SPIRIT-FILLED EDITION OF THE SHEPHERDS WITHOUT BORDERS LIGHTHOUSE BUGLE MAGAZINE : OCT.2011 by Bishop Steven Liberty Sr.

SHEPHERDS WITHOUT BORDERS LIGHTHOUSE BUGLE MAGAZINE: 2nd EDITION OCTOBER 2011

“All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matt. 28:18-20)

Psalms 91:1

EVANGELIST DEBRA LYNN-LAKE ROBERTS JOINS THE SHEPHERDS WITHOUT BORDERS LIGHTHOUSE BUGLE MAGAZINE STAFF AS EDITOR IN CHIEF!

Evangelist favor liberty returns to Dakar from Monrovia! CERTIFICATE OF REGONITION GOES OUT TO LONG SERVING MEMBERS OF THE SHEPHERDS MAGAZINE!

INSPIRED LEADERS CONTRIBUTING TO THIS EDITION OF THE SHEPHERDS WITHOUT BORDERS LIGHTHOUSE BUGLE MAGAZINE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Afterwards; Bearing One Another's Burdens & Romans 6 Made Safe for Grace: Added By Debra Lynn-Lake Roberts

DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO MAN! BY PASTOR JOHN BAZEMORE JR.

It Will Be Worth It!: By Susan C. Clark

The Redemption of God; The Word of God & don’t look back! Added By Catherin Skinner

TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont)

FAITH IN GOD: Added By Bishop Steven Liberty Sr.

“option #2 “ &“RoaR, no moRe” By Pastor Jeff Godsown !

The Restoration of All Things--Restoration of the Earth...By Kenneth White! & Restoration of All Things--Restoration of Universal Peace--Part One

SEPARATED? YOU ARE SET APART TO WIN!!!! : By Joseph King

EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP! : By Pastor Emmanuel Isiaka

What Ever You Are Full Of Is Coming Out! : By Dr. Leonard Robinson

TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont)

WISDOM KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING OF THE SIMPLE & MEANINGFUL! Babsie van der Berg

"A SLOW FADE"& EXPOSED BEFORE GOD By John Grace

The Days of Lot: By Pastor Joel McNabb

STOP EVIOUSNESS BECAUSE OF GOD BLESSINGS ON THE LIFE OF SOMEONE: THERE IS MUCH WHERE IT CAME FROM!

The Meaning of Faith: By David M. McNabb

BACK TO GOD AGAIN BY LINDA FAWKES

TABLE OF CONT (cont)

Handling The Brokenness Within Us: By Elder Pamela Richards

GOD'S ORIGINAL PLAN – the message of “the kingdom of god” : By Amos J. Young Sr.

From the deck of the bishop

Afterwards: Added by Debra lynn-lake Roberts

Light after darkness, gain after loss, Strength after weakness, crown after cross; Sweet after bitter, hope after fears, Home after wandering, praise after tears. Sheaves after sowing, sun after rain, Sight after mystery, peace after pain; Joy after sorrow, calm after blast, Rest after weariness, sweet rest at last. Near after distant, gleam after gloom, Love after loneliness, life after tomb; After long agony, rapture with bliss-Right was the pathway leading to this. ~ Penned by Frances R. Havergal ~

I DON'T HAVE TO LISTEN TO MAN! by Pastor John Bazemore Jr

I DON‟T HAVE TO LISTEN TO MAN!! This statement has become a battle cry for the rebellious and the unrepentant in heart. It is the result of a foundation of disobedience that is now bearing its fruit. It has all the wrappings of hurt that has not been given a covering of prayer and forgiveness. It is a spirit of independence that flourishes in an atmosphere of confusion. It impacted Miriam, Korah, Absalom and Judas. If MAN can give you a prophetic word for a blessing and you receive it, how does that same MAN become instantly incompetent to give you a word of correction or reproof? If he is abiding by the word of God, he‟s obligated to; REPROOF, REBUKE and EXHORT! I have a ministry covering that gives me positive feedback, correction and guidance. Most of my good decisions came as a result of LISTENING TO MEN, who hear from GOD!! Be careful how you DISDAIN the creature, but yet you say you LOVE the creator. It just doesn‟t match. We must be forthright and honest with ourselves and ask this question, "Why is it so difficult for me to receive instruction or correction from someone else?” Do we understand that the very Bible that we read, study, and preach from, was inspired by God but came to us through the agency of MAN? Most of what we read in the New Testament is instructions on how we should live and fellowship with God. They were divinely inspired but came from the hands of MEN. The most powerful sermon recorded in the Bible, on the Day of Pentecost, came from a MAN. The instructions we have on marriage came from a MAN, who was divinely inspired by God.

What if we said, "I will not listen to man, but go to God myself for instructions on how to live, get saved, and stand victoriously. Foolishness Right? Yet this is what you are saying when you say, "I donâ&#x20AC;&#x;t have to listen to man. Power, Authority, and Intimacy come to us as we willing submit to one another as servants. Jesus grew in wisdom as He submitted Himself to the authority of His parents. When His season came for ministry, His first act was to find John the Baptist, a MAN, to be baptized so that He could be released into ministry. If order worked for Jesus, it should work for us. Elisha submitted to Elijah; Joshua submitted to Moses; the priests submitted to Aaron the High Priest; The widow listened to the prophet who told her what to do to survive; Hezekiah listened to Isaiah for added years to his life; Naaman listened to Elisha and was healed of leprosy; The man who was lame listened to Peter and was healed. I could go on and on but i think the point is made. Paul said, "That ye be not slothful, but imitators of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises"!! Hebrews 6:12. When men and women of God that has authority in your life give you a word from the Lord, you should have the type of relationship with them that you trust they are hearing from God. If you can't, place yourself under someone to whom you can submit, listen, and learn from. After Paul's conversion, he was given instructions to go and find Ananias for further instructions. That's God's Way!!

Bio of Pastor John Bazemore Jr Pastor Bazemore is the founder and pastor of Restoration Christian Ministries, located in North Brunswick, NJ. He is highly anointed in the area of financial stewardship and has traveled across the country preaching and teaching this message. He is a graduate of Bloomfield University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice He currently just finished writing a book entitled "From Despair to Repair, which details his experience taking care of his previous spouse, Janet , who eventually passed from complications of Multiple Sclerosis. He is married to the lovely Nancy Darlene Bazemore, and together they are forging ahead in the vision that God has given them for Restoration of the Walking Wounded. Contact information jbazemorej@gmail.com

It Will Be Worth It! : By Susan C. Clark

To those who overcome in the midst of adversity, He will give increased authority (Revelation 2:26). You have indeed been tried by the fires of Hell, yet you have remained steadfast. As you thrust yourself into the bosom of your Father, you walk away having learned the secrets of His heart. You are no longer as easily beguiled or overwrought by the enemy, but you see now with the eyes of Heaven. You are made sober in spirit, yet gentle as a dove. God Never Said it Would be Easy! Have you been attacked by the enemy? Have you been hit so hard that you've wanted to die? Has someone torn your heart out and trampled on it? Have you been betrayed, lied about or robbed? God never said this life would be easy, He only said that a life lived for Him would be worth the battle! Every battle worth fighting is difficult. It was not easy for Jesus to die for the sins of the world. It was not easy for the early Christians to die for their faith or for the pilgrims to come to America to find religious freedom. What they faced was not easy for them, but it was worth it! And we thank God for them. These people knew that they were not fighting their battles for themselves alone, but for those their lives would affect. The forefathers of the United States had a dream of a great nation, and they fought and died for their dream. God had a dream of making us a part of His family: Jesus died to bring that dream to life. It was extremely difficult, but we were worth it to Him. Never Give Up! It is always easier to give up â&#x20AC;&#x201C; to leave your ministry, church or family, but it is often the easy road that leads to destruction. The seemingly shortest or easiest path is usually a mistake. Hold your ground, stay on course and you will have a great victory...if you do not give up. At times, when I have gone to

the Lord with my pains or complaints, He will speak this short simple phrase to me: "Did you think it would be easy?" The Lord has given us a great destiny to fulfill, but He never promised that it would be easy. In fact, He told us it would be difficult. He said, "In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). Sometimes in the midst of the trial we are facing we get discouraged and disheartened. It is easy to think we have had more than our share of attacks. But in those times we need to be reminded that God knows of our difficulties and He is not panicked. He knew it wouldn't be easy for us, but He knew that if we did not give up, we would win. And the victory that we would enjoy would be well worth the fight. There will always be someone who thinks they could do your job better than you. They feel as though they are more anointed than you and it seems there is no end to their criticisms. Of course, the enemy tries his very best to convince you that they are right in their opinions, but they are NOT! You must hold your ground! If you give up your position in the Body of Christ, the place you've held is then left unprotected and others will suffer. God has you where you are for a reason; someone has to hold that position. You do not know how many lives you are affecting just by being where you are. What you are doing is important. It is important for your own personal well-being as a child of God, and to others. Your battle is not for you alone, but for the Kingdom of Heaven. Your fight of faith is for the Lover of your soul, and that others may know of Him and love Him, too. Elijah's Despair After the prophet Elijah had the prophets of Baal killed with a sword (1 Kings 18:40), King Ahab told his wife Jezebel what Elijah had done. "Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah saying, 'So may the gods do to me and even more, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time'" (1 Kings 19:2). After hearing her threat, Elijah was afraid and ran for his life into the wilderness. He was filled with hopelessness and despair (1 Kings 19:3-4). After one of the greatest victories of his life he felt like a failure. He felt overwhelmed by the evil of his day and hopeless to overcome it.

The enemy can at times come in like a flood and tear apart our faith, leaving us discouraged and feeling hopeless to fight it. We may lose sight of our vision because of the pain we feel, just as Elijah lost sight of all that God had done through him. He lost his focus and was not able to see the true picture of what God was doing through him, and he felt like a failure. Elijah lived his life in obedience to God, doing great things for Him. Yet he wanted to die because of the despair he felt. Maybe Elijah did not do all that he wanted to do for God, but he did do what God wanted him to do. He needed to be reminded of the truth of his situation to shake off the hopelessness he felt. And so do we. I have felt much like Elijah. I have experienced the sting of the enemy and felt the hopelessness he can bring. But somehow, with God by my side, I made it through that time. Step by carefully-placed step I walked together with God out of satan's death trap. I found myself being carried by God through my fiery trial, and what I thought would be the end of me was really only the beginning of more of Him. When you feel like you will go crazy, but don't... When you know that satan wanted you dead, but you're not... When you want to give up, but continue on, that is when you begin to know God as He truly is. You know He is holding you, and carrying you through. When I read in 1 Kings 19:4-7 of how the angel of the Lord brought Elijah bread and water from Heaven while he rested under the juniper tree, I see the power of our loving Father to restore us. After the touch of the Lord, Elijah was sustained for the next forty days as he journeyed to the mountain of the Lord, where he met with God (verses 8-9). Elijah continued to remind God of his trouble, but God responded by telling him to return to his position of authority (1 Kings 19:15). We see in God's instructions to Elijah to anoint Hazael as king over Aram, Jehu as king over Israel, and Elisha as his successor, not only His plan of victory over evil (1 King 19:17) but an increase in authority given to Elijah to carry out His plan. God did not pity Elijah, but restored him and sent him back to fulfill the plans that He had for him. We Will Be Victorious

Indeed, you have been treated unjustly; they have lied about you and cursed you. Jesus said they would speak evil against us (Matthew 10:17-28). He told us that we would be persecuted because of Him. But He also said we would receive a rich reward for every lie, curse or unjust act we have faced for His sake (Matthew 5:11-12). Yes, He did warn us of what we would face, but He also said it would be worth it. It is worth it because we will be victorious! Someday we will all be together with our Lord and we will see our enemy for what he truly is. We will wonder then how it was even possible for him to cause us trouble. We will marvel at what a forlorn creature he is, the rejected of Heaven (Isaiah 14:19; Luke 10:18). In 1 Peter 5:8, satan is described as a roaring lion. He is indeed a roaring lion, and with his roar he unleashes accusation, intimidation and deception, because he knows that if we are able, even for a moment, to see him as he really is, we will no longer fear him. Our enemy is defeated! He is a toothless lion who makes a lot of noise! Jesus is our victor and it is He who has removed the sting of death from our enemy (Luke 10:18-20), taking out his teeth. He has given us His victory and there is now more power in even the youngest babe in Christ than there is in satan's whole demon lair. "Greater is HE who is in you, than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). Do not listen to the lies of the enemy. He will try to intimidate you, but he has no real power over those who are in Christ. Do not listen to the voices of intimidation, manipulation and condemnation, because your heavenly Father loves you and He is fighting for you. Beloved, it will be worth it! Victoria Boyson Speaking Life Ministries Email: victoria@boyson.org

The Redemption of God; Added By Catherin Skinner

I will deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I will redeem thee out of the hand of the terrible. Jeremiah 15:21 (KJV) Have you gone too far? As I was meditating on this passage of scripture I could hear the words, who has bewitched you? As I looked back over my journey, with God, I could see how I allowed people to interfere with what I knew better. I know better not to place man on a pedestal. I know not to put my trust in man before God. I know not to obey man, over God, yet I have fallen prey to the human race. Well there is hope for our God has promised that He "I willâ&#x20AC;? the Lord Jehovah, Himself, interposes to deliver, and redeem His people. The Lover, of my soul, has promised that He would deliver me out of the hand of the wicked and redeem me out of the hand of the terrible. God ,which is my/our spiritual Husband has pledge personally to rescue me/us. Jeremiah 54: 5For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel (Catherin).The God of the whole earth shall he be called. Isaiah 54: 14In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee. 15Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. The most comforting part about this message is that His own arm will do it that He may get the glory.

