1. Fully Equipped to Go about Our Father’s Business
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
The phrase “give by inspiration of God” is one Greek word, Theopneustos –G2315- God breathed. Nothing that man does can ever rise to that standard. All the councils, conferences, synods, writs, statements of beliefs, man’s imaginations and creations, etc are all subservient to scripture. All scripture is God breathed and it is profitable. It is only profitable if we apply it in our lives. It does not profit us if we do not apply it. It is profitable for doctrine – right believing; doctrine and not dogma, because it is true. It is profitable for reproof; to warn or admonish us when we believe wrongly or apply it incorrectly. It is profitable for correction; how to get back to right believing and correct application. Lastly, it is profitable for instruction in righteousness; all that is good, fair and just; how to live righteously. The purpose being that the man or woman of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. The word perfect is the Greek word “artios”- G739- perfect. The phrase “thoroughly furnished” is the Greek word “exartizo”- G1822 - fully equipped. (The word "man" is Greek word “anthropos” –G444- human being.)
God has called each and every one of us individually to do specific good works for Him. Each calling is individual, personal and specific. Not only has he called us but He has prepared us completely. Spiritually he has given us a perfect spirit and through his word He has fully equipped us. No one else can do the specific works that God has called you personally to do for Him. In order to fully understand this calling God has given us His word. We have to read it to see all that we are and what He has made us in Christ Jesus.
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 1:3-4
We have all been called to glory and virtue by the Lord God almighty through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness through the knowledge of God who has called us. Through His word we are given exceeding great and precious promises. God keeps His promises too. Through these promises we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. The reason “might” is there is because of free will. God will not supersede it. No calling of God is generic, mundane or common. Each calling is personal, specific and fulfilling because it is according to his divine power as we gain the knowledge of Him who has called us to glory and virtue. 2 Corinthians 6:1-2.
We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
We have been called in the most perfect time, right now! Every day is a new day to work for Our Father. No matter what happened yesterday, today is a brand new day. (Lamentations3:22-23). God has called us in the most perfect time, right now! Let us not receive His grace in vain. Let us be workers together with Him. Let us make perfect our election in Christ Jesus. He has given us all things that pertain to life and Godliness. He has given us exceeding great and precious promises. He has given us doctrine, reproof and correction so that we can live righteously for Him. Finally, He has called us, made us perfect and fully equipped us to do the good works that He has called us to do. Through his knowledge He has called us to glory and virtue; who knows best? Father knows best! What are we waiting for?
For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Psalm 86:5
Let us go about Our Father’s business, and do our utmost for His Highest. Never forgetting what our Daddy has called us personally to do for Him. Never let the world talk us out of it, because our election is sure, and we can do all things through Christ who infuses inner strength into us. I encourage you to search God’s “love letters” to you each day and to see what glories and virtues He has called you to walk there in. Agape and God bless you. Keith Daniels
2. Newness by Robert Parker
What does “new” mean? When we say something is new, do we mean “brand new”, new to us, or an improvement? What does it mean when we say we’re going to do something new?
God makes things new, and He makes new things. He gives the gift of holy spirit to people that ask and believe, which is new and makes new. He asks us to walk in newness of life. He does not ask us to modify our old man nature and walk in that, does He? Our lives are new not only compared to our old nature, but also compared to yesterday. Rom 6:1-7
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Walking in newness of life is closely tied with our renewed mind. We can’t walk in newness if we have not renewed our mind. Our body follows our mind.
Rom 12:1& 2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Col 3:1 & 2.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
The words “set your affection” are the Greek word phroneo. It means to mind, as in setting our mind or minding, paying attention to. When our minds are where they should be, our actions will be, too.
The life of Jesus Christ, our master, lord, and big brother was the best example of newness. He read the same scrolls that the scribes and Pharisees did, but acted on them very differently. He declared the New Covenant or Testament without altering or denying the first. By his life, example, and sacrifice many millions of people are able to have a new life and mind-set. All accomplishments of mankind pale when compared to his. He never tired of doing God’s will, teaching and healing and giving to his last breath.
Our spirit, which is one thing we received when we became born again, is designed to direct our soul-life. It does not control it. We decide to listen to God’s instruction whether it is written, spoken, or received by revelation. Whenever a decision is to be made as to the doing of anything, we must choose to let that which proceeds from God be our answer. That is the true basis of making the Word your own. You allow that which God has revealed in His Word or otherwise to be what you Do. Accumulating knowledge does not equate to manifesting power from on high. Deciding to forsake eternal truth for convenience or expediency is something not many believers are willing to do knowingly. I heard once that “love is seldom convenient.” Walking by the spirit guarantees that we will be in the center of God’s will, and it forms the foundation of deep, meaningful fellowship with and understanding of God and His Will for our lives. II Corinthians 5:14-21.
