lA LIVING SACRIFICE lLIVESTREAM lSAVED TO SERVE! lAT THE LAVER
lLIVING IN THE OVERFLOW lONE RIVER - TWO BANKS lLIFE BEYOND THE LAVER lTESTIMONY lREFLECTIONS A Select Arrow Publication www.thesharemagazine.com
MyDevotion.today Witnessing for Jesus Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen. Every day there will be somewhere for someone to speak of Jesus to someone. We can just be stood talking about the love we have for Him because He first loved us. Or giving testimony or talking about prayer. Someone besides us could be listening. Leaving Christian books or message in various places. We don’t have to wait for an opportunity to arise there is a miracle in our mouths. Our lifestyle will show it also. We can ask God for wisdom, discernment, courage and have a willing spirit to be obedient when He asks us to tell someone about Him. We won’t have to worry about what we will say the Holy Spirit will give us the words to speak. As long as our heart’s desire is to glorify Him it is surprising what doors will be open. Praying for our relatives and neighbours the Lord can make a way that we could never dream of. His ways are far better than ours and remember where there seems to be no way the Lord is more than able to make a way. So trust Him and keep on walking the path He leads us on wherever it goes because He will always supply what we need to accomplish His wonderful purpose. The time is now before the end of the age. Prayer: Father help us to be open and willing in our hearts to tell people about You and Jesus in the power of Your Holy Spirit. That we bring in lost souls into Your wonderfiil Kingdom. Amen. Wisdom: Lean not to your own understanding of where God wants to direct you. Take a step of faith and trust Him to open the doors. Devotion For April 1st 2020 By Lynda Smith
inside EDITORIAL
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Living in The Overflow 6 How do we keep unclogged so that the LIVING water can flow? Livestream 8 We experience rivers of life flowing out of our belly. 10
A Living Sacrifice 12 A call that sanctifies us from the world One River - Two Banks 14 Understanding John’s and Jesus’ Baptism. At the Laver 18 A Point of Sanctification and Preparation for Entry into Service. Life Beyond the Laver 20 Have You Entered Into Service Yet?
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A Baptismal Experience To Remember
FEATURE ARTICLES
Saved to Serve! A necessary equipping for effective service
TESTIMONY 22
REFLECTIONS Did you Know? Most Christians do not know about the Tabernacle?
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#YouthSHARE 24 Are we waiting too long to baptise people? World in View Count down to the end
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Storyteller I Need a Drink
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Poem: His Hands By Kate Brumby
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Note to Self 31 What is clogging up my Well? In Praise Of Hymn There is a Fountain
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SHARE|MAGAZINE Volume 8 - Issue 2
About Us
EDITORIAL
A FOUNTAIN OF LIFE IN YOU Looking Into the Laver
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My husband recently said something very profound. He said, “The Presence of God is not a quick shower but a long soak.” I said to myself in acquiescence, he is so right we need to wade into the LIFE-giving waters of God’s presence and rest there a while, letting it flow over us and do its healing, transformative, miracle-working job. We must seek to remain in stillness and hear God’s voice above all things, allow Him to show us our soul in the mirror of His word - the Laver - and be willing to plunge deep beneath the surface of His wonderful, miraculous, baptismal waters that washes away all impurity, swallows us up into His death and burial and spouts us out into His resurrection life (Romans 6). Like a fountain, we rise to a new life in triumph as a new creation ready to take up public service for God; spilling over unto all those within our sphere of influence! A Public Declaration of Love and Commitment Our relationship with God is not intended to be a private affair, there is no dichotomy of private and public life. In Jesus, we have one authentic self and one life in which to express the truth of whose we are. We 4
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are meant to be the same in every situation and circumstance, a living testament to Christ’s work within us. The standard of attainment is, “the fullness of the measure of the stature of Christ” (Ephesians 4:113). Nothing more or less will do and God is committed through Jesus’ blood and the working of the Holy Spirit, to finish that great perfecting work that He has begun in us at the Gate of The Tabernacle, the entry point and on the Brazen Altar of the Tabernacle of our lives; where we have left the flesh behind and its incessant demands. Next, we approach the Laver and we must take full advantage of this opportunity that has been so amply prepared for us, so graciously offered and so lavishly laid out. You must go through this stage. If not you will NOT receive the benefits of the Kingdom you will lose so much more that is in-store. If you have any intention to go on into service (which is actually every believer’s high calling in Christ Jesus) then come to the water with confidence. What hinders you? (Acts 8:26-39) Integral Integrity Character Building
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Every Master builder builds with integral integrity. The integrity of something is always subject to testing and if it is made to high standards it will be able to bear the pressure of wear and tear, weathering and time. Jesus has set the ultimate standard of
SHARE MAGAZINE is a FREE Christian quarterly that deals with challenging Christian topics that have been mostly ignored or left unanswered. The magazine includes written articles, poems and thoughts etc. Read our online version at www. TheShareMagazine.com where you can go to our blog to discuss articles or order a printed version. If you would like to submit articles, join our writers group, or to get involved in any other way kindly email us. SHARE MAGAZINE is produced by Select Arrow, the publishing arm of United In Christ charity number 1140448.
Disclaimer
Throughout this magazine the editor & contributors seek to present a balanced and accurate view of Scripture’s teaching. We are all on a journey of studying and understanding God’s Word. Because of this, all we can offer is as balanced an understanding as the Holy Spirit has offered us at this time. The views or opinions represented in this publication are personal to each of our contributors and may not fully represent those of any other contributor or editor. Some writers may use UK spelling while others may use US spelling as our writers are from different regions.
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integrity- the condition of being unified or sound in construction, having internal consistency or lack of corruption. “...I will build my Church and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18. The character of a thing is its nature, its substance, what it is made of. Jesus’ Nature had been imputed to the ‘born again’ believer. When we are shaken, pounded, pierced, provoked and poured out, His nature flows out of us... Jesus and more Jesus. The blood of Jesus has atoned for us, we are no longer separated from God by our sinful nature, we have been restored to our former identity of
QA &
‘Child of God’ and the DNA of Jesus is now within us; our very nature has changed. The deep work of the Holy Spirit in us is not limited just to the miraculous salvation of your spirit/our nature but also it disciplines the desires of the body and the real trouble makerour soul, that has its own will and wants to please itself, is transformed. This is not instantaneous, it’s the result of a life long processing and it awaits us beyond the laver. God is after a completely authentic transformation, 99.9% won’t do; He is all about the full 100%. What, He has started in us He means to complete. This high calling is called holiness… “Be holy as I am holy” says, God.
