This is a sermon I did first in 2009 and edited it tonight to share parts of it for tomorrow. 

I LOVE this story because it gives us an example of people with so much courage and faith. We need these examples to prepare us for times of persecution!

Hanukkah, 2012:  December  8 –16

The story of Hanukkah is important for us to know today. This  story is a part of history that occurred a few centuries and a half before the birth of Christ.

The event was commemorated by Christ Himself.

 John 10:22 Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” NIV

The reason it is so important for us today is to make everyone aware that the same  courage possessed by the Maccabees must be ours today!  We do not know if the Lord is coming back in 40 years or 400 or a 1000; however, we DO know that before  He returns Christians will once again see a man who calls himself “god” and demands our worship as well as demanding that we forsake our covenant with our God.

Like the people who lived through the Hanukkah story, we too need to be willing to suffer or even die for our faith! We also need the courage to establish our regular gatherings and observations no matter what the law of the land forbids us to do.

 

Rev 12: 9    And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.10          And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.11     And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

 

Furthermore, we need to discern what cultural activities have been accepted by Christians  that are not pleasing to the Lord and forsake them. Today there is much pressure to forsake God’s laws and blend in with the rest of society just as the Israelites were being asked to do during the days of the Hanukkah story.

We need to rise far above fear of man and cleave to God’s ways no matter who rejects us!

The story of Hanukkah  appears in 1 Maccabees, a part of what is called the apocrypha.  The apocrypha is a set of books written between the time periods of the Old and New Testament books. These books are not considered Holy Spirit inspired by the protestant churches.  Yet, I am using the passages found in them to show the origin of  Hanukkah.  These books are indeed pretty accurate as a portrayal of history.

 

1 Maccabees (Apocrypha), chapter 1: 1: And it happened, after that

Alexander son of Philip, the Macedonian, who came out of the land of Chettiim,

 had smitten Darius king of the Persians and Medes, that he reigned in his stead, the first over Greece,

 { from Wikipedia: Alexander III of Macedon (356–323 BC), popularly known as Alexander the Great (Greek: Μέγας Ἀλέξανδρος, Mégas Aléxandros), was a Greek^i[›] king (basileus) of Macedon who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Born in Pella in 356 BC, Alexander received a classical Greek education under the tutorship of famed philosopher Aristotle, succeeded his father Philip II of Macedon to the throne in 336 BC after the King was assassinated, and died thirteen years later at the age of 32. Although both Alexander’s reign and empire were short-lived, the cultural impact of his conquests lasted for centuries. Alexander is one of the most famous figures of antiquity, and is remembered for his tactical ability, his conquests, and for spreading Greek civilization into the East.}

1 Mac 1 cont: 2: And made many wars, and won many strong holds, and slew the kings of the earth, 3: And went through to the ends of the earth, and took spoils of many nations, insomuch that the earth was quiet before him; whereupon he was exalted and his heart was lifted up. 4: And he gathered a mighty strong host and ruled over countries, and nations, and kings, who became tributaries unto him. 5: And after these things he fell sick, and perceived that he should die. 6: Wherefore he called his servants, such as were honourable, and had been brought up with him from his youth, and parted his kingdom among them, while he was yet alive. 7: So Alexander reigned twelves years, and then died. 8: And his servants bare rule every one in his place. 9: And after his death they all put crowns upon themselves; so did their sons after them many years: and evils were multiplied in the earth. 10: And there came out of them a wicked root Antiochus surnamed Epiphanes, son of Antiochus the king, who had been an hostage at Rome, and he reigned in the hundred and thirty and seventh year of the kingdom of the Greeks.

11: In those days went there out of Israel wicked men, who persuaded many, saying, Let us go and make a covenant with the heathen that are round about us: for since we departed from them we have had much sorrow. 12: So this device pleased them well. 13: Then certain of the people were so forward herein, that they went to the king, who gave them licence to do after the ordinances of the heathen: 14: Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Jerusalem according to the customs of the heathen: 15: And made themselves uncircumcised, and forsook the holy covenant, and joined themselves to the heathen, and were sold to do mischief.

 16: Now when the kingdom was established before Antiochus, he thought to reign over Egypt that he might have the dominion of two realms. 17: Wherefore he entered into Egypt with a great multitude, with chariots, and elephants, and horsemen, and a great navy, 18: And made war against Ptolemee king of Egypt: but Ptolemee was afraid of him, and fled; and many were wounded to death. 19: Thus they got the strong cities in the land of Egypt and he took the spoils thereof. 20: And after that Antiochus had smitten Egypt, he returned again in the hundred forty and third year, and went up against Israel and Jerusalem with a great multitude, 21: And entered proudly into the sanctuary, and took away the golden altar, and the candlestick of light, and all the vessels thereof, 22: And the table of the shewbread, and the pouring vessels, and the vials. and the censers of gold, and the veil, and the crown, and the golden ornaments that were before the temple, all which he pulled off. 23: He took also the silver and the gold, and the precious vessels: also he took the hidden treasures which he found. 24: And when he had taken all away, he went into his own land, having made a great massacre, and spoken very proudly. 25: Therefore there was a great mourning in Israel, in every place where they were; 26: So that the princes and elders mourned, the virgins and young men were made feeble, and the beauty of women was changed. 27: Every bridegroom took up lamentation, and she that sat in the marriage chamber was in heaviness, 28: The land also was moved for the inhabitants thereof, and all the house of Jacob was covered with confusion. 29: And after two years fully expired the king sent his chief collector of tribute unto the cities of Juda, who came unto Jerusalem with a great multitude, 30: And spake peaceable words unto them, but all was deceit: for when they had given him credence, he fell suddenly upon the city, and smote it very sore, and destroyed much people of Israel. 31: And when he had taken th spoils of the city, he set it on fire, and pulled down the houses and walls thereof on every side. 32: But the women and children took they captive, and possessed the cattle. 33: Then builded they the city of David with a great and strong wall, and with mighty towers, and made it a strong hold for them. 34: And they put therein a sinful nation, wicked men, and fortified themselves therein. 35: They stored it also with armour and victuals, and when they had gathered together the spoils of Jerusalem, they laid them up there, and so they became a sore snare:36: For it was a place to lie in wait against the sanctuary, and an evil adversary to Israel.37: Thus they shed innocent blood on every side of the sanctuary, and defiled it: 38: Insomuch that the inhabitants of Jerusalem fled because of them: whereupon the city was made an habitation of strangers, and became strange to those that were born in her; and her own children left her. 39: Her sanctuary was laid waste like a wilderness, her feasts were turned into mourning, her sabbaths into reproach her honour into contempt.
40: As had been her glory, so was her dishonour increased, and her excellency was turned into mourning.

The following passage indicates the conformity demanded by Antiochus.  Today the USA  seems to be moving towards a culture where we all accept secular humanism and forsake the laws of Christianity!  Once the one believing in abortion  and homosexuality was the one who was frowned upon; now to come against these things is coming close to becoming a “hate crime”.

Some store clerks have been reprimanded or even fired for saying “Have a blessed day” or “Merry Christmas”. 

In public we are all expected to be secular!

1 Mac 41: Moreover king Antiochus wrote to his whole kingdom, that all should be one people, 42: And every one should leave his laws: so all the heathen agreed according to the commandment of the king. 43: Yea, many also of the Israelites consented to his religion, and sacrificed unto idols, and profaned the sabbath. 44: For the king had sent letters by messengers unto Jerusalem and the cities of Juda that they should follow the strange laws of the land, 45: And forbid burnt offerings, and sacrifice, and drink offerings, in the temple; and that they should profane the sabbaths and festival days: 46: And pollute the sanctuary and holy people: 47: Set up altars, and groves, and chapels of idols, and sacrifice swine’s flesh, and unclean beasts: 48: That they should also leave their children uncircumcised, and make their souls abominable with all manner of uncleanness and profanation: 49: To the end they might forget the law, and change all the ordinances. 50: And whosoever would not do according to the commandment of the king, he said, he should die. 51: In the selfsame manner wrote he to his whole kingdom, and appointed overseers over all the people, commanding the cities of Juda to sacrifice, city by city. 52: Then many of the people were gathered unto them, to wit every one that forsook the law; and so they committed evils in the land; 53: And drove the Israelites into secret places, even wheresoever they could flee for succour. 54: Now the fifteenth day of the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and fifth year, they set up the abomination of desolation upon the altar, and builded idol altars throughout the cities of Juda on every side; 55: And burnt incense at the doors of their houses, and in the streets.

Forsaking the covenant in 1 Mac 1 : 15 & the abomination of desolation in 1 Mac 1: 56 —are a picture of what will again  happen again in the future  . Daniel, Jesus, and Paul speak of this time in the following passages:

Dan 11: 27 And both these kings’ hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table; but it shall not prosper: for yet the end shall be at the time appointed.28 Then shall he return into his land with great riches; and his heart shall be against the holy covenant; and he shall do exploits, and return to his own land.29 At the time appointed he shall return, and come toward the south; but it shall not be as the former, or as the latter.30 For the ships of Chittim shall come against him: therefore he shall be grieved, and return, and have indignation against the holy covenant: so shall he do; he shall even return, and have intelligence with them that forsake the holy covenant.31 And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall pollute the sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily sacrifice, and they shall place the abomination that maketh desolate.32 And such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.33 And they that understand among the people shall instruct many: yet they shall fall by the sword, and by flame, by captivity, and by spoil, many days.34 Now when they shall fall, they shall be holpen with a little help: but many shall cleave to them with flatteries.35 And some of them of understanding shall fall, to try them, and to purge, and to make them white, even to the time of the end: because it is yet for a time appointed.36 And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 37 Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all.KJV

Matt 24:9 “Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10 At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11 and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12 Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13 but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come 15 So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel — let the reader understand— 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

II Th 2: 1    Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,2     That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.3          Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.

Antiochus was a picture of the antichrist to come!

They Burned the law:
1 Mac 1:56: And when they had rent in pieces the books of the law which they found, they burnt them with fire. 57: And whosoever was found with any the book of the testament, or if any committed to the law, the king’s commandment was, that they should put him to death. 58: Thus did they by their authority unto the Israelites every month, to as many as were found in the cities. 59: Now the five and twentieth day of the month they did sacrifice upon the idol altar, which was upon the altar of God. 60: At which time according to the commandment they put to death certain women, that had caused their children to be circumcised. 61: And they hanged the infants about their necks, and rifled their houses, and slew them that had circumcised them. 62: Howbeit many in Israel were fully resolved and confirmed in themselves not to eat any unclean thing. 63: Wherefore the rather to die, that they might not be defiled with meats, and that they might not profane the holy covenant: so then they died. 64: And there was very great wrath upon Israel.

 In the very endtimes people will be killed for keeping God’s Word too:

Rev 6: 9      And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held:10       And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?11         And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.

1 Maccabees 2: 1: In those days arose {RB: People of God: ARISE!}  Mattathias the son of John, the son of Simeon, a priest of the sons of Joarib, from Jerusalem, and dwelt in Modin. 2: And he had five sons, Joannan, called Caddis: 3: Simon; called Thassi: 4: Judas, who was called Maccabeus: 5: Eleazar, called Avaran: and Jonathan, whose surname was Apphus. 6: And when he {Mattathias} saw the blasphemies that were committed in Juda and Jerusalem, 7: He said, Woe is me! wherefore was I born to see this misery of my people, and of the holy city, and to dwell there, when it was delivered into the hand of the enemy, and the sanctuary into the hand of strangers? 8: Her temple is become as a man without glory. 9: Her glorious vessels are carried away into captivity, her infants are slain in the streets, her young men with the sword of the enemy. 10: What nation hath not had a part in her kingdom and gotten of her spoils? 11: All her ornaments are taken away; of a free woman she is become a bondslave. 12: And, behold, our sanctuary, even our beauty and our glory, is laid waste, and the Gentiles have profaned it. 13: To what end therefore shall we live any longer? 14: Then Mattathias and his sons rent their clothes, and put on sackcloth, and mourned very sore. 15: In the mean while the king’s officers, such as compelled the people to revolt, came into the city Modin, to make them sacrifice. 16: And when many of Israel came unto them, Mattathias also and his sons came together. 17: Then answered the king’s officers, and said to Mattathias on this wise, {rb flatteries}Thou art a ruler, and an honourable and great man in this city, and strengthened with sons and brethren: 18: Now therefore come thou first, and fulfil the king’s commandment, like as all the heathen have done, yea, and the men of Juda also, and such as remain at Jerusalem: so shalt thou and thy house be in the number of the king’s friends, and thou and thy children shall be honoured with silver and gold, and many rewards. 19: Then Mattathias answered and spake with a loud voice, Though all the nations that are under the king’s dominion obey him, and fall away every one from the religion of their fathers, and give consent to his commandments: 20: Yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers. 21: God forbid that we should forsake the law and the ordinances. 22: We will not hearken to the king’s words, to go from our religion, either on the right hand, or the left. 23: Now when he had left speaking these words, there came one of the Jews in the sight of all to sacrifice on the altar which was at Modin, according to the king’s commandment.24: Which thing when Mattathias saw, he was inflamed with zeal, and his reins trembled, neither could he forbear to shew his anger according to judgment: wherefore he ran, and slew him upon the altar. 25: Also the king’s commissioner, who compelled men to sacrifice, he killed at that time, and the altar he pulled down.
26: Thus dealt he zealously for the law of God like as Phinees did unto Zambri the son of Salom.

