SATURDAY EDITORIAL

The Epistle of Jude, the last of the "general" or "catholic" epistles, is declared to have been written by "Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James." Dispute over the authenticity of the claim is as old as Eusebius who placed this letter, along with Hebrews, under suspicion. However, the soundest historical and internal evidence supports the truthfulness of the test. Matthew 13:55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? and Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him., names Judas (Jude) and James as brothers of Jesus. That James is identified so simply in this epistle is evidence that he was Jesus' brother.

Verses 1-4
Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, [and] called:
2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christians are called out of the world, from the evil spirit and temper of it; called above the world, to higher and better things, to heaven, things unseen and eternal; called from sin to Christ, from vanity to seriousness, from uncleanness to holiness; and this according to the Divine purpose and grace. If sanctified and glorified, all the honour and glory must be ascribed to God, and to Him alone. As it is God who begins the work of grace in the souls of men, so it is He who carries it on, and perfects it. Let us not trust in ourselves, nor in our stock of grace already received, but in Him, and in Him alone. The mercy of God is the spring and fountain of all the good we have or hope for; mercy, not only to the miserable, but to the guilty.

Next to mercy is peace, which we have from the sense of having obtained mercy. From peace springs love; Christ's love to us, our love to Him, and our brotherly love to one another. The apostle prays, not that Christians may be content with a little; but that their souls and societies may be full of these things. None are shut out from gospel offers and invitations, but those who obstinately and wickedly shut themselves out. But the application is to all believers, and only to such. It is to the weak as well as to the strong.

Those who have received the doctrine of this common salvation, must contend for it, earnestly, not furiously. Lying for the truth is bad; scolding for it is not better. Those who have received the truth must contend for it, as the apostles did; by suffering with patience and courage for it, not by making others suffer if they will not embrace every notion we call faith, or important.

We ought to contend earnestly for the faith, in opposition to those who would corrupt or deprave it; who creep in unawares; who glide in like serpents. And those are the worst of the ungodly, who take encouragement to sin boldly, because the grace of God has abounded, and still abounds so wonderfully, and who are hardened by the extent and fullness of gospel grace, the design of which is to deliver men from sin, and bring them unto God.

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

CORRUPT MINDS

WORD OF WISDOM

Blasphemy against the Holy Ghost (Matthew 12:31, 32; Mark 3:28, 29; Luke 12:10) is regarded by some as a continued and obstinate rejection of the gospel, and hence is an unpardonable sin, simply because as long as a sinner remains in unbelief he voluntarily excludes himself from pardon. Others regard the expression as designating the sin of attributing to the power of Satan those miracles which Christ performed, or generally those works which are the result of the Spirit's agency.

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary

Timothy (as should we) must not think it strange if there were in the church bad men; for the net of the gospel was to enclose both good fish and bad, Matt 13:47, 48 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. Jesus Christ had foretold (Matt. 24:1-51) that there would come seducers, and therefore we must not be offended at it, nor think the worse of religion or the church for it. Even in gold ore there will be dross, and a great deal of chaff among the wheat when it lies on the floor.

Our Saviour has foretold that the brother shall betray the brother to death and the father the child (Matt 10:21 And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his child: and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.), and those are the worst sort of traitors: those who delivered up their Bibles to persecutors were called traditores, for they betrayed the trust committed to them. When men are petulant and puffed up, behaving scornfully to all about them, and when this temper generally prevails, then the times are perilous. When men are generally lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. When there are more epicure than true Christians, then the times are bad indeed. God is to be loved above all. That is a carnal mind, and is full of enmity against Him, which prefers any thing before Him, especially such a sordid thing as carnal pleasure is.

When, notwithstanding all this, they have the form of godliness (v. 5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power there of. From these also turn away. ), are called by the Christian name, baptized into the Christian faith, and make a show of religion; but, how plausible soever their form of godliness is, they deny the power of it. When they take upon them the form which should and would bring along with it the power thereof, they will put asunder what God hath joined together: they will assume the form of godliness, to take away their reproach; but they will not submit to the power of it, to take away their sin. Observe here, (1.) Men may be very bad and wicked under a profession of religion; they may be lovers of themselves, yet have a form of godliness. (2.) A form of godliness is a very different thing from the power of it; men may have the one and be wholly destitute of the other; yea, they deny it, at least practically in their lives. (3.) From such good Christians must withdraw themselves.
III. Here Paul warns Timothy to take heed of certain seducers, not only that he might not be drawn away by them himself, but that he might arm those who were under his charge against their seduction. 1. He shows how industrious they were to make proselytes (v. 6 For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts,): they applied themselves to particular persons, visited them in their houses, not daring to appear openly; for those that do evil hate the light, John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved. They were not forced into houses, as good Christians often were by persecution; but they of choice crept into houses, to insinuate themselves into the affections and good opinion of people, and so to draw them over to their party. And see what sort those were that they gained, and made proselytes of; they were such as were weak, silly women; and such as were wicked, laden with sins, and led away with divers lusts. A foolish head and a filthy heart make persons, especially women, an easy prey to seducers.

He shows how far they were from coming to the knowledge of the truth, though they pretended to be ever learning, v. 7 ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. In one sense we must all be ever learning, that is, growing in knowledge, following on to know the Lord, pressing forward; but these were sceptics, giddy and unstable, who were forward to imbibe every new notion, under pretence of advancement in knowledge, but never came to a right understanding of the truth as it is in Jesus.

He foretels the certain stop that should be put to their progress (v. 8, 9 And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth. Men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further. For their folly shall be evident unto all men, as theirs also came to be.), comparing them to the Egyptian magicians who withstood Moses, and who are here named, Jannes and Jambres; though the names are not to be met with in the story of the Old Testament, yet they are found in some old Jewish writers. When Moses came with a divine command to fetch Israel out of Egypt, these magicians opposed him. Thus those heretics resisted the truth and like them were men of corrupt minds, men who had their understandings perverted, biassed and prejudiced against the truth, and reprobate concerning the faith, or very far from being true Christians; but they shall proceed no further, or not much further, as some read it. Observe, (1.) Seducers seek for corners, and love obscurity; for they are afraid to appear in public, and therefore creep into houses. Further, They attack those who are the least able to defend themselves, silly and wicked women. (2.) Seducers in all ages are much alike. Their characters are the same—namely, Men of corrupt minds,; their conduct is much the same—they resist the truth, as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses; and they will be alike in their disappointment. (3.) Those who resist the truth are guilty of folly. (4.) Though the spirit of error may be let loose for a time, God has it in a chain. Satan can deceive the nations and the churches no further and no longer than God will permit him.

God's Blessing to each of you,

LJG/rECj

LOVERS OF SELF

WORD OF WISDOM
Blasphemers ~ In the sense of speaking evil of God this word is found in Psalm 74:18; Isaiah 52:5; Romans 2:24; Revelation 13:1, 6; 16:9, 11, 21. It denotes also any kind of calumny, or evil-speaking, or abuse (1 Kings 21:10; Acts 13:45; 18:6,). Our Lord was accused of blasphemy when he claimed to be the Son of God (Matthew 26:65; Comp. Matthew 9:3; Mark 2:7). They who deny his Messiahship blaspheme Jesus (Luke 22:65; John 10:36).

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionay

2 Timothy 3:1-9

1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
Self-love will make the times perilous. Who is there who does not love himself? But this is meant of an irregular sinful self-love. Men love their carnal selves better than their spiritual selves. Men love to gratify their own lusts, and make provision for them, more than to please God and do their duty. Instead of Christian charity, which takes care for the good of others, they will mind themselves only, and prefer their own gratification before the church's edification.

2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,
Covetousness. Observe, Self-love brings in a long train of sins and mischiefs. When men are lovers of themselves, no good can be expected from them, as all good may be expected from those who love God with all their hearts. When covetousness generally prevails, when every man is for what he can get and for keeping what he has, this makes men dangerous to one another, and obliges every man to stand on his guard against his neighbour.

3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good,
Pride and vain-glory. The times are perilous when men, being proud of themselves, are boasters and blasphemers, boasters before men whom they despise and look upon with scorn, and blasphemers of God and of his name. When men do not fear God they will not regard man.

4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,
When children are disobedient to their parents, and break through the obligations which they lie under to them both in duty and gratitude, and frequently in interest, having their dependence upon them and their expectation from them, they make the times perilous; for what wickedness will those stick at who will be abusive to their own parents and rebel against them?

5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
Unthankfulness and unholiness make the times perilous, and these two commonly go together. What is the reason that men are unholy and without the fear of God, but that they are unthankful for the mercies of God? Ingratitude and impiety go together; for call a man ungrateful, and you can call him by no worse name. Unthankful, and impure, defiled with fleshly lusts, which is an instance of great ingratitude to that God who has provided so well for the support of the body; we abuse his gifts, if we make them the food and fuel of our lusts.

