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How to be Led by the Spirit of God and a testimonyMatthew 17:14-21
Matthew 17:14-21 

I thought you might like to know that we are having a wonderful time here in Richmond VA. Tomorrow we begin the drive home – all 7 hours of it. It was wonderful to see Christopher and meet some of his friends. My two others had a good dose of what college life is like, and have decided that it is pretty cool. Please read Pastor Don’s teaching on love below -it was so impactful to me that I hope you find yourself blessed.

I love how the Holy Spirit works in our lives. Last Sunday Pastor Don preached on Love and Pastor La Fayette Scales also is teaching about love.

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Matthew 9:36 But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were wary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.

Jesus is an example of the way we should be with others. He showed us how to be bigger and better in love than ever before. Compassion means sympathy, pity, and a concern about people, and a love for them.

Pastor Don said that he liked the New Living Translation of Matthew 9:36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Galatians 5:5-6 For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

Early in his ministry Pastor Don knew that if he did not have compassion for the people he couldn’t heal them for he would be disconnected from them and he would have no effect.

The Church is being tested now and judgment begins at the House of God. In the Body of Christ when a pastor is exposed, when a marriage is seen for what it is not, if pastors are involved in subterfuge it reflects on the Church. People need to walk the walk, talk the talk and people need to be exposed for who they are. We need to pray for the weak vessels, praying that the flesh remains in control.

It is the Love of God that is exposing us if we are not what we are supposed to be – that is a good thing.

Promise keepers have had a season of prayer. Pastor Don told us that we had better know who is set over us as our spiritual daddy. For example, if they are preaching against gambling and are buying lottery tickets or at the OTB stand, they have to be exposed.

We want to learn from Spiritual people who can walk the walk and talk the talk. Granted, we all do sin, but we need to be quick to repent.

LOVE MUST BE THE ROOT!

You need a sense that your pastor cares for you, and that his behavior is not just some kind of show.

Matthew 9:35 Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

How could He do it? His faith worked by His love. He had great power because He had great love. He had John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. kind of love.

Pastor Don then sang part of the Beetle’s song, “All you need is love…..”

Why is Jesus the Lord over all? It is because He loves greater than anyone ever had or ever will. One example is that when Jesus met the funeral procession with the widow whose only son died, He had compassion on her and raised her son from the dead because He knew that  if He didn’t she would be destitute or a beggar. So Jesus tells the boy, Get up, Get a job and provide for your Momma.

Mark 10:13 Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. The disciples rebuked the parents who brought the children.

Mark 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them, for of such is the kingdom of God.

Jesus was greatly displeased when he perceived what the disciples were doing.

Mark 10:15-16 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it. And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them.

Pastor Don said that we are the most selfish generation that walks this planet. Kids bring chaos and distractions, but we did too when we were children. Little children are the harvest of God, and God will pick some from them to be earthshakers. Some children have high energy, and don’t do anything that people tell them to do. They can be a challenge to deal with. When the Holy Spirit breaks one like that, we then end up with a Moses type of person. Moses was determined to do things his own way. He killed the slavemaster and then had to cool his heels in the backside of the desert for 80 years, then God could use him.

In the Church we get so busy. Pastor Don has noticed in some churches that there is a value system of jobs around the church. Sunday School teachers and ushers are considered to be lower position jobs in some churches. But that is a wrong perception. Bad ushers can chase people away. Children are the life of the church, and need good Sunday School teachers to form them. Every job in the House of the Lord is an important ministry and working with children is the highest calling of all! The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

In Verse 16 (see above), Jesus blessed the kids. Jesus loves you, and Pastor Don added, “I love you too.” We want a church that is friendly to kids and a safe church.

Mark 10:17-18 deals with the rich young ruler. Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is God.”

People misread the meaning of “good” in this passage, and use this to try and claim that Jesus is not God. In this passage, the word “good” means perfect, without flaw. Jesus is excluding himself here because as He was speaking, He was not in a perfect body – He (God) was wearing a flesh suit that would die. In the earth, a body is subject to decay, so it is not perfection to decay and die.

Mark 10:19-20 “You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery’, ‘Do not murder’, ‘Do not steal’, ‘Do not bear false witness’, ‘Do not defraud’, ‘Honor your father and your mother’. And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”

The youth is proud that he had done such a good job Jesus does not rebuke him by saying, “you lying dog.” The boy is pretty on the ball, but because he kept these commandments he did not perceive his need. But Jesus knew.

Mark 10:21-22 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”  But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

 Jesus looks and knows. The boy wants the key to eternal life. What’s blocking Him? He has a pride problem and is attached to things. His things have him, he doesn’t have his things.

Our society has a problem with things. We have so many contraptions, fill up storage bins. Our culture is a culture of gluttony. We are gluttons for things.

Pastor Don reminded us of the parable about the man who had a good harvest, and decided that he would build storage barns to hold his surplus. But Jesus told the people that the man’s soul would be required of him, and he ended up taking NOTHING to heaven.

He then told the joke about the man who took a suitcase of gold bricks to heaven, and when met at the pearly gates was told that he was given permission to bring them to heaven. St. Peter says, sure, if you want to bring paving stones….(the streets of heaven are paved with gold.)

Love compels us as we deal with people. Just like the rich young ruler, we have to see where a person is coming from. This young man wanted the secret to eternal life, had Jesus told him the man would have then left. He was not committed to serving others, for he was trapped by his riches. We too have to decide if a person that comes across our path is one that we disciple or one that we tell a hard truth too. If they are a disciple we may drop the truths to them in bits and pieces and move them a step at a time so that they ultimately grow in the Spirit. But some are not our disciples and for their sakes, we need to tell them a hard truth, the cold facts. Sometimes we only have one shot to get the truth to them. Jesus knew that this boy had a pride problem, and would not be able to humble himself to be discipled. Jesus fired off the truth out of compassion and told him.

Pastor Don told us that with people we cannot look at the fruit, we have to deal with the root. As an example, he told us that if someone verbally attacks you, you may want to overlook the attack and see what is at the root of the attack. Is it insecurity? Many who are insecure attack to keep people at arms length. If you can keep your love for them, you can get past their defenses and walk in love with them. Some people want to make sure that you really, really love them so they show you their worst personality, figuring that if you can still love them even with that behavior, then you really love them. Many don’t get past that personality and the people end up with a self-fulfilling disaster whose root is the devil. But if you look at that person with compassion and love, and don’t give evil for evil, you have a chance to get beyond the behavior to the root of the problem.

COMPASSION OVERIDES UGLY.

When we look with the EYES OF LOVE, we can see beyond the outside to the root issue.

If you have a boss that is upset, try to find out what they are really upset about. Is it really your work, are they having trouble at home or having a bad day. Negative people act negative. Sometimes if you act positive they don’t get it. But look for the root, what causes the situation and then you can find the right way to help. Sometimes it seems that the whole world is taking pot shots at you, but guess what, Jesus makes it all up to you.

Matthew 5:43-48 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

We need to see our enemies through the EYES OF LOVE.  To deal with them on a different level. To understand Islam through the eyes of their history. Kings and other Arabs have robbed them, subjected them and taken wealth away. The Shaw of Iran, with all the oil, kept all the profits for himself – having a fleet of Mercedes and many palaces, yet most of his people live in abject poverty. To hide the truth from the people they teach the citizens that it is the satan United States that is the cause of their poverty. The people are desperate, hungry, full of hate and angry. They blame the Christians and foreign powers for their problem, a problem that is really caused by the leadership of the country.

John 8:4 “They said to Him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in adultery, in the very act.” Jesus loves the woman and He loves the people standing there. He wrote the law including the law concerning adultery. He looked at the people with the eye of compassion, knowing that if they stoned the woman, they would be judging themselves to condemnation. If they were making a right judgment about this situation, they would realize that you do not commit adultery by yourself, and they would have brought the man with the woman, but by doing this, they were testing Him. So he knew that if they stoned her, they would face judgment for this action. So He told them that if they were without sin to cast the first stone. None of them were without sin. Only Jesus could claim that.

John 8:10-11 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.”

Jesus looked at the woman with the eyes of love. He spares her. He is able to recognize her sinful condition, and she is now shamed, but He wants her to go to her glory, free from that shame and sin. She can’t get to that glory if she was dead because of her sin. So He gave her another opportunity, cared for her, and allowed her to step into glory, to move from Glory to Glory, to go and sin no more.

Jesus loved Lazarus and Mary and Martha. Mary and Martha inform Jesus that Lazarus is sick unto death. Jesus knows the sickness is not unto death, but through the sickness God will get glory. God is not the author of sickness, death and disease and certainly would not cause that to get glory, but God can use something satan meant for harm to get glory.

Sometimes the reason that these things happen is because it is our fault, we test God’s rules. Pastor Don told us that his mom used to tell him to wear a jacket if it was chilly and raining or he would get a cold. When he didn’t wear the jacket and got a cold, his mom informed him that it was his fault.

Love compels us to deal with truth, to find a way to get truth so that we can walk in truth and come to our glory. Sometimes it is easier to reach out to other people and help them, but we don’t do the same for ourselves. We have to love ourselves enough not to do things that can kill us (like not taking care of our health). 

We don’t know what made Lazarus dead, but it wasn’t God. But God will use the circumstances to His Glory. Lazarus was sick two days. If Jesus had healed him then, God would have gotten some glory, but not great glory. The greatest glory would come from Lazarus’ death. So Jesus did not arrive until after four days, and on the fourth day Mary and Martha came up to Him and said, “If you had been here, Lazarus would not have died.” But Lazarus, Jesus told them, was not dead, just asleep. Death is not a permanent finality to our God. We struggle to live, forgetting that death is passing to a new life.

