Speed Test From A Korean Hotel...Road Runner Pay Attention!
My "Turbo" Road Runner connection speed here in America:
Monday, February 28, 2011
Ephesians 3:9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:Revelation 4:11Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Colossians 1:17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Acts 17:28For in him we live, and move, and have our being;
John 1:3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
Romans 1:22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And they continue to grope around in darkness...
"A new analysis of a meteorite found in Antarctica is leading scientists to think that life on Earth may have come from outer space. Chemical analysis of the meteorite shows it to be rich in ammonia and containing the element nitrogen. Nitrogen is found in the proteins and DNA that form the basis of life as we know it. The prevailing theory is that our planet may have been seeded by a comet or asteroid because the formative Earth might not have been able to provide the full inventory of simple molecules needed for the processes which led to primitive life."
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Who is Jesus? Is Jesus Christ a Liar, a Lunatic or really Lord and ...
Who is Jesus of Nazareth? Is Jesus Christ Lord, Liar or Lunatic? Is Jesus God? Is Jesus the Savior?
The Jesus film: STREAMING VIDEO
Pastor Jim Jacobson
“I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.” -Zech 12:10
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“In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity.” -Zech 13:1
“In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity.” -Zech 13:1
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A fountain is a perpetual flow, something that springs forth endlessly. In Hebrews Jesus is described as follows:
Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. -Hebrews 7:25
A fountain is a perpetual flow, something that springs forth endlessly. In Hebrews Jesus is described as follows:
Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. -Hebrews 7:25
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The image in Zechariah is prophetic of the redemptive ministry of Christ. What a wonderful ministry Christ has to endlessly extend grace. The fountain of his forgiveness is extended to the world. The passage in Hebrews is clear that Jesus’ ministry is endless and perpetual. He is the fountain, the source, and one day, His own will receive Him.
Here is a great song written with these scriptures.
The image in Zechariah is prophetic of the redemptive ministry of Christ. What a wonderful ministry Christ has to endlessly extend grace. The fountain of his forgiveness is extended to the world. The passage in Hebrews is clear that Jesus’ ministry is endless and perpetual. He is the fountain, the source, and one day, His own will receive Him.
Here is a great song written with these scriptures.
Enjoyed from and greatly valued from:
Monday, February 21, 2011
Wacked Out People Who Think They Are Christians
"Last week we discussed news that the hacking group Anonymous was staging an attack against Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church. It turns out that this was a publicity stunt staged by WBC themselves. Anonymous issued a press release disassociating themselves from this."
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Sunday, February 20, 2011
Shekinah Fellowship: Vickie Faurie
My original post is here:
Since then the website has vaporized and the video has done the same.
But...As always we can still locate the trail left behind...
I still do not know what has become of this ministry. Vickie was healed during a service conducted by Kathryn Kulhman and had emulated her ministry.
"As a child, Vickie was supernaturally healed and raised up off a deathbed in a Kathryn Kuhlman service in Chicago. Instantly touched by God, she was miraculously healed. Life Touch Ministries now shares the healing touch of God to others, in the healing of the mind, body, soul and spirit.
Vickie Faurie was born in Waukegan, Illinois. Being raised in a Christian home at the age of eight, Vickie asked God into her heart.
As a child she become critically ill, her limbs were crippled and doctors had given up on her. In a Kathryn Kuhlman service in Chicago, Vickie was instantly touched by God and received a miraculous healing.
Vickie Faurie was born in Waukegan, Illinois. Being raised in a Christian home at the age of eight, Vickie asked God into her heart.
As a child she become critically ill, her limbs were crippled and doctors had given up on her. In a Kathryn Kuhlman service in Chicago, Vickie was instantly touched by God and received a miraculous healing.
In 1989 after receiving a word from God, Vickie and her husband, Gary, moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma.
With a passion to pursue the will of God, they left family, a secure job and sold their home in obedience to God. Currently, Gary & Vickie travel ministering to various churches the Word God has given to them to share.
Vickie Faurie is the author of, Dead Men Walking (How To Die To Self). She teaches, how to die to self, crucifying the flesh, abiding in the cross, living totally surrendered to God and yet being alive in Him. Dwelling in the power of the crucified life becomes the resurrected life.
Just as Kathryn Kuhlman came to a dead-end street in a certain town, surrendering everything to Jesus, making none of self and all of Him her commitment in life. Vickie too, has found the place of death to self. As she counts herself nothing, but a yielded vessel for Him to use, sharing her favorite passage, Phil 2:5-8.
Life Touch Ministries was founded, with a desire to see the body of Christ taking on the same attitude of Christ Jesus.
To being found humble and obedient, taking up the cross of Christ and following after Him in all things. Gary and Vickie, live passionately for Jesus Christ and share their intense passion with others around the world."
Life Touch Ministries, IncP.O. Box 306 Claremore, OK 74018-0316
Phone:
(918) 379-0220
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2014 Update:
http://sidroth.org/radio/radio-archives/vickie-faurie-0
You can contact life touch ministries at ltm4jesus@yahoo.com
Life Touch Is in Broken Arrow, OK holding monthly healing meetings. Provides teaching and mentoring to the believers. Every 2nd Sat. of the month they are at Kingdom Rain International in Tulsa. They have services at 6:00 pm.
http://kingdomraininternational.org/vickie-faurie-life-touch-ministries/
Phone:
(918) 379-0220
***
2014 Update:
http://sidroth.org/radio/radio-archives/vickie-faurie-0
You can contact life touch ministries at ltm4jesus@yahoo.com
Life Touch Is in Broken Arrow, OK holding monthly healing meetings. Provides teaching and mentoring to the believers. Every 2nd Sat. of the month they are at Kingdom Rain International in Tulsa. They have services at 6:00 pm.
http://kingdomraininternational.org/vickie-faurie-life-touch-ministries/
Worship Jesus With Us Today He Is Here You Know
http://www.veoh.com/browse/videos/category/people_and_blogs/watch/v16047981mBk47F6A Senior Pastor Brant Baker of Shekinah Fellowship had no way of knowing that his words would indeed go into the homes of others through the Internet since it was not in existence at the time of this video taping. But Jesus knew it! How wonderful to worship Jesus who is eternal and self existent, the same yesterday, today and forever. The manifested presence of the Holy Spirit is going to come upon you as you participate in this worship service with us. Jesus loves you knowing your good points and your bad points. He loves you just the same. He will never ever fail you. Give your heart and all that you are to Jesus, He loves you! You can be healed today as you are watching this video. Jesus is everywhere and He is with you now!Watch Brant Baker Shekinah Fellowship Of Long Beach CAlifornia in People & Blogs View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Undercover under a bushel basket...bland salt...dimmed light?
You know those creative "Not Of This World" type trade marked stickers that we see on the back windows of vehicles these days. I am always thinking that it is somehow a copout of sorts. A sticker that lets other Christians know who you are in kind of an undercover way. Something that won't offend the unsaved among us. Why no "Jesus Christ Is My Lord And Saviour" stickers? Or "I worship Jesus Christ The Son Of Almighty God."
During the days of the Jesus People Movement our bumper stickers were more direct in revealing who we were to one another and the world around us.
Don't get me wrong though, just the other day I was behind a construction truck. There was a "My boss is a Jewish Carpenter" sticker on one side of the bumper and a "Real Men Love Jesus" sticker on the other side.
