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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=120 BGCOLOR="#BF0000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="06800880dvldal.jpg"> <div> <B>Happiness   Hill   Ministries</B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Adams Extended" ><I><B> </B></I></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="06a35140.gif" border=0 width="309" height="20" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=204 BGCOLOR="#BF0000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Happiness Hill Christian Home Academy"><B>Home</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="devotional.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Monthly Devotional"><B>Return to Devotionals</B></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=360 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> Archives</div> <bR> <div> <B>December 2008</B></div> <div> <B>“Launch out into the deep”</B></div> <div> <B>By: Pastor Bill Murdock</B></div> <div> <I>(Bro. Murdock is a good friend and supporting pastor of our homes</I></div> <div> <I>and is the pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Lafayette, IN.)</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>Luke 5:1-8</B></div> <div> <B>“And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret. And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets. And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land.  And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.  Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they enclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord”</B></div> <div>      We never know when the opportunity of a lifetime will show up. Often it comes at the most inopportune time and in the most unexpected way. In this example, we find Peter is minding his own business cleaning up his boat after a long night of fruitless fishing and his partners are washing their nets. No doubt Peter is tired, frustrated, hungry and ready to go home. Never would he have dreamed that what is about to take place would change his life and eternity forever. In a few minutes he will be given an opportunity, a choice, a decision to make that will forever change his old life and his future eternal rewards.</div> <div>      Suddenly, Jesus and a crowd of people shows up right where Peter is docked, and needing a platform to speak from, the Lord Jesus enters into Simon Peters boat and uses it for a pulpit. When He finishes His message He Spoke to Peter and said: "Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught."  To which Peter replied; "Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net."</div> <div>      As we study the Bible, we must discipline ourselves to remember that words mean things. Jesus said; " launch out into the deep..." At first glance we are sure of the Lords meaning. We know He means, "Go out on the lake to the deep water where the fish are." But that is not what He said. Jesus said launch out into the "bathos", which is properly translated "deep" but in this sense it is not the deep that we all think of. Three words are commonly used in the New Testament for the word "deep".</div> <div> 1. In <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial" >Luke 8:26-39</FONT> we have the story of the demon possessed man being healed. In verse 31 the demons are making a request of the Lord Jesus' <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial" >"And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep."</FONT> This word "deep" is "abussos". It means the abyss - the bottomless pit. That place of detention for the demons. They were requesting to be spared that imprisonment.</div> <div> 2. In <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial" >2 Corinthians 11:25</FONT> The Apostle Paul is giving his testimony and he says <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial" >"Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;"</FONT> The word deep here is "buthos" meaning depth or the depth of the sea. Paul was saying that he has spent some time treading water in the ocean.</div> <div> 3. But in <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial" >Luke 5:4</FONT> when Jesus says <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial" >"Launch out into the deep"</FONT> this word deep is "Bathos". It figuratively means the "mystery". Our Lord was saying, "Come with me into the unknown.</div> <div>      Fishing was the heart and soul of Peter. It was his business, it was what he knew, it was what his father had taught him. It was his life. Now comes Jesus and in essence, our Lord said to Peter "Launch out into the mystery of life with Me."</div> <div>      Peter was under no obligation to obey Christ. He had a free will just as you have. But something in his heart caused Peter to agree with Christ's request. Peter pulled up the anchor set the sails and headed out to the "mystery" knowing full well that it was a waste of time. So convinced was he that he only agreed to let down a net, not all the nets. When he had let down a net he caught so many fish he could not contain them and had to signal for help from his friends.</div> <div>      Here is a great lesson. No matter how familiar you are with life and its workings, when Christ enters into the equation everything changes. Peter knew the fishing would be bad because it had been bad. He knew there would be no fish because they are never in that area during the daylight hours. He knew he was wasting his time because he was a professional fisherman and Jesus was just a preacher.</div> <div>      But Jesus is more than a preacher. He is Creator of life, He is God in the flesh, Jesus is the one who holds all of your future in His hands and he invites you to launch out into the mystery of life with Him.</div> <div>      You may think that life has no more surprises for you, that you have "been there and done that" to everything there is to do, or that you have been passed by and left out in the game of life and that it is all a waste of time. You may be thinking, "well, that was Peter and Jesus would never want to do anything with me." That is self -deception, it is a loser's limp, and it is the opposite of the truth.</div> <div>      Your life is a story that is written one day at a time and each new day brings fresh hope for a happy ending. In <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial" >Ecclesiastes 7:8</FONT> Solomon says; <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial" >"better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit."</FONT> Peter's life took a dramatic and exciting change when he did one thing. He said yes to Jesus when he really wanted to say no. He was never the same again and his life took on true meaning.</div> <div>      Has the Lord spoken to you about something and you are debating whether or not you want to do it? Is it salvation? Is it service? Is it a change of direction? I challenge you, launch out into the deep, into the mystery of life with Christ and experience the life changing blessing of God.</div> <bR> <div> <B>November 2008</B></div> <div> “The Ruining of a Reputation”</div> <div> By: Bro. Justin Chaney</div> <div> <I>*Bro. Justin Chaney is a good friend to our home and is the pastor of </I></div> <div> <I>Ebenezer Baptist Church in Newton, MS. </I></div> <div> <B>Exodus 20:16</B> -“Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.”</div> <div> In the 20th chapter of Exodus we find a tremendous gift that has been given to mankind, the Ten Commandments.  Moses received these commandments and ushered them to the people of Israel.  I truly believe that God wanted Israel to honor them as well as us today.  God hasn't changed neither has his commandments.  Out of the ten I personally think that our text is possibly the most forgotten or neglected one on all.  Allow me to share a few thoughts with you on “Ruining a Reputation”.</div> <div> <B>Proverbs 22:1</B>-“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold”</div> <div> What is in a name?  It used to be that all a man had was a hand shake and a good name.  Here are a few quotes: </div> <div> <I>“It takes 20 years to build a reputation and 5 minutes to ruin it.”</I>-Warren Buffet</div> <div> <I>“What people say behind your back is your standing in the community”</I>-Edgar Watson Howe</div> <div> “<I>The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour.”</I> -Unknown</div> <div> Let's look at three things dealing with this commandment that I believe is the “Ignored Commandment”.</div> <div> <B><U>The Commandment:</U></B></div> <div> I believe just by looking at what is said in this one verse we can come safely to the conclusion that God wanted the name of others protected.  Why?  We can mess our own lives up without the help of others.  </div> <div> Leviticus 19:16-“Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour; I am the LORD.”</div> <div> Proverbs 11:13A-“ talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter.”</div> <div> Ezekiel 22:9-“In thee are men that carry tales to shed blood: and in thee they eat upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they commit lewdness.”</div> <div> Proverbs 18:8-“The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.”</div> <div> Proverbs 26:20-“Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.”</div> <div> Proverbs 6:19-“A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”</div> <div> *Here is an example of someone being a false witness…</div> <bR> <div> Numbers 14:36<B>-“</B>…the men, which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,”</div> <div> If everyone would have listened to these guys they would have missed out on a blessing.  And the same applies today if we listen too all of the loose lips we might miss out on a blessing.  We all must strive to protect each other's name.  To aid and assist in gossip is to aid and assist in murder.</div> <div> <B><U>The Character:</U></B></div> <div> When it seems that a person lives for this, it tells a lot about himself.</div> <div> Psalm 58:3-“The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies</div> <div> Do you know what wicked means here? It means morally wrong, ungodly.  That is what kind of person does this.”</div> <div> Isaiah 59:4-“None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity”</div> <div> People that lie are lazy…The truth is heavy, therefore few care to carry it.</div> <div> People that gossip are lazy…they are spreading gossip instead of the gospel.  I wonder how many people have died and went to hell because of the fact that some were too busy gossiping instead of gospeling!  </div> <div> <B><U>The Consequences:</U></B></div> <div> The consequences are never good.  If you were to look at all of the situations in the Bible where gossip/lying was taking place you will never find where God awarded it.  </div> <div> Numbers 14:37-“Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the LORD. “</div> <div> Numbers 14:38<B> -“</B>But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.”</div> <div> The next time someone wants to tell something on someone else, here is what you do and I promise the gossip will stop, tell the individual you want them to go with you and talk with the “victim of gossip” and find out if it's true.  There was a saying one time, “why can't we all just get along”.  Let's strive to build up instead of tearing each other down.  Souls do not make it to Heaven through gossip.  Let's do the work of the Father instead of the work of Satan.  </div> <div> <B>Bro Justin Chaney</B></div> <div> <B>Pastor Ebenezer Baptist Church</B></div> <div> <B>Newton-Conehatta Rd </B></div> <div> <B>Lawrence, MS</B></div> <div> <B>601-562-1256</B></div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:brojchaney@yahoo.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:brojchaney@yahoo.com"><B>brojchaney@yahoo.com</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>October 2008</B></div> <div> <B>“Lord, help us never to Fall"</B></div> <div> By: Bro. Gary Caudill</div> <div> <I>*Bro. Caudill is the pastor of Way of the Cross Baptist Church in Philadelphia, MS.</I></div> <div> II Samuel 1:25a-</div> <div> <B>“How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! …”</B></div> <div>      This is a sad statement, which, in essence, has haunted every generation from Adam until today. Every page of history has had its disappointments with fallen leaders. Today, it is sad that we must face this reality even in the Church.  Many mighty have fallen. </div> <div>      Though our text is exclaiming this truth, I must ask myself of this truth the simple question "How?" How do the great ones (as we perceive them) fall? I am first directed in my thoughts to <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0033CC" FACE="Arial" >I Corinthians 10:12</FONT>, where it says, <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0033CC" FACE="Arial" >"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."</FONT> Our first warning should be this…may we not be found in a fallen state of sin by our own conceit, which blinds us of the pitfalls ahead. </div> <div>      Secondly, <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0033CC" FACE="Arial" >Galatians 5:4</FONT> reads, <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0033CC" FACE="Arial" >"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."</FONT>  This warns us that our self-righteous religious activities will not grant us victory over sin! </div> <div>      Another truth is found in <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0033CC" FACE="Arial" >Zechariah 11:2a</FONT>, which reads, <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0033CC" FACE="Arial" >"Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen…"</FONT> Here, even as the fir tree relied upon the strength of the cedar to shelter it from the storms of life, even so this placed the fir in harm's way when the cedar came crashing down. Application? We should never place all confidence in other men, for men will disappoint us! </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0033CC" FACE="Arial" >     II Thessalonians 2:3a</FONT> says, <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0033CC" FACE="Arial" >"Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first…"</FONT> but how do <I><B>we</B></I> keep from falling away and losing our testimony and effectiveness for the gospel in this day of temptation?  