Biblical
In Rememberance of Jesus Christ
Two Parts! There are two parts! Two parts to Passover. Two parts to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and
two parts to the holy communion.
Exodus 12:1-11 (KJV)
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying,
2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months: it shall be the first month of the year to
you.
3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall
take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house:
4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house
take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your
count for the lamb.
5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep,
or from the goats:
6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of
the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.
7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post
of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, roast with fire, and unleavened bread; and with bitter
herbs they shall eat it.
9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire; his head with his legs, and
with the purtenance thereof.
10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning; and that which remaineth of it until the
morning ye shall burn with fire.
11 And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your
hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover.
Most everybody that will read this has heard of, read about, or watched the movie (The Ten
Commandments) of how God worked with a man called Moses to deliver the Children of Israel
from the persecution that they were suffering at the hands of the Egyptians. The last night that
Israel was in Egypt God set up the observance of Passover. So named because the angel of death
passed over any house that had the blood on the lintel and door posts. But, there is more to
Passover than the blood on the door posts and lintel.
The Children of Israel had been in bondage for at least three hundred years. This means that they
didn’t have the best sanitation, the best food, the best medical services. In other words, they
weren’t in the best of shape and they were facing a long and arduous journey. But, God in His
loving and infinite knowledge set up part of the Passover to take care of the needs of Israel.
Psalm 105:37 (KJV)
37 He brought them forth also with silver and gold: and there was not one feeble person among their
tribes.How did God pull this off? Not one feeble (sick) person among them? There were over a million people
that left Egypt and no one was sick, not one limped, not one had ulcers or cancer or Hepatitis or
anything else. WHY? Because God instituted the eating of the flesh of the lamb for the healing of Israel
and the blood of the lamb for the deliverance from the consequences of sin. Whoever did what Moses
told them to do reaped the results of a healthy body.
Whoever, put the blood of the lamb on the door post was delivered from the death of the first born in
their house. Believing is an action verb. Unbelief, not putting the blood of the lamb on the door posts,
suffers the consequences, in this case the death of the first born of everything and everybody in their
house.
In the Crucifixion there are, again, two parts. The broken body and the shed blood.
Did you ever ask yourself why did God allow Jesus Christ to be whipped, to be beaten. to be so abused
that he was not recognizable as a man?
Isaiah 52:14 (KJV)
14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than
the sons of men:
1 Peter 2:24 (KJV)
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live
unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
Galatians 3:13 (KJV)
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed
is every one that hangeth on a tree:
Have you ever read the curse of the Law? Deuteronomy chapter 28 holds the blessings and curse of the
Law. In it you will find that two thirds of the curse is sickness! Christ by his broken body has delivered us
from the curse of the Law, from sickness and disease and much more. Let me ask you, is salvation for all
that want it? Yes! Then health HAS TO BE for everyone that wants it! We have lived so far below the
standard that God has set in His Word that we go to the doctor before we go to God Almighty for
deliverance.
I am not advocating “never going to the doctor,” what I am advocating is to build your understanding
and believing of what is spiritually available to you and appropriated it.. Sometimes we may fall short of
believing to the point of receiving. If that is the case we go to the doctor quick quick. But, you have to
understand that it is available to be healed.
The one thing that most Christians get right is that the blood is for the remission of sins.
1 Corinthians 5:7 (KJV)
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even
Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Christ our Passover – two parts- the broken body and the shed blood.Ephesians 1:7 (KJV)
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his
grace;
Romans 5:9 (KJV)
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
Colossians 1:14 (KJV)
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
1 Corinthians 11:23-30 (KJV)
23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the
same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is
broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
This is in remembrance of Jesus Christ. This isn’t his flesh, it is in remembrance of what he
accomplished as the lamb of God, in remembrance of our deliverance from sickness. There are
other ways God can heal you, but, it is available to be healed during the holy communion.
1 Corinthians 11:25-27 (KJV)
25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new
testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.
27 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of
the body and blood of the Lord.
Unworthily means unknowingly, not having the knowledge and thus not being able to believe
God’s promises for health and healing.
1 Corinthians 11:28-30 (KJV)
28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning
the Lord’s body.
30 For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
The curse of the Law is still in full effect to those who don’t know the truth of the deliverance
that Christ accomplished in his body. He HAS REDEEMED US from the curse of the Law.
However, because you don’t know you can’t believe and since you don’t/can’t believe you are
just like the rest of humanity, tossed about and suffering the consequences of sin even though
you are redeemed, even though you are righteous in the eyes of God, even though you have
deliverance available to you.
“Sleep” in this case means to die prematurely.
Whether you partake of Holy Communion this year or not KNOW that you are delivered from
the curse of the Law and you have remission of sins.John 3:16-17 (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might
be saved.
God Helps Those that Believe
There is an old saying that I hear over and over again and tonight I would like to deal with this
misconception. The saying is “God helps those who help themselves.” People say “The Bible says” and
then they quote this verse. Let me tell you if the Bible did say this we should throw the Bible away
because it would contradict everything that God did for us through Jesus Christ and everything that we
have in Christ Jesus!
Benjamin Franklin used it. James Dean, the movie star used it. But, it was first used by an English
politician Algernon Sidney who lived in the seventeenth century. It is not a quote from the Bible.
Let me be quite clear on this, God does not help those who help themselves. God helps those who
BELIEVE HIS WORD!
There is a lot in the Bible about not being lazy or slothful or idle, but, that is not what that quote is
alluding to. What it is saying is that you start a task and God will pitch-in once you start it. First, if it is
true in one instance it has to be true in all instances. So, if a person, say a Christian, decides to work to
get out of depth and then starts working to pay off bills does that means that God will start helping him?
Then why are there millions upon millions of people both good and bad both Christian and non-Christian
that fall short every day of having their needs met? I’m not talking about just monetary needs, but,
heart desires! Desire for someone to share your life with, deliverance from sickness and sorrow,
physical, mental and emotional needs that WE ALL can relate to. Let me ask you WHY would someone
want to be a Christian! Why would someone read the Bible and follow through on what it says? There is
only ONE reason! BECAUSE, THEY WANT A BETTER LIFE!
