Devotions and Lessons
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Scripture of the Week:
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. |
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A beautiful thing about this time of year is that the weather changes. He designed this so that different areas of the world can support each other in times of need with food and other materials. The Jews celebrate this time of the year as the creation week and the Day of Atonement. The High Holiday season coincides with many celebrations throughout the world where renewal and harvest times are in full swing. There is something very special about this season. We celebrate these days in the coolness of Fall or the refreshing of Spring depending on the area of the hemisphere in which you dwell.
God wants us to do more than view creation, He wants us to celebrate it and in turn celebrate Him. The Biblical tradition is to say Psalm 47, seven times the day before the New Year begins. I have copied it here so we can understand why this celebratory song is important. Let’s read it: Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy! For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth. He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet. He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm! God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne. The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted! Psalm 47 Why seven times you may ask? One for each day of creation including the day of rest. This is done in the Feast of Trumpets or RoshHashana. There is no real reason given as to why to blow the shofar or trumpet it is just because. As you can see by the Psalm, it is all about praising and celebrating God. There is no real reason to just celebrate on one day though as He seeks to know us and for us to know Him daily. It is just done that way. This Psalm does separate the Israelites from the rest of the world as God’s Chosen but it also recognizes that God is King over all the earth. When this trumpet sounds, all nations are to be reminded of God and His Laws from Days of Old. The Laws given to Adam and Noah to uphold the covenants for all time. So many people do not realize that we have had instruction since the first man that applies to all mankind. To be honest, the Laws are very simply stated but are at the same time complex. These Laws are also found in every early culture that had writing. When the Tower of Babel fell so did many cultures forget God but the Law never changed. No matter who we are, we are to Praise God and follow these Laws. We should praise God through reading and studying His Word daily following what we can in this day and age. Times have changed but God’s Word is eternal. Society tries to change God but as we have seen more recently, God is working through people. We will see some interesting things happen soon and the best way is to ask God to do as He sees fit but the condition is that He may give us a mission and we must comply no matter what. With the recent happenings at the ministry we can cry to God and say why or we can praise Him and thank Him. We lift God up in Praise and adoration for His lessons and the actions we must take. As the Doxology says, Praise God from whom ALL blessings flow. Praise Him ALL creatures here below. All creation gives praise to God. Even the rocks and trees give Him Glory. Amen Brothers and Sisters, In God’s Love, Rob, Servant of God
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Nineteen years ago the world was in shock. Some rejoiced and celebrated as many civil servants, family members, friends, and heroes' lives were lost due to terrorists who wished to see our way of life destroyed. It was a day that brought many people together from all walks of life. There was a sense of patriotism. All was well for a little while then there was spite, hatred, a desire for vengeance against those who were associated by religion or ethnicity to the men who decided to do the evil that was done. Why do we blame the innocent for the bad choices of a few?
Martyrs For Beliefs Many people die for their convictions and beliefs. This is nothing new and has happened since the beginning of recorded time. It is in our nature to have the willingness to sacrifice ourselves for the sake of others but it is also our nature to be the ones who are willing to kill for ours or their beliefs. These choices we make both help and destroy lives at the same time. The ramifications that follow are usually the cause for revenge. But God says that vengeance is His and retribution does not come from us but Him alone. Why do we desire death when we also fear it? Jesus was both willing and unwilling to die but He knew it was the right thing to do. The Spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. He took every ounce of punishment that man gave for our sake because that was what the Father willed. We are to be willing sacrifices for those we love and follow John 15:13, Greater Love hath no man than he who gives his life for his friends. Making the ultimate sacrifice is what we do as caretakers of this world. Some through service in the military, some as civil servants, some as health professionals, some as parents and even children. These are the ones who truly understand that our life here has a purpose and will do anything for anyone no matter friend or foe. The Martyrs of early Christendom gave their lives due to hatred and misunderstandings of their beliefs. Some who are considered martyrs today should be deemed suicidal and murderers because they kill themselves while taking others who have a differing worldview with them. Going into battle with the intent to die is not martyrdom it is murder with an immediate death sentence. Death for a Cause Many lives in the current situation we have in the world are taken out of pure hatred due to a moral, ethnic, or political idealism. This is not what God has planned but what the devil is doing in an effort to destroy God’s plan. There is so much hatred for people due to the greed and jealousy of a few who spread fear through lies and false propaganda to fuel the destruction of our way of life. The blame always falls on the scapegoat who is actually trying to make things right. It is not really our cause but the devil’s desire and we are just pawns. The problem of temptation and sin that has plagued us this past century and a few extra years has caused war, man made famine, civil unrest, immoral behaviors becoming acceptable social norms and the destruction of the family itself. We were told this would happen all the back in the times when the prophets and sages of old were given visions of the future and the end times. We are suffering and dying because of man giving himself over to the Adversary and being blinded by promises of physical wealth and immortal health. That is not what God wants. God’s Love Leads to Forgiveness To solve these issues today we must maintain our love for God as He loves us. One of the hardest things to do is find the joy in the persecution and suffering that we are dealing with today but His Love is what will take us through this. God did not save us through the sacrifice of His Son for nothing. We should hold on to the trust we have in He who gave us life and the Love He pours in our souls so that we can let it pour out and branch to others. We can overcome this current evil but it takes all of us not just a few. Because He is willing to forgive us we must forgive others. Forgiveness is very hard for some who tend to hold grudges and are bitter. Those things lead down dark paths that only harden the heart and make matters worse. If we truly trust God and Repent without backsliding, we can be on the road to have true forgiveness. Putting our old selves away and burning the box we can learn to forgive and let God’s Love overflow from our hearts. Remember, sometimes God’s Love is actually tough love and so should ours. It is difficult but possible. How you choose to use it is up to you, just remember who you must answer to. Brothers and Sisters, show mercy when dealing with others so that God’s grace will shine through. Be the man or woman God designed you to be and let your spirit flow. Love one another with God’s Love not the human definition. And give of yourself. In God’s Grace and Mercy, Rob, Servant of God What if I told you there is a Higher Being that created the world and therefore created us? This Being goes by many names but is best known as YHWH, I AM, Elohim, Hashem, and Jehovah. He had a Father/Child relationship with us until His first two decided to be disobedient and were removed from His sight. Thing is after He forbade them reentry He didn’t just leave them to the dangers of the world but gave them a way to return. It would not be easy but it could happen, just not in their lifetime.
Many years later, after He spoke through people, God decided that it was time to reopen the communications and save those who had faith and trust in Him. It would be the final necessary sacrifice and it would be a part of Himself. The Word came down with one mission but before that could be done God wanted people to turn back to Him. The Word in the flesh, Jesus, retaught what had been lost and or perverted by man. The ones who listened had returned to God and were given a mission, make disciples of all mankind. LISTENING AND HEARING In order to be a faithful servant the first thing you must do is to listen to the Word, hear the Word, and Trust that the Word is truth. What Jesus taught was to open our hearts and minds to the truth of the Word of God and to be obedient to the Word by doing what is right. To live a Christ-like life so that we can know God and conduct ourselves as He desires and share Him with others. To rebuild the relationship that was lost to the world. Did you know that before there was a great flood that destroyed and restructured the earth, all people knew God? Some did not care to have a relationship with Him and lived life the way they wanted. These people did not listen or heed the warning signs and died. Then years after the cleansing, people of all nations who still spoke one language decided to try and reach God. But there was too much greed and envy that had entered the world so God had confused the language and caused many people groups to lose knowledge of God and the Laws given to Noah. God heard the cry of Abram through his worship and since He was of the chosen line, God took Abram away from the confusion and built a relationship with him and his family. Many more hundreds of years passed and finally Jesus, the Word made Flesh, entered the world. He brought people back to God but had to do one thing that many did not understand. Jesus was to be the last sacrifice needed for mankind to heal the bond that was broken. He accomplished this and the link between God and man was reestablished. Many people became faithful servants. This is the Life We Chose It is not enough just to know that there is a God and that a man had bled for us so we can live. But that is how so many see Christianity. They believe that Jesus went through what He did so that we don’t have to. Well they are only partially right. They hear John 3:16 but do not understand the meaning. Jesus died so that we can live but it is not just the physical life we are talking about but also and more poignantly, our eternal, spiritual self. To believe in is one thing but God wants us to Be in. In other words we have to put our faith in action. We have to walk the talk. To be a faithful servant one has to be able to share by Word and Deed. But to share it means we must live it. We cannot be one like those who ask people to do as they say and not as they do. Think about it as teaching children. If you show bad habits then that is what a child learns no matter how much you speak of doing things the right way. Is There a Reward For This? Yes, yes there is but not while in our current form. Because of the life we choose as active followers and faithful servants, we will suffer much. We will experience persecution, pain, and other worldly troubles. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. 2 Ephesians 1: 5-8 Those who do not know God or obey His Word will not be rewarded with eternal life and see God. They will be thrust into eternal darkness, that is, they will not see God and they will suffer as they made people suffer on earth. We need not worry about vengeance because God’s got this and just like His reward is eternal so is His vengeance. Brothers and Sisters, do not fear suffering but embrace it. There is joy in the suffering of this world. To grow and to learn we must suffer the growing pains of life. I do not know about you but I would rather suffer while living the best I can like Christ rather than suffering and not knowing the peace and Love of God the Father. Are you a faithful servant? God wants you to be. In His Loving Arms, Rob, Servant of God “No man may be miserable that is master of a garden” John Evelyn (1620-1706).
