Annas On Day 5 Of The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ

Annas, The Political Boss Of Judea

Principal Characters Involved Against Jesus

Day Five (Continues)

The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ

Location:

People's Court

Shekinah Fellowship

Room 101

Ms Suzy, Jurist in this courtroom:

It was in the year 7 A. D. that the procurator, Coponius, appointed his friend, Annas, the son of Seth, an Alexandrian Sadducee, to become the high priest at Jerusalem.

That, incidentally, was the highest appointive office of Jewry.

The high priestly family of Annas held full sway, with only a few brief interruptions, for the following fifty-one years.

All six of his sons followed their father as high priest during that long period of time; and it was his son-in-law, Caiaphas, who, though the dominant influence of this same Annas, held that high office during the time when Jesus was tried before the Sanhedrin in A. D. 30.

Although Annas had then become an old and rather feeble man, in his late eighties, he was still possessed with great wealth and political power in Jerusalem.

 And there appeared something awesome in the long wisp of snow white hair which constantly dangled before the dark green eyes of this man who boasted of being master of the people. He was their political boss; and his every thought, word and deed conveyed the height of his extreme egotism.

Moreover, it was generally admitted that old Annas had the most superb intelligence among the ruling elements in all Judea; and he seemed unacquainted with fear or remorse of conscience. His tyrannical and unholy philosophy was that of "rule or ruin."

He had been quite generous in providing numerous luxuries for his son-in-law, and he was never the least timid about reminding Caiaphas of the lasting and unpaid dept of gratitude which was owing to Annas.

Therefore, it was not unusual for Caiaphas, when he knew it, to unfailingly do the bidding of his father-in-law, regardless of ethics, law, morals, or any consequences, whatsoever.

Annas could not be called a religious man. Being a devout Sadducee, he openly subscribed to the creed that there was no such thing as life after death; nor did he believe in a spiritual world at all.

 He believed and taught that future rewards and punishments were absurd, and that everything passed into oblivion and ended at the grave.

Typical of the Sadducees, he boasted that the theory of the resurrection was a base deceit and an utter impossibility!

Everything which Jesus taught in His great ministry of three years, in and around Jerusalem, was regarded by Annas as nothing more than abstractions of a discredited, false prophet.

He had no patience with nor respect for the new, religious theories of the Master. Therefore, as may be expected, he was one of the bitterest enemies of Christ.

 He therefore, had a deep reason and motive, as he thought, for conspiring with his disreputable son-in-law, Caiaphas, and money-mad Judas Iscariot to speedily get rid of the Lowly Nazarene, regardless of the means to that end.

 Murder was commonplace with the corrupt individual, and he entertained no scruples whatever about engaging in evil enterprises if, by so doing, he could gain his point, or accomplish that which he desired.

It is noteworthy to remember that those who sold the doves and lambs in the Temple, to be used as objects for burning upon the alters of sacrifice, were the hirelings of Annas.

 And it was his bankers who also profited by the usurious exchange of Roman currency into coinage of the temple.

They were there to enrich the already fat purse of their employer; and he could see no wrong impropriety in having them engage in such unholy practices in the Temple, for he did not consider the Temple as a place of prayer.

To him it was no more than a convenient meeting place, where the crowds congregated for their religious practices, and at which the unfair exchanges would be made, to his personal benefit- and other considerations were of no concern to him!

What a sight to observe! Droves of Jews, trudging daily into the Temple to offer up their sacrifices, and being forced to purchase their lambs and doves, and exchange their coins, with Annas' agents- since he had a monopoly on that sordid business.

Annas, like the countless thousands in Judea, had also heard of the miracles of Jesus; especially how He brought His friend, Lazarus, back to life from a four-day-old grave!

 That, of course, served to greatly irritate the old man beyond description. All of His preaching and teaching that life, after death, was sheer nonsense, was now placing him in a ridiculous position before his followers.

But there was no denying that such a thing had really occurred; since it was witnessed by hundreds of reputable Jews who quickly spread the news throughout the land. Indeed, in his declining years, he was forced to admit that his conclusions about the resurrection had been completely repudiated by this unknown, humble Man of Galilee.

The pride and prestige of Annas was found to be on the wane.

Something must be done, and quickly, to dispose of this trouble-maker whose miracles and teachings were the source of a deep-rooted embarrassment!

Then, to increase the consuming fire of enmity, word reached Annas that Jesus had on the previous Monday morning, in Jerusalem, bodily forced the money-changers and dove and lamb sellers from the Temple.

 To say that the old man was incensed and bitter would be to describe the situation rather mildly. He was outraged, humiliated beyond endurance and determined to "get even" with his enemy, the Christ!

Thus, we see that the cleansing of the Temple by Jesus was considered a direct challenge to the power and authority of Annas and his group of Sadducees.

 They immediately determined to retaliate for the turmoil which He had created by that spectacle in the Temple.

The rage of Annas caused him to burst into tears as he beheld his hirelings being chased from the Temple and into the busy streets of Jerusalem, dodging the sturdy lashes from the whip in the strong arm of Jesus!

It was shortly after this episode that Annas, with his son-in-law, Caiaphas, entered into the sordid, cheap and unholy conspiracy with Judas Iscariot to betray the Master, in the nighttime, for those thirty pieces of silver!

And where was Jesus first taken, after the unlawful arrest, outside the Garden of Gethsemane, near (5 minutes) Jerusalem? John gives the answer:

"Then, the band and captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound Him, and led Him away to Annas first; for he was the Father-in-law of Caiaphas, which was high priest that same year."


Taking Jesus first to Annas was no mere coincidence.

It had been planned that way, by the terms of the conspiracy.

Having personal knowledge of the fact of the arrest of Jesus was all that Annas needed for the moment.

For then, he could secretly arrange with Caiaphas, the high priest, to call a quick, nighttime meeting of the Sanhedrin, create a quorum of only twenty-three members, carefully chosen, then begin the trial of the Christ, while his friends in Jerusalem, to celebrate the Feast of the Passover, were still asleep!

Thus they could terminate His ministry by condemning Him to death before His friends could learn of the tragedy! And that is exactly what they did!


Annas, devoid of principle, and with a heart black to the core, willingly connived with Judas and Caiaphas for the cold-blooded murder of the Son of God!

Caiaphas The High Priest On The 5th Day Of The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ

Caiaphas, The High Priest

Principal Characters Involved Against Jesus

Day Five (Continues)

The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ

Location:

People's Court

Shekinah Fellowship

Room 101

Ms Suzy, Jurist in this courtroom:

Ms Susy adjust her glasses and walks to the center of the room. She calmly begins her dissertation of the moment...