First, we must heed the warnings we just discussed, and then we must place our confidence in, and draw our strength from, the only one who is able to grant us victory over sin and temptation. <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0033CC" FACE="Arial" >Jude 1:24-25</FONT> say, <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0033CC" FACE="Arial" >"Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, [25] To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."</FONT> </div> <div> May this be our prayer today: "Lord, help us never to fall."</div> <bR> <div> <B>September 2008</B></div> <div> <B>“</B><B>Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?”</B></div> <div> <B>By: Bro. David Harrell</B></div> <div> <B>Numbers 32:1-6</B></div> <div> I these scriptures we find Reuben and Gad here with much cattle and they ask Moses and others if they can go to the place of Gilead.  They tell them that this is a land that is good for cattle and that they want to go there instead of going over Jordan into Canaan.  Now up to this point they had been one nation, the suffering of one tribe had been the suffering of all, they had marched together, fought together, but now these two tribes see that this is as far as they want to go.  So now they are willing to leave the rest and stay behind for this place that is pleasing to them, thus leaving a gap in the order of the camp around the tabernacle.  Notice that Moses is not very kind in his response; he tells them that they are bailing out on their brethren.</div> <div> This is all to familiar today with saved people.  People are stopping and quitting while others are going forward.  It seems like these quitters are finding the same reason as Reuben and Gad, there is a place where they are content, so they decide not to go forward any more.  Here are three areas that people today are sitting rather than fighting.</div> <div> <B><U>#1. Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?</U></B></div> <div> <U>War</U>-battle</div> <div> The idea is that other saved people (“brethren”) are fighting for the Lord, why others are not.</div> <div> I Timothy 6:12-“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”</div> <div> II Timothy 4:7-“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”</div> <div> I Corinthians 9:26-“I therefore so run, not as uncertainly, so fight I, not as one that beateth the air.”</div> <div> <U>Fight</U>-to contend with an adversary, labor fervently</div> <div> Are you in the fight, or are you standing by watching others fight.  If you are doing things that Satan approves of, then you are not fighting.  Some people are just sitting around wasting time.  The word sit here means “to settle, remain, or dwell.”  Some people used to fight and go to war, but they stopped, and have settled down and are dwelling in a place of  non active duty.  What is it in your life that has caused you to stop fighting for the Lord?  Some used to soul win, teach Sunday School, sing in the choir, read your Bible, dress right, why have you stopped?</div> <div> John 6:66-“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.”</div> <div> <B><U>#2. Shall your brethren praise the Lord, and shall ye sit here?:</U></B></div> <div> Praising and worshipping the Lord has now become a thing of the past.  Us Fundamentalists are too straight for the holiness crowd, but we are dead like the protestant crowd.  Where are the “amens” (which means “so be it, truly”) and “halleluiahs” (which means “an  adoring exclamation, praise ya Jah!”)</div> <div> I Chronicles 16:36-“And all the people said, Amen, and praised the LORD.”</div> <div> Nehemiah 5:13-“And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD.”</div> <div> Nehemiah 8:6-“And all the people answered, <B>AMEN</B>, <B>AMEN</B>, with lifting up their hands:”</div> <div> Psalm 41:13-“Blessed be the LORD God of -Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.”</div> <div> Jeremiah 28:6-“Even the prophet Jeremiah said, <B>AMEN</B>:”</div> <div> Revelation 19:6-“as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, <B>ALLELUIA</B>: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”</div> <div> I'm not talking about putting on a fleshly kind of service, but where is our excitement, where is our joy, where is our worship.  I've decided that I'm going to praise the Lord no matter what you think of me.  Are you going to let others praise the Lord and just sit there fearful of what others are going to think?</div> <div> Hebrews 13:15-“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”</div> <div> *Some say shouting and praising the Lord isn't right, well don't tell:</div> <div> -the people who praised Jesus in Jerusalem who said<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" > “Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel</FONT></div> <div> that cometh in the name of the Lord.”</div> <div> -the angels in Rev. 5 who said <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" >“(with a loud voice) Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”</FONT></div> <div> -the crowd who saw the blind man receive sight who gave praise to God</div> <div> -the apostles who <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" >“were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.”</FONT></div> <div> -the lame man who was healed and went <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" >“into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.”</FONT></div> <div> -Paul & Silas while in jail<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Arial" > “sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”</FONT></div> <div> -Some say praising the Lord is just in the heart and not outward.  It is to be done in the church:</div> <div> Hebrews 2:12-“Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.”</div> <div> Psalm 100:4-“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”</div> <div> <B><U>#3. Shall your brethren reach the world, and shall ye sit here?:</U></B></div> <div> Matthew 13:10-“And the gospel must first be published among all nations.”</div> <div> Matthew 16:15-“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”</div> <div> Why should we preach to every creature….. so they can be saved!  Every creature can be saved and we need to tell them.  Are you telling others?  There are over 3 billion people have never heard the gospel ever.</div> <div> Proverbs 11:30-“he that winneth souls is wise.”</div> <div> Others are out telling people why you let your busy schedule keep you occupied.  Some are just “sitting” why people pass them by who are lost and need the gospel. </div> <div> **When your ministry keeps you from witnessing, then you need to get rid of your ministry!!!</div> <div> <B><U>#4. Shall your brethren preach the word, and shall ye sit here?:</U></B></div> <div> Romans 1:16-“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”</div> <div> If other preachers stop preaching the full council of God then I will not.  Sin still needs to be preached today in our pulpits.  Some preachers are watering it down; preach from cover to cover!</div> <div> I Corinthians 9:16-“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!”</div> <div> You will be judged if you do not preach the gospel.  We do not need a bunch of stories and jokes, we need the gospel!  “I believe” does not matter, only what the gospel says.  Preachers, don't just sit by and watch others preach the gospel.  The reason you have stopped is because you are content with your crowd just like Reuben and Gad were.  Keep on preaching the Word!</div> <div>  We don't need to “sit” here any longer; we must fight, praise the Lord, reach the lost, and preach the gospel while we have time!  If you are “sitting” right now, please get up and join us in the cause of Christ and allow God to use you for His glory!</div> <div> -DH</div> <div> brodavidgeorgia@yahoo.com</div> <bR> <div> <B>August 2008</B></div> <div> <B>“But as for Me”</B></div> <div> <B>By: Bro. David Harrell</B></div> <div> Joshua 24:15, 21, 24</div> <div> <B>“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Arial" ><B>but as for me</B></FONT><B> and my house, we will serve the LORD….. And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD… And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve,”</B></div> <div>      We come to these scriptures here and we find an interesting phrase, the statement of <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Arial" >“but as for me.”</FONT>  This statement is mentioned seven times in the scriptures.  It is a declaration that the person speaking is going to do something despite what everyone else is doing.  “But” is a conjunction that means “on the contrary to.”  It is giving the opposite idea to what was just said previously at the beginning of the sentence.  This statement means that you are going against the odds, doing something that no one else is doing, doing something that maybe others frown on, and sometimes this is a lonely statement.  “But” is a word that usually shows disagreement to the general opinion. Some examples of this would be “ I love you but” or  “ I would have been  there but.”</div> <div>      We can look at this statement in three passages that it is used and see why we need to proclaim <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Arial" >“but as for me.”</FONT></div> <div> <B><U>#1. </U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>But as for me</U></B></FONT><B><U>…we will serve the Lord:</U></B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0F243E" FACE="Arial" >In our text, we see in </FONT>v. 15-“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Arial" >but as for me</FONT> and my house, we will serve the Lord.”</div> <div>      Joshua is making a strong proclamation to placecountry-regionIsrael here.  He is telling them to make up their minds who they are going to serve.  There were many gods back then just as there are today.  He names two gods that they had been serving already: </div> <div>    <B>  a)</B> “<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial" >the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood”</FONT></div> <div> These were their father's gods.  Notice that “gods” is plural; this shows that they served many different gods.  Many find themselves serving “momma's or daddy's” god instead of choosing themselves who they will serve.  Quit holding on to your kin folks religion, make it real in your life.</div> <div>     <B> b)</B> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial" >“the gods of the Amorites”</FONT></div> <div> The Amorites were wicked people and enemies of the Jews. They were heathen people who dwelled in the mountains and served many false gods.  The Jews had picked up their gods by living among them.  Many are guilty of this today.  We live in a world that promotes many false gods and Christians are getting entangled in this world and are worshipping them.  It may be a god of money, tv, etc.  </div> <div>      Joshua then looks at them and makes a bold statement…<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial" >”</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Arial" >but as for me</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial" > and my house, we will serve the Lord.”</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT>Notice that Joshua's Lord was capitalized.  Jehovah here means “Jehovah and self-existent.”He made it clear that he was going to serve the only God, not the little gods.  The word “serve” here that uses means “to work or enslave.”  He wanted to be employed to Jehovah and to serve Him.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  </FONT>In other words he was saying…”You all can serve whoever you want, but (on the contrary) we are going to serve the Lord”</div> <div>      One important thing was that he was the father making the statement.  Too many wives are having to be the spiritual leader in the home.  This is not how it is to be.  Men need to be men and declare that you will be the spiritual leader in the home and lead the family in serving God.</div> <div>      Serving God is voluntary; notice that Joshua told placecountry-regionIsrael to <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial" >“choose.”  </FONT>You are going to have to decide yourself <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Arial" >“but as for me,”</FONT> I will serve the Lord. </div> <div> <B><U>#2. </U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>But as for me</U></B></FONT><B><U>…I will worship the Lord:</U></B></div> <div> Psalm 5:4-7-“For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Arial" >But as for me</FONT>, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.”</div> <div>      David is writing here and he is giving us some good stuff.  He starts out in vs. 4-6 explaining that God is not pleased with wickedness.  He tells about these people by using the word “leasing” which simply means “falsehood.”  David is speaking to the Lord and he is acknowledging the facts that God hates evil and iniquity, while thinking of the evil man and their characteristics, he goes on to use the great phrase…<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Arial" >“but as for me.”</FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0F243E" FACE="Arial" >     What he is saying, is that he is not going to live an evil life and displease the Lord.  He goes on to say…</FONT>” <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Arial" >But as for me</FONT>, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.”</div> <div>      David had a fear (“reverence”) for the Lord when he came to the church house.  He didn't come wanting people to fear him, but he came fearing God.  