You see we can not do this in our own strength nor our weakness for we do not need to assist God in doing what only He alone is capable of doing. So many times we get in the way of what God is doing in our lives by trying to assist Him as if He needs our help. When we learn to truly step back and let go and allow God to be God in our lives then and only then will we truly be saved, In my experiences I have come to learn that I can not save me from me nor anyone else. It is a God thing! Like the sun is in the heavens, shines out resplendent in all-sufficiency. Peace, you unbelieving thoughts-be still and know that the Lord reigns. In this passages of scripture there is no words saying that our, Lord, need the help of neither companions nor relatives; for He undertakes the work alone. Since the promise comes from God, it would be well to wait only upon Him, and when we do so, our expectations never fails us. In all times of fiery trial, in patience let us possess our souls. Lord God: I humble myself with a heart of thanksgiving and gratitude for You being first of all my Maker, my spiritual Husband, The Lover of my soul. I thank you that you are God all by yourself and that you do not need the help of anyone else where I am concern. Lord, I, thank you for delivering and redeeming me from the hand of the wicked and the terrible. I thank you that "No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.â&#x20AC;? I declare and decree these things in the mighty name of Christ Jesus. Amen!! Inspired by God Strengthen My Spirit By Charles H Spurgeon Reflections by Catherin Skinner

FAITH IN GOD: Added By Bishop Steven Liberty Sr. A VERY TOUCHING STORY OF INNOCENCE AND FAITH IN GOD ! A LASTING TRUST AND TOUCHING FRIENDSHIP THE REACHES THE VERY CORE OF THE HEART !

Wall Photos FAITH IN GOD: Take time to read and to share with your friends. Somewhere in Milaor, Camarines Sur, there lived a fourth grader boy who would follow this route to school everyday: He has to cross the rugged plains and cross the dangerous highway where vehicles are recklessly driving to and from. Once past this highway, the boy would take a short cut, passing by the Church every morning just to say Hi to God, and faithfully say his, "Magandang umaga po" in Bicol dialect. He was faithfully being watched by a Priest who was happy to find innocence so uplifting in the morning, "Kamusta, Andoy? Papasok ka na?" "Opo padre ... "he would flash his innocent grin, the priest would be touched. He was so concerned that one day he talked to Andoy. "From school...", he advised "Do not cross the highway, you can pass through the Church and I can accompany you to the other side of the road...that way I can see that you are home safe...." "Thank you father ... " "Why don't you go home ... why do you stay in this church right after school?"

"I just want to say 'Hi' to my friend, God," and the priest would leave the boy to spend time beside the altar, talking to himself, but the priest was hiding behind the altar to listen to what this boy has to say to his heavenly FATHER. "You know my math exam was pretty bad today, but I did not cheat although my seatmate is bullying me for notes... I ate one cracker and drank my water, Itay had a bad season and all I can eat is this cracker. Thank you for this! I saw a poor kitten who was hungry and I know how he feels so I gave my last cracker to him ... funny but I am not that hungry. Look, this is my last pair of slippers ...I may have to walk barefoot next week, you see this is about to be broken... but it is okay....at least I am still going to school.... Some say we will have a hard season this month, some of my classmates have already stopped going to school .... please help them get to school again, please God? ....Oh, you know, Inay hit me again, it is painful, but I know this pain will pass away, at least I still have a mother.... God, you want to see my bruises? I know you can heal them.... Here... here and .... oh ...blood ....I guess you knew about this one huh? Please don't be mad at Inay, she is just tired and she worries for the food in our table and my schooling that is why she hits us....Oh, I think I am in love ... there's this pretty girl in my class, her name is Anita ... do you think she will like me? Anyway, at least I know you will always like me, I don't have to be anybody just to please you, you are my very best friend! Hey your birthday is two days from now!!! Aren't you excited? I am! Wait till you see, I have a gift for you . but it is a surprise! I hope you will like it! Oooops, I have to go ..." then he stood up and calls out, "Padre, padre, I am finished talking to my friend .... you can accompany me to the other side of the road now" This routine happens everyday. Andoy never fails. Father Agaton shares this every Sunday to the people in his church because he has not seen a very pure faith and trust in God, a very positive look at negative situations.

One Christmas day, Father Agaton was sick so he could not make it in the Church, he was sent to the hospital. The Church was left to 4 manangs who would chant the rosary in 1000 miles per hour, would not smile and would always find fault in what you do, they were also very well versed in cursing if you irritate them! They were kneeling, saying their kilometric rosary when Andoy, coming from his Christmas party,playfully dashed in. "Hello God! I ......" "P----!! (a curse) bata ka!! Alam mo nang may nagdadasal!! Alis!!" Poor Andoy was so terrified, "Where's Father Agaton? He is supposed to help me cross the street ... and to be able to cross the street I will have to pass by the back door of this church .not only that, I have to greet Jesus. It is His birthday, I have a gift right here.... " Just as he was about to get the gift out of his shirt, the manang pulled his shirt and threw him out of the church. "Susmaryosep!!! (does the sign of the cross fervently) Alis kang bata ka, kung hindi matatamaan ka!!! So the boy had no choice but to cross the dangerous side of the road in front of the church. He crossed. A fast moving bus came in. There was a blind curve. The boy was protecting his gift inside his shirt, so he was not looking. There was so little time. Andoy died on the spot. A lot of people crowded the poor boy, the body of a lifeless young boy ... Suddenly, out of nowhere a tall man in a pure white shirt and pants, a face so mild and gentle, but with eyes full of tears... He came and carried the boy in His arms. He was crying. Curious bystanders nudged the man in white, and asked, "Excuse me sir, are you related to this child? Do you know this child?" The man in white, His face mourning and in agony, looked up and answered, "He was my best friend . " was all he said. He took the badly wrapped gift in the bloody chest of the lifeless boy, and placed it near His heart.

He stood up and carried the boy away and they both disappeared in sight. The crowd was curious ... On Christmas Eve, Father Agaton learned of the shocking news. He visited the house, and wanted to verify about the man in white. He consulted the parents of Andoy. "How did you know that your son died?" "A man in white brought him here." sobbed the mother. "What did he say?" The father answered, "He did not say anything. He was mourning. We do not know him and yet he was very lonely about our son's death, as if he knew our son very well. But there was something peaceful and unexplainable about him. He gave me my son, and then he smiled peacefully. He brushed my son's hair away from his face and kissed him on his forehead, then he whispered something..." "What did he say?" "He said to my boy..." the father began, "Thank you for the gift .... I will see you soon ... you will be with me..." and the father of the boy continued, "and you know for a while, it felt so wonderful ... I cried, but I do not know why....all I know is I cried tears of joy.... I could not explain it, Father, but when that man left, something peaceful came over me, I felt a deep senseof love inside ... I could not explain the joy in my heart, I knew my boy is in heaven now but...tell me, Father, who is this man that my son talks to everyday in your church, you should know because you are always there ... except at the time of his death ......"Father Agaton suddenly felt the tears welling in his eyes, with trembling knees, he murmurred, " ... He was talking to no one ......but .. GOD...." If you love this story, please. share this on to your friends. So you can touch others too. Joram By: I am 100% Filipino!

“ Option #2 “ By Pastor Jeff Godsown !

Option #2, in this day of getting ready for upcoming campaigns for election or re-election, it sounds a whole lot like a choice at the polls. It in fact is a choice, Phm 1:14 14-16 But I came to a decision in my heart to do nothing without your consent, in order that your goodness might not be as it were by compulsion but of your own free will. For perhaps on this account he was parted for a brief time in order that you might be possessing him fully and forever, no longer in the capacity of a slave, but above a slave, a brother, a beloved one, beloved most of all by me, how much more than that by you, both in his human relationship and in the Lord. God gave us the free will to accept Him and His ways, that you might be free from the sentence of death. However; in todays society, living with the polutions of today‟s world, few seem to understand, we make unwitting choices that can still effect the outcome of our eternal residence. Thus whether knowingly or unknowingly, we choose option #2. Deu 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: Jos 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. The above scriptures tell us to make a conscious choice to follow God in all His ways, choosing life or option #1.

This offers the downside of things, either choose God or the masters of your own making, option #2. So what could I be saying that to me and many others is so important, that I write this to you for you to be informed and remain redeemed, working out your salvation with fear and trembling? I‟m letting you know, because some of yoou have chosen, wrong paths, your eternal resting place, may not be where you hoped. It‟s time we got our thinking correct and leave our assumptions, leaning to our own understanding, out of the mix, and choose the abundant everlasting life of God through our redeemer, Christ Jesus. Mat 13:37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; Mat 13:38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; Mat 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. Mat 13:40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. Mat 13:41 The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity; Mat 13:42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Mat 13:43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. Salvation into the Kingdom of Heaven is only guaranteed to those who overcome, by doing the Word and will of God. That just totally blows the cliché‟ "once saved, always saved completely out of the water, like the sinking ship it is. Father God made a perfect point for us to follow, a set of commands as it were, that we will be saved. How can we know what those commands are if we do not obey? Read, study, love, apply faith, walk in and with the Spirit, know God‟s Word, know God‟s will for your life, dig deep and keep digging, even if yoour back is sore and yoour hands are bloody from the labor.

Mat 13:44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Mat 13:45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Mat 13:46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. Mat 13:47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: Mat 13:48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. Mat 13:49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, Mat 13:50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Mat 13:51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. Mat 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. The choice is up to the individual, option #1, life or option #2, absolute suffering and the second death. For those who choose option # 1, life, let us never forget to hold the weaker vessels up in prayer and speak the washing of the Water of life over them, in faith and hope, they will make a better choice. Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith, but remember, option #2 still exists in this. Isa 45:23 I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. Rom 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Php 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. Let us all make proper choices, choose you this day whom you will serve and God bless you.

The Restoration of All Things--Restoration of the Earth...By Kenneth White !

Like everything else the earth has suffered the curse ever sincethe fall. The very ground itself has been cursed for man`s sake.The productiviness and life giving power it once possessed has vanished from it with the coming of the curse. God told Adam, "Because you hsvr listened unto the voice of your wife(soul) and have eaten of the tree(carnal mind) which I told you not to eat saying, Thou shall not eat it, cursed is the ground for your sake;in sorrow shall you eat of it all the days of your life;thorns and thistles shall it bring unto you; and you shall eat the herb of the field; and in the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return to the ground."Gen 3:17-19 No man has ever been able to remove the curse from earth. Man does not understand how the earth is capable of bringing forth, nor does he understand the creative ministry that Adam enjoyed when he was given the joy of dressing the garden. However, the sons of God has received a ministry of removing the curse from the earth. This shall be restored, for it is written:"Every valley shall be exhalted, every mountain shall be brought low, or humbled, and every hill shall be made low; and the crooked path shall be made straight and the rough places plain:And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it."Isa.40:4-5 "The wilderness and solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom like a rose. it shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing:...The parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water(spiritual life);in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes." Isa 35:1 vs 27

We can go on endlessly about the earth being restored from the blight of the curse, but we need to look to the future when the sons bring about all these changes in the earth. The sons shall have complete power over all the earth, the elements, and the universe as well. The rule of the sons could be compared with that of Joseph. He had the answers to the problems of Egypt given to him by God. Invested in the sons when they mature is power to teach man to live in peace by removing all carnality which produces wars and fighting. The sons will show mankind how to produce energy from coal and oil clean and effecticely at a minimal cost to the inhabitants of the earth. As Joseph taught the Egyptians how to grow wheat, irrigate, and store up food for the days of famine, so will the sons do the same for mankind. This is a process which will take a 1000 years to complete until the last enemy of death is finally put under the feet of Jesus. The governments of the world will all flow into Zion(the sons) to learn of god`s ways and to hear from the sons about a god they never knew existed. The whole earth shall come to a full knowledge of the lord. The sons in their spiritual beings shall have domination over all lower forms of life including man still in a fleshly being, but being changed from the image of the earthly into the image of the heavenly as they hear the word from the sons which has eternal power in their words to change even the cells of man`s body to kill the man of sin in them, and then shall all mankind be brought into the glory of the eternal city, The New Jerusalem where there is no more death or any part of the curse left to deal with. this is when the rest of mankind shall have been clothed with their new bodies which have no stain of the curse left in their beings. They have put on the linen clean and white, which is the righteousness of the saints.They shall be able to enter the Holy City to eat of the tree of Life. and then comes the time after the Kingdom, called the "Fullness of Times'...

Breaking free from Mystery Babylon: what a great day is at hand

SEPARATED? YOU ARE SET APART TO WIN!!!! : By Joseph King

THE POWER OF SEPARATION

ALONE AND SET UP TO WIN IS ONE OF GOD'z WAYZ IN VICTORY. One of the ways God employs for a winner to remain on course is separation: A difficult but necessary experience. Sometimes you may have to break camp if you must breakthrough. A careful study of Jacob reveals that it was the lonely moments of Jacobs‟s life that drew him closer to God, and therefore his victory. It was away from his fathers shadow, running from his brother‟s anger, and missing his mother‟s counsel and compassion that God opened to him the gates of heaven (Genesis 28:12-17). Again, it was without the comfort of his belongings, the support of his wives, children and servants that God appeared and wrestled with him (Genesis 32:22-30). It seems as if God ordained Jacob‟s feet to lonely places reserved just for the two of them. And it seems that these duo dates functioned as important turning points in the patriarch‟s process to victory.