Re” “zealous for the law”: Acts 21:20 And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the lawKJV

1 Mac 2 cont: 27: And Mattathias cried throughout the city with a loud voice, saying, Whosoever is zealous of the law, and maintaineth the covenant, let him follow me. 28: So he and his sons fled into the mountains, and left all that ever they had in the city. 29: Then many that sought after justice and judgment went down into the wilderness, to dwell there: 30: Both they, and their children, and their wives; and their cattle; because afflictions increased sore upon them. 31: Now when it was told the king’s servants, and the host that was at Jerusalem, in the city of David, that certain men, who had broken the king’s commandment, were gone down into the secret places in the wilderness, 32: They pursued after them a great number, and having overtaken them, they camped against them, and made war against them on the sabbath day. 33: And they said unto them, Let that which ye have done hitherto suffice; come forth, and do according to the commandment of the king, and ye shall live.
34: But they said, We will not come forth, neither will we do the king’s commandment, to profane the sabbath day. 35: So then they gave them the battle with all speed. 36: Howbeit they answered them not, neither cast they a stone at them, nor stopped the places where they lay hid; 37: But said, Let us die all in our innocency: heaven and earth will testify for us, that ye put us to death wrongfully. 38: So they rose up against them in battle on the sabbath, and they slew them, with their wives and children and their cattle, to the number of a thousand people. 39: Now when Mattathias and his friends understood hereof, they mourned for them right sore. 40: And one of them said to another, If we all do as our brethren have done, and fight not for our lives and laws against the heathen, they will now quickly root us out of the earth. 41: At that time therefore they decreed, saying, Whosoever shall come to make battle with us on the sabbath day, we will fight against him; neither will we die all, as our brethren that were murdered in the secret places. 42: Then came there unto him a company of Assideans who were mighty men of Israel, even all such as were voluntarily devoted unto the law. 43: Also all they that fled for persecution joined themselves unto them, and were a stay unto them. 44: So they joined their forces, and smote sinful men in their anger, and wicked men in their wrath: but the rest fled to the heathen for succour. 45: Then Mattathias and his friends went round about, and pulled down the altars: 46: And what children soever they found within the coast of Israel uncircumcised, those they circumcised valiantly. 47: They pursued also after the proud men, and the work prospered in their hand. 48: So they recovered the law out of the hand of the Gentiles, and out of the hand of kings, neither suffered they the sinner to triumph. 49: Now when the time drew near that Mattathias should die, he said unto his sons, Now hath pride and rebuke gotten strength, and the time of destruction, and the wrath of indignation: 50: Now therefore, my sons, be ye zealous for the law, and give your lives for the covenant of your fathers. 51: Call to remembrance what acts our fathers did in their time; so shall ye receive great honour and an everlasting name. 52: Was not Abraham found faithful in temptation, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness? 53: Joseph in the time of his distress kept the commandment and was made lord of Egypt. 54: Phinees our father in being zealous and fervent obtained the covenant of an everlasting priesthood. 55: Jesus for fulfilling the word was made a judge in Israel. 56: Caleb for bearing witness before the congregation received the heritage of the land. 57: David for being merciful possessed the throne of an everlasting kingdom. 58: Elias for being zealous and fervent for the law was taken up into heaven. 59: Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, by believing were saved out of the flame. 60: Daniel for his innocency was delivered from the mouth of lions. 61: And thus consider ye throughout all ages, that none that put their trust in him shall be overcome. 62: Fear not then the words of a sinful man: for his glory shall be dung and worms. 63: To day he shall be lifted up and to morrow he shall not be found, because he is returned into his dust, and his thought is come to nothing. 64: Wherefore, ye my sons, be valiant and shew yourselves men in the behalf of the law; for by it shall ye obtain glory. 65: And behold, I know that your brother Simon is a man of counsel, give ear unto him alway: he shall be a father unto you. 66: As for Judas Maccabeus, he hath been mighty and strong, even from his youth up: let him be your captain, and fight the battle of the people. 67: Take also unto you all those that observe the law, and avenge ye the wrong of your people. 68: Recompense fully the heathen, and take heed to the commandments of the law. 69: So he blessed them, and was gathered to his fathers. 70: And he died in the hundred forty and sixth year, and his sons buried him in the sepulchres of his fathers at Modin, and all Israel made great lamentation for him. 1 Maccabees 3 1: Then his son Judas, called Maccabeus, rose up in his stead. 2: And all his brethren helped him, and so did all they that held with his father, and they fought with cheerfulness the battle of Israel. 3: So he gat his people great honour, and put on a breastplate as a giant, and girt his warlike harness about him, and he made battles, protecting the host with his sword. 4: In his acts he was like a lion, and like a lion’s whelp roaring for his prey. 5: For He pursued the wicked, and sought them out, and burnt up those that vexed his people. 6: Wherefore the wicked shrunk for fear of him, and all the workers of iniquity were troubled, because salvation prospered in his hand. 7: He grieved also many kings, and made Jacob glad with his acts, and his memorial is blessed for ever. 8: Moreover he went through the cities of Juda, destroying the ungodly out of them, and turning away wrath from Israel: 9: So that he was renowned unto the utmost part of the earth, and he received unto him such as were ready to perish. 10: Then Apollonius gathered the Gentiles together, and a great host out of Samaria, to fight against Israel.11: Which thing when Judas perceived, he went forth to meet him, and so he smote him, and slew him: many also fell down slain, but the rest fled. 12: Wherefore Judas took their spoils, and Apollonius’ sword also, and therewith he fought all his life long. 13: Now when Seron, a prince of the army of Syria, heard say that Judas had gathered unto him a multitude and company of the faithful to go out with him to war; 14: He said, I will get me a name and honour in the kingdom; for I will go fight with Judas and them that are with him, who despise the king’s commandment. 15: So he made him ready to go up, and there went with him a mighty host of the ungodly to help him, and to be avenged of the children of Israel. 16: And when he came near to the going up of Bethhoron, Judas went forth to meet him with a small company: 17: Who, when they saw the host coming to meet them, said unto Judas, How shall we be able, being so few, to fight against so great a multitude and so strong, seeing we are ready to faint with fasting all this day? 18: Unto whom Judas answered, It is no hard matter for many to be shut up in the hands of a few; and with the God of heaven it is all one, to deliver with a great multitude, or a small company: 19: For the victory of battle standeth not in the multitude of an host; but strength cometh from heaven. 20: They come against us in much pride and iniquity to destroy us, and our wives and children, and to spoil us: 21: But we fight for our lives and our laws. 22: Wherefore the Lord himself will overthrow them before our face: and as for you, be ye not afraid of them. 23: Now as soon as he had left off speaking, he leapt suddenly upon them, and so Seron and his host was overthrown before him. 24: And they pursued them from the going down of Bethhoron unto the plain, where were slain about eight hundred men of them; and the residue fled into the land of the Philistines. 25: Then began the fear of Judas and his brethren, and an exceeding great dread, to fall upon the nations round about them: 26: Insomuch as his fame came unto the king, and all nations talked of the battles of Judas. 27: Now when king Antiochus heard these things, he was full of indignation: wherefore he sent and gathered together all the forces of his realm, even a very strong army. 28: He opened also his treasure, and gave his soldiers pay for a year, commanding them to be ready whensoever he should need them. 29: Nevertheless, when he saw that the money of his treasures failed and that the tributes in the country were small, because of the dissension and plague, which he had brought upon the land in taking away the laws which had been of old time; 30: He feared that he should not be able to bear the charges any longer, nor to have such gifts to give so liberally as he did before: for he had abounded above the kings that were before him.31: Wherefore, being greatly perplexed in his mind, he determined to go into Persia, there to take the tributes of the countries, and to gather much money. 32: So he left Lysias, a nobleman, and one of the blood royal, to oversee the affairs of the king from the river Euphrates unto the borders of Egypt: 33: And to bring up his son Antiochus, until he came again. 34: Moreover he delivered unto him the half of his forces, and the elephants, and gave him charge of all things that he would have done, as also concerning them that dwelt in Juda and Jerusalem: 35: To wit, that he should send an army against them, to destroy and root out the strength of Israel, and the remnant of Jerusalem, and to take away their memorial from that place; 36: And that he should place strangers in all their quarters, and divide their land by lot. {rb this too is happening today!} 37: So the king took the half of the forces that remained, and departed from Antioch, his royal city, the hundred forty and seventh year; and having passed the river Euphrates, he went through the high countries. 38: Then Lysias chose Ptolemee the son of Dorymenes, Nicanor, and Gorgias, mighty men of the king’s friends: 39: And with them he sent forty thousand footmen, and seven thousand horsemen, to go into the land of Juda, and to destroy it, as the king commanded. 40: So they went forth with all their power, and came and pitched by Emmaus in the plain country. 41: And the merchants of the country, hearing the fame of them, took silver and gold very much, with servants, and came into the camp to buy the children of Israel for slaves: a power also of Syria and of the land of the Philistines joined themselves unto them. 42: Now when Judas and his brethren saw that miseries were multiplied, and that the forces did encamp themselves in their borders: for they knew how the king had given commandment to destroy the people, and utterly abolish them; 43: They said one to another, Let us restore the decayed fortune of our people, and let us fight for our people and the sanctuary. 44: Then was the congregation gathered together, that they might be ready for battle, and that they might pray, and ask mercy and compassion. 45: Now Jerusalem lay void as a wilderness, there was none of her children that went in or out: the sanctuary also was trodden down, and aliens kept the strong hold; the heathen had their habitation in that place; and joy was taken from Jacob, and the pipe with the harp ceased. 46: Wherefore the Israelites assembled themselves together, and came to Maspha, over against Jerusalem; for in Maspha was the place where they prayed aforetime in Israel. 47: Then they fasted that day, and put on sackcloth, and cast ashes upon their heads, and rent their clothes, 48: And laid open the book of the law, wherein the heathen had sought to paint the likeness of their images. 49: They brought also the priests’ garments, and the firstfruits, and the tithes: and the Nazarites they stirred up, who had accomplished their days. 50: Then cried they with a loud voice toward heaven, saying, What shall we do with these, and whither shall we carry them away? 51: For thy sanctuary is trodden down and profaned, and thy priests are in heaviness, and brought low. 52: And lo, the heathen are assembled together against us to destroy us: what things they imagine against us, thou knowest. 53: How shall we be able to stand against them, except thou, O God, be our help? 54: Then sounded they with trumpets, and cried with a loud voice. 55: And after this Judas ordained captains over the people, even captains over thousands, and over hundreds, and over fifties, and over tens. 56: But as for such as were building houses, or had betrothed wives, or were planting vineyards, or were fearful, those he commanded that they should return, every man to his own house, according to the law. 57: So the camp removed, and pitched upon the south side of Emmaus. 58: And Judas said, arm yourselves, and be valiant men, and see that ye be in readiness against the morning, that ye may fight with these nations, that are assembled together against us to destroy us and our sanctuary: 59: For it is better for us to die in battle, than to behold the calamities of our people and our sanctuary. 60: Nevertheless, as the will of God is in heaven, so let him do. 1 Maccabees 4: 1: Then took Gorgias five thousand footmen, and a thousand of the best horsemen, and removed out of the camp by night; 2: To the end he might rush in upon the camp of the Jews, and smite them suddenly. And the men of the fortress were his guides. 3: Now when Judas heard thereof he himself removed, and the valiant men with him, that he might smite the king’s army which was at Emmaus, 4: While as yet the forces were dispersed from the camp. 5: In the mean season came Gorgias by night into the camp of Judas: and when he found no man there, he sought them in the mountains: for said he, These fellows flee from us 6: But as soon as it was day, Judas shewed himself in the plain with three thousand men, who nevertheless had neither armour nor swords to their minds. 7: And they saw the camp of the heathen, that it was strong and well harnessed, and compassed round about with horsemen; and these were expert of war. 8: Then said Judas to the men that were with him, Fear ye not their multitude, neither be ye afraid of their assault. 9: Remember how our fathers were delivered in the Red sea, when Pharaoh pursued them with an army. 10: Now therefore let us cry unto heaven, if peradventure the Lord will have mercy upon us, and remember the covenant of our fathers, and destroy this host before our face this day: 11: That so all the heathen may know that there is one who delivereth and saveth Israel. 12: Then the strangers lifted up their eyes, and saw them coming over against them. 13: Wherefore they went out of the camp to battle; but they that were with Judas sounded their trumpets. 14: So they joined battle, and the heathen being discomfited fled into the plain. 15: Howbeit all the hindmost of them were slain with the sword: for they pursued them unto Gazera, and unto the plains of Idumea, and Azotus, and Jamnia, so that there were slain of them upon a three thousand men. 16: This done, Judas returned again with his host from pursuing them, 17: And said to the people, Be not greedy of the spoil inasmuch as there is a battle before us, 18: And Gorgias and his host are here by us in the mountain: but stand ye now against our enemies, and overcome them, and after this ye may boldly take the spoils. 19: As Judas was yet speaking these words, there appeared a part of them looking out of the mountain: 20: Who when they perceived that the Jews had put their host to flight and were burning the tents; for the smoke that was seen declared what was done: 21: When therefore they perceived these things, they were sore afraid, and seeing also the host of Judas in the plain ready to fight, 22: They fled every one into the land of strangers. 23: Then Judas returned to spoil the tents, where they got much gold, and silver, and blue silk, and purple of the sea, and great riches. 24: After this they went home, and sung a song of thanksgiving, and praised the Lord in heaven: because it is good, because his mercy endureth forever. 25: Thus Israel had a great deliverance that day. 26: Now all the strangers that had escaped came and told Lysias what had happened: 27: Who, when he heard thereof, was confounded and discouraged, because neither such things as he would were done unto Israel, nor such things as the king commanded him were come to pass. 28: The next year therefore following Lysias gathered together threescore thousand choice men of foot, and five thousand horsemen, that he might subdue them. 29: So they came into Idumea, and pitched their tents at Bethsura, and Judas met them with ten thousand men. 30: And when he saw that mighty army, he prayed and said, Blessed art thou, O Saviour of Israel, who didst quell the violence of the mighty man by the hand of thy servant David, and gavest the host of strangers into the hands of Jonathan the son of Saul, and his armourbearer; 31: Shut up this army in the hand of thy people Israel, and let them be confounded in their power and horsemen: 32: Make them to be of no courage, and cause the boldness of their strength to fall away, and let them quake at their destruction: 33: Cast them down with the sword of them that love thee, and let all those that know thy name praise thee with thanksgiving. 34: So they joined battle; and there were slain of the host of Lysias about five thousand men, even before them were they slain. 35: Now when Lysias saw his army put to flight, and the manliness of Judas’ soldiers, and how they were ready either to live or die valiantly, he went into Antiochia, and gathered together a company of strangers, and having made his army greater than it was, he purposed to come again into Judea. 36: Then said Judas and his brethren, Behold, our enemies are discomfited: let us go up to cleanse and dedicate the sanctuary. 37: Upon this all the host assembled themselves together, and went up into mount Sion. 38: And when they saw the sanctuary desolate, and the altar profaned, and the gates burned up, and shrubs growing in the courts as in a forest, or in one of the mountains, yea, and the priests’ chambers pulled down; 39: They rent their clothes, and made great lamentation, and cast ashes upon their heads, 40: And fell down flat to the ground upon their faces, and blew an alarm with the trumpets, and cried toward heaven. 41: Then Judas appointed certain men to fight against those that were in the fortress, until he had cleansed the sanctuary. 42: So he chose priests of blameless conversation, such as had pleasure in the law: 43: Who cleansed the sanctuary, and bare out the defiled stones into an unclean place. 44: And when as they consulted what to do with the altar of burnt offerings, which was profaned; 45: They thought it best to pull it down, lest it should be a reproach to them, because the heathen had defiled it: wherefore they pulled it down,
46: And laid up the stones in the mountain of the temple in a convenient place, until there should come a prophet to shew what should be done with them. 47: Then they took whole stones according to the law, and built a new altar according to the former;
48: And made up the sanctuary, and the things that were within the temple, and hallowed the courts. 49: They made also new holy vessels, and into the temple they brought the candlestick, and the altar of burnt offerings, and of incense, and the table. 50: And upon the altar they burned incense, and the lamps that were upon the candlestick they lighted, that they might give light in the temple.
51: Furthermore they set the loaves upon the table, and spread out the veils, and finished all the works which they had begun to make.
52: Now on the five and twentieth day of the ninth month, which is called the month Casleu, in the hundred forty and eighth year, they rose up betimes in the morning, 53: And offered sacrifice according to the law upon the new altar of burnt offerings, which they had made. 54: Look, at what time and what day the heathen had profaned it, even in that was it dedicated with songs, and citherns, and harps, and cymbals. 55: Then all the people fell upon their faces, worshipping and praising the God of heaven, who had given them good success. 56: And so they kept the dedication of the altar eight days and offered burnt offerings with gladness, and sacrificed the sacrifice of deliverance and praise. 57: They decked also the forefront of the temple with crowns of gold, and with shields; and the gates and the chambers they renewed, and hanged doors upon them.58: Thus was there very great gladness among the people, for that the reproach of the heathen was put away.

