December, 2011

Warm greetings to you from us!  We pray you are enjoying this season! We prayyou have a very blessed Christmas filled with new revelation concerning exactlywhy Jesus Christ was born!

We are truly enjoying being 65 and 70 years old now as itseems to give us a license to  spend more quiet, relaxed time together than weever did before.  

Each week day, Monday through Friday, when we are hometogether, we have devotions .  
First we  watch an edifying  Christian TV program while eating breakfast.  Then the TV goes off and we enter into praiseand worship followed by prayer. This time is like an oasis of beauty and lovewith our best Friend, Jesus.

After devotions, the two of us   have a  “senior pastor staff meeting” in which we freely discuss whatever is currently onour hearts concerning our ministry.

  We consider it God’s grace in us to haveremained best friends and sweethearts after having  been  married 35 years and  being pastors together for nearly 32 years.   Couples who have never  pastored a church together  would find it difficult to  understand the huge array of “issues” that wehave to deal with   Sometimes there isnot quick agreement.   Over the years wehave learned to patiently wait for answers from God’s Spirit that give us bothpeace .  During the “patient  waiting” much  conversation and prayer takes place as we listento the Lord and to one another  beforedecisions are made.  This has served tobring us closer and closer together as one in the Lord!

Our sons, Jonathan, 40, Austin, Texas, and EG, 39, St. Petersburg,Fla.  are in good health and in lovingcommunication with us quite regularly. We will all be together in a few weeks  to celebrate EG’s 40^thbirthday. . We deeply enjoy “hanging outwith” our adult “kids”.  Knowing how manyfamilies struggle to be at peace with one another, we cherish the harmony andfun we have which includes the liberty of discussing just about anythingwithout any discomfort or hurtful words.

 River of Life, the church we pastor, continues to flourishin her relationship with God and with one another.

 Our worship team isunusually gifted -- filled with many instruments and singers.  Robert is in charge of  the singers and the instrument players. 

 Our prayer times atthe beginning of services on Wednesday evening and on Sabbath morning  have heartfelt participation from the people,both when the mike is open for them to pray in front of the congregation  and when they go from person to person prayingfor one another in their seats.  

The times of “open pulpit” happen  each Sabbath (and in specialevent services, e.g., Christmas , Passover, the Feast of Tabernacles,  and our church anniversary) when people sharesomething they saw in the Word or a talent reveal  thoughtful Bible Study . Also,  many people share their  talent in dancing, drama, singing,instrumentals, etc.

  Our sermons continueto often be “interactive” as the atmosphere continues to be like a “housechurch” in a church building. We encourage people to not only ask questions,but also to add to the sermon whatever insight and/or verses that they maythink of while listening.  We also have a“mike person” who will bring a mike to anyone in the group that wants to speakso that their contribution can be recorded right along with the sermon.   We arehappy to report that the contributions from the listeners  are normally very  insightful and show maturity in Word and in Spirit.  

  We have a weeklypotblessing brunch in between our two Sabbath services.  This is not a “continental  breakfast”, it is a full fledge hot meal withmeat, eggs, fruit , and desserts.  I am so gratefulthat people freely bring enough wonderful food each and every week as if the foodpreparation and delivery were easy!  Robert makes pancakes each week too.  I know it is God’s favor and His love  in us  towards one another that causes people  during this fast paced  , electronic communication era, to beconsistent in old fashioned, face to face, table fellowship .

Most important, the love and open communication at thebrunch time  between all the generationsis a joy to watch.  It is like a bigfamily time each week!

  Our weekly TV program , “River Reflections” isstill being shown on our local cable channels in Grand Rapids, Wyoming, andKentwood.  We tape it together in theirTV studio  every 2^nd and 4^thMonday of each month.

 I am leading a “MediaClub” in our church  so as to encourage  more videotaping during our  church services resulting in more talent andspecial ministry footage to be inserted into our TV  programs .The members of this club  this year learned  to video tape better, edit the videos , and be on alert as to what needed to befilmed  as soon as it started to evolveduring a service.  Everyone in the clubwas  already actively on the staff at thestudio with me – now they are learning to transfer things from church servicesto the TV program. We hope to step up the content of our “River Reflections”program even more excellently in 2012. 

One of our associate ministers, Bruce Bolthouse,  has a monthly men’s meeting . “Amen” whichincludes both our teen guys and the grown men.  They have Bible and/or bookstudies as well as prayer and fellowship. We are so grateful for the faithfulROL men!  The older ones are  now are watching out for the younger guys,mentoring them – seeing them through the process of growing up into Christ.

Bruce and his wife, Theresa, lead our Children's  Church. We also have Pastors Cliff and Annie Baker leading the Jr. High youth and Pastor Karen Vander Vliet leading those from sixteen through twenty one.

My dear Robert continues from 8 AM to 9 AM each week daymorning (before our devotional time) to stand outside by the road  with signs of encouragement to all the motoristswho pass by. Leonard Street is busy  --he  touches the hearts of hundreds .   He comes home often with reports of peoplewho stopped to share  prayer requestswith him  (which we then include in ourdevotional time and sometimes in church too). Sometimes – especially in thecold weather – people stop with hot drinks and express their gratitude toRobert for the way he blesses them with the signs.

If you are interested in a really detailed account of all ourchurch has done this past year, you could click on “bulletins” at riveroflifegrmi.org

Because of  havingbroken my arm in two places  in lateMay  causing the arm to be  too weak to manage luggage on a trip alone, Idid not go to Belgium to minister this past July (for the first time in arounda dozen years). Also,  I am taking Aromasin,a hormone blocking pill, that has    side effects that lessen  the energy level  I used to have (as well as cause pain in myjoints).  But, if had been only the energychallenges and pain , possibly I could have handled the Belgium ministrytrip.   But my arm simply could not carry anything  even  a little heavy at all at that time.  I am planning, Lord willing , to return toBelgium again in 2012.

I am so grateful , though, that I did have the grace andenergy from the Lord to go back (after many consecutive years there) toArgentina last month for a couple of weeks  to minister in  church services in several different churches,a Bible college ,  a women’s gathering,  and    two  leader’s gatherings  at my host church.   My own  church was in  frequent  prayer for me while I was there.  I could feel the results not only in increasedphysical endurance, but also in heightened revelation and prophetic flow.   I alsohad opportunity to have hours of  precious dialogue with  my host pastors , Basilio and EstherNeznajko.  They have founded two churchesand are an also apostolic “covering” for quite a few others.  To be able to openly talk about leadership“issues” and receive one another’s  insight was a joy to me.  Basilio told methat if I were there only for those conversations, it would have been enough. Iagree.  If we really face it, we  would have to admit that there are preciousfew folks given to any one of us who are able to communicate deeply andfreely with strong mutual love, respect , and trust .

I did realize  on theplane ride  for Argentina that raising  my  arms above my head to put a heavy carry- on into the airplane bin  would not have been possible for me in July -- I could just barely manage that lastmonth!   

At River of Life we had some other ministries  came in  to minister to us  this past  year – including the Doorns who are internationalmissions directors for Kingsway  International, the Johnsons who have a hugeministry outreach in the Dominican Republic (all the way from pastor’smeetings, to children’s revivals, to street ministry, etc.), and the Neznajko’sfrom Argentina .  

Also, River of Life financially supports  from time to time  several   ministries doing mission work,  groups helping the poor, Messianic outreaches  in Israel, an orphanage in central America,and  a few  local street missions here inGrand Rapids too.  We were recentlyreminded again by the Lord to “remember the poor”.

The quarterly youth seminars we established a few years agoare still going strong too.  We have usedthem to teach on a variety of topics including one  this year  when we showed “old time “ revival movies ( four of them) back to back toeducate the youth on what it takes to bring in revival.  That particular seminar response was apleasant surprise to me – they all seemed moved by the movies (which includedthe stories of  Smith Wiggleswoth, EvanRoberts, Asusa St. beginnings, and Richard Wurmbrand’s testimony). We believethe youth are hungry for the “real thing” and their appreciation of thesestories again confirmed that  to us. Ilistened to each video four or five times in order to lead the group indiscussions about them and I personally was deeply stirred once again in hungerfor revival!

 I am still on “Ask the Pastor” on TCT – TV at least monthlyand this past year I   also did some interviews on their “MichiganAlive “ interview  program. Theopportunity to stay connected with other pastors and ministers is alwayspresent in that TV studio time.

We remain grateful for the means and the facility the Lordhas provided and is providing for us to carry on the ministry!  For all of these nearly 32 years the fundsfor the ministry come in week by week – always, always enough for what is duethat very week.  It has surely been awalk of faith! Our testimony is that the Lord is faithful!  He gives instructions and then the grace andmeans  to obey Him  Plus, He touches our hearts with  His loving smiles –  motivating us to pressdeeper into Him!

CHRISTMAS within a(very simplified) BIBLICAL TIME FRAME

--Adam/Eve Sin: Godand man’s relationship is severed; the devil becomes the prince of this world

-- God makes acovenant -- with Abraham - to be Abraham's God. Abraham’s seed will bless allthe nations ofthe earth, inherit the land of Israel, and possess  the enemy’s gates.  (His seed is Jesus Christ. All IN CHRIST areAbraham’s seed.)

-- Abraham’sdescendants go into slavery into Egypt. Moses brings them out of Egypt. The lastplague God used to persuade Pharaoh to let them go was the killing of the firstbornsons. The  first Passover was instituted. God’s people were to slay an unblemishedlamb and  put its blood on theirdoorposts.  This  blood  kept the angel of death from their home.