So, as the word of God does this transformation, we are daily displacing the junk that has long clogged up our Soul’s well and prevented the fountain from flowing powerfully up and out onto others. What is at the bottom of your well? Let the Living Waters of the Laver wash them away and purge your soul. You were created to be a ‘Living Well’, a ‘Life Spring,’ a ‘Fountain of Life’! p
Angela Slack
Editor and Co-founder
You have questions we’ve got answers
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Baptism is an outward declaration of an inward transformation, a step in telling everyone that something has happened; we have changed and accepted Christ into our life, our old life has died, we are baptised into His death and we are now alive in Christ and raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4). The idea is that when immersed totally in water it is symbolic of the death and the lifting back up is the raising to life in Christ. The origin of baptism did not just originate with Christians or even John the Baptist. In the Old, Testament priests practised ritual washing in the laver at the tabernacle. The Laver, basin of bronze, was between the altar and the tabernacle of meeting (Exodus 30:17-21). The origins of baptism is also found in Leviticus 16. After sacrificing as an atonement for sin, a priest had to symbolically wash their hands and feet and put on garments before they went into the Holy of Holies to present themselves before God. Later when the temple had been built they practised ritual immersion in the Mikvah. Although the Old Testament was not specifically called “baptism”, it does highlight how the importance of cleansing before God was held.
WHAT IS CHRISTIAN BAPTISM? John’s baptism was a “baptism of repentance” (Luke 3:3; Acts 19:4) rather than a baptism of cleansing. The final cleansing from sin is only available through Christ and John’s baptism was a foreshadowing of that. Infant baptism, the sprinkling of water, was not performed in the early church. No-one seems to know when it was first introduced but in the ancient church, it was viewed that the child was baptised into the church community of faith. It also possibly started when the Church started to understand more of original sin.1 The gravity and spiritual significance of promising their child to God have now been often overlooked by secular parents outside the church as they make a promise to bring their child up in the Christian faith, most often the reason they want their child christened is for the dressing up of their child and the party after. p [1] Bible.org What are the historical origins of infant baptism. By Teresa L. Randle Missionary, Preacher and Bible Teacher
April - June 2020
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Living in
The Overflow
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Life in the overflow of the Holy Spirit - [we have become] We have been justified by faith unto good works prepared for us by God (Gal 2:16). We have objectives to fulfil for the Kingdom of God. God’s Spirit is available to us in unlimited measure God will pour into us as long as we are willing and available to be filled by Him. He wants to fully inhabit the temple of our lives. Let us say we are like a well; then we are 6
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meant to be filled with good, clean water fit for purpose. My deepest desire is to see ALL the saints/the Ecclesia come into this reality in the Kingdom of God. God explained it to me in a picture of a well being so deeply dug that it is filled to overflowing from a wellspring that bubbles up from underground. It keeps the well pure and the water free of contaminants.
Since the water is churning with life there is no possibility of it becoming stagnant; it spurts out and over like a fountain onto everything that is close by. This is a picture of God’s desire for you and me. The question is how deeply have we dug our wells and are they flowing freely? If not, what is blocking up our wells?
Now that we therefore DO:
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1. Submit to the Lordship Of Jesus We give Jesus the right to reign from the throne of our hearts. That is, obeying His word by coming to a place of submission in our hearts/ soul so that God can begin the work of transformation in our souls (mind/will/emotions). The flesh has already been left on the bronze altar as a consumed sacrifice; now it’s the soul that needs transformation; it has been contaminated by the sin of this fallen world. That means we must willingly let go of the old ways of thinking that are blocking up our wells. Some common contaminants of our thinking are judgement and prejudice of others, offence and contempt for others and stubbornness. In submission we instead develop the fruit of the Spirit and forbearance and reconciliation with others is one marvellous indication of transformation taking place within our hearts. No more silly offences and misunderstandings among us as believers. As our hearts are fixed on not leaving anyone behind but going on with God together. We recognise that we need each other; we are one, an intrinsically joined body. When the Holy Spirit tugs at our consciences and points to something that is junk we need to let it go. Let the living waters of God’s word wash them away. The word of God is living water, a ‘dynamic’ powered fountain of power! We become like a hydro station, churning out zoe` life! 2. Live intentionally - [we do because we have become] That is having a determination to yield our will to the will of God and His
teachings. We choose righteousness over our own reasoning, mercy over judgment and love over justification. Our objective is a life that reverences God because we understand and appreciate His holiness. Joshua 5:15 says, “Take off your shoes where you stand is Holy Ground”. Our temple [whole being] is the current Holy ground of God no longer a building structure. We give Jesus preeminence in our daily life. He is top of our priority list. We choose friends, jobs, interests etc. with care as we guard our hearts against being corrupted. 3. Dig deep wells - In His presence is where we want to remain, and the deeper our wells the more of Him we can contain. We dig wells by spending time alone with God practising to know His voice, His nature and His ways. We nurture and develop our relationship with Him. If we draw near He will also come to us in revelation and power. He will also pour into us. “The presence of God is not a quick shower but a long soak,” Homer Slack. Come away with God and rest a while with Him, let Him fill you to overflowing. Jesus changed the world every day because He walked in the overflow. He already knew what each day had in store before He faced it since God the Father had already told Him in their quiet time alone together. This has been the pattern of Jesus’ life and He taught the disciple this. Peter Healed A Lame Man “Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who,
seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, ‘Look at us.’ So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. And all the people saw him walking and praising God. Then they knew that it was he who sat begging alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.” Acts 3:1-10 Peter, the Apostle, could boldly say, “silver and gold I have none but such as I have I give you.” The ‘such as he had’ was the demonstration of God’s authority and power flowing out to others by faith and grace! This is the Spirit-filled life, living in the overflow! Prayer: Lord Jesus help me to dig deep wells in my heart and allow the Holy Spirit to keep my well unclogged by everything that will block Your flow in my life; so that I will become a fountain of life, overflowing onto all those around me; bringing Heaven on earth with each step that I take… Keep me living in the overflow of God’s grace and power. p By Angela Slack educator, curriculum/ literacy specialist, technical author and editor
April - June 2020
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Livestream
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John 7 is the conclusion of the seven day Feast of Tabernacles culminating in a visual procession of the priest carrying water in a golden pitcher to the Water Gate, marching around the altar seven times and then pouring it out. This act symbolized among other things, Yahweh’s provision of water in a dry place reminiscent of the water that flowed miraculously from the rock in the desert during the Exodus from Egypt (Numbers 20:8). It is at this apex of Jewish celebrations that Jesus makes his announcement in John 7:37,38 and invites anyone who is truly thirsty to come and if they believe to drink. With this, he makes the promise that out of their bellies would flow rivers of living water. Year after year their festivals were purely
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symbolic and would evaporate from the Jewish consciousness as quickly as the water being poured out on the altar. Jesus stands up, and with no pitcher in his hand unceremoniously pitches to the crowds a bizarre idea. He interrupts the status quo by asking “believers” if they truly believed to come and drink.
of the feast but not its theology. As the prophet Jeremiah lamented;
No longer would they need to wait for the waters to be stirred by an angel as in John 5:4; the stirring would come from within.
