Phil. 2:5-8
Jesus set an example that we are to follow if we are going to strive to be like Him, by His servitude. He served God, even to the point of death on the cross. Jesus was brought to earth, by God, to be the ultimate and final sacrifice for the sins of mankind. In the process of Jesus' life on earth, He showed mankind how to live a life that is pleasing to God. He was perfect and pure, committing no sin and doing no wrong in the eyes of God, therefore setting the template for us on how to live the Christian life. Even though we are not perfect, God expects us to strive for perfection. This allows God to be pleased with us , just as He was pleased with His Son Jesus. It is through the process of trying to achieve perfection; the right and wrong choices, the circumstances of life and how we handle them that we learn valuable life lessons. It was these life lessons that Jesus taught everyone in His time on earth. God gives those who believe in Jesus and becomes a Christian, The Holy Spirit to guide them and to be a conscience to the soul.
Through the Scriptures, Jesus laid out the blueprint on how to live life in a way that pleases God. We will never achieve the level of success that Jesus had, because we are not God, but God is pleased with us when we do try to live a life of truth and exhibit morals that are holy and pure. We can choose not to lie, cheat, steal, murder, dishonor people, and dishonor God, just as Jesus didn't do these things. Using this blueprint, we can live as Jesus did and let people see Jesus living through us today. Jesus is timeless. He is truth, and truth never goes out of style.
When Jesus lived among men on earth, He was even tempered and not easily provoked to anger. He was meek. He reduced himself when He lived on earth and took on the role of a bondservant. This was unique, because a bondservant is someone who is bound to servitude. Jesus, was not bound or forced to do this, He gave up His life voluntarily to give mankind a chance at salvation. If He had decided for some reason that He did not want to go through with His death on the cross, all of mankind would be going to hell when they die. With all of His powers, Jesus had plenty of opportunities to get out of His situation, but He refused to use them and instead chose to do the will of God. It was love that held Jesus to that cross, not the nails.
Jesus was not concerned if He was equal with God in stature. He did not have an ego. Jesus denied Himself of privileges afforded Him, and did the will of God. We as Christians should do the same, refusing the privileges that the world offers, instead, depending on God to guide our lives.
A person cannot have a servant heart and be full of pride. You or I can't do the will of God, and He can't be pleased if we are proud of our possessions, and not wanting to part with any of them. We must demonstrate the humble spirit that Jesus exhibited. This is a character trait that God can be pleased with. For some people, humility comes naturally, as it did for Jesus. For others, it doesn't. it has been my observation that people who are naturally humble, they are more often blessed in life, at peace, and content with whatever life throws at them. On the other hand, those who struggle with humility being part of their nature, or somewhere along the way pride has overtaken their humble heart, these people are less often blessed. They are always searching for and wanting more out of life. (Matt. 19:24, Mark 10:25).
People should always strive for a humble attitude, because if we have pride in our heart, God will humble us, and usually it is going to be painful when He does. I wish I wouldn't have learned a lot of things the hard way throughout my life, but those painful lessons made me a wiser person today. If the up and coming generations such as 11-30 year olds would just heed a sliver of their elders warnings, the morals of this nation would start to change. Pray for the youth to listen and pray for those who are in positions of power to not let it go to their heads. Thank Jesus for showing us how to live out this valuable character trait that was just one of the many that He lived out and tried to teach others.
I would like to know how and where my articles are used. You may contact me at eternalprose@aol.com
This article is the original work and property of Derek Dill.
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
Saturday, October 11, 2008
The Words That Will Fight All Your Spiritual Battles
With the Lord there is total protection for whatever you're facing. No matter what battles you're going through, whether physical, emotional or spiritual, the Lord has equipped you.
With God the battles are fought in the spirit realm. Words, thoughts and situations can condemn you. Have you ever felt a heaviness that you just can't seem to shake? Words spoken against you or evil thoughts directed at you play a big part in your wellbeing. Do you sometimes feel heavily burdened for no reason to the point that you cannot shake the gloomy feeling?
It could very well be that you are being unwittingly judged by someone who has hard feelings towards you and may even be making judgmental comments to others about you. Or maybe you're upset about something you have said or done that you're not proud of. Your very own words and thoughts could be condemning you!
Your greatest weapon is your faith. It is your shield to "quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." (Eph. 6: 16) It is God's power to come against any adversary. Do you keep in constant contact with your Lord and Savior? It's in that secret place and time where you spend time with Him that you feel His loving arms protecting you. That's where you hear Him reassure you and you will experience total trust. In that intimacy you will be emboldened to say with conviction that indeed He is your refuge and your fortress and that surely, positively, absolutely He will delivery you! (Ps. 91: 1 - 3)
Except for the quiet time when you're listening to the Lord, all prayer is spoken out loud. Whether a whisper or a cry, words are powerful. God is the only One who reads your thoughts. The devil cannot! But demons stand at the ready and as soon as you speak negative thoughts about others or yourself, they will then fuel your mind with negative, sad or vindictive thoughts. It is important that you recognize these tactics and that you replace any such thoughts with God's Word on the subject as soon as possible.
How do you do that? Well, in your quiet time with the Lord, He will always affirm you and talk to you through His Word. He will give you a scripture verse that is right on for your particular situation at any given day. Speak it, or any other appropriate verse, over your situation. For instance, take this verse:
"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord." (Isa. 54: 17)
Declare in faith that God says that no weapon formed against you shall prosper and that no tongue shall condemn you! Just keep on declaring that you are God's child and, no matter how you feel about yourself, if God says you are righteous, then so are you! Your righteousness is Jesus and what He has done for you on the cross. Nobody is righteous in their own right; we are all sinners.
God's righteousness means that you are bought with, and are covered by, His precious Blood. As His child, you need only go in confidence to your Daddy and confess as soon as you are made aware of any digression. He is faithful to forgive and He will remember your sin no more. (John 1: 9)
Therefore, be encouraged. Don't feel condemned! You have the power of heaven on your side. By the same token, recognize yourself the same way that Jesus sees you. You are righteous and He loves you! Tell yourself that you are His anointed. Yes, you need to hear it! Stop when you hear derogatory declarations coming out of your own mouth about yourself, like: "I'm stupid," I can't do this," or "I deserve to feel bad."
When you do that, you're not doing it so much for your own self esteem and wellbeing. By declaring God's Word, and standing in faith that His Word is Truth, you are giving Him the Glory! He is pleased to see His children walk in power and freedom! That's His purpose for you.
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Rom. 8: 1)
Author of With Wings As Eagles, a book of miracles in process. Ann is also a prolific writer of inspirational articles on faith and encouragement
http://with-wings-as-eagles.com
Sign up for her ezine: Embarcing All the Promises of God: http://lifealteringwords.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
With God the battles are fought in the spirit realm. Words, thoughts and situations can condemn you. Have you ever felt a heaviness that you just can't seem to shake? Words spoken against you or evil thoughts directed at you play a big part in your wellbeing. Do you sometimes feel heavily burdened for no reason to the point that you cannot shake the gloomy feeling?
It could very well be that you are being unwittingly judged by someone who has hard feelings towards you and may even be making judgmental comments to others about you. Or maybe you're upset about something you have said or done that you're not proud of. Your very own words and thoughts could be condemning you!
Your greatest weapon is your faith. It is your shield to "quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." (Eph. 6: 16) It is God's power to come against any adversary. Do you keep in constant contact with your Lord and Savior? It's in that secret place and time where you spend time with Him that you feel His loving arms protecting you. That's where you hear Him reassure you and you will experience total trust. In that intimacy you will be emboldened to say with conviction that indeed He is your refuge and your fortress and that surely, positively, absolutely He will delivery you! (Ps. 91: 1 - 3)
Except for the quiet time when you're listening to the Lord, all prayer is spoken out loud. Whether a whisper or a cry, words are powerful. God is the only One who reads your thoughts. The devil cannot! But demons stand at the ready and as soon as you speak negative thoughts about others or yourself, they will then fuel your mind with negative, sad or vindictive thoughts. It is important that you recognize these tactics and that you replace any such thoughts with God's Word on the subject as soon as possible.
How do you do that? Well, in your quiet time with the Lord, He will always affirm you and talk to you through His Word. He will give you a scripture verse that is right on for your particular situation at any given day. Speak it, or any other appropriate verse, over your situation. For instance, take this verse:
"No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord." (Isa. 54: 17)
Declare in faith that God says that no weapon formed against you shall prosper and that no tongue shall condemn you! Just keep on declaring that you are God's child and, no matter how you feel about yourself, if God says you are righteous, then so are you! Your righteousness is Jesus and what He has done for you on the cross. Nobody is righteous in their own right; we are all sinners.
God's righteousness means that you are bought with, and are covered by, His precious Blood. As His child, you need only go in confidence to your Daddy and confess as soon as you are made aware of any digression. He is faithful to forgive and He will remember your sin no more. (John 1: 9)
Therefore, be encouraged. Don't feel condemned! You have the power of heaven on your side. By the same token, recognize yourself the same way that Jesus sees you. You are righteous and He loves you! Tell yourself that you are His anointed. Yes, you need to hear it! Stop when you hear derogatory declarations coming out of your own mouth about yourself, like: "I'm stupid," I can't do this," or "I deserve to feel bad."
When you do that, you're not doing it so much for your own self esteem and wellbeing. By declaring God's Word, and standing in faith that His Word is Truth, you are giving Him the Glory! He is pleased to see His children walk in power and freedom! That's His purpose for you.
"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Rom. 8: 1)
Author of With Wings As Eagles, a book of miracles in process. Ann is also a prolific writer of inspirational articles on faith and encouragement
http://with-wings-as-eagles.com
Sign up for her ezine: Embarcing All the Promises of God: http://lifealteringwords.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
The Bones of Elisha
I've always wondered what it would be like to see someone who has died raised back to life. It happened several times in the Bible. I've heard of instances where it has happened today but I've never witnessed such an event.
When my grandmother died I wished that she would come back to life. I remember walking past her casket with her body laying there. I remember thinking to myself, "I've got enough faith to command that she come back to life." Then I remembered that she was ninety-seven years old, and had lived a very good life for the Lord. I also remembered how much she longed for Heaven. She was there now. Then the thought occurred to me, "Son, if you were successful in bringing her back to life she'd beat you silly for doing it. She's where she has always wanted to be." I let the matter alone.
In 2 Kings 13:20-21, we read about an incident involving the bones of Elisha. He was a great prophet of God. The Lord had used him in many miraculous things. He had died and they had buried him.
Sometime later another man had died. In those days Israel had been plagued by raiding bands from the nation of Moab. As the man's friends were preparing to bury him they saw the raiding bands of Moab coming. In their haste to finish their job and hide from the Moabites they spied Elisha's tomb and thought, "We'll just put him in there for now and get out of here." So that's what they did. They put the dead man in the tomb of Elisha. But they got a surprise. When the dead man's bones touched the bones of Elisha he was instantly brought back to life! Imagine that! The Bible doesn't record what happened next but I'd say they went ahead and got out of there and their once dead buddy went with them.
There is a lesson in this for us. We may not go around raising the dead to life but as believers in Jesus Christ we do have that opportunity in a spiritual sense each and every day of our lives. Our number one job as Christians is to make more Christians. We are to be living our lives in such a way that people know who we are. They should see our love for other Christians which according to the Book of John and the words of Jesus, is the main witness and identification that we are believers. They should see our work ethics, our morals, and how we treat others and it should be a testimony without words for the Lord Jesus Christ.
When they do, eventually they will come to us and want to know how to get what we have. What an open door we then stand before. We haven't had to push the Gospel on them but they have come seeking the Good News of Jesus Christ. We can tell them what God has done for us and show them how they can receive salvation for themselves. It's a lot like touching the bones of Elisha. We have the opportunity to bring them back to life.
Oh, I know that they are walking around, breathing, eating, working and doing things only the living can do. But spiritually they are walking dead men. They need to be revived in a way that only the Holy Spirit of God can revive them. When we are being the witnesses for the Lord that we are supposed to be, we can't help but let it show. Our lives are a dead giveaway as to who we are. Elisha brought that man back to life without speaking a word. He couldn't He was dead himself! But the power of God was so strong in him that when the dead man's body touched him, it changed the dead man into a living man. Seek God, give yourself fully to Him and you'll find that as people touch your life they will start coming to life themselves!
Jerry D. Ousley is the Author of three books, "Soul Challenge", "Soul Journey" and "Ordeal." Listen to our daily broadcast Spirit Bread. Find out more by visiting www.spiritbread.com
or email us at jousley@spiritbread.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
When my grandmother died I wished that she would come back to life. I remember walking past her casket with her body laying there. I remember thinking to myself, "I've got enough faith to command that she come back to life." Then I remembered that she was ninety-seven years old, and had lived a very good life for the Lord. I also remembered how much she longed for Heaven. She was there now. Then the thought occurred to me, "Son, if you were successful in bringing her back to life she'd beat you silly for doing it. She's where she has always wanted to be." I let the matter alone.
In 2 Kings 13:20-21, we read about an incident involving the bones of Elisha. He was a great prophet of God. The Lord had used him in many miraculous things. He had died and they had buried him.
Sometime later another man had died. In those days Israel had been plagued by raiding bands from the nation of Moab. As the man's friends were preparing to bury him they saw the raiding bands of Moab coming. In their haste to finish their job and hide from the Moabites they spied Elisha's tomb and thought, "We'll just put him in there for now and get out of here." So that's what they did. They put the dead man in the tomb of Elisha. But they got a surprise. When the dead man's bones touched the bones of Elisha he was instantly brought back to life! Imagine that! The Bible doesn't record what happened next but I'd say they went ahead and got out of there and their once dead buddy went with them.
There is a lesson in this for us. We may not go around raising the dead to life but as believers in Jesus Christ we do have that opportunity in a spiritual sense each and every day of our lives. Our number one job as Christians is to make more Christians. We are to be living our lives in such a way that people know who we are. They should see our love for other Christians which according to the Book of John and the words of Jesus, is the main witness and identification that we are believers. They should see our work ethics, our morals, and how we treat others and it should be a testimony without words for the Lord Jesus Christ.
When they do, eventually they will come to us and want to know how to get what we have. What an open door we then stand before. We haven't had to push the Gospel on them but they have come seeking the Good News of Jesus Christ. We can tell them what God has done for us and show them how they can receive salvation for themselves. It's a lot like touching the bones of Elisha. We have the opportunity to bring them back to life.
Oh, I know that they are walking around, breathing, eating, working and doing things only the living can do. But spiritually they are walking dead men. They need to be revived in a way that only the Holy Spirit of God can revive them. When we are being the witnesses for the Lord that we are supposed to be, we can't help but let it show. Our lives are a dead giveaway as to who we are. Elisha brought that man back to life without speaking a word. He couldn't He was dead himself! But the power of God was so strong in him that when the dead man's body touched him, it changed the dead man into a living man. Seek God, give yourself fully to Him and you'll find that as people touch your life they will start coming to life themselves!
Jerry D. Ousley is the Author of three books, "Soul Challenge", "Soul Journey" and "Ordeal." Listen to our daily broadcast Spirit Bread. Find out more by visiting www.spiritbread.com
or email us at jousley@spiritbread.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Who or what is your Goliath?
Life is full of changes, they can happen in an instant or over a period of time, but change is inevitable.
These changes can catch us off guard, bring about very uncomfortable feelings. They could be to do with a person in your life, change in personal circumstances or a fresh challenge ahead. Either one of these can bring about fear.
I write this, as I too face an enormous challenge ahead. I am leaving my home to go abroad for a month. I am going alone on the journey and do not really know what will happen. This morning fear really struck me to the core.
The Lord then reminded me of the story of David and the Goliath. Just remembering the story in the bible gave me hope and confidence. I decided to do a little research myself. I haven't read the story for a while and thought it would be good to read it again.
David, out looking after his sheep, a humble shepherd, was called to visit his brothers out on the battle field where they were being taunted by the giant Philistine, Goliath. Not only was this man a physically impressive, but the mere presence of him brought shudders to the Israelites. Fear! Such a great enemy!
"When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid". 1 Samuel 17 v 11
Who did God send to his people, a humble shepherd. God had been preparing David. He was small in stature and the baby amongst his brothers. He was thought of as a fly in the ointment, a pest. But God had his eye on David. God sees the heart not just what is on the outside.
When David approached his brothers and heard all the commotion over this giant called Goliath, the words that David spoke next reverberated around the Israelites in astonishment.
"For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?".1 Samuel 17 v26
In utter disbelieve, David's brothers reprimanded him for such an outburst against such an enemy! But David knew God. David had experienced the workings of his God. David boldly says 'the living God"
This is very important, God is alive, working, active, not just some stoned figure statue of a false god.
David had life experience looking after his sheep from bears, wolves and lions. His life experience backed up the living reality of knowing God.
"David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine". 1 Samuel 17 v 37
David took a humble staff, sling and stones. He was not dressed up as a warrior but took simple, humble weapons, things that God had given him. David was not into showmanship. Goliath, Philistine, giant was armoured from head to toe in man-made decor. David's armour was spiritual. The Lord, the living God. David stood in front and faced Goliath trusting. Not in false hope but in deep trust.
". For the battle is the Lord's". 1 Samuel 17 v 47
This humble shepherd, David, was guided by the Great Shepherd.
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want". Psalm 23 v 1
So if you are feeling afraid today or at any time read the story of David and Goliath and take comfort that God is real. He is living and active and will take us as we are, with what we have and fight our battles for us.
"The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Strength of my life; of whom should I be afraid" Psalm 27 v 3
Who or what is your Goliath, take heart God is with you!
JAnnJulyan@gmail.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
These changes can catch us off guard, bring about very uncomfortable feelings. They could be to do with a person in your life, change in personal circumstances or a fresh challenge ahead. Either one of these can bring about fear.
I write this, as I too face an enormous challenge ahead. I am leaving my home to go abroad for a month. I am going alone on the journey and do not really know what will happen. This morning fear really struck me to the core.
The Lord then reminded me of the story of David and the Goliath. Just remembering the story in the bible gave me hope and confidence. I decided to do a little research myself. I haven't read the story for a while and thought it would be good to read it again.
David, out looking after his sheep, a humble shepherd, was called to visit his brothers out on the battle field where they were being taunted by the giant Philistine, Goliath. Not only was this man a physically impressive, but the mere presence of him brought shudders to the Israelites. Fear! Such a great enemy!
