Judgment - Which One?

The Bible speaks of two Judgments. The white throne of Judgment and the Judgment seat of Christ

In the book of Revelation we read the account of the judgment of the dead. "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from his presence, and there was no place for them." Revelation 20:11 From the context it is clear that the dead here are those who did not place their trust in christ. Their entire life is displayed for all to see and are finally judged. Their judgment is to be thrown into the lake of fire to join satan and his cohorts.

However 2 Corinthians 5:10 speaks of another judgmentfor the believers. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." This is the judgment for rewards. Believers are rewarded based on the material they built their work on. Whether rewarded or not all who finds their name in the book of Life are saved because "...there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, Romans 8:1-3. Neither is there any white throne of judgment or public humiliation because Jesus Christ our substitute already bore all the judgment and humiliation meant for us.

So friends take heart, Jesus has done everything on our behalf. There is nothing more we need to do. Cast all your burdens upon him and allow Him to steer you life the way he pleases for He promises that his yoke is light and easy.

There is no such thing as a Vaccum

Everyone of us is a unique creation created by Almighty God for a divine purpose. In the beginning God made a single man (Adam) and formed a woman (Eve) out of the man. They were fully grown adults and God initiated the institute of marriage; one woman for one man.

They were commanded to increase in number and rule the earth and all that is upon it. God gave them fruits for food and placed them in a garden. God also planted two trees in the middle of the garden; The Tree of Life that gave eternal life to those who ate of its fruit and The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad that brought death.. God commanded Adam and Eve never to eat from the second tree.

Adam and Eve had everything they possibly wanted. They were living in overflowing abundance.

God had given man a goal.

To multiply – they were told to get busy in the baby production department. You see Adam did not have to go to work to bring in the bacon. He could fully dedicate his attention to his young beautiful wife.

Adam was also to care for the garden, that was also an easy job – no weeds, no pests, no diseases, plenty of under ground water. No sweat there. God had placed them in the garden however he was also told to rule the entire earth. God had given Adam an outline of what was expected of him. It was upto Adam to decide how he executed his divine job.

Apparently both Adam and Eve had too much idle time. You know the saying – idle hands devil’s workshop. An idle mind also becomes the devil’s playground. Instead of eagerly getting on with their divine assignment, they idled about the garden thereby opening a window of opportunity to the deceiver.

There is one good thing you could say about Satan. He is never idle. He is always plotting and scheming. Both Adam and Eve fell right into the schemers trap and they died to their God. God had warned them they would die if they ate of the second tree. Man was created as a spirit being having a soul and living in a physical body. The spirit of man was God’s spirit breathed into him and kept him in fellowship, alive with God. When man broke faith with God man’s spirit became dead to God’s presence and death entered human body and all the other creations.

While meting out the punishment for the disobedience God also gave man a promise. God was not prepared to concede defeat to a cast out angel. He prophesied the birth of a savior who would restore man to his original rightful place-with God.

Ever since, satan and his demon cohorts have been torturing man kind with all kinds of diseases, plagues, disasters, torments, additions. Many of the afflictions and additions are the result of certain kinds of evil spirit. The spirit of infirmity, spirit of alcoholism, spirit of homosexuality, spirits of various kinds of abuses, spirit of adultery, etc. are demonic spirit oppressions that oppress people around the globe.

Man can be delivered of these spirits through the power in the Name of Jesus. However, care should be taken that the cast out spirit does not return seven times stronger to find the delivered person without a master. Every delivered individual should repent of their sins and receive Jesus Christ as their savior, and Lord. They must receive by faith the deliverance, healing and restoration that is available thru the death and shed blood of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. Then the spirit of the Lord will come and dwell with him. This way the delivered person becomes the blood brought possession of God and satan will have no hold on him.

Remember friends there is no such thing as vaccum in a person - either Jesus dwells there or satan. Choose Jesus every day.

No Fishing Allowed

Has the accuser been wispering things like, "Remember what you did, that sin you committed years ago?"

Every time you come under guilt for past forgiven sins its time to take up the sword of the Spirit and say, "I am justified—just as if it never happened." Psalm 103 says, "He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us (verses 10–12).

Corrie ten Boom used to say. "God has taken our sin and thrown it into the sea of forgetfulness and posted a sign that says, 'No fishing allowed.' " You are justified. Just as if it never had happened.

"But I am like a green olive tree (thriving)in the house of God; I trust in and confidently rely on the loving-kindness and the mercy of God forever and ever.

I will thank You and confide in You forever, because You have done it [delivered me and kept me safe]. I will wait on, hope in and expect in Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your saints." Psalm 52:8-9 AMP


The wicked deceive themselves when they think to support themselves in power and wealth without God. But the Righteous shall be like green olive-trees for they trust in the abundance of God's riches and by faith and love dwell in the house of God.


To be as green olive-trees, we must live a life of faith and holy confidence in God and his grace. Praising God; and relying on His name alone will calm and quiet our spirits to patiently wait for the Lord's deliverance.

So I say a little prayer

“I pray that you are like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; trusting in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever; praising Him forever for what He has done; hoping in His name, for His name is good; and praising Him in the presence of His saints. Amen.”

