LET THE WIND BLOW

TEXT: Ezekiel 37:1-3

Israel had become a divided nation - the Northern Kingdom (Israel) and the Southern Kingdom (Judah).  The Northern Kingdom quickly left behind their devotion for God, and He sent the Assyrians to defeat and discipline them.  The Southern Kingdom (Judah) maintained relationship with God a bit longer, but eventually they became as wicked and idolatrous as the Northern Kingdom.  Because of their wickedness, God sent the Babylonians to defeat and take them captive.

Ezekiel was among the large group taken captive.  He was from a priestly family and in training for service in the temple when taken captive by the Babylonians.  The city of Jerusalem was destroyed. The Temple was burnt down, and all of it’s implements and articles of worship were taken to Babylon and many more people taken into captivity.

This was a discouraging and disappointing time for Judah, and Jerusalem was no more.  Everything the people had put their hope in had been destroyed.  They were dead as a nation, and dead as a people.  It seemed like everything was going wrong in their life.  I’m sure many of them wondered where the promises of God’s blessings fit into all of this.  But our God is a deliverer and a promise-keeping God.  In Ezekiel 37:14, He promised better days were coming, and they would return to their own land.

It's in the Blood! (Part 3)

Part 3

Look at what God said in relation to Jerusalem:  "Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed; and hast defiled thyself in thine idols which thou hast made" (Ezekiel 22:4).

Adam’s blood was “innocent” until he (male & female) disobeyed God, which caused his blood to become “guilty blood”.  But praise be to God for the “innocent blood” of Jesus that cleanses!!

" But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from ALL sins" (1 John 1:7). 

Just as our own blood is vital for life, so is the PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS vital to us for life, even more so!  It is our means of “atonement” or at-one-ment!

"For the life of the flesh is in the blood:  and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls:  for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul" (Leviticus 17:11).

"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (Hebrews 9:22-24).

Just as the “red blood cells” supply us with oxygen and nutrients for life and carry off the waste to keep the body cleansed, so does the “precious blood of Jesus”!

"Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life" (St. John 6:53-54).

Jesus’s blood has an “eternal” factor in it!  Eternal in the Greek is aio’nios meaning, perpetual, everlasting, for ever!  That is good news!  His blood gives us not just life but everlasting life!

"And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes?  and whence came they?  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (Revelation 7:13-14).

Isn’t that amazing how you can wash your robes in the “red blood” of Jesus, and they come out white!  Don’t try it with your own blood; it won’t work.  But we know that our robe is the righteousness of God, and they are made white by the blood of the Lamb!

"And to her (the church) was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:  for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints" (Revelation 19:8).

As you look at the robe of the high priest in Exodus 28, it was made of fine linen, and Revelation 19 reveals to us that the “fine linen” clean and white is the righteousness of saints.  That is what God has dressed us in - His righteousness!!

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin:  that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthians 5:21).

"I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10).

Just as “the white blood cells” are the defense of the body, so is the “blood of Jesus” our defense!

"For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:  How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:13-14).

"For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.  For a testament is of force after men are dead:  otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.  Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood. (Hebrews 9:16-18)

(Vs 26) "But now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself".

(Vs 28) "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many"!  (Read Hebrews chapter 9-10:  Christ’s sacrifice!)

It is by His blood we are redeemed!

"Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness:  that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Romans 3:24-26).

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:18-19).

It is by His blood we are reconciled back to God!

"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us:  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace, and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby" (Ephesians 2:13-16).

By His blood we are justified!

"Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him" (Romans 5:9).

By His blood we are sanctified!

"Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?" (Hebrews 10:29).

"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14).

Last but not least, His blood has given us communion with our Heavenly Father!

"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, 'Take, eat, this is my body.'  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, 'Drink ye all of it, For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (Matthew 26:26-28).

Jesus’ blood is our overcoming power that gives us the victory over all the power of the enemy!

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and the word of their testimony" (Revelation 12:11)!

~ Apostle Gracie Perry

It's in the Blood (Part 2)

This message is presented in 3 parts.  Part 3 will be available on Dec. 9, 2013

Part 2

Our beginning Scripture stated, “The Life of the flesh is in the “blood”.  So, what is this “life” that is in the “blood”?

LIFE is the Hebrew word nephesh, which is a breathing creature, such as an animal; man; it is vitality; bodily or mentally, it is soul, life, person, mind, heart, body, himself, yourselves.  It comes from another root word naphash’, which means to breathe; to be breathed upon, in relation to being refreshed (as if by a current of air).