Paul says, That he stayed here on earth, forsaking the better thing, because of his love for the saints and their need for him.

We may not like the circumstances or burdens we have – children, sickness, etc, and may feel that our situation is going on way too long. But Jesus had to leave Lazarus in the tomb for three days so that those who witnessed the miracle would be sure that he really was “dead”, only then could God get the greater glory. When Lazarus walked out of the tomb, God received great glory.

The Pharisees and Sadducees would rather that Lazarus was dead, for they did not like how the miracle was perceived by the witnesses.

Pastor Don had a sickness unto death, where the doctor had told him that his wife would be a widow at 30. The sickness was so bad, that when Pastor Don received a complete healing, God received great Glory that was witnessed by the doctors and the doctor’s report.

We need to begin to see our circumstances through the eyes of love, to look to the root of situations and walk them out through eyes of love.

We will be going to visit my son in college, so I don’t know when I will get the third teaching from Pastor Scales up. I have 1/3 typed but do not know the accessibility of computers where we are going. But keep checking, I am praying I can get it finished soon. Hoping you have a blessed day.

Heather

Now we are entering into the season of booths, the Feast of Tabernacles where God comes and tabernacles with us. Pastor Scales said that this was a time when people moved their worship out of the Temple and into the community.

To move the witness out of the Temple and into our house. To bring God out of the Church and into the community. To let the people see that God is a healing, caring, loving God.

That He gives abundance in the Temple and abundance at Home.
Healing in the Temple and Healing at home.
Manna at the Temple and Manna at home.
Joy in the Temple and Joy at home.
Righteousness in the Temple and Righteousness at Home.
Peace in the Temple and Peace at Home.

We all want peace, wholesomeness, love, and prosperity.

Pastor Scales told us that the Apostle John lived to about 90-100 A.D. He wrote about God being light, love and life.

1 John 3:1-2 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Behold what manner of love, the Father’s love. God is a relational God. He is not a lofty God far off from us, but God came down to relate to us. Pastor Scales told us that God created man in His own image and likeness. He had an executive meeting with Himself – The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit, and made man.

Genesis 1:26-28a  Then God (Heather’s note that is a plural form of God – Elohim) said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them (man) have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth. So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them…..

God blessed them, and made them in His image. We are the image of God. Some people wonder how God – one God – can be the Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit simultaneously. Pastor Scales told us it is similar to a university, where there are many diverse schools contained within one university, one university with multiple colleges.

So we have the Father Eternal indwelling in us as the Holy Spirit, and the Son who died for us.

We are made in God’s image. A man can be a man, husband and father. A woman can be a wife, a woman, and a mother. We are three in one also.

In Genesis 2 God stoops down to form the dust of the earth into the form of a man, then God lays on top of him and breathes into the body, and man becomes a living soul. Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

In Genesis 3 man hides from God, for he sinned by disobeying God. We laughed when Pastor Scales said, God went on the first missionary journey, reaching the sinful fallen man to give him His grace.

Pastor Scales said that this next message was for someone in the congregation who is blaming themselves for what their children have done. He said that God created a perfect man, in a perfect garden, with perfect instructions, and who had the perfect father, and His child still “jacked it up.” If the children of the perfect Father sinned, we can raise children, be perfect parents, and the children can still make wrong choices.

But what manner of Love God bestows on us! In Exodus, God went after His children to free them from bondage. Jesus came down to earth to cleanse us from our sins.

We are sons of God. One day we shall see Him as He is. What should our response be to the Love of God?

Matthew 22:34-36 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

The leadership of the Jews used to meet in discussions about the law, because by the time of Jesus they figured out that it was impossible to keep all the laws that God gave them, so they kept trying to find the most important ones. The ones that, if they kept them, they thought they could be justified.

Pastor Scales also pointed out that not all questions asked in church are to find out real information. Sometimes people ask questions to show that the teacher doesn’t know everything, to play the advocate by bringing up difficult challenges to the teaching, to debate, to hear one’s self talk, and sometimes a question is a genuine search for knowledge.

Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.

This is a great response to the love of God. Because the Lord loves us, what is my response to be?

1. Love God with all your heart. All your motivation, your soul (mind, will, emotion), when you worship, not just sing a song to sing, but sing a song to Him.

Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

I worship God with my life. So I don’t just sing to sing, I worship with my all. I love God by obeying Him, by following His ways, by sacrifice of myself for Him.

Pastor Scales talked about how God is using weight loss in his life as a way of worshipping God. That he is holding himself accountable to God, and seeing that taking care of his temple (body) is important to God because God has a plan and a purpose for his life, and God does not want his life to be cut short by ill health. His doctor told him to eat 1/2 of what he used to eat – so now, he joked, instead of eating 3 pieces of pound cake, he eats 1 1/2 pieces.

Part of Pastor Scales’ worship of God now involves taking care of his body, so that he can fulfill his purpose in life. It is not a diet, it is WORSHIP! He is walking out Romans 12:1-2 (see above).

He had to renew his mind, for his childhood family belonged to the Clean Plate Club, and also served huge portions. He had to figure out where the “enough line” is for being full. Had to begin to see that food is fuel for his body, kind of like gas in a car. He had to make sure not to binge. So often we eat by the clock, not when we are hungry – thus we never feel what real hunger is. So Pastor Scales is presenting his body as a living sacrifice.

He has found in hotels, since he travels a lot, that there is a Fitness Center, that he can use. And the Holy Spirit has begun to change him into a person who likes carrots, broccoli, lettuce, and other foods that are good for his body. He has also made himself accountable to God, and knows that the doctor will take a blood test (so those fatty foods will be detected in his blood), and has to weigh in. This worship goes far beyond just singing a song at worship, but it involves all of Pastor Scales’ mind, will, emotions, his whole being. It is his love offering to God, all about worship.

We then looked at John 21 when Jesus reconciles Peter back to Himself after Peter denied Him three times. Pastor Scales loves John – John who wrote the book of John, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John and the book of Revelation. John refers to himself in the third person. He calls himself the one whom Jesus loved, the one who leaned on the Lord’s breast at Passover. During the Passover Jesus informed his disciples that one would betray Him, and all the disciples were replying, “Is it I?”, not John! He leaned over and asked Jesus, “Lord, who is it?” Pastor Scales said, It was like John saying, me and You are blood, He was secure in his relationship. So He was curious at the conversation that Jesus was having with Peter.

Peter had denied Jesus three times the night before the crucifixion, and Jesus set up this encounter so that Peter could be reconciled.

John 21:15-17 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord: You know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed My Lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

John 21:20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You? There is John talking in the third person!

John 21:21-23 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?” 22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.” 23 Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?”

When Peter failed, it took time to restore him. Not everyone that starts in the Kingdom of Christ will always walk forward. Some will take a step back (backslide). The pressure of satan, the pressure of people, the choices we make can cause us to step back. Even if we backslide and step back, He (God) stays with us.

Pastor Scales told us how he had his church members bar hop. What happened is that God told him to do this. He asked if any members were recently saved from alcohol, those stayed at the church to pray. The other members went out to the bars with the following rules. The were not to drink, but were to go to the bar and sit where the people are sitting, and fellowship with them. Then they were to offer to pray for people. What they found interesting is that the people recognized who they were, that it was Pastor Scales and church goers, and they were puzzled. When we love Jesus, people know who we are, they can tell we are connected to Jesus. Your light shines way out there, far more than a Christian tee shirt or pin does. The Church members, when asked why they were there, said that they were there to apologize to them. All this time they had been waiting in the church, praying for people to come to church, when Jesus had said, “Go out into the world.” And then they prayed.

Pastor Scales told us that people who go to bars are going to a counterfeit church. They have fellowship, singing, dancing, and drinking (alcohol instead of the Holy Spirit), and counsel (the bartender). He told people, “My goodness, Jesus loves you. Can we pray with you.” People accepted the prayers, cried, and backsliders who were out of fellowship with Jesus began to get in line. The bartenders told them that this religious stuff was not good for their business. He also told us that often people who are getting high on drugs are preaching the truth, “God  I shouldn’t be doing this….”

People are so messed up that they look for love and affirmation. Some go to bars, but they will not find the true love and affirmation that Jesus can give them. Do you love people the way the Lord loves you? Some believe that they have screwed up so badly that Jesus would not want them. Love will come after you. God’s love doesn’t stop even when you keep messing up. Jesus will go anywhere. You can do foolishness and He will still be where you are and see you. Jesus’ love is everlasting.

The kind of Love Jesus talks about is AGAPE (Strong’s 26) love, always seeking someone highest good all the time. In Greek there were different kinds of love, but Agape Love is the term that is given for God’s love. The first time that Jesus asked Peter in verse 15, he asked, Peter, do you AGAPE me? Peter answers that he PHILEO (Strong’s 5368) Jesus – which is brotherly love, as a companion or friendship. Jesus asks the second time, “Do you AGAPE me.” Peter replies, “I PHILEO You.” The third time Jesus asks, he changes the word, He asks, “Do you PHILEO me?” Do you really love Me as a friend? Peter is grieved that the Lord kept asking him, but he never changes his response from PHILEO to Agape. Jesus is saying, OK, if thats where you are, that’s where we will start. He will meet us where we are. Pastor Scales then sang, “What a friend we have in Jesus.”

Jesus will meet us right where we are, We are a friend of God. Sometimes we start out as a friend of God, and then move into abiding in God.  Some of us have an image of God as unapproachable, sitting on a throne hiding a baseball bat behind His back, ready to smack us when we mess up. But He is reaching for us in Love, so that He can help us back into relationship with Him.