Eduring Love

Lord,
There is so much happening in our world right now.
In the midst of it all, it’s so good know
You’re in control,
Your love is never ending,
And You provide for us.
As the trees turn colors and nights get cooler,
May we be reminded
That every season of our lives
Is a part of Your loving plan.
Amen

By Holly Garth

Divine Courtship

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:44

We love because he first loved us.1 John 4.19

God can woo you both intellectually and emotionally. Today let us be sensitive to his endearments.

Woman a Biblical Profile

Key Verse:

So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. (Genesis 1:27)

Introduction

The book of Genesis records the beginning of the world, of man and woman, of sin and God's plan for salvation, and the formation of the nations.

Origin Of Woman

The first chapter of Genesis describes the creation of the world. The second chapter tells of the creation of mankind with a specific reference to woman in 1:27. The main references describing the origin of woman are Genesis chapter 2:

And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept; and He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman, and brought her unto the man.

And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh. (Genesis 2:18, 21-24)

The Bible reveals that woman was:

1. Created By God:
Genesis 2:7 states that man was created by God from the dust of the earth. God breathed into man (Adam) the breath of life, and he became a living soul. God decided it was not good for Adam to be alone (Genesis 2:22). God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, then He took one of his ribs and from it created the first woman who was named Eve.

Adam called his mate woman, which means "she-man" or "joined to man," because she was taken out of man. This is where the word "woman" originated.

2. Created In The Image Of God:

Genesis 1:26-27 documents that God created both male and female in His image:

And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness...So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them. (Genesis 1:26-27)


Mankind's First Responsibility

Adam and Eve were told by God to:

∙ Be fruitful.
∙ Multiply.
∙ Replenish the earth.
∙ Subdue the earth.
∙ Have dominion over every living thing on earth. (Genesis 1:28)

Interestingly God's first command to man and woman was to "be fruitful." Spiritual fruitfulness is a Biblical concept traced from this initial command to the final harvest among the nations prophesied in the closing book of Revelation.

Adam and Eve were to be fruitful in each area of their triune nature, physically, spiritually, and mentally as they replenished the earth, subdued and took dominion over it.

Woman's Relationship To God

Woman was created by God, in the image of God, with an eternal soul (Genesis 2:7) related to God in a special union. This relationship is spiritual because God is a spirit (John 4:24). God enjoyed a spiritual relationship with Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:8). This union was broken due to man's fall into sin, but God provided a plan to restore man's spiritual relationship with his Creator.

Woman's Relationship To Man

The relationship of woman to man was one of:

1. LOVE:

The creation of woman from man is an example of the type of relationship that would later exist between Jesus Christ and the Church. While Adam slept, his side was opened and woman was created. Centuries later Jesus Christ hung on the cross for the sins of all mankind and through the great sleep of His death the Church was created. Christ's side was pierced with a spear and there came forth a creative flow of blood to redeem and water to purify the Church:

...Even as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it;

That He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word. (Ephesians 5:25-26)

The creation of woman speaks of a love relationship, similar to that which exists between Christ and the Church..

2. COMPANIONSHIP:

God said it was not good for man to be alone. He intended for man and woman to be companions.

3. HELPFULNESS:

God said He would create a "help meet" for man (Genesis 2:18). The same Hebrew word for help meet, Azyer, occurs forty times in the Old Testament and is often used to speak of God as helper of His people. The word does not mean subjection, as God is certainly not subject to man. Rather, it pictures a giving, loving, caring, relationship of help similar to that which exists between God and man.

4. COMMITMENT:

Genesis 2:24 speaks of the relationship of commitment between man and woman. The man is to:

Leave his father and mother: Mental commitment.
Cleave unto his wife: Emotional commitment.
They shall be one flesh: Physical commitment.

Love, companionship, commitment, and a mutual helping relationship are qualities of the union God designed between man and woman.

Godly Parenting P.A.T.H. part two

If you enjoyed the first part of Tommy Hilliker's article on Godly parenting I am sure you are interested in reading the second part - 'God’s P.A.T.H. for parenting: part two'.

This is a must read for all parents and future parents. Hilliker concludes the article with the last two letters in P.A.T.H., Training and Helping.

Click the title of this post to read the second part of God's P.A.T.H. for parenting

What ways are we training our children intentionally?
How are we helping our children develop godly habits?

Copy and paste the link below to access the article if clicking on the title of this blog does not work for you.

http://legacy.pastors.com/rwmt/article.asp?ArtID=11427

Godly Parenting thru P. A. T. H.

Are we as parents helping our children to set the right path for their lives. All parents ask this question at some time or the other. Everything we say, do, and don't do speak volumes to our children. Tommy Hilliker of Saddleback Church's recently wrote a great article titled 'God’s P.A.T.H. for parenting: part one' about helping our children find the right path.


P.A.T.H. includes four key directions:

Provide a spiritual foundation for your family.
Accept your children unconditionally.
Train them intentionally.
Help them develop healthy godly habits.

