R.D SOUZA Saved by faith

Jesus the King that cometh in the Name of the Lord

Luke 19:37, 38 - And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of 
the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to 
rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that 
they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of 
the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

Luke records the disciples welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with rejoicing 
and praises to God. John records along with the disciples, the other 
Jews also joined with palms and also spread their robes (outer coats) on 
the floor before Him as He entered riding an ass and it's young (He was 
mounted on the young ass). They were all shout 'Hosanna' which in 
literate terms means 'the Savior arrives'.

All this happened just because of 2 reasons; first was the miracle of 
bringing back of Lazarus from death to life. Lazarus was not the only 
one whom Jesus bought to life and the impact was not just about bringing 
back after 3 days but more to do with the Egyptian rituals and beliefs 
the Jews followed from that part of Israel. When they came to welcome 
Him as a great promised Prophet (greater than Moses) with palms, they 
got another surprise to see Jesus fulfill the prophecy of Zachariah of 
He being the promised King (greater than David) which was the second 
reason and thus all shouted 'the Savior arrives'.

It is only when we understand the Lord Jesus Christ will we understand 
why at time He is called just 'King', sometimes 'chief King' and at 
times even 'King of Kings and Lord of Lords' even though this same title 
is given to the Rider on the White Horse in Revelation whose name is 
also 'Word of God'.

Yesterday I was preaching at a Church and during worship there was this 
young blind man who was in the front. The way he was dancing and 
worshiping the Lord it was a joy to see, and the others did nothing 
compared to a percentage of it. His blindness prevented him from knowing 
the views or response of others and thus allowed him to have an intimate 
relationship with the Lord. The same is with our understanding when we 
give too much importance to other people's views on the Bible then we 
too become rigid in our thinking and thus are un-teachable by the Lord. 
We should hear what others have to say but at times it is best to start 
on a fresh page with the Lord.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord Jesus You are God but as man it is evil to say You were God or 'God 
and man' and not man. Lord Jesus You are God who humbled Himself and 
came as man. As man You were as human as me or anyone else. You were 
born without sin and we are made free of our past sins when we are 
baptized in You. You were born of the Holy Spirit in the womb of a woman 
and by the power of the Holy Spirit You overcame the sin nature of Adam 
and we receive the Holy Spirit from You and it is the Holy Spirit who 
helps us to overcome this sin nature. Lord we pray your people know You 
and thus find their place in You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

1 Peter 2:6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I 
lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth 
on him shall not be confounded.

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

Matthew 21:6-10

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

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

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

9And 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.

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

John 12:12-19

12On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they 
heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,

13Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, 
Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

14And Jesus, when he had found a young ass, sat thereon; as it is written,

15Fear not, daughter of Sion: behold, thy King cometh, sitting on an 
ass's colt.

16These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus 
was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of 
him, and that they had done these things unto him.

17The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of 
his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.

18For this cause the people also met him, for that they heard that he 
had done this miracle.

19The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye 
prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.

1 Timothy 6:15Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and 
only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;

Revelation 17:14These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall 
overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that 
are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Revelation 19:11-16

11And 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.

12His 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.

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

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

15And 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.

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

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Lord's work?

Luke 17:9,10Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that 
were commanded him? I trow [think] not. So likewise ye, when ye shall 
have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are 
unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

We Christians have a very wrong habit of using the term 'Lord's work' 
for our work in the Kingdom of God. When we use that term, most think 
they are doing a favor towards the Lord and thus await appreciation or 
reward for the work. We land up thinking the Lord will look at us and 
say 'my good son / daughter I am pleased with you'.

When I preach on this topic I always related doing the 'Lord's work' to 
workout in a gym. When we do workout in the gym do we say we are doing 
the work of the gym or the gym owner?

Understand when we work of the Kingdom of God we may think we are 
working or ministering other, but we do not realize we are the ones 
worked on and we are the people getting build. When Jesus said on 
Judgment day He will separate the sheep and the goats and ask the goats 
when He was hungry why did they not feed Him, when He was naked why did 
they not clothe Him, when He was thirsty why did they not give Him water 
and when He was homeless why did they not shelter Him. Jesus was not 
referring to natural hunger, thirst, shelter or nakedness but to 
spiritual hunger, thirst, shelter and nakedness.

If you look at the life of the early disciples / Apostles they did get 
involved in social work but not directly. They gave the task of doing 
social work to those who are growing in the Lord, but the mature or 
elders concentrated on ministry and saving souls.

When we think of 'Lord's work' let us think of the Lord working on us 
and not we doing work for the Lord. Our Lord is Almighty God and He does 
not need any help from us. We should be glad He has allowed us to work 
in His Kingdom and the reward is what He does of us at the end. So let 
us be eager to go out and minister to people of the Kingdom, to reach to 
the souls that are lost. And as we work with them let us look at 
ourselves and see the beautiful work the Lord is doing on us.

If we need to please the Lord then it is only by doing what is right 
(righteous) in our lives and we need to be like Jesus, we need to 
surrender to the Will of God and not live for ourselves but live for the 
Kingdom of God.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we thank You for finding us worthy to work in your vineyard and we 
know Lord the reward is the change in us which makes us eligible for 
great position in Heaven. Heaven has different levels as you call them 
'mansions' and the one closest to your glorious throne is where I want 
to be. Like a fish cannot come out of water on to land or land animal 
cannot fly even though all live in the same dimension so also is the 
Heavens and we want to be like the birds flying in the sky where your 
glory is greatest...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Luke 17:7-10

7But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say 
unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?

8And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and 
gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward 
thou shalt eat and drink?

9Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were 
commanded him? I trow not.

10So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are 
commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that 
which was our duty to do.

John 2:4Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine 
hour is not yet come.

Matthew 7:21Not 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.

Matthew 25:32-46

32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate 
them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed 
of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation 
of the world:

35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave 
me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in 
prison, and ye came unto me.

37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an 
hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, 
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, 
ye have done it unto me.

41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye 
cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye 
gave me no drink:

43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: 
sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an 
hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and 
did not minister unto thee?

45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as 
ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous 
into life eternal.

Acts 6:1-4

1And 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.

2Then 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.

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

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

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

-------

https://worldwidechristians.forumotion.com/viewtopic.forum?t=3609

-------

https://worldwidechristians.forumotion.com/viewtopic.forum?t=4314

For what are you suffering?

1 Peter 4:15,16But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, 
or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any 
man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify 
God on this behalf.

There are many who claim they suffer as Christians or face persecution 
as Christians. I do not say all are lying or deceiving but then is the 
Hand of our Lord short that He cannot glorify Himself in His people but 
leave them to suffer? We read so many testimonies in the Bible where God 
has delivered His people from the worst of situations and had done the 
impossible. Is that God asleep or changed? We also read scriptures where 
the Lord says He will set us a banquet before our enemies. Is the Lord 
forgotten His words?

Sure there are times the Lord allows His people to go through 
persecution but even through them He is glorified and we see great 
things happening. But it is not of the Lord to see His people suffer and 
suffer and be consumed, this happens when people do not abide in Him or 
do things that bring His Name down.

The biggest enemy of the Jews or Israelites was none other than the Lord 
Himself. When they abided in Him He protected them with not a soul being 
lost but when they forsake Him even after seeing His glory, He gave them 
unto the hands of their enemies. There were time and again where He was 
about to consume them completely for they were perpetual stiff neck.

Today's message says when we murder people, rob people, do evil against 
them or keep them busy and we suffer, let us not state we are suffering 
for the Lord.

Murder people, that is not necessarily taking their natural life, but by 
misleading them and leading them to lose their salvation to Heaven we 
can spiritually kill them, which is worse than natural killing.

Rob a person that is by misleading them, confusing them or by 
discouraging them from attaining the riches of the Kingdom of God.

Do evil against a person. The Greek word here is 'kakopoios' which also 
means 'to bring forth evil'. We can be instruments of causing people to 
do evil either by our behavior, injustice against them or by quenching 
their spirits.

Another evil that many do is keep 'Christians' busy from being 
Christians. We see this happening especially in Churches and 'prayer 
meetings'. These gathers as done in God's name but mostly land up taking 
people away from the Lord. The Church is not a poultry where people sit 
in a place, are fed and taken care of and all they need to do is bred, 
lay eggs. We as a Church are called to build people, empower them and 
send them out to reach lost souls and bring them not to Church but first 
to the Kingdom of God. We need to concentrate not on just making 
Believers but more on making Disciples.

If we suffer for moving out from under the Wings of the Lord, let us not 
claim we are suffering for the sake of the Lord. Let us always remember 
if we suffer for the Lord's sake, He will surely show His glory in us 
and through us.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, there are many Christians who suffer but suffer not for being 
Christians. They claim their suffering as persecution while they 
themselves are spiritually persecuting the Church of Christ. Lord we 
pray knowing or unknowingly let us not be people who kill, rob, cause 
evil or keep busy your people and become hurdles in the spiritual growth 
of your Body...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Psalms 78

Psalms 23:5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; 
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Psalms 91

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Ascending up

Luke 19:28And when he had thus spoken, he went before, ascending up [by 
foot] to Jerusalem.

In today's scripture we read Jesus ascended up to Jerusalem. The city is 
3800 feet above sea level therefore if someone states 'ascended' it 
could be taken literately since the city is at a height. But then the 
places around are not at a very low level that one needed to climb up.

When we check the Greek word used here it is 'anabaino' which is a 
compound word made of two words which together mean 'by foot' and at 
some scriptures translated as 'come' or 'enter'. So we see the words 
when someone reads it, their imagination can adds to that going up to as 
climbing up.

Lack of understanding of the Kingdom of God has caused many to believe 
stories of people physically going to Heaven and returning, people when 
they die they go to Heaven or people like Catholics who believe Mary did 
not die but went up alive (even though they visit and pray at her tomb 
in Israel - Kidron valley).

Paul in his letter states to have visited Heaven but then hesitates and 
says he must have had a vision, one needs understand why Paul did 
hesitated later and corrected himself.

The problem is people they think Heaven is one single place somewhere up 
since Jesus went up in a cloud and Elijah went up in a chariot. They 
fail to understand the world is round and up cannot mean the direction. 
The Hebrew word used is 'shamayim' which means lofty or exalted or 
elevated. Yes Elijah and Jesus did go upwards as were seen by witnesses. 
But then do people have an idea that after resurrection Jesus did go to 
the Father before He went up on a cloud again after 40 days? After 
resurrection Mary the Magdalene tried to touch or hold on to Jesus, 
Jesus forbid her staying He had not ascended to the Father yet, but 
later in the evening He allows His disciples to touch Him.

Note Paul used the words 'third Heaven' when he described his vision. He 
does not use the word 'elevated' but uses the word 'caught' or 'sieged 
by force'.

One needs to understand, Heaven is not a natural place somewhere in this 
universe but is a spirit world which means it is in another dimension 
and is in a dimension that is higher or more enriched than the dimension 
we dwell in. Also we need to understand God's Kingdom has many level (7 
levels). Bible also uses the word east (to the left) or down to indicate 
a lower level and west (to the right / righteous hand) or up to indicate 
higher level. i.e. there are 2 gardens mentioned in Genesis not 1. Eden 
(the Heavenly garden) is to the west with the earthly garden to the east 
of Eden. That is why when man sinned and was removed access to Eden God 
put a Cherub and flaming sword (symbolic to a strong instruction) to the 
east of Eden.

When we use the term Heaven we usually speak of the top 3 levels which 
are holy and no corrupt being can go there. Bible states when man sinned 
he lost his access to Heaven, Jesus confirmed He have overcome sin / 
corruption by His transfiguring. We all (from the time of Noah till the 
end days) will enter Heaven (the upper levels) together with Jesus when 
Jesus comes again to judge and take us.

When the Lord opened my mind to His creation He explained the seven 
levels of creation and only when we understand them will we have a clear 
understanding of many scriptures. People like Enoch and Elijah were 
lifted up (taken) but yet they did not enter the upper 3 levels of 
Heaven. When an unbeliever dies he or she goes to Hell which is a prison 
and the lowest level. When a Believer dies he or she goes to Grave which 
is a level of rest / sleep and below the spiritual level we dwell in. 
Above us and below the Upper Heavens exists a level which the Lord 
showed me as a transition level. It is this level which is hidden in 
scriptures and is not clearly defined in words but can be known only 
through understanding of other things. God is everywhere but His glory 
is manifested in the higher levels more and only the most holy have 
excess to those levels. The top most level is called His Throne or the 
Mountain (Zion) in Heaven.

Let us not think (upper) Heaven is made of actual gems, gold and pearls, 
or has literal gates. Let us not lower Heavens by our claims of 
visitations. Let us remember corrupt beings cannot inherit the uncorrupt 
Heaven. Let us understand what this corruption and uncorrupt means and 
know unless judgment Day, Jesus Christ is the only human which has 
ascended to the upper Heavens and no other man has. After Jesus Christ 
completes His mission of redeeming man and rebuilding the Heavenly 
Temple (which was damaged by the fall of the Angels), He will no longer 
be humbled but glorified again in the Father.

