaining.

When we read this, many people’s heart would burn to hear animals being
mercilessly killed for rituals. But when we read in the Old Testament we
read many such cases of thousands of animals being killed as sacrifice so
did it please God to see animals being killed in His name?

Animal sacrifice started when man sinned. Before sin man was a vegetarian
but after man sinned God killed an animal and covered Adam and Eve with the
skin of the animal. It was at this time God made man to eat the animal
killed by Him and this was the first meat man had eaten. God did this to
prepare man to accept and understand the true sacrifice that God was to
perform of the Son coming as man.

The Israelites did not understand the symbolism of the sacrifice and what
each meant and how they were shadows of the true sacrifice of Jesus Christ,
so animal sacrifice in Old Testament for Christians are shadows of the
eternal sacrifice and thus not something which any Christian would perform
today.

In today’s message we read a similar verse which talks of animal sacrifice
but it is nothing as what we read in the text. It is only when we get to
study of the Hebrew words and what they symbolize we understand what God
was saying. One will find a total contrast to what the text seem to say.
Let me take the important words of today’s message and what it means and we
see the glorious eternal implication of the Word of God.

Iniquity = wickedness

Gilead = rocky region = symbolizes those who have half knowledge or little
truths (Truth is symbolized as a cliff / huge rock not small rocks)

Vanity = emptiness / falsehood

Sacrifice = slaughter / kill (symbolizing justification)

Bullocks = comes a root word that means travel that of a harlot or a
merchant

Gilgal = wheel (symbolizing time)

Altars = comes from the root word that means sacrifice (like a person does
not refer to the body but to the spirit being that dwells in that body)

Heaps = stones kept on a dead body / also figuratively to chastisement by
the Lord

Furrows = meaning accumulate

Fields = land

Now when we put the meanings together we get the right understanding of
what God wants to tell us.

Is there wickedness in those who lack proper understanding of the Truth?
Surely there is falsehood as their sacrifice is self-interest (like that of
the work of a harlot or merchant) as time moves, yes their sacrifice is
like tomb stone accumulating in this world.

The Lord is telling us the works of those who lack knowledge of the Kingdom
of God are like worldly tombstone that do not bring life but tombstone of
dead works that gather glory of the people of this world.

It is amazing when I got this message today morning I did not understand
fully what the Lord was telling through this message and in the morning at
service the preacher was a person who is looked up by people of the
congregation for his intellectual preaching. But when one has a good
understanding of the Word of God one will see he preaches teachings of the
world but not teaching according to the Word of God. Today while talking to
him I suggested he does a deeper study of scriptures but he got very upset
with me for I hurt his ego, his glory among the people. He told me not to
complicate the Word of God for it is simple for simple people.

People do not realize Jesus spoke in parable to worldly people, and these
sounded very simple but the true understanding was not known to them. God
gave is His Spirit of Truth, the word also means understanding. That is why
God blesses His people with heavenly wisdom through the Holy Spirit so as
to have the right understanding of scriptures. Bible also says things like
His people suffer for lack of understanding and fear of the Lord is just
the beginning of wisdom and those who despise wisdom are fools that end in
vanity. God also says His Word is like a treasure mine where one needs to
dig deep to get to the true treasure. We read today’s message in book of
Proverbs chapter 4.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray your people understand your Word is eternal and thus talks to
every generation so they should not take the world likely but study it
thoroughly as You have set in your Word. Lord we pray your people not be
victims to foolishness but pursue knowledge, wisdom and understanding...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Matthew 13:12-15

12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more
abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that
he hath.

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and
hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By
hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see,
and shall not perceive:

15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of
hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see
with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their
heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools
despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge
and understanding.

Proverbs 2:7 He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler
to them that walk uprightly.

Proverbs 4:5-19

5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the
words of my mouth.

6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall
keep thee.

7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy
getting get understanding.

8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour,
when thou dost embrace her.

9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory
shall she deliver to thee.

10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall
be many.

11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou
runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy
life.

14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil
men.

15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is
taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

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

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

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Do dead people come to minister

Luke 16:27 - Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou
wouldest send him to my father's house:

When ministering to people troubled with evil spirits one of the most
common trick these spirits use is to claim they are spirits of people
passed away. These spirits will make stories which will be very hard to not
believe. They may even reveal some secrets which were known only to that
person. Even in these cases one who is knowledgeable of the Word of God
would know these spirits are not of people who have passed away but are
fallen angels who try to deceive people and destroy them.

The person ministering who is mature in the Lord would not get distracted
with the manifestation or the words spoken by the evil spirit through that
person. He or she would be focused to command that spirit to leave that
body for he or she knows the Lord Jesus Christ has given us the authority
to drive these spirits away and these spirits have to abide to the
authority.

When people die their spirit leaves this world and goes to the spirit
worlds below (not below the earth as many think). Those who are not in
Christ go to Hell (lowest level) where they cannot come out for Hell is
like a prison controlled by the Angels of God (not by Satan, Lucifer
himself is a prisoner there). Those who are in Christ go to a spiritual
level known as Grave which is spiritually below the level we dwell in. In
this level the spirit kind of hibernates /sleeps but they are aware of the
things that are happening at our level. But since God has forbidden man in
the flesh to communicate with them so they do not. Jesus as Son of Man
(since He humbled Himself and would gain His glory back only after Judgment
Day) on the other hand is in the upper levels (Upper Heavens) therefore
does not have any restrictions to communicate with man that is why He
appears to man but not in the flesh but as a spirit being (like an Angel
but will come as man only on Judgment Day).

We read of a case where King Saul did disturb the spirit of the Prophet
Samuel due to which Saul was punished. But in the case of Jesus He
transfigured Himself (was not in the flesh) so when He spoke to the spirit
of Moses and Elijah He did not break the Commandment.

We read in today's message in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus the
beggar. We see the rich man after his death he goes to Hell and Lazarus
goes to the bosom of Abraham (Grave and not Heaven which is bosom of God
the Father). We read in the Old Testament and even New Testament those who
were of God after they died they were gathered with their fathers or
written as slept which means they went to the spirit level known as Grave.
Jesus Christ is the only person as Son of Man (not as God the Son) who has
gone to Heaven for He fulfilled the conditions required of man to enter
Heaven (had the things Adam and Eve lost when they sinned). Only after
Judgment Day after we are judged will we be given those things which will
make us incorruptible and will enable us to enter Heaven.