Of all the men mentioned in the story of the trials and subsequent crucifixion of the Christ, it must be admitted that Caiaphas, the high priest, was the most despicable.

 And, in making this appraisal of him, we are not unmindful of the treachery of the great betrayer, Judas Iscariot. To be sure, the high priest was even more corrupt.

For eleven years, from 25 A. D. he remained in that lofty position in Judea; and was at all times completely devoid of ethics, honor, fairness, and common decency!

 And his close friendship with Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor, was grounded upon the proposition that they had this much in common- a deep hatred for the Christ, whose teachings they scoffed with an abiding venom.

Both were political cowards- men who dreaded the thought of having their heads removed from the public trough!

As the presiding judge of the Jewish court, called the Great Sanhedrin, he was required to take a solemn oath, under the existing Jewish laws, to at all times assume an attitude of impartiality toward every accused person brought before the court; and to manifest complete indifference as to the results of any trial therein; that he would not serve as the presiding officer should there arise a case in which there existed enmity toward the accused.

But not that fellow!

Being unable to restrain himself, and hide, to some appreciable degree, his deep prejudice toward and hatred of Jesus Christ, we find him even before the arrest was made, conspiring to murder Christ- and seeking false witnesses to appear before the court, against the Master!

And that is not the end to his corruption.

Next we note that he, the presiding judge of the court, personally makes the charges against Jesus of "blasphemy," and then has the gall to announce, in open court, that there was no need for witnesses! Then, as further evidence of his utter unfitness and complete lack of judicial temperament, he begins to tear his own garments from his shoulders to his waistband.

Matthew records how Caiaphas conducted himself as the presiding Judge of that court:

"Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying: He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard His blasphemy! What think ye? They answered and said: He is guilty of death!"

When Jesus replied to the direct inquiry as to whether He was the Christ, the Son of God, and gave an affirmative answer, He was denounced as a blasphemer. Utterly ridiculous!

And, with the open approval of this same high priest, the members of the court, in complete disregard of existing laws, deliberately and cowardly spit into the face of Jesus,

(Jurist pauses with tears in her eyes and obviously choked up with emotion)

and buffeted Him; and others smote Him with the palms of their hands, saying:

"Prophesy unto us, Thou Christ, who is he that smote Thee?"

And with all of that display of rage and temper and ill-will, the high priest was not yet contented. He can now be seen leading the bound and bleeding Christ over to the palace of Pilate, in the dire hope of obtaining a speedy approval of their unholy and unlawful verdict that the Christ should die, because of the accusation of blasphemy!

 And, before the procession starts upon its journey for the second trial, they place a sharp crown of thorns upon the head of the Master and strike Him several blows upon the head, so as to insure the deep embedding of the thorns into His precious brow.

 Hence, He is led to Pilate, because His eyes are by now filled with blood!

What a judge!

What a trial!

Somewhere, in the old Jewish law, there is this wise and true maxim:

(Said in more respectable terms than the way it was actually originally said)

"A disreputable and corrupt judge is to be no more respected than the sweat from the blanket of a jackass!"

Indeed, Judas Iscariot betrayed his best friend for filthy silver- and in full remorse, hanged himself- but this Caiaphas committed the greater sin. He utterly and forever disgraced the high office of high priesthood through his cowardly and vile conduct as the presiding official in the supreme court of Jewry!

Moreover, he became a deliberate law-violator in the following respects:

1. He knew that his heart was filled with poisonous enmity for the Master, but continued to serve and to preside at that trial, after having taken an oath that he had no such enmity toward the accused.

2, His oath to be fair and impartial was made a mockery when he admitted being a party to the corrupt conspiracy with Annas and Judas to have Jesus betrayed into the hands of His enemies, in the nighttime.

3. He raped the law when he personally preferred the charge of "blasphemy," after Jesus had merely admitted being the Son of God!

4.He winked at justice and blinded his eyes to fairness and decency when he went out in search of those "false witnesses" to testify against the accused, in his own court.

5. Being learned in the law- which was a prerequisite to his assuming the duties of that high office- he pretended ignorance of the law which required the production of two witnesses, whose testimony must be in agreement, as to all material details embracing the charge against the accused.

6. He ignored the Jewish legal mandates that no trial be had at night, nor during the feast of Passover; or on a Friday!

7. It was he who called for the vote of the death penalty, and unlawfully recorded it, when the Jewish law, with which he was entirely familiar, prohibited the imposition of the sentence of death. The Roman conquerors had, long before, denied them such authority.

8. He painted a picture of bestiality and contempt by deliberately tearing his own robe in the court room, and then permitting his cowardly cohorts to spit into the face of the prisoner; to strike Him, and ridicule Him with other modes of cruelty, such as forcing into His brow that thorn-covered crown-as a symbol of Kingship.

And it was he who, before Pilate, raised the loudest voice for the release of Barrabas, and for the demand that Jesus be crucified. Still not appeased, he gave minute directions to the Roman soldiers for that commission of further acts of brutality while Jesus was prostrate and suspended on the cross!

One can easily get a mental picture of the smirking countenance of Caiaphas as the Christ begged for a few drops of water to cool the raging fever of His parched throat, and received, instead, a sponge soaked in vinegar, while awaiting for his helpless victim to give up the Spirit!

How do you suppose that the high priest really felt on that Friday afternoon, on Calvary's hill, when, standing at the foot of the cross, he heard fall from the lips of the dying Christ that sincere and fervent prayer for forgiveness- upon the premise that His murderers knew not what they were doing?

And what reaction, if any, did Caiaphas have when the earth began to quake, and the lightning began to strike, and he knew that Jesus had died- and he heard one of the murderers, a Roman soldier, say:

"Truly this Man was the Son of God!"

The world will ever remember, with justified disgust and contempt, the sad spectacle of that vicious, immoral, cruel, inhuman, cowardly, prejudiced, unfit, disreputable "judge" of the highest Jewish court who delighted in leading the frenzied mob in its base acts of brutality and cold-blooded murder!

Pontious Pilate The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ Day 5 Continues

Pontius Pilate, Governor of Judea

Day Five (Continues)

The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ

Location:

People's Court

Shekinah Fellowship

Room 101

Ms Suzy, Jurist in this court room:

Pilate was a native of Seville, one of the larger cities in Spain, wherein all of the inhabitants enjoyed the coveted privileges and rights of Roman citizens.

History tells us that he was a vile traitor to the cause of the Spaniards; that when Spain fell to the greatly superior Roman warriors, his father served as a famous general on the side of the Romans.