What do you think of when you hear the word garden? For the Persians a garden area was like Paradise (Garden of Eden). The Moors, an enclosed courtyard with pools of water. In Britain there are arched hedges framing large squared beautified lawns. No matter where you are from, a garden is an area to relax. A Place to Discover Inner Peace What is peace? Peace is freedom from disturbance that brings a sense of tranquility. It is a state of well-being, prosperity, and security. It denotes the overcoming of strife, quarrel, and social tension, the prevention of enmity and war. The pursuit of peace is the obligation of the individual and the goal of various social regulations and structures. A garden is a place where peace can prevail. This peace does not come easy and it is somewhat challenging for the builder. Gardens are a way for people to find that inner peace to help bring them closer to the creator. With that, the different types of gardens grant those who visit them a look into the builder’s soul. Peace in gardening allows for personal reflection. When entering a garden, go in with an open heart and mind leaving thoughts of the daily world behind. This is the only way to hear God’s creation. Doing this allows for God to speak clearly and true repentance can lead to a desire for a peaceful interaction with others. A Place for Creation to Thrive in Harmony With One Another There are many ways to think of harmony. Basically it means to be in agreement; accord; a consistent, orderly, or pleasing arrangement of parts; congruity. For a musician harmony is any simultaneous combination of tones especially when blended into chords pleasing to the ear wholly distinguishable from melody and rhythm. Living together to create a bond that brings all things together as one. Gardens create a beautiful chance for creation to combine each individual thing we are designed to do and develop a community which grows in social and economic matters. What I mean is that each participant in a garden setting has a task. Everything is done for the eventual good of the ecosystem even the things that seem bad eventually have a good quality. When the garden grows, that means creation is in harmony. Plants grow flowers and vegetables, water flows, the system works. We Are All Caretakers Our divine mission is to watch over the earth, cultivate it, subdue it, live in it. There are many ways we can accomplish this yet some seek to destroy rather than develop and design useful items that help our fellow man without the destruction of the earth. We can use the natural resources without abusing them and creating things that have destructive qualities. In fact, we ourselves are resources. Our part is labor intensive but when working in harmony with nature we can make this world a better place. God created. When He created, all things were at peace. He created us. We destroyed His Garden Paradise. All God asked of Adam and Eve was to not do one simple thing and they broke the boundary that was set by Him. When they crossed that line, sin entered and the land was wrought with hardship. Because of man, the world suffers. Because of God’s sacrifice of His Son, man was forgiven but it is up to us to restore the land. Our Souls are saved but we still must toil and suffer the physical. It is up to us to make right what has been wronged. The other part is getting along with each other which is the hardest thing to do. Because of behaviors, values, and characteristics deemed as against God’s image we are always going to have issues with our fellow man. Too many want some kind of power over others and lead them astray. We cannot live in a world where human-kind competes against human-kind in a struggle for dominance. This is not a war we should be fighting. The true war is of the Spirit and it is a war only God can win. Our infighting with our brothers and sisters does not help. What Can We Do (whether we are willing or not) Maybe if we tear down walls that separate us brick by brick and behold the beauty which is creation, we can see the Garden of Eden once again. To have God’s Kingdom on earth we need to follow God’s Word, repent and stay away from the things that keep us away from God. It will take a lot of sacrifice and we may suffer for a little while but when we no longer miss the things we gave up, we will feel His presence. For many it will be a most difficult undertaking but the rewards are greater. Is it worth it? Yes. Brothers and Sisters, all things are possible with God. Without Him we cannot do even the simplest hardest task. What we put up can be taken down but what is built with God in our hearts will not fall. We need to stop building walls and begin to open hearts even more today than yesterday. What good does it do to harbor anger towards someone? Gardens cannot grow if the temperature is too extreme and there is no water or proper nutrients. Our emotions are like nutrients for our souls. If we continue in negatives, the heart, soul, and mind become corrupt and can wither and die. If we stay in the positives, our bodies and souls flourish and grow. Say goodbye to bitterness, greed, and hatred, all those things lead to death. Say hello to forgiveness, love, kindness, and compassion, all those lead to life. Sadness is a temporary state that we can escape from when we have the Holy Spirit. If you see a fellow brother or sister down, shine your light upon them and lift them up. Love one another with God’s Love, not man’s ideals. Keep your heart and mind filled with His Word and from that we will be strong and successful. Be the light of the world standing on mountains not hiding in the hills. Praise and Worship God daily in everything you do. With Hope for a bright future. In God’s Embrace, Rob, Servant of God Because of the hype of this recent pandemic many folks are left without a way to physically eat or drink. What is worse is many have been left without Spiritual food and drink out of fear of dying. Everybody will eventually die, that is the nature of things, but what if I told you that God does not shut down when there is pain and suffering in the world. In fact, this is when He does the best work.
The Word in Isaiah 55 “All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You without money, come, buy, and eat! Yes, come! Buy wine and milk without money — it’s free! 2 Why spend money for what isn’t food, your wages for what doesn’t satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and you will eat well, you will enjoy the fat of the land. 3 Open your ears, and come to me; listen well, and you will live -- I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the grace I assured David. 4 I have given him as a witness to the peoples, a leader and lawgiver for the peoples. 5 You will summon a nation you do not know, and a nation that doesn’t know you will run to you, for the sake of Adonai your God, the Holy One of Isra’el, who will glorify you.” It's Free God gives the free gift of life to all who will hear and heed His Word sharing it with all who will hear it. Throughout Scripture, God reminds us that His Word is eternal and no man, nor any of His creation, nor those who sit on the heavenly council, nor those He banished from the heavens can make any changes that stick. The Bible has been through so many translations where people have to change things to meet certain societies understandings leaving only the truth that "matters" to all and even then it is distorted. But Not Free For Us To Change All these changes will fade with each new generation but the truth will never change. There is a price to pay if we try to change God's Word. We can try to explain things away but the true evidence in and of Scripture will show itself. That is Why Jesus God promised David a ruler that would be king forever but a cost would have to be paid. This one would return many to God and away from the man made religious desires. His blood would be spilled but that would make all things God's again. And we must seek Him. 6 Seek Adonai while he is available, call on him while he is still nearby. 7 Let the wicked person abandon his way and the evil person his thoughts; let him return to Adonai, and he will have mercy on him; let him return to our God, for he will freely forgive. God's Word Is Eternally His 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways,” says Adonai. 9 “As high as the sky is above the earth are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For just as rain and snow fall from the sky and do not return there, but water the earth, causing it to bud and produce, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth -- it will not return to me unfulfilled; but it will accomplish what I intend, and cause to succeed what I sent it to do.” 12 Yes, you will go out with joy, you will be led forth in peace. As you come, the mountains and hills will burst out into song, and all the trees in the countryside will clap their hands. 13 Cypresses will grow in place of thorns, myrtles will grow instead of briars. This will bring fame to Adonai as an eternal, imperishable sign. The most awesome thing about God's Word is that our lives are to be reflections of it. We were brought to the earth through His Hands and His Breath. He has our best interest in mind because we are here to do His Will through His Word. All creation bows down before Him and we are to lead the choir of the earth in singing His Praises. In time, in His time, God will make things right again but that would not be possible if it weren't for the sacrifice He made. He made the ultimate sacrifice and allowed His Son's blood to be spilled. When that happened the sky opened and the earth shook opening the way back to the Father. No man can tell us not to worship No man can tell us we cannot praise the Father. Governments may try to shut down buildings of worship but they cannot silence our voice. We are many parts of the one Body that Believes. We may suffer persecution but will not be cut away, starved from what matters most. In time, those who try to stop us will suffer for their lack of belief. They will try to take things that are not theirs to take. They will try to make us pay for things that is not for them to sell. When they think we are suffering they will see our joy for that cannot be stolen. They will suffer and some will turn to God while others will not. All we can do is pray and let the Holy Spirit work. Do not fear death for the physical death is inevitable. What choice you make here on earth will determine your Spiritual fate. Be blessed in the knowledge that Jesus lives and will return to bring us home to reunite with God. In His Eternal Embrace, Rob, Servant of God Christian persecution is rampant during this pandemic. Government officials are allowing so many things to reopen but are still against religious gatherings especially of Christian or Jewish practices. A few years back I had predicted that gatherings would be transformed and we would either be left to homes or secret gatherings but I did not take into account that a pandemic would be a factor in this transformation. Here we are in 2020 and we are seeing a culmination of many things we were warned about in Scripture.