In verse 15 (see above) Jesus wants us to Love Him COMPARATIVELY, more than anything else. Do you love Me MORE than these? Do we love Jesus more than our car, do we love Jesus more than our house, do we love Jesus more than our stuff? Sometimes our time with God is interfered with because of our stuff. Pastor Scales found that when he got a cable TV with 160 channels, that he spent more time channel surfing. He had to cease that. Then he got a phone with text messaging – because he has 20 or more pastors under him, and they all wanted to reach him – so they texted his phone. Pastor Scales was spending time that he used to read the Bible with answering text messages.

Things, even if not physically addictive like alcohol and drugs, can still be addictive and prevent our spending quiet time with God. So God is asking us, Do you love ME more than these?

Sometimes we can read books and listen to shows that tell us about the Bible, when what we need to do is take our Bible and a journal and see exactly what God is saying to us, not listen to someone else’s revelation from the Word.

Gadgets like the ipod, music, movies can keep us so occupied that we fail to sit at the feet of the Master and listen to His voice.

While what we are doing may not be inherently sinful or evil, it can be distracting.

In verse 16, Jesus is asking about Personal love – and Pastor Scales said that he imagines that the emphasis is, “Peter do you love ME,” personally. We have corporate love – We love you God. But do YOU love Me, with a personal love? What is the state of your personal devotional life?

In a relationship with someone, before you have romance you have friendship. In fact, friendship is the one quality in a marriage that can help to sustain the marriage. So many people try to love others by doing for them what they would want done for themselves. But people have a different love language, and each person needs certain things to feel loved. We have to find out what the other person needs and do those things. For example some respond to gentle touch, others to service (like Pastor Scales knows his wife loves breakfast in bed, so on his day off, he makes sure to cook for her – making it beautiful and spending time and care on what he does), etc.

Jesus asks us do YOU love ME? Do we bring Jesus a sacrifice of praise? Do we spend time with Jesus and tell Him how much we love Him? Do we sing a new song to Him?

The third time (V. 17) Jesus is saying do you LOVE me? It is a qualitative love. Will you seek my highest good? Will you spend time with me? We get so busy that we don’t spend time with Jesus.

When we have a relationship with another person we need to learn to trust the love relationship. We want to know: Do you love me when I am good? Will you also love me when I am not so good? Do you love me when I am wealthy? Will you still love me when I am poor?

Pastor Scales told us he used to have a huge afro, was very muscular because of the sports he played and it is comforting for him to know that his wife loves him when he is a little more “fluffy.” He told us to be honest, as we get older, we will start sagging. (By this time, we were laughing so hard). But it is true that we want to know that we will be loved as we are. That we will be loved during hot flashes and mid-life crisis. (Another round of laughter occurred when he discussed the hot flashes of menopause – as a woman having her own private seasons -hot, cold, hot cold. In an understatement, he said, “It is an interesting time.)

So Jesus is looking for a personal, comparative, and qualitative love.

What kind of love are we offering Him?  When we are having tough times, we spend time with Jesus, but will we still love Him qualitatively when abundance comes, when we have all our stuff in place?

Do we love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul?

Tonight Pastor Scales will teach on how to love our neighbor as ourselves. I know it will be so beneficial to hear this teaching. If you live anywhere near our church, (see link), please know you are welcome, praise and worship begins at 7:00.

Have a blessed day!

Heather

When Dona Williams came to our church to minister to the women’s group, she told us that she was going to be ordained as a minister. God had led her to this path. I was blessed to be able to attend her ordination at Good Ground Family Church in Cohoes, NY. Many pastors came to confer her ordination on her. Pastor Don, Rev. Harry Heintz, Rev. James Davis, Rev. Wendell Williams and Apostle La Fayette Scales. His teachings are stellar, and he has taught at our church before.

He will be speaking at Living Word Chapel in West Hurley, NY today and tomorrow. So that you can see the clarity with which he teaches, I am going to post last night’s talk. He gave a short teaching before the ordination.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 Let a man consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

The Corinthian church received two letters from Paul, who was the father of their Church. The first letter was a note of correction and judgment for the messed up church of Corinth.

The 1st chapter told them that they were messed up with sectarianism in the church. The 2nd chapter told them that they were messed up because they were using natural wisdom, not spiritual wisdom. 3rd messed up with personality cults, 4th messed up the apostolic relationship, 5th messed up with immorality, 6th messed up with law suits, 7th messed up with marriages, 8th is a divided church messed up with knowledge instead of God, 9th messed up with how to support apostles, 10th messed up in temptations, 11th messed up in communion, 12th messed up about spiritual gifts, 13th messed up in love, 14th messed up in public works and 15th messed up in the resurrection.

Pastor Scales then said, “Corinth was a MESSED UP Church.”

Paul writes a letter to straighten up the messed up church. People in the world are messed up, and they don’t need to come to a church to find out that the church also is messed up.

1 Corinthians 1:12-13  Paul noted that the Corinthians were arguing over who they followed. Now I say this, that each of you says, “I am of Paul,” or “I am of Apollos,” or “I am of Cephas,” or “I am of Christ.” Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

Three qualities for ministers in Christ Jesus.

1. SERVANTS: They minister as servants. Pastor Scales told us that there are three words that are translated as “servant” in the Greek.

A. doulos (1401 in Strong’s) which means a bond slave, an indentured servant. When the servant’s debt was paid, he was set free. Sometimes a servant loved the master so much that he decided to continue working for the master as a bondslave. The master would take an awl and punch a hole through the ear as a sign that this servant chose to remain with the master. Pastor Scales told us that ministers of God serve God for love. It is not a job, it is a passion. Sometimes a passion can be a profession. Pastor Scales said, “I go to sleep counting sheep.” But doulos is not the word used in 1 Corinthians 4:1-2.

B. diakonos (1249 in Strong’s) which sounds a lot like deacon. It was an errand runner, a servant, a table waiter, who serves a meal. Pastor Scales had us laughing as he put a white cloth over his left arm and carried his Bible in his open hand like a serving tray. He told us that ministers serve up the Word of God for the people. The Church is a bunch of hungry people. The minister takes orders to the Chef (God) who cooks up a meal for the people. The minister gets to deliver the meal to the people and also to tell the chef how the people enjoyed the meal. The minister does not cook the meal, he just gets to serve the meal. The glory goes to the Chef (God.) Sometimes the minister gets a tip from the people to say thank you, but the glory really goes to God. This is not the “servant” that Paul used in Corinthians.

C. huperetes (5257 in Strong’s) (Heather’s note, the King James version of the Bible uses the term “minister” for servant). This is the word that Paul uses in 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 and it refers to an oarsman, an oarsman who was below the galley on the 3rd level, one that was chained to the oars. This oarsman rowed to another’s beat, always staying on the oar. They are the invisible people down below. They are given an assignment, row to someone else’s lead to move the ship of Good Ground Family Church, to move to the destiny of God. Pastor Scales talked about the donkey that was used to bring Christ into Jerusalem. He imagined that that donkey, chained to that post, wondered about the other donkeys frolicking in the field, or was envious of the donkeys who went to foreign countries carrying gold and other precious goods. What the donkey chained to the post did not realize was that he was being preserved to carry the Son of God, the Glory of God into the city. The reason he was able to do that was because he remained chained to the post. Pastor Scales told Dona Williams that she is to give Pastor Wendell her best for the church, to follow Pastor Wendell’s instructions. There is a perk in that though, for as the ship moves, so do the slaves.

2. STEWARDS

A steward takes care of business for someone else. They manage the affairs of someone else. We have to remember that it is not MY ministry, it is God’s. We sometimes say, “my ministry.” but we have to realize that it is with the understanding of roles.

MINE = Stewardship
HIS = Ownership

The Earth is the Lord’s. Even my money, all that I have is the Lord’s. When you say:

My car – it is yours by Stewardship, it is His (God’s) by ownership. The same goes with My house, My wife (your wife is the daughter of another man). What we are stewards over does not belong to us.

Hebrews 8:6 more excellent ministry But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.

Hebrews 2 Jesus is a more excellent ministry.

Ephesians 4:11-12 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.

Jesus operated in all the ministries: apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher.

Hebrews 4:11-12 Let us therefore be diligent to enter the rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 Gifts of the Spirit

Hebrews 3:1 Jesus was an apostle. Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.

John 4:19 The woman at the well, Jesus as prophet The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.”

Luke 4:19 evangelist To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

John 10 Good Shepherd

John 3: Teacher.

We are stewards over what belongs to us. If we see Jesus as only a pastor and teacher we only know 40% of Him. We want 100% of Jesus in our church – all the ministries.

Pastor Scales told us that we can think of the five fold ministry as our hand. The thumb is the apostle (who touches all the ministries), the pointer finger is the prophet pointing people in the right direction, the middle finger is the evangelist who stands out there showing people Jesus, the ring finger is the pastor who is married to the church, and the little finger is the teacher who can break down the wax that blocks us from hearing the true word of God.

Jesus, after He ascended, gave the church over to the Apostles to steward, and they passed stewardship down to the hands of regional groups. In the 21st Century, the Church has passed down to us and we are stewards of Christ.

3. FAITHFULNESS

A synonym for “faithfulness” is reliable. A minister must be consistently reliable in four areas. 1. Character, 2. Judgment, 3. Performance. and 4. Results.

Character: God is called faithful. Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I do not change…

Judgment: Psalm 119:137 Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments.

Performance: Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ

Results God does not change and He fails not. God expects His stewards to reflect these qualities and to be faithful to Him. Character is who you are in private. Ministry is what you do in public. Pastor Scales told Dona to not let her ministry carry her to places her character cannot take her.

