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Book of Acts
Acts

In one of my Bible classes I was instructed by the Lord to teach the book
of Acts. Initially I thought this would be more of going through historical
records, of how the Church of Christ came into existence and how the
Apostles went about spreading the Gospel throughout the region and how the
Church expanded.

I had started this task in the November of 2010 and just 2 weeks back I
finished the book. My sessions were at least twice a month and each of
about 3 hours and even after spending so much time also I felt I had rushed
through the book and did not give it its due time.

This book was a great, great blessing for us. The things we did not expect
or imagine we got to learn from this book. Every session without fail had
us surprised and amazed at what the Lord revealed to us. From the book we
understood one thing the book was less about the Acts of the Apostles but
more of the Acts of the Lord through the Apostles and the others. In brief
it was about the acts of God in the Church, it is He who builds it,
strengthens it, protects it and grows it. Whatever we do, how much ever big
the work or sacrifice may be, only if it is perfectly according to the will
of God, it bears fruit, else it faces resistance and persecution. But even
in those mistakes God does not forsake us but turns it into a testimony and
glorifies His Name.

Every Shepherd / Pastor being instrument in building of the Church of God
should study this book in its true depth. Not as a historical book like it
is done in theological Bible schools and colleges but getting into every
word and its symbolism to the event, not just using commentaries and
cross-references. Without this knowledge it is like a person driving in the
city without being taught to read or understand the road / traffic signs.
We will realize it was purely by grace of God that the Church has survived
till date. But as the Bible says His grace cannot be taken for granted. It
was by His grace we receive His Spirit and it is by His Spirit we become
mature Sons of God. We do not become Sons of God by grace but by the
working of the Holy Spirit whom we receive by grace.

Let us each make it a point to study this book in its true depth through
the guidance of the Spirit of God, not ignoring any word, punctuation or
symbolization. Without this it would be impossible to move into the next
stage of the Church where in it comes together as one Church with one mind
and one understanding.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, through your Word You have set for us all that we need to be, to do
and desire. It is only through your instructions we can walk on the right
path and reach the inheritance You have set for us. Lord, bring to the
hearts of your people specially those involved in leading others to study
this book and we pray that by your Spirit You reveal the hidden treasure in
this book...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Book of Acts

Revelation 3:7-13

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;

8 I 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.

9 Behold, 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.

10 Because 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.

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

12 Him 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.

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


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Significance of the ring

Luke 15:22 - But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best
robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:

There are many things in the Bible which the world has made a different
meaning for and people follow what the world says thus are deprived from
the real understanding of scriptures, today� message is one such case.

We read one of the things the father did for the lost son on his return is
put a ring to his finger.

The world tells us the finger ring is a symbol of love because it is round
without end, some others have another theory related to the finger it is
put on which also symbolizes it as love (something to do with the heart).

If we look at the Bible the first mention of a ring in with Joseph the son
of Jacob in the land of Egypt. We see when Joseph is made a Prime (Chief)
Minister of the kingdom, Pharaoh took off the ring of his own finger and
puts it on Joseph along with the other things he did as putting a robe of
fine linen and a gold chain on his neck; all these were symbolic. Pharaoh
did not put the robe on Joseph because Joseph was not wearing anything, nor
put it because it was looking netter and had designs or embroidery on it.
The scripture describes the robe by only the material it is made of and
that is stated as fine linen which was symbolic to royalty and was also
used in the priest� vest. It is a very important symbol in the Bible such
as to perfectly complete the sacrifice of Jesus, God had a young (mad)
person to appear out of nowhere in the Garden of Gethsemane and then flee
naked leaving his linen robe behind.

Even in the book of Esther we see the ring symbolizing authority. In the
parable of the prodigal son the father puts the ring on his son symbolizing
restoring sonship. The son had left the father taking his part of the
inheritance and thus lost relationship with the father. Thus we see the
first thing the father did on seeing his son come back was to restore the
relationship by putting the ring on his son� finger, thus gave the son
authority in the family.

In marriage exchange of rings are very important, but truly marriage is not
connected with it. Bible states marriage happens when a man and a woman
come together (have relationship) with the intension to start a family.
Thus same sex marriage is not a marriage; also live-in relationships are
not considered marriage when they do not want to start a family. If those
in live-in relationship have a child then they are already considered
married. Marriage is less to do with the couple and more to do with the
family. That is why it is related to a Church where importance is given to
the souls we bring in the Church even though Christ is the Head of it. The
rings in marriage are symbolic gestures from the family of the opposite
sides to the couple; they symbolize the acceptance of the new person into
the family as son/daughter.

The Lord is telling us through the parable; before man sinned he was called
son of God for the image of God was in him. Due to the lust of the flesh
man ate of the fruit of doubt and thus corrupted the image in him and lost
sonship. God (The Son who was within God and was declared by the Father)
humbled Himself and came as man Jesus and dwelled amongst us but yet kept
the image uncorrupted in Him He overcame corruption that is why He is
called Son of God. He made a way for us to return to the Father by His
Spirit. The Father is telling us when we come back we will retain the same
sonship we had before we sinned, we will again have the same authority as
we had before we sinned, and we will walk with God in the Heaven like we
did before we sinned.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, when You made us we were made in the flesh but yet were called Sons
of God like the Angels. We lost the honor due to the lust of our flesh, but
You did not give up on us. The book of Revelations has the Angels calling
fellow servants and brethren for we will again be restored in relationship
with You and those in Heaven. Lord, in the parable none went to search for
the lost son but in reality You did. You did not just wait for us the
prodigal sons to return but came yourself for us to restore us to You, we
thank You Lord for your love...

This prayer we make in Jesus�Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Genesis 41:42-43

42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph�
hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about
his neck;

43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they
cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of
Egypt.

Mark 14:51-52

51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast
about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:

52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.

Esther 3:10 - And the king took his ring from his hand, and gave it unto
Haman the son of Hammedatha the Agagite, the Jews�enemy.

John 1:12-13

12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons
of God, even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the
will of man, but of God.

Revelation 19:10 - And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto
me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that
have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the
spirit of prophecy.

Revelation 22:9 - Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy
fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the
sayings of this book: worship God.

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Which God do you worship?

Luke 12:34 - For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The word ‘God’ is a word that is coined like the word ‘Church’ and both
these do not exist in the Bible. The Greek word translated as Church refers
to a congregation, but not just any congregation but specifies it people
gathered for spiritual purposes. Thus even though the word is not Biblical,
using the word ‘Church’ does not cause any issue (as far as my knowledge
goes). But about using the word ‘God’ we need to understand more.

Bible words used for the Creator are usually Lord or Divine One etc., what
is interesting is the word ‘God’ was coined later and coincidently is
similar (phonically) to a pagan deity (Hebrew Gawd / Gad) who was provider
and keeper of the fortune of this world and is mentioned in the Bible
(Isaiah 65:11).

Like in today’s message we read of 2 types of treasures, one which is of
this world and the other that is of Heaven. The treasures of this world can
be seen and even held in the hand but the treasures of the Heaven are not
visible to everyone, only those who are spiritually mature will be able to
see them.

What the Bible mentions as treasures of this world do not only mean money,
gold, silver, precious gems but means everything of this world that is
precious. It would also include things like fame, social status /
relationships, career, social power, physical/external beauty, clothes,
electronic gadgets, automobiles, house and even earthly family
relationships among other things.

When the Bible uses the word Heavenly treasures, it refers to things like
revelations that come from God, Fruits of the Holy Spirit and gifts of the
Holy Spirit among others.

We all have a spiritual pocket in our inner man wherein we store our
treasures; when we put earthly treasures, as soon as we put them in they
increase in volume and weight. Thus as we put more and more of the worldly
riches they spiritually puff us and burden us and cause us to come to a
point that they drag us spiritually and cause us not to enter the narrow
gates of Heaven. But in case of Heavenly treasures, even though we put them
in our spiritual pocket here they actually get deposited in Heaven in our
account there, thus as we fill our spiritual pockets they show we have
nothing.

An interesting fact is as we get any Heavenly treasure, each leads us to
places where more Heavenly treasure is available. Thus those who are rich
in Spirit are meek in Spirit, because even though they have a lot yet they
know how much they lack. Another fact people are ignorant of is the riches
that we store in Heaven are not like insurances or fixed bank deposits
which cannot be touched or use unless it matures (unless we go to Heaven).
Understand the riches we deposit in Heaven can be of use for us here on
earth, in our lifetime, but have its principles of usage.

When we use the word ‘God’ do we mean the pagan god of this world or do we
mean the God of the Heavens. If our God is the God of the Heavens then why
are we hoarding the fortunes of this world and are penniless in the
fortunes of the Heavens?

Today’s message asks a question to us which we alone can answer for
ourselves - who is our God?

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You who dwell in the High places of the Heavens alone are our God.
Lord, your riches are unlimited and eternal. Help us Lord to realize the
rich of this world is temporary and many a times cause of our destruction.
Lord we pray we pursue the riches of your Kingdom and gather of this world
only that what we need and what we desire...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Isaiah 65:11 - But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy
mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink
offering unto that number.

The Hebrew words translated here as ‘that troop’ is the word Gawd - a pagan
deity – god of fortune. Therefore the scripture should be :-

Isaiah 65:11 - But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy
mountain, that prepare a table for Gawd, and that furnish the drink
offering unto that number.

Matthew 6:24 - No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the
one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.


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He is King forever

Mark 15: 12,13 - And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye
then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? And they
cried out again, Crucify him.

The Bible talks of 2 Saviours one a Prophet greater than Moses and the
other a King from the linage of David whose Kingdom is forever; these both
were fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

The concept of the Lord coming as man and king came because at the
Israelites had rejected God as their King and they wanted a human king, but
compared to the Lord there was no king who was worthy for the people. God
out of His love came as man to be the perfect King for His people so as to
bring them out of bondage and bring victory to them. Jesus is called
eternal King because He brings us victory not only in this world but also
the real spirit world.

The Jews because they hated the knowledge of God did not recognize Him and
thus though Him be like the kings of this world who rule the land and the
people dwell in it become subject to him. But Jesus was Lord who came as
man, all the land and Heavens is already His, He came not for the land but
for the people.

There are 2 things that people fail to understand Jesus the man will not be
the humbled being forever but return to the glorious God the Son after He
fulfils His Kingship of bringing His people to victory. So Jesus is not
forever even though He is for ever. He will one day cease to be man and
will be God again but He will never cease to be King.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, due to our corrupt minds we rejected You as King because we wanted to
be like the people of the world that led us to bondage and suffering. To
deliver us You came as man and by your Spirit cause us to come out of this
world and be your people again. You are King and we your mighty soldiers.
You need us to victory in every dimension of creation. Lord, we pray we
focus our eyes on You alone and be subject to You alone...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Deuteronomy 18:18-19

18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto
thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all
that I shall command him.

19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my
words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.

2 Samuel 7:8-17

8 Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the
LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to
be ruler over my people, over Israel:

9 And I was with thee whithersoever thou wentest, and have cut off all
thine enemies out of thy sight, and have made thee a great name, like unto
the name of the great men that are in the earth.

10 Moreover I will appoint a place for my people Israel, and will plant
them, that they may dwell in a place of their own, and move no more;
neither shall the children of wickedness afflict them any more, as
beforetime,

11 And as since the time that I commanded judges to be over my people
Israel, and have caused thee to rest from all thine enemies. Also the LORD
telleth thee that he will make thee an house.

12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers,
I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels,
and I will establish his kingdom.

13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of
his kingdom for ever.

14 I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I
will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children
of men:

15 But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul,
whom I put away before thee.

16 And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before
thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.

17 According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did
Nathan speak unto David.

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The coming of the Ransomed to Zion

Isaiah 35:10 - And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion
with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and
gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isaiah 35 talks of the second coming of Christ (who was ransomed for our
sins) and this chapter is like Songs of Solomon written with lots of
symbolization. This chapter gives a good idea of how things would be when
this world will cease to exist with the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the verse before Isaiah states leaving for the redeemed, none will walk.
This means even though the unredeemed will exist at that time they will be
serving their death. Bible says all those who are not redeemed by the Lord
will be put in the Lake of Fire on Judgment Day, the Lake described also as
Lake of Sulphur would be worse than Hell. The suffering between them is
like a teacher beating with a ruler and spy being tortured by the military.
The people in Hell suffer their sins (never dying worms / fire within) and
those in the Lake of Fire suffer for rejecting the Word of God even after
knowing the Lord.

One of the main reasons people do not take God seriously is because they
are ignorant of what lies behind the curtain of their natural death.

