WORD OF WISDOM

Perseverance of the saints - Their certain continuance in a state of grace. Once justified and regenerated, the believer can neither totally nor finally fall away from grace, but will certainly persevere therein and attain everlasting life.

This doctrine is clearly taught in these passages, John 10:28, 29; Romans 11:29; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5. It, moreover, follows from a consideration of (1) the immutability of the divine decrees (Jeremiah 31:3; Matthew 24:22-24; Acts 13:48; Romans 8:30); (2) the provisions of the covenant of grace (Jeremiah 32:40; John 10:29; 17:2-6); (3) the atonement and intercession of Christ (Isaiah 53:6, 11; Matthew 20:28; 1 Peter 2:24; John 11:42; 17:11, 15, 20; Romans 8:34); and (4) the indwelling of the Holy Ghost (John 14:16; 2 Corinthians 1:21, 22; 5:5; Ephesians 1:14; 1 John 3:9).

This doctrine is not inconsistent with the truth that the believer may nevertheless fall into grievous sin, and continue therein for some time.

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

OVERCOMERS

1 John 5:4
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Because by regeneration we have received strength to overcome the world, that is to say, whatever strives against the commandments of God. He declares what that strength is, that is, faith. He uses the time that is past, to give us to understand, that although we are in the battle, yet undoubtedly we shall be conquerors, and are most certain of the victory. Which is the instrumental cause, and as a means and hand by which we lay hold on him, who indeed performs this, that is, has and does overcome the world, even Christ Jesus.

For whatsoever is born of God. All who are born again, and have the new life, overcometh the world, in the sense that they do not love it and obey its dictates. The victory that overcometh the world, [even] our faith. The source of victorious power. As faith gains in strength the world loses its power.

For whatsoever - This expression implies the most unlimited universality. Is born of God overcometh the world - Conquers whatever it can lay in the way, either to allure or fright the children of God from keeping his commandments. And this is the victory - The grand means of overcoming. Even our faith - Seeing all things are possible to him that believeth.

Self-denial is required, but true Christians have a principle which carries them above all hinderances. Though the conflict often is sharp, and the regenerate may be cast down, yet he will rise up and renew his combat with resolution. But all, except believers in Christ, are enslaved in some respect or other, to the customs, opinions, or interests of the world. Faith is the cause of victory, the means, the instrument, the spiritual armour by which we overcome. In and by faith we cleave to Christ, in contempt of, and in opposition to the world. Faith sanctifies the heart, and purifies it from those sensual lusts by which the world obtains sway and dominion over souls. It has the indwelling Spirit of grace, which is greater than he who dwells in the world. The real Christian overcomes the world by faith; he sees, in and by the life and conduct of the Lord Jesus on earth, that this world is to be renounced and overcome. He cannot be satisfied with this world, but looks beyond it, and is still tending, striving, and pressing toward heaven. We must all, after Christ's example, overcome the world, or it will overcome us to our ruin.

The world, in its maxims, and precepts, and customs, does not rule him, but he is a freeman. The idea is, that there is a conflict between religion and the world, and that in the heart of every true Christian religion secures the victory, or triumphs. In John 16:33, the Saviour says, "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." He obtained a complete triumph over him "who rules the darkness of the world," and laid the foundation for a victory by His people over all vice, error, and sin. John makes this affirmation of all who are born of God. "Whatsoever," or, as the Greek is, "Everything which is begotten of God," meaning to affirm, undoubtedly, that in every instance where one is truly regenerated, there is this victory over the world.

It is one of the settled maxims of religion, that every man who is a true Christian gains a victory over the world; and consequently a maxim as settled, that where the spirit of the world reigns supremely in the heart there is no true religion. But, if this be a true principle, how many professed Christians are there who are strangers to all claims of piety—for how many are there who are wholly governed by the spirit of this world!

And this is the victory. This is the source or means of the victory which is thus achieved. Even our faith. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 1Jo 5:5. He overcame the world, Joh 16:33, and it is by that faith which makes us one with him, and that imbues us with his Spirit, that we are able to do it also.

God's blessings to each of you,
LJG/rECj

WORD OF WISDOM

August 30 1770 - Anglican clergyman and hymnwriter John Newton wrote in a letter:
'The exercised and experienced Christian, by the knowledge he has gained of his own heart and the many difficulties he has had to struggle with, acquires a skill and compassion in dealing with others.'

SOURCE: Today in Christian History

THE GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Roman 3:10
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Romans 5:17,19
17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

“There is none righteous, no not one…” most all of us have heard that preached. And if you look in the Bible it is in there. But wait a minute lets see what else it says. The Apostle Paul is writing against man in his natural state-there is none righteous-which is true. We know though that our righteousness doesn’t come from the Law or our conduct, it comes directly through our faith in Christ. Romans 3:22 “unto all and upon all them that believe..”

We have read in Roman’s 5:17 that because of one person’s offence –Adam’s treason- death reigned in the world. {I just want to point out that is Adam listed here and not Eve, but that is another article. Just know it was Adam and not Eve}. Satan became the lord over mankind and everything that man did was in response to fear, of death, accident and failure.

Jesus bought the free gift of righteousness which was much more alive, more real, and more abundant than death. The fear of death is dispelled by life in Christ. Paul even said in 1 Corinthians 15:55 “O death, where is thy sting?” The force of righteousness overcomes the power of sin and death. We have more power over our life’s as the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ then satan had over us while we were in sin.

Romans 5:17 For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) When we made Jesus the Lord of our life’s, we received the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness that enables us to reign in life as a king. We come into position to reign over our life’s and the circumstances surrounding us the same as a king reigns over his kingdom.

We must learn to depend on our free gift of righteousness. We must learn to lean on it, and not our own understanding. The devil will try to tell you that none of this belongs to you, that you have no rights to it. If we are feeling a little sinful, then we just might agree with him.

We might not even realize it is the devil telling us this, we might think they are our own ideas. But when we get into the Word and read and see we have a right to these things simply because Jesus gave me the right. We can see that we have been made the righteousness of God.

Do you really know what it means “being made the righteousness of God?” Think about it and see the reality of it. The child or heir of a king has the same right as the king himself because he is part of the king. He is born of the king and consequently he has the same legal rights and privileges. Even if that heir is just a child and is still being tutored, he is never the less king of the land and has the authority to rule. Galatians 4:1-2 1 Now I say, [That] the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

We are born again, now we are bone of His bone. We received those rights and privileges because we were born into the family of God. God is now reproduced on the inside of you. Jesus paid the price for the sin problem and caused you to be reborn.

If we go back and look at Genesis 2:7, God created the body of Adam, and it was just that a body, then God breathed into that body the breathe of life. Up until that breathe that body was lifeless. Adam’s life came from the inside of God and that is essentially the same thing that happens when we ask Christ into our life’s. We are dead in sins and trespasses until God recreates your spirit and gives you new life. When we accept the sacrifice of Jesus , the Spirit of God hovers over your body and a new spirit life which has never existed before is birthed inside of you.

Unfortunately most of us do not know who we are in Christ. No one is teaching us. When we discover who we are our entire existence will take on new meaning. This means your health, your finances, social life, it will all change. The storms of life will be stopped as you exert pressure on them with the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit dwelling within you. You can then begin to reign as a king under your Lord and Savior.

God sees you this way. He expects you to take your rightful place and live this kind of life above the elements of the world. He has given you the power and strength of the Holy Spirit as your Comforter and Jesus Christ as your Lord and High Priest to change nations and governments around the world. And if you can change them then surely your own life can change.

Begin to take the New Testament seriously. Start to believe and walk in it. Start to lean on your righteousness, which God has so freely given you. You will begin to realize that all things are possible to you as a believer. You can say Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. with faith; total belief. The Holy Spirit will mold your life and your testimony will be one of power and strength.

As children of God, born again, created anew, we are to be superman and woman to the eyes of the world. When the rough times come we will not buckle, we will stand tall and triumph over them. We will walk hand in hand with Jesus through the storms of life and come out victoriously.

God does not put these rough storms and rough spots before you; He takes you through them and delivers you from them. The devil throws things at you to stop you from acting on the word of God. He knows how dangerous exercising your righteousness in Christ is. Righteousness is a dangerous weapon in the hands of the believer, so the devil is constantly trying to stop their effectiveness.


God Bless,
rECj/LJG

WORD OF WISDOM

CALVARY - Only in Luke 23:33, the Latin name Calvaria, which was used as a translation of the Greek word Kranion, by which the Hebrew word Gulgoleth was interpreted, "the place of a skull." It probably took this name from its shape, being a hillock or low, rounded, bare elevation somewhat in the form of a human skull. It is nowhere in Scripture called a "hill." The crucifixion of our Lord took place outside the city walls (Hebrews 13:11-13) and near the public thoroughfare. "This thing was not done in a corner."

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary

CONFORMITY WITH GOD

Jesus was aware of His rights, His righteousness, with God. He relied on it completely during His earthly ministry and He ministered freely. He did what the Father told Him to do. This is the key to the mystery: The Father was in Jesus and Jesus was in the Father- they were one. In total harmony they walked and worked together. This is how believers are to live in Christ. Not His will deforming ours, nor ours bucking against Him. Both will conformed to each other.

