The Thorn in the Flesh ! Or ” Cleaning up Someone Else’s Mess! “

As I was laying out my notes and preparing to speak this past Saturday night [August 30,2008], The Spirit took me in another direction. I was led to 1 Samuel 30, where we read of the story of David and how he and his men returned home from battle, only to find that their own place had been raided by their mortal enemies, the Amalekites. The Amalekites had burnt, plundered and made off with not just the possessions of David and his men, BUT, they had taken their families as well.

Now mind you, this DID NOT have anything to do with, at least I thought, the subject that I had been preparing all week to bring, which is part of the teaching I am doing on the Old Testament Tabernacle, and how Jesus is revealed in it every step of the way. I was going to teach this week about the “Outer Court”. I just didn’t “get it” at first.

So I am seeking The Lord on this matter, during worship and as we enter into a time of prayer and seeking the Face of God, His Will, BAM [ to borrow a cliche' HAHA], this thing hit me like a ton of rocks.

We will never be able to move into the Holy of Holies, Spiritually, as long as we are still dealing with the flesh. Personally, each of us has to get to a place where we no longer have a “Thorn in The Flesh”.Those things that SHOULD HAVE been dealt with in the past. Where we are walking in the Victory that has been won and freely given to us in Christ Yahushua, Jesus. Flesh, or “the world” or sin, is dealt with in the “Outer Court”. We must take care of these “issues” from our past, so we don’t have to, in our future. This is on the personal level.

So what exactly is a “Thorn in the Flesh”? Is it a physical thing, as some suggest with the Apostle Paul. It could very well be. BUT, I believe upon closer examination of the Scriptures, one will find that it is a “person,place or thing” that keeps coming back to remind you of your past. [ Num.33:55, Joshua 23:13, Judges 2:3, Isaiah 32:13 ]

In the context of what God was revealing to me Saturday night, David was having to deal with an “Old Thorn in the Flesh”, one that had been plaguing Israel for a real long time. David was going to have to “clean up someone else’s mess”. David was going to have to fight the Amalekites. This is the same group of people that 15 chapters earlier, King Saul had been given the Word from The LORD, through His Prophet Samuel. God had told King Saul to utterly destroy ALL the Amalekites and ALL their belongs. They were to be wiped off the face of the earth. I mean GONE !!! That’s what God said for Saul to do in Chapter 15. BUT, in his infinite wisdom, Saul did what he “thought was right in his own eyes”, first by keeping the best of the cattle and secondly and MOST IMPORTANTLY, Saul spared the life of the king of the Amalekites, Agag.

For the Church, as a whole, I feel that God the Father was saying to us, “The reason we are having to deal with these “Amalekites”, these “Thorns in the Flesh” is because somebody DID NOT obey The LORD in the past. David had to deal with what Saul didn’t deal with. It actually continued on out past all that, because when you study out the whole story of what happened with King Agag during his short captivity with King Saul, Agag had an intimate relationship that sired a son who then started a new “people called the Agagites”. This is the same people that Haman in the Book of Esther came from. The same people that are still giving Israel trouble even today, Hamas, but that’s another thing for another day. 

In Ezekiel 3:16-21, we that are called, are given a stern warning from God the Father. We are told that when we have a Word from The Lord for the wicked, that if we don’t give it to them, then their blood will be on our hands. If we tell them what The Lord says, and they refuse to listen, then we have done what we are told and their blood will not be on our hands. We won’t be held accountable for their refusal to obey The Lord.

It is our calling to let people know what The Lord says. It then becomes their decision that sets things into motion. The Prophet Samuel told King Saul what God said for him to do. Saul refused to follow the word of The Lord. Saul was ultimately held responsible for his choice and lost his kingdom. BUT it was David who had to deal with the mess !

I don’t won’t to face God the Father and have Him ask me why I didn’t take care of the mess ! I don’t won’t my children and their children to have to take care of what I didn’t take care of !!

That is why we are having the “Tearing Down The Walls” meetings !

That is why we are having the meeting about the “Masonic Cult”, and how it is deceiving many people and it is like it has been stepped up to go after those who are in the Body. Those who are not in the Lord are the easiest to prey on, BUT a “TRUE BORN AGAIN CHILD OF GOD” should not be so easily persuaded to fall prey to this !

There are many “Amalekites” in the body today. Things that should have been dealt with long ago.

Will you take the stand today? Will you inquire of The Lord, as David did in 1Samuel 30:8 and see if it is a good thing to pursue and overtake your “Amalekite”, your “Thorn in the Flesh” ?

The Masonic Deception ! Update on Meeing at LBOLM

On September the 20th, Living Bread of Life Ministry hosted a one night seminar of this very important subject.Though the crowd was small in numbers, the presentation was LARGE in facts.
Our presenter for this meeting is a former Mason himself, who also has been a preacher for some 20+ years.
He rose to a 32nd degree Mason on both the Scottish Rite side and the York Rite side. His experience in this cultish activity climaxed when he learned that the “god” of the Masons is actually Lucifer.
The deceptive practises and rituals that are taught and used by this group ensnares many of unsuspecting men into their ranks. And given the “public perception” of the Shriners and their “good works”, many get involved and stay on the lower levels of Masonry just to be in what they think is a good thing.
BUT, we all should know that not every “good thing” is a God thing.

We are proud to present the DVD of this important, life changing meeting to anyone who is interested. This DVD is right at 3 hours long and is chocked full of information most people have never heard, outside of being involved in the Masonic.
Simply reply to us and I will contact you for shipping instructions.
The DVD is free of charge !
Why are we doing this ?
We are instructed in both Ezekiel 3 and 33 to be “watchmen” and “warn” of evil.
We are instructed in Ephesians 5:11 to not have anything to do with things of the darkness.

This DVD sheds the “real Light” of Truth on this dark and deceptive cultish group that has and is even now invading ALL of Christiandom.
If you or a loved one is caught up in this deception, then PLEASE get this video.

Love in Yahushua, Christ Jesus
Pastor Jake Kilgus
Living Bread of Life Ministry
90 Falcon Street
Blackville, SC 29817

Economic Bailout Plan that WILL work !

I would like to take credit for this brilliant plan, BUT, nevertheless, I give credit where credit is due.
I heard this gentleman jokingly make this remark on Foxnews the other night, and it was so fantasticly simple, that it seemed rediculous.
Based on the US Census site here is what I came up with ;
“Thank you, America, for your participation in Census 2000.
The population of the U.S. on April 1, 2000 was 281,421,906 [PDF 2M].”

The man said that if the US Government was to send everybody $1 million dollars, Americans could pay off their bad debt and really stimulate the economy!
It would only cost $281,421,906.00 and that is a WHOLE LOT LESS than $700 billion. WOW!!!!!!!!!

I guarantee I could pay off my debt with a lot less than a million dollars and then I could really stimulate the economy with the left overs. I believe that I would also be able to grow The Kingdom with that kind of help!
What was that,” the wealth of the wicked, laid up for the just ??”
HMMMMM!!!! Sounds like a good plan to me !
What do think ?
BTW, thanks Dennis Miller, for your insight !!

“09, The Plumbline !” A Prophetic Word for The Body of Christ!

  Amos 7 [NLT]

A Vision of a Plumb Line

 7 Then he showed me another vision. I saw the Lord standing beside a wall that had been built using a plumb line. He was using a plumb line to see if it was still straight. 8 And the Lord said to me, “Amos, what do you see?”

   I answered, “A plumb line.”

   And the Lord replied, “I will test my people with this plumb line. I will no longer ignore all their sins. 9 The pagan shrines of your ancestors^[b] will be ruined, and the temples of Israel will be destroyed; I will bring the dynasty of King Jeroboam to a sudden end.

 

On the morning of September 14, 2008, I was given this word. We had just finished the night before, 4 nights of meetings in which we dealt with “Tearing Down The Walls”. On the morning of the 14th, I got the following from The Holy Spirit.

“We are not through tearing down the walls. For the rest of this year and until the Spring of next, there will be a tearing down and a shaking of things that many would think couldn’t be shaken. There will be ministries in The Body that will fall, because they have not been built on solid ground. In “09, The Plumbline”, My Word will be used to build MY Church. Truth will come forth and things done in the dark shall be exposed. Things that are not built upon MY Word will be shaken and many will fall.”

While this word is for the Body mainly, it is for anyone who would listen. Judgement begins at the House of The Lord. We are His Temples. We will be held accountable for everything that is not of Him !

What’s Going On ? Why is it so topsy turvy now ?

We know about Halloween and there are many really good sites that speak out against this celebration of evil. My dear friend, Dr J W Stansell has just published several on his Bible  Study site at :

ComeOutOfBabylonBibleStudyGroup on yahoo.

I was studying and preparing for this past Sat. Night’s message and came across these scriptures in 1Kings. Read this and listen to what The Spirit of The Lord is saying.

1 Kings 12:

Jeroboam Makes Gold Calves

 25 Jeroboam then built up the city of Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and it became his capital. Later he went and built up the town of Peniel.^[c]

 26 Jeroboam thought to himself, “Unless I am careful, the kingdom will return to the dynasty of David. 27 When these people go to Jerusalem to offer sacrifices at the Temple of the Lord, they will again give their allegiance to King Rehoboam of Judah. They will kill me and make him their king instead.” {First mistake, thinking on your own without seeing the Will of God}

 28 So on the advice of his counselors, the king made two gold calves. He said to the people,^[d] “It is too much trouble for you to worship in Jerusalem. Look, Israel, these are the gods who brought you out of Egypt!” {Mistake #2, Lieing to the people you are to lead}

 29 He placed these calf idols in Bethel and in Dan—at either end of his kingdom. {Mistake#3, The enemy ALWAYS is trying to divide God’s people}

30 But this became a great sin, for the people worshiped the idols, traveling as far north as Dan to worship the one there.

 31 Jeroboam also erected buildings at the pagan shrines and ordained priests from the common people—those who were not from the priestly tribe of Levi. {mistake#4, Men not called by God have no business being in the ministry. These were called by a corrupt man}

32 And Jeroboam instituted a religious festival in Bethel, held on the fifteenth day of the eighth month,^[e] in imitation of the annual Festival of Shelters in Judah. {Mistake#5, Notice that the enemy ALWAYS counterfeits the things of God}

There at Bethel he himself offered sacrifices to the calves he had made, and he appointed priests for the pagan shrines he had made. 33 So on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a day that he himself had designated, Jeroboam offered sacrifices on the altar at Bethel. He instituted a religious festival for Israel, and he went up to the altar to burn incense.