 -- Soon after Moses got them out of Egypt, Godmet with Moses and gave him the 10 commandments. These commandments were to beobeyed by the people in order to stay in covenant and in relationship  with God. God said He would one day bring anew covenant – one in which laws were written on the hearts of man and HisSpirit within them would enable them to keep those laws.

Christmas(NAMEWE GIVE TO Messiah’s birthday): Jesus Christ is born-- the eternalKing, the one who institutes this new covenantdesigned to create a holy people.When John the Baptist saw Jesus he said: “Behold the Lamb of God who takethaway the sins of the world”.

--To destroy theworks of the evil one, Jesus instituted a new covenant in His blood. Upondrinking His blood (letting His life come into our life and living in communionwith Him) and receiving all His Words (eating His body, the Word made flesh) weare partakers of the new covenant and its promises.. Jesus died to pay theprice of sin for us so that sin could no longer keep us alienated from God (if we accept all He did for us). He rosefrom the dead; He went to Heaven. He sent His Spirit to those who believe in Him.As we commune with and walk in His Spirit, we sit in victory with Him far aboveall the powers of the evil one. We are His family. We become joint heirs of allthat belongs  to Jesus Christ, the Son ofGod,  for all eternity.

-- Jesus promisedHe would come back again. Meanwhile, He develops His church, His people. WhenHe comes back He will bind the devil, marry His bride (the church), and ruleand reign with her. After a 1000 years of this reign the devil is let looseawhile to war again ;but, he is defeated and cast into the lake of fire (alongwith all not written in the Lamb’s book of life).

-- Then God creates a new Heaven and a Newearth for His people: Rev. 21: 1 AndI saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth werepassed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.3 And I heard a greatvoice out of  heaven saying, Behold, thetabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and theyshall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be theirGod. 4 And God shall wipeaway all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neithersorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former thingsare passed away. 5 And he that sat uponthe throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: forthese words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alphaand Omega,the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst ofthe fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things;and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.                                                                    THE NEW BEGINNING

Christmas:Separating the vile from the pure:

Santa:

One day a mom asked  what to tell her very young kids about Santa-- she asked on a Face book post to anyone who would answer: My response:

"Tell them openly, gently ,lovingly to pray for all the kids believing in what is apparently a pagandeity....who but a demon god could be all knowing, omnipresent (on Christmaseve all over the world), and omnipotent (how else would he make it from theArctic to all over the world in one night?). Tell them no fireplacestockings...it implies waiting for this anti christ to come into theirhome...the one drawing attention from Jesus Christ to himself.

Start now making sure they"come out from among them and touch not the unclean thing"....

Santa’s “divinity”: He sees all; heknows all; he covers the entire world of homes in one night.  Omniscient, omnipresent --- only a god hasthese qualities.

"Santa Claus Is Comin'To Town"

You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town

He's making a list,
Checking it twice;
Gonna find out who's naughty or nice.
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town

He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake

With little tin horns and little toy drums
Rooty toot toots and rummy tum tums
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town

He sees you when you're sleeping
He knows when you're awake
He knows if you've been bad or good
So be good for goodness sake
Goodness sake

You better watch out
You better not cry
You better not pout
I'm telling you why
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming to town
Santa Claus is coming
Santa Claus is coming
Santa Claus is coming to town

(Coming to town)
Santa's a busy man he has no time to play
He's got millions of stockings to fill on Christmas day
(Santa Claus is coming to town)
(Coming to town)
(Santa Claus is coming to town)
(Coming to town)

“St. Nick”: Do not tell the children – in order to justifyacknowledging Santa --

 about the nice guy who truly lived at one timenamed “St. Nick” – he obviously is dead now and not going around being theSanta the kids think about today.  Tosay, “Well, there really was a St. Nick” begs the question, “What does thathave to do with ‘Santa”?

An article from ask.com about this{I deleted some things irrelevant to the current point rb }:

Christmas in Greece   Was Santa Greek?By deTraci Regula,About.com Guide    ………………………..Name Gives Clue to Santa's Secret Identity:   But fear not - Santa doesexist..and he's a Greek. His alternative name, St. Nicholas, reflects his trueidentity. From gift-giving to red clothes, Nikolaos of Myra was a model for themodern Santa Claus.       In Asia Minor at the Greco-Roman city ofMyra in about AD 300, a pious young man named Nikolaos was born. He was one ofthe youngest men to ever become a priest, and his devotion and piety wererenowned. So was his practicality. In a time when extra daughters might be soldinto slavery if the family couldn't afford a dowry for them, Nikolaos steppedforward, providing funds to destitute women and men, sometimes to assist intheir marriages, other times to just relieve their crippling poverty. Sometales have him throwing bags of gold down the chimney, a precursor of themodern Santa's travel down the chimney.

His generosity was bornof an understanding of the potential pain of those he chose to help - Nikolaoswas persecuted and imprisoned for his faith, so his compassion for thepotential loss of freedom for those he helped was a very real and personal one.

The Later Life of Agios Nikolaos Nikolaos later became a bishop,helping to set up the formative Council of Nicaea which decided many points oforthodox Christian practice. Bishops got to wear dramatic red robes, and someimages of Nikolaos depict him with a flowing white beard, though others showhim clean-shaven.

Later, he became apatron saint of Russia, which reaches above the arctic circle into traditionalSanta territory. While in the Far North, he may have acquired an associationwith reindeer, as he is known as the patron saint to another arctic animal, thewolf. Or images of him riding on a horse carrying his bishops' crook may havebeen misinterpreted as him riding or being accompanied by an antlered animal.

St. Nikolaos Around the World:  St. Nikolaos became the DutchSinterklaas, which then evolved into the modern "Santa Claus". Themost renowned depiction of Santa Claus comes from "Twas the Night BeforeChristmas", when all through the house - whoops, sorry - whose originaltitle is "A Visit from St. Nicholas".

His "Name Day"is December 6th, the anniversary of his death, which is still a gift-givingdate in many countries, though most have conformed to the 25th as the date fordistributing presents.

After Nikolaos' death, he was made a saint, patron of sailors and children, butchersand bakers, and judges, to name just a few. Many Greek beaches and harborsstill have shrines to him. Part of the saint-making process requires attestedmiracles, and he accumulated plenty. While those miracles don't list travelingaround the world in a single night, dropping gifts everywhere, once miraclescan be managed, why should anything be impossible?

Still A Hardworking Saint:  In the present day, St. Nikolaos theWonderworker of Myra is called upon to preside in spirit over Orthodox meetings seeking to unify the churches.

May your own winterfestivals, however you celebrate them…………..

End of article

Deut 18: 9 When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt notlearn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 Thereshall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughterto pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or anobserver of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Ora charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.12 For all that do these things are an abominationunto the Lord: and because ofthese abominations the Lord thyGod doth drive them out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be perfect with theLord thy God. 

Encyclopedia  :necromancy :  communicationwith the dead, usually in order to obtain insight into the future or to accomplish some otherwise impossible task. Such activity was current in ancient times among the Assyrians, Babylonians, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and Etruscans; in medieval Europe it came to be associated with black (i.e., harmful, or antisocial) magic and was condemned by the church

Our children MUST be able to STANDFOR TRUTH no matter what kind of opposition they face in the process. We asleaders and parents must do the same.

If our children  start being politicallyincorrect now and take on the spirit of Elijah/John the Baptist , i.e.,preparing hearts for the Lord to take up residence there...then perhaps theywill be rooted enough to STAND for the Lord when faced with sex/drugs, etc. asteens!!!!!

. I think it is the job of ALLof us, not just the pastors, to provoke one another to good works, no? Thatfact comes straight from the Bible. Heb 10:24 Andlet us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Notforsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is;but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the dayapproaching. 26 For if we sin wilfully afterthat we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no moresacrifice for sins, 27 But a certain fearful lookingfor of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28 He that despised Moses'law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Ofhow much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hathtrodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant,wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto theSpirit of grace? 30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongethunto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge hispeople. 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands ofthe living God.

Moses’ law: Exodus 20:1 And God spake all these words,saying, 2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought theeout of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other godsbefore me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto theeany graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heavenabove, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waterunder the earth: 5 Thoushalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God,visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third andfourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy untothousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Becareful; what you post on your social networking sites!

People I have warned about santa – people I have pastored in the past or currentlypastor – have  sometimes put pictures upwith themselves and /or families  infront of a fireplace with rows of stockings OR.. even more unthinkable -- WITHA MALL SANTA!!!!! Seldom, if ever, are  these same folks willing  to "defend their faith" in santa,i.e., they refuse to explain exactly why they believe it is ok to tell theirkids he is real or even tell them he is just "pretend" but stillinvolve them in the mall Santa ritual!

 I honestly, truly, with an open heart amtrying to figure out how a Christian can justify lying to kids about santa oreven letting santa share ONE MOMENT with the birthday party for our preciousLord! I truly want to know what thoughts come to mind that causes a Christianto be at peace with that.

SomeBiblical heroes who dared to call sin what it is no matter what it cost them:

Look at Gideon: Hewas called forth and singled out by the Lord to first tear down the idol imagesof his  family and country men.!

Judg 6:15 "ButLord," Gideon asked, "how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakestin Manasseh, and I am the least in my family."

