The Power Behind The Ministry Of Jesus Christ

(Isaiah 11:1-2) “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;”  When Jesus came he was indeed baptized and anointed by the Holy Spirit of God, The Spirit of the Lord; JEHOVAH, and His Holy Ghost (Acts 10:38), even by whom his mother was overshadowed. The Spirit by which the prophets of old did minister: for Messiah was to be a Prophet (Isa 61:1). Wherefore, seven gifts of the Holy Spirit were given him to perfect him, and so perfect was his divine calling that God made him to be our example to follow and pattern, “the captain of our salvation” (Heb. 2:10). For like our day Jesus came to a dry and spiritually dead people, yet through the power of the Holy Spirit of God he was able to bring many sons to God, and that same Spirit's power is available to all that receive Jesus Christ today. May we today to avail ourselves to that same Spirit’s power and also

God Has A Place For Every Member

 (1Co 12:18) "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him."  As the above verse teaches, every member of a local church has been called and placed into that body by God for a purpose. Please note that it's not for our purpose but His pleasure. It's God that decides where we will attend and in what capacity. Over the years I have been asked by many Christians what I thought they ought to do in the church. My answer has always been the same, find something to do and then do it. Clean the church, work in the nursery, volunteer, and help out where you can. God never uses lazy people. Since it is God and not me that placed you here, it's His job to direct you into your ministry. To many of us worry too much about what we are called to do, rather than just helping out and serving now! I have learned that if we will just do now, God will direct us into what "pleases him."  No one ever starts out at the top, and only the faithful and humble find their spiritual place in the body of Christ. So serve, and God will do the rest!

“Learn To Be Thankful For God”

(1Thess. 5:18) “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” It has been said that the happiest people in the world are those that are thankful, and they are happier because they have learned to trust the Lord in every circumstance in life. If we by faith come to the place where we believe that everything happens for a purpose (Rom. 8:28), then by faith we will be able to thank the Lord even when bad times come our way. For some reason many of us believe that if we are faithful to God, then only good things will happen to us, but that's not always true. God wants all of us to see that both good and bad things happen to all men alike, but the difference between those that are thankful and those that are not, is simply in their ability to trust God's will and Word. Brethren, God is there for you every hour and every minute, and especially during those times that you hurt so deeply that you can't find comfort. Jesus promises us grace in our greatest times of need. So yes, thank God for the good things in life, but learn to trust God while in the bad, and be thankful for His ever present presence, and promises during those times of need. Learn to be thankful for God “in every- thing!”
 
 

“Local Church Membership, Right or Wrong”

Over the years I have talked with many Christians about the subject of Church membership. Some Christians believe that because they are saved, that they are automatically a member, while others simply just deny the fact that they need to be. Well, does it really matter if you are member of a local church? Biblically, Yes! Two words that our generation does not like today are accountability, and commitment. Why, because both words place oneself under a mutual obligation with another. For example, marriage is a covenant before God between two people, while living together is not. One cannot walk away from a marriage easily, but where no agreement or commitment is, one can. The same is true with being a member of a local church. Becoming a member means that you must place yourself under the accountability of that church and commit yourself to it. Not becoming a member means that you are accountable to no one, but is that biblical? Be careful not to adopt the world's philosophy of saying, I don't have to when God commands us in His Word to become a part of a local church. The reason that so many Christians today avoid a commitment to a local church is not due to fear, but rather accountability!
 

The Keys To The Kingdom

(Matt. 16:18) "…and the gates of hell will not prevail against it."
The Church of Jesus Christ is the most powerful entity in the world today. Its strength however is not found in its numbers or its membership, but rather in its founder Jesus Christ and his promises. 1) Jesus promised us that the gates of hell would not prevail against us. Why? Because the power of Satan was crushed at the cross, and when Jesus arose he was given the keys "to both hell and death" (Rev. 1:18), meaning that hell and death have no more power over the church. 2) Jesus also gave the church the keys to victory. The Apostle Peter 1st used the keys to open the door of salvation to both the Jew and the Gentile (Matt. 16:19), but after, he gave the church the keys to govern for God, by "binding and loosing on earth" (Matt.18:19). Binding is accepting, where loosing is casting away. The church has the authority on earth to both govern and correct itself when it agrees together to do so. Therefore, our true power is not found in division but rather unity. If the Church then desires to prevail against the gates of hell, we must do it together and in agreement and not alone.
 