“God helps those who help themselves” is not going to get you that deliverance! Never, Ever! Let me tell
you WHY! It puts the person before God and it leaves out the power of the holy spirit in the life of the
individual.
Christians are spirit filled men and women. They have all the potential to do the works that Christ did
and more. They have all the power to bring to themselves health, prosperity and peace, but, you have to
put GOD FIRST!
John 14:12 (KJV)
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater
works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Mark 11:24 (KJV)
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them,
and ye shall have them.
As I said at the beginning of this article, God helps those who do one thing and one thing only, that is to
believe His Word!
There is action involved in believing, but, look at Mark 11:24 again. It says “when you pray” doesn’t it?
Who first? God first. When you pray do one thing – believe. Have that picture in your mind of God’spromise and deliverance in your life and then comes the action. You, I, we walk out on that believing
and claim those promises.
I remember working in the cold one year, I was fulltime in the ministry and working part time as a frame
carpenter to meet my needs. I didn’t have the nicest cold weather gear and the temperatures dropped
to extremely cold weather. I was cold the first day the front moved in, but, that night I went home and I
found a verse in Hosea that promises us warmth and believe me, I was needing some warmth. I claimed
my right to be warm and that next day I went out into the same cold as the day before and I was warm!
All day and the next and the next. All through that cold spell I stayed warm. Nothing else changed, my
clothes hadn’t changed, the temperatures didn’t change there was one thing that changed, I knew the
promise of God, I claimed it and I believed!
I am not telling you this because I am more special than any other Christian. I am telling you this because
you, as a Christian can do it as well.
There was a married couple that couldn’t have children. They tried everything, but, to no avail. My wife
and I taught them the principle that I am teaching you now and within the year they got their
deliverance. She was pregnant and shortly thereafter they had a beautiful baby. To this day I don’t know
the verse they claimed, but, I know that the only thing that changed was that they claimed the promise
of God. No pills, no in vitro fertilization, no artificial insemination just claiming the promises of God and
believing.
Look at Philippians 4:13.
Philippians 4:13 (KJV)
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
The literal translation is, I can do all things through Christ who infuses inner strength into me.
The thing that sets Christians apart is that they are spirit filled men and women. They are sons and
daughters of God and they can manifest that power in this life to bring great deliverance to themselves
and others.
There are over nine hundred promises to us in the Word of God. How many do you know? Do you know
the promise that is made especially for you? Do you know the promise that will give you the absolute
deliverance that you need right now? God does and He is waiting for you to claim that promise and
bring you the deliverance that you so desire.
Below is God’s blessings on Israel. We as Christians can and should lay claim to these promises as well. I
count thirty promises how many do you count? How many will you claim?
Deuteronomy 28:1-14 (KJV)
1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God,
to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy
God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:
2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the
voice of the LORD thy God.
3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.
4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, theincrease of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.
6 Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
7 The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face:
they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways.
8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest
thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou
shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they
shall be afraid of thee.
11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of
thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to
give thee.
12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in
his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and
thou shalt not borrow.
13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and
thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God,
which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right
hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.
God’s Great Capacity to Forgive
I taught you the other week about the parable of the Forgiving Father. This, you may think, is a rehash of
that, but, it is not! This goes much further than that. Although we could spend a full month studying
God’s forgiveness there are facets that I want to explore with you that I believe will help you to walk a
more closer walk with Him.
First, will God forgive us? For the answer we go to I John 1:9
1 John 1:9 (KJV)
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
The “we” here are the born-again Christians. This is not talking about the people outside the pail. This is
not for them. They have to be saved, first, and you DO NOT get saved by confessing your sins! You get
saved by confessing Jesus, the savior from sin, as LORD and believing in your heart that God raised him
from the dead! (Romans 10:9,10.)
As a Christian we can go to our Daddy and … oh, some of you take offense to me calling God Almighty
“Daddy.” Well who are we? Sons of God it says in Galatians 4:6, Philippians 2:15 as well as Romans and
Corinthians and the term “Abba, Father” in Galatians is a loving tender term just like “Daddy.” We can
go to our Daddy, God, and confess our sins and He WILL forgive us. No ifs, ands or buts about it.
The next question is regarding levels of sins and is there a sin that God will not forgive us for. Nope!
There is only one sin that God will not and cannot forgive a person for and that is being born-again of
the seed of the Devil and I can guarantee that nobody receiving this article is in that state. So, what
about other sins? Are there some sins that are larger than others? No, sin is sin. There are no shades of
sin with God. Let me remind you that the definition of sin is broken fellowship with God. Nothing more
nothing less.
I want to share with you a little about the great Apostle Paul, Saul was his name before he was bornagain.
Acts 7:59-60 (KJV)
59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he
had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 8:1 (KJV)
1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against
the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions
of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
The great Apostle Paul consented unto Stephen’s death! Stephen’s only crime was being a Christian.
Paul didn’t do this once, but, many times.
Acts 9:1-18 (KJV)
1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, wentunto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way,
whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a
light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou
me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is
hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
In the orient a person would plow with oxen and have a sharp stick so if the oxen would kick the
man would hold the sharpened stick low to the legs and the ox would kick back into the stick,
hurting himself. The stick is called a “prick.” Saul was hitting out “kicking” against Jesus Christ
and it was hurting Saul.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said
unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
7 And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.
8 And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led
him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.
9 And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.
10 And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a
vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire
in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that
he might receive his sight.
13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done
to thy saints at Jerusalem:
14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.
This is wonderful. Ananias, just a “certain disciple” arguing with the Lord! I tell you, we have
freedom of will, just like Ananias. This should be a clarion call to all those who are told not to
question leadership. Ananias questioned the Lord and I can tell you he ranks a little higher than
the guy in the pulpit.