Jeremiah 2:13 (NLT)
Up until that point, everything was an outward show, a spectacle that the Jewish Diaspora located themselves in Jerusalem to witness and enjoy; but it lacked substance. Like the disciples in Mark 13:1 who were enamoured by the stonework of the temple and not the purpose for which it was built, so the people came away excited by the theatrics
“For my people have done two evil things: They have abandoned me — the fountain of living water. And they have dug for themselves cracked cisterns that can hold no water at all!
They were dying of thirst as a nation while the true fountain stood right in their midst. The Jews sought to kill Him 7:1, while His own brothers ridiculed Him 7:3-5. Their cracked religious practices were the very reason they rejected Jesus as a true prophet. In John 6:51, He declared Himself as bread, a concept that greatly offended even Jesus’s followers. But in chapter 7 we see He is also the life-giving stream.
Many focus on the bread and ignore the water until their fattened souls become parched and desperately in need of refreshing. Sadly, we have become a dehydrated church, full of the word but our hearers are not refreshed nor are they revived. As was the case with Moses and the children of Israel who had manna but no water. Indeed many of our churches have become the dead sea spoken of in Ezekiel 47, expansive but not lifegiving, impressive to look at but toxic underneath.
Jesus is that temple from which the river flows and despite their attempts to destroy said temple or to strike it, in three days He would be raised up and like the rock in Numbers 20, the Spirit’s water would gush forth. As God’s called-out people, we would do well to speak to the rock during our wilderness period; we ought to stand up at the end of meaningless ceremonies, conferences, conventions and challenge this generation to truly engage in the prophetic and invite God’s people to drink of His Holy Spirit.
The Old Testament passage goes on to depict a life-giving stream with its source located in the temple of God that goes against the flow of restrictive conservatism and begins to create life.
In an age where many speak from the top of their heads, it’s time for us to speak out of our bellies, speak from the heart of the spirit and say, “thus saith the Lord” without fear of contradiction.
The Evangelist makes clear in John 2:21
We must walk away from dried up
stagnant pools of rancid religious rhetoric, go beyond the ankle and waisthigh waters and begin to swim in the possibilities of Gods prophetic flow, transforming as we go, both those in the river and those on its banks looking on (Ezek 47:1-12). As Pastor Skip Heitzig stated in 7:44-46, the officials went to arrest Jesus for the words he spoke but instead were arrested by the words he spoke. When we become conduits for this supernatural flow, the words we speak will arrest the hearers because our words will be His words and our loud voice will be His echo. p By Bishop Claion Grandison CHRISMA Christian Centre, NTGC, Woolwich.
April - June 2020
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Saved to Serve
Many Christians when they are first saved want to run from the cross of salvation, (Brazen Altar) straight into service. Understandably, a true ‘born again’ experience, will cause you to be excited and you will want to ‘save the world’ but there is a process that will not only produce true servanthood but also protect the servant. It is the process of sanctification for service. Sanctification The Outer Court is a place where Sin is atoned for and Sanctification takes place where the Priests can be washed clean before entering The Holy Place, a place of Service. 10
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Exodus 40:11-15 Sanctification for a believer takes many forms but especially through God’s Word. ‘Sanctify them by your truth Your Word is Truth’ John 17:17 What is our modern-day laver our sanctification process? Jesus said: ‘unless a man is Born Again he cannot see the Kingdom of God.’ John chapter 3:3. In Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you is baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and
you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children…” We need to be honest and ask ourselves. Am I really baptised in The Holy Spirit? If we are then we have the power within us that will change our lives and the lives of others in service and the building of God’s Kingdom. Resurrection Sunday John 19-20. The first day of the week, Mary ran to the tomb to find that Jesus was not there and later that night she went to the disciples who were
hiding away in an upper room. They did not believe she had seen Him. Suddenly Jesus appears among them and their fear turns to joy as He proclaims peace upon them and tells them to receive The Holy Spirit. After this encounter with the Resurrected Jesus, NOTHING CHANGED, they stayed in that room another week. Jerusalem was not changed; there was no effect upon the people. Pentecost Sunday Acts 2:1-4 “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. There appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, upon each of them. And they were ALL filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” All Jerusalem knew what had happened now, there was mayhem, no-one had ever seen anything like this and even though some did see with their own eyes they said ‘these men are drunk’. No! They had now received the power of God, fire from God to establish His Church.