Pastor Scales has watched Dona’s judgments over time with her kids, her husband, her work at church, her relationship with God and has found that she exhibits the traits God wants. He told her to do what God called her to do. To do her assignment and perform it with all her heart, to do it with excellence and a little drama.

Jesus is looking for results. No where in the Bible does Jesus say, “Nice try.” We are seeking for Jesus to tell us, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Performance and results is what we want. The Holy Spirit will use us so that we will have right performance and right results. We are to be faithful to the end.

I hope this teaching blesses you. You can hear more of Pastor Scales’ teachings tonight and tomorrow. Or you can check out where he is speaking in his international ministry and find our more about him at Rhema Christian Center, Columbus, Ohio.

Have a blessed day!

Heather

Pastor Don has been teaching on the book of Revelation during Sunday School because many of our members have been requesting teachings on this. Pastor Don then takes the Sunday lessons and expands on them during the weekday Bible studies.

Revelation 5:1-7  And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

Pastor Don told us that horns represent power, leadership, authority.

Revelation 5:8-10 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “ You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.”

We are not going to be alone in Heaven. There are many little Church groups that think that they are going to be the only ones who will attain Heaven. In reality, there are going to be many people in Heaven. Some of whom, when we see them, we will wonder how they got there. There may even be people we wished weren’t there, but God knows their hearts.

Revelation 5:11-14 (Pastor Don had us read these verses aloud) Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: “ Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “ Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

Jesus is ready to open the scrolls and when He does, things will be loosed on the planet. Before this, Jesus will have removed the Bride of Christ for He has promised that we will not face His wrath, which will not be poured out on the saints during the Day of the Lord.

God expresses Himself on creation. Sometimes bad things happen, punishment, trials, and tribulations, but we shouldn’t fear as tribulation progresses. The tribulations began from the time Jesus went to the cross – when His disciples faced tribulation for preaching the gospel. Tribulation continues now in this day and age. In fact, more people have been martyred in the past ten years than in all the history of the Church. We just need to read the newspaper to see that there are more weather anomalies, cyclones, tornadoes, tsunamis, hurricanes and earthquakes. Jesus told us about these in Matthew 24 and the corresponding passages in Mark and Luke.

When the Day of the Lord is poured out, where will the church be?

Daniel 12:1 “At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. and at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. 

During this time of trouble (far greater than anything we have experienced yet) Michael will stand up. Michael is the angel that stands over Israel when Israel requires protection. This trouble will eclipse anything done to Israel by Rome, the Assyrians or any of the other enemies that have stood against Israel. God has promised that the Nation of Israel will never be forsaken or replaced or forgotten. Israel will be found written in the book, which book – the Book of Life.

Daniel 12:2-3 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.

We want to pray that our names are not blotted out from the Book of Life. When we awake from the dust and gain our resurrection bodies they will shine bright. How do we know this? Jesus shown on the Mount of Transfiguration, angels shine, the glory of God shines, and when Moses spent time with God, His face shown so bright he had to cover it.

This sleep is not the soul sleep that some of the cults try to convince us happens after death. They teach that the whole soul, mind, and body is in a grave on hold until they come to consciousness and get a new body. But for the time that they are dead until the coming of Christ there is no consciousness. But that is not what the Word of God says. The word tells us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

People get afraid when they confuse the teachings of the Bible, wanting to make things symbolism that are not symbols.

John 14:1-4  “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Here Jesus tells us clearly that He has prepared a place for us and that He will COME AGAIN. What does that mean? It means that He WILL come again! How will He come again?

Acts 1:9-11 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Pastor Don got so excited when he read, THIS SAME JESUS. This same Jesus who healed the sick, broke bread, raised the dead, fed 5,000, went to the cross, rose from the dead, caused the deaf to hear, the lame to walk, the lepers to be cleansed. This same Jesus who died for our sins, and rose again will come AGAIN!!!! This is not figurative, it is FACTUAL!!!

In 1986 there was a false prophet who is still on the airwaves to this day telling people that they don’t need to go to church. He said that Jesus was coming in 1986. When Jesus didn’t come people still sent this pastor money to keep him on the airwaves. They should have thrown out his book and seen him for the false prophet that he is, but he still has a world wide ministry. This pastor preached a “new revelation” about leaving the church based on Matthew 24.

This passage lets us know that Jesus will come to us in like manner as he ascended from among the disciples – in the clouds. The truth is easy to find, just read the Word of God. But don’t base your findings on just one passage in the Word of God – make sure that you find it IN CONTEXT in many passages. It is easy to come up with a false teaching if you take a verse out of context, or read into it what the Bible is not saying. The Spirit and the Word must agree.

1 Thessalonians 4:13  But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.

The Bible is giving a description here. In the Greek, the word “sleep” can be translated as deep sleep, stupefied, dead, or awake out of sleep, repose.

When Jesus went to the little girl who had died, he told them that she was asleep (dead), but to Jesus death is not permanent.

God created us, and we can never be uncreated. For he had no plan  for death. Our body may be dead but it is temporary, until God speaks a word and we get up.

Pastor Don laughed and said that we need to start learning to like ourselves now for we will always be with ourselves. You are going to want to like yourself as you will be spending eternity with you.

1 Thessalonians 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

Because God raised Jesus from the dead, we can trust that He will raise us from the dead. Those who remain on earth will be changed. Our death is not a permanent condition.

1 Thessalonians 4:15  For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.

This is the Word of the Lord, that we who are alive on earth will be raptured after the dead in Christ have been raised.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

This will not be some quiet event, it will happen with a shout and trumpet. Everyone shall see him, everyone will hear the sound of the trumpet of God.

We then did a little skit, at Pastor Don’s direction that illustrated this.

Pastor Don had one person lie on the altar as if she were dead, there was a person to play Jesus, there was part of the host of heaven, and then another person who was the spirit of the person who was dead on the altar.

When Jesus came, there was a sound of blowing trumpets from heaven, and then the person who was dead was raised up, given a new body and reunited with their spirit which was already in heaven.

He pointed out that our Spirits also feel, have emotions. God was angry, was sad, Jesus cried. Our Spirits also feel and are aware, having mind and will and emotions.

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

Have a blessed day.

Heather

Last Saturday we had a Women’s Luncheon at church. Besides sharing good food, we were also fed the Word of God by Dona Williams from Good Ground Family Church in Cohoes, New York.

First we read Psalm 23, then Dona spoke.

She told us to take all that God wants to give to us. God is good all the time. All the time God is good. Dona then shared part of her testimony with us.

In January a tumor started growing on the base of her brain, one that she had an issue with 27 years ago. She went to see her neurologist and he was suggesting radiation treatments because her numbers were escalating.

She then said, “God is GOOD.”

At the same time she was struggling with another issue. She asked us if we too asked questions to God. God gave her a spiritual itch, and she was wondering, “What’s next for me?” She knew that a change was coming, and expected that it was a career change. So she started checking out the field to see what it was that God wanted her to do. She went on a trip with her husband Pastor Wendell Williams (see his teachings in our links column) and sitting on the beach, reading a Rick Renner magazine, God gave her an answer she didn’t like, one that didn’t work. Her husband tried to tease the answer out of her and for awhile she didn’t tell him, but eventually she did. What God told her was STEP OUT AND FIND OUT.

She said, that didn’t tell me anything, that’s not fair. (Heather’s note, I wish you could have heard her teach this lesson for her vivacious presentation of this had us laughing, as she shared the important truths with us).

Dona then told us God will let us know, but as women we like details. We want to know the why, who, how, where and when.

The next step in the unveiling was when she attended a conference in Ohio led by Lafayette Scales. who will be teaching at our church this Monday and Tuesday. Every session she attended spoke to her, sessions on commitment, the leading of the Holy Spirit, steps in faith, obeying God, and walking by faith were a few she mentioned. One session was called, “Interruptions in your life.” She said that she cried through that session. What God was dealing with her was for her to resign her position in the college she works at and go into full time ministry. She will do this, and this coming up Sunday will be ordained.

Dona then told us that the sickness that was coming on her was a MAJOR interruption. She asked God, “Lord, what’s up with this tumor?” She talked with God about how can she go into ministry AND deal with illness. She really needed a heavenly thought about this. She was dealing with issues about treatment, the time it takes to have the treatments, because she wanted to live and couldn’t see how treatments and ministry could coincide. So she went to God in prayer, God took care of her and she RECEIVED her healing.

The neurologist told her to keep an open mind. In the past she has had four brain scans and surgery to have her adrenal glands removed to arrest the disease.  She is not in agreement with having radiation that will infiltrate the brain to hit the pituitary gland because that could compromise the functions of her body. She said that she did not need anything more to compromise her body, she does a good enough job on her own (she said laughing), like getting up late, getting to places on time, forgetting her Bible, etc. She was going to believe that the numbers have gone down. So she took the tests her doctors recommended, and….

Her numbers were down dramatically!!! They hadn’t been in the normal range for two years, but now they are below the normal range. The Doctors are amazed! And she doesn’t have to go back until January for another monitoring. PRAISE GOD!

Dona then told us that she is so happy to minister as the healed of the Lord. God is a healer! His promises are new every time. He does what He says in His word on things as long as we do our part, are obedient to God, and step out in faith.

She resigned her position that day. Her boss was supportive, and doors of opportunity at the college opened up for her. She said that God favors you when you are obedient to God.

BUT GOD….God knows all our needs, he knows what we need before we ask Him. We need to trust Him, be obedient to Him, pray, and obey.