It is the way of God that great winners are trained in secret. This method can be observed in the testimony of the great prophet Moses: God was not content to use him while he was still confined in the palatial comfort and favor of Pharaohâ&#x20AC;&#x;s dynasty. As a result, the author of the book of Hebrews tells us that Moses despised his privileges preferring to identify with the downtrodden of the Lord (Exodus 2:11; Hebrews 11:24-27). Nevertheless, he was equally rejected as a leader among the Hebrews (Exodus 2:14). And so, we witness an elderly, dejected and recluse man forgotten by both Pharaoh and his own kin nevertheless being chosen in the wilderness by God (Exodus 3 & 4). Again, we witness how God was not satisfied to mould a popular David. No sooner than the crowds had finished their chants of praise for the young hero than Saul was on his pursuit (1 Samuel 18:7-11). Alone in the wilderness Jehovah tutored him on leadership. Many would agree that his most inspiring psalms were authored in these trying times. And after all, it was without a cheer that he had learned to kill giants (1 Samuel 17:34-36). All through the scriptures we witness heroes that God carefully chose and processed in secret. The novel account of Gideon is one that provides a lot of inspiration. Here was a young man, cowardly, alone, and helpless in the face of the adversity suffered by his people under the Midianites. All he did was spend the day pondering and dreaming of a God that did great things in the past. He did not even have faith for his day. And yet it is while he was in his own self-sentenced solitary confinement that God calls him to be a leader of his people (Judges 6:11-23). For all the lessons the scriptures provide on this experience yet no one in scripture, and we can assume in life in general, mastered and balanced the art of separation as well as Jesus Christ. So often our Lord abandoned the pressing crowds for the lonely heights of mountains and deserts where He was alone (Matthew 4:1-11; 14:23; 17:1). The lesson cannot be overemphasized that before He arose to the Highest Throne of Heaven and the worship of angels and the multitudes, He endured the loneliness of the cross (Matthew 27:46). The point is: The further away one is from others the closer one will be to God. Before the reward is the price. Jesusâ&#x20AC;&#x; words educate us when He cautions us that unless a seed falls down and abides alone, it cannot grow and bear much fruit (John 12:24). Other spiritual generals in the scripture elaborate this principle: Paul spent a number of years after his conversion alone in Arabia (Galatians 3:17); Elijah was alone at Mount Horeb when he heard the whisper (1 Kings 19:7-14);

Elisha his servant was without the company of the prophets when he got the double portion (2 Kings 2:9-15). Contemporary world leaders of Gods people all attest to the benefits of separation. The remarkable prophet William Branham that carried the Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x;s healing virtue around America and the world in unprecedented revival meetings in his time regularly spent days and nights in lonely mountain hideouts seeking the face of God. Similarly, the world-healing evangelist Benny Hinn confesses to spending times alone before ministering in any of his world-famous crusade meetings. The results are consistent whether it is biblical characters, medieval ministers or contemporary world-famous evangelistsâ&#x20AC;&#x; separation leads to impartation, which in turn guarantees performance, victory and promotion. A lot of saints like the Lord to saturate them with His anointing and wonder why they never get filled. The answer may well be that before being saturated with the anointing one ought to allow to be separated by the anointing. This was the marvelous experience the Holy Ghost shared with Jesus. After baptizing Him in the Jordan, the scriptures say He was compelled by the Holy Ghost to go into the wilderness. Following which, He returned filled with power (Luke 4:1-15). (If this word has blessed you and you would love to read more material by brother Joseph, kindly visit his wall and profile/notes where you can delve into a world of deep revelation and power. And if you still want more from him, feel absolutely FREE to visit his website @ www.josephkingbooks.com where all his books can be read, downloaded, or listened to for FREE!!!!)

Bearing One Another's Burdens: Added By Debra Lynn-Lake Roberts

There is a great difference in reading the Word vs applying the Word and allowing it to LIVE in us and through us. One of the things that I see is a whole lot of people preaching the Word but not LIVING it out! One area this is evident in is "bearing one anotherâ&#x20AC;&#x;s burdensâ&#x20AC;?. I found this article that explains exactly what I am referring to and want to share it with you to encourage you to not only learn what it means but to apply it to the next opportunity you are given to truly LOVE your neighbor. That neighbor might be half way around the world, but when God tugs at your heart to help someone who needs it, DO IT, show them by your ACTIONS how much you LOVE them!!! Bearing One Another's Burdens Galatians 6:1-5 If you are looking for a way to carry out Christ's command to love your neighbor, Paul has a suggestion: bear their burdens. At some point, everyone struggles under the weight of an oppressive situation. Believers have an obligation to get under that load next to their brothers and sisters. Jesus sets the pattern for burden bearing. He calls to Himself all who are heavy-laden and gives them rest (Matt. 11:28-29). Since God predestines believers to be conformed to Christ's likeness, we must imitate His care and concern for those who suffer. Acts 4:32 shows that the early church followed His example. To lift the load of poverty, they pooled their resources so that no one was in need.

Paul's letters make clear his concern for the physical and spiritual welfare of growing churches. He fasted and prayed for them and sent missionaries when he could. He felt it was his responsibility to strengthen them, even though he sustained a personal hardship--his thorn in the flesh (2 Cor. 12:7). A believer cannot wait until his life is clear of obstacles before reaching out to others, since that day may never come. Even though we have our own needs, we can do all things through Christ's strength--including sharing someone else's adversity (2 Cor. 12:9). When you're willing to wade into someone else's troubles to help that person hold up under the weight, two things happen. First, he or she receives desperately needed blessings in the form of aid, support, and love. And second, you fulfill God's command to love a neighbor as yourself. Granted permission for personal use---Copyright 2011 In Touch Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved. www.intouch.org.

The Word of God: By Catherin Skinner

Hebrews 4:12 (King James Version) "12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Deaf adjective 1. Partially or wholly lacking or deprived of the sense of hearing; unable to hear. 2. Refusing to listen, heed, or be persuaded; unreasonable or unyielding... 1 Corinthians 2: 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Hebrews 4:11Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbeliefâ&#x20AC;Ś. 14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Now is the time for all good men and women to come together and heed the voice of God through His Word and not harden our heart nor close our minds when we hear the unadulterated Word, but hear the Spirit of God, speaking within our hearts and minds. Are you yielded to the Spirit of the Living God? Donâ&#x20AC;&#x;t allow your soul to be cast into the lake of fire because of disobedience, He that has an open ear let them hear what thus saith the Lord God of Host! Inspired by God Shared by Catherin Skinner

EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP! : By Pastor Emmanuel Isiaka

YOUR SUBORDINATES REFLECTS THE NATURE OF YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE AUTOCRATIC, DEMOCRATIC, THEOCRATIC, LAISSERFAIRE OR SUPPRESSIVE! MEMORY VERSE: "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn" (Prov 29:2). BIBLE READING: Proverbs 29:1-2 1 ¶ He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy. 2 ¶ When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. L Leadership is a very crucial subject in both secular and spiritual assignments. Destinies have been dashed or delayed by the absence of good leaders. Most families, churches, societies, states, and even nations are where they are because of the quality of leadership they have. Everywhere and in all facets of life, good leaders are sought for. People are looking for whom to follow. If the right leadership is in place, you can be guaranteed of good followership. No matter how laudable the goals and objectives an organization may have, if there are no good leaders to harness the resources of that organization, nothing good can come out of such an effort. "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn" (Proverbs 29:2). A lot is expected from us today as believers. If you claim to be a believer yet your reign as a leader is causing sorrow, tears and regrets, then you are a wicked fellow, not a believer.

Believers bring joy to the sorrowful, bring progress and not retrogression. What is your reign as someone in authority bringing to the life of those under you? The goal of governance is to positively affect and transform the lives of the governed and to bring glory to God. Can those under your leadership thank God for your life? Some people are only enduring the rule of their leadersspiritual and temporal. Surprisingly, some church leaders have become so tyrannical that their subordinates are afraid of expressing their minds. When this continues, it will lead to a high membership or ministerial turnover. Are you a leader? Are those under you rejoicing or sorrowing? Remember, you shall account for your subordinates. Are you delaying the payment of salaries and other benefits of your subordinates? Do you want God to withhold your own blessings for as long as you sit on those of others? Repent today! Turn a new leaf! Where you have offended or oppressed others, restitute today before it is too late! Many leaders are dealers. Are you a dealing leader? THE FATHER‟S BLESSING "I pray for you today as a leader you will not be guilty of the sins of your subordinate, you leadership will bring rejoicing and joy to your area and circle of influence. You will be effective in all your area of leadership and the Lord will be delighted in your activities in the name of Jesus‟ Name” (Amen) ACTION POINT FOR TODAY Take a written audit of your reign or government. Ask your subordinates to write freely and anonymously. Evaluate this and make amends. You are special, You are loved, You are appreciated My promise is to reply all mails

What Ever You Are Full Of Is Coming Out! : By Dr. Leonard Robinson

When you are full of where you are, God having brought you thus far, but you are not full of God, you will miss your moment and frustrate the grace of God, no matter how anointed you think you are. Without the childlike discipline of seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness you will think that you are grown and have arrived. Tragically, one of the greatest misconceptions of the Christian community is that our experiences with God signal God's approval and they do not. God said, "MY people, (His people) are destroyed for lack (want) of knowledge....... Because thou has rejected knowledge thou shalt be no priests to me." Paul told the Church at Ephesus that while it was great, wonderful and to be admired that they had faith towards Jesus and love of the brethren, that he was moved to pray for them that they would receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him (God). In other words, having a vertical relationship with God and a horizontal relationship with man is good, its great and wonderful, but its only the beginning. We need to receive the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God. Paul was a Kingdom man. He preached the Kingdom and he taught about Christ. People would travel far and wide to come to Paul's rented house and it was from there that he would receive all that came in to him and he preached the Kingdom of God and taught them about Christ. Paul said, "When you read my writings then you will understand the mysteries I have in God." Paul said in Rom. 14:17 "

The Kingdom is not meat or drink but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost." In 1 Cor. 4:20 Paul says that the Kingdom is not in Word but in Power. Philipp preached the Kingdom and so did James. James said "If you fulfill the ROYAL LAW of love then you do well." Peter preached the Kingdom. He said that you are "a ROYAL priesthood, a Holy Nation, a Peculiar (set apart) people who should show forth the praises of Him that has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Paul said in Col. 1:13 that you have been translated out of the dominion (kingdom) of darkness and into the Kingdom (dominion) of God's Son. These men were not full of themselves counting themselves as having arrived. They did not gloat in their offices but instead acknowledged that their office was thier assignment and they lived the God-kind of life manifesting the God kind of power for the Kingdom purpose that God brought them forth for. The Apostles knew and understood the Kingdom of God over time. Paul who came later was schooled by the same Holy Spirit through those who were appointed to him and brought Paul into the same revelation of our Kingdom citizenship and ambassadorship, having been called of God through Jesus Christ, to be one sent to the Gentiles that the Gentiles might believe the good news that the Kingdom has come, that Christ is the Messiah King of the Kingdom present and eternal, and that He is the only means of salvation for man and that we are all called of God to represent His kingdom and His Christ living in His image and likeness. Paul caught the revelation and his assignment was to articulate what God was revealing and God was revealing His Kingdom to Paul, the very Kingdom Paul preached, and Jesus who Paul taught about while also boldly proclaiming that Jesus is King. Paul's assignment in part was to make the mysteries of the Kingdom and what Paul had come to know concerning the ministry of Jesus Christ and the purpose of man known to all who would have an ear to hear, particularly the Gentiles to who he was called, yet Paul's earnest desire was to his own countrymen, the Jews that they might be saved and know this same Kingdom and Christ that Paul had come to know.How much do you really know about the Kingdom of God? Have you been seduced by the religious system too?

Are you well versed in the doctrine of salvation but marginally developed in the doctrine of the Kingdom of God? Have you been preaching the gospel of repentance unto salvation and missed the mark when it comes to preaching the gospel Jesus preached? Do you have enough courage to repent, become as a child allowing yourself to learn now, what we all didn't even know we needed to know, so that the firm foundation of the Kingdom of God would be the underlayment, the foundation planks of the doctrine of salvation? Or will you be like so many, who are proud and puffed up, afraid to admit that we've been duped by a loving and well meaning religious system? My prayer is that these truths will cause you to receive a Spirit of wisdom and revelation knowledge that you would fully embrace the whole counsel of God and not just that which they seduced us to believe is the whole gospel. Unless you are preaching the good news that the Kingdom has come, along with the good news that Christ is the Messiah King of the present, yet eternal kingdom, then you are not preaching the gospel Jesus preached and are not reaching the world with the gospel that will cause Jesus to return. How much courage do you have? How much faith do you have? Is your faith directed towards Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith? If so, then rediscover the Kingdom, see the assignment, discover the restoration of your dominion and obey the commandment of Jesus to teach all that Jesus taught the disciples. If you will be willing and obedient you will seek first the Kingdom and His righteousness and what the Father tells you in secret you will declare from the roof-tops, and God will honor His Word through Jesus, God will give you what you need, the very things the Gentiles seek. What they chase after daily; food, shelter, what they are going to drink, where they are going to live, all these things, all the things necessary for life and godliness will be just added to you. Grace and peace to you. Matthew 6:33 "But seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you." JESUS Dr. Leonard N. Robinson Kingdom Vision Ministries International 267-357-9816

WISDOM KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING OF THE SIMPLE & MEANINGFUL! Babsie van der Berg

Dont Mock God. a true story By Babsie van der Berg I know someone who once try to compromise with God. She was very sick. She smoke a lot and always said that you can take everything from her but you leave her cigarettes. One day I spoke very hard with her and her words to me was "If God heal me I will stop smoking" I told her not to play with the grace of God. Well, God healed her but she did not stop smoking. I confronted her and remind her about her promise to God. She still did not stop. Later when she went for a checkup they found the cancer again and this time it was worse. She was crying but you see don't ever play with God's grace. She is not with us today but thank God she repent on her death bed. I want to ask you, don't ever mock God or try to tell Him what He must do . Don't ever play with His grace. Don't ever make promises that you can't keep. Are you ready to face your God? Are you ready when its time for you to go home?

those ωho ƪoνed me:•♥ υ måde my heårt groω foηder• those ω cåre:•:) υ måde me feel ιmρortåηt• those ωho eηtered my lιfe:•({}) υ måde me ωho ι åm todåy• those ωho left:•:( υ ωed me thåt ηothιηg låsts forever• those ωho ståyed:•:D Yoυ shoωed me the trυe meåηιηg of ƪoνe & frιeηdShιρ•... O:)¤O:) O:)¤O:)O:)¤O:)O:)¤O:)O:)¤O:)O:)¤O:Based on the Lord's Prayer: Matt 6:9-13 By Babsie van der Berg "Our Father who art in heaven" we worship You who lives in heaven but who, in love and grace, is involved with us. "Hallowed be Your name" in my own life; in Your church and in all the people's hear's in the whole world. We rejoice together with the angels: " Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God almighty." -sa 6:3) "May your kingdom come" firstlr in my own heart and life. Help me to be Your faithful fitness. "May Your Will be done" over the whole earth and for the good of all humankind. May Your will be done in our homes, workplaces and schools. May we willingly bow before the authority of Your will - just as I heaven. Then, O God, there will be peace and reconciliation on earth. "Give us our daily bread" Provide us with those things that we truly need so that we can live. Provide it also to those across the earth who suffer lack; the hungry, the sick and the grieving. "Forgive us our trespasses" Those of wich we are aware of and those that we are not aware of; those that we purposefully commit and those that we have done unconsciously. As You forgive us, help us Lord, to forgive those who have done wrong to usm "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil" Daily we aresurrounded by temptations. Keep us standing through Your great love and mercy so that we can live on victorious ground "For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever" You, Lord our God, are above all others.