Here the term 'Zion' is not referred to a place but to the people. If we
see when David became King he called Jerusalem as Zion which means
fortified city even though there were no walls around the city. It was
Solomon who built walls around Jerusalem. Also if we read the Jebusites
(meaning of the threshing stone - symbolizing Satan and the fallen Angels),
the lame and blind were not allowed in the city and were slain. Similarly
those among humans (Believers) who do not know the Truth and those
unwilling to walk in the way of the Lord would not enter Heaven.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, this world may seem wonderful to many but the world awaiting us is
beyond imagination. Lord, it is beyond the imagination of man or impossible
to come in his heart the things You have set for is in Heaven. Lord, we
thank You for finding us worthy to dwell in your presence in the glorious
place called Heaven...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Revelation 20:7-15

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

8 And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters
of the earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number
of whom is as the sand of the sea.

9 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of
the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of
heaven, and devoured them.

10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and
brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be
tormented day and night for ever and ever.

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face
the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

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

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell
delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man
according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second
death.

15 And whoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the
lake of fire.

Revelation 21:7-8

7 He that overcomes shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and
he shall be my son.

8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and
fornicators, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their
part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone: which is the second
death.

John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become
the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

2 Samuel 5:6-8

6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem to the Jebusites, the
inhabitants of the land: which spoke to David, saying, Except you take away
the blind and the lame, you shall not come in here: thinking, David cannot
come in here.

7 Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of
David.

8 And David said on that day, Whoever gets up to the gutter, and smites
the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind that are hated of David's soul,
he shall be chief and captain. Why they said, The blind and the lame shall
not come into the house.

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Haters of God

Romans 1:28-32

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God
gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not
convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness,
covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit,
malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of
evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection,
implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are
worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do
them.

Yesterday I was watching a Youtube video of Islam extremist preachers
talking of love in Islam. These preachers (mostly young men) first spoke of
love but as they went on they emphasized whom Muslims should love. They
mocked the teachings of Jesus to love everyone including the enemy. One
also referred to the instruction of Jesus ‘if someone slapped you on the
left cheek, show them your right cheek’ and called it stupidity. They
explained Islam’s attitude towards love, they stated Islam instructs to
love only those who love Allah, his prophet Mohammad and his teachings and
to hate those who hate them. They were very clear their hate was not only
against the wrong the people did, but to hate the people along with the
wrong they did. This gives an explanation why we see so much violence exist
in Islamic countries or people who dedicatedly follow such teachings. They
hate the people of the world and even each other for they accuse people
within their folds for not following ‘the teachings’. At the end what
happens is pure vanity, they send each other quicker to the bottomless pit
- Hell.

Today’s message talks of people who hate the knowledge of God and these
people the Bible classifies as haters of God and this is a very important
fact for us to understand.

There are people who advice you not to go too deep into the Bible, or study
of scriptures, please do not listen to them. If one loves God one will
desire to know God and if one desires to know God one has to study the Word
of God and walk with the Lord. The Bible is not a school syllabus which can
be mugged up. Leave alone God it does not take time for a person in the
Lord to identify such people. They soon or later fall terribly when the
ground under them shakes even a little.

No doubt the Gospel is simple yet the Word of God cannot be understood even
by the wise of this world. Gospel means the Good News or the hope that
comes through Jesus Christ and that does not require someone to have great
wisdom. But when we accept Christ and are baptized in Him we are given the
promise of the Holy Spirit. That does not mean we receive the full of the
Holy Spirit. Bible says only in Christ the Lord dwelled in fullness. We on
accepting the Gospel and being baptized receive a token of the Holy Spirit
and that too a token of the Spirit of Truth. It is the Spirit of Truth who
starts to reveal the Word of God to us. That is why things which we could
not understand start to become clearer and simple to us. As we grow in the
Spirit of Truth we grow in knowledge and understanding of the Word. That is
why to truly grow in the knowledge and understanding of God one cannot do
that studying the Bible like worldly books but needs to grow in Spirit.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, your Word was Manna to those who did not know You and is the Living
Bread for those who are baptized in You. Lord, You have said in your Word
those who eat your message will have eternal life and drink of your Spirit
(water) rivers of living water (understanding) shall flow from their
bellies. Lord, we pray You increase our hunger for your Word and a thirst
for your Spirit such that we may not hunger for the things of this world
and thirst for the understanding of this world...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

John 6:51 - I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man
eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give
is my flesh [in Hebrew the word comes from the root word ‘tiding’], which I
will give for the life of the world.

John 4:10-14

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

11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the
well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?

12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and
drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?

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

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

1 Corinthians 2:6-8

6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom
of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:

7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom,
which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it,
they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

John 16:12-13

12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.

13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into
all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear,
that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

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A HEBREW SAGE MIGHT SAY. . .
There is so much that we could see in the physical as well as in the spiritual world if we would just let ALMIGHTY GOD touch our eyes!

THE PROPHET
"The LORD your GOD will raise up for you a PROPHET from among your own people, like myself (Moses); HIM you shall heed." [Deuteronomy (Devarim) 18. 15 Tanakh, Torah]

Prophecy Fulfilled: On the last and greatest day of the Feast (Sukkot/SIMCHAT TORAH), the MESSIAH LORD YESHUA stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to ME and drink. Whoever believes in ME, as the SCRIPTURE has said, streams of Living Water will flow from within him. — By this HE meant the SPIRIT, WHOM those who believed in HIM were later to receive. Up to that time the SPIRIT had not been given, since JESUS had not yet been glorified. On hearing HIS WORDS, some of the people said— "Surely this MAN is THE PROPHET." [John 7. 37 - 40]

YESHUA ha'MASHIACH is the only ONE WHO righteously executes the offices of Prophet, Priest and King. HE is the SUBSTANCE of GOD'S character stamped in HUMAN FORM. When JESUS, GOD'S ONLY BEGOTTEN SON speaks to us, HE fulfills the office of the SUPERIOR PROPHET; when YESHUA purged our sins, HE accomplished the perfect work of the PRIEST; and after carrying out the once-for-all sacrifice, the LORD JESUS sat down at the right hand of the MAJESTY on high, where HE sits as KING. [Hebrews 1. 1 - 3]

MESSIAH, THE PROPHET: Speaking to Moses on Mount Horeb the LORD GOD said, "I will raise up a PROPHET for them from among their own people, like yourself; I will put MY WORDS in HIS mouth and HE will speak to them all that I command HIM; and if anyone fails to heed the words that HE speaks in MY NAME, I MYSELF will call him to account." [Deuteronomy (Devarim) 18. 18 - 19 Tanakh, Torah]

"The SPIRIT OF THE SOVEREIGN LORD is on ME, because the LORD has anointed ME; HE has sent ME as a herald of joy to the humble, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives and liberation from darkness to the imprisoned; to proclaim a year of the LORD'S favor and the day of vindication by our GOD; to comfort all who mourn." [Isaiah (Yeshayah) 61. 1 - 2 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

"CHRIST, WHO has been appointed for you — even JESUS. HE must remain in heaven until the time comes for GOD to restore everything, as HE promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said— The LORD your GOD will raise up for you a PROPHET like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything HE tells you. Anyone who does not listen to HIM will be completely cut off from among HIS people." [Acts 3. 20 – 23; Deuteronomy/ Devarim 15. 15, 18, 19]

"JESUS returned to Galilee in the power of the SPIRIT, and news about HIM spread through the whole countryside. HE taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. HE went to Nazareth , where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath Day HE went into the synagogue, as was HIS custom. And HE stood up to read. The Scroll of the Prophet Isaiah was handed to HIM. Unrolling it, HE found the place where it is written: —The SPIRIT OF THE LORD is on ME, because HE has anointed ME to preach GOOD NEWS to the poor. HE has sent ME to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the LORD'S favor. —Then HE rolled up the SCROLL, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on HIM, and HE began by saying to them — Today this SCRIPTURE is fulfilled in your hearing." [Luke 4. 14 - 21]

"After the people saw the miraculous sign that YESHUA did, they began to say— Surely this is THE PROPHET WHO is to come into the world." [John 6. 14]

MESSIAH, THE PRIEST: "I will raise up for MYSELF a FAITHFUL PRIEST, who will act in accordance with MY wishes and MY purposes. I will firmly establish HIS House, and HE will minister before MY ANOINTED forevermore. " [1 Samuel (Shemuel Alef) 2. 34 - 36 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

"The LORD said to my Lord: Sit at MY right hand until I make YOUR enemies a footstool for your feet. — The LORD will stretch forth from Zion YOUR mighty scepter; hold sway over YOUR enemies. The LORD has sworn and will not relent, YOU are a PRIEST forever, after the manner of Melchizedek, a RIGHTFUL KING by MY decree.' " [Psalms (Tehillym) 110. 1 – 2, 4 Tanakh, Torah]

"Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on JESUS, the APOSTLE and HIGH PRIEST WHOM we confess. But CHRIST is faithful as a SON over GOD'S House. And we are HIS House, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast." [Hebrews 3. 1, 6]

"No one takes this honor upon himself; he must be called by GOD, just as Aaron was. So CHRIST also did not take upon HIMSELF the glory of becoming a HIGH PRIEST. But GOD said to HIM— YOU are MY SON. today I have become YOUR FATHER. —And HE says in another place — YOU are a PRIEST forever, in the order of Melchizedek. " [Hebrews 5. 4 - 6]

MESSIAH, THE KING: "See, a time is coming— declares the LORD —when I will raise up a TRUE BRANCH to David's line. HE shall reign as KING and shall prosper, and HE shall do what is just and right in the land. In HIS days Judah will be delivered and Israel will dwell secure. This is the NAME by which HE shall be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (VINDICATOR) ." [Jeremiah (Yirmeyah) 23. 5 - 6 Tanakh, Nevi'im]

"I have installed MY KING on Zion , MY Holy Mountain! I will proclaim the decree: the LORD said ME — YOU are MY SON; I have FATHERED YOU this day. Ask it of ME, and I will make the nations YOUR domain; YOUR possession, the ends of the earth. YOU will rule them with an iron scepter; shatter them like potter's ware." [Psalms (Tehillym) 2. 6 - 9 Tanakh, Torah]

"GOD, WHO at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by HIS SON, WHOM HE has appointed HEIR of all things, through WHOM also HE made the worlds. The SON is the radiant brightness of GOD'S GLORY AND THE EXPRESS (precise, exact) IMAGE of HIS PERSON, upholding and sustaining all things by HIS POWERFUL WORD, when HE had by HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the MAJESTY in heaven." [Hebrews 1. 1 - 3]

The LORD YESHUA, blessed be HIS GLORIOUS NAME, was the PROPHET WHO revealed GOD'S truth; the PRIEST WHO provided GOD'S redemption; and the ETERNAL KING WHO imparts GOD'S power! Thus, YESHUA ha'MASHIACH is exalted above all blessings and praise, the LIVING WORD!


Sha’alu (Pray) for the shalom (Peace) of Jerusalem and all of Israel !
Oh come let us adore HIM, the LORD Messiah YesHUA — KING of kings & Lord of lords!
LORD GOD, direct my steps, correct me with judgments not in anger lest YOU bring me to nothing. We have an AWESOME GOD, and HE is on the throne ruling over the affairs of men. HE is worthy of all our praise and worship, even in these difficult times.


Praying for the peace of Jerusalem , is praying for the return of our Messiah and Lord and for the Kingdom of God He is bringing when He comes. Then God's Will shall be done on earth as it is in Heaven and the world will experience true godly universal peace which is the fruit of Righteousness.

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The thorn of Paul

1 Corinthians 2:4 - And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing
words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

Theologians since ages have not able to nail down as to what was the
'thorn&# 39; Paul referred too which caused him great suffering and took him to
a point of death. Some state it to be an ailment for which he had Luke (a
doctor by profession) to accompany him. Others have their own theories.
When I inquired about this with the Lord I was in for a big surprise. Had I
not had be taught about Callings, I would have never accepted what the Lord
revealed.

To understand this matter we need to have a bird's eye view of Paul's
spiritual life through his letter putting them in the order he wrote or
authored it.

Paul is admired for his great knowledge, his dedication to the Lord's work
and his humbleness. Some of the other strong points of him are also for
being a man of no nonsense, being fearless and a person of great
self-respect. All this was in him yet he was not perfect and the Lord
exposes one of his greatest weaknesses through his letters. The Lord did
this not to put down Paul but to show Paul was Paul only because the Spirit
of God worked in him and through him. Without the Holy Spirit Paul could
have been the greatest villains of the NT. The most important letters that
brings out the thorn of Paul is his letters to the Church in Corinth. We
see a great transformation in Paul from his first letter to Corinth to his
second letter and his last letters his letters to Timothy and Philemon. The
book of Acts also comes as an important evidence to this transformation of
Paul wherein he overcomes his thorn by God's grace.

Today's message is one of the important verses that highlight the thorn of
Paul. Although Paul had great knowledge and understanding of scriptures yet
he had a problem with delivering that knowledge and understanding unto the
ordinary people. Paul could not hold on to their attention for a long
period of time. People who were very interested to learn, Paul had no
problem to hold on to their interest for long periods, but ordinary people
would find Paul's preaching boring after a while and this we see happened
in Acts. Acts records in one of Pauls long preaching a person dozes off
while sitting on the window edge and falls and dies. Paul then miraculously
brings his back to life, even though did this great miracle yet it states
people were not happy.