One has to very clear no man other than Jesus will be able to go to Heaven
until Judgment Day. Even the thief who died on the cross next to Jesus did
not enter Heaven after his death. Firstly note Jesus after death did not go
to Heaven that day but went to Hell and rose (raised) again on the third
day and He confirms this when He met Mary Magdalene after His resurrection,
so the He did not mean 'today you will be with me in Paradise'. The Greek
word which Jesus used that is translated as 'today' is actually 'that day',
so when one reads the scripture by replacing 'today' with 'that day' one
will understand the context of their discussion and what Jesus promised the
thief (that on Judgment Day when Jesus comes in glory he would be with Him
in Paradise).

In the parable the rich man asks for Lazarus to be sent to minister to the
rich man's family who are alive but Abraham tells him the Prophets whom God
has sent have spoken to them and their words are with them. But yet the
rich man insists that if they see a dead person come and speak they will
listen. What is very interesting and very true is what Abraham says as a
reply to him in this parable. The reply is “if they hear not Moses and the
prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the deadâ€.

Jesus did not preach after He rose from the dead but preached when He was
alive before His dead would it not have been easy for Jesus to preach after
resurrection and bring more people to God. Understand the Word of God is
God's living Word and it does not require a great person or a dead person
to come back to life to speak God's Word unto us to change us for the power
is in the Word. God will never send a dead person to come back and preach
His Word for that would make the power in the Word void. So if any being
comes from the dead and preaches firstly that being is a deceiving spirit
and one can be assured that what they speak are not God's words. One can
compare the words of these spirits / beings who claim to be dead people
from the Bible and be assured that it is a deceiving spirit.

One such spirit is one who comes as Mary the mother of Jesus. It is so
amusing that Catholics go to Israel on pilgrimage and put candles at the
tomb of Mary and yet proclaim she did not die and ascended to Heaven in
body.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You are God of the Living and full of wisdom. You can see the hidden
things and have knowledge of all things therefore know the results even
before the process starts. You have already written the results yet You
give man a chance so as to justify your judgment for You are Righteous an
no one can point a finger at You as being unjust. Lord we pray your people
do not get deceived by spirits that come in your name but desire to destroy
your people by making them do things that go against your Will...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Judges 2:10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers:
and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor
yet the works which he had done for Israel.

1 Kings 2:10 So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city
of David.

Acts 7:59-60

59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus,
receive my spirit.

60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this
sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the
firstfruits of them that slept.

Romans 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at
nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of
Christ.

Luke 23:42-43

42 And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy
kingdom.

43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be
with me in paradise.

John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended
to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my
Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

Acts 27:23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am,
and whom I serve,


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Bringing people back to life

Luke 8:53-56

53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying,
Maid, arise.

55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded
to give her meat.

56 And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should
tell no man what was done.

We learned yesterday about people's spirits and where they go after the
person dies. In today's message the Lord wants to clear the understanding
of whom we can bring back to life. It is only when we have understood where
people's spirit go after they die can we bring back to life.

Spirits of people who have gone to Hell cannot be bought back to life. Only
Jesus managed to break the strong hold of Hell because even though He was
put there because His Father had forsaken Him seeing the sins of all of us
on Him yet when He went to Hell He could not be kept there for there was no
sin in Him that is why He was set free. All those in Him, connected to Him
as in believing in Him for them too the curse of Hell is broken and they do
not go to Hell thus go to Grave to rest.

People may wonder the people before Jesus how were they saved. We need to
know 2 things for this first did they believe in Jesus Christ and second
about time here and in Heaven.

I have mentioned before that Yahweh is a coined word and in scriptures it
is just 4 alphabets YHWH which are without vowels so they are not easily
pronounced. The Jews added vowels so as to vocally say the name. The word
'YHWH' is an ideogram and symbolizes 'Behold Hand Behold Nail' so it refers
to Jesus Christ. The Yahweh whom the Jews believe in is the Lord Jesus
Christ but when He came as man Jesus they rejected Him so indirectly they
rejected Yahweh. So any Jew who has not rejected Jesus can still be saved
from Hell after his or her death. Since they do not believe in the
sacrifice on the CROSS they are not given a green ticket from Hell, their
not going or going depends on the way they lived their life. That does not
mean Muslims are saved from Hell for they believe in Isa bin Mariam (Jesus
son of Mary) for their Jesus is a fictitious character with no connection
to the Jesus in the Bible. Mohammad was illiterate and what he heard is
what he knew. He heard things in parts and during his time there were many
heretics so most of his understanding came from heretic gospels like the
Gospel of Thomas which were composed after 300AD. He also lacked
commonsense like he confused between Mariam the sister of Moses and Mary
the mother of Jesus and fused them to be the same person thus making Jesus
the nephew of Moses bridging over 1500 years between them.

When we say Jesus and when we say Christ we need to understand what we
mean. We read scriptures like the Israelites tempted Christ in the
wilderness, so was Jesus there during the time of Moses? No and also Yes.
You may find my answer confusing.

The man Jesus was not there but the Lord (God the Son) who humbled Himself
and came as man Jesus was there. So we see like Jesus Christ appeared to
Paul as spirit man (Angel) so also appeared to the Israelites, and to
Abraham and to Daniel and to others in the Old Testament.

Coming to time, time is a factor for us for we age both in body and in
spirit but for God and the Heavens time is not a factor like for us. That
is why I find it very amusing when I see people project God the Father as a
very old man. Firstly in Heaven we would cease to be humans but will be
Angels who have neither gender nor age. Secondly for God (Heavens) who
dwells in eternity time is now, past is now, present is now and future also
is now. So when we change our hearts and are led by our spirit then
everything is NOW for us too. We can access all that God has blessed us
NOW. We see Paul understood this therefore used that word many a times (160
times) and theologians thought that was his style of writing.

In today's message we see the girl had died and there passed a period of
time between her death and Jesus arriving at the scene, since the mourners
outside knew of her death. Yet we see Jesus was able to bring her back to
life for He commanded the spirit of the girl to come back into her body. In
the case of Lazarus He not only commanded the spirit of Lazarus to return
after 4 days but also regenerated the internal organs of Lazarus when He
bought him back to life for they had partly mummified his body on the third
day and therefore wrapped it in grave bandages as per Babylonian customs
which the Jews in Galilee followed.

We see in this particular miracle the age of this girl is mentioned unlike
any other. We also see Jesus saying to her parents not to tell anybody what
happened. How could they not tell any person that Jesus bought her back to
life? That would be like Jesus telling them to lie! So what did Jesus tell
them not to tell? And for this we need to know Jewish culture at that time.