One young man had a "Washed In The Blood Of Jesus" rear bumper sticker on his work truck. I have that one on the inside lid of my truck tool bin. Where I have a few other stickers along with my "Pedros Tacos Of San Clemente" sticker. I also have a crown of thorns that says "Jesus Died For You."
I was behind a car on my way to work one morning that made me smile big. It had a bumper sticker that said, "The wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ His Son Who died for our sins." Very direct and very not undercover.
I have no bumper sticker on my bumper because I often drive a bit too fast on my way back and forth on our southern CA roads. Don't want to bring reproach on Christianity by my indiscretions. I do try to get a handle on my driving...been trying for 54 years of driving to do that.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Clouds Apr 23, 2005
This is a diffrent view of clouds. Sometimes we see them with out noticing them. I felt the need to document a winter's days worth of clouds as I view them through my lens. Here you have tons of water vapor gently floating by as if they are light as a feather. Clouds relaxes the mind and calms the soul. I wanted this film to be therapy for anyone who views it...I think you will agree I have acheived my goal. I want to give my graditude to Adam Fielding for his very inspirational sound track. Adams talent makes this film come alive. Relax and enjoy the Master Creator's sky paintings...
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1330714123512103097#
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1330714123512103097#
In Netherlands, a modern Noah builds his ark
It all began in 1992, when Huibers dreamt of a flood. "I saw the Netherlands disappearing under an enormous mass of water, comparable with the tsunami in Southeast Asia," he has said. "The next day, I found a book about Noah's Ark in the local bookshop, and since then, my dream has been to build the ark."Naked Babies With Wings? I Think Not.
Little childlike naked babies with bows and arrows flying around with wings on their backs? Or perhaps misty foggy apparitions of beings that are not clearly seen, just hinted at. None of these. Angels are just like us humans in appearance only they are spirit beings. Those to whom they are sent can see them. And at times they can't be seen by others around them, but they are there just the same.
Let's search out the texts of the Biblical Scriptures and allow the words to paint a picture of those spirit beings known to most as "angels." Is the image conjured up by this word in your mind the same as that portrayed in the words of the text of the Scriptures?
One of the first appearances of these "men" occurs in a meeting between Abraham and three very important people in Genesis 18:
Genesis 18:1-8
Genesis 181And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;
2And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,
3And said, My LORD, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:
4Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:
5And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.
6And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.
7And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetch a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.
8And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.
Here we see Abraham displaying typical eastern hospitality. When he saw the three men he constrained them to wash their feet and take food and drink. Then, in keeping with the eastern culture, he served them and waited upon them but did not eat with them. But the most amazing aspect of this record is that the three men he spoke with and provided for were no less than the Lord Himself and two of His top aides.
These three individuals are described as "men." Furthermore, they sat down in the shade, washed their feet, and then enjoyed a good meal of veal with bread and butter and washed the whole lot down with fresh milk! We can assume that these men wore clothes and appeared, more or less, as normal people.
The lesson from this is that the Lord resembles a man. Or, looked at the other way around, men resemble the Lord. Remember in Genesis 1:26 during the creation we read: "Let us make man in our image: after our likeness." This informs us that our "image" and our "likeness" is fashioned after this person called Elohim, and more often referred to as Yahweh or Jehovah in the Hebrew tongue."
Many believe that God, being a spirit, does not have form. But, just as the angels are referred to as "ministering spirits," they are always called "men" and appear as "men."
In This passage, the Hebrew word for Lord is Jehovah; and, in the course of the chapter, Jehovah (Lord) appears no less than 12 times. So one of the men Abraham entertained and then had a discussion with was no less than Jehovah Himself, the Master Creator Almighty God.
After the three had finished their meal, they continued on their journey towards Sodom. Abraham had a rather feisty debate with the Lord and endeavoured to make a bargain with Him. However, the other two men journeyed on alone. We learn from the ensuing passage:
Genesis 19:1-5
Genesis 191And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;
2And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
3And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.
4But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:
5And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.
Once again we see from this record that these two "messengers" were mistaken for ordinary men. Firstly, Lot sees them and offers his hospitality to them. They at first refuse before accepting his invitation to food and a bed. These men, although spirit beings who abide not on this Earth, obviously have good appetites, for they enjoyed a hearty meal for the second time that day.
The entrance of these men into Lot's house is not lost on the rest of the inhabitants of Sodom, for they all gather around Lot's abode and insist on meeting the two men so that they might "know" them. This tells us that these two angels, apart from appearing as men, must have been extremely attractive individuals in order to have caught the attention of virtually everyone in the town!
We are told in other places throughout the Old Testament that these "men" or "messengers" are created spirit beings. We are also informed that they existed far beyond the creation of this present world as we know it.
Concerning "angels" in Psalm 148:5, we read:
Let them praise the name of the Lord.
For He commanded, and they were created.
And in Psalm 104:4 we are told:
Who maketh His angels spirits:
His ministers a flaming fire.
In Job, Yaweh is debating the creation of the world and says, concerning angels:
When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.
Book of Job 38:7
The "sons of God" are angels which are created spirit beings. But as we have seen, they can appear as men and look and eat and drink and talk just like human beings. To emphasise that these spirit messengers, or agents, are men, I would like to present a few more brief records. From the Book of Daniel, the names of two of the leading entities in Yaweh's host are provided:
Daniel 9:21-22 (King James Version)
21Yea, whiles I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
22And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding.
We learn from this passage that these agents have names and can fly, i.e. move very fast. Being spirit, they are not restricted to the laws of physics as we are. We see that this messenger's name is Gabriel. His main duty is to deliver messages, as he does in many places, especially in the New Testament. He is accompanied by another messenger whose name is Michael. His job seems to be the security aspect of the mission, as we see from this next extract:
Daniel 10:4-6; 11-13
4And in the four and twentieth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, which is Hiddekel;
5Then I lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a certain man clothed in linen, whose loins were girded with fine gold of Uphaz:
6His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in colour to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.
11And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
12Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
This man, who is still Gabriel, appears here not quite in ordinary clothes but in some beautiful raiment. Again he reiterates that he has been "sent" to inform Daniel regarding events which are to take place in the latter days. But then something unusual occurs. He tells Daniel that, while en route, he was impeded in his journey by a "prince of Persia," who held him up for 21 days. Apparently this prince of Persia is another spirit being, but an evil one. For Michael, the military aide, had to come to the assistance of Gabriel and remove this other evil agent so that Gabriel could accomplish his mission.
This provides some interesting insight into the realm of the spirit world. Again, Gabriel is a man sent on a mission to deliver information to another man, Daniel. He is ambushed by an obviously powerful evil angel named the "prince of Persia." Yet another celestial being, a military man by the name of Michael, comes to the rescue and clears the way for Gabriel to continue on and deliver his message.
All the personalities involved in this saga are men. Not human, flesh-and-blood men as we are. But spirit beings. Men of a different nature to us but men nevertheless. Because they are spirit beings they can travel faster than the speed of light and commute between Earth and wherever their celestial abode is.
Now we move forward to the time of the Gospels and briefly look at some of the appearance of these men in the days of the Messiah and afterwards.
In the first chapter of St. Luke's Gospel we are given the story of the birth of John the Baptist to his heretofore barren mother, Elizabeth, and her priest husband , Zacharias. While he carried out his priestly duties one day, an angel (Greek: aggelos: "messenger" or "sent one") appeared to him:
Luke 1:8,11,198And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course,11And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.19And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.