A lot of people don't fear God, that's why they come to the church house in falsehood (v. 6) with their “Pharisee” ways.  He says that he is going to worship the Lord.  The word worship here means “to be prostrate (to lie down with face down).  He made the statement that if no one else did, then he was going to worship God.  Don't worry if people call you crazy or charismatic, just worship God.  Notice the phrase “but as for me.”  He is saying to us in these verses, you people can be wicked and do iniquity, and speak falsely, but I am going to go to the church house and I am going to worship my Lord.  </div> <div>      Will you make this declaration?  We live in a wicked world with many false and wicked people.  Are you going to live wicked because everyone else is, or are you going to do the contrary (but) and worship God.</div> <div> <B><U>#3. </U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>But as for me</U></B></FONT><B><U>…I will resemble the Lord:</U></B></div> <div> Psalm 26:9-11-“Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men:<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me.”</div> <div>      David again is writing to us and he uses this wonderful phrase <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Arial" >“but as for me.”</FONT>  In v. 10 he tells us that sinners do mischief which simply means “a bad plan, a heinous crime.”  They do it with the intention to do it and it is premeditated.  They also give bribes with this bad plan (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial" >v. 11</FONT>).  David is speaking of crooks, who are up to no good.  I was preaching this thought to a church the other day and when I got to this point I was joking about church treasurers who can bribe preachers with the checks or love offerings that they give.  After church I was standing in the back shaking hands and the treasurer came by and handed me my check and said “here is a bribe.”  With much laughter I said “thanks.”</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0F243E" FACE="Arial" >     These type of people David is talking about are liars who are looking out for themselves.  They try to take advantage of other people.  He goes on to say in</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>v. 11…”<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Arial" >but as for me</FONT> I will walk in mine integrity.”  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0F243E" FACE="Arial" >Integrity means “uprightness, moral” He is making this statement: though all others are not honest men and are crooked, I am going to have good morals and walk right. In other words, he is going to live a clean Godly life that resembles the Lord.  That is what being a Christian is (“a follower of Christ”).  If you were to follow me around every day all day long, it wouldn't be long before you would start acting like me, talking like me, liking the same things I like, etc.  For example, when my son Jacob spends time with his grandpa Harrell in placecountry-regionGeorgia, he comes back talking really “country” just like his grandpa.  The reason is, Jacob followed him around therefore he took up his characteristics.  When you and I follow Jesus, we can't help but look like our heavenly Father.  David says: even though those sinners are going to be crooked, on the contrary (but) I am going to be honest like my Lord.</FONT></div> <div>      Will you today be like David and Joshua who looked at the multitude and decided to “go against the grain” and stand for right and truth.  The easiest thing to do in our day is to follow the trends and do what everyone else is doing.  Like our moms always said “if you friends jump off a building, are you going to jump off too?”  We must stand (sometimes by ourself) and declare <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Arial" >“but as for me.”</FONT>  Everyone is doing something else, but on the contrary, I will not follow their path, I will serve, worship, and resemble the Lord.  </div> <div> <I>     The other four references to this phrase </I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Arial" ><I>“but as for me”</I></FONT><I> are Psalm 35:13, Psalm 69:13, Psalm 73:2, and Daniel 2:30</I></div> <div> <I>-D. H.</I></div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:brodavidgeorgia@bellsouth.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:brodavidgeorgia@bellsouth.net"><I>brodavidgeorgia@bellsouth.net</I></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>July 2008</B></div> <div> <B>“The Temptation of Jesus”</B></div> <div> <B>By: Bro. David Harrell</B></div> <div> <B>Matthew 4:1-11</B></div> <bR> <div> Here you have the story of Jesus being tempted by the devil.  Jesus was tempted so:</div> <div> <B>1)</B> that all would know that he was the Son of God and</div> <div> <B>2)</B> he exposed Satan and his tactics, and</div> <div> <B>3)</B> he showed that he had power to defeat Satan.</div> <div> You can learn several things in this passage that Jesus did and those things can help you when you are tempted.  We must realize that we are not Jesus, and we can't do it alone, we must have his power to help us through these things.  </div> <div> Verse 1:</div> <div> <B>a)</B> Who? The passage is about two people Jesus and Satan.</div> <div> <B>b)</B> Where? The Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness.</div> <div> <U>Wilderness</U>-lonesome, solitary</div> <div> **It is important to know that we are tempted when we are all alone to see what kind of person we really are when no one is around.  It is easy to say “no” when we are in a group of people.  But what do you say when you are all alone?</div> <div> <B>c)</B> Why? To be tempted of the devil.</div> <div> This was the purpose of this leading.  Because he was led by the Spirit, we can know that it was God's will.</div> <div> <U>Tempted</U>-to test</div> <div> <U>Devil</U>-false accuser, slanderer</div> <div> Verse 3:</div> <div> Satan comes to Jesus and starts his “if” statements.  He is always trying to cause doubt concerning Christ being the Son of God.  His first “if” statement is, you are Christ if you can make these stones into bread. The meaning of this temptation is: "Distrust the Divine providence and support, and make use of illicit means to supply thy necessities."  Jesus has just fasted for 40 days.  Jesus was a man who hungered like everyone else and the devil is trying to take advantage of the circumstance.  Satan will try to tempt us using our weaknesses and during our weak times.  Remember this is the devil talking, Jesus responds in v. 4.</div> <div> Verse 4:</div> <div> Notice the very first words of Jesus, <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >“It is written.”</FONT> Jesus takes the devil to the word of God:</div> <div> Deut. 8:3-“ And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live.”</div> <div> <U>Word</U>-utterance</div> <div> Verse 5:</div> <div>  “Then the devil”<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#244061" FACE="Arial" >….he never responded to Jesus using the word. He had no answer and moved on the something else. Satan moved from the wilderness to the city, wanting Jesus to do something in front of people.  He moved his tactics to something else, the pinnacle on the temple.  </FONT></div> <div> <U>Holy City</U>-Jerusalem</div> <div> <U>Pinnacle</U>-top corner, pointed roof of the temple; 700 ft high</div> <div> Verse 6:</div> <div> Once again he starts the “if” statements and then tries to use scripture to persuade Jesus to do this thing of jumping from the pinnacle.  You see, the devil figured out that Jesus' strength was using the scriptures and now the devil is trying to use them for his purpose.  He saw that Jesus is relying on scripture therefore he misapplies<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Psalm 91:11-12-“For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.”</FONT></div> <div> Satan left out <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >“in all thy ways”</FONT>….the Father protects when we are in his will.</div> <div> Verse 7:</div> <div> Notice once again how Jesus responds…<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >”It is written.”</FONT></div> <div> He  refers to<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Deut. 6:16-“Ye shall not tempt the LORD your God, as ye tempted him in Massah.”</FONT></div> <div> Once again, no answer from Satan.</div> <div> Verse 8:</div> <div> The devil then takes him out of the city and onto a mountain.  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >“Again”</FONT> speaks of the persistent effort of Satan.</div> <div> Verse 9:</div> <div> Satan tells him he will give him all if he worships him.  He uses the words “if”, notice that Satan's promises are never sure, they are always cloudy, Jesus' are always sure and true.  Satan has always wanted worship; he wanted to be like God</div> <div> <U>Worship</U>-to kiss, as a dog licking his master's hand</div> <div> Isaiah 14:12-14-“How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”</div> <div> Verse 10: </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#244061" FACE="Arial" >Jesus responds to this by telling him </FONT>“<U>get thee hence”</U>-<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#244061" FACE="Arial" >depart.  For the third time Jesus uses scriptures (“</FONT>It is written<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#244061" FACE="Arial" >”).</FONT></div> <div> Deut. 6:13-“Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name:”</div> <div> <U>Only</U>-alone, sole, single, by themselves</div> <div> Verse 11:</div> <div> Once again the devil didn't have any reply for scripture, so he left.</div> <div> Through these three temptations we see how Jesus made it:</div> <div> <B>a)</B> He was the Son of God</div> <div> I Peter 2:21-22-“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: <I>Who did no sin</I>, neither was guile found in his mouth:”</div> <div> <B>b)</B> He was fasting and praying</div> <div> Matt. 17:20, 21-“And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and <I>nothing shall be impossible</I> unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but <I>by prayer and fasting</I>.”</div> <div> <B>c)</B> He had the scripture in his heart</div> <div> Psalm 119:11-“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might <I>not sin</I> against thee.”</div> <div> We are to meet the temptations of Satan, as the Saviour did, with the plain and positive declarations of Scripture. We are to inquire whether the thing is commanded, and whether, therefore, it is right to do it, and not trust to our own feelings, or even our wishes, in the matter. If we want to get victory over our sins and temptations, follow Christ's pattern here in Matthew.                 </div> <div> -DH</div> <bR> <div> <B>June 2008</B></div> <div> <B>"Ready or Not, Here I Come!"</B></div> <div> <B>By: Evangelist Jeremiah Dixon</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Bro. Dixon is in full-time evangelism.</B></div> <div> <B>You can reach him at </B><A HREF="mailto:evangelistjdixon@yahoo.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:evangelistjdixon@yahoo.com"><B>evangelistjdixon@yahoo.com</B></A></div> <div> <B>or visit </B><A HREF="http://www.liftingupjesus.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.liftingupjesus.com"><B>www.liftingupjesus.com</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Matthew 24:42-44-“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come. But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up. Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.”</B></div> <bR> <div> The LORD JESUS CHRIST spoke powerful and important words while teaching and preaching on this earth. We are blessed to have these words preserved in the Scriptures today!  The Bible is the written and finished Words of GOD. The messages of CHRIST can be divided into four separate sermons.</div> <bR> <div>   1. The Sermon on the Mount</div> <div>       (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Matthew 5 - 7</FONT>)</div> <div>   2. The Sermon on the Kingdom</div> <div>       (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Matthew 13</FONT>)</div> <div>   3. The Olivet Discourse</div> <div>        (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Matthew 24 - 25</FONT>)</div> <div>   4. The Upper Room Discourse</div> <div>       (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >John 14 - 17</FONT>)</div> <bR> <div> The Olivet Discourse is certainly a sermon to Israel. CHRIST took the time to answer the questions of HIS curious disciples. The coming that is spoken of is clearly the Revelation of JESUS CHRIST.  However, we feel that it will do no harm to the Holy Scriptures to encourage folks to prepare for the Rapture of the Church! It is our intention to bring a simple thought from a caution that the LORD preached to HIS disciples.</div> <bR> <div> <B>"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh."</B></div> <bR> <div> (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Matthew 24:44</FONT>)</div> <div>  -There is <U>Confusion </U>about HIS Coming.</div> <div>  (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >II Peter 3:3 - 5</FONT>)</div> <div>  -There is <U>Certainty </U>about HIS Coming.</div> <div>  (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Hebrews 10:37</FONT>)</div> <div>  -There is <U>Caution</U> about HIS Coming.</div> <div>  (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Matthew 24:42 - 44</FONT>)</div> <bR> <div> *Ready or Not, Here I Come!!!</div> <bR> <div>  1. The Master's Imminent Coming</div> <div>       (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Matthew 24:36, 42, 44</FONT>)</div> <bR> <div>  2. The Masses' Indifferent Condition</div> <div>        (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Matthew 24:37 - 39</FONT>)</div> <bR> <div> *The LORD JESUS likened the days prior to HIS coming to the days of Noah and the flood. Today, a flood is upon the inhabitants of the earth. <I> </I>It is not a flood of water but a flood of materialism, immorality, and worldliness! The human race is once again heading for destruction just as in the days of Noah.