Shortly thereafter, he courted and married a woman by the name of Claudia, whose mother was the daughter of Augustus Caesar.

 That Pilate's mother-in-law, Julia, had theretofore intermarried with several men before taking on Tiberius Caesar; and therefore, Pilate was found to have married the step-granddaughter of the Roman Emperor.

 Later, because of this marriage, he was appointed procurator, or Governor, of Judea, by the then Emperor, Tiberius Caesar.

Pilate was a man of extreme violence, who frequently delighted in causing much ill-treatment and murder to many of the Jews within his jurisdiction.

 It is recorded that he alone was responsible for the cruel execution of hundreds of innocent Jews.

Being the Governor of Judea, he had full jurisdiction over civil, criminal and military matters within his domain; and was answerable only to the Emperor for the welfare and general behavior of the Jews located within Judea.

While he had no interest in nor love for the Jews, he feared the ever-present possibility that some of them might, with justification, report him to his political benefactor, the Emperor, and be able to obtain his removal from that high office.

Many of his predecessors had been removed, summarily, for slight causes. So he kept his ear to the ground in order to detect any rumblings or outbursts of dissension over the way he conducted the affairs of State.

Once, when he had been warned that a group of Jewish citizens had planned to confer with him, making some kind of complaint over harsh treatment accorded them by him, he deliberately had a band of his soldiers to conceal large knives under their garments; and when the helpless group came within reach, he gave the arranged signal, and they were brutally cut to death!

While Jesus was a Jew, Pilate had no reason to entertain malice toward Him.

 He just did not like any Jew.

But, during the second "trial" of Christ, before Pilate, the Governor showed no evidence of enmity.

On the contrary, he tried four separate times to release the Master by insisting that he had found Him guilty of no wrongdoing.

The authors of the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, place a sense of mercy into the heart of Pilate, revealing his temporary unwillingness to have any part of the crucifixion.

 Still, we cannot overlook the important observation that Pilate, when courage and honor and bravery was at stake, showed the pallid flag of fear by vacillating and finally giving in to the demands of the mob that the Christ be surrendered to them for crucifixion.

Yes, when time came for Pilate to assume an important role in the most powerful drama in all the world, he revealed his craven cowardice.

 He had, indeed, the great fault of playing to the demands of the mob, and sacrificing his self respect and power of office, through fear of retaliation.

He lost control of his merciful impulses when threats to report him to the Emperor were imminent.

 He didn't have the moral courage to stand his ground!

We learn that, according to popular legend, the Emperor became greatly alarmed over witnessing the complete darkness which enveloped the Roman world at the moment of the crucifixion of Christ; and that he then ordered Pilate to proceed to Rome and give explanation for his conduct toward Jesus, and, as a result of this investigation, he was condemned to die as a vile murderer of innocent blood.

The sting of blame, and the penalty for playing the role of a coward, cost Pilate not only his high office, but also his life!

Tiberius Caesar Day 5 Of The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ Continues

Day Five (Continues)

The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ

Tiberius Caesar, The Roman Emperor

Location:

People's Court

Shekinah Fellowship

Room 101

Ms Suzy, Jurist in this court room:

During the time of the trials of Jesus, Tiberius held the high office of Emperor of Rome. He had appointed Pontius Pilate to the office of Governor of Judea.

It is interesting to note that, under existing Roman laws, any Roman citizen, having been found guilty of any offense, in any court in that country, had the right of an appeal directly to the Emperor.

 We remember that the famous convert, Paul, was given this privilege after his conviction.

 But since Jesus of Nazareth was not a Roman citizen, he did not have this right of appeal, even if He had had the opportunity to do so, after His unlawful "trials" before the Sanhedrin and before the Roman Governor, Pilate.

The Emperor, in reality, played no significant part in those trials of the Christ; but it will be well to keep in mind that he had the unquestioned power to summarily remove from office this man, Pilate, whom he had appointed to serve in his stead as procurator or Governor.

And, being a political puppet of the Emperor, we will note that Pilate was sorely afraid of his political boss in Rome, and kept constantly on guard so that he might not offend the man who was responsible for Pilate's appointment.

The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ More From Day 5 The Sadducees

Day Five (Continues)
The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ

The Arrogant Sadducees

Location:

People's Court

Shekinah Fellowship

Room 101

Ms Suzy, Jurist in this courtroom speaking:

The Sadducees, a religious group, who flourished during the ministry of Jesus, were the political aristocrats, and the wealthiest elements, among the Jewish society.

They maintained undisputed control over local government as well as the Great Sanhedrin.

Their wealth came, principally, from the commercial side of the temple services, which involved the sale of lambs and cattle for offering sacrifices, at large profits.

It was Annas, their political boss, who, as a former high priest, had placed his hired agents within the Temple for those unholy purposes.

This group did not believe in the creed of future rewards and punishments; and they taught that there was no such thing as a resurrection.

( To remember this just think of the phrase "I't sad, you see, the Sadducees do not believe in the resurrection.")

With them, all things ended at the grave.

Hence their open animosity toward the Christ who had, on more than one occasion, actually brought the dead back to life!

 No credence was placed in Jesus' assurances that, after His death, He would arise on the third day. They scoffed at such a thing.

While the Sadducees were never very friendly with the opposing religious group, the Pharisees, the two were ever-ready to combine their miserable talents in any conspiracy to embarrass and humiliate the Christ- as well as the final plan to destroy Him!

Enmity toward Jesus was the one, main thing which they had in common. All that Jesus was teaching, and all He preached, ran counter to the thoughts and creed and teachings of both the Sadducees and Pharisees.

We recall that, on one occasion, when the Pharisees failed to trap Jesus into stating that it was not lawful to pay tribute to Caesar, the Sadducees sent a group from their sect for the same purpose- to trap the Master. Here we find the Bible account of their efforts:

"Then came to Him a group of Sadducees, and asked Him: Master, Moses said, if a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were with us seven brothers; and having no issue, left his wife to his brother. Likewise, the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. At last the woman dies also. Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife shall she be of the seven, for they all had her?"

Jesus well knew that this group had ridiculed His teachings in respect to the resurrection, and that they were not in good faith in acting upon such a premise. Therefore, He said to them:

"Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying: I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not God of the dead, but of the living!"

And when the multitudes heard this, they were greatly astonished at His doctrine. But when the Pharisees heard that He had put the Sadducees to silence, they were no longer desirous of propounding their questions to Him.

"And no man was able to answer Him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions."