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name
before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said,
Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent
me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.
18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith,
and arose, and was baptized.A murderer, a man that persecuted the Christians, a man that sent Christian men and women to their
deaths in the arena and, yet, look at verse 15 Paul – a chosen vessel unto God and Jesus Christ! Also,
look at verse 17 where Ananias says “brother Saul.” In the orient you don’t call someone brother unless
you mean it and there is only one reason for Ananias to call him “brother Saul” and that is that Saul was
born-again.
It was NOT too late for Paul. He changed his ways and went from being a murderer to a great man of
God who received the greatest revelation, the revelation of the Mystery of the One Body.
It is never too late to turn to God! Confess your sins and He WILL forgive you. What is it to confess your
sins? Just say “ God, I’m sorry for _____________.” I’ll let you fill in the blank.
How many times will God forgive us. We seem to keep blowing it, messing up, sinnin’, for all you
Southern Baptists. But, will God continue to forgive us? For that answer let’s look at Matthew 18.
Matthew 18:21-22 (KJV)
21 Then came Peter to him, Jesus Christ, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against
me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
Let’s take this logically. I know this is talking about people i.e. Peter and others. But, let’s work
up the chain. If we are to forgive seventy times seven would Jesus do less? No! And, if Jesus
would not do less what about God? Jesus always did the will of the Father.
The term “seventy times seven” is a figure of speech meaning never-ending. We are to always
forgive our brothers and sisters. By the way, if it is hard to forgive another it is because you have
forgotten what God forgave you for.
Let me say that I John 1:9 does not have a limitation on how many times we can go to Him for
forgiveness. It says He is faithful and just to forgive us. God is always there waiting for His sons
and daughters to return to Him.
No man rises so high that he rises above the loving arms of God and no man sinks so low, but,
that the loving arms of God are underneath him. God is always there for you and for me and He
is always ready to forgive you and welcome you back into His loving embrace.
Having Done All Stand!
In these days of political correctness, we have been taught that everything is OK. That you go along to
get along. They are even having prayers in the Christian Churches to Gods other than the One True God,.
This is not right. Tonight, we are going to look at how and why men and women of old as well as men
and women of today hazard they lives to move the Word of God.
We have many examples of people who stood to proclaim and protect God’s Word in the Bible, but, I
would like to focus on just a couple. First, we will look at how Peter was changed.
John 21:1-3 (KJV)
1 After these things Jesus shewed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias; and on this
wise shewed he himself.
2 There were together Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in
Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two other of his disciples.
3 Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They
went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
You have to build this picture in your mind. The great Apostle Peter, the one who walked on
water, who travelled and learned from Jesus Christ himself, who, also, wrought miracles and
who had seen Jesus Christ in his resurrected body. This same Peter got to the point after ALL of
teaching and experience in Christ’s presence, says to six other disciples, some being Apostles, “I
go a fishing.”
What did Peter do BEFORE he started following Jesus, before he was called to the ministry? He
was a fisherman! What he was saying was “boys I’ve had enough. I don’t know what Jesus is up
to and as for this ministry, Jesus is gone. So, I am going back to my old ways – I’m going
fishing.”
If you read further you will see Jesus comes along and gets Peter back on track for the ministry.
Now in the Gospel of John, Peter is hiding, with other disciples, behind closed doors. Because he
was afraid.
John 20:19 (KJV)
19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where
the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith
unto them, Peace be unto you.
If you read the history of Peter he was always trying to be his best, but, always falling short. Fear
and doubt always getting in the way. Now look at Acts chapter two.Acts 2:14 (KJV)
14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of
Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Wow! What a change! In a little over a month Peter went from hiding behind closed doors for
fear of the Jews to standing up in the midst of the Jews and declaring BOLDLY Jesus Christ.
AND, he starts it out by saying “you listen to me!” What changed this man? We know it is by
free will that he is doing this, so, what changed him? There is only one thing that could have
changed Peter!
Acts 2:1-4 (KJV)
1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the
house where they were sitting.
3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.
4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the
Spirit gave them utterance.
THAT IS IT! On the day of Pentecost Peter spoke in tongues and at that point he KNEW beyond
a shadow of a doubt that he had the power of Christ inside! By knowing this he became a
workman together with God! (II Corinthians 6:1) On that day Peter became the man he always
wanted to be! I tell you he laid it out for those Jews that day and over Three Thousand people
were converted, born again. He changed the World by his believing.
The next person I want to look at is the Apostle Paul. Paul, unlike Peter, was a very educated
man. Trained at the feet of Gamaliel, the greatest teacher of that day. He was perfect according to
the Law and was a Pharisee, one of the highest positions in Judaism in that day. Until one day
when Jesus Christ met him on the road to Damascus. After that Paul had one purpose only.
Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV)
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Because of his stand the Jews went from loving him to persecuting him.
2 Corinthians 11:24-27 (KJV)
24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
25 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;
26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils
by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false
brethren;
27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and
nakedness.All of this persecution and suffering for ONE reason, to preach the Gospel of Christ! Now you have to ask
yourself “Why did he do it?” Why did Peter stand up in the midst of the Jews when he could have just
gone along to get along? The answer is simple. They knew what they had and they knew where their
home was and they had their priorities straight.
Ephesians 1:13-14 (KJV)
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom
also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
You are sealed when you do Romans 10:9,10.
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the
praise of his glory.
Ephesians 2:1-9 (KJV)
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 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:
3 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.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are
saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness
toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Romans 8:15-18 (KJV)
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of
adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer
with him, that we may be also glorified together.
18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in us.
Too many Christians believe that this life is the end all. I am here to tell you IT IS NOT! We
have so much NOW and so much WHEN CHRIST COMES BACK FOR US that we, like Paul
and Peter, should be working toward storing up treasures in Heaven by being BOLD and
speaking of the wonderful deliverance in Christ.1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV)
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the
Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
We are Christ men and women and God has chosen you at this moment in history to do what only you
can do for Him. So having done all STAND and proclaim Christ to the World.