As Christians, we often live in tension with the world around us. Belonging to a kingdom “not of this world’’ (John 18:36), we are sent into the world (Matt. 28:19-20; John 17:18) but are to remain unpolluted by it (James 1:27). We are obedient citizens of earthly governments (I Peter 2:13-17), yet at times we must choose to “obey God rather than men’’ (Acts 5:29; 4:19).

Because of such tensions, difficult questions arise. Is it better to stay largely separate from the surrounding culture, or can we somehow take advantage of that culture to further the work of the gospel? Should Christians ever go to war? If so, under what circumstances?

While grappling with questions like these, we can draw insight, strength and encouragement from the stories of God’s people through the ages who have dealt with similar issues. In the current installment of our series on the Apocrypha we will consider one such story. It comes to us from the second century B.C., a time when faithful followers of God and his Torah faced severe persecution, and the future of the Jews as a distinct people seemingly hung in the balance. This story is recorded in the book of First Maccabees.

:First Maccabees covers a period of a little over forty years in Jewish history, beginning with the accession of King Antiochus IV to the Seleucid throne in 175 B.C. The book is a “dynastic history” that concentrates on the exploits of one priestly family-Mattathias; his sons Judas Maccabeus, Jonathan, Simon, John, and Eleazar; and Simon’s son John Hyrcanus. Mattathias’s sons, known collectively as the Maccabees, rescued the Jerusalem temple from pagan hands and eventually gained political independence for the Jews. They founded the Hasmonean dynasty1, which provided political and spiritual leadership for Israel for about a century.

First Maccabees was written by a supporter of the Hasmoneans. The book’s ending implies that it was completed sometime after the end of John Hyrcanus’s reign in 104 B.C. On the other hand, since it speaks of the Romans in favorable-even idealistic-terms (see I Macc. 8:1-16), it was certainly written before 63 B.C., when a Roman takeover of Jerusalem ended Hasmonean rule.

The author of First Maccabees probably lived in the Holy Land, since he was very familiar with the geography of the region and had access to official documents that would have been archived in Jerusalem. Although there are no surviving Hebrew manuscripts of the book, scholars agree that it was originally written in Hebrew and subsequently translated into Greek. 2 According to Dr. David A. deSilva [1, p. 247], “Translating the book back into Hebrew offers relatively few challenges and has been used to clear up difficulties in the Greek text, a fact that weighs heavily in favor of a Hebrew original standing behind the Septuagint tradition.”

The book is our most important historical source for the period of Jewish history that it describes. Josephus3 considered it to be reliable; he paraphrased I Macc. 1:11-13:42 in books twelve and thirteen of his Antiquities of the Jews. With its extensive use of official documents and precise dates, I Maccabees purports to be an accurate account of the Maccabean revolt. At the same time, it has an unmistakable point of view. Written in the style of I and 2 Kings (see I Macc. 9:22; 16:23-24), it portrays the Maccabees as God’s chosen instruments (5:62) and worthy successors of earlier kings and priests of Israel. As we discuss the narrative in more detail, we will note some of the connections the book makes between the Maccabees and these earlier heroes.

First Maccabees begins with the rise to power of Alexander the Great, who conquered the empire of the Medes and Persians (including the land of Israel) and set up his own Graeco-Macedonian empire in its place (1:1-4; cf. Dan. 8:5-7, 20-21). Shortly before Alexander died in 323 B.C., he divided his vast territories among four of his “most honored officers” (1:6; Dan. 8:8, 22). One of those officers, Ptolemy, controlled Palestine. Ptolemy and his successors in Egypt ruled over the Jews until 198 B.C. After that, Israel came under the authority of the Syrian Seleucids, whose empire was headquartered at Antioch.

Hellenization during this time: Although Alexander’s rule was shortlived (twelve years, according to I Macc. 1:7), policies that he set in motion had a profound effect on the world for centuries to come. A pupil of Aristotle and lover of Greek ways, Alexander hoped to use Greek language, learning, and culture to unite the empire. To this end, he founded Greek cities (poleis) throughout his territories. Dr. Oskar Skarsaune [5, p. 31] gives the following description of a typical polis:

“A polis contained some obligatory institutions: a public town center and marketplace (the square agora); a hall for the city council (the bouleuterion); baths; temples to the Greek (later Roman) gods; a theater; a gymnasium (a combined higher school and sports training ground); preferably a library and a sports stadium; and if a big city, also a hippodrome.”

By means of the poleis, Greek culture was introduced to surrounding areas and mingled with the native cultures of those regions, creating a cultural synthesis called Hellenism. Correspondingly, the spread of Greek language and customs was known as “Hellenization” (see 2 Macc. 4:13).

In their interactions with Greek culture, the various native cultures did not enjoy a “level playing field.” Although the Greeks had some admiration for the more ancient cultures of their empire ([5, pp. 29-30]), they were still the ones in charge. Skarsaune comments,

“Greek culture was the culture of the conquerors, the rulers, the armies and the new business elite. Greek was the language of government and administration, business and commerce. And Greek literature was taken as the supreme model for all kinds of literary production. In other words, Greek culture was the culture of the new era, and anyone who would belong to the new elite had to adopt it” [5, p. 28].

The attractions of the dominant Greek culture thus created great pressure to Hellenize. As a result, a number of ancient cultures were swallowed up by Hellenism and essentially disappeared from history.

For the Jews, Hellenism offered both opportunities and temptations. On the one hand, Jewish thought ultimately was greatly enriched by certain Greek concepts. A prime example is the Greek idea that “the hidden law governing the entire universe is divine reason, logos, and the moral task of humanity is to live a life of conformity to this divine reason, which is the law of ethics as well as the law of nature” [5, p. 35]. Jewish thinkers, beginning with the author of Sirach in the early second century B.C., identified the underlying universal law as God’s Torah (see especially Sirach 24). In this way, a Hellenistic concept led to the exaltation of the God of Israel and the promotion of his inspired word.

On the other hand, Hellenism created temptations for Jews to compromise the aspects of Torah-e.g., the Sabbath, circumcision, and dietary laws-that set them apart as a unique and distinct people. By remaining separate from the Gentiles, some reasoned, Jews were missing out on the wealth and prestige afforded by Hellenism.

By the time Antiochus IV, a greedy and power-hungry man, took over the Seleucid throne in 175 B.C. (I Macc. 1:10), there was apparently considerable controversy in Judea over Hellenism (vv. 11-15). One of those who favored Hellenization was Yeshua (a.k..a. Jason), the brother of Onias the high priest. Jason bribed the new king in order to seize control of the high priesthood from Onias.

The book of 2 Maccabees tells us that Jason set aside the authority of Torah and took steps to turn Jerusalem into a Greek polis (2 Macc. 4:9-17). I Maccabees 1:11-15 does not mention Jason’s name explicitly, but he was certainly among the “renegades” referred to in those verses. Jason probably rationalized his corrupt actions by claiming that his Hellenization program was in the best interests of the people. Instead, his takeover of the high priesthood set in motion a sequence of events that led to one of the greatest crises in the history of Israel.

Jason was not in power for long. Ironically, his subordinate Menelaus double-crossed him in much the same way that he had ousted Onias. When Jason sent Menelaus to Antiochus on official business in 172 B.C., Menelaus managed to grab the high priesthood for himself by offering a bribe higher than Jason’s (2 Macc. 4:23-24).

Menelaus, another Hellenizer, seems to have been mainly concerned with staying in office and lining his own pockets. His acts of treachery included arranging for Onias to be murdered and plundering gold vessels from the temple (2 Macc. 4:25-34).

In 169 B.C., when a false rumor arose that Antiochus had been killed in battle in Egypt, Jason tried unsuccessfully to regain control of Jerusalem (2 Macc. 5:5-10). Antiochus then hurried to Jerusalem to put down the uprising. At Menelaus’s invitation, the king raided the temple (I Macc. 1:20-28; 2 Macc. 5:11-16) before returning to Antioch.

Two years later, Antiochus sent his general Apollonius to Jerusalem with a large force to consolidate Seleucid control over Judea. Apollonius killed large numbers of Menelaus’s opponents in a cruel attack that took place on the Sabbath day (I Macc. 1:29-32; 2 Macc. 5:24-26). He then expanded or rebuilt Akra, a fortress citadel located near the temple, where he

stationed a garrison of Syrians and Hellenized Jews (I Macc. 1: 33-40).

These were only the beginning of Antiochus’s repressive measures against the Jews. Apparently viewing any type of Jewish religious practice as a threat to his authority, he proceeded to outlaw temple sacrifices, circumcision, Sabbath and festival observance, and reading of the scriptures (I Macc. 1:41-61; 2 Macc.6:1-11). Worst of all, he established idolatrous pagan worship at the temple (2 Macc. 6:1-5). As I Macc. 1:54 puts it, the king’s men “erected a desolating sacrilege on the altar of burnt offering.” This phrase identifies Antiochus’s blasphemous sacrifices as the “abomination of desolation” prophesied in Daniel 11:31.

{Me : still to happen: Mark 13:14 “When you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong — let the reader understand — then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

2 Thess 2:3-43 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.KJV}

No one knows exactly why Antiochus IV persecuted the Jews so harshly. Certainly his judgment was impaired by greed and arrogance, an arrogance reflected in the name he gave himself-“Epiphanes,” which means “the manifest [one].” (In other words, he claimed to be a god in human form.) Among the Jews he came to be known as Epimanes (“the madman”), a more fitting designation [4, p.465].

A number of faithful Jews willingly became martyrs by refusing to submit to the king’s demands that they abandon the commandments of God (1 Macc. 1:62-63; 2 Macc. 6-7). Others decided to fight back. The opposition began to form at Modein, a village about seventeen miles northwest of Jerusalem, where Mattathias the priest and his five sons had taken refuge (I Macc. 2:1-14). When representatives of the king arrived in Modein, they offered Mattathias status and wealth if he would lead the village in adopting the state-sponsored religious observances (vv. 15-18). Mattathias declined, saying, “I and my sons and my brothers will continue to live by the covenant of our ancestors” (v. 20). His declaration was reminiscent of the words of Joshua recorded in Joshua 24:15 (“but as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord”).

The priest backed up his speech with decisive action. When another man openly stepped forward to offer the sacrifice prescribed by the king, Mattathias quickly killed both the traitor and the king’s officer and tore down the altar (2:23-26). The author compares the zeal of Mattathias to that of one of Israel’s greatest priests, Phinehas the grandson of Aaron (Num. 25:1-15). Like Phinehas, he had taken forceful steps to stop the spread of idolatry among God’s people.

Mattathias then called upon the inhabitants of Modein to join him in standing up for God and the covenant (2:27). His words are like the rallying cry that Moses gave in stopping Israel’s worship of the golden calf (Exod. 32:26). Leaving their possessions behind, Mattathias and his family “fled to the hills” (2:28). Others soon joined them (vv. 42-43), much as a small army had formed around David when King Saul threatened his life (I Sam. 22:2).

In the wilderness, the guerilla army immediately faced some difficult choices. After a thousand Jews were slaughtered on the Sabbath by the king’s forces (2:29-38), Mattathias and his men determined that they would fight on the Sabbath, if necessary, rather than passively accept martyrdom (vv. 39-41). They took the offensive, tearing down pagan altars, circumcizing the uncircumcized, and even killing countrymen who collaborated with the enemy (vv. 44-48).

Mattathias expended all of his strength in organizing and leading the Jewish opposition to Antiochus. It soon became clear to the elderly priest that he did not have much longer to live. Before his death, he urged his sons to carry on the cause, reminding them of the examples of great heroes of Israel like Joseph, Phinehas, Joshua and Caleb, Elijah, and Daniel and his three friends (vv. 51-60). He placed Judas in charge of the army and instructed his sons to heed the wise counsel of their brother Simeon (vv. 65-66). His death came in 166 B.C. (v. 70).

As we have seen, the author of I Maccabees makes several connections between Mattathias and luminaries like Moses, David, and Phinehas. In part, these connections are intended to lend support to the proactive stance taken by Mattathias and his men. Just as Phinehas and other Levites in the days of Moses were forced to take the lives of some Israelites in order to combat idolatry (Exod. 32:25-29; Num. 25), so Mattathias-from the perspective of I Maccabees-was justified in attacking the enemies of Torah. Comparisons between Mattathias and earlier heroes of Israel also begin to lay the groundwork for the view that the Maccabees and their descendants were amply qualified to be both kings and priests. Further backing for this view is added as our story proceeds.