Failing completely in every attempt to trap the Christ, they determined to end His ministry through a scheme and conspiracy to "seek false witnesses that they might destroy Him."

The raising of Lazarus back to life, from a four-day-old grave, and the chasing of the money-changers from the Temple of God, were the two outstanding acts of the Christ which made this particular group exceedingly angered with Him.

Therefore, in a spirit of eagerness to retaliate, they happily joined forces with the Pharisees in the common cause of committing murder-murdering the innocent blood of Jesus!

And it may be added, the leaders in that unholy conspiracy and cowardly alliance were the Sadducees...

Day 5 Of The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ Continues

Day Five (Continues)
The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ

The Hypocritical Pharisees

Location:

People's Court

Shekinah Fellowship

Room 101

Ms Suzy, Jurist in this courtroom:

Tradition and custom filled a large place in the so-called "religious" life of the Pharisees.

They boasted of superior knowledge and observance of the laws of Moses, according to their own interpretations, which were known as the oral laws of that day and time.

They were called the "separated people," and were known to burn the proverbial midnight oil, studying and examining the ancient and musty scrolls and documents upon which were written the early Jewish laws.

Therefore, they claimed to be the sole custodians of the oral laws and traditions, and demanded strict compliance of them, claiming the origin with Moses on Mount Sinai.

The Pharisees taught that fasting for long seasons, with mournful countenances, was most pleasing in the sight of God.

With them it was a great sacrilege and crime for one to partake of a single meal without having first washed his hands to the elbows; and they never failed to condemn any person found to be ignoring that tradition of theirs.

Of all the people ever to inhabit this earth, since the time of Adam and Eve, to the present day, there has never been a more egotistical and thoroughly hypocritical group! 

They were haughty, narrow-minded, overbearing, self-satisfied, and strong in their belief that they, alone, were infallible, impeccable, and better than all the rest-including the Christ!

One could easily recognize them anywhere, for they invariably wore the loudest colored, flowing robes with enormous hems, so as to attract others by their presence.

Loud and long were their prayers in public places, as they sought to impress the bystanders with their pretended righteousness and false piety!

Moreover, they were quick to sharply condemn and criticize all who failed to do the things which they preached and taught, but did not themselves practice.

Their list contained a very limited number of things which one must do, but set forth hundreds of acts which were by them condemned as unlawful, and contrary to tradition and custom!

This explains their persistence in regarding Jesus, with His great message of brotherly love and eternal salvation, as an enemy of their society and their school of thought. Their harboring of malice toward Jesus came, primarily, because of divergence of teachings and thinking.

 They could never approve of what Jesus had ever said or done. They would never follow His leadership, because He brushed aside, as being of no consequence, the countless, absurd traditional practices to which they clung with abiding devotion and unswerving faith.

As one checks the record of their activities, they were ever-ready to embarrass the Master, if they could, by seeking to entrap Him with questions which they never dreamed He could either explain, or prove false and absurd.

But, to be sure, their pusillanimous conduct and patient hypocrisy was well known to Jesus, for He could and did read their minds.

They did not fool Him with their repeated acts of great piety and pretended reverence for Godly things!

So keen was His knowledge of their perfidy, that He once said of them, in their presence and hearing:

"The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses seat. All, therefore, whatsoever they bid you to observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works; for they say and do not."

Jesus never wasted any time to argue with them concerning the superficial matter of how thoroughly one should wash his hands and arms before eating; for such was not in any manner related, even momentarily, or remotely, with the kind of religion He taught them to observe and practice.

Jesus made no effort to restrain Himself as He pointed out the absurdity of their devotion to old customs and traditions. Once He told them this:

"Ye have made the commandments of God of none effect by your traditions...teaching for doctrines the commandments of Men."

In other words, the Master said that they thought more of their traditions than of the commandments of God; and that, instead of teaching that one should obey God's commandments, they taught that their substituted commandments, based on those traditions, were superior!

With Jesus it was a matter of deciding which is more important: human traditions and customs or the commandments of God?

Knowing of the shallowness of their false teachings, and that their pitiful efforts at leadership were without any real substance, He expressed His disgust by telling them:
"Let them alone. They be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both fall into the ditch."

What a spectacle: The blind leading the blind- until both fell into a ditch! Indeed, the Lowly Nazarene seemed to delight in exposing them to their ignorant followers. Here is another pointed observation the Master made, in their presence, about their conduct:

"But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments; and love the uppermost rooms at the feasts, and their chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi!"

Then listen to this courageous tongue-lashing from the Master as He points the finger of guilt into the countenances of those Pharisees:

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye devour widow's homes, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore, ye shall receive the greater condemnation. Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say: Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing, but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is debtor.

"Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.

"Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within, ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity!

"Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers! How can ye escape the damnation of hell!"

No one, before the era of the Christ, had dared to call the hands of the Pharisees and show them up, in the public places, for what they really were. With the Master there was no middle-ground, no compromise with false piety, hypocrisy or sin. He exposed it and He fought it wherever He found it!

And certainly the better-than-thou Pharisees were to be no exception!

The condemnation of the Pharisees by Jesus came as a consequence of their known efforts to ask Him many questions, all in the hope that, by His answers, they would be able to sustain some criminal charge in the Jewish courts, and thus terminate His great ministry.

Were the Pharisees in good faith when they sought to entrap Him into stating that it was unlawful to continue paying tribute money to Caesar? Certainly not! They hoped that a charge of sedition could be lodged against Him as a result of their inquiries.

Let us turn to the New Testament, and see what took place on the occasion in question, involving this matter of paying tribute to the Roman Emperor:

"Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle Him in His talk. And they sent out unto him their disciples, with the Herodians, saying: Master, we know that thou art true, and teachest the way of God in truth, neither carest Thou for any man; for Thou regardest not the person of men. Tell us, therefore, what thinkest Thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?"

Listen to these hypocrites, calling Christ their "Master," and telling Him that they know He teaches the way of God in truth. Trying to play egotism-with their barefaced lies!

Of course, if Jesus had replied that, in His opinion, it would not be lawful nor necessary to continue paying tribute to the Emperor, Caesar, even though a vast majority of the Jews secretly felt that the requirement was unfair and unjust, they would have then charged Him with preaching a doctrine contrary to the Roman government's laws respecting the tribute money.

Surely they then would be able to prove that the Christ was blocking the efforts of the Romans to collect their burdensome taxes from the Hebrews, and thus succeed in destroying Him.

But the Master was too smart for them. He readily sensed that they were not sincere in making such an inquiry; and, perceiving their wickedness, and lack of good faith, He replied:

"Why tempt Me, ye hypocrites? Show Me the tribute money!"