"A SLOW FADE": By John Grace

"Since all this is true,we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths we have heard, lest in any way we drift past them and slip away" (HEBREWS 2:1).

"..I found it necessary and was impelled to write to you and urgently appeal to you exhort you to contend for the faith.." (JUDE v. 3)

These are the last days!! We are in a time of perilous seduction and rampant heresy. Far too many have abandoned "the Way, the Truth, the Life", exchanging it for destruction, lies, and death. The Church Jesus endured such great agony to birth, has fled the shores of His Truth, jettisoning any of it which would hinder their own Babylonian pursuits. "Certain men have crept in stealthily...persons who pervert the grace of our God into lawlessness, wantonness, and immorality, and disown and deny our sole Master and Lord, Jesus Christ, the Messiah" (Jude v.4). Where, how, when did this happen. How did we not see it? Why didn't we cut it off at the roots? Good question. The writer of Hebrews tells us how. We did NOT pay attention. We were not diligent in contending for the truth. We allowed tiny, almost imperceptible mistruths to filter themselves in with the Truth. We compromised the Gospel for the sake of convenience. We did not cherish it properly, defend it vigilantly, nor "love not our own lives even unto death" for His sake. Succinctly, we let it "slip away".

The law of erosion degraded the purity of our Lord's Gospel until it became inoffensive, thus without value. The Hebrew saints, addressed in this letter had earlier endured their sufferings and losses, but were now finding it all too much to bear. As a result, they were finding it easier to cave, relent, compromise, than to continue thus. The author, inspired by the Holy Spirit, reminds them continuously of the greater glory of Jesus than the old way they served prior to Him. The angels, the Law, Moses, the priesthood..all paled in comparison to the Messiah Jesus. Those things were mere shadows, while He Himself was pure Light and Reality. He exhorted them to "hold fast your confidence" and to not "shrink back". We, today, are very much like them. Enough difficulties and distractions beset us and we, too, slip away. We muddle the path until it becomes impossible to navigate properly. I am here to exhort you, like Jude, to "contend for the faith". Anchor the ship of your soul in the harbor of truth and righteousness. DO NOT let the truth drift away from you. This is where the importance of FIXING your eyes upon Jesus comes in (Heb. 12:2). Look AWAY from the distractions. CAST OFF all which hinders and besets. Refocus!! We cannot any longer endure the heresies men have introduced as gospel. Oppose the perversions. If we don't, we and others with us, will fall prey to the philosophies of serpents and adhere to doctrines of demons ( I Timothy 4:1-2; Colossians 2:8). I exhort you now to "have the roots of your being firmly and deeply planted in Him (fixed and founded in Him), being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith" (Colossians 2:7..see also Jude 20-23). In short, be anchored. Don't be moved away from the truth. "Look to yourselves that you may not lose (throw away or destroy) all that we and you have labored for, but that you may (persevere until you) win and receive back a perfect reward (in full). II John, v.. Beloved, as I began this note, it's the last days. Contend or surrender. You decide!!

The Days of Lot : By Pastor Joel McNabb

What a wondrous age that we live in today, to think that our Lord Jesus Christ is about to return to this earth soon. The disciples of the early church did not have this hope to look forward to, their hope was in the resurrection, and they knew that Jesus was not coming back in their time, but knew he would return. One day after leaving the temple, while Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, his disciples came to him asking, "Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the worldâ&#x20AC;?(Mt. 24:3)? Jesus then proceeds to explain to them the specifics of these three occurrences, He tells them what to look for when the temple would fall, and that the day and hour that the earth would be destroyed no man knew, and talks about the signs of His coming and what those days would be like. Maybe we as believers today we should be more like those that walked with Jesus and ask more questions about what we have been taught, and question what will be the signs of His coming. Are we looking to the signs of his coming today, are we looking for the days of the son of man? If we are truly living in the last days, then the signs of His coming should be all around us. For over one hundred and fifty years we have been told He was coming and that we are in the last days, the doctrine that He could come any time has been with us many years. The years and days roll on, and many have passed on from this world, never seeing His return, never seeing his days. Here we sit still waiting and some of become complacent on the Lordâ&#x20AC;&#x;s return, because they still cannot see his days. "But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of, And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teethâ&#x20AC;? (Mt. 24:48-51). The days of our Lord are here all we have to do is see the signs. "Why, seeing times are not hidden from the Almighty, do they that know him not see his daysâ&#x20AC;? (Job 24:1)? The signs are here and many are just going about their lives unaware that our Lord is coming soon. This scripture is clear, God knows what time it is and that his plans are right on schedule, and is asking us why we cannot see the days of the Lord. Jesus gave the wicked generation of Jews in his day a sign when that asked of Him a sign, and He said the only sign they would have was the sign of the prophet Jonas: and he left them hanging and did not even bother to explain. (Mt.12:39) When Jesus hung on the cross, died, and was in the grave three days and three nights, they did not see the sign. Our Lord didnâ&#x20AC;&#x;t leave us hanging concerning signs of His return, in Matthew 24 and Luke 17, we are told the signs of his days and what we should be looking for. We are told the days of Noah and Lot would be our sign, everything that took place in their day is a sign of what it will be like when the son of man returns. Jesus is not just telling us that life will be going on as normal when He comes back, although to those that are not looking at the signs it will be. The sign of Noah and Lot were to show that someone would know the times and seasons and days. These men were warned by God of emanate destruction that was to come and God delivered them from it. Noah prepared an ark for the saving of his house, and those animals that got on, two angels came to Lot and his family and lead them out before the fire and brimstone fell. These are our signs, if we are to know and see what it is going to be like when Jesus comes, we must look what happen to these men and ask God to give us understanding. I know that many will say we are not to know the day nor the hour, and they use Mt. 24:36 and Mr. 13:32, never bothering to ask what day or hour Jesus was talking about, it is just presumed that He is talking about when he will return. If we would take the time and read the verse above we can clearly see that Jesus is talking about a day the elements will melt with fervent heat and not His return. (2Pet. 3:10) We are told to take heed, for we know not when the time is, but we are not told that we will never know. Does God change? At the first coming of our Lord there was a great sign in the heavens, the wise men from the east even were aware of it, and made the journey to meet child born to be king of the Jews.

Jesus said, immediately after the tribulation of those days, then the sign of the Son of man would appear in heaven, and they shall see the Son of man coming in clouds of heaven. (Mt. 24:29-31) Will our eyes be open and be like the wise men at the first coming? "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed” (Mal. 3:6). We are told by Jesus, the days of Lot are a sign to us of his return, He even warned us to remember Lot‟s wife, which almost seems out of place if we are to believe the common doctrine taught today about the Lord‟s return. God sent two angels into Sodom before the destruction, to get those righteous out that would heed the warning. Before they were sent the Lord made a special visit with them to Abraham letting him know what was about to happen. The Lord said he was going to have a look a Sodom to see if the noise of their wickedness was as bad as He heard. Abraham pleaded for mercy and bargained with the Lord to not destroy the righteous with the wicked, and finally got the Lord to if there were ten righteous people that He would save Sodom. The Lord then turned with the other two angels to look at the wickedness in Sodom, the decision was thumbs down on the city and those that were righteous in it would be taken out before God would wipe Sodom off the map. Here we see that Abraham knew of the destruction before it happened and was desperately trying to see that the righteous would be saved. The judgment was set and Sodom would fall, on the eve of the calamity God sent the two angels to the city, to hurry those that would hear out. We see there was a little time that they could warn those righteous and get them out. When they came to Lot, he invited them to come to his home, and fixed them a meal of unleavened bread, perhaps to show us what time of year this took place. I know that the Law of Moses had not been given yet, but Moses did write this occurrence as the spirit of the Lord moved on him, the feast of unleavened bread was a was given to the children of Israel to observe, because God said, "for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever” (Ex. 12:17). God didn‟t just mention what kind of bread Lot had made to let us know what they were eating or how they made bread, He always has a meaning to what He tells us, so when we hear unleavened bread we should associate it with other places where it is mention. This also ties these two events together, Sodom and Egypt, where in both places God sends two in to deliver his people.

The time was running out the two angels ask Lot of his other family member in the city, besides the ones that were with him, to take them out of the place also. Lot went to his sons in laws, which were married to his other two daughters, now I say this to show that there were eight righteous that were in Sodom, because if there were ten or more God would have saved Sodom, because of his promise to Abraham. The destruction was coming so we have to hear that there were not ten righteous in the city, but Lot and his family were, Peter calls him just (2Pet. 2:7). I would like you readers here to see that there was time, though little, to try to let those few that trouble was coming and they could get out if they wanted to. Lot tells his sons in law and daughters, it is time to get out of this place and the Lord was going to destroy the city, but they would not listen and made fun of him, thinking he was crazy. As the day broke, the angel began to hurry Lot, telling him to take his wife and two daughters that were there and get out, lest they be caught in the iniquity of the city. Lot did not feel the urgency of the time, while he dawdled around, the angels grab him, his wife and daughters by the hand, the Lord being merciful to him, and brought outside the city. When the angels had brought them far enough, they told them to escape and not look back, to go to the mountain, lest they be consumed. Lot thankfully pleaded that the mountain was too far, and saw that there was a city near and that it was a little one, maybe he and his family could go there. God allowed Lot to go to the city that he would save that city for Lot‟s sake, but he has to hurry. I would like you to hear something in this passage that you may never have heard before when you were taught about the story of Lot. Here we see that Lot and his family made it out of Sodom safely before the destruction came and they made it to a little city, it is there that Lot‟s wife sees what is going on and looks back then turns into a pillar of salt. She didn‟t just turn her head around and took a glance at what was happening, if we read down a little farther in the passage we are told that Abraham look toward the city when it was being destroyed and he did not turn into salt. Lot‟s wife not only looked back, but turned back to her life and family that was left behind. I hear the words of Jesus, "Remember Lot‟s wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it” (Lu. 17:32-33) Lot‟s wife was safe from the harm, and turned to the life she had and the daughters and sons in law that had been left behind. We are taught today that this passage reveals the catching away, where one is taken and the other left, if we are taken to heaven how could what happen to Lot‟s wife reflect this.

Can you imagine someone being change to immortality, transporting to heaven and then all of the sudden decide to look back on the life that they were leaving. The Bible is a two edge sword, I believe those of you that read this paper have heard that before, and from the story of Lot and the deliverance of his family from the wickedness of Sodom, we can see how Jesus death and resurrection, has saved us from our sin. But there are two edges to the word of God and the story cannot just be about salvation, Jesus is clear in Mt. 24 and Mr.13:32, his word shall not pass away. The prophetic edge of the sword has to also take place, Peter said, heavens would hold Jesus till all the scriptures were restored or fulfilled. (Acts 3:20-21) Jesus has shown us the event that takes place in Lotâ&#x20AC;&#x;s days is one of the last things going to happen before he comes back. When Jesus gives power to his two witnesses and sends them out to proclaim his coming, as in the midnight cry, they will try to get as many out of the place where the judgment of the Lord will fall. The sons in law of Lot reveal there will be those that will mock the two witnesses, and will be caught unaware being left behind. The two prophets will then press the urgency to those that will hear, sending them where the body is and where Jesus will come. And when they have finished fulfilling their portion of the bible, the beast will make war with them and kill them. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified (Rev. 11:3-12). God sent two messengers into both of these cities and both events reveal what it will be like when Jesus will come back. In Egypt Moses and Aaron, the two wings of an eagle, that God had bring the children of Israel out to meet Him and gave them the covenant of marriage on Mount Sinai. The two angels to Lot to leave his life in Sodom and flee to the mountain, and he went to the city of Zoar. God even uses the letter "Zâ&#x20AC;? the city to reveal if was prophesying of the end, for Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, the author and finisher of our faith. We have been given the key to open our understanding if we will use is. All the Old Testament is prophecy according to the words of Jesus, and they have to be fulfilled. When Jesus finished his left behind story, his disciples wanted to know the place where those who were taken were, and he said, "Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered togetherâ&#x20AC;? (Lu. 17:37). Are we going to be like disciple, a question should pop up in our mind when we read the reply of Jesus, why did he call those that were taken eagles? The word eagle is a key word, use to describe Moses and Aaron in Ex.19 and the two witnesses, "

And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpentâ&#x20AC;? (Rev. 12:14). There were eight righteous in Sodom and only four heard the messengers, we are told that there were ten virgins that heard the midnight cry and only five made it into the wedding. Dear readers, we have reached the end of six thousand years from Adam, and the King of kings is coming. The words that are prophesied have to be fulfilled will be, and if we are not watching and waiting we will miss it and be left behind. I implore you today to shake yourselves, take the Bible of the stand next to you and open it up. It is time to be sure of what we know and ask the questions that we have had, but were content not to ask. If you are not sure of your salvation, there is time to get it straighten with the Lord before it is too late. Take a look at the world you are living in, do you think that God is going to let it continue in its iniquity? He is not. He is sending His Son to judge this world and all that are in it, those that will hear and endure to the end will be saved. I pray that we all will hear and prepare our hearts and be ready, so that day will not come up on us as a thief, "And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken throughâ&#x20AC;? (Lu. 12:39). People get ready Jesus is coming, will you be one of those eagles that are safe under the shadow of His wings? Ask the questions dear saint, Ask.