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
3. Hearken Unto the Voice of the Lord
Mankind’s greatest act of rebellion against God is not listening to His voice. God speaks to us through His word, via revelation, by prophecy and by inspiration of holy spirit. But what our mind tries to do is to rationalize why we should not follow through. When God tells an individual to stop doing something or to do something in their lives He does so for a reason. Only He knows what is best for us in our lives and only He knows what tomorrow holds. Our human logic fights against the spirit. When God tells us something our mind will give us a hundred reasons why it will not work or why we can still do what we want. Romans 8: 6-7.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
We need to force our carnal minds to hold and perform the word of God. We have to allow to the spirit supersede the brain, just as the brain supersedes the body. We have to follow through on what God tells us to do. If we do not we will miss out on a blessing, but moreover, we will not put ourselves where grace abounds in our lives. John 9: 6-7.
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, 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.
Here is a situation that the blind man had to believe and perform the doing of the instructions. I have had situation in my life where God told me to stop doing something but my mind gave me a hundred reasons why I should continue on with it. Moreover my mind questioned that perhaps that was not even God but just my own thought. Thankfully, when talking to another brother in Christ during a conversation, it came up again and I was meek enough to listen and hear the inspired utterance from the midst of the conversation. I am sure that he did not know the details in the situation but I did. 2 Kings 5: 10-12.
And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean. But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the LORD his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper. Are not Abana and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? may I not wash in them, and be clean? So he turned and went away in a rage.
Once again Naaman wants to get healed but his carnal mind gets in the way. He expects his healing a certain way but when God sends it a different way his mind gets in the way of his deliverance. We need to stop the internal rebellion in our lives. We need to set a pattern of hearing and doing. Likewise when we pray about a situation and totally give it to God, we need to totally let go at times. Our minds try to hold onto the situation even though there is little that we can do besides trust Him. Thankfully for Naaman, he is meek enough to allow his servant to talk some sense into him. 2 Kings 5: 13-14.
And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it ? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean? Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.
On the first dip Naamen was still as bad off as he was on the sixth dip in the Jordan. It was not until he had completed his seventh dip that he was delivered from leprosy. We need to perform the doing of the word in our lives. We need to hearken unto the voice of the Lord in our lives. When these situations come up in our lives we have to submit unto the will of the Lord. We have to humbly come before His throne of grace and to allow Him to direct our steps. Proverbs 3:5-7.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
4. Who Are the Heretics?
I am flabbergasted when the true heretics call the true believers “heretics” because we do not believe their manmade doctrines. Daily they make non-scriptural sweeping statements to accuse the saints. These present day Pharisees and Sadducees, believe that they are doctrinally correct and because of it, they have the right to chastise anyone who does not follow their doctrines. When people are blinded to the truth, they will never consider repenting. People who think that they are correct and that everyone else is in error are filled with pride, not seeing over the rut that they have buried themselves into.
No one person, neither any one group owns the key to all the truth in the bible. What was the big difference between Jesus Christ and the Pharisees? John 8: 3-11.
And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Jesus interpreted the law by the love of God. According to the law she deserved death but Jesus knew that God is merciful. Mercy is when we deserve punishment but God withholds it anyway. The only way legally that Jesus could get her out of her predicament was to remove the witnesses who would give testimony against her. Mark 12: 28-34.
And one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, and perceiving that he had answered them well, asked him, Which is the first commandment of all? And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he: And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
Jesus summed up all the law in two commandments. Love the lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and with all our strength, then to love our neighbor as ourselves. Most of the true heretics do not have a problem with this but they do have a problem with the premise, “The Lord our God is one lord”. Most of them teach that He is three lords. Who ought to know better, Jesus or them? I will believe Jesus! John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
In this administration we do not persecute other Christians who believe something different than what we do. We do not put to death the unbelievers? Jesus Christ always did the Father’s will and not his own will. Jesus did not come into the world to condemn it but to save it. Matthew 7:1-5
Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
In order for anyone to come to the knowledge of the truth, they have to admit their error and repent. Repentance is a Godly theme throughout the bible. Whenever I hear the blame game or the railing accusations thrown at us from the other side, I think of Jesus’ words spoken in love, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.”
5. God’s Goodness
I am constantly amazed whenever I hear people blaming God for the bad things that happen in life. God is all good; all the bad in life comes from Satan, the evil one. God does not kill, make sick, cause deformities, punish us or harm us in any way. Romans 2:4
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
God allows the sunshine and the rain to fall on the just and the unjust. He never took away anyone’s freedom of will. He sent his son that whosoever believes on him would not perish but have everlasting life. That is a big promise open to anyone any where. Many religious people tell us that God does evil things to us but Jesus Christ knew the true nature of God. Mark 10: 17-18
And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, "Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Who do we want to believe the testimony of religious people or the testimony of the only begotten son of God? I will believe in Jesus’ testimony first. God can do no evil. The book of Job was the first book written in the Bible chronologically. It is a book that emphasizes the total goodness of God and the total evil of Satan. Satan has many names in the bible: Lucifer, Satan, the evil one, the devourer, the adversary, the thief, the god of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the serpent, etc… Job 2:7.
