R L F EAL
IFE
AITH May/June 2010
Photo of Elder Doreen Barber and Denise Wilkins
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TABLE OF CONTENTS My Quest and His Will – By Pastor Charles Hunter – Page 3 Can I Pray to God without Talking to God? – By Real Life Faith Magazine Founder and Editor Michele Jackson – Page 5
Stinginess Steals Your Blessings; Consider the Poor, the Sick and the Needy and Be Blessed– By Prophetess Diane L. Garrett – Page 10
Hurt is Worth – By Apostle Karen Deadwyler – Page 15 No Matter What Stand for God – By Pastor John Lee Garrett, Sr. – Page 18
Turn on the Light – By LaTanya Wooten – Page 20 Black History Facts – Page 8, Fruit of the Holy Spirit Puzzle Answers From March 2010 – Page 9, Match the Words to the Bible Verses Answers from March 2010 – Page 12, What Does “I’m Saved” Mean? – Page 13, Prayer of Salvation – Page 14, Match the Words to the Bible Verses – Page 17, Bible Trivia Questions – Page 22, Love Lifestyle – Page 22 Are you interested in publishing an article in Real Life Faith Magazine? Contact Real Life Faith Magazine Founder and Editor Michele Jackson by email at address michelejacksonkcm@yahoo.com. Visit our website at http://www.reallifefaithmagazine.com. Join our mailing list at http://www.reallifefaithmagazine.com/index.cfm?i=9676&mid=13. © Real Life Faith Magazine all rights reserved.
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My Quest and His Will By Pastor Charles Hunter
Photo of Pastor Charles Hunter “11For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.” (Jeremiah 29:11-14, King James Version Bible) How can we live our lives searching? To be honest a lot of us do not even know what we are searching for. That’s why we find ourselves looking high and looking low. I heard somebody say we are looking for the perfect mate. If the perfect mate came, how would we even know? I also had examined myself to the understanding that it is not what we are looking for but what we are running from. A lot of us are running from things. If you search your life, you will find that there have been things that you have run from. I don’t know if you are running from a bad marriage, running from thoughts of bad health or a bad situation on your job. It is time to stop running from, and it is time to start running to God. We do not have to run from a bad marriage. We don’t have to run from a bad situation on our job. We don’t have to run from thoughts of sickness. When you are running from a bad situation you do not know what you are running to. A lot of times people are alcoholics because they are running from situations in their lives. Perhaps they were abused, or they have a bad family life; and they don’t want to retain these thoughts in their mind. When they try to run from these things they run to things that are not beneficial to them physically, mentally or spiritually. The search that we have been placed in is not about what happens to us, it is more so about what we can overcome through the help of God. I have 3|Page
found myself running from things. God has dealt with me about why I am running from things instead of running to Him. As long as we don’t realize that the God that we serve is capable of handling our situations, we will always find ourselves in a track meet. God can work out any situation you got yourself in. It doesn’t matter if it’s your health, your job, your marriage or your finances. What makes it so good about the God we serve is that sometimes God puts us in these situations just in order for us to run to Him. We find other things to run to not realizing that it was God in the first place that put us here, so that we can seek Him. Maybe if I knew these things when I was younger, maybe I would not have experienced so much frustration. I didn’t have to go to liquor. I didn’t have to go to drugs. I didn’t have to go to fighting and arguing. All I had to do was get down on my knees and say, “Lord, I am down on my knees because I am faced with a situation, and I need you to work it out.” God will make a way out of no way. God will open up the Red Sea. God will crack the sky for me. God will heal my body. God will work it out. In our text the people of Israel were in captivity because God put them there. God put His own people in bondage because they stopped depending on God. Sometimes we find ourselves in the same place because we stopped depending on God. Be careful of false prophets. When you are in a situation people often have a word for you. I am so sick and tired of false prophets. If God did not send you to tell me a word, don’t come bringing me nothing because all you are doing is putting me deeper, and deeper and deeper into captivity. The Israelites were in a place where they were not able to worship. It appeared that God was not doing anything. False prophets were coming saying God is moving here, and God is moving there; but God was saying I am not moving. God is saying you are in a low place. You are in a place where they don’t believe in God. We talked about it in Bible Study. There can be places where you cannot pray out loud, but you can pray within yourself. If I’m on my job, and they are giving me hell, I can thank God inside of me. They do not even have to know I am praying. The Bible says that when Elizabeth met Mary, John leaped in the womb. When God puts you in captivity, there is a time limit. The Israelites were in captivity 70 years. They had to learn to worship God in the midst of suffering. Israel failed to realize that God was still near. When we go through our situations, and it seems like He is not there we have to realize that God is still in the midst. The Bible says that when two or three are gathered in God’s name He is in the midst. God is ready to do a work in our life, but there is a part we have to play. God wants to give us an expected end. We have to call on God. Don’t get on the phone and call Sister Mary or Sister Sue. The first person you need to call is God. I don’t care how minute or how big the situation is, call on God. God is able and capable to make a difference in your situation. We don’t have a prayer life like we should. In the mornings say, “Lord, I thank you for bringing me out last week. I thank you for finding a way out of no way. I thank you for keeping me safe on the highways. I thank you for keeping my children safe in school. I thank you for the activity of my limbs. I thank you for the articulation of my speech. I thank you for the job I have.” You have to learn to thank God no matter what you are going through. The next thing you have to do, which is another responsibility, is you have to seek God. Some of us are not seeking God enough. Spend some quality time in His Word. Sometimes you need to put down the Essence magazine. Sometimes you need to put down Jet magazine, and pick up the Holy Bible; and see what the Lord has to say about a situation. If you seek Him, then you will find Him. I opened up His Word and found that no weapon formed against me will prosper. 4|Page
Those that love the Lord must live by faith. Everything is going to be alright. I’m not in captivity no more. I have a lovely wife and a lovely church home. My bills are paid. My health is good. Why? I found the Lord. After everything that I searched through – the quest, I found the Lord. It wasn’t in alcohol. It wasn’t in drugs. Pastor Charles Hunter co-founded Kingdom Come Ministries in Dumfries, Virginia, with Assistant Pastor Wil Draughn in 2004. He is also the husband of Elect Lady Avis Hunter and the father of five daughters.