We have preachers who make their preaching very exciting and interesting by
the show they put on the stage. They shout, jump around, crack jokes, and
do funny actions among other things, for they know the worldly ways of how
to handle the masses, but at the end of it when one analyses their
preaching, there was nothing much they taught the people. They mostly tell
people what they knew in the first place, with very little new and these
things are thing which do not cause them to be shaken or cause a great
change to their life, things which the Bible states smooth things that are
pleasing unto the ears. They are masters in serving yesterday' s food again
and again by just warming it and still satisfying the people. Paul did none
of these and was blunt at what he had to state, that is why most of the
time part of the people accepted his teaching and changed while the other
part landed becoming more hardened and worst. Paul did not make just
believers but made many disciples unto the Lord.

The worst point for Paul was when he was compared to one of his own team
mates and that too someone whom he was nurturing in the Lord considered as
a spiritual son, and that was Timothy. Timothy was an Evangelist by Calling
and thus carried power in his preaching and was able to handle large crowds
of people even if they were hearing the Gospel for the first time, or
people who knew the Lord but had not yet surrendered unto the Lord. This
comparison by the people of Corinth upset Paul very much. They stated
Paul's letters were strong but his speech week.

Even though Paul spoke humble words yet he had an area in which he needed
to overcome and that is associating as a part of the Body of Christ. Even
though we can do all things in Christ each one is given an ability to excel
in some areas according to our Callings which others cannot... i.e. a plane
can fly as well as drive (run) on the road and even may beat many cars in
speed on the tar road but a plane cannot sustain this speed for long or go
long distance or far places being on the road or travel rough roads. A
plane is made to fly; it is the creator of the plane who made it to fly and
not an ability any plane can take pride in its self, for it is natural for
it to do so. Same way a boat can navigate on water; that does not make a
boat greater than a plane or a plane greater than a boat.

We all who are Called by the Lord have an ability in us given by the Lord,
which we cannot take pride or claim any credit for. But surely if we do not
use it or we misuse it, we surely are responsible and answerable for it and
have to take the shame and consequences for it.

I have seen in my life the Lord pull up people whom He had a Calling for in
their life but chose to use it for worldly uses, to glorify themselves or
sustain their worldly needs.

Our Church today suffers for we do not give importance to Callings. It is
like the planes are driving on the roads like cars, and also are the boats
moving on the roads on carts all carrying people on them. People see they
are moving somewhere, so are satisfied. They do not realize the boundaries
they can cross or the heights they can reach if the people Called operate
according their Callings in the Lord.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You have shown us in the flesh we are weak and only by your Spirit we
can overcome. The Bible shows us even a great man like Paul struggled in
his life, but by your Spirit he to overcame. He once said 'work for your
salvation with fear and trembling' later this same man was very confident
that he had finished his race and was sure not only of his salvation but to
receive a high crown in Haven for he overcame his thorn. Lord, each one of
us has at least one thorn in our lives which we need to overcome. Help us
Lord to overcome those areas and be recipients not only of a place in
Heaven but receive a High place in Heaven...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Acts 20:7-12

7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to
break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and
continued his speech until midnight.

8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were
gathered together.

9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being
fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with
sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.

10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble
not yourselves; for his life is in him.

11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten,
and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.

12 And they brought the young man alive, and were not a little comforted.

1 Corinthians 2:1-4

1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech
or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and
him crucified.

3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's
wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

2 Corinthians 1:1 - Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,
and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with
all the saints which are in all Achaia:

2 Corinthians 10:9-13

9 That I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters.

10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily
presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

11 Let such an one think this, that, such as we are in word by letters
when we are absent, such will we be also in deed when we are present.

12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with
some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves,
and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to
the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to
reach even unto you.

2 Corinthians 12:6-10

6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will
say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above
that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the
revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of
Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is
made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I
am weak, then am I strong.

2 Timothy 1:2 - To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace,
from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Philemon 1:1 - Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother,
unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

2 Timothy 4:5 - But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the
work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

2 Corinthians 7:15 - And his inward affection is more abundant toward you,
whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling
ye received him.

Philippians 2:12 - Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as
in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own
salvation with fear and trembling.

2 Timothy 4:8 - Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that
day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

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The day Mary doubted her Savior

Mark 3:32 - And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him,
Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee.

We all look up to Mary and admire her for surrendering to the will of God.
Even though she was not married yet and marriage was just short time away
for her, she was told by the Angel of God that she would conceive a child
by the power of God. Initially she was hesitant and wondered how it would
be possible. But on hearing the testimony of her cousin Elizabeth, she
abided and was pregnant with a child. Her fianc�Joseph had to wait until
the child was born to get married unto Mary, because according to Jewish
tradition a marriage commenced only when the couple came together in
relationship.

We also admire for most of the time she left her other children and was
part of the troupe that followed Jesus. She along with her son James and a
few other women stood with Jesus when He was crucified even though the
closest disciples of Jesus forsook Him.

But in all this good of her, the Bible also shows her spiritual weakness as
a mother and as a person. One incident was at the marriage of her daughter
in Cana where she forced Jesus to convert water to wine even against His
wishes. Jesus showed His unwillingness to do it but on her insisting He
obliged, but this went against Jesus wish to do only things that glorify
God the Father and not Himself.

The worst among them was the incident recorded in today� message. In this
incident she manages to get Jesus really upset. What really happened can be
understood by the flow of scriptures. We read in Verse 30 people started
accusing Jesus of having an evil spirit and this caused Mary, out of
concern to come running with one of her sons to check on Jesus. They were
very anxious to see Him and check He was okay therefore did not wait
patiently outside for Him to finish but chose to interrupt Him by sending a
word in to come out to meet them. On this Jesus got very upset and did not
step out immediately but in fact made a statement that His true brother,
sister and mother are those who do the will of His Father.

Today� message is not to put down a great woman like Mary but to expose
that no man or woman in the Bible was worthy except for Jesus. It was only
by the grace of God that they were used for the glory of God.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You have time and again showed how weak man is. Even though your
grace was there upon them yet their weakness was visible. Lord, we know we
too can be history makers like them even thought we are weak like them for
your grace makes the difference.. .

This prayer we make in Jesus�Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Luke 1:35-38

35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come
upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore
also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God.

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

37 For no word from God shall be void of power.

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

John 2:1-11

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9 When 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,

10 And 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.

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

Mark 3:22-35

22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub,
and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can
Satan cast out Satan?

24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand,
but hath an end.

27 No man can enter into a strong man� house, and spoil his goods, except
he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

28 Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men,
and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme:

29 But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never
forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation:

30 Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.

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

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

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

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

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

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Submission

Acts 21:5,6 - And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went
our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till
we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed. And
when we had taken our leave one of another, we took ship; and they returned
home again.

I heard a Pastor time and again preaching of how Paul submitted to church
authority but when we read the book of Acts along with the Epistles we do
not read any such thing. Paul was spiritually built in the church of
Antioch and the person who was instrument in building him was Barnabas but
we see Paul had the same love to all the churches under him and there was a
time when he overgrew the one who was his spiritual mentor and rebuked him
when he made a grave mistake. The only things Paul submitted was to the
Lord and to the mission the Lord had in his life (his Cross).

We as Christians are called to love all mankind but to love like Christ
loved only our brethren and not all mankind. Christ humbled Himself and
came for all mankind but died for the sins of only those who are His that
is why only those who believe in Him are saved. Scriptures does not say all
the sins of mankind are forgiven because of Christ's sacrifice, it says
those who repent and come to Him, acknowledge as their Lord and Saviour,
accepting His sacrifice as a payment for their sins, are forgiven.

Respect and submission are two different things. Respect is a subset of
submission. We as Christians are called to submit only to God and His Word.
On the other hand we are called to respect our parents, church leaders,
elders and all those whom God has put to rule over / administrate over us.

In the Bible during the time of the early Church it was Peter (Simon), John
and James (the brother of John) who were the core people who headed the
Church, later we read Paul and Barnabas got included in this core group.
This group of five were basically for administrative and theological
co-ordinations. All the churches worked independently but yet they
co-ordinated with each other, and this core group was instrument for this;
that is why we see Paul moved around and so also did the others (for Acts
records there was a time when Peter who usually was stationed in Jerusalem
for he was commissioned by the Holy Spirit to minister to the Jewish
Christians, was not there in Jerusalem).

Paul was a no nonsense person who was very stern in his ways. He never held
back when it came to rebuke anybody, even his own core group members, but
he did show a lot of patience at the same time.

In today's message we read Paul was on his third and last tour visiting the
churches he was instrument in building. Many of the churches he visited
tried to persuade Paul to not go to Jerusalem for they knew in spirit that
Paul would be arrested there and that would lead to his death. But we see
Paul did not oblige them but was very firm of doing the mission the Lord
had put in his life. He respected the Christian church leaders as well as
the Jewish church leaders and the worldly rulers but did not abide to their
every word.

Submission is total surrender and respect is submitting after discerning.
When we know it is God's Word we submit even though we may not have the
full understanding of it, for Bible says it is after we submit we will have
its understanding and thus know the Truth and then the Truth shall set us
free. But when the people we respect speak we discern their words and see
if they do not lead us away from God and does not harm any person in any
way, then only we submit to them.

Let us learn from Paul to be bold, to whom we submit and whom we respect.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, the center scripture of your Word says (Ps 118:8) 'It is better to
seek refuge in the LORD than to put trust in man'. Lord, we pray your
people do not blindly follow man just because they claim to represent You.
That they discern every word that comes from man and know if it is your
Word or it is their flesh that speaks. Lord, we pray they learn whom to
submit to and who to respect and when to say YES and when to say NO...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Psalms 118:8 - It is better to trust [seek refuge <02620> ] in the LORD than
to put confidence [trust <0982> ] in man.

John 8:31-32

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

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

Acts 4:5-33

Galatians 2:11 - But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the
face, because he was to be blamed.

Acts 9:26-27

26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the
disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a
disciple.

27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared to
them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him,
and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus.

Acts 11:22-26

22 Then tidings of these things came to the ears of the church which was
in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as
Antioch.

23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and
exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would hold to the Lord.

24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and
much people was added to the Lord.

25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

26 And when he had found him, he brought him to Antioch. And it came to
pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and
taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in
Antioch.

Acts 15:37-40

37 And Barnabas determined to take with them John, whose surname was Mark.

38 But Paul thought not good to take him with them, who departed from them
from Pamphylia, and went not with them to the work.

39 And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed
asunder one from the other: and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed to Cyprus;

40 And Paul chose Silas, and departed, being recommended by the brothers
to the grace of God.

Luke 18:20 - You know the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not
kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor [revere] your father
and your mother.

Ephesians 6:1-4

1 Children, OBEY your PARENTS IN THE LORD: for this is right.

2 Honor [revere] your father and mother; which is the first commandment
with promise;

3 That it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.

4 And, you fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up
in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

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Washing of hands

Matthew 15:1,2 - Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of
Jerusalem, saying, Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the
elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.

When I was not having any understanding of scriptures on reading this there
was a thought in my mind, was Jesus and His disciples unhygienic people?
Did they did eat their food with dirty hands, not washing them? How could
this be a good example to children or even adults?

It was only some time back when a preacher was preaching on the topic of
special (expensive) vessels used by Jews for washing of hands I got a
thought to Google and find how they looked and I was in for a surprise.

Washing of hands for the Jews had nothing much to do with hygiene but was
to do with traditions. Only when one knows how they did their washing of
hands, then would one understand why Jesus rebuked them for the tradition.
We will understand this when we see this in another religion which copied
many things from Judaism, including this and that is Islam.

In Islam washing of hands (including other parts) is called Wudu. Wudu
ideally has 9 steps which are:-

1. Washing the hands up to the wrist.

2. Washing the mouth.

3. Cleaning the nose.

4. Washing the face.

5. Washing the hands up to the elbows.

6. Rubbing the head.

7. Cleaning the ears.

8. Washing the feet and the ankles.

9. Reading the DU’A at the end.

When one reads this one would say what is wrong with this? It seems a good
thing that promotes hygiene. But surprisingly this has little to do with
hygiene but more to do with their tradition and crazy beliefs. Every step
is to be followed in the same order. Washing of each part is done with
applying water a fixed number of times and when during each step a person
is required to recite some set words. Some things are done only with the
right hand and not the left hand. When doing a step like taking in water in
the nostrils 3 times it is done using the right hand and when discharging
it out, it is done with the help of the left hand. We also see when they
wash their right hand they are supposed to say ‘god give me the book in the
right hand’ and when washing the left hand they are supposed to say ‘god do
not give me the book in the left hand’ for they believe the left hand is to
do with evil while the right hand is to do with good. The most interesting
part is after performing Wudu they are considered themselves clean until
they ‘break it’, and this breaking happens when they go off to sleep, which
means sleep makes them unclean.

