R.D SOUZA Saved by faith

Behold my brother, sister and mother

Matthew 12:49,50And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, 
and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the 
will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and 
sister, and mother.

The Bible gives us the Truth, even though it tells us of great Men and 
Women of God it does not fail to expose the weakness and failures of 
each and every one of them from Noah to John & Peter including Mary the 
mother of Jesus.

Mary's submission to the will of God is seen as a great example of 
faith. Her dedication to Jesus Christ is seen by her sticking to Jesus 
at the cost of leaving her other children even when He was crucified on 
the crucifix. She along with her sister Salome (mother of John and James 
whom Jesus called lovingly also Mary) and Mary Magdalene (her younger 
son James was also there with them) did not fear the large crowd of 
people mocking and abusing Jesus as He hung from the cross.

Mary Magdalene and Salome's name do not show up after the death of Jesus 
but we see his mother Mary was there with the Apostles for a period of time.

There are 3 incidents in which Mary displeased Jesus.

The first time was when Jesus as a 12 year child was lost on their 
journey to the temple and found later (they had gone to fulfil a Jewish 
custom). Mary was worried when she realized Jesus was lost and when she 
found Him she scolded Him for not sticking with them. Instead of quietly 
listening or apologizing Jesus reminds her about His mission, He later 
keeps quiet. Mary feels bad and hurt for Jesus as a child spoke to her 
in a firm tone, which He had never done before. The scriptures say Mary 
'kept all these sayings in her heart', people think Mary as a disciple 
of Jesus remembered the words as teaching, that is not the case it was a 
mother who was hurt by the firm words of her little son.

The second time was at the marriage of Mary's daughter at Cana. At the 
marriage Mary was helping in the arrangements and looking after the 
guest needs therefore went 3 days before the marriage ceremony. Jesus 
came to the marriage ceremony later along with His disciples. When the 
host (the family of the groom hosted the marriage for according to 
customs the event is held at the house of the groom) ran out of wine 
Mary became desperate and asked Jesus to help. Since it was just to keep 
the reputation of the host Jesus was not keen to help, for everything He 
did was to glorify God and not Himself. But then under persistent 
persuasion of His mother He did turn water into wine. The Bible makes it 
a point to note the unhappiness of Jesus to do this miracle, it also 
says after the miracle Jesus' showed His glory and not the glory of His 
Father in Heaven, which was what Jesus did not want at all. If Jesus 
wanted just to make disciples He could have done many things which 
people would have been fascinated with and believe Him, which He did 
not. In all things that Jesus did, He did with purpose and the purpose 
was to glorify the Father and not Himself. He always desired the Father 
to glorify Him and He glorify Himself.

The third incident is the one given in today's message. This incident is 
better recorded by Mark in his Gospel. At this moment Jesus was accused 
by the Jews to have powers to do things by demons in Him. Mary and one 
of her sons on hearing this got worried and came running to see if Jesus 
was okay.

Jesus at that time was preaching in a house which was fully crowded, 
Mary and her son could not enter the house, but the anxiety to know of 
His wellbeing could not let Mary and her son to wait patiently outside. 
In between His preaching they send in a message asking Jesus come out to 
meet them. At this Jesus gets upset. Firstly they went to the level of 
thinking Jesus was affected with an evil spirit and then they showed 
their impatience. When He is asked about His blessed family, Jesus 
angrily says His real family is those who do the will of the Father.

Today the Lord is telling us even at the times when we are disturbed or 
shaken in faith if we still believe in Jesus and hold on to Him, it 
pleases Jesus. The will of the Father is that people accept His Son and 
come to Him through Him. If we do the will of the Father then we are 
family to Jesus and Jesus says where He is we too will be. When Jesus 
ascended after 40 days of His resurrection He specified He was going to 
the House of the Father. The House of the Father is only for family 
members so let is never loss hope in Jesus or forsake Him if we want to 
be family and dwell in the House of the Father.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You came as man to be the way for mankind to be saved. You are the 
only way for it is only our faith in You we receive the Holy Spirit and 
it is by the power of the Holy Spirit we are saved. Lord, help us to 
never forsake You or be shaken in our faith in You. That we may always 
remain to be your Family...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Luke 2:44-51

44But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's 
journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.

45And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, 
seeking him.

46And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the 
temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and 
asking them questions.

47And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.

48And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, 
Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have 
sought thee sorrowing.

49And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I 
must be about my Father's business?

50And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.

51And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto 
them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

John 2:1-11

1And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the 
mother of Jesus was there:

2And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.

3And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They 
have no wine.

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

5His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it.

6And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of 
the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.

7Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled 
them up to the brim.

8And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the 
feast. And they bare it.

9When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, 
and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water 
knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,

10And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good 
wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou 
hast kept the good wine until now.

11This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and 
manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.

Matthew 12:46-50

46While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren 
stood without, desiring to speak with him.

47Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand 
without, desiring to speak with thee.

48But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and 
who are my brethren?

49And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold 
my mother and my brethren!

50For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the 
same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

Mark 3:30-35

30Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

31There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, 
sent unto him, calling him.

32And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy 
mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

33And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren?

34And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, 
Behold my mother and my brethren!

35For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my 
sister, and mother.

Luke 11:26-28

26Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than 
himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that 
man is worse than the first.

27And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the 
company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that 
bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.

28But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, 
and keep it.

Matthew 5:16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your 
good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

John 12:26-30

26If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall 
also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

27Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from 
this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

28Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, 
I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

29The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it 
thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.

30Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for 
your sakes.

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Hell and Heaven experiences

Lamentation 3: 55,56 - I called upon thy name, O LORD, out of the low 
dungeon. Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, 
at my cry.

Jeremiah was a mighty Man of God and was the most hated by the people of 
his time because he always became a thorn for them since they were 
living an ungodly life while calling themselves people of God. Whenever 
Jeremiah spoke in the Name of the Lord, the people would hate it for 
they wanted to live a life like the worldly people, worshiping many gods 
like them and also have God as one of the many gods they had.

They put Jeremiah in a dungeon and a historian was explaining how this 
dungeon was and how Jeremiah was lowered in it; how he was bonded and 
kept in it for many days. Jeremiah states this dungeon / pit experience 
was like hell (lowest pit).

There are many people who claim to have visited hell or heaven and many 
Christian sadly fall for these lies. This happens because of lack of 
understanding of scriptures. People do not go by what scriptures state 
but go by the pictures or painting which has been drilled in them from 
childhood. Ask any person what is hell and they say a place where 
eternal fire is burning, a place where Satan and his goons rule. They 
put people who fall there into pots of burning oil (like cooking them) 
and enjoy doing it. And when you ask them about Heaven they give a 
fairy-tale picture of grand castle of gold, bright lights and greenery. 
The most common is of Jesus Christ as a man wearing a golden crown 
standing with open arms to receive them on steps of gold having a grand 
arch gate at its mouth.

Paul himself when he had a Heaven experience at his early spiritual 
stage was not able to tell how this happened, note in consecutive 
sentences he again repeats his doubt, if he had a vision or it was an 
out of bodily (spirit) experience. But we have people who directly claim 
to an out of body /in spirit gone to hell or Heaven and returned.

Paul did not claim any fairy-tale experience but from his letters we see 
the Lord made him understand through this vision the levels of Heaven 
and the differences at the various levels.

Before I too would believe these people who claimed hell and Heaven 
experiences, but when the Lord explained what hell and Heaven was to me, 
today I can easily discern these people's claims.

It was claims like these which caused the early Catholic Church to 
believe in a fictitious place called Purgatory. After they fell for 
these visions, they then started searching for scriptures which 
supported it. Since they could find it in the 66 books of the Bible they 
added some books to the Bible which seem to support this concept called 
Purgatory and many of their non-biblical beliefs. For 1400 years they 
read these additional books as reference books and not as canonized 
books but when they were questioned on their false beliefs and wanted 
something to support their false beliefs they canonized these books and 
today say it is in the Bible.

God warned that false prophets would lead us away from the Truth when we 
start to believe in them more than God and God's Word.

It is always good to understand the Old Testament through the New 
Testament for Jesus understood it and so also the Apostles when they 
were baptized in the Holy Spirit, but the Jews never understood the 
Torah or the Books of the Prophets even though they claimed, and claim 
to be scholars of it. Therefore to go Jewish understanding of scriptures 
would be a great mistake. The Jewish have a similar to the Catholic 
understanding of hell and Heaven (but without Jesus for they think Jesus 
is in hell).

Today God is warning us about believing people and their visions unless 
we confirm them with the Word of God. If we find them stating anything 
that is contrary to the Word, we need to immediately reject their visions.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, your people are far from the understanding of scriptures therefore 
fall prey to deceit. People claim to be your representatives and through 
these distorted visions misled your people and slowly make them believe 
in lies and vanity. Lord we pray your people be strong in understanding 
of scriptures and not fall prey to the deceivers...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

2 Corinthians 12:2-5

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.

3And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I 
cannot tell: God knoweth;)

4How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, 
which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

5Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in 
mine infirmities.

Luke 16:19-31

19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine 
linen, and fared sumptuously every day:

20And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his 
gate, full of sores,

21And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's 
table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.

22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the 
angels into Abraham' s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;

23And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham 
afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send 
Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my 
tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst 
thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is 
comforted, and thou art tormented.

26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: 
so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they 
pass to us, that would come from thence.

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

28For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they 
also come into this place of torment.

29Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them 
hear them.

30And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the 
dead, they will repent.

31And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither 
will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

1 Peter 3:18-20

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

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

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

Revelation 2:10 - Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: 
behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be 
tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto 
death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Revelation 20:7 - And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall 
be loosed out of his prison,

Proverbs 15:11Hell and destruction are before the LORD: how much more 
then the hearts of the children of men?

Isaiah 14:15Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Psalms 139:8If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed 
in hell, behold, thou art there.

Revelation 20:1And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key 
of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
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Not doing evil will not take you to Heaven

Psalms 37:27 - Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.

A few weeks back I met with a Catholic Priest and was discussing the 
Bible with him. He was justifying his decision to follow Catholicism and 
the one of his main points was that if a person does not sin and 
believes in Jesus that person qualifies to be a good Christian and would 
go to Heaven. I pointed to him scriptures in which the Bible clearly 
states like in today's message that as Christians just not sinning does 
not qualify us to Heaven, he was taken back and kept shut.

Today's message very clearly tells us if we need to dwell forevermore we 
need not to sin AND do good. To dwell forever means one needs to go to 
Heaven, for in Heaven alone can man dwell for ever since we need to have 
access to the Tree of Life which is in Heaven to eat of it.

Another every important factor one needs to understand, doing good does 
not mean just social work like giving alms or looking after the sick or 
needy, these things are important but do not qualify a person to 
good/perfect works. Our God is Spirit and the real good happens when we 
help the spirit of that person, which includes bringing them to the Lord 
and building them in the Lord. God is good and He came as man not just 
to feed man or heal them but to save them from spiritual death.

If we feed the hungry with natural food we also need to give them 
spiritual food (Gospel/Word of God). If we give the thirsty water to 
drink we also need to give them Living Water - which is the 
understanding of the Kingdom of God. If we cloth the naked with cloths 
we also need to teach them to cloth themselves with the righteousness of 
Jesus Christ by abiding in His Word and Spirit. If we give shelter to 
the homeless we also need to look after those who do not know God and 
desire Him. If we do the former and not the later we do not qualify to 
go to Heaven, also we need to note if we are truly doing the later we 
will automatically do the former, for the later without the former 
cannot be truly done.

So brother and sisters in Christ, even if you are able to escape 
temptation and keep yourself from sinning, do not be deceived that you 
will be with Jesus Christ in His Kingdom when He comes in glory. Jesus 
did His Father's Will and gave us a mission to do, do that mission is 
doing is the Father's Will if we do not abide by it, can we say we 
really believe in Him and love Him?

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, many are deceived into thinking they will be with You when You 
come in glory and dwell with You in Heaven. You have said even if we do 
miracles or preach about You and do not do the Will of the Father we 
will not enter Heaven and have eternal life. Lord, open the eyes of your 
people and let them know You are a love and You showed us how to love 
truly. Lord Jesus You fed people and healed them in the natural but at 
the same time You did greater things for them in the spiritual. Help us 
to be your true disciple by imitating You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Matthew 7:21-23

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.

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

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

James 1:27 - Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is 
this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to 
keep himself unspotted from the world.

1 Peter 1:16-25

16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

17And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth 
according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in 
fear:

18Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible 
things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by 
tradition from your fathers;

19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish 
and without spot:

20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but 
was manifest in these last times for you,

21Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and 
gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

22Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the 
Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another 
with a pure heart fervently:

23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by 
the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

24For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of 
grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away:

25But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which 
by the gospel is preached unto you. 
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Dig drenches in the dried valley and be filled

2 Kings 3:16 - And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full 
of ditches.

If one reads 2 Kings 3:14-24 one will see God asked the Israelites to 
make drenches in the dried valley and miraculously the drenches get 
filled with water. This water was to quench the thirst of the 
Israelites, of their cattle and the other animals with them. But one 
thing the Israelites did not dream of was that the same water would also 
play an important role in their victory over the Moabites. For when the 
Moabites saw the water from far it looked like blood and this caused 
them to walk into a trap in which they were defeated.