I would like for you to think back to the Old Testament. There are many stories but the one that comes to mind first is Jonah in the whale. As long as Jonah was obeying God all was well, it was when Jonah decided, knowing exactly what God had told him to do, not to obey God, that he ran into problems. And Jonah did not have Jesus.

Being conformed to Christ is a much higher form of life then being in submission to Him. When we conform to God and conform to His will, and do His work you will reach a point where you entirely lean on your right-standing with Him. Then you will not hesitate to do what Jesus did. You will be able to exercise your rights in the kingdom of God as His child and as joint heir with Christ.

Many have a hard time understanding and even believing some of the Works that are happening in the world today within the ministry of God. Jesus told us we would do all He did and more, John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. To be honest we should be seeing more and more, but we are not. Not yet anyway.

It is somewhat easy for most of us to look at our loving adult child and not think of the terror they might have been just a year ago. We have watched them fall, and crawl, and as one gospel singer wrote: Take him to the altar one more time and let him die. We have thought at times that might be the only way they would make it to heaven. A few years ago I prayed concerning my daughter and told the Lord I did not ask for her, she belongs to You. I have seen many changes since then, and He isn’t finished with her yet. But when he looks at her He is not looking through “rose-colored glasses”, He is in fact looking at her through the Blood of the Lamb. And when He looks at her she is perfect. And so am I.

God sees us just as Jesus does. That is hard to conceive. But as I was reading that it came to my mind Jesus looks at us through His own blood. That made it even more powerful to me. Now I want you to know when I wrote this, I got so excited I just sat in the chair. I had never thought of it that way before. I had to tell someone, so I stopped and called LJG. Now that is long distance. But when the Word of God jumps up and tells you something like that you can’t keep it under a basket.

Which brings to mind yesterday I ran into a lady who writes for our newspaper. She does a weekly column and lately I have noticed a difference in her writing. She has been writing on spiritual things. I told her I could tell it came from her heart. To this she replied that yes it was and maybe she should be keeping her personal thoughts hid. I looked at her and said under the basket, she said yes, Why I asked so it will burn your behind. And people that is what will happen if you keep the good things hid.

It is to our advantage to examine how Jesus prayed. Jesus knew how to pray, and He always got answers.

In John 17:20-21 Jesus is praying to God just before Calvary. Neither pray I for these alone, [His disciples] but for them also which shall believe on me through their word. . He is talking about everyone that receives Christ. It doesn’t matter whether it is through them directly or indirectly. It continues “That they all may be one; as thou, art in me, and I in thee. We are to follow in being one with another, and in conforming one to another and with Christ. We are to be one with the Father as Jesus was One with Him. 1 Corinthians 6:17 says, “But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit with Him.”

The Holy Spirit is the life-force of God and He lives in the heart of the believer. We get our life from Him. As Jesus taught in John 15:5 He is the vine and we are the branches.

Jesus goes on to say in John 17:23 “..that You have loved them as You have loved Me.” God loves you as much as He loves Jesus. He sees you as equal with Jesus. There is no difference in His eyes.

Begin to see yourself as God sees you and take advantage of His free gift of righteousness. Your right standing with God was bought with a high price.. do not take it lightly. The Father’s heart was hungry for a family, and Jesus freely gave Himself for this desire.

Today take a minute to realize that Jesus is looking at you through His own blood that He shed for you.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG

WORD OF WISDOM

AUTHORITY - The lawful right to enforce obedience; right to govern

SOURCE: Kings James Bible

FAITH IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

Okay, lets see if you are still with me. Who are you? Answer: a child of God. What did you say? A born again child of God. Much better. And with that comes what? Righteousness.

Good, now it is time for you to began believing in that new birth and acting on it. You need to realize that you need to come boldly [without fear] to the throne of grace with your needs and requests. The Bible tells us in 1 John 5: 14-15
14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him. Now let’s look at a few other scriptures so you can say you know God said this.

1 Peter 3:12 (King James Version)
12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. We are saved, we have asked Jesus into our lives, the Lord’s eyes are over us, and His ears hear us. Yes the Lord is against those who do evil, but we can ask forgiveness.

James 5:16 (King James Version)
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Praying much avails much.

You have as a Chrsitian a right to expect your prayers to be answered. You did not pray in your name, you prayed in the Name of Jesus. His right standing His very righteousness with God is yours. A righteous consciousness expects God’s Word to be true and plans for success.

After you have prayed and taken authority over an issue, speak to it in the Name of Jesus and command it to conform to the Word of GOD. The world of the Spirit controls the world of the natural.

A spirit created all matter, that spirit is Almighty God, and He is our Father. The righteousness of God is what it is all about.

People it is time for us to step into who we are and believe the Word of God. When we accepted Christ we came into right standing and were recreated by the Spirit of God as if sin never existed. The only problem we have is the sinner problem. It is man’s choice to choose righteousness and walk away from the sin problem.

I can hear you right now, heck I have said the same thing. Get this we were sinners, we are now His workmanship, created in Christ. Start to stand on this, speak it. I am righteousness. Don’t look at your past life. God doesn’t, so why should you?

The best example of this is the Apostle Paul. Lets look a little at Paul’s life before he came to the road to Damasus. He persecuted Christians. Put Christians in prison for no reason. He stood by and watched as they stoned Stephen to death. But listen to what he says in two different verses of scripture. Galatians 2:20 (King James Version) I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
2 Corinthians 7:2 (King James Version) Receive us; we have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man.

Is this the rantings of a crazy man? No, this is the speaking of a man who knew who he was in Christ. Paul died on that road to Damascus. He had a clear conscience and complete freedom of spirit when he wrote that. Paul realized the power of the gospel had raised him up when he was dead in trespasses and sin. He knew that in Christ he was a new creation, his old spirit was dead and gone. Paul was born of God and the power and the force of righteousness was at work in his life.

The past few articles that I have written are taken from lessons I am learning myself right now. I thank God for Kenneth Copeland and his book “The Force of Righteousness” I am ending this today with the prayer that is included in the book in chapter 4. I will continue to write as the Spirit leads me, from this book.

Father I see in Your Word that I have been made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. He has provided certain rights for me, and healing is one of these rights. I receive it now in Jesus Name, and I thank You for it. Your word also says that You are faithful and just to forgive me of my sins when I confess them, so I take this opportunity to confess this sin and get it out of my life, in order to maintain my complete fellowship with You. I receive Your forgiveness now in the Name of Jesus, I may not feel righteous, I may not feel forgiven-but Your Word says it, so it must be true. Satan, I now put on the breastplate of righteousness and come against you with the sword of the Spirit. Healing belongs to me. My body belongs to the God of this universe. I have given my body to Him, so in the Name of Jesus Of Nazareth, take your sickness and disease and get out!

Let me add here heal means to cure or to make whole. This implies to me that it does not mean only an illness or disease, but anything that is not lined up in your life with the word of God.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG

WORD OF WISDOM

Propitiation - That by which God is rendered propitious, i.e., by which it becomes consistent with his character and government to pardon and bless the sinner. The propitiation does not procure his love or make him loving; it only renders it consistent for him to exercise his love towards sinners.

In Romans 3:25 and Hebrews 9:5 (A.V., "mercy-seat") the Greek word hilasterion is used. It is the word employed by the LXX. translators in Exodus 25:17 and elsewhere as the equivalent for the Hebrew kapporeth, which means "covering," and is used of the lid of the ark of the covenant (Exodus 25:21; 30:6). This Greek word (hilasterion) came to denote not only the mercy-seat or lid of the ark, but also propitation or reconciliation by blood. On the great day of atonement the high priest carried the blood of the sacrifice he offered for all the people within the veil and sprinkled with it the "mercy-seat," and so made propitiation.

In 1 John 2:2; 4:10, Christ is called the "propitiation for our sins." Here a different Greek word is used (hilasmos). Christ is "the propitiation," because by his becoming our substitute and assuming our obligations he expiated our guilt, covered it, by the vicarious punishment which he endured. (Comp. Hebrews 2:17, where the expression "make reconciliation" of the A.V. is more correctly in the R.V. "make propitiation.")

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary

SIN CONSCIOUSNESS

Hebrews 10:1 (King James Version)
1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

Under Levitical law every 12 months an animal without spot or blemishes must be offered up as a sin offering for the sins of the people. The word used is to atone for the sins of the people. The word atone means “to cover."

In the New Testament where the sacrifice of Jesus is mentioned the word means to remit or do away with. It is on thing to cover, quite another to do away with. Animals could cover; only Jesus can take sin away completely. Now lets look at the second verse in Hebrews 10 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? Because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

If they would have been cleaned of sin, not covered, they would have had no sin conscience, or consciousness of sin. A sin consciousness will produce defeat and a false sense of humility. The Lord did not say deface yourself, He said think more highly of others than of yourself. That does not mean to put yourself down. When we stand tall in the righteousness of God, you are to elevate your fellow Christians above yourself. This makes both of you stand tall. DEFACING yourself makes you lower than who you are.

Most Christians will say no when asked are they righteous. They are trying to be humble. We think God won’t like it if we say we are righteous. Did not God make us righteous through Christ? Then why should we not say what God says we are? When we say No, we are saying what we feel, that is in ignorance to what the Word of God says about righteousness.