One may find this amusing but like I said Muhammad did not invent this but
like almost all things he copied from 3 main religions of his time, this
too was copied, and that too from Judaism.

The Jews too had and have some very crazy traditions connected to washing
and surprisingly this they justify this pointing to scriptures. Due to
their lack of understanding of scriptures they came up with weird
traditions which Jesus disliked.

The Jews have 3 types of washing one called ‘tevilah’ which was concerning
full body washing (water baptism/immersing ), the second was ‘netilat
yadayim’ which was washing of hands with a cup and ‘mayim acharonim’ which
was washing of the fingers. The Jews thought by washing one would be
spiritually clean and this cleansing lasted till evening or till one had a
long nap. The washing cups used by them were not ordinary cups. They had
special designs and were made as elaborate as possible and made with
precious metals mostly silver or even gold, and had beautiful carving or
designs on them. One would know the financial status of a household by just
looking at the cup used for washing.

In the scripture they refer to God had instructed Moses to build a brazen
vessel at the entrance of Tabernacle so that any person (priests) who
enters, they do so by washing their hands and feet. There was a very stern
warning with it, if they failed to do this they would die.

Think of it was God who is Spirit so concern with the hygiene of the
physical body? Why did God said only hands and feet and not the face or
other parts of the body? And the height of it, death for not being clean
that too by a God who is merciful to forgive even the worst sinner?

Jesus did not follow the traditions and understanding of the Jews. He
disliked their exaggerated external religious actions but internal
hardening of the soul. Jesus must have washed His hands in the normal way
but not the way the Jews did. We also see when the woman with the issue of
blood touched Jesus; He did not shout at her nor consider Himself unclean
and go to have a bath.

If one understands the scriptures in the books of Moses all things
concerning the Tabernacle or sacrifices were symbolic. Washing of hands and
washing of feet too were symbolic. Hands symbolized man’s works and feet
his way of life. Thus washing hands or feet symbolized asking for
forgiveness for one’s wrong doings and the unrighteous life one lived. If
we come to God without repentance and asking for forgiveness we will surely
die the real death (death of the spirit) on Judgment day.

Similarly man (woman) with an issue of blood had to do with the spirit man
and not with the physical man (woman). Any Man of God who has a spiritual
miscarriage or fails in delivering to the people of God due to one’s
mistake needs to take a cooling period (come out of ministering people) and
come back only when he or she is rejuvenated in the Lord.

[Prayer Starter]

Father God, You are Spirit and You see the thoughts and intensions of man
more than his actions. You hate traditions for they cause man to hide their
true nature behind them and cause man to harden himself more and more.
Lord, we pray we follow and worship You in Spirit and true understanding
and not in traditions.. .

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Exodus 30:17-21

17 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

18 Thou shalt also make a laver of brass, and his foot also of brass, to
wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the
congregation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein.

19 For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat:

20 When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash
with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to
minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD:

21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and
it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed
throughout their generations.

Leviticus 15:13-14 “‘Now in case the one having a running discharge would
become clean from his running discharge, he must then count for himself
seven days for his purification, and he must wash his garments and bathe
his flesh in running water; and he must be clean.14And on the eighth day he
should take for himself two turtledoves or two young pigeons, and he must
come before Jehovah to the entrance of the tent of meeting and give them to
the priest.

Mark 5:24-34

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

25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that
she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his
garment.

28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in
her body that she was healed of that plague.

30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of
him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging
thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came
and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in
peace, and be whole of thy plague.


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The New World Order

Ezekiel 36:34 - And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay
desolate in the sight of all that passed by.

In today message the Lord is not talking of a New World Order which man
will set and which many people are speaking of. The world re-order that the
Lord is talking of is something that I learned many years back as I was
studying the timeline of major events as prophesied in the Bible.

Initially before I came in the Lord I was unhappy and asked the Lord why
did He put me in a country like India; I could have been born in USA or in
an European country and enjoyed the luxuries of life. In the early stage of
my career also I had an opportunity to work in a prestigious organization
in the US but was not allowed by my parents. Today I thank God for all that
He did in my life. Many Indians may wonder what I am taking of, for many
preachers dream to preach in USA, which is like Heaven for them and their
lord and provider dwells there.

We all know Christianity and evangelism started in a big way when USA was
formed by Believer Christians who escaped the atrocities of the Catholic
Church in England and other European countries. Till date USA stands as the
prime country that backs Christianity, but today the Lord is saying this
will change.

If we see the way Lord is bring up great Men of God in many South East
Asian countries one will see a change in focus of the Lord and will
understand today� message.

In today message the Lord is saying no longer there would be great anointed
men (Bible refers to them as Elect) in USA but they will come from
countries like India and Pakistan and other under developing Asian
countries and when the Lord� anointed dwell in the land the favour of the
Lord falls on that nation. I know many of my brethren and friends from USA
may be disappointed or angry with me for this message but what message I
have been given I am stating. I am just doing my job and they need to
really make sure they seek the Face of God and are root in His Word and not
in the teachings of preachers that are not in line with the Word.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, like You your Word is eternal. You spoke thousands of years before
but your Word is valid even today and also speaks of things to come. You
Lord see the hearts of men and judge their intentions. Lord, we pray for
your mercy on your people especially on your people in USA. That they open
their eyes and do not follow men but follow You and your Word...

This prayer we make in Jesus�Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Ezekiel 36:33-35

33 Thus saith the Lord GOD; In the day that I shall have cleansed you from
all your iniquities I will also cause you to dwell in the cities, and the
wastes shall be builded.

34 And the desolate land shall be tilled, whereas it lay desolate in the
sight of all that passed by.

35 And they shall say, This land that was desolate is become like the
garden of Eden; and the waste and desolate and ruined cities are become
fenced, and are inhabited.

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Prophecy against top worldly preachers

Amos 1:13-15

13 Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon,
and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they
have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge
their border:

14 But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the
palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the
day of the whirlwind:

15 And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together,
saith the LORD.

Let me expound the message we receive for today with their Hebrew meaning,
root words or symbolization so one understand the message more easily. (I
have removed words added to the scripture by translators for readability) .

Amos 1:13-15

13 Thus saith the LORD; For three [symbolizing set period] transgressions
[rebellion] of the children of Ammon [tribal / nation], and for four
[symbolizing the world], I will not turn away thereof; because they have
ripped [divided] up the women with child [symbolizing spiritually expecting
people] of Gilead [symbolizing people with unsure understanding] , that they
might enlarge their border [ that is increase in wealth and fame]:

14 But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah [among the great], and
it shall devour [burn up] the palaces thereof, with shouting [signal] in
the day of battle [war], with a tempest [whirlwind symbolizing God's anger]
in the day of the whirlwind [God's wrath]:

15 And their king [top ruler] shall go into captivity, he and his princes
together, saith the LORD.

Thus the scripture expounds to:-

Thus saith the LORD; For a set period He bore the rebellion of the children
of the nation, and of the world, I will not turn back thereof; because they
have divided up the spiritually expecting people of people with unsure
understanding, that they might increase in wealth and fame:

But I will kindle a fire among the great, and it shall burn up the palaces
thereof, like a signal in the day of war, with a anger as in the day of the
wrath:

And their top ruler shall go into captivity, he and his princes together,
saith the LORD.

Today's message is against those top preachers that show themselves as dong
God's work but are more working towards building their own wealth and fame.
They are shamelessly devouring up people coming to the Lord, who are
thirsting for the Lord, just to feed their greed.

Yesterday someone was talking of a pastor, who found his own son doing
drugs. His wife started questions why this happened when they were doing
the Lord's work. I have seen such happen in a worst way when I was still a
Catholic, to a Catholic charismatic woman leader from Bangalore with a
calling of a Prophetess but not rooted in the Word. People used to call her
every day to ask her what word she had for them and this word she gave use
to come true in their lives. This woman due to her lack of foundation, but
great gifting was the cause of leading my elder sister to become a devote
Mary worshipper. My sister too having a calling of a Prophetess was guided
by her. Later when I came out of the Catholic Church and was learning about
callings I inquired from the Lord about this woman and the Lord exposed
her. This woman lost her daughter due to drugs overdose. She used to tell
others about their future but did not know her own present.

In today's message the Lord is warning those who are not building His
people but doing their own thing. He is going to come hard on them in ways
they would not expect. Today's message says soon we will see one famous
preacher and his disciples being decommissioned and I hope this happens in
India for the state among the celebrity preachers is very bad here, in fact
I was praying for this. India needs a shaking.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, as your Word says there are those whom You have anointed as Men of
God and then there and those whom people anoint as Men of God and also
those who anointed themselves as Men of God. People think gifting is what
makes one a Man of God. Lord we pray those who are misleading your people
due to their lack of understanding realize and repent and those who are
misleading for their personal reasons be exposed and removed from the
places they hold. Lord your people need true shepherds, your anointed ones
to led them...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

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.

Joel 1:2-15

2 Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land.
Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?

3 Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children,
and their children another generation.

4 That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that
which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the
cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten.

5 Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine,
because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth.

6 For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose
teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.

7 He hath laid my vine waste, and barked my fig tree: he hath made it
clean bare, and cast it away; the branches thereof are made white.

8 Lament like a virgin girded with sackcloth for the husband of her youth.

9 The meat offering and the drink offering is cut off from the house of
the LORD; the priests, the LORD'S ministers, mourn.

10 The field is wasted, the land mourneth; for the corn is wasted: the new
wine is dried up, the oil languisheth.

11 Be ye ashamed, O ye husbandmen; howl, O ye vinedressers, for the wheat
and for the barley; because the harvest of the field is perished.

12 The vine is dried up, and the fig tree languisheth; the pomegranate
tree, the palm tree also, and the apple tree, even all the trees of the
field, are withered: because joy is withered away from the sons of men.

13 Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the
altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the
meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your
God.

14 Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all
the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry
unto the LORD,

15 Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a
destruction from the Almighty shall it come.

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Overcome this world

Luke 12:33,34 - Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags
which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no
thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is,
there will your heart be also.

Being a Christian is the most difficult and almost impossible thing for any
human. If Churches really start preaching the uncut Word of God most of the
Churches will be empty and that is a guaranty.

If following Christ was as easy as what preachers put then Jesus who is an
ultimate icon as Preacher / Teacher / Healer / Prophet / Apostle / Shepherd
should have had a very large amount of followers. There is none who
preached like Him. There is none who taught like Him. There is none who
healed like Him. There is none who spoke the Word like Him. There is none
who abided in the Word like Him and there is none who led the sheep of God
like Him. Bible shows even though tens of thousands followed Him, heard Him
and were benefited from Him (fed, healed and bought to life) yet only 120
stood with Him at the end. If preachers give the truth as it is in the
churches we would hardly have a few attendees; everyone else leaving the
church like the people then who left Jesus.

In Acts we see people later had the courage to truly follow Christ and this
happened only because they had received the Holy Spirit and were baptized
in the Holy Spirit. It was the Holy Spirit who gave them the boldness to
face every situation even unto death.

People think the greatest, courageous thing to do is dying for witnessing
Christ, they are wrong. It is no doubt difficult to die for witnessing
Christ but it is more difficult to live a Christian life everyday fighting
one's desires and the things of the world. It is like dying every day to
one's flesh and being resurrected every day to one's spirit.

Jesus Christ did not say 'but be of good cheer; for I will die for you',
but said 'but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world'.

Today's message is one such Christian factor which Jesus told those who had
dedicated their life for the Kingdom of God. These people did nothing what
Jesus instructed them during His time, but after they received the Holy
Spirit and were baptized in the Holy Spirit, we read of them abiding by the
Word.

Today the Lord is telling us unless we do not abide by the Spirit we cannot
live a true Christian life. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit we
can do what the Lord calls of us.

We see many preachers who claim to have dedicated their life for the
Kingdom of God, doing the opposite of what today's message tells us. Their
lifestyle is more luxurious than middle class citizens forget living a
sober life. Some dress like rock stars when they preach.

No doubt as shepherds they can rightfully claim a fee for the work they are
doing but they do not realize they lose the greater things of Heaven. These
people have encashed their cheque for smoke instead of the precious gems of
the Kingdom of God.

People think because we are a blessed people we rightly should be rich. Yes
we as people of God should be rich - rich in spirit, blessed abundantly in
spirit and in earthly things we should be sober, having things that are
needed for we like Jesus are not citizens of this world, Heavenly Citizens
like today's message Jesus said desiring and collecting the precious things
of the Kingdom of God, things that we carry unto our permanent Home -
Heaven, and not collecting things that we leave behind here on earth,
things that could hinder our going home.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, we pray your people realize they are just passing through this world.
They realize they are here in this world because You have a mission for
them and by this mission they be blessed with eternal things in the
permanent House that is Heaven. Lord help us loss and overcome our desire
for things of this world and fill us with a thirst and hunger for things of
your Kingdom...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

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

Matthew 13:22 - He also that received seed among the thorns is he that
hears the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of
riches, choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

John 8:23 - And he said to them, You are from beneath; I am from above: you
are of this world; I am not of this world.