6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses,
The times are perilous when men will not be held by the bonds either of nature or common honesty, when they are without natural affection, and truce-breakers, (v. 3). There is a natural affection due to all. Wherever there is the human nature, there should be humanity towards those of the same nature, but especially between relations. Times are perilous when children are disobedient to their parents (v. 2) and when parents are without natural affection to their children, (v. 3). See what a corruption of nature sin is, how it deprives men even of that which nature has implanted in them for the support of their own kind; for the natural affection of parents to their children is that which contributes very much to the keeping up of mankind upon the earth. And those who will not be bound by natural affection, no marvel that they will not be bound by the most solemn leagues and covenants. They are truce-breakers, that make no conscience of the engagements they have laid themselves under.

7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
The times are perilous when men are false accusers one of another, diaboloi—devils one to another, having no regard to the good name of others, or to the religious obligations of an oath, but thinking themselves at liberty to say and do what they please (Ps 12:4 Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; Our lips are our own: Who is lord over us?).

8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.
When men have no government of themselves and their own appetites: not of their own appetites, for they are incontinent; not of their own passions, for they are fierce; when they have no rule over their own spirits, and therefore are like a city that is broken down, and has no walls; they are soon fired, upon the least provocation.

9 But they will not make further progress; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.
When that which is good and ought to be honoured is generally despised and looked upon with contempt. It is the pride of persecutors that they look with contempt upon good people, though they are more excellent than their neighbours. Their folly shall be manifest, it shall appear that they are imposters, and every man shall abandon them.

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

ALL SAVED

WORD OF WISDOM
SAVIOUR ~ One who saves from any form or degree of evil. In its highest sense the word indicates the relation sustained by our Lord to his redeemed ones, he is their Saviour. The great message of the gospel is about salvation and the Saviour. It is the "gospel of salvation." Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ secures to the sinner a personal interest in the work of redemption. Salvation is redemption made effectual to the individual by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Source: Easton's Bible Dictionary

I Timothy 2:4
Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

The Scriptures uniformly represent it as the divine will that all should come to life. But He does not will to save men irrespective of the conditions of salvation. They must, in order to be saved, come unto a knowledge of the truth. In other words, must hear, receive, and obey the gospel.

There is one Mediator, and that Mediator gave himself a ransom for all. And this appointment has been made for the benefit of the Jews and the Gentiles of every nation; that all who are willing may come in this way, to the mercy-seat of a pardoning God, to seek reconciliation with him. Sin had made a quarrel between us and God; Jesus Christ is the Mediator who makes peace.

It may be said of God that He "wills" that His creatures may be happy—because it is in accordance with His nature, and because He has made abundant provision for their happiness—though it is not true that He wills it in the sense that He exerts His absolute power to make them happy. God wills that sickness should be relieved, and sorrow mitigated, and that the oppressed should go free, because it is agreeable to His nature. A parent wills the welfare of his child. It is in accordance with his nature, his feelings, his desires; and he makes every needful arrangement for it. If the child is not virtuous and happy, it is his own fault. So God wills that all men should be saved. It would be in accordance with His benevolent nature. He has made ample provision for it. He uses all proper means to secure their salvation. He uses no positive means to prevent it, and if they are not saved it will be their own fault. Paul does not say, "He wishes to save all"; for then he would have saved all in matter of fact; but "will have all men to be saved," implies the possibility of man's accepting it (through God's prevenient grace) or rejecting it (through man's own perversity).

God bears a good will to all mankind. he desires not the death and destruction of any, but the welfare and salvation of all. Not that He has decreed the salvation of all, for then all would be saved; but He has a good will to the salvation of all, and none perish but by their own fault. The Apostle simply means, that there is no people and no rank in the world that is excluded from salvation; because God wishes that the gospel should be proclaimed to all without exception. Now the preaching of the gospel gives life; and hence he justly concludes that God invites all equally to partake salvation.

"It is the truth which saves. Jesus Christ is the truth: the whole testimony of God about Christ is the truth. The work of the Holy Ghost in the heart is to work in us the truth. The knowledge of the truth is a large knowledge. It is not always so at the first: it may begin with but a little knowledge, but it is a large knowledge when it is further developed, and the soul is fully instructed in the whole range of the truth.

May God bring them to a knowledge of this truth: may they see that they cannot be saved except by giving up all idea of saving themselves; that they cannot be saved except they step right into Christ, for, until they get to the end of the creature, they will never get to the beginning of the Creator. Till they empty out their pockets of every mouldy crust, and have not a crumb left; they cannot come and take the rich mercy which is stored up in Christ Jesus for every empty, needy sinner.

It is quite certain that when we read that God will have all men to be saved it does not mean that He wills it with the force of a decree or a divine purpose, for, if He did, then all men would be saved. He willed to make the world, and the world was made: He does not so will the salvation of all men, for we know that all men will not be saved. Terrible as the truth is, yet is it certain from Holy Writ that there are men who, in consequence of their sin and their rejection of the Savior, will go away into everlasting punishment, where shall be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. There will at the last be goats upon the left hand as well as sheep on the right, tares to be burned as well as wheat to be garnered, chaff to be blown away as well as corn to be preserved. There will be a dreadful hell as well as a glorious heaven, and there is no decree to the contrary. Charles Haddon Spurgeon"

Think on this Scripture today: Ezekiel 18:32 "For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord GOD. "Therefore, repent and live."

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

PASSES

WORD OF WISDOM
Fire ~ Figuratively, fire is a symbol of Jehovah's presence and the instrument of His power (Exodus 14:19; Number 11:1, 3; Judges 13:20; 1 Kings 18:38; 2 Kings 1:10, 12; 2:11; Isaiah 6:4; Ezek 1:4; Revelation 1:14).

God's word is also likened unto fire (Jeremiah 23:29). It is refered to as an emblem of severe trials or misfortunes (Zechariah 12:6; Luke 12:49; 1 Corinthians 3:13, 15; 1 Peter 1:7), and of eternal punishment (Matthew 5:22; Mark 9:44; Revelation 14:10; 21:8).

The influence of the Holy Ghost is likened unto fire (Matthew 3:11). His descent was denoted by the appearance of tongues as of fire (Acts 2:3).

Isa 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

By water and fire He means all kinds of trouble and peril. True believers are precious in God's sight, His delight is in them, above any people. Though they went as through fire and water, yet, while they had God with them, they need fear no evil; they should be born up, and brought out. .

“When thou goest through the rivers,”—those mountain torrents which with terrific force are often sufficient to carry a man away. This expresses the force of trouble, the power with which it sometimes lifts a man from the foothold of his stability, and carries him before it.

But going through the fire expresses not so much the overwhelming character and the upsetting power of trouble as the actual consuming and destructive power of trouble and temptation.

It is not written, "I will save thee from the fire," but "I will save thee in the fire," not "I will quench the coals," but "they shall not burn thee," not "I will put out the furnace," but "the flames shall not kindle upon thee." Write it down and expect it to come ture, that in this world thou shalt have tribulation. Only follow they glorious leader, be it trough follod or flame.

The Lord hath not redeemed you that you might enjoy pleasures and luxuries, or that you might abandon yourself to ease and indolence, but rather that thou should be prepared for enduring every of evils.

This, when thou shalt pass through the waters, is an anticipation by which He declares that they who rely on God's immediate assistance have no reason for sinking under adversity. By fire and water He means every kind of miseries to which we are liable in this life; for we must contend not with clamities of one kind only, but with infinitely diversfied calamites.

Our faith needs to be put to the trial in many ways; for it often happens that he who has been victorious in one combat has been baffled by another kind of temptation. We are therefore tried by afflictions, but are at length delivered; we are baffled by the billows, but are not swallowed up; we are even scorched by the flames, but are not consumed. We have, as born again believers, the same feeling of pain as other men, but we are supported by the Grace of God, and fortified by the Spirit of patience, that we may faint not and at length He will stretch out His hand and lift us up on high.

There must always be preserved a deadly feud, to let it be seen that the world must hate God’s people, and must harass them and seek to hunt them out, while they, on the other hand, must steadily pursue their onward march through the midst of billows of fire till they come at last to their eternal rest.

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

COME UNTO JESUS AND FIND REST FOR YOUR SOUL

Mat 11:28-29 KJV
Come unto me,
all ye that labour and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.

(29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;
for I am meek and lowly in heart:
and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

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Webster Dictionary Definitions for your meditation:
Come: To draw near; to approach.
Unto: motion towards
Me: Jesus Christ
All: Every one
Ye: those who the offer applies to
Labor: bodily exertion which occasions weariness;
Heavy: Weighty; ponderous; having great weight; Sad; sorrowful; dejected; depressed in mind.
Laden: To load; to put on or in, as a burden
and: the result of the foregoing action
I: Jesus Christ
will: to decide in the mind that something shall be done; implying power to carry the purpose into effect. In this manner God wills whatever comes to pass.
give: To bestow; to confer; to pass or transfer the title or property of a thing to another person without an equivalent or any compensation.
you: You is used for anyone.
rest: Quiet; repose; a state free from motion or disturbance; a state of reconciliation to God.
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Rev 22:17 KJV
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.
And let him that heareth say, Come.
And let him that is athirst come.
And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Isa 45:21-24 KJV
Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together:
who hath declared this from ancient time?
who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD?
and there is no God else beside me;
a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
(22) Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth:
for I am God, and there is none else.
(23) I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth
in righteousness, and shall not return,
That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
(24) Surely, shall one say, in the LORD have I righteousness and strength:
even to him shall men come;
and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.