16 The LORD answered, "Iwill be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianitestogether." NIV

Judg 6:25 That same night the LORD said to him, "Take thesecond bull from your father's herd, the one seven years old. Tear down yourfather's altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. 26 Then build aproper kind of altar to the LORD your God on the top of this height. Using the wood ofthe Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burntoffering." 27 So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as the LORD toldhim. But because he was afraid of his family and the men of the town, he did itat night rather than in the daytime.

28 In the morning when the men of the town got up, there wasBaal's altar, demolished, with the Asherah pole beside it cut down and the secondbull sacrificed on the newly built altar! 29 They asked each other, "Whodid this?"

When they carefully investigated, they were told, "Gideon sonof Joash did it."

30 The men of the town demanded ofJoash, "Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal'saltar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it."

31 But Joash replied to the hostile crowd around him, "Areyou going to plead Baal's cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights forhim shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defendhimself when someone breaks down his altar." 32 So that day they calledGideon "Jerub-Baal," saying, "Let Baal contend with him,"because he broke down Baal's altar.

Jeremiah is also anexample of courage to us! He stood alone most all of his life in order to obeyGod, to speak all the words God gave him to speak even if it meant beingpersecuted!

Jeremiah’s constant job was to declareto Israel what they were doing that was not pleasing God as well as to tellthem how to do right. He was not popular!

Jer 15: 10 Woe is me, my mother, thatthou hast borne me a man of strife and a man of contention to the whole earth!I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every oneof them doth curse me.………………………………………….

15 O LORD, thou knowest: remember me,and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering:know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.16 Thy words werefound, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing ofmine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.17 I sat not inthe assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of thy hand: forthou hast filled me with indignation.

18 Why is my pain perpetual, and mywound incurable, which refuseth to be healed? wilt thou be altogether unto meas a liar, and as waters that fail?

19Therefore thus saith the LORD, If thou return, then will I bring thee again,and thou shalt stand before me: and ifthou take forth the precious from the vile, thou shalt be as my mouth:let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them.20 And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brasen wall: and theyshall fight against thee, but they shall not prevailagainst thee: for I am with thee to save thee and to deliver thee, saith theLORD.21 And I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I willredeem thee out of the hand of the terrible.KJV

Long before Robert and I startedpastoring, we received the prophetic word from several different people: Isaiah 58:1 Cry aloud , spare not, lift up thy voice like atrumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob theirsins.

2 Yet they seek me daily, and delightto know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not theordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they takedelight in approaching to God.KJV

Our response must be:

Ps 40:9 I proclaim righteousness in thegreat assembly;I do not seal my lips,

as you know, O LORD. 10 I do not hideyour righteousness in my heart;

I speak of your faithfulness andsalvation.I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.NIV

Jeremiah DARED to tell the truth to thepeople about their pagan practices when the people informed him they were notabout to stop burning incense to the queen of heaven:

The people said:

Jer 44:17 But we will certainly dowhatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto thequeen of heaven , and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done,we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and inthe streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well,and saw no evil. 18 But since we left off to burn incense to the queen ofheaven , and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things,and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. 19 And when we burnedincense to the queen of heaven , and poured out drink offerings unto her, didwe make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her,without our men?

20 Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people whichhad given him that answer, saying,

21 The incense that ye burned in thecities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, yourkings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the LORD rememberthem, and came it not into his mind?

22 So that the LORD could no longerbear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations whichye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment,and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. 23 Because ye have burnedincense, and because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed thevoice of the LORD, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in histestimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.KJV

We must all dare to see what needs tobe forsaken by the church and to proclaim it…the goal is to be a pure bride,not one that is afraid to be separate from the world!

Rev 18:1

The Fall of Babylon the Great :

After these things I saw another angelcoming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminatedwith his glory. 2 And he cried mightily with a loud voice, saying,"Babylonthe great is fallen, is fallen, and has become a dwelling place of demons, aprison for every foul spirit, and a cage for every unclean and hated bird! 3For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, thekings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants ofthe earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury."

4 And I heard another voice from heavensaying,"Come out of her, my people, lestyou share in her sins, and lest you receive of her plagues. 5 For her sins havereached to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

There are blind deaf and dumb watchmen:

Isaiah 56: 10 Israel's watchmen are blind,they all lack knowledge;theyare all mute dogs,they cannot bark;they lie around and dream,they love tosleep. 11 They are dogs with mighty appetites;they never have enough.They areshepherds who lack understanding;they all turn to their own way,each seeks hisown gain.

Paul was just the opposite: Hemaintained a broken heart in the process of warning and teaching the people ofthe Lord:

Acts 20: 20 And how I keptback nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taughtyou publickly, and from house to house,………………………………………...26 Wherefore I take youto record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.27 For I have notshunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.28 Take heed therefore untoyourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made youoverseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his ownblood.29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enterin among you, not sparing the flock.30 Also of your own selves shall men arise,speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.31 Therefore watch,and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every onenight and day with tears .

The warning in this sermon to avoidall that has to do with Santa is serious and important . To regard him is toobserve a lying vanity!! It is idolatry. It is sin.

Pastors who say it is harmless aretrying to be a crowd pleaser!!  Thatcomes close to the description of men in v. 3o, i.e., :”to draw away disciplesafter them”. What other motivation would a pastor have to perpetuate a popularlie?

Ps 31:  5 Intothine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. 6 I have hated them thatregard lying vanities: but I trust in the Lord.

Santa is a LIE.  He is not the one to be trusted to answerrequests for gifts.    Perpetuating a lieis a sin. 

Having a pure Christmas:              

This sermon, obviously, was moreabout being bold enough to abstain from the wrongfulness of  observing  santa   practices.

Although Jesus was most certainlyNOT born on 12/25 and never commanded us to celebrate His birth (as we arecommanded in the Lord’s Supper to remember His death), most Christians can findnothing wicked about choosing to celebrate His birth.

IF we choose to do so, let’s bevigilant about keeping the vile out of the pure joy of singing songs concerningHis birth and once more reading all the Biblical accounts.  When we gather in groups to celebrateChristmas, let’s make sure the Lord Jesus Christ is  the one who gets glory and honor.  

  This is not a sermon; however, I am using this site so I can link this invitation to Facebook.

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Rosemary happily hosts a “Lady’ Night Out”:  A trip to Goodwill, A Potblessing ( please bring cold sides,desserts, sandwiches), a “fashion show” - - Prizes…..November 29 11:  Tuesday: 5:30 PM to 9:30 PM

Ages: 12 to 120 – You may take a friend (or friends) if you wish

5:30: Goodwill:  Meet at church if you need a ride  to Goodwill ….or, you can start out the night  there on your own.  Goodwill ,4696 Lake Michigan Drive Northwest,Grand Rapids, MI ,(616) 791-1418 () ‎ · goodwillgr.org

AtGoodwill: Buy either an outfit and/or accessories to present in a fashion show .There will only be women at church  soyou could even buy pajamas if you want -- or , jewelry, shoes, scarf, dress,pants outfit, sweater…whatever…..

Iencourage you to take from your home, e.g., hair curling instruments, accessories,hats, makeup, wigs, and/or jewelry you think would be helpful to yourself or othersin our fun runway time!!

 Atchurch:  6:45 PM to around 7:30 PM   Put onyour outfit.  Perhaps  makeup. A wig? A new hairstyle? There are  some  of us willing to help.

Around 7:30 PM:  Potblessing:  While we  eat, ladies will get up to model their newlook and/or outfit and/or accessories. (Those of you for whom  the Goodwill portion is too much, just show upat around 7 or so.)

Thejudges (3 chosen just before the fashion parade starts—but, your responses willaid them in their choices) will decide the winners in various categories andthe winners will be given a prize.  E.g.,“Best presentation on the  ‘runway’”; “Mostoriginal”,  “Best Bargain” (state whatyou think the price would have been and what you paid for it); “Most beautifuloutfit”,  “Outfit that gave the medicineof laughter the most” (Yes, if you want to go for “spoof” and humor, go for it), etc.  

Theseentries can be beautiful and truly fit for an evening dinner at a top notchrestaurant or a spoof, i.e., an outfit meant for a very old lady even thoughyou are young….

Afterthe fashion show: Let’s all pitch in to help clean up!

:  God: Our refuge,shelter, and helper:  This topic was thetheme of the Feast of Tabernacles season. We are still on this topic.  The time to share Word and/or music/skits onthis topic is 11/ 26. Starting on 11/27 the theme will be the birth of our Lordand all things we connect with the Christmas message (until 1/;14 at which timewe begin studyin 1 Samuel and 1 Timothy).

Under His Wings

Under His wings I am safely abiding
Though the night deepens and tempests are wild
Still I can trust Him; I know He will keep me
He has redeemed me, and I am His child

    Under His wings, under His wings,      Who from His love can sever?

    Under His wings my soul shall abide,        Safely abide forever.

Under His wings--what a refuge in sorrow!  How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!

Often when earth has no balm for my healing,  There I find comfort, and there I am blest.

Under His wings--oh, what precious enjoyment! There will I hide till life's trials are o'er;

Music on this theme:   Thinking of and/or searching for songs withthis theme has been an adventure. Singing them brings comfort and joy to me!

ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE AT THE END OF ALL OUR OWN RESOURCES WE TURNTO HIM:

A lot ofthe following verses come from the Psalms. They speak of running to God forhelp and shelter.

