No man, educated or uneducated, can afford to be ignorant of the Bible...A thorough understanding of the Bible is better than a college education. Within the covers of this one single book, the Bible, are all the answers to all the problems we face today.
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalted itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled. {2 Corinthians 10:3-6}
As the threat of terror and war come into view more and become greater everyday every day, in this country with the Muslim terrorist and their agenda of hate, We, as Christians, should all remember that we who are saved and are in the Body of Christ are, also, already at war spiritually. We are constantly competing in our minds, we battle over thoughts, feelings, and emotions. The Devil, the enemy of our souls, is constantly on the attack and often attacks us by bringing up things from our past. Things that are under the blood of Christ. He is sneaky. The many failures, regrets, wounds, the suffering, pain and all kinds of torment that we have went through in our life and all of them have the capability to drag us down into doubt, darkness and despair. Our great challenge is not to respond to these memories, of the hurts in our past life, with knowing the old man is dead and all things have became new. Our victory is and thoughts are in Christ. We have a new and better life in Jesus. That is how we respond to those thoughts and feelings of our past. It is with the mind of Christ. Remember all things are made new when we come to Him as new creations! Remember in the Old Testament when God forbid the priests from entering His Presence if they had touched any dead thing. This is a lesson for us in our present day. We must leave the old, dead frame of mind and way of thinking behind, the ways that you used to react to things in the past – instead, enter into your prayer closet and get in touch and feel at one with your Savior! The one who died for you. The fight over past problems, in our life, is won when we let Jesus take control over the meaning and purpose of our lives. With Jesus in our hearts and minds, everything in our past is now under His authority. So let go and let God go! With Him in charge of our life we are overcomers.
"FOR THEN MUST HE OFTEN HAVE SUFFERED SINCE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD: BUT NOW ONCE IN THE END OF THE WORLD HATH HE APPEARED TO PUT AWAY SIN BY THE SACRIFICE OF HIMSELF" (Hebrews 9:26)
At the very beginning of Jesus’ Ministry, John The Baptist addressed the sin question and who Jesus was, once and for all, by saying this: “Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sins of the world” Notice in those words by John, the forerunner of Christ, when he said, “The Lamb of God. He was, cleverly and clearly, insinuating for the multitudes and crowds to hear, the manner and the way the sin question would be dealt with. There would be no more using the blood of lambs, sheep, goats, and bulls, over and over again, to keep people because It would be dealt with by Jesus dying on the cross and the spilling of His blood. That is who “takes away sin” Jesus was and is the Lamb of God.
This is the reason that the Christian faith must be totally centered around the cross and Christ. The Christians faith must always focus on and center around what Jesus did for us at the cross when he laid down His life for us. We must also realize that the very heart of the gospel is the cross and all roads lead to that cross. We hear sinners say that all roads lead to Roman but for the Christian all roads lead to the cross. Our faith must be anchored there. Our heavenly father does not demand much of the human race, but only for one to be saved and that is by putting their trust in Jesus and what He did at the cross. This is our faith and victory that will overcome this sinful world that we live in. This world is not our home we are just passing through! Our treasures are laid up somewhere above the blue.
The biggest problem with most {not all} the church of today is they have placed their faith and values in other things such as their denomination, how much money they have, their church, their pastor and many other things. This is the modern day sins of most churches. They have took their eyes off Christ and ignored the cross. They have by passed it by and put their faith in other things such as the prosperity gospel that a lot of preachers teach. Most of the people in our churches today are walking in spiritual defeat because of this. We are not talking about the saved believer strapping their self to some type of cross. We are not talking about “woe is me” and we are not talking about “doing penitence.”The true meaning of everything that has been said here is this: “The cross is a finished work. When Jesus said, “It was finished that is what our savior meant. It is finished. When Jesus died on the cross he put away sin, past present, and future, for all those who believe and follow Him. All we have to do is follow Him. If we stumble in our walk of faith then we must get back up and repent. We have an advocate with the father and that is Jesus Christ, the lamb of God, who died on the cross and spilt His blood that we may be saved!