I had got this message yesterday and completed most of it yesterday but 
did not send it since the topic is very delicate and because Catholicism 
is so penetrated in our Churches that people work on presumptions and do 
not investigate scriptures. Let us not go by what people say but let us 
study and understand the whole Bible (OT & NT together, not sticking to 
a translation but going to their original languages) and go by its 
understanding, not ignoring any scripture (in reference I have noted 
many scriptures to confirm, but could not put all necessary).

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray understand the riches of Heaven and what they are to expect 
in Heaven. Lord we pray they do not make Heaven an earthly place and 
compare the things of Heaven to the symbolic things thou have created on 
earth. We pray they know the things that await them when You come to 
take us to Heaven...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

John 20:17-20

17Jesus 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.

18Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, 
and that he had spoken these things unto her.

19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when 
the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the 
Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be 
unto you.

20And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. 
Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

Proverbs 30:4Who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended? who hath 
gathered the wind in his fists? who hath bound the waters in a garment? 
who hath established all the ends of the earth? what is his name, and 
what is his son's name, if thou canst tell?

2 Corinthians 12:2-5

2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the 
third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God 
knows.

3And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the 
body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—

4and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.

5On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not 
boast, except of my weaknesses.

Amos 9:5-6

5And the Lord GOD of hosts is he that toucheth the land, and it shall 
melt, and all that dwell therein shall mourn: and it shall rise up 
wholly like a flood; and shall be drowned, as by the flood of Egypt.

6It is he that buildeth his stories in the heaven, and hath founded his 
troop in the earth; he that calleth for the waters of the sea, and 
poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name.

Genesis 5:24Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.

Hebrews 11:5By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, 
and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken 
he was commended as having pleased God.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them 
which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also 
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are 
alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them 
which are asleep.

16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the 
voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in 
Christ shall rise first:

17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with 
them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be 
with the Lord.

18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Romans 14:10But 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.

2 Corinthians 5:10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of 
Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, 
according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

Matthew 12:36But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall 
speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Mark 6:11And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye 
depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony 
against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for 
Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

John 5:22-30

22For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto 
the Son:

23That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He 
that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

24Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth 
on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into 
condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

25Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when 
the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear 
shall live.

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

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

28Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are 
in the graves shall hear his voice,

29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection 
of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

30I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment 
is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father 
which hath sent me.

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Who does not wants to be rich?

Luke 6:24But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your 
consolation.

Have you ever heard any preacher preach on this topic? Almost all 
Christians would not know there exists such a scripture in the Bible.

People love to go by text for some scriptures and then go by 'spirit of 
the text' for others. This scripture they will go by 'spirit of the 
text' and scripture like 2 Corinthians 8:9 they will go by text, that 
too only the latter part, totally ignoring the former part. The latter 
part says 'He became poor that through His poverty we might become 
rich'. They do not read the former part which says 'though He was rich'. 
Now did the Lord have money in Heaven or riches of this world in Heaven 
that He gave up these riches so that we have them? So simply, the 
scripture does not talk of wealth but about spiritual riches. It talks 
of the Lord humbling Himself so as to lift us to Heaven.

Riches are not bad but having them does not allow us to overcome areas 
which we need to and greed is the greatest of the vices which first 
started the fall of Lucifer.

Christians love riches and more of the worldly riches but not spiritual 
riches. If not money then it is looks (not just females only even males, 
not beauty only but also fitness freaks), social status, fame, knowledge 
of this world etc. these can are riches which can destroy the spirit of man.

Christians love riches so much that the medicine which God designed to 
overcome greed, they have abused it as a source to get greedier. It is 
like a doctor gives bitter medicine to a diabetic patient and the 
patient sugar coats the pills so as to have it, at times the sugar 
coating is so thick that it makes the patient's diabetes even worse, the 
very purpose of having the pill gets lost. I am talking of tithing and 
giving, if Christians really understood it most churches would be shut 
or almost empty.

God is not against us having comfort but then can a vine plant give good 
sweet grapes if the branches are not tied and stretched as they grow, or 
grown in weathers which have less water and more heat. If only 
Christians study how best grapes are grown they would know why the Lord 
used wine in the Bible. Note God does not desire to kill the plant by 
putting it under unbearable hardship but desires sweet grapes and thus 
keeps it a little lacking and under pressure so as to allow His grace to 
be manifested.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord there are times we cry to You for our needs but Lord if You gave us 
all then would we cry to You or remember to thank You for them or even 
remember You. We do not thank You Lord for our lacking but we thank You 
for every time You fulfill our needs when we lacked. You God are our 
Father, our Creator, our Provider and our Protector. All that we have 
comes from You Lord. We pray we remember this every day and do not fail 
to thank You every day. We also pray Lord that we seek Heavenly riches 
more than worldly riches...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

2 Corinthians 8:9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, 
though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through 
his poverty might be rich.

Revelation 3:16-17

16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will 
spue thee out of my mouth.

17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have 
need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, 
and poor, and blind, and naked:

Matthew 19:23-26

23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a 
rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the 
eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who 
then can be saved?

26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is 
impossible; but with God all things are possible.

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Baptism of Jesus

John 1:33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, 
the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, 
and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Spirit.

This is question on which I have seen many debate - the baptism of Jesus 
Christ. It was only when one probes this event truly does one get to 
understand it. In this scripture John says he was sent by the Lord to 
baptize in water. Does it mean John the Baptist started water baptism? 
Surprisingly No

As an historian shared water baptism was one of the kinds of baptism 
which was the Pharisees induced into Judaism during the times of 
Maccabee when the term Pharisees came about. They would not just dip as 
it is done today but would keep the person immersed in for a moment and 
was somewhat a life and death experience. They also had other kinds of 
baptism which was very drastic in nature.

Questions get raised this baptism (immersing) was for repentance and 
when Jesus had no sin in Him then why did He need to do this repentance 
ritual? So was Jesus blindly keeping the traditions of the Pharisees?

What is more interesting is when one understands what Jesus did next and 
why He was led by the Spirit to do that, then will make one understand 
why Jesus took the dip in water.

Understand Jesus did not do the course of becoming a teacher or Rabbi (a 
Jewish title) of studying under another Rabbi like what Saul was doing 
before becoming Pail, and which was a must. Yet we see Jesus was called 
a Rabbi and preached at synagogues. We see Jesus first does this after 
He came from the 40 days fasting in the wilderness. According to the 
Jews there were 2 tracks for becoming a Rabbi one was the path of 
educational training at a school (this was initiated by Samuel) and the 
other was the path of Moses (40 days of fasting in the wilderness).Jesus 
by the Spirit took the path of Moses to be allowed to be able to preach 
at synagogues and accepted as Rabbi without conforming to the wrong 
traditions or teaching of the Jews. That is why just after He came back 
from the wilderness He took His first preaching in the synagogue where 
He read the prophecy about Him.

So both what Jesus did as dipping in water and 40 days in the wilderness 
were baptisms which was done to be acceptable by the Jews that is why it 
is written 'to fulfill all righteousness'. Most was not righteousness 
(to do right) of God since God have never asked to do so before. Then 
the question comes did Jesus compromise for the sake of being acceptable 
by the Pharisees? Not really, since what He did was for a sign also. The 
first was for the sign of the Holy Spirit declaring Him as the 'Beloved 
One'. The second was for Him to be broken down so as to be tested 
(tested and tempted have the same word in Greek) with the same 
temptation as Adman and Eve were, so as to show us how to overcome 
temptation (by the Word).

We will also understand by this why even though Jesus had disciples 
before the wedding at Canna but His ministry is marked with Him becoming 
a Rabbi (His baptism in the wilderness).

Baptism of water is a sign of our repentance and surrender, and the 
latter part is necessary but the former part is not. That does not mean 
we should not dip in water. It is recommended as celebration is part of 
marriage. Marriage happens when a couple come together (know each 
other/mate) with the purpose of forming a family. The celebration causes 
the couple to witness or declare to the world (others) about their 
intention of coming together. That is why we see Jesus got baptized in 
water but He Himself did not baptize anyone, but He did not hold back 
His disciples from doing so.

Some days back I was hearing a Pastor sharing about his experience with 
a couple (the husband whom he ministered). The couple for many years did 
not have relationship since the woman did not desire to do so. Not only 
according to the Bible but even by the law of the land any couple not 
having relationship even once is not considers married. Even with Mary 
and Joseph this was true. That is why during the time of Jesus birth she 
is referred to as fiancee but later after they came to know each other 
she is referred as wife (the virgin factor was a sign for the coming of 
Christ and thus she was not to be a virgin forever).

Like Jesus even the Apostles had the Spirit of God even before their so 
called baptism of the Spirit. Jesus when He was born and the Apostles 
when Jesus blew His breath (Spirit) into them after His resurrection.

Sign are for a purpose and the purpose is more important than the sign. 
Let our dipping in water not become a ritual but let the meaning and 
purpose behind it be more important.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, the evil one through our carnal nature tries hard to divert us 
from the purpose and to make the sign as tradition which kill faith and 
eventually the spirit in us. Lord we pray your people have true baptism 
by repenting for their lives and surrendering to You. We pray they claim 
the promise of the Spirit which is given to all who accept You as their 
Lord and Savior by their repentance and surrender. We pray they 
surrender to the Spirit and be baptism in Him so as to be led by your 
Spirit and become Sons...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Matthew 3:7But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to 
his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned 
you to flee from the wrath to come?

Luke 7: 29And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, 
justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

Matthew 21:25-27

25The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they 
reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will 
say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him?

26But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as 
a prophet.

27And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto 
them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Mark 1:4John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of 
repentance for the remission of sins.

Matthew 3:13-15

13Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.

14But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and 
comest thou to me?

15And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it 
becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.

Matthew 4:17From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: 
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

When to calm the storm and when not to

Acts 27:4And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, 
because the winds were contrary.

Bible says all beings and everything is created by God, so also are all 
humans, but that does not means all humans are God's children. The world 
is like a field where good crop is growing and also wild plants. The 
farmer at times lets the wild plants to grow so as to not harm the good 
plants in the process of cutting the wild plants.

Many a times I get questions as to 'why God allows evil to exist', 'He 
is God and He would have known beforehand like when He created Satan, 
would He have not known'.

When we solve formulas is Math we have to take steps to solve the 
problem, each step is not the solution but leads to the solution. At the 
end when the problem is solved we see each and every step is beautiful 
for the whole is beautiful.

Bible says even before God created man and man sinned God was aware man 
would sin and became the willing sacrifice (ready to pay the price on 
our behalf). It is not only 'us' humans even before He created the 
Angels God was aware that some would rebel against Him and one would 
understand this by what Jesus said 'no being' has seen God except for 
the Son who came from Him. They will also understand why Angels call 
themselves co-laborers in the salvation of mankind.

Neither Christianity nor holiness is about pest control that is to 
destroy evil. We are called to overcome evil that means just temporary 
not destroy it but make sure it does not exist in the future. That is 
why we are called not to look at the person who does evil but look at 
the evilness in that person and attend to it.

All of us were sinners but even though God hates sins yet He did not see 
us and hate us but He saw many as victims of sin, so He came as man and 
became an example of the Nature that is in Him. That is why Bible says 
in Lord Jesus Christ, meaning in His Nature.

In today's message we see Paul did not try to demonstrate his anointing 
or power of God, nor did the Spirit of God prompt him to do so. Paul 
knew that God is in control and all things that were happening were 
leading to the mission God had for him and till he reaches Rome nothing 
would happen to him (though in between his faith shook but by his 
fasting and praying he became strong again). The storm and its events 
caused the centurion to have faith in Paul and it was due to this 
centurion Paul could preach for 2 years in Rome freely, that too with an 
armed escort [he was under house arrest for 2 years before he was martyred].

As Christians we are not called to be worldly heroes or to seek glory 
for ourselves. Jesus Himself as man did not seek glory for Himself. Let 
us work according to the plans of God and know when a storm has to be 
stopped and when we go along with the storm and let the storm do its 
work and changes.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray we grow in discernment and know when to lift our hands in 
pray for change in situation and when to know You are quickening your 
work through storms. Lord we pray we do not seek glory for ourselves but 
only seek glory and increase of your Kingdom and of You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Prayer Starter]

1 Corinthians 15:57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory 
through [by] our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 27:4-11, 19-25, 31-32

4And when we had launched from thence, we sailed under Cyprus, because 
the winds were contrary.

5And when we had sailed over the sea of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came 
to Myra, a city of Lycia.

6And there the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing into Italy; 
and he put us therein.

7And when we had sailed slowly many days, and scarce were come over 
against Cnidus, the wind not suffering us, we sailed under Crete, over 
against Salmone;

8And, hardly passing it, came unto a place which is called The fair 
havens; nigh whereunto was the city of Lasea.

9Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, 
because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them,

10And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with 
hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our 
lives.

11Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the 
ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul.

19And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

20And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small 
tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

21But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and 
said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from 
Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

22And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss 
of any man's life among you, but of the ship.

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

24Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, 
God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

25Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be 
even as it was told me.

31Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in 
the ship, ye cannot be saved.

32Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

Acts 28:16, 30-31

16And when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the 
captain of the guard: but Paul was suffered to dwell by himself with a 
soldier that kept him.

30And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received 
all that came in unto him,

31Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern 
the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.

John 1:18No man [no being] hath seen God at any time; the only begotten 
Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Revelation 13:8And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, 
whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from 
the foundation of the world.

Hebrews 4:3For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As 
I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the 
works were finished from the foundation of the world.

Ephesians 1:4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation 
of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Who performed the sacrifice?

Mark 14:52 - And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

In my initial days in the Lord when I was studying the Bible with the 
Lord this one scripture did intrigue me. What is the purpose of this 
crazy man who lands up from nowhere in the scene, for no reason drops 
his clothes and runs away? Note also that he is not wearing ordinary 
clothes but linen clothes more like someone wearing a suit in today's 
date. Do mad beggars wear suits?

It was my study of the books of Moses where the Lord made me understand 
the sacrifices written and how all of them were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Christians are so full with 'theologian teachings' by so called 'Bible 
experts' that they fail to understand the basics of the Bible. The story 
is the same as the story of the Jews who were highly educated in 
religious matters and were considered as all knowing, yet knew not the 
basics.

In our Churches we see two streams of people, one who pursue knowledge 
(book knowledge) and the other stream that pursues anointing (spiritual 
gifts and spiritual abilities). Both are good but one without the other 
can cause a person to lose the basics and go astray.

We need people who are taught by the Lord and exercise the power of God, 
which does not mean they need to lock themselves up and come up with 
crazy, heretic understandings. The problem is we try to teach our 
understandings of the Bible but do not teach people how to study and 
understand the Bible. Because they do not know how to study the Bible we 
see nothing new is learnt of the Kingdom of God since ages. We also see 
since the old Manna has been circulating since long, worms are getting 
into the people.

When Bible says the harvest is great and laborers are few. The actual 
meaning has been changed; the Greek word is 'oligos' which also means 
little. God can do mighty things even with a few people provided they 
surrender totally to Him, they are taught by Him and abide by His 
instructions.

We may look at many great Preachers and great Men of God but when one 
has the right knowledge of scriptures you will see them as the man who 
preached about the Lord and was doing good but was not among the 
disciples of Jesus Christ, the very person he was preaching of but did 
not know. The disciple John asked the Lord Jesus permission to restrain 
him from preaching but then Jesus told them to allow him to continue.

Let us not use worldly ways to attain spiritual riches. Let us use the 
ways of the Lord as recorded in the Bible to attain the knowledge and 
understanding of the Kingdom of God.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord the Church says 'Lord', 'Lord' but are not doing your will for it 
does not know You nor knows your Will. Lord we pray more and more are 
set free from the worldly yeast which is destroying your people. We pray 
renewal of mind and hearts of your people...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Matthew 9:37Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is 
plenteous, but the labourers are few;

Luke 10:2Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but 
the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that 
he would send forth labourers [text is singular not plural] into his 
harvest.

Luke 9:49-50

49And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in 
thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.

50And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us 
is for us.

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Stewards of the people

Ephesians 3:2If ye have heard of the dispensation [steward] of the grace 
of God which is given me to you-ward:

Today's message talks of being a steward. If you have been on a flight 
the air-hostesses / attendants are also called stewards. They serve with 
a smile and show lots of hospitality. They are trained to never say 'no' 
to any passenger and to do all in their capacity to please them, to make 
their trip comfortable and pleasant.

We see Pastors and ministry leaders hold on to themselves as stewards of 
the congregation they lead. They would do everything that is in their 
power and capacity to serve the people in their folk, but their 
commitment is only towards their congregation. When they are in the 
shift they give their all towards their people. Many like Air-Hostesses, 
Flight Attendants / Stewards they will give big smiles and show lots of 
compassion when their flock is before them at services, but afterwards 
like the airline steward they would not bother much nor remember who you 
are. They may have a select few for which they may follow up but the 
general lot they would care a penny as far as they are regularly coming 
to the services and giving their 'tithes and offerings'.

Social media has done something good, it has exposed the lives of people 
especially those who work in shifts and act as air-hostesses / flight 
attendants.

We all are called to serve the people of God and there is no one who 
calls himself a Believer / Christian can say he or she is here to only 
receive. There is nothing like silent Christian or secret Christian who 
believes and does not tell anyone. Every Christian is a person on 
mission who has received the love and grace of Christ and thus is called 
to share this love and the message of grace unto others.

We also need to discern a person doing social service and a Christian. 
Both will help but one will cater only to the physical and emotional 
needs while the other will also cater to the spiritual needs. The first 
will draw glory unto oneself and the other only towards God. The first 
will do all things by one's strength thus will struggle always but the 
other will manifest the power and favor of God. Both Jesus and Paul did 
reach out to the poor, sick and heartbroken but they did nothing like 
social service.

Paul in his message as steward is not talking being a Pastor. If you 
read the next lines he is talking of being a vessel to reveal the 
mysteries of the Kingdom of God.

Ponds are always looked at. They are beautiful places when lots plants 
grow around it and living creatures dwell in them. But these plants or 
creatures would die if that pond does not get fresh intake of water 
regularly. Today Churches are become stagnant ponds which does not get 
fresh intake of water thus start to stink and rot, and soon or later 
start to bred mosquitoes and other insects. When people move out from 
these ponds the Pastor does not see the problem in the pond but points 
to problems in those people.

What our Churches need is regular revelation of the Word. This 
revelation does not mean something new which they get from other people 
through their preaching or books but something that comes direct from 
the Lord.

Today's word goes to all Pastors and Ministry leaders, let us not wait 
till the ponds rot and become inhabitable. Let us do something now but 
meditating on His Word day and night, so as to receive fresh Manna which 
we use to make life giving bread for the congregation. Let us not look 
at holding the people with our folds but aim for growth of the people 
put under our care. Let them go out when their wings are strong and 
ready to fly like eagles so that they do the same unto others. Let us 
look at the whole Kingdom of God as a Church, one body and not at just 
our congregation.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord You called us to be people of mission and the mission was to go out 
unto the corners of the world and to save souls. Lord we pray the people 
You set to led do put people in a corner but go themselves to all 
corners and reach souls that are lost. We pray they concentrate of 
receiving fresh Manna and that their bellies become streams of living 
water for others, that what they speak will change lives...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Ephesians 3:1-5

1For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

2If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given 
me to you-ward:

3How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote 
afore in few words,

4Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of 
Christ)

5Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is 
now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

Exodus 16:14-24

14And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the 
wilderness there lay a small round thing, as small as the hoar frost on 
the ground.

15And when the children of Israel saw it, they said one to another, It 
is manna: for they wist not what it was. And Moses said unto them, This 
is the bread which the LORD hath given you to eat.

16This is the thing which the LORD hath commanded, Gather of it every 
man according to his eating, an omer for every man, according to the 
number of your persons; take ye every man for them which are in his tents.

17And the children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less.

18And when they did mete it with an omer, he that gathered much had 
nothing over, and he that gathered little had no lack; they gathered 
every man according to his eating.

19And Moses said, Let no man leave of it till the morning.

20Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto Moses; but some of them left 
of it until the morning, and it bred worms, and stank: and Moses was 
wroth with them.

21And they gathered it every morning, every man according to his eating: 
and when the sun waxed hot, it melted.

22And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much 
bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation 
came and told Moses.

23And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To 
morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye 
will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which 
remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.

24And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not 
stink, neither was there any worm therein.

John 4:13-14

13Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water 
shall thirst again:

14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never 
thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of 
water springing up into everlasting life.

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Our battle against sin

Romans 7:17 - Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth 
in me.

Yesterday a bro was asking me about sin how could sin be inherited? Is 
God justified that sin of my forefathers be put on me? Today the Lord 
gave me this message to explain this for others also who have the same 
doubt.

It is wrongly understood that sin is transferred from parent to children 
yet we see scriptures where God says He will visit the equity of the 
father unto the son, but then we also see scripture which says can the 
father eat (sour) grapes and the son's teeth (mouth) turn sour.

God is a just God and in the Bible God does not punish one for the sins 
of the others. But we see because of Adam we all were removed from 
access to Heaven and the way to Heaven was closed.

Firstly we need to understand sin is not transferred but the sin nature 
is and that too from father to children up to the 4 generations. That 
means if I have lied then the lying nature is inherited by my children 
up to 4 generations and if none of my next 3 generations lie then that 
nature dies, but my 3 generations will be tempted to lie like me. There 
are only 2 natures which have been passed down all generations which is 
the nature of Adam.

When Adam sinned he did 2 things one is not abide by the instructions of 
God and other is eat of the fruit of tree of doubt / to know evil (Good 
and Bad - all God created was good and only thing evil was Satan). So 
when God punished him, He called all the generations of Adam as Adam, 
meaning passed on his nature unto all his generations. So all mankind by 
default has the nature of doubt (disbelief) and nature to rebel. Some 
may think this is unjust but then when God blesses for our doing good He 
blesses our thousand generations.

When we come to Christ and accept Him (even those who were born before 
He came as man Jesus) we are forgiven of all our sins which we have done 
(He is called an eternal sacrifice - from beginning to end). We see even 
those who truly believed in the Lord in the Old Testament when they died 
it is written they were gathered unto their fathers / people (those 
after Noah for the solemn covenant /sacrifice based promise was made 
starting with Noah - sleep or gathered means they go to a spirit level 
called Grave). The word 'Covenant' in Hebrew means 'pledge' or 'oath' 
and refers to (root word comes from the word) sacrifice / cutting. So 
when God made the covenant, God said (promised) that He would pay for 
the consequence of man. But then that does not mean man is free of sin, 
for the sin nature still exist in man.

Accepting Christ will free us from sin but we still need to fight the 
sin nature and only way to fight the sin nature is to unto or overcome 
the nature of Adam which means to overcome doubt with faith and overcome 
rebel with surrender. That is why Jesus says the only way to overcome is 
baptism of water (surrender) and baptism of Holy Spirit (Spirit of Truth 
who reveals all Truth and thus builds faith - opposite of disbelief).

In today's message Paul in his letter to Romans which was one of his 
latter letters says he sins because the sin nature exists in him. Paul 
did battle with sin even in his mature days and so also we all do even 
though we are in Christ and are baptized in Him and His Spirit. Baptism 
is not a one day job but a process that start from the day we make our 
minds to surrender to Christ and receive His Spirit.

Sin is an individual consequence but battling sin nature is a collective 
effort which we all need to battle together as one body in Christ. It is 
like climbing the mountain, the leader sets the pegs, anchors and ropes 
which those who follow use as support and find it easier to climb.

We all fight a hard battle because the problem is we are trying our own 
routes and not understanding the words that Jesus said 'I have 
overcome'. If we follow the path that Jesus took then we will not 
struggle. The solution may sound easy, but between us and our overcoming 
sin nature lays the world and our love for the world. So to follow the 
easy path of Jesus we need to first overcome our love for the world and 
for worldly things.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we know You humbled Yourself and became our sacrifice from the 
beginning even before man sinned for You knew. For Lord You also knew 
man would have victory over sin nature and thus defeat the nature of 
evil / sin (Satan). Sin bought the existence of death and with the 
elimination of sin nature and our getting access to the Tree of Life, 
death too would be defeated. Lord we pray we walk this path of baptism 
in You and your Spirit so that we overcome the sin nature in us. We also 
pray that we overcome our love for this world and for worldly things so 
that we struggle less in our baptism...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Ezekiel 18:1-4

1The word of the LORD came unto me again, saying,

2What mean ye, that ye use this proverb concerning the land of Israel, 
saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are 
set on edge?

3As I live, saith the Lord GOD, ye shall not have occasion any more to 
use this proverb in Israel.

4Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul 
of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

Exodus 20:5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for 
I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the 
fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them 
that hate me;

Genesis 5:1-2

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

2Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their 
name Adam, in the day when they were created.

Genesis 6:18But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt 
come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives 
with thee.

Genesis 9:12And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make 
between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for 
perpetual generations:

Genesis 15:13-15

13And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a 
stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they 
shall afflict them four hundred years;

14And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and 
afterward shall they come out with great substance.

15And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a 
good old age.

Genesis 25:8Then Abraham gave up the spirit, and died in a good old age, 
an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

Genesis 35:29And Isaac gave up the spirit, and died, and was gathered 
unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob 
buried him.

Acts 7:59-60

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

60And 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 Thessalonians 4:14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, 
even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

John 11:11These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our 
friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

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

John 16:33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have 
peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I 
have overcome the world.