So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
God caused Job to prosper, but Satan was the one who caused all the evil to come upon Job. One of the reasons why many people have not understood this is because of the Hebrew idiom of permission used in the Old Testament. Israel knew that God always blesses and that Satan always vexes but they had this idiom of permission which they understood that God would allow certain things to happen if they turned their backs on God and his word. Malachi 3:11
And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.
If Israel would have turned back to God and his word one of the promises that He promised them is that He would rebuke the devourer. God is all good and Satan is all evil. Satan has control of this world because Adam had it and when he committed high treason against God, Adam handed that dominion, power and authority over to Satan. Jesus Christ always did the Father’s will. He only did those things that are pleasing in God’s sight. Acts 10:38
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
If it really was God’s will to kill people or to make people sick then why did Jesus do the opposite? He healed people and raised them from the dead. The Bible says that death is an enemy and that Satan has the power of death. Whose testimonies do we trust; the testimonies of fallible man or the testimonies of the one true God? John 5:30
"I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. "
Jesus made God’s will known on a horizontal plane toward mankind. We need to wake up to God’s real nature and stop trusting the twisted theologies that men have concocted. It is time to open the book and read. 1 John 1: 3-5
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
There is no darkness in God. This is a figure of speech called a metaphor. Light is to good as darkness is to evil. The Bible’s testimony is that God cannot lie and that Satan is the father of lies. Jesus always did God’s will and not his own will. John 10:10
10The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Jesus Christ came into the world not to condemn it but that we might be saved through him. The first Adam did not obey God but the second Adam did obey. He paid for our every sin with his precious blood and by his broken body we were healed. God’s will is that you have a more than abundant life in every facet of your life. He loves you as a real father loves his children. He is not up in heaven waiting for you to screw up so that he can punish you but He lives within us cheering you on as a proud Father. Let us make Him proud by doing his will. God bless you,
Keith
6. How to Pray
Some Christians beg God for the promises that He has already given them when they pray. This is neither what God wants, nor is it what His son and His apostles taught us. When God promises us something we should believe that He will follow through. Mark 11: 22-24.
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
In Hebrews it tells us that without believing it is impossible to please God. Do not start a prayer out like this, “God, if it is your will, please heal my brother.” As Christians we need to get our head into the book so that we know the Father’s will. God’s son, his apostles and his disciples healed people. Jesus sent out his disciples to heal and deliver people. 3 John 1:2
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
Another problem that Christian’s have is that they do not understand the Hebrew idiom of permission. God is all good and Satan is all evil. Some Christians accuse God of doing the most horrible things; killing people, making people sick, making people deformed, or disabled. Job 2:7
So went Satan forth from the presence of the LORD, and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto his crown.
Chronologically, Job was the first book written, it gives great testimony of the total goodness of God and the total evil of the devil. Though many people believe in God, few people actually believe God. 1 John 1: 3-5.
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
God neither kills people nor makes people sick. God can do no evil. Satan is the god of this world, he has the power of death and he makes people sick. Hebrews 2:14
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;
The devil has the power of death but death the last enemy will be destroyed in accordance with God’s plan. When Adam sinned death entered the world, Jesus Christ came to destroy death and to destroy the devil. The great question is do we believe the testimony of God or the testimony of men. Theology teaches us that God does evil things. God’s testimony is that He cannot do evil; who do we believe? Titus 1: 1-2
Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
God cannot lie; the bible says that all men are liars. Do we believe the words of some great man or woman instead of believing the word of truth? God framed the heavens and the earth by his word. His word is truth and it has power. When God says something, it will come to pass. All we have to do is find His promises and to believe them. Hebrews 4:2
For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
The words faith and believe in the bible come from the Greek root word “pistis” which can be translated either as faith, believe, believed or believing. It is normally translated as faith when it is used as a noun and believe when it is used as a verb. But the word is not a passive word it requires action on our part. God promised Abraham that he would be the Father of many nations. Abraham realized that if God said it, He was able to bring it to pass despite all the factual evidence to the contrary. We need to get to the point in our lives that we trust God despite all the negative factual evidence of the world. Facts are facts and they can change; the truth never changes. The question is whose report do we believe and whose report do we receive? Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
7. Preparations for HH Hour by Keith Daniels
While in the military, I had access to secret war plans that our country had for various scenarios throughout the globe. God also has secret plans that affect our lives. God in His word tells us what will happen in the future but the specific details are classified (hidden). The whens, hows, whys, whos etc., have not been yet uncovered. The purpose of a plan is to deceive the enemy. Because God is our Father we are enemies with Satan and his kingdom. Because we are at war with Satan’s kingdom, we have things that we must perform and things to prepare for in the future. The best way to protect a secret is not to tell anyone ahead of time. Deuteronomy 29:29
The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.
God hid the great mystery so that it would have His desired impact when the moment was right to perform it. Satan and his kingdom got caught in God’s trap by crucifying Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 2: 7-8
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
God’s will is that all men and women be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. That is one of our duties as born-again believers. We have duties and responsibilities that God has set before us. Besides the general duties that all saints have collectively (ministry of reconciliation, able ministers of the New Covenant…), each of us has specific duties and responsibilities that only you and only I can perform for God. As servants, God expects us to carry out His will.