As it should be the object of the Christians faith is, simply, to know and understand that God deals with the human race on the basis’ of faith in what Jesus did on the cross. Abraham was a great example of faith. It tells us in the scriptures that: “ Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6)(Romans 4:3) These scriptures does not and did not mean, that Abraham merely believed in God. Abraham believed that God would send a redeemer into this world.
Satan has been so successful over the years because he has turned the faith of believers to other things, other than the cross. The most important thing that all believers must learn and always keep in mind is that our faith and trust must be anchored in Jesus and what He did for us on the cross. We must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and the cross.
How great it is to know that When the enemy comes against us like a raging flood tide , the Spirit of the Lord will drive him back. The problem is that a lot of Christians will not stand on that word. Although when we read this scripture we tend to think about our struggles with the powers of darkness and rightly so, but this scripture will be completely fulfilled in the day when the anti christ will sweep down on Israel in his effort to destroy the Jews and to stop Jesus from setting up His kingdom in Jerusalem, a battle which Satan will lose, but let us talk about another standard today. There has, also, always been a standard to be lifted up by Christians. The value of any system is based on a standard. The army, of this nation, has a standard that all soldiers must abide by and the value of any Christian must be based on his or her love, and loyalty for the Master. That loyalty and love is the foundation for our standard as a follower of Christ. As Christians we all know radical changes had taken hold in our society, with massive attacks on the family and our faith. The Roe vs. Wade court decision legalized abortion in the U.S., Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Bible, were removed from schools, and parents discipline of their children was frowned upon. Homosexuals openly parade our streets, same sex marriages are preformed in our churches, homosexuals stand behind some of our pulpits and all these sins and a lot of others are a disgrace in God's eyes . The result was radical change and sweeping ungodliness in this country. Divorce rates began to skyrocket, and families were breaking down at a record speed. Isaiah 59:19 says, "When the enemy shallcome in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. We as Christians, with the Lord's help, must lift that standard high before there is a slipping away of our freedom of speech, and freedom to preach the uncompromised Word of God. The flood has already started and we must lift up that standard. We must not compromise the Word of God. It is a lamp that guides us in this world of darkness. It is our job as followers of Christ to go through the gates that are kept shut today in our society. We are living in a day of looseness in our churches, our homes, our morals, and our standards. We are failing our young people and this whole generation because we are not preparing the way for them, That old time way, the old paths to walk there in. But we can still prepare that way. We can still lift up that standard. We need to lift up a standard, a banner, that shows to our children and the world that this is the way and make it plain and straight. Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
We all hear the word “Shalom” used a lot in greetings as we say hello to a love one or a goodbye as we leave. Did you also know that Jesus, who is also called The Prince of Peace means “Saar Shalom”, in Hebrew. You may have already known that the word "shalom" means peace. But in fact, if you research and study the word, you will see that it has several meanings in the Hebrew language. It is a very important word. Shalom means peace, completeness, prosperity, safety, contentment, health, blessing, and rest -- and not only that. Shalom is the common word for hello and goodbye. This is the reason and the season to speak “Shalom” {a blessing} over and over again to one another! But let us not stop there. Make the year 2010 the year of blessings so, when you greet someone or bid them a farewell by saying "Shalom", what you are actually doing is speaking all those blessings upon them -- and really, speaking over them the ultimate blessing, Jesus {The Prince of Peace}, the Savior of the World. Himself!
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye [are]: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy [you], when I smite the land of Egypt.