</div> <bR> <div> <B>"This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come."</B></div> <div> (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >II Timothy 3:1</FONT>)</div> <div>  *The Days of Noah were days of:</div> <div>   1. Immorality      (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Genesis 6:1 - 7</FONT>)</div> <div>   2. Indifference  (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Genesis 6:11 - 13</FONT>)</div> <div>   3. Ignorance       (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Matthew 24:39</FONT>)</div> <div>   4. Invitation        (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Genesis 7:1</FONT>)</div> <div>       *See also <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Matthew 11:28</FONT> and <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Revelation 22:17</FONT></div> <bR> <div>  3. The Most Important Considerations.</div> <bR> <div>  <B>I. Are you SAVED?</B></div> <div> A. You must Respond to the Scriptures!</div> <div>               (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Romans 10:13 - 17, I Corinthians 1:17 - 21</FONT>)</div> <div> B.  You must Repent of your Sins!</div> <div>               (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Luke 13:3 - 5, Acts 20:21</FONT>)</div> <div> C. You must Receive the Saviour!</div> <div>               (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >John 1:11 - 13, Romans 10:9 - 13</FONT>)</div> <bR> <div>  <B>II. Are you SERVING?</B></div> <div> A. Sanctified by the Word.</div> <div>                 (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >II Timothy 2:19 - 21</FONT>)</div> <div> B.  Separated from the World.</div> <div>                 (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Titus 2:11 - 15</FONT>)</div> <div> C.  Surrendered to the Work.</div> <div>                 (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Romans 12:1 - 2</FONT>)</div> <bR> <div> <B>III. Are you SOUL-WINNING?</B></div> <div> A. Remember the Commission.</div> <div>                   (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Matthew 28:18 - 19</FONT>)</div> <div> B. Rely on CHRIST!</div> <div>                   (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Matthew 28:20</FONT>)</div> <div> C. Reach your Community.</div> <div>                   (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Luke 24:47, Acts 1:8</FONT>)</div> <bR> <div> <U> *When JESUS comes:</U></div> <div>  1. Some will be ALARMED!</div> <div>  2. Some will be ASHAMED!</div> <div>     (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >I John 2:28</FONT>)</div> <div>  3. Some will be ABANDONED!</div> <div>  4. Some will be ASSEMBLED in the AIR!</div> <bR> <div> <B>May 2008</B></div> <div> <B>“Three Fools in the Bible”</B></div> <div> <B>By: Bro. David Harrell</B></div> <div> In the month of April we had what was known as “April Fool's Day.”  While talking with a preacher friend of mine about this day, I began to ponder on this topic and decided to see what the bible has to say about “fools.” Upon studying, I found out that there are three different types of fools in the bible. The definition of the word fool means “stupid; wicked (especially impious-“irreverent; disrespectful”).”Here are the three types of fools in the bible.</div> <div> <B><U>#1. "The Lost Fool" - The fool that is open about his foolishness:</U></B></div> <div> Psalm 14:1-"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good."</div> <div> Psalm 53:1-"The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good."</div> <div> This fool is the one that makes the atheistic statement “there is no God.”  Obviously, we see why this person is described as foolish (or stupid); anyone who would say there is no God is definitely a fool.  This statement signifies an empty fellow, a contemptible person, a villain. One who has a muddy head and an unclean heart; and, in his darkness and folly, says in his heart, "There is no God."</div> <div> <I><B>Proverbs describes this fool:</B></I></div> <div> 1:7<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >-does not want wisdom</FONT></div> <div> 1:22<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >-hates knowledge</FONT></div> <div> 7:22<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >-is led as a magnet to a harlot</FONT></div> <div> 10:8<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >-a fool will despise correction and fall</FONT></div> <div> 10:18<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >-a fool lies and slanders with their lips</FONT></div> <div> 10:23<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >-does mischief as a sport</FONT></div> <div> 12:15<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >-guides himself</FONT></div> <div> 12:16<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >-is an angry person</FONT></div> <div> 12:23<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >-brags about foolish actions</FONT></div> <div> 13:20<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >-friendship with them leads to destruction</FONT></div> <div> 14:9<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >-mock at sin</FONT></div> <div> 15:5<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >-doesn't listen to their parent's instruction</FONT></div> <div> 17:7<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >-has bad speech</FONT></div> <div> 17:21<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >-his father has no joy</FONT></div> <div> 20:3<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >-meddles with strife</FONT></div> <div> 26:11<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#006600" FACE="Arial" >-always returns to his folly</FONT></div> <div> The Bible tells us there are two ways that you can know that there is a God<I><B>:</B></I></div> <div> <B>1) By Creation-</B></div> <div> Romans 1:19, 20-“Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:”</div> <div> Psalm 19:1-“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork.”</div> <div> Psalm 97:6-“The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.”</div> <div> <B>2) By Conscience-</B></div> <div> Romans 2:14-16-“For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”</div> <div> <B><U>#2. "The Religious Fool" - The fool that is blind to his foolishness:</U></B></div> <div> Matt. 23:13-33</div> <div> Jesus is speaking to the multitude here and he warns them of a certain group; a group of religious people, known as the Pharisees and Scribes. The Pharisees are defined as “someone who was separated by a religion” and the Scribes were a writer, town secretary or clerk.  </div> <div> He labels them as some definitions here: 1) <U>hypocrite</U>-an actor under an assumed character (stage-player), <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >(</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >v. 13, 14, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >) </FONT>2) <U>blinde guides</U>-blind leader<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >, (</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >v. 16, 24</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >) </FONT>3) <U>blind</U>-blind<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >, (</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >v. 17, 19, 26</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >), </FONT>4) <U>serpents</U>-a sly, cunning, malicious person, **title of Satan<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >, (</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >v. 33</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >), </FONT>5) <U>generation of vipers</U>-poisonous snake <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >(v. 33)</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >, </FONT>6) <U>fools</U>-dull or stupid, <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >(</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >v. 17, 19</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >).</FONT></div> <div> <I><B>Jesus then goes on to tell why they are a fool:</B></I></div> <div> v. 3-"for they say, and do not"</div> <div> v. 4-"they bind heavy burdens...will not move them with one of their fingers"</div> <div> v. 5-"all their works they do for to be seen of men"</div> <div> v. 6-" love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues"</div> <div> v. 7-"be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi"</div> <div> v. 13-"shut up the kingdom of heaven"</div> <div> v. 14-"devour widows' houses... make long prayer"</div> <div> v. 15-"proselyte"</div> <div> v. 23-"pay tithe...and have omitted the weightier matters of the law"</div> <div> v. 25-"make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess"</div> <div> The lost fool denies that there is a God, the second fool denies the power of God in their life.  They are blinded because of the things they do such as praying, fasting, tithing, etc. They feel that these religious acts make them worthy of Heaven.</div> <div> One such example of this is found in<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" > Luke 18:10-14</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >. T</FONT>he Pharisee in this story considered himself righteous but God thought differently considering the publican (tax collector) righteous.  Thus the religious Pharisee was the fool because religion will never get anyone to Heaven.</div> <div> <B><U>#3. The Accused Fool" - The fool that is labeled for his "so-called" foolishness:</U></B></div> <div> I Corinthians 4:10-"We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised."</div> <div> Paul is speaking to the Corinthian Church and he tells them about the public spectacles among the Romans, where they were accustomed to hiss, hoot, mock, and variously insult the poor victims. Thus, Paul says that they were fools on Christ's account.  When we walk in conformity to his will, and we bear his cross, we will be called a fool for Christ.  For Christ's sake they chose a path of sorrow that made the world call them fools. **Notice that it was the world that called them fools.</div> <div> Titus :13, 14-" Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."</div> <div> We are a peculiar (“being beyond usual; special”) people and we don't fit in here in this world, therefore people will term us “fools.”  This is the right fool to be because we are being associated with Christ and His sufferings.  </div> <div> May we all strive to be the accused fool (by the world) and stand for our Lord.</div> <div> If you are a lost fool, realize today that there is a God and He wants to save you.  If you are a religious fool, realize that religion and works will not save you and that you must trust Jesus as your Savior.  If you have been accused as a fool, glorify God because you have taken part in His sufferings.</div> <div> -DH</div> <bR> <div> <B>April 2008</B></div> <div> <B>“Opportunity, Opposition, & Overcoming”</B></div> <div> <B>By: Evangelist Jayson Godsey</B></div> <bR> <div> <I>Bro. Godsey is a full-time evangelist from Michigan who is a dear friend of ours.  </I></div> <div> <I>We highly recommend him for revival meetings and conferences.  You can reach him at </I><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0033CC" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:evangelistjgodsey@kjvmail.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:evangelistjgodsey@kjvmail.com"><I>evangelistjgodsey@kjvmail.com</I></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> 1 Corinthians 16:9</div> <div>  <I>“For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.”</I></div> <bR> <div> It is here in the conclusion of this 16th chapter of 1 Corinthians where we find Paul making a poignant statement about the place that God had put him.</div> <div> This chapter could be easily or effortlessly outlined as followed:</div> <bR> <div> Principles of Collections           (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >16:1-4</FONT>)</div> <div> Personal Comments                 (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >16: 5-12</FONT>)</div> <div> Powerful Commandments       (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >16:13-22</FONT>)</div> <bR> <div> It is while Paul is updating and informing these Christians of his upcoming itinerary that he makes this observation of his ministerial opportunities.</div> <bR> <div> <I>“For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.”</I></div> <bR> <div> It has been said in times past that with privilege always comes personal responsibility.   Let us never forget the fact that for every privilege and every opportunity that God affords us, we have the personal responsibility to use them for him.</div> <bR> <div> Let's notice three powerful truths from this passage on privilege and personal responsibility   </div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#17365D" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>OPPORTUNITY</U></B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >   </FONT>“<I>For a great door and effectual is opened unto me…”</I> </div> <div> The first truth we see is that opportunities are all around us.  Notice the Apostle Paul, in evaluating the environment that he found himself in, says that there is a great door of opportunity.   We like Paul need to open our eyes, look and see that there are great doors of opportunities all around us.  Notice a few       </div> <div> <B>Saved</B> -<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Rom timeMinute13Hour1010:13-“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”</FONT></div> <div> <B>Serve</B> - Thomas Edison said “placeOpportunity is missed by most because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.