Unbelief Makes Miracles Impossible

(Mark. 6:5) "And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief." This passage explains to us why Jesus was not able to do many miracles in his home town of Nazareth. "Unbelief" is a terrible thing because it hinders God from answering our prayers. (Heb. 11:6) says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." 1) Without faith it's impossible to please God. We cannot please God unless we demonstrate to Him that we trust solely in Him and His Word. 2) Without faith it's impossible to prove God. God rewards only those that trust in Him. Faith is trusting God to keep His word, and if we believe it, He is obligated to prove its truth. Therefore only those who believe will see answers to prayer, for those who don't believe, won't receive. 3) Without faith it's impossible to pursue God. God can only be found by those that faithfully and diligently seek Him. Only by our continually coming will we see the miracles of God, for God is not pleased  by unbelief, but he is pleased by the faith  of those that both prove and pursue Him.

 
 

The Church

Pastor's Corner (Matt. 16:18) "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."
In (1 Tim. 3:15), God calls the Church, "the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of truth." The word "church" in the Greek text, is the word "ekklesia, " meaning  "a called out assembly." Jesus began his church with Peter's preaching on the day of Pentecost, but founded his Church upon himself, the solid Rock. God's Church is not the church of a dead Peter, but rather the church of the living Christ. God sent Jesus (and his church) into the world to both save men, and assemble them together as an army. The church is a living and breathing entity of born again believers, empowered by the Spirit, and very much able to prevail over the gates of hell. God's power however is perfected in local fundamental independent assemblies, who reproduce Jesus both in themselves and in those they teach.

Lie #5 – That I Can Follow God But Not Keep His Word

 
Pastor's Corner   (1John 4:6) "We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." Another lie that people tell themselves is that their following God, when they believe contrary to the Bible's teachings. The Apostle John makes it very clear in the above verse that unless we follow the voice of the Holy Spirit we're not truly following God. 1) The Holy Spirit wants us to know that there are many voices in the world that say they are from God but teach contrary to the Bible. In which case, we must be careful to always use the Bible as our guide to discern truth. 2) Not all preachers have the Holy Spirit, and so what they teach is not always right. A truly saved person knows the difference because they have the Holy Spirit within them as a guide. (1Co 2:14), "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." So be careful, judge every voice/message by God's Word. If it doesn't agree with the Word, it's not truth.

 

We Know That We Ought To Be Sharing Christ

 

 
Pastor's Corner  (2Co 5:11) "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;"  This verse had a profound impact on me when I first read it a number of years ago. This was also one of the motivating factors in the Apostle Paul's life. His other motivation he stated in verse (14) "the love of Christ."  As believers we need to keep ourselves motivated when it comes to sharing Christ with others. We know two things for certain, that God loves us but also that there is coming a judgment day for all men. For those of us who are born again it will be a day of reward or loss of reward, but for the unsaved it most certainly will be a day of terror. God is love but He is also someone to be feared. We who know Jesus and His Word, know the wonderful experience of getting saved and making peace with God, but we also know that people who die without salvation go straight to Hell. Knowing this for certain, shouldn't we be more serious about helping others find their way. Brethren, our calling is to persuade men. Why, because we know both the love and the terror of the Lord. Revival meetings are coming, be motivated to invite, and come!
 

Lie #5 -"I Follow God But Not The Bible" (1 John 4:1-6)

 
(1John 4:6) "We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." Another lie that people tell themselves is that their following God, when they believe contrary to the Bible's teachings. The Apostle John makes it very clear in the above verse that unless we follow the voice of the Holy Spirit we're not truly following God. 1) The Holy Spirit wants us to know that there are many voices in the world that say they are from God but teach contrary to the Bible. In which case, we must be careful to always use the Bible as our guide to discern truth. 2) Not all preachers have the Holy Spirit, and so what they teach is not always right. A truly saved person knows the difference because they have the Holy Spirit within them as a guide. (1Co 2:14), "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." So be careful, judge every voice/message by God's Word. If it doesn't agree with the Word, it's not truth but an error.
 