Without a doubt this has to be one of the most single over looked verses in the whole Bible, but one of the most important scripture in the whole Bible. It was not the self worthiness of the Hebrews, it was their faith in that blood. God did not say “when I see you, or, when I see your good works”, or “When I see how much money you have” or “When I see how important you are” nor did He say, “when I see where you go to church”, but He said “When I see the blood” Has the blood been applied to the door post of your heart? Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?Are you washed in the blood of the lamb? Applying the Blood of Christ to your life is a very important matter just as it was for the Hebrews when they were in Egypt. The blood applied to the door post meant that the Hebrew's faith and their trust was in the blood of that Lamb. The blood that was applied then, was meant to be a token of the ONE to come, a symbol of the one who would redeem man kind by the shedding of His life Blood. The Hebrews in that day were facing many hardships (as we are today) by the hands of the Egyptians. You do not have to read between the lines to see the hunger, hardship, sickness, and the poor quality of life that the Hebrews (God's Children) were facing, and just the plain brutality of their Egyptian masters. The Hebrews had a hard life. But deliverance came! It was when they applied the blood.
It did not matter if the house was new, old, large, or small. The blood had to be applied to the door post. It did not matter how far they could trace their linage back or if it was perfect, or they went to the synagogue often, or what religious ceremonies they took part in. All that mattered was applying that blood. The Hebrews may have not known much or understood of what was taken place, but this one thing they did know, if they were to be safe that night, the blood had to applied and that was all that mattered. The Blood of the lamb and the word of the Lord formed that foundation of the Hebrews peace and safety that night. All that were under the cover of that blood were made safe, just as it is now to all that are saved and under the cover of the precious blood of Jesus.
This story take us to the very heart and true meaning of Christianity. It is the story and true meaning of the cross. We, as Christians, must see our full redemption in the blood of Jesus because our full redemption rest in that precious Blood. Our simple forgiveness of sin rest on that. We either trust it or we do not trust it.
If our nation wants deliverance, from the evil that has come upon it, then it should take a page out of the history that is found here. We must look to Jesus. The one who died on calvary, long ago, and shed His Blood that we might be saved. We must apply the blood of Christ to our hearts and to the door post all across America, in our homes, schools, government buildings, our churches, because it is nothing but the blood of Jesus that can save us. What can wash away the sins of this nation? Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!
Here is how you, this nation, and I can be safe and secure from all that alarms us. We can read in Revelations 12:11 this: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” We overcome Satan by the blood of the lamb! The blood on the door post was evidence of the Hebrews faith in that they were commanded to do it and they did it without question. To most people this would be a laugh, a joke, a fairy tail, But to a servant of God it means everything. That is the mind set of most people today. We can read in 1 Cor. 1:18 This: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
There was nine other plagues that befell Egypt and yet the Hebrews were still held captive by the Egyptians . Why was the last plague any different? It was different because it struck at the very heart of the Egyptian empire. You might ask how does all this tie into our present day problems that we have in this country and our salvation? We have had, in the last few years great floods that killed thousands and destroyed thousands of homes. Remember the Gulf Coast? We have had terrorist attacks on our cities that have killed thousands, we are experiencing a great recession that some are even calling a depression, earth quakes on the west coast, and many other disasters that have never been as bad, there is a very high unemployment rate, no work, people going hungry, but yet this country is still rebellious and rejects God. This is in no way a “Dooms Day” thought, but it is a warning to be ready. Soon there will be things that will strike at the very heart of this country. Make sure that you have the Precious Blood of the Lamb applied to your heart.
What ever the plague may be it will come and it may not take the first born as in Mose's time but it will be just as bad and devastating. The only remedy is the “shed blood of the lamb of God”, His Son. It is the only remedy for sin. It is that shed blood of Christ that gives perfect peace, divine righteousness, purges the conscience, and gives us our right and our title to receive all the joys, and glories of heaven. What a great feeling. What a great God.
You can believe it or not, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord. It was good enough for my mother and father, uncles and aunts and it is good enough for me. What can wash away my sins (and yours) nothing but the blood of Jesus.