</div> <div> <B>Spirit filled</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > - </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Eph 5:18-“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”</FONT></div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#17365D" FACE="Arial" >DL Moody has said that these are to equally binding commands.  First, not to be drunk with wine but secondly, to be filled with the spirit.  Each of us have the opportunity to be filled and controlled by the Spirit on a daily basis.</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#17365D" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>OPPOSITION</U></B></FONT><B> </B> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I>“…there are many adversaries”</I></FONT></div> <div> Another truth that is taught here in this powerful passage is the greater the opportunity the greater the opposition.  Three of the aggressive adversaries of the believer are:</div> <bR> <div> <B>Satan</B> -<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >1Pet 5:8-“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”</FONT></div> <div> <B>Self</B> - If we would be honest with ourselves today, we would have to say that our biggest enemy is ourselves.  </div> <div> <B>Society</B> - Often our opposition will come from our own parents, siblings or friend. Understand that your friends who do not love and serve God will not help you learn to love and serve God.</div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#17365D" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>OVERCOMING MENTALITY</U></B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >   </FONT>“<I>I will tarry at placeCityEphesus”</I></div> <div> Paul can make this triumphant declaration that in spite of the pain, punishment, and persecution that he would stay in the work at Ephesus.  Friends we to need to fix ourselves where our faithful Lord has put us.  Some reasons why Paul could  flourish and be fruitful wherever he was found are:</div> <bR> <div> <B>Placement of God</B> - Paul could courageously continue what he with the help of God began because he believed that God had placed him there.  Today wherever you find yourself take heart and determine I'm going to be a victorious Christian instead of a victim and crybaby. </div> <div> <B>Power of God - </B>Another reason why Paul could make this statement is that He knew whom he believed in and that HE was able.  God is still able today learn to lean on him and His strength </div> <div> <B>Presence of God - </B>The final reason Paul keep on was He was keenly aware of God's presence. Wherever you are today, you are never so far that God is not there</div> <bR> <div> Today wherever you find yourself ask God to open your eyes to the opportunities all around you.  Realize that whenever you do something for God there will be opposition but determine that I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus and determine to learn and labor where you are until our Lord moves you.  Know He knows what's best for you and is too good ever to do something to harm you.</div> <bR> <div> <B>March 2008</B></div> <div> <B>"A USE TO BE AND A HAS BEEN"</B></div> <div> <B>By: Johnny “The Baptist” Campbell</B></div> <div> <I>Johnny the Baptist is an evangelist who is a friend of ours.</I></div> <div> <I>He has a great website, </I><A HREF="http://www.johnnythebaptist.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.johnnythebaptist.org"><I>www.johnnythebaptist.org</I></A><I>  full of great resources and</I></div> <div> <I>funny things that you will find help and enjoyment in.</I></div> <div> <I>If you have any questions or comments, you can reach him at </I><A HREF="mailto:johnnythebaptist@earthlink.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:johnnythebaptist@earthlink.net"><I>johnnythebaptist@earthlink.net</I></A><I>.</I></div> <div> I know that you have heard these words before “A USE TO BE” or a “HAS BEEN.”</div> <div> I just heard a preacher say last week,</div> <div> “Bro Johnny I do not want to people to say about me that I was a “HAS BEEN,”</div> <div> I want to finish my races in Victory lane.”</div> <div> Now this saying “A USE TO BE OR HAS BEEN” is used</div> <div> about a person that is not what they once were.</div> <div> Did you know that it is scriptural for us that are saved,</div> <div> that we all are  “A USE TO BE AND A HAS BEEN?”</div> <div> Ready let's study this out turn to <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >Eph 2:1-5-“And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”</FONT></div> <div>  (1) <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Palatino Linotype" ><B><U>Every Child of God “USE TO BE DEAD” Spiritually:</U></B></FONT></div> <div> Verse 1 Gen 2:17 - Luke 15:24</div> <div> “And HAS BEEN made alive in CHRIST”… YOU WERE DEAD, now alive,….. makes me shout!</div> <div> Notice we “USE TO BE” dead, now we Have been made alive.</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#17365D" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >(2) </FONT><B><U>Every Child of God “USE TO” follow the course of this world and a lover of it</U></B>:</div> <div> Verse 2</div> <div> And “HAS BEEN” made a lover of JESUS and the things of God - I John 4:19</div> <div>  (3) <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Palatino Linotype" ><B><U>Every Child of God “USE TO BE” a child of the devil</U></B>:</FONT></div> <div> Read Verse 3 - John 8:44</div> <div> And “HAS BEEN” made a child of God - I John 3:2</div> <div>  (4) <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Palatino Linotype" ><B><U>Every Child OF God “USE TO BE” at Distance from GOD:</U></B></FONT></div> <div> Verse 13</div> <div> AND “HAS BEEN” brought near (nigh).</div> <div> Glory to God we who that were afar off now have access into His very Presence.</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#17365D" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >(5) </FONT><B><U>Every Child of God at one time “USE TO BE” a foreigner</U></B>:</div> <div> Verse 19 </div> <div> In that same verse it says “HAS BEEN” made a citizen.</div> <div>  (6) <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Palatino Linotype" ><B><U>Every Child of God “USE TO BE” blind</U></B>:</FONT></div> <div> 2 Cor 4:3-4 </div> <div> Now every Child of GOD has been given sight - John 9:25</div> <div> (7) <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#C00000" FACE="Palatino Linotype" ><B><U>Every Child of God “USE TO BE” Lost, but now every Child of God “HAS BEEN”</U></B></FONT></div> <div> <B><U>Found:</U></B></div> <div> Luke 15:32</div> <div> This I have given you is not a sermon, but a little devotion to help me remember that once I was a “USE TO BE” and people that knew me before, <U>CHRIST</U> changed me! Bro.  Johnny “USE TO BE” a wicked sinner, but now he “HAS BEEN” <U>REDEEMED</U>!  We will all leave a legacy behind, I pray at your funeral that they will say “ole so and so `USE TO BE,' A wretch, but “HAS BEEN” <U>FORGIVEN</U> AND “HAS BEEN” made ready to meet JESUS in the glory world!”</div> <bR> <div> <B>February 2008</B></div> <div> <B>“THE PREEMINENT WORD”</B></div> <div> <B>By: Pastor S. D. Wilson</B></div> <bR> <div> <I>Bro. Wilson is the pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Belmont, MS. and is a dear friend of ours and a supporter of our ministry.  We always feel God's warmest presence when we are able to fellowship with Bro. Wilson and the church.  If you have any comments or questions, you can reach him at </I><A HREF="mailto:kjb1611@bellsouth.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:kjb1611@bellsouth.net"><U>kjb1611@bellsouth.net</U></A> </div> <div> <B>John 1:1-5 </B></div> <div> <B>[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. [4] In him was life; and the life was the light of men. [5] And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. </B></div> <div> <B><U>THREE DISTINCTIONS OF THE WORD:</U></B></div> <div> <B>1.</B> The When of the Word   “<B><U>In the beginning</U></B> was the Word…” </div> <div> <B>a.</B> Before anything that is ever was. </div> <div> <B>b.</B> Before anything created ever existed. </div> <div> <B>c. </B>In the dark regions of eternity past… whenever it was that God “began” His creation, the   Word was already in eternal existence. </div> <div> <B>d.</B> It is important to remember, because He (the Word) is beyond the limits of time, He IS the I AM! </div> <div> <B>e. </B>He will never be a has been or a Past Tense. [The same yesterday, today, and forever.] </div> <div> <B>2. </B>The Where of the Word   “…and the Word <B><U>was with God</U></B>…”      </div> <div> <B>a.</B> Thus, as long as God Is and Has Been and Ever Shall Be, the Word is also. </div> <div> <B>b.</B> The Word and God the Father are all inclusive and inseparable throughout eternity. </div> <div> <B>c. </B>They were together in eternity past and shall be together ever more. </div> <div> <B>d. </B>“With” --- def. In the company of; near; alongside; together in judgment or opinion; containing. </div> <div> <B>e. </B>Therefore, we know that God the Father and God the Word are one in essence and existence. </div> <div> <B>f. </B>The Word is therefore in absolute agreement with the Father throughout the span of eternity. </div> <div> <B>3. </B>The What of the Word   “and the <B><U>Word was God</U></B>.” </div> <div> <B>a.</B> Now we see the Deity of God declared in the Word. </div> <div> <B>b.</B> It is ever clear that the Word and Christ are one and the same. </div> <div> <B>c. </B>The Word here is not simply in agreement with the father, but actually <I><U>a part of</U></I> the God-head. </div> <div> <B>d. </B>“<I><U>Word was God</U></I>” --- The Word was “of God” and “from God” Himself. </div> <div> <B>e.</B> It could be said as thus: The Word of God … God The Word. Either way it is spoken, it is true. </div> <div> <B>f.</B> Likewise we can say: The Son of God … God The Son. Same terms and like truths. </div> <div> <B>g.</B> John 1:14 And the <I><B><U>Word was made flesh</U></B></I>, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. [emphasis mine] </div> <div> With these great truths so rich in Doctrine and Mystery, we learn a great truth about how God reveals Himself to mankind. In the Old Testament economy of time, He spoke through angels and prophets and theophanies. A theophany is merely an Old Testament appearance of Christ; i.e. the burning bush, the fiery furnace. During the time “between” the testaments He spoke <I><U>not at all</U></I>. He opened the New Testament with the leather-lunged John the Baptist. After the baptism of Christ He spoke through the Son. (Ref. Hebrews 1:1-3) After the resurrection, He spoke through the “preaching” and prophesying of the apostles. Yet when God put a period in Rev. 22:21, he gave us the pure Word of God. The Word that was “<I><U>made flesh</U></I>” is the consummation of the Blessed Book of God… “the holy writ”. (Our copy of God's Word is the Preserved, Inerrant, Infallible KJB)</div> <div> Here the great apostle Paul as he quotes the old testament psalmist from Psalm 40:7:</div> <div> Hebrews 10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. </div> <div> Therefore we can conclude, to <I><U>know more</U></I> about the Father you must <I><U>learn more</U></I> about the Son. To <I><U>learn more </U></I>about the Son, you must <I><U>know more</U></I> about the <I><U>Word</U></I>. (And we are here speaking about the AV 1611 KJB.)</div> <div> A very good friend of mine was speaking with a saintly, godly, gray-haired man of God who was noted for his power with God and from God. Being thirsty and yearning to preach with such power and authority my friend asked the old preacher how could he attain such power and preach in such authority. The old man of God took the blessed Bible from my friend's hand and with a thud shoved it into his chest and said, “Son, God will do no more with you than you do with His Book.” </div> <div> <B>January 2008</B></div> <div> <B>“How to Have a Biblical New Year”</B></div> <div> <B>By: Bro. David Harrell</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Numbers 29:1- 6</B></div> <div> <I>“And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you. And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish: And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram, And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs: And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you: Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD.”</I></div> <div> This passage of scripture is God speaking to Moses and he is giving him the details for what is known as the Feast of Trumpets.  This feast was during the month Tishri (7th month), which was the first month of the Jewish year.  During this day, all work ceased.  This feast actually started on the first day and it was called <I>Rosh Hashanah.</I></div> <div> <I>Feast of Trumpets</I> means “a memorial proclaimed with the blasts of horns;”  it is also known as the <I>“feast of the new moon.”</I>  Trumpets were sounded on this day all throughout the land and also during this time several offerings were given.  There were usually eleven offerings on the first of every month, but on this day there was also a young bullock, a ram, and seven lambs.  Also, during this day there was also a time of public reading of the law.  Since this was their New Year, let's apply this to us as we are now in our New Year, 2008, and see how we can have a biblical New Year!</div> <div> <B><U>#1. The Trumpets Blown:</U></B></div> <div> As we have already said, this was a day where trumpets were blown. Usually a trumpet was sounded in the temple at the time of an offering of a sacrifice, but this was different. A shofar (ram's horn) and two silver trumpets were sounded.  </div> <div> Now trumpets in the Bible were used for many different things such as:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007700c899000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Calling assemblies</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007700c899000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Regulating the journeys of the children of Israel.