Now in order to REALLY GET THIS, pay particuliar attention to the verses 32 and 33 and the timing of this counterfeit festival. Read the footnotes below and you will find that this counterfeit festival came after the Festival of Shelters and happened to fall at the end of October or the first of November. Being an “Imitation of the Festival of Shelters”, it would fall during the seven day time frame of what we call Halloween on October 31.

Why is everything “topsy turvy” ?

Why is there a “spirit of fear”, trying to prevail in the atmosphere ? 

Could it be that the Spirit realm is at a heightened time of warfare, with good {God’s Festival } and evil {satan’s festival}, warring at such a ferver, and it is pouring out into the natural ?

Praise God ! We, that are the children of God, have nothing to fear from this world.

We fear only one ! With an Awe and Wonder that only He deserves ! GOD ALMIGHTY !!

Footnotes:

1. 1 Kings 12:2 As in Greek version and Latin Vulgate (see also 2 Chr 10:2); Hebrew reads he lived in Egypt.
2. 1 Kings 12:18 As in some Greek manuscripts and Syriac version (see also 4:6; 5:14); Hebrew reads Adoram.
3. 1 Kings 12:25 Hebrew Penuel, a variant spelling of Peniel.
4. 1 Kings 12:28 Hebrew to them.
5. 1 Kings 12:32 This day of the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in late October or early November, exactly one month after the annual Festival of Shelters in Judah (see Lev 23:34).

The Masonic Deception ! Part 2

Judge bans “I Believe” tag for SC motorist

Well, here we go.  Just yesterday we are told that if a person wanted to say “I Believe” by purchasing a tag from the SCDMV that had been approved by the State Legislature, it was unconstitutional.

What about Freedom of Speech ? That’s still constitutional, isn’t it ?

I guess that depends on who you are in todays PC climate.

Also ! Why is it that other “Special Interest” groups get to have their own tags, even if they offend someone else.  Here is the link to SCDMV and notice that there are tags there for “Humanist”, “Shriners” and two for “Masons” as well as a host of others.

http://www.scdmvonline.com/DMVNew/plategallery.aspx?q=All

Here is a link to “The State ” newspaper and the exact write up of it.

http://www.thestate.com/local/story/618428.html

Virginity Pledge and God !

Hmmm. where does one start, with such a “Hot Topic” that is in all the news today.

First off, the mainstream media and I guess the people who came up with this report of “Virginity Pledges Don’t Work”, just don’t get it.

The second word is “Pledge”. Therefore it is something that reguires a person to state their intention and to honor their intention. If they make a pledge and don’t keep it, there is nothing wrong with the “Pledge” it is something wrong with the individual and their willingness to honor that pledge.

It isn’t some “Pill” you take or some device you use.

The pill doesn’t work 100% of the time.

Contraceptive devices don’t work 100% of the time.

Abstinence works 100% of the time, when someone ABSTAINS !

Abstinence doesn’t work 100% of the time, when someone doesn’t ABSTAIN !

This isn’t rocket science here folks, and really doesn’t require a Degree in Science, Theology or any other field.

The reason that pledges of any kind don’t work, is a person’s unwillingness to keep that pledge. The statistics shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone in the Body of Christ, that many make a pledge to abstain from sexual activity untill they get married, and then don’t hold on to that pledge. The same can be said for those in The Body of Christ concerning marriage vows. That is why there are so many divorces in The Body of Christ. PEOPLE DON’T HONOR THEIR COMMITMENTS !

The leaderhip in The Body have failed to teach the flocks properly on “Covenant” and what it means to keep a promise. It used to be, years ago, that a man’s word on something had some substance. A promise meant something. BUT, in todays worldly views, which have spilled over into the Body of Christ, promises are swept under the rug, vows are broken and people keep right on selling out their dignity, honor and own values, for the next “best thing”.

So, the main thing is this,

 There is nothing wrong with the vow or pledge for someone to remain a virgin. The real problem is the fact they can’t keep a promise. A person who can’t keep a promise is really a liar. They can’t be trusted !

FROM SUCH PEOPLE, ABSTAIN !  God is a Covenant keeping God and wants the same from His Children. He expects the same from His Children.

Let me hear from you, what do you think ?

Another “Movement” ? hmmmm….

I am posting this Email that I got for one reason only, to warn of the dangers of deception. ALL things need to be tested by The Holy Spirit of God The Father. This isn’t done as any anti-semetic message, but only to point out balance is required by all. Enjoy !

‘HEBREW ROOTS’ and “YESHUA ONLY” MOVEMENTS -
DANGEROUS??

Below is a very interesting testimony from a lady who was deeply
involved in these movements.

Like me, you have probably come across Christian groups telling
us Gentile Christians that we need to get back to the Torah and
observe the Jewish Sabbath and Feast Days, etc. This is often
called the “Hebrew Roots” movement – and some of it is fine -
simply learning more about Jewish culture and traditions, etc.
But then there is the very real danger of LEGALISM. To me, the
entire thrust of the movement ends up going right against the
New Testament – in fact, right against true Christianity. I think it
can become very dangerous. -The bondage of the Law again.

And then there are the people who claim that we MUST call
Jesus by the name “Yeshua” – even though the apostle Paul
simply called Him by the Greek word ‘Iesous’. They say that
unless we use “Yeshua” we are totally “off”. Well – I believe
the facts completely overturn this theory. I don’t mind people
calling Jesus ‘Yeshua’ if they wish – but to make a “doctrine”
out of it is extreme error in my view. However, it is amazing the
number of people who are being caught up in all this – as though
it were the “great answer” to all our problems! (It’s not).

Below is the testimony of a woman who was deeply involved:

  “I wanted to share with you why I feel that the Hebrew Roots
Movement & Sacred Name Movement is just as dangerous as the
The Latter Rain Doctrine. Coming out of both I feel confident in
saying so. I grew up in the Assembly of God church, one that did
not teach Latter Rain/Dominion poison. After my husband and I
were married (he grew up Baptist) we began searching for something
deeper ( I think that is how you get sucked into Latter Rain etc.,
you feel like there just has to be something more, sadly the Word
of God is not enough). We began attending a non-denominational
church which would turn out to be one of many disastrous church
experiences.

  This church was heavy Dominionist and were really into the
“shepherding” thing so that they knew everything about everyone
and would use it as a form of control. This was our first experience
with the prophetic movement and we were drawn in by it. After
leaving there because of the control issues (we did not notice the
theology was twisted because we were deceived) we continued
on in the prophetic circles including attending Bill Hamon’s church
when we were able to travel there and reading everything we could
from all the big NAR’s. Well after about 10 years of this running
after new revelation (we had a huge box of tapes with personal
prophecies!) we became really disallusioned with the hypocrisy,
lawlessness and cheap grace attitudes. We decided to leave the
Apostolic/Prophetic church that we were attending. This did not
sit well with the “Apostle”. In these types of churches you do not
leave unless you are “sent out” by the Apostle, which never
happens by the way.

  After leaving we were contacted by a couple that had left a few
months before we had. Before visiting with them, I remember really
clearing going to my bookshelf and taking a book off the shelf that
was a study on Galatians, I know now the Lord was trying to warn
me but sadly I put the book back without taking a look at it. Well
we began to meet with this couple and we shared our frustrations
about the lawlessness, etc. that we had left (at the time I did not
know anything about Latter Rain and how it was connected to the
Prophetic/Apostolic movement, it would have explained so much).

  They gave us a book by Lew White called Fossilized Customs. 
The book has some facts but much twisted truth. We took the bait
though. The whole book is about how the name Jesus is supposedly
pagan along with a lot of other extreme ideas! Thus Sacred Name.
These people believe that you can only use the name Yahweh
when referring to God, the Father and Yeshua (some use Yahushua)
all else is pagan and Satan has deceived all Christians into using
the name Jesus and that Jesus really means Zeus! And this has
been revealed to only the remnant (notice the Gnostic elitism)
which is funny because they pride themselves on staying away
from anything remotely Greek!

Well this began a four year journey with these people. We backed
off a bit of the Sacred name only but began studying many Jewish
writings. You must understand that this was all very gradual and
the leader of this group was very skilled at studying things and
presenting it to us.

  Sadly to say we drifted more and more from the New Testament,
the new covenant and the cross of Christ. That is the danger of the
Hebrew Roots movement. You want so desperately to return to the
Word of God but in the end it takes you away from it in it’s entirety.
The leader began planting seeds such as” the New Testament was
not totally flawless since it had been written in Greek there were
many different texts and some may not be accurate”. He began to
pick and choose and before we ended up leaving he had pretty
much thrown out Galatians and John because it did not reconcile
to his theology! He taught that the Virgin birth was just a doctored
up Catholic version of the Word. He taught that Jesus was Joseph
and Mary’s natural born son even though he could not prove this
scripturely. That is why he brought into question the accuracy of
the translations.

  You are probably saying “how could you stay?” All I can say is
that deception does not happen over night it is gradual, we became
emotionally tied to these people and looked to them as a mother
and father (I think that is why many stay in abusive churches).

We participated in the feasts of the Bible and of course we observed
Sabbath religiously every Saturday (what got me is that instead of
us resting we had to go to the leader’s home early that morning to
hear hours of his twisted teaching!). He began to teach that we
became righteous through the law and that was why Yeshua came
to show us how to keep the law. He actually began to teach that
we needed to keep as much of the Law of Moses that we could
and it was lawlessness not to do so. In essence you basically had
to convert to Judaism even though we literally did not.

  We started to get a clue about a year before we actually cut all
ties and we started to question him about some of the laws in the
Old Covenant and how we were uncomfortable with some about
slavery for instance, of course he came up with some justification
about it. Around this time he began making references to having
more than one wife. My husband and I were really uncomfortable
with these continuous comments and so one day we confronted
him (his wife was not present and by the way it was obvious this
journey was taking it’s toll on her as well by this time.) He told us
he was one of those that could love more than one woman! (There
is double standard because it is unthinkable for a woman to have
more than one husband in their eyes!). We told him “what about
the words of Jesus (in the beginning God made male and female,
etc.) but what was obvious to us was not to him. If it wasn’t in
“Torah” then it didn’t count!