REFRESH (synonym) means invigorate; recuperate; restore; ventilate; recreate; strengthen; stimulate; enliven; renew, revive!

These definitions are in reference to the very essence of life; the act of breathing; taking breaths!

"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul" (Genesis 2:7).

Actually, what the LORD God was breathing into “man” (male & female) was the very “blood” of God Himself, which contained all that “man” needed as pertaining to LIFE, or shall I say ETERNAL LIFE!  It was the eternal life of the BLOOD that was breathed into them.

Isn’t it amazing how the LORD God breathed into the man’s nostrils and not into his mouth?  During CPR, our breath isn’t blown into the nostrils but into the mouth.  The word NOSTRILS comes from the Hebrew word “aph” meaning face or countenance.  This is the area through which “air” passes in and out of the body. 

The respiratory system is divided into the conducting zone and the respiratory zone.  The “conducting zone” includes all of the cavities and structures that transport gases to the “respiratory zone”.  The “respiratory zone”, including the respiratory bronchioles and alveoli, is the region in which gas exchange with the “blood” occurs.  (1 John 5:8) There are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one". This exchange takes place in “man” (the earth) when he yields to the Spirit (Father) and agrees (yields; consents; harmonizes; conforms) to the water (or the Word), then he (male & female) can be cleansed from all sin by the Holy Ghost (blood washing)!

The “nose” has a vestibule (passageway) which is the anterior expanded portion of the nasal fossa.  Each nasal fossa opens anteriorly through the nostrils or anterior nares and communicates posteriorly with the nasopharynx through the choa’nae or posterior nares.  The pharynx connects the nasal and oral cavities to the larynx (voice box) at the base of the skull.  The pharynx is divided on the basis of location and function into three regions: nasal, oral, and laryngeal.  It also provides a resonating chamber for certain speech sounds.  To resonate means to resound or to echo back.  When the Lord God breathed into the “man” (male & female) the breath (wind; air) of life, he became a living soul with the same abilities and capabilities the Lord God had.  He (male & female) then discovered, discerned, envisioned a new world.  The nasal cavity is concerned with the sense of smell!  A person can discern a lot of things with their nose that they may not see with their eyes or hear with their ears.

That’s why the Lord God breathed into his “nostrils” - because it readily gave him (male & female) the ability to become God in the earth.  They knew who God was and who they were in God!  They had taken in a breath of fresh air, if I might say!  They actually received the very mind of God through that “blood” transfer!  Remember “man” (adam) means to show blood in the face!  They had the wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and power to speak with the voice of the living God!  Do you see the resonating (resounding; echoing back) affect of being able to say and do as God says and does?  Hallelujah!  The blood talks!  "And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel" (Hebrews 12:24).

Psalm 103:1: "Bless the Lord, O my soul:  and all that is within me, bless his holy name"!

 What is that which is within a person?  The very wind, the breath, the “blood” of the Almighty God!!  We also bless Him with our gifts; the manifestation of His fruit that’s in us.

The function of the BLOOD, which is the fluid connective tissue in the natural, circulates through the cardiovascular system to transport substances throughout the body that are essential for life.  It maintains internal body homeostasis. 

Blood is a vascular connective tissue.  All the other tissues, bone, muscle, nerves, fat, and skin are distinctly set or fixed in their several places.  Isn’t it amazing how they do not circulate throughout the body?  But the “blood” travels or circulates to all the tissues of the body to keep it alive.  There are other fluids in the body, such as saliva, tears, gastric juices, lymph, and bile, but these are not tissues.  They are secretions.  The “blood” unites, joins, or connects all the members with the head, "And he is the head of the body, the church" (Colossians 1:18), and the individual members as well, "For we are members one of another" (Ephesians 4:25).

There are three formed elements found within the blood:

1.   Erythrocyes – red blood cells which transport respiratory gases and nutrients to all

      the cells of the body.  They also pick up the waste of the cells called “carbon

      dioxide” and discharge it through the kidneys, skin, bowels, and lungs.  Then it

      refills with new oxygen again and continues the process! AWESOME!!

2.   Leukocytes –white blood cells which defend the body against invasions by

      microorganisms.

3. Thrombocytes – the platelets, whose role is blood clotting.

* There are “Antibodies" and also "Antitoxins” that help prevent infections from getting a foot-hold or taking root in our bodies.  We couldn’t survive without them!  The antibodies are produced in response to infections.  Though they are absent in the blood, they come in large numbers after a person has had certain diseases to prevent infections from returning again.  The body builds up immunity to keep the disease from attacking again!  This immunity is in the blood!