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007700c899000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Blowing over the sacrifices on the feast day.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007700c899000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Blowing at all religious processions and ceremonies.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007700c899000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Assembling the people to war.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007700c899000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Proclaiming kings.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007700c899000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Giving alarm in cases of danger.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007700c899000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Associated with coming of Lord</div> <div> <I><B>1 Thessalonians 4:16</B></I><I>-“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:”</I></div> <div> <I><B>Joel 2:1</B></I><I>-“Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand;”</I></div> <div> Why is this important with us on our New Year's Service? Because we have a trumpet to blow too!  John proclaimed that he was a “voice” for Christ (John 31:23).  We must sound the horn that Jesus Christ is Lord and that He is coming back soon.  Remember, these horns on this special day were not only sounded in the temple, but in the whole land.  We must not just claim Christ while we are at church, it must be a 24/7 sounding. </div> <div> We must sound our horns: 1) loudly, 2) lovingly, and 3) limitlessly. </div> <div> <B><U>#2. The Offerings Made:</U></B></div> <div> Offerings were given in the bible to picture the coming Messiah Jesus Christ.  They were for purification from sin so that one could enter into a fellowship with God.  There were all kinds of offerings in the bible: sin, trespass, peace, meal, drink, wave, burnt, etc. The offerings were of no value if the offerer did not do exactly what they were told to from God. Christ is our perfect lamb today so we do not have to make offerings of animals. We are now commanded to offer some sacrifices still today though:</div> <div> <I>I Peter 2:5-“Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, </I><I><U>to offer up spiritual sacrifices</U></I><I>, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”</I></div> <div> We are told to offer our body a living sacrifice:</div> <div> <I>Romans 12:1-“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, </I></div> <div> <I>that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”</I></div> <div> Paul tells us that now it is our body that is to be sacrificed.  Notice to whom it is to be given to - “unto God.” Many are sacrificing themselves to temporal things that do not matter.  Do not offer yourselves on the alter of worldly sacrifices, give it to God for his glory and use.</div> <div> He tells us how we are to sacrifice our body to God:</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007700c899000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Holy - meaning <I>“pure, morally blameless”</I></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Wing0a73007700c899000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Acceptable - meaning <I>“well-pleasing”</I></div> <div> <B><U>#3. The Service Held:</U></B></div> <div> The service during this time was a service of joy and worship:</div> <div> <I>Nehemiah 8:1-6-“And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.</I> <I>And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.”</I></div> <div> During this special service they read the law publicly.  Ezra gave special attention to the Lord and bragged on him for a while.  This congregation was so moved that they responded in “Amens.” They were happy to set aside a time of praising God and worshipping him.  The conclusion of this service is that they end up worshipping God.  We too are to rejoice and meditate on this day.  It will not be a biblical day nor year if we do not be steadfast in public worship services where we can worship the Lord.</div> <div> <B><U>Conclusion:</U></B></div> <div> On this New Year's Day and year, we need to blow our trumpets, make our offering, and have a worship service if we are to have a biblical one.</div> <div> <B>-DH</B></div> <div> <B>John 3:30</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>December 2007</B></div> <div> <B>“The Word”</B></div> <div> <B>By: Bro. David Harrell</B></div> <div> The author of the book of John is John the Apostle.  He wrote it around 85 A.D.  The theme of this great book is the deity of Christ.  The point is made clear that Jesus was the son of God.  The words “believe” and “life” are used 101 times in John.  Let's go through the first three verses to see some great truths about Jesus Christ, “the Word of God.”</div> <div> <B><U>John 1:1-“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”</U></B></div> <div> <I><B>“In the beginning”</B></I></div> <div> <U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">beginning </U>- commencement</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" ><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">This verse starts out the same as </FONT>Genesis 1:1-“<I><B><U>In the beginning</U></B></I> God created the heaven and the earth.”</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">When was the beginning?   When the beginning was!</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The beginning was when it all began; before the earth, the heavens, the people, the animals.</div> <div> <I><B>“was the Word”</B></I></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">What word is this talking about?</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Some sacred literature, Ten Commandments, The Bible…..?</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Notice that it is capitalized.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Anytime an earthly object is used to name God, it always starts with a capital letter.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Examples: Lamb, Word, Bread, Water, etc.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c80000ff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Revelation 19:13-“And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The <I><B><U>Word</U></B></I> of God.”</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c80000ff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">I John 1:1-“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the <I><B><U>Word</U></B></I> of life;” </div> <div> <U><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">word</U>-“expression or utterance of that thought”</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">He is the revelation & manifestation of God.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Christ was in the very beginning.       </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Some say he was created in <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Genesis 1:3-“And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”</FONT></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">This is false because in v. 3, that is not the beginning, and the Word was in the beginning.</div> <div> <I><B>“And the Word was with God”</B></I></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">They are together.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">They have unity and fellowship.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">This verse stumps a lot of people who say that Christ was just a man.  He was more than just a man, he was God!</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">He isn't just there with him, but yet he is him.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c80000ff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">I John 5:20-“And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Christ was God-incarnate (body=flesh).</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c80000ff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Colossians 2:8,9 -“Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Word was part of the trinity.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The trinity (3) is really one (1).</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c80000ff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">I John 5:7-“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”</div> <div> <B><U>John 1:2-“The same was in the beginning with God.”</U></B></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">In other words, this is how it's always been that Christ is God.</div> <div> <B><U>John 1:3-“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”</U></B></div> <div> <I><B>“All things were made by him”</B></I></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Who is “him?” These verses are talking about Christ and verse three keeps this subject.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Christ made all things.  How could this happen?  Because he is God (see v. 1)</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Christ was part of the creative acts. </div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c80000ff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Genesis 1:26-“And God said, <I><B><U>Let us</U></B></I> make man in <I><B><U>our</U></B></I> image, after <I><B><U>our</U></B></I> likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">One person is speaking here for three different people which are really one person.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Holy Spirit was also involved in the creative acts.</div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c80000ff00.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Genesis 1:2-“And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And <I><B><U>the Spirit of God</U></B></I> moved upon the face of the waters.”</div> <div> <I><B>“and without him was not anything made that was made”</B></I></div> <div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700c880000000.png" HEIGHT="13" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">There has never been any creative act that God (trinity) has not been over.</div> <div> This shows that God is almighty & Lord of all.</div> <bR> <div> <B>November 2007</B></div> <div> <B>“Afflictions & Victory”</B></div> <div> <B>*</B>Submitted by Anonymous Pastor.  Father of five, Polish descent, Good Looking.</div> <div> <B>Psalms 34:19</B></div> <div> <B>“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.”</B></div> <div> <B>I Corinthians 15:57</B></div> <div> <B>“But thanks be to God, which giveth us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ!”</B></div> <div> The Bible is such a powerful book, a book of Truth that never lies.  God has magnified His Word above his very name, (Psalms 138:2) and we all know how the Scriptures tell us to Reverence God's name.  </div> <div> Many preachers today are preaching a different God than is found in the Bible.  They describe God as only love, while neglecting His holiness and justice.  They present a false god that only allows good things to come into their lives while never allowing any suffering, grief, or loss.  They preach messages that are so cunning, crafty, and deceptive.  They deceive people by telling them if they give their lives to God, all their problems will magically go away, and their lives will be a bed of roses, free from the problems that others go through.  </div> <div> Their messages fly in the face of the Scriptures.  I have been a child of God for some time now, and have experienced many afflictions and griefs.  The Scriptures declare in the text above that the righteous will have “many” afflictions.  </div> <div> In fact, the adversary of the Christian will pay more attention and fight the obedient Christian harder than he will those who trifle with sin.  Holy vessels have power with God, and Satan hates the vessels of righteousness.  This is clearly seen in the book of James when it declares in Chapter 5 and the latter part of verse 16 that “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”  This passage is referring that  great prophet Elijah, a man who would rather go through a long season of famine and hidden ministry so that his nation would turn back to God.  What a difficult command God gave Elijah when he told this powerful prophet and preacher to “Hide Himself.”  His ministry for a lengthy period was not to the masses, but to one gentile widow and her son.  </div> <div> Now consider that evil woman Jezebel and her hatred for God's men, and her venom towards Elijah.  Jezebel had killed the prophets of the Lord, and set up a false religious system.  After that great confrontation on Mount Carmel when Elijah preached his powerful message entitled “How Long Halt Ye Between Two Opinions?” (I Kings 18:21), and the fire of God fell on the acceptable sacrifice, a great revival of sorts took place.  The people fell on their faces and said, “The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God (I Kings 18:39).  </div> <div> Elijah was right with God, and had power with God.  He preached the message burning in his heart, and saw a great miracle that day.  However, that wicked Jezebel was incited with more violence.  Jezebel threatened to kill God's man, and stated that she would kill him by the next day-and her threat was a source of fear and discomfort to Elijah.  </div> <div> Here is the fine point of this introduction: Elijah loved God, served him with fervency, and was zealous for God.  He was not however, exempt from problems or the attacks of the devil because he was an obedient man.  His road was glorious, but rough!</div> <div> Perhaps no other biblical character better illustrates this truth than Joseph.  During this devotional, we will consider 1) Joseph's character, 2) The afflictions that befell him, and</div> <div> 3) His response to the afflictions, and what we can learn from his response.  </div> <div> <I><B>1. Joseph's Character</B></I></div> <div> We can learn much from Joseph's character.  