Can I Pray to God without Talking to God? By Real Life Faith Magazine Founder and Editor Michele Jackson
Photo of Real Life Faith Magazine Founder and Editor Michele Jackson “1ALSO [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not to turn coward (faint, lose heart, and give up). 2He said, In a certain city there was a judge who neither reverenced and feared God nor respected or considered man. 3And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, Protect and defend and give me justice against my adversary. 4And for a time he would not; but later he said to himself, Though I have neither reverence or fear for God nor respect or consideration for man, 5Yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will defend and protect and avenge her, lest she give me intolerable annoyance and wear me out by her continual coming or at the last she come and rail on me or assault me or strangle me. 6Then the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says! 7And will not [our just] God defend and protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night? Will He defer them and delay help on their behalf? 8I tell you, He will defend and protect and avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [persistence in] faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:1-8, Amplified Bible) 5|Page
Jesus says to always pray in Luke 18:1, yet at no point in this parable do we read of the widow or the judge having a conversation with God. Could it be that prayer is more than thought directed to God or spoken words to God? Yes!!! Prayer is communication. People communicate not only through their thoughts and words but also through their behavior. How we behave is communicating with God by agreeing or disagreeing with God’s Words. For example, if you treat people with little or no respect, then you are communicating to God that you disrespect God who created people through their parents. Let’s look at the connection between the speaking part of prayer and the behaving part of prayer. In Hebrew the word “devarim” means “words” and the word “devorim” means “bees”. In Hebrew when words have the same root letters they are connected in various ways. Since “devarim” and “devorim” have the same root letters they are connected. One connection is words can be sweet like honey, or they can sting like bees. Both Delilah and the widow in Luke 18 knew how to sting. Delilah was wicked while the widow was righteous. Delilah stung or afflicted Sampson until he gave up self-control. The widow stung or afflicted the judge until he gave up self-control. Sampson believed that his source of strength was a secret, but under the pressure of pain he surrendered his belief. Likewise the judge believed in injustice, but under the pressure of pain he surrendered his belief. So Delilah and the widow used both words and behavior to communicate. Using pressure and pain to communicate and sculpt souls is a principle that can be used for evil or for good. In American English a “sting” can refer to a scheme by the police for entrapping lawbreakers. The widow used her verbal and behavioral communication skills to sting the judge. The judge was a breaker of God’s laws because his principle and practice was injustice. The widow’s communication style and skill put pressure on the judge to examine his soul by compelling him to confront his value system and choose comfort or choose the courage of his convictions. Would he suffer discomfort and stand up (be strongly committed to) the injustice he truly believes in or would he capitulate to comfort? Luke 18:4-5 (Amp) says, “4And for a time he would not; but later he said to himself, Though I have neither reverence or fear for God nor respect or consideration for man, 5Yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will defend and protect and avenge her, lest she give me intolerable annoyance and wear me out by her continual coming or at the last she come and rail on me or assault me or strangle me.” The widow understood that she could not sculpt the soul of the judge with sweet words. In Matthew 10:16 Jesus tells us to be innocent as doves, but as wise as serpents. Learn your enemies, so that they do not defeat you due to a lack of knowledge and wisdom. Notice also that the widow was calm and self-controlled. She did not curse the judge out for mistreating her. She spoke and behaved without confusion. Luke 18:3 (Amp) says, “3And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, Protect and defend and give me justice against my adversary.” In Biblical Hebrew there are no curse words. In conflicts the use of curse words can be a sign that someone is out of control of themselves and unable to articulate the problem and its solution calmly and clearly. Out of control people are easily controlled by others. Proverbs 16:32 (Amp) says, “32He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, he who rules his [own] spirit than he who takes a city.” 6|Page