The Jews considered a girl of twelve years as a woman and eligible to
marriage so anybody going against that understanding would be considered a
rebel by the Jews. When Jesus bought the girl back to life He used the
Aramaic words 'Talitha cumi' which means 'little girl get up'. It showed
Jesus did not agree with the Jews understanding and custom of a twelve year
old being ready for marriage (marriage eligibility depends more on maturity
and less on age). Jesus at this point of time did not want to invite
trouble from the Jews so told the parents to not reveal what he spoke.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord God You are God and yet gave us the right to call You Father. We thank
You for the authority and power You gave us so as to command spirits such
that we can bring also back to life those who are dead and who's spirit is
not gone to Hell provided we have strong faith. Lord we pray we grow in
faith and understanding that we may manifest your power on earth by raising
more and more dead back to life and give glory unto You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Mark 5:41 And he took the child by the hand, and said to her, Talitha
cumi; which is, being interpreted, Little girl, I say to thee, arise.

John 11:39-48

39 Jesus said, Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was
dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead
four days.

40 Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest
believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid.
And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast
heard me.

42 And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which
stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me.

43 And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come
forth.

44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes:
and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose
him, and let him go.

45 Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which
Jesus did, believed on him.

46 But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what
things Jesus had done.

47 Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said,
What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.

48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans
shall come and take away both our place and nation.

John 12:9-11

9 Much people of the Jews therefore knew that he was there: and they came
not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might see Lazarus also, whom he had
raised from the dead.

10 But the chief priests consulted that they might put Lazarus also to
death;

11 Because that by reason of him many of the Jews went away, and believed
on Jesus.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen.

1 Corinthians 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also
tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.


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Abide in the Will of the Father do not blaspheme the Holy Spirit

Mark 3:28, 29 - Verily I say to you, All sins shall be forgiven to the sons
of men, and whatever blasphemies they shall blaspheme: But he that shall
blaspheme against the Holy Spirit never hath forgiveness, but is in danger
[bond / entangled to] of eternal damnation [judgment / separation]:

In today’s message we read any person who believes in the sacrifice of
Jesus Christ and accepts Him as his or her Lord and Master, that person
will be forgiven of all sins except one sin that is blaspheme of the Holy
Spirit only if that person is guilty of that sin, and this is true.
Whatever sin even if it is murder that too of thousands of people or any
other grave sin yet that person has hope to be forgiven in Jesus Christ all
he has to do is repent and believe in Jesus Christ and become a Christian
(disciple of Christ).

When we read this it brings joy to the heart of any and everyone who is far
from Christ that the darkness in them is not that dark that the light of
Christ is not able to save them. But what about those who are in Christ one
would think it gives them a free ticket to sin and continue in sin and yet
be forgiven for them, all they need to do is not to speak against the Holy
Spirit. These people are mistaken. One needs to understand this scripture
properly for no scriptures contradict each other.

When Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-23 that anyone who believes in Him and yet
does not abide by the Will of the Father will be rejected by Him and that
person will not get to enter Heaven. Such a person will be cast in a place
worse than Hell where he or she does not suffer their own sins (never dying
coals of fire/worms) but will be tormented for a very, very, very long time
(here we are talking of thousands of years and not eternal for man cannot
live eternally only God does and man will only if he or she has access to
the Tree of Life forever that is dwell in Heaven). One may think where does
blaspheme of the Holy Spirit come here.

There are 2 things we need to understand here first is the ‘Will of the
Father’ and second the word ‘blaspheme’.

In the times of Moses the general people (People of God) were void of the
Holy Spirit only a few / elect did have the Holy Spirit. So God gave the
Law on small slabs of stones and these were just a few basic Commandments
yet they could not keep them for they never understood them. After the Holy
Spirit was given to the Church (People of God) on Pentecost we see now the
Law is not written on stone but on the hearts of the people and by the
finger of God (the Holy Spirit). So now it is not just 10 or 20 or 50
Commandments but whenever the Spirit of God speaks to that person it
becomes a Law unto that person and if that person does not abide in it than
he or she is guilty of breaking the Law and thus of sin. Also we need to
note the Spirit of God is the Spirit of the Father as well of the Son and
they are ONE, so when we do not listen to the Holy Spirit it means we not
only not listen to the Son but also not listening to the Father. Jesus also
said He did whatever He saw the Father do and He spoke the words of the
Father.

Coming to blaspheme the word does not mean just to speak against a person
it simply means to hurt the fame of a person (being). We use this word
especially against God and not against man for glory only belongs to God
and anyone hurting the glory of God is guilty of blaspheme. Although in
English we use the word ‘defamation’ when some hurts the fame of another
person we actually do not refer to glory but to the reputation or character
of that person.

If we look at these 2 sets of scriptures and other scriptures like only
those baptized in the Holy Spirit can enter Heaven or only those who have
good spiritual fruits will enter Heaven and so on, we see they all mean the
same.

A Christian who believes in Christ has a ticket to Heaven an assured entry
provided he or she abides to the instructions of the Holy Spirit. When the
person does not listen and falls yet God forgives and helps the person to
stand again and walk in His ways. But when the Christian keeps on falling
(sinning) and does not abide to the Holy Spirit then he or she risks to
defame the Holy Spirit and them comes to state of committing blaspheme. It
is at this time the person has no hope of entering Heaven. Paul says such a
person has overcome God instead of overcoming sin and abused the sacrifice
of Christ making it void in his or her life.

As a Christian we who are baptized in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit
should know God talks to us. We are called to abide to the instructions of
the Holy Spirit (the Word of God allows us to confirm if the instructions
are from God or are our own thinking). If we harden our hearts to Him we
risk ourselves of coming to a stage of blaspheme and a punishment worse
than Hell.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord God You are a Holy God and the Heaven are your dwelling place. Nothing
unholy can enter Heaven for nothing dark can exist in the presence light.
Lord You created man in the flesh and put him in this world so that You can
refine him and make him worthy to enter Heaven. Lord we pray your people do
not perish but hardening their hearts to You even after knowing You like
the Israelites did in the desert and perished. We pray they abide to your
Spirit and be molded into Sons of God thus enabled to enter Heaven...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name.

[Reference Scriptures]

Matthew 7:21-23

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

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
thy name? and in thy name have cast out demons? and in thy name done many
wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye
that work iniquity.

Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the
house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in
their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God,
and they shall be my people.

Zechariah 7:12 Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they
should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his
spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD
of hosts.


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Loosening the young clots

Luke 19:33,34 - And as they were loosing the colt, its owners said to them,
Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him.