  Well that was it, I cried all weekend and we just began to think
about everything and the path that we had been on and how far we
had strayed from the gospel and it was heartbreaking! I take full
responsibility for allowing myself to be deceived but I must say
that man really messed with my mind! He was skilled in twisting
scripture and to this day I still struggle with some things. I almost
lost my faith in God because of my involvement with these people.
My husband came through a little easier than myself.

  I have to say there are many sects within the Hebrew Roots
movement and not all believe what I have shared. But the core
belief is that the church has strayed from it’s Hebrew roots and
that God is restoring this revelation (the same theme of the Latter
Rain) but only to a select few and the rest of the church is pagan.
Because of this belief you begin to cut yourself off from the Body
of Christ and before you know it you are isolated. You are no longer
the salt of the world. You do not witness or share the gospel
anymore because you don’t believe the gospel anymore!

The very thing that you think is bringing you closer to God (returning
to His word) takes you further away because it is a twisted
perception of the Word of God. My heart goes out to anyone caught
up in this deception because it leaves you so confused. I praise
God that he opened our eyes to this and for His grace and mercy
and for the blood of Jesus which is our true Redeemer!”

SOURCE-
http://endtimespropheticwords.wordpress.com/2008/09/23/the-hebrew-roots-
movement-sacred-name-movement/

–
YES! – You have permission to post these emails
to friends or other groups, blogs, boards, etc. Go for it!

To subscribe, please send a ’subscribe’ email to-
prophetic@revivalschool.com

Masonic Deception Meeting Videos

This is the links to the varied videos of the Sept. 2008 meeting we had at LBOLM.

The speaker is Evangelist JW Stansell, who himself was a 32degree on both sides of the Masonic system and very knowledgable on this deceptive group. Please view these videos with an open mind and know that God Loves you and so do we !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9Ac5gXuMks&feature=PlayList&p=53F0B132603C7FD5&index=7

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmruenhwCJE&feature=PlayList&p=53F0B132603C7FD5&index=6

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIM7K7LvZYc&feature=PlayList&p=53F0B132603C7FD5&index=5

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93DT45T9ySA&feature=PlayList&p=53F0B132603C7FD5&index=4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCQC9ezfoGA&feature=PlayList&p=53F0B132603C7FD5&index=3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_YV91BOW4g&feature=PlayList&p=53F0B132603C7FD5&index=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p40kz_WdWK8&feature=PlayList&p=53F0B132603C7FD5&index=2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDCry5MXFkU&feature=PlayList&p=53F0B132603C7FD5&index=0

Just What is Legalism ?

Throughout Christiandom, the term “Legalistic” or “Legalism” is used in referrence to any form of biblical law-keeping and should be avoided. The word is used widely , especially against practices as keeping the Sabbath on Saturday or adhering to other laws given in the Old Testament.
However, this use of the word is incorrect. It is not legalistic to obey God’s laws correctly. To be legalistic is to misuse God’s laws in a way they were never intended to be used. Such was the case of the Pharisees’ interpretations, which actually undermined God’s law.
The Pharisees, an excessively strict branch of Judaism whose religious interpretations dominated popular thinking at the time of Christ, were examples of this. They added many of their own humanly devised rules and regulations to God’s laws, which had the effect of misrepresenting and misapplying them.
Their added interpretations of God’s laws so distorted the original intented purpose, that they rendered them ineffective [Matt. 15:6], nullifying them. By following the Pharisees’ interpretations and edicts, the people were no longer following God’s law [John 7:19]
This mistaken view of God’s Law led many to reject Yahushua, Christ Jesus, as the promised Messiah, even though that very law had prophesied of Him [ John 5:39,40 & Luke 24:44]
This was why Christ so strongly condemned the lack of understanding and hypocrisy of the religious leaders of His time. He taught a return to the correct teaching and practice of God’s laws according to their original intent and purpose, and also that He was the promised Messiah.
The apostle Paul also wrote extensively against those who would pervert the proper use of God’s laws. This is particularly apparent in the book of Galatians. What Paul addressed was not the correct keeping of God’s law, which he himself elsewhere upheld [Romans 3:31 ; 7:12,14,22,25], but a claim of justification [ the forgiveness and restoration of a sinner to a state of righteousness ] could be achieved by circumcision and strict observance of the law.
Some false teachers [ Galatians 2:4; 5:10,12 : 6:12-13] subverted the Galatian churches by wrongly insisting that circumcision and the keeping of the law were sufficient requirements for justification and salvation, apart from faith in Yahushua, Christ Jesus.
Paul condemned this bad teaching by stating that obedience to the law has never made eternal life possible [Galatians 3:21] Paul made it clear that justification, that is, being made right in God’s eyes, is only possible through the blood bought sacrifice of Yahushua, Christ Jesus [ Galatians 2:16; 3:1-3, 10-11,22 ; 5:1-4 ] Paul made it clear that forgiveness of sin requires a sacrifice, and even the strictest observance of the law can’t remove the need for that sacrifice.
To rely ipon the keeping of any law to make one righteous in God’s eyes, instead of faith in Christ, IS LEGALISM.
If all one focuses on is obedience to the law apart from the motivation of pleasing God The Father, Loving Him and loving our neighbor, this distorts the purpose of the law [Matt. 22:36-40 & Rom.13:10]
and is legalism.
If we believe that any keeping of God’s law, in itself, can earn salvation as our reward, we are guilty of legalism.
Technical obedience, or strict obedience to the exact letter of the law, while searching for ways to get around the original purpose and intent of the law, is legalism.
But, Yahushua, Christ Jesus, and the remainder of the Bible make onething perfectly clear; Proper obedience to the law of God IS NOT LEGALISM.
After conversion, a Christian is given, or should be given by The Holy Spirit, a much fuller understanding of the intent and purpose of God’s law. The laws of God were given FOR OUR GOOD, not our slavemasters. He understands the importance of faith in the person and sacrifice of Yahushua, Christ Jesus. He is given a more complete understanding of why he is to be obedient, but it remains for him to obey. That is NOT LEGALISM.
To obey God’s biblical commands in a proper attitude is NOT LEGALISM, but showing our Love for the one who first Loved us!!

What if there is no Rapture?

What if there is No Rapture?

Dedicated to the Memory of Bro. Eli Mast

 

Brother Eli was one of those elderly men of the Church that you will never forget.        

  Most anytime I would visit him, or go to pick him up for fellowship, the conversation would always gravitate to the subject of “The Rapture”.  We talked about this subject quite often and shared similar believes on a pre-trib Rapture of the Church.

  I went to visit with Bro. Eli a couple of weeks ago and as we were sitting on the edge of his bed, as usual the conversation went to what seemed to be his favorite discussion, the rapture. BUT, this time, with a weak and failing body, he said, “I don’t think I am going to get to see The Rapture after all”. Bro. Eli was ready to go home to meet The Father, and had been as long as I have known him. Bro. Eli did just that, in his sleep on the 9^th of March, 2009. For those of you who are into numbers and following the Scriptures, 9 is representative of judgment and also completion. Eli has completed his race!!

 

  A couple of months ago, while bringing the message at our fellowship, I was quickened in The Spirit to ask this question, “What if there is no Rapture? “

Are you ready to meet your maker at ANYTIME?

  With all the stuff going on around us in the world, there is a lot of expectation in the Body of Christ, that, MAYBE the Rapture is VERY CLOSE. Maybe, This Year!

  The problem then becomes, that Yahushua, Christ Jesus, declared that NO MAN knows when this will occur. We are not to lose focus of The Kingdom of God, and get so locked up in world events and thinking on The Rapture. Scripture declares that everyone will be going about in their own daily routines, as in the days of Noah. If anyone had known for sure about the flood, PERHAPS they would have paid more attention to what that “crazy old boat builder” was saying.

 

  This morning, in my time with The Lord, He took me to Hebrews 11, “The Faith Chapter”. Listen to this scripture:

  

     ⁸By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

 ⁹By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

 ¹⁰For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

As I read that scripture, I was reminded of the question, “What if there is no rapture?” and very much reminded of my dear Bro. Eli.

  As Abraham made his journey into an unknown land, a land of promise and hope for a bright tomorrow, he did so with the focus on “A city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God”. Abraham lived in a strange country, that is to say, a place of unfamiliar surroundings and unfamiliar people. He lived in tabernacles or tent like structures. They were not permanent houses, and that was OK with Abraham, for his Faith and Hope was fixed on a different home.

Here is some more from that chapter of Hebrews;

¹³These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

 ¹⁴For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

 ¹⁵And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

 ¹⁶But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

  All the great “Heroes of Faith” died without receiving the complete promises of God, in this place, BUT they all kept their faith in God. If they had thought about it hard enough, in the natural, they probably would have packed up and went back to their more familiar surroundings. BUT, they all confessed that they were “strangers and pilgrims on the earth”. They knew that this place wasn’t their home and that God “Hath prepared for them a city”. The book of Revelations, Ch 21 describes this city. These people desire a “Better country”, one that is “Heavenly”.

  Bro, Eli desired that same place. At 95 years of age, he was focused on his “Heavenly Home”, with his “Heavenly Father”.

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

 ⁹And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre;

 ¹⁰The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife

Brother Eli Mast has met his Maker, face to face, and had longed to do so! He was ready!! The question for you today, “Are you”? Are you ready to meet God the Father right now? It could happen at any minute! One way or the other, you will.

 The Rapture might come anytime. For some of us, we may go before the Rapture. We should live every minute of every day “Rapture Ready”, that is to say, you could go

 

 

Just like that! I paused to show you, at any second, your time could come.

I encourage you that are ready, to hold fast to your Faith. I beg you that aren’t 100% sure, PLEASE , get that way.

Good Friday ?

With the prophetic word last a  year of “09 The Plumbline”, I have been challenged to seek and present the truth concerning issues of scripture and the importance to present those things to the Body at large. Often the findings seem controversial, but when studied under the close scrutiny of God’s Word, these findings are still the Truth.
While in study recently, I came across a passge in the New Living Translation of the Bible, that I KNEW to be unacurate. Here it is ;

The Burial of Jesus
Luke 23
50 Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, 51 but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. 52 He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. 54 This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation,[l] as the Sabbath was about to begin.
55 As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law.

I had already studied out the events of the week of the Crucifixion and knew that according to John 19:31 there was actually two “Sabbaths” that week, beginging with the Passover on Nisan 14 Wednesday, going into Festival of Unleavened Bread on Nisan 15 Thursday. These were established by God The Father in Exodus when HE brought Israel out of Egypt and put into action or law in Leviticus 23 :5.