Self-control is a quality that complemented the widow’s courage in confronting and conquering the unjust judge. A coward faints, loses heart and gives up on convictions. A person who is out of control may find themselves acting like a coward because they do not have or are not using good communication skills. Without the right skills a person may be compelled to walk away from situations. For example, the Apostle Peter was a friend of Jesus, but he was not skillful enough to remain in selfcontrol. Under the pressure or sting of a threat to his life and his friend’s, Jesus’, life, he surrendered to fear, cursed and denied Jesus. Not long before the Apostle Peter denied Christ, he was sleeping in the garden of Gethsemane, but it was not a refreshing rest. Jesus counseled the Apostle Peter and the others with them to speak to God for strength. One of the reasons the Apostle Peter may have been sleeping at the wrong time is that he may not have been sleeping well at night for a while because he was meditating on the stressful situation and thus being controlled by emotions instead of being controlled by God. If adults consistently sleep fewer than seven to eight hours a night, they may find themselves acting like a coward fainting, losing heart and giving up on convictions. Self-control and sleep deprivation correlate. The enemy Satan wants to wear you out. If you are worn out, you will probably not operate in selfcontrol. Sleep deprivation is associated with cursing and poor emotional control. Even sleeping six hours nightly causes problems in sustaining attention and in performing visual-motor tasks. If you sleep fewer than six hours nightly, you are more likely to be impatient and to be easily frustrated. A person who goes without sleep for 4 to 11 days can hallucinate, and these are just a few of the consequences of sleep deprivation. If you are not thinking according to the straight and narrow way of Christ, then you will not talk or behave according to the straight and narrow path. That means that you are giving an advantage to the enemy, Satan, who works through people like the unjust judge. Let’s look at another connection between words and bees. One of the qualities of bees is that they are hard workers. They work hard to create habitable and productive hives. In American English we have phrases like “a hive of activity” or a “hive of industry” that compliment the industriousness of bees. The widow was like an industrious bee in that she persistently confronted the judge calling for justice. The Bible teaches balance. Persistence cannot be practiced successfully without some other qualities. The widow was led by the Holy Spirit and Jesus Christ who is Wisdom. During World War II in the Auschwitz concentration camp the prisoners could not ask their jailors for release and expect to be released. God must lead us because different situations can require different skills and/or different solutions. For example, God tells us in many places in the Bible that victims are not always able to advocate for themselves; they need someone to help them. The mother of king Lemuel in Proverbs 31 counseled her son in Proverbs 31:8-9 (Amp), “8Open your mouth for the dumb [those unable to speak for themselves], for the rights of all who are left desolate and defenseless; 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and administer justice for the poor and needy.”
God puts people in positions of authority, and He said it was not good for people to be alone. God designed authority to benefit society, and He designed for people to live and work together. Bees are led by a queen; while they have different tasks they cooperate with each other and live in productive communities. Yet God allows ungodly people like the Nazis, advocates of racial discrimination and other 7|Page
types of discrimination, terrorists and other advocates of oppression to have power over both ungodly and godly people and to create Satanic societies. A person in power over parts of societies or all of a society who is unjust is in rebellion to God’s design for the role of authority and the role of society. When unjust people are in power they are not only living lessons on how not to live, but they also provide godly people with opportunities for spiritual and mental growth. The widow would not have the communication skills and courage that she had without confronting and conquering the unjust judge. The parable is silent regarding the length of time it took for the widow to operate at the level she did. The parable is even silent regarding the age of the widow; is she a young adult or a senior citizen? Just because your communication skills are not fully Christ-like does not mean that you are not committed to Christ; it means that more time with Christ is needed to come up to a higher skill level. Don’t let Satan condemn you; as a Christian, Christ has given you righteousness; cooperate with the conviction and transformation of Christ. Injustice does not go on forever, but its removal is often not fast from a human perspective. While God answered the widow’s prayer speedily from His perspective, He did not answer it immediately. A deferred or delayed response to prayer is not a sign that God denied the prayer request. It can be a sign that it is time for a Christian to cooperate with God in cultivating and living in self-control and patience while God’s perfect plan for His glory and His children’s good unfolds. God does not always tell us everything His does. God has set-up the universe, so that everything and everyone depends on Him. Not that everything and everyone acknowledges God, but God has the ultimate power over everything and everyone; and God keeps the universe running. Perhaps God softened the unjust judge’s heart like He hardened Pharaoh’s heart because this suited His purposes? Homework: Examine your behavior. What are the top seven messages that you are communicating to God? _____________________________________________________________________________________________ Michele Jackson is the founder and editor of Real Life Faith Magazine website and email publication. She is also a minister of Kingdom Come Ministries in Dumfries, Virginia; one of her roles is to teach Sunday School. She has a BA in Communication with a double major in Political Science and double minors in International Studies and Spanish Language. She lives with her son, Rafael Fowler, in Woodbridge, Virginia.