We read one of the greatest enemies of the Israelites were the Moabites. 
The Israelites struggled with them over years and years of battle. Here 
their obedience to God bore fruit and victory over something they did 
not dream of.

In today's message the Lord is again telling us to dig drenches in our 
valleys, so that He can fill them with water. You may ask what valley 
and what water?

When we read Isaiah 40:4 the valleys symbolizes our lack in our 
spiritual life (knowledge) and mountains as the puffed up or the extra 
we think we know. The Lord says He will lift the valleys and level down 
the mountains so that we come to one understanding.

In today's message the Lord is talking to those dwelling n valleys, 
those who are lacking or thirsting for knowledge of the Kingdom of God. 
God is telling them to dig drenches that means meditate on the little 
they have, to go deeper into the little they know and soon the Lord will 
fill them with great streams of understanding (water). Jesus called this 
water as living water, which symbolizes Heavenly understanding which 
gives life. The understanding of this world does not satisfy any person, 
it brings them back to where they started. Even though the understanding 
of the Kingdom of God makes a person humble to understand how much more 
they need to know, yet it does not take the person back but lifts the 
person as they grow in understanding.

Another thing the Lord is telling us, this understanding which He is 
going to bless us with will not only quench our thirst and the thirst of 
the Believers with us but will also help us relate to those around us 
and the situations around us. It will also help us get victory over 
those areas in our lives which we have been battling since a long time 
and found them impossible to overcome.

Let us be obedient to the Lord and like the Israelites who must have 
thought it foolish to dig in a barren land, yet did it out of obedience 
to the Lord, let us too meditate on the little we know even though we 
may think what is the use of meditating on what we already know. Surely 
the Lord as promised with fill the drenches we dig with understanding 
that will not only quench us but also protect and give us victory over 
or problem areas.

[Prayer Starters]

Lord, there are many time we glance through scriptures thinking we know 
them and what more is to understand in them. But as instructed today by 
You if we dig into them You will surely reveal great understand that 
will change our lives and the lives of those with us. It will also help 
us overcome the areas in our lives wherein we have been struggling since 
long. Lord, we pray that we learn to meditate on the little things of 
thy Kingdom and thirst for more of You so that we be filled more and 
more of You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

2 Kings 3:14-24

14And Elisha said, As the LORD of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, 
surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king 
of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.

15But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel 
played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

16And he said, Thus saith the LORD, Make this valley full of ditches.

17For thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see 
rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, 
both ye, and your cattle, and your beasts.

18And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will 
deliver the Moabites also into your hand.

19And ye shall smite every fenced city, and every choice city, and shall 
fell every good tree, and stop all wells of water, and mar every good 
piece of land with stones.

20And it came to pass in the morning, when the meat offering was 
offered, that, behold, there came water by the way of Edom, and the 
country was filled with water.

21And when all the Moabites heard that the kings were come up to fight 
against them, they gathered all that were able to put on armour, and 
upward, and stood in the border.

22And they rose up early in the morning, and the sun shone upon the 
water, and the Moabites saw the water on the other side as red as blood:

23And they said, This is blood: the kings are surely slain, and they 
have smitten one another: now therefore, Moab, to the spoil.

24And when they came to the camp of Israel, the Israelites rose up and 
smote the Moabites, so that they fled before them: but they went forward 
smiting the Moabites, even in their country.

Isaiah 40:4 - Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill 
shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough 
places plain:
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Religious harmony does God support it?
Exodus 34:12-14

12Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants 
of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:

13But ye shall destroy their altars, break their images, and cut down 
their groves:

14For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is 
Jealous, is a jealous God:

In today's message we read about God clearly instructing us not to make 
any covenant or agreement with people of other religions that leads us 
to support or tolerate their religious believes or gods. Does that mean 
we should be like the extremist Muslims in Islamic countries who break 
statues of other religions and burn down their temples or places of 
worship? On the other hand we have the Catholics who do not believe in 
this scripture thinking since it is in the Old Testament therefore does 
not need to be followed.

We need to understand in the New Covenant Jesus did not change the 
Covenant that continued from Noah to Abraham to Isaac to Jacob to Moses 
to David and finally to Jesus. The Bible says Jesus only added Truth and 
Grace. That means by Him we come to understand the Covenant better and 
also are saved from the consequence of failing our part of the Covenant 
by His grace due to our faith in Him.

When Jesus preached He quoted the Old Testament often and told the 
people they needed to abide by them but made them understand it in a way 
they never did. People till then, followed the letter but Jesus showed 
them that the spirit of the text (understanding) was more important than 
blindly following the text. Paul said the text kills (cause traditions 
which destroy faith) and the spirit of the text (understanding which 
builds faith) gives life, since faith saves us.

We see the Catholic promote religious harmony. Pope John Paul II and 
then Benedict and now Francis all these Popes and those before promoted 
interfaith gathering bringing God and Satan on the same platform at the 
same level, which means glorifying Satan and bring down of God.

Today's message does not tell us to do violence towards other religions; 
in fact in the book of Moses God has rules of how we should behave 
towards strangers (unbelievers) amongst us. He tells us to be just 
towards them and Jesus also says we should love them. So God always 
guides us to tolerate the unbeliever but not towards the beliefs of the 
unbeliever. Break statues do not make much success in fact harden people 
and make them more determent to make more and bigger ones. What we need 
to break is the statues in people and the only way is by giving them the 
Truth, not only in words but also by our living. Unless they do not see 
the power of God and the effect of God in our lives how would they know 
our God is not like their non-existent gods but is a Living God.

Paul says in his letter to the people of Corinth even though he was 
People of the Way (what Christians were called before) yet he became 
them when he was with Jews and those without law that he gain them. Both 
these people were worshippers of Jehovah but had differences of 
understanding of scriptures.

We can go from one denomination to another as far as we worship the one 
God, but we cannot go from one religion to another. We should reach out 
to the people of other religions but not their religions - their beliefs 
and their traditions.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You are a Jealous God. You love us like a mother loves her 
children and no mother will allow her children to be taken by another 
mother especially when she knows that mother is going to harm her 
children and put them to death. Lord we pray your people are not 
deceived by the teachings of this world. That they do not bite the bait 
of deceit in the name of worldly peace, peace comes only from You, for 
You are the giver of peace...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Exodus 22:21Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye 
were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 23:9Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart 
of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Leviticus 19:34But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you 
as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were 
strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Matthew 5:43-48

43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, 
and hate thine enemy.

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;

45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he 
maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on 
the just and on the unjust.

46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even 
the publicans the same?

47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do 
not even the publicans so?

48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is 
perfect.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant 
unto all, that I might gain the more.

20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to 
them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them 
that are under the law;

21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law 
to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are 
without law.

22To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made 
all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

23And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof 
with you.

Collosians 3:10-14

10And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the 
image of him that created him:

11Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, 
Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of 
mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

13Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a 
quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

14And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of 
perfectness.
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Anointing and Men of God

Numbers 22:10, 11 - And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, 
king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, Behold, there is a people come 
out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me 
them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.

In today's message we read that king Balak the king of Moab asks Balaam 
the Prophet to curse the children of Israel so that he can overcome them 
and drive them away.

Firstly we see Balak acknowledges the might of Israel and also 
acknowledges the mighty power of the God of Israel being behind them.

Secondly we see Balak also knows that Balaam who is not of Israel is yet 
connected to the God of Israel and has a standing with Him, such that if 
Balaam curses them then Balak would get an opportunity to defeat them.

Balak was not a believer of the God of Israel but yet he was not 
ignorant of the God of Israel. Balak also was aware the power Balaam had 
in his standing with the God of Israel therefore approach him for help.

We all know how Balaam got tempted for the riches of the world and 
cunningly sold the people of God and thus his God. We also know how God 
later had him punished in a severe way.

Balaam was not an ordinary Prophet, if one studies his words in depth 
one would for a great surprise for he spoke of Christ the King and of 
the end times. Here we see a Man of God over a period of time got 
tempted and sold his anointing for the riches of the world.

In our last message we read about Elisha who was one of the greatest 
Prophets in the OT, who did one of the greatest miracles almost equal or 
more than that of Moses and Elijah. He parted the Jordan River like 
Moses did to the Red sea and Elijah to the Jordan. He also bought dead 
to life like Jesus did. He manifested the power of God by showing the 
Angels of God surrounding him.

If we look closely we see a difference between Moses, Elijah, Balaam and 
Elisha. The former Moses, Elijah and also Balaam were anointed by God 
directly. Even in the case of David the Lord had sent Samuel to anoint 
him. But in the case of Elisha we see he got his anointing from Elijah. 
Even though he got a double portion of anointing and did great things 
yet he had no standing with God like Moses, Elijah or David. We read in 
the Gospels Jesus spoke of the Prophets or quoted them and in no place 
did Jesus speak about Elisha. There is one incident (Luke 9:54-55) where 
James and John suggests Jesus if they could command fire to come from 
Heaven and consume people of a village of Samaritans like Elisha did, 
but Jesus rebukes them saying 'Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of'.

The double anointing of Elisha had the power to bring a dead to life and 
too after many years but that same anointing did not help him through 
his own death.
Like we have Shunamatites in Churches we also have leaders/Men of God 
who are like Balaam and Elisha. There are leaders like Balaam who want 
to encash on their anointing. They prefer being blessed in this world 
rather than being blessed with spiritual thing in Heaven. Then there are 
Men of God like Elisha who want to have more and more anointing. They 
may not want material riches, put they get high on name, fame, power as 
Men of God. They will be dedicated to God and also glorify God but they 
will also tap into the glory of God. These are the people who started 
their spiritual journey by running after other Men of God and the God 
behind those Men. God may use people like Elisha to anoint His people, 
they will receive God's anointing and not the Man of God's anointing. It 
is only those who seek a Man of God's anointing and go after the Man of 
God, will receive a Man of God's anointing and not the Lord's anointing.

Today the Lord is asking each and every leader as Men of God who do they 
represent and whom do they glorify? The Lord is also asking them to 
think about their purpose for taking up the mantle of anointing of the 
Lord is it for the CROSS of Jesus Christ or is it for something else?

To the people of God Jesus warns in Matthew 19:12 about 3 types of 
Officials of the Kingdom of God (Men of God). First, are those whom God 
has selected even before they were born, then there are those whom men 
have made Men of God and lastly there are those who have made themselves 
Men of God.

It is sad to see many young people called for the Cause of Christ get 
impressed by after Men of God and run after the anointing on them. For 
example there are today many young preachers, who have the anointing of 
preachers like T. D. Jakes for they thirst more of him than Kingdom of 
God, close your natural eyes and open your spiritual eyes when they 
preach and you will know. I know of some who copy even the way he 
stands, talks, walks or cough.

Even though we are called to respect all yet let us have wisdom as to 
discern them and be cautious of them. Let us not run after people 
because of their prophecies neither after them because of the great 
things they do in the name of the Lord. Let us always be focused on the 
Lord and Him alone let us seek.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You have called us for greater things as your people. You call us 
Princes but our princely kingdom is not of this world. In this world we 
are called to be servants serving the purpose of the Family - the 
brethren in Christ - the Body of Christ. Lord we pray You give wisdom to 
your people to discern the intentions of the leaders and be cautious as 
to where they are led. Lord may the leaders seek to be glorified by You 
and not by the people of this world, also may they seek the riches of 
your Kingdom and not of the kingdom of this world...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Micah 6:5 - O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, 
and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; 
that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.

2 Peter 2:15 - Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, 
following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of 
unrighteousness;

Numbers 24:1-9

1 And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went 
not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face 
toward the wilderness.

2And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents 
according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him.

3And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, 
and the man whose eyes are open hath said:

4He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the 
Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open:

5How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel!

6As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, 
as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar 
trees beside the waters.

7He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in 
many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom 
shall be exalted.

8God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of 
an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break 
their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

9He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir 
him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth 
thee.

2 Kings 2:8 - And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and 
smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they 
two went over on dry ground.

2 Kings 2:6-15

6And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath 
sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul 
liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.

7And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar 
off: and they two stood by Jordan.

8And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the 
waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went 
over on dry ground.

9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto 
Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. 
And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

10And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see 
me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it 
shall not be so.

11And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, 
there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them 
both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

12And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of 
Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took 
hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.

13 He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went 
back, and stood by the bank of Jordan;

14And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the 
waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had 
smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.

15And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw 
him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came 
to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.

2 Kings 13:21 - And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, 
behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the 
sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the 
bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet.

Luke 9:54-55

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.

Matthew 19:12 - For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from 
their mother's womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs 
of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the 
kingdom of heaven's sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.

Matthew 10:41 - He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet 
shall receive a prophet' s reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man 
in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
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Prayer without words
Psalms 17:1 - Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry [signing], give
ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned [deceitful] lips.

It is very common that Christians judge other Christian’s spiritual life by
the prayers they make. Once it happened with me a person I invited someone
from my Church to attend one of my Bible classes. The revelations I shared
at the class shock him very much and he did not like it, he was very upset
and came bombarding me. I asked him to point out the wrong he found which
was not according to scripture and he could not give me even one point. He
expected me to share things which he had already heard; something fresh
from the Lord was too much for him. At the end there was only one point he
could point towards me and that was my opening prayer, he called it a weak
prayer.