Later on in this same chapter this same man, Gabriel appears to Mary and informs her that she will shortly give birth to the Messiah. Mary was probably only a young girl between 14 and 18 years of age at the time. But what she saw and what Zacharias saw was a man who then proceeded to have a conversation with them just as he had done with Daniel in the earlier account.
We now move forward 33 years or so to the time of the death of the Messiah. Some of the women returned to the tomb where His body had been lain in order to embalm it.
Luke 24:1,2,41Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.2And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.4And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments.
These two beings entered into a discussion with this group who had come to embalm the body of the Messiah. In all of the other Gospels we find a similaraccount. People arrive at the tomb to find it empty, but meet two men in white clothing who divulge certain information to them. Again jumping ahead a few more years into the century AD, to the account of the movements of the original followers of the Messiah, who were then labelled "Christians," there are numerous accounts of these spirit-men appearing to the disciples in order to give direction or help them out of difficult situations. Always these messengers are described as men.
Conclusion:
Throughout the entire text of both the Old and New Testaments there are almost 300 mentions of these celestial beings. Always they are described as men. Sometimes they are mistakenly treated as ordinary human beings. These men ate and drank on occasion and usually were clothed in white shining raiment. Some of the time they appear in twos. Gabriel is the one who is sent to deliver messages and he is usually accompanied by another being who is named in some instances Michael. It would appear that this latter gentleman is sent along as security for Gabriel. What we might refer to as "muscle." We are also told that these entities existed long before the world, as we know it, came into being. They are created spirit~men as opposed to human beings.
So do the Scriptures describe another world wherein exists a different form of life, possibly superior in intelligence and power to that of our world? Yes indeed. These are men who look like us and their abode is a place called "Heaven," which seems to be some considerable distance from our planet. Are they benevolent towards mankind and interested in helping us in our times of trial? The answer is yes. So the leader of this celestial group is well~disposed towards mankind? Yes. His name is Yaweh, although sometimes He is called Elohim, and He definitely seems to want to help mankind.
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.Book of Hebrews 13:2
Friday, February 11, 2011
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Yielding to the Spirit of God- Is Best
We as believers have got to understand the importance of yielding our minds to the will of God, both in terms of allowing Him to use us as He wills, and of simple obedience to the Lord on a day-to-day basis. Now, I'm not referring to any sort of legalism here- I've both seen, and been a victim of that for so many years that I get sick to my stomach at the mere thought of it.....What I DO want to deal with here is our daily walk with Christ- in the power of the Holy Spirit. If we have problems in this area, it will be difficult to yield our members to Him in order to be used of Him in any significant way. Read the 119th psalm. David is so desirous of fully following the law of God- verses 35 through 37 read, "MAKE me to go in the path of Thy commandments; for therin do I delight. INCLINE my heart unto Thy testamonies, and NOT to covetousness. TURN AWAY mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken Thou me in Thy way."
David both craves the Presence and the law of God, and knows just how prone he is, left to his own devices, to wander from the God he so dearly loves.Re-read those words, "MAKE, INCLINE, TURN AWAY"...He is asking- beseeching the Lord to cause him to look to Him, for he knows what a rascal he is in the flesh, despite God referring to him as "a man after Mine own heart".
This is something we must all learn, if we wish to be used of God- our utter helplesness, and the Lord's all-sufficiency. Years ago, Phil Keaggy wrote and sang a song-( I don't remember the title, but) it contained the words, "I never had a selfless thought since I was born." When I first heard those lyrics, I thought to myself, "Finally- here's a believer that I can relate to, someone who knows the kind of struggles I go through!" .....
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Realizing the importance of looking to Him, and not ourselves, on a daily basis, is so important because we tend, as David knew, to go our own way. When we follow OU R will, we quickly get into trouble because we're naturally attracted to the things of the world (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life), and its pull is far too powerful for any person to resist. God knows that our ONLY hope is trusting and depending upon Him, and that's what obedience to Him is. Once we begin to understand and walk in that truth, God can freely use us by His Spirit as He wills, and isn't that what we all desire in our heart of hearts? May He bring us all to that place!
God bless you.
pastor Jim Ewing
Realizing the importance of looking to Him, and not ourselves, on a daily basis, is so important because we tend, as David knew, to go our own way. When we follow OU R will, we quickly get into trouble because we're naturally attracted to the things of the world (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life), and its pull is far too powerful for any person to resist. God knows that our ONLY hope is trusting and depending upon Him, and that's what obedience to Him is. Once we begin to understand and walk in that truth, God can freely use us by His Spirit as He wills, and isn't that what we all desire in our heart of hearts? May He bring us all to that place!
God bless you.
pastor Jim Ewing
THE BREATH OF STRIFE
Five ways to breathe life into strife.S tir
T ell
R age
I nquire
F uel
E nable
When our words become a participant with strife, we not only do the same as a strife- causer, but we take pleasure in it with them.
The strife-causer is usually not one who would claim to be a hater of God but the Bible puts stirring up strife in precisely that category.
The apostle Paul speaks of those who are, "Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them" (Romans 1:29-32).
"Let us renounce and repent of every subtle hint that opens the door to slanderous, gossiping strife; even if we walk away and say nothing, but have lit the fuse with facial expressions, raising an eyebrow or any other form of language or agreement.
We absolutely will not partner with the sin of strife. "Where there is envying and strife, there is confusion and every evil work" (James 3:16).
Pastor Tilson Shumate
FAITH AND HOPE DEFINED
FAITH AND HOPE
Faith and hope are not the same. Many times we confuse hope with faith and thus never receive what is hoped for. Hope without faith is dead, just as faith without works is dead being alone.
Faith comes to the heart but hope is stored in the mind. Hope within the mind that is produced by faith within the heart is certain and powerful, but without faith from the heart it’s only wishful thinking. The hopes dreams and aspirations that we have in our minds are sometimes disappointing and never produce the desired effect. A steadfast faith at work within the heart produces a hope within the mind that you can depend on. Hope is stored in the mind and protected for the future whereas faith is now. Scripture never speaks of delayed faith, it is always referred to as either being present or absent. The delayed results of faith are called hope and they will surly come to pass. Like salvation, the hope of our salvation is anchored in our faith.
When God imparts faith, it sinks into the heart and seeps into the mind. Then we have what Ephesians chapter 6 refers to as the "Armor of God" to protect both our hearts and our minds. The helmet of salvation is given to protect our minds - where hope is stored, and the breastplate of righteousness is given to protect our hearts - where faith is received.
I share all this to give some explanation as to why so many of us Christians become disenchanted and lose hope when what we were hoping for never happened. When you begin to lose hope, remember that it was by faith that you received Jesus into your heart and He will never leave you or forsake you. The life of Christ that is by faith within you will never let the hope of your salvation die. All hope that is conceived in faith is kept by faith. It can never die. You may lose the kind of hope that makes for dreams and great expectations but you will never lose the kind of hope generated by faith that comes to the heart and then from the heart to the mind. Faith is not an idea or even a decision that comes from the mind; it is more an attitude of the heart.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and He will keep your soul and mind. When we abide in Him, His word abides in us. In that relationship, faith produces the fruit that hope waits for. His living word in us will produce the promised fruit, but only in its ripened appointed season.
Pastor Tilson Shumate
Can We Hold God To His Word?
Some teach that you should insist upon God; command God. They say if you need something from God, corner him; quote him his own word and make him measure up.
I find that all the formulas man has devised are empty apart from mercy. Even the promises of God are unattainable apart from mercy.