Before she began her message, she read us a cute story called Sunday clothes. This has to do with a little boy who went to one denomination and a little girl who went to another denomination. On their way home from church, dressed in their Sunday clothes, they met at a place where there was water to be crossed. Both had been told not to mess their Sunday clothes, so they decided to cross the water after taking off their good clothes. They then stood talking to each other, drying off. And the little girl looked at the little boy and said, “Methodists really ARE different from Baptists.”

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

Dona told us that we are three parts – Spirit, soul, and body. We are a Spirit that has a soul and lives in a body. We also have an enemy (satan) who wants to kill, steal and destroy. The enemy works on our outer man, the body and soul. The enemy has to work from the outside to try and affect the inner man (Spirit). He is not a creative enemy, satan keeps harassing us with what used to work in the past. When we are worn down or our guard is down, he pulls up something from our past that used to bring us down and attacks us with that. The enemy (satan) is shooting for our heart, but has to attack from the outside.

The Spirit of God works from the inside out. We must renew our mind. I must decrease and He (God) must increase. We have to put down the fleshly man. Reminding ourselves that we can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us. As we grow spiritually we will be more aware of the enemy and how he seeks to attack us through the eye gate, the ear gate, the senses and our thoughts.

When the devil is harassing us we have to keep seeking God, keep asking God. When Dona was asking about the things that God wanted her to do, the enemy felt that this was a time to harass her. He heard her speaking to God, asking questions of God, and at a moment of weakness wanted to cause her discouragement so that she would not feel she had the strength to do God’s will for her life. She started having doubts for she would have to give up her benefits, she had credit cards she was still working on paying and she has kids in college. And with her health issues, satan was shooting for her heart, attacking her Spirit through her body and soul.

For some of us it isn’t a physical health issue, it could be an addiction, alcohol, relational problems, adultery or anything that pulls us away from God’s best for us. We all are human and have weaknesses. The enemy will use those weaknesses against us. He wants us to fall and feel frustration, feel like we are no good. To think that we are not good enough to be used by God.

But GOD IS GREATER than any test the enemy can throw at us.

1 Corinthians 10:12-13 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

Every time we are tempted, the enemy shoots for the heart, wanting to change our heart from a soft, pliable, Jesus-filled heart to a hard, mean, resentful and bitter heart. But God HAS made a way. When the enemy puts bitterness, envy, jealousy in our path, we have an opportunity to say, “NO, no more!” God has made a way out for me. I am taking the HIGH ROAD. Lust (or whatever temptation), I am going to listen to the Word of God.

1 Corinthians 9:24-26 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

When you train for a marathon you are temperate in what you do. You watch what you eat, get enough sleep, take care of your physical and mental man. You exercise and build your endurance. It is similar with spiritual things, we train ourselves spiritually to run the race God has placed in front of us, seeking after an imperishable crown, a reward that is eternal.

But what is cool about our spiritual race is that we run it knowing that Jesus Christ has already run the race for us, and our job is to do what He tells us to do. The race was already won by Jesus, we are just walking out our part. I do my part, and He does what I can’t do. I can’t do it all.

God is so faithful. Dona told us one Wednesday night Bible study at her church, Pastor Wendell was late. The singers were done singing, and Dona had no idea what she would teach for the Bible study if Pastor Wendell did not show up, so she prayed to God for help. She kept singing and praising God. When the time for the teaching happened, God gave her the passage where Peter had denied Jesus three times, and Jesus restored him, then Peter led 3,000 people to the Lord. When Pastor Wendell came in, he sat there staring at Dona. When he got up to continue teaching the Bible study, he opened up his Bible and pulled out the notes to begin teaching – and it was the same subject that God gave Dona to teach. When we do what we are supposed to do, God does what we can’t.

God has already won the race. We are not to strive, but God calls us to be temperate. He wants a prepared bride.

1 Corinthians 9:26-27 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

If I don’t do it the way God wants me to, I can disqualify myself. To not disqualify, we have to study, be prepared, be ready, pray and obey.

Romans 8:5-6 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom all all things, and through whom we live.

If we always think about what is coming against us all the time we can become so bogged down that we get paralyzed. If Dona had kept her mind focused on blood counts, etc, she would have been paralyzed and not make a choice that God wanted her to make. God is in control. No illness, temptation, oppression, depression or scheme of the devil can interfere with God’s plan.

Live for God with all your heart no matter which way your life is going, just place your life into God’s hands. We do not have to succumb to what satan is trying to do. Put first the Kingdom of God, and His Righteousness and the rest will fall in place. When you live according to the Spirit you have life and peace. Live with the same excitement as when we were first saved, and see everything as new, wondering, “What’s God got for me today?”

When you don’t want to do something ask yourself, “What’s God got for me today?”
When you have aches or pains, ask yourself, “What’s God got for me today?”

You don’t have to be under harassment from the enemy, God gives us a way out. We have to make a choice to be obedient to God. He has a way out, so make good choices.

Then Dona told us the story of the 2 wolves that a little boy’s grandfather told him. About a battle that was going on inside between the wolves. One wolf was evil and the other was good. The wolves were fighting. And the child asked his grandfather which wolf would win. The grandfather answered, “The one that you feed.”

The choice is ours. Be obedient to the Word and Know God already has a way out. Don’t let the enemy harass you.

Have a blessed day!

Heather

Part One of this Study can be found here.

After looking at Luke, Pastor Don directed us to the parallel passage in Mark Chapter 13

Mark 13:5-6 And Jesus answering them, began to say: “Take heed that no one deceives you, for many will come in My name, saying, “I am He,” and will deceive many.”

False prophets – they were there after Christ ascended, and are still prevalent today.

Mark 13:7 But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.

Remember Jesus is answering the disciple’s questions, “When will these things be (meaning the Temple walls being destroyed). And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled?

This passage, verse 7, applied to the time of AD 70, and also applies to now and to the End Times.

Mark 13:8 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.

Pastor Don said that this verse cannot be about AD 70, for Rome was the dominant power in the known world of their day, and here it is talking about nation against nation, kingdom against kingdom. He then went to on an aside and said that soon there will be a conflict for America because the European Union has enough economic power to challenge our position. He also suggested that we work at getting a wider world view. If possible not only watch American news, but the BBC and even Arab news, because each of these presents the news from their own bias and it is important to see how the news is presented around the world to get a closer representation of truth. US news focuses on political agenda, Arabs focus on how America is like satan, and BBC is moderate.

All news has a political agenda and focus on their own view and bias, but we too have a Biblical view – all we have to do is read the Bible to see that there will be wars and rumors of wars.

The antichrist will use all the events to turn people against the Church. The Flag of Christ is the only flag that we have allegiance to. Pastors are under assault by the government who is trying to take away their tax status for speaking in the pulpit things that the government deems inappropriate, even if it is Biblical. We are finding it harder to believe in America the beautiful.

Verse 8 is the end of an age.

Mark 23:9 But watch out for yourselves, for they will deliver you up to councils, and you will be beaten in the synagogues. You will be brought before rulers and kings for My sake, for a testimony to them.

In the End Days this will happen, for sharing the truth of the Bible you can be arrested and dragged from the churches. satan is out to destroy the church.

Mark 23:10 And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations.

It will not be long before this happens. In the disciple’s time this had not happened, so we know this is an End Times passage.

Mark 23:11 But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

This is true today and it was true then. Remember that verse 10 and 11 follow the passage, “for My sake.” When we are doing what is in His will, He will give us the answers to speak. The Holy Spirit will show up and help us. But the Holy Spirit will not go to divorce court for falling out of love problems.

Mark 23:12-13 Now brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

This happened in History during the Roman rule. All the Roman rulers wanted to slaughter Christians until Constantine. They used the Christians’ death as entertainment for the games, but eventually that ceased to amuse the Romans. And with the persecution of the Church, instead of weakening the Church, the Church grew stronger.

Mark 13:14 So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not,” (let the reader understand), “Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. We hear about the abomination of desolation in Daniel. The people are told to flee to the mountains. This was fulfilled during AD 70,

Mark 13:14-21 “So when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not” (let the reader understand), “then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house, nor enter to take anything out of his house. 16 And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes. But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! And pray that your flight may not be in winter. For in those days there will be tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the creation which God created until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake, whom He chose, He shortened the days. Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, He is there!’ do not believe it.”

There are two viewpoints for the above verses. Some believe that this was fulfilled by Rome in AD 70 when the women were selling and eating their children during a seige. This had never happened before. The Jewish sects were fighting amongst themselves, and were not unified in defeating Rome. The Emperor Epiphanes set a pig in the temple and defiled the temple – which was an abomination of desolation. Others think that some of these verses are prophetic, and just like before, in the End Times, when the new temple is built, that the antichrist will commit an abomination of desolation. The problem with these verses being about AD 70 is at that time the Jews were not looking for Christ.

We have seen that, as time passes since the resurrection of Christ that more and more false prophets are appearing on the scene. We are told to watch for them. These false prophets will look like Christ, will do signs and wonders, and appear Holy, but they will not be Christ. That is why we have to know the Word of God so well that we will not be fooled. Today satan is using the media and the times to get people used to witchcraft, so that they do not seek God, and then they fall under destruction.

Pastors are afraid to meet with people for fear of false accusations.

Mark 13:23 But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand. Told all things both for the end times and what would be the disciples’ immediate future.