I had made a simple prayer of just 2 or 3 lines asking the Lord to take
charge of us, of our minds and everything I speak would be not of my
thinking but from Him. This I spoke in one standard tone without any
shouting or variation in tones.

When people pray many a times I get an insight of their spiritual life not
by the theatrics they use but by understanding the words they speak. It
shows their spiritual understanding the real riches they hold. It does not
require them to declare great things but requires them to be correct in
their words, not contradicting the Word of God.

When it comes to God, He too does not go by the theatrics we use in our
prayer or in our worship. We may be shouting, using hi-fi words, lifting
our hands, kneeling down or dancing our life away during worship but yet
these as not the things that affect God or impress Him.

When we pray or worship God it is not our words, our quality of singing or
the actions we do which impress God, it is the things that come from our
heart that really impresses Him.

In today’s message David one of the greatest worshipper of God says to the
Lord through this psalm, ‘do not give attention to my worship or the words
that come out of my mouth, but give attention to what comes from my heart’.
He goes to the extent to call his own mouth a deceitful mouth.

When we kneel or lift our hands or dance or bow it is to help us make the
corresponding affect in the communication which comes from our heart to the
Lord. If we do these are done in the subconscious level they become just
actions like rituals and these God hates. So it is important when we do
these actions they should have their symbolic effect in our real
communication with God.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You are Spirit and your true worshippers worship You in Spirit and
Truth. Lord, help us to truly communicate with You from the depths of our
hearts. Let not our actions be just vain actions but come with meaning...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Isaiah 1:12-17

12 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand,
to tread my courts?

13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the
new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it
is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a
trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you:
yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of
blood.

16 Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before
mine eyes; cease to do evil;

17 Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the
fatherless, plead for the widow.

Ecclesiastes 5:7 - For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are
also divers vanities: but fear thou God.

Mark 12:38-40

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

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

40 Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers:
these shall receive greater damnation.
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The Shunammites in Church

2 Kings 4:25 - So she went and came unto the man of God to mount Carmel. 
And it came to pass, when the man of God saw her afar off, that he said 
to Gehazi his servant, Behold, yonder is that Shunammite:

The chronicle of Elisha and the Shunammite woman is an excellent study 
of the mistakes Men of God make and how yet the Lord saves their face 
when they spiritually wrestle with the Lord. It also exposes those who 
gather is Churches but are far from God.

The rich, socialite Shunammite woman respected Elisha and went out of 
her way to be in good books with Elisha but was far from the God of 
Elisha. She respected Elisha as a Man of God but did not know the God 
whom Elisha represented. Elisha went out of the way to bless her with a 
son because he wanted to reciprocate the favour she had done; but then 
Elisha had to really struggle with the Lord later to keep that blessing, 
when the son whom he had blessed her with died. For the woman the son 
was not a gift from God but a gift from Elisha and then Elisha had to 
sleep on the child head to head, hand to hand, leg to leg many a times, 
indicating to the Lord to take his life but give the child life. Elisha 
was the Peter of the Old Testament; he did great miracles but also one 
of the greatest blunders.

The understanding of this event helped me to be careful when ministering 
to others. There was a Hindu family I was (am) ministering and at 2 
occasions God has used me to show this family His healing power. The 
family members have great respect for me and consider me a Man of God. 
At one time when a member of the family was on the verge of death in ICU 
they hurryingly called me. They had people standing that the entrance of 
the hospital to guide me in so as to save the person. Before I went 
there the Lord had told me it was the end for that person. But to keep 
my respect I struggled with the Lord. That person became alright and was 
even moved out of the ICU but the next day died. I had warned the son 
about it before hand. They have still not changed their ways. They want 
the healings and blessing of God and yet want to live a life worshipping 
false gods and false beliefs not wanting to have any disconnect with 
their community. I realized I was like a baba (Hindu godman who was more 
like a magician). So I drew back from them while keeping in touch 
waiting for the right time to get back to where I stopped.

The woman came from a town called Shunem which in Hebrew meant "double / 
two resting place". It is not only the unbelievers, we even have 
believers who call themselves Christians but are from this place called 
Shunem. They come to Church mostly because of the one who heads that 
Church or the people in the Church or for being blessed or healed. Some 
may not even have any things which they need (like the Shunammite woman) 
but yet they want to be resident in this world and also have a feeling 
they are spiritual.

People who think of Jesus as God and man really do not know Him, they 
are also residents of Shunem. There are those who want salvation but the 
blessings of God should be of this world. They do not know the 
definition of salvation. If you ask them they will say it means to be 
saved. They do not know, saved from who or what. They think it is about 
been saved from the Devil, they do not know salvation is about being 
saved from God and from His wrath. No man can save us by God other than 
God Himself. The man Jesus is the Way but the one who takes us on the 
Way is the Holy Spirit (God Himself).

Let us not look at any man. Lord the Son came as man yet did not ask us 
to worship Him as man. He as man glorified the Father in Heaven and the 
Holy Spirit who was His Father as man (since He was born of the Holy 
Spirit).

Let us always remember we cannot be residents of this world and also 
call ourselves Christians. A true Christian always remembers he or she 
is just passing through this world and is here for a mission. True 
Christians are aliens/migrants (non-resident person) of this world.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, there are times we are drawn unto people who represent You. We 
forget it is You who are the power behind them and not them. They are 
just instruments / vessels through whom You bless us. They are holy 
vessels who need to be respected but then it is You alone who are worthy 
of glory and praise. Lord we pray we always remember we are made in this 
world for a reason. This world is temporary and we are just passing this 
world. We are called to dwell with You in your true presence 
permanently, but as we pass here we are called to gather our family in 
You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

2 Kings 4:8-37

Matthew 13:36-43

36Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his 
disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the 
tares of the field.

37He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the 
Son of man;

38The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; 
but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

39The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the 
world; and the reapers are the angels.

40As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall 
it be in the end of this world.

41The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out 
of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

42And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and 
gnashing of teeth.

43Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of 
their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Mark 4:18-19

18And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,

19And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the 
lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh 
unfruitful.

Luke 16:9-11

9And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of 
unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into 
everlasting habitations.

10He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: 
and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

11If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who 
will commit to your trust the true riches?

John 8:22-24

22Then said the Jews, Will he kill himself? because he saith, Whither I 
go, ye cannot come.

23And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of 
this world; I am not of this world.

24I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye 
believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

John 12:25He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his 
life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

John 18:36Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom 
were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be 
delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

Romans 12:2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by 
the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and 
acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Romans 2:5-8

5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself 
wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment 
of God;

6Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

7To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and 
honour and immortality, eternal life:

8But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey 
unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,

Revelation 14:10The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, 
which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and 
he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the 
holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
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Nearer to the Lord is Life

Psalms 73:27 - For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou 
hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.

To understand today's message we need to give attention to the later 
part to understand the former part. The later part says the Lord has 
destroyed (has and will - written in perfect / complete tense) all those 
who gone whoring from Him. Need to understand the importance of the 
words has/will destroy, whoring and from Him.

Let us go in the reverse order, it says from Him, which means moving 
away from Him. So the whole later part starts with drawing away from the 
Lord.

The second part says whoring which means to commit fornication. It means 
one who has illicit relations with others. This would mean idolatry, 
carnal worship, bondages of familiar spirit etc.

The third part (in reverse) says the Lord has and will destroy them all. 
It does not say a few or some but says each and every one of them that 
draw away from Him and thus go spiritual whoring.

If we read verses 26-28 of this psalm the psalmist tells us even though 
we are weak yet if we just concentrate on drawing closer to the Lord we 
will be strengthened, for nearer to Him is life and away from Him is 
death and destruction. He also points out it is not by our works but the 
work of the Lord, even though it happens in and through us.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, we keep complaining about how weak we are and how easily we fall. 
We always keep asking You to strengthen us and help us from falling but 
the solution is actually lies with us. It is because we do not draw to 
You we fall, feel faint and hopeless. Lord, all we need to do is draw to 
You and we are strengthened and full of life for You are giver and 
keeper of life. Lord, we pray we learn to seek You every moment of our 
lives so that we full of life and are not destroyed...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Psalms 73:26-28

26My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, 
and my portion for ever.

27For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed 
all them that go a whoring from thee.

28But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the 
Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

John 5:39-40

39Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and 
they are they which testify of me.

40And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

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Covenant with a testimony
2 Samuel 7:8-17

We see in today's message when the Lord talks to David (through the 
Prophet Nathan) the Lord starts be confirming what He had done in the 
life of David and then goes on to reveal His promise - what He will do.

We need to understand the Nature of God; He is not like man who first 
needs things to be clearly confirmed before doing anything or making any 
promise or a pledge to do.

I am also a testimony of the Nature of God. Before He made Himself known 
to me of who He is, He did great things in my life. It was only after 
that, that He revealed to me some of the things He would do. Had He not 
shown His Hand in my life before, it would have been difficult for me to 
accept His plans in my life.

The same was with Mary. Before the Angel came to her the Lord had 
already done something impossible in the life of her cousin Elizabeth. 
God could have birth John through any other woman but chose Mary's 
cousin for it. It was this testimony that helped Mary to believe and 
accept the plans of God in her life.

Today God is telling each and every one if God has called you with a 
plan we can look back and see we all will have a great testimony in our 
lives. Therefore if you have a testimony you can now ask of God and He 
will reveal His plans in your life. And if you do not have a great 
testimony, then be ready for God will do one very soon. It is His Nature 
to start with a testimony before reveals His plans to us.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, before You open our plans to us You let your glory be seen in our 
lives. Lord, You are Light and you're coming in our lives brightens our 
lives. Lord, we pray that each and every one You have called with a 
mission will know your plan in their lives...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Luke 1:30-38

30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found 
favour with God.

31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, 
and shalt call his name JESUS.

32He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the 
Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his 
kingdom there shall be no end.

34Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come 
upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore 
also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son 
of God.

36And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in 
her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

37For with God nothing shall be impossible.

38And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me 
according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

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The Power of the Ark is with us
1 Samuel 6:19-21

19And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the 
ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and 
threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had 
smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.

20And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy 
LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

21And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, 
The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, 
and fetch it up to you.

Imagine an army that has F-2000 assault rifles, D-SR 50 sniper rifles, 
XM307 AC SW machine guns, 50 M2 HR guns and Uzi submachine guns (these 
are the topmost guns) yet this army fights battles with toothpicks and 
penknives, this is the picture of the spiritual warfare of us Christians.

Today's message talks of the power of the Ark of Covenant when the 
Philistines took capture of it. From chapter 5 we read the Ark causes 
their chief god Dagon to be beheaded and amputated (hands cut off). The 
people who saw it this did not dare to enter the temple will the time of 
the writer recording this event. The people of the city also experienced 
the wrath of God for taking the Ark. They all suffered from severe 
fissures (piles), both the people of the city and those in its suburbs. 
The fissures were so bad that many died due to it. Then they took the 
Ark unto the city Gath and the Hand of the Lord was heavy on this city 
also and many people here too suffered from fissures and died. So was 
the story when they took the Ark to another city Ekron.

Chapter 6 states this bought fear into the hearts of the Philistines 
that the only thought in their heads was how to return this Ark to its 
rightful people. They even thought of a guilt offering and came up with 
the idea of 5 golden fissures, 5 mice, a cart towed by 2 cows which have 
never been yoked. They put the Ark on the cart with the golden objects 
put in a box besides the Ark and set the cart free. The Lord caused the 
cows to take the cart directly (not turning left or right even once) to 
the Israelites. The Levites put the Ark on a large stone and offer the 
cows as a sacrifice.

In short because of the Ark the Lord caused all those Philistines who 
touched / looked inside the Ark to be killed and also many, many 
Philistines in total 50,070 to be killed, almost all due to fissures.

It is awesome when one understands all the symbolizations behind this event.

The Philistines put the Ark before their god Dagon to symbolize that 
they had bought the God of Israel as a subject before their god. The 
Lord causes their god to bow before Him and chopped off its head 
(symbolizing authority) and its hands (symbolizing work / doings). The 
Lord caused the Philistines to die due to fissures. The Lord did not 
choose this just to have fun or enjoy their pain of slow death but this 
too had symbolization. The Lord shut their crap (nonsense) inside them 
and caused them to die due to the poisoning of their own crap.

It is also interesting to note the guilt offering of the Philistines. 
They made 5 golden fissures symbolizing remembrance of the wrath of God 
on them. They also put 5 golden mice along with it. We need to note mice 
along with other animals are considered unclean and there are spiritual 
reasons for it (it is not for any natural reasons therefore eating 
unclean animals in natural is not forbidden but eating their spiritual 
symbolization is forbidden).

The mouse (the Hebrew word used here means field mouse or jumping mouse) 
is considered a curse to the land since it eats away the yield of the land.

Heathen who do not know God usually worship the curse and the curse 
deliverer but not the one who caused the curse to come on them. Even a 
religion like Islam is not spared from this. The word (Arabic script) 
Allah if translated in Hebrew is the word 'cursed&# 39; and the word Akbar in 
Hebrew means 'mouse&# 39;. Other religions also worship animals like the 
mouse (rats), snakes etc.