Isa 55:1-3 KJV
Ho, every one that thirsteth,
come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money;
come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
(2) Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread?
and your labour for that which satisfieth not?
hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good,
and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
(3) Incline your ear, and come unto me:
hear, and your soul shall live;
and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Joh 6:35-40 KJV
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life:
he that cometh to me shall never hunger;
and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
(36) But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
(37) All that the Father giveth me shall come to me;
and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
(38) For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will,
but the will of him that sent me.
(39) And this is the Father's will which hath sent me,
that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing,
but should raise it up again at the last day.
(40) And this is the will of him that sent me,
that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life:
and I will raise him up at the last day.

Joh 7:37-39 KJV
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying
If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.
(38) He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said,
out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
(39) (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive:
for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

Rev 22:13-17 KJV
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
(14) Blessed are they that do his commandments,
that they may have right to the tree of life,
and may enter in through the gates into the city.
(15) For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers,
and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
(16) I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.
I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
(17) And the Spirit and the bride say, Come.
And let him that heareth say, Come.
And let him that is athirst come.
And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Isa 48:16-18 KJV
Come ye near unto me, hear ye this;
I have not spoken in secret from the beginning;
from the time that it was, there am I:
and now the Lord GOD, and his Spirit, hath sent me.
(17) Thus saith the LORD, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel;
I am the LORD thy God which teacheth thee to profit,
which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.
(18) O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments!
then had thy peace been as a river,
and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

Heb 4:1-3 KJV
Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest,
any of you should seem to come short of it.
(2) For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them:
but the word preached did not profit them,
not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
(3) For we which have believed do enter into rest,
as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest:
although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

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SUNDAY EDITORIAL

WORD OF WISDOM

FAITH - The object of saving faith is the whole revealed Word of God. Faith accepts and believes it as the very truth most sure. But the special act of faith which unites to Christ has as its object the person and the work of the Lord Jesus Christ (John 7:38; Acts 16:31). This is the specific act of faith by which a sinner is justified before God (Romans 3:22, 25; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9; John 3:16-36; Acts 10:43; 16:31). In this act of faith the believer appropriates and rests on Christ alone as Mediator in all his offices.

This assent to or belief in the truth received upon the divine testimony has always associated with it a deep sense of sin, a distinct view of Christ, a consenting will, and a loving heart, together with a reliance on, a trusting in, or resting in Christ. It is that state of mind in which a poor sinner, conscious of his sin, flees from his guilty self to Christ his Saviour, and rolls over the burden of all his sins on Him. It consists chiefly, not in the assent given to the testimony of God in His Word, but in embracing with fiducial reliance and trust the one and only Saviour whom God reveals. This trust and reliance is of the essence of faith. By faith the believer directly and immediately appropriates Christ as his own. Faith in its direct act makes Christ ours. It is not a work which God graciously accepts instead of perfect obedience, but is only the hand by which we take hold of the person and work of our Redeemer as the only ground of our salvation.

Saving faith is a moral act, as it proceeds from a renewed will, and a renewed will is necessary to believing assent to the truth of God (1 Corinthians 2:14; 2 Corinthians 4:4). Faith, therefore, has its seat in the moral part of our nature fully as much as in the intellectual. The mind must first be enlightened by divine teaching (John 6:44; Acts 13:48; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Ephesians 1:17, 18) before it can discern the things of the Spirit.

Faith is necessary to our salvation (Mark 16:16), not because there is any merit in it, but simply because it is the sinner's taking the place assigned him by God, his falling in with what God is doing.

The warrant or ground of faith is the divine testimony, not the reasonableness of what God says, but the simple fact that He says it. Faith rests immediately on, "Thus saith the Lord." But in order to this faith the veracity, sincerity, and truth of God must be owned and appreciated, together with His unchangeableness. God's word encourages and emboldens the sinner personally to transact with Christ as God's gift, to be close with Him, embrace Him, give himself to Christ, and take Christ as his. That word comes with power, for it is the word of God who has revealed Himself in His works, and especially in the cross. God is to be believed for His word's sake, but also for His name's sake.

Faith in Christ secures for the believer freedom from condemnation, or justification before God; a participation in the life that is in Christ, the divine life (John 14:19; Romans 6:4-10; Ephesians 4:15, 16, etc.); "peace with God" (Romans 5:1); and sanctification (Acts 26:18; Galatians 5:6; Acts 15:9).

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary

BOLD AS A LION

Now, I am going to tell yall something. If you don't want what you are asking me to pray for you about then don't ask me to pray for you. Know why? My prayers are answered. So many people pray, "Oh Lord, I know I am a sinner and I don't deserve You and Your Love...I know I deserve to go to the pit, God does protects your right to go there if that is where you know you want to go but that isn't where He wants you to go or be, but if you could give me just a few minutes to listen to this poor sinner..." oh please give me a break. What do you know? You are a sinner, you don't deserve and you are in the state of false humility. Real humility is knowing, believing and having FAITH in the Word of God.

If you are born again in the love of God, then you aren't a sinner anymore. God has forgiven you of those sins. He forgives us immediately when we go to Him for forgiveness of the things we do that don't line up with His Word. So why in His precious Name are you asking Him to forgive what He don't even remember any more? You need to know that satan wants you to remember all about the sipping, dipping, wineing and dining, being cool and acting the fool that you have done in your past. With these means he keeps you from approaching the Throne of God with BOLDNESS so that your prayers won't be answered. In that way you lose your CONFIDENCE in the Almighty God.

When I pray I go to God with boldness. I tell Him what I want. I tell Him just as I would tell you. Let me tell you what I know: I have fearless boldness, fearless confidence in God's Word, the freedom to step out, faith in what the Blood of Jesus did for me, approach the Throne just like God is the only source I have, which of course He is, that effective prayer has to have boldness, have the true humility, know and believe in all that Jesus did for me, (He lived, taught, healed, died and arose), know the real faith is believing God loves me, don't think or believe God holds anything against me that would mean that I don't believe God loves me and I know He does, He loved me when I was a sinner, God can't lie or hate, the more faith I have the more boldness I have. I know that I know that I know all these things and so much more of the powers I have, thanks to Jesus being the word, taking on flesh and being the true source of love.

I know what yall are saying, "would you just listen how arrogant that silly women is." Don't yall even think such a thing of me. According to the Bible "arrogant" is prideful and "bold" is brave. Oh yes, I am brave but arrogant no, not any more. God and me have worked hard to get "pride" out of my life. But that is another story for later.

I know yall are wondering where are the scriptures that back up what I know I believe in. So I will give them to yall now.

Prov 28:1
The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Romans 10:17
So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Eph 3:12
In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Thank you C. Dollar for your sermon today (August 22, 2007) confirming what I knew that I knew but just didn't know how to explain it. Thank you God for answering that prayer, now on to another one.

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

WEAPON

WORD OF WISDOM

August 15 1852 - Birth of Adolf von Schlatter, Swiss Protestant New Testament scholar. His 1921 History of Christ maintained that the success of any systematic theology had to be based on a
foundation of solid Biblical exegesis (explanation or critical interpretation).

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary

Isaiah 54:17
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

No weapon formed against our Lord Jesus shall prosper. He escaped, not because He was afraid to suffer, but because His hour was not come. And He who knew how to deliver Himself, knows how to deliver the godly our of their temptations, and to make a way for them to escape. Persecutors may drive Christ and His gospel our of their own city or country, but they cannot drive Him or it out of the world. When we know Christ by faith in our hearts, we find all that the Scripture saith of Him is true.

He permits them, indeed, to a great extent, in order to try the patience of believers; but, when God thinks proper, He strips them of their strength and armor. The folly of our enemies will at length be made manifest to all, for they are but preparing instruments of ruin for themselves. No other “weapon” is so deadly and destructive as the tongue. Good and upright men find slander to be more distressing, and to inflict more severe pain than any bodily stroke.

``There has never been a time when a weapon has not been forged against the church of Christ. Yea, even at the present moment, as I stand here, and with the eye of fancy survey our world, I see a fire blazing—fierce is the flame and high its pile of fuel. I see a monarch forging a weapon; a crowned tyrant longs to bring forth chains of iron for the liberties of Europe, and smaller despots long to destroy the germ of all true liberty, the glorious gospel of the blessed God. I see the armies ready against the Lord of hosts, ready to do battle against the servants of God. Still here is the sweet comfort; they may forge the weapon; they may fashion the sword; they may shut the prison door; they may confine the prisoners, they may make their instruments of torture; but they can not prosper; for God hath said it: He "breaketh the bow; and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire." "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper." He will not let it do so.

Look at many cases of history. There is the overthrow of Pharaoh. Look yonder, there he is at the head of all the chivalry of Egypt pursuing the chosen race. The sea divides to give refuge to the Lord's elect. Lo, they tread the pebbly bottom of the sea of Edom, while the waters stand like walls of snow-white crystal on the right and on the left. But the impious monarch, all unawed by this mighty marvel, shouts, "On, on, soldiers of Memphis! do ye fear to tread where slaves are bold?" See, they boldly dash between the watery heights; chariot and horse are in the sea, madly pursuing Israel. Ho, Israel! fear not the uplifted spear, dread not the rattling chariot; they are marching to their tombs, their weapons shall not prosper. Moses uplifts the rod of God, the parted floods embrace with eager joy, and grasp the helpless foe within their arms.