John 12:25 - He that loves his life shall lose it; and he that hates his
life in this world shall keep it to life eternal.

Luke 18:25 - For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye,
than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Matthew 19:23 - Then said Jesus to his disciples, Truly I say to you, That
a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

James 1:11 - For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it
wither the grass, and the flower thereof falls, and the grace of the
fashion of it perishes: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
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Is the Lord unable to protect His Church?
Daniel 9:11 - Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing,
that they might not obey [hearken] thy voice [call aloud]; therefore the
curse is poured upon us, and the oath [the curse] that is written in the
law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.

The hand that protected Israel from the time of Moses was the Lord and the
one being who caused the maximum damages to Israel was none other than the
Lord. About the former all would agree but about the later one many wonder
how?

We read like in today’s message because Israel transgressed the Commandment
(Law) of God, the Lord bought curses on them and they suffered for them.
These are the curses which are given in Deuteronomy - book of Moses. They
were warned about these curses but yet they chose them by choosing to break
the Commandments.

In today’s message we read the people of God chose to transgress against
the Lord and it is written how. In the English translations it is written
‘transgressed’ ‘by departing’ ‘that they might not obey thy voice’. But
when we get into Hebrew words (half of Daniel’s book is in Aramaic and half
in Hebrew) we get a better understanding of it.

The Hebrew word ‘abar’ translated as ‘transgressed’ , means to ‘pass over’
or ‘pass through’ or ‘alienate’. In English these terms would not be
grouped together but the Hebrew word means to do it or do something thing
showing as doing it but in reality not doing it.

The second word ‘cuwr’ translated as ‘departed’ means to ‘turn aside’ or
‘remove’. Here too it really means to change or edit thus not fulfil it.

This message is for us today. If one truly understands the Word of God one
would be amazed at what the Church is doing and what the Word of God asks
of us is so far apart. The Church does many things which makes the people
feel good and righteous but in reality they are either diverting from the
Word or doing their own thing. I am not talking here of just the Catholic
Church who can be easily identified but also the Believer Churches who call
themselves Bible followers. The leaders blindly follow what their
predecessors did without understanding or confirming with the Word. We saw
this happening even during the time of Jesus. The Pharisees were followers
of traditions and the Sadducees called themselves scriptures followers also
did their own thing because they denied half of the scriptures and its
understanding.

God is telling us He is not incapable to protect and provide for His
people. But yet we see His people suffer like the Israelites did. They are
destroyed at the hands of the heathens. It is in His mercy that He does not
let them be totally consumed, but by them not abiding to His Word they have
caused the curses to come over them.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, when your people walked in your ways not one of them died
unnaturally. They battled the greatest enemies yet they were safe. No
natural disaster harmed them but You took them through them all. Lord, your
people today follow men more than You, or twist your Word and show
themselves as keepers of your Word. They fool man but You are no man to be
fooled. Lord, we pray they repent for their ways and walk according to your
Word...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto
the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and
his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall
come upon thee, and overtake thee:

Deuteronomy 28:16-44

Deuteronomy 28:45 Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and
shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou
hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his
commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:

http://www.SavedByFaith.info
http://www.ToMountZion.com

Is the Lord unable to protect His Church?
Daniel 9:11 - Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing,
that they might not obey [hearken] thy voice [call aloud]; therefore the
curse is poured upon us, and the oath [the curse] that is written in the
law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.

The hand that protected Israel from the time of Moses was the Lord and the
one being who caused the maximum damages to Israel was none other than the
Lord. About the former all would agree but about the later one many wonder
how?

We read like in today’s message because Israel transgressed the Commandment
(Law) of God, the Lord bought curses on them and they suffered for them.
These are the curses which are given in Deuteronomy - book of Moses. They
were warned about these curses but yet they chose them by choosing to break
the Commandments.

In today’s message we read the people of God chose to transgress against
the Lord and it is written how. In the English translations it is written
‘transgressed’ ‘by departing’ ‘that they might not obey thy voice’. But
when we get into Hebrew words (half of Daniel’s book is in Aramaic and half
in Hebrew) we get a better understanding of it.

The Hebrew word ‘abar’ translated as ‘transgressed’ , means to ‘pass over’
or ‘pass through’ or ‘alienate’. In English these terms would not be
grouped together but the Hebrew word means to do it or do something thing
showing as doing it but in reality not doing it.

The second word ‘cuwr’ translated as ‘departed’ means to ‘turn aside’ or
‘remove’. Here too it really means to change or edit thus not fulfil it.

This message is for us today. If one truly understands the Word of God one
would be amazed at what the Church is doing and what the Word of God asks
of us is so far apart. The Church does many things which makes the people
feel good and righteous but in reality they are either diverting from the
Word or doing their own thing. I am not talking here of just the Catholic
Church who can be easily identified but also the Believer Churches who call
themselves Bible followers. The leaders blindly follow what their
predecessors did without understanding or confirming with the Word. We saw
this happening even during the time of Jesus. The Pharisees were followers
of traditions and the Sadducees called themselves scriptures followers also
did their own thing because they denied half of the scriptures and its
understanding.

God is telling us He is not incapable to protect and provide for His
people. But yet we see His people suffer like the Israelites did. They are
destroyed at the hands of the heathens. It is in His mercy that He does not
let them be totally consumed, but by them not abiding to His Word they have
caused the curses to come over them.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, when your people walked in your ways not one of them died
unnaturally. They battled the greatest enemies yet they were safe. No
natural disaster harmed them but You took them through them all. Lord, your
people today follow men more than You, or twist your Word and show
themselves as keepers of your Word. They fool man but You are no man to be
fooled. Lord, we pray they repent for their ways and walk according to your
Word...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Deuteronomy 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto
the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and
his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall
come upon thee, and overtake thee:

Deuteronomy 28:16-44

Deuteronomy 28:45 Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and
shall pursue thee, and overtake thee, till thou be destroyed; because thou
hearkenedst not unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his
commandments and his statutes which he commanded thee:

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http://www.ToMountZion.com

Ministering each other in carnal things

Romans 15:27 - It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For
if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their
duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.

In today's message the Lord wants to tell us 2 things.

Firstly we see even during the time of the Apostles there were various
different churches like we have various Christian denominations today, but
then they were not differentiated by their understanding or leader but by
the place and congregation (people according to the culture they came
from). Even though they were separate Churches yet they were one and we see
Christians of Macedonia and Achaia, which included churches of Philippi,
Thessalonica and Corinth, contributed financially to the church of
Jerusalem. This they did not do because the church of Jerusalem was
considered a head church or a center of administration. The only common
thing between the various churches at that time other than the belief was
the people working for the Kingdom of God.

Although Paul initiated these churches he was never possessive of them
being 'his church'. He surely was passionate about them but he did call
other likeminded (in understanding and mission) colleagues working with him
for God Kingdom, to help minister to these churches.

What we lack today is the people working for the Kingdom of God becoming
small minded and working only at church level, we have very few who work
across churches or denominations. Sadly those who work soon or later also
get pulled into local churches.

Secondly we read the word translated as carnal means things of the body.
The churches were not united only in helping each other spiritually but
also in worldly needs. There was no famine or disaster in Jerusalem that
these churches thought of helping or reaching out financially to the church
in Jerusalem. It was just that they were sharing their blessings with each
other. Pauls says in other words it was like saying thank you for giving
them the Gospel since the Gospel came from the Jews even though most Jews
rejected Christ, yet for the few it is the duty of Christians to thank them
for being a source for Christ.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, your Kingdom is divided for your people are not united in You but are
divided by their understanding. Lord, we pray You teach your people to
reach out to their brethren in other churches or denominations. Lord,
bring us to be one in heart and one in mission...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Romans 15:25-28

25 But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.

26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain
contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.

27 It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the
Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is
also to minister unto them in carnal things.

28 When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this
fruit, I will come by you into Spain.

--
T@MZ

http://www.SavedByFaith.info
http://www.ToMountZion.com

Power of prayer

Acts 4:31 - And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were
assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they
spake the word of God with boldness.

In my spiritual life I have seen great things happen when I prayed unto the
Lord, some of them are so unimaginable that I cannot even share them
openly. And among them was shaking of the place when praying in tongues. I
live on the 3rd floor in a society and this shaking was not just a feeling
but physical for the plates kept on a stand in my house fell and even the
chandeliers and fans shook but yet there was no earthquake or anything like
that at that time. My adjacent neighbours did not feel anything but only
those in my house did.

People may think I am a very strong prayer warrior, but on the contrary I
have been accused many a times of 'weak prayers' . In fact the very first
time the Lord told me to go and preach to people after a long period of
sitting and learning from Him, I said a prayer while ministering to a
sister. The prayer I made, I, myself did not expect much from it. By my
worldly understanding I would have rated 2 out of 10 for my prayer, yet
when I opened my eyes after praying I was in for a surprise. The sister was
touched and her eyes were full of tears, not only that the situation for
which we were praying for had completely changed the very next day,
something none of us could imagine. So praying is not about using strong or
big words, nor about screaming and shouting or jumping around. I would not
be surprised if Jesus were to be among us as man and was called on stage to
pray, today's leaders would have send Him back for His simple, short
prayer, they would possibly call His prayers too, as 'weak prayer'.

We also see in today's message the place shock when they prayed, so should
we ask for the place to shake when we pray?

We see this happened for a reason and the reason was to build those in the
congregation with boldness and this was the very thing that happened with
me when the shaking happened. The people praying with me were charismatic
Catholics and they were praying for me and then the Lord led me to pray in
tongues and after that incident I have not seen them come again to pray
with me and it has been years since. More than the shaking of the place
they were shaken within.

When praying external signs are not important but spiritual results are so
we should not be praying for or seeking signs. They may happen or may not
happen, let us leave it to the Holy Spirit for that, but the main reason
concerning His people, we should only seek that.

Prayer should start with acknowledging God for who He is and then thanking
Him for revealing Himself to us by blessing our lives, is the next most
important thing in prayer. Jesus' most powerful prayers were simple words
of thanking the Father, and they followed with great miracles.

The Bible says signs and wonders with follow us who seek the Lord and His
Kingdom in spirit and truth. So let us learn to really pray and experience
the real power of prayer not in signs but in glory of the Lord and then
signs and wonders will fail to show up.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You are God, You do not seek big words nor loud voices, You seek
depth of the cry that comes from our hearts. Even in the silent on our lips
we can make might prayers that can change history only if they come from
our hearts in spirit and truth. Lord, our prayer will have power only when
we know You more and seek You more. Lord, we pray reveal yourself more and
more unto us and fill us with more and more thirst and hunger for You and
your Kingdom...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Luke 11:1-20

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

John 6:8-11

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,

9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small
fishes: but what are they among so many?

10 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the
place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.

11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed
to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and
likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

John 11:41-45

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

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

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

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

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


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Why we lack and have problems
Haggai 1:10 - Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew [cover], and
the earth is stayed from her fruit.

We who live in this creation are a part of the Heavens. The highest 3
levels (dimensions) of the Heavens (Paul called it the third Heaven) are
the dwelling place of God. Even though Gad is everywhere this place is
called His dwelling place because His glory is most here. The Garden of
Eden is in this Upper Heavens.

Between our level and the Heavens is a level which separates and restricts
entry to the upper Heavens also known as the Holy Mountains of God. This is
the level wherein is described as lies the fiery Sword of God and where the
Cherubs keep guard. When man had no sin in him he could move between the
various levels like the Angels do since this level did not exist. This
level is more to restrict the fallen angels thrown down (removed) from the
Upper Heavens from entering the Holy Mountains of God. This restriction is
not because to keep them from doing harm to the dwellers of the Upper
Heavens but more because having evil in them they will perish when they
come closer to God.

Below our dimension are two levels one called Hell which is the lowest
level and then the level called Grave or Sea which lies between Hell and us.

Hell is a place where spirits of all humans who die and are not in the Lord
or forsaken go. Hell is not a valley where endless fire burns, this is a
Jewish misunderstanding which is carried by the Catholic Church. Hell is a
prison also described as an endless pit, for every cell is in total
isolation and every spirit that is bond here suffers for the sins in them.
No one tortures them; in fact each one brings in their own torturing
machines, since the sins in them are the endless fire or never dying worms
that cause them to suffer. Although Jesus went here since He was forsaken
by the Father when He was covered with our sins, but since there was no sin
in Him, He did not suffer and could not be held here, that is why He
resurrected. His purpose to some here was firstly to break the curse of
Hell so that all who believe in Him do not go there, secondly to fulfil the
promise of God to Noah for all the spirits from the time of Noah who
existed there were preached by Him and those who accepted Him were set free
from Hell along with Him.