Romans 8:1 (King James Version)
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
God’s Word is true. He says there is no condemnation on us. If we are carrying our sins around with us, we are creating our own stumbling blocks. Every time we start toward the righteousness of God what happens? Well remember such and such. We don’t deserve righteousness. Who do we think we are? We are not worthy to approach God.

The Word of God says we are purged of our sins. Our sins no longer exist. We are saved, we have grace. We were sinners, now we are born again.

Romans 3:23 (King James Version] For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Okay we have all heard this, and it has been preached many times to let us know that we are sinners. But let’s look at the entire scripture.
Romans 3:21-26 (King James Version)
21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

Okay you just read it for yourself, and you see it says a lot more after then before..all have sinned… We are justified freely by His grace through the redemption of Christ. Paul here is instructing believers about righteousness. With sin consciousness we have taken one sentence and preached on it about sin.

Everyone knows about sin, but how many know and understand about righteousness. It is easy to see why we know what we have been born out of, but not what we are born into.

Colossians 1:12-13 (King James Version)
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

Oh what a merciful Father we have.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG

WORD OF WISDOM

JUSTIFICATION - A forensic term, opposed to condemnation. As regards its nature, it is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all its demands. In addition to the pardon (q.v.) of sin, justification declares that all the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; and so the person justified is declared to be entitled to all the advantages and rewards arising from perfect obedience to the law (Romans 5:1-10).

It proceeds on the imputing or crediting to the believer by God himself of the perfect righteousness, active and passive, of his Representative and Surety, Jesus Christ (Romans 10:3-9). Justification is not the forgiveness of a man without righteousness, but a declaration that he possesses a righteousness which perfectly and for ever satisfies the law, namely, Christ's righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 4:6-8).

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary

ACCEPTED

Holiness is our conduct. Righteousness is our right standing with God. Holiness is the way we act. Righteousness is the gift that was freely given to us by God when we asked His Son Jesus into our life’s. When God accepted Jesus work on the cross, He accepted all those who call on Jesus to be their Lord and Saviour. It is not something you can earn, it belongs to you, and at the cost Jesus paid.

God is obligated to accept us when we accept Jesus. Our conduct has nothing to do with it.
2 Corinthians 5:19 (King James Version)
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

God does not hold our trespasses against us. God has provided forgiveness to us by His Son. This letter was written to Christians to teach them how to maintain their fellowship with God.

1 John 2 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: John was referring to the sins of the Christian. He was instructing them in how to partake of Jesus advocate ministry. God is not holding our trespasses against us; He is calling us to make Jesus our Lord. He has accepted us on the basis of Jesus right-standing with Him.

Most of you reading this are citizens of the United States, and because of that we have certain rights that belong to us. As long as we obey the laws of the land, we are in right standing.

The same is true with God. As believers we are citizens of the kingdom of God, and we have a right to everything that is in the kingdom. EVERYTHING! There is a covenant between Jesus and God signed in the blood of the Lamb, which is Jesus. If Jesus is your Lord you are in right standing with God, whether you partake of it or not.

Luke 12: (King James Version)
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

It brings God pleasure for you to have the kingdom of God. He desires to give it to you. And He will, if you but ask.

Tell your mountains to move. Don’t wait for God to move them; He has given you the rights to move them, yourself.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG

WORD OF WISDOM

CALL - An effectual call is something more than the outward message of the Word of God to men. It is internal, and is the result of the enlightening and sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit (John 16:14; Acts 26:18; John 6:44), effectually drawing men to Christ, and disposing and enabling them to receive the truth (John 6:45; Acts 16:14; Ephesians 1:17).

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary

FOR EVERY ACTION THERE IS A REACTION

Action is an act of will: a thing done: the accomplishment of a thing: behavior and conduct.

Reaction is the act of process or an instance of reacting; a response to some treatment, situation, or stimulus.

20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you."

As LJG pointed out yesterday, you have to tell the mountain to move. There has to be a action for there to be a reaction. It is you though that has to do it.

So many times we go through things and we ask others to pray for us. It is good to ask others to pray, but it is better to ask them to be in agreement with you. If you ask me to pray and I do not pray in the Spirit, I will pray what I think needs to be prayed. You have a dozen people paying different prayers, no wonder your life is in turmoil.

When you step out in boldness, knowing what your rights are, then you can say to someone be in agreement with me, this mountain is going to move. Your action will bring about the reaction that you desire. How though do we get to the place where we can be this bold?

2 Corinthians 5:17-21 (New King James Version)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

When we ask the Lord into our life, we become a new creature. It is entirely up to us to renew our mind to the Word of God, and use the Word to take control of our bodies. In Romans 12 Paul wrote to the Christians in Rome and instructed them on the renewing of their mind. Their faith was known throughout the world, but they had not learned how to control their minds and bodies with the Word.

In other words they were reacting to actions like the old person that they used to be. These people were believers, they had been recreated, but most of them didn’t know it. They had been made the righteousness of God and so have we.

What righteousness means, is in right standing. It is a free gift of God, provided by Jesus at Calvary through the grace of God. Holiness is your conduct, righteousness is who you are. In Isaiah 64:6 the Bible tells us that in the eyes of God “all our righteousness are as filthy rags…”, what we are speaking of here is we have been given the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ.

We have been put in right standing with God. Jesus is the Mediator between God and man. When we accept Christ we are moved into a position of new birth. We enter into the kingdom of God as God’s very own child and a joint heir with Jesus Christ. With this comes certain privileges, rights, and freedoms that we have as the children of God because we are in right standing with Him.

Because of this we can take action and get the desired reaction. We can say to the mountain, move over there and it will move.

We cannot use what we don’t know we have. Nor, can we use what we don’t know how to use. It is only by reading and studying the Word of God that be can learn to be all that He intends for us to be.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG

WORD OF WISDOM

We need to remember the only Jesus many people will see is coming from you and me.

SOURCE: Jesse DePlantis

SATURDAY EDITORIAL

Thanks to Kenneth Copeland and Jesse DePlantis for today's editorial. Please bear with me while I ramble for a little bit. I was raised in the same Ole Timey Baptist Chruch, no that wasn't the name of it, as my precious rECj. Like she has told yall, it was a "fire and brimstone if you don't do what the Lord says thru my mouth you are going straight to the pit and there you will stay." Now who in their right mind would want to live in the congregation with fire constantly burning you, worms crawling in, out and all over you, and here are your best worldly friends wanting to fight you all the time? Not to mention their ain't no water down for any of yall either. One of my earliest memories is seeing me sitting on a stack of song books on the bench, yes it was what is called a "pew" nowadays. I have heard this scripture preached off and on all my life and trust me, my first memories started when I was 3 years old. But until today I have never heard it put like this or if I do I don't remember it. So now we get to the meat and gravy.

Matthew 17:20
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

What do you think of when the word "mountain" is spoken? My first thoughts are of this majestic stone creation raising up to the sky. But not anymore. A mountain is anyting in your life that you are having a hard time dealing with. A mountain is anything in your life that should not be there in the first place. Maybe you invited this mess into your life and maybe it just dropped on in and decided to stay a while.

OK..we been born again, we got faith, we believe , we got the grain of mustard seed and we are going to move this mountain. Ummmm, it ain't moving? "Oh Lord I need You to move this mountain for me to yonder place. I am tired of it bothering me so." Is that what the scripture says? No is not. It say, "If ye (YOU) have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye (YOU) shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto YOU."

When we say, now Lord I want You.....that is a prayer. God did say pray, at least not with the mountain you want moved, He said YOU speak to this mountain to move hence it has to move to yonder place. Don't be mad at me cause God has blessed me to be bold enough to walk right up to my mountain and tell it to get on out of here. When God says I can do something I know I can and will do it. He just told me that "nothing shall be impossible with me." Why should He move something that He more than likely but in your life or allowed to be put in your life in the first place?

Yes, we have to be prayed up, faithed up and ready to go when the time comes. The longer we put off what we have been told to do the longer we are going to messing around with this mountain mess. Remember this, God can take the biggest, bitterest and uglyest mess and create a beautiful master piece from it. But only after WE take that first step to move the mountain.

Want some one to help you pray? Drop us a line and we will but only in the area of getting YOU prayed and faithed up. The moving part is on YOU.

God's Blessings to each of you,
LJG/rECj

WORD OF WISDOM

STEADFASTNESS - Firm and persistent in one's endeavors.

SOURCE: Kings James Bible

LADDER

Genesis 28:12
Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.

Let’s say we are going to paint a house. First we make sure we have everything together to paint with. This includes the paint, brushes, and drop clothes. Next we dress in the right clothes. We do not put on our formal dining clothes to paint. To be able to reach all the areas we need to paint we need a ladder. Okay we are ready. We start climbing the ladder and what happens it starts to shake on us. Okay we climb back down and try to brace the ladder. We check and double-check the clamps that are holding it in position.

Ready to go, again we climb and what happens it starts to shake again. Well we can go borrow the neighbors, but when we do the same thing happens. What is the problem? It is on unstable ground. The ground work has not been set in place to support the ladder without it shaking.