BLACK HISTORY FACTS 7/2/1829: The Oblate Sisters of Providence, the first African American order of Catholic nuns, was founded in Baltimore, Maryland. 4/11/1972: Benjamin Hooks, a minister and a lawyer, was the first black to be named head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
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7/9/1893: Dr. Daniel Hale Williams performed the world’s first successful open-heart surgery without X-rays, antibiotics, blood transfusions or anesthesia at Provident Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.
FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT PUZZLE ANSWERS FROM MARCH 2010 LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL S J B H K P S S T E Z M E A J L Z R
T V H L S E L F N M O L D G H K A W V B N P O O P J O E W S A F G H J L O V B N N X A S D A N M F K L S E I R V E D O O G O O T D F U T L J O L L F Y T T I B N T O D T A L R T R I U S I N D O L F D H S V B N X N X C V J M E S Q T S S N T B O H F H G R O N E N M O S N T O U G E M O E O J V U P W V B F S X Y R W S A E I L S A P W T U A E U A T V H A L S E J K E A T O E E C W G S A L M T T R M S I Z O N C X E R R B M N R H C U N B W K I L G B T M P T Y M W T X R T E E T G E L H J K E M D W H T Y J L D N G E R T L Y H S E S D K L N Z W T F Y Q B N O F C Y H O T T S C P O F A I C D F F U A I M C R Y O F T B N C V E V A N T L E A M P L O F F O V N O X T Y E X O O M T Y X D N M Q Z N P L O V S M W T R V G O O D N E S S S T V L S E E V B N G T Y K L Z A Q F G N K P A E I D E R S G T K L S I Y O U A W C G T S E F T J M L A C
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Stinginess Steals Your Blessing; Consider the Poor, the Sick and the Needy and Be Blessed By Prophetess Diane L. Garrett
Photo of Prophetess Diane L. Garrett I am reminded of the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. Those you thought would stop and help -- the religious leaders --didn't. They were stingy toward a man unable to help himself because he had been robbed, beat and left half dead in the street. When we are stingy it means (1) giving or spending grudgingly; miserly (2) less than needed; scanty. Maybe the priest and Levite failed to help the man because they had thoughts like pride for they could only serve the sick, the needy or the poor in the spotlight. Or maybe they had hypocrisy like preaching the Word of God – saying help the sick, the poor and the needy -- without practicing helping them. Or maybe they were thinking the injured man had received retribution; or they had fear; or they were judging the injured man for example as a lazy person or foolish to find himself in the situation he was in; or they had some other ungodly thoughts that led them to be stingy toward the injured man. I think the priest and Levite missed a blessing from God because of their stinginess. Psalm 41:1 (King James Version Bible) says, “1Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.” When we "consider" we (1) take into account; make allowance for (2) have regard for; pay attention to (3), esteem highly; (4) think about as possible or acceptable, the poor, the needy, the afflicted, the sick, the disabled temporarily or permanently. In considering we automatically line up with Yahweh's Word and are blessed. One of the blessings is that God promises us deliverance in time of need. When the Good Samaritan paid for the medical care of a stranger, he lined up with Yahweh’s Word by doing good to and loving his neighbor. The Good Samaritan was a rebuke to stinginess because he gave generously to a stranger. Luke 10:33-35 (Amplified Bible) says, “33But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled along, came down to where he was; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity and sympathy [for 10 | P a g e
him], 34And went to him and dressed his wounds, pouring on [them] oil and wine. Then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35And the next day he took out two denarii [two day's wages] and gave [them] to the innkeeper, saying, Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I [myself] will repay you when I return.” Have you ever spent two day’s wages on a needy stranger? Is there someone(s) God has placed in your life and called you to help? Help them!!! Strangers, especially those in need, are people that are our neighbors and are to be loved as we love ourselves. Matthew 22:37-40 (Amp) says, “37And He replied to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (intellect). 38This is the great (most important, principal) and first commandment. 39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as [you do] yourself. 40These two commandments sum up and upon them depend all the Law and the Prophets.” Let’s go back and look at some of the thoughts that stinginess stems from. Fear sometimes stops people from helping the needy, the poor, the afflicted, the sick or the disabled. One fear is that in helping others a person will not have their own needs met. Notice that the Samaritan did not stay with the injured man until he was fully healed but instead left him with the innkeeper. He may have had to leave because he had family, job or business to take care of. It is possible and Biblical to help strangers and to take care of your on-going responsibilities. Also one person may not be responsible for solving every aspect of a problem. God is multifaceted in His character. Along with love He is also Wisdom. Be led by the Holy Spirit in your giving and helps and not by your carnal mind. Another fear is that helps is a calling for the select and not the entire body of Christ. There are those that may consider the ministry of "helps" to the poor, the sick, the needy, the afflicted, the disabled is only for some, but this is an incomplete understanding. Yes, there are