The KJV verse reads this way;

Luke 23:50And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counsellor; and he was a good man, and a just:

51(The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them;) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

52This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.

53And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.

54And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

55And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid.

56And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the sabbath day according to the commandment.

Notice that there is NO MENTION of Friday being the day of preparation in the KJV. Why is that ? Simply because Yahushua, Christ Jesus, was crucified on Wed. Nisan 14, placed in the tomb before sundown, which according to God’s established time table [ sunset to sunset is a day], and there remained until sometimes after sunset Sat. Nisan 17th. This is backed up by the verse in John 19:31 and by doing a Chronological study of the week before the Resurrection on Nisan 18th.
There is a very well done study of these events at;

http://www.centuryone.com/crucifixion.html

In conclusion, one might ask, “Why even bring this up?”.
We that have been given the awesome responsibilty to lead God’s Children and teach them in His Word, also have the awesome task to do it with the truth. Listen to the words of Christ in Matthew’s account of the Gospel;

Matthew 5:19
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

I can NOT stand before my Lord and have HIM ask me why I didn’t tell the truth and “Teach Men so”.
This idea that Christ was crucified and buried on Friday is improper teaching and shows how “the traditions of man” have once again over ridden the Word of God. After studying this matter out and comparing the events, there is no way logically NOR theoloigaclly to base a Friday to Sunday timeframe for this event.

What’s the big deal? Well, for those who will listen to the “traditions of man” and not search a matter out, their very eternity is at stake. The old saying “you have to stand for something or you will fall for anything” is definetly a Truth.
Don’t get upset, when you begin to question these things and your leaders tell you “not to go there” or “it isn’t important”. Either they know that you are finding the Truth or they don’t know the Truth themself. Given the “traditions of man” that have been passed down over the centuries, there is the chance they may not know the Truth them self.
That’s why the apostle Paul said to “Study to show yourself approved”. That verse is for ALL of us, who desire to know the Truth.
The prophet Hosea got these Word’s from God;
4: 6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.

It wasn’t “a lack” but the “Rejection of knowledge”that God was upset about. In this day and time, IT IS unexcsable for anyone to have a “lack of knowledge”. “Knowledge” is plentiful. The “Knowledge of God” may be in a “famine”, The Truth of God, BUT that’s why it is so important that the Truth come forth. “2009 The Plumbline”

Where is YOUR faith ?

As I was preparing for my message this morning, I was reminded of this story found in 2 Kings 6:1-7.

2 Kings 6
1And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us.

2Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye.

3And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go.

4So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood.

5But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed.

6And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.

7Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it.

Now, like most of you, I have heard this preached from ALL kinds of angles and emphasis placed on different things in this story, BUT, consider this same event happening a few hundred years later. It might have went more like this.

One day Jesus and His disciples were out walking. They decided to stop at this place and build a meeting house there. The disciples began to chop down some of the many trees there and one of them, the one named Thomas, dropped his axe into the water. He became afraid, for it wasn’t his axe, it was borrowed. Thomas went to Jesus and said, Master, I dropped the axe into the water and it wasn’t even mine.
Jesus looked at all the disciples and said, Oh you of such little faith!! For if you had the faith of the size of a mustard seed, you would call the axe forth!! At that moment Jesus SPOKE to the axe and called it forth. The waters became stirred and the axe floated to the surface. Grab it Thomas, said Jesus, and he did.

It hit me this morning, that here we had all these prophets working with Elisha, YET they didn’t have enough faith on their own to do anything about their trouble. Elisha, being a miracle working prophet, KNEW he could do something.
And he did.

Given the same story from the approach of Jesus and the disciples, Jesus takes the time to show them that THEY too should have enough faith to have spoke to the axe and call it forth.
NOW, I know, many of you arer saying , Come on Jake, that never happened and besides Jesus wouldn’t have spoke to the axe, He would have done something else. OK, you are right, BUT, this is my story.
You see, how mant times have I felt the need to run to a Man of God to ask for help? Oh, don’t get me wrong, that’s what they are there for. BUT, sometimes you just have to ask yourself, Where is YOUR faith?
SOMETIMES, you just have to reach deep down and stir up the Gift of Faith. SOMETIMES, you have to speak to your trouble, whatever you have a need of.

Jesus tells us to do exactly that! Over and over, He tried to tell the disciples, that they too could do these things, if they just would apply their own faith.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that “Without Faith it is impossible to please God”
Last week I spoke from 2 Corinthians 5;
[NLT Version]
7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. 10 For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body.

Beloved, verse 9 tells us that “our goal is to please Him”.
We MUST begin to exercise our own faith. We must begin to put some feet to the things we have been called to do.
When you have a need, SPEAK to it with the authority that Christ has given you. What is it that is dead for you? Don’t you know, the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead, now lives inside of you? Call that dead thing forth! Speak words of encouragement over your dead marriage!
Speaks words of faith over your finances, That God is your provider and in Him you Trust!!
Speak words of Healing over your sickness!
You don’t need to have someone else pray for you or lay hands on you! Where is YOUR faith?
Raise up your own “Axehead”!!!!!!

Getting Naked Before The Lord!!

I was recently reading over some notes that I had made back in 2006. I had forgotten this one and wanted to share some of it with you. 
 

This came to me in the form of a dream, in which was very personal and I will spare you the details of. When I woke up and asked The Lord for the interpretation of it, He said, Expose yourself, Get naked, Get real!!
This is a time of humbling”

In 2006, I thought that to be a good “Word” for me, and I knew nothing of the Spiritual signifagane of it, as far as the timing. I had this dream on September 22, 2006. Now, three years later, as I am studying more on The Festivals and seasons of God, I find that this time of year is time for us to reflect on our sins, “Rosh Hoshanna”, followed by “Ten days of Awe”[Reflection], that conclude on Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement. While these are considered ancient “Jewish”customs by many and some who follow Christ, teach that we “shouldn’t pay these no attention”, They would do well to read what YHWH tells us in Levitcus 23, that These are HIS Feast and that they should continue always. Just as the weekly Sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath, so it is with these feast. They are YHWH’s Holy Days.

Now! Back to the “Getting Naked”.This is how it all ties together.

<i><b>When The Holy Spirit told me this was a time of humbling, He took me to 2nd Chronicles 7:14. This has got to be probably one of the most qouted verses out there today.
God says “If my people” [that isn't just talking about Israel, if we are grafted in, THEN we too are HIS people] who are called by My Name, [not Buddha, Allah or any other name] shall humble themselves….

WHOA! there is that word “humble” again. It hit me,from my dream, how humbling an experience it is to find yourself standing naked, exposed to someone. BUT, that is what YHWH wants us to do for Him. According to Romans 12:1&2, that we become a “living sacrifice”, that is to say, an ongoing sacrifice unto The Lord. That we will allow ourself to “crawl up on the altar [spiritually speaking] and let YHWH expose to us those things that are not pleasing unto Him. When they sacrificed the animals on the altar, they had been cut open and laid out, just as HE wants to do for us, exposing those things and “burning” them away. His Tounge is as a Sharp Two Edged Sword and Speaks the Truth, HE wants to perform surgery on us, then “HEAL us [I will heal their land].

The Spirit said this to me, ”You can dress it all up and call it what you want, BUT YHWH see’s through it anyway! You might as well go ahead and get real before Him and let Him get real with you.”

Esther spent a year getting prepared to go before the king. Why? Because she had an “Awe ” of the King, she Feared the king. She feared rejection and the ultimate consequences of that.

Most people can’t get “naked” or “real” with each other for the same reasons. People fear what others might think, if the “real person” is seen. People fear what others might say, if they walk down the aisle and give themselves unto The Lord. Beloved, that shouldn’t be!!
Hebrews 10: 23-26 teaches us that “We shouldn’t forsake the assembly” that is the coming together. WHY? For the edifying and exortation of the Body. People should be able to come and be able to “get naked” before the Lord, without fear of man. They should be able to “get real” with God!! 
A few weeks ago I got a message on “Blinded by The Light! And Deaf Too! “, in which the Apostle Paul was recounting his experience with The Lord on the road to Damascus. Then known as Saul, he said that “Others saw the Light, and were afraid, But none heard the voice, except me” [paraphrase mine]
Beloved, CAN YOU HEAR what the Spirit is saying? Some in the Body have saw the Light [ Jesus ] and are afraid, not wanting to be exposed, not wanting to get naked, not wanting to get real!!!
Before YHWH will heal you, His Word declares that you “shall [MUST] humble yourself”, It is time, This is the season!
September 19th,2009 is the Feast of Trumpets!! Rosh Hoshanna!! Could this be the year that “The Trumpet of God” shall blow? Let’s get real folks!! Let’s examine ourselves and ask Him to expose those things that aren’t pleasing unto HIM!! He wants to Get Real with you!!!!

Abstinence. It’s Good For What “Ails” You!

 

 

 

Abstinence. It’s Good For What “Ails” You !

Let’s set the record straight to start with!! This isn’t ENTIRELY about “pre-marital” sex. As a matter of fact, it is more about what The Word of God says about “Abstain”

Our central text comes from 1 Thessalonians 5 and read like this;
21Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The word “abstain” is a New Testament word and doesn’t appear in the OT when you research it out. BUT, by it’s very meaning, Abstain, is mentioned throughout the whole Word of God. Let’s look at what Webster’s Dictionary says about “Abstain”.
Definitions: Abstain
Abstain
Verb
1. Refrain from voting.
2. Choose to refrain; “I abstain from alcohol”.
Source: Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

Date “abstain” was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1010. (references)

Synonyms: Abstain
Synonyms: desist (v), refrain (v). (additional references)
Antonym: consume (v). (additional references)
Top

Synonyms within Context: Abstain
Context Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget’s Thesaurus).
Absence of Choice Verb: be neutral; Adjective: have no choice, have no election; waive, not vote; abstain from voting, refrain from voting; leave undecided; “make a virtue of necessity”.
Avoidance Verb: abstain, refrain, spare, not attempt; not do; maintain the even tenor of one’s way.
Disuse Verb: not use; do without, dispense with, let alone, not touch, forbear, abstain, spare, waive, neglect; keep back, reserve. lay up, lay by, lay on the shelf, keep on the shelf,lay up in ordinary; lay up in a napkin; shelve; set aside, put aside, lay aside; disuse, leave off, have done with; supersede; discard; (eject); dismiss, give warning.
Inaction Verb: not do, not act, not attempt; be inactive; abstain from doing, do nothing, hold, spare; not stir, not move, not lift a finger, not lift a foot, not lift a peg; fold one’s arms, fold one’s hands; leave alone, let alone; let be, let pass, let things take their course, let it have its way, let well alone, let well enough alone; quieta non movere; stare super antiquas vias; rest and be thankful, live and let live; lie rest upon one’s oars; laisser aller, faire; stand aloof; refrain; (avoid) keep oneself from doing; remit one’s efforts, relax one’s efforts; desist; (relinquish); stop; (cease); pause; (be quiet).
Temperance Verb: be temperate; Adjective: abstain, forbear, refrain, deny oneself, spare,swear off.