After all the early preparations are done, there is a certain time that we have to perform our specific tasks in accordance with the preparations that we have been doing. These specific tasks at specific times may be labeled by code names. One of the more common code names to start off a specific task might be called “H hour” or “D –day.” As Christians we all have preparations and functions to perform before our “HH hour.” Like all Born-again believers, we all await and make preparations for our “Heavenly Hope;” our “HH hour. That is the moment that we all move toward as we march through this world. 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18.
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. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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. 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: 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. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
The out-resurrection is what Christians await as the minutes, hours and days tick by during our march. Along the journey some believers will die; but on “that day” we will all (both dead and alive) meet the lord in the air and be joined with him. This is the beginning of God’s great assault to destroy Satan’s kingdom. Oh what a hope!
8. Do Generational Curses Apply to Us? by Keith Daniels
One of the most subtle and devilish things that I have heard from several ministries is that we have to repent for the deeds of our ancestors. I myself even believed this for a while because of hearing these false teachings. Jesus Christ was a curse for us for it is written cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree. Jesus Christ paid for all and every sin that we had. At that moment when we got born again of God’s spirit we were 100% pure. 2 Corinthians 5: 17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
If all things are become new, do curses still apply to born again believers? If we are new creations in Christ, does anything from my past still apply? Galatians 3:13
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:
If Jesus Christ was made a curse for us, why should we still take hold of any curse? Jesus Christ paid in full for anything in our pasts. He paid for any sin that we could ever commit. Why do we accept these kinds of teachings? What does redeemed mean? Those curses are part of the law administration and the patriarchal administration before Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price for us. 1 Peter 2:24
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.
If we were healed by his stripes why would I confess sickness and sin again? God has totally reconciled us. We are free from sin, sickness and death. Romans 5: 17-21
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ has freed us from the law of sin and death by the washing of water with the word. We are a new creation. If we are a new creation in Christ how can anything from our pasts still apply. I do not care how many of your ancestors died from a hereditary disease because Jesus paid the price to free us and to break that law that was contrary to us. Hebrews 7:25
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
When Jesus Christ saved us, he saved us to the uttermost. There is nothing too awful or too terrible that he cannot save us from. The Apostle Paul captured Christians, put them in prison where they were tortured and some put to death. There is nothing in our pasts that he cannot save us from.
Generational curses do not apply in this administration to the saved believers. They can still apply to the unsaved but once we are saved we leave our past behind; all things are become new. We are a new creation in Christ Jesus. Never forget all that we have been delivered from. Jesus became a curse for us and he took our pasts and nailed them to the cross. Our past lives died on the tree with Christ. Do not reclaim them again. Philippians 3:13-14.
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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
We have been called out of darkness in to the glory of his marvelous light. Once we confess Jesus as our lord and believe in our heart that God has raised him from the dead, at that moment the miracle of all miracles happens. At that moment God plants a seed in us and that seed is incorruptible. God creates the seed of Christ in each and everyone who confesses and believes Romans 10:9 & 10. That seed is not there upon condition, like Adam’s was. That seed remains no matter what we do in the future. Ephesians 1:3-4.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 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:
As we do the word and develop our relationships with God and our Lord and Savior that seed will grow and develop unto a perfect man or woman. That perfection is perfectly complete in him. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Being in Christ is not just a word substitution drill. Being in Christ entails being crucified with him. Being in him entails being risen with him and being seated at God’s right hand in the heavens with him. Our power comes directly from our Father, God all mighty. He has forgiven us for every sin that we committed, will ever commit and certainly whatever any of my ancestors may have committed. Reclaiming these ancestral curses and their power over the saved Christian is a lie from the pit of hell. When I finally realized this, then I started to receive deliverance from my affliction. Whenever anyone teaches us something we have to check it with the word. We do not trust it because even the most seasoned and well meaning believer can make a mistake. Acts 17:11
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
God Bless you, let us allow Christ to shine in 2009!
9 . Who Really Is a Preacher? by Keith Daniels
There has been great misunderstanding concerning this term among Christians. The word has come to mean more than it does in scripture. Today everyone professes themselves to be “preachers”. The term “preacher” is used very sparingly throughout scripture. The people that God calls “preachers” are prophets. God does not use this term so liberally as men do today. The first time the term appears it refers to Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1:1. It is the Hebrew word “qoheleth”- preacher,
The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.
In the New Covenant, it is used three times plus one. In 1 Timothy 2:7 and 2 Timothy 1:11, the apostle Paul states that he is ordained as a preacher, a teacher and an apostle.
Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. 1 Timothy 2:7
Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 2 Timothy 1:11
The Paul (Saul) originally had the ministries of prophet and teacher in the church at Antioch. There both he and Barnabas will get ordained as apostles. This can be verified in the book of Acts. Acts 13:1-3
Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
We see that in the Church of Antioch, Syria there were some men whose ministries were prophet and teacher. Saul (Paul) and Barnabas were among them. God is going to call them to another “gift ministry.” We will find out in Acts 14 that this ministry is the ministry of an apostle. Acts 14:14-15.
Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things?
Paul and Barnabas were both apostles. God had called them out to proclaim the gospel to the Gentiles. So far God has only specifically named Solomon and Paul as preachers. There is only one more person that God specifically calls a “preacher.” 2 Peter 2:5.
And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
Noah lived in the most ungodly world. Every thought of the men and women of his time was continually evil. Throughout the time that Noah built the ark, he had to deal with the ridicule, harassment and the chastisement of these evil men. But Noah kept preaching righteousness. The word for preacher in these three usages is the Greek word “kerux”- a herald, a servant of a supreme power, one who summons and conveys messages, one who communicates for someone else. The only other word to be translated as preacher in the New Testament is the Greek word “kerusso” [61 times] - to cry as a herald, to proclaim, to proclaim and to warn of the consequences. It is only translated as “preacher” once in the bible it is normally a verb. In the original text it is not the word “preacher” but the word to “preach.” Romans 10:14
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
You do not have to be a prophet to preach the word to people, but God only calls three people in the whole bible “preachers.” The ministry of a “preacher” is synonymous for the ministry of a “prophet”. But there is going to be one more preacher who is emphasized above all other preachers. Jonah 3:2
Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee.
The word “preach” is the Hebrew word “qara” – to herald, to proclaim, to speak against, to call. The word “preaching” is the Hebrew word “qeriah” – proclamation, preaching. God uses prophets or preachers to bring people to repentance. Matthew 12:41.
"The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.
The omission of the word “preacher” after the word “ “greater” is the figure of speech “ellipsis”- the omission of a word or words in a sentence for emphasis. The word “repented” is the Greek word “metanoeo”- to have another mind. The word “preaching” is the Greek word “kerugma”- (2782) - a cry, a proclamation, a message with a warning. Here is the one place where the word “preacher” is implied by the figure of speech. Jesus Christ also was a preacher. Luke 4:18-19
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath 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.
The word preach used the second and third time is the Greek word “kerusso” - to cry as a herald, to proclaim, to proclaim and to warn of the consequences. Isaiah 61:1-2a.
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.
The word “proclaim” used twice in this passage is the Hebrew word “qara”- to herald, to proclaim, to speak against, to call. Biblically for anyone to be called a “preacher” they must have the ministry of a “prophet.” Jesus Christ called himself a “prophet”. Matthew 13:57.
And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house.
Man uses words haphazardly. God’s words are pure words. He uses them distinctly and specifically. In order to obtain true understanding we have to understand the specific meanings of the words that He uses. In order to do this we have to study biblical usage and to understand the meanings of the words during the time that it was spoken. The meanings of words; change and degrade over time. This is why we have to study God’s word for understanding. Then we have to apply it in our lives to get wisdom, because knowledge alone only inflates our egos.
God Bless you all in this New Year, Keith
10. Endeavoring; With Speed and Diligence by Keith Daniels
As individual members of the body of Christ we are to use all perseverance to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Ephesians 4:1-6.
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
This is the basis for submission in the body of Christ today. We have one Father who is above all, through all and in all of us. Everyone in the body of Christ has to submit unto Him first. The word “endeavoring” in verse 3 is the Greek word “spoudazo” – with speed and diligence. In Karate when a student learns a new “kata or a form” the student first imitates the moves very slowly to see the detail. After repetitive practice the student can start to speed up until it becomes second nature. Finally once the student has mastered it through continual practice, the student can use speed and diligence so the “kata or form” flows. This is the same process that Olympians use to practice gymnastics and routines. Furthermore, this is the same type of practice that competitive figure skaters use today. The only way to “endeavor” here in verse 3 is to continually practice until we can use speed and it becomes second nature in our lives. We have to make it a pattern in our lives. The word “spoudazo” is translated in the Authorized Version as: be diligent (2), be forward (1), do diligence (2), endeavor (3), give diligence (1), labor (1) and study (1). This is the same word that is translated as “study or use all diligence” in 2 Timothy 2:15
Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Word “study” is the Greek word “spoudazo” to use speed and diligence. Once again it is a repetitive process first done slowly until we can speed up and let it flow. This is a natural learning process. This is how we are to learn the pattern of rightly dividing the word. This takes repetitive practice in our lives. Hebrews 5: 13-14.