Judas proved to be a valiant and successful commander of the Jewish resistance forces, living up to the expectations of his father. His exploits are celebrated in a poem, recorded in I Macc. 3:3-9, that links him to the patriarch Judah (v. 4; cf. Gen. 49:9) and also to Phinehas (v.8; cf. Num. 25:11).

Syrian generals soon found out that Judas was a formidable opponent. When Apollonius brought his forces against Judas’s men, he lost the battle and his life. Judas came away from the battle with the sword of Apollonius (I Macc. 3:10-12), a detail that reminds us of David’s victory over Goliath and subsequent use of Goliath’s sword .

Judas followed up his initial victory by routing Syrian forces under Seron at Beth-horon, about twelve miles northwest of Jerusalem (3:13-26). The Jewish forces were badly outnumbered, but Judas inspired those under him with an unwavering faith. In a speech that recalls the words of Jonathan in I Sam 14:6, Judas reminded his comrades that “strength comes from Heaven” and that in God’s sight, “there is no difference between saving by many or by few” (vv. 18-19).

Reports of the Jewish rebellion aroused the ire of Antiochus IV, whose efforts to expand his army were hampered by a depleted treasury. Antiochus headed to Persia to raise funds, leaving Lysias in charge of his affairs (3:27-37). Lysias then sent commanders Ptolemy, Nicanor, and Gorgias with forty thousand infantry and seven thousand cavalry to bring Judea into submission (vv. 35-36, 38-39).

Again facing an overwhelming disadvantage in numbers, Judas and his brothers refused to panic. Instead they led the Jews in fasting and prayer, beseeching the Creator of the Universe to intervene on behalf of his people and his holy temple (3:42-53). Judas then organized the Jewish forces into “thousands and hundreds and fifties and tens,” following the example of Moses (vv. 55; cf. Exod. 18). He was also careful to abide by the guidelines of Deut. 20:5-8 (v. 56). In the parlance of Gilbert and Sullivan, Judas Maccabeus was “the very model of a Torah-observant general.”

Judas’s faith and courage were soon rewarded. When Gorgias attempted a surprise night attack on the Jewish camp, the Judean forces cleverly evaded the enemy and launched a bold and successful counterstrike against the Seleucid camp (4:1-25). Judas encouraged his men by reminding them of God’s deliverance of their ancestors from Pharaoh’s army at the banks of the Red Sea (vv. 9-11). The following year, Lysias brought sixty five thousand troops against Judas, whose forces numbered only ten thousand. Gaining strength through prayer (vv. 30-33), Judas led his smaller army to another decisive victory and forced Lysias to depart and regroup (vv. 34-35).

Wikipedia: Hellenization: The conquests of Alexander the Great in the late 4th century BC spread Greek culture and colonization over non-Greek lands, including the Levant, and gave rise to the Hellenistic age, which sought to create a common or universal culture (see also Melting pot) in the Alexandrian empire based on that of 5th and 4th century BC Athens (see also Age of Pericles), along with a fusion of Near Eastern cultures.^[1] The period is characterized by a new wave of Greek colonization which established Greek cities and Kingdoms in Asia and Africa^[2], the most famous being Alexandria. New cities were established composed of colonists who came from different parts of the Greek world, and not from a specific “mother city” (literally metropolis, see also metropolis) as before.^[2]

This synthesised Hellenistic culture had a profound impact on the customs and practices of Jews, both in Judea and in the Diaspora. The inroads into Judaism gave rise to Hellenistic Judaism in the Jewish diaspora which sought to establish a Hebraic-Jewish religious tradition within the culture and language of Hellenism.

Nevertheless, the cultural issues remained unresolved. The main issue separating the Hellenistic and orthodox Jews was the application of biblical laws in a Hellenistic (melting pot) culture.^[3]

 

Prayer 11 30 12

As we enter this season of giving, parties, family gatherings, friends fellowshipping, and  church coziness let  us pray that we receive the following passages and respond accordingly.

Pray that no man , woman , or child among us think selfishly or even “keep score” on getting back evenly what they give to others during this season. Help each person to give time, money, and energy to others without regard to  what will be received back.

Acts 20:35            I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Help us to give according to our own ability – not according to what someone else with  greater resources is able to give. Help us to not get into a heap of debt during this season!

Acts 11: 29           Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:

That we note when there is a need within our local church and we all think how we can help to meet that need:

I Jn 3: 16               Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.17               But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?18            My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

That we remember the poor in the midst of our abundance (e.g., sending gifts to the local missions and/or volunteering some time there:

Esth 9: 22             As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.

Ps 41: Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble

James 2: 14         What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?15           If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,16      And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwith17              Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.18             Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Singing to God among one another ; singing in our hearts       New International Version (©1984) What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. New Living Translation (©2007) Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize. When you meet together, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation God has given, one will speak in tongues, and another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must strengthen all of you. English Standard Version (©2001) What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.) How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

 

^{Ephesians5:  19}Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singingand making melody in your heart to the Lord; ²⁰Giving thanks always for all thingsunto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

V. 19:  Amplified: Speakout to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praisewith voices [and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to theLord, (AmplifiedBible – Lockman)
NLT:Then you will sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves,making music to the Lord in your hearts. (NLT – Tyndale House)
Phillips: Express your joy in singing among yourselves psalms and hymnsand spiritual songs, making music in your hearts for the ears of God! (Phillips: Touchstone)
Wuest: speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord, (Eerdmans)
Young’s Literal: speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns andspiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

Col 3:16

Let 1774 0 the word 3056 of Christ 5547 dwell 1774 in 1722 you 5213 richly 4146 in 1722 all 3956 wisdom 4678; teaching 1321 and 2532 admonishing 3560 one another 1438 in psalms 5568 and 2532 hymns 5215 and 2532 spiritual 4152 songs 5603, singing 103 with 1722 grace 5485 in 1722 your 5216 hearts 2588 to the Lord 2962.

Ps 105:1 O give thanks unto the LORD; callupon his name: make known his deedsamong the people.2 Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all hiswondrous works.3 Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoicethat seek the LORD.4 Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore. 5Remember his marvellous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgmentsof his mouth;

Ps 107: 31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for hiswonderful works to the children of men!32Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him inthe assembly of the elders.

Ps 147: 7 Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp untoour God:

Ps 150:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in thefirmament of his power.2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him accordingto his excellent greatness.3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praisehim with the psaltery and harp4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praisehim with stringed instruments and organs.5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals:praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Isa 12: 5 Sing unto the LORD; for he hathdone excellent things: this is known in all the earth.6 Cry out and shout, thouinhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

Ps 149: 1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise inthe congregation of saints.2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let thechildren of Zion be joyful in their King.3 Let them praise his name in thedance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

Ps 100:4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts withpraise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Here are some suggestionsconcerning ways to  sing to please theLord and to build up the Body of Christ (including ourselves). All these suggestionswill only come alive when they are put into practice IF we truly have theSpirit of the Lord in our hearts and are in communion with Him!  His Spirit lights a fire in our hearts whenwe sing songs in harmony  with His heart.:

1.   Memorize songs already known and sing them in our hearts as wellas out loud with one another (or to others ). Actively seek songs to learn that authentically share YOUR heart andYOUR relationship  with the Lord andunderstanding of His Word.  When thewords have come alive with meaning to your heart,  you can more effectively communicate themwith others. 

2.   Find a passage in the Bible that touches your heart with meaning . Create a tune to sing  that passage.. Or, you can use an old tunethat is now in public domain .

3.   In a group of people, everyone can  take  their turn in putting  the verses of a Psalm  to music they create . 

4.   Put a  passage in your ownwords and sing it.

5.   Sing a song in which you create both words and music that are inharmony with the Word and the Spirit, a spiritual song

6.   Do a new spiritual song (prophetic playing) on your instrument. Ifyou are with others, explain what the song is saying to your heart

7.   Sing a Psalm to the Lord and then add  another verse in your song  telling the Lord a personal experience you hadthat affirms this Psalm (or a verse from a Psalm)

8.   Read a passage aloud. Sing the tune you have made for it. Thenplay the tune on your instrument.

 

9.    Many “new songs” that cometo you are birthed from a challenging life experience. Think of an experience youhave gone through  and see what the Lordmay give you in a song to praise Him for His loving guidance and comfort inthat situation.

 

 

 

RELY ON THE LORDTO LEAD YOU IN THESE EXERCISES:

Ps 40:1   Iwaited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.2 Hebrought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set myfeet upon a rock, and established my goings.3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto ourGod: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

Here are some examples of  passagesthat we could  use to create songs.
Ps 36: 7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore thechildren of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

Ps 42: 11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted withinme? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance,and my God.

Ps 46: 1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.2Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though themountains be carried into the midst of the sea;3 Though the waters thereof roarand be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

Ps 51: 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit withinme.11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted untothee.

Ps 61: 1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.2 From the end of the earthwill I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that ishigher than I.3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower fromthe enemy.4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covertof thy wings.

Ps 62: 7 In God is my salvation and my glory:the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.8 Trust in him at all times; yepeople, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

Ps 66: 1 Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands:2 Sing forth the honour ofhis name: make his praise glorious.

The music we learn can teach us new ideas and fix them in us.  Think of what the  following passages onthe future kingdom can do to inspire HOPE and EXPECTATION within us!  Putting these to music would also teach  us what is to come and as we sing the wordsthe truths will become established within our minds and hearts:

Ps 67:1 God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine uponus; Selah.2 That thy way may be knownupon earth, thy saving health among all nations.3 Let the people praise thee, OGod; let all the people praise thee.4 O let the nations be glad and sing forjoy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations uponearth. Selah.5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praisethee.6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God,shall bless us.7 God shall bless us; andall the ends of the earth shall fear him.

Ps 96:1 O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.2 Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forthhis salvation from day to day.3 Declare his glory among the heathen, hiswonders among all people.4 For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: heis to be feared above all gods.5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: butthe LORD made the heavens.6 Honour and majesty are before him: strength andbeauty are in his sanctuary.7 Give untothe LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.8Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and comeinto his courts.9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear beforehim, all the earth.10 Say among theheathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that itshall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.11 Let theheavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulnessthereof.12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all thetrees of the wood rejoice13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh tojudge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoplewith his truth.

Rev 15: 3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song ofthe Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; justand true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship beforethee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

 Rev 5:.8And when he {the Lamb of God} had taken the book, the four beasts and four andtwenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, andgolden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thouart worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wastslain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, andtongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings andpriests: and we shall reign on the earth.11 And I beheld, and I heard the voiceof many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and thenumber of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power,and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.13 Andevery creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, andsuch as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, andhonour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, andunto the Lamb for ever and ever.14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the fourand twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Rev 7: 9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man couldnumber, of all nations, and kindreds,and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothedwith white robes, and palms in their hands;10 And cried with a loud voice,saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.11And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and thefour beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour,and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Rev 11:15 And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven,saying, The kingdoms of this world arebecome the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for everand ever.

Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man camewith the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they broughthim near before him.14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and akingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: hisdominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdomthat which shall not be destroyed…………..27 And the kingdom and dominion, and thegreatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the peopleof the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, andall dominions shall serve and obey him.

Zech 14:9 And the LORD shall be king over allthe earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.

^Isaiah16:5And in mercyshall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in thetabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness.

Micah 4:1-3
1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house ofthe LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall beexalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountainof the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of hisways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, andthe word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; andthey shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears intopruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shallthey learn war any more.

Luke 11: 2 And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art inheaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven,so in earth.

Exod 15:.18 The LORD shall reign for everand ever.

Rev 5: 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book,and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, andtongue, and people, and nation;10 And hast made us unto our God kings andpriests: and we shall reign on the earth.11 And I beheld, and I heard thevoice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: andthe number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands ofthousands;12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain toreceive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, andblessing.13 And every creature which isin heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea,and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, andpower, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever andever.14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders felldown and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Rev 22:13 And there shall be no more curse:but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shallserve him:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in theirforeheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light ofthe sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Heb 12: 28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdomwhich cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptablywith reverence and godly fear:

2 Pet 1: 10 Wherefore the rather, brethren,give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do thesethings, ye shall never fall:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto youabundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

Communion Sabbath 11 10 12

Cherishing maintaining UNITY, PEACE   and LOVE in our fellowship with each other

Ps 133:1                Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

2              It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;3    As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

 

 Striving to maintain unity with people we love is not difficult – we just need to make sure we love the others in the body of Christ! It is common among us to care deeply when we are not in harmony with the people we love.  If we don’t love someone, it is human nature not to strive to maintain a harmonious relationship with that person..

John 13:34           A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.35          By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

In striving for unity, we should put our minds and mouths in check before blurting out something contrary  – as much as we can we need to try to see and affirm common ground.

Rom 15:5             Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus:6     That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.7                Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God.(KJV)

Some people come into a place and say they don’t “feel accepted” or that they can’t “accept” someone else.  However, we are commanded to receive one another if we are all in Christ.

I have seen movies of high school “queen bees” who make it a  point to reject a certain competitor and all who want to be in the queen’s  “in crowd”  will then reject that person she is rejecting  for fear of being rejected by her if they don’t . In our case , our King tells us to accept one another as He has accepted us.

We will be rejected by Him if we don’t love  one another. 

As soon as someone becomes a child of God , we are to receive and accept them as part of the family of God.  God Himself chose that person to be adopted into His family – we have no authority to resist His choice!

We are to actively work at maintaining loving unity:

2 Cor 13: 11         Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.12        Greet one another with an holy kiss.13  All the saints salute you.14          The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

Eph 4: 1                I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;3   Endeavouring {use speed, make an effort, be earnest} to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.4                There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;5       One Lord, one faith, one baptism,6            One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Eph 4: 25              Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.26          Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27           Neither give place to the devil………………………..31              Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.

 

1 Pet 3:                 8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:9        Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.10            For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile {guile tricks, baits, has wiles – tricks” up  their sleeve”, sets traps--}:11   Let him eschew {decline from} evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it {pursue it}.12               For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

 

We are to avoid being with  those who cause splits among one another. We are to avoid anything that causes strife and divisions:

Rom 16: 17          Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

We are to strive to avoid divisions:

1 Cor 1:9               God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions (from a word meaning to split or to sever)  among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.11     For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.