Dark is the New Light Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who change darkness into light and light into darkness, who change bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter! Isaiah 5:20 Isaiah saw this in his day and the ruin it caused the society. Starting in verse 8 of the 5th chapter through the 25th verse, Isaiah begins the warning of the coming desolation and exile. This section is very relevant to what is happening today. Many have forgotten God throughout the last 100 years. God was removed from the classroom. All sorts of depraved and immoral behaviors began to emerge and take over society. Money and industry became the driving force to take care of all our needs and created distractions which slowly began their rule over us. Now there are more distractions than ever before and exposure to all types of immoral behaviors is easier seen and heard than decent moral behaviors to the point that moral decency is seen as passé. The World is Become More Important than God But understand this; that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 Think of what is going on. The distractions from God have filled the heart with everything worldly and we now lack the space for compassion, the truth of love, trust, faith, dependency / Fear of God, understanding, wisdom, piety, and self-worth. As much as we would like to say we do not fall into the trap, we can’t. Even pastors are going through these tough times. The Word given to Isaiah above is happening once again. Worship Must Evolve What is happening? The fear of staying alive has kept people from doing the right thing. So many are staying away from corporal worship out of fear of catching a virus. Yes this virus is deadly but people have not taken care of themselves and invited infection which infects even those who do try to have good hygiene, watch what they eat, and follow the guidance given. This has kept physical and spiritual families apart. We can still be physically distanced while maintaining a socially active life. One of the problems I have is that I like to hug which we cannot do right now. So it is painful but I am surviving because I am wrapped in God’s Love and carried by Christ. Paul said to the church of Ephesus: And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Ephesians 5:18-20). Many appointed above us in the government have refused to open churches but will allow social gatherings in bars, protests, and riots. They say it is for our safety as well as the health and welfare of the elderly. What the heck are they thinking? We will not be silenced. Remember, When two or more are gathered in Jesus’ name we are in the Spirit. To worship is to be alive in the Spirit. What about the Mega Church? It is time for mega churches to rethink what they are doing. To stay relevant many mega churches have increased their online footprint which is good to a point but outreach becomes an issue. A strong church with an online presence understands the need for follow-up and reaching others. A large church still cannot reach everyone in their flock no matter how hard they try. Then there is the religious center based on music. The Word is lost when there is more song than sermon. Some try to balance this but most fail. When the worship team becomes popular and the church bases itself on producing music, it loses truth in Christ. Songs of worship are great but when they replace the Word, God is lost. A praise band leads the local community of believers in songs in worship and praise not producing music on church grounds. Mega Churches also rely on a lot of money to survive. They become more concerned about an offering of money instead of developing and using Spiritual Gifts. Many people who are touched by Christ eventually become nothing but a number because they get lost and gifts they had fade away. We are all commissioned to share Christ but too many are just worried about being fed and no longer desire to feed others. The Mega Church must be humbled and split if the Kingdom of God is to be shared. All too often a pastor who has many in his flock lose themselves in the sin of pride through popularity. Naming a ministry or a church after one’s self is deceiving those who follow. The humble pastor puts the spiritual fitness of the flock above the self. We Will Not Be Silenced Believers can still gather in groups of 10. We can still gather in larger groups when physically distanced. We do not have to be indoors. Me, I prefer to be outside to worship. Think about it, some of the best sermons and teachings were done when Jesus was not confined to a four walled structure. There is nothing that says we have to be inside a structure because the “church” is not a building. We are the church and the temple is inside our hearts. We should be able to open our hearts no matter where we are. Brothers and Sisters, please do not take any of what I said (especially in the Mega Church section) as jealousy or whining for I am a speaker of truth. If God wanted the masses to follow one person, the individual would not be a sinner like us and that won’t happen until the Messiah returns. We should follow one book and that is the whole Bible, not just parts that we can manipulate to our needs and human desires. We are to be set apart as a community of like-minded multiethnic groups of Believers. Our ethnicity makes us unique and if we surround ourselves with no one but the same ethnicity our hearts become hard. When many ethnicities come together as one human race loved by God then we are bringing the Kingdom of God closer to earth. We must all repent and keep our words of repentance without backsliding and returning to our sinful lives. Repenting is a promise to God that builds a personal covenant between Him and ourselves. When we keep it, others see it and we plant that seed. That is what we are designed for. We can beat this persecution. Jesus died for us, it is time we get off our donkeys and live for Him. In His Grace and Merciful Arms, Rob Servant of God While listening to a friend of mine preach this morning he said something that hit me. People are waiting for miracles but instead of being active they just sit and wait. The funny thing about miracles is that they happen to anyone anywhere but they do not happen to people who are totally inactive in the things they try. Miracles are things that occur after prayerful consideration or desperation when there is nothing left. But the one thing they all have in common is that there is always some kind of activity surrounding it.
Miraculous Healing Yes it happens. When the doctors just cannot do anymore and the prayer warriors come out in full force, there is healing. It is not always the healing we hope for but there is still healing. From these miracles come comfort in the knowledge that either the person is healed or the Holy Spirit heals the hearts of those who the person touched while alive or in the hospital. Right now many are asking for healing from the latest pandemic which has taken 603,000 lives worldwide. Thankfully the number of confirmed cases way outnumbers the deaths as does the number of recovered persons but the virus is still active. This will take an act of God to stop. God works in mysterious ways and on His time so when He decides to stop it, it will be seen as a miracle. Miraculous Events When bad things happen God puts people in place to create miracles. Biblical examples include Elijah and the fire from heaven, Jesus, the Miracles of the Apostles, and many more. One thing in common was faith in action. Jesus miracles happened because of the faith of those around Him. the apostles showed their faith and strength in everything they did. Questionable Miracles There are some miracles that happen with status and Icons that I cannot explain but am very leary about them being from God. Reason: Why would God use an Icon that would become a center of worship when it is He whom we should be worshiping. Blood and tears coming from statues of stone, effigies just showing up out of nowhere, and other things that are material in nature are not necessarily God driven miracles. Remember, Lucifer and his minions can easily trick even the most devout. People in Miracles God uses people to help others believe. Sometimes it takes a miracle but God has put someone there to make it happen. Think about it… the sudden monetary gift to a struggling family, food being delivered even though no one said anything, or the unexpected invitation to Thanksgiving Dinner and bringing home leftovers when the bills took all the money and there was nothing left for food (that actually happened to my family). With each of those situations, God placed something on the heart of a faithful servant or one that He was working on to show the good that God gives in every time of need. He said that He is our provider, our comfort, our refuge, our strength. He shows it through miracles and the actions of His faithful servants. You Cannot Sit and Wait Sitting and waiting for something to happen really gets you nowhere. This is a solid fact. God will take care of you even in your darkest times but you must be active. Scripture warns us about being lazy and emphasizes that the reward for this lack of action is not good. We have a saying that good things come to those who wait but if you wait too long without doing anything you might just be waiting an eternity. What can we do? This is the short and sweet of it, move while standing firm in your faith. We are the faithful with action. We show how our faith fills us and gives us the ability to do what God commands of us. We do things for others without taking for ourselves. God grants rewards but not always immediate. We can move those mountains that separate people from God, that is a power He gave us through the Holy Spirit. Don’t just sit there waiting for God to be active in your life, be active in the lives of others. In His Glorious Embrace, Rob, Servant of God His Praises live inside us. It is not something a Believer can just shut off but that is what is happening around the world. For Christians in California this persecution is a reality. The Accuser, the Adversary, the Devil and his demons are stepping up the war over our souls by trying to take something that cannot be removed without serious consequences. We are made to rejoice in firm adoration of our Creator, our Father God Almighty.
We Praise God For All Things Shout for joy to Adonai, all the earth! Serve Adonai with gladness. Enter his presence with joyful songs. Be aware that Adonai is God; it is he who made us; and we are his, his people, the flock in his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, enter his courtyards with praise; give thanks to him, and bless his name. For Adonai is good, his grace continues forever, and his faithfulness lasts through all generations. Psalm 100 What cannot be ignored is that God is the One who gave us life. It is by His Word and His Spirit that we were formed from the dust and clay so we owe everything to Him. He created us to watch over His Creation. We are to sing His Praises and by doing so we heal the world. As long as we continue to give Him praise, He will continue to guide us home to Him. When we get home we will do as the Psalm above says, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, enter his courtyards with praise; give thanks to him, and bless his name.” Until then, God has us to lift His Name up in Worship. We Are Built For Worship Worship comes from the heart. How Can I Keep From Singing By Chris Tomlin There is an endless song Echoes in my soul I hear the music ring And though the storms may come I am holding on To the rock I cling How can I keep from singing Your praise How can I ever say enough How amazing is Your love How can I keep from shouting Your name I know I am loved by the King And it makes my heart want to sing I will lift my eyes In the darkest night For I know my Savior lives And I will walk with You Knowing You'll see me through And sing the songs You give I can sing in the troubled times Sing when I win I can sing when I lose my step And fall… This song worships God through praise. It also tells everyone that there is no stopping the voice of the universe from singing about The Triune God which guides us, protects us, grants us joy in times of sorrow, and provides us with strength to accomplish His plan for the world. Nothing Can Silence The Voice of Creation Even then if they try to silence us, the rocks will sing. For Jesus said, “I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones will shout!”Luke 19:40. It is in our nature to sing, to hum a tune, to whistle, to dance. When these are done for God’s Glory and not the pleasure of others or the self, then God’s Grace truly shines upon us. The only way that my vocal chords will stop being heard is if I go mute but I tell you, even then God hears the voice of our hearts and I will never stop singing. We should not have to fight for our right to lift our voices to our God. No human law can silence God’s Voice. No human law can take His Praises away. When we sing, our voices join the thousands of angels who give God all the Glory. If we are told not to sing to God, the earth rumbles in response (by the way, after the Governor of California put out that order, there was an earthquake). There is no reason we cannot raise our voices to proclaim God. There is no reason we cannot gather in His Name. There is no reason. What would happen if all Christian’s and Children of the Book raised their voices to the One True God. The world would explode. Let’s make that happen. Singing Praises Out Loud Rob, Servant of God I have a serious question to ask of Christians, “Do you own your body?” The answer that Jesus gave to this question is that these bodies are not ours but are Temples for God. So what have we done? We have made it possible to destroy the Temple in every way. We abuse the very fabric of these mortal shells that hold the Spirit and soul which belong to God so that God is no longer welcome. It is not just through what we put into our bodies through our mouths but also needles, immoral sexual activity, and destruction of God’s gifts.