When we read the English translation of the Bible we need to be careful not
to take the literate meaning unless we get to the Greek, Aramaic or Hebrew
words, its root and grammar.

In English the word 'loosen' does not mean to set free but to give a larger
area or more freedom. In English we would use the word release to describe
someone being set free. In Greek the word translated as 'loosen' as in
today's scripture is the word 'luo' and this word occurs 43 times in the
New Testament and only 27 time it is translated as loose, the other times
it is translated as break, destroy, dissolve etc. which points to being set
free not the English sense of loosen.

If we take the Greek word 'apoluo' which is translated as 'release' it is a
compound Greek word made of apo [meaning from/of/out of] and luo. So the
word release is more of 'released from'. We see today's scripture does not
talk of the donkeys being loosened but about being set free or released
from their masters for the Lord's purpose.

I have joined an organization a few months back and I have been involved in
distribution of Bibles to schools. From the start I have been having great
success with schools where the 'Christian' principles who were known to
drive away others, welcomed my team with open arms. Apart from Christian
schools even non-Christian also welcomed us. Some of the schools the
parents had previously objected to Bibles being distributed this time they
themselves were taking one, and those who did not were asking the principle
for one in their own languages.

But yesterday one of the Christian schools where I did not approach the
principle directly but went through the head teacher there I got a 'no'
from the principle, so I was kind of very disappointed and saddened.

A donkey is one of the most referred animals in the Bible. The animal is
called a dumb animal not because the others talk and the donkey does not.
The donkey is known to not use its intelligence but just submits to the
directions of its master, it also carries whatever load that is placed on
it.

The animal is very famous in many of the mythological religions. The Greeks
had a deity named Silenus who was considered a tutor of the young Greek
gods is pictured riding on a donkey and all the people welcoming him. He
was said to possess special knowledge and intelligence when intoxicated.
The Hindus have a goddess Kalaratri (a version of Kali) sitting on a
donkey. Mohammad too had a favorite donkey to which he would talk and is
said to have flown to Paradise sitting on it (flying donkey!). So we see
other than God, others also have a strong liking towards donkeys.

We can be donkeys to the Lord, to be used for His glory or be donkeys to
false gods (who do not exist and behind whom evil powers work).

Jesus was born among donkeys (He was born outside an inn where the donkeys
were tied) and He entered Jerusalem as the Savior King sitting on an
unsaddled young donkey while tagging along a saddled adult donkey (this
unusual sight caused people to remember the prophecy).

In today's message we see the Lord Jesus was in need on a donkey for His
glorious ride into His Kingdom, especially young one which was unsaddled.
He could have comfortably mounted Himself on the saddled adult donkey but
chose to ride the unsaddled one. People who are matured or filled with
worldly understanding are like the adult donkey that the Lord did not
prefer and especially those who are under human authority (saddled) even
though He tagged it along the glorious rid.

Today the Lord is telling us to reach out to the children and bring them to
the knowledge of Him. He has sent us like the disciples who were told to
untie the donkey and its young one. We may bring others to the Lord and the
Lord will use them too but His glory will be on those who are innocent of
the spiritual understanding of this world and are spiritually not under
worldly human authority.

Today the Lord encouraged me by this message we received today. This
message is not only for me but also for you. He instructs us to go directly
and approach the children with the Truth and do not used worldly methods to
reach out to the children for they are His and if their guardians ask, tell
them the Lord is in need of them.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You are Almighty God and nothing is impossible to You. You have said
in your Word all that You have written You will indeed bring to pass. Even
though You can finish evil by a word of your mouth yet You have written You
will use insignificant man to overcome evil and fight the fallen angels.
You have empowered man to do it but the worldly good and bad keeps Him from
knowing this authority. We pray that more and more of the little children
who are innocent of this worldly corruption may come to know of the Truth
and may be used for your Kingdom and You may be glorified in and through
them...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Matthew 18:3 - And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and
become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 21:1-10

1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto
the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway
ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them
unto me.

3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of
them; and straightway he will send them.

4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the
prophet, saying,

5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek,
and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them,

7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and
they set him thereon.

8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut
down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.

9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying,
Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the
Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying,
Who is this?

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Beware of dogs, evil workers and false circumcision

Philippians 3:2,3 - Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the
false circumcision. For we are the true circumcision, who worship God in
the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the
flesh.

When we read today's message if we go by the text it may shock people. Paul
was a Man of God and we read he says beware of dogs an animal loved my
most people. We know of Muhammad who called himself a prophet and started a
religion called Islam, he hated dogs. He illiterately stated that dogs were
devils, especially black dogs. That is why you would never see a devote
Muslim having dogs as pets. Was Paul like Muhammad? No. We know Paul was
speaking of people and not of dogs.

Dogs are very loving creatures that need to be tamed and loved and they
become mans ˜best friends. We read stories of dogs putting their lives at
risk for the sake of their masters. But at times we see even dogs have a
breaking point or moods when they get out of control and can attack even
their own masters.

The Greek word blepo translated as beware actually means to look but
not in a casual way but to observe or take good note of or be watchful. So
Paul is not telling us to be alarmed but is telling us to take good note of
or be watchful of these 3 types of people.

Paul in this scripture was not talking of the canine but about humans that
have the dog nature. He was speaking about worldly friends. Worldly friends
are good but they do not replace family. A friend is a friend and a
brethren is a brethren. A friend can at times become the worse foe, but a
brethren in the Lord, even if he or she gets offended cannot turn against
another brethren.

There are 2 scriptures which are very wrongly understood one where the Lord
calls Abraham His 'friend' and one where Jesus calls us 'friends'. In the
first one God does not call Abraham ˜friend but calls him His love. It
is this scripture by which all who are in Abraham (by faith) become the Lord's bride.
 In the case of Jesus the Greek word He used was Philo and it does
not simply mean friend but many a times as a verb it is translated as ˜love
[i.e. Matthew 6:5 / Matthew 23:6] and projects more towards
association/good relationship/attachment/fellowship, it is only when one
gets to the context of the sentence or topic one knows what kind of
association it refers to. We also see other Greek words like para [of /
from] [i.e. Mark 3:21] or sos [thy / thine] [i.e. Mark 5:19] also
translated as friends in scriptures. So in short Paul tells us to be
watchful /beware of people who are good to us but not in the Lord. If they
know us and we are true Christians then they should know Christ in us and
if they know Christ and do not accept Him then there is something that need
to be watched about them.