Since none go to Heaven for none can enter it unless all mankind is judged
and those having the Truth receive Righteous covering from the Son, thus
God made a provision or level where the spirit of those who believe in Him
go that is the level below us and between Hell and us, also called the
Grave or Bosom of Abraham. From the time of Noah all those who are in the
Lord have been gathered here written ‘slept with their fathers’ or
‘gathered unto their people’ in the OT and ‘slept’ in the NT. All the
patriarchs of the OT went there and the incident of Samuel highlights this.

Bible says after the Judgement Day when all those judged and fallen and
those still alive in Hell will be put in a place called Lake of Fire or
Sulphur. There people do not suffer their sins but suffer for rejecting the
Word of God. Here the suffering is worse than Hell. It also says the levels
will cease to exist and the Heavens will come in a new level of glory.

Today’s message talks of this glory of God being delayed because of us and
thus creation also suffers. If we read a few scripture before it talks of
rebuilding the temple with wood from the Mountains. It is not talking of an
earthly temple but a spiritual temple that is us.

The scriptures says we people are lost in building earthly temples of flesh
and worldly understanding but are failing to build our spiritual temple.

God’s Hand is not short nor is He unable to sustain us or provide for us.
Let us concentrate on building our spiritual temple and stop depriving the
Heavens its glory and ourselves the provisions of God.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, we like fools plan great things for ourselves here on earth as if we
are to dwell here forever. Lord, we pray your people realize how short life
is and how the time is at hand to finish the work we are assigned. The work
of bringing your sheep to You, of leading the lambs and making them sheep,
since lambs do not enter Heaven but sheep do...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Genesis 2:7-8

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.

8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the
man whom he had formed.

Genesis 3:23-24

23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till
the ground from whence he was taken.

24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of
Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way
of the tree of life.

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

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

Genesis 49:33 - And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he
gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was
gathered unto his people.

Numbers 20:26 And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar
his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there.

Numbers 27:12-13

12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim, and
see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel.

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

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

1 Samuel 28:9-15

9 And the woman said unto him, Behold, thou knowest what Saul hath done,
how he hath cut off those that have familiar spirits, and the wizards, out
of the land: wherefore then layest thou a snare for my life, to cause me to
die?

10 And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there
shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

11 Then said the woman, Whom shall I bring up unto thee? And he said,
Bring me up Samuel.

12 And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the
woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

13 And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And
the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

14 And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man
cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was
Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

15 And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up?
And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war
against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither
by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest
make known unto me what I shall do.

2 Corinthians 12:2 - I 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.

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.

Revelation 20:11-15

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face
the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

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

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell
delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man
according to their works.

14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second
death.

15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into
the lake of fire.

Hagai 1:7-11

7 Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Consider your ways.

8 Go up to the mountain, and bring wood, and build the house; and I will
take pleasure in it, and I will be glorified, saith the LORD.

9 Ye looked for much, and, lo, it came to little; and when ye brought it
home, I did blow upon it. Why? saith the LORD of hosts. Because of mine
house that is waste, and ye run every man unto his own house.

10 Therefore the heaven over you is stayed from dew, and the earth is
stayed from her fruit.

11 And I called for a drought upon the land, and upon the mountains, and
upon the corn, and upon the new wine, and upon the oil, and upon that which
the ground bringeth forth, and upon men, and upon cattle, and upon all the
labour of the hands.

-- 
T@MZ

http://www.SavedByFaith.info
http://www.ToMountZion.com

God alone is Good

Matthew 19:16-19

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing
shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but
one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

The Gospel of Matthew tells us about a young rich man who lived a good
life, did his duty towards God and never harmed anyone. This man comes to
Jesus and calls Him Good and Jesus rebukes him for calling Him Good, Jesus
tells him no man (including Himself) is Good, leaving God alone.

One will wonder why Jesus who was God who humbled Himself and came as man
said He was not Good even though He was without sin?

Some translations could not understand this scripture therefore changed its
meaning like NASB states instead of ‘Why callest thou me Good?’ into ‘Why
are you asking me what is good?’.

In the Bible there are many Greek words translated as good like ‘kalos’ or
‘ischuo’ but the word used here in today’s message is ‘agathos’. This
adjective is more a superlative tense and unlike the previous 2 words which
are comparative adjectives.

This same word is used by Paul in Ephesians 5:9 as one of the especial
Fruits of the Holy Spirit which man cannot grow but is given as a gift.
This word can be translated as best but the most appropriate English word
is Holy. You may have noticed I have been using a capital alphabet G for
the word Good stated here for Holiness is a unique character of God.

We need to understand holiness to understand why Jesus said God alone is
Holy and did not associate Himself with that character even though He was
perfect as a human being and had not committed any sin.

We need to understand Holiness is just not about not sinning. Holiness is
about being perfect and God alone is perfect; man including the Angels and
the Cherubs do not count in the category of being Holy or perfect this we
see by the fact they fell. We also see in Heaven the Heavenly Beings call
out the Name of God as Holy, Holy, Holy for He alone is Holy.

We need to understand JESUS WAS GOD THE SON WHO HUMBLED HIMSELF AND CAME AS
MAN. I wrote this in caps since it is very important for us to have this
written in our hearts and minds.

In the Gospel of John Jesus in His prayer to the Father, asks the Father
for the glory HE HAD before the world was, and the Bible says He became a
sacrifice in the beginning (of creation). Thus this scripture is a clear
proof of Jesus leaving His God (The Son) power or God (The Son) status when
He became man and that He became a man like you and me. He overcame sin as
a man and became our sacrifice for our sins because He was a 100percent man.

The only God power He had was - as Christ, the power was the power of the
Holy Spirit. We who are in Christ, who receive the Holy Spirit, have the
same power which Jesus had as man. There was only one thing that was unique
to Jesus and that was He could transfigure, and that was only because He
had overcome the corruption of this world and the image of God was perfect
in God and that is why He was called Son of God. Transfiguration is coming
out of the flesh and having the ability to move between the dimensions of
Heaven. In Genesis Adam and Eve had this ability before they sinned, note
there are 2 gardens mentioned in Genesis - Eden which was in Heaven and the
other which was on earth (written as garden to the east of Eden). As we
grow in Spirit and overcome the corruption of sin (nature of Adam) and
become Sons of God we too will have the power to transfigure and that is
what happens in the end days and is known as rapture.

In today’s message Jesus is assuring us that He was man as you and me, and
He had victory over sin as man and that was by the power of the Holy
Spirit. We too if we submit to the Spirit of God we will be like Jesus and
one day man will be able to overcome the flesh and transfigure as Sons of
God.

God says this will happen for by faith Bible says we are Sons of God and a
Holy nation, and when the Bibles says, it comes to pass.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, after man sinned and corruption came into man, man lost the Truth and
righteousness left him. Bible says none were found righteous therefore You
came as man and became our sacrifice. You also became the way for us to
receive Truth and Righteousness. Bible says the Angels our brethren in
Heaven also await for us since we all will receive Holiness when You dwell
with us in Heaven. Lord, what is man that You lifted him up and made a part
of You. We thank You for yoor mercies...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

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

John 1:12 - But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become
the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Luke 4:33-34

33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean
devil, and cried out with a loud voice,

34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of
Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy
One of God.

Genesis 2: 8 - And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and
there he put the man whom he had formed.

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

1 Peter 1:20 - Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the
world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

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

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

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Jesus a Nazarite of Nazareth

Mark 14:67 - And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him,
and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth [Nazarene].

I have received this scripture numerous times and every time I ask God what
new is He going to reveal or speak to us via this scripture. Today also as
I got it the first words that came out of me was 'oh no, not again'. But
when I started to meditate on this I noticed the way the maiden
acknowledged Jesus. She verifies with Peter that he was with Jesus of
Nazareth.

I use a NASB Bible in hand (when I sit to write) and have many electronic
versions from KJV, NIV etc. on my computer system, in the NASB and also KJV
the scripture states and 'Jesus of Nazareth' but when I checked with Greek
words on the face I saw a mistake been made by the translators. The Greek
word in this scripture is Nazoraios which should mean Nazarene and not
Nazareth that is the name of a place.

Like we have seen in previous cases also due to lack of spiritual
understanding of scriptures the translators by their seer linguistic
expertise and limited spiritual understanding translated the scriptures.
Knowing the restrictions in the English language there are many words that
comes to a situation of 'choose one of the following' .

I do not point a finger at the translators for even if this scripture was
given to a Jew for translation he or she would have very likely done the
same mistake.

Firstly we need to understand the Greek word Nazoraios translated as
Nazarene in NT has 2 meanings one that is Nazarene which means 'a person of
Nazareth' and second a Nazarite which means 'a person separated to God'.
Matthew 2:23 says when Joseph was instructed by the Angel in Egypt he went
with his wife Mary (they were married after Jesus was born) and the infant
Jesus to Nazareth. There Jesus grew up and was called Nazoraios, when they
said it they considered it to mean a Nazarene - a citizen of Nazareth. But
calling Jesus Nazoraios was necessary to fulfil a prophecy given through
the Prophets which stated He would be a Nazarite - separated unto God.

It is interesting to note that the prophecy was fulfilled and people called
Him a Nazarene but yet not understand what the prophecy was truly about and
how they fulfilled it.

A Nazarite was a term used for a person who separated oneself to God and
had some conditions to fulfil. Jesus as being an example of a dedicated
worker of the vineyard of God separated Himself to God. When the evil
spirit as we saw in yesterday reference scripture Mark 1:24 acknowledged
Jesus they too called Jesus as 'Jesus the Nazarene' there too the
translators did the mistake of translating as 'Jesus of Nazareth' . The same
is the case with Mark 10:47 when Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus. Bartimaeus
was not a Jew, he was a Roman and from history it is known that he was a
son of a high official in Jericho and had rebelled against the authorities
therefore blinded. When he heard Jesus a Nazarene was passing by he knew a
Nazarene was not an ordinary person. Bible records very few people as a
Nazarene. In the New Testament Jesus was the only one who was called by the
name. In Acts we see Paul to please some people went to do the Jewish
customs of a Nazarene along with a few others and got himself in trouble
with the Jews, was arrested and later taken to Rome by the Romans to be
killed.

Bible does not says Jesus cut or did not cut his hair but yet it says He
was called a Nazarene. As per Jewish customs a Nazarene was not to touch
wine but Bible says Jesus did drink wine. These were among the other few
things which caused the Jews not to acknowledge Jesus as a Nazarene but by
this way of life and the glory of God around Him many others acknowledged
Him as one.

Jesus showed us a glimpse of what it means to lead a holy life even thou we
are not totally like God. He being man yet was acknowledged as the Holy One
of God not only by man and the Angels but also the evil spirit (fallen
angels) knew Him as the Holy One of God.

God is asking of us to be a Nazarene not according to the customs of the
Jews but by the true understanding of the Word of God as manifested in
Jesus Christ. To be a holy people we need to be people totally living under
the grace of God, not getting intoxicated with spiritual things [desire the
good as per our need and keep away from the bad], keeping distant from the
things of the dead [not physically dead but thing that lead to death], not
relying on worldly knowledge nor running after the lust of the flesh.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord we pray for wisdom and understanding for your people. We pray that
they do not seek You in customs but in Truth, Truth that comes by
understanding and following your Word. Lord, like your Word says in the end
days your people will follow You in Spirit and Truth, we pray this in
fulfilled in our time...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Matthew 2:22-23

22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his
father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of
God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:

23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be
fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

Numbers 6

Mark 10:46-47

46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his
disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of
Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.

47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out,
and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

Mark 1:23-24

23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he
cried out,

24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of
Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy
One of God.

Isaiah 1: 1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse
[father of David], and a Branch [netser] shall grow out of his roots:

Acts 24:5 - For we have found this man [Paul] a pestilent fellow, and a
mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader
of the sect of the Nazarenes [Nazarites]:

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They that have the rule over you

Hebrew 13:24 - Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the
saints. They of Italy salute you.

The Greek word translated here as 'salute&# 39;, is also translated as 'greet&# 39;
and means to draw near. The word means to be kind, to impress, to show
love, to go out of one's way for the person.

This letter of Paul (some think it is by Barnabas) is written to the Hebrew
Christian, people of Jewish faith who became Christians but were
contemplating to turn back to Judaism. In his letter Paul at the end asks
them to greet the people that are set over them. Christians think these are
the Church leaders and Elders of the Church. Yesterday I heard church
Pastor stating those who evangelize without taking guidance from him or his
church elders are 'not authorized&# 39; by him. These words gave me the shivers.
Being coming from a Catholic background it frightened to hear the same
words even in a Believer Church. I thought it was the mission of every
Christian to evangelize and witness Christ to every person put into their
lives.

