He is High and Lifted Up!
Our focus is man centered instead of God centered. As such we focus on what we do and what we can do, instead of on what God has done for us.
Jesus Our Sabbath, part 2.
This missive was written in response to a friend who has insisted that Saturday is the only day for worship. Part 1 is here Summary: Come to ME, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest (Sabbath) Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest (Sabbath) for your souls. Matthew 11:28–29 Rick as I read through your letter, I am hesitant to respond in detail as I fear you have missed my main point. But I will get to that. Unfortunately, you have unreliable sources for excluding the phrase “he declared all foods clean” The parentheses are not in the original text, btw, but the attestation for that line goes back to early manuscripts: https://www.neverthirsty.org/bible-qa/qa-archives/question/was-thus-he-declared-all-foods-clean-inserted-by-man-mark-719/ Your assertion that the situation was unique to Antioch about using the Noahic Covenant for Gentiles is just not true. It is repeated three times in Acts as a counsel as to how to treat Gentile believers. That Noahic Covenant declared all foods clean: “Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything. But you shall not eat flesh … Read more
Forgiveness – Why We Need It.
Unforgiveness leads to health problems and traps us in the past. Forgiveness releases us from the pain of the past. Teaching us how to forgive.
Escapism vs. Enduring Persecution for Faithfulness
Dispensationalism is a doctrine of man imposed upon the scripture; a doctrine is that causes fatalism and for people to give up and wait for rescue. There is no hope for God’s victory on the Earth
Spiritual Gifts, The Holy Spirit, The Giver of Spiritual Gifts
The Holy Spirit Gives Gifts as He wills We are to desire the gifts of the Spirit, especially that we may prophesy. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
The gifts of the Spirit were not to confirm the scriptures as canon but it expressly says the gifts were given by the Holy Spirit to build up the Body of Christ, the Church
Trusting God in the Shaking, A Conflict of Powers
We are in a battle against Spiritual Wickedness using worldly powers: Government, Financial Systems, Politics, Communications, Religion. God is judging the world’s systems but has set apart a place of refuge for the people of God.
Jesus is Our Sabbath
Jesus is our Sabbath, our Day of Rest. He is the fulfillment of the Law. For he said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Matthew 5:17 (ESV) Therefore it says: “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” 1 Corinthians 1:30–31 (NIV) Our righteousness and holiness are to be found in Jesus alone; and in his labors that fulfilled the law we can find our rest. That is why it says of Jesus, “For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his. “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:8–11 (ESV) In other words, if you want a true Sabbath rest, … Read more
Mighty God, Everlasting Father
The birth of Jesus was prophesied by Isaiah, in chapter 9 where he said that Jesus would be both a Son given to us as a child AND the Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace
The Spirits of Fear, Horror and Witchcraft
There are 2 types of fear: Fear of the Lord, and Fear of the Devil. Satan’s desire is to make you afraid of him and forget about fearing the Lord. The spirit of fear can enter us in many ways. What we watch, through the occult, through witchcraft.
But God has not given us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and a sound mind.
Submission, Authority and Power
Authority and power come through submission to higher authorities, whether spiritual or natural.
Jesus submitted to John at Baptism. Why did he need to do so to “fulfill all righteousness”?
How are we to honor one another? What do biblical humility and submission look like?