 

We are one body and we need each other:

1 Cor 12: 12         For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.13      For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.14          For the body is not one member, but many.15   If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?16               And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?17                If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?18                But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.

19           And if they were all one member, where were the body?20       But now are they many members, yet but one body.21                And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:23               And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.24               For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked:25                That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.26               And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27           Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

We are not to have close fellowship with those who are not a part of the body of Christ  we are to come away from those and know that we are in a family with God as our Father – should that not be people enough to fellowship with?

2 Cor 6: 14           Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?15      And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?16     And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.17              Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

We can be in fellowship with one another as we fellowship with our Father.

I Jn 1: 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;2               (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)3           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.4                And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.5                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.6                If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

7              But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

We are not to simply be engrossed in that which is self-centered but we are to care about the things that  are important  to others :

Phil 2:2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.3         Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

Phil 2: 19              But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.20         For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.21               For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s.

Let’s all CARE about one another!  Let’s actually “love our neighbor as ourselves”.

The love manifested to others with glorify our Father 

 

 

Let me know if you see  typo’s or other simple editing errors. Let me know if you read something (as a relatively knowledgeable Christian) and go “WHAAAAT??”  

 I did eliminate a couple to things I figured people would learn “down the road”(as did James in Acts 15:19–21) and added a couple of other things  I think are important for people to  know….so, after around 24 hours — all tolled over 4 days of work (delightfully disrupted by a trip to Rockford, Ill. yesterday where Cousin Mary Vander Ark and I spent around 5 hours talking and could have gone on  and on some more    — this is what I came up with….it is considerably shortened and just might go into just one booklet.

Grand Rapids River of LifeMinistries, Inc.

established 01/05/1980

Co founded   and  co pastored by Pastors Robert and Dr. Rosemary Barnes

3412 Leonard , N.W.; Walker, Mi. 49534

Robert’s  phone:616-540-2928; Rosemary’s  phone:616-540-1766

Service times:

Wednesday:  6:30 PM to8: 00 PM

Sabbath:  9:30 AM to10:30 AM service; 10:30 A:M  brunch;11:00 A.M

Ongoing announcements can be found by clicking “bulletins” http://riveroflifegrmi.org/   (webmaster: EG Adams); 

rbarnesrol@aol.com;Facebook:  Rosemary Herms Barnes; Xanga:Rosemaryssermons

What is happeningat River of Life (ROL):

Nursery:  Ages : Infant  through 2 years old during all services.

Children’s Church(CC)Ages 3  through 11:  Wednesday night and Sabbath during the firstservice. CC is led by Pastors Bruce and Theresa Bolthouse

Powerhouse: (PH) Ages 12 through 15:  Wednesday evening. PH is led by Pastors Cliffand Annie Baker.

Kingdom Youth Force (KYF) Ages 16 through 21: Wednesdayevening.  KYF is led by Pastor KarenVander Vliet.

Adult Bible Class (ABC): Ages 22 on up: Wednesday evening. ABC is led by Pastors Robert and Rosemary Barnes.

Prayer time :   Theentire church gathers at Wednesday, 6:30 PM to 7:00 PM and Sabbath at 9:30 AMto 9:45 AM for prayer. This time is led ( in rotation)  by Pastor Robert one week, Minister KarenCook the next week, and Pastor Rosemary the following week .

Amen: – AMen’s Bible study and share group led by Pastor Bruce Bolthouse on the secondSunday of each month. It is from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM…

Victory time VT)  .. VT is for all  those who desiremutual accountability regarding a healthy diet. VT meets the first Wednesday ofeach month from 6:00 PM to 6:25 PM .  PastorAnnie Baker  leads this group. We shareweekly email updates with each other.

TV 25 program:  We tape our program,  “River Reflections”,at TV 25 in Wyoming, is taped the 2nd and 4th Monday  monthly.Around 8:30 PM) we eat together. OftenROL volunteers bring  us food or have usin their home (if they are somewhat near the station). We meet at 6:30 PM  at WKTV, 5261 Clyde Park Ave SW, Wyoming, MI49509; http://www.wktv.org/home.html 261 5700. . Pastor Rosemary is theDirector/producer of the program; Deacon Richard Menninga is in charge of  the control room management andtraining. 

Media Club:  We rely on this club for the videotaping andediting of clips to be shown on TV 25 as well as other ministry  communication through various media.  JacobMenninga is the director of this club..

Helps Team:   This team, led by Pastor KarenRoark, provides help in ushering, hosting, clean up, and any other supportiveservices needed to assist the ministry.

Sound and visualaid ministry:  The soundboard/microphone — ministry led by Deacon Richard Menninga and kept insupplies by Deacon Ron Slawson — assures proper sound . The visual ministry isled by Ryan Hoekstra and assisted by Pastor Bruce Bolthouse.

Praise and worshipteam:  Pastor Robert  directs this entire ministry and is also aworship leader himself . Pastor Bruce Bolthouse and  Briana Vander Toorn are also worshipleaders. 

Open pulpittimes:   Usually every Sabbath11:00 AM service we offer  an opportunityto participate in “open pulpit” (for up to three minutes)  by sharing something prepared at home ..  Associate ministers  may take up to five minutes.

The purpose of the open pulpit content – which can be  something from the Word, the  sharing of a spiritual gift, a  dance,  a poem, a song, a skit, etc.– is to exhort,edify, and/or comfort the body of Christ . People are free to do things alone or with others.

Five fold ministry training available:     The  Lord has called some to be part of the fivefold ministry, i.e.,  apostles, prophets,evangelists, pastors, and teachers.  Ifyou believe the Lord hascalled you to be in  one or more  of the five fold ministry offices (Ephesians4 : 11—15) and we can also see that calling on your life, Pastor Rosemary iswilling to mentor and  to train you. Thetraining usually takes around four years to complete; however, we are willingto adapt to the person’s life circumstances if the work cannot be completed  within that time frame. The student should beat least 18 years old and either already be baptized in or diligently seekingto be. The  student must already haveshown themselves  for quite awhile  to  bewilling to pray  often in corporateprayer times, share in open pulpits, be faithful to services, be faithful ingiving their tithes and offerings, be  anenthusiastic worshipper,  be willing toparticipate in helps service, and be  showingthe Fruits of the Spirit in his or her life. Furthermore, the student must“see” their entire local church as those whom they desire to ministerto—their  ministry vision cannot belimited to just a few people with whom they are comfortable.

Because the job of a five fold minister is to “perfect thesaints for the work of the ministry”, that person must be genuinely pleased tosee others come forth in their ministries and have a heart to do all they canto make that happen.

Students  will be study through the entire Bible and designated topics (corresponding withthe church study cycle and  there areother forms and goals to be completed each month. At  least one  open pulpit on the current  study book or topicwill be expected.   The work  is to be “handed in”  via email.  From time to time Pastor Rosemary will meetwith the student(s) in person to discuss their progress, review their work, discuss leadership issues, and praytogether.

Let Pastor Rosemary know if youare interested (or, if we see you are already acting like someone called to aministry office, we may approach you to encourage you to get intotraining).  When the student starts thetraining,  more instruction will beshared concerning the curriculum and activity required. .

All those complete the Word minister training and stay atROL will be considered an Associate Minister at ROL.  Associate Ministers become a part of theAdvisory board as well as part of the teaching and ministry staff.

If the  personbelieves they are called to start a ministry outside of ROL, we would be happyto serve in an apostolic role if they would want that.

River of Lifecycle of Bible and topical studies:  Eachmonth we introduce new books and/or topics to study in our private devotionaltimes. 

The list that wefollow is:  . 1.            Genesis,Matthew    2.            Exodus,Mark    3.      Leviticus,

 II John, III John,, Sabbath          4.    HolySpirit:   the Baptism, Fruits, Gifts  

 5.        Numbers,I Peter           6.       Deuteronomy,II Peter    7.     Salvation, including Evangelism and Missions       8.         Joshua. Hebrews     9. Judges,Ruth, Romans

10.       Deity of Christ and Prophetic Words inthe Word concerning Him

 11.      ISamuel, I Timothy       12.    IISamuel. II Timothy       13. Praiseand Worship including various expressions of Worship        14.     IKings,  I Thessalonians

 15.      IIKings, II Thessalonians           16.   Habakkuk,I Chronicles

 17.      IIChronicles, Galatians   18.  Ephesians, “What is Church?”, andthe ROL Brochure Beliefs and Goals        19.       Esther, Nehemiah, Luke,Ezra   

20.       Job, Philippians, I Corinthians      21. Jonah,  Deliverance

 22.      Psalms.Ecclesiastes     23.      Proverbs, James, John    24.    Haggai, Song of Solomon, Isaiah   25.           IICorinthians, Water Baptism  26.         Jeremiah, Lamentations, Philemon          27.  Ezekiel,Jude        28.  Zephaniah,Obadiah,  Colossians

29.       Nahum, Communion       30.   Racism,Acts        31.  Micah,Amos, Titus, Hosea, Joel          32.     Zechariah,Malachi, I John, Women in Ministry   33.Daniel.Revelation

At the end of eachstudy cycle  we give opportunity in theearly Sabbath service for people to share what they discovered during theirstudies that month.

We celebrate four special occasions yearly in which weinvite specific individuals to do  allforms of arts expression , i.e., those who are recognized as doing excellentlyin our “open pulpit” times and/or praise times . ( “Arts “ can include   poetry, mime, dance, vocal and instrumentalsolos and groups, skits, canvas art, photography– whatever   can be used to express the theme of the event.) We are not limited to these four events, e.g.,  we have celebrated Purim and we  would be blessed to celebrate Pentecost too.

1.        Passover:  The death , burial, and resurrection of ourLord Jesus Christ)

2.       Feast of Tabernacles : We celebrateboth , as in Old Covenant times, a thanksgiving celebration for Hissupernatural provisions for us and also what is now and in the future,  a rejoicing in the harvest of souls in allnations (Zechariah 14:9, 16). Ultimately, we anticipate with joy the ultimate fulfillment of this feast when He tabernacles among us for all eternity  (Rev. 21: 1 – 7)

3.       River of Life Ministries’ anniversary:  Robert and Rosemary started this church onJanuary 5, 1980  in their livingroom  on 301 Burton , S.E., in Grand Rapids,Michigan with only EG, their son, soon to be 8,  as a certain third member .

4.       Christmas:  On a Sabbath near 12/25 we celebrate thebirth of the Lord Jesus Christ. At church do not  all have the objects and references to theworldly version of this season because we  choose to celebrate only that which pertainsto the birth of Jesus.

 

Brunchand food ministry: With the exception of special celebration days (notonly the above four special events, but also some other times too), we have a10:30 brunch every Sabbath. The ROLmembers each bring food to share witheveryone.  On “special” occasions weoften have a continental breakfast at 10:30 and then a dinner potblessingfollowing the first service.

Church Government-: All the affairs of Grand Rapids River of Life Ministries, Inc. –both temporal and spiritual — are governed by the Co-Pastors, Robert andRosemary Barnes.  There are three legaldirectors who are responsible for compliance with all the legal aspects of a non profit corporation. Theyare Pastors Robert and Rosemary and Pastor Karen Vander Vliet.

We also have  anadvisory board  (sometimes called the ROL“positioned leadership”) in order for the directors to receive  their input and advice. ROL Members may bringconcerns or issues to the Advisory Board Members or to the Pastors. Whatever isshared with the Board Members or other Leadership will be shared with thePastors by those Leaders.

PositionedLeadership  at River of Life (i.e., ourdeacons and associate ministers which make up our “advisory board”) :   In addition to Pastors Robert andRosemary:  Pastors Bruce and TheresaBolthouse, Minister Karen Cook, Pastor Karen Roark; Deacon John Roark, DeaconRon Slawson, Minister Sherry Slawson, Pastors Cliff and Annie Baker, DeaconRichard and Deaconness Tracy Menninga

We  usually meettogether at least four times a yearto discuss both the spiritual and natural administration of the church.

Our special “advisors” are Deacon John and Pastor KarenRoark  with whom we spend some extra timebrainstorming and debriefing on ROL matters.

We have periodic meetings with only the pastors andministers to discuss spiritual concerns.

The  Home Ministry Fellowship, Inc. ROL connection:In January of 1980 when we started River of Life , both Robert andRosemary received ordination from Pastor Charles Stilwell, Founder andPresident of Home Ministry Fellowship (established in 1966). We also became acharter church, Grand Rapids River of Life Ministries,  under their federal 501(c) tax exempt nonprofit corporation .   After the deathsof Pastor Stilwell and his wife, Bobbie, Rosemary was elected at the February, 2006 annual meeting  by the HMF board of directors  to be the  lifetime President of HMF.  Robert is the lifetime Vice President.Thelegal board of directors now of Home Ministry Fellowship are:  Robert and Rosemary Barnes, Cliff Baker,Secretary, John and Karen Roark, and Karen Vander Vliet , Treasurer. Californiais state where HMF is incorporated; therefore, J.T.  Warring,one of our ordained ministers from California is the HMF resident agent .

ROL Finances:  Offerings are dealt with by a team: Pastor Rosemary, Pastor Karen Vander Vliet,and Sue Mulder.  Receipts are recordedand finance reports are prepared by Pastors Rosemary and Karen.   Sue Mulder is responsible to tally what eachperson gave and provide an end of year report for tax purposes .

Finance reports are reviewed by the entire advisoryboard. 

All gifts to ROL are tax deductible. 

Prayer and DevotionalLife for  ROL Members :  People who join ROL are expected to havea very regular  devotional life .Devotional time should include  praise,worship, listening to a Bible Tape and/or reading the Bible, and prayer.

Timothy 2:15, Ephesians 6:18, James 5:16-18, Matthew 26:41,Revelation 5:8, Psalm 119,  Jeremiah9:23—24)

Tithes  and offerings: We believe that onetenth of the believer’s gross  incomebelongs to the Lord and should be given to their  local church.  Offerings and alms (compassionate deeds and/orgiving to the poor)  should be given too.