those called to a full-time helps ministry, but all Christians are also called to do what Yahu'shua (God is Salvation/Jesus Christ) says to do to meet the needs of those He brings across our path. Yahu'shua may have picked an example of a Samaritan to show love to a stranger to show us that the Christian faith in not just for inside religious institutions, but it to be a part of our everyday, earthly lives and will be part of our eternal evaluation. Love for strangers and those who are in need is very precious to Yahweh not only for our present lives but also for life after death. Yahweh will use this type of love to separate his people (sheep) from those who are not His people (goats) in the final judgment. James 2:13-17 (Amp) says, “13For to him who has shown no mercy the judgment [will be] merciless, but mercy [full of glad confidence] exults victoriously over judgment. 14What is the use (profit), my brethren, for anyone to profess to have faith if he has no [good] works [to show for it]? Can [such] faith save [his soul]? 15If a brother or sister is poorly clad and lacks food for each day, 16And one of you says to him, Good-bye! Keep [yourself] warm and well fed, without giving him the necessities for the body, what good does that do? 17So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).” Matthew 25:31-40 (KJV) says, “31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee 11 | P a g e
drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” I call this EXTREME BLESSING or BEING BLESSED, EXCEEDINGLY AND ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT YE MAY ASK OR THINK!! To have been carefully, gently, lovingly and mercifully separated from the goats and to sit at the right hand of Yahu'shua and to be called RIGHTEOUS by Him; that is the highest level of BLESSING we shall ever seek or obtain. I pray that our Father through the Holy Spirit will give us understanding that caring for the poor and needy is a requirement for all Christians and carries with it MANY BLESSINGS. Finally, did you notice that in the portion of Scripture where the Lord Jesus calls those He seats at His right hand “blessed” and “righteous,” and they responded by saying, "38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?" Well, evidently, they DID CONSIDER the "poor". And, evidently their attitude was that it was not hard for them to do, nor grievous nor burdensome, and in this case it seems that they never even noticed what they had done. Many were probably not called to full-time ministry to the poor and needy, but, they most assuredly did the correct thing when opportunity arose. Now go out and do likewise. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Prophetess Diane L. Garrett is the senior pastor of Light of Life Ministry Outreach Center in Sacramento, California. Contact her at prophetessdiane@gmail.com.
MATCH THE WORDS TO THE BIBLE VERSES ANSWERS FROM MARCH 2010 EXAMPLE: Draw a line connecting the words “Meditate on it day and night” with the Bible verse Joshua 1:8. Meditate on it day and night Pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswering endurance A sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who builds his house upon the rock In the beginning was the Word Thy word is a lamp unto my feet Obey His voice All scripture is given by inspiration of God
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John 1:1 Matthew 7:24 2 Timothy 3:16 Deuteronomy 30:2 Joshua 1:8 Psalm 119:105 Romans 5:3
WHAT DOES “I AM SAVED” MEAN?
S
Salvation -- all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Sin is doing things contrary to the will of God.
Since God is perfect His will produces freedom now and forever. Not following God’s will produces bondage. All human beings have experienced bondage to sin from which they are completely unable to escape. Human beings are sinners in need of a Savior from sin (Romans 6:23 and John 8:34).
A
All the work of salvation is done by God and freely offered. God has to choose and change you before you
choose Him. You cannot be good enough, smart enough or do works of any kind to enter into a relationship with God. As a consequence of this relationship, you escape the wrath and judgment God has regarding sin; and God never leaves you (Romans 3:23, Romans 9, John 6:44, John 15:16 and Isaiah 64:6).
L
Love -- No one loves God before He calls a person into relationship with Him. God first loves those He chooses
to have an eternal relationship with Him and gives these people the desire and ability to love Him. In this earthly life God is maturing these people for marriage in heaven (Psalm 14, 1 John 4:10, 1 John 4:19 and Revelation 19).
V
Victory -- Jesus Christ defeated the devil who is the enemy of God and people. God the Father gave Jesus a
bride (those human beings He has a relationship with) before the foundation of this earth for a relationship that starts on earth and will be consummated in heaven. The devil tried to stop the wedding, but God got the victory over him (John 10, Matthew 28, Romans 8:29-31 and 1 Corinthians 15:52-57).
A
Awful -- God thinks sin is awful. God thinks sin is so bad that it requires a sinless, blood sacrifice as payment
for the consequences of the sins of His bride (Hebrews 9 and Hebrews 10).
T
Truth -- The truth is that the only human in all creation found without sin is the God/man Jesus Christ because
He is God the Father’s only begotten Son born of the human, virgin Mary. Jesus went to the cross in Calvary, Israel, more than 2000 years ago as the sinless, blood sacrifice for the sins of His bride (Matthew 1, John 3, John 8 and Revelation 5). God is all relationships to Christians; He’s Husband, Father, Friend, Brother, Sister and Mother (1 Corinthians 8:6, Isaiah 54:5, Jeremiah 3:14, John 15:14-15 and Matthew 12:15).