Mark 13:24-25 But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars of heaven will fall, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. What tribulation? The trouble that began in AD 70, and that tribulation has been getting worst. The Church is still facing tribulation. There has been since AD 70 false prophets who do signs and wonders even then. There are still false prophets now. But we haven’t seen the sun darkened and the moon not give its light. Be careful, there are some who want to imply that this is a metaphor, that these things will not happen in reality, they are just types and shadows. But as we have seen, Jesus is very clear when he is giving a metaphor, a type and shadow – for example when He tells us the PARABLE of the fig tree. Jesus did not say that the statement in verse 24 was a parable.  When the sun darkens and the moon doesn’t give it’s light these are the beginnings of things.

We have seen unexpected comets in our day like Hale Bopp, and in Jerusalem they have seen a blood red moon. After the last huge tsunami we saw the Earth’s axis change a bit, and the gravitational force of the earth has changed. If you study earthquake patterns you will begin to see that the frequency and strength of them have changed. We have even gotten used to disasters. Before when there was a major earthquake we have seen reports for three days on the news going over the disaster, now the same sorts of earthquakes are getting a minute’s blip.

Jesus likens these times to the birth pangs of a woman. The contractions that begin to get more and more frequent and harder and harder until all of a sudden the baby is born – suddenly. That is how the End Times will emerge.

Mark 13:26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. Coming in the clouds the same way He left.

Mark 13:27 And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven. We have to read this perfectly. This does not say that this is the moment that Jesus is stepping on the planet. He is in the clouds gathering His elect from the four quarters. He sends angels to gather the elect.

Notice, the next statement Jesus tells us is a PARABLE.

Mark 13:28 Now learn this parable from the fig tree; When its branch has already become tender, and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.

Is this referring to the last generation that sees this or John’s generation? Or is it the generation since 1948 when Israel was reestablished? Although satan tried to eradicate the nation of Israel, he did not succeed and in 1948 the nation returned to the land. This had to occur before the Lord comes in His Glory.

Someone in our study mentioned that only the olive tree and grapes do not need to be pollinated. Pastor Don then told her that there was a Biblical reason for that, Revelation 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius; and do not harm the oil and the wine.” (oil & wine are produced from olives and grapes).

Mark 13:29-31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that it is near–at the door! Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

This is true whether it is the time of the disciples, AD 70, now, or the End Times. God’s Word will not pass away, and the things He says will happen, will happen.

The way of escape for them was to flee to the mountains. Jerusalem is on a mountain. When the enemy would march on Jerusalem, it would come from all directions. The one possibility of escape was not to the West, but to the East, to cross the Mount of Olives and end up in Petra, in Jordan. They would have to cross over the Kidron valley.

This building front is called the Treasury and it is located in Petra. When you go inside the doorway you see huge rooms cut out of the mountain. In Petra, other are many “buildings” like this carved out of the rock of the mountains. See the double line of dots to the right of the columns, those are the step holes that the builders used to climb up, carving from top to bottom. All of Petra is filled with buildings and caves carved out of stone.

The following is the picture that will illustrate what Pastor Don will say, it shows the narrowness of the entry way to get into Petra.

We saw how difficult it is to get into Petra. If you look at the end of the narrow entrance you can see the same building, the Treasury, in the above picture. The way is so narrow that only one horse can enter single file at a time. It would be an effective deterrent for any large military machines. And there are many caves and places to hide inside the mountains in Petra. The men on the camels are local bedouins, although Mo (the guy in the green shirt, our tour guide) who is a resident of Jordan, looks down on them as not being true bedouins or true natives of Jordan, they really are the only ones who have been on the land for a long time. Most “Jordanians” have moved there from other countries. There are no native born Jordanians. The bedouins earn their living offering rides, jewelry, and other things in Petra, and their tents are pitched in the surrounding area.

At some point, God will provide a way for the remnant of Israel to flee to a place of safety, and it is quite possible that Petra will be that place.

Mark 13:32 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Pastor Don asked us, what day? what hour? End time things taking place. This is not a rapture verse like some want to make it. This is about the final closing events.

Mark 13:33-34 Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is. It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.

Pastor Don pointed out that here Jesus said, “It is like,” meaning that this is a type and shadow. When something is a type and shadow Jesus makes that clear. If He does not say it is a type and shadow that means it will happen AS HE SAID IT WOULD. The Master of the House is Jesus, and we are to watch.

Mark 13:35-37 Watch therefore for you do not know when the master of the house is coming–in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning–lest, coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!

We need to focus on guarding His house until He comes. We do not do this in our own strength, it is God’s power that generates what will happen. We are to just keep working the job God gives us and be aware, watching for His coming.

Pastor Don then did a few verses of Matthew 24. (Heather’s note, we are a very talkative Friday bunch, and ask many questions, which makes the study quite interesting. Pastor Don encourages us to speak out at these studies for that makes us really learn the material because we are involved in the study. Usually Pastor Don teaches from about 1 until 2:30, but this study went until 3, and we would have gladly continued on, but alas Pastor Don had a schedule to keep.)

Matthew 24:5 For many will come in my name, saying, “I am the Christ,” and will deceive many. Pastor Don pointed out that here Jesus is answering the same questions, with the same answers. (Heather’s note, what I like is that it is basically the same answer, but not as if one apostle copied from another.)

Matthew 24:9 Then he will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. This is the time period of AD 70 and what will directly happen to the disciples.

Matthew 24:11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

Matthew 24:13-14 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

These two verses apply to the End Times.  First of all the disciples were martyred. And at that time the gospel had not gone out into all the World, so these two verses do not apply to the immediate or near future of AD 70.

Pastor Don told us that we are almost to a point where the gospel is preached to all the world. There are three places the gospel hasn’t reached yet, Outer Mongolia, Central India and a few places in Central Africa.

One person came to our church and told the congregation about a special radio that they have been dropping over parts of the world that cannot be reached by foot. The radios are tuned to one Christian station, and by dropping them into the bush country, the local residents find them and can hear the Word of God. So we are getting close to this marker for the End Times being fulfilled.

We will probably pick up this study again next Friday.

Hoping you have a blessed day. I have to apologize that I haven’t had time to get on the computer to type out messages as promptly as I usually do, but with school in session sometimes my time is restricted. And when the resident geek (my husband), she says with love, decides to do computer maintenance, the blog suffers.

Heather

Friday’s Bible study was powerful. Pastor Don has been teaching on the end times, and he had us read three of the scriptures that deal with Jesus’ teaching of the end times.

He told us that to be good Bible scholars we have to read these passages asking ourselves 1. Who is talking? 2. Who is he speaking to? 3. What is he speaking about? 4. Are we talking about the natural or the supernatural, or the spot where natural and supernatural cross over?

These passages are both prophetic and have historical outcomes as well. So when you read the passage start thinking about if Jesus is talking about now, before, the near future, or end times.

If you want to replicate the Bible study, I suggest that you read the following passages before you read further. For taken all together they make one teaching.

We read all of Matthew 24, Luke 21:5-38, and Mark 13.

When we read Luke 21 out loud, the person reading it hesitated at reading the last two verses, Luke 21:37-38 And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

Pastor Don said that the last two verses do not seem to fit the narrative, but they give very important information. In the daytime Jesus taught in the temple and at night he stayed at Olivet, the very place that He is going to come down when the second coming occurs, the Mount of Olives. When we went into Israel, we went through a tunnel that was dug under the Mount of Olives, and through the Mount of Olives also runs a fault line. The Bible Prophesies

Zechariah 14:4 And in that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem on the east. And the Mount of Olives shall be split in two, from east to west, making a very large valley, half of the mountain shall move toward the north and half of it toward the south.

The tunnel that has been dug under the Mount of Olives will ensure that this prophesy will be fulfilled.

After we read all the scriptures, Pastor Don asked us who Jesus was speaking to. We decided He was speaking to the disciples, and most specifically the inner circle of disciples.

What was He talking about: two things, the end times and also what specifically was going to happen to the disciples. The end times is a necessary adjunct to what will happen to Christ.

The Church is so interested in the Bride of Christ and the Rapture that they are missing what Jesus had to say. They try to take the above three chapters and make them all end times scriptures, but a good portion of them had to do with AD 70, what was going to impact the disciples. Most of what is talked about in these scriptures has already happened, only a few verses really apply to the end times. The apostles, and many saints suffered tribulation for their faith.

When we went to Israel we saw the steps that Jesus would have taught at.

Those steps would have been the Southern Gate. We also saw the Eastern Gate.

The walled up gate.

And the view that He would have seen while teaching.

Pastor Don (left) explaining about the stones’ sizes.

If you look closely at the stones, you will see that the lower ones are bigger than the upper ones. That is because there has been one temple built upon another temple. The disciples were asking about the Temple, and Jesus would tell them that not one stone would remain, that all the stones would be thrown down.

What happened in AD 70 is that within the Temple, the walls were overlaid with gold. The Temple was so grand that the Roman soldiers were told not to destroy the Temple. During the rebelion, Nehemiah’s tunnel (see picture below)

was used by the Israelites to sneak out of the city and attack the Roman Soldiers. Usually when Rome laid seige to a city, the Romans won with minimal loss of life. But in this case the Israelites killed 20,000 Roman soldiers. Soldiers would have lost their friends and comrades. Unfortunately, the Israelites were divided by sects and because of sectarian fighting they could not agree on one plan to fight together to defeat the Romans. This would lead to the downfall of the Israelites and the destruction of the Temple. Pastor Don said that one Roman Soldier, Marcus, lost his friend and got angry, setting the Temple on fire. The fire burned so hot that the gold melted off of the walls and flowed into the crevices between the rocks. The temple was destroyed, and all the riches within it. So to reclaim something from the loss, the Roman Soldiers tore down the temple stone by stone to scrape out the melted gold. Thus the prophesy that Jesus gave in these passages came to pass.