You can quote every promise in the Bible and you will receive nothing apart from mercy. If we somehow think that God must grant our requests if they are based upon his own words, we are wrong. They must be accompanied with mercy.
We know that God cannot lie, but we must also know that God will not violate his righteousness. Everything that God has promised concerning blessings are received through mercy by grace. They are a gift.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." The good things of God are obtained through mercy.
There are at least a billion things in our lives that could fault us from receiving. We in our sin nature would be disqualified daily if it were not for God’s mercy. That’s why Paul said, "I die daily." And, "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live,"
In order to obtain the promises of God we must first believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. To believe is act of God’s mercy. Jesus said that no man could come to him unless the Father drew him. That alone is mercy.
While we were yet sinners God saved us. We only love him, because He first loved us. It’s all mercy. Every promise began and continues in mercy.
Pastor Tilson Shumate
God Is Moving In Iran
Since the 1979 Islamic revolution, many Iranians have become the most open Muslim people to the Gospel. More Iranians are known to have become Christians in the last 25 years than during the previous 1,300 years since Islam came to Iran. Elam's vision is that all the people of the Iran Region would have the opportunity to come to know the Lord Jesus Christ and follow Him as a disciple, and that they would be instrumental in taking the Gospel to surrounding nations. Our mission is to strengthen and expand the Church in the Iran region and beyond. We do this through leadership development, Bible and literature distribution, church planting, and TV and internet outreach.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Jack Hayford
I went to Jack's church every Sunday back in 92 and 93. He was a very unique man of God. He never wanted anyone to misunderstand him. So he would couch everything he taught in as many diffrent angle points as possible.
His church was very mature and educated in spirituality as opposed to some other places I have been...
Brilliant
"For those of us who live in the developed world, internet access has become pretty much a given. It's become so ubiquitous that we almost expect to have it at all times and in all places, but even in this 'Information Age,' the majority of the world's population lacks access to the internet – either because service isn't available where they are, or they can't afford it. Kosta Grammatis has a plan, however. Through his charity group ahumanright.org, Grammatis aims to set up a network of satellites that will provide free internet access to everyone in the world. He's starting by attempting to buy a single used satellite that's already in orbit and moving it to a location above a developing country."
Not Needed At All
South Korea has the fastest Internet for it's people. We Americans are among the slowest. Bill Clinton promised early on in his presidency what he was calling the "super information highway." Never materialized.
"President Obama is calling for $53B to be appropriated for the construction of high-speed rail in the United States over the next 6 years. Assuming Congress approves this plan, the funding would be spent on developing and/or improving trains that travel at approximately 250 miles/hour, as well as spent on connecting existing rail lines to new developed high speed lines."
"President Obama is calling for $53B to be appropriated for the construction of high-speed rail in the United States over the next 6 years. Assuming Congress approves this plan, the funding would be spent on developing and/or improving trains that travel at approximately 250 miles/hour, as well as spent on connecting existing rail lines to new developed high speed lines."
Everyone In Heaven Is A Believer. No One To Evangelize Anyone.
There is something that you will not be able to do in heaven. You will not be able to share your faith with a nonbeliever. Why? Because everyone in heaven is a believer. When you take your last breath here on earth, you will never again be able to share with a lost person."Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
"The Son of Man has come to save that which was lost."
Matthew 18:11
If it is the utmost importance for Jesus to reach the lost, shouldn't it be a major priority for you? Three million years from now your fine car, good job, nice home won't matter. What will matter is who is in heaven and who is in hell. Today, every day, some 600,000 people will die and enter eternity. You can make a difference to some of them. Therefore wouldn't you want to reach out to as many of them as you can, while you still can?
"Preach the Word. Be ready in season and out of season."
2nd Timothy 4:2-8
"I would sooner bring one sinner to Jesus Christ than unravel all the mysteries of the divine Word, for salvation is the one thing we are to live for."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
"Oh my friends, we are loaded down with countless church activities, while the real work of the church, that of evangelizing the world and winning the lost, is almost entirely neglected!"
Oswald J. Smith
We should desire to be used by God in what really matters to His heart.
Jesus talked with the woman at the well first about natural water, then about living water. He went from a natural topic to a spiritual one. When apostle Paul was giving his sermon on Mars Hill, he mentioned an altar he saw with the inscription "to the unknown God." He took something natural around him and turned it into a supernatural conversation. Shouldn't we?
Didn't someone lead you to Jesus?
"Why does the church stay indoors?"
Samuel Chadwick
"I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes..."
apostle Paul
For "whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ...As it is written: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!"
Apostle Paul
People believe when the good news is preached and the Spirit of God touches their hearts. So preach the good news as God through Paul tells us to! We should want to see people in heaven so much that we would be willing to do anything for them to know Jesus.
What is the value of a soul?
"To be a soul winner is the happiest thing in the world. And with every soul you bring to Jesus Christ, you seem to get a new heaven here on earth."
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Every breathing person you will ever meet needs Jesus. Use the breath that God has given you to futhur His kingdom here on earth.
There can be not getting around this scripture, no rationalizing away the sharing of your faith:
Proverbs 11:30The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
He that winneth souls is what? Then conversely he that does not win souls is what?
I know of a pastor who came to the conclusion that evangelism is only for some Christians but not all Christians. This man of God had a small church. As he reached out in evangelism his small church grew fast, and I mean fasssst! As more and more people came into his church and caught his model of evangelism and shared their faith out in the highways and byways of life, his church grew exponentially. Then one day he decided that he wasn't very good at evangelism so he gave it up and concentrated on teaching the bible instead of his former evangelistic efforts. He said,
*Quote*
"As I started reading and studying the Word of God, I could not find the Scripture that
said the primary purpose of the church is the evangelization of the world; I still can't find
that Scripture. But I did find in Ephesians 4 that God has placed gifted men, apostles,
evangelists, prophets, pastor-teachers for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the
ministry, the building up of the body of Christ. This brought into my life a tremendous
philosophical change as far as my concept of the purpose of the church was concerned.
Rather than seeing the primary purpose as being the evangelization of the world, I saw
that the purpose of the church was for the perfecting of the saints, making the believers
strong, bringing them into maturity, feeding them, loving them, strengthening them so
that they would be able to engage in the work of the ministry, for I realized that God has
called all of us and placed us into His body and He has a plan and purpose for each of us.
*Unquote*
I disagree! No major battle has ever been won without a plan, without a strategy, the battle we are talking about(winning a soul to the kingdom) far surpasses any other of the battles in life that we might encounter. The above is called "lifestyle evangelism" and lifestyle evangelism is one of the great cop outs of our fellow Christians. When you realize your Position in the vine, aware of your unconditional eternal security being you will begin to work toward others coming in to the kingdom. You will in fact get the message out instead of being "Keepers of the aquarium rather than fishers of men." Jesus told his disciples to "GO and make disciples of people of all nations...teaching them.." It is clear that they went from town to town and house to house in proclaiming the good news or gospel about Christ and His kingdom. Jesus' words: "A workman is worthy of his wages." Luke 10:7
Paul at Acts 20:20 "I did not hold back from...teaching you publicly and from house to house." Paul's NEXT words show that he was ministering to nonbelievers. He says: But I thoroughly bore witness both to Jews and to Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus."Explain how the Jews and Greeks that Paul was bearing witness to about repentance, (by going from house to house among other things), was simply an encouraging visit amongst fellow believers.