Again, my brethren, behold another glorious proof of the promise. Haman had conceived a hatred to Mordecai, and for his sake the whole race of Jews must perish. How deep he lays his plots, how readily he obtains the consent of the king, how sure is he of revenge. Even now in imagination he sees Mordecai swinging on the lofty gallows, and all his kindred given to slaughter. Ah, thou enemy, delight in thine imagination, for it shall be disappointed; rejoice in thy design, but it shall be utterly confounded. There is a God in the courts of heaven, and an Esther in the palace of Shushan. Thou thyself shalt be hanged on thine own gallows, and the race of David shall revenge the deed of the Agagite upon his sons. O, Israel, well mayest thou rejoice at the feast of Purim, for the weapon of the mighty is broken. Nor here alone can we see the promise fulfilled; for time would fail me to tell of conquered Amalek and routed Midian. Scarce can we speak of Philistia and her giants given to the beasts of prey, or Edom slaughtered by the sword. Let the armies witness who fled at the fancied rumbling of chariots, or that host who in one night became the inhabitants of the realms of death. Let the warriors who rest with their rusted swords beneath their earthy pillows rise from their long sleep and confess the futility of their efforts; yea, let monarchs now in the chains of hell bear witness to their own utter confusion when the Lord appeared in battle for his chosen. March on, despot; bid thy slaves rise against the free, crush the helpless, and usurp the dominions of thy neighbor; but know that the Lord is mightier than thou.
Remember, Christ has said, "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad when they say all manner of evil against you falsely for my name's sake; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Rejoice, and leap for joy, for great shall be your reward in heaven." Hold on, young man; hold on, young woman; still continue in the fear of God, and you shall find that persecution shall work for your good.

Satan leaves no stone unturned against the church of God. He uses not simply the hand, but, what is oftener a harder weapon, the tongue. We can bear a blow sometimes, but we can not endure an insult. There is a great power in the tongue. We can rise from a blow which laid us low on the ground; but we can not so easily recover from slander; that lays the character low. "Every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment, thou shalt condemn."

We can afford a little slander, because we know we shall have all the more to condemn. The more accusers, the more acquittals; the more slander, so much the more honor of God: so the enemy may just slander still for what we care; for "every tongue that shall rise against us in judgment we shall condemn."

Let the saints know also that they shall soon have a yet more public triumph over their cruel enemy. At the day of judgment, the foe of God and man shall be dragged from his cell, shall lift his brazen front with thunder scarred, receive his sentence, and begin a hell more terrible than all he has endured before. O saint, dost thou know that thou shalt judge him? `` Taken from another sermon of Charles Haddon Spurgeon, at New Park Street Chapel, Southwark, on Lord's-day Morning, November 5th, 1854. Sermon number 2908

God's Blessings to each of you,

LJG/rECj

VOID OF JUDGEMENT

WORD OF WISDOM

Reprobate - That which is rejected on account of its own worthlessness (Jeremiah 6:30; Hebrews 6:8; Gr. adokimos, "rejected"). This word is also used with reference to persons cast away or rejected because they have failed to make use of opportunities offered them (1 Corinthians 9:27; 2 Corinthians 13:5-7).

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary


Titus 1:16
They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.

Many profess to know God, yet in their lives deny and reject him. See the miserable state of hypocrites, such as have a form of godliness, but are without the power of God.

In reference to everything that was good, their conduct was such that it could not be approved, or deserved disapprobation.

“1. They are said to be βδελυκτοί, abominable, or shamefully addicted to all manner of evil. The word in the original, denotes the heinousness of those practices in which they allow themselves; and is derived from a word that signifies to send forth an offensive smell. For all sentiments of right and good are not so totally lost and obliterated among mankind, but that there are some things which even pagans would detest. 2. They are said to be also ἀπειθείς, disobedient, which expression imports perseverance and obstinacy in an evil course. They will by no means — by no importunity — by no arguments whatever, be dissuaded from practices so unjustifiable and detestable in their own nature. They are resolved to run on, whatever it costs them — to continue in sin, and in the profession of religion at the same time, which is the greatest absurdity imaginable. 3. They are said, lastly, to be πρὸς πᾶν ἔργον ἀγαθὸν ἀδόκιμοι, reprobate to every good work; which signifies a disinclination to everything that is good, to everything that is worthy of praise. ‘The word may be taken, as it is observed, either actively or passively, and so may signify not only to be disappointed by others, but to disapprove themselves; in which latter sense we must, at present, principally understand the phrase. They disapprove all that which claims their approbation and esteem; and are disaffected to all that good which the religion they profess would oblige them to the practice of. The expression, therefore, does not so much signify their omission of what is good, as their disinclination to it; but it further denotes that, if they do anything at all in religion, it is what they neither delight in, nor can endure. ‘Every good work’ is an expression of such latitude, that it may comprehend all the works of piety, mercy, and common justice. And so it is fit we should understand it in this place. Whatever they do of this kind, their hearts are averse to it, and they bear a disaffected mind to it all. And such as here described, persons may be found to be, notwithstanding their profession.” — Howe.

They profess that they know God He treats those persons as they deserve; for hypocrites, who give their whole attention to minute observances, despise fearlessly what constitutes the chief part of the Christian life. The consequence is, that they display their vanity, while contempt of God is manifested in open crimes. And this is what Paul means; that they who wish to be seen abstaining from one kind of food — indulge in wantonness and rebellion, as if they had shaken of the yoke; that their conduct is disgraceful and full of wickedness, and that not a spark of virtue is visible in their whole life.
For they are abominable, disobedient, and to every good work reprobate. When he calls them, βδελυκτούς abominable, he seems to allude to their pretended holiness, to which they gave their earnest attention. But Paul declares that they gain no advantage, for they do not cease to be profane and detestable. With good reason does he accuse them of disobedience; for nothing can be more haughty than hypocrites, who exert themselves so laboriously about ceremonies, in order that they may have it in their power to despise with impunity the chief requirements of the law. We may appropriately interpret the word ἀδόκιμοι reprobate in an active signification; as if he had said, that they who wish to be thought so sagacious instructors in trifles — are destitute of judgment and understanding as to good works. - John Calvin

God's Blessings to each of you,

LJG/rECj

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

On this Thanksgiving Day, rECj and I would like to wish each of you a very good day. We all have so much to be thankful for.

What are you most thankful for? Your children? Your house? Your car? Your job? Your health? Your husband? All these are good reasons to be thankful but how about taking a few minutes out of your busy day, as all of ours will be, and thank God for the best and greatest reason to be thankful. His Son. Our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

Think of all the reasons we should be thankful to Him. I love my children and family but the most thankful reason for me is this: knowing that I have a constant refuse to turn to in all things and at all times. Always standing on His promise, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Let us take the time to remember the whole verse of Hebrew 13:5 [Let your] conversation [be] without covetousness; [and be] content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

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

P S rECj and I are having a communication problem at the moment but I am sure she will tell us all the reasons she has for being thankful in her next article

INTIMIDATION

WORD OF WISDOM

CREATURE - Denotes the whole creation in Romans 8:39; Colossians 1:15; Revelation 5:13; the whole human race in Mark 16:15; Romans 8:19-22.

The living creatures in Ezek. 10:15, 17, are imaginary beings, symbols of the Divine attributes and operations.

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dicionary


Is not in the Bible, King James that is. Intimidation means "to make timid or fearful." Neither is timid in the King James Bible. Yes, of course, there are words meaning intimidation (Neh 6:5-13; Jere 26:8-16; Dan 6:6-10 and Amos 7:12-17, just in case you will take the time to read them) and timid. So I decided to look at the word "fearful" for my word for intimidation.

The word fearful is mentioned 11 times in 11 verses in the King James Bible. Of those 11 I have chosen Rev 21:8 for the verse today.

Rev 21:8
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

The fearful speak of those who had not firmness boldly to maintain their professed principles, or who were afraid to avow themselves as the friends of God in a wicked world. The Greek meaning for the word fearful, "the cowardly," who do not quit themselves like men so as to "overcome" in the good fight; who have the spirit of slavish "fear," not love, towards God; and who through fear of man are not bold for God, or "draw back."

The sins of those who perish, among which are first mentioned their cowardliness and unbelief. The fearful lead the parade in this black list. They did not encounter the difficulties of religion, and their slavish fear proceeded from their unbelief; but those who were so dastardly as not to dare to take up the cross of Christ, and discharge their duty to him, were yet so desperate as to run into all manner of abominable wickedness. This misery will be their proper part and portion, what they have justly deserved, what they have in effect chosen, and what they have prepared themselves for by their sins. The blessedness of the saved will aggravate the misery of those that are in the lake of fire, always burning, dying and always dying. Those wedded to sin have no place in the glorious home prepared for the saints, and can never enter or disturb the holy peace of the glorious city.