Lie’s That Prevent Joy - Lie#4

 
(1John 2:9) " He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now."  It's amazing to me how many believers believe that they can hate and still be right with God. The world has redefined the word (hate) to apply to anyone that speaks against the beliefs or lifestyles of another, (unless it's Christianity), but seriously God defines hate differently. 
1) To detest someone, meaning that you despise them and choose to dislike them and not forgive them. To say you're saved and feel this way toward anyone is in direct disobedience to the command of God. In fact God closely relates this sin to the sin of murder. 2) To treat another not in love.  Hate is the opposite of love, so if you choose not to love someone you practice hate. Hate can take many forms. God asks all believers to practice mercy and truth. When we withhold truth from another even though we are merciful it is harmful and hateful to that person. Also, we can even hate when we disassociate ourselves from some and fellowship with others. There is nothing worse in this world then to be rejected by brethren. We are supposed to be known for our Love!!

Lie’s That Prevent Joy - Lie#3

 
(1Jo 2:4) "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." The lie that says that, "I know God when I keep not his commandments," is probably one of the biggest lies that is told today. There are literally billions of people on this earth that believe that there is a God, but unfortunately most have never met Jesus through a real salvation experience. It's easy to say I believe, or I'm saved, but how many of those truthfully obey His Word. Jesus asks the question in (Luke 6:46),"And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" There can only be two answers to this question. 1) Most people are not really saved.  Most people don't obey because they simply don't have God's Spirit. (Matt. 7:21) "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven."  2) Because of Disobedience. It's easy to get saved, but it's not so easy to obey God's commands once you’re saved. If you and I truthfully want the joy of the Lord in our lives we must first get saved, and after surrender to the will and way of God. If there is no surrender there can be no real Christian joy. True joy only comes after obedience to God’s commands.

Lie #2 – If we say we have not sinned

(1John 1:4) "And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." As we are reminded in 1 John, it is very possible to have a full joy in life. Satan loves to steal the joy of all who will not repent nor listen to the Word of God. And so the second lie that we tell ourselves, that causes us to lose our joy is found in (1: 8), "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."  1) Salvation. If we will not admit to God that we have sinned and need forgiveness, we cannot be saved because we deceive ourselves into rejecting God's truth. 2) Joy. If we deny the fact that we have sinned, or hide sin within us, we not only lose the Lord's mercy but also our joy. Too many believers today have hidden sins, deep and rooted within them. Sins that they justify sometimes because of the offences of others. Sins such as un-forgiveness, hatred, jealousy, resentment, guile, anger, and selfishness. Brethren it's the secret sins that cause the most harm in your life. So be wise and bring all sin into the light and confess them, and your joy will be full again!

Lie#1 - Fellowship is not important

 
(1Jo 1:4) "… And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full." After we get saved, we not only become a child of God but we also are given the joy of having a personal relationship with Him. Satan hates joyful men that walk with God, and so he diligently works at destroying our fellowship with God, thus removing our joy. Satan is a thief and a liar, and if we're not careful he will convince us that our fellowship with God is not important. 1) Prayer and Bible study. Through these two avenues we begin to know and walk with God. The very moment that we begin to neglect these two very important doors of fellowship with God, Satan steals our joy. 2) Sin. When we walk in darkness, we lose our joy and communion with God. That's why confession of sin must be often. 3) Brotherly love. When believers are not right with each other they cannot be right with God, neither can we be right with God if we’re not involved in fellowship one with another in the Church. If you've lost your joy, you can be certain that one of these three fellowships are being neglected.

“Paying The Price Of Discipleship”

 (Matt. 16:24) "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."  There is a price to pay to truly walk with God. 1) Deny yourself.  To deny means to place your will and plans 2nd to the will and plans of God for your life. Jesus is waiting for you to do this. 2) Carry your cross. Jesus already carried his. Jesus expects those thatcome after him to endure the same hardship by obeying his will, even if it means rejection, persecution, and the death that he endured for us on his cross. 3) Follow him.To follow means you have to stop trying to lead. You can't properly follow until you totally surrender yourself to the direction of God. (Matt. 16:25) "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." The end result of life will totally depend on the amount of you that you surrender or pay back to God. Losing your selfish life to gain his bountiful life is well worth the cost. So, why hold on so tightly to that which you can't keep anyway?

“Israel Lost Their Children In Just One Generation

…and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:" It doesn't take long for Satan and the world to move into the home of God's people, if God's people neglect the spiritual training of their children. In the above verse, the Holy Spirit tells us that once the great men of Joshua's day died after giving Israel freedom, another generation arose that didn't know the Lord or appreciate all that God had done for Israel. As a result they forsook the God of their fathers for the gods and sin of the world around them. Sound familiar?  The longer I live the more I am convinced that the future of this country is not found in just religion, but in spiritually training. The word "Baalim,"above, describes the different forms of the many false gods of the Bible. As Christians today we are responsible for our generation, if we neglect our responsibility to spiritually train our children, they too will go the way of Baalim and sin!
 