When the angels were going up and down they knew who was at the top holding the ladder. They had no doubts about it. We have Jesus to hold our ladder, but if we forget He is holding it, or go unprepared our ladder will shake.

It is wonderful to feel the call of God on our life's to do something. But there will be times when we will step out to do something that seems good, looks good, smells good, but God did not tell us to do it. Our ladder starts to shake. Well that is because God is trying to get you to get off the ladder.

Then there will be times that you know that you know it is from God and the ladder starts to shake. Then we have to put our eyes on Jesus and if it is really Him holding the ladder, He will let us finish what we start.

How then do we know the difference? By praying and fasting. We as children of the Living God are to seek Him on all matters. Let us use for example we know of someone in need. We are financially able to help, and desire to help them. So we head to their house with money in hand. Wait they have a need, you have the resources, what is the problem? You did not ask God. You do not know what God is doing in their life, it might be that God does not want them blessed by you, and then again He might not want them to get the money at all. He knows what is best for them. You don’t. The ladder is shaking. Everything concerning God has to be done in His time, in His way. Maybe just maybe He knows that if you give it to this person they are going to go to the casino and try to double their money. I happen to know a lady just like that.

I will caution you here if you do feel strongly to give to someone then give him or her what they need. If it is their rent paid, then by all means pay their rent; do not give them the money. If it is food, then take them some food, or take them shopping and keep your receipts. I have seen people take things back to the store for refunds. If you think it is from God then go pay the bill, but do not give someone money unless you know for a fact that God said to give cash. That sounds hard doesn’t it. Yes it does. But if you are not 100% sure it is from God then pay the bill, sorry no cash.

There will be times when we call it wrong, and we learn from those mistakes. It is better to be what you might think is late, then to be wrong. God is never late, He is always on time.

When you step onto the ladder remember who is holding it steady. He will not let go.

Psa 27:14
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG

WORD OF WISDOM

BELLY - The seat of the carnal affections (Titus 1:12; Philippians 3:19; Romans 16:18). The word is used symbolically for the heart (Proverbs 18:8; 20:27; 22:18, marg.). The "belly of hell" signifies the grave or underworld (Jonah 2:2).

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary

OPEN INVITATION

Matthew 5:46
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
John 13:34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

The past few days have been heavy on our hearts. God is bringing things to our attention that fills us with anger. Families with children with AID’s, being asked to leave churches. A young man with tattoo’s that is not made to feel welcome. We know we can get angry, we are not to sin (Eph 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:). How best to take this energy and put it to use for the Glory of God?

If you have read the bios that we have posted you know something about us. Yes we are older woman, but not that old. We have experienced a lot in life. One thing we do not do is judge people. Color is not an issue with us, in fact we have never mentioned our own races, nor do we think it is important. Your past and all it includes doesn’t matter to us.

What we care about is walking with someone as they learn about the Lord. The questions that come up in day to day living, the problems that arise as we all mature and grow in the Lord.

We both feel at this time, because of the things that are being brought to our attention that this letter is needed. It might be just one person, but we feel it is more. Everyone needs family. The body of Christ is suppose to be family. What we are doing is saying here we are. We want to be your family. Do not misunderstand us we all need personal fellowship with others in the form of a home church. We also are seeing that is not always available to everyone.

We are inviting you to be a part of our family. What exactly does that mean, just who are we willing to accept? Any and everyone. We do not care where you came from; we are concerned where you are going. Your age, race, and length of hair do not concern us. We do not care how many tattoos’ you have got, or body piercing. If you are seeking to learn about God, if you have asked God into your life, but need someone who will love you no matter what—you have come to the right place.

Why you might ask are we willing to open ourselves up for others when we don’t know whom we are inviting into our lives? Jesus did it for us. When we were out there in the world doing our thing, He loved us. When we asked Him into our life’s and still made mistakes, He loved us. He loved us then and He loves us now. He took us as we were. He gave us a new life. His love for us has never changed. Even now we make mistakes, and you know what He is right there. (Deu 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he [it is] that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.) before we were born He knew us in the womb (Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called [me] by his grace,). His love never changes (Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever).

LJG only recently held my hand when I was going through something. It meant so much to know that someone, though over a thousand miles away, was with me holding my hand. Counseling me, mentoring me, and just plain loving me, even I might add, when I didn’t want to receive what I knew she was telling me, that was right. That is what real family is.

We are talking about family that stays together. We will pray for you. We will be there when you are strong and we will stand beside you when you fall. We will be waiting when you need to reach for someone. We will stand silently by when you don’t want to talk. We will listen when you are ready to talk. We will not judge you. We will love you as Christ has taught us to love.

Contact us at this site, or if you know someone who needs someone then send us their address, we will write to them. We are here for you.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG

PHARISEES

I was watching TBN last night (August 20, 2007) and listened as Paul Crouch, Jr read a letter from a 28 year old man expressing the desire to find a good God believing, God fearing, Bible teaching Church. He has contacted some places of so called worship and once they hear his story and look upon him, they reject him. Why? He has done a lot of bad things in his in life and is spending and has spend many years in the prison system. He also stated that he has tattoo's from his eyes down to his feet. He has done as the Bible has instructed us all to do CONFESS OUR SINS not only to God but to his brethren also.

I have something to say, as usual, about this whole situation. SHAME ON THOSE PLACES AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE REJECTED THIS MAN. My goodness don't you understand that rejection is the greatest tool satan has to keep people from God? It lets us know that they have set themselves up as the Pharisees did. It is quite obvious that these people and places don't know or care what Jesus said and felt about the Pharisees. Luke 18:11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. Mark 2:16-17 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? 17) When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Well, do tell, who did Jesus say He came to call? THE SINNERS. You righteous people aren't accepting His word now, just as they didn't accept the Word when Jesus was down here walking amongst and teaching them from His own mouth!

I realize the Bible tells us in Lev 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I [am] the LORD. You righteous people don't you understand that he wasn't seeking the will of the Lord when he made those marks upon his body? He didn't know he was doing wrong. I am sure ya'll have let him know in no uncertain terms how wrong he is.

He doesn't need to hear how wrong he is or was but let him hear the word of God. God takes us as we ARE. Not as what other people wants us to be. He needs LOVE, the true love of God. He has tasted your version of love, and from his own words, it has left a bitter taste in his mouth. As it should. You poor blind outwardly appearing righteous people are in a worse state that he is.

So you are part of the "normal" standard of this world? Which means that you are holding on to the society of the world. Do you know what John had to say about that? 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things [that are] in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. And 1 John 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels [of compassion] from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Yes, you poor self righteous ones out there, I am going to contact TBN and ask them to please give him our e mail address so we can talk to him and let him know that there are 2 more women out here that wants desperately to talk to him, to show him what God's LOVE is all about. Alas, even so he will know that we aren't part of this "normal" world.

rECj and I are praying with ever fiber of our body, mind and soul that ya'll haven't turned him so far away from God that he can no longer be reached.

We are giving you scripture to chew on for a while. Praying all the while that you will take it to your own hearts. Come on down off your high horse and realize that you are not the judge and jury of this man. He is calling out to God. Lets us help him in any way we can.

Matthew 23:13-15; 27;
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
14) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
15) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
23) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
27) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men's] bones, and of all uncleanness.
28) Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29) Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
Luke 11:44
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over [them] are not aware [of them].

God's Blessings to each of you,
LJG/rECj

WORD OF WISDOM

DISCIPLE - A disciple of Christ is one who (1) believes his doctrine, (2) rests on his sacrifice, (3) imbibes his spirit, and (4) imitates his example (Matthew 10:24; Luke 14:26, 27, 33; John 6:69).

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary

SUNDAY AFTER SUNDAY

To church we go, Sunday after Sunday, and what is our purpose of being there: to sing, to shout, to get victory. Our purpose of being in church is not to sit like so many peas in a pod and watch the entertainment up front. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the praise and worship part of a service but that is not why we attend church.

We are in church to learn the truth and apply it to our lives, training to be solders of the Lord. Yes soldiers, because being a Christian is not easy. And if your church is not equipping you then go tell your Pastor, and if he doesn’t do anything then find a church that will. Once you are equipped, then you are to go out, save the lost and recruit more soldiers.

We all are aware of someone that goes through the same thing over and over again. They bounce from church to church looking for the answers of how to get the heck out of this mess. Oh the Prayer Sisters will pray with them, and on them, but no body is giving them the answers of how to get out of it. It is like the difference of giving someone a fish, or teaching them to fish. I am thankful for your prayers my sisters, but I don’t just want a fix I want a solution.

Then we have the, oh let us lay hands on you and heal you of this, group. I know a beautiful young lady who was searching for answers as to why she had cancer from a young age. She went to a church, and her questions were not answered, but they would lay hands on her. The Pastor put his hand on her forehead and started praying. She thought okay I have never had this done, but I feel nothing. And most of us know we don’t always feel anything. But when she did not “get slained” the man proceeded to push her down. Not only did he push her off her feet, he pushed her away, instead of to God.

The church I was raised in was a hell fire and damnation church. Be saved, don’t sin or you will go to hell. Wonderful, now what do I do.

A biblical world-view involves all of life. The church then must equip its members for all of life. This begins with the basics and then moves on to building the character of a mature Christian.