Mark 13:1-2 Then as He went out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, see what manner of stones and what buildings are here? And Jesus answered and said to him, “Do you not see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another, that shall not be thrown down.”

This is referring to the above incident in AD 70. False teachers use these passages today to tell people that the church has no need of buildings.

This is the question that Jesus was answering Peter, James, John and Andrew (see verse 3).

Mark 23:4 Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled? What things? What Jesus was talking about before this verse – the destruction of the Temple.

Matthew 24:3 “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

Luke 21:7 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?”

Jesus answered their question, and it is a fulfillment for the Israelites, not the Church. We, the Church think these verses are all about us, but only a few really apply to the Church, the rest apply to Israel. The fulfillment of Jesus involves the Body of Christ, the Church, the Jews, the apostles and the believers. Only one to two short verses imply anything about the rapture.

Jesus’ mission was to the Israelites. He was not sent to give a message to the Church, that was what Paul’s ministry involved. Jesus was sent to the tribe of Israel. The parable of the fig tree refers to Israel. Jesus was giving one last chance to Israel with these passages, before God sent tribulation. The tribulation mentioned here is the tribulation the Israelites faced for rejecting Jesus and for the death of the prophets, and it occurred in AD 70.

Matthew 23:37 Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!

Luke 21:8 And He said, “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, “I am He,” and, “The time has drawn near.” Therefore do not go after them.

This passage is a jump to the future, for at that time, Christ was not established as a byword for the Church.

Luke 21:9-11 But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified, for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately. Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.

This is toward the End Days, for in Jesus’ time Rome was the only power that was, and there were not wars and rumors of wars.  But before all that, in the apostles’ day:

Luke 21:12-20 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name’s sake. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls. And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.

Luke 21:12-20 refers to the time of the disciples. But the Church has interpreted this passage as the end times, but that is not what Jesus is talking about. This is a reference to AD 70. Remember that Jesus was answering His disciple’s question about when the temple was going to be pulled down. Jerusalem will be surrounded by armies at AD70, bent on pulling them down.

Luke 21:22-23 (again referring to the time of AD 70). Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

This is not referring to the days of the Great Tribulation. This was a tribulation brought on the people that they called upon themselves.

Remember when Jesus was declared innocent, the people shouted to crucify Him, and said,
Matthew 27:24-25 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”

During the seige there was a rumor around the Roman campsites that the Jewish women had swallowed their valuables, the gold and the silver. So no pregnant woman was safe. This was an unusual practice, for during warfare usually the women and children were saved. So the soldiers disemboweled the pregnant women looking for treasure. Luke 21:23 talks about “THIS PEOPLE”, but it is not the people at the end times of Revelation. (Heather’s note: it is also important to remember that God saved a remnant of the people who were dispersed around the world – He did not destroy all the Israelites, for if He had done that, He would have gone against His word.)

Luke 21:24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

That is what happened. More than one million Jews died at the sword, but 900,000 (?) were sent around the world. Jerusalem was trampled by the Gentiles until the times were fulfilled. That happened May 6, 1948, when Israel again became a nation. The Jews returned to the land, the dead language was spoken again, and the land which was desolate now bears much fruit.

Then Jesus jumps to End Times events:

Luke 21:25-26 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

Pastor Don made a few suggestions about global warming, terrorism. Our news system is speaking into existence many catastrophes for our country when they continually report on possible terrorist activities, and disasters. There was even a time in recent history where Israel saw a blood red moon.

Luke 21:27-28 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Jesus jumped in verses 27-28 to the end of the age, and here we are included. What things is Jesus referring to when he said, “when these things come to pass.” He is referring to all the things in the list.

Luke 21:29-33 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; when they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

Israel is likened to a fig tree. Pastor Don told us that there are two kinds of figs; false figs and true figs. The false fig looks like a fig, but is hard, bitter and doesn’t produce seeds. It tastes like garbage. True figs are fruitful, filled with seeds and taste sweet.

When Jesus compared Israel to a fig tree, he was saying that there are Jews who are totally hypocritical. They may look like a Jew, but aren’t. The may look like they have the Spirit of God, but they don’t. They may say they believe in God, but they don’t. They may seem like they are not an idol worshipper, but they are.

The fig trees, although all bud, will not all come into full maturity. Notice that in these verses Jesus tells them a PARABLE. This is a type and shadow. There are some false teachers who try to say that all of these verses are types and shadows and won’t come to pass. But here we see that Jesus clearly tells us when He is sharing a parable.

When we see the fig tree budding, and growing in the summer, know that the End Times are near, the harvest is near. In the End Times there will be a period of harvest and revival among the Jews – both the real and the phoney. Many will offer themselves and their hearts to God. They will come into the Kingdom of God, and then at the harvest, God will separate the sheep (real figs) from the goats (false figs).

Pastor Don pointed out that we are in a worldwide revival now. That God is moving on the earth. That most countries have now had a chance to hear the gospel. At one point during a conference in Uganda, every day 300 pastors came to get the Word of God.

We are to look up when we see these things happening.

In verse 21 when it says “generation” the concordance translates that word into “AGE”. This is not referring to the 70 year generation. We have had six days of man’s history, 6000 years, and now the age of man is fulfilled, and there are signs that this age is coming to an end.

Luke 21:34 But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly.

Jesus is telling the disciples that this could take longer than they think, so they are not to get sidetracked with things that are not godly, but be watchful.

Luke 21:35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth.

A snare is a well set trap that springs unexpectedly.

Luke 21:36 Watch therefore, and pray always, that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.

This is a verse that refers to all the Body of Christ, the Church. It is the only verse that applies to us.

We read Luke 21:36 in the Amplified Keep awake then and watch at all times [be discreet, attentive, and ready], praying that you may have the full strength and ability and be accounted worthy to escape all these things [taken together] that will take place, and to stand in the presence of the Son of Man.

We want to live our lives in Christ, so that we are counted worthy to escape the wrath.

I will continue this study tomorrow. I am hoping you have a blessed day.

Heather

Last night was an incredible night at Living Word Chapel. We celebrated Rosh Hashanah and God showed up big. Both Pastor Don and Rabbi Michael spoke and the Spirit moved upon the people.

Pastor Don said that this was a time when the people had gleaned their fields and brought in the harvest. Pastor Don said that he had peaches on a tree, and he harvested them, cut out the bad spots and preserved the rest. We too need to look at the harvests in our lives. Some of the harvests are good harvests and others we reaped what we did not really want. This is a time of a New Year, a New Harvest to be planted, and we need to examine ourselves, and sort out what we want to keep in our lives and what needs to be removed.

If you had a year that is a disaster year, that year is behind you and you now have a new year. There is stuff in our harvests that we need to turn under and bury, so that we step forward new and renewed. We need to remember that God has a plan and a purpose for our lives, and that we need to begin to project our faith to line up with God’s hope and expectations for us.

God knows what we need, and we want to hook our faith up with that.

We prayed, “I’m believing God for what He hopes for me.” Hoping and expecting to prosper. If you have a prolonged illness, God can bring healing to it’s fullest manifestation. If you are bound by worry and stress, attach your faith to His Peace that passes all understanding.

The trumpets announced Rosh Hashanah which was the beginning of the Civil New Year. And it is the time to get our house in order. To line up our faith with the trumpet’s announcing the New Year, get our business stuff straight, get out of debt, have our civil responsibilities met, take care of our houses and lands. To use our faith to line up with what God has planned for us.

Passover brought the peace of God to protect us – that Peace we know as Jesus.
Pentecost brought the power of God and the Holy Spirit.

Then there was three months of summer in which the crops grew – this is likened to the church age.

Now the Trumpets will sound for the return of Christ.

Pastor Don told us that in Leviticus 23 the feasts are detailed. After the Feast of weeks (near Passover) the fields grow and there is three months of growth before the next feast. Leviticus 23:22 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the LORD your God.

We Gentiles are the strangers. Since the feasts follow Jesus’ life, the three months where the crops grow, represent the church age – where God is allowing those who are not of Israel to get saved and brought into God’s Kingdom. God provided for the Jew, but He also left harvest for the Gentiles.

The promises of God are all fulfilled. God has told us that when the trumpets sound, He is coming to get us.

The feast of Trumpets is followed by the Day of Atonement, and then the Feast of Tabernacles – where God will Tabernacle (abide) with us. God wants to tabernacle with us.

Rabbi Michael then told us that God has called us a whole new creation. Rabbi Michael brought many passages for us to read and commit to God, we did that. Jim (my husband) took pictures of these and when he gets them downloaded I will share them with you. They involved the Shema, and many ways to examine ourselves to see if we fell short of God’s best for us. This took up some time, and included lots of praise to God and shofar blowing.

Pastor Don said that there are two aspects to pray about during this Rosh Hashanah..

There is a wave of people in the Body of Christ who are propagating the lie that Israel has lost their chance because of not recognizing the Messiah when He walked among them. They say that the Church is now replacing the Jews – this is called replacement theology. We have to remember that God never, never, never, never breaks His promises. He promised to save Israel. Yes, He may be upset with the nation of Israel, but that does not mean that He doesn’t have a plan for Israel. Pastor Don told us that when we were in Israel he noticed that the hearts of the people were soft toward the things of God, and God will use those softened hearts to save Israel.

The second thing to pray about is the cults who deny that Jesus is God, that teach false doctrines. Those cults who try to be all inclusive of everyone, even though they are living in disobedience to God. The mormons, the jehovah witnesses, the moonies, and others who do not teach what the Bible says. Philippians 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did  not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking he form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Pastor Don talked about some moonies who keep coming to try and convince him of this one world peace and family concept that they have. They have been coming to him for about 20 years and Pastor Don told them that nothing that they can say would convince him of the truth of those statements they are sharing, all they have to do is really read their Bibles to see the lies. This time he begged them that when a leader comes to bring peace, and a peace treaty in the Middle East is signed for seven years, please, please, hit the ground on your knees and repent of the lies that you have been sharing with others.