Even as a young man he had a mind for heavenly things and walked with integrity.  We first hear of Joseph in Genesis 37, when the Scriptures introduce him to us at the age of 17.  He was loved of his father Jacob, because he was the son of his old age.  </div> <div> <B><U>He was an honest young man</U></B>.  He was honest about what was going on with his brothers while they were feeding the flock (17:2).  We could consider the character of his brothers, they were mischievous individuals, and their mischief would only breed more mischief.  Mischief is defined as a bad plan, heinous crime, bad or evil.  The Bible has much to say about mischief, (see Ps 62:3, Ps 119:50, Pr. 11:27, Pr. 28:14)  but to make plain what God thinks of mischief is clearly seen in Proverbs 6:18-God hates feet that are swift in running to mischief.  </div> <div> I knew a young man in high school that was always in trouble.  Whenever there was anything going on that was wrong, you could be sure that this particular young man would be involved somewhere.  The principal gave him the nickname of “The Common Denominator!”  How fitting.  </div> <div> Joseph's character was so different from his brothers.  This teaches us that no matter what influences are in your family, you can still choose right.  Proverbs 20:11 says, “Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right.”  Joseph's character was known of his brothers, and they despised him for being an honest young man.  </div> <div> <B><U>Joseph had a heavenly mind; a mind for the things of God</U></B>.  Joseph was sent some dreams from the Lord, and even when many years of affliction took place in his life, he never forgot about those dreams.  I know many young people who have allowed sorrow or afflictions to steal away their dreams, to steal their hope, but Joseph was not like that.  </div> <div> <B><U>Joseph was an obedient young man</U></B>.  The very day that trouble befell him at the hands of his brothers, he was obeying his father.  Genesis 37:13-14.  Joseph was given the command of his father, and he obeyed.  This wasn't a very important task, just a task to see how his brothers were doing.  It was a long journey to take just for something like that.  Joseph was not pre-occupied with himself, and responded obediently.  Many people suffer emotionally and spiritually because they will not obey authority.  They respond to commands by getting angry at the commander, angry at their life, and they are miserable.  Miserable people never learn to obey.  The jails are full of people who never learned to obey.  </div> <div> I am amazed at the anger and anxiety that overwhelms young people over the smallest commands.  “Clean your room,” “Take out the garbage,” or “Help out your brother.”  All these are simple and necessary commands, and no doubt the person who has been instructed to do these things IS CAPABLE, and has the ABILITY to do them, but because they are selfish, stubborn, and foolish they must constantly fight against these things.  Simple obedience produces joy; Rebellion produces anger, anxiety, and misery.  That's true for young people and adults alike, but normally adults refuse to admit rebellion.  </div> <div> <I><B>2. Now let us consider the afflictions that befell Joseph</B></I></div> <div> Many people can identify with the afflictions of Joseph.  We live in a world full of sin, and many times people suffer wrongfully at the hands of others.  Each time I read the story of this terrible deed, and consider the emotional anguish and torment that Joseph went through; I am almost moved to tears.  </div> <div> Here comes Joseph, obeying his father and checking in on his brothers as they care for the families possessions (ch 37:18).  <B><U>His brothers see him coming and plot to kill him</U></B>.  Could you imagine the hatred of these brothers?  (Sad to say, this kind of hatred exists in homes that I am aware of-sometimes homes of people who attend church)</div> <div> Joseph's brother Reuben persuaded his brothers not to kill Joseph, <B><U>but to cast him into an empty pit, with no water</U></B> (vs. 24).  Consider the indifference of Joseph's brothers.  Verse 25 says, “And they sat down to eat bread.”  Here is their brother, their own flesh and blood, in a dark, empty pit, crying out for help and scared, and his brothers sit down to eat like just like any other time.  The Cruelty!  </div> <div> Over 20 years later, when the famine had hit and things had changed for Joseph in Egypt, his brothers would enter into Joseph's life again.  Before Joseph revealed himself to his brethren, they were conversing with each other in the Hebrew tongue, not knowing that Joseph (who had spoken to them through an interpreter, ch 42:23) could understand every word.  They were speaking about this terrible day when they did these unspeakable things to their brother.  Reuben described what was going on as Joseph was in the pit!  He described it by saying “<B><U>We saw the anguish of his soul</U></B>, when he besought us, and WE WOULD NOT HEAR.”  </div> <div> <B><U>Can you see this young man at the age of 17?  Can you hear his cries from the dark, lonely, dry pit?  Can you identify with the “Anguish of his soul?”  Can you identify with the fear of Joseph as his outer garment has been violently ripped from his person and he's cast into the pit</U></B>?  <B><U>Sold in Slavery in front of his very eyes?</U></B></div> <div> My heart is grieved greatly when I say that this old world is full of similar kinds of people.  The type of people who take advantage of others and never even give it a second thought.  It's not even uncommon in these days to hear of a family with a father who would immorally abuse his own daughters or step-daughters.  We know of people who have been coerced, forced, and introduced to wicked things that would destroy their innocence and their minds.  Just as Joseph's brothers stated, they heard the anguish of his soul, and they would not hear.</div> <div> <B><U>Can you identify with Joseph?  Rejected of his brothers, stripped of his clothing, abandoned in the pit, sold into slavery, later-falsely accused of Potiphar's wife, forgotten by the butler</U></B>.  There sure is a lot of suffering here.  In fact, many people in this particular day take medications or drugs, or run to alcohol to help cope with the emotional anguish they deal with as a result of similar things.  Oh, the rejection and pain he must have felt.  Torn away from his family and familiar surroundings.  These hurts and pains run to the deepest core of our beings.  </div> <div> Joseph was different than most folks.  Most people think that God can only put things in their life that are positive.  I've known of many people who have not gone through near the measure of suffering and affliction as Joseph, yet they quit on God when the hard times come.  Not Joseph.  </div> <div> I've learned a vital truth about suffering as I've walked with God.  I've learned more about God during times of affliction than I've learned of him on the mountaintop.  God's Word will guide you through obstacles when the road is dark ahead.  You learn of God in the valley of affliction.  Remember that-you'll need it.  </div> <div> <B>3. </B><I><B>Let us consider Joseph's response to these affliction</B></I></div> <div> I am moved by the response of Joseph to these afflictions, and we can learn vital lessons from this.  As you study the Scripture about Joseph's response, there are a couple of clues about his attitudes about God during those years that he was enslaved and imprisoned.  </div> <div> First, he is sold to Potiphar and not long after Potiphar's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and seduced him.  Consider what the Bible says about Joseph's appearance in Genesis 39:6 at the end of the verse, “And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured.”  This word “Goodly person” means that Joseph was a good looking man.  </div> <div> Joseph responds to her initial request by asking Potiphar's wife, (ch 39:9) “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?  </div> <div> <B><U>Joseph still had a high opinion of God and his holiness, and continued to make principled decisions in the midst of temptations and adversity</U></B>!  <B><U>He didn't allow the afflictions of his life to cause him to question the good and holy character of God</U></B>!  Have you ever known anyone to use their suffering as an excuse to live wickedly?  I have.  Not Joseph.  </div> <div> Just as a side note, this passage teaches you that looks are deceiving, and it's important to marry the right person.  Potiphar's wife was probably a very good looking woman, but she was void of character.  How many men would like to have Potiphar's wife for their own?  If you base everything on looks-you will miss the mark!  You need a wife with character, not a wife who will betray you while you're working!  Take the haughty, conceited, and sensual dressing young ladies as your wife.  You will be sorry.  Better keep your eyes on the things of God.  (i.e. Samson)</div> <div> Joseph rooted out sin, and fought against it even when he had ample opportunity to sin privately (ch 39:10-12).  II Timothy 2:22 says “Flee also Youthful Lusts.”  That word “youthful” means appertaining to younger persons.  There are certain lusts that young people struggle with during their teen years that must be dealt with properly.  You must fight against these lusts, or you will carry them into your adult years.  The proper means of fighting these lusts are with a pure and clean heart, and QUICK FEET!  FLEE!  Joseph knew that Adultery was GREAT WICKEDNESS, and fled from the adulteress.  </div> <div> Here's the second point, and very important:</div> <div> <B><U>Joseph took the blessings of God and used them as a means to forget the afflictions</U></B>.  Consider that Joseph didn't stand before Pharaoh until he was 30 years of age.  That was 13 long years in slavery and prison before Joseph was rewarded with freedom and privilege.  After he was made the commander in Egypt, he was given a wife for his own.  Soon after marriage, his wife was expecting their first child (Genesis 41:51-52).  He named his firstborn son, MANASSEH, which means, “Causing to Forget.”  If you summarize what verse 51 says, it goes like this: God hath made me to forget ALL my toil and ALL my father's house.  </div> <div> I could shout right here!  I have some children of my own, and my, what a blessing to see them come into the world, to pray with them for the first time, to hold them gently to my chest, to tell them that Jesus loves them, to tell them that Daddy loves them!  Oh, what a blessing.  </div> <div> When Joseph saw that little baby, he said GOD MADE ME TO FORGET!  Has God done that for you?  He can and will if you'll respond like Joseph!  </div> <div> Let me ask a question.<B>  What Blessings could God provide you with and cause you, in fact make you, to forget those who have wronged you</B>?  Think about it.  Joseph Forgot.  Some people have a forgetting problem, they refuse to forget and instead they hold on to the pain, they nurse the pain like a nursing baby, they rehearse the pain like they're studying for an exam.  This is a forgetting problem.  </div> <div> Before we move on to the final two points, let us consider the confrontation that Joseph had with his brothers.  Famine has struck the land, in fact, famine has struck the whole earth (Gen 41:56).  The beginning of Genesis 42 describes the story as Jacob instructs his sons to go to Egypt for the needs of his family.  We read in Genesis 42:4 that Jacob still lives his life in fear and over-shelters his youngest son Benjamin because of what happened to Joseph over 20 years earlier!  </div> <div> His brothers get to Egypt and stand before Joseph, however they do not recognize him, but Joseph recognizes them (Gen 42:8).  Joseph accuses them of being spies. </div> <div> (Joseph would find out things for the first time during this ordeal, some things that would cause him to weep)  </div> <div> Keep in mind that all his communication with his brothers at this time is through an interpreter, and each thing that his brothers speak in Hebrew they believe Joseph cannot understand.  </div> <div> During this confrontation, Joseph finds out for the first time in all these years that he had one brother who tried to save his life, one brother who loved him-See ch. 42, verses 21-22)  Joseph broke down and wept when he heard Reuben speak of this situation-vs. 24.  When Joseph finally revealed himself to his brethren, it came as a great shock and source of distress to his brothers-see Chapter 45:1-3.  Joseph's brothers were troubled at his presence-because they thought Joseph would deal harshly with them as they did with him.  But something was different about Joseph.</div> <div> This is a very important point:</div> <div> <B><U>Joseph was willing to release those who had wronged him</U></B>.  This is an aspect of forgiveness that few people understand.  Even though his brothers had not asked Joseph for forgiveness, he had already released them from the prison in his heart.  Please understand that if Joseph didn't deal with this situation properly, it could of destroyed his life.  Joseph had every right (humanly speaking) to be angry with his brothers every day for his long season of hardship and grief, yet he released them to be dealt with by their Maker.  See verses 5-8, 14-15.  He accepted what had happened to him, and did not allow these hardships to destroy him. </div> <div> Joseph would not be a VICTIM, he would be a VICTOR!  This is a choice that each of us must make.  What distinguishes a Victim and Victor?  A victim will nurse their pain, and put their abusers in the prison cell of their heart and never release them.  They will rehearse or internalize the atrocities that befell them, and even 20 or 30 years later, remember them in great detail.  THIS WILL DESTROY YOU.  </div> <div> Releasing someone who has wronged you in a similar fashion does not mean that they will become your best friend, or that they are welcome to come back into your life like before.  