There are many ways this can be done. We will address a few. First the church must equip their members to know and defend their faith. Then they need to know how to apply it in the world. To have a defense against the world we must have the Word grounded into our very being. Without it we are struggling to stand ourselves.

How can this be done? Myself the perfect church would immediately start you in classes as soon as you asked Christ into your life. Teaching you just as if you were in school. Testing you to be sure that you can pass the grade. You can only go to the next level when you have passed the class you are in. Discipleship can be learnt in many different ways, there are many groups that specialize in just that. You can take classes on-line. Or if possible enroll in a Bible College, if only to take some classes. The point is to learn and grow.

The church should also teach us in ethics. We need to lead exemplary life’s in Christ. And unfortunately many Christians do not know how to go about doing this. We have lived in the world so long that we accept some standards that in factually do not live up to the standard that Christ has set for us. The church needs to equip its members with a moral ethics that stand on the Word of God not the word of mankind.

The church should teach the family how to build strong marriages and families. The family is under a big attack in today’s society. Divorce is normal and children being raised by one family households, or others is normal. {Don’t you just love that word now that you know what it means?} Well it is not normal as God intended for it to be. Couples today need to be counseled before marriage and during marriage when problems arise. Young and old couples alike can be strengthen by counseling from solid, mature Christian couples. By mentoring, couples can draw on experience on how best to resolve conflicts, improve communication and love for another.

I must speak here of the parents that raised me. Mom and Dad never raised their voices, not to us and certainly not to each other. People think I am making up my happy home. No I lived it each day for 18 years. These two people loved each other almost as much as they loved God. One time Dad punished me, I said yes sir and went to my room. The next morning at breakfast Mom walked in and set Dad’s plate down and put her hand on his shoulder. Then she went and set down. Dad looked at me and said your punishment was too harsh, here is the new punishment. Again I said yes sir and finished eating. I would never have thought to ask why. Being young it was not till years later I realized that the night before this happened, when they were in their room, with the door shut as always, that Mom said John you were to hard on the girl, and he asked why. They talked and my punishment was changed. Never once did I hear them talk about it. That is a loving family, and there is no reason there cannot be families like that today. It is not a pipe dream.

That said, churches should be training their members to “train up their children in the way they should go (Prov 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it) .” A parent’s responsibility is to raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. And it is the church responsibility to help them do this. Parents need to be ever watchful of the activities their children are involved in, from school to outside with other children.

Sometimes the churches need to help children who have had to grow old before their time. Drugs, gangs, and underage pregnancy are all issues today that if we are not mindful, can come into our churches and attack our children. We do not stop this by turning a death ear to those involved in these activities, but by opening the door to showing them there is a better way. This teaches the children of the church too not only say no, but to call on the strength of the Holy Spirit to enable them to stand against it. And it shows those outside that it can be done.

Our churches need to equip us to fulfill our various vocations. If the church doesn’t teach a healthy work ethic then who will. Character traits of being diligence, thrift, creative and excellence bring Glory to God.

The church should also teach it members to be good stewards of their financial resources. Christians with a good background in financial stewardship are better off not only to themselves but to others.

We are all called to be witnesses, so who else but the church should teach us. Look at the faithfulness of Jehovah Witnesses. The church not only needs to teach us what gifts we have, but teach us now to effectively use those gifts to reach others. Not all are called to reach all groups.

As the church we are to reach out and serve one another in the Body and reach to those beyond. We are to do so, with the same loving spirit that Jesus had, to those He came in contact with. We must think more of others then we do of ourselves, caring more for “the least of these (Matthew 25:45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me).”


God Bless,
rECj/LJG

WORD OF WISDOM

CHILD - Figuratively the name is used for those who are ignorant or narrow-minded (Matthew 11:16; Luke 7:32).

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary

WHAT IS NORMAL???

Did you know the word "normal" isn't in the Kings James Bible? As most of yall know that is the only verison we use. It is used 19 time in the New Living Testament, 2 times in the American Standard Bible and 1 time in the English Standard Version.

So again I will ask you, WHAT IS NORMAL?

If God didn't see fit to record the word then why and who are we to set the standard for being "normal?"

'In behavior, normal refers to a lack of significant deviation from the average. The phrase "not normal" is often applied in a negative sense (asserting that someone or some situation is improper, sick, etc.). Abnormality varies greatly in how pleasant or unpleasant this is for other people; somebody may half-jokingly be called "pleasantly disturbed".

The Oxford English Dictionary defines "normal" as 'conforming to a standard'. This, although almost right, is not entirely correct. "A normal" is someone who conforms to the ideals of society and refuses to be individual. This can be for any number of reasons, ranging from the positive (genuine admiration for and acceptance of society's standard, for example) to the negative (fear of humiliation, fear of rejection, fear of being thought mad).

The French sociologist Emile Durkheim indicated in his Rules of Sociological Method that the most common behavior in a society is considered normal. People who do not go along are violating social norms and will invite a negative reaction from others in the society. For example, if most drivers speed five or ten MPH over the speed limit, and one is observing the speed limit, the legal driver is not behaving normally, and is likely to get sanctioned with headlights, the horn, or aggressive driving. However, non-conforming behavior is inevitable, and is punished in proportion to the offense the behavior generates in other people in society. Therefore, a range of social sanctions can be employed, from ill feelings and a negative assessment in response to violations of folkways (lowest-level rules), to anger and violence in response to violations of mores (mid-level rules), and formal fines, imprisonment, or execution for violations of laws (the most significant rules).

Children with special needs have always been part of society. In the past, some “special” education was provided to individual children on a one-on-one basis, such as Jean Marc Gaspard Itard’s work with Victor, the “wild child of Aveyron”. As formal education became established, welfare or religious groups for the care of children with special needs often became involved in their education. Government provision of special education services generally followed the work of voluntary groups.

Progress in Special Education saw a major reversal as the eugenics movement took hold in the mid-1960s. Under eugenics theory, it was irresponsible to care for and educate people with special needs as it would “weaken society”. Eventually, scientific approaches to studying disability, such as behaviourism, led to a new understanding of special education and the vision that all children could learn, no matter what diagnosis they were given.

Initially, special education was provided to children of school age – about six or seven. In the early 1970s, research into Early Childhood Intervention, which involved providing special education from birth or first diagnosis, showed that the earlier special education was provided, the better the outcome for the child and the entire family.

In the United States, this led to the 1975 Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA), which required all public schools in the United States to provide adequate services to any child who had a diagnosed learning disability. The EHA was renewed in 1986 as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Special Education changed with Wolf Wolfensberger's theory of Normalisation - that all people with special needs have the right to lead "normal" lives, including being part of a family, attending a local school, and holding a job in the community. Inspired by this theory, the inclusive education movement fought for social improvement, centering on the improvement of schools. The movement desires to have schools which no longer provide "regular education" and "special education". Instead, schools would provide an inclusive education, and as a result, students would be able to learn together.

Special Education services in the United States now extend past school-age into adulthood with the Post Secondary Transition For High School Students with Disabilities program, as a better understanding of life-long learning has been gained. It includes school-based activities as well as family and community activities, and has become a major testing ground for better teaching for all children, not simply children with special needs.

Special Education has a different quality in different countries. The political, economic and social pressures in each country has led to a different form of Special Education, with different sets of policies and practices. (Wedipedi)'

Do not take other men's opinions or conduct as a rule for life, but that we wholly renounce this world, and set before us as our mark the will of God as is manifested and revealed to us in His word. This is the reason that there is no room left for reason, which the heathen philosophers place as a queen in a castle, nor for man's free will, which the popish scholars dream of, because the mind must be renewed; Eph 1:18:17Col 1:21

Of course, we knew that our government would be involved. We need to take heed, my friends, this is the world's standard's, not our Precious Heavenly Father. Are you normal? I sure ain't, at least by the world's standard. You can rest assured that I don't want to be their brand of normal. Why you may ask? Here is my answer:

Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Micah 6:8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

What brought about this article? Another newspaper report on a child sent to me by my dear rECj.

Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. Which simply means to me, tryin to learn the will of God.

God's Blessings to each of you,

LJG/rECj

WORD OF WISDOM

FEAR - Fear of the Lord

Is in the Old Testament used as a designation of true piety (Proverbs 1:7; Job 28:28; Psalm 19:9). It is a fear conjoined with love and hope, and is therefore not a slavish dread, but rather filial reverence. (Comp. Deuteronomy 32:6; Hosea 11:1; Isaiah 1:2; 63:16; 64:8.) God is called "the Fear of Isaac" (Genesis 31:42, 53), i.e., the God whom Isaac feared.

A holy fear is enjoined also in the New Testament as a preventive of carelessness in religion, and as an incentive to penitence (Matthew 10:28; 2 Corinthians 5:11; 7:1; Philippians 2:12; Ephesians 5:21; Hebrews 12:28, 29).

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

IGNORANCE IS BLISS
SILENCE IS GOLDEN


Luke 6:36-38 (New King James Version)
36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
37 “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.
38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Oh the joy of being in complete happiness [almost as being in heaven or paradise] knowing that with no knowledge, education or even awareness, we stand strong on that which we believe to be the truth. And in doing so we have evaluated and come to decisions without any facts of the truth properly determined and/or weighted.