For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
The word “unskillful” is the Greek word “aspeiros”- inexperienced, unacquainted with. The phrase “full age” is the Greek word “teleios” – fully developed, masters, fully mature. The word “use” is the Greek word “hexis” – practice, habit. The word “senses’ is the Greek word “aistheterion”- the organ of perception (used only once in the bible, one stands for primacy and for the one true God). The word “exercised” is the Greek word “gymnazo” – exercised, trained. The word “good” is the Greek word “kalos”- right, valuable, worthy, the right way. The word “evil” is the Greek word “kakos”- wrong, worthless, injurious, harmful, the wrong way. Let us put this together; For everyone that uses milk is inexperienced with the word of righteousness: for he or she is a babe. But strong meat belongs to those who are of fully developed, who by reason of practice have their spiritual abilities trained to discern both right and wrong. As believers we have to practice and to train our minds to do the word and to listen to our spirits to do the Fathers will. This is something that we will have to do to get to the strong meat of the word. Furthermore, we have to train our spiritual senses to discern how to do what is right. If we continue in the context in Hebrew 6:4-5 we will see this. This is not a sedentary process but an active process. We need to engrave the pattern of rightly dividing the word into our brains so that it becomes second nature to us. Moreover we need to rightly divide Gods word and its application in our lives. This requires us to do the word also by renewing our minds and by continuous behavior modification. Lastly, we have to train ourselves to trust the spiritual information that we receive above all other information that we receive. 2 Peter 3:9-14.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
As Christians our hope is to attain to the gathering together and to be with our Lord Jesus Christ. However our hope also includes our judging of the fallen angels; seeing Satan and his minions thrown into the fiery lake and being destroyed. Next, we will see the millennium kingdom and lastly we will see the new heaven and the new earth wherein dwells righteousness. The phrase “be diligent” in verse 14 is that same Greek word “spoudazo” – to use all speed and all diligence. We will have to “spoudazo” – use all diligence and speed to live the word in our lives until our hope is realized. Once our hope is realize then we will see it through to the end of it all; the end of the end (sunteleo , Greek for the end of the end). God Bless you.
11. THERE ARE WIZARDS IN THE LAND!
by Rick Heeter
UNLIKE THE CULTURE AND SOCIETY one reads about in the Scriptures, we live in an eclectic swirl of varying philosophies and belief systems. Even though elements of foreign thought and unbelief troubled Old and New Testament saints alike, as a rule, the day to day lives of believers in Biblical times were centered around the Word of God. The doctrines and practices they observed were sometimes influenced by pagan societies, but the worship of God and service to His people were woven into the fabric of daily life. Believers were even socially segregated from unbelievers, but this is not the case in Twenty-First Century societies.
One advantage to separating the faithful from infidels was that it mitigated some of the less-desirable influences of those who worshipped false gods and practiced “curious arts.” (Acts 19:19) It also isolated the ungodly to the extent that they stood out, and were recognized as those to be avoided. Because of this, the society of believers had a measure of protection from Satanic influences. Today, things are quite different. Our modern cultures are such that a child of God encounters false teachings, and even idolatry, on a daily basis.
Lies and deception pour into our homes from televisions, radios, and computers with Internet access. Videos, DVDs, CDs, and audio tapes purport to entertain and inform us, while many times programming and numbing our minds with unhealthy ideas and wasteful thought patterns. A believer may even find himself living in an apartment complex with a witch upstairs and a crack-head right across the hall. These dark influences are further magnified when their friends drop in to visit. This example is a microcosm of life in our communities during the Age of Grace.
Indeed, our cultures are quite different from that of Israel during Old Testament times. In I Samuel 28:3, we note that King Saul “…put away…the wizards, out of the land.” He could do this because Israel politically and spiritually was a theocracy, with Almighty God as its Head, and having kings originally ruling by divine designation. Our world today is wholly different. Nevertheless, the Heavenly Father has not left His modern-day believers without a remedy.
In II Corinthians 6:14 and following, we are instructed to be “…not unequally yoked together with unbelievers:…,” and to “…be ye separate,….” (verse 17) This, however, is talking about separating ourselves mentally, spiritually, and in our conduct. We are not called to remove ourselves physically from the presence of those who do not believe, for, then, how would we share the Word of God with them? The Lord Jesus Christ set the example, not by avoiding the unrighteous, but by consorting with them, and, so, giving them a model to emulate. We, as believers, are exhorted in The Word to, “…follow [or “walk step by step”] in his steps:….” (I Pet. 2:21b)
As children of God, we have been called to “…be…transformed [metamorphoo, in Koine Greek, meaning, “transfigured” or “changed”]…” by the renewing of our minds. (Rom. 12:2) As we read and study God’s Word and change our thinking accordingly, our behavior will change. This is what separates us from unbelievers. Rather than living in our own communities and enclaves, as was the norm in other times, God, Himself, protects us from evil influences as we live His Word, motivated by the love of God. In addition, our conduct enables us to stand out so those seeking answers know where to go for help. (Phil. 2:15 and 16a)
In our turbulent, modern world, we may often find ourselves surrounded by spiritual darkness and hedonism, but our Father has provided abundant resources that will allow His people to rise above temporary circumstances, and be “…more than conquerors…” in every situation. (Rom. 8:37) May all of God’s people grow up in Christ so they can see and live what God has richly made available in this day and time. Indeed, may we all grow in the greatness of God’s wonderful, matchless Word.
(Mr. Rick Heeter is the editor-in-chief of The Ryburn Christian Clarion, a quarterly Biblical studies resource. You may contact him by e-mail at ryburnclarion2@sbcglobal.net .)