Manyprobably  are written by David. DavidKNEW sorrow. David cried out to the Lord about His sorrows in Ps 2:

Ps 6:  2 Have mercy uponme, O Lord; for I am weak:O Lord, heal me; for my bones arevexed. 3 My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long? 4 Return, O Lord, deliver my soul: oh save me forthy mercies' sake. 5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee:in the grave who shall give thee thanks?6 I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I mybed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. 7 Mine eye isconsumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies. Byfaith he triumphs over his enemies. 8 Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping.9 The Lordhath heard my supplication; the Lordwill receive my prayer. 10 Letall mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and beashamed suddenly.

IT ISWISE AND GOOD TO RUN TO THE LORD FOR HELP! We will be blessed!

Ps 34:8 Taste and see that the LORD is good;blessed is the man who takes refuge inhim.

Ps 36:7 How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men findrefuge in the shadow of your wings. 8 They feast on the abundance ofyour house;you give them drink from your river of delights. NIV

The more often we run to Him and find help in our times of need,the more the song “Hiding Place” will be meaningful to us.

Selah -- Hidingplace

You are my hiding place
You always fill myheart With songs of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid I will trust in You I will trust in You
Let the weak say I am strong In the strength of the Lord
You are my hiding place You always fill my heart With songs of deliverance
Whenever I am afraid I will trust in You

I will trust in You -- Let theweak say I am strong
In the strength of the Lord I will trust in You

Ps32: 7 You are my hiding place;you will protect me from trouble

and surround mewith songs of deliverance. 8 I will instruct you and teach you inthe way you should go;I will counsel you and watch over you.

Ps 17: 8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,9From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

Ps 27: 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in hispavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me upupon a rock.6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies roundabout me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I willsing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.KJV

Ps 31: 20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presencefrom the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from thestrife of tongues.

Ps 143:9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee untothee to hide me.

Ps 57:1 Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: formy soul trusteth in thee: yea, in theshadow of thy wings will I make my refuge, until thesecalamities be overpast. 2 Iwill cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me.

Ps 18: 16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;he drew me out of deep waters. 17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,from myfoes, who were too strong for me. 18 They confronted me in the day of mydisaster, but the LORD was my support.19 He brought me out into a spacious place;he rescued me because he delightedin me.

Ps 71: 20 Though youhave made me see troubles, many and bitter,you will restore my life again;fromthe depths of the earth you will again bring me up. 21 You will increase myhonor and comfort me once again.

Ps 116: 3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish ofthe grave came upon me;I was overcome by trouble and sorrow. 4 Then I calledon the name of the LORD:"O LORD, save me!" 5 The LORD is graciousand righteous;our God is full of compassion. 6 The LORD protects thesimplehearted; when I was in great need,he saved me. 7 Be at rest once more, O my soul,forthe LORD has been good to you. 8 For you, O LORD, have delivered my soulfrom death,my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,

Ps 61:2 From the ends of the earth I call to you,I call asmy heart grows faint;lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For you havebeen my refuge,a strong tower against the foe. 4 I long to dwell in your tentforever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.       

Ps 37:18 The LORD knoweth the days of the upright: andtheir inheritance shall be for ever.19 They shall not be ashamed in the eviltime: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.20 But the wicked shallperish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be as the fat of lambs: they shallconsume; into smoke shall they consume away…..22 For such as be blessed of himshall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.23 Thesteps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.24Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.25 I have beenyoung, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seedbegging bread.

Ps 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under theshadow of thy wings,

Ps 36: 7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God!therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.

Ps 63: 7 Because thou hast been my help, therefore in theshadow of thy wings will I rejoice.

Ps 91:1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the mostHigh shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.2 I will say of the LORD,He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.3 Surely he shalldeliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.4 Heshall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: histruth shall be thy shield and buckler.5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terrorby night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;6 Nor for the pestilence thatwalketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.7 Athousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but itshall not come nigh thee.8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see thereward of the wicked.9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge,even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neithershall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.11 For he shall give his angels chargeover thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.12 They shall bear thee up in theirhands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.13 Thou shalt tread upon thelion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.14Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will sethim on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and Iwill answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honourhim. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Sheltered in the Arms of God
recorded by Rhonda Vincent ;written by Dottie Rambo and Jimmy Davis
G C G
I feel the touch of hands so kind and tender 
They're leading me in the paths that I must trod
I'll have no fear for Jesus walks beside me
For I'm sheltered in the arms of God

So let the storm clouds rage high
The dark clouds rise they don't bother me
For I'm sheltered safe in the arms of God
He walks with me
And naught of earth shall harm me
For I'm sheltered in the arms of God

Soon I shall hear the call from heaven's portals
Come home my child it's the last mile you must trod
I'll fall asleep and wake in God's sweet heaven
For I'm sheltered safe in the arms of God

 Argentina trip report  , 10/25 through 11 11 11.

Tuesday, 10 25 Left for Argentina out of GR and on to Dallas. Dallas toArgentina.

 Weds 10 26: Overnight at Esmeralda 542, City Center area, RHRochester ; 

10 26 : The taxi driver I got  in the morning to take me to Retiro so I couldbuy the bus ticket   stopped his  cab to walk  me  personally to Fletcha bus to get executivecami suite ticket. This place is the size of quite a few city blocks and hastons of kiosks to sort through.   He took me to find the booth (not all Fletcha  kiosks apparently carry the  same services) and then to show me  port 5 where my bus would be and then wewalked back to his cab and he  started upthe  meter again as I went to CalleFlorida/ Diagonal Norte to catch Fletcha , yellow, hop on/hop off bus. He wasnot going to charge me extra for all the personal service , but I gave him abig tip.

At the bus stop  Imet  2 girls fresh out of army fromIsrael , one from Tel Aviv, the other from Jerusalem (“Do you speak English? Isthis the right line to wait in  for the  13:35 PM bus?”)…I had opportunity to tell themof world peace after Messiah, Yeshua , comes on Mt. of Olives when they bothsaid that their “reality” was the possibility of a suicide bomber and/or war intheir path daily.  I told them aboutZechariah’s prophesy . We discussed their reading the Word. I told them our churchprays for Israel a lot.  And that we prayfor the Jews to know Yeshua.   

Thursday, 10 27: Overnight ride on the Fletcha bus to Resistencia. Sat alone.

Friday, 10 28: Settled into Neznajko home on 10 28. Rested. Then supper,fellowship. It was their anniversary.

There are two homes on property: One is for Esther andBasillio and Blackie, their dog.  Roan ,the cat too.  The other is for Ariel andLiliana,  Victoria , nearly 5, andBenjamin, 3, Sukkah the dog, and the baby on the way coming in Spring 2012.

The kids were in and out of my room chattering away inSpanish every day for a little while.

Messages:  I took around eight sermons (including somesermon series)  from home.  I copy/pasted them  from my Rosemaryssermons at Xanga site --  things I have been working on since last timeI was in Argentina.  In Argentina I chosea message for a particular event, studied it thoroughly, revised parts (pennedin  the added notes– no printeravailable) and then took that message to the event.

When I got to the event, I listened to the Lord verycarefully and spoke the things I believe He had me saying. MOST of the time what I taught was entirely different from the messageI had in my hands. BUT, I believe the study is never wasted because thereis no way I could – as Liliana puts it – stand by the mike, open my mouth, andflow in the Spirit if I do not pray and study so I am full of the Word eachtime and have a keen ear to God’s Spirit. 

I left all my printed messages at the Neznajko’s and toldLiliana she was free to use anything she found helpful in any of the messages.

She specifically asked for a message  for Canzion Bible College on the role ofGod’s law in our lives today in view of the transition from the Old to the NewCovenant that seems to cause some changes regarding the law.  I had not taken that message with me so  I had to remember what I know and researchBible references again .  She  also asked me to prepare a message onhermeneutics too for the college  and Idid that too.. Note:  Hermeneutics: the science of interpretation, especially of the Scriptures.2.the branch of theologythat deals with the principles of Biblical exegesis.   Exegesis: critical explanation or interpretation of atext or portionof a text,especially of theBible)  (As I wascontemplating on and preparing for that topic I realized this is the kind oftraining I have done a lot in the Leadership and Word Ministry School.)

 But, it turned outshe just wanted the first topic, on law (even though I had completed themessage on hermeneutics too  which was agood study for me) ,  and to have thattopic for two hours straight  instead ofhaving two classes in a row.   So, two classes were combined and all studentsstayed for the entire two hours. 

I love preaching in churches; however, over the years Ican count as some of my very favorite times as teaching in seminar and/orclassroom settings where people WANT to go deeply into the Word for a  good while!

Study and prayer:  My passport tells me my(Robert and I both that first time) first trip to Argentina was August 5, 2005.I have gone each year since; therefore, this is my 6^th tripthere. 

I have established a “routine” while in the Neznajkohome.    9:30 up.  Shower. Esther brings mecoffee/breakfast.  Makeup/hairpreparation.  Study/prayer until around1:30 PM at which time we have lunch. After lunch, more study /prayer untilwhatever service we have.  We usually getback late after service.  Sometimesaround 11 PM; sometimes midnight; one night after 3 hour trip home (VillaAngela, 11/6 ) it was 3 AM when we walked into the door.    Usually my light is out by around 1AM.    Sometimes I can get a little napin the afternoon too.

Add to that the often afternoon nap and some computertime.

I study and pray a lot while there – every chance I can. Ialso read 3 books out of the library there left by Liliana in “my” room (fromher student days at Elim). One was a biography by Charles Blair and there  was a biography about Ivan Spencer, thefounder of Elim college.