But the fearful and unbelieving - Who, through want of courage and faith, do not overcome. Once again we have to remember that we are to be bold in our believe and faith. We are not to let others intimidate us. We are to be "imitators"of Christ not intimidators.

When people try to intimidate us we must remember that is also a form of being proud and the proud God leaves first. God loves to dwell in lowly places. The intimidators are those righteous souls who believe that they are above all others. That no other mortal soul can or could ever be as knowledgeable as they.

Again it is another word that God did not intend that should be used. Let us refrain from being as such creatures. Yes, God did creature creatures, animals, that are bigger and yes they do intimidate the smallest. But we were not created as animals. We are created in the likeness of God. So therefore, let us strive to be more like Him in all our ways including the ways we treat those living around us.

I am going to leave you with the following thought:

The joys which Christ imparts are like waters springing from a fountain, pure, refreshing, abundant, and eternal. The sanctifying consolations of the Holy Spirit prepare for heavenly happiness; they are streams which flow for us in the wilderness.

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

A KIND WORD

WORD OF WISDOM

WORKS - Works are "good" only when, (1) they spring from the principle of love to God. The moral character of an act is determined by the moral principle that prompts it. Faith and love in the heart are the essential elements of all true obedience. Hence good works only spring from a believing heart, can only be wrought by one reconciled to God (Ephesians 2:10; James 2:18,22).

(2.) Good works have the glory of God as their object; and (3) they have the revealed will of God as their only rule (Deuteronomy 12:32; Revelation 22:18, 19).

Good works are an expression of gratitude in the believer's heart (John 14:15, 23; Galatians 5:6). They are the fruits of the Spirit (Titus 2:10-12), and thus spring from grace, which they illustrate and strengthen in the heart.

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary


Proverbs 12:25
Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.

Words of comfort, or a cheerful mind which is declared by his words, rejoices a man, as a covetous mind kills him.

Care, fear, and sorrow, upon the spirits, deprive men of vigour in what is to be done, or courage in what is to be borne. It makes them stoop, prostrates and sinks them. Those that are thus oppressed can neither do the duty nor take the comfort of any relation, condition, or conversation. Those therefore that are inclined to it should watch and pray. A good word from God, applied by faith, makes the heart glad.

Evil men vainly flatter themselves that their ways are not wrong. A scorner cannot bear to reflect seriously within his own heart. A gloomy, impatient, unthankful spirit, springing from pride and undue attachment to worldly objects, renders a man uneasy to himself and others.

A heart full of kindness is like a lamp full of precious oi, for the oil of mery enlightens the erring sinner with a good example and with words and works of comfort it anoints and heals those whose hearts are wounded or grieved or perplexed. And it is a fire and a light for those who dwell in the virtues, in the fire of charity; and neither jealousy nor envy can perturb it.

The good word of God, particularly the gospel, is designed to make the hearts glad that are weary and heavy-laden.

Proverbs 16:1
The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.

He derides the presumption of man, who dares to attribute anything to himself, as to prepare his heart or such like, seeing that he is not able to speak a word unless God gives it to him. Men can neither think nor speak wisely and well without Divine assistance. The renewing grace of God alone prepares the heart for every good work. This teaches us that we are not sufficient of ourselves to think or speak any thing wise and good. Roll the burden of thy care upon God, and leave it with him, by faith and dependence on him.

Proverbs 16:24
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

The word of God cures the diseases that weaken our souls. The pleasant words must be those which the heart of the wise teaches, and adds learning to, words of seasonable advice, instruction, and comfort, words taken from God's word. These words, to those that know how to relish them, are pleasant. They are like the honey-comb, sweet to the soul, which tastes in them that the Lord is gracious; nothing more grateful and agreeable to the new man than the word of God, and those words which are borrowed from it. They are wholesome. Many things are pleasant that are not profitable, but these pleasant words are health to the bones, to the inward man, as well as sweet to the soul. They make the bones, which sin has broken and put out of joint, to rejoice. The bones are the strength of the body; and the good word of God is a means of spiritual strength, curing the diseases that weaken us.

So where true Wisdom is deep in a heart, it will come flashing up into sunshine, and will quicken the seeds of all good as it flows through the deeds. By filling our hearts, through communion with God, with His own will, we shall be able to instruct many, and lead them to the light which has shone on us.
There are many kinds of pleasant words, some of which are not like ‘honey,’ but like poison hid in jam. Insincere compliments, flatteries when rebukes would be fitting, and all the brood of civil conventionalities, are not the words meant here. Truly pleasant ones are those which come from true Wisdom, and may often have a surface of bitterness like the prophet’s roll, but have a core of sweetness. It is a great thing to be able to speak necessary and unwelcome truths with lips into which grace is poured. A spoonful of honey catches more flies than a bowl of vinegar.

There is not only life at the end and it is all true comfort.

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

WHICH ARE YOU

Word of Wisdom

Adversary - (Hebrews satan), an opponent or foe (1 Kings 5:4; 11:14, 23, 25; Luke 13:17); one that speaks against another, a complainant (Matthew 5:25; Luke 12:58); an enemy (Luke 18:3), and specially the devil (1 Peter 5:8).

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary


Proverbs 12:1
Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

Those who have grace, will delight in the instructions given them. Those that stifle their convictions, are like brutes. The man who covers selfish and vicious designs under a profession of religion or friendship, will be condemned. Though men may advance themselves by sinful arts, they cannot settle and secure themselves. But those who by faith are rooted in Christ, are firmly fixed. Thoughts are not free; they are under the Divine knowledge, therefore under the Divine command. It is a man's shame to act with deceit, with trick and design. Wicked people speak mischief to their neighbours. A man may sometimes do a good work with one good word. God's blessing is often continued to the families of godly men, while the wicked are overthrown. The apostles showed wisdom by glorying in shame for the name of Christ. He that lives in a humble state, who has no one to wait upon him, but gets bread by his own labour, is happier than he that glories in high birth or gay attire, and wants necessaries.

We are here taught to find out whether we have grace or not by inquiring how we stand affected to the means of grace. Those that have grace and love it will delight in all the instructions that are given them by way of counsel; admonition, or reproof, by the word or providence of God; they will value a good education, and think it not a hardship, but a happiness, to be under a strict and prudent discipline. Those that love a faithful ministry, that value it, and sit under it with pleasure, make it to appear that they love knowledge. Those show themselves not only void of grace, but void of common sense, that take it as an affront to be told of their faults, and an imposition upon their liberty to be put in mind of their duty: He that hates reproof is not only foolish, but brutish, like the horse and the mule that have no understanding, or the ox that kicks against the load. Those that desire to live in loose families and societies, where they may be under no check, that stifle the convictions of their own consciences, and count those their enemies that tell them the truth, are the brutish meant here.
If a man is wise, he will love ‘knowledge;’ and if he loves knowledge, he will love the means to it, and therefore will not kick against correction. That is another view of trials from the one which by frequent repetitions or admonitions teach us devout submission to the Father. It regards only the benefits to ourselves. If we want to be taught anything, we shall not flinch from the rod. There must be pains undergone in order to win knowledge of any sort, and the man who rebels against these shows that he had rather be comfortable and ignorant than wise. A person who will not stand having his exercises corrected will not learn his faults. On the other hand, hating reproof is ‘brutish’ in the most literal sense; for it is the characteristic of animals that they do not understand the purpose of pain, and never advance because they do not. Men can grow because they can submit to discipline; beasts cannot improve because, except partially and in a few cases, they cannot accept correction.

Continuously the sunshine of divine love falls on the one man, and already the other is condemned. It needs some strength of faith to look through the shows of prosperity often attending plain wickedness, and believe that it is always a blunder to do wrong.

The shore is strewn with wrecks, dashed to pieces because righteousness did not steer. Every exchange gives examples in plenty. How many seemingly solid structures built on wrong every man has seen in his lifetime crumble like the cloud masses which the wind piles in the sky and then disappears. The root of the righteous is in God, and therefore he is firm.

The good man has thoughts which scrupulously keep the balance true and are just to his fellows, while the wicked plans to deceive for his own profit. When thoughts are translated into speech, deceit bears fruit in words which are like ambushes of murderers, laying traps to destroy, while the righteous man’s words are like angels of deliverance to the unsuspecting who are ready to fall into the snare. Selfishness, which is the root of wickedness, will be cruelty and injustice when necessary for its ends. The man who is wise because God is his center and aim will be merciful and helpful. The basis of philanthropy is religion. The solemn importance attached to speech is observable. Words can slay as truly as swords. Now that the press has multiplied the power of speech, and the world is buzzing with the clatter of tongues, we all need to lay to heart the responsibilities and magic power of spoken and printed words, and ‘to set a watch on the door of our lips.’

The overthrow of the wicked is set in striking contrast with their plots to overthrow others. Their mischief comes back, like a boomerang, to the hand that flings it; and in contrast, delivering others is a sure way of establishing one’s self. But if wisdom were not set uppermost in men’s secret judgment, there would be no hypocrites, and their existence proves the truth of the proverb.

A man need not mind, though his modest household is treated with contempt, if quiet righteousness reigns in it. It is better to be contented with little, and humble in a lowly place, than to be proud and hungry. A foolish world set on wealth may despise, but its contempt breaks no bones. Self-conceit is poor diet.