Blood is a “fluid”, and it is the “river of life” - or the 5 quart circulatory system - that flows throughout the entirety of the physical body, giving life to all the other systems in the body!  I’m reminded of the “river” that went out of Eden to water the garden in Genesis 2:10:  and the “river of water of life” proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb (Revelation 22:1).

Our blood is essential for life, so then what about the “blood of Jesus”?  It is necessary (compulsory; essential; required; urgent) that we receive it!  When we receive His Spirit, we receive His blood.

"For there are three that bear record in heaven [elevated place], the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost:  and these three are one" (1 John 5:7).

"And there are three that bear witness in earth [your body], the Spirit, and the water, and the blood:  and these three agree in one" (1 John 5:8).

Look at how it works together: the Father (the Spirit); the Word (the water); the Holy Ghost (the blood)!  They are all one in us!

"But we have this treasure in EARTHEN vessels, that the excellency of the POWER may be of God, and not of us" (2 Corinthians 4:7).

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body:  so also is Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:12).

"For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones" (Ephesians 5:30).

"And he is the head of the body, the Church" (Colossians 1:18).

"And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth" (Acts 17:26).

"For we are members one of another" (Ephesians 4:25).  So we are made one in Christ Jesus by His blood, the “innocent blood”!  Judas said, “I have betrayed the innocent blood" (Matthew 27:4).  Innocent in the Greek is athoos (ath’o os), meaning “not guilty”!    So he betrayed the “not guilty blood”!  That’s why Jesus had to be born of a Virgin upon whom came the Holy Ghost and the power of the Highest (hup’sistos or the Supreme God or the heavens)!  He (Jesus) had to have “pure blood” in Him or “not guilty blood” or “innocent blood” in Him!  The synonyms for innocent are guiltlessness; blamelessness; incorruption; clean; pure; chaste!  The “innocent blood” of Jesus cleansed us of the “guilty blood” of Adam.  "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive" (1 Corinthians 15:22).

~ Apostle Gracie Perry

It's in the Blood!

This message is presented in 3 parts.  Part 2 will be available on Dec. 2, 2013, and Part 3 will be available on Dec. 9, 2013.  We pray blessings on your reading and understanding of the Word!

Part 1

The Book of Leviticus tells us much concerning laws of sacrifices and offerings, typifying what Jesus would become for us, “GOD'S OFFERING AND OUR SACRIFICE”!

In Hebrews 9:18 "Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood:  (Vs 22) without shedding of blood is no remission".  It was not optional.  The penalty for sin had to be paid with blood!  This is what my subject is about: “IT’S IN THE BLOOD”!

The Unity of Believers

TEXT:  EPHESIANS 4:13

“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”.

Unity is a state of being one; with accord; in agreement; in harmony.  The synonyms for “unity” are: oneness; individuality; indivisibility; inseparability; solitude; identity; sameness; uniformity; consistency; coherence; unification; fusion; peace; unit; compact!

The Apostle Paul saw only one Church, not a Jewish Church and a Gentile Church.

“Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace" (Ephesians 2:15).

 Even now, there shouldn’t be what we call “Black Churches” and “White Churches”.  Neither should there be different denominations, but there are.  Yet, there are those that think as Paul did - there is still ONE CHURCH, the Body of Christ!

“For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body:  so also is CHRIST.  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)!

Positioned For The Blessing

Ephesians 1:3-4 states "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world".

This is very encouraging news because it tells us that even before the sperm of our father ever made it to the ovum of our mother, the blessings of God were already in place for us!  But in order for us to receive them, we must be properly positioned to get them!

Ephesians unveils to us great revelations in relation to Christ and the Church - the ecclesia or an assembly of called out ones, the body of Christ.

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones" (Ephesians 5:30).

"For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body:  so also is Christ" (1 Corinthians 12:12).

God didn’t just prepare a body for Jesus to suffer in, but He prepared Him a body in which He should be glorified!  That “body” is “the Church”!  Jesus Christ is “the head”, and we are His body!  When we “the Church” come in alignment positionally with the “Head”, we are glorified together as a “perfect man” in the earth!

The Church In Recovery!

Jeremiah 8:22 [KJV]

The Book of Jeremiah portrays Jesus Christ as our “Righteous Branch”!

Jeremiah 23:5-6:  "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.  In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely:  and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS".