Coming to the main object of the whole story - the Ark. The Ark itself 
is a symbol and that is why it was taken away when its real meaning was 
manifested in Christ. The Ark symbolized the CROSS.

When Jesus said 'take up your Cross and follow me', He did not mean the 
crucifix for Jesus Himself did not carry His own crucifix all the way. 
He also did not mean suffering for Gods did not sacrifice His only Son 
for us to continue to suffer. Also persecuting is not suffering but the 
moulding or hurdles that we go through / overcome to be like Christ and 
do the mission of Christ. When the Lord told Paul that he would go to 
witness the Lord in Rome before the Romans ruler, the Lord cause many 
people to go against Paul. If they had not Paul would not have fulfilled 
the mission and the world would have been what it is today - 
Christianity would not have spread all over.

If we see the layout of the Tabernacle the Candle stand which symbolized 
the Holy Spirit and the Shewbread which symbolized the Son were both in 
the Holy place. But in the Holy of Holies was the only the Ark of 
Covenant. People think it symbolized God the Father or His Throne, they 
are mistaken. It symbolized the Cause of the Lord - CROSS. The Son and 
Spirit put the Cause before them and not themselves before the Cause. 
The Word of God is for the salvation of mankind and Bible says the Lord 
lifted His Word up.

If one needs to understand the Cross of Christ and experience its power, 
one needs to study and understand the Ark, its contents and its design.

God has given us the most powerful things in creation His Cause and His 
Spirit (Who helps us carry the Cause). Let us know the power we as 
Christians possess, let us not be like the army which has the most 
lethal weapons yet fights with toothpicks and penknives.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, the world has been giving all kind of teachings (crap) like 
diarrhea. The reason they do this is all because we Christians do not 
know the power of the CROSS. Lord we pray that they enemy get 
constipated like it happened during the times of Samuel. That their 
teachings become a bone in their lives and does not them live. That 
their gods be exposed and their works cut off...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

1 Samuel 5 & 6

Matthew 27:32And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by 
name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

1 Corinthians 1:18 - For the preaching of the cross is to them that 
perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Matthew 16:24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come 
after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Matthew 10:38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, 
is not worthy of me.

Ephesians 2:16And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by 
the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Joshua 3:9-14

9And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the 
words of the LORD your God.

10And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among 
you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the 
Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and 
the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.

11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth 
over before you into Jordan.

12Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of 
every tribe a man.

13And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the 
priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall 
rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off 
from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an 
heap.

14 And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to 
pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before 
the people;

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Let not our hands be weak

2 Chronicles 15:7 - Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be 
weak: for your work shall be rewarded.

I had got this message a few days back but in between my daughter was 
unwell and thus I was not in a position to post. But God knew beforehand 
and therefore even before my ordeal started He gave me this message. 
Yesterday I made my mind I would send my message and by God's grace my 
daughter since yesterday has been doing very well.

Hand symbolizes work and the Lord is telling us let us not be faint in 
doing our work in the Lord. When we trust in Him, He will never forsake 
us. We may see things happening against us or hindering our work, but 
the Lord is saying His Hand (Spirit) is not weak or short that we will 
fail. He is omnipotent and the word impossible does not exist for Him.

Therefore let us be strong not because we are, but because He is.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, when we go out to do our ministry in You, we tend to look at 
ourselves and forget whom we represent. You called us associates [philo] 
and told us all that we need to know to do our work in You so that we be 
party to receive the rewards of the great harvest. Lord we pray we see 
You and not us when things come our way...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.
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The wicked

Psalms 37:14 - The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their 
bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright 
conversation.

Some days back we had received this same message at that time we had 
reflected more in the weapons of the wicked. Today as I was looking at 
this message I felt the Lord wanted us to give attention to the word wicked.

When we say wicked mostly what comes to our mind is an evil person doing 
evil or wrong things. But when we get into understanding this word 
through the Bible it brings out things which one would not have thought 
about.

The Hebrew word 'rasha&# 39; translated here as wicked is mostly translated 
in the Bible as condemned. When we use the word condemned it means one 
who is set for destruction. God also uses the words hardened hearts to 
describe these people.

People think they can easily identify the wicked, they are wrong. 
Today's scripture open a dimension of the wicked that we need to be 
aware of. The lord is telling us we cannot identify a wicked person by 
what he or she is doing or saying but can only identify the person as 
wicked by knowing the intention or purpose, the place they are trying to 
lead us.

We may see a person talking good things and doing social work but yet 
that person could be a wicked person. What needs to be identified is the 
purpose. If that person is doing it not to help the needy but for one's 
own benefit like making a name in society, or winning elections, or some 
selfish reasons, if one knew that purpose then one would not be 
impressed with the works or talks of that person, in fact would get 
angry when one would see or hear that person.

Do not be surprised if you find such people in the Church there are very 
high changes that the ones who God hates most would be inside 
congregations and less outside. The ones who are most hardened in the 
heart would be those who hear the Word of God yet follow their 
intentions and ignore the Word.

God warns in today's message not to harden our hearts from His Law and 
His Instructions. Yesterday we learned about the 2 Laws of God that we 
need to have in our hearts, and if we reject these Laws then we stand in 
this group which are condemned or wicked.

On Judgement Day God is not going to see if we know in depth of the 
Bible, what Jeremiah said and what Daniel said and what Joseph did? God 
is going to only see if we have His Laws in our hearts and just these 2 
Laws. Did we love God with all our hearts and love His people these are 
the 2 Laws He is going to check if we have written on our hearts. That 
is why Jesus says even if we claim to love God but if we did not reach 
out to His people then we do qualify to be Christians and enter Heaven. 
His people are part of Him and that is why He says when I was naked, 
when I was hungry...

We need to understand Bible study which does not get these 2 Laws 
written into our hearts is just knowledge which puffs and leads to our 
hearts being hardened and put us in the category of the condemned or the 
wicked.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, we pray that we do not harden our hearts. We pray that we do not 
stand among the condemned. Lord help us surrender our hearts to your 
purpose and have your Laws written on them like You wrote on the 
tablets. We pray we understand being Christian stands for being a 
witness of who You are and about the Heavenly Family which are your 
people...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Matthew 25:31-46

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.

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.

John 5:25-32

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.

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.

John 14:16-21, 24-26

16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, 
that he may abide with you for ever;

17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it 
seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth 
with you, and shall be in you.

18I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

19Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: 
because I live, ye shall live also.

20At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I 
in you.

21He 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.

24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye 
hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

25These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send 
in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your 
remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
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Law and Commandments of God

Psalms 37:31 - The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps 
shall slide.

Psalms 37 speaks of the righteous being righteous because the Law of God 
is in his heart. It says because the Law of God is ion his heart he has 
wisdom, speaks justice and his walk in the Lord is firm, the properties 
of a righteous person.

Christians confuse between the Law of Moses and the Law of God and not 
only that, most are ignorant about the difference between the Law of God 
and the Commandments of God (most may have not even dreamt of the second 
one).

What the Jews called as Law of Moses were not the Law / Commandments of 
God given through Moses but the things they did according to their 
understanding of the Law / Commandments of God given through Moses. It 
other words it were the traditions and teachings of the Jews which they 
tagged to Moses. So when the Jews said Law of Moses it did not mean what 
the Lord spoke through Moses but meant their traditions.

Firstly we need to understand the Jews never understood the books of 
Moses or the Prophets. We see a perfect example in Saul/Paul. Paul was 
educated in the Law of Moses and was taught by the best of the best 
teachers of the Jews. Not only the teacher was respected but even his 
students were highly respected, that is why the people took Paul's 
consent (kept their robes at his feet) to stone Stephen. In his letter 
to the Romans, Paul talks of the comparison between the Law of Moses and 
of the Law of God in great detail.

Coming to the Law of God and the Commandments of God, if one notes in 
the tablets given to Moses they held both the Law and Commandments of 
God (Exodus 24:12). If you ask me brother what is what is the difference 
between Law and Commandments? In English it is difficult to explain for 
both words refer to the same. Moreover in the Hebrew to English 
translations in word 'mitzvah&# 39; is translated as commandments instead of 
law and the word 'towrah&# 39; which means commandments is wrongly translated 
as law.

In simple words law is fixed and unchangeable while commandments are 
directions to keep the law or principles. Commandments may be many but 
law or principles are not many. Statutes on the other hand are things 
that are done until the understanding behind it is revealed. Statutes 
differ from traditions because traditions are customs or things/ 
practices done as a rule continuously with or without understanding. 
Also the understandings behind traditions do not truly lift a person 
spiritually according to the law but instead goes against the law and 
puts the person under bondage of the custom.

According to the Bible the Lord has only 2 principles or laws and these 
are the ones Jesus spoke as

'New Commandments&# 39;, the Greek word 'kainos&# 39; translated as new means 
fresh or un-used. Jesus said this because the Jews never knew the Law of 
God or understood the Commandments of God.

The Frist Law is to do with our relationship with God and the Second is 
to do with our relationship with the people of God (not people of the 
world but people of God - God tolerates and has mercy for those who are 
not His, but His inheritance is not for them).

One thing we should get very clear is that everything that the Lord 
instructs us will never ever go against these 2 Laws of God. Every 
instruction of God holds up these 2 Laws, when we follow them they help 
us abide by the 2 Laws.

God says in today's message, for a person to be righteous he or she 
needs to have these 2 Laws written in their hearts like the words 
written on the stone tablets by the Finger of God.

The Holy Spirit is the Finger/ Hand of God and it is the Holy Spirit who 
engraves these Laws into our hearts, so it is only by power of the Holy 
Spirit that we can abide by them and walk in the path of righteousness.

Let us every day meditate on these 2 Laws of God, remembering them all 
the days of our lives so that we may grow in wisdom, justice and walk 
firmly in the ways of the Lord.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, we pray life is all The Family that is You as our Head and we your 
people as the Body. Lord let everyone of your sheep know this and walk 
in the 2 Laws that hold this Family together. There have been many who 
tried to add heads to this Body (Family) or break the Body (Family) but 
You God have and will make all their attempts futile. It is your 
Righteousness and Love that hold us together. Lord help us meditate on 
these 2 Laws every day of our lives...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Exodus 24:12 - And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the 
mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, 
and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

Romans 2:25-29

25For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou 
be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision.

26Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, 
shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

27And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, 
judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law?

28For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that 
circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:

29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of 
the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of 
men, but of God.

Matthew 22:36-40

36Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy 
heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38This is the first and great commandment.

39And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

John 13:34 - A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one 
another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

1 John 2:7 - Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old 
commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the 
word which ye have heard from the beginning.

1 John 2:8 - Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is 
true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light 
now shineth.

2 John 1:5 - And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new 
commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we 
love one another.

James 2:8 - If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou 
shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

Romans 13:8 - Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that 
loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
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The test of whoredom

Numbers 5:12, 13 - Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, 
If any man's wife go aside, and commit a trespass against him, And a man 
lie with her carnally, and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and 
be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, 
neither she be taken with the manner;

Numbers 5:11-31 talks of doubt of adultery by a husband on his wife and 
when there is no eye witness to the adultery.

The Lord commands a test and ultimately the test result is fulfilled by 
the Lord not by man. For the test the following items were required.

An earthen vessel

Holy water - not the holy water like of the Catholic / Orthodox Church 
but this was the water kept in lavers [Solomon' s temple had 10 lavers - 
5 on ether sides of the vast brazen sea] used solely for sacrifices.

Dust - earth from the ground

The priest would make the woman stand before the Lord and let her hair 
loose [women were commanded to cover their hair] then the priest would 
put the dust into the water and make the woman drink it. If she was 
guilty of adultery her thighs would rot and her belly would swell. This 
swelling is not to be confused with conceiving but something like 
coeliac disease. The adverse effects other than this were that the woman 
would not conceive in the future.

If we want to understand it like the Jews did then there is not much of 
an explanation required but if we want to understand it the way Jesus 
did, in its truth, then a lot of explanation is required. I would 
possibility write about 25 to 30 pages on this matter, even more. But in 
this short message I will take just the conclusion.

Note something odd about the test result - the thighs rotting. One needs 
to ask why the thighs only why not any other parts of the body, also we 
need to give attention to the selection of the objects and the loosening 
of the hair all of them symbolize a message.

In the Bible whenever man went after other gods, the Lord accused man of 
whoring. Whoring is a term when someone has relation with a person 
outside a relationship. We are bride of the Lord and when we go after 
other gods we are accused of adultery and thus whoring. This same 
example the Lord showed through the prophet Hosea.

In today's message the Lord is says this is the test He will cause on us 
when we (His people) go whoring after other gods. You might say Brother 
I am a Christian, I worship the Lord Jesus Christ and follow the Bible.

If we read the book of Hosea we see the Lord tested Israel who were 
considered God's people yet they went whoring and the Lord punished them 
for it.

The punishment was that they were rejected from the plan of God, for 
they rejected His Christ (swelling of the belly). They also saw the 
prophecies of destruction come upon them (rotting of the thighs). This 
happened when they drank the bitter waters. The bitter water consist of 
sacred water (symbolizing the message of life - Living water - Word of 
God - Christ) and dust (symbolizing - death).