I
Idea -- It was God’s idea to make the bodies of His bride His temple. God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ and
God the Holy Spirit live inside His bride. God is a multiple of one as in 1 X 1 X 1 = 1; and He is jealous for His bride; He shares her with no one; God protects her (1 Corinthians 3).
O
Ordered -- As a bride of God, God is ordering sin out of your life and increasingly manifesting His holiness
through you. God wants total control of your life (Psalm 37:23).
N
Never -- Most human beings will die. This is the first death. Yet the brides of God will never experience the
second death (commonly called “hell”) which is God’s wrath and judgment waiting for everyone who leaves this earthly life without a relationship with God and is one of the wages of sin. The bride will never cease to exist and will never leave the presence of God in paradise (Revelation 20:11-15 and Romans 6:23). 13 | P a g e
PRAYER OF SALVATION (IF GOD IS ASKING FOR YOU, ANSWER HIM AFFIRMATIVELY.) IF YOU HAVE NEVER TALKED TO GOD AND SAID SOMETHING LIKE THE FOLLOWING, PLEASE DO SO SINCERELY TODAY. “GOD THE FATHER, I AM TALKING TO YOU IN THE NAME OF GOD YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST. SALVATION EXISTS IN NO OTHER NAME BUT THE NAME OF JESUS. THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING AND COMPELLING ME INTO RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU. THANK YOU FOR SENDING GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CONVICT ME OF MY SINS AGAINST YOU, TO SHOW ME THAT I NEED YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS APPLIED TO MY LIFE AND TO WARN ME OF YOUR WRATH AND JUDGMENT OF SIN ENDING IN ETERNAL DEATH. THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME SO MUCH THAT YOU SENT YOUR ONLY BEGOTTEN SON JESUS CHRIST TO PAY THE PENALTY OF MY SIN AND TO PROVIDE A WAY FOR YOU AND I TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP. PSALM 14 AND ROMANS 3 SAY THAT I AM NOT GOOD, WISE OR ABLE IN ANYWAY TO SEEK AFTER YOU AND SAVE MYSELF. THANK YOU, FATHER, FOR SAVING ME THROUGH THE WORK JESUS CHRIST DID DYING ON THE CROSS FOR ME, BEARING ALL OF MY SINS, PAYING THE PRICE FOR THEM AND PROVIDING A WAY FOR YOU TO LOOK AT IMPERFECT ME BY FIRST SEEING THE PERFECT ONE, JESUS. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING FAITH IN ME. I BELIEVE IN MY HEART AND CONFESS WITH MY MOUTH THAT JESUS CHRIST IS MY LORD AND SAVIOR,THAT YOU RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD, THAT HE IS ALIVE TODAY, THAT YOU HAVE FORGIVEN ME FOR MY SINS, THAT I AM SAVED FROM YOUR WRATH AND JUDGEMENT OF SIN AND THAT I WILL SPEND NOW AND ETERNITY WITH YOU. THANK YOU, FATHER. THANK YOU FATHER, FOR GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT WHO NOW GIVES ME DAILY POWER TO LIVE ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL AND WAYS AND TO BE A WITNESS TO YOU IN THE WORLD. THANK YOU FOR LOVING ME FOREVER, FOR NEVER LEAVING ME ALONE, FOR LIBERATING ME TO LIVE A GOOD LIFE NOW AND FOREVER. NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TO ME OR WHAT I DO, YOU WILL NEVER FORSAKE ME. LET ME NOT TAKE YOUR GOODNESS FOR GRANTED. I UNDERSTAND THAT YOU WILL BE CHALLENGING AND CHANGING ME INTO YOUR LIKENESS, THAT I WILL BE PROGRESSING IN THIS LIFE AND FULLY MADE PERFECT IN THE NEXT LIFE, AND THAT I HAVE GIVEN UP MY LIFE TO LIVE FOR YOUR WILL AND WAYS. I COMMIT MYSELF DAILY BY RELYING ON YOU TO TALKING TO YOU, READING, STUDYING AND MEDITATING ON YOUR WORD THE BIBLE AND LIVING ACCORDING TO YOUR WORD IN A WAY THE PENETRATES EVERY AREA OF MY LIFE. I AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOUR GOODNESS! IN JESUS’ NAME, AMEN.”