Jeremiah 33:15: " In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land".

In Chapter 8 of Jeremiah, God is speaking to Israel about punishment for her sins.  But there is a question asked in verse 22 which is, "Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there?  why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered"?

Balm was an ointment used for medicinal purposes, and we know that Jehovah-Rapha is the Lord that heals.  So that same question can be applicable to the Church today.

DO YOU KNOW HIM?

Matthew 1:21  "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins".

Matthew 16:13-16:  "When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, 'Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?'  And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.  He saith unto them, 'But whom say ye that I am?'  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God".  (King James Version)

We see here in the book of Matthew that Jesus made a strong declaration to his disciple, “Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?”  They answered naming some of the prophets.  Then He said unto them again, “But whom say ye that I am?”  You see Jesus wanted to know if they knew Him.  Then Peter answered saying, “Thou art the Christ.”  Right there Jesus blessed Peter because He knew that flesh and blood didn’t reveal this unto Peter.  The great truth came from God the Father - that spiritual idea of man; The Christ of God; The Son of God which is the Divine Mind (God) - had revealed this to Peter. 

So as we find Jesus referring to Himself as the “Son of God”, we see Peter also had reached a place in understanding where he realized his relation to Being (God).  In John 7:29, Jesus explains this realization when He says “I know Him: for I am from him and he hath sent me".

Catch on FIRE!!!

Psalm 104:4:  “Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire”

  

     We know that fire will cause devastation and will consume any and everything in its path. Fire generates heat and light. It is a result of a chemical reaction called combustion. At a certain point in the combustion reaction, called the ignition point, flames are produced. Flames consist primarily of carbon dioxide, water vapor, oxygen and nitrogen. In order for combustion and fire to occur, 3 things must be present: fuel, oxygen and energy (usually in the form of heat). Now that is in the Natural.

Same God

Ecclesiastes  1:9 (KJV)

“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: And there is no new thing under the sun.”

When you read The Bible, it’s not just history or a story book, people of God.  Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning GOD (Hebrew: Elohim-The Creator) created”.   John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was The Word and The Word was with GOD and The Word was GOD”.  Then Revelation 1:8 says, “I am alpha and omega” (meaning first and last).  I said that to say “The Bible is One Book, One Story, HIS Story, Jesus’s story and the revelation of Jesus The Christ”.  God the Creator, Jesus Christ the Son and The Holy Ghost consist of The Father and Son in ONE.

The Book of Revelation

I greet you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

I’ve heard many people say that the Book of Revelation is a “scarey” book, and they get a bit uncomfortable reading it.  Personally, I see it as the Word of God and nothing to be afraid of!  "For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7).  When something is “sound”, it is sophronismos’, meaning it is disciplined and self-controlled!  The synonym for “sound” is whole, undamaged, healthy, robust, logical, true, valid, reliable, strong, firm, thorough, and stable.  The only way one can get the Revelation of this Book is with a “sound mind”.

UNDERSTANDING THE HOLY GHOST OR HOLY SPIRIT!

It is the activity of God in a universal sense or present everywhere at the same time. It is the moving force in the universe taken as a whole. The Spirit is the infinite “breath” of God. The life essence of Being. "And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, 'Receive ye the Holy Ghost'” (St. John 20:22).

What they were receiving was the very mind of God:  His wisdom, knowledge, understanding, power, authority, dominion! This was the same “breath” that was breathed into Adam in Genesis 2:7. This is the same wind or “breath” that was breathed on the bones in the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37. This was the same “wind” or “breath” that was in the upper room at Pentecost!!

The Walking Dead - It's Time to Come Alive!

(Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version)

     There is a popular series on AMC that tells the story of a small group of survivors living in the aftermath of a zombie apocalypse. The show is called “The Walking Dead.”  Now here is a quick primer on zombies.  Zombies are animated corpses.  These creatures eat survivors.  They also infect “normal” humans with disease.  One bite or scratch from a zombie will prove fatal.  Also these creatures are difficult to “kill.”  Only a fatal blow to the brain will stop these things… dead!

     Why am I talking about a fantasy show dealing with zombies?  It is because sadly today, we live in a world of the walking dead!  These walking dead are individuals who either do not know God or who do not know the full Kingdom message and are walking in darkness and despair.  Appropriately, the title of my sermon is “The Walking Dead - It’s Time to Come Alive!”