Randolph O. Yeager wrote that Paul taught "both in public assemblies [de'mo'si'a] and from house to house [ka'ta'] Paul had spent three years in Ephesus. He visited EVERY HOUSE or preached to all of the people. Here is SCRIPTURAL WARRANT for house to house evangelism as well as that carried on in public meetings. A similar use of ka'ta' appears at Luke 8:1, which speaks of Jesus preaching "from city to city and from village to village."
Remember that at Acts 5:42- in addition to going "from house to house," (In the same sentence and verse), they were also preaching and teaching at the Jewish temple.Were they just having "fellowship with believers" at the Jewish temple too?They were preaching to unbelievers in both cases. Just two of the many ways they followed Christ's example of a bold preacher of the gospel.
You'd have to ask as well if these disciples were just visiting with fellow Christian why Jesus would say:"When you are entering into the house, greet the household...if (He) is not deserving, let the peace from you return upon you. Wherever anyone does not take you in or LISTEN TO YOUR WORDS, on going out of that house or that city shake the dust off your feet." matt 10:7, 11-13
Those were some unfriendly "fellow believers". Paul said "I did not flinch from...teaching you publicly and from house to house."- ACTS 20:20, Byington.
Then in the next verse, (21), he says that he was "Testifying both to Jews and to Greeks repentance toward God." It seems clear that those "Houses" didn't contain fellow believers, at least not initially.
"House to house dissemination of the gospel characterized the first-century Christians from the beginning (cf. Acts 2:46, 5:42). ... [Paul] had thoroughly discharged his responsibility both to Jews and Gentiles at Ephesus, and they were left without excuse if they perished in their sins."- The Wesleyan Bible Commentary, Volume 4, pages 642-3.
"He (Paul) was not content with teaching and discoursing in the synagogue and the market. He was ever diligently teaching from house to house. It was a house-to-house, hand-to-hand, face-to-face contest with evil, and to win men to Christ, that he waged in Ephesus." Biblical scholar, Edwin W. Rice.
One thing I recall about the early days at this pastors church was the sense of all of us young people participating in the birth of new Christians. We would bring others to church with us and pray for them as the "altar call" was being given, 'every eye closed and every head bowed', we would be in deep prayer that the Holy Spirit would move upon those present who did not know the Lord yet. Then the invitation would be extended for everyone that had raised their hand to come forward and bear witness to their acceptance of Christ before everyone. O, I can't tell you of the joy and the excitement of seeing others receive Christ. All of us young people were so turned on to going out and sharing our faith with others at the beach and everywhere else we would go. We would see so many other Christians out on the streets sharing their faith. Then we would bring them to church to hear the gospel message where they would then get an opportunity to respond to the call of God through our pastor while we prayed fervently.
Then you can imagine our frustration when suddenly the altar calls were no longer and the excitement of everyone participating in evangelism as a Christian family sort of fizzled out. Evangelism was relegated to once in a while crusades while the main emphasis became bible study. It was if a spiritual 'birth control' pill had been taken by the Church!
Today you hardly ever see Christians street witnessing. In fact, when was the last time you even saw anyone out in public with a bible, except at church? Is it any wonder that the Church is losing the battle for souls in America? Is it any wonder that church attendance is waning across the land.
That Church reproductive model that I first witnessed as a 17 year old worked! The church grew and grew. There was such an alive environment every night at that church. Today, if I go there, to that same church, there is a "worship team" that everyone kind of just sits there and listens to. Everyone claps after each song as if they are watching entertainment and being entertained instead of worshiping together like we used to do. People go in and go out. No after glow like there used to be. Sure some people linger and stick around talking but it is nothing like it used to be.
The angels of heaven rejoice greatly when anyone passes from judgment into salvation (Luke 15:10). Shouldn't we as Christians rejoice too? Shouldn't we weep over the lost? Shouldn't we ask the Lord of the field to send laborers into His harvest (Luke 10:2)? Certainly! The salvation of others is the goal of your efforts.
Chick tracts are everywhere One constant throughout my life is those pesky little Chick tracts that I seemed to find no matter where in the world I went! Even when I was stationed in Japan, there they were. By His grace I am found at last. Thank you for being there all of my life. An E-Mail
Over twenty years ago my brother and his wife gave me several of your tracts. After reading THIS WAS YOUR LIFE! the Holy Spirit convicted me so strongly that I knelt down at the foot of the bed and repented of my sins and confessed Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior.
Alabama E-mail
I'm a pastor. I was saved in jail in 1984 after reading a Chick tract!
Shekinah Fellowship southern California
CHARISMATIC COLLISION
Pentecostals misuse the gifts of the Spirit more than any other group of people on earth; possibly even more than all other denominations combined. I say this not to their shame, but rather to their honor.The more cars you have on a freeway the more likely you are to have accidents; the more vehicles, the more traffic violations. I commend the Pentecostal churches for their deep conviction concerning the validity of God’s gifts for today and for the risk they take in allowing them to operate within their denomination.
When it comes to most other denominations the freeway is not very well traveled and for the most part, closed altogether. When man in his religious endeavor blocks every on- ramp to the manifested presence of God, it creates some serious side effects. Young people, who are soon to become the next generation, become programmed by unbelief to think less and less of anything spiritual. They follow the detour signs set by their peers that reroute the traffic around any type of spiritual encounter with God.
No one learns to walk without first falling. The safest way to avoid falling would be to stay crawling. Imagine a grown man scooting around on his belly all his life and never walking. The monkey bars at a grade school are not completely safe for kids to play on but the experience they gain makes it worthwhile. The element of risk involved teaches the kids ‘cause and effect’ and how to deal with safety and danger.
When the church removes the monkey bars from the little children and blocks the freeway on-ramps from the youth spiritually, two things happen. They never climb very high and they never travel very far.
If you are a parent whose children attend church regularly, ask them what they know about something simple like speaking in tongues. If they know nothing, find a new church.
Any Bible believing church should declare the full counsel of God; that is why they call them ‘Full Gospel’. In Africa they have Baptist, full gospel churches. Young people come up to you and ask, “Pray me to receive language from heaven.”
Pastor Tilson Shumate
BLINDNESS IN PART HAS HAPPENED TO ISRAEL
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They that love Israel shall prosper. All Israel shall be saved, but not all who are of Israel are Israel. We who are saved are born again Christians and all Christians shall be saved, but not all who are of Christianity are Christians.The veil that is upon Israel makes them blind as a bat when it comes to their messiah. Even though they are God’s elect, they are blind. Not totally blind, but blind in part.
1 Corinthians 13 tells us that we as believers only know in part, which could also mean blind in part. All Christianity, all Israel, and even completed Jews that have found Jesus as their messiah have partial blindness.
If the natural olive tree (the Jews) are partially blind, how then can we (the gentiles) who have been grafted in think that we are not also partially blind.
Christians who love the Lord, but reject the work of the Holy Ghost are blind in the area of spiritual gifts. They are toward their Holy Spirit, like The Jews are toward their messiah. They do not accept gifts of the Spirit such as speaking in tongues, prophecy, and modern day apostolic authority. They see salvation in Jesus, but not baptism by Jesus. They see the road to heaven, salvation and water baptism, but are totally blind when it comes to the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
In severe cases of this type of blindness within Christianity they cannot see the gifts and callings of God that were found in the early church as being for today. They are blind in part to the things of God that go beyond simple salvation. They see the Holy Spirit at work in evangelism but, that is only part of His work. If they are unable to see, they are also unable to understand.