In most countries the law recognizes that a person who acts in ignorance of the facts of his actions, should not be held criminally responsible, for those actions.

That said, should we then be held accountable for that which we choose not to learn about? Fools of course would say no. If I choose not to learn of something, then I should in all respects keep my mouth closed on such matters. If I choose to learn of something, then should I look and settle for one opinion? Of course not, that would be looking at only one side of the story, and nothing would truly be gained.

Take this a step further, as a Christian, a child of Christ, how am I to look at something that is different or possibly at odds with what I do know and understand.

Matthew 7:2
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
From the scripture above I know that as a child of God I am not to judge, as I will be judged accordingly to how I judge others. That in itself is enough for me to say I want to be no man’s judge. Let them stand before God and let Him be the judge.

Unfortunately that is not the way of the world, and sad we must live in the world. As Christians we can expect to be looked upon and even scorned by the worlds standards. But in our own churches? The church I remind you is not a building, it is not the First United Church of Sunflower City. The church is the body of believers. And it is within the body of believers that we find judgement, judgement upon our own bothers and sisters.

Boldly I say to you, how dare you look at me with indifferences, how dare you tell my family that we are not wanted because you do not like what you are afraid to face. How dare you turn your backs on us. God forgive you and have mercy on your souls.

What am I speaking of you ask? Why this anger? Because I am tired of people telling me why they do not attend your churches. Some have even been asked to leave the church that they attended. I have to ask myself how can these people even stand up and say they are Christians.

I do not remember Christ one time, not one single time, telling someone your problem is to great. He never once said to the woman at the well, “You have had to many men, be gone from me.” To the lepers, “Your illness is unclean, leave me now.” The one that touches my heart, “You short fool, get out of the tree and go away.”

Everyone that came to Him was received with open arms. Even when Jesus was seeking time alone to pray and strengthen Himself, He stopped and took care of the needs of others first (Matthew 12:15 - But when Jesus knew [it], he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all;).

And what of our churches today, do they open with loving arms the doors of their buildings and say enter in, whoever you are, whatever you have done. Who of you have said “Come In” without regard to race, creed or illness.

There are many churches that have and I applaud them, I thank God for them. The sad truth though is that you are hard to find. There are not many who will say to the gay man or woman ‘Enter In," I judge you not. Where are the churches who will smile and say to the interracial couple “You are welcome.” Where is the church that will say to the young couple “Welcome, we receive you and your family.” Knowing that one of them or one of their children has AID’s/HIV. LJG and I are in no way condoning sin. But when a person has asked for forgiveness and is seeking to walk in the ways of the Lord the past is behind them.

We can perfectly understand in some cases that precautions need to be taken as with a child molester. It would be foolish of us to put them be in an environment that might be tempting to them, just as it would be to the alcoholic who has stopped drinking.

Oh you can sit there in your chair and read this and think –not me- or you can think, well she doesn’t understand we have to think of others. I am not condoning the acts of some people. What is a sin is just that a sin. The church is full of sinners, always has been and will be until Christ returns. If a person asks God for forgiveness they are forgiven, who are you to judge.

Did any adult ask for the illness of AID’s or HIV any more then someone else asked for cancer, or any other disease, surely not. Then I must look at the children, those that are blessed with Godly parents trying to bring their children up in the love of Christ. How do these parents tell their children that people are so closed minded, so ignorant, that they would shut the doors on a child. Shut the door on a child, for what fear. Did not God tell us to fear not (Luke 12:32 - Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 1 John 4:18 - There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.). Can we not put our faith enough in God to believe that here is a place where a family can find comfort, peace, understanding, that many are unable to find any where else. And now the church is shutting their doors because they are uncomfortable.

Shame on you! If we cannot look to the church [the body of Christ] for love and compassion, where then would you have us go, to hell. And you call yourselves Christians.

If I sound harsh I am. This angers me to the bottom of my soul. It has touched me in a personal way. A young couple prayed for many years for a child. When that child was born they opened their arms and hearts to the child. Even when they were told the child has HIV they never for one moment thought, “Oh no, we will not adopt.” No they had asked God for a child and here he was a beautiful bundle of joy, and he was all their’s. But first one church and then another asked them to leave. They are still seeking a church home and I pray that God will lead them to one that will embrace this young family and their child. One that will not say “Well we understand , but.”

I feel just as emotionally about any one that has problems in their life's and need the fellowship of others to grow in the Lord. But a child, oh Lord forgive me for the anger I have inside of me.

I am sending this to everyone I know and am asking you to send it to others. Where does your body of Christ stand? Does your church really open the doors to all? I am hoping and praying that maybe, just maybe this will get someone, a few maybe to let go of their bias opinions, their prejudices, their ignorance's.

Be all that God intended the body of the church to be, an open door to everyone that seeks after God. Do not be one of the ones that turns a child away. Someday that same child with HIV you turn away might be the hand that reaches out to help you. The same goes for the gay man or woman, the person off the street. Let it be said of your church, your body of Christ, we opened the doors to all, we turned none away.

Not only is this going on our sites, we are also sending it out to everyone that we know. I welcome your response. I want to know if you are man or woman enough to say the doors are open. Please let us hear from you. I would like to show this to one young boy someday and tell him, they might have told your family to leave but there are many out there who would love to welcome you.

Matthew 18:5
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

For LJG's view on this subject please go to: http://journals.aol.com/momsfirstscreenn/FAITH/entries/2007/07/09/we-are-living-in-the-dark-ages/1521


We are yours in Christ,
rECj/LJG

WORD OF WISDOM

DWELL - God "dwells in light" (1 Timothy 6:16; 1 John 1:7), in heaven (Psalm 123:1), in his church (Psalm 9:11; 1 John 4:12). Christ dwelt on earth in the days of his humiliation (John 1:14). He now dwells in the hearts of his people (Ephesians 3:17-19). The Holy Spirit dwells in believers (1 Corinthians 3:16; 2 Timothy 1:14). We are exhorted to "let the word of God dwell in us richly" (Colossians 3:16; Psalm 119:11).

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary

INFIDEL

I Timothy 5:8
But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

The support of his relatives and servants is referred to. Children and grandchildren must support their aged parents. Any one who does not provide for his own family, whether it be wife and children, or aged parents, has practically denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever, for even unbelievers do these things. If any provide not - food and raiment, for his own - mother and grandmother, he hath - virtually, denied the faith - which does not destroy, but perfects, natural duties. What has this to do with heaping up money for our children, for which it is often so impertinently alleged? But all men have their reasons for laying up money. One will go to hell for fear of want; another acts like a heathen, lest he should be worse than an infidel. It is the duty of children, if their parents are in need, and they are able to relieve them, to do it to the utmost of their power. All who live in pleasure, are dead while they live, spiritually dead, dead in trespasses and sins. People think on this, what numbers there are of this description among nominal Christians, even to the latest period of life! If any men or women do not maintain their poor relations, they in effect deny the faith. If they spend upon their lusts and pleasures, what should maintain their families, they have denied the faith, and are worse than infidels. If professors of the gospel give way to any corrupt principle or conduct, they are worse than those who do not profess to believe the doctrines of grace.

John Calvin puts it like this:
He (Paul) says that they who do not care about any of their relatives, and especially about their own house, have “denied the faith.” And justly; for there is no piety towards God, when a person can thus lay aside the feelings of humanity. Would faith, which makes us the sons of God, render us worse than brute beasts? Such inhumanity, therefore, is open contempt of God, and denying of the faith.
Not content with this, Paul heightens the criminality of their conduct, by saying, that he who forgets his own is worse than an infidel This is true for two reasons. First, the further advanced any one is in the knowledge of God, the less is he excused; and therefore, they who shut their eyes against the clear light of God are worse than infidels. Secondly, this is a kind of duty which nature itself teaches; for they are (στοργαὶ φυσικαί) natural affections. And if, by the mere guidance of nature, infidels are so prone to love their own, what must we think of those who are not moved by any such feeling? Do they not go even beyond the ungodly in brutality? If it be objected, that, among unbelievers, there are also many parents that are cruel and savage; the explanation is easy, that Paul is not speaking of any parents but those who, by the guidance and instruction of nature, take care of their own offspring; for, if any one have degenerated from that which is so perfectly natural, he ought to be regarded as a monster.

Robert Jamieson put it like this:

"If any (a general proposition; therefore including in its application the widow's children or grandchildren) provide not for his own (relations in general), and especially for those of his own house (in particular), he hath (practically) denied the faith." Faith without love and its works is dead; for the subject matter of faith is not mere opinion, but the grace and truth of God, to which he that believes gives up his spirit, as he that loves gives up his heart. If in any case a duty of love is plain, it is in relation to one's own relatives; to fail in so plain an obligation is a plain proof of want of love, and therefore of want of faith. Faith does not set aside natural duties, but strengthens them...worse than an infidel—because even an infidel (or unbeliever) is taught by nature to provide for his own relatives, and generally recognizes the duty; the Christian who does not so, is worse (Mt 5:46, 47). He has less excuse with his greater light than the infidel who may break the laws of nature.