Ephesians 6:12-13 (KJV)
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the
rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day,
and having done all, to stand
Healing of a Man Born Blind
God can deliver to the uttermost and, yet, people doubt and walk away from the fountain of
living waters never getting their deliverance. Below is a story of a man born blind. He was a
man, not a child, not a teenager, but, a man. What I am pointing out is that this man was at least
twenty years old maybe thirty or forty. But even twenty years is a long time. He had lived with
the blindness from his birth. Never, in the history of the World, had a person been delivered from
being born blind. It would be easier to win all the lotteries of the World than to be delivered from
the blindness. Even when the physical eyes are healed there is another part of the equation. The
mind has to recognize what the eyes are seeing. I have read where a blind man that rode a bus for
years had an operation to repair his sight. When his eyes were healed up he, again, began to ride
the bus. But, because he had only experienced the bus from the entry door back in his blindness,
with his sight he could not see the front of the bus. So, to be healed of blindness means a lot
more than just healing the eyes themselves.
Let us now look at this great deliverance.
John 9:1-38 (KJV)
1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was
born blind?
Please, read verse two again. Do you understand what exactly his disciples were asking? First,
they asked if the man sinned. Well, for the man to sin he had to have been alive. What they were
asking was from a prevalent belief then, and still is, of reincarnation. Did he sin in a previous
existence? Secondly, they asked if his parents had sinned. Every parent, that has a child that is
born with a malady, wonder if they did something wrong, if they sinned against God and that sin
was what caused the problem with their child.
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God
should be made manifest in him.
Could the man or his parents have done something so far off that he or his parents brought this
punishment on the man when he was a baby? That’s what they were asking. The man couldn’t
have sinned. He wasn’t yet born! There is no reincarnation because in Hebrews 9:27 it says that
“it is appointed to man once to die but after this the judgement.” There is no such thing as
reincarnation and Jesus closes the door on such a belief by stating “Neither hath this man
sinned.”
The parents could have sinned, but to the point that God would punish the baby for their sakes?
Never! Jesus states that they didn’t sin. All men sin, it says so in Romans 3:23, but, what is the
context? The context is punishment on the child because of what the parents did. Jesus settles it
for the disciples by telling them that it wasn’t the parents fault! “ Neither hath this man sinned,
NOR HIS PARENTS.” This should be clarion call to every father and mother that has a child
born with a malady or physical or mental impairment. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT. Things get
messed up.There was no punctuation in the original manuscripts, it was added much later and verse three
has a glaring error. The way it is punctuated means that God caused the man to be blind from his
mother’s womb so that Jesus Christ some twenty, thirty or forty years later could heal him. That
idea is straight from the pit of Hell. “God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. (I John 1:15)
Light is life, light is deliverance, healing, love etc. Darkness is pain, sickness and suffering.
Verse three and four should be punctuated as follows:
3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents. But, that the works of God
should be made manifest in him, I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the
night cometh, when no man can work.
There should be a period after the word “parents.” So now the meaning is clear and fits with the
rest of the Word of God. “No, the man didn’t sin. No, the parents didn’t sin. But, because God
has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to
preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are
bruised,
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. Because of this I must work the works of God by healing this
man blind from his mothers womb!”
5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
Jesus Christ was the light he was the deliverance he was the healing!
6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed
the eyes of the blind man with the clay,
In the Orient, they believed that the spittle of a holy man had healing. Does this mean that every
person who is blind should have clay made from spit dabbed in his eyes? No! But, Jesus Christ
by revelation knew where this man’s believing lay. It wasn’t the spit nor the dirt that had power
in it. It was the man’s believing! The man believed! How do I know he believed? Because in the
next verse Jesus tells him to go wash in the Pool of Siloam and the man went and washed.
Believing is an action verb. The man obeyed Jesus Christ. He went and washed!
7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went
his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not
this he that sat and begged?
9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.
10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?
11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and
said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.
12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.
13 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.
15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them,
He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see.
16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not thesabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a
division among them.
17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes?
He said, He is a prophet.
18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and received his sight,
until they called the parents of him that had received his sight.
19 And they asked them, saying, Is this your son, who ye say was born blind? how then doth he
now see?
20 His parents answered them and said, We know that this is our son, and that he was born
blind:
21 But by what means he now seeth, we know not; or who hath opened his eyes, we know not: he
is of age; ask him: he shall speak for himself.
22 These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed
already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, he should be put out of the synagogue.
23 Therefore said his parents, He is of age; ask him.
Fear always encases, fear always binds. It stops a person from being the man or woman they
know to be. In the time of Jesus Christ to be thrown out of the synagogue meant that you
couldn’t buy groceries, no one would talk to you. You would be totally excommunicated from
society. This fear gripped the parents so, instead of proclaiming the joy of having their son
delivered from something that had never been healed before they said “he is of age ask him.”
24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we
know that this man is a sinner.
25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that,
whereas I was blind, now I see.
26 Then said they to him again, What did he to thee? how opened he thine eyes?
27 He answered them, I have told you already, and ye did not hear: wherefore would ye hear it
again? will ye also be his disciples?
28 Then they reviled him, and said, Thou art his disciple; but we are Moses’ disciples.
29 We know that God spake unto Moses: as for this fellow, we know not from whence he is.
30 The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not
from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes.
31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth
his will, him he heareth.
32 Since the world began was it not heard that any man opened the eyes of one that was born
blind.
33 If this man were not of God, he could do nothing.
This is the problem in pulpits today. They want to control people, they want to be the leaders
and, yet, they know not what the teach or whereof they affirm.
Rather than being happy for this man they want to accuse Jesus Christ. The reason they did this
was because this healing could impact their authority. People would stop coming to the
synagogue and start following Jesus.34 They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us?
And they cast him out.
35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost
thou believe on the Son of God?