‘He prayeth best who loveth.' On the other hand, for want of such sympathetic interest, even when the ‘wicked’ means to be kind, he does harm; or the word rendered ‘tender mercies’ may here mean the feelings (literally, ‘bowels’) which, in their intense selfishness, are cruel even to animals.

‘The root of the righteous yields fruit,’ or ‘shoots forth,’ that it shall never be moved, being fixed in God; now we are told that it will produce all that is needful. A life rooted in God will unfold into all necessary good, which will be better than the spoil of the wicked. There are two ways of getting on—to struggle and fight and trample down rivals; one, to keep near God and wait for him. ‘Ye fight and war; ye have not, because ye ask not.’

‘In the transgression of the lips is an evil snare’; that is, sinful words ensnare their utterer, and whoever else he harms, he himself is harmed most. The reflex influence on character of our utterances is not present to us, as it should be. They leave stains on lips and heart. Thoughts expressed are more definite and permanent thereby. A vicious thought clothed in speech has new power over the speaker. If we would escape from that danger, we must be righteous, and speak righteousness; and then the same cause will deepen our convictions of ‘whatsoever things are lovely and of good report.’

Good words will bring forth fruit, which will satisfy the speaker, because, whatever effects his words may have on others, they will leave strengthened goodness and love of it in himself. ‘If the house be worthy, your peace shall rest upon it; if not, it shall return to you again.’ That reaction of words on oneself is but one case of the universal law of consequences coming back on us. We are the architects of our own destinies. Every deed has an immortal life, and returns, either like a raven or a dove, to the man who sent it out on its flight. It comes back either croaking with blood on its beak, or cooing with an olive branch in its mouth. All life is at once sowing and reaping. A harvest comes in which retribution will be even more entire and accurate.

The fool has no standard of conduct but his own notions, and is absurdly complacent as to all his doings. The wise seeks better guidance than his own, and is docile, because he is not so ridiculously sure of his infallibility. No type of weak wickedness is more abominable to the proverbialist than that of pert self-conceit, which knows so little that it thinks it knows everything, and is ‘as untameable as a fly.’ But in the wisest sense, it is true that a mark of folly is self-opinionativeness; that a man who has himself for teacher has a fool for scholar; that the test of wisdom is willingness to be taught; and, especially, that to bring a docile, humble spirit to the Source of all wisdom, and to ask counsel of God, is the beginning of true insight, and that the self-sufficiency which is the essence of sin, is never more fatal than when it is ignorant of guilt, and therefore spurns a Saviour.

Let us examine our hearts and minds to discover which is uttermost in our lives.

God's Blessings to each of you,

LJG/rECh

ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY

WORD OF WISDOM
CONFESSION ~ 1) An open profession of faith (Luke 12:8).

(2.) An acknowledment of sins to God (Leviticus 16:21; Ezra 9:5-15; Dan. 9:3-12), and to a neighbour whom we have wronged (James 5:16; Matthew 18:15).

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary


Ezekiel 39:26 After that they have borne their shame, and all their trespasses whereby they have trespassed against me, when they dwelt safely in their land, and none made them afraid.

The pouring out of the Spirit is a pledge that God's favour will continue. He will hide his face no more from those on whom he has poured out his Spirit. When we pray that God would never cast us from His presence, we must as earnestly pray that, He will never take his Holy Spirit from us.

When sinners repent, and take shame to themselves, God will be reconciled and put honour upon them. It is particularly pleasing to God that people who sincerely repent of their sins look a great way back in their old sin filled reflections, and are ashamed of all their trespasses which they were guilty of. Outward safety is often a cause of inward security, and that is an inlet to all sin.

Ezekiel 16:63 That thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more because of thy shame, when I am pacified toward thee for all that thou hast done, saith the Lord GOD.

The more we feel of God's love, the more ashamed we are that ever we offended him. And the more our shame for sin is increased, the more will our comfort in God be increased also. Don't ever open your mouth to justify thyself, or to condemn others, or to quarrel with thy God, because of thy shame. When we see our own exceeding unworthiness, and HIS superabounding grace which has so wonderfully overcome with love our sins (Ro 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:) we are accepting our responsibility. "If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged" (1Co 11:31).

The Divine mercy should be powerful to melt our hearts into godly sorrow for sin. Nor will God ever leave the sinner to perish, who is humbled for his sins, and comes to trust in His mercy and grace through Jesus Christ; but will keep him by His power, through faith unto salvation.

Ezekiel 20:43 And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed.

Our own consciences will convict us after we have felt His mercies. We have to remember our former ways with sorrow: and grieve. God's goodness realized by the sinner is the only thing that leads to true repentance. There is no shaking off God's dominion; and those who will not yield to the power of His grace, shall sink under the power of His wrath. But not one of God's jewels shall be lost in the lumber of this world. We will be overcome with His kindness: the more we know of God's holiness, the more we will see the hateful nature of sin. Those who remain unaffected amidst means of grace, and would live without Christ, like the world around them, may be sure it is the way to destruction.

Ezekiel 36:31 Then shall ye remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations.

You will come to true repentance and think yourselves unworthy to be of the number of God's creatures, for your ingratitude against him. The unexpected grace and love of God, manifested in Christ to Israel, shall melt the people into true repentance, which mere legal fear could not. God would give a heart of flesh, a soft and tender heart, complying with His Holy will. Renewing grace works as great a change in the soul, as the turning a dead stone into living flesh. God will put His Spirit within, as a Teacher, Guide, and Sanctifier. The promise of God's grace to fit us for our duty, should quicken our constant care and endeavour to do our duty. These are promises to be pleaded by, and will be fulfilled to, all true believers in every age.

Let us stir up each other to attend the ordinances of God, that we may learn His Holy ways, and walk in them, receiving the law from His Hands, which, being written in our hearts by His Spirit, may show our interest in the Redeemer's righteousness.

All of us must plead guilty. Guilty before God, is a dreadful word. Are you willing to accept responsibility for sinful acts? Please remember that we sin because we want to, not because we have to. We can no longer go around blaming others for the wrongs that we willing to continue doing.

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

SCRIPTURE FOR THE DAY
Hosea 5:15 I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early

LAUGHTER

Psa 126:2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.

I want yall to go with me for a few minutes and picture yourself at your favorite event, be it a sports game, your children's games, your favorite worldly singer or whatever. Now I know yall do some hollering and carrying on at these times. There is much laughter present as well. We are all so eager to holler, "that's my boy/girl." I did and still do with my grand children now. We jump up and down as well.

Now, look at us when it comes to God. We walk around with this long sad, unmade up face and if we aren't careful we will stomp all over our bottom lip when we walk cause we are so stooped over with this unhappiness we want to carry around. When we go up to witness to an unsaved person about Jesus, we say in this dead, unemotional voice, "let me tell you about Jesus." Now tell me why should an unsaved person want to know about "your" Jesus if you are looking and acting as sad as those who walk in the world? They don't need additional sadness. They are looking for relief from all this sad place they have been living in for all their lives. They are looking for someone to give them peace, joy, something good to look forward too.

When I talk about my Jesus, I get excited, I get loud, I feel such joy that it just has to come out. I want to shout about how He took me out of the bottomless pit and brought up to a new level, keeps bringing me up to levels until I reach the final level, HEAVEN and being in His presence forever and ever. Now that is something to shout about, I'm on my way to Heaven and mighty proud to let any and everybody know it. I am not ashamed or afraid to say about my Jesus, "now that's my boy." I don't mean that any disrespect toward Jesus by saying those words, but He was a boy at one time and I am sure there had to be laughter at some points in His life. No the Bible doesn't mention any but that is my thought.

Of course, it stands to reason, He knew what lay before Him that He may not have walked around with a painted on grin for all the world to see. But surely you do realize that there was a presence about Him that drew the lost and dying to Him. Even those people who didn't like Him were drawn to Him. Why is that you reckon? I really don't think it was because He was carrying a sad countenance about that they wanted to be near Him. If you will be totally honest with yourselves, you will admit that you do not like being around people who never see any happiness, laughter, or joy in this world, or their life. No, my dear friends, it had to be the joy of knowing where He was heading and what the reward waiting on Him, just as it is for us, if we only believe in Him.

Don't you imagine after He arose, they might have been a bounce to His step, laughter in His precious voice, joy in knowing that He had fought a good fight and the race for His work on earth was over and done with? In knowing that He would be back home with the Father waiting for those of us who believe on Him to come to Him and worship the one true living, loving God? Can't you imagine the laughter when another sinner becomes a saint, a believer on Him? It makes me want to burst out in laughter just thinking on all the good benefits He has for us.

People let me remind you, after we are dead, we won't be coming back to walk on this earth like He did. One day we will but it will be too late for all those missed opportunities to show others to have the same laughter in God.

When David was dancing in the streets do you really think he wasn't laughing and shouting? Of course he was. He is one of our Lord's relatives, so what does that you?

Lastly, my dear friends, I want to leave you with these two scripture:

1 Samuel 2: 1 And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn (strength) is exalted in the Lord; my mouth is enlarged (laughter, a smile) over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation. And I Thessalonians 4:19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

Let us all remember at Jesus' return, He will descend from Heaven with shout, a mighty voice so we won't miss Him and will be taken up with Him.