It takes faith to be saved and it takes faith to walk where you cannot see. The gift of tongues often surrounds the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It happens when a child like willingness to receive replaces the preconceived opinions of man’s intellect.
Have you ever sought the gift of tongues, and if not, why haven’t you? It will revolutionize your Christianity. No matter how old you are or what you think you know we all have partial blindness. Until Jesus comes again, we only know in part. When we come to terms with that truth we humble our self in the sight of the Lord. It is then that we become able to receive what we cannot see or even begin to understand.
Revelation may come as a threat to what you thought, or were taught to believe. And it takes a humble heart to adjust to new insight.
Can you find it within yourself to bring yourself to seek the gift of tongues? Begin this exciting new adventure in your walk with God and start now. Just begin! Whatever form begin may take, begin.
Pastor Tilson Shumate
ALABASTER BOX Refined
Paul and the early church disciples had a lot to share about supernatural events that commonly took place within their ministries. Spiritual gifts were at work within them by the power of the 
risen Christ and his anointing. God confirmed his word with signs following. They healed the sick, and the poor had the gospel preached to them.When Jesus taught his disciples to freely give away what they had freely received, what kind of giving do you think that he was talking about? Did they receive a lot of money from Jesus to give to the poor? Was it some valuable self help technique, a miracle drug, or the key to financial freedom?
What exactly happened to the disciples that suddenly enabled them to give, and what was it that they had to give?
When Jesus was being anointed with ointment from an alabaster box the question was asked, "Could not this ointment have been sold for a lot of money and given to the poor? Jesus responded, "The poor you have with you always." Isn’t it interesting that today we still make that same mistake? We skip the anointing to form other programs. We sometimes give what is within our own power and resourcefulness, rather than yielding to God’s anointing for what only He can give. Abraham did this with Hagar when he attempted to bypass the supernatural and have a son with Hagar instead of Sarah. The outcome of that mistake produced only a work of the flesh and not of the Spirit. It is by faith that we obtain the promises of God and it is by the anointing that we manifest those promises.
As followers of Christ, we should always remember the poor but never as a replacement for the anointing. We provide food, shelter, and medicine, while ignoring the anointing of God’s Holy Spirit to bring salvation, healing and deliverance.
The book of James speaks of a faith made perfect by the giving of our substance, such as a blanket or a meal. Faith without works is dead. The supply of faith for supernatural aid should be in balance with a supply of faith for natural aid and vice versa. Natural assistance should not outweigh faith for supernatural assistance. To exclude ‘either or’ would cause an imbalance in our faith causing it to become incomplete.
A faith made perfect is one that not only offers financial assistance, but also by faith offers supernatural assistance through the anointing. When there is no anointing, it brings about the exclusion of miracles and reduces the supernatural to the natural, causing what we see today.
It was the anointing that brought about victory for the children of Israel when Moses lifted his hands toward them in battle. It had nothing to do with natural ability or how he looked, acted or spoke. It was the anointing.
Paul said he did not come with the enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Jesus said you would receive power after the Holy Ghost had come upon you. He also said seek and ye shall find. In James we read, we receive not because we ask not.
As saints of the most high God we should press into the supernatural things of God and lay hold of them. They are attainable. Just because we can’t make a miracle happen is no reason to stop believing in them.
Seek the anointing because without it, not much happens.
Pastor Tilson Shumate
IT HAPPENED AT LUNCH TODAY
Yesterday I heard a sermon taken from 1 Kings 13 about an old prophet challenging the word of a younger prophet. Today at lunch it happened to me. An old prophet walking by our table recognized the Bishop that I was having lunch with. They talked a while catching up on ministry things when the word of the Lord came to me.I told the prophet that he had a green light from the Lord to pursue the ministry that God had given him. He said, "I don’t receive that." I agreed that he could easily build a good case against the word of the Lord by saying such things as, "Lord, the last time I tried people spoke against me. I went into dept. I was hurt and the one left holding the bag."
I was extra bold, because I had just been answering a question the Bishop was asked me when this man walked up and sat down. The Bishops question was, "What is it that God has called you to do?" I surprised myself with this reply, "Encourage prophets"
When the word of the Lord comes to us it will usually increase as we act upon it. Sometimes it comes in the form of a disturbance within your own soul or spirit and all you can do is try putting it into words.
The old prophet rejected my encouragement because it posed a personal threat to him.I told the old prophet that he was in a pit and didn’t even know it.
When Jesus called fishermen to become fishers of men, the Bible says, "And they straightway left their nets and followed Him" (Mt. 4:20).
It is always wise to wait upon the lord, but never wise to wait upon circumstances.
Pastor Tilson Shumate
A Prophet Is Chosen To Serve
A Prophet Is Chosen
Jonah 1:1-3
1Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Jonah is chosen by God to take His Word to Nineveh. Certainly not for human reasons was Jonah chosen. All we know is there was 'wickedness' so great that it came up before the personal presence of God Almighty. We are shown in the story of Jonah that he was not specifically qualified for the work by character, piety, or virtues. God never calls qualified men, He makes men qualified whom He chooses. Everything begins the moment God decides to choose. Thusly the story begins when the Word of God Almighty is revealed to Jonah.
Recall when the Word of the Lord first came to you? Recall the power and might displayed to you personally when God's living (Rema) Word first came to you? Everything was frozen in time as you realized that God Almighty was addressing you from eternity.
We usually see the translation "The Word of the Lord came to...," but in fact the Hebrew simply says "is." The Word of God is. It is for Jonah and to him. It is for you and I and to us. This shows clearly that the Word is not just words.
1 Corinthians 2:3-5
3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
It is a power which exists and manifests itself. This is why, when the Word is thus revealed to a man, he is not at all in the situation we always imagine: a subordinate receiving orders from a superior; a subordinate who ought to fulfill the order, though this is just a collection of words, which certainly aims at action, and is backed by social sanctions, but which is not itself an action so that in large measure the subordinate is free: he may obey or disobey.
The Word of God, however, is not at all like this. It is power and not just discourse. It transforms what it touches. It cannot be anything but creative and salvic. It never fails to take effect.
A human order, when not obeyed, is without effect, but God's Word always attains its end. In fact this is one of the main lessons of the Book of Jonah. The Word effects God's decision after all kinds of detours and complications which arise because God takes into account and respect's man's decisions too.
When the Word intervenes in a situation, it changes that situation. When it comes on a man, it changes that man even if he refuses to listen. This goes beyond mere obedience. The Word enlists man in an adventure into which he carries all those around him and which may be a controversy with God.
This Word is addressed to an individual man. This Word was addressed to you individually. In effect it is always specific. It is not general truth which any man might grasp and understand with no particular action on God's part. God is first the God of an individual man. Election and vocation relate to an individual and not a crowd, not mankind, not man in general.
We know nothing about the one thus chosen and designated. The Bible does not think it necessary to give us this information. We know almost nothing about Jonah, his family, village, or person. He is a stranger to us. He begins to be important only when the Word of the Lord is on him. We are like that too.
He becomes personal at this moment. Before he no doubt had the worth of any man. He was an individual. Perhaps he was very important. But his destiny was fixed. He was subject to destiny. Now he is taken from the ranks. He achieves singularity. He masters destiny. He is called to change history for himself and others.
Are we who have been called by the Word of Almighty God not unlike this man?