Barnes puts it like this:

The meaning is, that the person referred to is to think beforehand of the probable wants of his own family, and make arrangements to meet them. God thus provides for our wants; that is, he sees beforehand what we shall need, and makes arrangements for those wants by long preparation. The food that we eat, and the raiment that we wear, he foresaw that we should need, and the arrangement for the sup- ply was made years since, and to meet these wants he has been carrying forward the plans of his providence in the seasons; in the growth of animals; in the formation of fruit; in the bountiful harvest. So, according to our measure, we are to anticipate what will be the probable wants of our families, and to make arrangements to meet them.

He hath denied the faith. By his conduct, perhaps, not openly. He may still be a professor of religion and do this; but he will show that he is imbued with none of the spirit of religion, and is a stranger to its real nature. The meaning is, that he would, by such an act, have practically renounced Christianity, since it enjoins this duty on all. We may hence learn that it is possible to deny the faith by conduct as well as by words; and that a neglect of doing our duty is as real a denial of Christianity as it would be openly to renounce it. Peter denied his Lord in one way, and thousands do the same thing in another. He did it in words; they by neglecting their duty to their families, or their duty in their closets, or their duty in attempting to send salvation to their fellow-men, or by an openly irreligious life.

The doctrine here is,

(1.) that a Christian ought not to be inferior to an unbeliever in respect to any virtue;

(2.) that in all that constitutes true virtue he ought to surpass him;

(3.) that the duties which are taught by nature ought to be regarded as the more sacred and obligatory from the fact that God has given us a better religion; and

(4.) that a Christian ought never to give occasion to an enemy of the gospel to point to a man of the world and say, "There is one who surpasses you in any virtue."

The design of Christ was to confirm the law of Moses, and particularly the law of the fifth commandment, which is, Honour thy father and mother.

God's blessings to each of you,
LJG/rECj

WORD OF WISDOM

PERISH - To be destroyed violenty, lost, pass away

SOURCE: King James Bible

A GREAT GRACE

Pastor Spurgeon concludes with there is a great grace.

Persons who are born again really do overcome the world. How is this brought about? The text says, “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” Christians do not triumph over the world by reason. Not at all. Reason is a very good thing, and nobody should find fault with it. Reason is a candle: but faith is a sun. Well, I prefer the sun, though I do not put out the candle. I use my reason as a Christian man; I exercise it constantly: but when I come to real warfare, reason is a wooden sword; it breaks, it snaps; while faith, that sword of true Jerusalem metal, cuts to the dividing of soul and body. My text says, “This is the victory which overcometh the world, even our faith.” Who are the men that do anything in the world? Are they not always men of faith? Take it even as natural faith. Who wins the battle? Why, the man who knows he will win it, and vows that he will be victor. Who never gets on in the world? The man who is always afraid to do a thing, for fear he cannot accomplish it. Who climbs the top of the Alps? The man who says, “I will do it, or I will die.” Let such a man make up his mind that he can do a thing. and he will do it, if it is within the range of possibility. Who have been the men who have lifted the standard, and grasping it with firm hand, have upheld it in the midst of stormy strife and battle? Why, men of faith. Who have done great things? Not men of fear and trembling, men who are afraid; but men of faith, who had bold fronts, and foreheads made of brass-men who never shook, and never trembled, but believing in God, lifted their eyes to the hills, whence cometh their strength.

What a testimony that is. It is not hard to stand, but it can be easy to fall. We have to keep our mind, our soul, and our heart on Jesus. We have to have the weapons of warfare that God has given to us, and yes we do have to use them. The devil comes but to steal, kill, and destroy whatever is left over.

“Never was a marvel done upon the earth, but it had sprung of faith; nothing noble, generous, or great, but faith was the root of the achievement; nothing comely, nothing famous, but its praise is faith. Leonidas fought in human faith as Joshua in divine. Xenophon trusted to his skill, and the sons of Matthias to their cause.” Faith is mightiest of the mighty. It is the monarch of the realms of the mind; there is no being superior to its strength, no creature which will not bow to its divine prowess. The want of faith makes a man despicable, it shrivels him up so small that he might live in a nutshell. Give him faith, and he is a leviathan that can dive into the depths of the sea; he is a war horse, that cries, aha! aha! in the battle; he is a giant who takes nations and crumbles them in his hand, who encounters hosts, and at a sword they vanish; he binds up sheaves of sceptres, and gathers up all the crowns at his own. There is nothing like faith, sirs. Faith makes you almost as omnipotent as God, by the borrowed might of its divinity. Give us faith and we can do all things.
I have said this before and will say it again as it bears repeating. It is better to never have known God, then to have known Him and turned from Him. That is exactly what we do when we do not stand in faith. We are saying Lord I don’t believe You can do this. I have found in life we can believe easier for the next person than for ourselves. But that is false. To believe God can do for others, we first have to believe He can and will do for us.

I want to tell you how it is that faith helps Christians to overcome the world. It always does it homoeopathically. You say, “That is a singular idea.” So it may be. The principle is that, “like cures like.” So does faith overcome the world by curing like with like. How does faith trample upon the fear of the world? By the fear of God. “Now,” says the world, “if you do not do this I will take away your life. If you do not bow down before my false god, you shall be put in yon burning fiery furnace.” “But,” says the man of faith, “I fear him who can destroy both body and soul in hell. True, I may dread you, but I have a greater fear than that, I fear lest I should displease God; I tremble lest I should offend my Sovereign.” So the one fear counterbalances the other. How does faith overthrow the world’s hopes? “There,” says the world, “I will give thee this, I will give thee that, if thou wilt be my disciple. There is a hope for you; you shall be rich, you shall be great.” But, faith says, “I have a hope laid up in heaven; a hope which fadeth not away, eternal, incorrupt, amaranthine hope, a golden hope, a crown of life;” and the hope of glory overcomes all the hopes of the world, “Ah!” says the world, “Why not follow the example of your fellows ?” “Because,” says faith, “I will follow the example of Christ.” If the world puts one example before us, faith puts another. “Oh, follow the example of such an one; he is wise, and great, and good,” says the world. Says faith, “I will follow Christ; he is the wisest, the greatest, and the best.” It overcomes example by example, “Well,” says the world, “since thou wilt not be conquered by all this, come, I will love thee; thou shalt be my friend.” Faith says, “He that is the friend of this world, cannot be the friend of God. God loves me.” So he puts love against love; fear against fear; hope against hope; dread against dread; and so faith overcomes the world by like curing like.

When we stand with God we are standing against all that this world has to offer. On the other hand if we stand with the world, we can lose all He has to give us. The world and its temporary pleasures or the lord and eternal joy.

In closing my discourse, men and brethren, I am but a child; I have spoken to you as I could this morning. Another time, perhaps I might be able to launch more thunders, and to proclaim better the word of God; but this I am sure of—I tell you all I know, and speak right on. I am no orator; but just tell you what springs up from my heart. But before I have done, O that I may have a word with your souls. How many are there here who are born again? Some turn a deaf ear, and say, “It is all nonsense; we go to our place of worship regularly; put our hymn books and Bibles under our arm! and we are very religious sort of people.” Ah, soul! if I meet you at the bar of judgment, recollect I said—and said God’s word—“ Except ye be born again ye shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Others of you say, “We cannot believe that being born again is such a change as you speak of, I am a great deal better than I used to be; I do not swear now, and I am very much reformed.” Sirs, I tell you it is no little change. It is not mending the pitcher, but it is breaking it up and having a new one; it is not patching the heart, it is having a new heart and a right spirit. There is nothing but death unto sin, and life unto righteousness, that will save your souls.

Unless you are born again, the choice is yours. Your religion will not do it for you. Your Pastor cannot do it for you. Your Momma’s church cannot do it for you. One man told me I promised my Dad I would never leave this church. Until you have a one on one talk with the Lord and ask Him into your life, it does not matter one bit how good you are. It doesn’t matter how much you have changed, what you have stopped doing. There is only one way and that is being born again.
I am preaching no new doctrine. Turn to the articles of the Church of England, and read it there. Church people come to me sometimes to unite with our church; I show them our doctrines in their prayer book, and they have said they never knew they were there. My dear hearers, why cannot you read your own articles of faith? Why, positively, you do not know what is in your own prayer book, Men, now-a-days, do not read their Bibles, and they have for the most part no religion. They have a religion, which is all outside show, but they do not think of searching to see what its meaning really is. Sirs, it is not the cloak of religion that will do for you; it is a vital godliness you need; it is not a religious Sunday, it is a religious Monday; it is not a pious church, it is a pious closet; it is not a sacred place to kneel in, it is a holy place to stand in all day long. There must be a change of heart, real, radical, vital, entire. And now, what say you? Has your faith overcome the world? Can you live above it? or do you love the world and the things thereof? If so, sirs, ye must go on your way and perish, each one of you, unless ye turn from that, and give your hearts to Christ. Oh! what say you, is Jesus worthy of your love? Are the things of eternity and heaven worth the things of time? Is it so sweet to be a worldling, that for that you can lie down in torment? Is it so good to be a sinner, that for this you can risk your soul’s eternal welfare? O, my friends, is it worth your while to run the risk of an eternity of woe for a hour of pleasure? Is a dance worth dancing in hell with howling fiends for ever? Is one dream, with a horrid waking, worth enjoying, when there are the glories of heaven for those who follow God? Oh! if my lips would let me speak to you, my heart would run over at my eyes, and I would weep myself away, until ye had pity on your own poor souls. I know I am, in a measure, accountable for your souls, If the watchmen warn them not, they shall perish, but their blood shall be required at the watchman’s hands, “Turn ye, turn ye, why will ye die, O house of Israel?” thus saith the Lord. Besotted, filled with your evil wills, inclined to evil; still the Holy Ghost speaks by me this morning, “If ye turn unto the Lord, with full purpose of heart, he will have mercy upon you, and to our God, he will abundantly pardon.” I cannot bring you; I cannot fetch you. My words are powerless, my thoughts are weak! Old Adam is too strong for this young child to draw or drag; but God speak to you, dear hearts; God send the truth home, and then we shall rejoice together, both he that soweth and he that reapeth, because God has given us the increase. God bless you! may you all be born again, and have that faith that overcometh the world!
“Have I that faith which looks to Christ,
O’ercomes the world and sin—
Receives him Prophet, Priest, and King,
And makes the conscience clean?
“If I this precious grace possess,
All praise is due to thee;
If not, I seek it from thy hands;
Now grant it, Lord, to me.”