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Woe unto those who are loved by all

Luke 6:26 - Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so 
did their fathers to the false prophets.

People think to be Christian one needs to be a good person who is loved 
by all. If we read today's message they would be in a surprise for Jesus 
says woe unto them who are loved by all.

One would also think because some people hate them that makes them a 
good Christian. NO.

It is not about people loving you or hating you but more the reason why 
they love you or hate you.

One would understand this when one studies the following scriptures:-

John 13:34-35, John 15:18, John 7:7, Luke 6:31

We read Jesus told His disciple to love each other unconditionally and 
with a love that edifies like He loved them. But to the world He did not 
say love them unconditionally, He told them to love them as you would 
expect them to love you.

The word hate means to detest and could be done silently even with a 
smile on the face. We need to understand the world dwells in darkness 
and if we are children of light we cannot cohabitate in darkness. 
Darkness repels light and light eliminates darkness. Darkness and light 
do not get alone together. Jesus warned us that the world will hate us 
not because of us but because of Him who is in us (His nature and not 
physically). If people hate us for our misdoings then we cannot take 
credit of being a good Christian. We need to understand the reason why 
people hate us.

A Christian is a person who is loved by other Christians not because he 
or she is good but because he or she is family and a blessing to the 
family. A Christian is also a person who is hated by people of this 
world who live in darkness and love the things of darkness; the light of 
Christ shining in a Christian does not give him or her confront to 
continue the path of darkness in peace.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, we pray we live our lives as true Christians and do not compromise 
the principals of the Kingdom of God for worldly peace. We pray we also 
understand You as man did not go about pointing fingers at everyone for 
You knew many are lost or misled and at the same time You did not let 
those who willingly chose the path of darkness to be in peace. You 
pointed out to them their vanity and wickedness. We pray Lord we love to 
be love by You and not to be love by this world...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

John 13:34-35

34A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have 
loved you, that ye also love one another.

35By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love 
one to another.

John 15:18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it 
hated you.

John 7:7The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify 
of it, that the works thereof are evil.

Luke 6:22-23

22Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate 
you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name 
as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

23Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is 
great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.

Luke 6:27-28

27But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them 
which hate you,

28Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

Luke 6:31And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them 
likewise.

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Hour of prayer

Acts 3:1 - Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the 
hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

We read John and Peter went to the Jewish Synagogue to pray at the ninth 
hour which is 3pm in the evening. They were joining the Jews in prayer 
according to the Jews who prayed 3 times a day. They do so in the 
morning 9am (third hour) then at 12noon (sixth hour) and 3pm (ninth 
hour). It is unlawful for the Jews to pray after the Sun sets that is 
after 6pm.

If we read the Bible it does not have any law or Commandment given by 
God that states these times to be times of prayer. The Jews followed the 
traditions of the Elders, we see they followed this during the time of 
Jesus and even today they follow this. This tradition is based on 2 
scriptures Daniel 6:10 and Psalms 55:17.

The Muslims who are religious people are commanded to pray 5 times a day 
and this is one of the 5 necessities for them to be eligible to go to 
Paradise.

We see Catholics love to pray at 3pm, they say their 'Divine Mercy' 
prayer because they believe the words of a woman name Sister Fonseca who 
claimed the 'lord' spoke to her saying anyone who said the specific 
prayer at 3pm would go to Heaven. Now this 'lord' which spoke to her 
seems to contradict the Lord of the Bible who states the only way to go 
to Heaven is to be born from above, in other words baptized in Jesus 
Christ (water /repentance) and in the Holy Spirit (cloud/abide in the 
Word, since the Spirit reveals the Word and enables us to abide in it).

Are we Christian called to be religious like the Jews, the Muslims or 
the Catholics?

Prayer as we know is communicating with God and God being everywhere, 
every time does not require an appointment or specific time to 
communicate with. We can stand anywhere, any time and speak with Him. 
Note in Genesis 24:63 Isaac's going to the field to pray is given the 
word 'meditate', so even meditating on the Word of God is considered 
prayer since God and His Word are inseparable and to meditate we do not 
need a specific time.

We find many Christians especially Pastors love to pray late in the 
night and thus they get up late and we find most are very bad at keeping 
commitment of timing. This makes them to be seen as disorganized people, 
a bad example to the world. When the Lord was teaching me about prayer 
He showed me praying in the night was like give Him the leftovers or 
wastes of what we consume. The Lord desires first-fruit and not wastes.

Prayer is very important; even though by praying no one goes to Heaven 
but prayer makes it easy for us to open doors to minister to people, to 
save them and enable them to go to Heaven.

In the Gospels we see Jesus too used the 3 prayer timings in His 
preaching or events in His life. To understand these timing slots we 
need to understand the Hebrew words and its roots.

Morning - Hebrew word 'boqer' - root word 'baqar' - meaning to 'seek' or 
'search'

Noon - Hebrew word 'tsohar' - root word 'tsahar'- meaning to make oil - 
symbolizing time of anointing / testimony.

Evening - Hebrew word 'ereb' - root word 'arab'- meaning darkness - 
symbolizing time of hopelessness or gloom.

So we see praying in the morning symbolizes seeking the Lord, praying in 
the noon seeking anointing and praying in the evening crying in our 
gloom or hopelessness.

We will see the Bible emphasizes on the meaning of these words more than 
their reference of day by the fact that they are put in order of 
evening, morning and noon and not morning, noon and evening.

I always tell people the best time to pray is the early morning because 
it shows ones keenness to seek the Lord and that is why Jesus Christ is 
referred to as the Morning Star and so also are the Cherubs who are the 
most anointed in Heaven and nearest to the Throne/Glory.

People who only pray in hopelessness will always be in hopelessness. If 
they want to come out of hopelessness they need to seek the Lord (pray 
in the morning). Noon time or day time is the time our pray should not 
be words but be our living which is the perfect worship.

So let us pray to seek the Lord, in the day live the Lord and when the 
world is in hopeless we be in rest.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray your people do not follow rules of men but do all things 
with understanding. We pray they do not be religious people but know You 
are a God of purpose and spiritual increase. We pray they mature and 
grow in You and speak to You more than what Moses did...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Daniel 6:10Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went 
into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward 
Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and 
gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

Acts 2:15For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the 
third hour of the day.

Mark 15:34And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, 
Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my 
God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Acts 10:3He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an 
angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

Acts 10:30And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this 
hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man 
stood before me in bright clothing,

Matthew 20:1-6

1For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, 
which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.

2And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent 
them into his vineyard.

3And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in 
the marketplace,

4And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is 
right I will give you. And they went their way.

5Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise.

6And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing 
idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle?

Genesis 24:63And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the 
eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels 
were coming.

Psalms 55:17Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry 
aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

Acts 2:15For these are not drunken, as ye suppose, seeing it is but the 
third hour of the day.

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Put away your childishness

1 Corinthians 13:11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood 
as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away 
childish things.

In today's message we read Paul who was looked up during his time as the 
most knowledgeable person himself is saying he grew from phase to phase. 
But the most important point he makes that as he grew he stopped being 
his former person. He says as he matured he put away his childishness.

Let us reflect on the life of Paul. Paul was a very learned man who was 
under training from the most famous and respected Jewish teacher. So 
according to his time he was compared to a student of Harvard University 
as of today. The fact being the teachers of that time would only take 
very few students, that's why even as a student Paul (Saul) was very 
respected. But when he came to the Lord Paul put away the wrong 
understanding he was filled with.

That was not end for Paul's learning. Paul was directly revealed by the 
Lord the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But then the Lord did not give 
him everything on a platter the Lord made him to research and dig into 
it to understand it well. We see Paul himself states lack of clarity on 
certain things he knew or was revealed of. Paul as an Apostle grew in 
understanding when he sat to discuss these matters with brethren who had 
the calling of a Teacher, people like Luke and Mark. Had it not being 
for them Paul would not have the firm understanding which he carried.

We see Churches today are like spiritual nurseries, filled with 
spiritual infants. The problem is the person who leads them or is 
ministering to them are themselves spiritual infants. They may be 
gifted, anointed, having a heart and perseverance to save their 
congregation but can an infant help another infant to grow?

If we look at Islam which is a religion based on falsehood yet it is 
growing for the reason they have teams of leaders dedicated to research 
and development of study of their scripters. As an apologist I had the 
privilege to be part of a team which debated the person who was heading 
the R&D division of the largest Islamic study group in India known as 
IRF. Being my first Muslim debate I had apprehension of how I would face 
this man but after half an hour of the debate I had a problem of how to 
come to his level to communicate with him. Not that his level was high 
but it was so low more like me talking to a 5th grade student who yet 
carried a Doctorate in Islamic studies. If Islam having such dumb / 
senseless people (sorry to use such words but it is true) to be boosters 
to their religion why does not Christian which is founded on Truth 
endeavor to build its people of the Truth. Why does not Churches get 
people with calling of Teachers to be like gas stations to fuel the 
Church with knowledge and understanding? We see the Pastor thinks he 
alone knows all and everyone needs to submit to his understanding. If 
Paul who being an Apostle and heading hundreds of Churches did not do 
that when why do Pastors think such things?

The Believer Church came out of the Catholic Church in 1500AD and even 
after 500years of its coming out it still carries lots of doctrines / 
understandings / traditions of the Catholic Church. It is time the 
Church pursues the knowledge and understanding of scriptures and stop 
being childish.

The Greek word used as childish is the word 'nepios' which is a compound 
word made of 'not' and 'word'. So we see being childish means not having 
the Word in oneself.

It is time the Church puts away its childishness. It is time every 
Church concentrates on building its congregation in study of the Word, 
not just reading it but digging in it like one digs for treasure.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, we pray your people stop being childish that they know the value 
of having the Word in them and growing in the Word. Lord we pray they 
put away their childishness and pursue the knowledge and understanding 
of your Kingdom. As your Word says your people are suffering because 
they lack knowledge and understanding. We pray for wisdom and 
understanding, we rebuke the stiffness and cast away the deaf and dumb 
spirit that hold on to the Church...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

2 Corinthians 12:2I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, 
(whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I 
cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven

2 Timothy 4:11-13

11Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is 
profitable to me for the ministry.

12And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

13The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring 
with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.

1 Corinthians 13:9-12

9For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part 
shall be done away.

11When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I 
thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I 
know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

2 Peter 3:15And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; 
even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto 
him hath written unto you;

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Who sent whom?

John 6: 40 - And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one 
which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: 
and I will raise him up at the last day.

Since the time we have been receiving messages of knowing Jesus Christ, 
I have been asked questions like 'is Jesus God the Father? '. Christians 
are not clear of the entity of Jesus, of Christ, of God the Son, of the 
Holy Spirit (Spirit of God) and of the God the Father (whom Jesus says 
is Spirit). For me this to understand took years and it was only this 
year, a few months back I came to have my understanding in place. The 
toughest part for me to understand was how could Spirit (God the Father) 
have a Spirit (Holy Spirit)? It was only when I understood what Spirit 
means and the plan of God did I get my questions cleared.

In today's message we read Jesus says the Father sent Him. We also read 
in John 6:38 He says He did not come to do His own will but the will of 
His Father. In John 1:18 He says the Father revealed Him. In the book of 
Genesis we read the term 'we' is used by God. Also we read the word 
Elohim (plural) is used for Lord, showing more than 1 person in God. To 
the extent in Genesis 3:18 God say man has 'become as one of us, to know 
good and evil' after man sinned!

Muslims always confront Christians with the question how can there be 
more than one person in God, or God have a son even though their own 
book (Quran) uses the plural nature to Allah (who they think is God). 
Like Muslims even Jesus says God is one in the Bible yet we have the 
above facts that cannot be denied.

If God is one then can a person send himself or say to himself 'sit at 
my right hand I will make your enemies your footstool'?

I may not be able to clear this matter fully in this message for it 
requires one to touch many, many scriptures especially from the Old 
Testament in the light of the New Testament to understand it. The 
biggest problem is the wrong 'Church Theology' which has roots from the 
Catholic Church.

The most important book in the Bible to study on this matter is the book 
of John. I call it less a 'Gospel' and more an 'Autobiography of Jesus'.

We read many verses where Jesus says He came forth 'from the Father'. He 
also used the term 'came out' or 'departed from' like in John 16:27. The 
scripture which helped me most is John 1:18 which says the Son was 
within the Father (the word bosom actually means creek) and was revealed 
by the Father.

So we see before the Lord humbled Himself and became man Jesus, He was 
part of the Father and yet was an individual in Himself. That is why we 
see Jesus uses the term 'I AM' for Himself in John 8:58 and this caused 
the Jews to try to stone Him to death as an act of Blasphemy.

Like Jesus said if we have seen Him (known Him) we have known the Father 
since the Father and He are one. Thomas did understand part of this 
therefore said unto Jesus 'my Lord my God'.