This does not imply individualism. Jonah is a member of the chosen people. The Word he is given is part of the covenant. Jonah belongs to the people of God and this Word intergrates him the more closely into the people of God. Throughout his adventure he is alone: alone in face of God and in face of death and in face of Nineveh.
But in his solitude, whether aware of it or not, he belongs to the cloud of witnesses, to the 7,000 men who have not bowed the knee to Baal, to the remnant of Israel. In fact Jonah represents the whole people of Israel, and if he is quite alone he still represents the whole people, both Israel and the Church. This is why God cannot rest content with his individual and arbitrary decision. when Jonah turns his back and flees, it is not just Jonah who is at stake but the whole Church and the world. God cannot let him go. If this man is not independent of God it is because of the world to which he is sent.
The Word had only to come to Jonah for his situation to be genuinely and totally changed even though he himself was not yet changed. What was it that changed, according to the text?
We note first that this Word which manifests God's choice or election is not just an intimation of this election. It is not a kind of announcement which makes known God's decision and which contributes to our personal satisfaction, our personal joy, our edification, and our peace. This Word makes known to Jonah that he has been chosen for a purpose.
God's election is never a choice which stops with the choice. When God Almighty picks out a man and speaks to him, it is to engage him in a work, an action. Nowhere in Scripture do we find indeterminate or purely ambiguous vocation. Nowhere do we find general election to fulfill the will of God at large. No.
When God addresses a man He does not merely give singularity to the man; He also particularizes His will to him. There is of course a general will of God which in some sort applies to all of us. But election does not consist in knowledge of this general will. It is enlistment in a precise action, a specific work.
If God chooses a man, it is in order that he may serve in the work God has undertaken. It is in the measure that he does serve thus that his true election is made known and that it becomes more clear and certain for him. You know your election and your calling.
We cannot be content, then, with Christian virtues; vocation presupposes taking a part in the work. There is no election apart from taking part in this way.
Moreover, when God has chosen a man who has a function to discharge, He never goes back on this. The man who is thus enlisted willy~nilly in God's action remains a chosen man even though he refuses and flees. The fact that Jonah flees is by no means unique.
On the contrary, one might say that all men, when they become aware of this call, begin by refusing and fleeing. But God's choice persists. He has chosen for a precise action, and so long as this is not performed God Almighty pursues man. This is true of all the men of the Bible, including Jonah and you and I.
Ok, so in spiritual reality it is much too simple to think that god offers His grace to man and man accepts or refuses. When God has graciously chosen a man His grace continues even though the man does not do what God has decided. On the other hand, this persistence of election, of which Jonah is an extraordinary example (Which is connected with the fact that God Almighty chooses for a specific action), does not entail a negation of man's will.
God pursues this man, conducts him through his whole life, in order to bring about the consent of this man's will to what God has decided. We see this in the details of God's dealings with Jonah.
In the word's of Lonnie Frisbee, "Don't run, give up fasssst. God always wins..."
On each occasion man can refuse and on each occasion God begins again until man has finally chosen to accept. It may thus be said that by this word man is both more free and also less free than in the presence of a human order. He is more free because he is detached by this word even from social contingencies; he must break with the world. That is what we find with Jonah.
No matter whether he decides to obey or flee, there is a rupture with his daily life, his background, his country. Hencefourth he is separated from others. The matter is so important that everything which previously shaped the life of this man humanly and sociologically fades from the scene. He is in a situation such as no human order could present to him.
Anything that might impel him to obey according to the world has lost it's value and weight for him. But he is also enlisted in an action which he has not chosen and cannot avoid. He is pursued by a devouring love which wants him totally, in the ardor of his own converted heart. He is pursued by an unweary patience which will use every means to bring it about finally that this man yields to God's reason. And the adventure in which man is obliged to stake everything in a freedom which is given, but given only for this adventure, seems to be extraordinarily important for God. In some sense God engages Himself in the work in which He engages man.
Another aspect of all of this situation in which the Word of God sets man is that everything around the called man circles him because he has been chosen. A tempest is unleashed. The people around the called man are inadvertently involved in the work being done in this man's life. God uses everything at His command to nudge this man into compliance to the action for which the man has been called. There will be no rest for anyone around this called man until he does what he has been called to do.
This does not mean that we have to inquire into the spiritual meaning of every event. But we have to realize that these events, in spite of their rational appearance, are in effect part of the formidable accomplishment of the work of Almighty God.
It all begun while Jonah was asleep in the hold of a ship. Jonah had refused the Word of the Lord and ran...a storm erupted.
God is asking the impossible from Jonah, from the human standpoint he has good reason for running. The people he is being sent to are cruel, they decorated their walls and pyramids with scorched enemy skins. Jonah was being sent to mighty conquerors! A fierce people. Anything is better than certain death at Nineveh. Jonah will not accept the impossible from God. He judges as the world judges. But he does not take into account the fact that he is engaged in an adventure in which it is no longer possible to judge this way or that. Decisions made according to the reasoning of the world will lead nowhere and solve nothing.
We see God taking nature into play to see that Jonah fulfills his vocation. The others, the sailors, on the ship are impacted. Jonah has set off in a direction which is precisely the opposite of that indicated by God. He finds that he can no longer live his life where he is. He must leave, and does so as a fugitive. He flees, the text says. He has a bad conscience and flees like Adam and Cain. He flees "away from the presence of the Lord."
It seems to me that the real sense here is spiritual. In departing. Jonah breaks with the people which God has chosen. He no longer wants to belong to the chosen people. So impossible is the order.
The story of Jonah is indeed the story of all of us. What sacrifices are we not ready to make to be far from the face of God, unable as we are to accept that it is from God Himself who fulfills His impossible will!
One more thing, Jonah flees from the presence of God and during the stormy tempest he sleeps. The point is that he refuses even to contemplate this storm. He refuses to see it except as a natural phenomenon about which he can do nothing. He will not see in it God's act, God's appeal, God's pointer. He prefers to know nothing about it. He continues to flee by plunging into unconsciousness of sleep in order not to know that it comes from God.
And we all know what comes next...
In the word's of Lonnie Frisbee, "Don't run, give up fasssst. God always wins
1Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me. 3But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Jonah is chosen by God to take His Word to Nineveh. Certainly not for human reasons was Jonah chosen. All we know is there was 'wickedness' so great that it came up before the personal presence of God Almighty. We are shown in the story of Jonah that he was not specifically qualified for the work by character, piety, or virtues. God never calls qualified men, He makes men qualified whom He chooses. Everything begins the moment God decides to choose. Thusly the story begins when the Word of God Almighty is revealed to Jonah.
Recall when the Word of the Lord first came to you? Recall the power and might displayed to you personally when God's living (Rema) Word first came to you? Everything was frozen in time as you realized that God Almighty was addressing you from eternity.
We usually see the translation "The Word of the Lord came to...," but in fact the Hebrew simply says "is." The Word of God is. It is for Jonah and to him. It is for you and I and to us. This shows clearly that the Word is not just words.
1 Corinthians 2:3-5
3And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
It is a power which exists and manifests itself. This is why, when the Word is thus revealed to a man, he is not at all in the situation we always imagine: a subordinate receiving orders from a superior; a subordinate who ought to fulfill the order, though this is just a collection of words, which certainly aims at action, and is backed by social sanctions, but which is not itself an action so that in large measure the subordinate is free: he may obey or disobey.
The Word of God, however, is not at all like this. It is power and not just discourse. It transforms what it touches. It cannot be anything but creative and salvic. It never fails to take effect.