"When Saul and all Israel heard those words of the Philistine, they were dismayed, and greatly afraid". 1 Samuel 17 v 11
Who did God send to his people, a humble shepherd. God had been preparing David. He was small in stature and the baby amongst his brothers. He was thought of as a fly in the ointment, a pest. But God had his eye on David. God sees the heart not just what is on the outside.
When David approached his brothers and heard all the commotion over this giant called Goliath, the words that David spoke next reverberated around the Israelites in astonishment.
"For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?".1 Samuel 17 v26
In utter disbelieve, David's brothers reprimanded him for such an outburst against such an enemy! But David knew God. David had experienced the workings of his God. David boldly says 'the living God"
This is very important, God is alive, working, active, not just some stoned figure statue of a false god.
David had life experience looking after his sheep from bears, wolves and lions. His life experience backed up the living reality of knowing God.
"David said moreover, The Lord that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine". 1 Samuel 17 v 37
David took a humble staff, sling and stones. He was not dressed up as a warrior but took simple, humble weapons, things that God had given him. David was not into showmanship. Goliath, Philistine, giant was armoured from head to toe in man-made decor. David's armour was spiritual. The Lord, the living God. David stood in front and faced Goliath trusting. Not in false hope but in deep trust.
". For the battle is the Lord's". 1 Samuel 17 v 47
This humble shepherd, David, was guided by the Great Shepherd.
"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want". Psalm 23 v 1
So if you are feeling afraid today or at any time read the story of David and Goliath and take comfort that God is real. He is living and active and will take us as we are, with what we have and fight our battles for us.
"The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Strength of my life; of whom should I be afraid" Psalm 27 v 3
Who or what is your Goliath, take heart God is with you!
JAnnJulyan@gmail.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
REHOBOTH The Lord has made Room for Me
For close to two years I have been meditating on a particular passage of scripture from Genesis. Every time I read it, I sense God is talking to me, about me.
In chapter 26 of Genesis we read of Isaac's journeys (following in his father's footsteps) in which he encountered the same obstacles and challenges that Abraham met (Gen. 20; 26:1-11).
The portion of Isaac's story that speaks experientially to me begins at verse 12 and continues on to verse 22.
During Isaac's stay in the land the Lord blessed him tremendously. The Philistines in envy and fear stopped up the wells (Abraham dug in his day) necessary for Isaac's livestock, and ordered Isaac to leave the area.
Isaac packed up and moved to the valley of Gerar. There he dug a well but the herdsmen of Gerar came and fought with him claiming the well as theirs. So Isaac and his men dug another well and the herdsmen claimed it too.
Isaac moved again, and dug a new well. This time no one fought him for it. He named the well Rehoboth: the Lord has made room for us.
In reading this section of Isaac's journey I thought about how my experiences in three other ministries mirrored what he went through.
The first church I served in after I began my journey, I was asked to leave after three years. I can still see the tears in the pastor's eyes as he stood with his deacons. "Because the Lord has blessed everything you've touched, I have to let you go. If I don't I might loose my church to you." Heartbroken and confused, I and my family left.
At the second church my family and I settled in, the same thing happen. So we moved again.
The first three years at the third church were awesome. It seemed I had finally found my fit. However, in the fourth year of my service suspicion and false accusations were made as the reason for my being successful in ministry. Though none of the charges against me were validated, I spent the last of my twelve years there confined to desk work. I could no longer teach, preach or facilitate training sessions within the church, or minister in the jails and prisons.
It was during this time that I discovered that God had given me an on-line writing ministry. I was forbidden to speak in church, but no one said I couldn't write. I began to rewrite some meditations I had written years ago. Testimonies in the form of short stories also begin to flow from my pen. A former client introduced me to the art of creating personal web pages. He helped me create my first website which included meditations and short inspirational stories. He encouraged me to add a feedback bottom so visitors could respond to what I had written. The feedback I received from visitors revealed that God was using my writings to reach people for Him.
When the pastor discovered I was ministering on line he gave me an ultimatum; either discontinue writing over the Internet or be excommunicated from the church.
So, for the third time I packed up my belongings and moved.
When I look at this portion of my life in light of Genesis 26:12-22, like Isaac I can say Rehoboth, the Lord has made room for me!
Via the World Wide Web God has given me more than enough room to prosper in sharing and ministering His gospel to the world. From the first website to three additional sites and several articles in syndication, God has made room for me to grow and serve.
NOTE: For the past four years I've been attending a church near my home. I have been refreshed, encouraged, supported and welcomed in fellowship. Not every member will be called to minister within their church, some will be called to work outside the gate (Numbers 11:25-29; Matthew 9:38-40; Luke 9:49-50). Despite the various problems occurring within our congregations, the church is still God's plan for His people to be taught and trained for ministry.
Anna M. Caison, third (eldest daughter) of eleven children, born in Chicago, Illinois. She is an ordain minister, Preschool Teacher and freelance writer for adults and children.
www.christmadeknowninme.org
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
In chapter 26 of Genesis we read of Isaac's journeys (following in his father's footsteps) in which he encountered the same obstacles and challenges that Abraham met (Gen. 20; 26:1-11).
The portion of Isaac's story that speaks experientially to me begins at verse 12 and continues on to verse 22.
During Isaac's stay in the land the Lord blessed him tremendously. The Philistines in envy and fear stopped up the wells (Abraham dug in his day) necessary for Isaac's livestock, and ordered Isaac to leave the area.
Isaac packed up and moved to the valley of Gerar. There he dug a well but the herdsmen of Gerar came and fought with him claiming the well as theirs. So Isaac and his men dug another well and the herdsmen claimed it too.
Isaac moved again, and dug a new well. This time no one fought him for it. He named the well Rehoboth: the Lord has made room for us.
In reading this section of Isaac's journey I thought about how my experiences in three other ministries mirrored what he went through.
The first church I served in after I began my journey, I was asked to leave after three years. I can still see the tears in the pastor's eyes as he stood with his deacons. "Because the Lord has blessed everything you've touched, I have to let you go. If I don't I might loose my church to you." Heartbroken and confused, I and my family left.
At the second church my family and I settled in, the same thing happen. So we moved again.
The first three years at the third church were awesome. It seemed I had finally found my fit. However, in the fourth year of my service suspicion and false accusations were made as the reason for my being successful in ministry. Though none of the charges against me were validated, I spent the last of my twelve years there confined to desk work. I could no longer teach, preach or facilitate training sessions within the church, or minister in the jails and prisons.
It was during this time that I discovered that God had given me an on-line writing ministry. I was forbidden to speak in church, but no one said I couldn't write. I began to rewrite some meditations I had written years ago. Testimonies in the form of short stories also begin to flow from my pen. A former client introduced me to the art of creating personal web pages. He helped me create my first website which included meditations and short inspirational stories. He encouraged me to add a feedback bottom so visitors could respond to what I had written. The feedback I received from visitors revealed that God was using my writings to reach people for Him.
When the pastor discovered I was ministering on line he gave me an ultimatum; either discontinue writing over the Internet or be excommunicated from the church.
So, for the third time I packed up my belongings and moved.
When I look at this portion of my life in light of Genesis 26:12-22, like Isaac I can say Rehoboth, the Lord has made room for me!
Via the World Wide Web God has given me more than enough room to prosper in sharing and ministering His gospel to the world. From the first website to three additional sites and several articles in syndication, God has made room for me to grow and serve.
NOTE: For the past four years I've been attending a church near my home. I have been refreshed, encouraged, supported and welcomed in fellowship. Not every member will be called to minister within their church, some will be called to work outside the gate (Numbers 11:25-29; Matthew 9:38-40; Luke 9:49-50). Despite the various problems occurring within our congregations, the church is still God's plan for His people to be taught and trained for ministry.
Anna M. Caison, third (eldest daughter) of eleven children, born in Chicago, Illinois. She is an ordain minister, Preschool Teacher and freelance writer for adults and children.
www.christmadeknowninme.org
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
Trust and Obey
"So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, yea Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, "Feed my lambs"
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep John 21 v 15 - 16
This is the word I received awhile back "Feed my sheep".
As I read the scripture it struck me for the first time that Jesus first says "feed my lambs" once but "feed my sheep" twice. When I saw "feed my lambs" I stopped at this point, then realised that the Lord actually said "feed my sheep".
It is important to listen to the Lord to hear exactly what He is saying. He was asking me to feed his sheep not lambs.
It's not just a whimsical thing to step out on your own and do your own thing the directions must come from the Lord guided by the Holy Spirit in line with His Word.
This comes from having a close relationship with God. Talking to him, praying, meditating on His word and getting to know that still small voice amidst the clattering of noisome pestilence in our world.
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him. If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my feet. . John 13 v 8-9.
There are many Christians who profess to be Christians but Gods Word even tells us how we are to know the true believers from the liars. "By their fruit you will know them"
"He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him". 1 John 1 v 4
Jesus warns us that we are sent out as sheep among wolves but Praise God he has not left us wandering aimlessly without a guide. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and his parting gift of the Holy Spirit guides us into all Truth and is with us until the end of the age.
As we daily submit our lives into Jesus hands and allow Him to have the reins he will tell us what too say and do. Do not worry before hand what you will say because the Holy Spirit will bring to remembrance all the things you need to say.
After a yet another trying morning I knew I could not proceed any more with my tasks until I had sat with Jesus. After a difficult week-end and still feeling tired I poured my heart out to Jesus, also knowing that my attitude wasn't right either. Straight away though Jesus comforted me with His word. No condemnation just His Truth and guidance.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light". Matthew 11 v 28 - 30.
JAnnJulyan@gmail.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep John 21 v 15 - 16
This is the word I received awhile back "Feed my sheep".
As I read the scripture it struck me for the first time that Jesus first says "feed my lambs" once but "feed my sheep" twice. When I saw "feed my lambs" I stopped at this point, then realised that the Lord actually said "feed my sheep".
It is important to listen to the Lord to hear exactly what He is saying. He was asking me to feed his sheep not lambs.
It's not just a whimsical thing to step out on your own and do your own thing the directions must come from the Lord guided by the Holy Spirit in line with His Word.
This comes from having a close relationship with God. Talking to him, praying, meditating on His word and getting to know that still small voice amidst the clattering of noisome pestilence in our world.
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him. If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my feet. . John 13 v 8-9.
There are many Christians who profess to be Christians but Gods Word even tells us how we are to know the true believers from the liars. "By their fruit you will know them"
"He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him". 1 John 1 v 4
Jesus warns us that we are sent out as sheep among wolves but Praise God he has not left us wandering aimlessly without a guide. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and his parting gift of the Holy Spirit guides us into all Truth and is with us until the end of the age.
As we daily submit our lives into Jesus hands and allow Him to have the reins he will tell us what too say and do. Do not worry before hand what you will say because the Holy Spirit will bring to remembrance all the things you need to say.
After a yet another trying morning I knew I could not proceed any more with my tasks until I had sat with Jesus. After a difficult week-end and still feeling tired I poured my heart out to Jesus, also knowing that my attitude wasn't right either. Straight away though Jesus comforted me with His word. No condemnation just His Truth and guidance.
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light". Matthew 11 v 28 - 30.
JAnnJulyan@gmail.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
Do You Worry?
Jesus said, "do not worry about your life." Matt 6:25
Do not worry! Sounds simple enough? However, I really believe that as women we have a particularly hard time with this one. If something is not going right we feel we need to fix it. Everyone looks to us to get it all together.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Sometimes, all we need to do is give it to God and let Him take care of the outcome. He knows the thoughts He has for us and they are good. He has a plan and a hope for our future.
It is hard for us to surrender control. When we become saved, the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts and wants full control. James 4:6 says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." He will help us humble our hearts and give Him the freedom to work in our lives. We are meant to live free from worry and stress and anything else that can weigh us down. When we try to fix it all, we weigh ourselves down.
We don't have to struggle, worry, figure everything out or even try to make things happen. God wants us to let Him carry the load. Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7).
Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Matt. 6:27-29
We cannot accomplish anything by worrying. If there is something worrying you right now, Stop! Trust Him! Worry will not fix it! Have Faith In God! "Consider the lilies", Leave tomorrow and the rest to God.
If God cares enough to see to it that flowers and birds have what they need, would God do any less for you?
THE BOTTOM LINE IS:
"do not worry about your life." Matt 6:25; Be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6), and be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10), for He will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him, because he trusts in Him" (Isaiah 26:3).
By Pat Murray
www.harvestladiesministry.com
Please include this link within body of article if copying to another website or reprinting
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
Do not worry! Sounds simple enough? However, I really believe that as women we have a particularly hard time with this one. If something is not going right we feel we need to fix it. Everyone looks to us to get it all together.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11
Sometimes, all we need to do is give it to God and let Him take care of the outcome. He knows the thoughts He has for us and they are good. He has a plan and a hope for our future.
It is hard for us to surrender control. When we become saved, the Holy Spirit comes into our hearts and wants full control. James 4:6 says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." He will help us humble our hearts and give Him the freedom to work in our lives. We are meant to live free from worry and stress and anything else that can weigh us down. When we try to fix it all, we weigh ourselves down.
We don't have to struggle, worry, figure everything out or even try to make things happen. God wants us to let Him carry the load. Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7).
Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 "So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Matt. 6:27-29
We cannot accomplish anything by worrying. If there is something worrying you right now, Stop! Trust Him! Worry will not fix it! Have Faith In God! "Consider the lilies", Leave tomorrow and the rest to God.
If God cares enough to see to it that flowers and birds have what they need, would God do any less for you?
THE BOTTOM LINE IS:
"do not worry about your life." Matt 6:25; Be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6), and be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10), for He will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him, because he trusts in Him" (Isaiah 26:3).
By Pat Murray
www.harvestladiesministry.com
Please include this link within body of article if copying to another website or reprinting
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
The Missing Piece
Human beings are truly challenged by the unknown .No matter how acclaimed, how successful, how prosperous or how achieved you become, we will always go and search out that one missing piece. An unresolved from childhood, a blimp in time or even maybe an incomplete from the yester years always seems to draw us back to resolving, finding, completing and closure.
It can just be one word, thought or even event that will shock you into this search. Adults go looking for birth parents. Children go looking for fathers that once abandoned them. Fathers search out estranged daughters. Grandparents look for their grandchildren. Siblings find each other after being separated from birth.
How true this is. The circle of Life wants to be complete. We want to be fed with answers for long overdue questions. We want to know "WHY". Why did you leave? Why didn't you stay in touch? Why did you walk away? Why didn't you try to make it work? Where did we go wrong? What happened?
There are so many questions generations are asking and so many empty spaces because of missing pieces. It can take anything from a word to a sentence to jog someone out of sync from the present into a total disarray to find answers for their past. Some adults have missed out on loving their children because they were not loved and feel robbed and unschooled in this life's lesson.
Marriages become miserable and rocky based on individuals settling for someone new as a replacement for the one childhood sweetheart that walked away. A hidden love so rooted, a bitterness so great that blinds them from the one who is right before them.
Lives go on hold. Families break up over newly discovered secrets. Children walk away from adoptive parents to find birth parents. There is a deep-rooted search in each and every one of us and until we find these answers. We feel so incomplete, so rejected, so unwanted and so alone. There is this puzzle of our lives that has missing pieces. The picture is incomplete when a part of us miss.
The sad thing is we take the missing pieces of our past and destroy the present picture .We are so stuck in what we did not have, we forget to see what we have. We have lost so much of time concentrating of all that we lost; we forget to hold on to those we have. The wrongs of the past may never be re-written but the story is still not finished yet.
It's time to let go of all the wrongs of yesterday and move into the new level of anointing. Its time to progress into a new season of dispensation and the new place that God has for us. Closure sometimes may not be the best outcome you fathom it to be. We live in the world and in this world you will have many troubles, many sorrows, many heartbreaks and many people who will leave without a moments notice. Don't leave life hanging out of bounce because you are missing a few scenes, a few some ones and a few hugs.
When God created Adam and Eve, he had a will for them and instructed them accordingly. They stepped out of God's will by choice and God in his loving kindness made a provision. God has willed many roads for us but sometimes when we choose alternately or others that were joined with us choose alternatively then God's provision for us comes into place. You know how after 20 years of marriage, he thinks he can do better. You spend the rest of your years dwindling in rejection because a piece of you is missing. Well this is the right time to move over to the next puzzle called provision and start fresh with a new picture. You can either use the previous puzzle as a stepping-stone or ladder to the next scene.
It's not as easy as I am saying it but it is made available. There are some adults that must know in their heart why a parent or both parents abandoned them. They would not move on in their lives with their spouses or children. They feel unable to love because they were unloved. These are heart- wrenching issues with deep seeded wounds that go beyond a few warm gestures and kind words.
The emotions generated must be experienced, dealt with and overcome. However we have to reach to the higher than I for a healing touch and a clear direction. The only one who can heal such wounds is the one who created you. The designer is the only one that can re-design you. Go to the Great I Am and he will mend, sew, knit and reconstruct you to his perfect plan.
Life just may never pan out in a fairy tale fashion but for every villainous act towards you, there are many more heroic gestures of blessings to counteract. For every person that abandoned you or left you or deserted you, there are so many more present to love you, cherish you and appreciate you.
Missing pieces must not imprison you in your past but rather direct you to leave a complete picture behind for the generation to come. Stop missing out and start living.
There are so much of memories to make for the future. There is so much more to life to live and see. There are so many more dreams to fulfill and laughter to share. Holding on to yesterday stops the sun from shining today.
Go on, step into God's provision for you. What you have been holding on for may not have kept the other's lives behind. You are not moving forward but everyone else is. Realign your thought patterns, life cycle and present-day actions. Embrace life with the favour of change and a new day. If you have been searching and you cannot seem to face tomorrow without solving yesterday then too much of time has been lost already.
Some chapters are left without endings for one day when you meet your master creator, God the father and he will have all the answers to all the questions ever asked. By then you would have realized how it did not matter who stayed, who left, who walked away, who rejected you, who did not say goodbye and who said goodbye. All the whys of life would just not seem so meaningful anymore?
You would wish you laughed more, dreamed more, cared more and loved more. You would wish you did not waste time but lived in the fullness of time. Stop, look up , look ahead and start living. Focus on the future and the fullness of God's glory to sustain you and move you into new territory. God has ordained everyday of our lives to be lived as it is in heaven and I don't think heaven wants us to live sad and despondent. Let today be the start of something new. Let God have his way in your heart, life and situation. I urge you to take a deep sigh and when you let out that breath , may it be the last time you will ever sigh over that situation.