Ignoring the charge that they were "hypocrites," one of the motley crew quickly produced a penny, handing it to Jesus, as He directed.

"And He said unto them: "Whose is this image and superscription? They replied: It is Caesar's."

Jesus then answered them in such a manner that they could find no offense, when He said:

"Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; unto God the things that are God's."

And when they had heard those words, they marveled, and left Him, and went their way. Another pitiful attempt to trap Jesus was, like all the rest, to no avail.

While it must be admitted that the Pharisees were among the bitterest enemies of the Christ, it can also be admitted that the Christ, with full justification, had no respect of, nor love for them!

Having been truthfully accused of being hypocrites; a generation of vipers; robbers of widow's homes; blind leaders of the blind; men who, for a pretense, make long prayer, and wear loud-colored garments to be seen of men, and serpents who cannot escape the damnation of hell-they readily co-operated with His other enemies, to the end that He might be soon destroyed-upon Calvary's cross!

Day 6 Of The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ

Day Six
The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ

New Testament Details Of Events

Location:

People's Court

Shekinah Fellowship

Room 101

Ms Suzy, Jurist in this courtroom gets up and starts to pace back and forth as she speaks:

On Thursday night, following Palm Sunday, Jesus had finished the "Last Supper" with His disciples in the upper chamber, in celebration of the great Feast of the Passover.

 From there we copy the New Testament account of what took place, from the time of the arrest of Jesus until the occasion when Pilate released Him to the mob to be crucified:

"He went forth with His disciples over the brook Cedron, where He entered, and His disciples. Judas also, which betrayed Him, knew the place; for Jesus oft-times resorted thither with His disciples.

Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

Jesus, therefore, knowing all things that should come unto Him, went forth, and said unto them: Whom do ye seek? They answered Him: Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said unto them: I am He. And Judas also, which betrayed Him, stood with them.

As soon as He had said unto them, I am He, they all went backward, and fell to the ground.

Then asked He them again: Whom seek ye? And they said: Jesus of Nazareth.

Jesus answered: I have told you that I am He. If, therefore, ye seek Me, let these go their way.

Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malcus.

Then Jesus said unto Peter: Put up thy sword into the sheath. The cup which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink it? Then the band and the captain and the officers of the Jews took Jesus and bound Him.

And they led Him away to Annas first; for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.

Now Caiaphas was he, which gave counsel to the Jews, that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.

And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. That disciple was known unto the high priest, and went with Jesus into the palace of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door without. Then went out that other disciple, which was known to the high priest, and spake unto her that kept the door, and brought in Peter.

Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter: Art not thou one of this man’s disciples? He saith: I am not.

And the servants and officers stood there, who had made a fire of coals; for it was cold; and they warmed themselves; and Peter stood with them, and warmed himself,

They said therefore unto him: Art not thou also one of His disciples? He denied it and said: I am not.

One of the servants of the high priest, being his kinsman whose ear Peter cut off, said: Did not I see thee in the garden with Him? Peter denied again, and immediately the cock crew,

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him: Before the cock crow, thou shalt denie Me thrice. And he went out and wept bitterly.

The high priest (Caiaphas) then asked Jesus of His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered: I spake openly to the world; I even taught in the synagogues, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. Why ask Me? Ask them which heard Me, what I have said unto them: behold, they know what I have said.

And when He had thus spoken, one of the officers which stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying: Answereth Thou the high priest so?

Jesus answered him: If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest Me?

Now the chief priest, and elders, and all the council, sought false witnesses against Jesus, to put Him to death; but found none, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At last came two false witnesses, and said: This fellow said: I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

And the high priest arose, saying unto Him: Answereth Thou nothing? What is it which theses witnesses say against Thee? But Jesus held His peace.

And the high priest said unto Him: I adjure Thee by the Living God, that Thou tell us whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus saith unto him: "Thou has said: neverthe less, I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see the Son of God sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of Heaven."

Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying: He hath spoken blasphemy; what futher need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard His blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said: He is guilty of death.

Then did they spit in His face, and buffeted Him; saying: Prophesy unto us, Thou Christ, who is he that smote Thee?

And straightway in the morning the chief priest held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus and carried Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.

Pilate went out unto them and said: What accusations bring ye against this Man? They answered and said unto him: If He were not a malfactor, we would not have delivered Him up unto thee. Then said Pilate: Take ye Him and judge Him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him: It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.

And they began to accuse Him, saying: We found this fellow perverting the Nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ a king.

And when He was accused of the chief priest and elders, He answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto Him; Hearest Thou not how many things they witness against Thee? And He answered him no to never a word; insomuch that the Governor marvelled greatly.

Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto Him: Art Thou the King of Jews?

Jesus answered: Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of Me?

Pilate answered: Am I a Jew? Thine own Nation and the chief priest have delivered Thee unto me. What hast Thou done?

Jesus answered him: My kingdom is not of this world, then would My servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now is My kingdom not from hence.

Pilate therefore said unto Him: Art Thou a king then? Jesus answered: Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice. Pilate said unto Him: What is truth?

When he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them: I find in Him no fault at all.

And they were the more fierce, saying: He stirreth the people, teaching throughout all Jewery, beginning from Galilee to this place.

When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the Man was a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that He belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad; for he was desirous to see Him of a long season, because he had heard many things of Him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by Him.

Then he questioned Him with many words; but He answered him nothing.

And the chief priest and scribes stood and vhemently accused Him.

And Herod with his men of war set Him at nought, and mocked Him, and arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him again to Pilate.

And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, said unto them: Ye have brought this Man unto me, as One that perverted the people; and, behold, I have examined Him before you, have found no fault in this Man touching those things whereof ye accuse Him. No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto Him. I will, therefore, chastise Him, and release Him.

The chief priest and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.

And they cried out all at once, saying: Away with this Man, release unto us Barabbas.

Pilate said unto them: What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ: They all said unto him: Let Him be crucified.

When Pilate sat down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying: Have nothing to do with that just Man; for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of Him.

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but rather a tulmult was made, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying: I am innocent of the blood of this just Person; see ye to it.

Then answered all the people: His blood be on us, and on our children.

Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged Him. And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe, and said: Hail King of the Jews! And they smote Him with their hands.

Pilate therefore went forth again, and saith unto them: Behold, I bring Him forth to you, that ye may know that I find no fault in Him.

Then came Jesus forth, wearing the crown of thorns, and the purple robe. And Pilate saith unto them: Behold the Man!