Restoration of All Things--Restoration of Universal Peace--Part One : Kenneth White

The reign of King Solomon with it`s universal peace is symbolic of the millenial reign of Jesus Christ. From the beginning of time war and strife have been so universal that mankind has accepted them as necessary evils and an important part of international relations. All nations have ministers of war and have their own military establishment large or small. War is the method of the carnal mind . Carnage and the carnal mind go hand in hand. Though nothing is ever truly settled by war, yet the carnal mind never learns it`s lesson. Should this age go on forever, there will still be armies and bloody wars in the earth. War exists not only on the international levels, but it is in the hearts of people. It is raged between families, husbands and wives,between rival gangs, and even in sports. The world of religion has it`s own war called "war of rivalry", for this has been the most bitter of all struggles and they never seem to end, neither are forgiven. All wars in history come from the carnal mind. This carnal mind is only interested in the carni, which is the flesh. This mind is the physical mind and not the spiritual mind. The carnal mind is concerned only with the things of the flesh--what it tastes, feels, hears, sees, and touches.The whole world exists for the sake of thes 5 senses, and for their gratification all war and strife exist and is waged. But the kingdom of God will not be governed bycarnal minded men but by the mind of Christ in the sons of god. This is the Father`s mind now being formed in the elect sons who are to rule creation from this new mind.This is the glorious mind of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding will be possessed in the fullest measure by every reigning son of God that peace might reign supreme among all nations and all the families of the earth.

It will change the nature of carnivorious beasts. This is when the wolf and the lamb shall lie down together and nothing shall hurt nor destroy in all God`s holy mountain(Kingdom), for the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Can you not see the coming kingdom of God in this earth and bringing an end to the carnal mind, the curse, and bring in eternal peace between man and even the animal kingdom as well as every other kingdom, small or great. What a great day for creation, even though the organized church has most of these nations going to a burning hell somewhere where they teach these nations of people will be there for eternity with no escape, even though this study on the restoration of all things proves that to be a lie from the carnal mi9nded religious system. We will conclude part two tomorrow evening, LW...KW

Breaking free from Mystery Babylon: what a great day is at hand!

“Roar, No More” By Jeff Godsown

The situations I have found myself in, are things that are common to all men, it‟s how I choose to handlle the situation that makes all the difference. 1Co 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Do I fall in with the ever growing crowd, or do I do proper justice, according to God‟s Word? Tests, sometimes exist as a measure of God, showing us our faults or weaknesses that need to be changed, sort of the trying by God in Psalm 139 and sometimes that revelation doesn‟t come until change has taken effect. It is a hateful thing to be tried and found guilty, then judged by those who are not your peers, but it goes on and like Job was allowed to be tested by satan through God‟s approval, so it goes on today. Like Job, so called friends, supposed brothers and sisters in will talk about you for what things are going on in your life, as if they have some super power of judgment, authorized by God. Keep in mind how Job‟s supposed "I‟m on your side” friends, deemed Job as a sinner for the things Job went through. They never came to the realization that it was an act or allowance of God to prove to satan that Job truly loved the Lord, while at the same time, ridding Job of his last bit of pride. If God is still the same, yesterday, today, and forever, then what makes any of us think we know how God works and what He‟s doing? Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

In todayâ&#x20AC;&#x;s church, we have some leadership who establish rules, because they lean to their own understanding, which not only allow parishoners to tattle and lie on one another, but actually encourage them to do so. Why they do not see this is wrong and wrong with God, I cannot answer, but nonetheless it is true. Many are those that have suffered at the hands of this effect, but there remains hope for you. We have the right to go to God and ask Him to send His angels, to shut the mouths of those who would devour us with their words of ill intent. Dan 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. Being lied about is no fun in itâ&#x20AC;&#x;s experience, but rest assured, God knows about it and He does not like it, He will shut their mouths and cause them to be at peace with you. When your actions, your life, your worship is pleasing to the Lord, you can expect from God and expect the Word of God to perform what He said. Pro 16:7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. God always honors His Word above all things, God even holds Himself accountable to His own Word. We need to have confidence; God will do exactly what He promised He would do. Take heart, study the Holy scriptures, know them, quote them and watch and see what, God our Father will do. God bless you as you step out in faith, with the confidence, God is faithful to His Word, and may His peace find you fully at rest, in Jesus name.

STOP EVIOUSNESS BECAUSE OF GOD BLESSINGS ON THE LIFE OF SOMEONE: THERE IS MUCH WHERE IT CAME FROM!

BISHOP STEVEN LIBERTY SR. Sometimes people want to destroy U because they see the Glory of God shining in your life. They asked "what makes him/her different; we pray to the same God & and do similar things. I even have a better car, church building, and organization & can speak, write or preach better than him/her; so what makes him/her different? Remember Cain & Abel? That same spirit of enviousness might destroy U that destroyed Cain & others in the Bible during Daniel's time if you are not careful. Be faithful & do exactly as God commanded U & U will be bless. Outward show , your material wealth or eloquent does not matter to God if U do not obey His word & walk as He commanded & to walk in order to inherit His presence all of the time ; even when thrown into the fire or a den of lions ! Do not envy me for being blessed by God; there is more than enough where I got mine for the obedient and faithful! Walk with your hands in God's hands and with your head lifted high, you will say with confidence day or night : "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever." (Many recite these words but do not know their true meaning or how and when to apply them to our personal lives!

EXPOSED BEFORE GOD: By John Grace!

"The lamp of the Lord searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being." (PROVERBS 20:27) Be warned, beloved. There is nothing in our lives, hearts, minds that will not be discovered sooner or later. We may be able to fool those around us; we may be able even to fool ourselves. But God cannot be fooled. There is nothing hidden that will not be exposed when God's lamp is shone there. So I ask you this: What will the light of God's truth find when He shines it on you! I seriously charge you in the Name of Jesus to "consider your ways" (Haggai 1:7). King David knew well of God's searching light. He declared "Lord You have searched me (thoroughly) and have known me" (Psalm 139:1). He continues to state how God is FULLY aware of his every move, every motive, every thought and intent of his heart. The Pharisees could not pull off their religious charade around Jesus. We are told that Jesus knew their thoughts. Every believer will stand before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of himself (II Corinthians 5:10). Paul says yet again, as a warning, "Be not deceived. God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man sows in his life, that shall he also reap (whether good or bad-Galatians 6:7-8). I say these things because I love you. Because God loves you. I don't want you to be misled or fail to reap the full reward God offers to the faithful (II John v. . You will not escape His piercing light. I urge you, beloved, in view of God's rich mercies, to take careful consideration of where you stand. I say this so you will not fall, nor have any reason to be ashamed at His appearing (II Peter 1:5-11; I John 4:21). Oh, beloved ones. Repent if you are hiding. Come out into the light before the light comes to you. Amen!!

The Meaning of Faith By David M. McNabb

The word faith is very common in modern usage. We are told to "keep the faith,” or to "have a little faith.” Business is presumably conducted in "good faith.” It appears that the use of the term faith is of a religious origin, but what exactly is meant by the word? In religious circles today, we hear terms like "interfaith” and "faith traditions.” From prominent Christian ministers you might hear about "seed faith,” and "the word of faith.” To be sure, the definition of faith will be different depending with whom you are speaking, and under what circumstances. Is it accurate to define faith as simply "believing” in something? Is this a fair usage of the word? For instance, through propaganda and deception on the part of adults, many children start out believing in utter falsehoods including Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy. The child’s belief in these myths is as sincere and real as their belief in the Almighty God, the Savior Jesus, or the ability of mom to kiss it and make it better. Does their belief in a lie constitute faith?

Even if you say: "My kid believes in Santa Claus,” could you encourage them to have faith in him? Regardless of the parents’ good intentions, they know that the day will inevitably come when the children realize that they were believing a lie, the holiday icons are not real, and the reason mom was kissing Santa was because Santa was dad. Faith and belief are not necessarily synonyms. You can believe that it will be sunny today, whether based on the weatherman’s best guess or simply on hope. You may be right, you may be wrong. In fact, we should consider what, if anything, differentiates the terms faith, belief, and even hope. For instance, you may not hope it will rain today, but you may believe it will from the available information. That said, one can see how hope and belief are similar. Both terms indicate a degree of expectation, but while you may believe in something regardless of the perceived benefit of the outcome, you reserve hope for that which you feel will have a positive result. When you are traveling over bridges and through tunnels, you have a reasonable expectation that the man-made structure will not fail. Some might say that they have "faith” in them, or in their engineering, but is a reasonable expectation the same as faith? Again, the case is better described as a belief, or hope, that the work of man’s hands will not "let you down.” The word of God tells us, "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick...” (Pro. 13:11). Hope can be misplaced, or remain unfulfilled. Again, the word of God says that it is possible to believe a lie and be damned (2 Thess. 2:11-12). The Egyptian belief system called for mummification of the body, and laying up treasures in the mortuary, so that the deceased could be prepared to go into the next life. Except for the mummies exhumed by archaeologists and grave robbers, their belief – their hope – remained unfulfilled, as their bodies remained in the tombs.

"Belief system” is a more appropriate term than "faith” for describing a mode of thought and expectation, whether religious or not. Paul said, "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. ” (2 Thess. 3:1-3). In that he describes a threat from these men who "have not faith,” Paul in no way implies that they were not religious. On the contrary, the threat came mostly from various religious circles; unrepentant Jews (particularly devout Jews of the sects of the Pharisees and the Sadducees), and pagans from around the Roman empire posed the greatest op- position to the gospel. In today’s vernacular, these religious people would be deemed "men of faith,” Paul called them men who had not faith. In Hebrews 6:1-2, Paul lists "faith toward God” as a principle of the Doctrine of Christ. Faith in the God of the holy Scriptures, and in His Son Jesus Christ is not merely based on a "reasonable expectation,” but on His unfailing word. Just as it was in the beginning, so also has it been throughout all the ages, God says it – and it is so. God cannot lie (Titus 1:2). This is why Paul said to the Corinthians, "When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay? But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea. For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2 Cor. 1:17-20). He is simply stating that there is no need to pander to humanity ’s sensibilities which require us to allow others to have their own beliefs, and therefore refrain from rigid comments which could offend the heathen.

It is easy to find yourself saying "I believe” or "my interpretation of the Scriptures has led me to understand” or some other phrase that allows the unbeliever an opportunity to abide in his own opinions. Paul did not come to them with possibilities and maybes, but with the truth, plain and simple, leaving no space for argument or discussion. There is but one way unto God: through His Son Jesus Christ. Every other way is a dead end. The false religions of Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Humanism, and many others, have built "high places” (belief systems) and raised up idols (false doctrines). In ancient paganism, it was common to erect actual high places, like manmade hills, as places of worship. Pyramids, ziggurats, pagodas, and other images of paganism displayed in architecture the trust of the heathen, while today, it is the system of beliefs and doctrines themselves that represent the high places of heathen worship. The word of the Lord speaks to this condition, regardless of the shape it takes, "Truly in vain is salvation hoped for from the hills, and from the multitude of mountains: truly in the Lord our God is the salvation of Israel,” (Jer. 3:23). There is but one faith, one true faith, and that is faith in God and in His Son Jesus Christ. The reason that there can exist faith in no other, is because there is no other god which has the primary attribute which justifies faith: faithfulness. As it is written in the epistle to the Hebrews, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised)...” (Heb. 10:23). But what if some do not believe? Shall their unbelief make the faith of God ineffective? Shall the opinion of the majority of mankind trivialize the faith of God? Shall the faith of God be lumped together with other beliefs as merely one of the major world religions? God forbid! Let God be true, but every man a liar! Jehovah is God, and there is none like Him. The Lord is God, and the day will come when all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord, and all men shall see it. In that day, every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords! Hallelujah!

Today, faith is the key to salvation. Paul said, in Ephesians 2:8, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. ” Hereby we know that even the faith, by which we believe in the Lord, does not come from within us. We cannot say that we developed within our hearts the faith by which we are saved. That would give credence to the new-age belief that salvation comes from within. No, faith is the gift of God through which we have the hope of salvation. By this, we can better understand what Paul meant in Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. ” Man hopes for many things, but God’s gift of faith substantiates the hope of the believer in Jesus Christ. When the disciples witnessed the power of God to do that which otherwise seemed impossible, Jesus said unto them, "Have faith in God.” This is the cry of every messenger of God, since the beginning. All that have put their faith in Him know the truth, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones,” (Pro. 3:5-8). Having now determined that true faith rests solely in Jehovah, we will continue our exploration of faith. In the coming installments, we will look at its source, its importance, and its power. Our prayer continues to be that your faith and hope might be in God; that it might stand in the power of God and not the wisdom of men; that it would grow exceedingly, and, finally, that it would be spoken of throughout the whole world. Amen.