Prayer for you
I declare a new day for you in Jesus name. I declare a prophetic word of praise that you will manifest in the fullness of God's design for your life. I declare that heaven knows your name and Jesus calls you to be too relevant to go unnoticed. May the blessed call you blessed and may you live liberated from today onwards. In Jesus name I ask all of these mercies and seal it with the blood of the lamb.. Amen
Hazel Moodley resides in Durban , South Africa . Hazel is mum to 3 beautiful girls , Hailey , Rochelle and Robyn.I could not imagine our lives without Christ . Because he lives , we can face tomorrow.
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
It can just be one word, thought or even event that will shock you into this search. Adults go looking for birth parents. Children go looking for fathers that once abandoned them. Fathers search out estranged daughters. Grandparents look for their grandchildren. Siblings find each other after being separated from birth.
How true this is. The circle of Life wants to be complete. We want to be fed with answers for long overdue questions. We want to know "WHY". Why did you leave? Why didn't you stay in touch? Why did you walk away? Why didn't you try to make it work? Where did we go wrong? What happened?
There are so many questions generations are asking and so many empty spaces because of missing pieces. It can take anything from a word to a sentence to jog someone out of sync from the present into a total disarray to find answers for their past. Some adults have missed out on loving their children because they were not loved and feel robbed and unschooled in this life's lesson.
Marriages become miserable and rocky based on individuals settling for someone new as a replacement for the one childhood sweetheart that walked away. A hidden love so rooted, a bitterness so great that blinds them from the one who is right before them.
Lives go on hold. Families break up over newly discovered secrets. Children walk away from adoptive parents to find birth parents. There is a deep-rooted search in each and every one of us and until we find these answers. We feel so incomplete, so rejected, so unwanted and so alone. There is this puzzle of our lives that has missing pieces. The picture is incomplete when a part of us miss.
The sad thing is we take the missing pieces of our past and destroy the present picture .We are so stuck in what we did not have, we forget to see what we have. We have lost so much of time concentrating of all that we lost; we forget to hold on to those we have. The wrongs of the past may never be re-written but the story is still not finished yet.
It's time to let go of all the wrongs of yesterday and move into the new level of anointing. Its time to progress into a new season of dispensation and the new place that God has for us. Closure sometimes may not be the best outcome you fathom it to be. We live in the world and in this world you will have many troubles, many sorrows, many heartbreaks and many people who will leave without a moments notice. Don't leave life hanging out of bounce because you are missing a few scenes, a few some ones and a few hugs.
When God created Adam and Eve, he had a will for them and instructed them accordingly. They stepped out of God's will by choice and God in his loving kindness made a provision. God has willed many roads for us but sometimes when we choose alternately or others that were joined with us choose alternatively then God's provision for us comes into place. You know how after 20 years of marriage, he thinks he can do better. You spend the rest of your years dwindling in rejection because a piece of you is missing. Well this is the right time to move over to the next puzzle called provision and start fresh with a new picture. You can either use the previous puzzle as a stepping-stone or ladder to the next scene.
It's not as easy as I am saying it but it is made available. There are some adults that must know in their heart why a parent or both parents abandoned them. They would not move on in their lives with their spouses or children. They feel unable to love because they were unloved. These are heart- wrenching issues with deep seeded wounds that go beyond a few warm gestures and kind words.
The emotions generated must be experienced, dealt with and overcome. However we have to reach to the higher than I for a healing touch and a clear direction. The only one who can heal such wounds is the one who created you. The designer is the only one that can re-design you. Go to the Great I Am and he will mend, sew, knit and reconstruct you to his perfect plan.
Life just may never pan out in a fairy tale fashion but for every villainous act towards you, there are many more heroic gestures of blessings to counteract. For every person that abandoned you or left you or deserted you, there are so many more present to love you, cherish you and appreciate you.
Missing pieces must not imprison you in your past but rather direct you to leave a complete picture behind for the generation to come. Stop missing out and start living.
There are so much of memories to make for the future. There is so much more to life to live and see. There are so many more dreams to fulfill and laughter to share. Holding on to yesterday stops the sun from shining today.
Go on, step into God's provision for you. What you have been holding on for may not have kept the other's lives behind. You are not moving forward but everyone else is. Realign your thought patterns, life cycle and present-day actions. Embrace life with the favour of change and a new day. If you have been searching and you cannot seem to face tomorrow without solving yesterday then too much of time has been lost already.
Some chapters are left without endings for one day when you meet your master creator, God the father and he will have all the answers to all the questions ever asked. By then you would have realized how it did not matter who stayed, who left, who walked away, who rejected you, who did not say goodbye and who said goodbye. All the whys of life would just not seem so meaningful anymore?
You would wish you laughed more, dreamed more, cared more and loved more. You would wish you did not waste time but lived in the fullness of time. Stop, look up , look ahead and start living. Focus on the future and the fullness of God's glory to sustain you and move you into new territory. God has ordained everyday of our lives to be lived as it is in heaven and I don't think heaven wants us to live sad and despondent. Let today be the start of something new. Let God have his way in your heart, life and situation. I urge you to take a deep sigh and when you let out that breath , may it be the last time you will ever sigh over that situation.
Prayer for you
I declare a new day for you in Jesus name. I declare a prophetic word of praise that you will manifest in the fullness of God's design for your life. I declare that heaven knows your name and Jesus calls you to be too relevant to go unnoticed. May the blessed call you blessed and may you live liberated from today onwards. In Jesus name I ask all of these mercies and seal it with the blood of the lamb.. Amen
Hazel Moodley resides in Durban , South Africa . Hazel is mum to 3 beautiful girls , Hailey , Rochelle and Robyn.I could not imagine our lives without Christ . Because he lives , we can face tomorrow.
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
Be Doers of the Word
James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.(NKJ)
My husband was speaking to a friend of ours who went to do some work at a couples home. The worker commented that the couple did not portray their Christianity, and that he is routinely treated very poorly.
It is sad to say, but these stories are common today. We act like Christians on Sunday, and during the rest of the week we are someone completely different. We behave and say the right buzz words with our Christian friends, but then face the world and act like them during the week.
The word above says that we are to be doers of the word. In other words, be Christ-like in every area of our lives.
I am particular when it comes to treating people. We are all Gods creation, saved or unsaved, and when we interact with others we portray Christ in us. We portray Christ with our words and actions. We are Christs representatives on earth.
I would be saddened to hear of someone speaking about me, that person not having a clue that I have Jesus in my heart. I then began to think; If I was belittling a fellow Christian, dont you think that the Lord would be saddened as well?
Let us learn to be doers of the word in all areas of our lives. Our speech, our manner of treating others, and our actions towards strangers. If we struggle, we have a helper with us that will teach us and guide us every step of the way.
Blessings
Yvette Nietzen is an ordained minister and currently lives in Costa Rica.
View her blog at:
www.yvettenietzen.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.(NKJ)
My husband was speaking to a friend of ours who went to do some work at a couples home. The worker commented that the couple did not portray their Christianity, and that he is routinely treated very poorly.
It is sad to say, but these stories are common today. We act like Christians on Sunday, and during the rest of the week we are someone completely different. We behave and say the right buzz words with our Christian friends, but then face the world and act like them during the week.
The word above says that we are to be doers of the word. In other words, be Christ-like in every area of our lives.
I am particular when it comes to treating people. We are all Gods creation, saved or unsaved, and when we interact with others we portray Christ in us. We portray Christ with our words and actions. We are Christs representatives on earth.
I would be saddened to hear of someone speaking about me, that person not having a clue that I have Jesus in my heart. I then began to think; If I was belittling a fellow Christian, dont you think that the Lord would be saddened as well?
Let us learn to be doers of the word in all areas of our lives. Our speech, our manner of treating others, and our actions towards strangers. If we struggle, we have a helper with us that will teach us and guide us every step of the way.
Blessings
Yvette Nietzen is an ordained minister and currently lives in Costa Rica.
View her blog at:
www.yvettenietzen.com
Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS
An Account of the Life of John Wesley
John Wesley was born on the seventeenth of June, 1703, in Epworth rectory, England, the fifteenth of nineteen children of Samuel and Susanna Wesley. The father of Wesley [right] was a preacher, and Wesley's mother was a remarkable woman in wisdom and intelligence. She was a woman of deep piety and brought her little ones into close contact with the Bible stories, telling them from the tiles about the nursery fireplace. She also used to dress the children in their best on the days when they were to have the privilege of learning their alphabet as an introduction to the reading of the Holy Scriptures.
Young Wesley was a gay and manly youth, fond of games and particularly of dancing. At Oxford he was a leader, and during the latter part of his course there, was one of the founders of the "Holy Club," an organization of serious-minded students. His religious nature deepened through study and experience, but it was not until several years after he left the university and came under the influence of Luther's writings that he felt that he had entered into the full riches of the Gospel.
John Wesley and Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf
He and his brother Charles were sent by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel to Georgia, where both of them developed their powers as preachers. Upon their passage they fell into the company of several Moravian brethren, members of the association recently renewed by the labors of Count Zinzendorf. It was noted by John Wesley in his diary that, in a great tempest, when the English people on board lost all self-possession, these Germans impressed him by their composure and entire resignation to God. He also marked their humility under shameful treatment.
It was on his return to England that he entered into those deeper experiences and developed those marvelous powers as a popular preacher which made him a national leader. He was associated at this time also with George Whitefield, the tradition of whose marvelous eloquence has never died.
What he accomplished borders upon the incredible. Upon entering his eighty-fifth year he thanked God that he was still almost as vigorous as ever. He ascribed it, under God, to the fact that he had always slept soundly, had risen for sixty years at four o'clock in the morning, and for fifty years had preached every morning at five. Seldom in all his life did he feel any pain, care, or anxiety. He preached twice each day, and often thrice or four times. It has been estimated that he traveled every year forty-five hundred English miles, mostly upon horseback.
The successes won by Methodist preaching had to be gained through a long series of years, and amid the most bitter persecutions. In nearly every part of England it was met at the first by the mob with stonings and peltings, with attempts at wounding and slaying. Only at times was there any interference on the part of the civil power. The two Wesleys faced all these dangers with amazing courage, and with a calmness equally astonishing. What was more irritating was the heaping up of slander and abuse by the writers of the day. These books are now all forgotten.
Wesley had been in his youth a high churchman and was always deeply devoted to the Established Communion. When he found it necessary to ordain preachers, the separation of his followers from the established body became inevitable. The name "Methodist" soon attached to them, because of the particular organizing power of their leader and the ingenious methods that he applied.
The Wesley fellowship, which after his death grew into the great Methodist Church, was characterized by an almost military perfection of organization.
The entire management of his ever-growing denomination rested upon Wesley himself. The annual conference, established in 1744, acquired a governing power only after the death of Wesley. Charles Wesley rendered the society a service incalculably great by his hymns. They introduced a new era in the hymnology of the English Church. John Wesley apportioned his days to his work in leading the Church, to studying (for he was an incessant reader), to traveling, and to preaching.
Wesley was untiring in his efforts to disseminate useful knowledge throughout his denomination. He planned for the mental culture of his traveling preachers and local exhorters, and for schools of instruction for the future teachers of the Church. He himself prepared books for popular use upon universal history, church history, and natural history. In this Wesley was an apostle of the modern union of mental culture with Christian living. He published also the best matured of his sermons and various theological works. These, both by their depth and their penetration of thought, and by their purity and precision of style, excite our admiration.
John Wesley was of but ordinary stature, and yet of noble presence. His features were very handsome even in old age. He had an open brow, an eagle nose, a clear eye, and a fresh complexion. His manners were fine, and in choice company with Christian people he enjoyed relaxation. Persistent, laborious love for men's souls, steadfastness, and tranquillity of spirit were his most prominent traits of character. Even in doctrinal controversies he exhibited the greatest calmness. He was kind and very liberal. His industry has been named already. In the last fifty-two years of his life, it is estimated that he preached more than forty thousand sermons.
Wesley brought sinners to repentance throughout three kingdoms and over two hemispheres. He was the bishop of such a diocese as neither the Eastern nor the Western Church ever witnessed before. What is there in the circle of Christian effort--foreign missions, home missions, Christian tracts and literature, field preaching, circuit preaching, Bible readings, or aught else--which was not attempted by John Wesley, which was not grasped by his mighty mind through the aid of his Divine Leader?
To him it was granted to arouse the English Church, when it had lost sight of Christ the Redeemer to a renewed Christian life. By preaching the justifying and renewing of the soul through belief upon Christ, he lifted many thousands of the humbler classes of the English people from their exceeding ignorance and evil habits, and made them earnest, faithful Christians. His untiring effort made itself felt not in England alone, but in America and in continental Europe. Not only the germs of almost all the existing zeal in England on behalf of Christian truth and life are due to Methodism, but the activity stirred up in other portions of Protestant Europe we must trace indirectly, at least, to Wesley.
He died in 1791 after a long life of tireless labor and unselfish service. His fervent spirit and hearty brotherhood still survives in the body that cherishes his name.
Edited by William Byron Forbush. The original version of The Book of Martyrs (1563) by John Foxe (1516-1587) was expanded after Foxe's death to include John Wesley and others. The art has been added.
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Young Wesley was a gay and manly youth, fond of games and particularly of dancing. At Oxford he was a leader, and during the latter part of his course there, was one of the founders of the "Holy Club," an organization of serious-minded students. His religious nature deepened through study and experience, but it was not until several years after he left the university and came under the influence of Luther's writings that he felt that he had entered into the full riches of the Gospel.
John Wesley and Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf
He and his brother Charles were sent by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel to Georgia, where both of them developed their powers as preachers. Upon their passage they fell into the company of several Moravian brethren, members of the association recently renewed by the labors of Count Zinzendorf. It was noted by John Wesley in his diary that, in a great tempest, when the English people on board lost all self-possession, these Germans impressed him by their composure and entire resignation to God. He also marked their humility under shameful treatment.
It was on his return to England that he entered into those deeper experiences and developed those marvelous powers as a popular preacher which made him a national leader. He was associated at this time also with George Whitefield, the tradition of whose marvelous eloquence has never died.
What he accomplished borders upon the incredible. Upon entering his eighty-fifth year he thanked God that he was still almost as vigorous as ever. He ascribed it, under God, to the fact that he had always slept soundly, had risen for sixty years at four o'clock in the morning, and for fifty years had preached every morning at five. Seldom in all his life did he feel any pain, care, or anxiety. He preached twice each day, and often thrice or four times. It has been estimated that he traveled every year forty-five hundred English miles, mostly upon horseback.
The successes won by Methodist preaching had to be gained through a long series of years, and amid the most bitter persecutions. In nearly every part of England it was met at the first by the mob with stonings and peltings, with attempts at wounding and slaying. Only at times was there any interference on the part of the civil power. The two Wesleys faced all these dangers with amazing courage, and with a calmness equally astonishing. What was more irritating was the heaping up of slander and abuse by the writers of the day. These books are now all forgotten.
Wesley had been in his youth a high churchman and was always deeply devoted to the Established Communion. When he found it necessary to ordain preachers, the separation of his followers from the established body became inevitable. The name "Methodist" soon attached to them, because of the particular organizing power of their leader and the ingenious methods that he applied.
The Wesley fellowship, which after his death grew into the great Methodist Church, was characterized by an almost military perfection of organization.
The entire management of his ever-growing denomination rested upon Wesley himself. The annual conference, established in 1744, acquired a governing power only after the death of Wesley. Charles Wesley rendered the society a service incalculably great by his hymns. They introduced a new era in the hymnology of the English Church. John Wesley apportioned his days to his work in leading the Church, to studying (for he was an incessant reader), to traveling, and to preaching.
Wesley was untiring in his efforts to disseminate useful knowledge throughout his denomination. He planned for the mental culture of his traveling preachers and local exhorters, and for schools of instruction for the future teachers of the Church. He himself prepared books for popular use upon universal history, church history, and natural history. In this Wesley was an apostle of the modern union of mental culture with Christian living. He published also the best matured of his sermons and various theological works. These, both by their depth and their penetration of thought, and by their purity and precision of style, excite our admiration.
John Wesley was of but ordinary stature, and yet of noble presence. His features were very handsome even in old age. He had an open brow, an eagle nose, a clear eye, and a fresh complexion. His manners were fine, and in choice company with Christian people he enjoyed relaxation. Persistent, laborious love for men's souls, steadfastness, and tranquillity of spirit were his most prominent traits of character. Even in doctrinal controversies he exhibited the greatest calmness. He was kind and very liberal. His industry has been named already. In the last fifty-two years of his life, it is estimated that he preached more than forty thousand sermons.
Wesley brought sinners to repentance throughout three kingdoms and over two hemispheres. He was the bishop of such a diocese as neither the Eastern nor the Western Church ever witnessed before. What is there in the circle of Christian effort--foreign missions, home missions, Christian tracts and literature, field preaching, circuit preaching, Bible readings, or aught else--which was not attempted by John Wesley, which was not grasped by his mighty mind through the aid of his Divine Leader?
To him it was granted to arouse the English Church, when it had lost sight of Christ the Redeemer to a renewed Christian life. By preaching the justifying and renewing of the soul through belief upon Christ, he lifted many thousands of the humbler classes of the English people from their exceeding ignorance and evil habits, and made them earnest, faithful Christians. His untiring effort made itself felt not in England alone, but in America and in continental Europe. Not only the germs of almost all the existing zeal in England on behalf of Christian truth and life are due to Methodism, but the activity stirred up in other portions of Protestant Europe we must trace indirectly, at least, to Wesley.
He died in 1791 after a long life of tireless labor and unselfish service. His fervent spirit and hearty brotherhood still survives in the body that cherishes his name.
Edited by William Byron Forbush. The original version of The Book of Martyrs (1563) by John Foxe (1516-1587) was expanded after Foxe's death to include John Wesley and others. The art has been added.
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A Short History of Methodism
1. It is not easy to reckon up the various accounts which have been given of the people called Methodists; very many of them as far remote from truth as that given by the good gentleman in Ireland: "Methodists! Ay, they are the people who place all religion in wearing long beards."
2. Abundance of the mistakes which are current concerning them have undoubtedly sprung from this: Men lump together, under this general name, many who have no manner of connection with each other; and then whatever any of these speaks or does is of course imputed to all.