What Enters The Body Let me first remind people that Jesus did not make unclean foods clean. The food laws have been around since before the time of Noah which means that these laws are of God well before the clean/unclean rules found in the Torah. God pronounced what foods are healthy for us and also set up the first BBQ (sorry but true) where the food dedicated to God through sacrifice was made clean and edible. That does not mean we can put anything over a fire, put it in a microwave, or boil it and it all of a sudden becomes clean. There are microbes and bacteria that can still enter the body through consumption of certain animals and even plants where their chemical makeup is poisonous to us. Man made chemicals, drinks, and drugs which combine things that are destructive to the internal and external organs of the body are not good either. What we are doing when we put those things in is called destruction of God’s property which has Physical and Spiritual ramifications. Anything that distorts the mind or imbalances the chemicals needed for cognitive thinking is dangerous. Some things like alcohol are ok if we do not overindulge in them but when the drug or alcohol changes the mental and emotional state of a person that is destruction of the temple. We have sickened our minds with thoughts, behaviors, and deeds that are not of God. We have become Babylon, Sodom, Gomorrah, and have recreated ancient Rome and Greek cultural practices that are not healthy. We enjoy violence. We enjoy seeing others in pain and pleasure. We are sick. There is also a reason the sexual morality laws are put in place. This has to do with our genetic make up and the physical and mental diseases that come from immoral sexual conduct of all types. These laws have also been in place since the beginning and later reemphasized in the Torah and again by Jesus. So when we accept one for their sinfulness instead of just being a person we are pleading guilty as an accessory to breaking God’s Law. What Comes from the Body If we are to live as God wants us to live and help make society better then we must follow God’s Law to the best of our ability. We are human and are all guilty of disobedience on one form or another. We are all Cain in one sense because we are our brothers and sister’s keepers. We are to keep each other from sinning or help one another get back on track and not agree to accept the sin to be a normal part of their lives. Anger, greed, immoral desires, these are things that God hates. In fact, anything that pits one human against another is not what God intends for us. That is what the Adversary, Lucifer wants because he wants to dethrone God. What we have to do is show Lucifer that anything he gives us to go against God we can defeat, turn around, clean ourselves up and champion for God because He is stronger than anything the Devil puts in our path. Since when is child sacrifice a good thing? Children are a gift from God. Yes I agree that some circumstances are better for removing the child from life (i.e. rape, incest, etc.), but the simple fact of an unwanted pregnancy because of other things (i.e. child out of wedlock) does not give a person a right to kill. Place the child up for adoption if you have to but do not kill it. You never would know if God had a purpose for the child. So we are different colors and come from different areas of the world, so what...that is what makes each of us unique. If we choose to move from one place to another that means we accept the ways of the indigenous people unless we are there to teach them about God and bring them back to Him. And of course we messed that up too because we all have differing opinions and beliefs about who God is. If we move from one country seeking a better life we are not supposed to bring our old ways and try to change the country we came in to into the country we just left. That defeats the purpose of change. What We Can Do This is simple but the hardest thing to get people to catch on to. We must be the force of change that returns people to a Godly way of living. What that means is that we have to put ourselves away and turn completely to God. We have to give up earthly pleasures and desires that are detrimental to God’s plan and live as He desires us to. Does that mean giving up the internet? No, it means use it for His Glory and not for self gratification. Does it mean to remove all media sources altogether? No, we should discern what is right from wrong and feed our minds only with things that will not distract us from Godly thoughts and actions. Does that mean not listening to music? It means to be aware of what the lyrics are saying and if they are detrimental to Godly behavior then turn it off. Does it mean do not go on vacations? No, it means relax and keep from doing things that keep you from God. Does that mean give up your job? No, that means use your position to Glorify God and help those in need. We can use what we made from God’s Creation for the betterment of mankind without destroying creation. If what we are using or doing hurts the earth in order for our pleasure then we are wrong. The world is full of minerals and chemicals that we can use to survive without causing harm to it. We just have to learn what we have forgotten because of our greed and lust for modern pleasures. It is better to do without than to have much when others are suffering. With much love, care and concern for my Brothers and Sisters in this world, Rob, Servant of God The so called "woke" society is still asleep. Either that or they have spread their nightmare on everyone else. If they were truly awake they would see that who they are trying to disrupt and destroy are actually there protecting them from the real problem. This group have begun destroying things just to get the attention they desire so someone will listen. They are apparently not talking to God. Even with the truth being revealed some people cannot see the innocent blood dripping from their hands. These folks are distracted and at the same time becoming a distraction so that those who are being tried for their misdeeds are not seen.
History repeats itself but not in the exact same way. When there were disagreements, people died and fields were filled with blood. Nowadays we not only have fields of blood but we also have economic and social destruction. It is easier to ruin ones life by taking their "protection" away financially which excludes them from their social status than to outright kill the person. Taking someone's life can make him or her a martyr for a cause but ruining financially opens up the floodgates and more deceptive people are taken down. That is what is happening right now in many governments all over the world. For example, many from the previous U.S. administration have been subpoenaed due to the corruption and are being found guilty of treasonous acts against the people of the U.S. All of these social/political groups are not really looking out for the greater good of all people. In fact, they are causing anarchy. Their platforms are misleading and many are blindly following them down a rabbit hole of boastfully sinful people who want to take away the decency that was once hailed as good. Families are being destroyed from within through demons who are acting as friends. The New Testament warns us about this: They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law. Luke 12:53 Many of us are just trying to live our lives for God but it is getting harder and harder when God is not socially acceptable to talk about openly. Corporate worship has been changed or completely taken away in some places. Good Men of God have been jailed for just proclaiming Jesus or speaking about God in public. The age of persecution has hit a hilltop and we are climbing up the mountain slowly. Be ready and remain faithful to God through all this. Do not give in to the Adversary. Pay attention, read about those who claim to have good intentions. I tell you that their truth is far from the Godly Good or good for society as they proclaim. Keep in the Word and do not let go. Study the Old Testament Scriptures and see truth as it plays out right in front of you. I Love and care about you no matter who you are. God Loves you, He created you. Rob, Servant of God Paul was a man who knew the Torah, and understood the way of the Pharisees. He destroyed many Christian lives before (we are told) he encountered Jesus. Since he was of the Pharisaical Order he had the training and knowledge (though distorted) to understand what it means to be under the law. His transformation led him to understand the Grace and Mercy of God in a light that he had never experienced before. But the transcribers of his letters and speeches left out important facts which leads to much confusion.
The Problem of Translation The mere fact of being lost in translation has severe ramifications on the human soul. Words have been changed or omitted because someone skipped a day in school or were taught the wrong way to translate a Hebraic or Aramaic phrase. Emperors and religious leaders have intentionally changed portions of Scripture to suite their needs and we are still victims of their intentions. Because these things happened let us look at today's results. Many Christians are unfortunately taught lukewarm Christianity where you have Christ and that is all you need. They have faith that Jesus has their eternal soul taken care of and all they have to do is live. This becomes Jesus worship which is not what the Gospels teach, but from the translated words attributed to Paul. This belief places Jesus above the Father God and does not allow for a Trinitarian understanding. God is the one who saves us and Jesus was the instrument of our salvation. Look at Galatians 2:16. even so, we have come to realize that a person is not declared righteous by God on the ground of his legalistic observance of Torah commands, but through the Messiah Yeshua’s trusting faithfulness. Therefore, we too have put our trust in Messiah Yeshua and become faithful to him, in order that we might be declared righteous on the ground of the Messiah’s trusting faithfulness and not on the ground of our legalistic observance of Torah commands. For on the ground of legalistic observance of Torah commands, no one will be declared righteous. Galatians 2:16 (CJB) A person without extra guidance in the truth would misinterpret this as Jesus is all we need and the God Creator of the universe is made to be unnecessary. This is so not the truth. The Need to Know the Pentateuch The first five books of the Bible are what the entire belief is based on. It is where right from wrong is explained and taught through stories of God's interaction and influence in the lives of the people. It teaches about the ramification of making bad choices while rejoices in the good. Within the Pentateuch are the 10 Commandments of God which are not guidelines but rules for living. These 10 Commandments teach about faith and the works that come from being a faithful servant. A person of faith will work to not disobey the rules but the works come from having faith. This is why we see in the Book of James, "Faith apart from works is dead" (James 2:26). Without knowledge of the Commandments and the Moral/Ethical Statutes, we would not know what faithful works is. Just depending on Jesus without knowing the full Bible could be deadlier than living in sin. So What Do We Need To Do? We need to understand that Faith and Works actually work in conjunction with each other. You cannot have blind faith and do nothing nor can you be the best most helpful person in the world doing your best to follow but not believe. The Hebraic word that we translate to faith is actually translated to trust. Trusting in the Lord our God that He had, through His Grace and Mercy, desired a relationship with us so much that taken a part of Himself and made it flesh to be the last atoning sacrifice that the world would ever need. We Trust that He will guide and protect us, and that we are dependent on God to provide us with the means to be able to survive in this world while we strive to be with Him in the next. Through our Trust in God we show our Faith in Him to others by doing the things He requires of us. That is Active Faith which is what God looks for us to do. Brothers and Sisters, even if your faith is no bigger than a mustard seed, if you do as God commands you will see your faith grow and your relationship with God be ever closer. Jesus is the King and He will come again but be careful to not treat Him as above the Father. May the Word of God carry you through this life, trusting in His Mercy and Grace. Love others as God Loves all of us, and may you feel joy even in suffering in the these dark times. In His Arms, Rob, His Servant While going through Facebook a few days ago I stumbled upon a picture that shows an image of Jesus with an outreached arm. The caption above said, Focus on me, not the storm. Someone called out idolatry because it depicted Jesus. If you look beyond the picture and pay attention to the words, a true believer would not see the picture and focus of God because those were His words. I was accused of worshipping the picture and called an idolater.  Those who know me know otherwise and he was blind to the truth which said a couple sentences back. So I exclaimed, “He who accuses another of idol worship without looking into his own heart and seeing the truth of what is spoken is himself seeking something other than God.” I said this because he was throwing accusations around like water and it was clear this individual was seeking an argument. As much as I like a good theological discussion I was left with him sharing a tear emoji.