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HURT IS WORTH By Apostle Karen Deadwyler
Photo of Apostle Karen Deadwyler
“41And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name. 42And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” (Acts 5:41:-42, King James Version Bible) “18For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18, KJV) Pain and suffering are a part of life. As we go through this life, situations and circumstances come to test our faith in God. What I have learned in the midst of my suffering is that the hurt that has been afflicted on me has been worth it. See when I look back over my life I realize that my sickness, betrayal, pain and suffering were used for my spiritual growth. Had I not had a battle with miscarriages, loss of blood and impending death, I would not have the relationship with God that I have. These unfortunate circumstances in my life caused me to look, lean and depend on God. In my opinion doctors could not save me for it was through mistakes and errors that I almost died. Thank God that God saw fit to send the warring angels on my behalf, and His Word that said you will live and not die to declare the Glory of God. As I went through all of this I learned how to pray and press my way 15 | P a g e
through my physical problems by using my spiritual weapons. It was through my hurt I received full revelation of Jesus suffering on the Cross for me. I understood that He would be the first among many to suffer and die because of righteousness. However, what Satan did not know was that Jesus would rise again in three days. In Jesus rising I learned that I could also rise. Not as Jesus did in the resurrection, but that through Him I could spiritually and physically rise from this incident and occurrence in my life. Though the doctors were negligent thank God Jesus’ blood was permanent. For before I even got in this situation Jesus' blood had already covered me. So when the enemy saw the blood, though Satan may not have liked it, Satan had no choice but to pass over me. It is no different for any other Christian that has been attacked, abused, misused or mistreated. Yes, the weapons will form against you, but one thing I am sure of is they will not prosper. Yes, people will lie on you, treat you bad and even hurt you, but one thing I like about Jesus is He will redeem you. When it is happening we cannot see the full value or manifestation of what God is doing in our life. We just are focused on the flesh and the unfair treatment, but when you look pass the immediate actions into the future you realize it was all for your good. Sometimes it was done so you could learn from life’s experiences. Other times it was done because God wanted to expose a situation or maybe even a person. For whatever reason that it was done God has the solution to your hurt and seeks to show your worth. See we found out that as sinners we were (in Christ's mind) worth dying for. See the love that He had for us caused Him to look past who we were and see who He called and chose us to be. We were called and chosen to be heirs to the throne, a royal priesthood and a peculiar people. We were called and chosen to walk in the Light and reflect the Light to a dark world. We were called and chosen to be ministers of the Gospel and proclaim Christ's work on the Cross. This in turn also makes us targets to Satan and his demonic forces. When we become targets we get in the line of fire and our faith is tested. We may never be able to explain all of the suffering that a person may go through in life, but it will never be compared to what Christ went through. Just as Christ overcame Satan and victory was the end result we can overcome the enemy as well. According to Revelation 12:11 (KJV), “11And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” So thank God for your hurt and healing for you have been persecuted for righteousness sake.
PERSECUTED FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS SAKE “10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. ” (Matthew 5:10-12, KJV) 11
When you are persecuted for righteousness sake it is a blessing in disguise. I know that does not make sense to the carnal mind, but according to the Word of God it is true. These are the lessons we learn as we mature and perfect our faith. You will learn not to take everything that is falsely said against you personal and also that it is Satan's job to persecute you for living a righteous life through Christ. This is 16 | P a g e
one of the hardest experiences to walk through because you just never expect a believer to persecute you for doing what is right especially considering they are suppose to be helping you and supporting you but yet you find them intentionally trying to destroy you. The first time that happen to me it blew my mind for I just couldn’t comprehend it in the natural. Why would a person who lives for the Lord want to do something so horrific like that? Then I remembered what Jesus went through, and I began to understand this better. Once I realized it was not about me but the Christ that lives in me, I began to rejoice and be exceedingly glad for truly my reward will be great. My relationship with Christ is a free gift from God, but my reward is contingent on what I do even when people do me wrong. So don't cooperate with people who try to strip you of your name or your integrity. These are precious commodities to God. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Apostle Karen Deadwyler is the author and publisher of His Miraculous Way and Five Rights Medication for Your Soul. She is the visionary who founded Glory Temple Ministries and a woman’s ministry called Willing Women of Worship Fellowship in New York. She lives with and pastors the church with her husband of 23 years Apostle Ronnie Deadwyler in New York. To contact her email her at kaynrony@yahoo.com, or visit her website: www.godlypleasures.org.
MATCH THE WORDS TO THE BIBLE VERSES EXAMPLE: Draw a line connecting the words “You shall not witness falsely against your neighbor” with the Bible verse Exodus 20:16. You shall not witness falsely against your neighbor You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God's] own purchased, special people Persecuted for righteousness’ sake He went once for all into the Holy of Holies of heaven ... by … His own blood, having found and secured a complete redemption (an everlasting release for us) God’s children must share His suffering if we are to share His glory By going through death He brought to nought and made of no effect him who had the power of death—that is, the devil Counted worthy to suffer shame for his name
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Romans 8:17 Acts 5:41
Exodus 20:16 Hebrews 2:14
Matthew 5:10 Hebrews 9:12
1 Peter 2:9
No Matter What Stand for God By Pastor John Lee Garrett, Sr.
Photo of Pastor John Lee Garrett, Sr.