There is always hope when raising children

 
(Prov. 22:6) “Train up a child in the way that he should go : and when he is old , he will not depart from it.” God has entrusted to us as parents, what is called "procreation," (The ability to reproduce after ourselves). Parents therefore are to be more than just biological donors. They are called by God to reproduce not only their humanity but also God's spirituality. (Job33:4) says “The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of Almighty God hath given me life." The very fact that God has entrusted unto us His creation, makes us as parents accountable to Him.” Lo children are an heritage of the Lord, and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Psalm 127:3). Training children is a lifetime commitment, and Children don’t just automatically turn out right. Raising children is a 24hr. a day commitment. They belong to God, and we are to raise them for Him and for His glory. Some children take more work than others, but even though a child may reject and rebel against good spiritual training, it is possible to later see them return after rebellion. Remember, if

Never Forget

Take time this Memorial Day to give thanks for the many brave men and women who have given so much that we might live free. Freedom and liberty are both wonderful things but both come with a high price. We as parents today must be diligent to remind our children that both freedom and liberty begin with a high respect for a Holy God and a deep conviction for His truth, even if we have to give our lives to protect it. Scores of millions of God fearing men and women have endured wars, death, famine, poverty, fire, persecution, imprisonment, torture, ungodly punishment, shame, loneliness, loss of family, homes, and wealth, all because of their unwavering love for God, country,  and us. Remember tomorrow to thank God for such people, and give thanks in your heart for those who have died, so that you truly appreciate the freedom that cost them so much!

Protecting Marriage In An Evil Generation

  (Matt. 24:12) "And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold." In the above verse, Jesus made this statement in regard to the loss of love between married people and others during the 7yr. Tribulation period, but the principle is still the same in any generation when "iniquity abounds." Iniquity is lawlessness, and a disrespect for the commandments of God. When the majority of people in any society decide to live contrary to the commanded moral laws of God, the natural result according to the above verse will be the loss of love between people. Marriage is under attack in the day in which we live because our society has decided not to listen to God and practice the immoral lifestyles that God calls sinful in the Bible, and as a result we are seeing marriage after marriage falling apart or in big trouble. Your marriage and mine is under attack in the day in which we live. The only way that it will survive is if we begin again to follow the commanded principles that God has set forth in His Word, and turn from iniquity. (Gen. 2:24) Therefore shall a man 1) leave his father and his mother, and shall 2) cleave unto his wife: and they shall 3) be one flesh.   Three eternal principles that will strengthen any love and any marriage, in any generation!  

How To Avoid The Sin Of Selfishness

(2Tim. 3:1) "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves…" In the above verse the Apostle Paul speaks of a time in history that will be plagued with difficulty, as well as a people who are given over to the sin of "selfishness." The people spoken of here will be both saved and unsaved, apathetic, apostate, and backslidden. Men that "oppose themselves," and who have allowed themselves to been taken captive by Satan's lie of selfishness. Selfishness is a terrible sin that infects not only us, but all who come in contact with us. 1) How are we infected by it? When we begin to love ourselves more than God. Selfishness believes that the world revolves around us, and that we are the most important people in it. It causes us to disobey the known will of God to serve our plans and desires. 2) How can we avoid it? Love God above all loves in your life, and practice charity serving others. A man/woman that serves God and others has very little time to be so concerned about himself. 3) How to stop being selfish? (2 Ti. 2:26)"Recover yourself out of the snare of the devil." Repent & Confess this sin to God, and then walk humbly and submissively in obedience to the Lord.

The Gospel

(1Co 15:1) "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved…,) The Gospel is the wonderful story of the love and grace of God, whereby God sent His Son Jesus to die a substitutionary death for the sins of all men. We should have died on that cross, we deserve Hell, for we are the guilty sinners not Jesus. 1) The Gospel is a (Story) of love & grace. 2) The Gospel is a continuing (Saga). A tale of love, forgiveness, and the promise of God to every generation, that "whosoever" desires salvation regardless of race, religion, or the depth of one's sin, God will provide it freely in Jesus Christ, but it is also a continuing saga of rejection. Unfortunately in every generation there are those that scoff and attempt to disprove Jesus, his Gospel, and his Word. 3) The Gospel is the (Sovereign) way by which God calls all men to salvation. Jesus said, "Many are called but few are chosen." We preach Jesus crucified, buried, and then risen for the sins of all mankind. If anyone desires to be saved they must trust in his Gospel and Jesus!