Today Islam survives because Christians do not understand the 
relationship of the Father, Son, Spirit, Christ and Jesus. The day 
Christians are clear on this, there would be no falsehood called Islam 
and Muslims would know Allah is not the God they think he is and that 
Mohammad was not a Prophet. The same is with Catholicism which also 
exists on falsehood and misunderstanding.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray the hearts and minds of your people be renewed and that 
they may remove the stiffness of their hearts and seek You in humility 
and truth. Let the people whom You have set to guide them may not make 
them like themselves but help them to be better than themselves. May the 
Bible teachers not teach what they know of the Bible but teach other how 
to understand and study the Word of God...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

John 6:38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the 
will of him that sent me.

John 16:27For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, 
and have believed that I came out from God.

John 16:28I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: 
again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.

Hebrews 9:26For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of 
the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put 
away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Revelation 5:2-7

2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy 
to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

3And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able 
to open the book, neither to look thereon.

4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read 
the book, neither to look thereon.

5And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the 
tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and 
to loose the seven seals thereof.

6And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four 
beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been 
slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of 
God sent forth into all the earth.

7And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat 
upon the throne.

John 8:58-59

58Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham 
was, I am.

59Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and 
went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

John 20:28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

Genesis 3:22And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of 
us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take 
also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Matthew 22:44The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till 
I make thine enemies thy footstool?

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Having God Speed like Paul by having His mind and His love

Philippians 2:2 - Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same
love, being of one accord, of one mind.

We have been continuously getting messages of being like Christ and today
also the Lord is reminding that as man Jesus He was the corner stone and is
emphasizing of the importance to align ourselves according to Him to be
true Christians.

If you look at this scripture Paul is telling us of the conditions to have
the joy which is in him. Paul was not out to make disciples to himself, but
he was aware of the shortfalls of the people so he did say to those who did
not know Christ on a person basis, to look at him and follow him for he
followed Christ.

Paul knew Christ and followed Christ and since he followed Christ the joy
in him was the joy of Christ. Since we are reading in English we may think
of the ‘joy’ [chara/chairo] which Paul speaks of in today’s message is
meaning ‘to be happy’. If you study the Greek word it also means ‘God
Speed’. Paul was not talking of laughing or being happy in sense of worldly
joy, he was talking of spiritual joy that comes from spiritual fulfillment
of God mission.

Paul was the most successful Apostle who covered a very large part of the
world in his time and set up many Churches (some state almost a 1000
directly and indirectly). In today’s message Paul tells us of how to get
that God Speed.

In the scripture the word ‘same’ is the Greek word ‘autos’ which also means
his / himself. Paul was not talking of his properties but the properties of
Christ which was in him. The first two properties Paul points to is of
having Christ kind love and Christ kind mind.

In the last messages I have spoken of love, love that is not self centered
and love that is truly enriching and I also spoke of the mind we need to
have a mind that is not worldly or carnal but that is more spiritual.

In today’s message the Lord is telling us if we want to have God Speed
success in our ministry work like that of Paul then one of the most
important things we need to have is true love and right thinking. Paul may
have died a martyr but even in his death he saw success. His enemies helped
him reach a place he could not and do what he never dreamt. He was 2 years
in Rome Preaching about Christ to the Romans and that too with a Roman
soldier companying him as security.

We may think we operate in love and mind of Christ but we may be wrong. i.e.

A Pastor would be thinking it is love that causes him to bring people to
know Christ and be part of his Church but true love is when the Pastor does
not stop at keeping the person in his Church but prepares that person to be
an instrument to build / strengthen other Churches. Love does not go half
way but all the way.

A Pastor would want to teach the person what he knows. What he knows would
not be wrong but than that too is a wrong approach. We should not teach
people what we have learnt of the Bible but teach them how to understand
the Bible. It is this reason that the Church of Christ has been progressing
at slower than a snails speed since 2000 years in understanding God’s Word.

Let us not do things as we feel good and keep struggling in our ministries,
but let us do things the way Christ did and thus have succeed like Paul
did. If we have even a few people like Paul today the world dynamics will
change.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray your people stop struggling doing things their way, according
to their understanding. We pray they do things the way You have instructed
in your Word and demonstrated through Paul. We pray Lord your Watchmen know
true love and have a mind that is not earthly or carnal but one that from
above...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

1 Corinthians 11:1 - Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

2 John 1:10-11

10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him
not into your house, neither bid him God speed [chairo]:

11 For he that biddeth him God speed [chairo] is partaker of his evil
deeds.

Philippians 2:1-5

1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love,
if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of
one accord, of one mind.

3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of
mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things
of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

Romans 15:5-7

5 Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one
toward another according to Christ Jesus:

6 That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the
glory of God. 

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

The Father and The Son - throw away your earthly binds to know them

John 14:7 - If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and 
from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Really; to be a Christian is a great challenge and it is not easy at 
all. I am not talking about fighting sin or overcoming temptation that 
we mostly overcome by the grace of God, but there is one area where we 
need to battle ourselves and that is our understanding.

In today's message we see Jesus tells His disciple Thomas and others if 
they knew Him they would have known His Father and if they have seen Him 
they have seen His Father. The relations between the Father and Son is a 
great mystery, the Catholics keep declaring is a mystery and thus put a 
no entry fence around this, Believers on the other hand mostly do not 
bother to understand and those who try come with so much confusion that 
gets them in a worse place than where they started.

I have seen Apologist (even famous one) debate on this topic of Father 
and Son with Muslims while themselves having no knowledge of it. Its 
just God's grace that Dawahs are really dumb; once a while we get a 
little smart person like Ahmed Deedat coming by and he lands up shaking 
and causing the loss of faith of many Christians.

I tell you the day I came to know the relationship between the Father 
and the Son, how they are one yet they are an individual, it really 
shook me. It is not that it is difficult to understand but the problem 
lies with human thinking. You must have seen how a horse has binds to 
keep him on a path like that people have an earthly binds which makes 
them see all things in earthly relationship to man. That is why we have 
people hoping to see the man Jesus in Heaven after the redemption of 
mankind; we also have others who talk of 'Mother of God' not knowing 
God. Even an ant may deliver a blue whale but no way can a woman be 
mother of the Lord.

The moment humans see the word 'son' they think in terms of human father 
and son. The Muslims ask 'can God have a son without a wife' (imagine 
they use the word 'God' and yet ask this question) and then we have our 
Christian brethren who try to justify this possibility. Because they do 
not know God they do not know man, this sadly causes our Christian 
brethren also to not know the purpose of God and what salvation God has 
set for them. It is so true when God spoke through Isaiah that people 
will see and not perceive they will hear but still not understand. This 
is relevant even today.

Yesterday I was interacting with a group of Apologist whom I admire for 
their knowledge on other religions and on worldly things but when they 
were discussing on some matters on Christianity it really saddened me to 
hear what came out of them.

Earthly (fleshly) knowledge and understanding is the greatest hurdle in 
knowing God and once a person starts to see the Kingdom of God through 
the eyes (understanding) of God one would be in for a great surprise 
life itself will have another meaning and purpose.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray your people overcome the barrier that keeps them from 
knowing You. We pray those binds of worldly knowledge and understanding 
be overcome and they may understand the hidden things of your Kingdom 
and thus come to know You more and more...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

John 14:2-11

2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would 
have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive 
you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

4And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how 
can we know the way?

6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man 
cometh unto the Father, but by me.

7If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from 
henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

8Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

9Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast 
thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; 
and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

10Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the 
words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that 
dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

11Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else 
believe me for the very works' sake.

Matthew 13:13-17

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

14And 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:

15For 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.

16But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

17For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have 
desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to 
hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

To know the Lord, climb mountains

Mark 3:13 - And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom 
he would: and they came unto him.

Mountains have an important part in scriptures. We see the Lord gave 
Moses the Ten Commandments on mountain of Sinai. We also read scriptures 
of the Lord calling us to Mount Zion to be in better communication with 
Him or to come closer to Him. In other religions we see religious people 
actually climb mountains too to be closer to god or be one with him. 
Some of the Hindu gods dwell on mountain tops. Is our God like them that 
He calls us to mountain tops? We see like God even evil spirits (false 
gods) like mountains.

Yes the atmosphere and feeling is different on mountains tops, it lets a 
person know how small he or she is and this humbles the person and lets 
the person concentrate on things better. But that is not the reason the 
Lord gives to mountains in scriptures.

Mountains have more than one symbolizes in scriptures. I take the ones 
connected to the Kingdom of God or to the Lord. The word Rock (Greek 
Petra) used for the Lord or the Truth is more of a cliff or a solid 
mountain and symbolizes unshakable/immovability, for the Lord does not 
change nor does His Word change (truth). The other symbolization where 
mountains are used like in today's scripture means getting far from the 
world or worldly understanding. People think going on mountains means 
going up therefore takes us closer to God. Dear brethren remember the 
earth is round and there is no up when we step out of our planet. Heaven 
is not up but higher, a higher dimension to the dimension we live in. In 
the Bible we see the Lord even uses directions like east and west, east 
meaning away from Heaven and west nearer to Heaven. People think it is 
to do with being left and right. Yes and No also. The actual meaning 
comes when we understand the root Hebrew words used for them.

Yesterday's message we received was on how worldly understanding become 
binds to our eyes and prevents us from understanding the Truth or 
knowing the Kingdom of God. Today the Lord is telling us to know Him we 
need to climb mountains. He does not tell us to literately climb 
mountains but tells us to be separated from worldly understandings and 
worldly wisdom, to know Him.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus tells us to go to Heaven we need to be 
born-again. Like I told you before the Greek word actually means born 
from above. The born from above means being born with understanding of 
the higher spiritual dimension and not in the understanding of the 
carnal worldly dimension.

Surely overcoming the understanding of this world is not easy so also 
climbing steep mountains is not easy. That is why God does not expect us 
to climb steep cliffs but has given us a smooth slope to climb, meaning 
given us lots of time to slowly climb the mountain.

If you see mountain climbers the best one first goes ahead and after 
climbing to a height he anchors pecks into the mountain and lets a rope 
down. The rope helps the others to climb easily and also prevents them 
from falling off.

Sadly in the spiritual world people have been moving sideways and hardly 
upwards that is why even after so many years we have not progressed much 
in understanding scriptures. We may think we know a lot looking at the 
distances we covered but look at the spiritual understanding (height 
covered) it is pathetic.

Let us stop behaving like the Jews who stuck to the letter and since 
thousands of years do not know the basics of scriptures. Let us 
understand the spirit of the Word through the Spirit of God who also is 
the author of the Word. For this let us climb mountains, meaning 
distance ourselves from holding on to worldly carnal understanding.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray we distance ourselves from the yeast of this world and 
yeast of religious people who are filled with lots of knowledge but 
knowledge of this world. They speak of You all the time but are far from 
You and do not know You. Lord let us be renewed in our minds and other 
areas of our heart (inner-man)...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Matthew 14:23 - And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up 
into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was 
there alone.

Isaiah 2:2 - And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the 
mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the 
mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall 
flow unto it.

Isaiah 30:29 - Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy 
solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe 
to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel.

Micah 4:2 - And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up 
to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and 
he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law 
shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Matthew 4:8 - Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high 
mountain [Greek word means to be taken up and no earthly mountain is 
high enough to see the world], and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the 
world, and the glory of them;

Matthew 16:6 - Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the 
leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Mark 12:38-39

38And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which 
love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,

39And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

How to know Jesus and experience Him

John 14:21 - He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that
loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will
love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Most people would say if we love Jesus we will keep His commandments, they
do not realize to keep His commandments we need to have it first. This is
the area of problem for most Christians since they try to keep something
they do not have and thus keep something else which they call the
“commandments of God” but are in fact keeping “commandments of man” even
though they came from God through man. You may wonder what I am trying to
say.

Understand though we may follow words from the Bible it is not necessary we
are doing the will of God. The Jews were people of the Book but they were
always accused by the Lord as people who did not know Him and who did not
obey Him, the reason was they never understood the Book / Law. They kept
the words of Moses which the Lord spoke through him yet it is written the
Jews kept the Law of Moses but when Jesus kept them it is written the Law
of the Lord.

Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3:6 the letter kills the Spirit gives life. Even
though we may be following the Bible yet we may be on the path of death and
not on the path of life. To really have life we need to have understanding
of the Bible and without understanding we will not have life. Life comes
from the understanding of scriptures, when the understanding becomes alive
in us and not by following or memorizing scriptures. Bible says the Law
came through Moses but Truth came through Jesus Christ meaning it was Jesus
who showed us the true understanding of the Law given through Moses. Jesus
called this understanding ‘Living water’. All water is not good for life
for impure water can be poisonous; it might not kill the person immediately
but will slowly destroy the life of the person. Jesus compared living water
like fresh spring which not only quenches thirst but even enriched the
person.

God gave us His Word through the ages yet He says He once again writes His
Word not on stones (or any dead material) but in our living hearts
(minds/spiritual man) and that too with His own Finger. The Finger of God
means the Spirit of God and it is writing of the Word in our hearts by
Spirit which we call baptism of the Spirit.