As you can tell, Abstain can be summed up with one word, refrain. To simply “Not do” or “Stay away from”.

In the context of Biblical Scripture, Abstain is most often used in that vernacular.
The problem with most people is they are of a “rebellious spirit”, and they often look at “abstinence” in the wrong way and call it “Legalism” , “out of date”, or for most Christians, “not under the New Covenant” as in reference to “Grace”.

When we look at what is sin and what isn’t, there are many varied opinions.
One of the most quoted explanations is “sin is anything that comes between you and God”. This definition is really very simple, but it really can be misinterpreted as well.

I am going to take the “Dietary Laws of God” for an example. Just for those who don’t know it, “The Dietary Laws of God” is a term given to “thou shall not eat…”.
This really is a confusing statement to many people, BUT, in today’s modern “scientific” world, one should easily understand why God said “thou shall not eat ….”. God, who is infinitely wiser than any man ever has been or will be, simply knew what’s best for us. After all, The Creator, would know how He created these things, right? So, He would know whether, say, pork, shellfish, bottom feeding fish, or “buzzards” would be good for us to eat. SO, when He said don’t eat them, it wasn’t so He could give us a bunch of rules to live by, as some try to claim. It was simply because He knew and still knows, what is best for us. For one to claim that these are a “Law of God” and by not keeping it, you will go to hell, WELL, that’s simply not the truth. You will probably die a lot quicker, by not eating good healthy food, that God made for us and gave us to eat, BUT, eating these things isn’t going to send you to hell.
We are to “Abstain” from these things for our own good. God, the Father, knows best!!

When we look at the simplest meaning of “Abstain”, it is really hard to misunderstand it, from a purely Biblical sense.
We are to “hold on to the good things” of God, and “Abstain” refrain or stay away, do not do, “those things” which are bad for us.
When we do that, we begin to become the “New Creature”, who has died to our “fleshly, lustful ways” and have been “Crucified with Christ”, “Born Again, Resurrected” into the Child of God, that a Loving, Caring, Merciful, and yes, even Graceful, God would be proud of. As parents, it should be easy for us to understand how God The Father, wants what is best for His Children.
ABSTAIN from anything that would keep us from standing before YHWH and having him say, “Well done!”

Here are ALL six[6] times that the word “Abstain” appears in the KJV of the Bible!

Acts 15:20
But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
Acts 15:29
That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
1 Thessalonians 4:3
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
1 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
1 Timothy 4:3
Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
1 Peter 2:11
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

A Man After God’s Own Heart !

A Man After God’s Own Heart!!

 [Sermon Notes from 10-24-09]

There have been many different views of the saying that David was a man “after God’s own heart”. Most teach that it was about the “heart of Worship”, which is derived from the fact of David’s worship, musically of YHWH. Some conclude it to be from the time spent in the hillside as a shepherd. What ever you believe from these two may be the truth, BUT, I want to share with you another look at “David, A man after God’s own heart”.

 

Turn in your Bibles to 1Samuel 24.

Here we find David on the run from King Saul, for as we know from previous scripture, that King Saul had a “spirit” enter him, a “spirit of jealousy” or a “spirit of fear”, driven by “jealousy”. David had become famous in the sight of the people of Israel, because of his defeat of Goliath and the Philistines. Saul felt jealous, as David became more popular than he. Later, Saul sought to kill David. This is where we are with this story here in Chapter 24.

Here we find King Saul had went into a cave to rest himself. Little did he know that David and his men were in this same cave. David’s men began to tell him that God had delivered his enemy, Saul, into his hands. They edged David on to get justice by killing King Saul [ver 3&4] Then David arose and cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe.

NOW, listen to verse 5; “And it came to pass afterward, that David’s heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul’s skirt”.

David’s heart, [ his spirit man, conscience] began to trouble him for what he had done. David told his men that he should NOT do this thing to “my master”, The LORD’S anointed. David’s spirit would not let him kill his enemy.

Beloved, THIS is where David showed that he truly was a man “after God’s own heart”.

In Matthew 5, we find Yahushua, Christ Jesus, giving His famous sermon on the “BE Attitudes”.

 Here Jesus taught us to be “poor in spirit”, that is to say “humble”. David became humble when given the opportunity to kill Saul.

Jesus taught us that if we mourn, we shall be comforted. David’s heart was grieved because of what he had done and was considering doing to King Saul. David found comfort and strength, by not doing what he had all right to do.

Jesus taught us to “hunger and thirst after righteousness” [ Justice] David, in the flesh, had the right to go after and kill his enemy, BUT, the Heart of God is to love your enemy. That is TRUE righteousness.

Jesus taught us to be “merciful”, and in doing so, we would get mercy back. What you sow, is what you reap. If you sow hatred, you get hatred. If you sow love, you get love. David had the chance to sow something, death to an enemy or life to his own soul, by sowing mercy.

Jesus taught us to have a “pure heart”. Boy, that is a hard one, especially when someone is “out to get you”. David’s heart of vengeance was turned into the ” pure heart” of God, by showing love to an enemy, and forsaking the old thoughts of destruction for revenge and gaining the Heart of God, which is Love.

Jesus taught us to be “peacemakers, and they shall be called children of God”. David, knowing that though he had been chosen to be the future king of Israel, recognized that Saul was still The LORD’S anointed one. David became a peacemaker, by walking away from the chance to kill Saul. In doing so, David actually was fulfilling his destiny to be a “child of God” and into his “inheritance” as promised by God.

Jesus taught us that those who are persecuted and reviled by man, for HIS name sake, will be blessed. David certainly had been reviled and persecuted by King Saul, BUT, David knew “who he was and Whose he was”.  Upon discovering the truth of what had happened to him, King Saul recognized that David would become a great king over Israel.

Beloved, we are called to be “the Salt and Light of the earth” [Matt5 :13] If we are who we are called to be, Children of God, then we should strive to become known as a “man after God’s own heart”.

How many times in our own life do we feel that we have been done wrong?

How many times do we feel like “getting Justice”.

A friend of mine once said that, “many people want the God of Justice for someone else, BUT want the God of Mercy for ourselves”.

God’s heart is for us to pray for mercy for our enemy. Then we shall obtain the mercy we want. Then God’s Justice is fulfilled.

When someone has done you wrong, don’t “kill them” by lowering yourself to their standards by gossip, etc. Ask for mercy for them. Father, Forgive Them!!

Can we become like David? Can we get a pure heart? Can we give mercy? Can we become “poor in spirit” which is humble ourself?

When we start doing these things, THEN, maybe we can become known as a “man after God’s own heart”!!!!!!! 

I am angry!! Halloween on the Sabbath! Christians “trunk or treat”

I think I understand how Yahushua, Christ Jesus, felt upon entering the temple and seeing all the “moneychangers” who were profaning the House of  The Lord.

There has been a “righteous anger” growing in my spirit man over the last few days, as I am hearing more and more so called “Christian churches” having “trunk or treat events or “fall festivals” on October 31. There is something WRONG with this picture, and I, for one am tired of so called “Born Again” people trying to rectify and make excuses for celebrating this PAGAN holiday.

 We have posted several good teachings on our sites and let people know of the truth of this abominable doings. How long will you think YHWH will put up with your contemptible acts?

First, NO TRUE “Born Again” child of YHWH should even WANT  to participate in anything that honors this satanic holiday.

Secondly, and this is the one that gets me personally, is the fact that they are doing it on the very day that YHWH “sanctified ” and “blessed” and for most of the Biblical history of mankind, been considered the Sabbath, as set by YHWH in Genesis 2:2&3.

Jeremiah 15:6, YHWH says, ” I am weary with repenting”!!

If  HE grew weary with the chosen children of Israel for all of their rebelling, what more will HE have to say to those who claim to be “grafted in”??

“Some Sobering Thoughts about Freemasons” by Ev. JW Stansell

Some have asked me why do I keep bring up the subject of Freemasons and their so called ” good works”. As a ministry and a Born Again child of YHWH, I take Eph.5:11 seriously. Thanks again to Dr Stansell and others like him for answering that call !!!

Here is another of Dr Stansell’s recent post on Freemasons.

 

Because the devil is so subtle, nearly everyone is in the dark concerning the true agenda of Freemasonry, including the members themselves.  The fact that seventy-five percent of active masons never advance beyond the third level–in a system consisting of thirty-three degrees–indicates that the ignorant majority at the base of the pyramid are consistently manipulated by the evil minority at the top.  Furthermore, unlike the other degrees in the Scottish Rite, the thirty-third degree cannot be earned; it can only be bestowed upon a member by the Supreme Council.  Thus the Council controls who becomes a member of the inner circle.

 

At the higher levels, members are made aware of the true god of Freemasonry–Lucifer, the angel of light. 

 

Tragically, 37% of the Freemasonry membership in the U.S. are Southern Baptists.  Is it any wonder why a Southern Baptist church recently called an ordained lesbian to be their pastor?  Freemasonry is a Trojan Horse filled with Satanism.

 

 

Dr. J.W. Stansell

 

Halloween and Christians!! by Ev. JW Stansell

CHRISTIANS AND HALLOWEEN
By: Evangelist J.W. Stansell

Copyright © 2009
STANSELL CHRISTIAN MEDIA
All Rights Reserved

An old proverb says, “When you sup with the Devil, use a long spoon.” Presumably, no genuine Christian would want to sup with the Devil at all, and yet many may be doing so in ignorance. I am astonished how many Christian parents let their children celebrate Halloween. Of course, many Christian adults love to dress up and celebrate Halloween too.