“Magic Jack”: The Neznajko’s, via Christy Aguirre’s help while Basilio was herein Michigan, acquired a long distance usb plug thing that attaches a phone tothe computer enabling long distance calls to the USA be practically fornothing!! So I was able to call Robert every day when I was in their homewithout having to put tons of charges on my cell phone.  (I am going to check this service out and seewhat benefit it could be to have it here.)

Traveling companions to help me: Just before I left, a dear friend said “I wish you couldhave a young person with you to help you”. Yes, that would be nice;however,  out of the entire timegone  the “help” would only be needed forluggage, getting up out of low chairs,  and a few other menial tasks. The rest of the hours while I am studying,resting, etc., what would that poor soul do? I thought of that when I spent thefirst night in Buenos Aires holed up in my room resting for hours ( I did that samething  on the first night back into BAafter Resistencia) – what young person wants to be in BA stuck in a hotel roomand what young person do I want out there in the streets by themselves with allthose other gorgeous young folks (not to mention some thieves and swindlers)out there? The big reason I asked Basilio to stop getting some young person togreet me and keep me company in BA years ago was because that young person waswearing me out with all of our running about when I just wanted to “shut down”. 

Plus, it costs a lot for just airfare, not to mentionfood, accommodations, etc. 

IF someone who could translate, loves solitude, helps withprayer and ministry, does not mind indulging in just a fraction of what mostwould want by way of “tourist activity” and was willing to help in just aboutany way needed, and did not mind all the attention I get with being “up front”without their thinking they want all the same “benefits” without having thesame responsibilities, then maybe it would be helpful Oh, also, they would haveto realize they are not there to “be with me”. I am barely “with me”. I am lost in the flow of what has to be done andwhen I am finally in  some “down time”, Idon’t want to have to “entertain” anyone. My ears are alert to witnessingpossibilities which, I am thinking , is enhanced by  me not being engaged in some close, ongoingconversation with a friend. 

All in all, when I add up the pro’s and con’s and realizehow many times “help” seems to always be there when I really need it (even fromcomplete strangers), I think I like traveling solo. Obviously once I engage  in  theofficial ministry situations, I am not alone anymore – my hosts see to it I amwell taken care of.  It is the“traveling” part that I am alone in. When I am ministering , my hosts are alsoministers there to help.

I write all that so you can understand my point of viewwhen people suggest I take a traveling companion strictly to physically helpme. I am not sure, at this point, how much help that would be. IF I were toexperience more physical challenges, then maybe…. Time will tell.

Health:  Of course my major concern during this tripwas how much energy I would have.  TheAromasin, anti estrogen pills, had been producing weakness and fatigue eversince I started on them  a little over ayear ago.

   I cut back from having been in Argentina  in some previous years for three consecutiveweekends to  being there just twoweekends this time.  We only did onefairly long journey ( a 6 hour round trip); but, we did not stay at any hotelsor homes (as before) which cut down on packing and unpacking (which can bephysically tiresome). In previous years we did more than one long journey.   I did not take my trumpet (so as to conserveenergy). I did not stand during the entire worship times as has always been mycustom.  Previously I had taken someafternoon walks in Resistencia; this time I did not take any.  BUT, when I spent two days in Buenos Airesafter the ministry time was over, I was shocked at how many blocks I could walkwithout extreme exhaustion.  At one pointI even “trotted” (not a full run) for about five blocks in an attempt to catcha bus.  This has not happened since Ihave been taking  those pills – walkingvery long has been very tiresome.  As Iwas “trotting” I was thrilled to be able to do so …eventually, though (as I sawmy bus come and go in the distance…I was rather out of breath).  I was very pleased, though , to have finallyexperienced the level of energy I did during that “trot”! This gives me hopefor the future getting better!

 During the ministrytime I had energy event by event just sufficient for that time although I wouldbe pretty much drained of most all of my  energy just after ministering. The only night I was totally exhausted during ministry was the night we did twoservices in a row in two separate churches. I was slightly “seeing double” from fatigue  while preaching the second service. 

All in all, my energy level was sufficient for the work athand and I praise God for that.

It has occurred to me that stretching way past my comfortzone at this present time by going to Argentina is being rewarded by God .  I had a sense that moving past the fear of being overwhelmed by it all (packing,traveling, ministering, etc.) into “just doing it” would result in me feelingas if I had climbed up higher into a faith walk with Him as well as producing anew vision for ministry within me.  I believe that has happened and willcontinue to happen.

Prayer support:  I felt everyone’s prayers  this year more than ever!  The ability from the Lord to study and thentrust Him for a strong message as well as prophetic words was there constantlyduring my ministry times to the extent that I would be excited to find out whatHe had to say each time. I felt more like just “an available vessel” thanever!  I had been listening to BrooklynTabernacle choir singing, “If you can use anything, Lord, you can use me” andthat song came alive to me, i.e., His ability to use anyone who simply relieson Him for guidance, step by step.

Communication (in view of the language barrier):  Foreach service I did , Liliana, who is very pregnant and  has a husband and 2 young children to carefor , translates for me.  She also does alot of non-service communication translation. 

I am noticing that with each year I go mySpanish is gradually improving enough to have some very simple conversations –especially when the other person knows just some English. (Some of the cabdriver conversations got to be quite “deep” in spite of the languagebarrier.)  Each year about a month or sobefore I go I usually get some library tapes to review my Spanish and enhancemy vocabulary. But, it comes little by little. 

What is challenging is that the more I know, themore the other person assumes I know more than I do and they go on and on intoparagraphs I do not understand because they get fast and faster no matter howmany times I say “Intiendo pocoEspanol”.  A little Spanish I canunderstand – not  a lot!

Liliana’s kids just talked excitedly a whole lot--  giving no heed to the fact there weretimes I could only say  “Oh” or “Si”  or “uh huh” or some other lame response.

Continued advice for those of you who believe you would love tominister to the nations (or, to those here from other nations): Learn another language. Take it seriously whilein school.  Translation is an invaluableministry .  Of course, being able topreach yourself in a foreign language would be absolutely liberating!

Pastoral communication and advice exchanged a lot (day after day)between Neznajko’s and me during times of table fellowship:  Basilio said that if only I came for that , it would havebeen enough value for me to come. I see that it is valuable for me too  to be able sometimes to communicate withother senior pastors who are seasoned and have also been in the ministry fordecades.  There are levels of issues thatno one else has to face nor bear the same amount of responsibility. Sharing andgiving mutual insight is refreshing to me.

Liliana and I talked a lot too about the issues inpastoring a church.  

My schedule:

 Women pastor/leader seminar, 10 29 11: Sabbath.  Morningto late afternoon. I taught 2 of the 4 sessions . They took me home to restwhen  Esther and then Liliana did a session a piece.  

Among other themes, I shared the concept from

Heb 5: 11         Ofwhom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull ofhearing.12   For when for the time yeought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the firstprinciples of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, andnot of strong meat.13           For everyone that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is ababe.14      But strong meat belongeth tothem that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their sensesexercised to discern both good and evil.(KJV)

We pastors  andleaders  sometimes “baby” people waylonger than we should resulting in any number of sucklings, i.e., unweanedbabies.

Learning when it is time to wean someone and then takingthem off the feeding and/or bottle,  theywill  beg and cry for a return todependency.  As we do with our naturalchildren, we must also do with the spiritual ones. 

If we can’t stand someone being displeased with us, wewill have many sucklings.

Also, we then run the danger of the  pastor being the main person needed in thechurch rather than the Spirit of  theLord Jesus Christ being recognized as the Provider of everything, worthy of being praised, worthy of ourintense attention and adoration.

 I prophesied to  and prayed for all the actual women pastorsthere (who came up when a call for “all pastors” was made). One pastor had 3 ofher main helpers stand with her so they could get prayer too. I got a strongword for one of her helpers. The 2 in the middle were just “blank” to me. Theylooked so eager that I silently asked God to please give me something for themtoo. The word He gave me was: Both are very shy; both had ocean sized lovepouring out from their hearts.  And itwent on a bit more….They both started crying and rejoicing. God is so faithfulto give something! The word I gave to the first lady helper was about how sheloved to study and study and study and that she was to teach the overflow andGod will give more and more. Liliana said, “Do you love to study?” She said“Oh, yes!”

Puerto Villelas, Sunday AM, 10/30 : Prophetic word about this church  being  atraining center and “arrows” being shot forth . (This word is true for churchesperiod – or should be. But, it was an “ontime” word for them in particular.)

Ps 127:3-         Lo,children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.4          As arrows are in the hand of a mightyman; so are children of the youth.5      Happyis the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, butthey shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Later Esther told me the sermon strengthened her in herongoing  calling  to train people.

Much prophetic flow occurred. There was a  young man being hurt/betrayed and for him tocontinue to be willing to be faithful , loyal friend,. Later I found out he isthe only one in his family who is saved. He cried very strongly during prayerand seemed to be getting a healing.

Tabernacle at night on Sunday. Much prophetic again.

Monday night, 10/31: Church leaders,including cell group leaders all met together .  I shared  an overall basic review of the content of our monthlyassociate minister’s report as an example of a way to communicate with oneanother about what is going on in the church  and the importance of  communication. I shared the fact that pastorshave to give an account to God for the sheep and that those we delegateleadership to sometimes must be our eyes and ears and need to communicate withus and with one another too concerning things they are seeing and doing.  I shared the origins of this report (firstpresented to our staff while we were at 12^th St. and living at PlazaTowers – so it was over a decade ago). We have avoided a lot of problems by having a way to report things asthey happen.