From Peter in the upper room having seen Jesus and knowing He was alive, apart from receiving Joy and Peace there was no power. Now having received the baptism in the Holy Spirit, as promised by Jesus, he is no longer afraid of anything; he not only has resurrection life but power! There are many of us with natural gifts and talents who strive to please and serve God and yet have never received the power of the baptism in the Holy Spirit. He is a GIFT FROM GOD to enable us to serve Jesus in the building of His Kingdom. In 1 Corinthians’ chapter 12-14, there are many gifts given to believers from the manifestation of the Holy Spirit and yet there is such a lack of them in today’s church. I think many have had an encounter with Jesus, received His peace and joy but have never had a true baptism in the Holy Spirit and are quite content to stay in the Upper Room’ waiting until Jesus returns. However, there is a multitude awaiting outside that it will take the power of God to convict, convince and convert. All we have to do is Be thirsty and ask and by faith. “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” Luke 11:11-13 It’s the same Holy Spirit as on the day of Pentecost. He has not diminished over the years nor has He grown weaker. Just like God,
the Father and Jesus He is the same yesterday today and forever. The prophet Samuel began his service sleeping near the Ark of the Covenant in the Temple serving God and the Priesthood before he knew God. There are many serving God and the church today but they don’t know the power of the Holy Spirit. Have you experienced Resurrection Sunday, Pentecost Sunday or both? We need the baptism in the Holy Spirit to serve God and His people otherwise we settle for joy and peace. Jesus said: Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many. Matthew 20:28 We are Saved to Serve. We need to be washed in the Laver of God’s Word and the Holy Spirit before we are anywhere near serving in the Kingdom. In these last days, there is no man for the hour only the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. We need both to be effective and bring glory to God. We can strive to serve God in the power of our souls with all sincerity but only the gifts of the Holy Spirit breaks bondages, heals and brings eternal results. The Holy Spirit is an amazing person to study that I am unable to do Him justice in an article but I have written quite a simple book you can obtain from Amazon UK. Other readings Acts 8:14-17, For as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptised in the name of Jesus. Acts 10:44 Peter at Cornelius house. Paul at Ephesus Acts 19:1-6. p By Barbara Payne intercessor, evangelist, minister, holds Women Unite events in the UK
April - June 2020
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A LIVING SACRIFICE
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It is the day of Atonement, a day Jews call “Yom Kippur,” which translated means “the day of Covering.” Among hundreds of Israelites entering the tabernacle of Moses, two women stand outside trying to enter. “Did you hear what happened to Jehoshua?” says one. “You mean Jehoshua ben David?” “No, Hannah, ben Levi, the high priest!” “What are you talking about, Miriam?” A tear trickles down her cheeks. “The animal seemed not to have any bruises or insects, so he placed the dead goat on the altar. Then he fell down dead, just like that! The other priests had to drag him out by the rope because they never heard the bells ringing on the hem of his robe.” “Oh, no!” Hannah hid her face in her hands. The offering Jehoshua had brought before the God of Israel was a dead sacrifice. It was also imperfect, for it had a scab hidden by its fur on the left foot. The high priest never saw it, therefore, the Lord never accepted it. Paul, the apostle, encourages us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices to God. He taught Corinthian believers that the body of each believer is like a temple in which the Spirit of the Living God dwells. “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” (1 Cor 6:19) “For what the flesh wants is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit wants is opposed to the flesh. They are opposed to each other, and so you do not do what you want to do.” Galatians 5:17 International Standard Version (ISV) Now watch as years later, Zechariah, the prophet has a vision of Jehoshua, the high priest, standing before the court of heaven.
We do not know if this is the same Jehoshua who died in the Most Holy Place. But on one side stands satan, his accuser, pointing a finger at him and saying, “He is a complete failure. His life is a disgrace to your Holiness! He deserves eternal separation from You!” On the other side stands the Lord Jesus, who sees deep within the heart of every believer. This is the same God, Who punished King David for plotting to have a man killed in the front of battle in order to have his wife. But this is the same God, Who perceived the heart King David had for God. Hear now the words of the Divine Advocate, the Supreme Lawyer of the universe. “The Lord rebuke you, satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?” Then He speaks to those before Him, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” To Jehoshua He says, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.” Then Zechariah says, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put clean clothes on him. While the term “Angel of the Lord” appears in several biblical passages, it is very clear in certain passages that the term refers to Jesus, the Son of God, as in this passage. Today, Jesus is again sounding the trumpet call to every believer. “Separate yourself from the strong desires of the flesh, worldly and filthy concepts that press in upon you through modern technology, lest you forget who you really are, a child of the Living God.” p
By C Richard McCaw author, music teacher and many years as a Bible teacher
April - June 2020
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In our discussion of the two baptisms, we will discover that John’s Baptism and Jesus’ Baptism were for two different purposes and groups of people. Let’s define baptism and explain where the practice originated? The English word, “baptism” is not a translation but a transliteration of the Greek word “baptizo”. Baptizo literally means to submerge, plunge and overwhelm. This definition gives us the sense that when a person is being baptized in water then they are submerged into, plunged into and “overwhelmed by” water. “Although the term “baptism” is not used to describe the Jewish rituals, the purification rites in Jewish laws and tradition, called “Tvilah,” have some similarity to baptism and the two have been linked. The “Tvilah” is the act of immersion in naturally sourced water, called a “Mikvah”. A Mikvah is described as a bath in which certain Jewish ritual purifications are performed. Origin in the Jewish Bible and other Jewish texts, immersion in water for ritual purification was established for restoration to a condition of “ritual purity” in specific circumstances. For example, Jews who (according to the Law of Moses) became ritually defiled by contact with a corpse had to use the Mikvah before being allowed to participate in the Holy Temple. Immersion is required for converts to Judaism as part of their conversion. Immersion in the Mikvah represents a change in status in regards to purification, restoration, and qualification for full religious participation in the life of the community, ensuring that the cleansed person will not impose uncleanness on the property or its owners. It did not become 14
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One River customary, however, to immerse converts to Judaism until after the Babylonian Captivity.” In the book of Acts 19:1–7 a notable incident took place. The apostle Paul was ministering in the city of Ephesus and came across twelve believers. He asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” To which
John’s and Jes they then replied, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” Paul was puzzled and further enquired, “Into what then were you baptized?” They then responded, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul began to explain what was the purpose of John’s baptism. He told them, “John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe
violent take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John.” • John was Jesus’ herald; he announced Jesus’ ministry. • John was the last prophet of the Old Testament. He wasn’t in the kingdom, we read, “…he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he”. • He was the one who God used to “pass the baton” from the Old Covenant to Jesus who would start the New Covenant. That is why John had to baptize Jesus; he publicly released Him into the earth i.e. “passed the baton” to Him.