When the Jews put Christ to death they went through the test as stated 
in today's message. We too even today can put Christ again to death 
again (not physically) but when we make His sacrifice void in our lives 
and then again and again claim His death in our lives.

The Catholics do this at every Mass, they symbolically try to sacrifice 
Christ again and again when they do their tradition of celebrating the 
Eucharist. But incidentally they lift up a wafer and not unleavened 
bread. Christ is symbolized by unleavened bread and not by wafer.

We may physically not do what the Catholics do but like Paul says Christ 
offered His blood once for all and there is no more offering for sins 
like this. In another place the Lord says the worst thing we can do is 
overcome the Lord and then there is no hope.

When we do things knowingly, when we know what we are doing is going to 
destroy our relationship with the Lord and yet continue in it. We may be 
tempted and fall but when we have knowledge of the Truth and continue to 
keep falling, the Lord does not take that likely and may put us to the test.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray like how Jesus told us to, Father do not put us to the 
test. Father there are many time we almost gave up on You and went on 
making the things of this world our God. We did not mind harming and 
cheating our own brethren just to possess things of this world. We 
blinded in our carnal desire making our desire our god have caused 
people to stumble and be hurt. Lord we ask for forgiveness and mercy in 
our lives...

This prayer we make in Jesus Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Numbers 5:11-31

Hebrew 10:10-18

11And every priest indeed standeth day by day ministering and offering 
oftentimes the same sacrifices, the which can never take away sins:

12but he, when he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down 
on the right hand of God;

13henceforth expecting till his enemies be made the footstool of his feet.

14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

15And the Holy Spirit also beareth witness to us; for after he hath said,

16This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, 
saith the Lord: I will put my laws on their heart, And upon their mind 
also will I write them; then saith he,

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

18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

Songs of Solomon 6:5-8

5Turn away thine eyes from me, For they have overcome me. Thy hair is as 
a flock of goats, That lie along the side of Gilead.

6Thy teeth are like a flock of ewes, Which are come up from the washing; 
Whereof every one hath twins, And none is bereaved among them.

7Thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate Behind thy veil.

8There are threescore queens, and fourscore concubines, And virgins 
without number.
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Their sword will pierce themselves and their bows will be broken

Psalms 37:12-15

12The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his 
teeth.

13The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.

14The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast 
down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation.

15Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be 
broken.

There are many a times, even though we make our best efforts to walk in 
the way of the Lord there are some people who cause problems for us. 
These people due to the hardness of their hearts try to hurt us and they 
succeed to some extend and then we wonder what is God doing?

The Bible says the more we walk in the Lord the less the wicked can harm 
us and this I can testify with my life.

There was one time when a person close to me, who was very sweet to me 
and looked very loving and helpful, but yet the Lord showed me that the 
person would try to harm me but the Lord would not allow him to be harm 
me in any way. The Lord also showed me that the Lord would do to that 
person and to his family the very things he was out to do to me, also 
that it would be done to him with multiple measures. This was many years 
before and most part of it has come to past.

Even before the person would action his thoughts the Lord knew and set 
forth its consequence. The consequence was so bad at times I myself felt 
bad for the person and had to stand between the Lord and the person's 
family like Moses stood between the Lord and Israel when the Lord's 
wrath was out to consume them.

Today's message talks of the sword of the wicked and the bows of the wicked.

Bible says Word of God is the Sword of God, also that the Word is the 
plan of God which is living and that which comes to completion, 
similarly here sword of wicked are the things that they set to do and 
the Lord says He at time waits for He set forth a perfect timing to deal 
with the wicked. The Lord says He causes the sword of the wicked to come 
upon the wicked themselves and that too into their heart. Their plans to 
harm us will come upon their own heads and that too in the worst way.

Today's message also states the bows of the wicked will be broken. As 
sword symbolizes the words and plans so also bows symbolize rumours 
(remote intentions). The Lord says He will cause the rumours or 
character assignations attempts of the wicked to be broken. That means 
the Lord will prove His people before the world.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You are God and everything is known to You. Even the thoughts of 
the enemy, even before they think of it are known to You. In your wisdom 
You have set things and You alone know what is best. You Lord, will 
never allow your righteous to be ashamed. Your hand is over them and 
your hand is not short. We thank You Lord for being our fort, our wall 
of prorection.. .

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Psalms 91:1-16

1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide 
under the shadow of the Almighty.

2I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him 
will I trust.

3Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the 
noisome pestilence.

4He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou 
trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

5Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow 
that flieth by day;

6Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the 
destruction that wasteth at noonday.

7A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; 
but it shall not come nigh thee.

8Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most 
High, thy habitation;

10There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh 
thy dwelling.

11For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy 
ways.

12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot 
against a stone.

13Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the 
dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

14Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I 
will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in 
trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

16With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

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What is Human Life?
Job 27:3 - All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my
nostrils;

For any religion or belief or way of life there are tests that confirm if a
religion is true or false (a litmus test) and they confirm if the religion
is true. Test is to ask if the belief gives a right definition of man, how
he was created, who he is and what is his destiny (purpose and end result),
second who is God and about Him and lastly about creation, why God created
it, about its vast difference and purpose.

If the belief gets 2 of the 3 questions right, automatically it will get
the 3rd right. But if it gets any one of the 3 wrong then all 3 will be
wrong because all are interlinked. The Bible is the only book unlike any
other religious book that answers all the 3 questions correctly and passes
the test. Let me attend to basic part of the first question.

In today’s message we read of Job stating ‘my breathe in me’ and ‘the
spirit of God is my nostrils’.

The later part does not really mean the ‘spirit of God’ the Hebrew text has
just ‘spirit’ (ruwach) and ‘God’ (elowahh) while the word translated as
breathe is ‘neshamah’. Both ruwach and neshamah are translated in many
places as breathe and also spirit, the reason bring spirit is visualized as
breathe an abstract thing like air that is connected to or part of a living
being.

The word neshamah has it root from the woman in labour (giving birth), so
symbolizes a human’s earthly life. While the word ruwach has its root that
means sense or understanding, therefore connects to the spirit of the being.

Job was not Christ to have the Spirit of God in him. Christ was the first
to have the Spirit of God in Him and after He paid the price all can
receive the Spirit of God. Before Christ, Men of God had the Spirit of God
on them and not in them.

In Genesis 1 God talks of the creation of humans and says both male and
female were same (bible gives the same gender male to both of them) because
He talks of creating the spirits of man. It also says God created them
(all) in the beginning, which means we are all created together in the
beginning (that is why the Lord says He knows us from the beginning).
Genesis 2 however speaks of how God brought man into this creation starting
with Adam.

It is written God created a body from dust (wet dust) and then put the
spirit of man (not of God, again the same reason Adam was not called
Christ) into the body and it is written he became a living soul. That means
the spirit and soul were created in the beginning and when it was put into
the body the inert soul became active.

My in-depth study on this matter took more than 3 to 4 years but the Lord
did satisfy all my questions in this regards. I will try to share this in a
nutshell.

My first question to God was how long the life of a human being is; the
reason being since we do not have the ability to live eternally within
oneself and God alone has that ability to live eternally without any
external support. Man can live eternally in Heaven because man has access
to the Tree of Life in Heaven. That does not mean if one eats the fruit of
the tree (symbolized as tree but not a real tree the Hebrew word refers to
the trunk/staff) even once that being will live forever, it means when the
being comes near to the end of its life, it eats from the tree and gets a
renewal of life (that is why even though Adam and Eve has access to the
tree yet they did not touch it, for they did not have a reason to do so).
So to live eternally we need to always have access to the tree (thus God
prevented the access of sinful man to the tree). That is the reason only a
being that dwells in Heaven can live eternally.

God answered the question of human spirit’s life span with the answer
3000years. This answer can be confirmed through scriptures, not just once
but many times.

It is by this understanding one could know the coming of Jesus Christ
(Daniel did know that is why the wise men came based on Daniel’s
teachings). When one takes the Covenant of Noah into consideration, for God
to fulfil it Jesus had to come exactly at the time He did (within
3000years), had He come a little later the souls from the time of Noah
(which were in Hell) would have perished (Peter wrote 1 Peter 3:19-20 based
on this understanding) .

We also have this proof in the resurrection of Jesus Christ (sign of Jonah
- neither Hell nor Heaven goes by earthly days, within 3 days/time period
was a sign). This also is proved in the (approximate) time of the coming
again of Jesus Christ. If He does not come by that time (3000years) all
mankind will perish (that is why the sign of Jonah is a sign for the
wicked).

My last question was if man lives for only 3000 years then how did we last
from the time of Adam and those who are to come, if they too were created
in the beginning, how do they do?

This question also the Lord answered, and that too through my daughter. She
was doing a school project regards plantation. God showed me He created us
spirit and soul like seeds. When the seed in put in the ground and watered
it comes alive and lives it life span, even though the seed may be kept for
years and is good it still when planted have the ability to live this whole
lifespan. The ability to live was there within the seed even before it
comes alive as a plant.

We all will live for 3000years from the time we come alive as human beings
in the flesh. The life we live here on earth is just part of our human
spirit life. The rest we will live where we set forth our spiritual
destiny.

If we do not accept Christ as our saviour we are under the curse of dust
and thus will go to Hell and be held there to suffer for our sins for the
rest of our spirit life. But if we accept Christ then we will go to sleep
in Christ (level called Grave) and be raised (since this level is
spiritually below our creation but above Hell) when Christ comes to judge.
Those who pass the judgement (keep the Word) will go to Heaven to have
access to the Tree of Life and live eternally and those who fail (believe
in Jesus Christ but reject His Word) will be put not in Hell but in the
Lake of Fire / Sulphur which is worse than Hell. Here the being does not
suffer one’s sins but suffers for rejecting the Word and this suffering is
far worse than Hell (suffering for one’s sins).

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, people are misled for they are far from the Truth. They do not fear
for they are spiritually blind. Lord we pray that your people’s eyes be
opened to the Truth and they come to You and be saved. Lord we pray that we
not just believe but keep your Word in us so that we live an eternal life
with You in Heaven...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Genesis 1:26-27

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

27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he
him; male and female created he them [the same word him (male) in plural].

Genesis 2:6-7

6 But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of
the ground.

7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into
his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Genesis 9:11-12

11 And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be
cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be
a flood to destroy the earth.

12 And 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:

1 Peter 3:18-20

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

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

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

Matthew 27:50-53

50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to
the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept
arose,

53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the
holy city, and appeared unto many.

Matthew 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous
generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given it but
the sign of Jonah the prophet:

Matthew 16:4 An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and
there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of Jonah. And he left
them, and departed.

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The making of traditions
Judges 11:11 - Then Jephthah went with the elders of
Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah
uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.

Many of the Catholic customs root into the customs of the Jews. The Jews 
were accused of having a law which they called the laws of Moses (not of 
the Lord) and these were nothing but the customs they started in the 
name of God.

In Judges 11:11 onwards we read about Jephthah, about how the Lord 
delivers the children of Ammon into his hands. But to receive this he 
had made a vow before the Lord that he would sacrifice (dedicate) the 
first person who walks through his door on his return from victory. To 
his disappointment his only daughter whom he loved most walks through 
the door to welcome him on his victory.

With a heavy heart Jephthah dedicates his daughter to the Lord (remain 
chastised - virgin - not knowing any man) but before that his daughter 
along with her maids goes up the mountains for 2 months and mourns her 
dedication. We read then that all the women of Israel also go for 4 days 
every year up the mountain to mourn the dedication of the daughter of 
Jephthah and this becomes a custom (enforced tradition).

We read in today's message Jephthah spoke before the Lord. It does not 
say Jephthah spoke to the Lord but says he spoke before the Lord. In 
other words it means Jephthah spoke his own mind and his own 
understanding and his feelings to the Lord not knowing the Lord or 
having a relationship with the Lord. He had knowledge of the deeds of 
the Lord but yet he did know the Lord. He did not have to make such a 
great vow before the Lord, he could have trusted the Lord and yet have 
victory. Since he spoke big before God, God did test him and had his 
most loved daughter walk through the door on his return. Jephtah 
dedicated his daughter not only, not with a glad heart and also made a 
great show to fulfil the vow made unto the Lord.

We see the people of Israel had no hand in the vow or anything to do 
with Jephtah and his daughter' s dedication, yet to show solitude to 
their leader Jephtah (judge) they too go to the mountains 4 days in a 
year and this was repeated every year during the life of Jephtah and 
continued after that and becomes a custom.

We see Catholic priests and nuns commit a life of chastity unto the 
Lord. It is an oath to remain virgin and this they claim they do so as 
to live a holy life (nuns claim to be married to Jesus).

If we look at Church history many of the Apostles (leaving for Paul) 
were married (including Peter). Even the first Church fathers and also 
Popes of the Catholic Church were married and had families. Were these 
people unholy because they did not live a life of chastity?

We find the tradition of chastity in the Catholic Church started when 
one of the Popes shamed them beyond imagination in 1400AD. There were 
other Popes before who also shamed the institute with not only ex 
marital affairs but had incest relationships, but Pope Alexandra VI 
shamed the Church during the Renaissance period with things that are 
unspeakable.