And you, O tower of the flock, The stronghold of the daughter of Zion, To you shall it come, Even the former dominion shall come, The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem." But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting." (Micah 4:8;5:2) NKJV
We are told and can read that Bethlehem was the birth place of Our Lord. Bethlehem (meaning is “The House of Bread”, so fitting because it was here where He, who is “The Bread of Life” was born.) was located in the district of Ephrathah (Fruitful) and Bethlehem was sometimes called Ephrathah. We all sing the song at Christmas “OH little Town Of Bethlehem” and we all remember the manger scenes. But there are many people who are do not know of the very deep importance and the significance of that little town of Bethlehem, Jesus' birthplace. Sometimes the history behind what we read and study in the Bible are very important because it give us the reasons and answers for the questions we ask about events and scriptures in the Bible. Have you ever wondered why Bethlehem was chosen as the birth place of Our Lord? Everyone knows that Bethlehem was a place where shepherds grazed their sheep, and where the Messiah was to be born, but how many people realize that it was a town designated and selected as the birthing place for lambs which were used for the Passover sacrifice. The Scriptures found in the Bible give significant and important details about this little town as to why this little town was picked as the birthplace of our Savior.
In Micah 4:8 we read about the "watchtower of the flock", or in Hebrew, "Migdal Eda r." While reading the story of "Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah", by Alfred Edersheim, who was a Christian Jew that lived in the later parts of the 1800's, I learned that Migal Edar was the location where the Jewish people believed the Messiah was to be revealed. This watchtower stood as a place of protection for the city from approaching enemies, but it was also utilized by shepherds to watch over the specific flocks from which sacrificial Passover lambs were taken. How much more important is that Precious Lamb was born there, the one that would take away the sins of the world, Our Savior.
The shepherds who were tending these particular flocks were no ordinary run of the mill shepherds. They were picked and specifically trained by the Rabbis for a holy task. They had to know what they were doing. They were just not ordinary, run of the mill, Sheppard. They had to be holy. They had to insure that every lamb, that they raised, was free of any blemish or injury, in order to be used for the Passover sacrifice. Great care was taken in the raising of this lambs. This was something the shepherds did not take lightly. Since they were instructed by the Rabbis, they, also, had to knew of the passages and the writings in the Targums (The Aramaic translations) and the Mishna associating the birth of the Messiah with "Migdal Edar". For example, Migdal Edar is translated in one of the Targums as "The Anointed One of the Flock of Israel." It is also written in the Mishna (this is a collection of oral laws compiled about 200 A.D. by Rabbi Judah ha-Nasi and forming the basic part of the Talmud) that "He spread his tent beyond Migdal Edar, the place where The Messiah will reveal Himself at the end of days."
Those shepherds had strong clues of Messiah's advent in the small town where they lived, so that when the angels appeared, to them, telling them of His arrival, they reacted right away and went to worship Him. They had to know something. We too have growing signs of His very soon Coming again for the second time. All we have to do is to read the scriptures and open our eyes. Are we also ready to react and respond to his coming? Are we ready to rejoice? Our readiness and wiliness to act in faith and worship will show how well we understand the signs of our own times. There is still so much work to be done, let us stay awake and keep our lamps trimmed (like the 10 wise virgins) and be inspired by the belief of His soon coming. Go tell it over the mountain, because, just like those shepherds of Bethlehem, we truly were born for such a time as this and we, as Christians must never forget this.
As I sit here thinking and pondering over things this morning the thought came to me it's amazing how quickly we, as God's Children, can forget the good things that God has promised us and done for us, and not only do we forget, we begin to grumble! We begin to murmur and complain like the Hebrews in the wilderness. Everything that is good is before us and we would still rather grumble and complain.
More than once in the Gospel of Luke, we can read that Mary, the mother of Jesus, kept these things and pondered them. It seems that Mary always kept a place in her heart where she stored away God's promises. We, also, must create a place in our hearts to store away Gods gifts and promises to us so that we can always remain in a state of joy all the days of our lives. His promises are real and they will come to pass.
During this Christmas season let us reflect and think about all the promises of God and uncover the many buried treasures with which God has blessed us. Let’s ponder and think about these things and thank God for His goodness, for His mercy, for his love, and His protection. He has already done so much for us and He wants to do more and will do more if we will only let Him in. He knocks at the door to our heart today and everyday.