3. The following short account may prevent persons of a calm and candid disposition from doing this; although men of a warm or prejudiced spirit will do just as they did before. But let it be observed, this is not designed for a defence of the Methodists, (so called,) or any part of them. It is a bare relation of a series of naked facts, which alone may remove abundance of misunderstandings.
4. In November, 1729, four young gentlemen of Oxford, -- Mr. John Wesley, Fellow of Lincoln College; Mr. Charles Wesley, Student of Christ Church; Mr. Morgan, Commoner of Christ Church; and Mr. Kirkham, of Merton College, -- began to spend some evenings in a week together, in reading, chiefly, the Greek Testament. The next year two or three of Mr. John Wesley's pupils desired the liberty of meeting with them; and afterwards one of Mr. Charles Wesley's pupils. It was in 1732, that Mr. Ingham, of Queen's College, and Mr. Broughton, of Exeter, were added to their number. To these, in April, was joined Mr. Clayton, of Brazen-nose, with two or three of his pupils. About the same time Mr. James Hervey was permitted to meet with them; and in 1735, Mr. Whitfield.
5. The exact regularity of their lives, as well as studies, occasioned a young gentleman of Christ Church to say, "Here is a new set of Methodists sprung up;" alluding to some ancient Physicians who were so called. The name was new and quaint; so it took immediately, and the Methodists were known all over the University.
6. They were all zealous members of the Church of England; not only tenacious of all her doctrines, so far as they knew them, but of all her discipline, to the minutest circumstance. They were likewise zealous observers of all the University Statutes, and that for conscience' sake. But they observed neither these nor anything else any further than they conceived it was bound upon them by their one book, the Bible; it being their one desire and design to be downright Bible-Christians; taking the Bible, as interpreted by the primitive Church and our own, for their whole and sole rule.
7. The one charge then advanced against them was, that they were "righteous overmuch;" that they were abundantly too scrupulous, and too strict, carrying things to great extremes: In particular, that they laid too much stress upon the Rubrics and Canons of the Church; that they insisted too much on observing the Statutes of the University; and that they took the Scriptures in too strict and literal a sense; so that if they were right, few indeed would be saved.
8. In October, 1735, Mr. John and Charles Wesley, and Mr. Ingham, left England, with a design to go and preach to the Indians in Georgia: But the rest of the gentlemen continued to meet, till one and another was ordained and left the University. By which means, in about two years' time, scarce any of them were left.
9. In February, 1738, Mr. Whitefield went over to Georgia with a design to assist Mr. John Wesley; but Mr. Wesley just then returned to England. Soon after he had a meeting with Messrs. Ingham, Stonehouse, Hall, Hutchings, Kinchin, and a few other Clergymen, who all appeared to be of one heart, as well as of one judgment, resolved to be Bible-Christians at all events; and, wherever they were, to preach with all their might plain, old, Bible Christianity.
10. They were hitherto perfectly regular in all things, and zealously attached to the Church of England. Meantime, they began to be convinced, that "by grace we are saved through faith;" that justification by faith was the doctrine of the Church, as well as of the Bible. As soon as they believed, they spake; salvation by faith being now their standing topic. Indeed this implied three things:
(1.) That men are all, by nature, "dead in sin," and, consequently, "children of wrath."
(2.) That they are "justified by faith alone."
(3.) That faith produces inward and outward holiness: And these points they insisted on day and night. In a short time they became popular Preachers. The congregations were large wherever they preached. The former name was then revived; and all these gentlemen, with their followers, were entitled Methodists.
11. In March, 1741, Mr. Whitefield, being returned to England, entirely separated from Mr. Wesley and his friends, because he did not hold the decrees. Here was the first breach, which warm men persuaded Mr. Whitefield to make merely for a difference of opinion. Those, indeed, who believed universal redemption had no desire at all to separate; but those who held particular redemption would not hear of any accommodation, being determined to have no fellowship with men that "were in so dangerous errors." So there were now two sorts of Methodists, so called; those for particular, and those for general, redemption.
12. Not many years passed, before William Cudworth and James Relly separated from Mr. Whitefield. These were properly Antinomians; absolute, avowed enemies to the law of God, which they never preached or professed to preach, but termed all legalists who did. With them, "preaching the law" was an abomination. They had "nothing to do" with the law. They would "preach Christ," as they called it, but without one word either of holiness or good works. Yet these were still denominated Methodists, although differing from Mr. Whitefield, both in judgment and practice, abundantly more than Mr. Whitefield did from Mr. Wesley.
13. In the mean time, Mr. Venn and Mr. Romaine began to be spoken of; and not long after Mr. Madan and Mr. Berridge, with a few other Clergymen, who, although they had no Bridge with each other, yet preaching salvation by faith, and endeavoring to live accordingly, to be Bible-Christians, were soon included in the general name of Methodists. And so indeed were all others who preached salvation by faith, and appeared more serious than their neighbors. Some of these were quite regular in their manner of preaching; some were quite irregular; (though not by choice; but necessity was laid upon them; they must preach irregularly, or not at all;) and others were between both, regular in most, though not in all, particulars.
14. In 1762, George Bell, and a few other persons, began to speak great words. In the latter end of the year, they foretold that the world would be at an end on the 28th of February. Mr. Wesley, with whom they were then connected, withstood them both in public and private. This they would not endure; so, in January and February, 1763, they separated from him. Soon after, Mr. Maxfield, one of Mr. Wesley's Preachers, and several of the people, left Mr. Wesley; but still Mr. Maxfield and his adherents go under the general name of Methodists.
15. At present, those who remain with Mr. Wesley are mostly Church-of-England men, though they do not love their opinions. Yea, they love the Antinomians themselves; but it is with a love of compassion only: For they hate their doctrines with a perfect hatred; they abhor them as they do hell-fire; being convinced nothing can so effectually destroy all faith, all holiness, and all good works.
16. With regard to these, Mr. Relly and his adherents, it would not he strange if they should grow into reputation. For they will never shock the world, either by the harshness of their doctrine, or the singularity of their behavior. But let those who determine both to preach and to live the Gospel expect that men will say "all manner of evil of them." "The servant is not above his Master, nor the disciple above his Lord. If, then, they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household?" It is their duty, indeed, "as much as lieth in them, to live peaceably with all men." But when they labor after peace, the world will "make themselves ready for battle." It is their constant endeavor to "please all men, for their good, to edification." But yet they know it cannot be done: They remember the word of the Apostle, "If I yet please men, I am not the servant of Christ." They go on, therefore, "through honor and dishonor, through evil report and good report;" desiring only, that their Master may say in that day, "Servants of God, well done!"
2. Abundance of the mistakes which are current concerning them have undoubtedly sprung from this: Men lump together, under this general name, many who have no manner of connection with each other; and then whatever any of these speaks or does is of course imputed to all.
3. The following short account may prevent persons of a calm and candid disposition from doing this; although men of a warm or prejudiced spirit will do just as they did before. But let it be observed, this is not designed for a defence of the Methodists, (so called,) or any part of them. It is a bare relation of a series of naked facts, which alone may remove abundance of misunderstandings.
4. In November, 1729, four young gentlemen of Oxford, -- Mr. John Wesley, Fellow of Lincoln College; Mr. Charles Wesley, Student of Christ Church; Mr. Morgan, Commoner of Christ Church; and Mr. Kirkham, of Merton College, -- began to spend some evenings in a week together, in reading, chiefly, the Greek Testament. The next year two or three of Mr. John Wesley's pupils desired the liberty of meeting with them; and afterwards one of Mr. Charles Wesley's pupils. It was in 1732, that Mr. Ingham, of Queen's College, and Mr. Broughton, of Exeter, were added to their number. To these, in April, was joined Mr. Clayton, of Brazen-nose, with two or three of his pupils. About the same time Mr. James Hervey was permitted to meet with them; and in 1735, Mr. Whitfield.
5. The exact regularity of their lives, as well as studies, occasioned a young gentleman of Christ Church to say, "Here is a new set of Methodists sprung up;" alluding to some ancient Physicians who were so called. The name was new and quaint; so it took immediately, and the Methodists were known all over the University.
6. They were all zealous members of the Church of England; not only tenacious of all her doctrines, so far as they knew them, but of all her discipline, to the minutest circumstance. They were likewise zealous observers of all the University Statutes, and that for conscience' sake. But they observed neither these nor anything else any further than they conceived it was bound upon them by their one book, the Bible; it being their one desire and design to be downright Bible-Christians; taking the Bible, as interpreted by the primitive Church and our own, for their whole and sole rule.
7. The one charge then advanced against them was, that they were "righteous overmuch;" that they were abundantly too scrupulous, and too strict, carrying things to great extremes: In particular, that they laid too much stress upon the Rubrics and Canons of the Church; that they insisted too much on observing the Statutes of the University; and that they took the Scriptures in too strict and literal a sense; so that if they were right, few indeed would be saved.
8. In October, 1735, Mr. John and Charles Wesley, and Mr. Ingham, left England, with a design to go and preach to the Indians in Georgia: But the rest of the gentlemen continued to meet, till one and another was ordained and left the University. By which means, in about two years' time, scarce any of them were left.
9. In February, 1738, Mr. Whitefield went over to Georgia with a design to assist Mr. John Wesley; but Mr. Wesley just then returned to England. Soon after he had a meeting with Messrs. Ingham, Stonehouse, Hall, Hutchings, Kinchin, and a few other Clergymen, who all appeared to be of one heart, as well as of one judgment, resolved to be Bible-Christians at all events; and, wherever they were, to preach with all their might plain, old, Bible Christianity.
10. They were hitherto perfectly regular in all things, and zealously attached to the Church of England. Meantime, they began to be convinced, that "by grace we are saved through faith;" that justification by faith was the doctrine of the Church, as well as of the Bible. As soon as they believed, they spake; salvation by faith being now their standing topic. Indeed this implied three things:
(1.) That men are all, by nature, "dead in sin," and, consequently, "children of wrath."
(2.) That they are "justified by faith alone."
(3.) That faith produces inward and outward holiness: And these points they insisted on day and night. In a short time they became popular Preachers. The congregations were large wherever they preached. The former name was then revived; and all these gentlemen, with their followers, were entitled Methodists.
11. In March, 1741, Mr. Whitefield, being returned to England, entirely separated from Mr. Wesley and his friends, because he did not hold the decrees. Here was the first breach, which warm men persuaded Mr. Whitefield to make merely for a difference of opinion. Those, indeed, who believed universal redemption had no desire at all to separate; but those who held particular redemption would not hear of any accommodation, being determined to have no fellowship with men that "were in so dangerous errors." So there were now two sorts of Methodists, so called; those for particular, and those for general, redemption.
12. Not many years passed, before William Cudworth and James Relly separated from Mr. Whitefield. These were properly Antinomians; absolute, avowed enemies to the law of God, which they never preached or professed to preach, but termed all legalists who did. With them, "preaching the law" was an abomination. They had "nothing to do" with the law. They would "preach Christ," as they called it, but without one word either of holiness or good works. Yet these were still denominated Methodists, although differing from Mr. Whitefield, both in judgment and practice, abundantly more than Mr. Whitefield did from Mr. Wesley.
13. In the mean time, Mr. Venn and Mr. Romaine began to be spoken of; and not long after Mr. Madan and Mr. Berridge, with a few other Clergymen, who, although they had no Bridge with each other, yet preaching salvation by faith, and endeavoring to live accordingly, to be Bible-Christians, were soon included in the general name of Methodists. And so indeed were all others who preached salvation by faith, and appeared more serious than their neighbors. Some of these were quite regular in their manner of preaching; some were quite irregular; (though not by choice; but necessity was laid upon them; they must preach irregularly, or not at all;) and others were between both, regular in most, though not in all, particulars.
14. In 1762, George Bell, and a few other persons, began to speak great words. In the latter end of the year, they foretold that the world would be at an end on the 28th of February. Mr. Wesley, with whom they were then connected, withstood them both in public and private. This they would not endure; so, in January and February, 1763, they separated from him. Soon after, Mr. Maxfield, one of Mr. Wesley's Preachers, and several of the people, left Mr. Wesley; but still Mr. Maxfield and his adherents go under the general name of Methodists.
15. At present, those who remain with Mr. Wesley are mostly Church-of-England men, though they do not love their opinions. Yea, they love the Antinomians themselves; but it is with a love of compassion only: For they hate their doctrines with a perfect hatred; they abhor them as they do hell-fire; being convinced nothing can so effectually destroy all faith, all holiness, and all good works.
16. With regard to these, Mr. Relly and his adherents, it would not he strange if they should grow into reputation. For they will never shock the world, either by the harshness of their doctrine, or the singularity of their behavior. But let those who determine both to preach and to live the Gospel expect that men will say "all manner of evil of them." "The servant is not above his Master, nor the disciple above his Lord. If, then, they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household?" It is their duty, indeed, "as much as lieth in them, to live peaceably with all men." But when they labor after peace, the world will "make themselves ready for battle." It is their constant endeavor to "please all men, for their good, to edification." But yet they know it cannot be done: They remember the word of the Apostle, "If I yet please men, I am not the servant of Christ." They go on, therefore, "through honor and dishonor, through evil report and good report;" desiring only, that their Master may say in that day, "Servants of God, well done!"
A brief history of the life of John Wesley
ohn Wesley, English theologian and evangelist, was a founder of Methodism.
Wesley was born in the rectory at Epworth, Lincolnshire, on June 17, 1703, the 15th child of the British clergyman Samuel Wesley.
He was educated at Charterhouse School and Christ Church, University of Oxford. He was ordained as a deacon in 1725 and admitted to the priesthood of the Church of England in 1728. For a time John Wesley acted as curate to his father.
In 1729 he went into residence at Oxford as a fellow of Lincoln College. There he joined the Holy Club, a group of students that included his brother Charles Wesley and, later, George Whitefield, who was to become the founder of Calvanistic Methodism.
The club members adhered strictly and methodically to religious precepts and practices, among them visiting prisons and comforting the sick, and were thus derisively called "methodists" by their schoolmates.
John Wesley's Oxford days introduced him not only to the rich tradition of classical literature and philosophy but also to spiritual classics like Thomas À Kempis's Imitation of Christ, Jeremy Taylor's Holy Living and Dying, and William Law's Serious Call.
In 1735 Wesley went to Georgia as an Anglican missionary. On the ship to Savannah he met some German Moravians, whose simple evangelical piety greatly impressed him. He continued to associate with them while in Georgia and translated some of their hymns into English. Except for this association, Wesley's American experience was a failure.
On his return to England in 1738, he again sought out the Moravians; while attending one of their meetings in Aldersgate St., London, on May 24, 1738, he experienced a religious awakening that profoundly convinced him that salvation was possible for every person through faith in Jesus Christ alone. After this spiritual conversion he devoted his life to evangelism.
In March 1739, George Whitefield, who had met with great success as an evangelist in Bristol, urged Wesley to join him in his endeavors. Despite his initial opposition to preaching outside the church, Wesley preached an open-air sermon on April 2, and the enthusiastic reaction of his audience convinced him that open-air preaching was the most effective way to reach the masses. Few pulpits would be open to him in any case, for the Anglican church frowned on revivalism.
Wesley attracted immense crowds virtually from the outset of his evangelical career. His success also was due, in part, to the fact that contemporary England was ready for a revivalist movement; the Anglican church was seemingly unable to offer the kind of personal faith that people craved. Thus Wesley's emphasis on inner religion and his assurance that each person was accepted as a child of God had a tremendous popular appeal.
On May 1, 1739, Wesley and a group of his followers, meeting in a shop on West St., London, formed the first Methodist society. Two similar organizations were established in Bristol the same month. Late in 1739 the London society began to meet in a building called the Foundry, which served as the headquarters of Methodism for many years.
With the growth of the Methodist movement, the need for tighter organization became acute. In 1742 the societies were divided into classes, with a leader for each class. These class meetings contributed greatly to the success of the movement, but equally important were their leaders, many of whom Wesley designated lay preachers. Wesley called the first conference of Methodist leaders in 1744, and conferences were held annually thereafter.
In 1751, at the age of 48, Wesley married Mary Vazeille, a widow with four children. The marriage was not successful, and she finally left him; Wesley had no children of his own.
Wesley's thought was based on an Arminian interpretation of the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England but emphasized personal experience of conversion, assurance, and sanctification. He held to the doctrines of original sin, the atoning work of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, and the Trinity. These were the objective ground of the subjective appropriation of salvation. Justification was by faith alone, with good works as the testimony and test of faith and therefore a condition of final salvation. New birth through the Holy Spirit was the beginning of sanctification, which was to be brought to a "Christian perfection" of entire love towards God and neighbor. He believed in the universal sufficiency and scope of Christ's work, which restores to every man a measure of free will that allows him to accept the gospel and do its works.
Wesley discarded many tenets of the Church of England, including the doctrine of the apostolic succession (the maintenance of an unbroken line of succession of bishops of the Christian church beginning with St. Peter), but he never voiced any intention of establishing the movement as a new church. His actions made separation inevitable, however.
In 1784 he issued the deed of declaration, which provided rules and regulations for the guidance of the Methodist societies. The same year he appointed his aide Thomas Coke, an Anglican clergyman, a superintendent of the Methodist organization in the U.S., empowering him to administer the sacraments; other ordinations followed. Ordination represented the biggest step in the direction of a break with the Anglican church. Separation did not take place, however, until after Wesley's death.
Wesley was deeply concerned with the intellectual, economic, and physical well-being of the masses. He was also a prolific writer on a wide variety of historical and religious subjects. His books were sold cheaply, so that even the poor could afford to buy them; thus he did much to improve the reading habits of the general public. He aided debtors and those trying to establish businesses and founded medical dispensaries. He opposed slavery and was interested in social reform movements of all kinds.
Wesley compiled 23 collections of hymns, edited a monthly magazine, translated Greek, Latin, and Hebrew works, and edited, under the title The Christian's Pattern, Kempis's Imitation of Christ. His personal Journal (1735-90) is outstanding for the frank exposition of his spiritual development.
In the latter years of his life the hostility of the Anglican church to Methodism had virtually disappeared, and Wesley was greatly admired. He died March 2, 1791, and was buried in the graveyard of City Road Chapel, London. In Westminster Abbey is a memorial plaque inscribed with his name.
References:
1996 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, Copyright 1996 Grolier Interactive, Inc.
Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia, Copyright 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation.
The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Modern Christian Thought, ed. Alister E. McGrath, Copyright 1993 Blackwell Publishers Ltd.