 (II Corinthians9:1-12, Malachi 3:7-12, Acts 10:2)

Becoming a memberof River of Life :  Any Christiancan become a member of ROL after coming faithfully for a season  so as to make a careful, prayerful choice.

 .Before becoming amember, the person should read our  statement of our beliefs to make sure thatthey are basic agreement  with thisstatement. A person who desires to become a member should express that desireto the Pastors. The Pastors will then have a brief conference with that personto discuss this decision.

 

Statement ofbeliefs:     

 Paul said in 1 Timothy 4: 13 “Till I come, give attention to reading, toexhortation, to doctrine.” 

 This belief  statement  is intended  to  simply give a brief ,  introductory understanding of  some of theimportant doctrines  we  teach. In the  Bible there is  so much more than whatis written here that we also teach. Coming regularly to our services  over months and years to hear all theteachings will have to be the way someone discovers  the rest.

The Apostles Creed:   Along with millions ofChristians all over the world, we share the belief in all of the points of the Apostles Creed:  

“I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth.  And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, ourLord,who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,and born of the virgin Mary, sufferedunder Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried.

He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again from the dead. Heascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in theHoly Spirit ,the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, theforgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.Amen”

We believe that all of the Bible  is the infallible Word of God  (2Timothy  3:16—17,   Hebrews4:12, 2 Peter 1:21)

God in Three Persons and the  Deity of Christ:  God shows Himself in three  persons:  God the  Father,  God the Son, and  God the Holy Spirit.   To reject Jesus Christ  as God the Son is to reject God the Father.  (Psalms45:6 –7, Hebrews 1 , Isaiah 7:14 , Matthew  1:23, Isaiah  9:6—7, John 1:1—14, Colossians  1:12 –19,1 Timothy 3:16,  John 10:30—33,  John 20: 26—31, Philippians 2:5—11, John 14:16—20, 23—28, 1 Peter 1:7—23, Revelation 21:22—23,  Micah 5:2, John 8:58, Rev 1:4 –18, Luke1:30—35, 1 John 5:5—13 ,20, 1 John 2:22—24, 1 John 4:1—3, 14—15, 2 John 1:9—11)

Becoming a Christian:   Everyoneis a sinner and is in need of salvation from sin and its effects.  (Romans3:23–25). The wages of sin is death. (Romans 6:23); therefore, none of usdeserves eternal life. In Christ we can have eternal life because He paid thedeath penalty for us. (Romans 5:6—11)   God demands “shedding of blood” for “remission”(pardon)  of sin (Hebrews 9: 22, 28). Jesus shed bloodtakes care of sin once and for all when we accept His blood as payment for oursin. (Romans 3:24—25, 1 Peter 1: 18–19, Ephesians 1:5—7, Hebrews 9:28, Hebrews 10:14)

If we do not accept His paymentfor sins, we die in our sins and be damned..

(Mark 16:16, John 3:18—21,John3:36, John 8:23—24, 2 Thessalonians 1:7—9, 2 Thessalonians 2: 12, Revelation20:5)

To become a Christian a  person must believe the Jesus Christ paid the penalty for his sin and hasprovided through His death , burial, and resurrection the way to be free fromsin and live a new life in Christ. (Titus 2:11—15)  He must repent regarding his past  sins and accept forgiveness from God.  He must   ask the  Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ into his heartso that now he will be able to  walk incommunion with and in obedience to the Spirit of the Lord.  He  becomes a “new creature” – his  old life is passed away sothat he can live his new life in Christ . (2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 John 1: 9,Luke 9:23, John 8:11) 

Water Baptism -:  A believer should be baptized  in water into the name of the Lord JesusChrist. By doing this he is  showing hisidentification with the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord JesusChrist , i.e., he considers himself dead to the works of his flesh and that heis a new creature in Christ Jesus who will walk after the ways of the HolySpirit of God. (Acts 2:38,41,  Romans 6:3-14, Galatians 3:27, Acts 10:44-48)

Baptism in theHoly Spirit :   Once a person becomes a Christian, he canexperience  a still greater degree ofboldness to be a witness of the Lord, power, and operation of the supernaturalgifts of the Holy Spirit by receiving the Baptist of the Holy Spirit. This  baptism is usually immediately  evidenced by speaking in other tongues asGod’s Spirit gives utterance.. (Acts 2:1-18)

In Acts 1:2—10 it is recorded that , just before Jesusascends into Heaven, He gives instructions to His disciples but then He toldthem to first wait at Jerusalem until they are baptized with  the Holy Spirit. The instructions and theworks they would do are in Mark 16:15—20.  The coming of the baptism with  the  HolySpirit along with the surrounding signs, wonders, and exhortation  is recorded in Acts 2.

The tongues received are a prayer  language . When wepray in the Spirit we are built in our faith and we speak mysteries in theSpirit to God which  are understood byGod.   (Jude 1:20, 1 Corinthians14:2—4)  We may decide any time to prayor  to sing in the Spirit. (1 Corinthians14: 14—15)

Communion and theNew Covenant:  When we sharecommunion together,  we are  declaring , showing forth,   His death. We are remembering all He has donefor us through His suffering, death, burial, and resurrection. (  1 Corinthians 11:23—26).  Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:2” “For I determined not to know anything among youexcept Jesus Christ and Him crucified “  i.e., his preaching was centered around  the death of Christ.

In communion, we “drink His blood”, the wine,  which represents His life ;  we “eat His body”, the bread,  which represents the Word made flesh. We alsomeditate on the fact  His body  was broken (beaten)  for our healing. (Isaiah 53:4—5, John6:47—63, Leviticus 17:11) 

  When we sharecommunion we celebrate the fact that  Jesus’ death paid theprice for our sin and erased every curse against us. (Galatians 3:13—14)  Through Him, by walking in His Spirit andWord,  we can walk in complete victoryover all  the effects of sin.  (1 John 3:8) Through the power and influenceof His Spirit in our hearts,  we can walkin righteousness.  ( Galatians 5:16 –25).

The death of  Jesus Christbrought forth the New Covenant prophesied in the Old Covenant writings.  Jeremiah31:31  “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a newcovenant withthe house of Israel, and with the house of Judah”.

The Lord Himself announces the arrival of the New Covenant:  At the “last supper”, a Passover Seder:   He lifted up His cup of wine  andsaid that this  cup was  the “blood of the New Testament”( Matthew 26: 26—28 ) 

 This new covenant  , it was prophesied , would be a time whenthe Lord would  put a new spirit in us,give us a new heart,   put His laws onour hearts, and cause us to walk in His ways. Then, He says , we would be His people and He would be our God.  All this has now happened because of thesacrifice the Lord made for us.   (Jeremiah 31: 33—34, Ezekiel 11: 19 – 20, Ezekiel 36:  25 –27)

 The Old Covenant wasgiven by Moses; the New Covenant was given by the Lord Jesus Christ. (Hebrews 8: 3—13, Hebrews10:14—23, 28—29, Hebrews 12:18–25)

Sabbath:  The  fourth commandment is  Exodus 20: 8“Remember the Sabbath day, tokeep it holy. 9 Six daysyou shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall dono work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor yourfemale servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within yourgates. 11 For insix days the Lord made the heavensand the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventhday. Therefore the Lord blessedthe Sabbath day and hallowed it. “  Inconsideration of this commandment we began to question whether the Lord everchanged the Sabbath from the seventh to the first day of the week. The manyexplanations given by most believers as to why we should consider Sunday as theSabbath simple did not seem logical or right. After studying this question wemoved to a Seventh day Sabbath.

( Genesis 2:2—3, Exodus 16:22-30,  Leviticus 23:2—3, Deuteronomy 5:12—15, Isaiah56:1—7, Isaiah 58:12—14, Luke 23:56, Acts 13:42 — 44, Acts 17:2, Acts 18:4).  

We also studied the history of the change from Sabbath toSunday after the New Testament times and discovered  that it was man, not God, who decided tochange the Sabbath from the seventh day to the first day of the week.

Worship and Praiseby the entire congregation: We desire that all exercise the  liberty to express  love and adoration to the Lord as we worshipand praise  Him together.. We believe inmaking a joyful noise unto the Lord. We clap, dance, bow down,  and raise our hands unto Him. (Psalm 150,Psalm 100, Acts 3:8, Psalm 63:4, Psalm 134:2, Psalm 47:1, Psalm 30:4, 11 –12,Ephesians 5: 19—20, Colossians 3:16)  Webelieve in being sensitive to the move of the Spirit among us . He not onlyleads us into fast, physically expressive praise, but also into the sweet,gentle music of worship.  Sometimes Hegives us a “new song” (Psalms 40:3) through one or more singers in thecongregation.

The gifts of theSpirit in operation at ROL:    Webelieve all the gifts of the Holy Spirit (see both 1 Corinthians  chapters 12 and 14,  are still available for  Christians today . Many times during ourpraise time or during ministry times, the Lord will manifest himself among usthrough the Gifts of His Spirit.  (Mark16:17—18, Acts 2:16—18, Acts 5:12—16, Acts 9:37—42, Acts 16:16-18, Acts19:11—17)

When spiritual gifts come forth,  it is our responsibility  to” try the spirits” and to “prove all things” (1 John 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:21) 

The realm of the supernatural is one that the enemy uses tooin order to deceive  us; therefore, wemust know what  the work of the Lord’sSpirit and what is not.

 (2  Corinthians 11:13—15)

We are always  grateful for the supernatural  working of the Spirit and each one must be  eager and willing to be used by Him. (1Thessalonians 5:19,20,  2 Timothy 1: 6—7,1 Timothy 4:14, 1 Corinthians 14:31,39)

 Womenin Ministry :  We believe that –in Christ — there is no male or female (Galatians 3:28). Believers maytherefore freely function in the church in accordance with the gifts,talents,  offices, and calling given tothem by God.  ( Acts 2:17-18, Philippians4:3, II Kings 22:8-20, Romans 16:1–15, Acts 21:9. Judges 4:4—9, Judges 5:7)

Deliverance andspiritual warfare:   Christians are in a spiritual  warfare. This battle is  not against flesh and blood, but againstspiritual  principalities and powers.We,  being seated with Jesus in aposition of authority over all the hosts of the devil,  have the ability through the Lord JesusChrist to set people free from captivity to these forces.  (Ephesians 1:19 –2:6,2 Peter 1:2—4, Mark16:17,  Luke 8:2, Luke 9:37-42, Luke13:11-16, Acts 8:5–8, Acts 16:16-18, Acts 19:11-12,  Ephesians 1:20-21, Ephesians 2:6, Ephesians6:10 — 18)

 

Israel and the Jews:   Prophets foretold that the Lord would oneday gather Jews from all nations and return them to the land of Israel.  In the late nineteenth  century many Jews all over the world beganto   return to Israel.  It took hard work and much conflict  to get to the point to become a state on  May14, 1948 after thousands of years that there was no state of Israel. In 1967they won back Jerusalem.

(Ezekiel34:11—13, Isaiah 11:11, Jeremiah 23:3—8, Ezekiel 11:17, Eziekiel 28:25—26,Ezekiel 39:25—29, Amos 9:14—15, Zephaniah 3:20)

Many Jews startedto become believers at the same time the Lord was putting it in their 9 heartsto return to Israel.  They are part of a“Messianic Believers” movement.

Although thereare many believers who assume that the church replaced Israel, we believe thatGod is right now fulfilling the prophetic words concerning Israel  and will also fulfill His Word that says aboutthe Jews in Romans 11: 11 “I saythen, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But throughtheir fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to theGentiles. 12 Now iftheir fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for theGentiles, how much more their fullness! 13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am anapostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy thosewho are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if theirbeing cast away is thereconciling of the world, what willtheir acceptance be but lifefrom the dead?”

Furthermore, the Lord says also in Romans 11 that we aregrafted into the olive tree, Israel, and should not boast against theroots.  We are learning to see our“Jewish roots” and all the ways in which the Gentile church has tried to“distance “ herself from those roots. 

Therefore, we make it a point to pray for Israel and besupportive (both in prayer and giving) of our Messianic brothers and sisters.

Paul mentions in Romans 11:14 the concept of “provoking” theJew to “jealously”. We Gentiles should be witnessing to the Jews about the joyof walking in the New Covenant prophesied through the Old Covenant Jewishprophets. It was a prophesy to Israel – God in His mercy grafted us believing Gentiles  into beinga part of this New Covenant.  It remainsHis heart to have both Jew and Gentile in His kingdom!

(Ephesians 2 : 10—16)

 

Glorifying God

God wants us to glorify Him.
God created us for Hisown Glory. Talking about mankind in the book of Isaiah, God says about us, “whom I created for my glory” – Isaiah 43:7

Rom 15: 5       Now the God of patience andconsolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to ChristJesus:6          That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Fatherof our Lord Jesus Christ.

He does not want us to glorify Him every now andagain, He wants us to glorify Him in ALL that we do.

In 1 Corinthians 10:31we read, “So whether you eat or drink orwhatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

He does not NEED our glory – He desires it.  He enjoys it and there is something builtinto the process of our glorifying Him that lifts us up into Him and weexperience the JOY that results from being in His presence.   He inhabits our praises .  The fact is too that glory is DUE His name –we owe it to Him!  This is our rightfulresponse to Him, to glorify Him, worship Him, praise Him!

David said: 1 Chronicles 16 24 Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellousworks among all nations. 25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to befeared above all gods. 26 For all the gods of the people are idols: butthe Lord made the heavens. 27 Gloryand honour are in his presence; strength and gladness are in hisplace. 28 Giveunto the Lord, ye kindreds of thepeople, give unto the Lord gloryand strength. 29 Giveunto the Lord the glory dueunto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. 30 Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shallbe stable, that it be not moved. 31 Let the heavens be glad, andlet the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth.

Heshows up in our midst when we glorify Him with praise:

Ps22: 3 But thou art holy, O thou thatinhabitest the praises of Israel.

Hispresence brings pleasure.

Ps 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence isfullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Godfinds pleasure in US too even though He, as Creator , deserves all glory, honor, and power.  :Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him;and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night,saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanksto him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 Thefour and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worshiphim that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne,saying, 11 Thouart worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hastcreated all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

We sing:

In the presence of theLord, there’s fullness of joy

At thy right hand ,there are pleasures forever more,

Oh what fellowshipdivine, I am His and He is mine,

In the presence of theLord, there’s fullness of joy.