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

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY
Ecc 3:4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

WHOSOEVER

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Today we are going to elaborate on the lesson from Max Lucado from the Convention.

As I said last night his favorite word in the verse is "whosoever." This is his reason and it really does make sense when you think about it. Again as stated last night, we are all whosoever's. But what I bet you haven't thought about, John 3:16 is a Covenant made by God to all of us whosoever's. All He asked from us is to believe. Not much is it? He is there for the world at any time that we are willing to come to Him.

Do you know what Covenant means? It simply means a "promise." He promises us that we will not perish if we just believe on His only begotten Son. He promises that we will have everlasting life if we only accept His precious only begotten Son. He didn't set a place or time. We are free to come to Him no matter where we are at any time that we believe enough in Him to approach His throne of Grace. He is always there for us whosoever's, any where and at anytime.

But what about our promise's to God? Oh yes, we all make them, but how many of the promises made to Him do we really keep? I would dare say not many promises we make are really ever kept. I know we always use the excuse, God understands. After all I am only human. It wasn't really God's will for me to do thus and so. If it wasn't His will to do the promise we made then why did He have us make it in the first place? Let me tell you why. It is just plain and simple, we really don't want too. We need that time to do more important things in our lives.

He didn't ask us to promise Him that we would go to the Cross. He didn't ask us to give up one of our children to the Cross. Oh yes He knew we sure enough wouldn't do that. All He wants from us is to keep the simple promises that are made to Him. To praise Him, sing of His blessings and to thank Him for those many blessings, whenever and whereever we are. We will be judged for the idle words (Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.) of these unkept promises. Bet you haven't thought of that either huh?

How many of whosoever's spend over half our lives keeping promises to others here on earth. To the very Father who has done and will continue to do much for us, we don't have the whenever or where ever to kept our promises to Him. We promise Him so much and keep so little of them. We ask of Him so much and we give so little back in return.

So in closing, the next time you start to make a Covenant with God think on what His cost Him, so that we will be able to keep our part of the Covenant. Simply, the next time you tell God you are going to do something for Him, just do it. The cost won't be that high or costly for us.

Rememer all He asks from us whosoever's is to BELIEVE. If we truely believe we will be able to keep our promises made to Him or we will learn to keep our idle words to ourselves.

Thank you Max Lucado for this valuable lesson.

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

The promises that God made to us are forever, He never changes. Unlike us, we change, and because of His merices we can ask and recieve forgiveness. Take it one step at a time. Just for today Lord let me ask and think before I speak. Let me wait for guidance before I act or react. rECj

HAPPINESS

My dear friends, I have to tell yall about the Women of Faith Conference. It has been many a year since I have laughed so hard or have felt so refreshed. The joy of the Lord was all over the place. Sandi Patti was one of the singers, now I must admit, Contemporary Music is not my thing, but when she was singing How Great Thou Art the Holy Ghost came down on her and it radiated all over the 18,000 women there. It was just plain one of the most special moments during the conference.

Max Lucado spoke Friday night on John 3:16. He wanted to know what our favorite word in the verse was. His is "whosoever." Like he said, whosoever, includes everybody. We are all whosoever. God is willing and waiting for all of us to come to Him when ever and where ever we are. There is never a "bad" time to come before the Almighty God.

The Ladies who gave us the Comedy portion of the show were so outstanding. There is absolutely no way to pick a favorite. They all were wonderful. It was so nice to be around a group of people where there was no cussing, body parts and the crazy clothes worn by so many people. It made my heart soar to see so many woman praising God unashamedly.

I had to promise my baby boy that I would contain my opinions and my outspokenness. Now I have to tell yall that was hard for me. Thank God He did give me the strength to control myself, up to a point. So, at the supper table Friday night I did ask the ladies to sign a paper stating just how good I was. If yall knew me, you would know that I don't try to get people to like me. I can't and won't keep my opinions to myself if it goes against what the Word of God says. The really wonderful thing was that we all believed the same thing so that problem didn't arise.

I am a Pentecostal at heart. A domination that walks around without makeup, don't wear pants, jewelry and with a sad long face. That is not me. I have always stayed in trouble with those people cause I don't have the sad face. I do wear pants, makeup and jewelry, but I don't drink, dance, cuss or go to movies. I also watch TV. I believe the joy that comes from our God should shine from us. I believe in laughter. Oh yes, we all have our sad times during life, that is not what I am talking about. I am talking about the sheer pleasure that is imparted to us by Jesus. Laughing at filthy jokes and dirt and hurt of others is not my idea of funny.

Following is a copy of the letter I sent to our Preacher:

I really do have to tell you about your ladies I met this week-end. I hope you can understand I am not good with names, after over 42 years as a waitress, faces are my thing. Also, please understand this comes from a heart that hides behind a very thick wall, a heart that has been walked on and hurt too many times. But I must confess to you that this was the best week-end I have spent in many a year. These ladies were and are the BEST. Ann, Miss Audrey and so many of the others, who names I don't remember were so good to me. It has really just plain increased my faith.

I am not an easy person to like or get to know, of course most of the problem lies at my feet, cause I don't try to be. Each and everyone of these ladies went out of their way to be there for me, even to the point of helping me walk, to taking their time so I wouldn't be left behind.

I saw more God in these ladies than I have seen in many a year and appreciate it more than you, or them will ever know. They certainly went beyond the call of duty and showed the very true nature of our God. They took the time to get inside the wall and show that God's love does still abound.

This love started even before the trip. A lady, tall and blonde, walked over to where I was standing in the parking lot waiting for everybody to get there, to make sure I was alright. She didn't know me from Church, so that didn't have anything to do with her kindness towards me.

Each one of them looked beyond my faults, which are many but thankfully they only say a few of them, and showered me with amazing love.

Thank you, these precious ladies and God for giving me this very special blessing that will never be forgotten or replaced.

P S I am going to keep my suitcase packed so I can be ready for the next out of town trip.

When the chance comes for you to go to a Woman or Men's Conference, please do so. Your life will be changed for the better.

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


rECj If you knew LJG like I know LJG, is my first thought. This is from her heart. She does not mince words when it comes to her feelings about the LORD, or for anything for that matter. And for that I am most thankful. This is one lady who will boldly go before the LORD about any and everything. Her heart is as big as gold.

Thank you LJG and please share more with us in the weeks to come.

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY
Psa 126:2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.

THE TWELVETH HOUR

WORD OF WISDOM
DESIRE ~ (Haggai 2:7), usually interpreted as a title of the Messiah. The Revised Version, however, more correctly renders "the desirable things of all nations;" i.e., the choicest treasures of the Gentiles shall be consecrated to the Lord.

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary




For months we had planned our meeting. LJG had been packed her bags. I am the one who has everything in the closet ready to pack at the last moment. It got down to the last week, we believed and keep talking of all we would do. Then as the hours shortened, and finally got to the twelfth hour, we both knew it was not going to happen.

I have to admit that the entire final day I was bubbling over with joy. Even to the point I did not want to make the phone call saying no I cannot go. I could not contain my joy, and did not want to hurt LJG’s feelings.

After the phone call I asked God to reveal to me why I was unable to go. Today I received my answer. But let me go back just a bit. Understand the week before the final day God had blessed me going out and coming in, even to a stranger blessing me with a scripture box. Why I wondered would He bless me so, but not give us the desires of our hearts to see each other after all these years. Then His answer came.

While there LJG got a chance to bond very closely with the ladies from her church. If I had been there this would not have happened. We would have been so into each other that we would have not received as we could. This trip was for God to reveal to LJG that she is a blessing to so many. It was her time, not ours.

Yes God will give us the desires of our heart, and LJG and I will get to have our reunion soon. God though knew that she needed this more then she needed to see me. His ways are not our ways. He gave me such joy that I could not contain, because He knew that something better was in store than either of us had planned.

For the next few days she will share with you. You will hear from here her the joy that God blessed her with. The things that she learned, and how she has grown.

And I, well God has showed me that with Him all things are possible, in His time. But no matter what I have His joy with me always.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY
2 Thess 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

DEAD TREE

WORD OF WISDOM
BIRDS ~ Birds are divided in the Mosaic law into two classes, (1) the clean (Leviticus 1:14-17; 5:7-10; 14:4-7), which were offered in sacrifice; and (2) the unclean (Leviticus 11:13-20). When offered in sacrifice, they were not divided as other victims were (Genesis 15:10). They are mentioned also as an article of food (Deuteronomy 14:11). The art of snaring wild birds is referred to (Psalm 124:7; Proverbs 1:17; 7:23; Jeremiah 5:27). Singing birds are mentioned in Psalm 104:12; Ecclesiastes 12:4. Their timidity is alluded to (Hosea 11:11). The reference in Psalm 84:3 to the swallow and the sparrow may be only a comparison equivalent to, "What her house is to the sparrow, and her nest to the swallow, that thine altars are to my soul."