Learn From The Wisdom Of This World

Luke (16: 9) "…for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." This verse was quoted by the Lord Jesus as he explained the parable of the unjust steward. 1) His reason was to explain to his disciples that the world many times handles their affaires better than the sons of God do, though they have not received the true riches. Wisdom comes from many places, and here Jesus says that it is a wise thing to look at the world and notice how diligent they are in the handling of their "mammon." Mammon is the Bible name for the wealth and riches of this world. The world respects money, serves money, multiplies and invests money with more return then the riches of God in the hands of saved men, and Jesus wanted us to understand and see that if we would just serve God with the same wisdom and diligence that the world does money, we too would see greater returns. 2) He also wanted us to understand that compassion and love draws men into friendship quicker than a firm hand or a judgmental spirit does. We would be wise to realize that people are drawn to compassion more than they are truth. The world knows this, but the question is, why don’t we?

The Resurrected Change

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a wonderful story of victory, for it was proof that Jesus was indeed God in the flesh, and that his sacrifice for our sins was accepted by the Father. Death could not keep him dead! Jesus is alive, and because he is alive we now all have the hope of eternal life through him, as well as the hope of the forgiveness of sin. Jesus said in (John 8:32) "If the Son therefore shall make you free, you shall be free indeed." Because of the Resurrection we now have, 1) Freedom from the Power of Sin. Satan won and condemned the souls of men in the Garden of Eden, but Jesus won us back on the Cross. For the just punishment of sin was paid by Jesus forever there, and therefore sin can longer condemn us anymore. 2) Freedom from the Power of the Flesh. Once we are in Christ, we have within us God's Holy Spirit which gives us power now over not only our sinful past but our present addictions. Though we now live in the flesh, it's possible to live victoriously in and through His Spirit. 3) Freedom from the Power of Satan. (James 4:7) "…Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Satan is a defeated foe, and subject unto the name of Jesus. Resist him boldly therefore, for the only power he has is the power we give him. Brethren Jesus is alive, and has given to us now and forever the victory!

"Why Bad Times Sometimes Get Worse"

Gen. 40:4)"…and they continued a season in ward." God allows trials in our life to continue for seasons of time. In the story of (Gen. 40), Joseph was allowed to suffer "inwardly" for a season even though he was an innocent man. We are not sure just how long Joseph was in prison, but it could have been for as long as 11years. Like Joseph, the preparation of a godly man always takes time, so God uses seasons to test us. Why? 1) To Strengthen Our Abilities. Spiritual abilities are acquired only through time and trial. Like exercise, if we endure the pain of it, we will find that in time we will become stronger and capable of more. Like a hardened steel tool, hard steel only gets harder by the application of much heat and pressure. Softer tools are made with less, and God like a master craftsman has need for both in His tool box. 2) To Build Trust. Trust can only be matured through experience, and experience proves God. Joseph learned trust as he saw God bless him even though things got worse. God does not work on our schedule, but He does work in seasons of time. When you can't see God, trust in His Word, He will keep it!

Joseph, The Soveriegn Choice Of God

(Gen. 37:3) "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. In the sovereignty of God, God chose Joseph over his brothers for the special purpose of one day saving them from a future famine. Joseph never asked or had any say in the favoritism that God or Jacob gave to Him. In the same way, the Bible tells us that God chose us for His purpose even before we were saved, for his glory and our benefit. None of us should ever think that our lives are not important to God, for if we are saved, know this, that Like Joseph God has a special purpose for your life also. According to the Bible, there are two common purposes for each of us being saved; First, that we be conformed into the image of his Son (Ro. 8:29), Second, that we be use to carry out God's perfect will and purpose in this life (Ro. 8:28). Joseph had no Idea what God was doing when he was sold into slavery in Egypt, but he remained faithful to the leading of God until the purpose of God was revealed to him, 13 yrs. later.