Boldly Go Where You Have Never Been Before

How many of you have seen the Star Trek TV series?  When Mike and I began dating, I learned that he was a Star Trek fan so we watched the TV series quite often after the evening news.  I can still see our older son, John, when he was 1 1/2 -2 years old, standing in front of the TV as the series came on.  He was mesmerized by the picture of the Enterprise ship coming into view and the following opening words:

“Space, the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Her five-year mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before.”

When I was on the way to work one morning, God gave me those last words, and all I heard was "Boldly Go Where You Have Never Been Before".  Not the exact words from Star Trek, which said boldly go where no man has gone before.  Instead God said " Boldly Go Where You Have Never Been Before".  This was a break-through for me.  It was what I had been waiting for in order to know more exactly what God is trying to teach me through this message, and so this is the title of my message today - Boldly Go Where You Have Never Been Before

HAVING FAITH IN GOD

(All scriptures found in King James Version)

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
(Hebrews 11:1)
  
FAITH  comes from the Greek word pis’-tis meaning persuasion, truthfulness of God, reliance upon Christ for salvation, constancy in such profession, assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.
FAITH in the dictionary is "confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability;  belief that is not based on proof".  

 In Scripture, faith is God's warranty certifying that the revelation He inbirthed will come to pass (His way).  We must have confidence that what God has said will manifest (Isaiah 55:11) "So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it."

We must know that God is a faithful God, and whatever God has promised to bring in your life, it will be manifested in your life so we must hold on to that promise.

It's Payback Time!!!!

RUTH 2:12 (kjv)

“The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.”

God spoke to Greater Works Ministry with a word - “The Year of The Redeemed”.  He said to give Him thanks "for He is good; for His Mercy endureth forever (meaning continues).  Let the Redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hands of the enemy." (Psalms 107:1-2)

The book of Ruth depicts Jesus Christ as “The Kinsman Redeemer”. The words "kinsman" and "redeemer" come from the same Hebrew meaning of “redeem” according to the law of kinship, as in the next of kin and as such to buy back a relative’s property.  It also means ransom, to release, rescued.

      Ransom- the price paid or demanded before a captive is set free.

      Redeem- to buy back; to pay off, to make up for; set free or deliverance

      Release- to relieve from obligation or debt; to let go

      Rescue- to free from confinement or danger; save

Jesus Christ performed (meaning carried out; fulfilled) for us upon the Cross of Calvary - the only kind of a person who could be a redeemer - for He is the God-man who alone can bring God and man together in perfect harmony. The redeemer must be both God and man to be a mediator who can bridge the gulf by dying like a man and rising from the dead as The Eternal God. (WHEW!!!)

Anointed For Purpose

1 John 3:8: "He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." (KJV)

Everything in life has purpose. All of nature that God spoke into existence has  purpose. Mankind which God spoke into existence has purpose. Without water all living things will die. Without animals and vegetation, there would not be food to eat. Without mankind, God would not have a place of habitation - for He dwells in you. (Ephesians 2:22) "In whom ye also are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit."

Let’s take a look at the latter part of 1 John 3:8: "For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil."  God sent his Son Jesus to destroy the works of the devil. What are his works? Evil.  "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy."  He wants to steal your joy and your mind. He wants to kill you and your influence, and he wants to destroy everything and everyone who represents the name of Christ.

Power & Authority Produces a Miracle

  

Text: St. John 6: 1-9

Here we have a familiar story of the Bible taking place at the height of Jesus’s earthly ministry. This is the only miracle story other than the resurrection found in all four gospels.  The fact that it has been repeated 4 times draws attention to its great importance. 

• Matt 14: 13-21 gives it to us in a factual kind of way
• Mark 6: 30-44 talks to us in a little more detail and gets more into conversations that took place
• St. John 6: 1-14 brings us to a more emotional or human side as he gets more into why some things took place.
• Luke version embraces a little style of all the other writers and brings us to a place in which only Luke (the Physician) can. He’s detailed yet human.  He’s factual yet still emotional.

All 4 accounts agree that Jesus fed 5,000 men with 2 fish and 5 loaves of bread.  The Bible doesn’t include the women and children. If 5,000 men all had wives, that equals another 5,000, and if they all had at least 2 children, that equals another 10,000.  So, it could have possibly been 20,000 people!

Are You Disappointed or Are You Excited about Worship?