Blanche Rudolph rubbed her daughter’s legs four times each day for years. It was a daunting task as she had 21 additional children to nurture. You may not recognize the name Blanche Rudolph, but perhaps you recognize the name Wilma Rudolph. Wilma Rudolph is a world-class runner who contracted polio at an early age and was told she would never walk, but won Olympic medals for running. Wilma and her mother took a stand against natural circumstances like polio and strove diligently into victory over these circumstances. Satan will not only send natural circumstances against people, he will even transform himself into an angel of light according to 2 Corinthians 11:14 to send mental and spiritual circumstances against people. Satan can pray, sing, teach, preach and emulate everything Christians do unto God. He copies our praise and worship, for he was the chief musician in heaven before being cast out, but Satan cannot live a lifestyle reflecting the character of God. The prophet and administrator Daniel tells us that the young, Hebrew, men Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego lived a lifestyle reflecting the character of God. When the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar asked these men to switch from worship of the only true and living God to bowing down in worship of his false god, they stood for God. The book of Daniel chapter 3 verses 17 through 18 (New International Version Bible) records that they said to Nebuchadnezzar, “17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up." These young men teach us NO MATTER WHAT STAND FOR GOD. 18 | P a g e
Today’s Christian culture is often counterculture to the Bible. Today’s Christian culture does not stand for God because it is permeated with covetousness that shows itself in the desire to become rich quick, to get everything wanted, to not be without anything and to go anywhere wanted. Many Christians want God’s glory without any story. Many have forgotten that as long as Christians are living for God we will suffer persecution. Romans 8:17 (Amplified Bible) says, “17And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.” The covetousness of lay Christians is also in formal Christian ministry. Too many Christian singers sing for the praise of people, the applause of the crowd and the fame from the world. The Apostle Paul counsels Christians that our first motivation is to please God and then secondly to please people in a way that does not contradict the Bible. 1 Thessalonians 2:4 (King James Version Bible) says, “4But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.” Many of today’s ministers are not talking and teaching much about the affect and effect of sin; instead they are entertaining us with words that make us feel good in the flesh but sick in the spirit for the purpose of extracting financial profit from us. The times 2 Timothy 4:34 talks about are upon us. 2 Timothy 4:34 (Amp) says, “3For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, 4And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions.” NO MATTER WHAT STAND FOR GOD. Carefully examine Bible teaching. All teaching in the name of God is not from God. Be responsible to learn the Bible for yourself. John 8:32 (KJV) says, “32And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” The Truth, which is another name for God, applied to your life will set you free from all bondages. The Truth can set us free suddenly. The Truth also sets us free over this earthly lifetime because God always has some area in our lives that needs to be matured through learning and living His Word, the Bible. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (Amp) says, “18And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.” Are you struggling with covetousness, drug addiction, divorce, lying, laziness, phony people pleasing, addictions, gossip, sex outside of marriage, over eating, false self-image, rebellion to godly authority or some other sin? Repent and request of God a way out of these sins. Christians are not standing for God in their own strength. God strengthens us to live reflecting His character. 1 Corinthians 10:13 (Amp) says, “13For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond 19 | P a g e
your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.” Eagerly pursue God through prayer. Eagerly purse God through reading, studying, meditating on and living out the Bible. NO MATTER WHAT STAND FOR GOD. John Lee Garrett, Sr., is the pastor and founder of Shepherd Missionary Baptist Church, Inc. of Tucker, Georgia. Contact him at his email address johnlgarrett1@yahoo.com, or visit his website at http://www.shepherdmbc1.org.
Turn on the Light By LaTanya Wooten Why curse the darkness And stumble in the night? He said His yoke is easy and His burden is light – Turn on the Light Now you’re thinking in hindsight after you Said what you said And did what you did You realize that it didn’t go unnoticed 20 | P a g e
Nor fall on deaf ears Repent, therefore, don’t wallow in self-pity He’s faithful and just to forgive Jesus hung, bled and died for many Now we are a city up on a hill that cannot be hid No more darkness to us or from us, right? - Turn on the Light Jesus, Jesus, Light of the world Closing chapters to sad stories Causing abundant blessings to unfurl Redemption came, His children are all free Let Him shine through the midst of strife No more bondage of the night life Why curse the darkness? - Turn on the Light 21 | P a g e
_______________________________________________________________ LaTanya Wooten is a Christian writer who lives in Temple Hills, Maryland. Contact her by email at sweet.bites@yahoo.com.
BIBLE TRIVIA QUESTIONS (VERSES ARE FROM THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE UNLESS NOTED OTHERWISE).
What is the name of Bathsheba’s grandfather? What job did her grandfather hold in David’s kingdom?
True or false. Isaiah’s wife was a prophetess?
True or false. James, the brother of Jesus Christ, was an apostle.
LOVE LIFESTYLE: "Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity," Luke 6:37-38 (The Message Bible).
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