Today we see Catholic priests claim chastity but yet we read since ages 
they have indulge in sexual relationship behind close door. Since few 
years we have nuns bringing out of the dark things happening behind 
closed doors of this Church. We also have priests abusing children under 
the hood of living a life of chastity.

Through my childhood and being close to Catholic priest I could see 
their sexual frustrations some could not control it and this frustration 
affected their relationship with people. Many would drink alcohol to 
escape it, other who could not control perused relationships with people 
from the congregation.

Paul did recommend one to be fully dedicated unto the purpose of God but 
also said unless one had the grace to be chastity the person should not 
remain single and sin great, but get married.

In today's message we find Israel spoke great before the Lord and then 
under the fact of pleasing the leader started a tradition, on the other 
hand we find this Church under the cover of hiding the shame of its 
leaders it starts a tradition and today speaks great before God.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, we pray for people who are deceived by traditions which are 
manmade and imposed taking your name. These people speak great before 
You and put yokes on your people. They do not fear You nor your wrath. 
Lord we pray your sheep who are under the yokes of the deceiver, be set 
free and their yokes be broken in the Name of Jesus...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Judges 11

Matthew 15:3 - And he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also 
transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?

Mark 7:13 - making void the word of God by your tradition, which ye have 
delivered: and many such like things ye do.

Galatians 1:14 - and I advanced in the Jews' religion beyond many of 
mine own age among my countrymen, being more exceedingly zealous for the 
traditions of my fathers.
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The righteous are never forsaken

Pslams 37:25, 26 - I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not 
seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever 
merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

There is always a question which people who believe in God ask when 
problems come into their lives, when their world turns upside down and 
when life looks like a dead end they ask, is God not there? Why does God 
allow this to happen to me? Does God not love me? Does it please God to 
see me suffer?

There are 2 types of storms that come in life of a child of God, one is 
persecution and other is chastising. The storm of persecution is 
something which every Believer will experience in their lives until the 
coming of Jesus Christ.This storm comes because the world hates us for 
our faith and who we are. These storms are required so as to expose them 
for who they are and to give glory to God.

The other type of storm which is chastising comes when people of God do 
not walk in the way of the Lord. God needs to do that out of love 
because He does not want His children to perish in vanity. He does not 
want them to experience His wrath therefore tries to change them through 
storms. When we experience such storm we may think it is the wrath for 
it may be long, but at the end we will see it is better than the quick 
and harsh consuming wrath of God.

Today's message says those who walk in the ways of the Lord do not see 
God forsaking them, not only them but also their children are blessed 
because of them. Even if their children falter yet the Lord's mercy is 
greater on the children of the righteous - we see an example of this in 
David and Solomon.

There are many examples in the Bible on how God chastises His people who 
go off track to the ways of the Lord but the best one and easiest one I 
found to explain people is of Jonah.

Jonah was a man of God who communicated with the Lord, one who saw the 
glory of God in his life. He always desired to do the will of God, but 
due to lack of understanding the ways of the Lord and more so his 
enforcing his ways on the Lord, he had to experience hell in his earthly 
life.

God had told him to do a task of warning the people of Nineveh to repent 
from their evil ways. God had also given them a time period before His 
wrath would consume them. Jonah instead of going to Nineveh went the 
other direction, not because he was running away from God; he was not 
that foolish to think he would run from God who is omnipresent. He was 
also not a person who ran away from doing what God told him. The problem 
here was he was judging the people of Nineveh according to his 
understanding and was ignorant of the purpose of God. Jonah wanted the 
people of Nineveh punished for the evil they did, he was afraid they 
would repent and be saved from the punishment so went in a direction by 
which he thought it would be impossible for him to reach Nineveh in the 
due time period. He underestimated God and in his wildest dream did not 
think God would put him in a belly of a fish and take him to Nineveh. He 
was ready to die but did not want the people of Nineveh go unpunished. 
He thought it was right to get evil punished and that would give glory 
to God, he did not realize even today the testimony of how God saved 
Nineveh glorifies God and is one of the top most famous testimony in the 
Bible.

Yesterday one sister was talking to me about a Believer being questioned 
by none other than so called Christians about Jonah being in the belly 
of a fish (whale) for 3 days. That Believer told them she believed it 
because I was written and went on to say even if it was written that the 
whale was in the belly of Jonah, she would yet believe it. That shut the 
mouths of these so called Christians.

Many of us think we are righteous and are doing God's work or living the 
way of the Lord but at times because of our lack of understanding are 
actually doing something else or enforcing our ways unto the Lord and 
calling them the Lord's ways, that's the reason we go through turbulence 
in our lives even when we are doing God's work.

Believe God for His Word like the Believer sister said she would believe 
even if it was written a whale was in the belly of Jonah for 3 days and 
would not doubt God. God has said if we walk in His ways and pursue His 
righteousness we will see the blessings of God in our lives and the 
lives of our children.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, we know all that You do, You work them for our good, even those 
times when we go astray and in your name do our own things. You are 
truly a merciful God and see that your people are not consumed in 
vanity. Your corrections at many times are mistaken for your wrath, 
people do not know your wrath is quick and harsh and is symbolized by a 
tornado and not a storm. Both tornado and cyclones are experienced only 
when hot and cold exist together, your wrath comes only on those who are 
neither cold nor hot. You spare the evil unto judgement unless they come 
against your people. Lord we pray we open our eyes and know when we are 
under persecution and when You are bringing correction in our lives. 
Holy Spirit, help us to always walk in your way and not face turbulence 
in our lives...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Psalms 34:19 - Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD 
delivereth him out of them all.

Proverbs 29:16 - When the wicked are multiplied, transgression 
increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.

Jonah 4:1-3, 10-11

1 But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he was very angry.

2And he prayed unto the LORD, and said, I pray thee, O LORD, was not 
this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before 
unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, 
slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.

3Therefore now, O LORD, take, I beseech thee, my life from me; for it is 
better for me to die than to live.

10Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which 
thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a 
night, and perished in a night:

11And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than 
sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand 
and their left hand; and also much cattle?
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Every Word of God is PURE

Proverbs 30:4,5 - Who 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? Every word of God 
is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.

Muslims would always contest that God does not have a son and the Old 
Testament does not speak of God being 3, and it was the Christians who 
by error call Jesus as God and nowhere did Jesus say He is God.

Even some Christians are not very clear who Jesus is and that is why we 
see these confused Christians become prey to the deceitful Muslim 
da'wahs (equivalent to our evangelists/ apologists) .

Jesus is man born of a human (virgin) and His earthly father was the 
Holy Spirit for by the power of Holy Spirit Mary conceived Him. Although 
He was man, 100 percent man like every other man yet He was unique. 
Since He was not born of a human father He did not inherit the sins of 
Adam even t6hough Mary was not free of sin (the curse is from father to 
children), He was born without blemish (sin or curse).

Another unique thing about Him was that He was God who humbled Himself 
and came as man. Now here is the place where Muslims stumble. They first 
mistake Him to be God the Father and secondly deny God as God, saying He 
does not have the ability to do everything. If God can create the whole 
of creation just by His breath (Word) cannot He become His creation? 
Since they mistake God the Son with God the Father therefore they raise 
questions like who ran the world when Jesus died.

First things one should realize when God spoke and set creation into 
existence He knew everything from the beginning to the end that is why 
His Word holds the History (past, present and future) of mankind from 
start to end (things that are important to the salvation of His people).

God is not man restricted by time, He created time and He exists in the 
past, present and future at the same time that is why many a times He 
spoke as if the far future was like the next hour.

Today's scripture "who hath ascended up into heaven, or descended" clear 
shows God is omnipotent and omnipresent He can move between the levels 
of Heaven / Spirit world. David stated is there any place one can go 
where God is not present, no darkness is dark enough to keep Him away 
even in hell God is present (hell is not what people think, it is a 
prison where the 'fire' / 'living worms that do not die' is within its 
prisoners).

"Who hath gathered the wind in His fists", the word translated as wind 
is ruwach which also means spirits. God here states all living things 
are in His powers (fists).

"Who hath bound the waters in a garment" , here water symbolizes sin / 
evil and God states He knows evil exist and is growing and He has 
allowed it. Even though He has allowed it to exist and grow yet He says 
He has set limits to it. The word translated as garments also means 
wrapper. The evil spirits are knowledgeable of the events in the future 
and know when their end would come and how terrible it would be but yet 
due to the hardness of their hearts they do not repent and change.

"Who hath established all the ends of the earth", like I stated before 
God has established not only the world but also time and the events of 
the world. What takes people aback when I tell them that God knows our 
sins past, present and future. He knows everything and that is why when 
He choses us He calls us His sons, righteous and holy, not because we 
are but because He will make us into one.

"What is His name, and what is His son's name, if thou canst tell", I 
have seen even very learned theologians make mistakes here and that is 
why we had some Bible college teachers fall for the deceit of Islam. 
They mistake between God the Son and Sons of God. God the Son is unique 
and Sons of God are plenty. God the Son was not created. Christian fight 
over the word begotten and born not knowing they are the same.

God the Son was neither begotten nor created. He existed in the Father 
and was part of the Father from the beginning. God the Father declared 
Him and gave Him His identity. His existence cannot be pinned down for 
even before His identity was made known He existed in the Father. John 
1:18 says He was in the bosom of the Father, the word translated as 
bosom also means creek. God is neither man nor a mountain.

When we say Son of God it specifies to one who is God's creation and has 
the image of God in him. That is why Angels are called Sons of God and 
so also was Adam before he sinned and that image got corrupted. Jesus as 
man was the only one who had the image of God in Him (since He knew no 
sin) and He remained in the image even unto death, by the power of the 
Holy Spirit. He came to pay the price and give us His Spirit so that we 
too can become Sons of God.

Coming to God's Name, His Name is written in the Bible yet not known to 
man. The words YHWH / YHVH translated as Yahweh are actually ideograms 
that mean 'Behold the Hand that is Nailed'. It refers to Jesus before He 
became man. That is why Jesus stated Himself as 'I AM' and one who was 
there before Abraham and whom Abraham saw and was pleased (that is why 
the Jews wanted to stone Him when He said this). Jesus says in John 
17:12 the Father gave Him, His Name thus stating God's Name is not a 
name like humans know of and spoken in any language.

Elohim translated as God is actually plural and refers to the Godhead 
(the Body consisting of God the Father, Son and Spirit). Most places God 
(singular Eloah meaning Divine one) refer to God the Son or God the Holy 
Spirit; the God the Father is rarely referred to in the Bible. Even when 
Jesus said Father at time He referred to the Holy Spirit and at time to 
God the Father in Heaven.

Today's message says every word of God is pure. The word translated as 
pure speaks of refined gold, symbolizing tested. It says His Word is 
true and a defence to all who put their trust in Him.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You alone are God and man tries to understand You with their human 
intelligence. Like You stated it is only by your Spirit we come to know 
You and grow to know You more and more. Holy God, You are omnipotent, 
omnipresent and all knowing. In your unlimited wisdom You created all 
things with a glorious plans which evens Angels in Heaven are in awe to 
see it come to pass. Lord, help us to abide and trust in your Word and 
be protected in it...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

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

John 8:42 - Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love 
me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, 
but he sent me.

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

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

John 17:12 - While I was with them, I kept them in thy name which thou 
hast given me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the 
son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Philippians 2:10 - That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of 
things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

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:

1 John 4:3 - And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is 
come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, 
whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in 
the world.

2 Peter 1:17For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when 
there was borne such a voice to him by the Majestic Glory, This is my 
beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased:

Acts 13:33that God hath fulfilled the same unto our children, in that he 
raised up Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, Thou art my 
Son, this day have I begotten thee.

Matthew 3:16-17

16And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: 
and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God 
descending as a dove, and coming upon him;

17and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in 
whom I am well pleased.

Matthew 8:29And behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with 
thee, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
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Gold and silver, both are valued by the Lord

Ezra 6:28, 29 - And I said unto them, Ye are holy unto the LORD; the 
vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold are a freewill 
offering unto the LORD God of your fathers. Watch ye, and keep them, 
until ye weigh them before the chief of the priests and the Levites, and 
chief of the fathers of Israel, at Jerusalem, in the chambers of the 
house of the LORD.

In the message before last the message was about silver and gold, silver 
representing earthly riches and gold the heavenly riches. The message 
also said that silver was not bad but having only silver and no gold 
would make a person worthless for one does not take the silver to heaven 
but does take the gold to Heaven. Silver is not evil but craving of 
silver more than gold and more than what is needed is evil. That is why 
Jesus said it is near impossible for a rich man to enter Heaven.

Sometimes an object or symbol can be used in different ways to symbolize 
different message unto us. For example Satan is symbolized as a serpent 
which in turn symbolizes deceit because the serpent moves in a zigzag 
direction. Even though it is going in one direction its body may appear 
to be moving in another.

But we see Christ was represented as a bronze serpent and put on a pole 
high up. In the book of Moses any person bitten by a snake was told to 
look up to the bronze serpent and they were saved from death. Here we 
see as snake represented curse because it moves on its belly in dust 
which represents vanity. Jesus Christ became cursed for us on the cross 
such that anyone who looked up to Him would be saved from death.