BACK TO GOD AGAIN BY LINDA FAWKES BACK TO GOD AGAIN! I have had to do a lot of "soul-searching" recently. I haven't been well for some months and have been unable to attend regular Church services and meet my friends at Church. Before my illnesses I went to Church EVERY day and spent hours meditating on God's Word, drawing and playing the organ. I found such peace and joy! I felt really close to God and wrote alot of poems and songs. I was so happy I could hardly contain my joy! Then last October I started to get ill - one thing after another. Christmas and Easter flew by and I was unable to attend a service for the first time in 36 years. It seemed so strange. Days dragged into weeks and weeks changed into months and all the familiarity of Church and my friends seemed like a dream. I had become very isolated and started to feel very alone and depressed. I found I lost the ability to communicate as I wasn't seeing anybody and when I did have any energy I was always looking after my grandchildren - which left me feeling exhausted. I love them very much but found it harder to cope when I was feeling ill. I started to question why I was going to Church. Did anyone care about me? Where were all these devoted Christians when I needed them? Why didn't anyone help me? I started to feel cynical about Church and felt that I may as well not bother going. When I did manage to go people said how much they had missed me - yet never picked the phone up to see how I was. I started to feel "hate" for those Christians who were good at giving hugs when they saw me - and spoke lots of loving words to me - BUT NEVER SHOWED ME IT IN ACTION. Words - words - words. That's all it seemed to be - EMPTY MEANINGLESS WORDS. I felt like never going to Church again. I felt "let-down" and hurt. Abandoned and unwanted. Deep depression was sinking in as the "hate, anger and bitterness" were growing daily. I had been a Christian 36 years and yet - I had reached this point in my life where I had never felt so hurt, angry and unloved. I felt like waving my fist in the Church and shouting "Hypocrites - you are all talk!" as I could barely walk or get around.

WHAT A PLACE I HAD ALLOWED MYSELF TO GET INTO! Then........I took it to the Lord. I had "sort of" been taking it to God but I knew that my feelings were so unhealthy they were destructive. So I decided to "get serious" with God about it. He already knew how I felt but I talked OUT LOUD to Him about it all. Tried to make some kind of sense out of it all! I came to realise - yet again - it was all really about "ME AND GOD" - not about other people. God was always with me and helped me every day. He hadn't let me down and always willingly forgave me. GOD IS ....TOTAL LOVE. Other people are only human and will inevitably let us down. Sometimes we can place high expectations on someone - and when they don't act how we think they should - we feel they have failed us. When really - they are just being themselves. Other people have their own problems and don't always know what is happening in another person's life. We just assume they DO know and should help - when really they might be thinking the same thing as us! Where are you when I need you? Meaning me! I have started to get mobile enough to go to Church again and as I look at the faces of my fellow Christians I realise how silly I have been. I have found out all the hard situations people have been going through - bereavements - their own illnesses etc. and I realise satan has a "field" day with Christians if we let him! I am grateful that God has enlightened me to this again - as it HAS happened before . This negative wilderness experience has taught me that it is always ABOUT GOD AND ME! MY RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST - not about needing to be loved and seeking the approval of others. At the end of the day it is GOD we follow and GOD we answer to - not anyone else. IT IS GOD ALONE WHO CAN SAVE US ! This makes me realise more then ever how good God is and my faith is strengthened by the knowledge that IT WAS - AND IS - AND ALWAYS WILL BE - about ME AND GOD. I have repented of my bitterness and hate.... seen the error of my ways and decided NEVER to expect anything from anyone. MY WHOLE TRUST MUST BE AND ALWAYS WILL BE IN GOD ALONE......FOR HE WILL NEVER LET US DOWN AND HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SEE US THROUGH TO THE END!

written by Linda Fawkes September 2010

I FOLLOW A RISEN SAVIOUR AND LORD! I was brought up in a non-Christian household. I knew nothing about Jesus and never went to Church. It was an abusive environment and I felt very unhappy as a child and empty inside. I used to wonder what life was all about. When I was 15 years old I became anorexic as I felt so sad and lonely. Then later on it developed into Bulimia Nervosa (an eating disorder). I felt very suicidal and didn't want to face anyone. I felt like I was a "waste of space" and totally unloved. When I was 19 years old someone told me about Jesus. It was AMAZING NEWS! To KNOW that someone loved me! I asked Jesus into my life, met my husband Ian and had two lovely sons. I have been married 36 years and have three grandchildren also. My world consisted of sexual abuse, violence, mental illness and self-harm. God helped me through the years to become healed and whole. I am now totally healed of my eating disorder and count my past as blessings - for through these hard times they drew me to Jesus Christ.

I now love to encourage people and share the Good News of Jesus Christ especially to those who have been abused, mentally ill or feel unloved. Christ changed my life and I know He can change other people's. I praise God for healing me and I will continue forever to rejoice in Him! written by Linda Fawkes

Romans 6 - Made Safe for Grace: Added By Debra Lynn-Lake Roberts

A. The believer under grace and the problem of habitual sin. 1. (1) Should we live a life of sin so we can receive more grace? What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? a. Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Paul introduced the idea that where sin abounded, grace abounded much more (Romans 5:20). He now wonders if someone might take this truth to imply that it doesn‟t matter if a Christian lives a life of sin, because God will always overcome greater sin with greater grace. i. After all, if God loves sinners, then why worry about sin? If God gives grace to sinners, then why not sin more and receive more grace? Some people think that their job is to sin and God‟s job is to forgive, so they will do their job and God will do His job! ii. In the early part of the century, the Russian monk Gregory Rasputin taught and lived the idea of salvation through repeated experiences of sin and repentance. He believed that because those who sin the most require the most forgiveness, a sinner who continues to sin with abandon enjoys more of God‟s grace (when he repents for the moment) than the ordinary sinner. Therefore, Rasputin lived in notorious sin, and taught that this was the way to salvation. This is an extreme example of the idea behind Paul‟s question "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?”

iii. But in a less extreme way, the question still confronts us. Is the plan of grace "safe”? Won‟t people abuse grace? If God‟s salvation and approval are given on the basis of faith instead of works, won‟t we just say "I believe” and then live any way we please? iv. From a purely natural or secular viewpoint, grace is dangerous. This is why many people don‟t really teach or believe in grace and instead emphasize living by law. They believe that if you tell people that God saves and accepts them apart from what they deserve, then they will have no motivation to be obedient. In their opinion, you simply can‟t keep people on the straight and narrow without a threat from God hanging over their head. If they believe their position in Jesus is settled because of what Jesus did, then the motivation of holy living is gone. b. Shall we continue in sin: The verb tense of the phrase continue in sin (the present active tense) makes it clear that Paul describes the practice of habitual sin. In this first part of Romans 6, Paul writes about someone who remains in a lifestyle of sin, thinking that it is acceptable so that grace may abound. 2. (2) A life of sin is unacceptable, because our death to sin changes our relationship to sin. Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? a. Certainly not! For Paul, the idea that anyone might continue in sin that grace may abound is unthinkable. Certainly not is a strong phrase. It might also be translated, Perish the thought! Or, Away with the notion! b. How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Paul establishes an important principle. When we are born again, when we have believed on Jesus for our salvation, our relationship with sin is permanently changed. We have died to sin. Therefore, if we have died to sin, then we should not live any longer in it. It simply isn‟t fitting to live any longer in something you have died to.

c. At this point, Paul has much to explain about what exactly he means by died to sin, but the general point is clear - Christians have died to sin, and they should no longer live in it. Before, we were dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1); now we are dead to sin. 3. (3-4) The illustration of the believer‟s death to sin: baptism. Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. a. Or do you not know: The implication is that Paul is dealing with fundamental concepts that every Christians should know. b. As many of us as were baptized in Christ Jesus: The idea behind the ancient Greek word for baptized is "to immerse or overwhelm something.” The Bible uses this idea of being baptized into something in several different ways. When a person is baptized in water, they are immersed or covered over with water. When they are baptized with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11, Acts 1:5) they are "immersed” or "covered over” with the Holy Spirit. When they are baptized with suffering (Mark 10:39), they are "immersed” or "covered over” with suffering. Here, Paul refers to being baptized - "immersed” or "covered over” in Christ Jesus. c. Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father: The believer‟s water baptism (or, being baptized into Christ) is a dramatization or "acting out” of the believer‟s "immersion” or identification with Jesus in His death and resurrection. i. "From this and other references to baptism in Paul‟s writings, it is plain that he did not regard baptism as an „optional extra‟ in the Christian life.” (Bruce)

d. We were buried with Him . . . as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life: Paul also builds on the idea of going under the water as a picture of being buried, and coming up from the water as a picture of rising from the dead. i. Of course, baptism also has the association of cleansing, but that isn‟t particularly relevant to Paul‟s point here. e. In this regard, baptism is important as an illustration of spiritual reality, but it does not make that reality come to pass. If someone has not spiritually died and risen with Jesus, all the baptisms in the world will not accomplish it for them. f. But Paul‟s point is clear: something dramatic and life changing happened in the life of the believer. You can‟t die and rise again without it changing your life. The believer has a real (although spiritual) death and resurrection with Jesus Christ. 4. (5-10) Paul considers the implications of our death and resurrection with Jesus. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. a. United together expresses a close union. The phrase "exactly expresses the process by which a graft becomes united with the life of a tree . . . The union is of the closest sort, and life from Christ flows through to him.” (Morris) It fits in well with Jesus‟ picture of abiding in Him from John 15.

i. This close union is both in His death and in His resurrection. God has both experiences for us. Paul expressed a similar idea for his own life in Philippians 3:10-11: that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Some are all too ready to be united together in the glory of resurrection, but are unwilling to be united together in His death. b. Certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection: Our participation in the death of Jesus makes our participation in His resurrection certain. i. It is far too easy for many Christians to focus solely on the "crucified life,” failing to see that it is a part (and an essential part) of a bigger picture: preparation for resurrection life. c. Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him: The death of the old man is an established fact. It happened spiritually when we were identified with Jesus‟ death at our salvation. i. The old man is the self patterned after Adam, that part of us deeply ingrained with a desire to rebel against God and His commands. The system of law is unable to deal with the old man, because it can only tell the old man what the righteous standard of God is. The law tries to reform the old man, to get him to "turn over a new leaf.” But the system of grace understands that the old man can never be reformed. He must be put to death, and for the believer the old man dies with Jesus on the cross. ii. The crucifixion of the old man is something that God did in us. None of us nailed the old man to the cross. Jesus did it, and we are told to account it as being done. "In us there was nothing even to sicken and to weaken our old man, much less to murder him by crucifixion; God had to do this.” (Lenski)

iii. In place of the old man, God gives the believer a new man - a self that is instinctively obedient and pleasing to God; this aspect of our person is that which was raised with Christ in His resurrection. The New Testament describes the new man for us.

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The new man, which was created according to God, in righteousness and true holiness. (Ephesians 4:24)

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The new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. (Colossians 3:10)

d. God uses our death to the old man, the sin nature, to liberate us from sin. A dead man can no longer have authority over us, so we are to remember and account the old man as crucified with Him. i. The two other places in the New Testament which mention the old man remind us to consider him done away with, telling us to put off the old man as something dead and gone (Ephesians 4:22 and Colossians 3:9). Strictly speaking, we don‟t battle the old man. We simply reckon him as dead. ii. "Evil enters us now as an interloper and a stranger, and works sad havoc, but it does not abide in us upon the throne; it is an alien, and despised, and no more honored and delighted in. We are dead to the reigning power of sin.” (Spurgeon) e. If the old man is dead, why do I feel a pull to sin inside? It comes from the flesh, which is distinct from the old man. It‟s hard to precisely describe the flesh; some have called it "the screen on which the inner man is displayed.” Our inner being has desires and impulses and passions; these are played out in our mind, in our will, and in our emotions. The flesh is what acts out the inner man.

i. The flesh is a problem in the battle against sin because it has been expertly trained in sinful habits by three sources. First, the old man, before he was crucified with Christ, trained and "imprinted” himself on the flesh. Second, the world system, in its spirit of rebellion against God, can have an continuing influence on the flesh. Finally, the devil seeks to tempt and influence the flesh towards sin. ii. With the old man dead, what do we do with the flesh? God calls us, in participation with Him, to do actively day by day with the flesh just what He has already done with the old man - crucify it, make it dead to sin. (Galatians 5:24) But when we allow the flesh to be continually influenced by the old man‟s habits of the past, the world, and the devil, the flesh will exert a powerful pull towards sin. If we let the new man within us influence the mind, the will, and the emotions, then we will find the battle less intense. f. That we should no longer be slaves of sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin: Our slavery to sin can only be broken by death. In the 1960 film Spartacus, Kirk Douglas played the escaped slave Spartacus, who led a brief but widespread slave rebellion in ancient Rome. At one point in the movie Spartacus says: "Death is the only freedom a slave knows. That‟s why he is not afraid of it.” We are set free from sin because the old man has died with Jesus on the cross. Now a new man, a free man, lives. g. Having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him: Since we have already died to sin with Jesus, death no longer has dominion over us. The new man not only has life; he has eternal life. h. The life that he lives, he lives to God: The new life we are granted isn‟t given so we can live unto ourselves. With the new life, he lives to God. We aren‟t dead to sin, free from sin, and given eternal life to live as we please, but to live to please God.

i. "If God has given to you and to me an entirely new life in Christ, how can that new life spend itself after the fashion of the old life? Shall the spiritual live as the carnal? How can you that were the servants of sin, but have been made free by precious blood, go back to your old slavery?” (Spurgeon) i. This change in the life of the one who is born again was understood and predicted as a feature of God‟s New Covenant, where because of new hearts our innermost being wants to do God‟s will and be slaves to righteousness. (Ezekiel 36:26-27) i. The eleventh of the original 42 articles of Church of England states this truth with a beauty that only Sixteenth Century English can express: "The grace of Christ, or the holie Ghost by him geven, dothe take awaie the stonie harte, and geveth an harte of flesh.” God takes away our rock-like heart and gives us a soft heart of flesh. 5. (11-12) Practical application of the principle of our death and resurrection with Jesus. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. a. Reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin: Reckon is an accounting word. Paul tells us to account or to reckon the old man as forever dead. God never calls us "crucify” the old man, but instead to account him as already dead because of our identification with Jesus‟ death on the cross. b. Reckon yourselves to be . . . alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord: The death to sin is only one side of the equation. The old man is gone, but the new man lives on (as described in Romans 6:4-5). c. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body: This is something that can only be said to the Christian, to the one who has had the old man crucified with Christ and has been given a new man in Jesus. Only the person set free from sin can be told, "do not let sin reign.”

i. The Christian is the one truly set free. The person who isn‟t converted yet is free to sin, but not free to stop sinning and live righteously, because of the tyranny of the old man. ii. In Jesus, we are truly set free and are offered the opportunity to obey the natural inclination of the new man - which wants to please God and honor Him. d. Therefore do not let sin reign: The old man is dead, and there is new life - free from sin - in Jesus. Yet, many Christians never experience this freedom. Because of unbelief, self-reliance or ignorance, many Christians never live in the freedom Jesus paid for on the cross. i. D. L. Moody used to speak of an old black woman in the South following the Civil War. Being a former slave, she was confused about her status and asked: "Now is I free, or been I not? When I go to my old master he says I ain‟t free, and when I go to my own people they say I is, and I don‟t know whether I‟m free or not. Some people told me that Abraham Lincoln signed a proclamation, but master says he didn‟t; he didn‟t have any right to.”