- Two Banks
esus’ Baptism
on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus”. He then rebaptized them. John’s baptism was to point people to Him who was to come i.e. Jesus. Why did Paul rebaptize those believers who had previously been baptized by john? The Bible says of John in Matt. 11:10–13 (NKJV) “For this is He of
• Persons who were baptized by John were baptized under the “shadow”: the law. They needed to be baptized under the New Covenant. This explains why the scriptures tell us that Jesus’ disciples were baptizing persons. In. 4:1–2 (NASB) it says, “Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were),”
John’s baptism was in the name of Him who was not yet there; He was to come. Jesus is, NOW, HERE and persons can be baptized in HIS whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send name. p My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before Taken from the book: You’. “Assuredly, I say to you, “Foundational Doctrines – Based among those born of women there on Hebrews 6:1–2”, by David has not risen one greater than John Ferguson, pg 16. the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. And from the days of John Story by David Ferguson Bible teacher, Pastor of the Baptist until now the kingdom Restoration Family Church Int. of heaven suffers violence, and the April - June 2020
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Christians do not know Most
About the
Tabernacle? W
What Is the Tabernacle? The tabernacle is the greatest teaching-learning resource designed by the greatest teacher for the purpose of training mortal man how to worship, that is how to approach an immortal God’s magnificent majesty in spirit and truth. God foresaw that a fallen man would be limited in processing and retaining spiritual truths because we are disconnected from His presence. Much like being disconnected from the internet because our broadband is broken. Why Study the Tabernacle? The tabernacle was hardware developed so that we could have practical knowledge of spiritual truths, practice what we learned and demonstrate our learning with a righteous response to the tests of life. It is a simulated learning resource centre filled with successively, progressive lessons and assessments that last a lifetime. It is a flat-packed, portable, multisensory and multidimensional 16
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classroom. It is a discipleship curriculum that will prepare us to live and reign with God in eternity. It demonstrates how Jesus will restore us back to fellowship with the Father, returning us to our original estate as sons of God, no longer His enemy. It is a transformational learning journey because as you begin the tour of the tabernacle you realise that a holographic projection of your life is being played out before your eyes and it is in real time. Each step is a lesson of truth that transforms you, as long as you engage and are willing to surrender your will. Heavens’ Protocol of Worship It reveals the worship protocols of heaven and we get to join in with heaven’s worship while remaining on our own time line. A protocol is [defined by Google online dictionary] as the official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of state or diplomatic occasions. Can anything be more official or auspicious than entering into God’s
presence? The protocol of worship as delineated in the tabernacle is according to the heavenly pattern. God never left it to chance or conjecture He was precise in outlining every minute detail of the tabernacle. This reveals something about God’s character - He knows what He wants and how He wants things to be done. He is not random but loves order and structure. It’s His prerogative and we, in turn, should respect and fulfil His wishes. To worship in heaven means to fall prostrate to be totally surrendered to the awesome presence of His omnipotent majesty. If I suggested to you that you may have never worshipped as heaven does in your life you may feel offended and say that I am out of order to even suggest such a thing. Maybe on a personal basis many of us have experienced God’s presence in this way but what about corporately? Shouldn’t it be an even richer experience together? I maintain that it is impossible to experience
God’s manifest presence and remain blaze` or indifferent, It is just TOO Awesome! Yet, I recall observing this while worship was ‘in progress’. This inherent contradiction dogged me for years and it remained irreconcilable with what I saw in scripture. If by heavens’ standard - when the presence of God is manifest everything that is within man falls prostrate before God, then I ask you when last has this happened in any of our meetings and why not? Surely we have experienced high praises and joy but worship? I am beginning to realise not really, we are as a whole-body still in pursuit of that goal... the Glory of God manifest in our midst. Don’t we want to experience this? It can’t be God’s fault so we must look again to His instructions to us. What have we missed in our walk with Him? We are so privileged to be living in the age of the revelation of many things that were once sealed up and so it is we must seek, knock and ask God for the revelation of
those mysteries that now belong to us and our children. The objective is for God to dwell within us No tabernacle or any temple can substitute - God desires to be reunited with us as He once was with Adam and Eve before the fall. RESTORATION has finally come to us in Jesus Christ and so we have the highly privileged position of reentering eternity and being seated again in heavenly places with Him in Spirit and in Truth. We progress from salvation -to sanctification -to service and finally complete surrender. Only the converted soul can contain the glory of God’s presence and His precious Zoe` life. Such a life has been dead to sin and awaits its immortal form when we see Him face to face... Hallelujah! The current challenge is to CHANGE! We have to intentionally choose to be humble and accept that the patterns of worship that we have inherited traditionally
and culturally and that we have become comfortable with may not be correct, in fact, it may be offending God because in spite of our sincerity it is not accurate. We have to accept also that the worship is NOT for us, it is for God alone. When we approach God biblically there is an audience of ONE. We bow down before God alone! Everything in our being is focussed on Him. If you receive this revelation of worship as being temple - keeping then by the end of this teaching and learning experience you will never choose to live below the line of God’s standard for you again. You will gladly submit to the Holy Spirit’s discipleship of your life because you will be confident that His way is best and where He is taking you to is more than worth it. Let’s joyfully go with Him! p By Angela Slack educator, curriculum/literacy specialist, technical author, editor and publisher
April - June 2020
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AT THE
LAVER
W
What Was the Laver Used for? A Holy God requires a holy people so before entering God’s presence, one must be cleansed. The Laver was for washing, cleansing and preparing. It was a circular basin inlaid with highly polished brass that the Israelite women used for mirrors. It was used by the priests for ceremonial washing to sanctify and to purify themselves before entering the Holy Place to perform their next service to God. They cleansed their faces and hands (representing daily work) and their feet (representing a holy walk and set-apart life) after the bloody slaughter of the sacrificial animals. Mirrors are for self-examination of the outer person but believers can use it to examine the inner man, the hidden man, our hidden heart. The mirror reflects the defilements within us, which are washed away when we obey the commandments of the scriptures. As the priests washed in the laver, the mirrors reflected their images, reminding them of how God saw them. Herein lies the promise in Ephesians 5:26, “that He (Jesus) might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word.” The Greek word for washing is laver. So it would 18
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read ‘that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the Laver of water, with the word’! The Laver Represents the Word of God. This is where we allow God’s Word to shine into our lives, allowing it to teach, to reprove, to correct and to instruct us in the ways of God (2 Tim 3:16). Only the perfect blood of Christ, the lamb of God, can cleanse us perfectly of our sins, which represents our separation from God. The Word of God has a cleansing effect on our lives. As believer-priests, defilements of the flesh are washed away when we act in obedience to the clear commands of Scripture. The mirror reveals and reflects our sinful purposes and intentions within us and the mirror is only effective if we act on what it reveals, so we must act on the Word of God and be washed clean as we obey the scriptures. The Bible tells believers to cleanse their hearts from guilt before approaching God, “having our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22). 2 Corinthians 7:1 adds, “Having, therefore, these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” The Holy Spirit will use the “logos” ie the written word and make it “rhema” ie the Holy Spirit quickens a specific word for a specific person for a specific situation, to us. It will be as if God were speaking directly and personally to us. The Holy Spirit will use the Word, like a spiritual bath to bring about convictions, to cleanse our conscious thoughts and sanctify our soul with His truth. Until “… we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed
into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18. What a great day that will be. 1 John 1:8-10 says, Jesus is the ‘Living Water,’ He washes and cleanses and purifies us. “But if we confess our sins, He will forgive our sins, because He is faithful and just. He will cleanse [purify] us from all the wrongs we have done.” There Is a Need for Repentance Today. God says, “I desire a contrite and humble heart” to draw near to Me. At the Laver, we examine ourselves in the light of God’s word and we confess our sin, we get washed. And we are promised by Jesus, “You are clean through the Word which I have spoken to you.” John 15:3. Now we are ready to be separated from sin and set apart for God, for God’s holy purposes. Thus, our lives become pure and holy, our life is an acceptable offering and can be consecrated to Him for God’s use in an acceptable service. The Bible says sanctification is a progressive and transformational experience from our separation unto God. It is the effect of obedience, a continual putting off sin to death and the application of the Word of God (the purifying water) in our lives. To be sanctified means God has been at work in our lives. So let’s join with Paul’s prayer, “May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thess 5:23 p By Suyin Sutherland Business owner, a lover of God’s presence, loves to introduce others into God’s secret place.