I was going through some financial stats which are eye openers. Frontier
Harvest Ministries state in their world mission statistics as tens of
thousands of dollars spend to baptize one Believer. This happens because
most Christians are putting their tithes and donations into the wrongs
places. They mostly give financial support to main stream Churches and
ministries which do not do fruitful evangelizing. The 80% finance goes to
people who do the 30% of the work.

Please have wisdom do not go blindly by what people claim or the stats they
put. Verify everything and discern people and their claims.

Paul tells us to greet people set over us and then says also all the
saints. The saints refer to are those who are spiritually mature. If we go
by people's understanding, unless the Church leaders are not spiritually
mature then they would not fall in the 'saints&# 39; category and would fall in
'those set above us'. Understand Paul asks us to greet those who rule over
(set over) us irrespective they are Believers or non-Believers. He does not
say to obey but to go out of our way to attract them to us.

As Christians we only obey God and give respect to people whom God has put
in our lives or those through whom God speaks to us. Obey and respect means
two different things. Respect is a subset of obey.

When people speak on behalf of God and stand in the shadow of God we obey
them, but when they operate in their flesh they move out of the shadow of
God and then we should not obey them. That does not mean we outright
confront them. As Christians we who are called to love even our enemy
should approach such people who are misled brothers with love and patience.
But there are times we need to be hard like how Paul was to Peter or
Barnabas at times, those very people who were instrument over his spiritual
growth in his early spiritual life, but later we see he was spiritually
more mature than them and they respected him over themselves.

People have a wrong understanding about spiritual growth and about mentors.
A student in Kindergarten would obey his or her teacher but when he or she
has grown up and has done a double Phd is she to listen to her teacher of
KG who has just done graduation for academic advice?

In spiritual walk a mentor can become a student and a student a mentor of
his or her mentor. It all matters is on one's spiritual growth. Those who
are passionate for God, having better relationship with the Lord and
maturing in time (not worldly time but by their work in the Lord - here
size does not matter more but consistence does) grow faster. For a vineyard
worker where the result depends on the Lord, cannot take credit for the
great harvest but can get credit only for consistently going to the field
and working whole heartedly in the field.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, we pray your Church becomes more fruitful and that they receive more
wisdom and discernment. That they discern the words of man and learn to
trust You more than man. There are people who are put as leaders but are
not rooted in You or your Word, they are spiritual infants and just due to
their age, skills, spiritual gifts and worldly positions are given high
places in your Church. Lord, we pray for a revamp, a total restructuring in
your Church...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Hebrews 13:17 �Obey [peitho - means persuade] them that have the rule over
you, and submit yourselves [do not resist]: for they watch for your souls
[life], as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and
not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Matthew 8:27 But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this,
that even the winds and the sea obey [Hupakouo] him!
Greek Hupakouo = Obey
Greek Peitho = Persuade


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Circumcise the fleshy person

Galatians 6:12 - As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they
constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution
for the cross of Christ.

Today the Lord gave us this message and many will think how it is relevant
to us? We do not promote physical circumcising.

In the Bible it was the Lord who asked Abraham to form the first Church
(congregation) by circumcision of the (male) people. God had not commanded
this of Abraham so as to repent later. But In the New Testament we see Paul
rebuked Peter before the people with regards to this matter, and here we
see Paul who wrote Galatians shows here a pro circumcision stand, then why
was he against it before Peter.

We need to distinguish between physical circumcision, spiritual
circumcision and religious circumcision.

Physical circumcision is done for medical reasons and is not forbidden
biblically. It is like we cut our hair or shave to keep ourselves tidy.
Doctors have found that circumcision of males is recommended since it is
hygienically and medically good.

Spiritual circumcision is what the Lord asks of us in the Bible. We are
Born-again when we are circumcised in our hearts (inner man/nature). Inner
circumcision simply means cutting off the carnal nature in us and we no
longer live for our desires but for the purpose (Cross) of the Lord in our
lives.

Something very beautiful I learned of late is that we cannot repent for our
sins. It does not make any sense to us to repent for our sins and it is
here where most people fail to become true Christians due to their lack of
understanding repentance.

We need to realize we are not forgiven because we repent. All sins need to
be paid for. We are forgiven only when we come to God and offer the
sacrifice of Jesus as our payment for our sins. We cannot offer the
sacrifice of Jesus as a payment for our sins unless we come to God, because
it was a sacrifice make available by God.

What is most important that we need to know is without repentance none can
come to God, thus without repentance none can offer the sacrifice and be
forgiven. If we are not repenting for our sins then what are we repenting
for?

When we repent we need to repent for our sinful nature and not for our
sins. It is the moment when we realize that God is Holy and we have been
living a life full of sins and thus cannot come to God. To come to God we
want to do something about the burden of sins we carry and this He alone
can help if we change our ways so starts our repentance. But if we do not
make a decision that we will not live the same life we lived before we will
not be able to come to God and thus we will not receive forgiveness. It is
only when we make the decision to change we will be able to come to God and
receive forgiveness. Repentance is another word for Inner circumcision and
another word for being Born-again. John the Baptist started his preaching
with repentance and so also did Jesus. It is the key to being a Christian.

The circumcision Paul was against is religious circumcision. Religious
circumcision is circumcision done to fulfil tradition and this is what the
Jews followed and took pride in. The Jews desired people to follow their
traditions and become another Jews. In reality it had nothing to do with
God even though on the face they took the name of the Lord.

A person may be physically circumcised or not be circumcised but unless one
is not spiritually circumcised one cannot become a Christian. A religious
circumcision on the other hand undoes spiritual circumcision and destroys a
Christian.

We may say as Christians we do not promote the Jewish tradition of physical
circumcision for religious purposes so this message is not for us. In fact
as I got this message it opened my eyes, many Christians do promote
religious circumcision without promoting physical circumcision.

Things imposed on people mindlessly / without true understanding by telling
them this is Christian living are the religious circumcisions the Lord
wants to open our eyes to. Let me take 2 examples to explain these.

Prayer is our communication to God. Pray builds us and helps us to have a
better relationship with God. Prayer is a Christian thing. But when people
make you recite a set of lines mindlessly like on beads just to fulfil a
religious duty it become religious circumcision, a Christian killer. It
kills faith, the very seed that makes us children of God.

We as Believers may not be reciting prayer on beads like pagans but when
Believers impose rules on people as to how a person should pray, how long
they should pray and how loud they should pray, has the same effect as
praying on beads. Giving guidelines to those who do not know how to pray
(like Jesus did) is different from setting rules of how a person should
pray. As a child it may be justified but when people follow it for years it
shows the Christian in them is dying.

Bible says it is the Holy Spirit who is the ultimate one who teaches us how
to pray. We need to grow spiritually to communicate with the Holy Spirit to
grow in our prayer life. If we do not grow in spirit we will never learn to
pray and thus lack as Christians.

Another example is fasting. Fasting can make an ordinary person into a
strong Christian soldier but only when a person knows what fasting is and
why one needs to fast. There are people who set a fasting timetable like
pagans do, they fast on a particular day of the week, mostly that day is
chosen due to some ungodly reason. Then there are those who think they
please God by their fasting and those who think their fasting cries out to
the Lord in their prayers. These may look good on the face but internally
they land up killing the Christian in us.

Paul says in today's message there are things that people do that may look
good on the surface but internally they deprive or undo spiritual
circumcision and the main reason Paul says is that they fear the
persecution of the Cross of Christ. This persecution does not necessary
mean the things that unbelievers do to stop Christianity but this more has
to do with those who live a name sake Christian life and hates it when
someone truly preaches Christ.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You are a Holy God and You command of us to lead a holy like to be
your children. You also know God that by ourselves we cannot be holy. You
just demand a desire and will from us to be like You and it is You Lord who
helps us to be holy. Lord, we pray your people understand repentance and
truly repent and become true Christians, that they do not free the
persecution from those name sake Christians.. .

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Genesis 17:10-14

10 This is my covenant, which you shall keep, between me and you and your
seed after you; Every man child among you shall be circumcised.

11 And you shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a
token of the covenant between me and you.

12 And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man
child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or bought with
money of any stranger, which is not of your seed.

13 He that is born in your house, and he that is bought with your money,
must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an
everlasting covenant.

14 And the uncircumcised man child whose flesh of his foreskin is not
circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people; he has broken my
covenant.

Deuteronomy 10:16 - Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be
no more stiff necked.

Deuteronomy 30:6 - And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart, and
the heart of your seed, to love the LORD your God with all your heart, and
with all your soul, that you may live.

Jeremiah 4:4 - Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the
foreskins of your heart, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem:
lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it,
because of the evil of your doings.

Romans 2:25-29

25 For circumcision truly profits, if you keep the law: but if you be a
breaker of the law, your circumcision is made uncircumcision.

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

27 And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfill the law,
judge you, who by the letter and circumcision do transgress the law?

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

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

Acts 3:19 - Repent you therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be
blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of
the Lord.

Acts 26:15-18

15 And I said, Who are you, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom you
persecute.

16 But rise, and stand on your feet: for I have appeared to you for this
purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of these things which
you have seen, and of those things in the which I will appear to you;

17 Delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom now I
send you,

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from
the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and
inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

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The Star of Bethlehem

Matthew 2:7 - Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired
of them diligently what time the star appeared.

The birth of Jesus Christ is one of the greatest times for all mankind
(time is based on it BC & AD). It was awaited since ages and lots of
scriptures gave clues to the time about when He would be born. God did not
try to do it secretly but on the contrary announced a great sign in the sky
indicating the birth of the child.

In the New Testament we do not read of Jesus's birth being celebrated, but
yet they did if one understands how the birth of Jesus was celebrated since
the time of Moses and the Apostles and early disciples celebrated the
Jewish festivals.

Since many years mankind has been deceived to celebrate a pagan festival in
the name of Jesus. One measuring tool to know how greatly man has been
deceived is by seeing how the world is deceived not to celebrate Jesus'
birth but to celebrate a pagan festival; deceit has so great blinded the
eyes and minds of people that even though they add the word Christ to a
pagan ceremony called Mass yet they think it is okay and celebrate it.

When I speak to people on it they state 2 things

1) Since we do not know the exact day we can celebrate the birth of Christ
any day

2) As far as we are celebrating Christ's birth it does not matter what we
call it

Let me tell you both these are lies and misconception of people.

1) The exact date of Jesus' birth according the Jewish calendar is given in
the Bible.

2) Secondly it is a commandment of God that this day be celebrated as a
feast since it important date to the building of the Church. It was one of
the 3 feasts told by the Lord to must celebrate since all of them were
shadows to things connected to Christ like the Passover (death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ) and Pentecost (Feast of Harvest - when the
Holy Spirit was given to the Congregation) .

3) There are confirmations through scriptures as well as scientifically to
prove the date of Christ's birth.

Let me give an example of the deceit. People think Jesus was born in a
stable and make a cradle in a place where there are sheep, cows, bulls etc.
All this comes from traditions made by the Catholic Church and not from the
Gospels which are records of the event.

Luke gives a clear record of the event and if one reads without
presumptions one will see the facts clearly.

Luke 2:6-7

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

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

It states Mary had a proper delivery after completing the full nine months
period. It says she brought forth the child and wrapped him in swaddling
clothes and laid him in a manger. It also says where, while they were
waiting for a room in the inn.

There are two things that confirm the location, one the manger which was a
wooden box for feeding the donkeys or mules on which the people travel kept
outside the inn. It says there was no room in THE INN. It speaks about the
inn they were waiting outside. It does not say they searched all the inns
in the whole town, nor does it say they went to all the houses and none
would take them. It happened immediately while they were waiting for a
room, very simple no complications.

Mary delivered the child while she and her husband to be (Luke 2:5 says
espoused wife - yet to be wife) since according to the Jews Law (and the
Bible) marriage commences when the man and woman come together and Mary and
Joseph did so only after Jesus was born as written in Matthew 1:25.

Jesus was born in a parking area, in the open sky, outside the inn and was
placed in a wooden box meant for feeding the donkeys and mules stationed
outside the inn.

Coming to the date of Jesus' birth, there are many facts that confirm it,
like it was not in December since the shepherds had taken their flock out
to the meadows for gazing in the night. During this time it is very cold
such that they never do it.

Secondly as given in today's message it says there was a sign in the sky at
the time of birth. If one has knowledge of astronomy in today's date
scientist have mapped all the celestial objects and their moving paths.
There are software by which one can give a date and find what was the
position of the stars in the sky from a given place on earth. By this one
had confirmed what is written is true. Only thing is the moving object in
the sky was not a star but a planet, since stars do not move. Secondly at
that time there was a unique formation in the sky and this is also written
in Revelation 12:1. It was to do with unique position of the Sun, Moon, the
planet Jupiter also called King (the star that moved) and other stars. It
happened over a long period, since the wise men (numbers not written as 3)
came for a very far of place (some state as Asia). It was on about December
25 that they met the child when the infant (not just born child) had moved
to a room/house (Matthew 2:11) in the town where they gave their precious
gifts a symbolic offering meant for a great King.