When the chief priests therefore and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying: Crucify Him! Crucify Him! Pilate saith unto them: Take ye Him, and crucify Him; for I find no fault in Him.

The Jews answered him: We have a law, and by our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was more afraid; and went again to the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus: Whence art Thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.

Then saith Pilate unto Him: Speakest Thou not to me?

Knowest Thou not that I have power to crucify Thee? And have power to release Thee?

Jesus answered him: Thou couldest have no power at all against Me, except it were given thee from above; therefore he that delivered Me unto thee hath the greater sin.

And from hence forth Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying: If thou let Him go, thou art not Caesar’s friend. Whosoever maketh Himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus forth, and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called the Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha.

And it was the preparation of the passover, and about the sixth hour; and he said unto the Jews; Behold your king.

But they cried out: Away with Him, away with Him. Crucify Him! Pilate saith unto them: Shall I crucify your king? The chief priests answered: We have no king but Caesar.

Then delivered he Him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led Him away.

And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired."

…………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Sidebar:

The above record of events, now more than two thousand years old, has stood the test of time and criticism. No one, however brilliant, in all the whole world, has been able to successfully impeach that record and that testimony.

And now it is the universally accepted truth, save a very few exceptions- those who, either because of training, religious teachings, or hard-headedness, refuse to believe the New Testament as being the inspired Word of God.

 We of the Christian faith can have no doubts respecting the authenticity of each and every word so faithfully, logically and truthfully recorded by those eye witnesses, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John!

The Center of the Bible

What is the shortest chapter in the Bible? Answer - Psalms 117

What is the longest chapter in the Bible? Answer - Psalms 119

Which chapter is in the center of the Bible? Answer - Psalms 118

Fact: There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118.

Fact: There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118.

Add these numbers up and you get 1188

What is the center verse in the Bible?Answer - Psalms 118:8

Does this verse say something significant about God's perfect will for our lives?

The next time someone says they would like to find God's perfect will for their lives and that they want to be in the center of His will, just send them to the center of His Word! Psalms 118:8

(NKJV) "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man."

Day Five Of The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ

Day Five (Continues)
The Illegal Trial Of Jesus Christ

The Cruel Mob Which Crucified The Christ

Location:

People's Court

Shekinah Fellowship

Room 101

Ms Suzy, Jurist in this court room:

Until one becomes familiar with the great turmoil and unrest which permeated the atmosphere in all Judea, during the greatest hours of the earthly life of Jesus, it would seem strange and hard to understand that, on Palm Sunday, the streets of Jerusalem were deeply lined with multitudes proclaiming:

 "Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the Lord," and then to witness, on the same street, of that same City, on the following Friday morning, those identical voices, enveloped in hatred and anger, shouting:

 "Away with Him, Crucify Him, Crucify Him!"

One would naturally make this inquiry:

 "Why the sudden and great change of attitudes?

Why, in a matter of a few fleeting hours, did this throng permit hatred and ill-will to take place of admiration and love?"

Because the enemies of Jesus had conspired to bring about just such a change in conditions in Judea.

Those delirious shouts of acclamation for the Master convinced His enemies that, ere long, unless stopped, the whole world would be following Him. And then, to be sure, the Pharisees and Sadducees, with their pityful and narrow versions of shallow, superficial creeds, would fade into the catacombs of complete oblivion-forever lost to the memory of men!

Thus we find that Caiaphas and his father-in-law, Annas, complete the deal with Judas Iscariot to betray his benefactor and friend, the Lowly Nazarene.

Then they incite the people to the realization that, as Jesus had so often said, He did not come to establish an earthly kingdom- therefore, they were following the wrong course if their dreams of an earthly king were to be materialize.

And so, they leave the Master all alone!

Let us now take a glance at the unruly, unholy mob, as they gloat over their captive Prisoner on that Friday morning, on the road leading up Calvary's hill:

To be sure, there was Annas, the disreputable, political boss of Judea, leaning heavily upon the arm of his corrupt son-in-law, the high priest, Caiaphas.

Those two were leading the frenzied multitude to the place designated for the cruel crucifixion. Immediately behind, we see the cowardly members of the discredited Sanhedrin, chatting amid the smiles of the Sadducees and Pharisees; and ignoring, of course, the groans of the Savior as He tries, in vain, to shift the heavy burden of the rugged cross to another position upon His sore and bleeding shoulder!

Yes, they were finally headed toward Golgotha- a place of the skull- a place hallowed by the fact that, in all the world, since the beginning of time, nowhere else can one find better or more convincing proof of Divine love for a lost world, and humble devotion to a Father's will!

 Other places would appear more beautiful- but none as sacred!

And oh, what a motley crowd it was which made up the multitude, on that occasion. There they were- Jews of every size and age; priests, scribes and Levities; then the heartless Roman soldiers, being led by the coward, Pontius Pilate- the man who claimed to have washed his hands of the innocent blood.

 Following closely behind, we see, in a small minority, a few of His friends, their faces filled with greif and fear.

Then, with greater courage, but broken hearts can be seen the disciple, John, with his arms about the shoulders of the mother of Jesus, as he tried to console that grief-stricken woman, whose eyes are filled with tears!

After Jesus falters, because of the great weight of His burden, along comes Simon, who was very probably a member of the colored race. He leans downward, as he undertakes to help the prostrate Christ back to His feet; clutches a portion of the heavy cross so as to lighten, to some degree, the awful weight which pressed against the bleeding body of Jesus.

This was done without a halt, in order that the procession of evil men might continue their steady march to the place of murder!

As the crest of Calvary is reached, the Roman soldiers, under the directions of Annas and Caiaphas, begin the nailing of his hands and feet to the cross, as it is lying flat upon the ground.

Then, with their brute strength, He is lifted up into an upright position, between the two thieves.

But there was one character missing from the unholy scene- Judas Iscariot! He was not privileged to see the culmination of his treachery, because, by now, he is a suicide, buried in potter's field, purchased by the high priests with the same filthy silver which was used to effect the betrayal.

It might be said that, officially, the crowd was not in the trial, nor active participants in the subsequent crucifixion; but, by their presence, they became the thoughtless puppets of these unscrupulous leaders- Annas, Caiaphas, Pilate- and therefore, they shared the guilt of what had happened.

To say the least, they rendered a disservice to Christianity, and helped place a blot of shame and disgrace upon the sordid names of those who did take active parts.

 Also, they willingly joined their voices with the mighty crowd who were demanding the release of Barabbas, a confessed murderer, instead of the sinless Nazarene!

Binded and inflamed by the dire echoes of their own voices, they found themselves clamoring for the innocent blood of Him who had done no wrong.