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LIFE BEYOND the
LAVER Have You Entered yet?
A
“And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the
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disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’” Acts 14:21-22
Have you realised yet that seeing the Kingdom and entering it could be two totally different points on the faith walk continuum? Paul’s statement above is one scripture that proves that entering the Kingdom does not happen at the same time when we ‘got saved’. One doesn’t just happen upon the kingdom. We must deliberately and purposely seek and find the kingdom. We must push almost with violent aggression, through thick and thin, troubles and heartaches to enter. I’ve always heard it said that Joseph was able to get through his many trials because his dream kept him going. I don’t support that view. The character we read about in Genesis known as Joseph does not strike me as the type that would gloat over the fact that the rest of his family will one day bow down to him. Something bigger than his dream motivated Joseph and kept him going. Yes, he believed in doing his best at whatever he put his hands to and God also blessed him so he could excel. Closer inspection will reveal, however, that it was the promises of God that motivated him. It was the place he would be transported to in his death that really powered his engine. God, we know, was very displeased with those whose mentality was stuck in Egypt and Joseph was never to be one of those. Joseph could see well beyond Egypt and for us to enter the Kingdom we must fix our gaze on things above not on things below. It all started when we entered through the narrow gate and boy was it glorious but there is yet a Canaan to enter, a Kingdom to possess. We must travel the straight path towards eternal life. If Joseph highly regarded Egypt he would have allowed his body to be left there but Egypt was not the destination. “And Joseph said to his brethren, ‘I am dying; but God will surely visit
you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.’ Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, ‘God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.’” Genesis 50:24-25 Joseph always knew that Egypt was nothing more than a brief stopover on the way to the greater goal. Paul wrote, “I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. My friends, I don’t feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. I run toward the goal so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has done.” Philippians 3:1214 (CEV) Brethren, stop dwelling on the salvation experience and begin to press towards entering the Kingdom. Move on from the Brazen Altar but don’t get stuck at the Laver either. Continue into the Holy Place. So how do we know we have entered the Kingdom. I may not know all the signs but this I do know. Those who enter the Kingdom have had a heart and mind reset. As the Israelites could not enter Canaan with residues of Egypt so also those who enter the Kingdom must have transcended this life in their hearts and in their thinking. “... do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Romans 12:2 Of this we can be sure, those who enter the Kingdom have already departed this world. They might be here physically but not in heart and mind. Those who cannot leave will not possess the promised land. p By Homer Slack author, preacher, Bible teacher, IT tutor, programmer & graphic designer
April - June 2020
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TESTIMONY My Baptism Experience
G
God works according to His wisdom, in mysterious ways; He sees the human heart; our motivation and commitment. He knows each one of us better than we know ourselves. Therefore each baptismal experience will is unique. There are two forms of baptism; one by water and the other by the
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Holy Spirit. Whatever our journey, through these two baptisms I believe we should all come to that same unity in the Holy Spirit that is not contrary to God’s Word.
the Bronze alter we acknowledge our sin and realise Jesus’ perfect ‘lifeblood’ that atones for us as the ultimate sacrifice for sin. Sin enabled us to remain ignorant, deceived, tempted through our Jesus in The Tabernacle weaknesses and ultimately death It is amazing how our spiritual because it blinded us to our need journey is mirrored in the Godfor the blood of Jesus. given pattern of the Tabernacle. At
my life to Jesus. We cannot assume our ‘good’ lives will bring us to God or protect us from deception. That was the big challenge for me. When you live with this void you are weak and you don’t realise it until you have entered into the Kingdom of God. I did not know I was getting weighed down by my worries, guilt and mistakes, yet when I was ‘born again,’ I felt a weight lift off my shoulders’. This is what Jesus said, “come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” I knew very little about Christianity and no-one influenced me in the steps I needed to take to become a Christian. As I made the journey I might have thought I made it on my own but I realised God’s hand had been on my life. I remember my mind being like a battlefield; doubts and feelings of inadequacy taunted me. Thanks to God, I overcame those negative moments.