This brings me to today’s topic: Have we Forgotten the Warnings of Idol Worship? So many things are happening in the world today that many of humanity’s true colors are being revealed. We have seen the hatred, jealousy, greed, and bigotry that is running rampant at a seemingly uncontrollable rate. If you pray for discernment you will begin to recognize that many things happening are not of people’s individual thoughts but the actions of a few who have evil intentions. They have forgotten the truth of the Scriptures and have given themselves over to false idols taking many with them. Idolatry Takes Many Forms In Jonah we hear these words: “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. Jonah 2:8 Idolatry can take the form of many things made by human hands. Everything made by humans is there for the eyes to see and understand the past, present, and possibly future but we are not to dwell on these things. There are sculptures and paintings of persons past and present but we are not to kneel before them. This includes effigies of persons from biblical times since those are false representations of the truth. This may sound blasphemous but even depictions of the cross can be considered idols. Is it the cross that is being worshiped? Is it the statue of Mary? No, but if you kneel before those things then yes that is what you are doing. Jesus said that He is not to be worshiped but only the Father. He foresaw what has become the norm for us. We sing songs about Jesus being the savior but it was God who saved us because of what He told Jesus to do. We focus too much on the physical and not nearly enough on what matters most, the Spirit. If we put the name of Jesus above God’s then are we not doing exactly what He told us not to? What about the celebrity? The original meaning was to celebrate the deeds of a person without idolizing him or her. With so many “famous” people out there many have become the focus of worship. People make sacrifices of things they need to survive just to see the person or group. Instead of buying food or clothes for themselves or their family, they will go out and get something related to the individual or group to which they belong. Some even begin to dress and act like them and lose themselves. They are running after something they are not and will not be protected by. Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips. Psalms 16:4 Physical and Spiritual Unhealthy Behaviors Without knowing what is happening, those who take on idol worship return to ways that some would never dream of doing. And it is perfectly evident what the old nature does. It expresses itself in sexual immorality, impurity and indecency; involvement with the occult and with drugs; in feuding, fighting, becoming jealous and getting angry; in selfish ambition, factionalism, intrigue and envy; in drunkenness, orgies and things like these. I warn you now as I have warned you before: those who do such things will have no share in the Kingdom of God! Galatians 5:19-21 Have we not seen this in the last 50 years if not longer? If you cannot see it then you are blind. Adults have corrupted the minds of other adults and children. People are indiscriminate in their destructive behavior. They choose lawlessness over justice and are envious of power that some have over others. They seek painful discord over grace and healing. The behaviors that have resurfaced is what has been described as what was happening before God destroyed the world by flood. We have become so involved with selfish desires that we have literally put God away in a box. The choices have been made that will cause God to return and set things right. But this time it won’t be water. We Have Been Warned The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood- idols that cannot see or hear or walk. Revelation 9:20 We have entered the time of the final plagues. It is said in Hebrew history that the plagues of Egypt will happen again on a world wide scale before the coming of the Messiah. They did not realize that they were talking about the second coming of Christ and the return of God into the world. How much longer will we sit idly by while these things happen to our family, friends, and neighbors? We must correct ourselves first and remove the log out of our hearts before we take the stye from theirs. Brothers and Sisters, take heed and take action before it becomes too late. Do not sit back and watch the world crumble before you and laugh while it does or you will be a victim of your own undoing. Stay in the Word and Keep it on and in your heart, sharing it with all you come into contact with. Finally, Love each other with God’s Love no matter how much it hurts them. In God’s Arms, Rob Servant of God To whom do you submit yourself? These last few weeks we have seen many kneel in submission to people who gain authority over another through acts of violence. Is it out of fear or just a show. When a person kneels before another that person is trading allegiance from one thing to another. I submit to you that all who have kneeled have submitted themselves to the Adversary and are giving up on their beliefs to save their own skins. What they have done is given themselves over to a fate worse than physical death and have turned their backs on God. Stand For What is Right There are two ways this movement is going. One ends in disaster and the other could end in harmony if people would pay attention. When we look at the world today we see people trying to do right by others and accept that an ethnic group has truly been wrongly treated for many years. People have tried to correct this but there have been societal problems that leaked into the church and caused many to cause disharmony. This is not what God wants. If we want to be good Christians then we stand up for the truth of the Scriptures hand in hand with our brothers and sisters of all nationalities and ethnicities. If we don’t then we are as guilty as our predecessors who had a church for every ethnic group and no “contamination”. That was not what Jesus called for but to stand firm in the true faith which is for all God;s Children. Stand For Where We Believe We Belong Mankind cannot stand for a belief alone. Anyone can believe anything for a time and belief systems can change. If we stand firm in the foundation of belonging to God then when we are told to kneel we can be like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego who did not give in but stood firm. They only kneeled to God in prayer. If we kneel then we submit our beliefs were wrong and accept a false authority over us. If you watch anyone in the military there is no kneeling in acceptance of any leader, the body remains upright and standing with differing hand and feet positions. This is a recognition of an authority figure of whom the soldier follows. We belong to God and if we truly believe that, we will humble ourselves and kneel when entering His presence through prayer. There is a difference between believing in and being in. We can believe what we stand for to be right and just but we are not fully in it unless we are willing to die for it. Being in Christ we have given up our lives and put our full self into His will. We have died to the materials of the world so we can focus on being one in the Spirit with God. Kneel to No One But God This is our battle cry and if you cannot see past the color of skin before looking into the heart then what are you doing? If you find only sinfulness and hatred from your heart you cannot see the true heart of your brothers and sisters. If you see jealousy, repair it through grace and mercy. If you see hatred, counter it with God’s Love. If you see loss, help them discover to be found. There is a thing going around social media where some are bringing up the lost sheep and calling the black American that lost one. I submit that the lost sheep are the ones with hate in the heart who cause others to believe they are lost and will never be found to be equal. Found people feel lost every day and lost people do not realize that they are lost because of the blind deceit the Adversary has wooled over their eyes. We Are Family Brothers and sisters, in my temporary secular job I work with many different nationalities and ethnicities. We do not have tension because of our skin or the way we talk but we do squabble as brothers and sisters normally would. We are a family and when one of us is down we all lift the person up. If there is trouble then we stand in the way of said trouble ‘cause that is what family does. Be a family first and always. Show Our Adversary who is the real boss of our lives. Kneel to no one but God In God’s Loving Arms, through His Grace and Mercy I pray that we can find common ground and defeat this evil that has plagued our land, those in authority over us, and those who believe they rule over us. Send your Holy Spirit and the Angels to conquer them using us as needed to be lights and bring them back to you Father God. In Jesus Name, Amen Rob, Servant of God Stay sober, stay alert! Your enemy, the Adversary, stalks about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8)
Our Adversary, the devil, works to get our hearts and minds away from God. He sets up snares to catch us in any way possible using whatever and whomever to distract us and turn away from our Time with God, our Walk with Jesus, and the Guidance of the Spirit. But God did not leave us defenseless, His Word is always with us. Don’t Stray Before I was humbled, I used to go astray; but now I observe your word. (Psalm 119:67) When we neglect our time with God we lose the desire to pray and read His Word. Keeping His Word on our hearts and minds as He commands us and then talking with Him through prayer keeps our life, both spiritual and physical, healthy. Too many Christians still do not know what it is like to feel alive and released when they do not spend time with God daily. Sometimes it is hard to say no to our non-Christian or straight up non-believer friends. The temptation to return to our former life (B.C.) is sometimes so overwhelming that we yield to the past and fall into the trap the Adversary set before us. If we stray once, the devil has control and we must vigilantly return to the Word and prayer while surrounding ourselves with the Body of Believers to get back on track and defeat our personal demons. So how do we keep ourselves from straying? Devote everything to God. He desires time with you and the same should be true from us. Spending time in devotionals and drawing nearer to Him through prayer, reading the Word, and practicing His Ways keeps us from falling into the temptation of straying. Having an active faith life keeps the devil coming but also keeps him at bay. Don’t Strut Pride goes before destruction, and arrogance before failure. (Proverbs 16:18) I could sum this up in two words and many will get this right away, be humble. But I am going to go a little deeper because everyone needs to be reminded on how to act in humility before God. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. (John 12:42,43) No one can tell me they do not know someone like this. Everyone from Cardinals and Bishops down to the small Church Pastor, Bible Study Leader, and Parishioner, know someone who does “God’s Work” but for his/her own personal gain and glory. Why do some seek approval from people rather than just pleasing the Father God? Why do some seek to get rich off of their “work” for God when all it leads to is sorrow and pain with the desire for more earthly riches? This is the devil’s snare of strutting one’s own stuff. So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.” (John 8:28,29) Jesus was a humble man who declared He could nothing by Himself but was dependent on the Father. In saying and doing this, He pleased God. When we have an active faith and do not physically try to gain self-accolades we are doing our best to be humble and live a Christ-like life. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10) Doing things that are pleasing to God and placing Him as first in our lives creates a humble heart within us. When we think of others before ourselves we are showing humility, not weakness but a strength that is beyond a non-believers comprehension. People may see us one way but God knows who we are trying to please. When people see a person rise up in being known not for what he/she has done but what God has done in the person’s life, the devil cannot touch him. Don’t Stoop Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. (Romans 12:21) We are living in a time where evil is seen as good and good is seen as evil, this must be changed and we must change it. We are condoning everything that is against God’s Word in the name of being socially acceptable. We have let the immoral become the normal, and we accept violence as a natural way to get things done. Moral standards have dropped so low that we allow immoral behaviors and confusions to be taught to our children as young as Kindergarten age. We cannot accept all sinfulness as normal or we will have lost. We must, however, remember that God Loves all people so then we must as well but that does not mean we must accept their sinfulness. Jesus ate with sinners, yes but He did not let their ways influence His behavior nor His relationship with the Father. He showed them the truth and many repented, never looking back. Don’t Stop Everyone will hate you because of me, but whoever holds out till the end will be preserved from harm.(Matthew 10:22) Keep the faith and continue to walk in the path with God. Do not stop, keep walking, pass go, and collect eternal life. Do not let the devil’s snare of distraction or his attacks get in the way of the prize. Sometimes what the devil offers looks attractive but it leads to nowhere but down. No problem is too difficult, no trial is too severe, and no burden is so heavy that Jesus cannot bear it and us to get us through. God’s Grace and His Mercy are sufficient. I leave you today with this thought: No, in all these things we are superconquerors, through the one who has loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers, neither what exists nor what is coming, neither powers above nor powers below, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God which comes to us through the Messiah Jesus, our Lord. (Romans 8:37-39) In God’s Arms, Rob, Servant of God This is the first Sunday of Pentecost. Pentecost is the day when the Holy Spirit came down and indwelled in the Apostles. But there is much more to this day than many understand. When we look a little deeper, we can see the truth behind that day. From the interpretations of this day, many different denominations find different ways of celebrating. In fact, certain beliefs came from this very day.
To get a little background we need to go back to the time when Moses was speaking to the Israelites and presenting what pleased God. Some of those things were the Festivals that coincided with the time of the year and phases of the moon. “Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the firstfruits of the crops you sow in your field…. Exodus 23:16 “‘On the day of firstfruits, when you present to the Lord an offering of new grain during the Festival of Weeks, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Numbers 28:26 The festivals became a time where everyone gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate and sacrifice. The firstfruits of the harvest were brought to the Priests as an offering to God in thanksgiving and praise for the food God has provided. So, the Jews and Proselytes from many nations were in Jerusalem. But this day, just over 2000 years ago, was different. While Jesus was still in the flesh He told the Disciples, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26 At the time of the Festival of Harvest, on the day of firstfruits, approximately 50 days after Jesus had died on the Cross, the Advocate arrived. The Festival of Pentecost as it is known by Christians is a wonderful day. Since there were many people who spoke different languages in the area an amazing event took place. The Holy Spirit indwelled the Apostles and they were able to be understood by all people who were in the crowd that day. Some folks believe this to be the point where speaking in tongues came from but if you can see clearly in the eyes of your heart you will see that this was the day that began the reversal of the dispersion of the nations and the confusion of languages that occurred in Babel. The Holy Spirit opened the ears and hearts of all present to hear and understand the Gospel of the Truth. It was this time when 5000 Jews, Proselytes, and even some Roman soldiers came to know Christ and were baptized in the truth of the Word. What a wonderful moment that must have been. These were the firstfruits of the Holy Spirit. The beginning of the message of God through Christ to the world. Because of this, humanity with all its ethnicities and nations were gathered. The Holy Spirit moved to bring God’s Children together and for a moment there was peace. God revealed Himself to the Hebrews then the Israelites in many forms. Then when the time was right, He came to us as the Word made Flesh we know as Jesus the Messiah. Once that mission was complete and we were reconciled through the sacrifice of His Son, the world still needed someone to guide us. Jesus had commanded that we be baptized in the name of the Triune God and when that occurs, we will have the Holy Spirit to guide us on our journey through life. We reveal the Love of God through our actions and words that are designed by our faith. Our faith, our trust in God is what guides the things we do and the words we speak. This is what will heal the world. Right now, the world needs more than just prayer, it needs to see our faith in action. We need to reveal God to the world by working with the world to show the truth. When we do, we will be able to: “Celebrate the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year when you gather in your crops from the field. Exodus 23:16 (continued) The Ingathering of the world in Christ is the goal. Are you willing to be the living sacrifice and show the world who God is? It is time for the reveal, let God’s Love shower the world. In God’s Arms Rob, His Servant This morning I opened one of my books that had sermons from W. Herschel Ford and he reminded me of a quote, "Satan trembles when he sees the weakest Saint upon his knees". How often are we that weak saint who in desperation recognizes that they have been trampled on by the Adversary, gets on bended knee and confesses the whole heart to God. These days that happens far too often because the world is in the way.
Return to the Heart of Worship How do we start, we start in the heart and mind when we see our faith flutter and repent. As easy as it sounds it isn't. When the devil has a firm grip on your spirit and the foot is heavily weighing on your back, he has you right where he wants you. You find that all these distractions are too much and the business of life in the world takes over the business of the Father. The simplest way to return to the Heart of Worship is not through song as many seem to believe these days but the confession of the disobedient heart through prayer. The simplest definition of prayer is talking to God but it is more than that. Prayer is clearing the mind of the daily rush of life and listening to what the heart cries out to God. Once the heart is prepared then return to the Word by reading the Scripture (that is, the Old Testament) and focus on where God leads you to help you understand Him more. After this you are ready to sing His praises and worship Him through song. But not so fast, you are not ready for the worship songs of today. Church goers of today's more modern gatherings have no clue what a Hymnal is. The Hymnal is a book of songs, Scripture, and prayers that are truly songs of worship and praise. The songs within are developmental songs which guide the heart and mind to full devotion of the Father. read and listen to the songs found in the Hymnal and compare them to today's songs. You will notice a difference. Get on Those Knees? Getting on the knee is a sign of submission to the Father. The Bible tells us of many ways to pray from standing with hands in the air and looking up, to a fully prostrate position where the body lies face down. In weakness of body and spirit many need to remember this. Different types of prayer call for different ways of the body. In humility no matter the rest of the body, our heads are bowed and our hands clasped with tips of fingers touching the first knuckle of the opposite hand. In praise our hands are raised to heaven and we look up to see God. But what about that knee? We get down on our knees and humble ourselves when we know that God has our hearts and gives us the strength to partially stand in our moment of weakness. This tells Satan that he does not have control and God is living within us. In doing this we submit our weakness to God but show strength to our Adversary. He knows he cannot have us. Show Satan Who is the Boss Brothers and Sisters, we can show Satan that God is our Strength when he tries to hold us down. Our lives are not our own which is what Satan wants us to think. He wants us to feel like total failures or he wants us to succeed and give God none of the glory. We can defeat him but only on bended knee can we show who is truly our Lord and Savior. Pray, that today Satan recognizes that we will stand firm on the Word of God and cannot be shaken. Pray, that the world recognizes God as true ruler of this world. Hope, that the world will come to know God and see the error of its ways. May God Bless you today and every day. In His Love, Rob, Servant of God Remember back when we were young our parents gave us some advice. Once we hit young adulthood some of those lessons stayed and some went out the window. Proverbs 22:6 reminds us that we should teach the youth the way they should go so when they are older they will remember. Here are a few that some forgot:
If you are thankful, show it If you love someone, tell them If you're wrong, fess up If you're confused, ask questions If you learn something, teach others If you're stuck, ask for help If you made a mistake, apologize If you trip and fall, get back up If someone needs help, help them If you see wrong, take a stance Now I could go on and on about many of these but there is something very familiar about each one. Is there not a Scripture that goes along with each one? Simple things that we tell our children are good things to know as we get older. The other part of these lessons are they are all good common sense things to know. Here are some lessons that we need to remember as adults: Do not take out your anger on a person that is not the cause of your aggravation Always practice good hygiene, you never know who you are going to meet Treat all people the way you want to be treated If you make a statement be ready to back it up If you lie to get your way, the truth will eventually come out If you want to lead, be a follower If you share guidance, be the example and follow it yourself If we follow these we are also following the rules, statutes and guidance that God has given us through the Law, the prophets, and Jesus. There are many other lessons but right now we need to concentrate on these to make it through this time of uncertainty due to COVID-19. Let's all get along, this is almost done. the time will come when decisions will have to made that will upset many people. Keep cool heads and do as God the Father commands us to do. Watch out for people or a person that has great ideas that will solve the crisis, there will be a price (some of the ideas we are all already paying for). Keep God's Word on your heart and look at things with discerning eyes. In the Father's Loving Arms Rob, Servant of God There are so many prophesies around the world in different religious and civilization belief systems that no one can be sure what is true. The truth is, we are not supposed to know the time or date but we are given signs in the heavens that prepare us for it. We also receive signs on the earth. One of the signs talks about pestilence and disease. This is our current state.