Should Christians celebrate Halloween? There was once a time when that question would not have needed to be asked. I still remember when most churches took a strong stand against Halloween, and preachers thundered against it from the pulpit, condemning it as the “Devil’s birthday.” Tracts and books were written against it. But now most churches celebrate Halloween, and most preachers are silent on the issue. Some churches even sponsor haunted houses and spook trails. Most Christian bookstores no longer carry any books or tracts that expose Halloween as being evil. What has happened?

The answer can be found in the Bible: “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron” (1 Timothy 4:1-2). “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4). We are now living in that time of the great falling away from the Truth. Most “church members” no longer want to hear the pure Word of God, but prefer to hear soft things that will scratch their itching ears.

Most religious people today do not want to hear sound doctrine. But as a faithful evangelist, I must sound the Trumpet of Truth, “in season and out of season.” Therefore, I must answer the question, should Christians celebrate Halloween? The answer, according to the inspired Word of God, is “NO!”

I. HALLOWEEN IS A FESTIVAL OF FORBIDDEN PRACTICES

“When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.” (Deuteronomy 18:9-12)

History traces the Halloween Celebration back to the ancient religion of the Druids; a religion so evil that even pagan Rome forbade its practice. Christians are forbidden to adopt pagan practices, yet, Halloween is a time when many Christians try to fit such borrowed customs and superstitions into their lifestyle. Such is displeasing to God, yeah, it is an abomination.

In Deuteronomy 18:9-12, God lists nine forbidden things that such pagan religions practiced. Christians should never have anything to do with any of those pagan practices. A careful look at those nine forbidden practices will prove that Halloween celebrates all that God condemned as an abomination.

1. MAKING CHILDREN PASS THROUGH THE FIRE

This ancient pagan practice involved human sacrifice. Parents would actually offer up their babies as sacrifices to the pagan god called Molech. This practice continues in modern terms, and is called abortion. (Lev. 18:21, 2 Kings 16:3, 17:17, 21:6, 23:10. 2 Chronicles 33:6, Jeremiah 32:35). No one is ever to kill another human being. A baby not born yet is just as alive as you and me because God also created and formed this life.

But what does this practice have to do with Halloween? The answer is twofold: first, wickedness walks abroad on this night. We all know true accounts of cruelty to children involving razor blades and straight pins in treats. Horror movies on the theme of Halloween abound. Since the activities of satanists, witches, and other occult groups are more intense during this season, police departments, churches, and others have more problems to cope with. According to one occult researcher, it is estimated that there are thousands of occult murders every year. No one really knows how many take place as a direct result of Halloween. Second, many parents who would never think of sacrificing their children physically are sacrificing them SPIRITUALLY with satanism and spiritism as found in Harry Potter books, and in the evil customs of Halloween.

2. DIVINATION

Divination is the practice or art of discovering hidden knowledge and foretelling future events by occult supernatural means. Fortune-tellers and psychics practice divination, and this practice is forbidden throughout the Bible (2 Kings 17:17; Jeremiah 27:8-9; Acts 16:16-24). Christians should NEVER consult with a psychic or a fortune-teller for any reason. God is the Creator of the universe and He alone only knows your future. Christians should beware of: psychics, fortune tellers, Ouiji board, crystal ball, tarot cards, tea leaf reading, etc. [all of which are practiced and are very popular during Halloween].

3. OBSERVER OF TIMES

This is another form of divination, and would include astrology, stargazing, horoscopes, etc. It is a person who looks to the stars for guidance. (Isaiah 47:12-15; Jeremiah 10:2; Dan.1:20; 5:7,11,15). We should beware of horoscopes or anything else that takes the place of God’s direction. God is our guidance, not His creation. Horoscopes may appear to be harmless, but they become addictive. Reading horoscopes are another form of accepting and honoring occult practices that God has clearly condemned. They are written by people who believe in astrology and are disobeying God. Such practices become very popular during Halloween. It is also an abomination for Christians to dress up like Gypsies and fortune-tellers, and to pretend to consult the stars for telling the future.

4. ENCHANTER

Noah Webster defines an enchanter as, “One who enchants; a sorcerer or magician; one who has spirits or demons at his command; one who practices enchantment, or pretends to perform surprising things by the agency of demons.” Such practice is forbidden in the Bible (2 Kings 17:17; Jeremiah 27:9). Halloween is filled with demonic practices. Many refer to it as an enchanted night. Christians should have no part of such demonic activity.

5. WITCH

A witch is a person that practices witchcraft. Witchcraft is a pagan religion that can be traced back to the ancient mystery school religions that came from the Tower of Babel. It is a type of ancient sun worship, and involves magick, spell casting, the use of magick potions, and divination. The practice of witchcraft is strictly forbidden in the Bible (Leviticus 19:26, 31; 20:6; 2 Kings 17:17; 21:6; 23:24; Micah 5:12; Malachi 3:5; Acts 19:19; Galatians 5:20; Revelation 21:8; 22:15). Witchcraft and Wicca are synonymous terms. There is no such thing as white magick and black magick, or good witches and bad witches. In the eyes of God, all witches and witchcraft practices are evil, and all are condemned by the Word of God.

Halloween is a very special time for witches. But it is also a time when kids and adults, who normally would have nothing to do with witchcraft, like to dress up as witches, and pretend for the evening that they are indeed a witch. I warn you on the authority of God’s Holy Word that such a practice is not harmless fun in the eyes of our Creator, but is rather an abomination! The black cats, bats, cauldrons, broomsticks and such, are all a part of honoring witchcraft. Of course many parents today, including Christian parents, are encouraging their children to practice witchcraft throughout the year by allowing them to read the Harry Potter books, and to watch the Harry Potter movies. The Devil is using Harry Potter to indoctrinate our children into witchcraft. Christians should have nothing to do with Halloween, Harry Potter, or any form of witchcraft.

6. CHARMER

A charmer is a person who puts a spell upon someone, or tries to change things by the use of magick. Charmers use the chanting of a magical verse or formula (Isaiah 19:3), and use an object or piece of jewelry for magical purposes. Christians should beware of occult symbols, talisman, amulets, crystals, New Age positive thinking and confession, etc. Many Halloween costumes include such occult symbols and jewelry.

7. CONSULTER WITH FAMILIAR SPIRITS

A consulter with familiar spirits is a person who seeks knowledge from demonic spirits (2 Kings 21:6; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Isaiah 19:3). Such persons are often referred to as mediums. They usually believe they are contacting the dead, but in reality what they are really contacting is an evil spirit that is pretending to be the dead. Christians should beware of channeling, spiritism, mediums, space brothers, ascended masters, invisible spirit friends, Ouija boards, automatic writing, séances, etc; all of which are especially popular during Halloween.

8. WIZARD

A wizard is a person who knows many things about the occult and is in touch with demonic spirits. A male witch, a sorcerer, or magician, conjurer; one who uses magick to have control over another person; also someone who uses magick to change nature (2 Kings 17:17, 21:6; 2 Chronicles 33:6; Isaiah 19:3). Halloween is a very special night for wizards and those that practice black magick. Christians should not celebrate a pagan holiday that is dedicated to the practice of black magick. Christians should definitely not wear costumes that make them pretend to be wizards.

9. NECROMANCER

A necromancer is person who claims they have spoken with those who have died already. Contact is usually made for magical and fortune telling purposes (1 Samuel 1-25; Isaiah 8:19; 1 Chronicles 10:13-14). Again it is not the dead that they are contacting but evil demonic spirits who are pretending to be the deceased.
Halloween is still called Samhain by most witches and other pagans. Samhain means “lord of the dead,“ and refers to Satan. Every Halloween Satan is given special homage and worship by Satanists and other people who practice the occult. This is where the emphasis on death comes from on October 31st (i.e. coffins, tombstones, skeletons, ghosts, graveyards, etc). Those who dress up like ghosts and vampires, or decorate their homes and yards with bones, skeletons, tombstones, coffins, etc., are actually guilty of the forbidden practice of necromancy. Halloween is not innocent fun; it is the celebration of forbidden occult practices.

II. HALLOWEEN IS A FESTIVAL OF FEAR

Did you know that fear is actually an evil spirit? That is what the Bible teaches: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Notice that the Bible clearly calls fear a “spirit” and that it also clearly says that this “spirit” does not come from God; therefore, fear is an evil spirit. Satan uses this evil spirit to torment millions of minds. God is love (1 John 4:7,8) and gives peace (John 14:27; Philippians 4:7). Fear has no love and brings turmoil instead of peace (1 John 4:18); therefore, fear is an enemy of God and His followers. Since Halloween promotes the spirit of fear, with all of its haunted houses, ghost stories, horror movies and scary costumes; that would make Halloween an enemy of God. Christians should not celebrate any festival that is at odds with God. [For more information, see my study entitled, “Halloween And The Spirit Of Fear.”]

III. HALLOWEEN IS A FESTIVAL OF DEATH

Christianity is a celebration of life, not of death (John 5:24; 10:10). Our God is the God of the living, not a god of the dead (Matthew 22:32). We worship and serve a risen Saviour! In stark contrast, Halloween is a celebration of death, and of the dead. As this study has already mentioned, the Druids, from whom most of our Halloween customs originated from, celebrated this night in honor of Samhain, lord of the dead. Just look at the Halloween costumes and decorations that honor death: vampires, zombies, ghosts, skeletons, the Grim Reaper, graveyards, coffins, skulls and the bones of the dead, etc. It is a time when ghost stories are told and people are dared to walk around in cemeteries. Halloween is also the season when Ouija Boards and séances become more popular, as people try to contact the spirits of their departed friends and family members- a practice which is strictly forbidden by the Bible (Deuteronomy 18:9-12) .

IV. HALLOWEEN IS A FESTIVAL OF DARKNESS

Halloween has filled the void of a holiday appealing to the darker side of human nature. Have you noticed how costumes and masks are getting generally bloodier, gorier, and more depraved each year? Unfortunately, the gruesome and grotesque and the occult are increasingly glorified in American society, not only on Halloween, but throughout the year in horror movies and in television programs.

Halloween is indeed a festival of darkness. This should clearly tell Christians to stay away from it, for Christians are the children of Light. We are warned in the Bible not to have anything to do with the powers of darkness:

“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” (Acts 26:18)

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” (Romans 13:12)

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:3-6)

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)

“For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8)

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Ephesians 5:11)

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-6)

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:5-7)

As believers, we are to abhor that which is evil (Romans 12:9) and to abstain from the very appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). We are warned not to give the Devil any place in our lives (Ephesians 4:27), but rather to resist him (James 4:7). We are to walk in the light (1 John 1:7).