 Liliana shared withme later that they had been trying to have people share what is going on byhaving in person meetings with them; however, there is never enough time to geteverything said.  I sent her a copy ofthe report form so she can adjust it, if she so chooses, to their situation.

Email I sent River of Life (and my Marymom and EG) on10/31:

HiRiver, Marymom, and EG,

...Lilianajust posted this on her website and I translated it with Google translate...Ithought it would bless you to read this as I FEEL your prayers for me!!

Liliana Neznajko
We are with Rosemary Barnes here {in Resistencia}, the words are veryappropriate..... Sometimes I cannot translate because the prophecies that {she}give{s} some people are just as I get a lump in the throat and the words do notcome out ... aj ja ja I am delighted to hear this so beautifully to our GOD!!!!!!!

end of quotation

Tonight I speak with their cell group leadership;tomorrow I do 2 master's level classes at a university called Canzion...Itaught one class there last year. Weds I preach at another church (where I havebeen before). One of the ministries this weekend is a church where I have notbeen. The pastor and helpers were at the 2 meetings I ministered in on Sabbath.I prophesied to all 4 of them and there were many tears/much joy. {I don't whythis went into bold letters and I can't seem to change it...maybe somethingfrom the copy/paste feature of google got attached here...}

YesterdayI ministered in both of the Neznajko's churches here locally. Both times werewonderful...I just opened my mouth and God filled it and the people respondedwith affirmation, appreciation, receptivity, and love. Many receivedprophecies. I never cease to amaze at God putting a word in my mouth if I justboldly step out on faith with the little tidbit He gives me to start with.

Therelationship with the Neznajko's is deepening....the understanding incommunication is growing...precious friends!!!! I have advanced a bit inSpanish....they have advanced a bit in English...somehow we put it all togetherand can converse.

Thankyou, thank you, River of Life, for understanding that this ministry here isOURS and not MINE and your willingness to give and to pray.

WhenI was paying bills a week ahead of time in order to not be concerned about themwhile I was gone (including around 3,500.00 that reflects housing/buildingpay), some gave in a SPECIAL , unexpected way giving 2 grand more than what is"normal"... both on Sabbath...and on Monday (the very day I waspaying the bills). God is GOOD and the body of Christ is wonderful!!!

Loveyou and miss you!!!

Rosemary

ps...k v v could you print this and give to Robert or read it to him overthe phone.

by the way, k v v , the reason you do not get as many emails to "tellRobert" is because they have a very inexpensive phone hook up called"magic jack" that works through a computer and does internationalcalls...I have been calling Robert with that.....Christy
Aguirre set that system up for them...what a blessing!!!!!

PS to marymom and EG...thank you for your prayers too! I thought you wouldboth like to hear how things are going.....I am resting between"working" and I did not take my trumpet. This way my strength isholding up all right....I realize I would not have the strength to stand fornearly an hour playing my trumpet with the praise band and then standing foranother hour or so speaking. BUT, I surely MISS the trumpet - or, even if I hada keyboard here to play...I love being part of the music team!
Tuesday:  11/1:  Went to a churchbrother and sister’s restaurant for lunch; taught 2 hours at Canzion, a Biblecollege, on the role of the law in the New Covenant.  A discussion afterwards with the college deanwhich included Rob Bell. Later I sent him a link concerning the controversyabout universalism with him.  He had justseen Rob Bell clips on You tube. He never heard about any controversy.

After we left Canzion  (around 10:30 PM) ,we went for supper toPastors Bacca’s home. The wife’s name is Norma. 

Wednesday: 11/2:

I think this is the day we went to lunch at Clayleeyah(spelled wrong – but you can read how it sounds…) and Daniel’s home for lunch. Sheis a state congresswoman who was debating against it  that very morning over abortion with hercolleagues…it is currently not legal, they are trying to legalize it in Argentina.Dan is an architect. We had a great time singing and playing music togetherafter lunch (me on keyboard, Liliana and Dan both played the guitar some, wesang together).

 At 6:30 PM we went to a Ladies meetingat a church in down town , Resistencia . Norma Bacca is the women’spastor there.  The Lord, while I stood topreach, turned my message into an entire, testimony message about the manytimes He has been repeatedly faithful to River of Life financially (even justbefore I came on the trip). I knew the Lord had me do that for somebody specialthere. Afterwards a lady came up to me and told me she knew the Lord had megive that message for her. She was a professional with a lot of responsibilityand was getting discouraged.  Also, thatis where the elderly lady’s love ministered so much to me.  The anointing and prophetic flow at thatchurch was unusually strong. The love was tangible.

The first person I prophesied to that night was an elderlywoman (nearly 80). She was pure Jesus love and a prayer warrior who gets upevery morning at 4:30 AM to pray. It was her birthday and after the meetingthere was birthday cake and a celebration for her.

Same night: We got toLorraina’s church around 9:00 Pm for their midweek service. This is the onlyservice in which my weariness and the anointing were in conflict with eachother. Liliana says she doubts if the people noticed this as they seemedblessed by the service. She too had a headache and was exhausted. Mental note:When I give my all in one strong service, know that doing one more maychallenge me  tremendously!!

Thursday, 11/3:  We enjoyed what hasbecome an annual “River of Life takes the Eurings (Liliana and Ariel and thekids ) and the Neznajkos (Esther only this time) shopping as  love gift to them”.  Resistencia now has a WALMART.  New this year.   So that is where we went.

Friday, 11/4: Went to Corrientes to have lunch with Ariel’s parents, Beto andBlanca.  They  come on the bus every weekend to theTabernacle and they have a mid week  cellgroup in their home (led by Ariel and Liliana).

Sabbath, 11/5:  Preached and ministered in a service at night at theTabernacle in Resistencia.

Sunday: 11/6: Preached and ministered in a service at Shalom in Villa Angela –a first time for me. We got home at 3 AM.

Monday:  11/7:  Got on the bus for the overnight trip to BuenosAires.

Sent this email to River of Life the next day:    Hi River,

I know you pray for meto be used even as I travel so I want you to know that on the overnight bustrip I sat next to a young Korean man named Woo (rhymes with ooooo). I wentthrough the plan of salvation with him and he said he was going to get a Bibleand learn more about God.

Today I was on a bus inthe city and sat next to a young man from Dublin ,Ireland. Alan. I had anopportunity to share God's plan for salvation with him too. When we started outI prayed God would give me an open door to share with him . At that moment itseemed like a tightly shut door. Soon he asked me why I was here. Then I toldhim "to preach". And he asked some examples of what I shared, how Iknew God was real, etc,...one thing led to another and I got to share how hecould be saved.

Tuesday: 11/8:   Got into the hotel around noon. Slept 5 hours. Completelyrelaxed in hotel. I was again at  the RHRochester on Esmeralda 542 in the city center. There was so much confusion overmy two day registration and it took so much time for the desk guy to straightenit out that  I think he gave me aconsolation prize, i.e., a place with TWO big rooms and TWO full baths init.  It was quiet and beautiful!  I praised God for this favor!

Wednesday: 11/9:  Play dayin BA and I sent River of Life this email:

“Gustavothe cab driver, today.  He .was Catholicas a child. -- much
catechism and church. He says he is ..done with God....so....we talked a long time
---jammed traffic. We discussed God apart from the church ,i.e., he can
get right with God and then God can lead him to a church...I mentioned
the Pentecostal churches in BA---I encouraged him to pray and read
Bible.. He has .lots of hurts from church.... We discussed the necessity of
forgiveness with a reference to the Lord´s prayer.... we talked about
heaven and hell and how he needs to be ready to see Jesus... he agreed
all I said was true....At first the discussion was with him with his
sunglasses firmly in place and he was always looking forward. By the time we got
really good into the conversation, his glasses were off and he was turningaround a
lot with very sincere eye contact......he seemed moved by God... I pray
he remembers...
AGAIN..thanks for prayers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Thursday: 11/10: Some time for more play and  Got on the plane for home at night. Ministered to Fecundo the cab driver – another person whowas raised Catholic and now intensely dislikes going to church.   We  --as I did to Gustavo and Alan and Woo – discussed the importance of getting toknow God for ourselves through the Word and prayer and asking Him to help usfind a church.  I told him about thePentecostal church. I sent River of Life this email:

Friday :11/11/11  Got homearound 1:30 PM.

I am putting this on Facebook too because it is a "wake up call" to all of us to pray for persecuted Christians; however, I am well aware that -- even though the instances cited by the Segal's in the newsletter quoted within this entry are the persecutions by the Muslims perpetrated upon Christians , we Christians over the centuries have OFTEN persecuted others!!! The inquisition, the crusades, and the burning of the reformers at the stake are some examples of this.  I am only making note of this fact so I can say that when we walk in the Spirit -- whether we are formerly deceived Christians or Muslims or Buddhists or Hindus --whatever! -- we will NOT torture and kill each other. But, when we walk in the flesh, anyone of any race or religion is capable of torture and killing.

Christians, though , must CARE about human suffering and pray for those who are victims of persecution!!

Tonight's prayer time: 

1.  Pray that all of us at ROL become those who CARE about what our brothers and sister s are going through in many other parts of the world. We are praying that we get so close to the Spirit that His heart becomes ours!!