The world has gone through many plagues in its history and humans have fought each one in one way shape or form by either letting it run its course or finding ways to stem the effects which cause the sickness and deaths. Our current coronavirus (a common cold) started in the respiratory system and is now mutated enough that there is no way to keep up with the damage it can do to our bodies. It is even finding ways to take our children. I really hate to say this but did we have it coming? God Punishes to Show His Power Many times in Scripture, God uses the earth’s defenses to remind us who is boss. He took the Egyptians down so that the Pharaoh would release the Hebrews. He caused pestilence on His chosen Israel when they sinned (numerous times). He has wiped out entire people groups for their disobedience. Revelation May Not Be a Single Short Period When we look into Revelation how certain can we be that everything is going to happen in quick succession. Every plague up to now has hit certain bodily functions and stayed local to those systems. Every time there was a chance, people were told to isolate just like we are now. Back then, people listened but now, the Adversary has so many people in his grasp that we are helping this one spread and find new ways of killing us. Since the time of the writing there was the Plague of Justinian, The Black Death, Bubonic Plague, Cholera, Ebola Virus, and Spanish Flu. There have been diseases like small pox, measles, anthrax, and rubella, to name a few. Ladies and gentlemen, Corona Virus: Human Coronavirus Types Scientists have divided coronaviruses into four sub-groupings, called alpha, beta, gamma, and delta. Seven of these viruses can infect people. The four common ones are:
Seven The number seven, in gematria, is related to the Creation of the world. It is the most powerful number and has been used in so many good ways. There are seven days in a week. There are seven attributes to physicality (height, width, depth, top and bottom, front and back, left and right, and the total connection of the six). There are seven notes to an octave (the eighth note is a repeat of the first at the next tone). The seven notes correspond to seven colors: Royal blue Do Scarlet Red Re Yellow Mi Emerald green Fa Orange So Violet La Purple Ti So why is it the number associated with the sadness of “Tribulation”? Seven years, seven trumpets, seven lamp posts, seven plagues. Those are found in the time before the return of Jesus. Seven years Satan will control then be locked away. Seven physical years? Maybe not. What is the importance of all this. If seven in creation and connection in the physical reality, would not God use that to prepare us for the reality of the Spirit? Seven Types That Harm Us If there are seven types that harm us would not the seventh be a completion of all the areas affected? What is happening now is that this virus has affected the body as a whole and there is no telling where this will end. Could it be that the trumpet has sounded? Corona’s Numerical Value The numerical value of the word Corona (קורונה) is 367. There are many word combinations with the same numerical value, yes, but the one that immediately out is the expression “Messiah, Come” (משיח בוא) which also equals 367. Why is this significant? Is this not the prayer of many people right now? So many people looking for answers and look in the wrong place. They seek physical healing when their spirit is what needs the doctor. Theoretical Thinking This virus, if my theory is correct, will affect all of humanity and be responsible for the death of one-third of mankind. Most of us have followed the authorities appointed over us as Jesus told us to do but there are many who deny authority. Brothers and Sisters it is a time for true discernment. There are questions that must be asked but we have to put our personal, human needs and desires aside if we are going to beat this. Closing Thoughts Can we live how we were living to a certain extent? Yes and No. Can we survive with the conveniences and things that take our attention away from God and our mission? Not really. Do we have to make amends and repent? Yes. Can we continue in our sinfulness? No. The one thing that will save us is truth in repentance and doing as the Lord God commanded us to do. We need to remember the teachings of Jesus who was the truth of the Word and not confuse them with the man made perversions of the times. Keep His Word on our hearts and look at the world through the eyes of the Spirit. Remember this is a theory from research and does not constitute prophesy. I am no prophet but a learner and follower of God’s Word. If He gives me words to speak then I will speak them. I am unimportant but God and His Word are Eternal. God Bless, Rob, Servant of Our Father God provides joy in our lives but some people have to wait almost a lifetime to receive it. For Elizabeth, relative of Mary and wife to Zechariah a priest, it was a child. She was in her 80s when she gave birth to John and it was all about God’s timing.
The Visit and Announcement Zechariah was in his term of entering the innermost part of the Temple when he was visited and told about his future son. Of course he did not believe this because he was way too old to be a father much less Elizabeth being well past her birthing years. So the messenger made him mute. In fact, he was not even able to tell Elizabeth that she would be with child. What a surprise that was going to be. Both Zechariah and Elizabeth were Levites so to be barren and no heir meant that they were looked down upon by all. It was considered a disgrace not to have children especially being a daughter of a priest so to be told about having a child at that late age would have been seen as a joke. When she announced her pregnancy there must have been many controversies and naysayers especially since Zechariah was deaf and mute. But God has a plan. Mary Seeks Refuge Elizabeth was six months along when Mary came to visit. Mary was just barely into her first term and sought protection being an unwed pregnant youth. The story goes that at the first meeting, John lept with excitement in Elizabeth’s womb so she knew there was something special about both children. Mary is immediately taken in until the decree for a census had been given. Elizabeth, Mother of John Mary was there for the birth of John and then was whisked away for the next miraculous birth to occur. During this time Zechariah was given his hearing and his speech back but had to remain silent about the coming birth of Jesus. What a blessing and a curse. It must have been hard for both of them. Zechariah did not live much longer and Elizabeth died while John was still young but understood his mission. I imagine that Elizabeth was able to see the truth of things before she died but imagine the joy that she must have known and the peace she received. Mother of the Pronouncer of Truth Elizabeth bore John who would become the one who introduced Jesus to Israel through baptism. She became the mother of the one who would cry in the desert wilderness for the Lamb of God, the Word in the Flesh. It would be John who was given the opportunity to pave the way for the repentance of man through cleansing and it was his mission to announce Jesus’ arrival. Elizabeth was a barren woman used by God to bring forth the man would be called John the Baptist. Heavenly Father, Gracious Lord, If it be Thy Will, bless those who are barren so they may conceive. Bless those who have had children so that they bring the child up in Your ways and not the ways of the world. Guide all parents to be after Your heart and fill the children with Your Word. In this time of pain, suffering, and many unknowns, be with us and fill us with the Hope that You are beside us and have not left us to the devil’s enjoyment. Thank You Father for Your Son. Thank You for John, Thank You for Mary and Elizabeth. In Jesus we ask these things. Amen. How lonely sits the city that was full of people!
How like a widow has she become, she who was great among the nations! She who was a princess among the provinces has become a slave. 2 She weeps bitterly in the night,with tears on her cheeks; among all her lovers she has none to comfort her; all her friends have dealt treacherously with her; they have become her enemies. Lamentations 1:1-2 How familiar this sounds in the world today. For a small fraction of time the roads and streets were empty and places were teeming with life not human. We had become slaves to those in authority over us. Neighbor was against neighbor and so many were hoarding things that many need down to the simplest hygiene items. Control measures were put in place yet there were many who disregarded the warnings only to find out they had become sick and infected their own families causing some of them to die. What we are living in sounds like one of the pandemic movies, but here, people do not come back to be seen again in some other feature, they are gone. How did this happen? Our world is full of those who want total control and to do so must control the population through fear. Once they smell fear, they are like ravenous wolves coming in for the slaughter of the meek, innocent, and broken. Satan is not using one person but many to incite this fear of the unknown to maintain control and remove the things we have taken for granted and those that are our God given rights. He has made us slaves and uses his minions to keep many at bay. What Satan does not want to believe is that there are those of us who will not give in to the false fear because we have reverent fear of God. We know that if we disobey then we will be separated. We know that there is only one who can save us from the eternal damnation and that is God. God sent His Word down in the flesh to us so that we would turn back to God and be saved from death. Many listened and the powers that be back then hid the true purpose only to instruments in God's Plan. Every Word in Scripture rings of truth and it is up to us to listen, hear it, believe and obey. Still many do not want to believe and will stop at nothing to make us suffer. They do not see that their purpose has already been written and confirmed by God. Brothers and Sisters in Christ, we are God's Children for He created us. He chose a nation and they did their part and are still part of the plan. We need to do our part as the Great Commission tells us by spreading God's Word and the sacrifice He made through His Son so that we may live. With the Holy Spirit we can win battles on earth that are echoed for our spirits in Heaven. Do not give into this fear and Keep God's Word on your heart. Love all because God Loves all of us. Be safe and follow the Laws of God, Noah, and Moses which were reemphasized and taught by Jesus. Do not give in but give all Glory to God, the Father, Creator of Heaven and earth. Using the Orthodox Jewish Bible we see the Lord's answer to how we should pray: Avinu shbaShomayim (Our Father in heaven), yitkadash shmecha (hallowed be your Name). 10 Tavo malchutechah (Thy Kingdom come) Ye’aseh rtzonechah (Thy will be done) kmoh vaShomayim ken baaretz (on earth as it is in heaven). 11 Es lechem chukeinu ten lanu hayom (Give us today our daily bread), 12 u-slach lanu es chovoteinu kaasher salachnu (and forgive us our debts as we forgive) gam anachnu lachayaveinu (also our debtors). 13 V’al tvi’einu lidey nisayon (And lead us not into temptation) ki im chaltzeinu min harah (but deliver us from evil). [Ki l’chah hamamlachah (for thine is the Kingdom) vhagvurah (and the power) vhatiferet (and the glory) l’olmei olamim (forever). Omein] Our backyard has become a sanctuary for birds and squirrels as of late. We have begun placing bird seed with nuts and other things for them to eat in various places in our fenced in backyard. These creatures that God hath made are a site to see. Many types of birds have come to visit. From Blue Jays and Cardinals to Doves, Robins, and Finches, we have a sanctuary for them to feed and nest in. The squirrels have grown from three to eleven as of this morning and even though they sometimes fight, they sit and eat as a community. Our dog Lili, a pug terrier mix, does not bother them but occasionally patrols the area and the others somehow know not to fear her. This is how it is supposed to be.