When we get baptized in the Holy Spirit the process of having the Living
Word in us, starts. It does not mean we immediately know everything, it
means we start the journey to know the Word. God does not expect us to
abide by the Book the day we accept Him in our lives but He does expect us
to abide by what the Spirit of God reveals to us of His Word.

In today’s message the Lord says if we love Him we will abide by the Law
that is in our hearts and when we do that Christ will be manifested in us.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray that your people do not follow the law of man in the name of
the Lord but follow the Law of the Lord as revealed by the Spirit of the
Lord. We pray that our hearts be like living tablets on which your Living
Word be engraved. We pray our bellies be springs of living water for
others...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

2 Corinthians 3:6 - Who also hath made us able ministers of the new
testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth,
but the spirit giveth life.

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

Luke 2:23 (As it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that
openeth the womb shall be called holy to the Lord;)

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?

John 4:10 - Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of
God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have
asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

John 7:38 - He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his
belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Hebrews 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of
Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their
mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they
shall be to me a people:

Hebrews 10:15-17

15 The Holy Spirit also is a witness to us: for after that he had said
before,

16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith
the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I
write them;

17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

Acts 7:42-51

42 Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of heaven; as it
is written in the book of the prophets, O ye house of Israel, have ye
offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in
the wilderness?

43 Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god
Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away
beyond Babylon.

44 Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had
appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the
fashion that he had seen.

45 Which also our fathers that came after brought in with Jesus into the
possession of the Gentiles, whom God drave out before the face of our
fathers, unto the days of David;

46 Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the
God of Jacob.

47 But Solomon built him an house.

48 Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith
the prophet,

49 Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye
build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?

50 Hath not my hand made all these things?

51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist
the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Disobedience of Men of God

Jonah 1:1 - Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, 
saying,

We see in today's message the Lord spoke to Jonah since Jonah was a Man 
of God. Jonah did love the Lord greatly, more than his life but Jonah 
did not understand the purpose and lacked knowledge of the Lord's power, 
the Lord's nature and the plans of God. Due to this lacking Jonah tried 
to over smart the Lord and we see at the end the Lord had a greater 
testimony through Jonah.

Today we have many Men of God who love the Lord dearly and have a great 
passion to do the Lord' work but due to their lack of knowledge of the 
Kingdom of God they do things which go contrary to the desires and 
purpose of the Lord.

Let's be clear in the Kingdom of God there is no Robinhoods. Our God is 
a righteous God and in His Kingdom things are black and white and there 
is nothing like grey. Yes the Lord is slow to anger and merciful, but 
that does not mean God is blind and has no principles. There are many 
Preachers, Pastors and Church leaders who do good things but use wrong 
means which the Lord would not approve of.

Just to give an example yesterday there was this brother who was a 
senior Church leader and was doing something that was not right. He 
wanted to do the Lord's work but the means was not right so when I tried 
to stop him in a gentle way he told me 'Jesus is coming soon' meaning he 
was trying reach people in a rush. I wanted to tell him it would have 
been better he read what he was distributing, had he understood it, he 
would know when Jesus would come (approximately), and secondly he would 
know any seed sown in wrong means will not bear good fruit. You would 
have a plant and even a tree but it would not have good fruit.

Men of God may say many things to justify their wrong means but at the 
background it is their ego, their fame, their status, their own carnal 
desires which they are trying to hide behind their work.

Jonah tried to hide his hatred for the people of Nineveh. He felt it was 
right to see these people be punished for the wrong they did to the 
Israelites. But he lack to know the heart of God or the nature and 
purpose of God.

We all know there is hardly and prophet in the Bible who would compare 
to Elijah. This man did great miracles, brining dead to life etc. many 
state him to be an example of a prophet but when John and James 
suggested to Jesus to punish a village for not accepting His message 
like Elijah did to the people by bring drought on them for not listening 
to the Lord, Jesus rebuked them and said what kind of spirit do they 
think He had.

We may do great work as Men of God in the eyes of the people but let us 
always give thought to see if God would find our work pleasing to Him. 
Woe is the day when the Lord asks us what spirit operates in us; while 
we always thought it was His Holy Spirit working in us.

Understand God does not need a great army to bring the world to know 
Him, He desires a man who surrenders to Him totally and walks in His 
ways to make the world to know Him. So let us not be many but little; 
even if we are few but mature in Him, He will go great things through us.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray we understand the purpose of your Kingdom and thus know 
that any means will not justify our work and that the means is the 
purpose of your Kingdom. You Lord are Almighty and Lord of the harvest. 
It is You who give the harvest and giving good yield harvest is in your 
hands. Lord we pray your people do not behave like Jonah to have great 
testimony on how bought them back to do your work but have a testimony 
of how You blessed them with a great harvest by their obedience to your 
voice...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Luke 10:2 - Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but 
the labourers are few [oligos also means little]: pray ye therefore the 
Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.

Matthew 25:23 - His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful 
servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things [oligos - little 
things], I will make thee ruler over many things [polus - large things]: 
enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Luke 9:52-56

[In some manuscripts the name Elijah is written and in some no name is 
written]

[BGT]

52And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of 
the Samaritans, to make preparations for him.

53But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward 
Jerusalem.

54And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you 
want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”

55But he turned and rebuked them.

56And they went on to another village.

[BYZ]

52And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a 
village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.

53And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would 
go to Jerusalem.

54And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt 
thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, 
even as Elias did?

55But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of 
spirit ye are of.

56For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save 
them. And they went to another village.

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

They will hate you for what you speak

Luke 23:4,5 - Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I 
find no fault in this man. And they were the more fierce, saying, He 
stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from 
Galilee to this place.

In today's message the Jews show why they hated Jesus and wanted Him 
dead and the scripture says because of what He taught.

Jesus spoke and it was not just talk but He accompanied this talk with 
action and this combination was getting to the people and causing the 
religious leaders and those concerned of the traditions of the Jews to 
worry so much that they wanted Him out of their way permanently.

We Christians are told to have nothing to do with unbelievers but yet we 
are not told to separate from them since if we are called to witness to 
them then we will also need to socialize with them. Jesus socialized 
with tax collectors, Pharisees, Sadducees etc. those who Christians 
would not like to socialize with. But Jesus knew they needed help more 
than anyone else so He spent more time with them.

We as Christians are called to separate ourselves with regards to 
beliefs and spiritual things with people of this world but we are called 
to dwell amongst them, to reach out to them and save them.

A good Christian is a Christian who has a good social circle of 
unbelievers who love him or her, yet get uncomfortable when he or she 
speaks about spiritual things. It shows he or she is making an effect on 
their lives. If he or she was just talk then they would not spare him or 
her but because his or she talk is also backed by action makes the 
people not to outright reject him or her and at the same time makes them 
uncomfortable to continue their way of life.

The Lord is telling is not to look at Christians to gauge how good a 
Christian we have ben but to look at non-Christians around us and see 
how good a Christian we have been.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, we as Christians are called to witness You to people of this 
world, a world that hates You. Lord we are also called to love those who 
hate us and pray for those who curse us. Lord we pray we know how and 
where to draw the line of socializing with people of the world so that 
we do not compromise You and the truth so as to please people of this 
world. That we make reach out to the people who dwell in darkness and 
show them the path of light...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

2 Corinthians 6:14 - Be ye not unequally yoked together with 
unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with 
unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

Romans 11:13Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an 
apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry

Ephesians 2:1-2

1For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you 
Gentiles—

2assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was 
given to me for you,

Matthew 5:44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse 
you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully 
use you, and persecute you;

Luke 6:22Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall 
separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out 
your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.

John 7:7The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify 
of it, that the works thereof are evil.

John 15:18If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it 
hated you.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13

9I wrote unto you in an epistle not to company with fornicators:

10Yet not altogether with the fornicators of this world, or with the 
covetous, or extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go 
out of the world.

11But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that 
is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a 
railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat.

12For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? do not ye 
judge them that are within?

13But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among 
yourselves that wicked person.

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

We will also enter our glory

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

We always think, and have been told that glory only belongs to God. We 
have been told that God is possessive of glory and He gets very angry 
when anyone else seeks glory. In the start I too was a little 
apprehensive of this nature of God.

Below in the references I have listed some scriptures, if one reads and 
understands them the person would see that glory is connected to the 
Name of the Lord and only those in His Name can expect glory.

What does glory mean? In English it means honor or fame but in Hebrew it 
comes from the root word which means of value or being precious and in 
Greek it comes from the root word which also means judgment or opinion 
or being accountable in other words means being at a position of 
responsibility or authority (in sense of judgment). Now give it a 
thought can I praise anyone or anything that is not perfect, or worthy, 
or not of high authority?

Man seeks fame and tries if lift himself up for man is among men but can 
God seek fame when there is no other God besides Him. True it angers God 
when man put an idol before Him and lifts it up to be another god, 
therefore God at times need to crush these thoughts of man and show man 
who He is.

We all have seen many Men of God seek fame for themselves and that too 
by the power of God working in them. Even though there is nothing that 
they can boast of as their own, yet they take pleasure when people 
praise them and this pleasure becomes an addiction and makes them live 
on praises of men.

Today the Lord is telling us true glory means being of substance and 
being responsible. If one understands truth and the term spiritual name, 
then one will know there is no other way of having glory other than by 
being in the Name of the Lord.

Today's scripture talks of Jesus Christ entering His glory in the Father 
by doing the mission He was called for. We too have a glory which we can 
enter into only if we do our mission in Christ who in turn has a share 
of glory in the Father. God actually desires we receive glory but we 
being corrupted with sin cannot come anywhere near glory. Jesus Christ 
was the first man (Son of Man) worthy of glory for He was without sin 
and we too can receive glory only through Him (His sacrifice, His Word & 
His Spirit).

Every Christian should seek glory, but not the worldly glory which is 
fame, but seek glory that is being of value and responsibility and this 
they can only found by being in Christ and by lifting His Name up. We 
are God's children and what is of the Father also belongs to us. Christ 
had this glory before and He gave up this glory (position) up for us by 
humbling Himself. Christ came so that we are lifted up and become a part 
of the Father by being a part of Him and thus we too may share the 
Father's glory. So let us not seek worldly fame but let us seek truth 
and spiritual substance by seeking to be glorified in the Father through 
Jesus Christ, by doing our mission in Him like He did.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, man as always sort fame which they thought to be glory. It is in 
You alone we come to know fame will not last if there is no value or 
substance in us and it is your glory which causes your Name to be known 
throughout generations. Lord help us to be men and women of substance so 
that we too be glorified in You with the glory not of this world but 
with true Heavenly glory...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Exodus 29:43 - And there I will meet with the children of Israel, and 
shall be sanctified by my glory.

Psalms 4:2 - O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into 
shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

Isaiah 42:6-8

6I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, 
and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a 
light of the Gentiles;

7To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and 
them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

8I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to 
another, neither my praise to graven images.

Isaiah 48:9-11

9For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I 
refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off.

10Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee 
in the furnace of affliction.

11For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how 
should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.

Jeremiah 2:11Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? 
but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

Luke 9:26For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him 
shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, 
and in his Father's, and of the holy angels.

John 17:24Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be 
with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given 
me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

John 5:27And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because 
he is the Son of man.

1 Corinthians 6:3Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more 
things that pertain to this life?

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Time is come for us to make Him known

Mark 3:12 - And he straitly charged them that they should not make him 
known.

We see in today's message Jesus restricting the evil spirits from 
disclosing who He is. They were not declaring Him as just 'Son of God' 
but declared Him as 'THE Son of God'. If we read the manuscripts almost 
all places which refer to Jesus Christ the Greek word 'O' meaning 'THE' 
is used, like The Jesus, The Christ etc. clearing distinguishing Him to 
be special / unique. People normally quote John 1:14,18 in which the 
word 'begotten' is used for Jesus in the Greek translation, but when we 
check the Greek text the word used is 'monogenes' which is a compound 
word made of 'is' and 'only'. So if one puts 'is only' meaning here then 
the text dimension changes and underlines the uniqueness of Jesus 
Christ. The uniqueness is not of Him being Christ (anointed one) or 
being Son of God (one who has the image of God) for there were many who 
called themselves as Christs and all those in Christ are also called 
'anointed ones' / little Christs / Christians, but yet when we call Him 
Christ we distinguish Him from among all others. Same way all who are 
led by the Spirit of God are called 'Sons of God' or even the Angels are 
called 'Sons of God' since Sonship has to do with the image of God in 
that being. But in the case of Jesus even though He was a Son of God He 
still was unique and thus referred as THE Son of God.

Now if one thinks logically it would be the most ideal situation where 
your enemy declares your supremacy. Imagine all the evil spirits (fallen 
angels) disclosing who Jesus was and they being removed in His name; 
would that not have been the simplest way for men to surrender to the 
authority of Jesus Christ. But Jesus Christ did not desire that.