Guys this is a must read. To access the article just click on the title of this post. To navigate back to my blog click on the back button on the top left hand corner of the page you are reading.


You can also copy and paste the link below to read the article. Let me know if you enjoyed/found the article useful.

http://legacy.pastors.com/rwmt/article.asp?ArtID=11427

part two of the article will also be be posted soon.

Why did Christ take human form?

Let us examine the Scripture and see just one of the purposes. The first book of John (1 John 3:8) as well as the Book of Hebrews (Hebrews 2:14) speaks of the main purpose that Christ was manifested. Here too I have followed my usual practice of referring more than one version to get a clear picture of the original intent of the Biblical writers.

 1 John 3:8 [But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done]. (AMP)


 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work.(NIV)


 So, my dear children, don't let anyone divert you from the truth. It's the person who acts right who is right, just as we see it lived out in our righteous Messiah. Those who make a practice of sin are straight from the Devil, the pioneer in the practice of sin. The Son of God entered the scene to abolish the Devil's ways. (1 John 3.7-8 MSG)

Here we see that God came and dwelled among us in the visible so that He may undo all the works of the evil one.

 Hebrews 2:14 Since, therefore, [these His] children share in flesh and blood [in the physical nature of human beings], He [Himself] in a similar manner partook of the same [nature], that by [going through] death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death--that is, the devil—(AMP)

 Since the children are made of flesh and blood, it's logical that the Savior took on flesh and blood in order to rescue them by his death. By embracing death, taking it into himself, he destroyed the Devil's hold on death and freed all who cower through life, scared to death of death. (Hebrews 2:14 -15 MSG)

 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil (NIV)

The verse in Hebrews confirms that Christ Jesus had to take the same form as man to destroy the evil one’s strangle hold over His children.

Alleluia to the Lord.

Why can the demonic realm "not touch us"?

To answer this question it is best to examine two key verses in the Bible -1 John 4:4 & 1 John 5:18. I have quoted four different Bible versions viz. NIV, KJV, AMP & MSG for in-depth understanding.


 1 John 4:4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (NIV)

 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. (KJV)

 Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world. (AMP)

 My dear children, you come from God and belong to God. You have already won a big victory over those false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world. These people belong to the Christ-denying world. They talk the world's language and the world eats it up. But we come from God and belong to God. Anyone who knows God understands us and listens. The person who has nothing to do with God will, of course, not listen to us. This is another test for telling the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of deception. (1 John 4:4-6 MSG)

The above verse makes it clear that those who are in Christ have victory over the demonic realm.

 1 John 5:18 We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. (NIV)

 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. (KJV)

 We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One Who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him [Christ's divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold (get a grip) on him or touch [him]. (AMP)

 We know that none of the God-begotten makes a practice of sin—fatal sin. The God-begotten are also the God-protected. The Evil One can't lay a hand on them. We know that we are held firm by God; it's only the people of the world who continue in the grip of the Evil One. And we know that the Son of God came so we could recognize and understand the truth of God—what a gift!—and we are living in the Truth itself, in God's Son, Jesus Christ. This Jesus is both True God and Real Life. Dear children, be on guard against all clever facsimiles. (1 John 5:18-21MSG)

So if we have victory over the demonic realm, how can it overcome or “touch us”? Dear beloved in Christ it can not!

The Creation Of Woman

Many people and incidents of the Old Testament are "types" of spiritual truths revealed in the New Testament. When we speak of a Biblical type, we refer to the fact that certain incidents recorded in the Scripture are not only important in themselves, but are examples of even greater spiritual truths. The study of types is an important form of Bible study.

The creation of woman from man is an example of the type of relationship that would later exist between Jesus Christ and the Church. While Adam slept, his side was opened and woman was created. Down the centuries Jesus Christ hung on the cross for the sins of all mankind. Through the great sleep of His death the Church was created. Christ's side was pierced with a spear and there came forth a creative flow of blood to redeem and water to purify the Church:

...just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
(Ephesians 5:25-26)

The creation of woman speaks of the love (agape) relationship, similar to that which exists between Christ and the Church. This is a deep, enduring, spiritual love, not a sensual relationship based on external charm or beauty.

So sisters, today forget not the Love that FATHER has for you.

Modesty in Church

In a recent article of Zion’s Messiah Magazine contributor Tikva Michael wrote, “The goal behind dressing modestly is to help others focus on our character and inner beauty without being distracted by what we wear”. He continued, "“Modesty helps us find the Godly spark in ourselves and in others. The manner in which we dress, speak, and conduct ourselves encourages this process. . .”

Modesty is a trait that is certainly admirable and sits well on christians and non-christains alike. It is more so in our conversations and dressing. I was motivated to speak out on this because of the constant snide remarks one hears as well as my personal observations on the blatant lack of modesty in dressing in our churches -both traditional as well as new generational.

Let me leave you with this verse in 1 Cor 10.23-24 where Paul speaks of a believer's freedom - "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.

Shalom

Blessings for Obedience

Deuteronomy 28

1 If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. 2 All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:

3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.

6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

7 The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

8 The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

9 The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you. 11 The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you.

12 The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. 13 The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. 14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them.