Romans 6 - Made Safe for Grace: Added By Debra Lynn-Lake Roberts (cont.)

ii. This is exactly the place many Christians are. They are, and have been, legally set free from their slavery to sin, yet they are unsure of that truth. The following verses give practical help in living out the freedom Jesus has granted us. 6. (13-14) How to walk in the freedom Jesus has given us. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. a. Do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God: A person can be "officiallyâ&#x20AC;? set free, yet still imprisoned. If a person lives in prison for years, and then is set free, they often still think and act like a prisoner. The habits of freedom arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ingrained in their life yet. Here, Paul shows how to build the habits of freedom in the Christian life.

i. In the fourteenth century two brothers fought for the right to rule over a dukedom in what is now Belgium. The elder brother’s name was Raynald, but he was commonly called "Crassus,” a Latin nickname meaning "fat,” for he was horribly obese. After a heated battle, Raynald’s younger brother Edward led a successful revolt against him and assumed the title of Duke over his lands. But instead of killing Raynald, Edward devised a curious imprisonment. He had a room in the castle built around "Crassus,” a room with only one door. The door was not locked, the windows were not barred, and Edward promised Raynald that he could regain his land and his title any time that he wanted to. All he would have to do is leave the room of his imprisonment. The obstacle to freedom was not in the doors or the windows, but with Raynald himself. Being grossly overweight, he could not fit through the door, even though it was of near-normal size. All Raynald needed to do was diet down to a smaller size, then walk out a free man, with all he had before his fall. However, his younger brother kept sending him an assortment of tasty foods, and Raynald’s desire to be free never won out over his desire to eat. Some would accuse Duke Edward of being cruel to his older brother, but he would simply reply, "My brother is not a prisoner. He may leave when he so wills.” But Raynald stayed in that room for ten years, until Edward himself was killed in battle. ii. What an accurate picture showing the experience of many Christians! Jesus has set them forever free legally, and they may walk in that freedom from sin whenever they choose. But since they keep yielding their bodily appetites to the service of sin, they live a life of defeat, discouragement and imprisonment. b. Do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin: This is the first key to walking in the freedom Jesus Christ has won for us is. We are told to not present the parts of our body to the service of sin. The New Living Translation communicates the idea well: Do not let any part of your body become a tool of wickedness, to be used for sinning.

i. Your members are the parts of your body - your ears, lips, eyes, hands, mind, and so forth. The idea is very practical: "You have eyes. Do not put them in the service of sin. You have ears. Do not put in the in the service of sin.” ii. Instruments could be better-translated weapons. The parts of our body are weapons in the battle for right living. When the parts of our body are given over to righteousness, they are weapons for good. When they are given over to sin, they are weapons for evil. iii. An example of this is how God used David’s hands in the slaying of Goliath for righteousness. Later, sin used David’s eyes for unrighteousness when he looked upon Bathsheba. c. But present yourselves to God: This is the second key to walking in the freedom Jesus has won for us is. It isn’t enough to take the weapons away from the service of sin. They must then be enlisted in the service of righteousness - and, as in any warfare, the side with superior weapons usually wins. i. The idea is similar to the manner in which the priests in the Old Testament consecrated their bodies to God. Sacrificial blood was applied to the ear, to the thumb, and on the big toe, showing that those parts of their body (and all other parts) belonged to God and were to be used for His glory. (Exodus 29:20) ii. We present ourselves to God as being alive from the dead. This first has the idea that all connection with the previous life - the old man - must be done away with. That life is dead and gone. Secondly, it has the idea of obligation, because we owe everything to the One who has given us new life!

d. For sin shall not have dominion over you: Spurgeon said that these words give us a test, a promise, and an encouragement. i. It is a test of our claim to be Christians. Does anger have dominion over you? Does murmuring and complaining? Does covetousness have dominion over you? Does pride? Does laziness have dominion over you? If sin has dominion over us, we should serious ask if we are really converted. ii. It is promise of victory. It doesn’t say that "sin will not be present in you,” because that will only be fulfilled when we are resurrected in glory. But it does promise that sin will not have dominion over us because of the great work Jesus did in us when we were born again. iii. It is an encouragement for hope and strength in the battle against sin. God hasn’t condemned you under the dominion of sin - He has set you free in Jesus. This is encouragement for the Christian struggling against sin, for the new Christian, for the backslider. e. For you are not under law but under grace: This is the path, the means, by which we can live in this freedom. It will never happen in a legalistic, performance oriented Christian life. It will happen as we live not under law but under grace. i. Law clearly defined God’s standard, and shows us where we fall short of it. But it cannot give the freedom from sin that grace provides. Remember that grace reigns through righteousness (Romans 5:21). Grace, not law provides the freedom and the power to live over sin. ii. This shows again that a life lived truly under grace will be a righteous life. Grace is never a license to sin. "To treat being under grace as an excuse for sinning is a sign that one is not really under grace at all.” (Bruce)

f. Not under law but under grace is another way to describe the radical change in the life of someone who is born again. For the Jewish person of Paul’s day, living life under law was everything. The law was the way to God’s approval and eternal life. Now, Paul shows that in light of the New Covenant, we are not under law but under grace. His work in our life has changed everything. i. Paul has answered his question from Romans 6:1. Why don’t we just continue in habitual sin so that grace may abound? Because when we are saved, when our sins are forgiven and God’s grace is extended to us, we are radically changed. The old man is dead, and the new man lives. ii. In light of these remarkable changes, it is utterly incompatible for a new creation in Jesus to be comfortable in habitual sin. A state of sin can only be temporary for the Christian. As Spurgeon is credited with saying: "The grace that does not change my life will not save my soul.” iii. John states the same idea in another way: Whoever abides in Him does not (habitually) sin. Whoever (habitually) sins has neither seen Him nor known Him . . . Whoever has been born of God does not (habitually) sin, for his seed remains in him; and he cannot (habitually) sin, because he has been born of God. (1 John 3:6 and 9) iv. The changes may not come all at one time, and they may not come to each area of the life at the same time, but they will be there and they will be real and they will be increasing and time goes on. g. God has made us "safe” for grace by changing us as we receive God’s grace; He sets us free and equips us to live righteously before Him. Since we have died to sin, it is unthinkable that we could continue our former practice of sin. Once the caterpillar has been made a butterfly, the butterfly has no business crawling around on trees and leaves like a caterpillar again.

i. "God has so changed your nature by his grace that when you sin you shall be like a fish on dry land, you shall be out of your element, and long to get into a right state again. You cannot sin, for you love God. The sinner may drink sin down as the ox drinketh down water, but to you it shall be as the brine of the sea. You may become so foolish as to try the pleasures of the world, but they shall be no pleasures to you.” (Spurgeon) B. The believer under grace and the problem of occasional sin. 1. (15) A new question is asked: shall we sin (occasionally) because we are not under law but under grace? What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not! a. Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Paul has convinced us that a lifestyle of habitual sin is not compatible with one whose life is changed by grace. But what about an occasional sin here and there? If we are under grace, not law, must we be so concerned about a little sin here and there? b. Shall we sin: Again, the verb tense of the ancient Greek word sin is important (the aorist active tense). It indicates dabbling in sin, not a continual habitual sin described in the question of Romans 6:1. i. "The verb in verse one is in the present subjunctive, speaking of habitual, continuous action. The verb in verse fifteen is in the aorist subjunctive, referring to a single act.” (Wuest) 2. (16-17) Spiritual principles we need to understand in order to answer the question. Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?

But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. a. To whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves: Whatever you present yourself to obey, you become its slave. For example, if I "obey” my appetite constantly, I am a slave to it. So we have a choice in our slavery: sin leading to death or obedience leading to righteousness. i. One way or another, we will serve somebody. The option to live our life without serving either sin or obedience isn’t open to us. b. Though you were slaves of sin: Paul puts it in the past tense because we have been freed from our slavery to sin. He also says that we have been set free by faith, which he describes as obedience from the heart. The faith is put in God’s Word, which he describes as that form of doctrine. All in all, the point is clear: "You put your faith in God and His Word, and now you are set free. Now live every day consistent with that freedom.” i. As was seen earlier in Romans 6, we can be legally free and still choose to live like a prisoner. Paul has a simple command and encouragement for the Christian: be what you are. ii. Obedience from the heart is a wonderful description of faith. It shows that faith comes from the heart, not only the mind. It shows that faith results in obedience because if we really believe something we will act according to that belief. c. The phrase that form of doctrine is part of a beautiful picture. The word form describes a mold used to shape molten metal. The idea is that God wants to shape us - first He melts us by the work of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. Then He pours us into His mold of truth - that form of doctrine and shapes us into His image.

i. Adam Clarke on that form of doctrine: "Here Christianity is represented under the notion of a mould, or die, into which they were cast, and from which they took the impression of its excellence. The figure upon this die is the image of God, righteousness and true holiness, which was stamped on their souls in believe the Gospel and receiving the Holy Ghost. The words . . . refer to the melting of metal, which, when it is liquefied, is cast into the mould, that it may receive the impression that is sunk or cut in the mould; and therefore the words may be literally translated, into which mould of doctrine ye have been cast. They were melted down under the preaching of the word, and then were capable of receiving the stamp of its purity.” 3. (18) Why not then, occasionally sin? Because sin is not our master, and we no longer serve it. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. a. Having been set free from sin: What does it mean to be free from sin and to become a slave of righteousness? It means that sin is no longer your boss or your master. Now righteousness is your boss, so serve righteousness instead of sin. It isn’t right to think about pleasing your old boss when you change jobs. b. Slaves of righteousness: What does it mean to be a slave? A slave was more than an employee. Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest defines the ancient Greek word for a slave here by these terms: 

One born into a condition of slavery

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One whose will is swallowed up in the will of another

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One who is bound to the master with bounds that only death can break

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One who serves his master to the disregard of his own interest

The following was once true in regard to our slavery to sin: 

We were born as slaves to sin

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Our will was swallowed up and captive to the will of sin within us

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Our bondage to sin was so strong that only death spiritually dying with Jesus on the cross - could break the bondage

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We were so enslaved to sin that we served it to the disregard of our own interest, even when sin destroyed us

Now the following is true in regard to our slavery to righteousness: 

We are born again, now as slaves to righteousness

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Our will is now swallowed up in the will of God. It is His will that matters to us, not our own

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We are bound to Jesus with bonds that only death can break; but since He has triumphed over death and given us eternal life, those bonds will never be broken!

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We now willingly serve Jesus to the disregard of our own interests

c. Because we have been set free from sin, we never have to sin again. Though sin is inevitable until our flesh is resurrected in glory, it isn’t because God has designed a system by which we must sin.

i. Sinless perfection in this body is an illusion. The Apostle John made this clear in 1 John 1:8: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. Yet we know that in the power of Jesus Christ, we can resist the next temptation - and that’s all Jesus wants us to be concerned with. ii. "Because of the frailty of man, the Christian at infrequent intervals does yield to the evil nature and sin. But the point is, God has so constituted him, that he need not do so.” (Wuest) d. It is mockery to tell a slave, "Don’t behave as a slave” - but you can say that to someone who is set free. Jesus Christ tells us to no longer behave as if we were slaves to sin. We have been set free; now we are to think and live as free people. 4. (19-23) How to keep from enslaving ourselves. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. a. I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh: Paul apologizes for using slavery as an illustration, because it was so degrading and pervasive, and especially because many of his Roman readers were slaves. Yet he knows that this is an illustration that works well with his readers. b. You presented your members . . . so now present: Paul repeats a point made earlier. First, present your members as slaves to righteousness. This means that we don’t show up for work to our old boss.

i. Can you imagine? A new job, and the first day on the new job you leave work at lunch time and go to your old job and ask your old boss what he wants you to do. It just isn’t right! c. Lawlessness leading to more lawlessness: Paul describes a principle ingrained in human nature. Lawlessness leads to more lawlessness. Righteousness leads to holiness - which is more righteousness. This describes the dynamic power of our habits and how we move along in the direction we are pointed. i. Think of four trees in a row: one at one year of growth, the second at five years, the third at ten years, and the last at 15 years. Which tree will be the most difficult to pull up out of the ground? Obviously, the longer we are rooted in a behavior the harder it is to uproot it - a principle that works both for good and evil. d. For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness: Paul’s point is almost humorous. When we were slaves of sin, we were free all right - free in regard to righteousness. Some freedom! e. What fruit did you have then: To walk in victory over sin, we must think rightly about the fruit of sin. The end of those things is death: The end product of sin is death - not fun. But the end product of righteousness is everlasting life. i. In a time of temptation, these truths can seem unreal so we must rely on our faith in these things, not on our feelings while being tempted. ii. "Consider these three things: 1. How little fruit and satisfaction your former sins have afforded you in the very time of committing them. 2. How nothing but shame and sorrow doth follow upon the remembrance of them. 3. How death, yea, eternal death and damnation (unless pardoning grace and mercy prevent it,) will be the certain conclusion of them.” (Poole)

f. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord: When you work for sin, your wages are death. When we serve God we get no pay - but He freely gives us the best benefit package imaginable. i. Wages of sin: "Every sinner earns this by long, sore, and painful service. O! What pains do men take to get to hell! Early and late they toil at sin; and would not Divine justice be in their debt, if it did not pay them their due wages?” (Clarke) g. Answering his question from Romans 6:15, Paul has made it clear: As believers, we have a change of ownership. The Christian is to fight against even occasional sin because we need to work for and under our new Master. It isn’t appropriate for us to work for our old master.