36 He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
Here is a great lesson to all leadership! Until this point, Jesus Christ didn’t tell the man who he
was. He didn’t say “come follow me” or “from now on you need to come to my fellowship!” All
Jesus did was dabbed mud in the man’s eye and sent him off to wash. No commitment was
required just believing.
It should have been the greatest day in the man’s life. He was healed from an incurable illness.
You would think that everyone would be rejoicing with him. But, his parents turned their backs
on him, the neighbors drug him to the religious leadership and the religious leadership chastised
him and threw him out of the synagogue. The only one to look for him after he was cast out was
Jesus Christ!
37 And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.
38 And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
LORD I BELIEVE!
What are the burdens that hold you back what fears worries and doubts do you have? Isn’t it time
to cast off those weights and declare “LORD I BELIEVE!”
Being An Example
I want to share with you a record regarding love. When we talk of love we often quote John 3:16 or I
Corinthians 13. But, those scriptures, as much as they teach us, do not give us an example. We as
people, also, need examples.
Sermons We See
I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
I’d rather one should walk with me than merely tell the way.
The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear;
And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds.
For to see good out in action is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn how to do it if you’ll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,
But I’d rather get my lessons by observing what you do.
For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give,
But there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.
Edgar A. Guest
The record that I am thinking of is in Luke chapter eight. And, the preacher and teacher was the greatest
of all, Jesus Christ.
Luke 8:43-48 (KJV)
43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians,
neither could be healed of any,
44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood
stanched.
This poor woman had been bleeding from the vagina for twelve years! She wanted deliverance so bad
that she spent all of her money trying to be healed. She was considered unclean by the Jewish
community. She was so desperate to get her healing she did what was socially and culturally wrong. She
pushed through the MEN to get to Jesus, women just didn’t do that, and all that she could reach through
the pushing and shoving was the hem of his garment. JUST A TOUCH! But that is all that was needed.
SHE WAS HEALED! Now this could have been all to the story, but, no. It wasn’t enough. Jesus knew it
wasn’t enough. She was healed, but, she needed more and that more is love.45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master,
the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
I told you it was tight quarters. The crowd thronged him. They were so tightly squeezed together God
calls it a press. I was in a line once that was so tightly pressed together that my feet came off the ground
and I was hovering above the ground by over a foot. That’s about the press that they had.
Peter and the disciples thought Jesus had a screw loose. In all this pushing and shoving and turmoil
everybody was touching him. They didn’t understand.
46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
The word “virtue” is the word power. Let me interject here that as a Christian you have the same power
latent within you. All you have to do is learn how to use it.
1 John 4:4 (KJV)
4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he
that is in the world.
Colossians 1:27 (KJV)
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles;
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Luke 8:47 (KJV)
47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she
declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed
immediately.
She came trembling! A person will tremble when they are afraid. This woman broke all of the social rules
of the day and now she is being called in front of all of the men AND in front of the Master himself.
This woman had all kinds of thoughts running through her head. She had to have. Breaking all the rules
and yet getting her deliverance. Was it real? Was she supposed to be healed? Did she somehow steal
her healing? What would the people think? What was the Master going to do?
48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
He said unto her DAUGHTER! Jesus Christ couldn’t have loved her any more if he had put his arms
around her! You see, in that culture a person wouldn’t say “daughter” unless they meant it. The
daughter that Jesus was talking about was a daughter of Abraham, a daughter of believing. Just this one
word told her that she deserved her healing! It put all of her doubts and fears aside and comforted her
heart. Jesus did this with all the pathos of one who truly loved.Then he ads “be of good comfort.” For twelve years this woman did everything she could to get her
healing and now she finally had it. No one could take it away. All that stood around must have wondered
at this woman who only touched the hem of the Masters garment and had him stop in his tracks. They
didn’t get their deliverance. They didn’t stop Jesus in his tracks. Why? Verse 48 has the answer “ thy
faith, the word “faith” is the word believing, hath made thee whole.
The very last thing Jesus said to this wonderful daughter of Abraham is “go in peace.” I bet that woman’s
heart soared within her. I bet she walked on cloud nine for weeks. What a tender loving record of one
woman’s deliverance.
Have you looked at the situation that Jesus was in when he stopped? He was headed to a house to raise
a girl from the dead. I don’t know about you, but, if I was headed to a house to raise a girl from the dead
I don’t know if I would have stopped to give this one woman the thing she needed to bless her life and
cement the reality of her deliverance in her heart and life.
The one thing that she needed was Love.
We can get enough criticism and negatives in less than a minute to last us a life time, but, we can never
get enough of love.
Criticism and negatives are like a saw on a tree. Enough of it will take down the mightiest oak. Love is
like the sun and spring rains which builds and heals the heart.
If we are to have an example to walk by let it be Jesus Christ. Let us walk the Christ walk and show the
world the love that only Christians can manifest.
Daniel’s Example for Us Today
I think everybody has heard of the prophet Daniel. Specifically, Daniel and the lion’s den. But, there is a
lot more regarding Daniel and what he had to stand for and against in his day. Enough so that it should
speak volumes to our ears.
Before we go to the Book of Daniel I want to explain why I am writing this article at this time. There are
many many people that are looking at this period of time as the End Times. They are concerned with
what this government might do or this or that country is going to do as well as what a group of people
might be planning. Most of us can’t do anything about what some evil doer might do. We can put extra
food or supplies away or make plans to leave the large population areas for safer climes. But, as
changing anything that someone might do we don’t have control. Daniel was like this and Daniel’s
example rings clear as to what to do.
You see, Daniel was a stranger in a strange land. As a young lad he was chosen to be trained up and to
stand in the house of Nebuchadnezzar King of Babylon.
Daniel 1:1-6 (KJV)
1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of
Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.
2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with part of the vessels of the house
of God: which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the
vessels into the treasure house of his god.