12. Praise, Thanks and Honor by Keith Daniels
There are only two sources of influence in people’s lives: the one true God, the Father of Jesus Christ and the god of this world, Satan. Satan use to be called Lucifer, when he was once the angel of light. One of his former responsibilities was “praise.” Moreover, he was master of music so that he could provide God with praise. Ezekiel 28:13-14.
13Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. 14Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.
“Tabrets” are small drums; “pipes” are cylindrical metal tubes used to make music. The word “covereth” means to remit or to forgive. Lucifer was the angel of beauty; he was originally created for preparing “praise music” for God and for bringing the message of God’s forgiveness to his people. After Satan rebelled against God and fell, he perverted every aspect of his being and his function. Now he robs God of the praise that He deserves. He influences music to glorify: lust, greed, hatred, sexual perversion and many other extremes. Instead of bringing God’s forgiveness and remittance, he is the great accuser. We need to be cognizant of his ways and be aware of his works. Ephesians 5:3-7.
3But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
The text of verse 5 states “any whoremonger, unclean person or covetous man who is an idolater;” they are all idolaters. The word “whoremonger” is the Greek word “pornos” better translated as “fornicator.” The word “unclean” is better translated as vile, immoral or perverted. The word “covetous” is better translated as “avaricious”- having an inordinate desire for accumulation of wealth and property. Every one of these three types of perversions listed is a path to idolatry. When we serve sex, wealth or perversion, who are we glorifying? Whenever we do not allow God to be our sufficiency in our lives, but we try to supply our needs by ourselves or through other ways, it is a form of idolatry. Moreover, to allow anything to take away of our attention, our praise or our thoughts from God is further evidence that God is not our primary focus. We need to ask ourselves, where is our heart? We are not the children of darkness anymore. The devil would love to pervert our lives and get us into these trappings. Ephesians 5:9-20.
9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
We are to offer God the praise and thanksgiving in our lives. When He is the focus in our lives we will not fall into the trappings of the world. When God is our focus we will naturally give him the praise and honor with thanksgiving. We have to renew our minds continually to ensure that we shine as lights in a perverse land. We are different, we are peculiar and we are not of this world. Let us walk circumspectly and stay the path that God has set before us; neither turning to the left hand nor to the right hand. Let us glorify God with our walk and praise Him continually on our journey. God Bless you I love you. (Keith Daniels can be contacted at kedtec@aol.com)
13. Trick or Treat by Keith Daniels
One of the tricks that Satan uses is to get people to swallow an idea without checking out the details to determine if it is true or not. My neighbor today repeated something that Barak Obama said in the debates this morning. Bob told me that John McCain voted along the same lines as George Bush 95% of the time. As I rode to work on my motorcycle, I started to process that statement. (Now for born-again believers the process also includes asking for Father’s help). John McCain and Barak Obama both vote but the president does not vote for bills. So if I do not have George Bush’s voting record to compare it with John McCain’s voting record, can that statement really be true? Without it how would you even compare it? There is no comparison because George Bush’s voting record does not exist. How else would you come up with those figures? Perhaps if there are a dozen governmental department budgets to approve, maybe he had a problem with one. Does that mean that he supports everything that George Bush supports? It is just another blanket statement that really has no meaning. Yet, obviously people believe it! I just do not think that the statement is a fair one to make. Many people have swallowed a lot of error over time because they failed either to process the statement or check it for authenticity. How many times do we come to God’s word with errant beliefs because we swallowed them because we trusted the person who taught it to us? Acts 17:11.
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
God obviously, wants us not to swallow things on “blind faith.” Here the believers in Berea were called nobler because they not only received the word of God but also checked the scriptures to see whether it was so. Four times in God’s word it says, “Brethren I would not have you ignorant.” The phrase "not ignorant" is used twelve times in the bible. (That phrase would make an excellent teaching all in itself.) Many times in the God’s word He tells us to "prove Him". God wants us to take us at His word. The phase “blind faith” never appears even once in the bible. Obviously, we do not want to elevate man’s word above God’s word. Words like: trinity, incarnate, transubstantiation, etc…. never appear in the bible because they are men’s words but not God’s words. Who do we want to glorify and praise any way? God’s word has power and authority; men’s words do not. 2 Corinthians 2:11.
Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
If we study, we realize that God and His word reveals Satan’s trappings and schemes. God’s word is a lamp unto our path and a light unto our feet. God gave us His spirit to guide us through life. He gave us His word to get us on the map or in the ballpark, so to speak. He gave us a mind so that we could reason and work with Him and for Him. Laziness is one of Satan’s other tricks. He uses it to get people stagnant. Another one is to be too busy to get anything done for God. We have to see his trappings and tricks and resist him. When we resist Satan, He will flee from us. But if we open our minds without processing information we are in danger of believing things that are not the things of God. No one intentionally wants to believe error. Matthew 7:7.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Many times in life we have not because we ask not. How often do we come to God and His word and ask Him to teach us? How often do we check up on what we are taught to ensure that those things are true? How often do we hear things that affect our lives and are too busy to process them and check them out? The world gives us input 24/7. God does not want us ignorant. He wants us to know beyond a shadow of doubt. He wants us to take Him at His word and prove Him in our lives. Let us treat ourselves to the riches that God has for us in his word and ask Him to show us the answers in our lives. God bless you, your brother in Christ, Keith. (I can be reached at kedtec@aol.com)
14. Our Study Partner by Keith Daniels
It seems that the longer I have been in the ministry, the wiser I have to be to walk circumspectly. It is too easy to be conformed by the comments and the attitudes of others. I never want to get to the point where smugness, arrogance and the accumulation of knowledge take me away from real fellowship with Father. When we come to God’s word we have to come to it meekly and with coach-ability not with our pre-conceived ideas and let it speak to us. How often do I come to it with an attitude that my studious habits, my mental abilities and my methodology are an end all in themselves? Do we have the spirit of the Lord in us? John 14:26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. When we come to God’s word, we have to realize that His words are spirit and life. In order to understand spiritual matters we have to utilize God’s gift, the anointing of holy spirit that each of us received when we became born-again. Each time we come to God’s word our attitude should be, “Father teach me, open my eyes and show me your truth. Father, help me to understand your wondrous precepts.” Our intellectual abilities many times lead us astray for various reasons. It is similar to compare it with either walking by our five-senses or walking by the spirit. Rev. Paul Morrison on a recent visit shared with us the following: “God will never contradict His word, but he surely will contradict our understanding of it.”
In John 14:26 the word “teach” is the Greek word “didasko “- to teach or instruct to the point of understanding. Here Jesus was teaching his disciples that the gift of holy spirit would teach them and bring back to their remembrance scripture. This happens to me all the time when I am working the word; God brings back to my mind other scriptures that fit, to help me understand more clearly. 1 John 2:27
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
The word “teach” used three times here is still the Greek word “didasko”- to teach or instruct to the point of understanding. We have to allow the Holy Spirit to teach us. We do not just complete a religious mental exercise when we study God’s word. It is far from a total intellectual understanding. We know in part; our minds are finite and we have a limited perspective. There is always more to learn from God. Our minds cannot really understand on their own without seeing things from a higher perspective. Many centuries ago men could only begin to theorize that the earth was round. Once man was able to leave the confines of this earth and reach a higher perspective, then man was able to see that the earth was truly round. Luke 10:27.
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
True worship is to commune fully with our Father in every facet of our lives. We have more today than the first Adam ever did. Anything that we allow to supersede our relationship that we have with our heavenly Father is idolatry. No person, religious practice, or scientific methodology should ever come between us and our Father. God Bless you, I love you. (Keith Daniels can be reached at kedtec@aol.com)
15. Our Focus by Keith Daniels
God bless you wonderful beloved saints. The seasons are truly a blessing to our lives. God set up these seasons to help us learn and grow. God did not put the seasons into the life cycle for a curse to us. God put the seasons in the life cycle to remind us of a greater truth. Each season teaches us a different lesson in our lives. In biblical culture a day began at sunset that is why it says "the evening and the morning were the first day" in Genesis 1:5. With God it is always darkness to light the reverse of what we teach in Western culture. Romans 13:12-14.
The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
In areas with four distinct seasons we see the full cycle of life. God set up the cycle of life and it is a Godly thing. We witness the life cycle, beginning with the slow changes in the autumn through winter then to the awakening of life in the spring to the full glory of summer. In autumn we see the changes that occur in the later part of all life. Like the trees whose leaves change color and fall off, this happens also with people. Our hair changes when we get older and some of us have less hair or very little of it. In winter everything sleeps or lays dormant. Right now I am in the autumn of my life. Autumn is a beautiful, colorful and graceful season. It prepares us for the new life in the spring. As the leaves, the seeds and the fruit fall to the ground, they provide the necessary material for the new growth in the spring time. When we grow older in the autumn of our lives, we realize that winter is next. The times are short and we need to communicate the wisdom and understanding to the next generation. My children, ten year old triplets, are in the spring of their lives. When they reach adulthood they will be in the full summer of their lives. 1 John 2: 13-14.
I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.
Whatever, season we are in our lives, we always focus outward toward God. One of the ways that the world tricks us is to focus inward. When we look inward at ourselves we never see the deliverance, healing or outreach. When we look inside ourselves we see our imperfections, our failures and our weakness. Psalm 34: 4.
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
When we look to God our deliverance is forthcoming. When we focus anywhere else we are miserable. As believers we are most joyful when we know that we are doing the Father’s will. Whatever, season we are in life this is a truth that endures. Yes, life has four seasons and everything has a time and a purpose under heaven. Let us celebrate each season and each season of life and keep our focus on God and our lord and savior Jesus Christ. Let us be made alive by the quickening spirit that we have within; looking toward that great hope we have when Christ returns. 1 Corinthians 15: 57
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Keith Daniels can be reached at kedtec@aol.com)