Recently my sister-in-law Laura shared the following story on her Facebook page, and I felt compelled by God to share this with our blog followers because it is such a sad story:

A friend of mine ( in another state) called me just a bit ago to tell me she had finally gone to church. I have stayed on her for many years that she needed to be in church.  She told me that she went but was disappointed.  I asked her why.  Her answer shocked me.  She said “I got there; they handed me a piece of paper with a schedule on it; I went in; there were seats, so I sat down.  When the service started, we sang a bit; then a lady sang a special; then the preacher spoke, and we went home within an hour, and they told us they would "see us next week.”

I said "ok so what was the problem???"  She said, “As much as you have bragged about God and his mighty power and the joy of serving Him, I was expecting so much more.  I thought we would feel His presence, see miracles and just have a life changing experience.  But I left thinking 'that was it and we do it again next week'???" 

The Keys to the Kingdom (KJV)

 Matthew 16:19

“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

 Jesus has given us “The Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.”  Jesus has given us the gift of great spiritual authority.

"When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying , 'Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?' And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, 'But whom say ye that I am?'  And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." (Matthew 16:13-19)

THE RESURRECTION POWER!

[King James Version: Thompson Chain Reference Bible]

Philippians 3:10:  “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection!"

This word resurrection is from the Greek root word anas’tasis meaning a standing up again [from death]; a moral recovery of spiritual truth; raised to life again!  Keep in mind that in Genesis, the creation fell into death because of the sin of the Adam race of people and because they believed the lie of the enemy.  Our Father, through His Son, Jesus The Christ, has conquered sin and death so that we can stand up again with the life, power, dominion, and authority the Adam people (male & female) had in the beginning!  We must be RE-covered with this truth of immortality through the gospel right now!

2 Timothy 1:10: “But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel!”    AWESOME!!!

THE MIND OF MAN

[King James Version Ministers Bible].

In the Word of God Jesus said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength:  this is the first commandment.  (Matthew 22:37)

As we obey God and love Him with all these areas, I believe we are sure to be total overcomers against all the wiles of the enemy.

There is a saying, “The mind is a terrible thing to waste!” Oh how true these words are!  We have to constantly guard our minds with the Word of God to keep it safe from the adversary.  We guard it through study, meditation, praise, worship, and keeping it stayed on the Lord to have His perfect peace.  (Isaiah 26:3)

Keeping the Right Connection!

A few weeks ago, I turned on my device and heard the computer lady state this, but when she said "phone 1 connected", the word "connected" kind of popped out for me.  I immediately thought about my connection with God.  I wondered about my connection and how connected I really am with God.  Am I connected with him throughout the day and talking to Him and praising Him for things that are happening? 

Let me give you a few examples:  

1) am I connected enough to give God some praise when I wake up?

2) am I connected enough to have patience while at work when several staff members call in sick or are arriving late and I have to decide how to continue Rec. Therapy training that day without any cancellations?

3) am I connected enough to have calmness when driving on the interstate and another car does not yield while on the ramp to enter I-85 but they just conveniently slide their car right in front of me?

4) was I connected enough to thank God when He showed my son & me favor at the Verizon store when we walked in with very little time to spend but our favorite salesperson was the next available employee to help us & she took care of business quickly? 

Use what you Got!

     I’m reading from the King James version of the Life in the Spirit Study Bible.  We’ll be coming from the second book of the Bible in Exodus 4:2 and Exodus 14:16. Exodus has 40 chapters, 1,213 verses, 32,692 words, 1089 verses of history, 129 verses of fulfilled prophecy, 2 verses of unfulfilled prophecy, 58 questions, 73 separate messages from God, 827 commands, 240 predictions, 28 promises and 35 of 42 miracles by Moses.    

                                                          

      Exodus means exit or departure; going out; decease. That’s just what the children of Israel did when they left Egypt. Their leaving Egypt is referring to their deliverance from bondage.  Even for us, it is deliverance from religious and spiritual darkness and ignorance that has been placed upon us through philosophy, vain deceit, traditions of men and the rudiments of this world. (Colossians 2:8)

The Sons of God about Our Father's Business!

 We’ve taken a little time away but we’re glad to be back!  In the following message, I am using the Thompson Chain Study Bible, King James version.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Ps.133:1).

We have entered into a time that we can’t ignore nor resist!  The enemy has intensified his workings in the land on all levels:  politically, economically, and ecclesiastically.

It is affecting the people in the land spiritually and naturally!  Therefore God has intensified His power all the more!!  So that makes us more than conquerors!  "Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world"! (1 John 4:4)  We can’t ignore nor resist this time because it is time for the SONS of GOD to come and go forth with the fullness of the Gospel of the Kingdom and lift up our voice as a trumpet to cry loud and spare not!!  It’s time now!!