The second type of people whom we should be watchful are those whom Paul
calls as 'evil workers'. The Greek words translated as evil workers
actually means bad nature laborer. Paul is not talking of people of any
worldly person who loves to do evil but about brethren or people who are
laborers in the Lord's Kingdom, who do God's work but from within have not
changed themselves and still hold worldly desires and lusts.

The third lot of whom Paul tells us to be watchful is those who promote ˜false
circumcision. The actual Greek word here is not one that means a different
kind of circumcision but the Greek word katatome means just mutilation /
to cut up. The Lord did ask the Jews to do the ritual of circumcision
[Greek word ˜peritome] as a statute so that later they would understand
its true meaning. But the Jews by rejecting Jesus Christ did not receive
the Holy Spirit therefore did not understand the true meaning of
circumcision.

We as Christians know the true circumcision is not cutting the foreskin of
one's reproductive organ but means to cut one's worldly desires and to
surrender to the Lord's desires. It means to stop living as worldly person
in carnal desires but to live as spiritual people who have overcome the
desires of the world.

When Paul tells us to be watchful of people who promote mutilation he does
not speak of keeping a watch on Jews or Muslims who promote physical
circumcision or people of other religions that promote any other kind of
mutilation. Paul is speaking about being watchful on people who call
themselves Christians but do not understand the grace of God. He tells us
to be watchful of people who promote penance or any kind of torturing of one
âs self for the reason for one's sins or to overcome one's sinful nature.

We are people of true circumcision who fight all battles in the spirit and
then the results of this battle manifests in the natural. Like our fasting
is not about depriving our body food but more of guiding our minds and
hearts to focus on God and His Kingdom. So if our fasting is just depriving
our body of food then we should avoid it. Unless we are not focusing our
selves wholly to God's Kingdom them our fasting becomes a mutilation.

In short Paul tells us to beware of people who are friends of Christian but
are not Christian themselves. He tells us to beware of those who are
Christians by name but who do not live their lives Christ like. He also
tells us to beware of Christians who do not live a life in the spirit,
battling in the spirit but live in the flesh and battle in the flesh.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, we thank You for your Word today. You God are Spirit and You desire
we overcome our flesh and be your Sons led in the Spirit. We pray Father
that we take caution of these 3 types of people who are working or
connected to your Kingdom's work here on earth. We pray that we be wise and
discern all things...

This prayer we make in Jesus Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Isaiah 41:8 - But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen,
the seed of Abraham my friend [ahab means love].

James 2:23 - And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed
God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the
Friend [Philo - love] of God.

John 15:14-15

14 Ye are my friends [Associates], if ye do whatsoever I command you.

15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what
his lord doeth: but I have called you friends [Associates]; for all things
that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

James 4:4 - Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship
[love] of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a
friend [love] of the world is the enemy of God.


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Serving strange gods

Galatians 4:8 - However then, when ye knew not God, ye did service to them
which by nature are no gods.

If this message was given to a non-Christian audience who just came to know
God then it would have been okay but surprisingly the Lord has given this
message to Christians. To understand this I will take you through Judaism
which considered idolatry and one of the 3 cardinal sins.

The Jews did and still believe they worship Yahweh (YHWH) God the Creator
even though they did not and do not know who this YHWH is. Jesus warned the
people to observe the Pharisees, hear them, but not to follow all what they
said.

Worship of humans is considered idolatry in Judaism but in reality they had
made Moses a god. We see the Jews stoned Stephen for blasphemy against
Moses (and then against God). God knew about this beforehand therefore hid
the body of Moses after his death so that they do not make monuments and
relics of his body or parts of his body. During the time of Jesus and even
today the Jews claim to be disciples of Moses even though Moses never made
any disciples for himself. So we see the Jews recreated another Moses and
elevated him high above God, thus they understand the books of Moses as Law
of Moses but do not understand them as the Law of God given through Moses.

In the Bible we read God set forth His wrath on the Israelites and sent
deadly serpents to bite and kill them and when they cried to Him He
instructed them to make a serpent of brass and set it high on a pole, any
person bitten would look up to the serpent on the pole would live and not
die. Later we read the Israelites made this serpent on a pole as an idol
and started worshipping it by burning incense to it. They knew that the
pole was not God but just a symbol yet they lifted this pole high up that
it angered God. God then had to get King Hezekiah to destroy this pole.
Hezekiah destroyed it and gave it a name 'Nehushtan', which means 'piece of
brass'.

Today we have many 'Christians' who lift symbols and people of God above
God and by this they have made them into gods. The Word of God and the
Voice of God is suppressed by these gods that instruct them and lead them.

God is telling them today do not lift any man / woman above Him. Jesus
Himself did not lift Himself above the Father even though He was not
created by the Father but before He humbled Himself as man He was a part of
Father, having all properties and abilities of the Father.

We are lifting people who are works of the hand of God, made of dust and
making them gods in our lives. We may not venerate them high above God in
worship but when we submit to their words more over God's Word then we have
given them god status in our lives.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord You alone are God and there is no other God then You. You are a
jealous God who does not share His glory with anyone therefore demand man
to worship You alone. This You do because You know You alone can give life
and anyone or anything else will only lead to death. Since You love man You
want man to have life and life in abundance. Lord we pray we bring down all
those people and things which we have lifted high above You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Luke 12:1-3

1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable
multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to
say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the
Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

2 For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid,
that shall not be known.

3 Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the
light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be
proclaimed upon the housetops.

Matthew 23:2-3

2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but
do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Acts 6:11 - Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak
blasphemous words against Moses, and God.

John 9:28 - Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we
are Moses' disciples.

Acts 13:39 - And by him all that believe are justified from all things,
from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

Luke 2:22-23

22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses
were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present him to the
Lord;

23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that openeth the
womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

Numbers 21:8-9

8 And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon
a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he
looketh upon it, shall live.

9 And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came
to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent
of brass, he lived.

2 Kings 18:4 - He removed the high places, and broke the images, and cut
down the groves, and broke in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had
made: for till those days the children of Israel burnt incense to it: and
he called it Nehushtan.


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The Greedy and Rebellious Vinedressers

Luke 20:10,11 - And at the season he sent a servant to the vinedressers,
that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the
vinedressers beat him, and sent him away empty. And again he sent another
servant: and they beat him also, and treated him shamefully, and sent him
away empty.

This parable was given by Jesus and most theologians relate the
vinedressers to the Jewish Church wherein the promise was given to the
Jewish people but when they rejected (and killed) the Son they were
themselves rejected from God’s salvation.

Today as I got this message I was thinking what was God trying to tell us
today via this parable, then I realizes the story continues within our
Churches and knew in my heart for who this message was.