How beautiful is God's World in which He placed us to watch over and cultivate. We are to live with the land not against it yet too many abuse the material resources from the earth that makes it impossible for the earth to rejuvenate itself. How much easier it would be if we did not poison the earth with so many emissions and man made chemicals so we could live without fear. Occasionally, God steps in and halts man from doing things but some men see the opportunity for control. That is the current state all over the earth. Basic human rights are being stripped away. The family and friend gatherings are being broken down and minds are being programmed to believe certain people in the government have total power over our lives. Children of God, we need to take back His world. We cannot sit quietly and beg for mercy from persons who cannot give what they themselves have not received. There are certain men and women who are abusing their authority and they must be stopped. The Children of God should prepare the Way of the Lord. How do we do this? There is a call for repentance all over the world. The Hebrew word is Teshuvah, the Arabic word is Tawba. The Chinese word is Huǐgǎi, in German it is Buße. I could go on and on but you see, all around the world there is a word for repentance so we need to tell them it is time to recognize our wrongdoing and repent for our sins. Seek the problem and fix it. We can defeat evil but only through the power of the Holy Spirit. I will no longer be quiet. We must return to God. When some people talk about a relationship with God there is more of a one sided view that says God has done everything that He needs to do for our Salvation which is a correct statement but a lot of people leave it there. Yes God loves us, sacrificed His Son for us and covers our sins but....didn't God say He needs something from us? I am pretty sure if you look at the Old Testament you will find many instances where God Commands us to do certain things to give Him Glory.
Love The first thing involves many but is encompassed in one simple word, "Love". With love comes an unquestionable understanding that He Loves us because He created us, yet people do not believe in a creator God. God's Love knows no bounds but if you do not love back there are issues. How do we show our love for God. The first thing is trust. We must fully trust God with our lives and everything we do. With trust comes obedience. If we put our trust in God that means we listen and do what He asks of us. This is all part of faith. In Hebrew, faith and trust are the same so if we trust someone we have faith that the person will also trust us. If we break our trust through disobedience, we are in danger of losing faith. With obedience comes action. There are two types of faith, active and inactive. The person who has an active faith reads, studies, follows, and puts the Word into Action. The inactive reads, maybe studies, tries to follow but lets the world distract so the Word is not active in the person's life. Worship When you sing in adoration, pray, study the Word, talk to others about God, this is worship. When feeding and clothing the hungry without self adoration, that is worship. When you sing praises, sit and enjoy the beauty of creation, stand hand in hand with others in His Name, that is worship. When you place the plan of God above all else, that is worship. Render To God What is God's When the Israelites rendered a sheep or other item used for food they left nothing of the animal but had a use for every part except the voice. Everything used was for the well being of the family and in one way or another used for God's Glory. The same goes for everything, it all belongs to God. So when Jesus said, "Render to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's", He was literally saying that we owe nothing to another who will not put it to use for God's Glory. The greed of man deserves nothing. What Have You Rendered to God? Everything we do, everything we have, is for God. If we continue down the path of self-indulgence and self-adoration then we are not giving everything to God but keeping it for ourselves. We cannot and should not do that. Remember, He is the one who saves us, money cannot cure a disease, it provides temporary relief but does not cut down to the true cause. So give everything, do everything for God. He Loves you, we need to show Him love in return. In God's Loving Arms, Rob, Servant of God Here we are in the week after Resurrection Day and we are still being forced to distance ourselves from people. We cannot even approach family in the same state without others looking at us funny. I miss being around people I care about as I'm sure you do too. Some states are slowly beginning to allow businesses to open but need to keep certain physical distancing in place. I have a feeling that many people will be too scared to venture out still but when the money runs dry they will be forced to. The government cannot keep giving out money that it does not have unless they take it from big business yet they will come up with reasons not to and control their connections to keep their lifestyle. Why am I going this direction? Because we cannot find God if we are too afraid to look.
God has brought families closer. Folks, let me be honest. This is a good thing unless the family was a complete mess in the first place. If the family did not know God before how are they going to trust Him now?? Sure they can see churches, worship music, and other religious places online but there is no true repentance in a song. There is no true repentance without prayer. There is no true repentance without knowing God. I have heard of families saying they watched one mega church online and are now zealous for God. Other families have given themselves over from watch people sing worship music one time. That is not being repentant because they do not understand how the whole thing with God works. God is already present but it is up to us to find Him in our heart. there is a difference between having a religious experience and being in God. God doesn't want us just to believe, He wants us to commune with Him in all things we do. People who just believe do not have the right relationship without giving up the things that cause them to sin. Jesus tells us in His moment with the adulterous woman were He saves her from death then saying, "Go and sin no more". Are you saved if you give your life over and continue living in your sin? NO. Is it okay to boast of your sin especially in a building filled with believers? Absolutely NO. Why do people think it is okay? Because they do not know the difference between believing and being. Believing is having faith reading the Bible and maybe following God's Word while still living in the world and the sin you just cannot escape. Being in is having full trust in God, following and acting upon His Word while being in communication with Him daily while giving up your worldliness, repenting of your sins and not returning to them. Believing is knowing that Jesus died for our sins and that is good enough. Being is Understanding why the Word came to us in the flesh, studying the Word and Keeping it on and in the heart while sharing it with others through relationship building. Believing is religion, being is relational. God wants a relationship with us. God does not want the blood sacrifices of old or lip service. He wants us to be genuine in faith, trust, and action through faith. He wants our repentance to be genuine, not constantly asking forgiveness for the same sin over and over. He wants us to live for Him not our own desires for all glory is God's and not our own. So what happens now? Do you want to just believe or do you want to be in a relationship with God. Do you want the world and death, or in the Spirit and life. Are you willing to give up everything for God? These are the choices we must make: To be active in true faith or reactive in the world. To be known by God and get to know Him or to be known by God and ignore Him. To have a loving relationship with the Father or not reciprocate at all. The choice is yours. As for me and my house, we choose God. In His Loving Arms, Rob, Servant of God  What a glorious day this is. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. God has saved us with the final sacrifice needed. He has made the last blood sacrifice that covers our sins and brings us back to God. The Word has defeated eternal death. Through Jesus' death and resurrection we are given that second chance to do what we were made for.
Because Jesus died, we can rest knowing that we will not suffer the torment of Hell. Because He rose, the gates of Hell were sealed with His Name. Because He lives we can face every day with Hope, Love, Peace, and Joy. Because He ascended to heaven we have a lawyer in God's court that takes our punishment. Two Thousand and some years ago Jesus, in His transformed body, stayed and taught for a little longer. He gave the Apostles a clear mission and they feared not death. All who saw Him were filled with a Hope, Joy, and Peace that was truly beyond all comprehension. They felt the Love of the Father God deeper than ever before. Though we do not see him physically we know Jesus carries us. The Word is sealed in our hearts and those who fully put their Trust in God have comfort in the arms of His Grace. Brothers and Sisters live in peace. These next few months will be hard on many. Share God's Love and the Grace and Mercy that knows no bounds. Happy Resurrection Day Resting Peacefully in His Love, Rob, Servant of God
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June 2021
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The messages on the blogs written on this page are within biblical adherence. Though the Scriptures listed in the blogs are directly from the Bible and other related religious writings the explanations and interpretations are in line with Biblical thinking as it relates to today’s world. The use of historical facts are to assist in the validity of the writings. The main writer of this blog site is an Ordained minister in one denomination though the views are related to all denominations so if something is said that does not fall in line with your denominational background, pray for personal discernment and understanding. |
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