2.  Pray  for those families whose loved ones fates are described in the newsletter below.

3.  Pray  for the countries represented to stop persecuting Christians; i.e., to allow peaceful freedom to worship!

4. Pray  for us Christians at ROL to collectively and personally find ways to help in any way we can !

5. Pray for whatever else you personally know about in regard to Christians being persecuted.

6. Pray we submit to the directives in these 2 passages:  Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

Re:   “Be not wise in your own conceits”, Barnes (a commentator, not me J )notes:  “The Syriac has well rendered the passage: "And what you think concerning yourselves, the same also think concerning your brethren; neither think with an elevated or ambitious mind, but accommodate yourselves to those who are of humbler condition."” Comp. 1 Peter 3:8. 8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous

Verse from following paper: “Remember those who are in bonds as though you were bound with them, and those who suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.” Heb 13:3

What follows is my (rb’s) edited version of:Jerusalem online (Barry and Batya Segal’s ministry”--FOR TIME’S SAKE, YOU MAY JUST WANT TO READ A FEW OF THE EVENTS STATED BELOW IN ORDER TO PRAY TONIGHT for the instances cited. You  can take this home with you to pray for all of them.  The idea is for us all to become much more aware of and willing to pray for and stand with the persecuted!!

News Update September 7^th 2011;JNN NEWS, P.O. Box 7411, Jerusalem 91073, Israel

FIRST THE SATURDAY PEOPLE, THEN THE SUNDAY PEOPLE: Islamic terror groups have long had a favorite taunt which says, first the Saturday people, then the Sunday people. This means of course, first the Jews then the Christians will be targets for terrorist persecution, subjection and elimination… Persecution of Christians in the Islamic world is endemic, on its way to reaching epidemic proportions.

A SUMMARY OF MUSLIM PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS DURING SUMMER 2011: The vilest anecdote to surface in July comes from Pakistan, a hotbed of anti-Christian sentiment, even though Christians make up less than 3% of the population. A two-year-old Christian girl was savagely raped when her father refused to convert to Islam. Because her anatomy has been disfigured, she has undergone five surgeries and suffers several permanent complications. Her family lives in fear and hiding. Though this report surfaced days ago, it occurred four years ago. (AINA) Pray for this emotionally and physically tortured family and their child – that they may be healed, comforted and delivered from fear and from those who have so brutally caused them to suffer.

AFGHANISTAN/NORWAY: An Asylum seeker in an immigration center in Norway had boiling water poured over him after he converted to Christianity and would not comply with Ramadan fasting rules. He and the other converts at the center now fear for their lives. "If you do not return to Islam, we will kill you," was the message from the Islamist asylum seekers at the reception center in Norway. The victim refuses to disclose his real name for fear of further reprisals. If Afghan authorities found out about the incident and he were to be subsequently deported he would risk being sentenced to death by stoning, he claims. He survived the incident, but has been left with a severely disfigured back. (Mohabat) Pray for the healing, protection and godly consolation of this young man.

EGYPT: Muslims who were angered by the installation of a church bell, (under Sharia law, churches must not offend Muslims by ringing bells), went on a violent spree, attacking a 5-month pregnant Christian woman and others who were "beaten with iron rods and pipes." Additionally, Muslims "severely sexually harassed" a Christian woman in front of her husband at a bus terminal. When her husband tried to defend her honor, he was violently beaten. Soon after, thousands of Muslims in the region began looting and torching Christian property, screaming "Allah Akbar!" and cursing the Cross. Also, last month, a Muslim gang using sexual coercion to convert Christian girls was exposed. (WCN) In recent months there have been numerous injuries and murders visited upon Christians in Egypt. Muslims who once restricted themselves to preaching hate against those who are different, today feel free to act on their words and have been beating and torturing Christians throughout the country. Egyptian Islamist sects have been known to burn churches and destroy other property in their zeal to wipe out the minority population.

INDONESIA: Christians were forced out of a church building and severely harassed- even as they then tried to worship at the side of the road. Also in August, the mayor of Bagor, Indonesia announced a new reason not to allow churches to open: If the name of the street on which a church desires to establish a new building bears an Islamic name, it may not be constructed . (ACT)

IRAN: The Islamic Republic in August seized 6,500 copies of the Bible in northwest Iran in what appears to be the latest onslaught by Iranian authorities against Christianity in the country. Tehran has been cracking down on its tiny Christian minority of late, so much so even the EU has noticed. "In the past six months," the EU reported, "the crackdown has led to the arrest of 285 Christians in 35 cities. In one instance, Yusef Nadarkhani, an evangelical pastor and the father of two, had been sentenced to death for converting from Islam, and the Iranian Supreme Court continues to uphold the decision. For many Americans, evidence of how Iran treats its Christian minority is an indicator of the kind of uses to which it would put nuclear weapons. On a positive note, which again reveals the power of prayer, Iran has released a Dutch-Iranian pastor who was jailed for 359 days on charges of spreading Christianity a mong Farsi-speaking Iranians. (Bos News)

IRAQ: Kirkuk police, Aug 24, reported they had deactivated an explosive device left near the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in the Almass district of Kirkuk. (WCN) Latest UN figures show that more than a quarter of the refugee population violently forced out of their homes in Iraq since 2003 are Christians. The number of Christians in Iraq has plummeted from 1.4 million in the 1980s to an estimated 200,000 as of July 2011.

IVORY COAST: Muslims crucified two Christian brothers on "the example of Christ" and in accordance to Koran 5:33: The pair were badly beaten and tortured before being crudely nailed to cross-shaped planks by their hands and feet with steel spikes. (Gateway Pundit)

JORDAN: A Jordan-based group on September 2, threatened to file a lawsuit against Israel in the International Criminal Court over its opening of the baptismal site Qasr al-Yahud near the Jordan River. The group, which calls itself “The Arab Union to Resist the Expulsion of Arab Christians,” is headed by the speaker of the Jordanian senate, Taher al-Masri, and includes officials from around the Arab world. The group is upset over the fact that on July 12, Israel held an official ceremony to mark the opening of Qasr al-Yahud, the site which is known as the place where Yeshua was baptized by John the Baptist and which is considered the third holiest site in Christianity. (INN)

NIGERIA: Earlier this summer two churches were bombed simultaneously; at least three Christians died, and several were injured. Muslim extremists with the alleged aid of Nigerian soldiers killed 24 Christians during August in Nigeria's central Plateau. (Front Page Magazine)

PAKISTAN: Under accusations of blasphemy, and with the help of a local politician, Muslims last month attempted to annex a Christian hospital established in 1922 by missionaries. Additionally, two Christian men were seriously injured by young Muslim men in Karachi when they refused to convert to Islam. They were returning home after an early-morning prayer service at their church on August 14. Six youths started questioning them about their faith and later tried to force them to recite the Kalma (Islamic conversion creed) and become Muslims, but the two refused to renounce Christianity. The Muslims got out of the car armed with iron rods and attacked the two young men shouting that they should either recite the Kalma or be prepared to die. They severely beat the two Christians seriously injuring both. The young Muslim men then left, assuming they had killed both Christians, although they have subsequently recovered. The family ha s not registered a case with police, fearing reprisal by the Muslims. Christians make up only 2.45% of Pakistan’s population, which is more than 95% Muslim. (Alina)

SAUDI ARABIA: On August 12 it was reported that a captured Christian pastor is set to be deported to Muslim Eritrea, where he faces the death penalty. (RSL) Pray for the reversal of any death threat and for the freedom of this unnamed pastor.

TANZANIA: August 12, Muslims burned down two churches to cries of "away with the church - we do not want infidels to spoil our community," and vows not to befriend "infidels." (Front Page Magazine)

UGANDA: A 14-year-old girl in western Uganda is still unable to walk 10 months after her father tortured her for leaving Islam and putting her faith in Yeshua, according to area Christians last month. (J.Post) Pray for this young girl not to abandon her faith, also that she may escape the brutality of her father and other family members who might add to her sufferings for the name of Yeshua.

UZBEKISTAN: Uzbekistan is reportedly a place where fines, abuse and the destruction of religious literature are unceasing. On August 31, police who raided a Protestant family's home in Fergana also beat the husband as they confiscated a Bible, an Uzbek New Testament and the Proverbs of Solomon. (WCN)

THE SAD, SAD LACK OF SOLIDARITY AMONG CHRISTIANS: A recent study shows 105,000 Christians are killed every year because of their faith. In other words, every five minutes a Christian is killed because he or she believes in Yeshua. It is shocking to see how little other Christians do about it. The most natural thing to do as a Christian, a Christian leader or organization, would be to demand that Islamic leaders and organizations call for a stop to religious violence against Christians. They should demand that imams declare void the many Koranic verses preaching hatred and for the murder of followers of Yeshua. Many people expected many more Christians to write letters to the editor, demonstrate in front of mosques, call for the media to report more about the problems, etc. Local congregations should write open letters to local Islamic organizations, urging them to publicly renounce any religiously motivated violence -- incl uding the relevant portions of their own written religious texts. I will not say "shame on you" for not standing up for your sisters and brothers. Present and future generations of Christians enjoying less security than you are enjoying now will do that. Looking the other way may not be harmful for oneself, if one lives in a safe setting. But letting people in need down -- even fellow Christians -- is embarrassing and cowardly, and it makes Christianity look useless in situations where things are less rosy. Protecting fellow believers from oppression and violence should be the least of what we do. The sad, sad lack of solidarity among Christians must come to an end, even if taking a stand involves personal risk or going public offends those who want to harm you. Christianity is the largest religion in this world. It laid the cultural basis for the richest, freest and most compassionate society in this world. It is time for this giant to wake up. (Nicol ai Sennels /Jihad Watch) RB note: As I read this “exhortation”, I realized that what each one of us needs is to KNOW what we SPECIFICALLY can do and HOW to do it. Pray for this!