So if Jesus was not born in December, when was He born?

This we know from scriptures and also the star formation. It was in the
month of September that Jesus was born (that is why we got this message
today as a reminder). To know the exact date study the feasts that the Lord
asked to be celebrated and we see the Feast of the Tabernacle falls in this
month. Trace the sign in the sky and it too come on that date. We also have
another clue by tracking the birth of John the Baptist to that of Jesus for
details are given which leads to dates.

We are commanded by the Lord to celebrate the great day of the birth of the
Lord Jesus Christ who is the Corner Stone of the Tabernacle of which we are
a part of. Since long we have been deceived not to celebrate Christ's
birth, but it is high time we stop celebrating the pagan High Mass which
was an idea of the early Roman Church to stop the early Roman Christians
from celebrating the pagan Roman feast of birth of the Sun god which falls
on December 25th. It was somewhere in the 8th century that someone bought a
statue of an infant and claimed that this day be celebrated as the birth of
Jesus Christ the real Sun (Son). Then started the process of blind people
following another blind person and thus the world was filled with blind
people.

Let scriptures be the light we follow. Let us truly celebrate the birth of
the King on the day that the Lord has commanded us to that is on the Feast
of the Tabernacle.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, the people do things according to their won understanding contrary to
your commandment and then claim for blessings. Then they wonder why You
cause problems to come instead of blessing to fall. And then there are
those who think You are testing them so take pleasure in your wrath. Lord,
we pray for wisdom for your people. We pray that the blindfolds fall and
their eyes open to the vain this they do...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Luke 2:1-11

1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from
Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.

2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into
Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was
of the house and lineage of David:)

5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

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

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

8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord
shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is
Christ the Lord.

Matthew 1;24-25

24 Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had
bidden him, and took unto him his wife:

25 And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he
called his name JESUS.

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

Matthew 2:11 - And when they were come into the house, they saw the young
child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when
they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and
frankincense, and myrrh.

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Joined in the flesh

Matthew 19:6 - Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What
therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Today in the evening I am to attend a marriage of a close Pastor and it is
amazing we got this message today. In Matthew 19:4-6 Jesus talks of
marriage and to understand it well let us look at marriage as seen by
others.

Hindus consider marriage a spiritual relation; they take 7 rounds around a
fire with the ends of their clothes tied. Hindus believe in reincarnation
and when they get married they desire that the same couple remain husband
and wife in their next life.

Firstly we know man does not reincarnate. When man dies a natural death
even though his spirit lives yet he or she does not come back as another
being. The Bible does speaks of certain persons coming back like Elisha
came as John the Baptist and also of Enoch and of Jesus along with another
person's, but that is not reincarnation. Among them leaving for Jesus the
others (like Elisha and Enoch) did not die, they were lifted up thus they
had to come back to die a natural death. These people were and will be born
naturally like any ordinary person (Enoch is yet to come and will be one of
the two witnesses before the end comes).

In the case of Jesus, even though He was God the Son who humbled Himself
and came as man, He did not incarnate but humbled and took the form of man
He lived a hundred percent human life. He did die a human death but since
there was no sin in Him, He could not be kept in Hell so He resurrected and
now is in Heaven. According to scriptures He will come back but not born
again out of a human like He did but come with His Angels.

To understand marriage we to understand human life and why God created us
in the flesh, even though in spirit we have no male and female gender and
what happens to us in Heaven where we have no male and female gender but
are like the Angels - Sons of God.

In today's message on marriage, we see Jesus emphasises certain points.

1) He first says God created man male and female in the beginning.

When we read Genesis 1:27 it says God created man in His own image,
secondly He created male and female (both in general sense and not as
individuals) and interestingly it says 'created He them'. Here the word
'them' is plural and is in the male gender. This chapter speaks of man -
male and female in spirit being of one gender even though in the natural
they are made differently. The uncorrupted image of God was in man in the
spirit, in both male and female before they sinned.

Genesis 2:7-8,15,20- 24 tells us how God created man in the flesh and how
female was made out of man. It says God used only a bone of man and not the
flesh of man to create the female. Bone symbolizes nature that is why no
bone of Jesus was allowed to be broken. Flesh symbolizes earthly desires
this was allowed to be hurt but not His bones.

So we see even though God made man and female same in spirit yet in the
natural after He made man, out of the nature of man God made female.

2) He says 'for a reason man leaves his father and mother and be joined to
his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'.

We see here the term leaves his father and mother does not really mean
leave, since all the Men and Women of God in the Bible did keep their
relationship with their parents even after marriage. As nomadic they lived
in tents so would have lived in separate tents but lived together as a
family along with their other near and far relatives, and their support
teams like their servants and their families.

When God said 'leaves&# 39; it meant the relation of the male and female as
husbands and wife superseded the relationship of a child with its father
and mother. Father and mother are put in our lives as care takers when we
are growing. Marriage is a stage that confirms adulthood and as adults the
caretakers take a back seat and the relationship which Jesus says 'for a
reason' becomes more important.

To understand the reason we need to read the letters of Paul. Paul compares
marriage to a Church - our relationship with Christ. Paul a bachelor puts
the husband as playing the role of Christ and the wife as the congregation.
As Christ loved His people so also a man should love his wife. And a wife
should love and respect her husband as a Church loves Christ. Yet Paul does
not force all to get married. He says those who have the grace to not marry
should not and should concentrate on doing God's work, which is bringing
His people to Him.

This reason of marriage as compared to a Church as given by Paul is just
stage 1 of the real reason which he says a person who has the grace should
concentrate on, that is Christ and His Bride - His people. We know
ultimately Christ came for His Bride and the Church is His Bride. In Heaven
the marriage is not like earthly marriage.

Heaven is a spirit place and the Heavenly marriage means becoming one with
the Son (God the Son) when Christ comes in His glory. The glory He had
before the world was made. The glory He had before He humbled Himself and
came as man.

Marriage is a Believer thing. It is an earthly enactment to understand the
Heavenly marriage of the Lord and His people.

In today's scripture we see Jesus said they are 'joined in the flesh'. The
word used as flesh is the same used for carnal nature. That does not mean
it is an institute to enjoy one's carnal pleasures but like Paul says those
who are weak in the flesh should get married. We see God in the books of
Moses gave a commandment after marriage the honeymoon should be of one
year, where the man does not work but spends all his time with his wife.
Did God want man to be a carnal person enjoying the lust of the flesh? It
was like God saying 'get over it and get on with life'.

Firstly Marriage is an institute that is connected with the flesh - carnal
desires, not to grow in it but to overcome it. That is why Pauls says when
a husband and wife gets tempted they should come together and pray after
that. The praying is not to help them perform better the next time but to
get them to fight the temptation of the flesh, thus gradually overcome it
completely.

Secondly God made male and female not for sex but for reproduction. That is
why Adam called his wife woman - man with a womb, mother of his seeds, his
generations, that is why the greatest gift of a married couple is a godly
child - child with a great mission, also known as an elect.

Thirdly and most important Adam and Eve did not have a ceremony when they
called themselves husband and wife but did so when they came together in
relationship as role players of the real wedding which will happen in
Heaven when the Lord's people become one with the Lord.

Let us always remember the purpose we come together and not forget the
roles we are playing. Most of all let not the role playing be greater than
the real thing the 'reason&# 39;, so let Christ and His people becoming one with
Him be above all.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You created the institute of marriage to help man know and understand
the Heavenly thing that are hidden from man. Lord, You also allowed our
coming together during our times of weakness in the institute of marriage
so that we overcome our carnal natures. Lord, the main reason You designed
marriage is to bring souls to You, to be one in You. Lord, help us
understand marriage better and live it better...

This prayer we make in Jesus' Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Matthew 19:3-6

3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is
it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made
them at the beginning made them male and female,

5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall
cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh?

6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath
joined together, let not man put asunder.

Genesis 1:27 - So God created man in his own image, in the image of God
created he him; male and female created he them.

Genesis 2:7-8,15,20- 24

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.

8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the
man whom he had formed.

15 And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to
dress it and to keep it.

20 And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to
every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for
him.

21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept:
and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman,
and brought her unto the man.

23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she
shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave
unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

(01-09-13)

-- 
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They have not heard even though they have

Romans 10:18 - But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went
into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

To understand today’s message we need to go to the scripture just above it,
which is Romans 10:17 which is to do with faith, something the Lord was
teaching us yesterday. People quote this scripture very often yet most do
not understand what they state in this scripture.

People state Romans 10:17 as faith comes from hearing and hearing the Word
of God (Christ).

Being practical and having experienced God I questioned this scripture for
I knew by hearing and hearing faith does not come. We have many people
hearing the Word of God in Church but all do not have faith. Each ones
faith varies even though they attend the same service together and spend
the same amount of time reading and studying scriptures. Was Paul wrong
when he wrote this?

Actually Paul did not write ‘faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word’
but the people who translated this made the mistake of mistranslating it.

When I ask the Lord to reveal the understanding of this scripture for I
trusted the Word more than anything and knew it could not be wrong; after
many days of persistent following up with God, the Lord led to dig deeper
in this scripture. With my past experience I have seen translations doing
mistakes so I went to the interlinear and checked the actual Greek text.
Even though I do not read or write Greek, when I saw the text I noticed the
mistake the translators made. The Greek words translated as ‘hearing’ and
‘hearing’ almost looked identical, I said almost identical for I noticed a
small difference between the two words. Knowing Hindi I knew every stroke
of line or extensions in the characters/alphabet s have a meaning.

So I asked the Lord what was the difference between the two hearings, and
then the Lord revealed to me one was hearing and the other was listening.
Later I came to know from a person who knew Greek well that the first word
was in passive tense and the second was in active tense. He too was
surprised for even he had not noticed it before.

Faith does not come by hearing and hearing the Word. It comes when one
hears the Word and then abides by the Word. Jesus also says in John 8:31-32
when we are His disciple (which means follow Him) we will know the Truth
and the Truth will set us free (even this scripture people quote only half
which is the later part).

Some translations do quote Romans 10:17 as hearing and hearing by the Word
- but this fails to bring the true understanding out.

People have the habit to mug up / repeat like parrots for in many schools
they are taught that way by teachers who just want to do their duty /
syllabus and are not really interested that the student understands
everything.

Let me share something that happened yesterday in the shadow of today’s
message. I have been learning for my driving license and have just finished
a course of 10hrs of driving on a car which is modified for safely teaching
driving. The instructor who sits beside the driving student also has
control of the clutch and brake. So when he is required he controls the
speed or stops the car. Many a times in situations I thought I manoeuvred
the car through tight situations well but then realized the instructor was
also controlling the clutch and brake. I had to sometimes tell him to keep
his feet off the clutch and brake so that I would know how good or bad I am
doing. Most preachers do the same with people they lead; they keep the
spiritual life of those under them always in the learner seat. They
backseat drive the spiritual lives of their congregation. This causes the
people to not grow in faith and thus suffer. Coming back to my driving
lessons since I finished the course I asked the instructor to accompany me
in my own car which does not have any modifications, so he had to trust
totally on my driving.

In the morning when I started he had his hand on the hand brake ready to
pull it if needed but soon he left it, for he started trusting me. He is
born in a Hindu family and as we were driving I started sharing about God
with him and at the end gave him a CD with worship songs. In the evening we
were to go out again and he came to my place. But this time I took my wife
and daughter along for they longed to come with me. When he saw them he was
shaken. In the morning was my first session and here I am with my family.
He told me later he wanted to deny me and run away but as we sat he played
the songs I had given him for he had copied them on his mobile and was
hearing them the whole day. He told me had it not been for the songs and
what I had spoken to him earlier that day he would have never allowed me to
take my family along for the drive. In his 8 years experience of teaching
driving, he never faced such a situation where he was afraid.

It was our (both he and me) believing in God that helped me be more
confident at the end, and that is how we need to spiritually teach those
whom we minister. We need to trust God and this trust grows when we do His
Word and see the results happening in our lives. And as we keep
experiencing God’s goodness we start to trust Him more.

Yesterday the Lord spoke to us if we have faith we will receive more grace
in the various areas of our lives. In today’s message the Lord is telling
us to grow in faith we need to not just hear His Word but apply it in our
lives and live by it. If we do not do the applying we will be like those
who heard but yet did not hear the Word.

[Prayer Starter]

Lord, You are true and your Word is true. You are God who are spirit and
just vocal words do not please You. You know when we speak if we mean it or
we do not, in the same way when You give the Word and have meant it but if
we do not accept the Word for what it means, it displeases You. Lord, help
us remember every Word You have spoken is backed by You and thus it will
not fail. Help us Lord to trust in your Word more and more...

This prayer we make in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Reference Scriptures]

Romans 10:17-18

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all
the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.

John 8:31-32

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

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

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