What Pastor Spurgeon preached about one hundred and fifty two years ago is just as vital today as it was then. There was and is only one-way to get to heaven. It doesn’t mater how many years pass since Jesus walked this earth. His death opened the door for us; no one else ever has or ever will. There is one door and this is it. Take the option and open the door to Christ.

I must also add here that we a few months back wrote about the traditions and beliefs of many churches. We used one of those groups own Bible’s to show them to be full of lies. This is also there, but that church does not teach it. I see many people leaving this religion because something is missing. I have been told they are not being taught. It hurts my heart to see them while searching for the truth to hold onto the very teachings that they have been taught. I do not understand this, are you so afraid to let go of ones that have lied to you, while searching for the truth. No, I tell you, let go of all they taught you. Do not hold onto any of the teaching that they have given you. Let go completely and then you will find what you are searching for. Then you can be born again.

Preacher Sturgeon also made this comment, "Men, now-a-days, do not read their Bibles." Who would think that about one hundred and fifty two years later it is truer now than then? Alas my dears, please take heed to guard your souls with only the truth from the Word of God!

God Bless,
rECj/LJG

WORD OF WISDOM

Regeneration - Only found in Matthew 19:28 and Titus 3:5. This word literally means a "new birth." The Greek word so rendered (5. This word literally means a "new birth." The Greek word so rendered (palingenesia) is used by classical writers with reference to the changes produced by the return of spring. In Matthew 19:28 the word is equivalent to the "restitution of all things" (Acts 3:21). In Titus 3:5 it denotes that change of heart elsewhere spoken of as a passing from death to life (5 it denotes that change of heart elsewhere spoken of as a passing from death to life (1 John 3:14); becoming a new creature in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17); being born again (John 3:5); a renewal of the mind (Romans 12:2); a resurrection from the dead (Ephesians 2:6); a being quickened (2:1, 5).

This change is ascribed to the Holy Spirit. It originates not with man but with God (John 1:12, 13; 1 John 2:29; 5:1, 4).

As to the nature of the change, it consists in the implanting of a new principle or disposition in the soul; the impartation of spiritual life to those who are by nature "dead in trespasses and sins."

The necessity of such a change is emphatically affirmed in Scripture (John 3:3; Romans 7:18; 8:7-9; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 2:1; 4:21-24).

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary

THE GREAT BIRTH

Spurgeon starts off telling us that if we do not like what he says, leave it. He speaks what he believes and will stand on what he says. I like that and LJG and I feel the same way.

He starts off by telling us he is perhaps going to tell us something harsh. Because we agree with him completely and it is the Word of God I will include it.

“Some say a new birth takes place in an infant baptism, but I remember that venerable patriarch saying,” Popery is a lie, Puseyism is a lie, baptismal regeneration is a lie.” So it is. It is a lie so palpable that I can scarcely imagine the preachers of it have any brains in their heads at all. It is so absurd upon the very face of it, that a man who believes it put himself below the range of a common-sense man. Believe that every child by a drop of water is born again! Then that man that you see in the ring as a prize-fighter is born again, because those sanctified drops once fell upon his infant forehead! Another man swears—behold him drunk and reeling about the streets. He is born again! A pretty born again that is! I think he wants to be born again another time. Such a regeneration as that only fits him for the devil; and by its deluding effect, may even make him sevenfold more the child of hell. But the men who curse, and swear, and rob and steal, and those poor wretches who are hanged, have all been born again, according to the fiction of this beautiful Puseyite church. Out upon it! out upon it! Ah, God sends something better than that into men’s hearts, when he sends them a new birth.

We have written articles on Baptism, and to be or not to be submerged in water. That question is not up for debate. But as we have said before and will say again water on a baby’s head, it is just no were in the Bible. {Not even the Catholic Bible.}

However, the text speaks of a great birth. “Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world.” This new birth is the mysterious point in all religion. If you preach anything else except the new birth you will always get on well with your hearers; but if you insist that in order to enter heaven there must be a radical change, though this is the doctrine of the Scripture, it is so unpalateable to mankind in general that you will scarcely get them to listen. Ah! now ye turn away if I begin to tell you, that “except ye be born of water and of the Spirit, ye cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.” If I tell you that there must be a regenerating influence exerted upon your minds by the power of the Holy Ghost then I know ye will say “it is enthusiasm.” Ah! but it is the enthusiasm of the Bible. There I stand; by this I will be judged. If the Bible does not say we must be born again, then I give it up; but if it does then, sirs, do not distrust that truth on which your salvation hangs.

People do not want to hear the truth. They are content to lie in the waste that they are in, but the truth is unless you are born again you will not enter into the gates of heaven.

What is it to be born again, then? Very briefly, to be born again is to undergo a change so mysterious, that human words cannot speak of it. As we cannot describe our first birth, so it is impossible for us to describe the second. “The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh or whither it goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” But while it is so mysterious, it is a change which is known and felt. People are not born again when they are in bed and asleep, so that they do not know it. They feel it; they experience it. Galvanism, or the power of electricity, may be mysterious; but they produce a feeling—a sensation. So does the new birth. At the time of the new birth the soul is in great agony—often drowned in seas of tears. Sometimes it drinks bitters, now and then mingled with sweet drops of hope. Whilst we are passing from death unto life, there is an experience which none but the child of God can really understand. It is a mysterious change; but, at the same time, it is a positive one. It is as much a change as if this heart were taken out of me, and the black drops of blood wrung from it, then washed and cleansed and put into my soul again. It is “a new heart and a right spirit:” a mysterious but yet an actual and real change!

I have spoken over the years with many people about what happened when they gave their life to Christ. Every one of them felt an actual change in their body. To some it felt like a weight, a heavy load was lifted off of them. To others it was a feeling of complete peace. One thing all of us agree on, it is like nothing we have ever felt before and is hard to put into words. The other thing we all agree on, we all knew it was God and it was real.

Let me tell you, moreover, that this change is a supernatural one. It is not one that a man performs upon himself. It is not leaving off drinking and becoming sober; it is not turning from a Roman Catholic to a Protestant; it is not veering round from a Dissenter to a Churchman, or a Churchman to a Dissenter. It is a vast deal more than that. It is a new principle infused which works in the heart, enters the very soul, and moves the entire man. Not a change of my name, but a renewal of my nature, so that I am not the man I used to be, but a new man in Christ Jesus. It is a supernatural change—something which man cannot do, and which only God can effect; which the Bible itself cannot accomplish without the attendant Spirit of God; which no minister’s eloquence can bring about—something so mighty and wondrous, that it must be confessed to be the work of God, and God alone. Here is the place to observe that this new birth is an enduring change. Arminians tell us that people are born again, then fall into sin, pick themselves up again, and become Christians again—fall into sin, lose the grace of God, then come back again—fall into sin a hundred times in their lives, and so keep on losing grace and recovering it. Well, I suppose it is a new version of the Scripture where you read of that. But I read in my Bible that if true Christians could fall away, it would be impossible to renew them again unto repentance. I read, moreover, that wherever God has begun a good work he will carry it on even to the end; and that whom he once loves, he loves to the end. If I have simply been reformed, I may be a drunkard yet, or you may see me acting on the stage. But if I am really born again, with that real supernatural change, I shall never fall away, I may fall into a sin, but I shall not fall finally; I shall stand while life shall last, constantly secure; and when I die it shall be said—
“Servant of God, well done!
Rest from thy blest employ;
The battle’s fought, the victory’s won;
Enter thy rest of joy.”

Do not deceive yourselves, my beloved. If you imagine that you have been regenerated, and having gone away from God, will be once more born again, you do not know anything about the matter; for “he that is born of God sinneth not.” That is, he does not sin so much as to fall away from grace; “for he keepeth himself, that the evil one toucheth him not.” Happy is the man who is really and actually regenerate, and passed from death unto life!

I like that, we can fall, but not fall finally. We all make mistakes, but no matter what mistake we can make, God will never turn away from us. Jesus is there to intercede on our behalf’s.

God bless
rECj/LJG