Wesley was born in the rectory at Epworth, Lincolnshire, on June 17, 1703, the 15th child of the British clergyman Samuel Wesley.
He was educated at Charterhouse School and Christ Church, University of Oxford. He was ordained as a deacon in 1725 and admitted to the priesthood of the Church of England in 1728. For a time John Wesley acted as curate to his father.
In 1729 he went into residence at Oxford as a fellow of Lincoln College. There he joined the Holy Club, a group of students that included his brother Charles Wesley and, later, George Whitefield, who was to become the founder of Calvanistic Methodism.
The club members adhered strictly and methodically to religious precepts and practices, among them visiting prisons and comforting the sick, and were thus derisively called "methodists" by their schoolmates.
John Wesley's Oxford days introduced him not only to the rich tradition of classical literature and philosophy but also to spiritual classics like Thomas À Kempis's Imitation of Christ, Jeremy Taylor's Holy Living and Dying, and William Law's Serious Call.
In 1735 Wesley went to Georgia as an Anglican missionary. On the ship to Savannah he met some German Moravians, whose simple evangelical piety greatly impressed him. He continued to associate with them while in Georgia and translated some of their hymns into English. Except for this association, Wesley's American experience was a failure.
On his return to England in 1738, he again sought out the Moravians; while attending one of their meetings in Aldersgate St., London, on May 24, 1738, he experienced a religious awakening that profoundly convinced him that salvation was possible for every person through faith in Jesus Christ alone. After this spiritual conversion he devoted his life to evangelism.
In March 1739, George Whitefield, who had met with great success as an evangelist in Bristol, urged Wesley to join him in his endeavors. Despite his initial opposition to preaching outside the church, Wesley preached an open-air sermon on April 2, and the enthusiastic reaction of his audience convinced him that open-air preaching was the most effective way to reach the masses. Few pulpits would be open to him in any case, for the Anglican church frowned on revivalism.
Wesley attracted immense crowds virtually from the outset of his evangelical career. His success also was due, in part, to the fact that contemporary England was ready for a revivalist movement; the Anglican church was seemingly unable to offer the kind of personal faith that people craved. Thus Wesley's emphasis on inner religion and his assurance that each person was accepted as a child of God had a tremendous popular appeal.
On May 1, 1739, Wesley and a group of his followers, meeting in a shop on West St., London, formed the first Methodist society. Two similar organizations were established in Bristol the same month. Late in 1739 the London society began to meet in a building called the Foundry, which served as the headquarters of Methodism for many years.
With the growth of the Methodist movement, the need for tighter organization became acute. In 1742 the societies were divided into classes, with a leader for each class. These class meetings contributed greatly to the success of the movement, but equally important were their leaders, many of whom Wesley designated lay preachers. Wesley called the first conference of Methodist leaders in 1744, and conferences were held annually thereafter.
In 1751, at the age of 48, Wesley married Mary Vazeille, a widow with four children. The marriage was not successful, and she finally left him; Wesley had no children of his own.
Wesley's thought was based on an Arminian interpretation of the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England but emphasized personal experience of conversion, assurance, and sanctification. He held to the doctrines of original sin, the atoning work of Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit, and the Trinity. These were the objective ground of the subjective appropriation of salvation. Justification was by faith alone, with good works as the testimony and test of faith and therefore a condition of final salvation. New birth through the Holy Spirit was the beginning of sanctification, which was to be brought to a "Christian perfection" of entire love towards God and neighbor. He believed in the universal sufficiency and scope of Christ's work, which restores to every man a measure of free will that allows him to accept the gospel and do its works.
Wesley discarded many tenets of the Church of England, including the doctrine of the apostolic succession (the maintenance of an unbroken line of succession of bishops of the Christian church beginning with St. Peter), but he never voiced any intention of establishing the movement as a new church. His actions made separation inevitable, however.
In 1784 he issued the deed of declaration, which provided rules and regulations for the guidance of the Methodist societies. The same year he appointed his aide Thomas Coke, an Anglican clergyman, a superintendent of the Methodist organization in the U.S., empowering him to administer the sacraments; other ordinations followed. Ordination represented the biggest step in the direction of a break with the Anglican church. Separation did not take place, however, until after Wesley's death.
Wesley was deeply concerned with the intellectual, economic, and physical well-being of the masses. He was also a prolific writer on a wide variety of historical and religious subjects. His books were sold cheaply, so that even the poor could afford to buy them; thus he did much to improve the reading habits of the general public. He aided debtors and those trying to establish businesses and founded medical dispensaries. He opposed slavery and was interested in social reform movements of all kinds.
Wesley compiled 23 collections of hymns, edited a monthly magazine, translated Greek, Latin, and Hebrew works, and edited, under the title The Christian's Pattern, Kempis's Imitation of Christ. His personal Journal (1735-90) is outstanding for the frank exposition of his spiritual development.
In the latter years of his life the hostility of the Anglican church to Methodism had virtually disappeared, and Wesley was greatly admired. He died March 2, 1791, and was buried in the graveyard of City Road Chapel, London. In Westminster Abbey is a memorial plaque inscribed with his name.
References:
1996 Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, Copyright 1996 Grolier Interactive, Inc.
Microsoft Encarta 98 Encyclopedia, Copyright 1993-1997 Microsoft Corporation.
The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Modern Christian Thought, ed. Alister E. McGrath, Copyright 1993 Blackwell Publishers Ltd.
The Weapons of Our Warfare
THE WORLD HAS GONE MAD WITH VIOLENCE. I don’t need to say much about this, for violence of every kind known to man is in the news daily.
It appears, even among the Church-crowd, that sending our young boys and girls off to war is permissible, even honorable. Even if the war or wars are politically motivated by greedy and wicked men/women, we must stand for “our country”—so goes the reply. I realize this is a sticky subject, but my question is this: “Why haven’t you sent your girls and boys off to fight in the name of the Gospel? Why haven’t you moms and dads sent your sons and daughters to foreign fields to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord? Since when is any carnal kingdom more important than the Kingdom of God?”
I realize why the non-Christian may respond affirmatively to the carnal “call to arms”, for they know not the way of the Lord; but we Christians do know His way, or at least we ought to.
Parents will let their beloved children join the armed services and go to war with the intent of killing the enemy . . . but why haven’t your kids been trained up to go, say, to Iraq, TO SPREAD THE WORDS OF LIFE to the Muslims?
If the weapons of our warfare are NOT carnal, dear Christians, (read II Corinthians 10:3-6,) why pick up carnal weapons before you even go to the spiritual battlefields of this world with the sword of the Spirit (see Ephesians 6)? The world’s armed services have their place in this fallen world (I once was a soldier!), but as soldiers of Christ, we ought to wage the war for souls first, at least.
What are the motives that compel people to go off to (carnal) war? Are they noble? Are they Godly? Is God behind such wars? We don’t even have to pray about God’s warfare—whether or not it is right—for His warfare is to bring men and women into the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
If our faith means nothing to us, why go off into a foreign (or local) field and tell it to others? Maybe this is why we Christians are failing in our missionary offensives: our faith really means nothing to us. What do you think? Could it be that our mission motives, true mission motives, have not struck too deeply into our own hearts, and so our faith can’t be transmitted aggressively to the innumerable individuals lost in sin? Let me put it another way: THE MISSIONARY MOTIVE WILL NOT STRIKE FORCIBLY IN THE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT ENTERED DEEPLY INTO SPIRITUAL REALITIES. Churches today have hundreds of thousands of young people who are never taught the value of the Gospel. They have been raised on MTV and junk food. Yet if Uncle Sam sounds the battle cry, many will still respond with pride...go off to war...kill or be killed! How very sad.
You see, the Gospel of Jesus Christ seeks people’s good, not their gold (like political wars do). Also, the Gospel endeavors to transfer the New and Living Way of Christ to others whereas our Western culture seeks to transfer the Western culture to others. Some of the rottenness this country has exported ought to shame all of us! Would the U.S. Government ever spend $$$ on exporting the true teachings of Christ? Would this government send missionaries to the front lines instead of mercenaries—armed soldiers/sailors/airmen? Someone tell me, has the U.S. Government ever done this? I’m talking about a government-sponsored Christian army of young people. I found out early in my missionary undertakings that even churches from the West are more interested in transplanting “Americanism” than true Christianity to the rest of the world. Denominations were, for the most part, interested in “aggrandizing their ecclesiastical organizations” thru worldly means, not in fulfilling Christ thru spiritual means. Such motives do not actuate the true Christian Gospel.
If Christians would wage the war against the “Big Four” (see Ephesians 6:12), I believe we would see less natural wars and less spiritual failures within the Church itself.
The Bible speaks about two kinds of war: natural war and spiritual war. James 4:1 asks, “From whence come wars and fightings among you?” I believe both kinds of war are caused in the same way. James says, “Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?” Verse 2 is very explicit: “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not...”
The NIV uses the word “covet”. Coveting is lusting for something that is not yours. Is not this trait common among all men? Men desire, lust, and covet recognition, honor, glory, power, pleasure, money, material things, etc. Are not all wars—natural and spiritual—rooted in the above? Self-centered conflicts are created, nationally or individually, by wanting something we do not have.
Why should born-again believers—abiding in the Prince of Peace!—who are called to live a pure, peaceable, quiet life, in all godliness and honesty, go off and join in in the carnal wartime hysteria of HATRED, REVENGE, and RETALIATION? These things are of the world. It is one thing to be drafted (as was common in my day of the Viet Nam War era) and another to freely join up. The Bible never tells us to break God’s higher laws. To be honest, the U.S. Government breaks ALL of God’s moral laws and more.
Our supreme allegiance is to God FIRST, to country second. We must be careful not to break His laws while obeying the laws of the land. Sadly, national patriotism teaches otherwise. To me it would be extremely hard, as a Christian, to hate and kill other peoples and races when the Bible clearly tells us to love. This Biblical love will compel us to share the love of Christ with the enemy! We are constrained to share the Gospel with all men of all races, creeds, and colors; and this duty is not abrogated by war, as the politicians and military would have us to believe.
It should be the Christians’ goal to promote peace and goodwill in Christ among all nations, if possible. I do realize that some, like the current jihadists, are bent on destruction, and it is up to the worldly civil government to deal with this threat. We here do our best to expose the Islamic concept of jihad, but we definitely seek NOT to kill Muslims, for we want them to get saved; and self-defense is in the hands of God and our consciences. What a Christian does in these matters is between him and God. This does not make one a coward but a conscientious soldier of Christ.
It would do church organizations well today if they sincerely laid themselves out before the Living God for His evaluation of their conduct and works . It is pretty easy to compare our Christian merits alongside non-Christian merits, but are we really like Jesus? Do we take our Christian warfare seriously? or do we exalt the world’s callings and standards far above His? Whatever other faiths and governments may possess, they do not have Christ, and He and He alone is the Supreme Value of true Christianity.
Yes, we Christians alone have Christ, the only Savior of the world. Therefore, the tragic need of this dark world—its startling physical, mental, and spiritual need—brings an urgent appeal that constitutes a high, holy, and noble motive for genuine Christian missions—CHRISTIAN RESCUE MISSIONS. Paul the Apostle made these strong, appealing statements: “I have often purposed to come unto you, but have been prevented . . . I AM A DEBTOR to the Greeks and to the Barbarians, to the wise and to the foolish. Therefore I AM EAGER TO PREACH the Gospel to you that are in Rome” (Romans 1:13-15). This same Apostle instructs us to “Fight the good fight of faith” (I Timothy 6:12), using the Greek word “agon”, meaning “contest, struggle, battle”. Paul sees the Christian life as a fight, an intense struggle that requires unwavered persevering in loyalty to his Captain in the war, Christ Jesus. So, engaging in Christian warfare means that we must vigorously contend with real adversaries of the Gospel (inside and outside of us). ALL Christians are called to defend the Gospel in whatever occupation God has called them unto.
Jesus told the Apostle Peter that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it [i.e., the Church, the Ekklesia, the Body of Christ , the ‘called out’ ones]” (Matthew 16:18). Just what did Jesus mean? Is HELL a closed and barred place that the Army of God must assault if its gates are to be broken? Is it the intended role of the Army of God to eternally take itself into earth’s Hells rather than shutting its own gates/doors to keep HELL from pressing into the Christians’ guarded palace? Can a church (congregation) truly survive—to say nothing of fulfilling our Christian mission and commission—without a ceaseless FORWARD, AGGRESSIVE movement into the world’s HELLS or into outer edges of some HELL?
Christian, are you willing to “GO” and “PREACH” the Gospel to people who have never heard? I believe the biggest reason why more churchgoers are not activated (put into real Spirit-led action!) is because the Church itself utterly fails in its transmission of Spirit to spirit. The Church wants to entertain the “saints”, not proclaim Jesus as Lord!
We cannot learn about true compassion, about real spiritual warfare, or about Godly love by intellect alone. NO! We need what some mystics call “a noetic quality”, signifying “a direct apprehension of God that is its own proof.” This is what I would call “the baptism in the Holy Spirit experience”—a genuine quality of Spirit-life that comes only by having actual personal contact with the Spirit. This experience is what countless churchites never have. They say all we need is the Bible ALONE, leaving out the “vital ingredient”—the personal working of the Holy Spirit.
We need personal interaction with the Spirit in spiritual warfare. Book knowledge is fine, but WE NEED EXPERIENCE. What would an army be like if all the enlistees ever did was go to class, study warfare manuals and listen to their instructors day after day, week after week, month after month, but never actually picked up a weapon and learned how to use it? I’d pity those “soldiers” in the day of battle!
We have too many “learned” teachers and students today that have never had a personal experience with God the Son or the Holy Ghost. When I was in the church scene, being trained for the ministry (1972-1977), I learned a lot of necessary things by Bible and book, but experiencing my Christianity by actually “going into all the world” has so much more enriched me.
The missionary idea is good, for it carries “the corollary of love and human service”, but reading a book about missionaries is not the same as living the missionary life. Indeed, real missionary work is necessary. After all, missions is not a human invention but a God-ordained one. “Human brotherhood” must be realized in all this—all of us came from Adam and Eve; sin has corrupted all humanity; therefore, we must love our neighbor as ourself (and thus spread the Gospel to ALL!). Our taking the Gospel to ALL the world displays the very intent and nature of God as Father. Sinners are lost brothers and sisters in one sense.
When the missionary spirit burns low in the Church, when soldiering for the Lord is put on hold or stopped altogether, when sacrificial love for the extension of the Kingdom of God is not strikingly present, and when food, fun and worldly fellowship have become the Church’s central themes, the Church is in desperate, dire need of REPENTANCE! When ministers weep over failing finances and not over lost souls (including fallen and falling churchgoers!), we have lost out with God. American churches once accepted the genuine Christian way. Christian schools, colleges, and training centers were built all across this land. Many people went to foreign fields at young ages. Old folks prayed, fasted, and sacrificed to see the Gospel promoted. Churches were even packed with multitudes who’d come to hear a missionary speak.
All this has been changed, dear friends. Worldliness has eaten out the stalwart backbone of the once militant Church of Christ. Now missions consist of 2-3 week vacations for young people to go and show off their new worldly clothes, their latest CD’s of rock/rap/rave music, and display their LACK of holiness and sincere Godliness!!!
Materialism has literally paralyzed our missionary efforts. Sin of every kind resides inside the churches EVERYWHERE. Pride of life, the “American Dream”, has turned into a nightmare. Now we can just sing (to the loud rock-and-roll music) about spiritual warfare and about knowing ol’ J.C. (Jesus Christ in slang!). We don’t have to fast, but just feast in filth. The ministers don’t have to pray, they prey on their members for $$$$$ to keep their shows going. We don’t have to seek God, for we now seek god!
It appears, even among the Church-crowd, that sending our young boys and girls off to war is permissible, even honorable. Even if the war or wars are politically motivated by greedy and wicked men/women, we must stand for “our country”—so goes the reply. I realize this is a sticky subject, but my question is this: “Why haven’t you sent your girls and boys off to fight in the name of the Gospel? Why haven’t you moms and dads sent your sons and daughters to foreign fields to proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord? Since when is any carnal kingdom more important than the Kingdom of God?”
I realize why the non-Christian may respond affirmatively to the carnal “call to arms”, for they know not the way of the Lord; but we Christians do know His way, or at least we ought to.
Parents will let their beloved children join the armed services and go to war with the intent of killing the enemy . . . but why haven’t your kids been trained up to go, say, to Iraq, TO SPREAD THE WORDS OF LIFE to the Muslims?
If the weapons of our warfare are NOT carnal, dear Christians, (read II Corinthians 10:3-6,) why pick up carnal weapons before you even go to the spiritual battlefields of this world with the sword of the Spirit (see Ephesians 6)? The world’s armed services have their place in this fallen world (I once was a soldier!), but as soldiers of Christ, we ought to wage the war for souls first, at least.
What are the motives that compel people to go off to (carnal) war? Are they noble? Are they Godly? Is God behind such wars? We don’t even have to pray about God’s warfare—whether or not it is right—for His warfare is to bring men and women into the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
If our faith means nothing to us, why go off into a foreign (or local) field and tell it to others? Maybe this is why we Christians are failing in our missionary offensives: our faith really means nothing to us. What do you think? Could it be that our mission motives, true mission motives, have not struck too deeply into our own hearts, and so our faith can’t be transmitted aggressively to the innumerable individuals lost in sin? Let me put it another way: THE MISSIONARY MOTIVE WILL NOT STRIKE FORCIBLY IN THE INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS NOT ENTERED DEEPLY INTO SPIRITUAL REALITIES. Churches today have hundreds of thousands of young people who are never taught the value of the Gospel. They have been raised on MTV and junk food. Yet if Uncle Sam sounds the battle cry, many will still respond with pride...go off to war...kill or be killed! How very sad.
You see, the Gospel of Jesus Christ seeks people’s good, not their gold (like political wars do). Also, the Gospel endeavors to transfer the New and Living Way of Christ to others whereas our Western culture seeks to transfer the Western culture to others. Some of the rottenness this country has exported ought to shame all of us! Would the U.S. Government ever spend $$$ on exporting the true teachings of Christ? Would this government send missionaries to the front lines instead of mercenaries—armed soldiers/sailors/airmen? Someone tell me, has the U.S. Government ever done this? I’m talking about a government-sponsored Christian army of young people. I found out early in my missionary undertakings that even churches from the West are more interested in transplanting “Americanism” than true Christianity to the rest of the world. Denominations were, for the most part, interested in “aggrandizing their ecclesiastical organizations” thru worldly means, not in fulfilling Christ thru spiritual means. Such motives do not actuate the true Christian Gospel.