When we do what we aremeant to do, i.e., when we give Him the glory, honor , and power due His name, wehave JOY!!

David said he would glorify the nameof the Lord forever:

“I will praise you, O Lord myGod,with all my heart;I will glorify your name forever.” – Psalm 86:12

What does it mean to glorify God? How do we glorify God? Here aresome ways:

 It means to bring Him honorthrough what we say, how we act, and how we think.

To glorify God means we make His nature and His works  known to others.

 To glorify God means wehave a heartfelt gratitude.

We glorify God through our faith (trust).

We glorify God through our love for Him and for one another.

We glorify God through our desire to obey Him (our obedience).

We glorify God through our desire to know Him.

We glorify Him when we praise and worship Him.

We glorify Him through obedience.

We glorify Him through truly wanting to get to know Him and HisWord  and then to share it all  with others. .

We glorify Him by putting Him in first place in all ways in ourlives.

 

Songs we sing that speak ofglorifying God:

 Father we love you , we praise you, we adoreyou, glorify your Name in all the earth;

Glorifythy name 3x

 Glorify your name in all the earth.

—————————–

Beglorified (4x)
Be glorified In the heavens
Be glorified In the earth
Be glorified In this temple
Jesus, Jesus ,Be thou glorified (2x)
Be thou glorified

Read more: http://artists.letssingit.com/ron-kenoly-lyrics-be-glorified-8rkjpbw#ixzz1ypQjCRpa
{Discuss glorifying God in worship songs using His name, e.g.,

 

Many songs we sing that glorify Him  include lists of His names. When we say Hisname, we are giving honor and glory to His Nature.

I call Him Lord (Dottie Rambo)

This song is praising Jesus. When we praise Jesus, we honor Godthe Father as well:

Phil 2: 9           WhereforeGod also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above everyname:10          That at the name of Jesusevery knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and thingsunder the earth;11    Andthat every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of Godthe Father.

John 5:: 23 That all men should honour the Son, even asthey honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Fatherwhich hath sent him.

 

Some dictionary . com definitions regarding “glory”:

glo·ri·fy:1. to cause to be ortreat as being more splendid, excellent, etc., than would normally beconsidered. 2. to honor with praise, admiration, or worship; extol. 3. to make glorious;invest with glory. 4. to praise the glory of (God),especially as an act of worshipglo·ry   /ˈglɔri, ˈgloʊri/ Show

noun, plural glo·ries, 1. very great praise,honor, or distinction bestowed by common consent; renown: to win glory on thefield of battle. 2. something that is a source of honor, fame, or admiration; adistinguished ornament or an object of pride: 3.adoringpraise or worshipful thanksgiving: Give glory to God.

4. resplendent beauty or magnificence: the glory ofautumn.

5. a state of great splendor, magnificence, or prosperity. EXPAND  {rb “make large”}; 7. the splendor andbliss of heaven; heaven.  {rb: this isGod’s domain, filled with GLORY – the glory of His presence!}

10. to exult with triumph; rejoice proudly (usually followed by in ): Their fathergloried in their success. 11. Obsolete . to boast.

 

He gets glory in His own right,i.e.,He does not NEED people to glorify Him in order for Him to be full of glory:   Ps 19:1    1       Theheavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Ps 97: 1            The LORD reigneth; let the earthrejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.2        Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness andjudgment are the habitation of his throne.3     Afire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about.

4          His lightnings enlightened the world:the earth saw, and trembled.5          Thehills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lordof the whole earth.6     The heavens declare his righteousness,and all the people see his glory.7    Confoundedbe all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worshiphim, all ye gods. 8       Zion heard, andwas glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, OLORD.9 For thou, LORD, art high above allthe earth: thou art exalted far aboveall gods.

He wants to be  and is glorifiedin us:

He is glorified through our“publishing” His nature, His works – He baptized us in His Spirit so we couldbe His witnesses , so He could speak and work through us:

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghostis come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and inall Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

“Witnesses”:  There are many ways to be a “witness”! Youcan sing, write,  and dance tocommunicate His ways and Word. You can be on TV, write a blog, and  share on social networking sites.  You can write and perform a skit. You canpreach on the street. You can make a phone call.  Make and distribute tracts and fliers.   Be creative! Publish the Lord! Give Himglory!

s 26:7 That I maypublish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.8 Lord, I have loved the habitation of thyhouse, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. ………………. 12 My foot standeth in an evenplace: in the congregations will I bless the Lord.

 

Hewill be glorified in us when He comes; however, He is glorified in us and us inHim now too:

II Th1: 7          And to you who are troubledrest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mightyangels,8     In flaming fire takingvengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our LordJesus Christ:9            Who shall bepunished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and fromthe glory of his power;10    When heshall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because ourtestimony among you was believed) in that day.11 Wherefore also we prayalways for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfilall the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:12   Thatthe name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him,according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Isa 43:21         This people have I formed formyself; they shall shew forth my praise.

Isa 60:19         The sun shall be no more thylight by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: butthe LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.

20        Thy sun shall no more go down; neithershall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light,and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.21   Thy people also shall be all righteous:they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of myhands, that I may be glorified.

John17: 8        For I have given unto themthe words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have knownsurely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst sendme.9          I pray for them: I pray notfor the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.10        Andall mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

Eph 1: 3           Blessed be the God and Father of ourLord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenlyplaces in Christ:4         According as hehath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should beholy and without blame before him in love: 5      Havingpredestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself,according to the good pleasure of his will,6       Tothe praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in thebeloved.7  Inwhom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, accordingto the riches of his grace;8     Whereinhe hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;9      Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according tohis good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:10         That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he mightgather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, andwhich are on earth; even in him:11         Inwhom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to thepurpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:12      That we should be to the praise ofhis glory, who first trusted in Christ.

 

1 Pet2: 9         But ye are a chosengeneration, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praisesof him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:10      Which in time pastwere not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy,but now have obtained mercy.11    Dearlybeloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts,which war against the soul;12  Having your conversation honest amongthe Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may byyour good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

13        Submit yourselves to every ordinance ofman for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;14            Or unto governors, as unto them thatare sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of themthat do well.15  For so is the will ofGod, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:16            As free, and not using your libertyfor a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.17            Honour all men. Love thebrotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.18        Servants,be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, butalso to the froward.

Isa 61:1           The Spirit of the Lord GOD isupon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto themeek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to thecaptives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;2          To proclaim the acceptable year of theLORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;3  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, togive unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment ofpraise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the plantingof the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Matt 5: 16  Letyour light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorifyyour Father which is in heaven.

Your ministry work empowered by theSpirit of Christ  in you  glorifies Him  just as God was glorified when Jesus didmiracles :

Jesus works caused men to give gloryto God:

Luke18:38       And he cried, saying, Jesus,thou Son of David, have mercy on me.39         Andthey which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he criedso much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.40         And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him:and when he was come near, he asked him,41   Saying,What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receivemy sight.42            And Jesus said untohim, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.43     And immediately he receivedhis sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they sawit, gave praise unto God.

The work of the apostles caused mento glorify God:

Acts21: 17      And when we were come toJerusalem, the brethren received us gladly.18            Andthe day following Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders werepresent.

19        And when he had saluted them, hedeclared particularly what things Godhad wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry.

 When we suffer with a right attitude weglorify God:

1 Pet4: 12       Beloved, think it not strangeconcerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thinghappened  unto you:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as yeare partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed,ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.14        Ifye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of gloryand of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on yourpart he is glorified.15  But let noneof you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybodyin other men’s matters.16           Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, lethim not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

Those in Heaven glorify God.  We pray that God’s will be done on earth asit is in Heaven. So the fact this is going on in Heaven is one more witnessthat glorifying God should be going on in the earth.

Rev 15:.3         Andthey sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb,saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and trueare thy ways, thou King of saints.4            Whoshall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: forall nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are mademanifest.

When we PRAISE God as these saints inHeaven are doing, we are giving Him GLORY:

Ps 50:23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him thatordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation ofGod.

 

We will forever glorifythe Lord!

Rev 7:9 After these things I looked, and behold, a greatmultitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, andtongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with whiterobes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loudvoice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on thethrone, and to the Lamb!” 11 All the angels stood aroundthe throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on theirfaces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:”Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power andmight, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

Giving honor toGod

Honor: high respect, esteem, give a place of distinction,speak praise of….

We honor God when we worship Him:

Psalm29:1 A Psalm ofDavid. Give unto the Lord, O youmighty ones, Give unto the Lordglory and strength. 2 Give untothe Lord the glory due to Hisname; Worship the Lord in thebeauty of holiness

 

Example of Mosesgiving honor to our Father:  note some ofthis includes” publishing” His name (I think of the fact that we would considerit an honor if someone wrote our biography—Moses is publishing what he knows tob e God’s biography.)

Here Mosesacknowledges their total dependence on God – it is honoring God when we do thesame.

Also:  Moses reminds the people to obey God’s ways–  obeying Him honors  Him.

Deut  32::1          Give ear, O ye heavens, and I willspeak; and hear, O earth, the words of my mouth.

2              Mydoctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as thesmall rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:3  Because I will publish the nameof the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.4         He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways arejudgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.……….7         Remember the days of old, consider theyears of many generations: ask thy father, and he will shew thee; thy elders,and they will tell thee.8           Whenthe Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated thesons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of thechildren of Israel.9           For theLORD’s portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. 10             He found him in a desert land, andin the waste howling wilderness; he led him about, he instructed him, he kepthim as the apple of his eye.11  As aneagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad herwings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings:

12           So theLORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.13          He made him ride on the high places ofthe earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him tosuck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock;…………{RB note: In 46—47we see the response of obedience expected by God from His people}………………………………46         And he said unto them, Set your heartsunto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall commandyour children to observe to do, all the words of this law.47 For it is not a vain thing for you; because itis your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land,whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.  

 

The Psalmist in145 honors God:Ps 145:1              Iwill extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.2   Every day will I bless thee; and I willpraise thy name for ever and ever.

3              Great isthe LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.4              One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thymighty acts.5             I will speak ofthe glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.   6                Andmen shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.7                Theyshall abundantly utter thememory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.8          The LORD is gracious, and full ofcompassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.9             TheLORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.10         All thy works shall praise thee, OLORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.11              They shall speak of the glory of thykingdom, and talk of thy power;12        To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the gloriousmajesty of his kingdom.13    Thy kingdomis an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout allgenerations.14               TheLORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.15             The eyes of all wait upon thee; andthou givest them their meat in due season.16     Thouopenest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.17  The LORD is righteous in all his ways, andholy in all his works.18                TheLORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him intruth.19         He will fulfil the desireof them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.20       The LORD preserveth all them that lovehim: but all the wicked will he destroy.21                My mouth shall speak the praise ofthe LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

As we read theWord , we will see many saints giving glory to the Lord!  We can learn some more praise and worshipvocabulary from reading their responses to our Father.

Honor Him as beingthe Creator

Heb 1: 10             And,Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and theheavens are the works of thine hands:

He wants Honor  – He will reject those who dishonor Him andturn to a people who will honor Him (in this passage an example of dishonoringGod is giving Him shoddy sacrifices):

 Malachi 1:6 ”Ason honors his father, And a servant his master. If then I am theFather, Where is My honor?And if I am a Master, Where is My reverence? Says the Lord of hosts To you priests who despiseMy name. Yet you say, ‘In what way havewe despised Your name?’ 7 ”You offer defiledfood on My altar. But say, ‘In what way have we defiled You?’ By saying, ‘Thetable of the Lord iscontemptible.’ 8 And when you offer the blindas a sacrifice, Is it not evil? And when you offer the lame and sick, Isit not evil? Offer it then to your governor! Would he be pleased with you?Would he accept you favorably?” Says the Lordof hosts. 9 ”But now entreat God’s favor, That He may begracious to us. While this is being done by your hands, Will Heaccept you favorably?” Says the Lordof hosts. 10 ”Who is there even among you who wouldshut the doors, So that you would not kindle fire on My altar in vain? Ihave no pleasure in you,” Says the Lordof hosts, “Nor will I accept an offering from your hands. 11 Forfrom the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall begreat among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to Myname, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,”Says the Lord of hosts. 12 ”Butyou profane it, In that you say, ‘The table of the Lord is defiled; And its fruit, its food, iscontemptible.’ 13 You also say, ‘Oh, what aweariness!’ And you sneer at it,” Says the Lordof hosts. “And you bring thestolen, the lame, and the sick; Thus you bring an offering! Should I acceptthis from your hand?” Says the Lord.14 ”But cursed be thedeceiver Who has in his flock a male, And takes a vow, But sacrifices to theLord what is blemished–For I am a great King,” Says the Lordof hosts, “And My name is to be feared among the nations.  {Godwill NOT put up with dishonor!! RB)

We honor Him when we pay tithes andofferings – even the resulting blessings on us when we are obedient will showforth to all  nations that our Father istaking care of us:

Mal 3:    7 Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone awayfrom My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I willreturn to you,” Says the Lordof hosts. “But you said, ‘In what way shall we return?’ 8 ”Will aman rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbedYou?’ In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Eventhis whole nation. 10 Bringall the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And tryMe now in this,” Says the Lordof hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour outfor you such blessing That there will not be room enough toreceive it. 11 ”AndI will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy thefruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in thefield,” Says the Lord ofhosts; 12 ”Andall nations will call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land,”Says the Lord of hosts.

 

The Lord’s prayercontains points that honor God:  Matt6:

His name is holy,sacred, pure – to be revered.

 9             After this manner therefore prayye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name

He is the King whosewill should preempt that  of all others

.10          Thykingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven

We are utterlydependent on Him .

.11          Give us this day our daily bread.

He has the power toforgive us.

12           Andforgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors

He has power over allthe wiles of the enemy.

.13          And leadus not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:

He, the King, has allpower and glory for ever.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

He provides as aFather  to us—we must trust this and b egrateful  and not dishonor Him with our worryingwhether or not He will take care of us

Matt 6: 25            ThereforeI say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what yeshall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life morethan meat, and the body than raiment?26  Beholdthe fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather intobarns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better thanthey?27       Which of you by takingthought can add one cubit unto his stature?28    Andwhy take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how theygrow; they toil not, neither do they spin:29             Andyet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like oneof these.30        Wherefore, if God soclothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into theoven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  31                Thereforetake no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or,Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  32        (For after all these things do theGentiles seek for your heavenly Father knoweth that yehave need of all these things.