Don‟t look back!: by Catherin Skinner

Don‟t look back, keep your head up, keep going forward, it is over, the past is behind you. Don‟t look back, keep your head up, keep going forward, it is over, the past is behind you. Don‟t look back, keep your head up, keep going forward, it is over, the past is behind you. Don‟t look back, keep your head up, keep going forward, it is over, the past is behind you. Don‟t look back, keep your head up, keep going forward, it is over, the past is behind you.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! It is over, it is over! Hallelujah ~Thank You, Jesus~ Hallelujah ~Thank You, Jesus~ Hallelujah ~Thank You, Jesus!

These words keep ringing in my spirit over and over and over. Then I would go into my heavenly language as my spirit leaped within me. Therefore I had to come write them down. Whatever God is doing, He is doing it within me, around, through me, and for me. As these words come to my mind, I wrote down what is spoken, within my spirit. Honestly I don‟t know just yet what God is doing although I rejoice at the fact that He is doing it! This song within my heart will not stop singing these words. I asked God to give me the scripture that goes with what is going on and I heard Jeremiah 29:11 For I, know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD of hosts, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I just want to reflect on this passage of scripture. I had to ask myself why you are in such a hurry! Why are you so impatient with your present situation in life? What is it that is so important to you that you have become restless, inpatient in timing? What you need is Patience in Circumstances; remember God called you to be content and compliant. We need to ask Him to help us accept His perfect timing for the changes you desire. Don‟t look back, keep your head up, keep going forward, it is over, the past is behind you. Don‟t look back, keep your head up, keep going forward, it is over, the past is behind you. Don‟t look back, keep your head up, keep going forward, it is over, the past is behind you. Don‟t look back, keep your head up, keep going forward, it is over, the past is behind you. Don‟t look back, keep your head up, keep going forward, it is over, the past is behind you.

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! It is over, it is over! Hallelujah ~Thank You, Jesus~ Hallelujah ~Thank You, Jesus~ Hallelujah ~Thank You, Jesus! The ability to accept delay graciously Calmly, Quietly, Understanding With a smile. If the robe of purity is far above rubies, the garment of patience is even beyond that. Why? Because its thread of unselfishness and kindness are woven on the LORD‟S loom, guided within our lives by the Spirit of God. But alas, the garment seldom clothes us! Remember this verse? But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace… and what else? The first three are the necessary style along with the buttons and zipper of the garment. The rest give it color and beauty….patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…. (Galatians 5:22, 23) Patience in all circumstances is the ability to accept the delay within God's Timing. I find encouragement in the fact of these words of Richard Foster, "The path of disciplined Graced.” Our transformation into being a Man/Woman after God‟s own heart is indeed God‟s work. Amen Received and accepted in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen Inspired by God Written by Charles Swindoll & Catherin Skinner

Handling The Brokenness Within Us: By Elder Pamela Richards

Individuals throughout the world, at some point, have, or will, experience brokenness. According to www.freedictionary.com, brokenness is defined as having been violated, incomplete, or separated into two or more pieces. Given the severity of our fractures at times, we can not identify one culprit alone to be the cause of our brokenness. Many today air their past hurts, and the culprit for their brokenness dates back to what was experienced within the family unit. Others have told horrifying stories of relationship woes that rendered them broken. How can the brokenness be mended?

Growing up as children, we were taught by our parents that drinking milk can help keep our bones strong within our bodies, so that if we were to ever fall, our bones would be protected, or so we thought. What then, can we ingest that will help protect us from being broken emotionally, or spiritually? As we ponder this thought, we are reminded, that even in the natural, when bones are broken; there is a process for physical healing. Anyone that has broken any bones within their body has had x-rays taken to find out where the broken place or fracture is, and a treatment plan is recommended.

Individuals who break their bones visit an Orthopedic Specialist, and they are casted for a specified period of time. The place that is broken is wrapped and protected, and with time, it eventually heals. As a person is casted, the place that is broken is not used during that time as well, as any sudden movement will impede the healing process. How then, can those that have broken emotions, or are spiritually broken receive healing?

Psalm 34:18 reminds us, that, "the Lord draws near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." (ESV) For those experiencing brokenness, GOD is the answer to healing any present, past, or future hurt. As with the Orthopedic Specialist, all affected persons need to visit the one that knows all things! Through the working of the Holy Spirit, GOD can reach out and touch the places of brokenness, and cast the affected area. As it is in the natural, we also need to spend time in GOD's presence being immobilized until the place of fracture or brokenness heals. How can we allow ourselves to be immobilized when we have to keep living? We do so by remaining in His presence! In His presence, there is fullness of joy! Also, as we are in His presence, His power will reach and heal every broken area within our lives.

As we await GOD's manifested power to deliver us from our past hurt, we need to seek His wisdom concerning how we are to relate to others, and especially those that caused us to be broken. Through GOD, and time, we will be able to forgive those that sought to destroy our lives. If we are not able to forgive, then we can not expect for the damaged areas within us to keep its repair. Unforgiveness is powerful enough to cause old sores and wounds to reopen. Though the task is not easy, we must endeavor to forgive!

In sum, dealing with brokenness can be quite a daunting task, but a necessary one. How can we minister effectively if we are bleeding from old wounds? How strong will our witness be, if we constantly release venom due to old hurt and pain? Through GOD, all things are possible! He desires to be to us what an Orthopaedic Specialist is to those with broken bones. He wants to cast us, so that we can heal properly in those broken places. Cry out, "Abba Father" today, and allow Him to cast you! Cry out "Hosanna" and let Him mend your broken pieces this very day! Myriad persons are out there along the way, awaiting our healing so that they can receive theirs. Give Him what's broken, and move forward by His Spirit, and in His divine timing, after your casting! Kingdom Blessings, and we bid to all that are broken in this hour, GOD's speed upon their lives!!

GOD'S ORIGINAL PLAN – The Message of “The KINGDOM OF GOD”: By Amos J. Young Sr.

A bible study birthed message inspired by a message from/by Pastor, Dr. Myles Munroe, Bahamas Faith Ministries International Good-afternoon; how is everyone? Thank you for coming out this afternoon. We are here every Saturday from 2:15pm until 3:00pm. Again, thank you so much for taking time to attend. Let’s pray, shall we. Heavenly Father, we come before you this afternoon, just to say "Thank you”; Thank you that you woke us up in our right mind, with a glad heart fixed on you. Holy Spirit, You are the teacher. Word my mouth with your living water to overflowing. Speak to Your people; bless and save everywhere – In the Name of Jesus, Amen and Amen.

You will hear me repeat over and over and over again – that the central message, the main message, God’s message to you and me, to each of us – the Bible – Your B.I.B.L.E. – is about a King, His Kingdom and His Royal Family who is us who call on the name of Jesus Christ believing in your heart and confessing with our mouth that God raised him from the dead. And so, this afternoon – as we prioritize what Jesus told us to prioritize – and to preach what Jesus Himself preached as that priority – we look to what Jesus our Savior and Lord commanded as the number one priority - and that is found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6 and verse 33 – and it reads, "But seek ye first.. [in other words, prioritize this and make this foremost in what you focus on and do]: "But seek ye first, the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” [we'll partake at the table of revelation the "things" aspect of this scripture at a later date, Amen.] There is so much good about this verse but one thing that jumped out at me, lifted itself of the page, and ministered to me is the word "shall” – shall is not - a maybe – shall is, "it is” and "consider it done” … based on the condition that you do what is required for the "shall” to operate in your life – Amen. "And all these things "shall” be added unto you. The you is "us individually and corporately who seek first the kingdom and seek the righteousness that constitutes the kingdom life lived.” You see, God’s original plan was always to extend his heavenly kingdom [His eternal, yet right now present Kingdom] to earth. Look at this in your very own bible at the later part of Luke11:2 "thy Kingdom [the government of God, the rule of God, the reign of God, the authority of God and God’s dominion] come, thy "WILL” [the will of the Father, the purpose of the Father, Abba Father – our Daddy] be done – as in Heaven, so on Earth.”

In the Gospel of Mark chapter 6 and verse 10 it is written [leaving out the italic words]: Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as in heaven. WOW! You see, God’s original plan was to influence each of us (in and through us) and to influence everything on earth with heaven’s culture and to do it through His children - the children of God, those who confess Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and take on the likeness of God [his nature and character] and walk, live, allow him to operate in you being lead of the Fruit of the Spirit [Gal 5:22-23] and not obeying the lust of the flesh. In simple terms – we who are strangers in a strange land are to be the colony of Heaven here on earth, influenced in our daily living by the True Light. Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalm 119:105). The True Light is The Word of God made flesh in the Person of Jesus Christ, God the Father and the Comforter who will guide us into all truth who is The Holy Ghost. God’s original plan in effect till this very day – is a simple idea – now when I say simple, I am using the word in the context of its adjective definition [easy to understand, easy to deal with, easy to use, and not elaborate or artificial – plainly stated: for he that hath an ear to hear, hear]. God’s original plan is a simple idea. If we use simple as a noun – we mean: something simple, unmixed, something not convoluted – i.e. not all twisted and mixed up with a bunch of other stuff. God’s original plan – is about government policy - A Kingdom with a plan to establish its Kingdom Colony in another place:

• To extend His invisible Heavenly Kingdom on Earth through sons – the Born-again Believer walking in spirit and in truth: • To influence earth from heaven through the ruler-ship of His children on earth • To establish a colony of Heaven on earth - To colonize Earth with Heaven • To fill the earth with his Glory (God’s divine plan was to colonize the earth with the Nation of Heaven: For you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people - 1 Peter 2:19) • Heaven is an invisible country more real then earth (spirit created material) temporal is birthed out of eternal – heaven is eternal and more permanent then earth • All kingdoms want to extend their influence: • Genesis 1:26 "let us make man in our own image and likeness and let them have dominion…..” In other words, "I am creating these being to dominate a territory for me.” God created the earth as a territory to colonize: When you colonize a place, it become just like the nation who colonized it. We are to become Christ Like! In seeking first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness…. (Matt 6:33) God unfolds to the pure in heart the mysteries of the Kingdom that is His good pleasure to give YOU! Look at Luke 8:10 "And he said, unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.”

And so in closing, Our Father, our Daddy wants to reveal unto us the deep things of God, which in a real sense are laying right before our very eyes – but as Jesus told Nicodemus who came to him in the dark of night (hmmm, at least he had gusts enough to come) – Jesus tells Nicodemus, "you can’t even SEE the Kingdom of God unless you are born-again.” And thus scripture guides the Believer, the Born-Again, the new creature in Christ Jesus who is a seeker of first seek ye, ye seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto thee unto the unfolding of the Glory of God the Father, the Majesty of Christ the Son and the joy, peace and Comforter who is the Holy Spirit – reminding us as we study the Word of God to be mindful [fill your mind with the desire to diligently seek that these things are true and truly stated.] that the bible…your very own B.I.B.L.E. is about a King, His Kingdom and His Royal Family … to be continued. Let us close in prayer: Father we thank you for your Word that giveth life. We thank you for the good ground it is planted in today. We ask Heaven Father that you grow up in us the reality of the right now presence of the Kingdom present, in us, and eternal. Cause us to grow up in You, Ambassadors of the Kingdom, Citizens of the Kingdom, and Children of the Most High God. We who shall occupy until you come. We reverence your Holy Name, in Jesus Name – Amen and Amen. Glory! Pastor/Founder, Kingdom of God Revelation Ministries (KOGRM)

FROM THE DECK OF THE BISHOP! BY EVANGELIST FAVOR LIBERTY

God has been so faithful to us and we are blessed to have faithful and dedicated friends and family members without whom this day would not have been possible. If anyone would have told me that with our huge financial deficiencies, the closer of our home arts program and the treats from land lord and bills for light , internet and water that we would still be up and running five months later ; I would certainly think they were mad. But now I am a witness that God (is in short pants; as my husband usually says; so that he sees even the faithful among the ants) is far bigger than our problems, and went He sends you to do a task, He blesses you and personally oversees that task. Members of the Shepherds Magazine who have served faithfully, voluntarily with great love for getting the word of God out free of charge are to be certificated as evangelist and awarded the title of Evangelist. There are many today wearing titles that rightfully belong to others who are laboring in the vineyard. For us at Shepherds; the title of Evangelist is one of the greatest; if not the greatest among the titles awarded to followers of Christ.

Christ placed huge emphasis while He was alive and all His other Ministries survive around it. Even in the end His most popular mandate or commission was to go and win souls even to the ends of the earth through evangelism. As we strive to reach all languages and peoples of the earth with the Good News of the Kingdom of God; we needed volunteers to help translate the magazine to any language they can. We also need volunteers to distribute the magazine to others etc. In this regard, we are proud to announce to you that we have a new Editor in Chief. She is Evangelist Debra Lynn-Lake Roberts a very humble and dedicated servant of God ;who loves the Truth and is dedicated to serving the Kingdom of God with all her heart ,will and strength as long as she walk the earth. We need you too. This month God have also bless us with the work of few inspired men and a woman to feed us with the bread of life. Pastors John Bazemore Jr. & Amos J.Young Sr. along with Susan Clark are with the team this month who are reaching out with the Word. We say welcome and praise God for your presence. We will close with an appeal to always keep us in your prayers; for we run on faith and expect God to touch the faithful volunteers to help promote His work through us.

SHARE THIS FREE MEAL WITH A FRIEND FOR THE LIFE YOU SAVE COULD BE YOUR VERY OWN IN THE FUTURE OR THAT OF A FAMILY OR FRIEND!!!!!!!