It took me years to understand firstly who Jesus was and then His 
relation with God the Father; while understanding they are unique we 
need to also remember they are inseparable and one.

It is when I understood some of the terms in the Bible like the Hebrew 
word Ben / Son (only Sons go to Heaven but this is not related to the 
male gender in humans), what Spirit is, what Name is and how God being 
Spirit yet Lord Jesus Christ gave us His Spirit, showing a distinct 
difference between them.

Not going too deep I simply put that Lord Jesus Christ was PART of God 
(God the Son), who humbled Himself and became man. God is Holy thus even 
the PART of God could not be humbled to become man in the flesh thus a 
part became Son of Man and a part remained Spirit. If we understand 
Spirit we will know how by the Spirit the Son of Man (Jesus Christ) was 
born in the womb of a woman, thus making the Spirit the father of the 
child and the woman a surrogate mother.

What makes people think and understand the Lord Jesus Christ better is 
when I tell them after mankind (the Bride) has been redeemed and becomes 
one with Him in Heaven then do not expect to see Jesus Christ in Heaven. 
For a few seconds they think of me to be a heretic but if they are 
scripturally rooted they realize that God humbled Himself for a mission 
and once that mission is complete would He remain humbled? Jesus says in 
His prayer (John 17) that He desired to return to whom He came from and 
be one again with Him (the Father). By understanding this one will also 
know why Spirit of the Son is also the Spirit of the Father, why Jesus 
used the term I AM for Himself and why only in Him we have the assurance 
of salvation and eternal life.

Let us understand the triune nature of God is only with regards to the 
salvation of man but in Heaven God is one and we will be redeemed to 
become one with Him / part of God.

Jesus could have let the evil spirits (fallen angels) to disclose this 
but He did not desire fame or praise of man but desired man to willingly 
change his nature and become one with Him. Thus we who are His and who 
know Him through His Word and His Spirit are not restricted to declare 
Him to the world. So let us make known to the world who God is, and the 
love of this God which caused Him to humble Himself and become man so as 
to make is possible for man to become one with Him (the marriage).

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, we pray your people know You and make You known to the world. Let 
them not make You another deity among the non-existent deities of man. 
We pray that You be glorified for who You are, for your Nature and your 
position in Heaven of Heavens...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scripture]

John 1:48-51

48Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and 
said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the 
fig tree, I saw thee.

49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; 
thou art the King of Israel.

50Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee 
under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than 
these.

51And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye 
shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending 
upon the Son of man.

John 1:14 - And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we 
beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full 
of grace and truth.

John 1:18 - No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, 
which is in the bosom [creek] of the Father, he hath declared him.

Mark 12:29And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, 
Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:

Galatians 3:20Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.

John 17:5 - And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with 
the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

John 17:12 - While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you 
have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost 
except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.

John 8:58-59

58Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham 
was, I am.

59Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and 
went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

John 10:34-35

34Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

35If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the 
scripture cannot be broken;

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Do not lead people to you but to the Lord in you

Acts 5:15-16 - Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the 
streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow 
of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. There came also a 
multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick 
folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were 
healed every one.

We see the first time the Church went through persecution it was 
perceived by the incident which is stated in today's message.

It is great to see the power of God when people are healed and that too 
like in this incident where everyone was healed. We see the same 
happened with Jesus many a times but Jesus did not do it every time. We 
see at time people would touch Jesus and they would be healed but there 
times Jesus did not, like a time when Jesus was surprised when a woman 
stole a healing by touching the hem of His garment. Even though Jesus 
was (Part of) God who became man yet He did not draw people to glorify 
the man character of Him.

Here we see people were so much taken by the power of God working 
through Peter that they started to idolize him to that extend that they 
placed sick people on his way so that his shadow would fall and they get 
healed. Their focus moved from the God of Peter to the anointing on 
Peter. The people also tried the same with Paul by stealing his work 
cloths to blessed people and heal them.

People do not know where to draw the line between the Man of God and the 
power working in the Man of God. Peter may not be directly blamed for 
the people lifting him up or glorifying him but he could have stopped 
what was coming by rebuking them when they placed people on his pathway 
for his shadow to fall and heal them. Surely it was the Lord who did the 
healings through Peter but at times the Lord tests the hearts of His 
people to see if the people are focused on Him or more on His blessings, 
and at that time the Man of God / leader can be the important element.

We see the same happened with David in his battle with the Philistines. 
David was thirsty and it wasn't that there was no water at all among his 
army, but when David said he desired to drink from a specific well of 
Bethlehem. His people who idolized him did not discern his human part 
from the Man of God in him. David knew they were wrong and repented for 
his mistake but the Lord had not forgiven his people and the Lord put 
David to a test to count his people to which David failed and thus the 
Lord punished his people by sending an Angel to slew them.

A Man of God can stand between the wrath of God and the people but at 
the same time he can also be the cause of the downfall of his people. 
The moment the people start to glorify the man in the Man of God and not 
the God in the Man of God it is the duty of the Man of God to correct 
his people. If he takes pleasure in the praises of the people then he 
can be the cause of the problems of his people.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray your anointed ones know they are just vessels set for your 
work and everything comes for You alone. We pray your people know that 
You do not share your glory with anyone who is corrupt or not part of 
You. Father until we are part of You in Heaven where we will be 
glorified in You, we remember glory belongs to You alone, to You, your 
Son and your Spirit...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

2 Samuel 23:14-17

14David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines 
was then at Bethlehem.

15And David said longingly, “Oh, that someone would give me water to 
drink from the well of Bethlehem that is by the gate!”

16Then the three mighty men broke through the camp of the Philistines 
and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and 
carried and brought it to David. But he would not drink of it. He poured 
it out to the LORD

17and said, “Far be it from me, O LORD, that I should do this. Shall I 
drink the blood of the men who went at the risk of their lives?” 
Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did.

1 Chronicles 21:1 - Then Satan [adversary - destroying Angel] stood 
against Israel and incited David to number Israel.

2 Samuel 24:1-2,10-17

1And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he 
moved David against them to say, Go, number Israel and Judah.

2For the king said to Joab the captain of the host, which was with him, 
Go now through all the tribes of Israel, from Dan even to Beersheba, and 
number ye the people, that I may know the number of the people.

10And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And 
David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and 
now, I beseech thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for 
I have done very foolishly.

11For when David was up in the morning, the word of the LORD came unto 
the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying,

12Go and say unto David, Thus saith the LORD, I offer thee three things; 
choose thee one of them, that I may do it unto thee.

13So Gad came to David, and told him, and said unto him, Shall seven 
years of famine come unto thee in thy land? or wilt thou flee three 
months before thine enemies, while they pursue thee? or that there be 
three days' pestilence in thy land? now advise, and see what answer I 
shall return to him that sent me.

14And David said unto Gad, I am in a great strait: let us fall now into 
the hand of the LORD; for his mercies are great: and let me not fall 
into the hand of man.

15So the LORD sent a pestilence upon Israel from the morning even to the 
time appointed: and there died of the people from Dan even to Beersheba 
seventy thousand men.

16And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy 
it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that 
destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel 
of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.

17And David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the 
people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and I have done wickedly: but these 
sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, 
and against my father's house.

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Be children of the light

John 12:36 - While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be 
the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did 
hide himself from them.

In today's message we read of Jesus speaking of the light. He said while 
you have the light believe in the light. Most people would state Jesus 
was speaking of Himself as the light. We see after speaking this Jesus 
departed and hid Himself from them. If He was talking of Himself as the 
light would He hide Himself.

Now the Greek word used here is 'phos' and comes from the root word 
'phao' which means to manifest or radiate rays of light. To understand 
today's message one need to understand the nature of light from start to 
end. Light is a form of energy, it is a particle which travels in form 
of waves and it originates when high energy is released. Light travels 
very fast yet takes time to travel and is the largest means of measuring 
distance and by studying the wave, one can find how old this light is 
and also what its origin would be like and how far it would be. When 
light hits an object it reflects the nature of that object and at the 
same time also gets partly absorbed by the object becoming part of it.

The Humble space telescope captured light travelling through space and 
from that data they could find the (approximate) age of the universe (by 
the way this does not go against the Biblical creation but in fact 
proves the Bible true).

Jesus is the man, who God (Part of God) humbled and became. He was as 
much human as you and me. The power which worked in Him was not His own 
God power for if He did then His humbling and becoming an example 
(corner stone) would be a lie. So the power that worked in Him as man 
was the power of the Holy Spirit.

If we read in Genesis God spoke to Noah after the floods and He made a 
covenant between Noah (his generation) and between Him, that He will not 
destroy Noah's generation and the proof of that would be the rainbow 
(bow) in the sky. The rainbow is symbolic to the Seven Spirits of the 
Lord same as the Candle Stand with seven candles in the Tabernacle and 
is symbolic to the Holy Spirit. In other words God said His Spirit is 
not forever with man and there would be a time He would take back His 
Spirit from man and when that time comes, so will the complete 
destruction of man come. Like He said this time He would sake not just 
the earth but even other levels of the Heavens (lower Heavens i.e. Hell, 
Grave and our world - creation).

In today's message Jesus is telling us we become the light when we let 
the Holy Spirit to work through us and in us. He also says not to take 
for granted the Spirit of God and as quickly as we can we should let the 
Spirit of God to work in us and through us. Paul puts the term children 
of light as Sons of God by saying those who are led by the Spirit become 
Sons of God.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord let us be the light unto the world not shining our own light but 
glorifying the Holy Spirit and the works of the Spirit of God in us and 
through us. Lord we pray we led others not to us but to your Spirit 
since your Word says 'not by my might, nor by my power but by my 
Spirit'. Lord we pray we know the value and importance of your Spirit...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Genesis 9:9-16

9“Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you,

10and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the 
livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of 
the ark; it is for every beast of the earth.

11I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be 
cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a 
flood to destroy the earth.”

12And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me 
and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future 
generations:

13I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant 
between me and the earth.

14When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds,

15I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every 
living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a 
flood to destroy all flesh.

16When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the 
everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh 
that is on the earth.”

Genesis 6:3Then the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not abide in man 
forever, for he is flesh: his days shall be 120 years.”

Ezekiel 21:5-7

5And all flesh shall know that I am the LORD. I have drawn my sword from 
its sheath; it shall not be sheathed again.

6“As for you, son of man, groan; with breaking heart and bitter grief, 
groan before their eyes.

7And when they say to you, 'Why do you groan?' you shall say, 'Because 
of the news that it is coming. Every heart will melt, and all hands will 
be feeble; every spirit will faint, and all knees will be weak as water. 
Behold, it is coming, and it will be fulfilled,'” declares the Lord GOD.

Zechariah 4:6Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to 
Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD 
of hosts.

Revelation 4:2-5

2At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with 
one seated on the throne.

3And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and 
around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.

4Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones 
were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns 
on their heads.

5From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of 
thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which 
are the seven spirits of God,

Revelation 10:1 - Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from 
heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face 
was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire.

2 Peter 3:1-5

1This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In 
both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,

2that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the 
commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles,

3knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days 
with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.

4They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the 
fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the 
beginning of creation.”

5For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long 
ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word 
of God,

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Christian monuments are its people

Luke 24:23 - And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that 
they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

Imagine if the women that went to embalm the body of Jesus had actually 
found His body. If that had happened then Christians would have made a 
monument for this body and like other religions they would have 
worshiped this monument for the rest of mankind. There would have been 
annual pilgrimages from all over the world of Christians paying homage 
to this monument. If not annually they would at least make sure once a 
life time a Christian would have to visit this monument and to ensure 
this they would state, the person who does not, would not go to Heaven.

God is a living God and not a concept of some human. For God no 
structure made by the hands of man can do. He being Omnipotent and 
Spirit wants a monument more precious, and there is nothing more 
precious than the people themselves.

Let us look at other religions and see the way they treat their 
religious monuments and let us substitute these monuments with our 
lives. Like they secure these places let us secure our lives from evil. 
Like they keep these clean let us keep our lives free from sin.

Let us live our lives like living, holy monuments. Let us separate 
ourselves from unholy things and sanctifying ourselves for God.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, I pray people understand Christianity is not a religion but it is 
all about knowing the Truth. Lord we pray they know Christianity is 
about the people of God and Christ came to show them who they are. We 
pray Lord that your people may know what it means to be Israel - Prince 
of God by looking at Christ. Let us Lord live our lives like living holy 
monuments that glorify You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Romans 7:12 - Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and 
just, and good.

Romans 11:16 - For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and 
if the root be holy, so are the branches.

Romans 12:1 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, 
that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto 
God, which is your reasonable service.

1 Corinthians 3:17 - If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God 
destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Between 'eat' and 'seek what to eat' is the line drawn

Luke 12:29 - And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, 
neither be ye of doubtful mind.

People should not think that today's message tells us as Christians we 
are called not to eat food or drink or eat and drink less. God in no way 
is telling us to ignore our health and not to feed our bodies the 
nourishment it needs.