If Christians would wage the war against the “Big Four” (see Ephesians 6:12), I believe we would see less natural wars and less spiritual failures within the Church itself.
The Bible speaks about two kinds of war: natural war and spiritual war. James 4:1 asks, “From whence come wars and fightings among you?” I believe both kinds of war are caused in the same way. James says, “Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?” Verse 2 is very explicit: “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not...”
The NIV uses the word “covet”. Coveting is lusting for something that is not yours. Is not this trait common among all men? Men desire, lust, and covet recognition, honor, glory, power, pleasure, money, material things, etc. Are not all wars—natural and spiritual—rooted in the above? Self-centered conflicts are created, nationally or individually, by wanting something we do not have.
Why should born-again believers—abiding in the Prince of Peace!—who are called to live a pure, peaceable, quiet life, in all godliness and honesty, go off and join in in the carnal wartime hysteria of HATRED, REVENGE, and RETALIATION? These things are of the world. It is one thing to be drafted (as was common in my day of the Viet Nam War era) and another to freely join up. The Bible never tells us to break God’s higher laws. To be honest, the U.S. Government breaks ALL of God’s moral laws and more.
Our supreme allegiance is to God FIRST, to country second. We must be careful not to break His laws while obeying the laws of the land. Sadly, national patriotism teaches otherwise. To me it would be extremely hard, as a Christian, to hate and kill other peoples and races when the Bible clearly tells us to love. This Biblical love will compel us to share the love of Christ with the enemy! We are constrained to share the Gospel with all men of all races, creeds, and colors; and this duty is not abrogated by war, as the politicians and military would have us to believe.
It should be the Christians’ goal to promote peace and goodwill in Christ among all nations, if possible. I do realize that some, like the current jihadists, are bent on destruction, and it is up to the worldly civil government to deal with this threat. We here do our best to expose the Islamic concept of jihad, but we definitely seek NOT to kill Muslims, for we want them to get saved; and self-defense is in the hands of God and our consciences. What a Christian does in these matters is between him and God. This does not make one a coward but a conscientious soldier of Christ.
It would do church organizations well today if they sincerely laid themselves out before the Living God for His evaluation of their conduct and works . It is pretty easy to compare our Christian merits alongside non-Christian merits, but are we really like Jesus? Do we take our Christian warfare seriously? or do we exalt the world’s callings and standards far above His? Whatever other faiths and governments may possess, they do not have Christ, and He and He alone is the Supreme Value of true Christianity.
Yes, we Christians alone have Christ, the only Savior of the world. Therefore, the tragic need of this dark world—its startling physical, mental, and spiritual need—brings an urgent appeal that constitutes a high, holy, and noble motive for genuine Christian missions—CHRISTIAN RESCUE MISSIONS. Paul the Apostle made these strong, appealing statements: “I have often purposed to come unto you, but have been prevented . . . I AM A DEBTOR to the Greeks and to the Barbarians, to the wise and to the foolish. Therefore I AM EAGER TO PREACH the Gospel to you that are in Rome” (Romans 1:13-15). This same Apostle instructs us to “Fight the good fight of faith” (I Timothy 6:12), using the Greek word “agon”, meaning “contest, struggle, battle”. Paul sees the Christian life as a fight, an intense struggle that requires unwavered persevering in loyalty to his Captain in the war, Christ Jesus. So, engaging in Christian warfare means that we must vigorously contend with real adversaries of the Gospel (inside and outside of us). ALL Christians are called to defend the Gospel in whatever occupation God has called them unto.
Jesus told the Apostle Peter that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it [i.e., the Church, the Ekklesia, the Body of Christ , the ‘called out’ ones]” (Matthew 16:18). Just what did Jesus mean? Is HELL a closed and barred place that the Army of God must assault if its gates are to be broken? Is it the intended role of the Army of God to eternally take itself into earth’s Hells rather than shutting its own gates/doors to keep HELL from pressing into the Christians’ guarded palace? Can a church (congregation) truly survive—to say nothing of fulfilling our Christian mission and commission—without a ceaseless FORWARD, AGGRESSIVE movement into the world’s HELLS or into outer edges of some HELL?
Christian, are you willing to “GO” and “PREACH” the Gospel to people who have never heard? I believe the biggest reason why more churchgoers are not activated (put into real Spirit-led action!) is because the Church itself utterly fails in its transmission of Spirit to spirit. The Church wants to entertain the “saints”, not proclaim Jesus as Lord!
We cannot learn about true compassion, about real spiritual warfare, or about Godly love by intellect alone. NO! We need what some mystics call “a noetic quality”, signifying “a direct apprehension of God that is its own proof.” This is what I would call “the baptism in the Holy Spirit experience”—a genuine quality of Spirit-life that comes only by having actual personal contact with the Spirit. This experience is what countless churchites never have. They say all we need is the Bible ALONE, leaving out the “vital ingredient”—the personal working of the Holy Spirit.
We need personal interaction with the Spirit in spiritual warfare. Book knowledge is fine, but WE NEED EXPERIENCE. What would an army be like if all the enlistees ever did was go to class, study warfare manuals and listen to their instructors day after day, week after week, month after month, but never actually picked up a weapon and learned how to use it? I’d pity those “soldiers” in the day of battle!
We have too many “learned” teachers and students today that have never had a personal experience with God the Son or the Holy Ghost. When I was in the church scene, being trained for the ministry (1972-1977), I learned a lot of necessary things by Bible and book, but experiencing my Christianity by actually “going into all the world” has so much more enriched me.
The missionary idea is good, for it carries “the corollary of love and human service”, but reading a book about missionaries is not the same as living the missionary life. Indeed, real missionary work is necessary. After all, missions is not a human invention but a God-ordained one. “Human brotherhood” must be realized in all this—all of us came from Adam and Eve; sin has corrupted all humanity; therefore, we must love our neighbor as ourself (and thus spread the Gospel to ALL!). Our taking the Gospel to ALL the world displays the very intent and nature of God as Father. Sinners are lost brothers and sisters in one sense.
When the missionary spirit burns low in the Church, when soldiering for the Lord is put on hold or stopped altogether, when sacrificial love for the extension of the Kingdom of God is not strikingly present, and when food, fun and worldly fellowship have become the Church’s central themes, the Church is in desperate, dire need of REPENTANCE! When ministers weep over failing finances and not over lost souls (including fallen and falling churchgoers!), we have lost out with God. American churches once accepted the genuine Christian way. Christian schools, colleges, and training centers were built all across this land. Many people went to foreign fields at young ages. Old folks prayed, fasted, and sacrificed to see the Gospel promoted. Churches were even packed with multitudes who’d come to hear a missionary speak.
All this has been changed, dear friends. Worldliness has eaten out the stalwart backbone of the once militant Church of Christ. Now missions consist of 2-3 week vacations for young people to go and show off their new worldly clothes, their latest CD’s of rock/rap/rave music, and display their LACK of holiness and sincere Godliness!!!
Materialism has literally paralyzed our missionary efforts. Sin of every kind resides inside the churches EVERYWHERE. Pride of life, the “American Dream”, has turned into a nightmare. Now we can just sing (to the loud rock-and-roll music) about spiritual warfare and about knowing ol’ J.C. (Jesus Christ in slang!). We don’t have to fast, but just feast in filth. The ministers don’t have to pray, they prey on their members for $$$$$ to keep their shows going. We don’t have to seek God, for we now seek god!
At War Against The BIG 4
"Leave no room or foothold for the devil-give no opportunity to him."
Ephesians 4:27 (Amp.)
"Neither give place to the devil."
Ephesians 4:27 (KJV)
The Objective of war is to defeat the enemy. How one goes about the process varies from strategy to strategy, from tactic to tactic. But one thing is evident, we are never to leave an unguarded or vulnerable place open for the enemy. As Christian soldiers our war is against the MIGHTY FOUR: Principalities, Powers, Rulers of darkness, and Wicked spirits in high places. (Eph. 6:12)
As the Amplified Bible states: "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood --contending with only physical opponents-- but against the despotism, against the powers, against the master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of the wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere."
All wars that occur have their counter part in the spirit dimension. Wars are started, fought, won or lost because of the workings of the Big Four. If those who belonged to the carnal military organizations around the world would read the Bible, they would discover that they are being used as nothing more than dupes and puppets to act out the devil's desire to KILL, STEAL AND DESTROY! They would discover that the way God fights, through prayer and spiritual warfare, is how the real battles are won. They would discover that God has wisdom far greater than the generals at the planning tables. True, because of the sinful, greedy, rebellious nature of mankind, physical wars, with all the death and destruction they bring, are bound to be with us until Jesus Christ ends the carnage. Yet each person is ultimately accountable for their actions, and it is far better to join the army that sheds no blood and fight in the spirit to save souls than to maime, murder and destroy fellow human beings for the sake of nationalism, patriotism or because you were "paid to".
It's quite foolish to see professing Christians loitering around without their armor or weapons. While they claim to be soldiers of the cross, in reality they are prisoners of the devil--obeying his subtle commands (sometimes not so subtle). We are never to leave a place for the devil, for he is always on a "search and destroy" campaign. He probes our defenses, looking for that empty moment, the unoccupied post of duty, in which he can penetrate and begin his covert work. Our only safety is to fill everything we are with holy purposes and achievement dedicated to God. We must be so full of God's spirit power that there is no room left for our enemy. How foolish it would be for a company commander in a kill zone not to place a defense perimeter around his occupied encampment. Yet we, in the most deadly war of all, many times fail to keep our guard up, therefore giving a place to the enemy of our souls. How many Christians do you know that are standing, watching, and guarding their territory for our Captain Jesus Christ? We must hang our heads in shame for all the fraternizing that Christians do with the enemy camp--the world, demons, and the flesh.
When we fail or delay the performance of a duty we are giving place to the devil. When we say to the lord in answer to his command, "Allow me to first go and. . ." we are offering an unfulfilled, unguarded place to the devil. Satan loves it when Christians procrastinate and delay in obeying God's commands, just as a natural soldier loves the delay and hesitation of his opponent in real war. Many times the enemy uses the strategy of "peace talks". He gets the other side to cease fire while all the time he works covertly to build up his forces, resupply them, and make new plans of attack. Little do we realize that in our vacant hours, our cease fire hours, our enemy strengthens himself during our reluctance to take the offensive. Peace talks with the enemy is none other than reinforcement for the devil's side. The awful shape of our church today bears this out.
When we perform our duties halfheartedly, we offer the other half as a place for the devil. He loves the halfhearted, the compromising, the fun and games professing Christian. They offer only a little resistance in the war against sin. A quasi soldier always offers chances to the devil, who then moves in for the kill. Churches all across America are literally full of halfhearted Christians, the compromising, professing soldiers who are easy prey for the Big Four. In fact, they bear more resemblance to Boy Scout clubs, rather than Christian soldier training camps. Their pastors are like Scout Masters, more concerned with social events and outings than with rasing up warriors for Christ.
When any of us who recognize the threat, stop resisting the attacks of the enemy, we give them an easy victory. Not only a victory but we put the name of God to open shame. Have you ever met a person who has been invaded by demons and all uncleanness and that same person once confessed Christ? Could such a thing have been prevented? Of course, but only by continuously filling their post of duty, contending for their faith, and giving no place to the enemy. (Eph. 6:12)
1) PRINCIPALITIES.
THIS GREEK WORD IS USED TO DESCRIBE THINGS IN A SERIES: MAGISTRATES, RULERS AND LEADERS. A SERIES OF RULERS OR LEADERS DESCRIBES THEIR RANK AND ORGANIZATION. THE ENGLISH WORD "PRINCIPALITY" IS DEFINED AS, "THE TERRITORY OF JURISDICTION", OR, "THE PRINCE OF THAT COUNTRY THAT GIVES TITLE TO A PRINCE". DEMONS ARE ASSIGNED OTHER VARIOUS NATIONS, STATES AND CITIES.
2) POWERS.
THE GREEK WORD FOR "POWERS" IS TRANSLATED AS "AUTHORITIES". DEMONS WHO ARE SET OVER TERRITORIES ARE GIVEN AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT ORDERS GIVEN BY SATAN.
3) RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD.
THE WORD IN GREEK FOR "WORLD RULERS" IS TRANSLATED "LORDS OF THE WORLD" OR "PRINCES OF THE AGES". THIS EMPHASIZES THE ENEMIE'S INTENTION TO CONTROL.
4) SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES.
THE KEY WORD IS "WICKEDNESS", WHICH SUGGESTS THAT WHICH IS DESTRUCTIVE AND INJURIOUS IN CHARACTER.
THERE ARE MANY WAYS THAT SATAN WARS AGAINST US, BUT HIS PRIMARY TACTIC IS TO BEGIN WHERE HE STRUCK ADAM AND EVE, IN THE MIND. THE MIND IS WHERE SATAN STRIKES US THE HARDEST USING "IMAGINATIONS, ARGUMENTS, THEORIES, REASONINGS AND EVERY PROUD AND LOFTY THING THAT SETS ITSELF AGAINST THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD". (II COR. 10:5)
THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HE IS GOD AND THAT HIS WORD IS TRUE. IF SATAN CAN GET THE CHRISTIAN TO LOOK AT PEOPLE, AND SELF INSTEAD OF GOD AND HIS WORD, THEY WILL THEN BE MORE RECEPTIVE TO HIS THOUGHTS OF FEAR, WORRY, SELF-PITY, DOUBT, ANGER ETC. UNTIL WE ALL LOSE OUT WITH GOD. THROUGH THESE SUBTLE ATTACKS UPON OUR THOUGHT LIFE WE BECOME MORE VULNERABLE TO SIN, SICKNESS, DEFEAT, UNHAPPINESS OR OTHER KINDS OF UNPLEASANT SPIRITUAL FORCES. SATAN'S PRIME OBJECTIVE IS TO BRING US INTO A PLACE OF COMPROMISE WITH THE WORLD, THE FLESH OR HIMSELF THAT WE MAY BECOME WEAK AND INEFFECTUAL IN OUR BATTLE AGAINST HIS KINGDOM.
Ephesians 4:27 (Amp.)
"Neither give place to the devil."
Ephesians 4:27 (KJV)
The Objective of war is to defeat the enemy. How one goes about the process varies from strategy to strategy, from tactic to tactic. But one thing is evident, we are never to leave an unguarded or vulnerable place open for the enemy. As Christian soldiers our war is against the MIGHTY FOUR: Principalities, Powers, Rulers of darkness, and Wicked spirits in high places. (Eph. 6:12)
As the Amplified Bible states: "For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood --contending with only physical opponents-- but against the despotism, against the powers, against the master spirits who are the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of the wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere."
All wars that occur have their counter part in the spirit dimension. Wars are started, fought, won or lost because of the workings of the Big Four. If those who belonged to the carnal military organizations around the world would read the Bible, they would discover that they are being used as nothing more than dupes and puppets to act out the devil's desire to KILL, STEAL AND DESTROY! They would discover that the way God fights, through prayer and spiritual warfare, is how the real battles are won. They would discover that God has wisdom far greater than the generals at the planning tables. True, because of the sinful, greedy, rebellious nature of mankind, physical wars, with all the death and destruction they bring, are bound to be with us until Jesus Christ ends the carnage. Yet each person is ultimately accountable for their actions, and it is far better to join the army that sheds no blood and fight in the spirit to save souls than to maime, murder and destroy fellow human beings for the sake of nationalism, patriotism or because you were "paid to".
It's quite foolish to see professing Christians loitering around without their armor or weapons. While they claim to be soldiers of the cross, in reality they are prisoners of the devil--obeying his subtle commands (sometimes not so subtle). We are never to leave a place for the devil, for he is always on a "search and destroy" campaign. He probes our defenses, looking for that empty moment, the unoccupied post of duty, in which he can penetrate and begin his covert work. Our only safety is to fill everything we are with holy purposes and achievement dedicated to God. We must be so full of God's spirit power that there is no room left for our enemy. How foolish it would be for a company commander in a kill zone not to place a defense perimeter around his occupied encampment. Yet we, in the most deadly war of all, many times fail to keep our guard up, therefore giving a place to the enemy of our souls. How many Christians do you know that are standing, watching, and guarding their territory for our Captain Jesus Christ? We must hang our heads in shame for all the fraternizing that Christians do with the enemy camp--the world, demons, and the flesh.
When we fail or delay the performance of a duty we are giving place to the devil. When we say to the lord in answer to his command, "Allow me to first go and. . ." we are offering an unfulfilled, unguarded place to the devil. Satan loves it when Christians procrastinate and delay in obeying God's commands, just as a natural soldier loves the delay and hesitation of his opponent in real war. Many times the enemy uses the strategy of "peace talks". He gets the other side to cease fire while all the time he works covertly to build up his forces, resupply them, and make new plans of attack. Little do we realize that in our vacant hours, our cease fire hours, our enemy strengthens himself during our reluctance to take the offensive. Peace talks with the enemy is none other than reinforcement for the devil's side. The awful shape of our church today bears this out.
When we perform our duties halfheartedly, we offer the other half as a place for the devil. He loves the halfhearted, the compromising, the fun and games professing Christian. They offer only a little resistance in the war against sin. A quasi soldier always offers chances to the devil, who then moves in for the kill. Churches all across America are literally full of halfhearted Christians, the compromising, professing soldiers who are easy prey for the Big Four. In fact, they bear more resemblance to Boy Scout clubs, rather than Christian soldier training camps. Their pastors are like Scout Masters, more concerned with social events and outings than with rasing up warriors for Christ.
When any of us who recognize the threat, stop resisting the attacks of the enemy, we give them an easy victory. Not only a victory but we put the name of God to open shame. Have you ever met a person who has been invaded by demons and all uncleanness and that same person once confessed Christ? Could such a thing have been prevented? Of course, but only by continuously filling their post of duty, contending for their faith, and giving no place to the enemy. (Eph. 6:12)
1) PRINCIPALITIES.
