Some thoughts on Haiti.

I know that the “popular thing” to do right now is rush down to Haiti and help out. YES, as Christians we should. BUT. what then?
The headlines on MSN.com say that the U.S. is taking the lead in the effort to “aid” this country. BUT, what then?

“I am weary with repenting”, saith The Lord [ Jeremiah 15:6 ]

TRUE healing for Haiti can ONLY come from YAHWEH, whom they have rejected. For over 200 years ago, Voodoo and witchcraft became a main source of power for Haiti, and the current leader has declared it a “religion” acceptable for Haiti. When ANY “king” seeks power from any source but YAHWEH, then scripture is clear of the outcome. People who can’t see God The Father in this, had better WAKE UP. HOW LONG, O LORD, will you put up with a rebel who runs to and fro?

Look Up, you who call yourself Christian, but are not! Your redeemer draws closer. And His Judgement as well!!
The U.S. has a leader who says we are not a nation of Christians. The SAD fact is, he is close to being right. For many have forgone the truth, and run after the things of the world. Calling themself Christian, yet denying the very power there of.
YES, run to Haiti and help those in need. BUT, run with God The Father, as the Healer and Truth. Yes give them food and water, clothing and shelter. BUT, give them The Bread of Life along with The Waters, that they may never hunger or thirst again. Bind up the wound of those who are hurt, BUT release The Healing power of God on the sick. Give them THE TRUTH!! Less we too fall into the snares of the enemy.

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”!!!!!!! 

Special Event ! Red Envelope Day

This is from Pastor Bruce Greene,

 This is concerning the subject of “Abortion”, and a 1 day chance to send a signal to Washington, DC.

Please take a look at this link. I invite you all to participate and also to forward this along to whomever you are led to.

http://livingbreadoflife.ning.com/events/red-envelope-day

 

Love in Yahushua, Christ Jesus

Jake

LBOLM now on ning!

That’s Right !

Living Bread of Life Ministry is now also part of the ning.com social network. Come by and join in and meet Christian brothers and sisters from all over the world ! AND IT’S FREE ! 

http://livingbreadoflife.ning.com/

The Rapture Revelation event !

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 ?

Angel visits little girl at hospital PICU ward

This story was circulated earlier by some friends in a ministry group here in SC. It has been picked up by the mainstream media. Read the story below as posted on MSNBC/ Today Show.;

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/28364813/?GT1=43001

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

Lighten’ Up ! Kids at Church

This  is from my Sister in The Lord, Marie !!

Enjoy !!

• 3-year-old Reese :
  ‘Our Father, Who does art in heaven,
  Harold is His name.
  Amen.’
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
• A little boy was overheard praying:
  ‘Lord, if you can’t make me a better boy, don’t worry about it.
  I’m having a real good time like I am.’
• After the christening of his baby brother in church,
  Jason sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car.
  His father asked him three times what was wrong.
  Finally, the boy replied,
  ‘That preacher said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home,
  and I wanted to stay with you guys.
• A Sunday school teacher asked her children as they
  were on the way to church service,
  ‘And why is it necessary to be quiet in church?’
  One bright little girl replied,
  ‘Because people are sleeping
• A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin 5, and Ryan 3.
  The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake.
  Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson.
  ‘If Jesus were sitting here, He would say,
  ‘Let my brother have the first pancake, I can wait.’
  Kevin turned to his younger brother and said,
  ‘Ryan, you be Jesus!’
• A  father was at the beach with his children
  when the four-year-old son ran up to him,
  grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore
  where a seagull lay dead in the sand.
  ‘Daddy, what happened to him?’ the son asked.
  ‘He died and went to Heaven,’ the Dad replied
  The boy thought a moment and then said,
  ‘Did God throw him back down?’  

A wife invited some people to dinner.
At the table, she turned to their six-year-old daughter and said,
‘Would you like to say the blessing?’
‘I wouldn’t know what to say,’ the girl replied.
‘Just say what you hear Mommy say,’ the wife answered.
The daughter bowed her head and said,
‘Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?’