IN CONCLUSION

Should Christians participate in Halloween? Occult practices of all kinds are forbidden in the Bible (Deuteronomy 18:9-14), and we have seen that Halloween is filled with these forbidden practices. We are told that witchcraft and sorcery will keep people from entering the Kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21, Revelation 21:8; 22:4-15). Those that were involved in such practices, and came to Christ in the early Church, gave up their spell casting and burned their magick books (Acts 19:18-20). Halloween celebrates all that the Bible forbids us to participate in. Should Christians take part in the celebration of Halloween? Absolutely not! To the contrary, Christians are warned to resist the Devil (James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8-9), not to give place to the Devil (Ephesians 4:27), and to avoid all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22). The answer is crystal clear to any honest heart- Christians should not have anything to do with Halloween.

“Halloween and The Spirit of Fear” by Evangelist JW Stansell

HALLOWEEN AND THE SPIRIT OF FEAR
By: Evangelist J.W. Stansell

“I will fear no evil: for thou art with me,” are wonderful words of hope from the Psalmist’s heart in the 23rd Psalm. These precious words of comfort are especially needed in these last days of wars, rumors of wars, and threats of new terrorists’ attacks. As we hear of the possibilities of nuclear and biological attacks, horrible crimes, and a failing economy, fear is growing at an alarming rate in the hearts and minds of people around the world. To add to the problem, Hollywood is constantly pumping out new horror movies to poison our minds with more fear.

The world already has enough fear to deal with; it certainly does not need a holiday that is dedicated to spreading even more fear. But that is exactly what Halloween is all about- FEAR! From scary costumes to haunted houses and spook trails; from horror movie marathons to the telling of ghost stories in dark rooms- Halloween is nothing less than a festival of fear. The Bible has much to say about fear. I want to give you four important facts about fear, and then you decide if you should celebrate in a festival of fear!

1. FEAR IS AN EVIL SPIRIT

Did you know that fear is actually an evil spirit? That is what the Bible teaches: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Notice that the Bible clearly calls fear a “spirit” and that it also clearly says that this “spirit” does not come from God; therefore, fear is an evil spirit. Satan uses this evil spirit to torment millions of minds. Since Halloween is all about fear, that would mean that Halloween is under the influence of evil spirits.

2. FEAR IS AN ENEMY OF GOD AND MAN

God is love (1 John 4:7,8) and gives peace (John 14:27; Philippians 4:7). Fear has no love and brings turmoil instead of peace (1 John 4:18); therefore, fear is an enemy of God and His followers. One of man’s greatest fears is the fear of death. The Bible clearly reveals that death is the last enemy that will be defeated: “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26). So when you willingly harbor fear in your life, you are actually harboring an enemy of God, and yourself, inside of you. And, since Halloween promotes the spirit of fear, that would make Halloween an enemy of God. Christians should not celebrate any festival that is at odds with God.

3. FEARFUL THOUGHTS CAN BECOME FRIGHTFUL REALITIES

The enemy desires to build strongholds in your mind (2 Corinthians 10:3-6), for your thoughts control the atmosphere of your life (Proverbs 23:7). Television is one of Satan’s favorite tools to spread the spirit of fear. Through television, the enemy is able to flood our homes with fear through horror films and the controlled media continually filling our minds with negative and fearful reports. When you entertain fearful thoughts you are actually giving the enemy a stronghold in your life [read 2 Corinthians 10:3-6 and Ephesians 4:27].

The enemy knows that thoughts are seeds that reproduce after their own kind (Genesis 1:11,12; Galatians 6:7). If your mind entertains fearful thoughts long enough, these fear seeds will bring forth a harvest of your greatest fears: “For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me, and that which I was afraid of is come unto me” (Job 3:25). Halloween is a night that celebrates the fears of man. It is a time when children and adults dress up in costumes and pretend to be demons, witches, vampires, ghosts and monsters. It is a night when humans become what they fear. Do you really think that God is pleased with such actions?

4. LOVE WILL DRIVE AWAY FEAR

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18). Since “perfect love casteth out fear,” and since “God is love,” (1 John 4:8, 16) anything that promotes fear is not of God. Therefore, since Halloween is a festival of fear, it is not of God. If it is not of God, then it must be of the Devil. Halloween is definitely a satanic holiday. Christians should have no part in it.

IN CONCLUSION

Fear is running rampant all around us. People are looking everywhere for a comfort to that fear. You won’t find that desired comfort in a bottle of booze, a needle filled with drugs, a new law passed by Congress, in the office of a psychiatrist, or from the pulpit of a legalistic preacher; it can only come from a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ and the comforting promises of God’s Word: “Come unto me, all ye that labor 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 11:28-30).

Seeing how terrible fear truly is, Christians should be careful not to invite this spirit into their homes: “Neither give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:27). Christians have no business watching TV programs and movies that promote fear or the occult. Christians should not read books that promote fear or the occult [PARENTS: This includes not allowing your children to read Harry Potter books too]. Christians should not celebrate Halloween [a festival of fear], or visit places that promote fear – like haunted houses, spook trails, haunted graveyards, etc. By doing so, you are giving place to the Devil. Such practices are actually doorways that invite evil spirits into your home.

If you are having trouble with the spirit of fear, then rid your home of anything that promotes fear or the occult. Renounce any ties you have had in the past that would have given spirits of fear a doorway into your home. Plead the Blood of Jesus over yourself, your family and your home. Command all spirits of fear to leave in the Name of Jesus!

Copyright © 2009
STANSELL CHRISTIAN MEDIA
All Rights Reserved

Six ways the Holy Spirit communicates with us. By Charles C. Carrin

Six Ways The Holy Spirit Will Communicate With You

One of the tragic loses in modern Christianity is the near-elimination of the Holy Spirit from the life and activity of many believers. Religion that is learned and formalized can function without the Holy Spirit; true spirituality cannot. A prominent church leader once said of his denomination that “If the Holy Spirit were to disappear from the Church 90% of its work would go on as if nothing happened.” In many cases that is so. The loss is enormous. While your church or denomination may not be like that there are still no known Christians today experiencing the Holy Spirit in the same capacity as did first century believers. Nor are we getting the same results. Modern Christianity exerts a fading influence in Western culture.

In John 16:13, Jesus promised, “When the Spirit of truth has come He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is mine and declare it to you.” And again, in John 15:26 He said, “When the Helper comes whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” The word Jesus used for “Helper” has a rich and wonderful meaning in its Greek equivalent, parakletos, and was used in the ancient Olympic Games to identify those who accompanied a marathon runner by shouting encouragement to him. This example of the Holy Spirit and the Christian with the marathon-runner to his paraklete is an excellent illustration. Para = “alongside of;” kaleo = “to call.” Here are six scriptural ways the Holy Spirit wants to accompany our race and shout encouragement:

1. THE HOLY SPIRIT BEARS WITNESS DIRECTLY TO OUR SPIRIT AND LEADS US INTERNALLY: Romans 8:16. “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” 1 John 5:6-8. “And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.”

2. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL LEAD US EXTERNALLY: Acts 16:6-7. “Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia but the Spirit did not permit them.” Genesis 24:27: “As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.” I Samuel 10:6. “Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man.” Galatians 5:16-19. “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

3. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL SPEAK TO US IN WORDS AND SENTENCES: Acts 8:27-29. “And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot.’” Acts 10:19-21. “While Peter thought about the vision, the Spirit said to him, ‘Behold, three men are seeking you. Arise therefore, go down and go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.’”

4. THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL SPEAK TO US PROPHETICALLY THROUGH OTHERS: Acts 11:27-28. “And in these days prophets came from Jerusalem to Antioch. Then one of them, named Agabus, stood up and showed by the Spirit that there was going to be a great famine throughout all the world, which also happened in the days of Claudius Caesar.” Acts 6:8-11. “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then there arose some from what is called the Synagogue of the Freedmen (Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and those from Cilicia and Asia), disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.” Acts 21:9-11. “Now Philip had four virgin daughters who prophesied. And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit,’So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”

5. THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES SPECIFIC REVELATION KNOWLEDGE: Ephesians 3:1-6. “For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles — if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets …” I Corinthians 12:8. “For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit.” I Corinthians 2:9-10. “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”

6. THE HOLY SPIRIT SPEAKS THROUGH THE WRITTEN WORD OF SCRIPTURE: 2 Peter 1:19-2:1. “And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.” II Peter 1:20,21: “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

THE VITAL QUESTION IS THIS:

Please hear this carefully: It is absolutely impossible for any of us–now–later–ever–to fully explore the Being and ministry of the Holy Spirit. He is God. He cannot be restricted to the interpretation of our denominational boxes. All of us are learners on earth and will still be that 100,000,000 light-years into eternity. The Holy Spirit is illimitable, inexhaustible, inexplicable, unreachable, unfathomable, impenetrable, inconceivable–and much, much more. Our attitude before the Holy Spirit must remain one of unrelenting reverence, complete awe, and utter submission. When we have accepted this fact, submitted to this truth, and established this quality of relationship with Him, we will experience more quickly and deeply His influence in our lives.

On the Day of Ascension, Jesus told the disciples at the Mount of Olives, “John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now … You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” Acts 1:5,6. In a single statement, Jesus connected baptism in the Spirit to the imparting of His power. That wonderful event occurred on the day of Pentecost when 120 disciples in the Upper Room received the blessing. Scripture carefully explains that others who were not present at Pentecost experienced the same empowering later. That included the Samaritans, Acts 8:14-17, Saul of Tarsus, Acts 9:17, the household of Cornelius, Acts 10:44, and the Ephesians, Acts 19:1-7. Young Timothy followed the example. II Timothy 1:6. Of the two billion Christians worldwide, some 500,000,000 now accept the validity of the Spirit’s Baptism. In 1977, I received the Baptism through the laying-on-of-hands by a born-again, Spirit-filled prisoner in the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. Without question, that was the most phenomenal, earth-shaking day of my life. Would I go back to my previous life and ministry? Never!

The Apostle Paul, who received the Spirit’s imparting through the laying-on-of-hands by Ananias, later wrote an 84 verse treatise on spiritual gifts. I Corinthians 12,13,14. His explanation provides the most comprehensive, authoritative information we have on the subject. More importantly, It is the only resource bearing the seal of Divine Authorship. All conflicting opinions, no matter how cherished or long-established, are but human speculation and must be discarded. Scripture is our final, absolute authority.