THIS GREEK WORD IS USED TO DESCRIBE THINGS IN A SERIES: MAGISTRATES, RULERS AND LEADERS. A SERIES OF RULERS OR LEADERS DESCRIBES THEIR RANK AND ORGANIZATION. THE ENGLISH WORD "PRINCIPALITY" IS DEFINED AS, "THE TERRITORY OF JURISDICTION", OR, "THE PRINCE OF THAT COUNTRY THAT GIVES TITLE TO A PRINCE". DEMONS ARE ASSIGNED OTHER VARIOUS NATIONS, STATES AND CITIES.
2) POWERS.
THE GREEK WORD FOR "POWERS" IS TRANSLATED AS "AUTHORITIES". DEMONS WHO ARE SET OVER TERRITORIES ARE GIVEN AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT ORDERS GIVEN BY SATAN.
3) RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD.
THE WORD IN GREEK FOR "WORLD RULERS" IS TRANSLATED "LORDS OF THE WORLD" OR "PRINCES OF THE AGES". THIS EMPHASIZES THE ENEMIE'S INTENTION TO CONTROL.
4) SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS IN HIGH PLACES.
THE KEY WORD IS "WICKEDNESS", WHICH SUGGESTS THAT WHICH IS DESTRUCTIVE AND INJURIOUS IN CHARACTER.
THERE ARE MANY WAYS THAT SATAN WARS AGAINST US, BUT HIS PRIMARY TACTIC IS TO BEGIN WHERE HE STRUCK ADAM AND EVE, IN THE MIND. THE MIND IS WHERE SATAN STRIKES US THE HARDEST USING "IMAGINATIONS, ARGUMENTS, THEORIES, REASONINGS AND EVERY PROUD AND LOFTY THING THAT SETS ITSELF AGAINST THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD". (II COR. 10:5)
THE TRUE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IS THE KNOWLEDGE THAT HE IS GOD AND THAT HIS WORD IS TRUE. IF SATAN CAN GET THE CHRISTIAN TO LOOK AT PEOPLE, AND SELF INSTEAD OF GOD AND HIS WORD, THEY WILL THEN BE MORE RECEPTIVE TO HIS THOUGHTS OF FEAR, WORRY, SELF-PITY, DOUBT, ANGER ETC. UNTIL WE ALL LOSE OUT WITH GOD. THROUGH THESE SUBTLE ATTACKS UPON OUR THOUGHT LIFE WE BECOME MORE VULNERABLE TO SIN, SICKNESS, DEFEAT, UNHAPPINESS OR OTHER KINDS OF UNPLEASANT SPIRITUAL FORCES. SATAN'S PRIME OBJECTIVE IS TO BRING US INTO A PLACE OF COMPROMISE WITH THE WORLD, THE FLESH OR HIMSELF THAT WE MAY BECOME WEAK AND INEFFECTUAL IN OUR BATTLE AGAINST HIS KINGDOM.
THE POWER OF THE BLOOD OF JESUS
iJESUS was the only begotten of the Father (John 1:14) and His body was formed and fashioned wonderfully in the womb of Mary His mother; but the LIFE that was in Jesus Christ came alone from the Father by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, this life which flowed in the veins of the Lord Jesus Christ came from God. No wonder He said, "I am the LIFE." God imparted His own life into the Bloodstream of Jesus. Adamic blood is corrupt and was carried by Mary, who declared that Jesus her Son was "God my Saviour" (Luke 1:47). Mary was the chosen carrier of the body of her Son, but all the Blood came from God. I do not know how many categories of human blood have been catalogued by medical science, but I do know that the "Blood type" of the Lord Jesus Christ was entirely different. The Blood that flowed in His veins was perfect, for it was not contaminated by Adam's sin which brought sin and sickness into human blood.
If Adam had not sinned, he would not have died. But by his sin, he introduced death into the human family. The human body, therefore, became subject to corruption and decay, and death ultimately comes to each one of us. It is at the time of death that the life that is in the blood takes its departure with the spirit and soul of man.
Jesus Christ has no sin in His body, but He allowed Himself to die for the sins of a sinful humanity. He gave the perfect life that was in His perfect Blood to redeem poor mankind who carried death in their bodies -pure Blood for imperfect, contaminated blood. Life for life, for the life is in the blood. This is why Jesus is described as the last Adam. God sent Him to earth in the likeness of sinful Adam, but with pure uncontaminated Blood in his veins. God sent Him so that He might shed that pure Blood of His for the life of humanity. It is highly important for us to understand that the category of Jesus' Blood was different. Peter rightly describes it as "precious blood" (1 Peter 1:19). It is not possible to evaluate the Blood of Jesus by human values. It is priceless. It is God's price for the redemption of the whole human race.
A great miracle takes place when a man trusts in Jesus and accepts Him as his personal Savior. Immediately, a great cleansing takes place, and the sin that is in the blood stream is purged. "For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the Lord dwells in Zion" (Joel 3:21). When we receive Jesus, the Bible declares that the heart is cleansed by the Blood of Jesus. This may be more literal than some would dare to believe. If the sin which is in our blood stream is purged and spiritual filth is washed out, then certainly the very heart which pumps the blood may be spoken of as being cleansed. By the miracle of salvation, we receive both eternal life and the divine health of the Son of God. The greatest disinfectant in the world is the Blood of Jesus Christ. It carries the eternal life of God in it.
In this connection it is interesting to note that Satan's nickname Beelzebub means "Lord of the Flies," or "Prince of the flies." Dead blood will quickly attract to itself flies, which will breed corruption in the coagulation blood; but the Blood of Jesus has exactly the opposite effect: it repulses Beelzebub and all his demons. When you put the Blood of Jesus on something, or place someone or something under the Blood by faith, Satan will flee because the Blood of Jesus is alive. The life is in the Blood. So, do not underestimate the power of the Blood of Jesus. In Leviticus 17, we read, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the BLOOD THAT MAKETH AN ATONEMENT FOR THE SOUL." The Apostle, therefore, made no mistake when he wrote, "Without shedding of blood is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22).
Some people say that it is enough to have just the name of Jesus. But this is not so. We need the Name and the Blood, for the life is in the Blood. There is power in the name of Jesus only because He shed His own Blood and offered it to His Father, who thereupon gave His power and His authority to His Son (Matthew 28:18). This same power and authority is given to all believers (Luke 10:19), but it only becomes operative as we honor His blood.
When Jesus died upon the cross, His own Blood was shed and sprinkled by Himself as God's High Priest on behalf of the people. He was crucified at the time of the feast of the Passover, the feast the Jews kept to remember the time when God said, "When I see the blood I will pass over you" (Exodus 12:23). At the very time when the jews were celebrating the first exodus, Jesus was making atonement for the second exodus. To all who will believe in this sacrifice and the efficacy of His precious Blood, there is an exodus from sin and the penalty of sin, which includes sickness. Jesus sprinkled His own Blood and fulfilled the following types: on the altar (the cross) (Exodus 24:6-8); round about the cross (Exodus 29:12-16); on the High Priest's garments (Exodus 29:20-21). Jesus' Blood was sprinkled seven times (or the number of perfection) (Leviticus 4:6-7); on the bottom of the cross (Leviticus 4:6-7); on the side of the cross (Leviticus 5:9); round about the cross, i.e. on the earth beneath (Leviticus 7:2); sprinkled before the tabernacle seven times (Numbers 19:4). This last was fulfilled in that the cross and the hill of Calvary were within sight of the temple in Jerusalem, for Calvary was outside the city wall. All these Old testament types were fulfilled in the crucifixion of Jesus, who made Himself our Passover, our vicar, our Savior, and our Blood sacrifice. His Blood alone covers our sins.
If we honor the Blood of Jesus Christ, the Father will smile upon us with forgiveness and cleansing. But this must not be a dull theological honoring, but a continual, active and vital embracing of His Blood. We do not offer our own works; we offer only His Blood. When God sees the Blood of His Son, which we offer as our covering, pardon and plea, God does not see our sin at all; He can only see the covering -the Blood. Therefore we understand that "It is the BLOOD that maketh an atonement for the soul" (Leviticus 17:12).
The Life of God is in the Blood of Jesus, thus, we can not be surprised at the strong reactions from demonic spirits. As soon as the Christian takes the precious Blood of Jesus on his tongue and sings it, talks it, or pleads it, the devil gets terribly disturbed. The devil understands the power of the Blood of Jesus, and he has done everything possible to blind Christians to this truth. Many of the people today who are Christians in name only, will have nothing to do with what they call "a slaughterhouse religion." Theirs is a religion without the life of God in it, and the devil has no objection to our participating in this kind of religion. But as soon as we honor the Blood of Jesus IN AN ACTIVE SENSE, we stir up demons to a fever pitch. It is like fire in a hornet's nest.
It is surprising that so little has been taught about the Blood and so little is known about the activity of demon spirits, even within the Christian church. No wise Christian would dare try to cast out demons without faith in the Blood of Jesus. As Christians living in today's exceedingly wicked world our only hope and salvation is by walking continually in the Blood of Jesus. The fact is that Jesus' Blood says something to God. The Blood cries out to God, "Our sin is covered! The penalty is paid!" We are redeemed
If Adam had not sinned, he would not have died. But by his sin, he introduced death into the human family. The human body, therefore, became subject to corruption and decay, and death ultimately comes to each one of us. It is at the time of death that the life that is in the blood takes its departure with the spirit and soul of man.
Jesus Christ has no sin in His body, but He allowed Himself to die for the sins of a sinful humanity. He gave the perfect life that was in His perfect Blood to redeem poor mankind who carried death in their bodies -pure Blood for imperfect, contaminated blood. Life for life, for the life is in the blood. This is why Jesus is described as the last Adam. God sent Him to earth in the likeness of sinful Adam, but with pure uncontaminated Blood in his veins. God sent Him so that He might shed that pure Blood of His for the life of humanity. It is highly important for us to understand that the category of Jesus' Blood was different. Peter rightly describes it as "precious blood" (1 Peter 1:19). It is not possible to evaluate the Blood of Jesus by human values. It is priceless. It is God's price for the redemption of the whole human race.
A great miracle takes place when a man trusts in Jesus and accepts Him as his personal Savior. Immediately, a great cleansing takes place, and the sin that is in the blood stream is purged. "For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the Lord dwells in Zion" (Joel 3:21). When we receive Jesus, the Bible declares that the heart is cleansed by the Blood of Jesus. This may be more literal than some would dare to believe. If the sin which is in our blood stream is purged and spiritual filth is washed out, then certainly the very heart which pumps the blood may be spoken of as being cleansed. By the miracle of salvation, we receive both eternal life and the divine health of the Son of God. The greatest disinfectant in the world is the Blood of Jesus Christ. It carries the eternal life of God in it.
In this connection it is interesting to note that Satan's nickname Beelzebub means "Lord of the Flies," or "Prince of the flies." Dead blood will quickly attract to itself flies, which will breed corruption in the coagulation blood; but the Blood of Jesus has exactly the opposite effect: it repulses Beelzebub and all his demons. When you put the Blood of Jesus on something, or place someone or something under the Blood by faith, Satan will flee because the Blood of Jesus is alive. The life is in the Blood. So, do not underestimate the power of the Blood of Jesus. In Leviticus 17, we read, "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the BLOOD THAT MAKETH AN ATONEMENT FOR THE SOUL." The Apostle, therefore, made no mistake when he wrote, "Without shedding of blood is no remission" (Hebrews 9:22).
Some people say that it is enough to have just the name of Jesus. But this is not so. We need the Name and the Blood, for the life is in the Blood. There is power in the name of Jesus only because He shed His own Blood and offered it to His Father, who thereupon gave His power and His authority to His Son (Matthew 28:18). This same power and authority is given to all believers (Luke 10:19), but it only becomes operative as we honor His blood.
When Jesus died upon the cross, His own Blood was shed and sprinkled by Himself as God's High Priest on behalf of the people. He was crucified at the time of the feast of the Passover, the feast the Jews kept to remember the time when God said, "When I see the blood I will pass over you" (Exodus 12:23). At the very time when the jews were celebrating the first exodus, Jesus was making atonement for the second exodus. To all who will believe in this sacrifice and the efficacy of His precious Blood, there is an exodus from sin and the penalty of sin, which includes sickness. Jesus sprinkled His own Blood and fulfilled the following types: on the altar (the cross) (Exodus 24:6-8); round about the cross (Exodus 29:12-16); on the High Priest's garments (Exodus 29:20-21). Jesus' Blood was sprinkled seven times (or the number of perfection) (Leviticus 4:6-7); on the bottom of the cross (Leviticus 4:6-7); on the side of the cross (Leviticus 5:9); round about the cross, i.e. on the earth beneath (Leviticus 7:2); sprinkled before the tabernacle seven times (Numbers 19:4). This last was fulfilled in that the cross and the hill of Calvary were within sight of the temple in Jerusalem, for Calvary was outside the city wall. All these Old testament types were fulfilled in the crucifixion of Jesus, who made Himself our Passover, our vicar, our Savior, and our Blood sacrifice. His Blood alone covers our sins.
If we honor the Blood of Jesus Christ, the Father will smile upon us with forgiveness and cleansing. But this must not be a dull theological honoring, but a continual, active and vital embracing of His Blood. We do not offer our own works; we offer only His Blood. When God sees the Blood of His Son, which we offer as our covering, pardon and plea, God does not see our sin at all; He can only see the covering -the Blood. Therefore we understand that "It is the BLOOD that maketh an atonement for the soul" (Leviticus 17:12).
The Life of God is in the Blood of Jesus, thus, we can not be surprised at the strong reactions from demonic spirits. As soon as the Christian takes the precious Blood of Jesus on his tongue and sings it, talks it, or pleads it, the devil gets terribly disturbed. The devil understands the power of the Blood of Jesus, and he has done everything possible to blind Christians to this truth. Many of the people today who are Christians in name only, will have nothing to do with what they call "a slaughterhouse religion." Theirs is a religion without the life of God in it, and the devil has no objection to our participating in this kind of religion. But as soon as we honor the Blood of Jesus IN AN ACTIVE SENSE, we stir up demons to a fever pitch. It is like fire in a hornet's nest.
It is surprising that so little has been taught about the Blood and so little is known about the activity of demon spirits, even within the Christian church. No wise Christian would dare try to cast out demons without faith in the Blood of Jesus. As Christians living in today's exceedingly wicked world our only hope and salvation is by walking continually in the Blood of Jesus. The fact is that Jesus' Blood says something to God. The Blood cries out to God, "Our sin is covered! The penalty is paid!" We are redeemed
The religious and political significance of the Temple Mount, Israel
In God we trust
The old city of Jerusalem is known to be the capital of the old Jewish kingdom. In the new state of Israel, this old city is still at the heart of the new and expanded Jerusalem, which is the capital of the state of Israel. But while outside the walls of the old city, the population is mostly Jewish, and is thought to be the Jewish center not only for the people of Israel, but also for all Jews around the world, inside the walls the city of Jerusalem is divided and separated.
Today the old city of Jerusalem is divided into three residential quarters, the Jewish quarter, the Moslem quarter, and the Christian quarter. All three religions claim that the city is holy to them and is one of the most holy places in the world. They all claim that it is their holy center, and are not willing to relinquish their hold over the city.
In the middle of this divided city lays the Temple Mount, at its base is set the Western Wall, which is thought to be the only remaining relic from the Second Temple that was built on top of the Mount. Some even associate it with the First Temple, and some even claim that it is the only part of the First Temple built by King David himself. That is why it is the most holy place in the world for all the Jewish people, and the place from which the Third Temple will start to arise.
But at the top of the Temple Mount lays anther building, the existence of which prohibits the building of the Third Temple, this is the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Built around the 8th century as part of the Islamic quest to take over all the Jewish holy places in the holy land of Israel, it stands shining with its golden dome over the Mount.
This mosque is an abomination to all the Jewish people, whom see it as a desecration of the place where the holy of holies lay in the first and second Temples, and where the place of the Third Temple should be. That is why the Moslems had to fabricate a story that the prophet Muhammad ascended there to heaven, in order to justify their claim over the Temple Mount.
If you look at the Moslem quarter of the city, you will also see that there is much evidence in the structure of its buildings to suggest that they were originally inhibited by Jews. The Moslems occupying the quarter today do not even bother to try and hide these signs. They are so confident in their hold over the Temple Mount, that they feel they can do anything they want in the old city, and that there is no one to stop them. Unfortunately in the current political climate in Israel, they are probably right.
Until 1967 the old city was ruled by the Jordanian kingdom, which forced out all the Jewish inhabitants of the city, after the declaration of the state of Israel in 1948. At that time the border between Israel and Jordanian was in the heart of the city. But after the six day war in 1967, Israel obtained control over the old city, and the Temple Mount. But the government of Israel at that time was afraid to take real control over the Mount, because it feared international retaliation against Israel if it evacuated the Mount from its Moslem inhabitants in order to allow for the possibility to begin building the Third Temple. In the last forty years that political climate has not changed, in fact it has become worse, today the government of Israel is a very weak government, that is afraid to deal with any sort of political pressure, especially from left wing political movements whom always favor the Arabs over their Jewish brothers, and so today the Temple Mount is actually ruled by the waqf an Islamic council, that oversees the area and has control over everything that affects the Al-Aqsa Mosque, wile the entrance to Jewish visitors is very limited. This fact also allows the Arabs who visit the Mount to riot whenever they feel like it, throwing stones and other objects on the heads of the Jews praying by the Western Wall below them, and disrupting their prayers, while they enjoy the freedom to pray without interruption.
There is, of course, a great difference between the Jewish claims over the city, to that of the other religions. First of all the city was the holy capital of the old Jewish Kingdom, far earlier then it became holy to the other religions. In fact only after the exile of the Jews by the Roman Empire, and the destruction of the Second Temple, when the land of Israel was left desolate and bare, did the other two religions take interest in it and decided to claim it as their own. Secondly, the other two religions have great holy centers of there own, that are not connected to Jerusalem. For the Moslems it is Mecca, and for the Christians it is the Vatican. But for the Jewish people there is no other place, no other holy center, only the one on top of the Temple Mount, where the first and second Temples stood and where the Third Temple will ultimately stand. This makes their claim over the city and the Temple Mount much more valid and true than that of the other two religions. This is why ultimately the other two religions will have to relinquish their hold over the city. For the prophecies that are written in the holy bible clearly state that as part of the final redemption, and the arrival of the King Messiah, the Third Temple must be built on top of the Temple Mount. Some prophecies claim that the other two religions will understand this on their own, and will relinquish their hold over the city peacefully, while other prophecies claim that there will be a divine intervention by God himself whom will force the other two religions to relinquish their hold over the city, and yet other prophecies say that there will be a great war of Armageddon, at its end the other two religions will be forced to relinquish their hold over the city. Whatever the scenario the end result is still the same, the Temple Mount will be in the hands of the Jewish people, and the Third Temple will be built on it. That is why in my opinion a peaceful solution should be reached today where the other two religions will relinquish their hold over the city and avoid unnecessary confrontation in the present and near future, when the time of resurrection of the Third Temple will arrive.
see my site: http://sites.google.com/site/arieleden/
Long live the King Messiah
About the Author
Ariel Eden is a Chasidic Jew, age 47 married with one daughter. He was born and raised in Israel, and served in the Israeli army, where he was wounded and was released as a disabled army veteran. His parents were not religious Jews, so it came to be that only after his release from the army that he was exposed to the spiritual side of Judaism and after a time he became a Chasidic Jew connected to the Lubavicher Rabbi King Messiah.