3 And the king spake unto Ashpenaz the master of his eunuchs, that he should bring certain of
the children of Israel, and of the king’s seed, and of the princes;
4 Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in
knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s
palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.
5 And the king appointed them a daily provision of the king’s meat, and of the wine which he
drank: so nourishing them three years, that at the end thereof they might stand before the king.
6 Now among these were of the children of Judah, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah:
Now Daniel stood with the God of Israel. That meant he had certain rules that he lived by, one of
these being what he ate. Now the food in the Kings palace was excellent, but, it was outside of
what God dictated that the Children of Israel should eat. So, Daniel chose to eat vegetable soup
rather than the sumptuous food of the Kings table and God blessed him and his friends for their
stand.
Daniel 1:8-16 (KJV)
8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s
meat, nor with the wine which he drank: therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that
he might not defile himself.
9 Now God had brought Daniel into favour and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs.
10 And the prince of the eunuchs said unto Daniel, I fear my lord the king, who hath appointed
your meat and your drink: for why should he see your faces worse liking than the children which
are of your sort? then shall ye make me endanger my head to the king.11 Then said Daniel to Melzar, whom the prince of the eunuchs had set over Daniel, Hananiah,
Mishael, and Azariah,
12 Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us pulse to eat, and water to
drink.
13 Then let our countenances be looked upon before thee, and the countenance of the children
that eat of the portion of the king’s meat: and as thou seest, deal with thy servants.
14 So he consented to them in this matter, and proved them ten days.
15 And at the end of ten days their countenances appeared fairer and fatter in flesh than all the
children which did eat the portion of the king’s meat.
16 Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and
gave them pulse.
Daniel didn’t get involved in the politics and whims of others. Even though he was in a strange
land he chose to do what God instructed the Children of Israel to do. What about us? Are we OF
this world or just in it. We are NOT of this World. Our home is in Heaven! We are just passing
through. This doesn’t mean that we hide or remove ourselves from society. No, not at all. We are
to be shining beacons of God’s love and grace. Daniel didn’t hide, but, he stood for and with
God.
Daniel 1:17-21 (KJV)
17 As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom:
and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.
18 Now at the end of the days that the king had said he should bring them in, then the prince of
the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.
19 And the king communed with them; and among them all was found none like Daniel,
Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: therefore stood they before the king.
20 And in all matters of wisdom and understanding, that the king enquired of them, he found
them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers that were in all his realm.
21 And Daniel continued even unto the first year of king Cyrus.
While Daniel was alive he had three changes of administration, kingdoms, first was
Nebuchadnezzar, second was Cyrus and then there was Darius. In all of these Daniel and his
friends stood with and for God. These men stood steady in giving the best advise they could to
the king, but, at the same time not compromising on their commitment to God.
Now Daniels friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s stand for God got them in to trouble
with King Nebuchadnezzar. We will have to make the same kind of decisions from time to time
in lives. Do we do what people want us to do? Do we do what society dictates or do we stand for
God because He stands for you.
Daniel 3:1-30 (KJV)
1 Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold, whose height was threescore cubits, and the
breadth thereof six cubits: he set it up in the plain of Dura, in the province of Babylon.
2 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king sent to gather together the princes, the governors, and the
captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the sheriffs, and all the rulers of the
provinces, to come to the dedication of the image which Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.3 Then the princes, the governors, and captains, the judges, the treasurers, the counsellors, the
sheriffs, and all the rulers of the provinces, were gathered together unto the dedication of the
image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up; and they stood before the image that
Nebuchadnezzar had set up.
4 Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages,
5 That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and
all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king
hath set up:
6 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace.
7 Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut,
psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and
worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
8 Wherefore at that time certain Chaldeans came near, and accused the Jews.
9 They spake and said to the king Nebuchadnezzar, O king, live for ever.
10 Thou, O king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet,
flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship
the golden image:
11 And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a
burning fiery furnace.
12 There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon,
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, O king, have not regarded thee: they serve not
thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in his rage and fury commanded to bring Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego. Then they brought these men before the king.
14 Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,
do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
15 Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut,
psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have
made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery
furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we
are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he
will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the
golden image which thou hast set up.
19 Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: therefore he spake, and commanded that they should heat
the furnace one seven times more than it was wont to be heated.
20 And he commanded the most mighty men that were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace.
21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their other
garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
22 Therefore because the king’s commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceeding hot, the
flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of
the burning fiery furnace.
24 Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, and spake, and said unto
his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and
said unto the king, True, O king.
25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have
no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
26 Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, and spake, and
said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and
come hither. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire.
27 And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counsellors, being gathered together,
saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed,
neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
28 Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have
changed the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any
god, except their own God.
29 Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing
amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their
houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort.
30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the province of Babylon.
Now you will notice that in verse eight that people “accused the Jews” of whom was Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego. People will always find fault with those who endeavor to walk with
and for God. But, is up to the believer as to the outcome.
The same accusers were around for Daniel, also. Always trying to find fault always trying to get
Daniel in trouble, but, they never could find a fault in Daniel. Why? Because Daniel walked with
and for God.
So now we get to the record of Daniel and the lion’s den.
All through his life Daniel never lashed out, never tried to find fault with others. He always stood
faithful to God, always gave good advice and service to the King. But, because of his stand for
God he wasn’t liked by a lot of people.
Daniel 6:1-28 (KJV)
1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over
the whole kingdom;
2 And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give
accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit
was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
4 Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the
kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was
there any error or fault found in him.5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it
against him concerning the law of his God.
6 Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King
Darius, live for ever.
7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the
captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that
whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall
be cast into the den of lions.
8 Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to
the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
9 Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows
being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and
prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his
God.
12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not
signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days,
save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is
true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the
captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh
his petition three times a day.
14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart
on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
15 Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of
the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be
changed.
16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now
the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver
thee.
17 And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his
own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning
Daniel.
18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of
musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king
spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest
continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me:
forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done
no hurt.