The Apostle begins his dissertation with the plea: “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant.” 12:1. Interestingly, this appeal that we “not be ignorant” appears seven times in the New Testament; once by Peter, six times by Paul. Each time, the request reveals an especially deep concern of the writer. Its appearance here should command the attention of every conscientious believer. The Apostle then proceeds carefully to detail the operation of nine grace-works of the Spirit. These are the direct result of the Spirit’s baptism. Having defended the need and purpose of the gifts, Paul then concludes his discourse with the stirring rebuke, “But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.” 14:38. In other words, he says, “After this careful explanation of spiritual gifts, if anyone refuses to learn, I have nothing more to say to him. Let him remain illiterate!” Paul seemingly anticipated that some believers would reject his teaching on miraculous works of the Spirit and added this harsh warning: “If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.” I Corinthians 14:37.

What are the “commandments” of which he speaks? The answer: The Apostolic teachings on spiritual gifts. I Corinthians 12 and 14 speak with God’s authority as much as any other of Paul’s writings. We are no more at liberty to reject these Biblically mandated instructions than any other commandment of the Lord.

Until recent years, there was probably no other subject about which the Church was more ignorant than that of spiritual gifts. Instead of heeding Paul’s instruction, the Church engaged in open warfare against them. This was done in full view of Paul’s exhortation that we:

1. “Earnestly desire spiritual gifts.” I Corinthians 12:31.

2. “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” 14:1.

3. “Since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel.” 14:12.

These admonitions do not indicate the reluctance that typifies the modern church’s attitude against spiritual gifts. There was no such lukewarmness on the part of Paul or the Corinthians. Identically, believers today are encouraged to exercise the gifts for the benefit of everyone: “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all; for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills … But if anyone is ignorant, let him be ignorant.” I Corinthians 12:1;4-11;38.

The argument immediately arises, “These gifts passed away.” Paul did not believe that. Nor should you. The New Testament does not teach it. In the introduction of his Corinthian letters (29 chapters and longest of all New Testament writings) Paul exhorted believers to ” … Come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 1:7.

In that brief statement, Paul equated the duration of spiritual gifts to be the same length as the Church’s waiting for Jesus’ return. Examine it for yourself. This is precisely what the Apostle said. There is probably no greater ignorance in the Church today than of spiritual gifts and Jesus’ offer of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. But, someone asks, why do I need the baptism in the Spirit and the imparting of spiritual gifts? Here are a few of the many reasons:

 

Are you experiencing the Holy Spirit’s communication in all these ways? No matter where we are in our present walk with God, the Holy Spirit offers us far more than we are accepting. if our relationship with the Holy Spirit is not being enlarged and if we are able to remain comfortable with our limited contact with Him, then we have not fully encountered Him–either in Scripture or in Person. It is impossible for us as limited, human beings to be brought into contact with the infinite Holy Spirit and find that we already have a full, comprehensive, satisfactory, understanding of Him and His work. Any church or pastor who makes such a claim is already in profound error and spiritual ignorance. Those who claim that all their questions about the Holy Spirit were answered years ago and they have no need of further enlargement, are merely revealing the emptiness of their religious wells–plus the deception of their pride. Eternity itself will not provide us with sufficient time to master the incomprehensible work of the Holy Spirit. 1. Jesus said you needed it.

2. Without it, you are an incomplete disciple.

3. Good as you presently are, you will be better with it.

4. You need to be moved out of “soulish” effort into spiritual effort.

5. The baptism in the Spirit releases power in your life which can be had no other way.

6. Once you, your family, friends, recover from the shocking, personal change the baptism brings to your life, everyone will recognize you are a better person.

7. The Bible teaches it. Early Christians depended on it. History confirms it.

The Holy Spirits impartation of spiritual gifts into your life opens you to His other manifestations. You need every method of His leading–including the six named above. Stop your arguments and receive them!

Charles C Carrin

Are we “born sinners”?

I just want to post that question for you all to ponder on. I pray that you will seek the Word and The Holy Spirit before just jumping in with what some denomination might say or some commentary.
Let’s hear from you all!!
Are we “born sinners”?

Halloween! by Evangelist JW Stansell

By: Evangelist J.W. Stansell

COPYRIGHT © 2008
STANSELL CHRISTIAN MEDIA
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

The Christian Church, and much of Judaism, is entrenched deep in the ancient Babylonian mystery religion; only today it is referred to as “culture” or “traditions.” God has sent His people a clear warning to come out of such practices in Revelation 18:4, “Every year as the final days of October creep upon us, many Christians are caught up in the observance of a man-made tradition known as Halloween. Halloween is considered by many well-meaning church folks to be just another “harmless” activity. Children from the church are found in the crowds of excited “trick or treaters.” People of all ages revel in the terrifying ghost stories, join in silly costume parties, or scare themselves witless by watching movies in which murder and mayhem are the main themes. It is all thought to be good entertainment. Yet, as this short study points out, there is a much darker side to the Halloween observance. Halloween is a celebration of the occult- a celebration of evil!

1. HALLOWEEN IS A CELEBRATION OF PAGANISM

Halloween has its roots in demon-inspired paganism. It lifts up Satan and serves as a vehicle through which evil practices are exhibited. The story of Halloween is very old, going back to the days of the Druids in England, where in fact, most of the secular customs that are now performed during Halloween were first practiced. The Druids practiced many superstitious customs depending on their beliefs. They were heavily involved in sun worship, human sacrifice, and the occult. God strictly forbids His people from following after such practices (Deuteronomy 18:9-12; Jeremiah 10:1-4; 1 Corinthians 10:20-21; 2 Corinthians 6:17). Halloween is definitely a celebration of paganism.

2. HALLOWEEN IS A CELEBRATION OF CATHOLICISM

Halloween’s origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints’ Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints’ Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls’ Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints’, All Saints’, and All Souls’, were called Hallowmas. As they did with most pagan celebrations, the Roman Catholic Church [the Great Whore of Revelation 17], mixed the pagan beliefs of Halloween with their false religious system. They incorporated the customs of Samhain to further its mission to convert the known world to Catholicism. Halloween is therefore a celebration of Catholicism, which Christians are warned to have no part of [Revelation 18:4].

3. HALLOWEEN IS A CELEBRATION OF DEATH

Christianity is a celebration of life, not of death (John 5:24; 10:10). Yahweh is the God of the living, not a god of the dead (Matthew 22:32). We worship and serve a risen Savior! In stark contrast, Halloween is a celebration of death, and of the dead. The Druids, from whom most of our Halloween customs originate from, celebrated this night in honor of Samhain, Lord of the Dead. Just look at the Halloween costumes and decorations that honor death: vampires, zombies, ghosts, skeletons, the Grim Reaper, graveyards, coffins, skulls and the bones of the dead, etc. It is a time when ghost stories are told and people are dared to walk around in cemeteries. Halloween is also the season when Ouija Boards and séances become more popular, as people try to contact the spirits of their departed friends and family members- a practice which is strictly forbidden by the Bible (Deuteronomy 18:9-12) .

4. HALLOWEEN IS A CELEBRATION OF FEAR

Did you know that fear is actually an evil spirit? That is what the Bible teaches: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). Notice that the Bible clearly calls fear a “spirit” and that it also clearly says that this “spirit” does not come from God; therefore, fear is an evil spirit. Satan uses this evil spirit to torment millions of minds. Since Halloween is a celebration of fear [haunted houses, spooky costumes, ghost stories, etc.], and the Bible clearly reveals that fear is an evil spirit- shouldn’t that tell you that Halloween is evil? Halloween is a celebration of fear. It is clear that Christians should have nothing to do with this satanic holiday. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:18).

5. HALLOWEEN IS A CELEBRATION OF WITCHCRAFT & SATANISM

Halloween is not just a harmless holiday where children dress up like witches, the devil and demons. To real witches, and to real Satanists, Halloween is a very special time of the year. To witches, Halloween is a festival of the dead, and represents the end and the beginning of the witches’ year. Satanists have established Halloween as “All Demon’s Night.” Halloween is a dark time when witches and Satanists celebrate a night of orgies, casting spells, and in some cases- animal and human sacrifices! Law enforcement statistics tell us that crime drastically increases on Halloween. This should tell us something people. Halloween is definitely a celebration of evil.

IN CONCLUSION

It is clear that Halloween is an evil celebration of the occult- a holiday that truly honors Satan. Christians should not have anything to do with such an evil practice. “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils” (1 Corinthians 10:21). “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:14-18).

Rosh Hoshanna or Feast of Trumpets? Which one is for Christians?

While there are some who would say that neither one is for Christians, I will come right out and tell them, “WRONG”. I am going to keep this as simple as possible. Anyone wanting to get into finer points of this subject, feel free to do so. That’s why I posted it as a blog, so it can be discussed.

Rosh Hoshanna was started by man, during the captivity in Babylon.

Feast of Trumpets was instituted by YHWH in Lev.23:24 and called a “memorial” meaning to always be observed.

Rosh Hoshanna points to the sin nature of man.

Feast of Trumpets points to YHWH and the Second Coming of Yahushua, Christ Jesus, who MADE us free from our sin nature.

There are those who say that because Rosh Hoshanna fall on a sabbath this year, that they should not blow the Shofar.

YHWH says in setting up the Feast of Trumpets, “ye shall have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets”!!

Rosh Hoshanna celebrates a “New Year” in the month of Tishrei. Why? In the Hebrew it means “head”, but in the Babylonian language, it means “beginings”. This is in direct conflict with YHWH, as He calls it the 7th month from the month Abib, which He gave to Israel in Exodus 12:2, ” This month shall be unto you the begining of months: it shall be the first month of  the year to you”. So we see that man, because of  the influence of Babylon, turns his back on YHWH and does what is right in his own eyes.

Some of those who celebrate Rosh Hoshanna, believe that the afternoon of Rosh Hoshanna, they are to “cast their sins” into a stream of flowing water, by throwing pebbles into the stream.

Yahushua said to cast them on Him! He already dealt with the sin.

Rosh Hoshanna is an annual “time of reflection”, to deal with sin.

Yahushua has already been Sacrificed ONCE AND FOR ALL who sin. The writer of Hebrews,l reminds us NOT to crucify Christ afresh, not to go back to repentance over and over [Hebrews 6:6]  

I WILL celebrate the Feast of Trumpets, until Yahushua comes back!!