In today's message the Lord speaks about silver and gold being holy 
through Ezra. Ezra and Paul both say we are the vessels which are holy 
unto the Lord. Paul says we are earthen vessels but Ezra compares us to 
gold and silver vessels.

In the Tabernacle there were metal vessels made of iron, brass/copper, 
tin, lead, silver and gold. We see all were considered concentrated unto 
the Lord and were kept in the treasury when the Israelites went astray.

Iron is used to illustrated slavery, strength, obstinacy, fortitude, 
affliction, etc. It symbolized all those who although being set free by 
the Lord have made themselves slaves unto the Lord, those who are ready 
to suffer for the Lord, those who are strengthened in the Lord.

The Hebrew word for tin comes from the root word divided or separated 
and symbolizes one who is separated unto the Lord.

The Hebrew word for lead comes from the root meaning to be pulverised or 
to be nothing, symbolizing one who considers oneself nothing when 
serving the Lord.

The Hebrew word nechosheth is translated 'copper&# 39; in Ezr 8:27, where it 
is said to be 'precious as gold.' Brass is used as a symbol for 
righteousness according to the claims of God upon man, as in the brazen 
altar; the Lord as seen in the vision in the Revelation has feet like 
fine brass, 'burning as in a furnace' : that is, righteous judgment 
according to responsibility. Thus the bronze serpent represented 
righteousness that became cursed and was lifted up for us.

The word silver comes from the root word meaning desire. The Lord is 
saying if our desire is for the Lord then like the silver vessels we too 
are concentrated unto the Lord and the Lord considers us as holy vessels.

The Hebrew word for gold comes from the word to slimmer, brilliance or 
splendour. Gold by itself does not shine when kept in the dark but if 
even a slight light falls on it, it shows its brilliance. When we shine 
under the light of God and people see the glory of God in us we are like 
gold. Some vessels of the Tabernacle were made of wood but overlaid with 
gold. Wood represents flesh; cedar wood was used for sacrifice for it 
never got termites or any corruption representing the human body of 
Christ, shittim wood or wood of the gum tree, the Hebrew word for 
shittim mean scourged thus represent suffering so also were the other 
woods symbolizing something. The wooden vessels were overlaid with gold 
symbolizes even though we may be weak inside yet we can have the glory 
of God shine on us.

In today's message God considers silver as valuable as the gold and both 
are considered separated unto the Lord. Those who have a desire for 
God's Kingdom and those who let the glory of God shine on them are both 
considered holy unto the Lord.

The Lord is telling all if we may not be a gold vessel, we can always be 
a silver vessel having a desire for the Lord Kingdom and His mission yet 
we will be valued the same. When the silver is freewill dedicated to the 
Lord then even the silver is considered holy.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, many have a desire to serve You but since they do not have a 
calling they do not come forth. Lord we prayer that people know You love 
your silver vessels as much You love your gold vessels. In your wisdom 
You given every one a part in the body of Christ, the Bride You are 
preparing for your glory...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Numbers 31:22-23

22Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead,

23Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the 
fire, and it shall be clean: nevertheless it shall be purified with the 
water of separation: and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go 
through the water.
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Call all to celebrate the Lord's Passover

2 Chronicles 30:1 - And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote 
letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house 
of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel.

We read in today's message Hezekiah invited all the Lord's people to 
come and celebrate the Lord's Passover.

If we give due attention to the message we will realize Judah, Ephraim 
and Manasseh were part of Israel yet they are written as separate 
entities. We also notice Israel and Judah received a personal invitation 
while Ephraim and Manasseh received the invitation through letters.

We see in Old Testament even though the Lord changed the name of Jacob 
to Israel there are many times the Lord Himself continued to call Jacob 
as Jacob and not Israel. But that was not the case with others in the 
Old Testament. Once Abram's name was changed to Abraham, we see he was 
never referred to as Abram but only as Abraham. The same with Saul in 
the New Testament, once he was called Paul not once he was referred 
directly as Saul.

The other person, other than Jacob whose name was changed by the Lord 
and yet referred to by their original names many a times was Simon who 
was named Cephas by Jesus (in Greek translated as Peter).

So we see the names had meanings and purpose with them. In the case of 
Jacob the name meant a deceiver and the Lord had promised to change him 
and make him Israel which meant Prince of God symbolizing Son of God 
through his struggle with the Lord. We see Jesus came to fulfil this by 
giving us His Spirit and with our struggle with His Spirit we become 
Sons of God which is the true Israel.

Today's message defines the people of God into 4 categories - Israel, 
Judah, Ephraim and Manasseh. Israel - are those who walk in the way of 
the Lord and are on the way to become Sons of the Lord. Judah - are 
those who worship the Lord. Ephraim - are those who come to the Lord 
only to receive from the Lord, they come to be healed, to receive 
financial help, good job and materialistic things. In short if they did 
not want anything they would even forget God existed. Manasseh - are 
those who have forgotten what the Lord has done. These are those who 
acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Saviour but their term of Saviour has no 
meaning in it. They still look at different ways to save themselves like 
doing worldly good works or asking other persons (dead or alive) to help 
them to be saved.

In today's world we see Christianity is divided, divided not according 
to denominations, for God does not see them by their denominations but 
by these factors. He sees very few as real Christians, those who have 
taken up the mission which Jesus has given them and are indeed His true 
disciples.

Then there are those Believers who worship God only to be saved and go 
to Heaven. These are those who worship God live a good Christian life, 
do their duties towards God, go to Church, do not do idol worship, read 
the Bible, do charity etc. but they fail to reach out to the other lost 
sheep. They do not witness Christ to others, give the Gospel and do not 
take the task of strengthening those who are weak amongst them. They 
feel others are there for that task and it is not their calling to do it.

Then there those who are part of the Prosperity Church who like to hear 
only prosperity preachings called prosperity Gospel. For them Heaven is 
here and all they want is to live a good life here on earth. They like 
the tribe of Ephraim did not want to go to the Promised Land which 
symbolized Heaven and preferred the rich land before the Jordan River.

The same did the tribe of Manasseh which symbolizes Christians like the 
Catholics, Orthodox Christians and other Christians who fall in this 
branch that does not believe in Christ alone for their salvation. They 
feel Christ did not finish the task of opening the gates of Heaven for 
His people. Their works are not the work which those in Israel do. They 
do not do the mission that Christ has given them but do worldly works 
like social service and inflicting pain on themselves when they sin. 
They think their man made traditions will save them. They think other 
dead people in the Bible like Mary and those alive like the Pope or his 
equivalent in their Church would be instruments in saving them. God in 
the Bible also calls them the children of Jezebel.

We see in today's message God does not write off the people of Ephraim 
and Manasseh, but also does not include them among His own. He causes 
Hezekiah to write to invite them. He is saying He has still kept the 
door open for them to come to Him and His mercy and grace is still 
available for them. All they need to do is come and celebrate the Lord's 
Passover, be a part of it.

We all know Jesus truly fulfilled the Passover and the Lord is telling 
all who take part in celebrating the Passion of the Lord Jesus Christ 
will be part of His people.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You took the task of saving your people because You knew there 
were none who were capable to do it. But Lord we have many among us who 
are still struggling to save themselves, or are looking at other humans 
to save them. They are rejecting You as King and still desire a human 
king. Lord we pray we all once again have no King in our lives other 
than You. That we come as one body to celebrate the Passover You have 
prepared, which takes us unto freedom...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Genesis 17:5 - Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy 
name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee.

Genesis 32:28And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but 
Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast 
prevailed.

Genesis 35:10And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob: thy name shall 
not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he 
called his name Israel.

Genesis 46:2And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and 
said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.

John 1:42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he 
said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which 
is by interpretation, A stone.

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How are you planning to enter Heaven?

Psalms 37:16 - A little that a righteous man hath is better than the 
riches of many wicked.

There is a scripture which many people quote 1 Timothy 6:10. People 
think this scripture talks of only craving for money as being evil and 
due to lack of understanding of this scripture they land up doing the 
other things which this scripture warns about.

The Greek word translated as money here is 'philarguria&# 39; and this word 
comes from 2 words which together mean 'a friend of silver'.

In the Bible silver symbolizes things of this world and gold as things 
of the Heavens. Silver is not evil but only a foolish person would crave 
for silver and reject gold. Only a person who does not know the value of 
silver and gold would do such a thing.

Money is not evil, people gave Jesus and His disciples money and they 
took it, but you will see there are many times Jesus did not depend on 
the money but on God alone. Like when He had to feed a multitude of 
people, He did not opt for buying bread with the money they had but 
instead opted for God to perform a miracle and feed the multitude. There 
was also when Jesus send His disciples in twos without any money, nor 
extra pair of clothes, nor food or water, all they carried was a staff. 
By doing this Jesus tried to teach them how to rely on God to provide. 
We need to remember Jesus allowed Judas to hold the money bag knowing he 
was dishonest.

Righteousness and other fruits of the Holy Spirit are Heavenly riches 
and are gold, yet we see people do crave for gold and run after silver. 
They give their lives for the silver even though they know that they 
cannot take any of the silver with them to Heaven when they enter it.

Silver does not mean just money it also means all those things that are 
valued in this world, like property, clothes, jewellery, good food, 
automobiles, luxury tours, good furniture, jazzy electronics etc. it 
also includes things like fame, worldly power, status, beauty of the 
flesh, good body (physic) etc...

We see many Christians actually pray to God day and night for silver and 
hardly ask God for gold. Jesus warned in the Bible that it is near 
impossible for a rich man to enter Heaven. And if one understands 
tithing and giving unto the Lord, they will realize it is a step towards 
overcoming the greed to become rich.

Even if a rich man does enter Heaven, imagine entering Heaven empty 
handed, penniless, naked (spiritually) while others are entering well 
dressed, decorated and rich, all because they gathered a lot of gold 
instead of sliver when they were on earth.

Let me take another example just to make you understand and please do 
not take the examples literately.

Imagine as an Indian I am going to the US to settle down, to live the 
rest of my life there and in US and rupee is not an accepted currency 
there and also there are no currency exchanges in the US. Even if I have 
billions of rupees and am a very rich man here in India yet when I enter 
US I would be a penniless person. On the other hand any person who 
managed to collect even a dollar here in India would be richer person 
than me in US when he enters US along with me.

The Lord is today asking us if we are planning to go to Heaven how we 
are planning to enter Heaven to the House of our Father, whom we desire 
to meet so much. Would we like to greet Him naked and empty handed or 
well dressed and decorated with finery? Are we planning to live in 
Heaven on essentials or in excess for eternity?

[Prayer Stared]

Lord, we pray that You open our eyes and the eyes of our brethren who 
are running after things that we cannot take or use when we come into 
your House. Things that will in fact hinder and make it impossible for 
us to enter your House, things that will cause us to deny your Will and 
cause us to be sent to suffer in the lake of immense suffering. Lord we 
pray we evaluate what we have of value and things that are worthless. 
Help us to gather things of value in our permanent residence that is 
Heaven...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil: which 
while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced 
themselves through with many sorrows.

Matthew 19:23 - Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto 
you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
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Simon called Peter

Matthew 4:18 - And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two 
brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into 
the sea: for they were fishers.

One needs to understand when the Gospels were initially written half of 
them were in Aramaic and it was latter, during the time of the Apostles 
that they were rewritten and completed in Greek. Even though they were 
translated in Greek we find some of the words are yet left in their 
original languages. Surely the people doing this had knowledge and 
understanding as to why they left these words in their original language.

Let me take an example.

When Jesus went to bring back to life the daughter of Jairus head of a 
Jewish Synagogue Jesus sent everyone out of the house but took with Him 
only Peter, John, James and the parents of the girl. They were the only 
ones in the house along with the body of the little girl. At this time 
Jesus takes the hand of the little girl and commands her to rise up and 
she does come back to life. Then Jesus instructs them to give her food 
to eat.

What is interesting is that both Luke and Mark records Jesus instructing 
them not to tell people what happened there.

Now reflect on this, what did Jesus want them to not tell to others? Was 
it about Him bringing back to life the girl, if so then the parents 
would have to put the girl in hiding for the rest of her life which 
would not have been possible. Or was it that Jesus did not want others 
to know that He bought her to life? That too was out of the question 
because all knew she was death and after Jesus and His disciple entered 
the house they would find her alive so it would be obvious that Jesus 
bought her to life like He did with many others.

We only understand what Jesus did not want others to know when we read 
the recording of Mark of this event. Mark's Gospel makes sure to keep 
two words in its Aramaic origin and did not translate it to Greek or 
English and the words are Talitha cumi. Mark takes the pain to write 
even the translation besides the Aramaic words as Damsel (little girl), 
I say unto thee, arise, this we do not see in other cases.

If one also reflects it is only in the case of this girl where her clear 
age is mentioned. No other person healed or person bought to life we 
find the age of the person is mentioned. When I read this I asked why 
only in this case, and it was only when I read about Jewish traditions 
which debating with Muslims about marriage I understood why.

According to Jewish tradition a girl at the age of 12 was considered a 
woman and eligible for marriage. Jesus showed that God did not approve 
this tradition of the Jews and thus addresses the girl as little girl 
and not as lady or woman. Jesus was directly confronting Judaism and 
that too in the house of a senior leader of the Jews when Jesus used the 
words Talitha to the daughter of Jairus. Jesus wanted the people with 
Him (and us) to know but did not consider it a time for the Jews outside 
to know.