Then came the consciousness of wrongdoing, for many were heard to say:

"His blood be upon us, and our children!"

And while they might have then thought that they were victorious by the enactment of that drama at Calvary, they later learned, with deep regrets, that they had gone through the darkest and most dismal hours of their lives.

 Because the real and permanent victory was won by the victim of their vile deeds-Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God!

This needs to be added to the picture:

Immediately after the dying Christ announced that it was finished, and He commended His precious Spirit into the hands of His Heavenly Father, there was darkness over the land for three hours; and His Heavenly Father then took charge, causing the veil of the temple to be rent in two from top to bottom and made the earth around them quake, and the rocks to be rent- and then, one of the evil men in the mob, a Roman soldier, filled with horror and trembling, spoke for all present, and said:

"Truly this Man was the Son of God!"

Saturday Salmagundi Saltation

News For Americans!

From Donation Bin to Sotheby's: How a Rare 19th-Century Bible Almost Got Away

Our mask 

Underneath   

Alabama Jails, Fines Minister After Performing Lesbian Wedding

 

A YouTube user from the Netherlands used 500-year-old writings from Nostradamus to predict a magnitude-9.8 earthquake would hit California on May 28.

May 29, 2015
by Christine Slusser

Californians, you can breathe a sigh of relief. A disaster you probably didn't even know was supposed to happen ... didn't.

The famous French dude who published prophecies in the 1500s, Nostradamus, apparently predicted there would be some sort of catastrophic earthquake in the future.

Taking his prediction to heart, a random YouTuber then claimed he was contacted by a spirit, which revealed to him the massive quake would be on May 28 in California.

Even our neighbors overseas were reporting on the tragedy that was or wasn't about to hit the good ol' US of A.

Some 500 years ago, Nostradamus wrote: "The trembling so hard in the month of May, Saturn, Capricorn, Jupiter, Mercury in Taurus: Venus also, Cancer, Mars, in Virgo, Hail will fall larger than an egg."

Huh?

 Sounds a little like bumbo-jumbo to us.

But this YouTuber from the Netherlands showed the planetary alignments in this 25-minute video and tried to explain it all. 

He also claims he warned about the devastating earthquake in Nepal five days before it hit.
But Californians awoke to find they were all still alive, disaster-free.

And the man behind the YouTube video did mention a lack of earthquakes Thursday morning on Twitter but hasn't commented after that, or how he was wrong about the 9.8 earthquake that didn't happen.

LA Weekly spoke to a seismologist who says 9.8 wouldn't exactly be plausible anyway: 

"The biggest we could have is an 8.3 that would rupture the whole length of the San Andreas fault."

The fact Nostradamus' name was tied in to the prediction may be one of the only reasons anyone really paid attention.

LiveScience says he's been credited with predicting the bombing in Hiroshima, the French Revolution and the first moon landing.

But he was apparently wrong about this one. If anyone wants to see what Hollywood thinks a superdisaster earthquake would look like, "San Andreas" is actually in theaters now.

Maybe Nostradamus was just predicting this movie would be made.

Dane Wigington geoengineeringwatch.org

I was troubled by what happened last night when I posted a comment on Dane Wigington's website.

I posted this link in the comments box:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/12/18/10-billion-un-linked-climate-change-fund-wants-immunity-from-prosecution/?intcmp=latestnews

It went to moderation at the website, which is normal for most places.

When my comment did come out of moderation and was posted, the link that I had shared in the comments was not there and in it's place was this:

we hold our president and our esteemed representatives accountable and responsible for this ongoing genocide. This needs to end now, and the criminals that perpetrated this hideous crime against humanity to justice.
David .

I felt like I had been thrown under the bus!

Someone who was moderating typed something that I did not say. And the link that I had pasted into the comment box was not even there.

As I lay in bed thinking about this I found it really troubling.

The comment that appears makes me call the President and our Representatives criminals.

When all I had shared was a link to a Fox news article.

Dane Wigington's integrity, or whomever was moderating last night, came into question in my thoughts as I lay in bed thinking about all of this.

I have posted comments in a lot of websites over the many years since I first got on the Internet.

Never once has any of my comments been altered or changed in any way by a website before.

When I was the roadie for the Christian band "Mustard seed faith" they would play in the prisons and mental institutions.

While the band was at one of the mental institutions I talked with a perfectly normal young man who was in there as a patient.

I asked him why he was there.

He told me that he had made a stupid comment about Nixon at a gathering where he was. He was arrested and they put him in the institution as a result of his comment.

The nature of the comment that was fabricated and attributed to me will cause it to pop up on the NSA's watch list.

I don't want the men in black showing up at my door because of some thoughtless moderator putting words into my mouth!

The integrity of  Dane Wigington is now an issue in my mind which I find troubling.

I wonder if anyone else who has commented at his website has had their comments tampered with?

OK...I feel better now that I have gotten this typed out and unburdened myself here.

David Sloane

***

 The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled 7-2 in favor of Anthony Elonis, a man who wrote a series of angry messages on Facebook.

 The posts included quotes from rap lyrics containing "violent imagery," and were directed at Elonis's wife, his co-workers, law enforcement, and a kindergarten class.

 Elonis was charged and convicted under a federal statute that outlaws "any communication containing any threat to kidnap any person or any threat to injure the person of another."

The jury in his case was told the standard for judging such a threat was whether a "reasonable person" would interpret it as such.

According to the Court's ruling (PDF), that standard was not enough to convict him.

They call it "a standard feature of civil liability in tort law inconsistent with the conventional criminal conduct requirement of 'awareness of some wrongdoing.'"

 The case is notable for being the first Supreme Court ruling about free speech on social media, but the ruling itself was quite narrow.

***

Update 6/7/2015

Dane Wigington is a very courageous individual who obviously is very passionate about his battle to make the public aware and to stop what he sees going on around him.

I just read this passionate post and am blown away by his determination and drive against those who are behind the Geoengineering.

Lord watch over him and protect him!

One thing I do know about the man is he is on a mission that he is relentlessly pursuing with all his might.

Not to many men like that around these days...

May God open doors and provide resources for Dane that will make his goals all the more attainable.

He has been a voice crying in the wilderness as it were.

Holy Spirit We Need You

Surely you can recall the anointing of God on Brant Baker if you ever attended a Shekinah Fellowship of Long Beach California meeting.

It was not theatrics, it was what the bible calls preaching.

 Few people preach today...most just teach.

Brant had an ear to hear what the Spirit was saying and an eye to see what the Spirit was doing.