23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up
out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found uponhim, because he believed in his God.
24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they
cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the
mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
25 Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth;
Peace be multiplied unto you.
26 I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God
of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be
destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
27 He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who
hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
To Daniel did it matter what the evil doers of that time were plotting? To Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego did it matter what the King was doing or that people were waiting to accuse them,
the people knowing that it was a matter of adhering to the commandments of God or of men?
The answer is simple “No” it didn’t matter to Daniel nor to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
how bad things got. They made a commitment to God and they stood.
It is up to us. Do we look around at the circumstances or do we STAND with and for the One
True God?
The God of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is the same God then that He is today.
However, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were servants of God you and I are sons of
God and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. We have much more potential, much more power and
much more authority than they did. We too can stand with and for God in this day and time.
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego didn’t bow to the whims of man and God saw to it that they
didn’t burn. Daniel didn’t buckle in his commitment to God and because of his stand with and
for God, because of his BELIEVING he was delivered.
Let me leave you with Psalm 2. According to Psalm 2 God has everything in hand even if we
don’t know how. “Blessed are all they that put their trust in God.”
Psalm 2:1-12 (KJV)
1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD,
and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I
begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the
earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a
little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
II TIMOTHY 2:15
II Timothy 2:15
I wanted to share with you the importance of II Timothy 2:15 with you as it pertains to our growth in God’s Word.
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
The word “study” is the Greek word “Spoudazo.” The word spoudazo gives emphasis to the effort and the time. It means to give a diligent effort with a view to the time or a concerted effort due to brevity of time.
Notice what it doesn’t say. It doesn’t say just read the Bible to show thyself approved. It doesn’t say have a daily devotional. It doesn’t say read the Bible piece by piece over the course of a year. These are all good, but, if you want to grow in spiritual knowledge, if you want to make a difference you have to STUDY God’s Word.
For example, the word “receive” in the New Testament has only one meaning in the English. However, in the Greek there are two words for “receive” and the difference between the two is like night and day.
The two Greek words translated “receive are “lambano” and “dechomai” The word “dechomai” means to receive subjectively. Let’s take a look at a couple of verses.
Luke 8:13 (KJV) 13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive (dechomai) the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Mark 10:15 (KJV) 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive (dechomai) the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
Luke 10:8 (KJV) 8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive (dechomai) you, eat such things as are set before you:
2 Corinthians 6:17 (KJV) 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive (eisdechomai, from eis-into and dechomai to subjectively receive) you,
James 1:21 (KJV) 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive (dechomai) with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
When someone receives (dechomai) something they don’t do anything with it. Let’s say someone gave me a set of golf clubs and I put them in my garage and never used them that would be the word “dechomai.” However, if someone gave me a set of golf clubs and I took them out and played a round of golf with them that would be the other word “lambano.”
Lambano means to receive into manifestation. This is singularly significant when it comes to the study of the holy spirit.
Acts 1:8 (KJV) 8 But ye shall receive (lambano) power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Acts 2:38 (KJV) 38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive (lambano) the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Men have taught over the centuries that we no longer have the power of God among us. No more speaking in tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophesy, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, discerning of spirits, faith, miracles and gifts of healing. Well either they were/are wrong or the Bible is wrong because the Bible clearly states that when we receive the holy spirit, and we receive it when we do Romans 10:9,10, that we are to do something with it we aren’t to shelve it, we aren’t to forget what we have received, but, we are to do something with it and according to I Corinthians chapter 12 there are only nine manifestations of holy spirit, only nine things that you can do with the holy spirit that you receive.
Ladies and gentlemen, Christians are the most powerful beings to walk this Earth, but, we are walking so far below par because we have been taught wrong! Look, years ago I had a hundred dollar bill stuffed away in my wallet. I carried that wallet for years all the while that hundred dollar bill was neatly tucked away in one of those crevices. There were many times I could have used some extra cash, but, I didn’t use that hundred dollars because I didn’t know I had it. If you have been taught that you don’t have the holy spirit or that there are no manifestations of the holy spirit and you believe that, and you can only go as far as you are taught, you will never use that power that is latent within you. This why we must STUDY the Bible.
Two other words that go hand in hand with dechomai and lambano are the words platho and plaroo. These two words are translated into English as the word “filled,” but, they mean two different things.
Plaroo, pronounced play-ra-o, means to be filled to capacity. It is as if you filled a glass with water so full that if you put one more drop in it would overflow. Platho, pronounced play-tho, is filling that glass to overflowing.
Luke 2:40 (KJV) 40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled (plaroo-filled to capacity) with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
Acts 2:2 (KJV) 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled (plaroo-filled to capacity) all the house where they were sitting.
Acts 13:9-10 (KJV) 9 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled (platho-filled to overflowing) with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord?
See, what he said was the overflowing of the holy spirit.
Acts 4:8 (KJV) 8 Then Peter, filled (platho-filled to overflowing) with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel…
Again, what Peter said is the overflowing of holy spirit.
Acts 2:4 (KJV) 4 And they were all filled (platho-filled to overflowing) with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
I have gone off track from the start of this writing so that I could show you the importance of not just reading the Bible, but, studying the Bible. So, now I want to get back to II Timothy 2:15.
2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
There is only one way to show yourself approved unto God and that is to be a workman of the Word, the Bible.
The Greek word for “rightly dividing” is orthotomeo and means to make a straight or right cut. It further means that there is only one right cutting. When a diamond jeweler cuts a diamond he studies the diamond to figure out how to cut the diamond. There is only one way to cut the diamond correctly. If he cuts it wrongly he will destroy the diamond. This is the word that God chose to use regarding the study of His Wonderful Matchless Word.
And the last part “the word of truth,” which is much more costly and much more precious than diamonds. The Bible is THE WORD OF TRUTH.
The closer you look at something in nature the more beautiful it becomes. That is because it is from the hand of God. So, also is the Bible. The closer you look, the more you study the more beautiful it becomes.