The old city of Jerusalem is known to be the capital of the old Jewish kingdom. In the new state of Israel, this old city is still at the heart of the new and expanded Jerusalem, which is the capital of the state of Israel. But while outside the walls of the old city, the population is mostly Jewish, and is thought to be the Jewish center not only for the people of Israel, but also for all Jews around the world, inside the walls the city of Jerusalem is divided and separated.
Today the old city of Jerusalem is divided into three residential quarters, the Jewish quarter, the Moslem quarter, and the Christian quarter. All three religions claim that the city is holy to them and is one of the most holy places in the world. They all claim that it is their holy center, and are not willing to relinquish their hold over the city.
In the middle of this divided city lays the Temple Mount, at its base is set the Western Wall, which is thought to be the only remaining relic from the Second Temple that was built on top of the Mount. Some even associate it with the First Temple, and some even claim that it is the only part of the First Temple built by King David himself. That is why it is the most holy place in the world for all the Jewish people, and the place from which the Third Temple will start to arise.
But at the top of the Temple Mount lays anther building, the existence of which prohibits the building of the Third Temple, this is the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Built around the 8th century as part of the Islamic quest to take over all the Jewish holy places in the holy land of Israel, it stands shining with its golden dome over the Mount.
This mosque is an abomination to all the Jewish people, whom see it as a desecration of the place where the holy of holies lay in the first and second Temples, and where the place of the Third Temple should be. That is why the Moslems had to fabricate a story that the prophet Muhammad ascended there to heaven, in order to justify their claim over the Temple Mount.
If you look at the Moslem quarter of the city, you will also see that there is much evidence in the structure of its buildings to suggest that they were originally inhibited by Jews. The Moslems occupying the quarter today do not even bother to try and hide these signs. They are so confident in their hold over the Temple Mount, that they feel they can do anything they want in the old city, and that there is no one to stop them. Unfortunately in the current political climate in Israel, they are probably right.
Until 1967 the old city was ruled by the Jordanian kingdom, which forced out all the Jewish inhabitants of the city, after the declaration of the state of Israel in 1948. At that time the border between Israel and Jordanian was in the heart of the city. But after the six day war in 1967, Israel obtained control over the old city, and the Temple Mount. But the government of Israel at that time was afraid to take real control over the Mount, because it feared international retaliation against Israel if it evacuated the Mount from its Moslem inhabitants in order to allow for the possibility to begin building the Third Temple. In the last forty years that political climate has not changed, in fact it has become worse, today the government of Israel is a very weak government, that is afraid to deal with any sort of political pressure, especially from left wing political movements whom always favor the Arabs over their Jewish brothers, and so today the Temple Mount is actually ruled by the waqf an Islamic council, that oversees the area and has control over everything that affects the Al-Aqsa Mosque, wile the entrance to Jewish visitors is very limited. This fact also allows the Arabs who visit the Mount to riot whenever they feel like it, throwing stones and other objects on the heads of the Jews praying by the Western Wall below them, and disrupting their prayers, while they enjoy the freedom to pray without interruption.
There is, of course, a great difference between the Jewish claims over the city, to that of the other religions. First of all the city was the holy capital of the old Jewish Kingdom, far earlier then it became holy to the other religions. In fact only after the exile of the Jews by the Roman Empire, and the destruction of the Second Temple, when the land of Israel was left desolate and bare, did the other two religions take interest in it and decided to claim it as their own. Secondly, the other two religions have great holy centers of there own, that are not connected to Jerusalem. For the Moslems it is Mecca, and for the Christians it is the Vatican. But for the Jewish people there is no other place, no other holy center, only the one on top of the Temple Mount, where the first and second Temples stood and where the Third Temple will ultimately stand. This makes their claim over the city and the Temple Mount much more valid and true than that of the other two religions. This is why ultimately the other two religions will have to relinquish their hold over the city. For the prophecies that are written in the holy bible clearly state that as part of the final redemption, and the arrival of the King Messiah, the Third Temple must be built on top of the Temple Mount. Some prophecies claim that the other two religions will understand this on their own, and will relinquish their hold over the city peacefully, while other prophecies claim that there will be a divine intervention by God himself whom will force the other two religions to relinquish their hold over the city, and yet other prophecies say that there will be a great war of Armageddon, at its end the other two religions will be forced to relinquish their hold over the city. Whatever the scenario the end result is still the same, the Temple Mount will be in the hands of the Jewish people, and the Third Temple will be built on it. That is why in my opinion a peaceful solution should be reached today where the other two religions will relinquish their hold over the city and avoid unnecessary confrontation in the present and near future, when the time of resurrection of the Third Temple will arrive.
see my site: http://sites.google.com/site/arieleden/
Long live the King Messiah
About the Author
Ariel Eden is a Chasidic Jew, age 47 married with one daughter. He was born and raised in Israel, and served in the Israeli army, where he was wounded and was released as a disabled army veteran. His parents were not religious Jews, so it came to be that only after his release from the army that he was exposed to the spiritual side of Judaism and after a time he became a Chasidic Jew connected to the Lubavicher Rabbi King Messiah.
The Obedience of Faith
Romans 16:25. Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began 26. but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith 27. to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.
The New American Standard says it like this. 26. but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;
The Simple English says... 26. This secret has now been made clear through the prophetic writings. The eternal God ordered this, so that when it becomes known, all nations will believe it and obey.
God has given us what He calls the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began. It must be of great importance if God had to keep it secret, but now it has been revealed. It has been revealed for a purpose and that purpose is so that we might receive the revelation of this mystery, and in receiving believe. But thats not all that He wants. He wants us to act upon what we have believed. He wants us to obey. I would like to ask a question. What good is faith if not acted upon?
You can see throughout the Bible where ordinary people did extraordinary things. The one major difference between them and everybody else is that they did something with what they had received from the Lord. They heard, faith came, they acted, and out of their obedience to faith, God's divine will was manifested upon the earth.
The promise of salvation comes this way.
Romans 10:13-14 For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
You have to believe before you call. You have to hear before you believe. What do you hear that causes you to believe? God's Word. Faith always comes, but faith not acted upon is faith wasted. The promise of salvation comes when we have acted upon what we have believed.
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
In other words there will be no manifestation of God's will in our lives because we did not act upon what we came to believe, we didn't use the faith that He went to such great lengths to get into us. He wants us to use it or He wouldn't have given it to us in the first place, would He? I would like to point out that faith used, is faith acted upon, and faith acted upon will always produce.
If you will not use the faith you have received, you can get to the point where you get a calloused heart. You get so hard hearted that you can't receive anymore. A willingness to act in obedience to the faith produced will keep your heart supple and open for more faith to be given. Remember it comes from hearing and if your hearing isn't working your faith isn't working as well. This may seem like an obvious thing, but many Christians miss it right here. They ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit that will lead to faith, that will give the opportunity to act and fulfill the will of God, and because of this get to the point where they are so hard hearted that nothing can help them.
Christians must be open to the truth of God's Word, by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
We have to be willing to believe the truth, or we will not be able to act on it.
John 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.''
In other words we will never act on the truth simply because we don't believe it to begin with. This is not God's fault, it is ours and ours alone, and we will be held accountable for our actions.
Bad teaching can as well dilute the truth or negate the faith that comes from hearing the truth. You have to accept the truth as the truth before you can act on it, right? Sometimes people get desperate enough to throw away their stinking thinking and just do it! God's Word will not fail, it is only our fear of failure that many times holds us back from stepping out into God's provision. Be a doer of the Word of God, and act on what you know! Take the truth and just do it. He has never failed, and He never will.
As James says in 1:25. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
I like that. I want to be blessed in what I do, don't you? Lets look at a few examples in the Word that describe both sides of this. These were put there for our benefit and we should learn from them.
Lets start in Mark 6:1-6 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! "Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?'' And they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.'' Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
Look at what is going on here, Jesus actually marveled at their unbelief. They were so caught up in their religious dogma that they would not open their minds up to the truth.
They refused to hear, and because they refused to hear they would not believe, and because they would not believe, they could not act on the truth that would have healed them and made them whole. I know that’s a mouthful but it's the truth just the same.
Because of their unbelief, the Bible tells us that Jesus could not do any mighty works there. It did not say He would not, it said He could not. Wow!!! Do we have a part to play in this? You bet we do. If it were just up to Him they could have all been healed, yet we can see that it was not just up to Him. The works that God called Jesus to do in that area were not done. I've heard people say, well, if God wanted me healed I would have gotten healed. Really? God wanted those people healed as well, and they didn't get healed did they? If Jesus Himself could not get the faithless healed, would it be any different with us. It wasn’t Jesus fault it was theirs. We should never blame God He's never wrong, so lets look to where the true problem lies and make the proper correction if necessary.
It's no different in modern times. Many are offended at the message of the Gospel and will not act on what they have heard. What a shame. It's not God's will, and it certainly doesn't have to be this way, yet God can not override our unbelief. Lord open our eyes that we may receive your truth and believe, let us not be stuck in our preconceived ideas of what the truth is, but be fully open to You so that we may be obedient to it.
I heard a minister say one time that peoples minds are often like concrete, thoroughly mixed and well set. Let that not be said of us. Let us be a generation that is open to the truth, and willing to receive and act on what we know. There are many scripture in the Gospels where the persons faith was the reason for the answer being manifested or in some cases not manifested. I will share a few, but study this out for yourself and see that it is mentioned many times in the Bible.
Matthew 9:22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.'' And the woman was made well from that hour.
Matthew 9:29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you.''
Mark 10:52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well.'' And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
Luke 7:50 Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.
Luke 8:25 But He said to them, "Where is your faith?'' And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, "Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!''
Matthew 15: starting in vs. 21 if you would like to go back and read the entire passage. 28. Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.'' And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
This woman was not even Jewish or a child of the covenant, yet she persisted and continued to act on what she knew to be the truth. She knew Jesus would heal her daughter, and she would not take no for an answer! Would to God that we were all like that. Jesus honored her faith and His response was recorded for all eternity for us to see. "O woman, great is your faith! Jesus only made this statement twice, and both of these people were not the ones He was sent to. They were not children of the covenant, yet they acted on what they knew, and because of this received the promise by faith.
Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Do you want to be a joint heir with Christ?
If so, I urge you to earnestly pray the following prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. Your word says, “…and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (Jn.6:37),
So I know You won’t cast me out, but You take me in, And I thank you for it. You said in your Word, "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'' (Ro. 10:13).
I am calling on Your name, So I know You have saved me now, You also said, “…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.” (Ro.10:9,10).
I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe He was raised from the dead for my justification. And I confess Him now as my Lord, Because Your Word says, “… with the heart one believes to righteousness…” and I do believe with my heart, I have now become the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21),
And I am saved! Thank You, Lord! I can now truthfully say, I see myself as a born again child of God! Glory to God!!!! Amen.
About The Author
Mark Baker
http://www.olivebranchministries.us
I was raised Catholic, and was born again at the age of 17. I received God's call into ministry at the age of 19 and began to prepare for ministry. I graduated from Rhema Bible Training Center in 1979. The Lord has called me to teach. My desire is to help all that are seeking the truth to come into a deeper understanding of what God has done for us through Christ Jesus. Olive Branch Ministries is an outgrowth of that desire.
Please feel free to visit us for more free studies and resources to help you on your journey.
The New American Standard says it like this. 26. but now is manifested, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith;
The Simple English says... 26. This secret has now been made clear through the prophetic writings. The eternal God ordered this, so that when it becomes known, all nations will believe it and obey.
God has given us what He calls the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began. It must be of great importance if God had to keep it secret, but now it has been revealed. It has been revealed for a purpose and that purpose is so that we might receive the revelation of this mystery, and in receiving believe. But thats not all that He wants. He wants us to act upon what we have believed. He wants us to obey. I would like to ask a question. What good is faith if not acted upon?
You can see throughout the Bible where ordinary people did extraordinary things. The one major difference between them and everybody else is that they did something with what they had received from the Lord. They heard, faith came, they acted, and out of their obedience to faith, God's divine will was manifested upon the earth.
The promise of salvation comes this way.
Romans 10:13-14 For whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?
You have to believe before you call. You have to hear before you believe. What do you hear that causes you to believe? God's Word. Faith always comes, but faith not acted upon is faith wasted. The promise of salvation comes when we have acted upon what we have believed.
James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
In other words there will be no manifestation of God's will in our lives because we did not act upon what we came to believe, we didn't use the faith that He went to such great lengths to get into us. He wants us to use it or He wouldn't have given it to us in the first place, would He? I would like to point out that faith used, is faith acted upon, and faith acted upon will always produce.
If you will not use the faith you have received, you can get to the point where you get a calloused heart. You get so hard hearted that you can't receive anymore. A willingness to act in obedience to the faith produced will keep your heart supple and open for more faith to be given. Remember it comes from hearing and if your hearing isn't working your faith isn't working as well. This may seem like an obvious thing, but many Christians miss it right here. They ignore the promptings of the Holy Spirit that will lead to faith, that will give the opportunity to act and fulfill the will of God, and because of this get to the point where they are so hard hearted that nothing can help them.
Christians must be open to the truth of God's Word, by the leading of the Holy Spirit.
We have to be willing to believe the truth, or we will not be able to act on it.
John 8:32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.''
In other words we will never act on the truth simply because we don't believe it to begin with. This is not God's fault, it is ours and ours alone, and we will be held accountable for our actions.
Bad teaching can as well dilute the truth or negate the faith that comes from hearing the truth. You have to accept the truth as the truth before you can act on it, right? Sometimes people get desperate enough to throw away their stinking thinking and just do it! God's Word will not fail, it is only our fear of failure that many times holds us back from stepping out into God's provision. Be a doer of the Word of God, and act on what you know! Take the truth and just do it. He has never failed, and He never will.
As James says in 1:25. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
I like that. I want to be blessed in what I do, don't you? Lets look at a few examples in the Word that describe both sides of this. These were put there for our benefit and we should learn from them.
Lets start in Mark 6:1-6 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! "Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?'' And they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.'' Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.
Look at what is going on here, Jesus actually marveled at their unbelief. They were so caught up in their religious dogma that they would not open their minds up to the truth.
They refused to hear, and because they refused to hear they would not believe, and because they would not believe, they could not act on the truth that would have healed them and made them whole. I know that’s a mouthful but it's the truth just the same.
Because of their unbelief, the Bible tells us that Jesus could not do any mighty works there. It did not say He would not, it said He could not. Wow!!! Do we have a part to play in this? You bet we do. If it were just up to Him they could have all been healed, yet we can see that it was not just up to Him. The works that God called Jesus to do in that area were not done. I've heard people say, well, if God wanted me healed I would have gotten healed. Really? God wanted those people healed as well, and they didn't get healed did they? If Jesus Himself could not get the faithless healed, would it be any different with us. It wasn’t Jesus fault it was theirs. We should never blame God He's never wrong, so lets look to where the true problem lies and make the proper correction if necessary.
It's no different in modern times. Many are offended at the message of the Gospel and will not act on what they have heard. What a shame. It's not God's will, and it certainly doesn't have to be this way, yet God can not override our unbelief. Lord open our eyes that we may receive your truth and believe, let us not be stuck in our preconceived ideas of what the truth is, but be fully open to You so that we may be obedient to it.
I heard a minister say one time that peoples minds are often like concrete, thoroughly mixed and well set. Let that not be said of us. Let us be a generation that is open to the truth, and willing to receive and act on what we know. There are many scripture in the Gospels where the persons faith was the reason for the answer being manifested or in some cases not manifested. I will share a few, but study this out for yourself and see that it is mentioned many times in the Bible.
Matthew 9:22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, "Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.'' And the woman was made well from that hour.
Matthew 9:29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you.''
Mark 10:52 Then Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your faith has made you well.'' And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.
Luke 7:50 Then He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.
Luke 8:25 But He said to them, "Where is your faith?'' And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, "Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!''
Matthew 15: starting in vs. 21 if you would like to go back and read the entire passage. 28. Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.'' And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
This woman was not even Jewish or a child of the covenant, yet she persisted and continued to act on what she knew to be the truth. She knew Jesus would heal her daughter, and she would not take no for an answer! Would to God that we were all like that. Jesus honored her faith and His response was recorded for all eternity for us to see. "O woman, great is your faith! Jesus only made this statement twice, and both of these people were not the ones He was sent to. They were not children of the covenant, yet they acted on what they knew, and because of this received the promise by faith.
Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Do you want to be a joint heir with Christ?
If so, I urge you to earnestly pray the following prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. Your word says, “…and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (Jn.6:37),
So I know You won’t cast me out, but You take me in, And I thank you for it. You said in your Word, "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.'' (Ro. 10:13).
I am calling on Your name, So I know You have saved me now, You also said, “…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.” (Ro.10:9,10).
I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe He was raised from the dead for my justification. And I confess Him now as my Lord, Because Your Word says, “… with the heart one believes to righteousness…” and I do believe with my heart, I have now become the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21),
And I am saved! Thank You, Lord! I can now truthfully say, I see myself as a born again child of God! Glory to God!!!! Amen.
About The Author
Mark Baker
http://www.olivebranchministries.us
I was raised Catholic, and was born again at the age of 17. I received God's call into ministry at the age of 19 and began to prepare for ministry. I graduated from Rhema Bible Training Center in 1979. The Lord has called me to teach. My desire is to help all that are seeking the truth to come into a deeper understanding of what God has done for us through Christ Jesus. Olive Branch Ministries is an outgrowth of that desire.
Please feel free to visit us for more free studies and resources to help you on your journey.
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