By Caron Moore From My Own Experience. Firstly, I wasn’t a ‘bad’ person; I always tried to do right by people but I was ignorant, I did not know God. I decided to attend church after reading a ‘Why Jesus’ booklet, I said the sinner’s prayer; without really understanding and in obedience I told a friend I’d given
As I attended the Methodist Church several months passed, hymns became personal prayers. The intercessional prayers provided comfort and relief about world events that worried me. I purchased a Bible, I’m not an avid reader but as I started reading the gospels I became engrossed in the life of Jesus, it touched me deeply. Jesus who brought love, healing, deliverance and truth gave up His life to be humiliated, scorned, beaten, mocked, nailed to the cross and pierced. Ashamedly, in my ignorance, I could’ve easily been part of the crowd shouting, ‘Crucify Him’! My First Easter Journey. On Easter Sunday, Holy Communion service, I found myself oblivious to
those around me, it was just me and God. I shook emotionally as I contemplated going to take Holy Communion. I knelt was given the bread and then the wine; the body and blood of Christ given for me. As I got up to return to my seat, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders. At that moment I felt overwhelmed by God’s Love, It was bursting from my heart. I told my husband later that I was ‘born again’. I knew I’d received acceptance and love by someone far greater than any human expression and this instantly impacted on my low self - esteem. I had also been baptised by the Holy Spirit. That was almost 30 years ago, my journey has had its challenges; bereavement, depression, anxiety and rejection have played their part in my development. The next stage of the Tabernacle - the Bronze Laver correlates with my journey. It was lined with mirrors (Exodus 38:8) the Priest was required to ceremonially wash his hands and feet in the water while examining himself in the mirror before entering the Holy Place, otherwise, he would die. (Exodus 30:20). Gods’ word is the mirror that I use to examine myself, my attitude and actions. Through correction and discipline, I am being washed as the High priest would wash after sin offerings. My High Priest; Jesus Cleanses me (Hebrews 7). Jesus had more authority than the High Priest when He washed the disciple’s feet ( John 13) and told them to do likewise. He washes us clean, makes us presentable to God and calls us to be Holy. Therefore we have the boldness to come before the throne of Grace. I am forever grateful. p April - June 2020
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# youth
SHARE
Are we Waiting Too Long to Baptise People?
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E
T
There is a questionable notion which seems to go unanswered within the church as to whether or not believers should get baptised and the right timing to do so. The online Collins dictionary explains baptism as when “water is put on a person’s heads or they are covered with water as a sign that their sins have been forgiven and that they have become a member of the Christian Church.” This symbolizes christening, cleansing, immersing and purifying. From a Christian perspective when we baptise it is a physical action to show that we have repented of our sins and submitted to Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, have received spiritual rebirth for the remissions of our sins as explained in 1 Peter 3:21, “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”and that through Him we have reconciliation with God (2 Corinthians 5:18) and have now become joint-heirs with Christ through our faith being made righteous (1 Peter 1:35; Romans 4:13). Baptism is indeed necessary and is a charge given by God, as seen in the book of Matthew 28:19 the
great commission is written, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” When an individual has come to know and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour of his life, the transformation takes place within his heart (mind) first (Acts 2:37-38) it is a conscious decision made between man and his Creator. Though baptism is necessary the timing does not affect one’s decision in his faith, baptism rather signifies the putting away of the old man or the seal of approval or acceptance into the family of God. The Bible gives no set timing as to when to baptise an individual, however, some believe the wait is too long to baptise those who have accepted Christ. Some often consider the case of the Ethiopian eunuch and Phillip the evangelist in Acts 8:26-39 & Acts 2 to be a guide for the timing of baptism. However, this is not always practical. The scenario of Philip being sent by an angel of the Lord and coming into contact with the Ethiopian eunuch who was already engaged in the word of God is extraordinary. The Spirit told Philip to go near to the eunuch providing him with the opportunity to explain the word of God and share about Jesus. Upon the eunuch’s confession that he
believed that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, he requested to be baptised and Philip did baptise him after which Philip was caught away by the Spirit. This setting within the passage of scripture
speaks to divine timing, in other words, it was ordained by God Himself. Clearly, Phillip would not have seen the eunuch again. The Bible reminds us in Ephesians 1:4-12 that, “God hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, He has predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, that in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, and in Him we also having obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. God our Creator sets our divine timing throughout our lives, no man outside of his authority can intervene except for the rights He has given us to choose.” Luke 3:23 tells us, Jesus got baptised at about thirty years of age after which He began ministry (Matthew 4:17) all due to divine timing. In Acts chapter 2:21 it says those who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved and verses 37-38 states that unbelievers were first pricked (convicted) in the heart, which leads to repentance, then baptism for the remissions of sins, receiving the Holy Ghost as promised. Yes, there is a process to being baptised and receiving salvation, nevertheless as to whether or not we believe the wait is too long to baptize people, is not based upon our thoughts and reasoning but rather upon the believer’s decision or choice to receive Jesus Christ and God’s divine timing. p By Cypriana R. Parkinson, Construction Engineer (B. Eng., MJIE), Youth Vice-President. “Graced by Yahweh”
April - June 2020
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World
Since January 2020, we have seen 3 of the End Times biblical prophecy dramatically played out before us. The fact we are now at home as per Government ‘lock down’, ‘staying safe’ speaks volumes. The parable of the 5 wise and the 5 foolish virgins come to mind readily as I hear the Spirit of God asking the question, are you prepared for the return of the Lord? The Matt 25, parable trumpet’s the Bridegroom’s return. Ecclesia are you
fully clothed and are your lamps trimmed and burning with oil, do you have oil to spare, as the 5 wise virgins had? The Bible has given us pointed and clear projections for everyday living and this present COVID-19 reality is no surprise if you have been paying attention and tuning in to heavens’ forecasts. Jesus gave us a sequence of the events that will take place at the very end of the end times. They are as follows...
Schedule of End Time events as stated by Jesus in Matthew 24
1. Wars Matthew 24:7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.” Over the last 100 years the whole world has been at war as many as two times. More recently we’ve seen many conflicts starting with 9:11 and continued with what was dubbed ‘The Arab Spring’. 2. Natural disasters that bring Famine/Scarcity Matthew 24:7 “And there will be famines…” Take note of the natural disasters like the forest fires we’ve been seeing recently in Australia and California USA and Locusts infestations as seen in Kenya. These fires are caused by an increase in droughts. Drought causes crops to fail which then causes famine. 3. Pestilence and disease of pandemic proportions Matthew 24:7 “...pestilences, and earthquakes in various places.” Covid 19 is the pestilence that prevails as we write this article. Many countries around the world, are in total to pertial shutdown.
4. Persecutions and martyrdom Matthew 24:9 & 21 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake… For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” This is yet to come and is the one Jesus chose to elaborate on the most. 5. Cosmic fallout Matthew 24:29 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” We ‘look up’ as we know these are yet to come and ‘our redemption is near.’
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In View
B To prove Jesus wasn’t just speaking randomly in some ‘ad hoc’ way and that scripture does not contradict itself, we see this very same sequence played out in Revelations 6 in ‘the breaking of the seven seals.’ So, based on the above schedule of events, where are we presently? Is this COVID-19 an indication that we are at stage number 3, the 4th seal where worldwide plagues will come
on top of wars and famines? Are we to expect to see more worldwide pestilences? Will the period of the antichrist, the mark of the beast and the great persecution be next, the 5th seal? p Continue this discussion in our facebook group SHARE Extra Youth. https://www.facebook.com/roups/251455439174666/?source_ id=626249417451143
Schedule of End Time events as stated in Revelations 6
Wars - Peace taken from the earth (2nd seal) Revelations 6:4 “Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword.”