Deity of Christ  and verses  from the Old  Testament that speak of Jesus Christ

“Who is Jesus?” is a question we must all know the answer to. 

We must know who Christ is. Upon Him all the rest of the kingdom of God is built.  To be a part of His kingdom we need to know the nature of the King

If we reject Jesus Christ, the Son of God, we cannot have a relationship with the Father – we MUST  believe and accept who Jesus really is!

To not receive Jesus as who He is the same as rejecting the Father:

1 John 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.24 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

To acknowledge that the Christ has come in the flesh means we are of the Spirit of God – we must receive the Son to receive life from the Father:

1 John 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. KJV

1 John 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. KJV

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. KJV

2 John 9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

Note: we are not to be companions of those who do not receive Jesus as the Son of God!

Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was. Peter’s correct:

Matt 16: 13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? 14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. 15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Sometimes we say that the “rock “ is a “rock of revelation”; however, the Word says Jesus Christ is the cornerstone, the foundation.

Also, the

Jesus Christ is the foundation of the church of God—upon Him the church is built – person by person

1 Cor 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 

Eph 2: 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

People make up the whole of the building – the twelve apostles of the Lamb’s names are in the twelve foundations – so Peter really is part of the firm foundation of the church of the Lord! 

 Rev 21:9 And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 13 On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

All Christians in every age have opportunity to build upon the church

We need to be sure to know the nature and plans of the cornerstone so what we build is valuable and lasting!

1 Cor 3:  5 Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? 6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.

To build, we must know the nature of our Cornerstone,  our rock, Jesus Christ:

From internet regarding the meaning of a cornerstone:

Definition: cornerstone

Another place Jesus Christ is referred to as a “stone”:

Jesus Christ was the stone seen by Nebuchuchnezzer in his dream:

31 Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof was terrible. 32 This image's head was of fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass, 33 His legs of iron, his feet part of iron and part of clay. 34 Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 35 Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. 36 This is the dream; and we will tell the interpretation thereof before the king. 37 Thou, O king, art a king of kings: for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power, and strength, and glory. 38 And wheresoever the children of men dwell, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the heaven hath he given into thine hand, and hath made thee ruler over them all. Thou art this head of gold. 39 And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to thee, and another third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all the earth. 40 And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as iron: forasmuch as iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: and as iron that breaketh all these, shall it break in pieces and bruise. 41 And whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, and part of iron, the kingdom shall be divided; but there shall be in it of the strength of the iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the iron mixed with miry clay. 42 And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. 43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. 44 And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. 45 Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.

Daniel also wrote:

………..Dan 7:27 And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom , and all dominions shall serve and obey him. KJV

The Kingdom of God , everlasting, indestructible, filling the earth is spoken of often  in the Word – including the fact that the King is the Lord Jesus Christ:  e.g., :

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. KJV

Jesus Christ is clearly the one prophesied in Isaiah 9 – Gabriel , the angel, made that clear to Mary:

Luke 1: 30 But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. 31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end." 34 "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?" 35 The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

The passage in Isaiah 9 also shows us clearly that our Cornerstone, the rock the entire church is built on, is both GOD and the coming King.  The passage from Luke 1 shows the same thing: Jesus will have and everlasting kingdom; He is supernaturally born of God; He is the Son of God.

Jesus is the Star of Jacob, the Sceptre of Israel spoken of in Numbers:

Num 24:15 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: 16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: 17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly.19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. KJV

Matt 2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." 3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6 "'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'" NIV

Gen 49:10 10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his. NIV

Ps 110:The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." 2 The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion;you will rule in the midst of your enemies NIV

Jesus the King will return to us  with rewards for us – He will be a gentle, shepherd King:

Isa 40:9 O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! 10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young. KJV

Jesus Himself speaks of His second coming in Rev 22:12 "Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. 16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." NIV

Jesus Christ owns all things and when He comes back we inherit all that He has. He will be our God; we will be His people.  Notice verse six clearly says it is Jesus speaking as He is the Alpha and Omega and notice that it is Jesus then sayin “I will be his God, and he shall be my son”.  

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. KJV

Titus, the  King who is to appear to us again  is called the great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ:

Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. KJV

The kingdom we have been discussing is called “the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”. In 2 Peter:

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

The power  and rulership of  the Word of God, Jesus Christ, will go on forever:

Rev 5:11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" 14 The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped. NIV

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.KJV

Note that Timothy spoke too of the “King of kings and Lord of Lords, whom we know from Rev. 19: 16 to be the Lord Jesus Christ:

1 Tim 6: 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time — God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen. NIV

…..

When we read the Old Covenant books, we need to be looking for prophetic words about Jesus Christ -- There is much about Christ in the Old Covenant writings. Jesus said:

Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. KJV

Jesus Christ is God  in flesh.  To know the Cornerstone and to be a part of the kingdom builders means we must know that Jesus Christ is God. The King of the kingdom we are in is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the second person in the triunity of God (God as Father, Son , and Holy Spirit).

In Psalms Jesus is  called God by God:

Ps 45:6 Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.7 Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him. KJV

Hebrews makes it clear that Ps 45 was about the Lord Jesus Christ – He is the Son!

Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. KJV

One of the names of Jesus is Immanuel, God with us

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. KJV

Matt 1:23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. KJV

Only God is everlasting; Jesus Christ is spoken of as everlasting:

Mic 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. KJV}

John 8:58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by. KJV

John 17:  1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Jesus Christ is the Creator:   Universally it should be agreed that Whoever created everything MUST be GOD, the Ruler, the King of the universe!  God created everything. Jesus, the Son (along with the Father and the Spirit, the unified Godhead),  is the Creator, the Word made flesh, the light of men.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. …………….10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. NIV

Ps 33:6 By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. KJV

Jer 32:17 Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: 18 Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name. KJV

Heb 1:1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? 6 And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him. KJV

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 thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. KJV

Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; KJV

Jesus was indeed God in the flesh:

1 Tim 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. KJV

The Jews who listened to Jesus knew He was saying He was God:

John 10:30 my Father and I are one. 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? 33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God. KJV

Thomas called Jesus God:

John 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. KJV

Jesus would not have been out of order to see Himself as equal to God, but rather He chose to become a man for us.

Phil 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. KJV

God is three in one, a triunity -- all three persons in the One Person are God:

1 John 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.……………………………………….10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. KJV

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. KJV

All three persons of the Godhead are in us who believe in Him  - we need to know what the Word says about the nature of God in order to understand the person and His power that is working within us. We need to know that Jesus Christ sent the Spirit of God to dwell in us – the full Godhead, Father, Son , and Holy  Note in the following passage from John, all three persons of the Godhead are said to be given to dwell in us:

John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.   19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.   John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. KJV

In Romans 8 the Word says the Spirit of Christ and the Spirit of God  and His Spirit is in us when we belong to Christ:

Romans 8:9 You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. NIV

God is a triunity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit:

Gen 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. KJV

In verse 26, “God” is the Hebrew word, “Elohiym”: 430 'elohiym (el-o-heem'); plural of OT: 433; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme God……………………

The Bible also speaks of  God as one, e.g., in Deut 6: 4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. NIV

“One” here is 'echad. Echad means UNITED.

OT:259 'echad (ekh-awd'); a numeral from OT:258; properly, united, i.e. one; or (as an ordinal) first:

OT:258

T:258 'achad (aw-khad'); perhaps a primitive root; to unify, i.e. (figuratively) collect (one's thoughts):

Jesus proclaimed He was ONE with His Father:

John 17:  20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. 22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.

The Bible says God will teach us through His Holy Spirit and in Isa 48: 16 B the Word says that the “Redeemer” will teach us – the Redeemer is Jesus Christ:

John 6: 5 It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.

Jer 31: 33 "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the LORD."I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. NIV

Heb 8:10 This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.

I will be their God, and they will be my people. NIV

Isa 48:16B And now the Sovereign LORD has sent me, with his Spirit. 17 This is what the LORD says — your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.

The Spirit of Christ is He who spoke to the prophets in the Old Testament:

1 Peter 1:10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, 11 trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. NIV

Our Creator is  the Lord Jesus Christ,  He formed us in the womb; He is our e Redeemer:

Isa 44:24 "This is what the LORD says — your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens,who spread out the earth by myself, NIV

What is a redeemer?

To redeem , according to dictionary.com, is

In Christ’s role as Redeemer   He became a Lamb to be sacrificed for the sins of the world – a fulfillment of the Passover Lamb’s blood, when applied to the home would cause the angel of death to pass over that home.  In becoming the sacrificial Lamb, He purchased our souls from the power of sin and death.  – He bought us back from our enemy, the devil .  In this passage the Lamb possesses the “seven spirits of God”.

Rev 5:6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." NIV

Isaiah prophesied about Christ the Redeemer:

Isa 62:11 Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.12 And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken. KJV

New Covenant writings make it very clear He is our Redeemer:

Gal 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: KJV

1 Peter 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;9 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. KJV

Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. KJV

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. KJV

Old Covenant writers speak of Jesus Christ the Redeemer:

Job 19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: KJV

Isa 60:16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob. KJV

Isa 59:16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD. KJV

Isa 60:16 You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

Jesus Christ is the Arm of the Lord, our Redeemer,  the one who took on Himself the payment for sin and all the curses that came with sin:

Isa 53:1Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed?2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.3 He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Jesus is the Bright and Morning Star – the one who is coming again:

Rev 22:16 "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." 17 The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. 18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God's people. Amen. NIV