Matt 7:7               Ask,and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall beopened unto you:8   For every one thatasketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh itshall be opened.9  Or what man is there ofyou, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?10        Or if he ask a fish, will he give him aserpent?11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto yourchildren, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good thingsto them that ask him?

Luke 11: 13          Ifye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how muchmore shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

There should benothing that we believe our Father cannot do!   Jer 32: 27        Behold, Iam the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

God is holy andhonoring this fact means we forsake all that is unholy – this honors Him:

2 Cor 6: 16           Andwhat agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of theliving God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and Iwill be their God, and they shall be my people.17 Wherefore come out from amongthem, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; andI will receive you,18    And will be aFather unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the LordAlmighty.

One of the biggest honors we can giveto a parent is to say, “I want to be just like you” :

We as His children we must desire and strive to  imitate Him!

Eph 5:11               Beye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

Luke 6: 35            Butlove ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and yourreward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he iskind unto the unthankful and to the evil.36 Beye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Phil 2: 15              Thatye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midstof a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

We honor Him by doing good works infront of others:

Matt 5:16             Letyour light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorifyyour Father which is in heaven.

Faith honorsGod…using diligence to seek Him blesses HIm

Heb 11:6              Butwithout faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God mustbelieve that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

We honor Him byrelating well to others

Heb 13: 16           Butto do good and to communicate (fellowship;=); forget not: for with suchsacrifices God is well pleased.

We honor Him whenwe worship Him in Spirit and in truth — by communing with HIS life in us –not with man’s wisdom and learning:

John 4: 23            Butthe hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Fatherin spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.24  God is a Spirit: and they that worship himmust worship him in spirit and in truth.

We honor theFather by honoring the Son:

John 5: 23            Thatall men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He thathonoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

John 6: 32            37           All that the Father giveth me shallcome to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.38   For I came down from heaven, not to do mineown will, but the will of him that sent me.39         Andthis is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given meI should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.40           Andthis is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, andbelieveth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at thelast day.

John 8: 42            Jesussaid unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceededforth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

John 10: 27          Mysheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:28          And I give unto them eternal life; andthey shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.29              My Father, which gave them me, isgreater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.30     Iand my Father are one.

John 12: 26          Ifany man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also myservant be: if any man serve me, himwill my Father honour.

 

John 14: 20          Atthat day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.21    He that hath my commandments, and keepeththem, he it is that loveth me: and hethat loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and willmanifest myself to him.

 

John 14: 23          Jesusanswered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and myFather will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.24     He that loveth me not keepeth not mysayings: and the word which ye hear isnot mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

Abiding in ‘Christand bearing the fruit of the Spirit honors the Father

John 15: 1            Iam the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and everybranch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.3       Now ye are clean through the word which Ihave spoken unto you.

4              Abide inme, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide inthe vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.5                I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abidethin me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye cando nothing.6      If a man abide not inme, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, andcast them into the fire, and they are burned.7       Ifye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and itshall be done unto you.8   Hereinis my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

When we honor and worship Him,  we must also let Him know we are grateful forHis LOVE for us and the fact He has committed to be our loving, faithful Fatherforever and ever!

Our Father LOVESus—we should take serious note of that fact and we should respond withgratitude and praise .  We honor Him when we say “Godis love” – we are praising His character when we do that.  

I Jn 3: 1 Behold, what manner oflove the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons ofGod: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.2               Beloved, now are we the sons ofGod, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shallappear, we shall be like him; for weshall see him as he is.

Our Father will remain faithful to usforever!

God is our Daddywho has adopted us and  will give us aninheritance because we ARE His sons and daughters   – Rom 8: 14           For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are thesons of God.15                For ye havenot received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba,Father. 16             The Spirititself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:17               Andif children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so bethat we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Matt 25: 34         Then shall the King say unto them onhis right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared foryou from the foundation of the world:

Rev 21: 3 AndI heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God iswith men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. GodHimself will be with them and be their God. 4 AndGod will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death,nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things havepassed away.” 5 Then He who sat on the thronesaid, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me,”Write, for these words are true and faithful.”

 

Words we speak that areinspired by God are powerful

The power of the Lord was present through the Holy Spirit whenPaul ministered.  He says: 1Thes 1: 5  For our gospel camenot unto you in word  only, but also in power, and in the HolyGhost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were amongyou for your sake.

I have heard someone say, “Preach the gospel; use as few words aspossible.”  But they did not understandthat the Lord has chosen to use words to teach His heart to us and through us.

God uses preaching to share thegospel.

Romans10:¹³For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall besaved. ¹⁴How then shallthey call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe inhim of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?¹⁵And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written,How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bringglad tidings of good things! ¹⁶But they have not all obeyed thegospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? ¹⁷Sothen faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. ¹⁸ButI say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth,and their words unto the ends of the world.

 

There are words that come fromtrained speakers well versed in great skill of reasoning, vocabulary, and worldly wisdom.  That is not what Paul  had.

1Corinthians 2:    ¹And I,brethren, when I came to you, came notwith excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony ofGod. ²For I determined not to know any thing among you, save JesusChrist, and him crucified. ³And I was with you in weakness, and infear, and in much trembling. ⁴And my speech and my preaching wasnot with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit andof power: ⁵That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men,but in the power of God. ^{………………………………………………12}Now we havereceived, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that wemight know the things that are freely given to us of God. ¹³Which things also we speak,not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth;comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

Preaching  God’s Word has the power to save people – eventhough this seems foolish to the world (they would rather we just shut up anddo “good deeds” rather than preach the gospel as written in the Bible):

^{1Cor 1: 17}For Christ sent me not tobaptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross ofChrist should be made of none effect. ¹⁸For the preaching of the cross is to them that perishfoolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of thewise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. ²⁰Whereis the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer ofthis world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? ²¹Forafter that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preachingto save them that believe. ²²For the Jews require a sign,and the Greeks seek after wisdom: ²³But we preach Christ crucified,unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; ²⁴Butunto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, andthe wisdom of God. ²⁵Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; andthe weakness of God is stronger than men. ²⁶For ye see your calling,brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not manynoble, are called: ²⁷But God hath chosen the foolish thingsof the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of theworld to confound the things which are mighty; ²⁸And base things ofthe world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, andthings which are not, to bring to nought things that are: ²⁹Thatno flesh should glory in his presence. ³⁰But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is madeunto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: ³¹That, according as it is written, He that glorieth,let him glory in the Lord.

Rom 1: 16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God untosalvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also tothe Greek.

1Peter 1:23Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth andabideth for ever.

 

The Word of God is supernaturallypowerful.  If we choose to share HIS wordwith others, the Word itself will work miraculously in a person whose heart isexercised to hear (think of the parable of the sower when you think of theheart’s ability to hear).

^He4:12For the word of God isquick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to thedividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and isa discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The Word of God does not have to beshared with others in a clever, insincere   fashion. We can preach  plainly withoutpretense .  It is wonderful to have “atmosphere”enhancers – but, we should never use them to “trick” or pressure others intohastily agreeing with all we say – we should allow them thoughtful, prayerfulresponse time as well as time to check out the Word for themselves to make surewhat is being said is so.

2Corinthians 4 :1¹Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we havereceived mercy, we faint not; ²But have renounced the hidden thingsof dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of Goddeceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to everyman’s conscience in the sight of God. ³But if our gospel be hid, itis hid to them that are lost: ⁴In whom the god of this world hathblinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the gloriousgospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
⁵For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; andourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶For God, who commanded thelight to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give thelight of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. ⁷Butwe have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power maybe of God, and not of us.

 

When we preach God’s Word in theSpirit, we can, in the Spirit of  Christ, do so with authority.

^Luke1:21And they went into Capernaum;and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. ²²And theywere astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority,and not as the scribes.

2 Cor3: 6   Who also hath made us ableministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for theletter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

^{John6: 63}It is the spirit thatquickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing:the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they arelife.

 

We are to minister in the Spirit. TheSpirit was sent to teach us what to think and to say.

John16: 13         Howbeit when he, the Spiritof truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak ofhimself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shewyou things to come.14       He shallglorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.15        All things that the Father hath aremine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

We must continue to pray that theLord would confirm our preaching with supernatural  results in the lives of the listeners. The Wordhas the power to transform people.

Ephesians5:  ²⁵Husbands, love yourwives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ²⁶That he might sanctify andcleanse it with the washing of water by the word ,
²⁷That he might present it to himself a glorious church, nothaving spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy andwithout blemish.

Mark16: 20        And they went forth, andpreached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word withsigns following. Amen.

Acts11:21 And the hand of the Lord was withthem: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

Acts10: 44          While Peter yet spakethese words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

Heb 2: 3     How shall we escape, if we neglect so greatsalvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmedunto us by them that heard him;4          God also bearing them witness, bothwith signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost,according to his own will?

 

The Word has the power to stir theheart of men.Jesus shared a lot of the Word with the men on theroad to Emmaus after they told him all about His own crucifixion (they did notrecognize Jesus – they thought He was a stranger ).   Afterthey got to the part about the women saying Jesus was alive , Jesus said:

^{Luke24: 25}Then he said unto them, Ofools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: ²⁶Oughtnot Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? ²⁷And beginning at Moses andall the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the thingsconcerning himself. ²⁸And they drew nigh unto thevillage, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further. ²⁹Butthey constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and theday is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. ³⁰And it cameto pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, andbrake, and gave to them. ³¹And their eyes were opened, and they knewhim; and he vanished out of their sight.
³²And they said one to another, Didnot our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while heopened to us the scriptures?

The Word of God is sent forth toaccomplish the will of God.

Isa 55:6     Seek ye the LORD while he may befound, call ye upon him while he is near:7        Letthe wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let himreturn unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for hewill abundantly pardon.8     For mythoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.9   For as the heavens are higher than the earth,so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.10 Foras the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither,but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may giveseed to the sower, and bread to the eater:11 Soshall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto mevoid, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in thething whereto I sent it.

 

When that  words shared in sermons  are indeed God’s Word,  we need to respond as unto the Lord, not untoman.   We need , therefore, to deeplylisten to and  respect the words inSpirit led teaching and not think “I don’t want to do this just because someperson is telling me to”.  God’sWords, when received, do a work in us. His Words are Spirit and life.

1Thes2: 9  For ye remember, brethren, ourlabour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not bechargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.10          Ye are witnesses, and God also, howholily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:11       Asye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a fatherdoth his children,12         That ye wouldwalk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.13 For this cause also thank we God withoutceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us,ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word ofGod, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

James1: 21         Wherefore lay apart allfilthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engraftedword, which is able to save your souls.

 

 

 ^{The Bible says that whenever we takecommunion  we are “}proclaiming the Lord’s death—until He returns”.

 

^{We die with Him; we live IN HIM – we crucify the flesh; we walk in theSpirit}

Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ:nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which Inow live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, andgave himself for me.
^{1 Cor 11:23}For it wasfrom the Lord that I received the facts which, in turn, I handed on to you; howthat the Lord Jesus, on the night He was to be betrayed, took some bread, ²⁴and after giving thanks He broke it and said, “This ismy body which is about to be broken for you. Do this in memory of me.”
²⁵In the same way, when the meal was over, Healso took the cup. “This cup,” He said, “is the new Covenant of which my bloodis the pledge. Do this, every time that you drink it, in memory of me.”
²⁶Forevery time that you eat this bread and drink from the cup, you are proclaimingthe Lord’s death—until He returns.

 

Paul states that his main focus in sharing the Word is to proclaimJesus Christ and Him crucified:

Cor 2: 1 And I, brethren, when I came to you,came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you thetestimony of God.2 For I determinednot to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified

 

We have been baptized into His death AND received a new life too:

Romans 6 ¹To what conclusion, then, shall we come? Are we topersist in sinning in order that the grace extended to us may be the greater? ²No, indeed; how shall we who have died to sin, live init any longer? ³Anddo you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus werebaptized into His death? ⁴Well, then, we by ourbaptism were buried with Him in death, in order that, just as Christ was raisedfrom among the dead by the Father’s glorious power, we also should live anentirely new life.

 

We have crucified the works of the flesh we manifest the fruit ofthe Spirit of Christ in us?

Gal 5:19 Now the worksof the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness,lasciviousness,20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath,strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which Itell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do suchthings shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with theaffections and lusts.25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 6: 14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our LordJesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.

 

Our flesh wants attention and pampering; but, those who life acrucified life want to please God, not their own flesh.  We no longer have the same values as theworld does when we are in Christ.   Jesus knew His cross was coming; Peter did notwant Jesus to have to go through that. Jesus rebuked him saying,  “for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the thingsthat be of men”. Jesus told Peter “Get thee behind me , satan” !  

Mark 8: 31 And he beganto teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected ofthe elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and afterthree days rise again.
32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebukehim.
33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter,saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be ofGod, but the things that be of men.
34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he saidunto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him denyhimself, and take up his cross, and follow me.35 For whosoever will save hislife shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and thegospel’s, the same shall save it.36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shallgain the whole world, and lose his own soul?37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?38 Whosoevertherefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinfulgeneration; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in theglory of his Father with the holy angels.

Col 3: 1 If ye then berisen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth onthe right hand of God.2 Set your affection on things above, not on things onthe earth.3 For ye are dead, and yourlife is hid with Christ in God.4 When Christ, who is our life, shallappear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, andcovetousness, which is idolatry:6 For which things’ sake the wrath of Godcometh on the children of disobedience:7 In the which ye also walked some time,when ye lived in them.8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath,malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.9 Lie not one toanother, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
10 And have put on the new man, which isrenewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

 

The spiritual   food in communion sustains us – through accepting His death, burial , and resurrection asour own (i.e., He did it on our behalf) , we CAN walk in newness of life. Wedrink His blood (LIFE ) and eat His body (Word in us)….We therefore can walk inSpirit and in truth.

 

 

Taking the communion food and drink is an admission that our livesare now IN HIM – His life in us gives us victory over the world, the flesh, andthe devil and give us the assurance of eternal life full of righteousness ,peace , and joy!