Pastor Don then told us that the Bible is being misquoted by many, and some even used to be on TBN, who are under the misunderstanding that all will bow to Jesus and be saved, but that is not what the scripture says. God will not include those who are acting in direct disobedience to His word, no matter how many good deeds they have done.

Philippians 2:9-11 (bold/caps are mine). Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee SHOULD bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue SHOULD confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God, the father.

Notice it is SHOULD, not might, not will. Not everyone will accept Jesus as Lord.

The devil wants two things to happen. He wants replacement theology to prosper because then we will not be believing what God has said through Paul, Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

God meant salvation for the Jew first, then the Gentile. satan wants us to separate from the Jewish nation so that we can be deceived. God HAS A PLAN for Israel.

Everyone who preaches a different Christ, and who speaks against Israel will be judged and held accountable for what they taught, believed and carried out.

Those who claim that another messiah has been sent before his final return at the last trumpet are missing something very, very important. If Jesus were going to send someone before Him of that kind of magnitude, HE WOULD HAVE TOLD US.

The book of Daniel and Revelation speak of Christ’s second coming, but there is no mention of any other messiah like figure coming.

Revelation tells us that Jesus is going to reign with an IRON hand – why – because there are many of those who will not bow (every knee SHOULD bow), but not every knee will bow, and there will be rebelion in the land. There are many in our land that would rather go to hell than to serve Christ.

All it takes is to study the Word of God to see what He says will happen. Israel is not replaced by the Church. The Church is grafted into Israel.

Pastor Don’s heart, as do all our hearts, break because of all the people walking around thinking that somehow they will not be accountable for their actions and beliefs. Pastor Don said, “If hell only lasted one minute, I don’t want anyone going there.”

We prayed during this Rosh Hashanah for the harvest to come in. That this year, the harvest of souls in our church will increase, and that our church will be ready with open arms for any who are in need of Christ.

We also sowed a seed for the harvest of the next year. By giving an offering, we are trusting God for the next harvest, for the harvest of prosperity, the harvest of freedom from bondage, the harvest of spiritual growth. Because this sowing is so important. (Heather’s note, I get very disgusted with many of the TV evangelicals who are begging money for harvests and suggesting donations, but when you are in a church home, being fed by the ministers, then you do need to sow seed into where you are getting your spiritual food. The TV evangelicals will not come to your hospital bed when you are sick, will not pray for you and counsel you one to one. But when you are being fed by your church, to sow a seed to God in this house is right. If you want to give an offering to a TV ministry, that is a different choice.)

We then prayed and worshipped God – El Shaddai – our God is more than enough. El Shaddai, more than enough over our situation, over our cycle of defeat. When we run out of fight, don’t forget that we have El Shaddai, the All Sufficient One..

Pastor Don said that many believe that God will be with us when we are in trouble, when times are tough He walks alongside us. But what they forget to do is read the next verses where God promises to DELIVER US OUT OF ALL OUR TROUBLE. Don’t accept the fact of our situation, that God can only walk alongside us. Know that HE IS ABLE to do SOMETHING about our situation, whether it is mental, physical, or financial. Hold on to the truth about God and don’t let go, don’t give up. HE WILL DELIVER YOU. Even if the situation has persisted so long, remember our God is ABLE.

Hope this blesses you!

Heather

My oldest is at college. My other son saw this away message on his IM, it cracked me up:

Pondering Plato’s The Trial and Death of Socrates. I hope it has a happy ending.

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We continued talking about faith – you can see part one here.

God looks at our hearts.

1 Peter 3:4 Rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

When we are born again, God gives every man a measure of faith. Tony reminded us that exercising our faith is like exercising our muscles. We have to develop our faith by using it and believing God.

We also need to remind ourselves of our past successes with faith. When David faced Goliath he reminded himself that he had killed a bear and a lion – so how much harder would it be to kill a giant? He knew that God had protected him in the past, so God would protect him now. David spoke words of faith, and he had plenty to say about God to Goliath who was blaspheming God.

One of our members had us chuckling, when he said, “David sure knew how to get ahead.”

Caleb and Joshua were two of the 12 spies sent into the Promised Land to spy out the land. They were the only two who came back with a good report. They believed God’s promise that they would take possession of the land, and did not speak words that did not agree with God’s promise. They spoke the confession that God told them, that they would be victors. The others focused on the appearances, how they were like grasshoppers compared to the giants in the land. Caleb and Joshua trusted God. Caleb and Joshua were also the only original Israelites that made it into the Promised Land, guiding the children of the older Israelites.

Confession is saying the same thing God has said. To speak out God’s truths.

So often we speak God’s word and then add…”but…..” We have to get our butts out of the way. God is within us. He is the Almighty, Creator of the whole earth, the High and Mighty. We have to realize who we are in God. If God is for us, who can be against us? Who will mess with you when you have God on your side? We have the Creator of the Earth with us.

You can think when something goes wrong, “Who are you messing with? Don’t you know who I am?” We are the sons and daughters of the Most High God.

We are not weak worms made of dust. God doesn’t have to cover us to hide us from the big bad enemy. He already defeated the enemy.

1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children,and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 

Tony then said, God is not a life insurance policy that only pays in the end.

God’s word doesn’t work by itself, you have to put it to use. When you do, God backs you up. As 1 Peter 3:4 says, we have to hide His Word in our heart.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.

Believe God with your innermost being. Believe in your heart.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

To illustrate how we cannot hold two thought simultaneously, Tony had us close our eyes and count to 20. Then, when we reached 5, he said, now say your name out loud. When we did, the counting to 20 in our head stopped, for we couldn’t speak our names and continue counting simultaneously. For that reason, the best way to keep our thoughts that are not of God captive is to speak out loud the Word of God. For if our minds and mouth are speaking and thinking God’s Word, thoughts that are not of God cannot occur.

Tony also told us that we can speak to our soul (mind, will, emotions). For an example he gave Psalm 103 of David. You can read the whole Psalm but here is the first two verses Psalm 103:1-2 Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.

(Heather’s comment: When you read this out loud, all 22 verses, you come away uplifted for you have blessed the Lord. Sometimes when I am down and out, I read the Psalms. I find such encouragement, and it is comforting to know that David would start out upset, and then when he finished He was praising God.)

We cannot win the battle with our thoughts by trying to force them out of our mind, or telling ourselves that we will forget. We need to replace the thoughts with the life-giving Word of God. To put into our minds the thoughts that God has – which we can get from His Word. Remember, our Spirit will outlast our mind, will and emotions, and the physical. We need to listen to the Spirit Man.

Remind ourselves that we are what the Word of God says that we are. Philemon 4-6 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Acknowledge who we are in Christ Jesus.

Proverbs 3:8 It (The Word of God) will be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.

When we believe God in our hearts, what we say will manifest in the flesh. A believer is one who believes. You can school yourself into faith if you keep saying what God says. If you speak the truth, God’s Word, you will grow to believe it.  Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Tony gave a silly example that makes a good point. He said that if he calls someone, telling them that he needs to be picked up at the train station at 12:00, and the person he calls shows up at the airport, they will miss the appointment with Tony. It is that way with faith. God tells us that faith comes by hearing – not reading, not thinking, but by hearing the Word of God. And when we speak the Word of God out loud, we believe ourselves, even more than we believe another. So we need to speak God’s Word to ourselves..

Psalm 145:5 KJV I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.

Psalm 145:5 NKJ I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works.

The word “works” in Hebrew can be translated as “things” or “word” or “Work”.

God created the world through speaking. God could have thought the world into existence, but He spoke the world into existence – He spoke THINGS.

Our words make the things we see. The words we spoke yesterday and in our past are the things we experience today. (Heather’s note, unless like Joy says, you pray for a crop failure.) All we experience today are the things we have said and believed.

Tony said something that made me pause for I am a worrier. He said that all worrying is is meditating on the lies of the devil.

With our circumstances, we stand in a circle of the words we have spoken and believed.

David said Psalm 27:13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

1 Peter 2:4-5 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built upon a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

When we let fear rule, we invite what we fear to come to pass. Job said, Job 3:25 For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me, and what I dreaded has happened to me.

Sometimes when we face tough situations with the faith of God people wonder about us, thinking we are cold hearted our not in our right minds for not worrying or being upset. Will worrying bring back someone? or fill an empty pantry? We are a deciding witness.

Do we believe the lies of the devil or the truth of God? What we say will be what occurs. If we speak God’s Word, His truth will prevail. If we speak the lies of satan, his truth will prevail.

Someone asked about what it meant that we had to work out our salvation. We do come into God’s Kingdom when we say the salvation prayer and believe in our hearts, but that does not mean that our fleshly bodies are totally changed. It is a process of working out our salvation, of choosing to believe God. Of choosing to act on God’s Word. While we are saved, there is still a lot of flesh that needs changing. Some are changed instantaneously, but not all are changed immediately. The Holy Spirit begins the process of helping a person to come more in line with God’s Word.

Tony said, “God is always speaking, but are we listening?” We fine tune ourselves to hear when God is speaking.

Our future is on the inside of us. God has wonderful plans for us, for good, not for evil. But we need to obey God and come in line with His perfect will for our lives.

Don’t put this off another day, start putting your faith into practice NOW. Start your miracle NOW.

Have a blessed day,
Heather