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary



One of the first things I noticed when I moved into my new apartment is the dead tree on the corner of the building. In fact it is on the very corner that my bedroom is on. The tree is slightly higher then the roof of this one story, but it is small and would not cause much damage if it were uprooted by a storm. Still I wondered why had they not removed it.

I have grown used to that tree by now; it helps guide people to my apartment. I have seen in magazines how people would put bottles in trees, and though it looks pretty, I doubt my apartment manager would like it. Then it crossed my mind to maybe decorate it in some way, I do like the silent wind chimes; but this thought to passed with time.

Then about a week ago, my tree came to life. No it did not suddenly sprout leaves. It was dark outside when I heard a bird singing, and I do mean singing, not just chirping. Now every evening and just after dark I am serenaded by this bird. I finally caught a glimpse of him one afternoon. He is brown with an off white chest. Nothing special to look at, not small but not really big. Just a plain bird.

I remembered something Dad had told me growing up when I spied a drunk in the ditch. I said Dad you will never see me like that, to which he replied then that man has served a purpose in your life.

Some people might see a dead tree at the corner of my apartment, but I see a stand for a night serenading bird. He is there for me, and if you happen to hear him, that is good, and if not, that is okay to. He is one of those little gifts from God that I will enjoy. Tomorrow I am buying him some food. I want to keep him happy to be in my dead tree, because he has given it back a lot of life.

What is in your life that to others looks like nothing, but to you it is a gift from God that brings joy into your life?

God Bless,
rECj/LJG

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY
Lev 14:49 And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop:

TILAPIA

WORD OF WISDOM
GALILEE ~ It was the scene of some of the most memorable events of Jewish history. Galilee also was the home of our Lord during at least thirty years of his life. The first three Gospels are chiefly taken up with our Lord's public ministry in this province. "The entire province is encircled with a halo of holy associations connected with the life, works, and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth." "It is noteworthy that of his thirty-two beautiful parables, no less than ninteen were spoken in Galilee. And it is no less remarkable that of his entire thirty-three great miracles, twenty-five were wrought in this province. His first miracle was wrought at the wedding in Cana of Galilee, and his last, after his resurrection, on the shore of Galilee's sea. In Galilee our Lord delivered the Sermon on The Mount, and the discourses on `The Bread of Life,' on `Purity,' on 'Forgiveness,' and on `Humility.' In Galilee he called his first disciples; and there occurred the sublime scene of the Transfiguration."

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary



[ta-lap-p-a]

That’s okay I can’t say it right and I look at it everyday at work. This is about tilapia and where they come from. The tilapia's I see come from Twain and are shipped to my store. They are also found in Lake Galilee. Lake Galilee is the world’s lowest fresh-water lake. It sets about 680 ft below sea level and is 150 ft at it’s deepest. It is only about 13 X 7 miles. Much of Jesus’ ministry was based around the lake, and 7 of the disciples were Galilee fisherman. During the New Testament times the lake was a rich fishing ground, the principal catch probably being tilapia or “St Peter’s Fish.”

Okay this really is not about tilapia, but I just wanted to threw it in, as I found it to be interesting.

The disciples were referred to many times as fishers of men. Just as they would go out into their boats, or even stand on the shores with their nets. They would cast in those nets and usually pull in a good harvest of fish.

Now as men following Jesus they would cast out for men, and usually pull in their nets full. And just as the principal catch was then tilapia now it was men.

Here is the point, they had to cast out their nets to catch fish. At the end of the day, the fishermen did not just anchor their boats. They would empty the fish and then clean and check the nets for repairs. They would do this when they got in to shore so they would be ready to take out the boats the next morning.

I used to watch Mr. Son, an old man, repair nets. He even let me patch a few. It is not slow work, but careful work. The net one repaired must be secure. The only way to tell the old net from the new was the color of the line used. Mr. Son would set the nets up in between two big trees in his yard to work on them. If the repair was not done properly, the net would tear and they would lose fish. Big companies called Mr. Son as replacing nets is very costly, and it is a lost and dying art. I could never get the hang of starting the repair, but once it was started I found it very easy to go in and out with the shank and mend the net.

Any net would not work. And any way will not work with man. Have you ever stopped to look at the way you got saved, and the person beside you never got it. Or your friend got saved before you, and you didn’t get it.

Just as with fish, different methods are needed to catch different men. But nothing will happen if the net is not cast out into the sea. The net also has to be ready to catch the fish.

For us to be fishers of men or women we must be prepared. When Jesus told the disciples to go out and not take shoes or an extra robe, or food, He did not mean to go unprepared. Being prepared means to have the Word stored up inside of you. If you have the word inside you, then God will give you the word to speak to fill your net. But if your net is full of holes, the fish will slip out and you will lose the catch.

So check your net and go fishing. Hope you catch lots of tilapia.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY
Matthew 4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.

SUNDAY EDITORIAL

WORD OF WISDOM
MESSIAH ~ (Hebrews mashiah), in all the thirty-nine instances of its occurring in the Old Testament, is rendered by the LXX. "Christos." It means anointed. Thus priests (Exodus 28:41; 40:15; Numbers 3:3), prophets (1 Kings 19:16), and kings (1 Samuel 9:16; 16:3; 2 Samuel 12:7) were anointed with oil, and so consecrated to their respective offices. The great Messiah is anointed "above his fellows" (Psalm 45:7); i.e., he embraces in himself all the three offices. The Greek form "Messias" is only twice used in the New Testament, in John 1:41 and 4:25 (R.V., "Messiah"), and in the Old Testament the word Messiah, as the rendering of the Hebrew, occurs only twice (Dan. 9:25, 26; R.V., "the anointed one").

The first great promise (Genesis 3:15) contains in it the germ of all the prophecies recorded in the Old Testament regarding the coming of the Messiah and the great work he was to accomplish on earth. The prophecies became more definite and fuller as the ages rolled on; the light shone more and more unto the perfect day. Different periods of prophetic revelation have been pointed out, (1) the patriarchal; (2) the Mosaic; (3) the period of David; (4) the period of prophetism, i.e., of those prophets whose works form a part of the Old Testament canon. The expectations of the Jews were thus kept alive from generation to generation, till the "fulness of the times," when Messiah came, "made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law." In him all these ancient prophecies have their fulfilment. Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the great Deliverer who was to come. (Comp. Matthew 26:54; Mark 9:12; Luke 18:31; 22:37; John 5:39; Acts 2; 16:31; 26:22, 23.)

SOURCE: Easton's Bible Dictionary

WHO ARE THEY ANYWAY?

We read about them all the time, but exactly who are the Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots, Proselytes, and the Samaritans? They are mentioned many times in the Bible, but just who are they.

They are all Jews. Well that does not tell us much. Isn’t a Jew a Jew? Well no it is not that simple. Just as there are different kinds of Christians, there are different kinds of Jews.

We are going to take a look at each group and see what sets them apart from the others.

Pharisees where the religious purist. They were committed to preserving and obeying the law, and to encourage others to do the same. They were model Jews and widely respected. Because of such a tight standard of this legal observance of the Law it limited their social interaction with other Jews. Their influence was strong, and they are the ones who developed the lines on which Judaism developed after the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.

The Sadducees were drawn from the rich, landowning families. Most of the Chief Priests were Sadducees and the High Priest was chosen from their ranks. They controlled the organization of the Temple and were the dominant party in the Jewish Supreme Council. The were conservative in that they did not accept any revelation beyond the Five Books of Moses. They rejected beliefs such as immortality, resurrection, angels and demons, which the Pharisees accepted. Sadducees were not as popular as Pharisees.

The Essenes came more to light in 1947 with the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. From the Qumran Community, the monastic sect of Essenes lived in deliberate isolation. Founded by an unknown called “The Teacher of Righteousness’ it existed from 165 BC to AD 68. The Essenes saw themselves as the true people of God, and other Jews as their enemies. They waited in the desert for the Messiahs. Yes there is an "s" on the end of Messiah. The Messiah of Aaron, the royal Messiah of Israel and the final battle between the sons of Light and Sons of Darkness. While there they occupied themselves in a diligent study of the Scriptures. They were bound by a strict monastic discipline, keeping the law more rigorously even than the Pharisees; loving one another and hating all outsiders.

Zealots were a group who did not want to wait for God’s intervention in the future. Zealots simply put were religiously motivated patriots, believing that the people of God should not be subject to a foreign empire.

The Samaritans were the surving descendants of Israelites who intermarried with alien populations after the fall of Samaria. They never reintegrated with Judah. They built their own Temple on Mt. Gerizim setting the seal of repudiation from the Jews. They worshipped the same God, their authority being the Five Books of Moses, hardly altered from the Jewish version. They hoped for the coming of a prophet like Moses. The Jewish hatred for Samaritans came from more historical and racial considerations, than from any fundamental difference in religion.

Proselytes were Gentiles who accepted and became Jews. In effect a change of nationally. They were circumcised, baptized and followed the laws. Many more were attracted to the monotheistic faith and strict morality of Judaism and identified themselves with the faith and ideas of Israel but stopped short of full commitment. They were also called “those who fear God” or “the devout.”

Hope this gives you a better understanding of whom these Jewish people were.

God Bless,
rECj/LJG

SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY
Isa 5:21 Woe unto [them that are] wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!