Famine/Scarcity (3rd seal) Revelations 6:5-6 (NIV) “...and there before me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, ‘Two pounds of wheat for a day’s wages, and six pounds of barley for a day’s wages’”
Pestilence (4th seal) Revelations 6:8 “...and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague…”
Persecutions and martyrdom (5th seal) Revelations 6:9 “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained.”
Cosmic fallout (6th seal) Revelations 6:12-13 “There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind.”
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I NEED A
The
STORY TELLER
DRINK
To book the story teller email: editor@thesharemagazine.com
A
A late friend of mine, a pastor, told me of his alcoholic father, how he used to hide alcohol in different places in the house. He would give the impression that he was off drink while sneaking it from under his bed or wherever else he would hide a bottle. A day came when he searched all his hiding places not realising that he had, had them all and not replaced them. His thirst was driving him crazy so he went into the kitchen cupboard and drank a bottle of disinfectant. It shredded his insides and killed him.
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Another dear friend of mine told me of her father’s addiction to alcohol. One day he had problems getting the cork out the bottle. It must have separated leaving a part logged in the neck of the bottle but he was too thirsty to bother with finding a way to get it out. He smashed off the head of the bottle and drank it with all the possible splinters in it. I didn’t know there was such a thing as a ‘wet brain’ until this friend informed me. This is when the abuse of alcohol results in the damaging of the brain affecting such things as hearing or sight etc.
We all know people whose lives ended or have been totally wrecked due to that unquenchable thirst for alcohol. Those of us who are not alcoholics may often wonder how one could be held captive by a spirited liquid but evidence shows that it happens. Thirst is a function of the body that was designed by God to save our lives. Thank God we can experience that need to drink
called thirst. But, like every other wonderful thing designed by God for our good, thirst is one of those things we can abuse for example when we make it a slave to alcohol. God endorses thirst as a legitimate desire and points us to the good things we should thirst for. “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.’” John 7:37
knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, “Give Me a drink,” you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water… Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”’ John 4:10-14
Our souls experience thirst just as our bodies do but many try to use physical fixes in an effort to quench a thirsting soul. No physical drink or activity will work. Only Jesus can satisfy a thirsting soul. We must go to Him and drink. “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters… And let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live…” Isaiah 55:1-3
There is a drink that kills and there is a drink that gives eternal life. Escape the devil’s trap today, choose to not be enslaved by any drink, food, addictive substance or habit. Desire the living waters that Jesus gives. Choose life and not death. Develop and taste and a thirst for the water that Jesus gives. Say no to the drink that causes you to end up broke, bruised, battered, confused, embarrassed and ashamed. Choose the free drink that gives life, dignity, fulfilment, peace that passes understanding and a joy that is beyond describing. p
Jesus speaking with the woman at the well again spoke of the waters that quench a thirsting soul, waters that He alone can give. “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘If you
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His Hands On the same night as He was betrayed, He took bread and gave thanks, He also blessed the wine, Taking each in Hands. Those same hands bore pain, The pain of His crucifixion, As He took my place on the cross, The cost for my salvation. As I picture my Lord now, And call to mind His deep scars, I realise each is due to my sin, The price of a soul marred. Yet, He continues to accept me, Though I daily betray and fail, Yet, He continues to forgive me, Though each sin strikes another nail. I gaze upon my crucified Lord, And I am in awe as I watch, His hands stretched out before me, He says, “I love You this much.” © Kate Brumby 30
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What Is Clogging Up My Well?
Note To Self
Is it any of the 7 Root SINS?
1. Envy is the intense desire to have an item that someone else possesses. Kindness cures envy by placing the desire to help others above the need to supersede them. 2. Gluttony is excessive and ongoing eating of food or drink. Temperance cures gluttony by implanting the desire to be healthy, therefore making one fit to serve others. 3. Greed or avarice is an excessive pursuit of material goods. Charity cures greed by putting the desire to help others above storing up treasure for one’s self. 4. Lust is a strong passion or longing, especially for sexual desires. Chastity or self-control cures lust by controlling passion and leveraging that energy for the good of others. 5. Pride is an excessive view of one’s self without regard for others. Humility cures pride by removing one’s ego and boastfulness, therefore allowing the attitude of service. 6. Sloth is excessive laziness or the failure to act and utilize one’s talents. Diligence or zeal cures slothfulness by placing the interest of others above a life of ease and relaxation. 7. Wrath is a fit of strong anger and hate towards another person. Patience cures wrath by one first understanding the needs and desires of others before acting or speaking. https://www.bibleinfo.com/en/questions/what-are-seven-deadly-sins
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In Praise of Hymn
There Is A Fountain
There is a fountain filled with blood Drawn from Immanuel’s veins And sinners plunged beneath that flood Lose all their guilty stains Lose all their guilty stains Lose all their guilty stains And sinners plunged beneath that flood Lose all their guilty stains The dying thief rejoiced to see That fountain in his day And there may I, though vile as he Wash all my sins away
E’er since by faith I saw the stream Thy flowing wounds supply Redeeming love has been my theme And shall be till I die
Away And shall be till I die Away And shall be till I die Wash all my sins away Redeeming love has been my theme And shall be till I die Wash all my sins away Wash all my sins away Redeeming love has been my theme And shall be till I die
Reviewing Great Christian Hymns
William Cowper (pronounced “Cooper”) one of the few hymn writers that was also a recognized secular poet. This much-beloved and yet tormented literary figure was born in his father’s rectory at Great Berkhampstead, England, on Nov. 26, 1731, and died on April 25, 1800. Based on Zechariah 13:1, “On that day a fountain shall be opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity,” the hymn is a meditation on the saving power of the blood of Christ. https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-there-is-a-fountain-filled-with-blood
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SHARE|MAGAZINE
April - June 2020
natasha.wyer
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facebook.com/TashaWyer This book is an honest and telling, real-life story of tragedy, abandonment, addiction and loss but ultimately of how deposits of rejection unchecked and uncured left a child still screaming for her father even though her body had matured. This truly is an insignia to the writer of her triumphs and through the extremes of her many challenges, we find all our stories being interwoven into the tapestry of each chapter.
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