"Joseph, And The Sovereign Will Of God"

(Gen. 37:3) "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. In the sovereignty of God, God chose Joseph over his brothers for the special purpose of one day saving them from a future famine in Egypt. Joseph never asked or had any say in the favoritism that God or Jacob gave to Him. In the same way, the Bible tells us that God chose us for His purpose even before we were saved for his glory and our benefit. None of us should ever think that our lives are not important to God, for if we are saved, know this, that God has a special purpose for your life also. According to the Bible, there are two common purposes for each of our lives; First, that we be conformed into the image of his Son (Ro. 8:29), Second, that we be use to carry out His perfect will and purpose in this life (Ro. 8:28). Joseph had no Idea what God was doing when he was sold into slavery in Egypt, but he remained faithful to the will of God until the purpose of God was revealed, some 13 yrs. later. All that God reveals to us is the present, but it's in the present that will learn obedience. God has a plan, so be faithful now and you will see His purpose later.

"Learning To Let Go But Hold On "

(Gen. 32:24) "And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day." In every Christian's life there comes a time when we need to let go of fear and just hold on to God. Jacob came to that place one night as he waited for his brother Esau to come and meet him. Twenty years earlier he tricked Esau out of his birthright and the blessing of God, and Esau vowed to kill him. That night while Jacob was alone and fearful in his tent, a man appeared in the dark and began to fight with him. Later Jacob would say, "for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." That man in the tent was none other than the Lord Jesus. The wrestling was over the power of God and the fear of Esau. Jacob would not quit wrestling until God gave him His power and His blessing. Just like Jacob, there needs to be a time in our life where we stop wrestling with God over our fears, and just let God have our problems. When Esau arrived God had already changed his heart and fixed the problem. That night God changed a conniving Jacob into a Prince called Israel, for God said, "for thou has power with God and with men." Jacob was never the same, and neither will we be once we realize that God's power and blesings are not gained by the works of our flesh but rather by our faith in a powerful God.

"False Religion, From Babel To Babylon"

(Gen. 11:4) "And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." Little is mentioned in this passage concerning the great sin of the men of Babel, but there is much here that angered God. 1) "And they said, Go let us build" The purpose of the tower in Babel was to make an alternate way to reach heaven apart from God. They labored together, (while under the leadership of Nimrod) to construct a man-made system of salvation and worship. 2)"And let us make a name." Satan's plan since the beginning of time has been to usurp the glory of God and elevate his system of religion above Jesus Christ and His Word. Since Babel, Satan's method of doing so includes deception, compromise, and ecumenicalism. That's why in (Rev.17:5) God named the final state of Satan's apostate religion as, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." Since Babel, Satan's religion of astrology, sorcery, witchcraft, and compromise, has infiltrated every society and religion including Christianity. May God help us in the day in which we live to know the difference between the religions of man, and the truth of God which is outlined specifically in His Word!

"Homosexuality, Right or Wrong"

Is God still against homosexuality or has he changed His mind in recent years. It's hard to believe, but we now live in a country that accepts homosexuality, fornication, and the trans-gender lifestyles as normal and acceptable. One of the latest statistics shows that 9 states now have legalized same sex marriage, while 9 others including Wisconsin offer the same benefits to what is called "civil unions." Some states have held the line, and praise the Lord for them, but as we speak legislation is being presented to the Supreme Court to change the definition of marriage and give equal rights to a lifestyle that God calls "an abomination." 3500 yrs. ago, God specifically said to Israel (Lev. 18:22) "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination." (18:26-28) "Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled; That the land spue not you out also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you." Has God's thoughts and perfect will changed toward homosexuality since He spoke these words to Moses, or have we chosen not to listen anymore? Be careful, homosexuality it is still wrong today!

"Perfecting Holiness In The Fear Of God"

(2Cor. 7:1) "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." What does the word “holiness” mean to you as a Christian? I have personally been challenged by this verse as well as (James 5:6), which says; “… The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” “Holiness,” is the result of a drawing closer to the will and ways of God, while pulling away from the sinfulness of this world. It’s not only a result of re-evaluating our righteousness, but it’s also a result of seeking God intimately. (2 Cor. 7:1) is a continuous perfecting and cleansing of both our body and spirit. People are multidimensional. We have an outward relationship with others as well as an inward spiritual relationship with God. People see only the outward but God sees both. A good question to ask in 2013 is, are we the same inside as we are on the out, or are we hiding within something that keeps us from having a better intimacy with God? Recently, I have challenged myself with the question, what I can do in 2013 to find a closer relationship and walk with God? Will you join me in 2013 and do the same?