The vinedressers were not outsiders but workers of the vineyard owner. They
were people of authority who had full control of the vineyard. They owner
was their provider and just an observer of the vineyard. The word used is
dresser so symbolizes a person who grooms.

This is the story of the Churches which are the vineyard of the Lord. The
Church is not a place of social gathering or religious activities. It is a
place where people are upgraded from just believers to into true disciples.
They are built in spirit with a strong foundation on the understanding of
the Word of God and its purpose. But we see Church Pastors have only one
agenda of growth that is in numbers. The Pastors are satisfied when the
seats are full in Church. They know when the seats are full than the bags
will also come full and they and their Church will not lack (if the people
put less the Pastors know how by preaching and intimidating, to remove more
money from the congregations’ pockets). At times the people in the churches
are so comfortable that they use the same chairs for every service for
many, many years. The Lord does ask only for fruits from the people but
also from the Pastors themselves. The Pastors are so busy into managing the
Church that they do not grow themselves, neither in spirit nor in
understanding, that is why we hear the same preaching again and again
replayed, at times packaged with different giftwrapping papers or else
preaching that are copied word to word from TV preachers.

We read at the first instant the owner sends his special servants to audit
the fruits of the vineyard and the vinedressers reject the servants, later
the Owner send his son whom also they not only reject but plot against and
kill. We may think this does not happen in our Churches but sadly it does.

One may see once in a while a person shows up in Churches and disturbs the
Pastor and his smooth working. Many a times the person may be a wolf out to
mislead the people but at times the person comes with a strong message
which disturbs the Pastor more in spirit and less in mind. Most Pastor find
one way or other to get rid of that person.

Coming to the later part where the son of the vineyard owner is killed and
this also we see happen today but not in the natural way like the Jews did
but happens in a spiritual way. The Pastors get the Church leaders and
congregation involved so much in Church activities that they feel they are
doing the Lord’s work but do nothing more than social activities or MEP
(Meeting-Eating-Praying). They kill the spiritual person or Christ in that
person and land up making them religious people.

In today’s message the Lord is warning the Pastors that He is going to
audit their work and who He finds not bearing fruit their congregation
would be taken away from them and given unto others. Not only that but
these Pastors will be big time losers in the Kingdom of God including all
the efforts they put for that half-hearted results will see that efforts
turn to nil.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord You are an Omnipresent and Omnipotent God and nothing is hidden nor
impossible for You. You give man an opportunity to work in your vineyard so
that he gains, is enriched and blessed. Lord we pray that the vinedressers
realize that working your vineyard is a blessing for them and not the other
way around. That they do their work whole heartedly and honestly...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Luke 20:9-16

9 Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted
a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for
a long time.

10 And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should
give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and
sent him away empty.

11 And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and
entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.

12 And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.

13 Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my
beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.

14 But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves,
saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may
be ours.

15 So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore
shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?

16 He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard
to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

Matthew 7:21-23

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

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in
thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many
wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye
that work iniquity.


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Gospel by a Jew for the Jews

Matthew

When one looks at the Gospel of Matthew in detail, one would see as most
Bible commentators’ state, a Gospel by a Jew for the Jewish people.

Matthew documents the historical Jesus, Jesus the Teacher and Jesus the
Messiah with most of Jesus’ teachings with references to Jewish cultures
and matters pertaining to the Old Testament are all found in this Gospel.

Jesus was to the Jews like Martin Luther is to the Catholic Church. He was
seen as a Jewish rebel who wanted to start His own sect of Judaism, so He
was looked as a cult leader by the Pharisees and Sadducee. The main reason
of this was Jesus’ defiance to the traditions of the Jews and Jesus
breaking the Law of Moses (according to them). Even today Jews consider
Jesus as a great sinner and a false Prophet, and is in hell in a pot of
boiling oil suffering punishment.

Some of the Laws which the Jews created due to their lack of understanding
of scriptures and due to the strong hold of traditions over them, which
they considered as over and above scriptures were as follow:

The Sabbath - since they followed this Law by the letter it was just
impossible for them to keep the Sabbath, thus they complicated matters and
made many sub laws or rule under it just to hoodwink God into thinking they
were abiding by the Law. Jesus on the other hand fulfilled the Law truly
yet did not do anything what they did. Jesus said the Son of Man (not God
the Son or Son of God) is the Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus also stated that
man was made for the Sabbath and not Sabbath for man. This truly shocked
the Jews who would stone a person to death for breaking the Law of Sabbath.

Washing of hands and feet - the Jews had made this tradition of washing of
hands into a religious law. People would even hire small children as slaves
to the work of assisting a guest to wash when they entered the house or sat
to dine. The ritual was so strong that the status of the family was known
by the vessel used for the washing. The rich would use mostly silver
vessels with precious stones embedded into it. There were times Jesus and
His disciples would purposely not wash their hands before dining so as to
challenge the traditions of the Jews.

Resurrection of the dead - this topic was a major theological topic which
caused a split with a large section the Jews not believing in resurrection
of the dead and this sect was called the Sadducee. The main stream Jews (of
which were the Pharisees) thought a person would resurrect in the flesh and
go to Heaven, and in Heaven they though all the earthly relationships would
continue. Jesus on the other hand stated man would not resurrect in the
flesh (He was the only person to resurrect in the flesh since His flesh did
not see any blemish and this was prophesied), He stated they would be like
the Angels (spirit beings) and would not continue their earthly
relationship in Heaven but will be alike to each other, all the same with
God as their Father.

Praying - prayer was like a religious exercise or an opportunity to show
others how religious they were. Jesus on the other hand preached about
prayer being a relationship with God and a communication that should be
private between the person and God (unless it is a group prayer - asking
for a common request).

Eating unclean food / animals - Jesus clearly stated to the Jews that a
person does not get defiled by eat things that one consumes or for not
washing hands, not by things that go in but is defiled from things that
come out from that person. Even a bad act originates from a bad desire
which originate inside. In other words Jesus was saying if we are pure in
our hearts and strong in the Truth then even Satan can tempt us and cause
us to sin. Eating or hearing or seeing or touching or smelling does not
defile us if we control our inside senses by being led in the spirit.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You are Spirit and only those who are led by the Spirit can dwell
before You. We pray your people do not follow a religion called
Christianity but do all things with understanding. We pray You fill them
with knowledge and wisdom of your Kingdom and they walk not in darkness but
in your light...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Matthew 12:8-14

8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.

9 And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue:

10 And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they
asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they
might accuse him.