GOD CARES FOR YOU
I have talked to many Christians, heard many Christians and read articles from many Christians who talk about God being in Heaven. Well OK, but, the context was God is up there and we are down here. That is the philosophy of all religions, a god or deity afar off who hears you, sometimes. Further, you don’t go to the god or the deity with small matters, but, only with the BIG ONES. Is this what Christianity is all about or is there more, much more than this.
I’ll tell you right here and right now that Christianity IS much more than this and the people that espouse the ideas that I just mentioned have no idea what the Bible says nor do they know the heart of God for His people. Also, they have no idea of the position that the Christian holds.
First, does God care about you and every facet of your life.
Luke 12:6-7 (KJV) 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
Well, according to the Bible, God knows, not only, the color of your hair, but, how many hairs are on your head. When is the last time you counted the hairs on your head. This is a figure of speech explaining how well God, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, knows you. He knows you better than you know yourself.
So, God knows each and every one of us intimately, but, does He care for us and when are we to go to God in Prayer?
1 Peter 5:7 (KJV) 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Well, here we go again. The Bible contradicting what the main stream philosophy in the churches is today. So, do we leave the little concerns of our lives to ourselves? NO! We cast ALL our care on Him because He does what?? He cares for you and He cares for me. Everything that is a concern to us we should cast on Him.
Do you know what the word cast means? Well, it means cast, but, the example is astounding. Have you ever saddled a horse? The saddle is heavy, the stirrups unruly. So, when you put the saddle on the horse you heave it up in the air and throw it all on the horse. That is what the word “cast” means. Once you “cast” it on the horse you don’t pull it back off and carry it around the arena, do you. It goes on and it stays on. Same thing with cares and concerns. You put them on God and you leave them there! Granted it takes practice to do that because we were taught just the opposite, but, you can do it.
Isaiah 49:16 (KJV) 16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
What this verse is saying is that God has your name and mine tattooed on His hands and not just on His hands, but, on the palms of His hands. God doesn’t have hands. Again, this is a figure of speech telling us how much God cares for us. The palms of the hands are very sensitive and it is very painful to tattoo
anything on the palm of a hand. But, God has done it and the word “walls” means those palms are always there right in front of God’s eyes. He is always thinking about you, He is always looking at your name he always remembers you.
God knows us and He cares for us, but, how far away is He?
Philippians 2:13 (KJV) 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
God is right there with you. He never leaves you or forsakes you. Not only that, He is at work within you. How does He do that?
Romans 8:11 (KJV) 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Philippians 1:6 (KJV) 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Colossians 1:27 (KJV) 27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Christians have been taught to have a low opinion of themselves. But, God’s opinion is much higher. He see’s you and you are His sons and daughters. We should act like it. Not only on a horizontal level among our fellow man, but, in our relationship with God. We should have a Father and son or Father and daughter relationship. We should be casting all our care on Him and expecting answers and deliverance. You’ve got to come to a decision in your mind that the Bible is telling the truth and start acting on it or else you will be in the soup for a life time.
Galatians 4:4-7 (KJV) 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. 6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
1 John 3:1-2 (KJV) 1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
Christians are of the royal household of God and God stands ready to help you with every need in your life.
BASKING IN THE GLORY OF HIS RESURRECTION
In less than two weeks we will celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. During this time it would be a good to dwell on what happened during that time over two thousand years ago and bask in the greatness of what it means to us today.
God, the creator of the heavens and the Earth wanted not only to redeem mankind from the sin that started back in Genesis chapter three, remember Adam and Eve and the eating the apple thing, but, He wanted children, yes God wanted children even before the foundations of the World.
Ephesians 1:4-5 (KJV) 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
So, He devised a plan to pay the price for man to get out of the sin and iniquity that he was in and to have a new nature, to be something different from the rest of the World.
1 Peter 2:9-10 (KJV) 9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
The price had to be paid with blood
Hebrews 10:4 (KJV) 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.
Hebrews 10:10 (KJV) 10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
and the person that paid it had to be sinless, otherwise he would be part of the world and not able to redeem mankind. It would be similar to buying a dozen donuts by using one of the dozen to pay for the rest. It doesn’t work that way. Whoever paid the price had to be outside the box. (sinless blood)
Matthew 27:3-4 (KJV) 3 Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, 4 Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood.
Hebrews 4:15 (KJV) 15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
So the process of bringing God’s redeemer into the world took thousands of years to develop. But, one day a young lady believed God
Luke 1:28-33 (KJV) 28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. 29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. 30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. 31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. 32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Luke 1:38 (KJV) 38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word.
and brought forth God’s redeemer, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ walked a sinless walk here on Earth and finally fulfilled the plan that God had devised so long ago. God allowed His arch enemy, the devil, to kill our Lord and Savior.
1 Corinthians 2:7-8 (KJV) 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Hebrews 2:14-15 (KJV) 14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
With that payment made, Jesus Christ lay in the grave for three days and three nights thus fulfilling the requirement that a body be in the grave three days and three nights to be declared dead. Then the three greatest words ever spoken were uttered by the angel “HE-IS-RISEN.”
With God’s master plan accomplished it was only a matter of time until the day of Pentecost when it was available for anyone to walk into the grace, glory, power and majesty of being a child of God.
Romans 10:9-11 (KJV) 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
1 John 3:2 (KJV) 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
With that we have access to complete health,
1 Peter 2:24 (KJV) 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
we have the assurance that we are going to heaven
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (KJV) 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 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: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
we have direct access to talk with God,
Hebrews 4:16 (KJV) 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV) 6 Be careful (anxious) for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
we can be and should be and will be, by our believing, more than conquerors in every situation
Romans 8:37 (KJV) 37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
1 John 4:4 (KJV) 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
So, over the next two weeks bask in the glorious light of who you are, a child of God, by all that Jesus Christ accomplished.
Colossians 3:15 (KJV) 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
God Bless