Similarly we see with the name of Peter. During the time of Jesus the 
Jews mostly spoke Aramaic among themselves and Greek only with the 
Romans. We read in John during Jesus first personal encounter with Simon 
(Peter) we find Jesus did not call Simon by the name Peter but called 
him Cephas which is an Aramaic word. It is in the translation that the 
name changed to Peter. His name Cephas clearly means stone but the Greek 
name Petros (stone / pebble) gets confused with Petra (rock/cliff) .

Jesus named him Cephas when He encountered him and his brother as 
disciple of John the Baptist. They latter become His disciples when 
Jesus goes to meet John and James. They were cousins of Jesus sons of 
Salome wife of Zebedee (whose real name was Cleophas) and a sister to 
Mary (Jesus' mother) was also called Mary by Jesus lovingly since she 
was like a mother to Him same was the Jesus' reason to call Mary the 
Magdalene as Mary, her name also was not Mary but lovingly called Mary 
by Jesus.

Peter (Cephas) was one of three most important disciples of Jesus along 
with John and James, we see Jesus gave all 3 of them personal special 
extra attention. The reason Jesus did this because He was training them 
for it was these 3 who headed the initial Church. It was not Peter alone 
or all the 12 Apostles but Peter, John and James who headed the first 
administrative (organized) Church and this Paul records in his letters.

Peter was given a special assignment of heading the Jewish Christians 
while Paul was given the task of heading the Gentile Christians, yet we 
see Catholics consider him as first head of the Church. This they do 
because of their misunderstanding of Matthew 16:18. If they have to 
point someone as the first 'Pope' (head) of the Church it should have 
been Paul for we Christians and so also the Roman Christians were not 
Jews (circumcised) . But even that would not hold for no one man headed 
the church but all three Peter, John and James headed the first Church 
and they were later joined by Paul and Barnabas.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, we pray the eyes of those deceived due to their lack of 
understanding of the Truth. Lord, we pray their hearts not be hardened 
with the teachings of man but they repent and surrender unto You and the 
Truth and be saved...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Matthew 4:18And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, 
Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: 
for they were fishers.

John 1:41-42

41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have 
found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou 
art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by 
interpretation, A stone.

Luke 8:41-42, 49-56

41And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the 
synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he 
would come into his house:

42For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a 
dying. But as he went the people thronged him.

49While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue' s 
house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

50But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe 
only, and she shall be made whole.

51And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save 
Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

52And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not 
dead, but sleepeth.

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

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

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

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

Mark 5:22-24, 35-43

22And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus 
by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

23And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the 
point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may 
be healed; and she shall live.

24And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue' s 
house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the 
Master any further?

36As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the 
ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

37And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John 
the brother of James.

38And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth 
the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

39And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and 
weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

40And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he 
taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with 
him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

41And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; 
which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

42And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age 
of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

43And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded 
that something should be given her to eat.

Mark 15:40There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary 
Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses [Mary 
mother of Jesus], and Salome;

John 19:25Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his 
mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas [was a common name therefore 
called Zebedee], and Mary Magdalene.

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Write on sticks this promise

Ezekiel 37:20, 21 - And the sticks [wood] whereon thou writest shall be 
in thine hand before their eyes. And say unto them, Thus saith the Lord 
GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, 
whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them 
into their own land:

In the Bible we read when God wanted to have something written 
permanently He instructed it be written on stone, therefore He Himself 
wrote the 10 Commandments and Laws on 2 tablets of stone. But we read in 
today's message the Lord is asking us to write on wood / sticks. I asked 
the question why wood and not stone?

We know wood unlike stone does not last very long. In other words the 
Lord is saying what He has asked us to write does not need to be for 
long since He is bringing it to completion soon. Now let us look at the 
message He is promising to fulfil soon.

The message talks of the Lord bringing His people from different nations 
and unifying them as one. This message is very appropriate for us and is 
in its due time.

In my previous messages I have spoken of the seven letters of 
Revelations which talks of the seven stages of the Christian Church. 
After the first stage of the Church of the Apostles (Ephesus meaning 
permitted) the letters talk of the next 2 stages wherein the Church 
becomes a tool in the hands of Satan and his false teachings and system 
(teachings of Nicolaitans) being followed in the name of Christianity. 
The second stage Smyrna (symbolizing sweet poison) is today called the 
dark ages of the Church and the Bible says Satan was seated on the 
throne of this church. The third stage (Pergamos meaning elevated) was a 
little better but yet the Nicolaitians teachings continue. It was at 
this stage most of the blasphemy laws/teachings of the church came into 
existence like traditions took priority over the Word of God and the 
words of the head of this church was considered infallible. He was given 
the authority to change the Word of God to his convenience it was at 
this stage that the Apocrypha were made part of the Bible.

The fourth stage (Thyatira meaning afflicted) was when the reformation 
movement started and thousands of true Christians were persecuted and 
killed by this church. Today we are at the fifth stage of Sardis 
(meaning red one - evangelistic church) at this stage God says He knows 
we are not perfect and are making mistakes and also warns us to be 
watchful and strengthen that which is good and at the same time repent 
and change the things that take us away from God.

The next stage is the stage called Philadelphia means brotherly love. 
This is the stage when there is unification in the Church and we see the 
Church as a mature Church which has authority in the Lord. This stage is 
the time when the Lord's glory is manifested in His Church. It is also 
at this stage that the false church, also known as Babylon the Great 
shall fall suddenly (an hour - symbolizing in a very short time).

In today's message the Lord is telling us soon He will fulfil His 
promise of bringing His people together in one mind and one 
understanding. He is going to change them from inside and going to 
mature them in His Spirit and His understanding. Soon we will enter the 
next stage of Philadelphia.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, we praise and thank You for this wonderful word You have given us 
today. We consider ourselves very blessed to see with our eyes your Body 
becoming one and your glory being manifested in your Body very soon. 
Lord, we give glory and praise to You for You are an awesome God.

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Revelation chapter 2

Revelation 3:1-13

1 And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith 
he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy 
works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead.

2Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to 
die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God.

3Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and 
repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a 
thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee.

4Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their 
garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.

5He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I 
will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess 
his name before my Father, and before his angels.

6He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things 
saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, 
he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

8I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no 
man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, 
and hast not denied my name.

9Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are 
Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and 
worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.

10Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee 
from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try 
them that dwell upon the earth.

11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man 
take thy crown.

12Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and 
he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, 
and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh 
down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.

13He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
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The Lord is my Rock

1 Samuel 1:2 - There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside 
thee: neither is there any rock like our God.

We have Christians who refer to people in the Bible as rock. The 
Catholics refer to Peter as rock and we have others who call Jesus as 
rock. What might surprise all is that both are wrong.

Peter the name in Greek Petros means small stone something like a pebble 
in Hebrew the equivalent word is Tyrus and this word is never used for 
the Lord.

Coming to Jesus as man was always referred to the corner stone, the 
stone which the builder sets in perfect order and uses this stone to 
align all the other stones when laying a pathway. In the Bible the term 
rock in Hebrew tsoor and Greek petra is only used for the Lord. The word 
points not to a stone or a boulder but refers to something even larger 
more like a cliff.

To understand this we need to understand Paul's statement in his letter 
to Corinthians where he states Christ as rock, what is important is 
starting part of this sentence. Paul symbolizes Christ as the rock that 
followed the Israelites in the desert. We know Jesus the man was not 
there during the time of Moses, but before He became man He along with 
the Holy Spirit playing a very active role throughout the Bible.

We read of 2 rocks in the story of the Israelite' s walk in the desert. 
They were the rocks which gave them water in the desert. The first rock 
Moses struck for water as he was told and was provided water, but the 
second rock he was told not to strike but just request of it yet when 
Moses struck, he was punished severely. He was not allowed to enter the 
Promised Land. All this was symbolic for us to understand a very 
important thing and Jesus warns and explains about this in Matthew 12:32.

The Son was the first rock which Moses struck as he was told and water 
(symbolizing life) was given unto them in the desert. The second rock 
symbolized the Holy Spirit and to this rock also Moses was told to just 
speak to it and it would give them water, but then Moses got carried 
away in this anger and authority and struck the rock not once but 
thrice. For this Moses was not allowed to enter the promise land, the 
Promised Land symbolized Heaven. To enter this land they had to cross 
the river Jordan. The word Jordan means heritance, symbolizing becoming 
sons. To enter Heaven we need to become Sons of God and that is what 
Jesus Christ made possible by His sacrifice through which He gave us His 
Spirit. Now whoever believes in Him has a way to become Sons of God. 
This becoming requires one to abide by the Holy Spirit and His Word for 
He writes the Law in our hearts.

When Jesus spoke to Peter about the rock on which the Church is build, 
He spoke of the Spirit of Truth (the Truth) who revealed to Him Jesus is 
Christ. It was the Spirit of Truth on whom the Church is build and that 
is why the Lord first gave the Church the Spirit of Truth on Pentecost. 
It was the Spirit of Truth who gave boldness to Peter to speak about 
Christ for it was this time he really came to know Christ and His words.

When we say the word Christ which means 'anointed one', it does not only 
refer to the man Jesus but also refers to the Spirit of the Lord on Him.

In today's message the Lord is reminding us that He alone is our Rock of 
Salvation and no man is. We should not look up to any man as our rock 
for our salvation, leaving for the Son (the Lord Jesus Christ) and the 
Holy Spirit and now that the former has done to work to give the later 
to us we now have to hold on the later for our salvation.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You alone are our Rock. You were the rocks that followed the 
Israelites in the desert. You alone gave them life when there was no 
hope. Like Moses we too struck You (the first rock) for our life, but 
like Moses let us not make the mistake of striking the second Rock. 
Moses was saved for that because it was only symbolic, but anyone doing 
to the real Rock would not be. Holy Spirit, guard our mouths, our 
thoughts and our actions that we never grieve You...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

1 Corinthians 10:4 - And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for 
they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was 
Christ.

Exodus 17:6 - Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in 
Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of 
it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the 
elders of Israel.

Numbers 20:7-11

7And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,

8Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, thou, and Aaron thy 
brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes, that it give 
forth its water; and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the 
rock; so thou shalt give the congregation and their cattle drink.

9And Moses took the rod from before Jehovah, as he commanded him.

10And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, 
and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; shall we bring you forth 
water out of this rock?

11And Moses lifted up his hand, and smote the rock with his rod twice: 
and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their 
cattle.

Numbers 27:12-14

12 And Jehovah said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mountain of 
Abarim, and behold the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.

13And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy 
people, as Aaron thy brother was gathered;

14because ye rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin, in the 
strife of the congregation, to sanctify me at the waters before their 
eyes. (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

Numbers 20:24 - Aaron shall be gathered unto his people; for he shall 
not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, 
because ye rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.

1 Peter 2:7-8

7Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be 
disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made 
the head of the corner,

8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which 
stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

Ephesians 4:30And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are 
sealed unto the day of redemption.

Matthew 12:32And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it 
shall be forgiven him; but whosoever shall speak against the Holy 
Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that 
which is to come.

Mark 3:29but whosoever shall blaspheme against the Holy Spirit hath 
never forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin:
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We are our own enemies

Jeremiah 25:7 - Yet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that 
ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.

Have you seen situations where a parent of a child punishing the child 
because the child was playing with fire or a knife or something that was 
a cause of danger to its own life, that is the story of God His people 
in the Bible and in life today.

We sometimes cry out to God why are we punished and today's message 
tells us that we are our own enemies. The works of our hands and our 
sins harm us and to prevent us from doing harm to ourselves God needs to 
intervene and punish us.

It is very good that God is not like human parents, He is slow to anger. 
But we people are so stubborn that we really test the patience of God 
and when He reacts we get down on our knees and cry Lord Why!!!

Even our prayers, our praise and worship needs to more of sweeter than 
just lots. God would prefer we give a dedicated, from the heart, with 
wholeness, shorter but good praise and worship than a whole day of half 
hearted, distracted, faithless prayer, praise and worship.

Today Lord is telling us to see the fruits of the things we are doing 
and to judge our works. Even if our fruits may be small and few but they 
need to be good. God does not appreciate large quantity of tasteless or 
sour fruits. He does not mind few and small but they need to be a sweet 
savour offering to Him.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, people are trying to make a great name for themselves by doing 
your work, but they land up making disciples for themselves and not for 
You. Later they perish and so does the work of their hands. Lord You ask 
for an offering that needs to be a sweet offering, even though it may be 
small but it need to be sweet. Lord help us concentrate more on quality 
then quantity...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Genesis 8:20-21

20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean 
beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.

21And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I 
will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the 
imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again 
smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

Exodus 30:7-10

7And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense every morning: when he 
dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it.

8And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon 
it, a perpetual incense before the LORD throughout your generations.

9Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt sacrifice, nor 
meat offering; neither shall ye pour drink offering thereon.

10And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year 
with the blood of the sin offering of atonements: once in the year shall 
he make atonement upon it throughout your generations: it is most holy 
unto the LORD.

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