11 And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall
have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not
lay hold on it, and lift it out?

12 How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to
do well on the sabbath days.

13 Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it
forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other.

14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they
might destroy him.

Matthew 12:3-5

3 But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an
hungred, and they that were with him;

4 How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which
was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but
only for the priests?

5 Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests
in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless?

Mark 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man
for the sabbath:

Matthew 15:2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?
for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

Mark 7:3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands
oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

Matthew 15:17-20

17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth
goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?

18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the
heart; and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands
defileth not a man.

Mark 7:14-23

14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them,
Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:

15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile
him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the
man.

16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples
asked him concerning the parable.

18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not
perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it
cannot defile him;

19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth
out into the draught, purging all meats?

20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.

21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts,
adulteries, fornications, murders,

22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye,
blasphemy, pride, foolishness:

23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Matthew 22:29-30

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the
scriptures, nor the power of God.

30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage,
but are as the angels of God in heaven.

Acts 10:9-15

9 On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the
city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made
ready, he fell into a trance,

11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it
had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild
beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is
common or unclean.

15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath
cleansed, that call not thou common [defile].



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Hypocrite scribes and Pharisees

Matthew 23:29,30 - Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because
ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the
righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not
have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

In today's message Jesus woes / curses 2 categories of people, one is the
scribes and second the Pharisees.

The scribes were those people who were considered authority on religious
matters. They knew in and out on what is known as Law of Moses. They knew
all matters regarding traditions, it 'do's and 'do not's. They were so
smart that if required they could give creative back door solutions to
people special on things related to Sabbath which was one of the greatest
yokes on the Jews.

The Pharisees were not so much men of 'wisdom' but were men of 'works'. The
name came from the Hebrew word 'Pharisaios' which means 'distinct' which
symbolizes 'righteous people'. Judaism as a religion was known by looking
at these people, the way they dressed, said their prayers, ate their food,
related to people, did the traditions etc...

Here we see both these people build tombs for the Prophets and decorated
them, the very Prophets their fore fathers killed. Jesus calls them
hypocrites a term used to a person who acts or does a stage show. One may
think why Jesus called these people who were outstanding examples of
society as hypocrites.

What would you say to a person strongly criticizes a political party and
condemns its works in public but at the same times votes that same party to
power; this was the story of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus saw the show
they put up before people for He could see through their words and their
deeds.

Today's religions are all a stage show and all religious people hypocrites.
They speak great words of knowledge but these very words are foolishness
before God. They set laws and then show ways of breaking these rules
without breaking the law. Whatever they do and continue doing is considered
tradition and these traditions become laws and anyone who breaks these laws
is not forgiven by god. They demand works and justification from people who
do not follow the laws set by them.

One needs to know the purpose why God created mankind and whole of this
creation, and everything in the Bible is concerning the fulfillment of this
purpose. In a nutshell it is all about man overcoming sin and returning
back to Him.

Any person who follows or set rules and laws even in God's name which does
not go in line with the purpose of the Word of God is like the scribes or
Pharisees in today's message, whom Jesus calls as 'hypocrites'.

Let us remember all that we do in God's name should be centered on the
purpose of God, for which He gave us Word and for which He humbled Himself
and became man, and opened the door which was totally shut.

Let us stop being stage actors and try to fool God by setting or following
rules and regulations which do not fulfill the purpose of God.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You are Almighty God and there is no place where any man can go and
there is no place man can hide from You. Not only place even no thought of
man can be hid from You. You not only know what they think but You are God
who knows their thoughts even before they come to their minds, by looking
at a seed You Lord know the fruits of the tree that sprouts from it. We
pray Lord we stop thinking we can fool You with our stage shows even if
they fool man. Help us repent and do all things with You purpose set high
on our agenda...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Matthew 23:27-39

27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like
whitewashed sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are
within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

28 Thus ye also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within ye are full
of hypocrisy and iniquity.

29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the
tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have
been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

31 Therefore ye are witnesses against yourselves, that ye are the children
of them who killed the prophets.

32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.

33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation
of hell?

34 Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes:
and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them ye shall
scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth,
from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of
Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

36 Verily I say to you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest
them who are sent to thee, how often would I have gathered thy children
together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye
would not!

38 Behold, your house is left to you desolate.

39 For I say to you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say,
Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

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The Seven Seals
Revelation 6:5,6 - And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third
living being say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he
that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in
the midst of the four living beings say, A measure of wheat for a penny,
and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and
the wine.

In the book of Revelation the world events are put in a nutshell. We have 2
timelines of events from the Old Testament prophecies explained to John
through visions in this book.

The first timeline we have is the 7 letters which gives the timeline of the
stages of the Church of God from the day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts,
unto the Day of Judgment (Revelation 2-3). We also have the second timeline
of seven seals which give the world events from the Reformation Movement
(1500AD) when the Word of God was given unto the people and people started
understanding scriptures.

The chapter talks of 4 horses which are set free as seals are opened. The
first seal sets free the white horse which points to the Reformation
movement (this came exactly after 1260 years after the Church went into
darkness - a prophecy fulfillment), after this the other seals are opened.
The 3 horses after the white horse are the red horse (wars), the black
horse (famines) and the pale horse (plaques). It also talks of the martyrs'
deaths of the army of God and the wrath of God which is unleashed at the
end.

Below I set records of the 3 horses:-

The second horse of war: Both the World wars 1 & 2 occurred after the
reformation. World War 1 had a casualty of about 37 million and the second
Word War had had a casualty of about 39-48 million. I have not recorded the
wars between countries. Just the world wars total about 76-85 million
deaths (these are from official figures the actual would be far more).

Today's message talks of the third horse - the black horse - famine. I list
below only the great famines wherein more than 1 million people died:

1601-1603 Russia - famine killed as many as 100,000 in Moscow and up to
one-third of Tsar Godunov's subjects. Same famine killed about
half Estonian population - 2 million

1630-1632 India - Deccan region (Note: There was a corresponding famine in
north western China, eventually causing the Ming dynasty to collapse in
1644) - 2 million

1693-1694 France - 2 million

1702-1704 India - Deccan region - 2 million

1769-1773 India, Bangladesh (present day) - also known as the Bengal famine
of 1770 - 10 million

1783-84 India - Chalisa famine - 11 million

1810, 1811, 1846, and 1849 China - there were 4 famines one after another -
45 million.