Releasing them means that you will forgive them for the wrong and keep the prison in your heart Empty!  <B>How many Christians have multiple people in the jail cell of their heart?  Dad or mom, sister or brother, husband or wife, (or x-husband, x-wife), children, pastors, church members, and so on</B>!  This will destroy you!  <B>Bitterness will be your master if you don't let go!</B></div> <div> Even after all the pain his brothers had caused, Joseph comforted them, nourished them, forgave them, and even kissed each of his brothers, and cried with them (ch. 45:14-15).</div> <div> This didn't happen by accident my friends, Joseph chose Victory.  Joseph was a Victor!  </div> <div> <B><U>Lastly, Joseph left vengeance to God</U></B>!  See Genesis 50:15, 19-21.  Many people including Christians want God to avenge them.  They want God to be just like we are, and swiftly punish all those who have wronged them (See highlighted list of family members and acquaintances above)  When someone causes us great hurt or pain, our fleshly response if they will not immediately repent is to get revenge.  The Bible DOES NOT SAY, “Vengeance is fine, saith the Lord!”  I have known some people in this life who claim to be so spiritual and right with God, but if they were honest, that verse speaks what comes from their heart to those who have wronged them.  </div> <div> Proverbs 24:17-18 says, “Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth: Lest the LORD see it, and it displease him, and he turn away his wrath from him.”  </div> <div> Each day that Joseph was in slavery, and falsely imprisoned he could have chosen to nurse anger towards his brothers, and wish for the day when he could inflict the same kind of pain that they inflicted upon him.  <B><U>He Chose Not To Be That Way</U></B>.  I have known many people in this life, who have been taken advantage of, used, abused, and thrown away as nothing by others.  Sometimes they respond to these atrocities by holding on to bitterness for the rest of their lives, and they have no idea that the devil has stolen away some of the most precious things that God can place in peoples lives-Joy, Innocence, Laughter, Fulfillment, Perfect Peace, and Precious Years.  I have known of people whose pain becomes the god that they serve.  They meditate on the pain, seek the pain, re-live and rehearse the pain-almost sounds like worship, don't it?  </div> <div> I meditate on Jesus!  I seek the Lord!  I re-live the day I got saved, and never want to forget the joy the Lord placed in my heart!  Will you choose with Joseph to Release those who have wronged you, and leave vengeance to the Lord?  Will you choose to release those in the jail cell of your heart?  Is that jail cell empty right now?   Do you still have a high opinion of God and His character even if you've gone through unspeakable pain?  </div> <div> Will you take the blessings God has placed in your life and use them as a means to forget your afflictions?</div> <div> THESE ARE ALL CHOICES!  Will you be a Victim, or will you be a Victor?!!!</div> <div> Praise God!  I heard an old, old story, how a Savior came from glory, how he gave his life on Calvary to save a wretch like me!  I heard about his groaning and his precious blood's atoning, then I repented of my sins and won the VICTORY!  OH VICTORY, In Jesus, My Savior Forever!  He sought me and bought me with his redeeming blood, he loved me ere I knew him, and ALL my love is due him, he plunged me to VICTORY beneath the cleansing flood!!</div> <div> I Corinthians 15:57</div> <div> But thanks be to God, which giveth us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ!</div> <bR> <div> <B>October 2007</B></div> <div> <B>“Are You Committed?”</B></div> <div> <B>By Brother David Harrell</B></div> <div> <B>Psalm 37:1-7; text: v. 5</B></div> <div> “Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”</div> <div> David is writing this Psalm with the purpose of two things:</div> <div> 1) to persuade others to do particular things, </div> <div> 2) to assure them that God will work that thing out.</div> <div> You can see this in the following:</div> <div> v. 1-“Fret not thyself”….”they shall soon be cut down”</div> <div> v. 2-“Trust in the Lord”…..”thou shalt be fed”</div> <div> v. 4-“Delight thyself”….”he shall give thee desires”</div> <div> v. 5-“Commit”….”he shall bring forth thy righteousness”</div> <div> v. 8-“Cease from anger”…..”evil doers shall be cut off”</div> <div> It is a Psalm about future blessings.  Things may not look so good right now, but the sun is coming up in the morning!</div> <div> We are instructed on a lot of good truths in our text but we want to focus on v. 5.  David tells us to “commit thy way unto the Lord.”  In 2007, commitment is a thing of the past:</div> <div> -people don't want to commit in relationships, so they get a divorce</div> <div> -people don't want to commit in exercise, so they get out of shape</div> <div> -people don't want to commit to diets, so they stay fat</div> <div> and on and on and on……..</div> <div> <I>“Anyone can quit, but it takes a real person to commit and stay true to that commitment”</I></div> <div> People are so quick to give up and quit in life, and it is the same way with saved people.   People are dropping out of church, preachers are not preaching, singers don't sing anymore, and faithful members are very rare.</div> <div> …..but we are very committed to things that don't even matter like sporting events, tv shows (GA Football instead of church).  Notice these three things in our text:</div> <div> <B><U>#1. “Commit thy way unto the Lord”:</U></B></div> <div> a)<I> commit:</I></div> <div> <U>commit</U>-to roll, wallow, trust</div> <div> What commitment it is when you lay down to wallow in something.  </div> <div> In this life we live it is hard to trust anyone, but the Lord is one who you can commit to.  Just as today is the day of salvation, today is the day of commitment, tomorrow may be too late.  No matter what age, race, background, we need to commit. </div> <div> b) <I>thy way:</I></div> <div> The way is your path or direction you are going.  We are all on a journey in life, we must be committed in it and while on it.  Allow God to lead you down the right road.  But be aware, there are many roads the devil would like you to go down.</div> <div> c) <I>unto the Lord:</I></div> <div> The Lord is the one who is over us, why wouldn't we commit to someone higher than us.  It is almost ignorant to not submit to someone so great.</div> <div> <B><U>#2. “Trust also in him”:</U></B></div> <div> David further tells us to not only commit, but also to trust.  Some people make a lot of commitments, but do not follow through with them, why??? Lack of faith!  At some event, faith is wavered so they tuck tail and run.</div> <div> You must first make a commitment to the Lord, but then you must trust the Lord with that commitment.  The reason so many couples end up in a divorce, is the lack of trust, thus their commitment is broken.  You will face circumstances and trials in this life, so keep trusting him and don't break the vow.</div> <div> <B><U>#3. “and he shall bring it to pass.”:</U></B></div> <div> Patience is a great thing to learn in this life.  Many times we may commit, and it seems like the promise will never come, but God will do what he says.  Give God time and he will work it out.  We are not told how soon, but we are just told that it will happen.</div> <div> So what about you today, are you committed to the Lord?  If not, we must head to David's instructions, to commit our way to him.</div> <bR> <div> <B>September 2007</B></div> <div> <B>“Jehovah-Jireh”</B></div> <div> By: Ed Chambless</div> <div> Bro. Chambless is the Associate Pastor at Mikado Baptist Church</div> <div>  <A HREF="http://www.mikadobc.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.mikadobc.com">www.mikadobc.com</A> , in Macon, Georgia.</div> <div> If you have any comments or questions,</div> <div> you can reach him at <A HREF="mailto:edchambless@juno.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:edchambless@juno.com">edchambless@juno.com</A></div> <div> Genesis 22:1-14</div> <div> When God called me into the ministry years ago, we adopted as our family motto-“Jehovah-Jireh”. Jehovah-Jireh means “the Lord will provide.”</div> <bR> <div> So often folks think only Pastors, Evangelists or Missionaries have miracles. Miracles are for all believers! We have seen our dear Lord provide for us in so many different ways.</div> <bR> <div> When facing the greatest trial of his life, Abraham meets Jehovah-Jireh. The Lord provided a ram in the thicket to take Isaac's place. Jehovah-Jireh has done the same thing for us when He provided His son, the Lamb of God, to take our place on the cross. </div> <bR> <div> Everything we have ever received has come to us by Jehovah-Jireh, who provides for our every need (<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >Philippians 4:19</FONT>). He sees the future and makes provision ahead of time for the trials and testing we must face.</div> <bR> <div> During family devotions years ago we prayed for a set of much needed tires. Two days later came a call from a friend in Alabama. He had purchased a truck load of tractor tires for his business. In the middle of the load were four new (car) tires. He asked if we had been praying for anything special? You guessed it! Jehovah-Jireh!</div> <bR> <div> On another occasion we had no money in the bank, ate the last food in our home, and had a wonderful devotion in Matthew six, followed by a sweet time in prayer and asking God to provide as he did George Mueller in England years ago. Early the next morning came a knock at the door. A farmer told us Jesus told him to come see us and tell us He loved us.  As he shook my hand and smiled (without saying a word) there was a $100 dollar bill in his hand. </div> <bR> <div> Throughout the years God has not only taught us great lessons, but our grown children as well.</div> <div> Keep pressing on and serving the Lord. </div> <div> Remember Jehovah-Jireh.</div> <div> God bless,</div> <div> Pastor Ed Chambless </div> <div> Associate Pastor </div> <div> Mikado Baptist Church-Macon, Georgia</div> <bR> <div> <B>August 2007</B></div> <div> <B>The Power of God's Word</B></div> <div> <B>By: Bro. Chris Sledge</B></div> <div> Bro. Sledge will be the superintendent of Solid Rock Boy's Home when it gets running in the next few months.  </div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Hebrews 4:12</U></B></div> <div> <I><B>For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.</B></I></div> <div> I would like to start off by saying this statement: “I love the King James Bible!”  There is no greater book in the entire world.  Dr. Jack Hyles used to say this phrase: “Holy Bible, book divine, you're the one for me.  Holy book precious book, it's the KJB!</div> <div> The Word of God could be likened to the power that comes from a mighty reservoir, which keeps flowing on and on.  As a result, if we want to know God's almighty power in our lives, then we must feed upon His word.  You might be asking yourself this question: “What does the Bible have the Power to do?”</div> <div> <B>1.  </B><B><U>It has the Power to convict People of Sin (</U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>Acts 2:37-38</U></B></FONT><B><U>):</U></B></div> <div> It is conviction of sin that gets you ready for repentance and faith.  In other words, in order to be saved, it is the convicting power of the Holy Spirit through the preaching of the Word of God.  Listen to me, if you are lost, and you have been reading the Bible or hearing someone preach from the Word of God, and been convicted by it, you need to come to Jesus right now and ask Him to save your soul right now!  If you are saved, and haven't been living right, and have been convicted by what the Bible says, then you need to get right with God today!</div> <div> <B>2.  </B><B><U>It has the Power to Produce Faith (</U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>Rom. 10:17</U></B></FONT><B><U>):</U></B></div> <div> God wants you to put your full trust in Him whether you are saved or Lost.  You see <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >Romans 10:17</FONT> stresses the importance of preaching the Word of God both to lost sinners and to the saints.  As you read these words today, if you don't have the Faith that you would want to have, read the Word of God, and it will produce Faith in your life.  Thank God for His precious word that can produce faith that is pure and wonderful!</div> <div> <B>3.  </B><B><U>It Has The Power To Build You Up (</U></B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>Acts 20:32</U></B></FONT><B><U>):</U></B></div> <div> The more time you spend reading the Bible, the more truth God will reveal to you!  As a result, it will build you up, and give you a desire to want to know the Lord in a deeper more personal way.  Shouldn't that be the desire of all of God's children today?  My advice to you:  Let God's Word build you up, so you can have a closer walk with Jesus!</div> <div> The only way to experience the Power of God's Word in your Life is by reading it.  Someone once said, “The devil is not afraid of the Bible that has dust on it.”  So I want to encourage each and every one of us to read the Bible on a daily basis, and if you are faithful in doing that, then the Lord will bless you in so many ways that it will amaze you!</div> <bR> <div> <B>July 2007</B></div> <div> <B>Acts 3:1</B> Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, </div> <div> being the ninth hour.</div> <div> <B>2</B> And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;</div> <div> <B>3 </B>Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.</div> <div> <B>4</B> And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us.</div> <div> <B>5</B> And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them.</div> <div> <B>6 </B>Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.</div> <div> <B>7 </B>And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.</div> <div> <B>8</B> And he leaping up stood, and walk