If one reads the scripture it clearly says 'seek not what' to eat or to 
drink. If one sees God was pleased with Daniel for he lived a sober 
life. Even though he dwelled in the palace of the greatest ruler of the 
world at that time yet he lived a life of a common Israelite. He took 
this decision because he was aware of the suffering of his other fellow 
brethren.

We as Christians as called to mourn and be sorrowful, yet to be joyful. 
We are called to be sorrowful because of our brethren who are lost and 
far from the Lord or are suffering due to their lack of spiritual 
growth. At the same time we are to be joyful because when trials come we 
know they will pass and soon our day of victory will come.

We as Christians are called to live a sober life knowing that the 
pleasures of this world may take us away from the Kingdom of God which 
we truly seek.

We as Christians should learn the meaning of overflow. When God blesses 
us more let us allow overflow to other vessels and not keep increasing 
the capacity of our vessel to contain more and more.

If we read the Greek word 'meteorizo' translate as double mind is a 
compound word which means 'not to be lifted or raised'.We see Paul too 
tells us to be sober irrespective of our age or spiritual growth and not 
to be lost in the pleasures of this world for the pleasures of this 
world cause us to be off guard and thus causes us to be spiritually asleep.

Again I like to point out as Christians we are called to nourish our 
body and take care of it, giving it what it needs in its time but we are 
called not to give what it desires. We are called to be sober in spirit 
not lost with the pleasures of this world, to be watchful of our 
thoughts and our deeds, watchful of the spiritual things that come 
against us and watchful of the times.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray we do not live for pleasing the desires of the flesh and 
perish. We pray we know where to draw the line of need and desire when 
it comes to things of this world. But Lord let us be thirsty and hungry 
more and more for the things of the Spirit. Teach us to be like Daniel 
whom You took pride in as calling him a righteous man. Even though You 
bless us more and more help us to not increase the standard of our 
living but increase the standards of our giving...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

1 Thessalonians 5:6-9

6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

7For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are 
drunken in the night.

8But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of 
faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our 
Lord Jesus Christ,

Luke 6:38 - Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed 
down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your 
bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be 
measured to you again.

Titus 2:1-14

1But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

2That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in 
charity, in patience.

3The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh 
holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good 
things;

4That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their 
husbands, to love their children,

5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own 
husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

6Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

7In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine 
shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

8Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary 
part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

9Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please 
them well in all things; not answering again;

10Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the 
doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should 
live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great 
God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, 
and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

Come out of the belly of the fish

Jonah 2:10 - And the LORD spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah 
upon the dry land.

We all must have heard the news of the US Supreme Court passing the law 
of same sex marriage across the US. We read this country was built by 
Christians and today we see this very Christian country is doing the 
most unchristian thing, the very thing which God truly hates.

You may wonder why I am raising this topic in today's message? Yes I am 
raising this topic for in today's message we know why this happened and 
understand what will happen and how this country is going to be saved.

We know Jonah who was a Man of God, he had good communication with God 
was told by the Lord to go on a mission to save Nineveh (in Hebrew means 
'abode of son' and in Greek means 'offspring of ease') but he hated the 
people of Nineveh so much that he went the other way so that the people 
of Nineveh face the wrath of God hoping that he would not reach in time 
even by force in any human way and what was spoken would come to pass. 
But we see God used an unnatural way to get Jonah to reach Nineveh and 
do what God had set him to.

USA was founded not by accident it was the Believers (Protestants) that 
founded this country. They were people who had fled the Catholic 
atrocities in Britain and France. We see the people of this country were 
and even today many are a blessing to Christians around the world. What 
one would wonder how could a country having a many great Christians 
(even a Christian President) would pass law like this? People cannot 
just blame him for this law since it was passed by the court and we see 
large part of the country celebrating it.

In today's message we understand how this happened.

The Hebrew word for fish is 'dag' and this word comes from the root word 
'dagah' which means growth or increase. The Lord is telling us in 
today's message this country was blessed with immense grace and the 
favor of the Lord was on it, like Jonah was blessed by the Lord and set 
for a mission so also was this country but then this country refused to 
do the mission the Lord had set it for so the Lord has caused it to be 
swallowed by a large fish called prosperity and every American had one 
aim and goal to be rich, even if they came to the Lord they would first 
ask to be blessed with prosperity. Like Jonah was in the belly for 3 
days and 3 nights so also we see this country was in the belly for 
almost 300years (the economy growth started in the early colonial times 
- 1800AD). We see in USA as country prospered so also Christian Churches 
prospered and became rich at the same time evil too has grew in the USA 
unlike anywhere in the world.

Today the only way for the Lord to save this country is to speak to 
their prosperity like the Lord spoke to the fish and the fish vomited 
Jonah out on dry land.

The Lord is telling them do not run after prosperity for even the 
children of Israel suffered greatly at the hands of Assyrians (the 
Hebrew word for Assyria means 'step' symbolizing prosperity). Nineveh 
was the capital of Assyria. The way the Assyrians killed the children of 
Israel even Hitler's concentration camps were like nursery compared to 
them.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray for your people who dwell in the land of USA. We pray You 
deliver them from facing your wrath. We pray Lord they seek You more 
than the riches and pleasures of this world. May they live for You and 
your Kingdom more than seek the kingdom of this world. We pray You speak 
to this fish in whose belly they are getting consumed and dying, may 
this fish vomit them on dry land of your grace and truth...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Jonah 1:1-3,11-17

1Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,

2Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their 
wickedness is come up before me.

3But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, 
and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he 
paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto 
Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.

11Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may 
be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.

12And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so 
shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great 
tempest is upon you.

13Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they 
could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.

14Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, 
we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon 
us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.

15So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea 
ceased from her raging.

16Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto 
the LORD, and made vows.

17Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah 
was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah 3

1And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying,

2Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the 
preaching that I bid thee.

3So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the 
LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey.

4And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, 
and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown.

5So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put 
on sackcloth, from the greatest of them even to the least of them.

6For word came unto the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, 
and he laid his robe from him, and covered him with sackcloth, and sat 
in ashes.

7And he caused it to be proclaimed and published through Nineveh by the 
decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, 
herd nor flock, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water:

8But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and cry mightily unto 
God: yea, let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the 
violence that is in their hands.

9Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from his fierce 
anger, that we perish not?

10And God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God 
repented of the evil, that he had said that he would do unto them; and 
he did it not.

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

By the witness of two or three matter is confirmed

Deuteronomy 19:15 - One witness shall not rise up against a man for any 
iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of 
two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be 
established.

We see in today's scripture the Lord specifies no person can be 
condemned for a crime by the witness of a person unless two or three 
witnesses confirm this matter. The Hebrew word used for witness here 
also means evidence so the Lord also says by single evidence no person 
can be convicted. To be convicted a person needs minimum two or three 
evidences.

Bible says the Lord abides by His Word (lifts His Word) so it means even 
for Him He cannot break His Law. In the Bible we see every prophecy will 
have 2 or 3 times being written in different books that is why we have 
the books of Moses, the books of the Prophets (Psalmsis considered part 
of books of the Prophets) and the New Testament. In Bible study the 
second stage of Bible study after concordance is cross-reference where 
scriptures across various books are linked which speak of the same 
matter/prophecy. So to establish an understanding one cannot do so just 
on one scripture but needs at least two or three scriptures from 
different books to confirm it. The Bible being the Word of God, God who 
is not a liar as man is, thus if we find any scripture (even one) going 
against our understanding, we need to drop that understanding like a hot 
potato (immediately).

In our last message we see God set the Son of Man to judge mankind and 
in today's message He says for Him also this Law is true therefore Jesus 
said He would not judge by His understanding alone but by the One who is 
True and that One is the Holy Spirit.

Bible says on that day the Books will be opened and if we go by today's 
message by single evidence we cannot be convicted, we need another one 
or two evidences to be convicted.

If we study our inner-man it also has a form like our physical body and 
various parts (5 parts) and one part of the inner-man holds records. 
Science seems to state the grey matter / cells in our brain hold 
information but they do not realize it is held in the inner-man 
therefore knowledge (like skills) can be inherited like curses are (that 
is why we see children getting smarter generation by generation).

On Judgment Day we will not have just Son of Man who will judge mankind 
but we will also have the Spirit of God testifying. We will also have 
not just the Book of Records of the Lord as evidence but we will also 
have our own book (the records in our inner-man) as evidence therefore 
there would be no justification we will be able to give for our misdoing.

Bible says only those who hold the Fruit of Truth (not human truth but 
the Truth of God which we get with the Help of the Holy Spirit - Spirit 
of Truth) in them would be covered by the Fruit of Righteousness by the 
Lord Jesus Christ (stated as the Blood of Jesus Christ) and will be able 
to enter Heaven. Heaven is not a place up (earth is round) but an upper 
/ higher dimension to what we exist in.

Let us understand we can fool man but cannot fool God for on Judgment 
Day we will not be able to justify ourselves. It is better we 
concentrate to hold the Truth of God in us and this Truth does not mean 
knowledge of the Bible but means the understanding which comes when we 
live the Word of God in our lives. That is why Jesus said when we keep 
His Word we are His disciples (who follow Him) and will know the Truth 
(for we will know more as we live more of the Word) and then the Truth 
will set us free.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we know when we believe in You we are not convicted for our sins 
but when we do not keep your Word or do not glorify You in our lives 
then our sins will convict us of rejecting your Word thus bring us to 
your wrath. Lord we pray we do not just seek your Word but also live it 
that we may receive the Truth and your Righteousness which Adam and Eve 
lost in the Garden of Eden and we thus thrown out...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

John 5:28-32

28Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are 
in the graves shall hear his voice,

29And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection 
of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

30I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment 
is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father 
which hath sent me.

31If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.

32There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the 
witness which he witnesseth of me is true.

Revelation 20:12 - And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before 
God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is 
the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which 
were written in the books, according to their works.

Psalms 138:2 - I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy 
name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified 
thy word above all thy name.

Acts 28:23 - And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to 
him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of 
God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and 
out of the prophets, from morning till evening.

Matthew 18:15-17

15Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him 
his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast 
gained thy brother.

16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, 
that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.

17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if 
he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man 
and a publican.

Ephesians 5:9 - (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and 
righteousness and truth;)

John 8:31-32

31Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in 
my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail

The Dragnet

Matthew 13:49,50 - So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels 
shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just,And shall 
cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing 
of teeth.

In today's message we see Jesus was explaining of how it will be at the 
end. He said the Angles would sort man like a fisherman sort fish. But 
here we see the Angels would be merciless to those who are not worthy of 
the Kingdom of God.

Last Sunday at a church where I preached a member came to me stating 'if 
man was made in the image of God how can he have sinned', he just could 
not digest the fact that near perfection could get corrupt. Like him I 
too had a question initially 'if God is truly righteous and if He is 
going to judge us on Judgment Day then it is impossible for any human to 
enter Heaven'. It was later this question of mine was answered by the Lord.

In John 5:27 Jesus says it pleased the Father that Son of Man judges all 
mankind. We see Jesus did not say God will judge man but said Son of Man 
will. We know when Jesus comes again He would come as man with His 
Angels and this world which includes the whole universe (and Grave too 
where believers sleep and have rose at His coming) will be no more at 
His shout which is a shout of an Archangel. That is why it is written 
all will see Him when He comes for there would be no geography (and many 
look at a geographical positioning on earth).

In today's message Jesus says it will be the (His) Angels that accompany 
Him when He comes back who will sort between the wicket and the just. 
When we put this with other scriptures we see here the wicked are not 
the unbelievers but are goats, which are part of the flock (those who 
believe in Him).

We should be glad that God set Man to judge mankind or else none would 
enter Heaven. It by His Word and His Spirit that Man judges all mankind 
(those who believe) that is why without baptism in Him and His Spirit no 
one can enter the Kingdom of God.

In today's message the Lord is pressing the alert button and reminding 
us that we cannot fool Him by calling ourselves 'Christian' like we fool 
this world. He is saying even His anointed ones will not be fooled on 
Judgment Day for they will deal in a merciless way on His behalf like 
Moses did when the children of Israel sinned at the foot of the mountain 
Sinai.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray that we do not behave like the children of Israel who 
perished in the desert due to the stiffness of their hearts. Lord we 
pray we learn to surrender to your Word and to your Spirit. We pray we 
do not stand with the goats but stand with the sheep on the Day of 
Judgment when we see You coming in your glory with your Angels...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Matthew 13:47-50

47Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into 
the sea, and gathered of every kind:

48Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and 
gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away.

49So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, 
and sever the wicked from among the just,

50And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing 
and gnashing of teeth.

John 5:27 - And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, 
because he is the Son of man.

Exodus 32:9-28 (please read to understand this message better)

1 Thessalonians 4:16 - For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven 
with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of 
God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Matthew 25:31-34,

31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels 
with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate 
them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

-- 
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
SavedbyFaith.info - Daily Mail