1845-1849 Ireland - about 1.5 to 2 million emigrated from Ireland - 1.5
million

1866 India - Orissa - 1 million

1869 India - Rajputana famine - 1.5 million

1870-1871 Persia - Iran (present day) - 2 million

1921 Russia - 5 million

1928-1930 China - northern China happen due to drought - 3 million

1932-1933 Soviet - Ukraine and North Caucasus area - 7-10 million

1936 China - 5 million

1941-44 Russia - Leningrad famine caused by a 900-day blockade by German
troops. About one million Leningrad residents starved, froze, or were
bombed to death in the winter of 1941-42, when supply routes to the city
were cut off and temperatures dropped to -40 °C - 1 million

1943 Bengal, India - 1.5-7 million

1944-45 Indonesia - 2.4 million

1945 Vietnam 400,000-2 million

1947 Soviet Union 1-1.5 million

1959-1961 China - The Great Chinese Famine. According to government
statistics, there were 15 million excess deaths 15-43 million

1974 Bangladesh 1 million

1996 North Korea 200,000 to 3.5 million

Total of 127.9 to 164.9 million people died due to famine.

The fourth horse of death/diseases/ plagues:

I list only the major plagues after 1500AD

Moscow Plague and Riot 1771 (figures unknown)

Great Plague of Marseille (Europe) 1720-1722 - 1 million

Great Plague of Milan 1629-1631 - 2.8 million

American Plagues 16th Century (figures unknown)

Great Plague of London 1665-1666 - 0.75 to 1 million

The Third Pandemic (India and China) 1855-1950s - 12 million

People talk of the Christians martyred by the Romans between 70AD to 300AD,
but no one talks of the Christians martyred by the (Roman) Catholic after
the reformation movement - 1500AD. Hundreds of Christians were burned alive
in places like England, Spain, France, Germany, Northern America, etc... We
have events like St. Bartholomew's Day massacre wherein 5,000 to 70,000
Christians were massacred by Catholics in France in just 2 nights 23-24
August 1572. The severed head of Admiral Gaspard de Coligny, the leader of
the uprising against the Catholic Church was apparently dispatched to Pope
Gregory XIII, though it got no further than Lyons, and Pope Gregory XIII
sent the king a golden rose. People also forget America came into existence
primarily because of the Christians fleeing the persecution of the Catholic
Church in Europe.

Today's message reminds us of these 3 horses and the people who died for
the faith. God says at the end He will surely revenge their death. He also
says these horses have been commanded not to harm His anointed ones so He
tells His people do not fear but keep their trust in Him.

[Prayer Starter]

Father God You are a merciful God and forgive those who repent and turn
their ways towards You. You are slow to anger but do record the deeds of
men and at the end give unto them many times, to those who do not repent.
We pray God your people do not fear persecution for You God look over them
and will revenge. We also pray they learn to trust in You more and more...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Revelation 6

1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were
the noise of thunder, one of the four living beings saying, Come and see.

2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow;
and a crown was given to him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second living being
say, Come and see.

4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to
him that sat on him to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill
one another: and there was given to him a great sword.

5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third living being
say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on
him had a pair of balances in his hand.

6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living beings say, A
measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and
see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth
living being say, Come and see.

8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was
Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given to them over the
fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with
death, and with the beasts of the earth.

9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls
of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which
they held:

10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and
true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the
earth?

11 And white robes were given to every one of them; and it was said to
them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their
fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were,
should be fulfilled.

12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a
great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the
moon became as blood;

13 And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, even as a fig tree casteth
its untimely figs, when it is shaken by a mighty wind.

14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and
every mountain and isle were moved out of their places.

15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and
the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every slave, and every free
man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the
face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Revelation 19:11-16

11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon
him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and
make war.

12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and
he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is
called The Word of God.

14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses,
clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite
the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the
winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF
KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.


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Fools to believe in scriptures!

Luke 24:25 - Then he said to them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe
all that the prophets have spoken:

Imagine someone reading this scripture where Jesus says people are fools
and slow of heart to believe all that the Prophets have spoken. This would
be the ideal verse for anyone debating against Christianity for they have
the person who is the foundation of the faith stating not to believe
everything the prophets said.

This problem is due to the English translation and it is only when we read
the Greek text we understand what Jesus actually said.

The Greek word 'Anoetos' translated as foolish is made of 2 words one is
the word 'a' or alpha which is first letter of Greek alphabets which
symbolized the beginning or least and the Greek word 'noieo' / 'nous'
which means understanding, so together they actually means someone who has
the least understanding or very little understanding.

The second Greek word 'bradus' translated as 'slow' actually means inactive
and it talks of the state of the heart or inner-man or soul.

In Greek language the grammar is so defined that if I take a sentence 'the
cat ate the mouse' and jumble it in as many ways I want yet I will not be
able to change the meaning, it will still remain 'the cat ate the mouse'.
But in English it would mean even 'the mouse ate the cat' or 'the cat the
mouse ate' or other combinations. So if we try to translate word to word
from Greek to English we can mess up the meaning of the sentence.

Jesus was not questioning what the Prophets said but was questioning the
understanding of the people on what the Prophets said. This can be seen in
the next scriptures where Jesus asked them was He not to suffer the things
written and to enter into His glory.

Luke 24:26 - Ought not Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his
glory?

Today the Lord has given us this scripture to question our understanding of
scriptures. We take little bits of scriptures and think we know the Bible.
We do not investigate or probe scriptures or the understanding that people
give us of scriptures. We lap up all that people throw at us and follow
them.

It is sad when you hear the understanding of the Kingdom of God from
Christians. It is not that they are fully wrong but it is like a college
student who does not know more than reciting nursery rhymes for that is all
that is his or her study material.

Our Believer Churches at times follow the Catholic Church principals which
believe traditions override scriptures and its understanding. We at times
let the traditional understanding of Church leaders or popular preachers to
override the actual understanding of scriptures.

Let us value the understanding of scriptures and not be lazy when it comes
to studying them. Let us know this book is the instructions of life, a map
that will lead us to our permanent home that is Heaven. If we do not know
how to read this map, would we be sure to reach our destination?

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, your Word says it is given for the salvation of mankind. It is the
instructions of life for us to attain eternal life. We pray Lord your
people give more dedication to study and understand your Word so that they
grow spiritually and are not deceived by things of this world...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment a lamp; and the law light; and reproofs
of instruction the way of life:

Zephaniah 3:7 I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive
instruction; so their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished
them: but they rose early, and corrupted all their doings.

Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified
the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Acts 5:19-21

19 But the angel of the Lord by night opened the prison doors, and brought
them forth, and said,

20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this
life.

21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the
morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and they that were with him,
and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of
Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought.

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