He followed the Holy Spirit closely during the height of those ministry days when he dedicated himself to ministry.

When we omit the moving of the Holy Spirit we take the tension off of the string of our bows and our arrows fall harmlessly to the ground.

In Brant's later years he failed miserably and died of AIDs. 

But Brant's bow had major tension at one time!

He was an anointed preacher and evangelist who conducted healing meetings.

Yes the arrows of the Word are of importance.

But if your bow has no string or tension on it, your arrows fall to the ground.

 THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE TENSION on our bows. Eliminate Him and your bow is just a useless stick...

Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

They work together as a team.

The arrowhead needs the shaft and they need the feathers.

They work together in unity.

 The arrowhead initiates, the shaft facilitates, the feathers give guidance and support.

 The bow of the Holy Spirit gives function...

We need the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit if we are going to make a difference in people's lives.

 One touch of the Holy Spirit will do more to change the course of a life then nine years of seminary school can.

Yield to the Holy Spirit. 

Be empty of selfish ambitions and agendas.

Give up, die to self.

John the baptist counted himself unworthy to tie Jesus sandal.

 And yet he was the most dramatic, political and religious leader of the time.

The whole area was literally in an uproar over him.

Even the religious leaders, the scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees came for his baptism.

Why

? Because he was so powerful, and so many people were going to him.

This is how influential this man was.

He ate what God said, he wore what God said, he lived the way the Lord said, simple and isolated.

How many in ministry today are always looking for ways to increase 'their ministry?'

John talks about the Son of the Living God.

He says, "He must increase, I must decrease, He is preferred before me."

He could honestly say that, because it was true.

And because it was true, he was willing to sacrifice literally everything.

 He wasn't selfish.

You don't live like that because of the applause you get from the people, because he lived in a desert wasteland.

You don't have anything but Jesus.

 You wouldn't do it for anything else.

Some people do things for money, but their not in the wilderness.

They're not out there alone with the Lord.

 With people, but alone still, with the Lord. They are not really wanting Him to be preferred before themselves.

Some accepted their calling, not realizing what it would completely take, what the price really was.

 John knew.

John confessed, it says..."And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

And they asked him, What then?

Art thou Elijah?

And he saith, I am not."

Yet Jesus said that John had the spirit of Elijah.

John said, "I'm not Elijah.

I'm nobody special, I'm nobody big, I'm nobody Kewl, I'm just nobody at all."

"Are you a prophet then?"

 "Then said they unto him, Who art thou?"

Why?

Because he was so anointed of the Holy Spirit!

His spirtual bow was fully pulled back!

"No, I'm not Christ.

No, I'm not Elijah.

No, I'm not the prophet.

 Well then what saith thou of thyself?"

God help you if you say anything.

You're crucified with Christ.

Why are we not anointed?

It is us.

He is the same, the problem is you and I.

We are so selfish, there is so much of ourselves.

We are building our 'ministry.'

John's example tells us to count the cost.

What does God want you to do with your life?

What is your purpose here?

John knew that he wasn't even worthy to even touch His sandal, for this was God.

 This was Almighty God!

And yet we are a temple of the Living God.

 Jesus Christ by His Holy Spirit dwells in me, in you, and in every born again believer.
 
This is an incredible truth of major porportions!

John knew every moment of the day, no matter how many thousands came to him, that his way, his purpose was a voice.

He never forgot that.

 A voice in the wilderness pointing the way to the Lamb of God.

Johns bow was fully pulled back for the arrow of his words. Is yours? Is mine?

"And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus."

They 'heard him speak." He was anointed. The arrows of his words flew to their mark because the tension of his bow was there.

And that can only happen for us by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Holy Spirit ignite us!

Friday Frith Fructuary

The FCC's Lifeline program subsidizes phone service for very poor Americans; it gained notoriety under the label "Obamaphone," even though the program started under Reagan and was extended to cell phones under Clinton. 

Now the FCC is proposing that the program, which is funded by a fee on telecom providers, be extended to broadband, on the logic that high-speed internet is as necessary today as telephone service was a generation ago.

*** 

'CROWDFUNDING A WAR AGAINST ISIS'

This Guy From Baltimore Is Raising A Christian Army To Fight ISIS… What Could Go Wrong?

***

Intercepted...

A trove of emails provided to The Intercept detail Russian schemes to obtain a crucial component for military thermal-imaging systems. 

Though emails about the thermal imaging systems date back as far as 2006, the plans to acquire them began in earnest much more recently, in 2013. 

To try to hide Russian involvement, a company called Cyclone established a new company in the Republic of Cyprus.

 They did so with the help of a company called Rayfast, which was owned by three other companies itself.

 After obfuscating the new company's ownership and military ties, they reached out to several Western companies who worked with the technology.

*

 Fifteen Chinese nationals living in the U.S. have been charged with creating an elaborate scheme to take U.S. college entrance exams on behalf of students.

For the past four years, the accused provided counterfeit Chinese passports to impostors, who sneaked into testing centers where they took the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), and others, while claiming to be someone else, according to a federal grand jury indictment . 

 Special Agent in Charge John Kelleghan for Homeland Security Investigations of Philadelphia said:

 "These students were not only cheating their way into the university, they were also cheating their way through our nation's immigration system."

***
In response to a ban of food imported from the European Union, an Italian grocery in Russia hired an ad agency to create a billboard with a camera and facial recognition software, that's able to change to a different ad when it recognizes the uniform of Russian cops. 

 Gizmodo reports: "With the aid of a camera and facial recognition software, the technology was slightly tweaked to instead recognize the official symbols and logos on the uniforms worn by Russian police.

 And as they approached the billboard featuring the advertisement for Don Giulio Salumeria’s imported Italian goods, it would automatically change to an ad for a Matryoshka doll shop instead."

***

From the fantasy files...With biologists getting closer and closer to reversing the aging process in human cells, the reality of greatly extended life draws closer.

 This brings up a very important conundrum: 

You can't tell people not to reproduce and you can't kill people to preserve resources and space.

 Even at our current growth rate there's not enough for everyone. 

Not enough food, not enough space, not enough medical care. 

If — no, when — age reversal becomes a reality, who gets to live?

 And if everyone gets to live, how will we provide for them?

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We are the animals...

The 66 chimps are currently surviving on a reduced feeding schedule paid for through emergency funds pieced together by the Humane Society and the personal donations of a handful of individual conservationists. But they only have enough money to support the chimps’ care for a few more weeks.

These Chimps Helped Us Find A Hepatitis Vaccine. Now They've Been Left To Die

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