A human order, when not obeyed, is without effect, but God's Word always attains its end. In fact this is one of the main lessons of the Book of Jonah. The Word effects God's decision after all kinds of detours and complications which arise because God takes into account and respect's man's decisions too.
When the Word intervenes in a situation, it changes that situation. When it comes on a man, it changes that man even if he refuses to listen. This goes beyond mere obedience. The Word enlists man in an adventure into which he carries all those around him and which may be a controversy with God.
This Word is addressed to an individual man. This Word was addressed to you individually. In effect it is always specific. It is not general truth which any man might grasp and understand with no particular action on God's part. God is first the God of an individual man. Election and vocation relate to an individual and not a crowd, not mankind, not man in general.
We know nothing about the one thus chosen and designated. The Bible does not think it necessary to give us this information. We know almost nothing about Jonah, his family, village, or person. He is a stranger to us. He begins to be important only when the Word of the Lord is on him. We are like that too.
He becomes personal at this moment. Before he no doubt had the worth of any man. He was an individual. Perhaps he was very important. But his destiny was fixed. He was subject to destiny. Now he is taken from the ranks. He achieves singularity. He masters destiny. He is called to change history for himself and others.
Are we who have been called by the Word of Almighty God not unlike this man?
This does not imply individualism. Jonah is a member of the chosen people. The Word he is given is part of the covenant. Jonah belongs to the people of God and this Word intergrates him the more closely into the people of God. Throughout his adventure he is alone: alone in face of God and in face of death and in face of Nineveh.
But in his solitude, whether aware of it or not, he belongs to the cloud of witnesses, to the 7,000 men who have not bowed the knee to Baal, to the remnant of Israel. In fact Jonah represents the whole people of Israel, and if he is quite alone he still represents the whole people, both Israel and the Church. This is why God cannot rest content with his individual and arbitrary decision. when Jonah turns his back and flees, it is not just Jonah who is at stake but the whole Church and the world. God cannot let him go. If this man is not independent of God it is because of the world to which he is sent.
The Word had only to come to Jonah for his situation to be genuinely and totally changed even though he himself was not yet changed. What was it that changed, according to the text?
We note first that this Word which manifests God's choice or election is not just an intimation of this election. It is not a kind of announcement which makes known God's decision and which contributes to our personal satisfaction, our personal joy, our edification, and our peace. This Word makes known to Jonah that he has been chosen for a purpose.
God's election is never a choice which stops with the choice. When God Almighty picks out a man and speaks to him, it is to engage him in a work, an action. Nowhere in Scripture do we find indeterminate or purely ambiguous vocation. Nowhere do we find general election to fulfill the will of God at large. No.
When God addresses a man He does not merely give singularity to the man; He also particularizes His will to him. There is of course a general will of God which in some sort applies to all of us. But election does not consist in knowledge of this general will. It is enlistment in a precise action, a specific work.
If God chooses a man, it is in order that he may serve in the work God has undertaken. It is in the measure that he does serve thus that his true election is made known and that it becomes more clear and certain for him. You know your election and your calling.
We cannot be content, then, with Christian virtues; vocation presupposes taking a part in the work. There is no election apart from taking part in this way.
Moreover, when God has chosen a man who has a function to discharge, He never goes back on this. The man who is thus enlisted willy~nilly in God's action remains a chosen man even though he refuses and flees. The fact that Jonah flees is by no means unique.
On the contrary, one might say that all men, when they become aware of this call, begin by refusing and fleeing. But God's choice persists. He has chosen for a precise action, and so long as this is not performed God Almighty pursues man. This is true of all the men of the Bible, including Jonah and you and I.
Ok, so in spiritual reality it is much too simple to think that god offers His grace to man and man accepts or refuses. When God has graciously chosen a man His grace continues even though the man does not do what God has decided. On the other hand, this persistence of election, of which Jonah is an extraordinary example (Which is connected with the fact that God Almighty chooses for a specific action), does not entail a negation of man's will.
God pursues this man, conducts him through his whole life, in order to bring about the consent of this man's will to what God has decided. We see this in the details of God's dealings with Jonah.
In the word's of Lonnie Frisbee, "Don't run, give up fasssst. God always wins..."
On each occasion man can refuse and on each occasion God begins again until man has finally chosen to accept. It may thus be said that by this word man is both more free and also less free than in the presence of a human order. He is more free because he is detached by this word even from social contingencies; he must break with the world. That is what we find with Jonah.
No matter whether he decides to obey or flee, there is a rupture with his daily life, his background, his country. Hencefourth he is separated from others. The matter is so important that everything which previously shaped the life of this man humanly and sociologically fades from the scene. He is in a situation such as no human order could present to him.
Anything that might impel him to obey according to the world has lost it's value and weight for him. But he is also enlisted in an action which he has not chosen and cannot avoid. He is pursued by a devouring love which wants him totally, in the ardor of his own converted heart. He is pursued by an unweary patience which will use every means to bring it about finally that this man yields to God's reason. And the adventure in which man is obliged to stake everything in a freedom which is given, but given only for this adventure, seems to be extraordinarily important for God. In some sense God engages Himself in the work in which He engages man.
Another aspect of all of this situation in which the Word of God sets man is that everything around the called man circles him because he has been chosen. A tempest is unleashed. The people around the called man are inadvertently involved in the work being done in this man's life. God uses everything at His command to nudge this man into compliance to the action for which the man has been called. There will be no rest for anyone around this called man until he does what he has been called to do.
This does not mean that we have to inquire into the spiritual meaning of every event. But we have to realize that these events, in spite of their rational appearance, are in effect part of the formidable accomplishment of the work of Almighty God.
It all begun while Jonah was asleep in the hold of a ship. Jonah had refused the Word of the Lord and ran...a storm erupted.
God is asking the impossible from Jonah, from the human standpoint he has good reason for running. The people he is being sent to are cruel, they decorated their walls and pyramids with scorched enemy skins. Jonah was being sent to mighty conquerors! A fierce people. Anything is better than certain death at Nineveh. Jonah will not accept the impossible from God. He judges as the world judges. But he does not take into account the fact that he is engaged in an adventure in which it is no longer possible to judge this way or that. Decisions made according to the reasoning of the world will lead nowhere and solve nothing.
We see God taking nature into play to see that Jonah fulfills his vocation. The others, the sailors, on the ship are impacted. Jonah has set off in a direction which is precisely the opposite of that indicated by God. He finds that he can no longer live his life where he is. He must leave, and does so as a fugitive. He flees, the text says. He has a bad conscience and flees like Adam and Cain. He flees "away from the presence of the Lord."
It seems to me that the real sense here is spiritual. In departing. Jonah breaks with the people which God has chosen. He no longer wants to belong to the chosen people. So impossible is the order.
The story of Jonah is indeed the story of all of us. What sacrifices are we not ready to make to be far from the face of God, unable as we are to accept that it is from God Himself who fulfills His impossible will!
One more thing, Jonah flees from the presence of God and during the stormy tempest he sleeps. The point is that he refuses even to contemplate this storm. He refuses to see it except as a natural phenomenon about which he can do nothing. He will not see in it God's act, God's appeal, God's pointer. He prefers to know nothing about it. He continues to flee by plunging into unconsciousness of sleep in order not to know that it comes from God.
And we all know what comes next...
In the word's of Lonnie Frisbee, "Don't run, give up fasssst. God always wins
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