Tag Archives: Gospel

Rise Up and Be Healed

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Rise Up and Be Healed

By the Watchman
Dana G Smith
Words: 3457
Keywords: Corinthians, Apostle, Cross, Christ, Gospel, healed,

cross on hill

1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.

The Apostle Paul established the Corinth church around 50-51 AD when he spent eighteen months there on his second missionary journey.

Acts 18:1 ¶After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth;
2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them.
3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.
4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

As was the Apostle’s work ethic, every shabbat or sabbath he would in in the synagogue. Here in Acts 18, see above, there were both Jews and Greeks [Gentiles] who attended the synagogue every shabbat along with Paul. This also goes along way to say that the early Apostles and the believers themselves did in fact keep sabbath on the traditional Jewish day, i.e., the evening and the morning were the first day. Shabbat would fall on the evening of the 6th day, for then according to the Word of God, the 7 th day began then. It is here we see that Paul actually reasoned with both groups, with the Jew’s demanding a sign and to many greeks or gentiles here, it was literally foolishness. But with this Apostle, signs did follow and his words came with such power that even the Gentiles were in the synagogue listening to the reasoning.

In Corinthians chapter one and verse eighteen above, the King James uses ‘preaching’, while other versions use ‘message’, and the literal meaning here for this is ‘word’. The word of the cross. To the Jews, a Messiah that came, suffered, and died on the cross, the was resurrected did not meet their ‘scriptural understanding of the situation’. They believed this Messiah would or the real one anyway would deliver Israel from their enemies, which meant the Roman power at the time. He would establish the Temple, temple sacrifices, and raise Israel to the paramount of power in the world. This was the understanding that the disciples had themselves when they asked Y’SHUA, Jesus about it. When the LORD was preparing to ascend to the Father, they had come together and the followers of the LORD asked him “Lord wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” To this he said “it is not for you to know the times or seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.” After this, he told them of the coming of the Holy Ghost in power and this would enable them to be His witnesses in all the earth!

Acts 1:6 ¶When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

WORD of God

The LORD had come to establish a supernatural kingdom in the earth. Yes the disciple’s were told, he would return as they saw him go, but until then, the creation of the kingdom of God on Earth began through the witnesses of the LORD in Jerusalem.

This is the work of the LORD. A work which defied the Roman authorities, the Jewish religious scholars, and even the sins of men could not stop this plan of God. It was a plan for people to ‘rise up and be healed.’ An opportunity to believe that this God loved them and they could join in his plan through faith in the Messiah. This was the word of the Gospel. The Apostle Paul lays out a simple outline of what the gospel contained in chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians. I particularly like this portion of scripture because it lays out all the gospel in a few sentences. A gospel of a Messiah whom we must receive, believe, and follow. Because of this work, many Gentiles who thought all this was foolishness have been delivered from that blindness of human wisdom and come to understand the True wisdom of God the Father who gave his only begotten Son. This is simply called the ‘love of the truth’ in 2 Thess chapter 2 and during the days of the Son of Perdition, many will not follow nor accept this ‘love of the truth’ and will follow the delusion that God will send.

1 Corinthians 15:1 ¶Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

There is one basic eternal truth here among many that stands out. This is that God in his wisdom has decided to call those in the earth who are not rich, mighty, princes, handsome, powerful, smart, wise, educated or any of the other earthly fleshly titles that makes men and women proud. God deliberately chose that which would bring the wisdom of the world into utter foolishness and reveal the wisdom of God. For God chooses those who are not wise in the flesh, or noble, or mighty. He has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound, mystify, stupify, and confuse, all those in the flesh in this world.

1 Corinthians 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

Have you ever looked in the mirror? I mean really looked at yourself and saw too much of one thing or another that made you feel inferior. I know I have. I have a mirror in our house and this mirror is one which makes me look terrible. It is here I must insist you to be real and truthful here with yourself. God doesn’t look for perfect number ten Christians! He looks for those who by faith will look to him and receive his Son “Y’SHUA, Jesus Christ as Messiah”. God uses those who will be vessels. God doesn’t look to see if your hair is all neat, or your lips are just perfect, or your eyes are set just right. He doesn’t look to see if your feet are too big, your arms to flabby, or you cheeks too puffy. God looks on the heart and takes the vessel who has sought him with all their heart, mind, and soul and begins to remake them into the image of his Son. Thank God for that. You know after it is all said and done, this body in the flesh is corruptible, it will die. It is grain that we can use for Gods purpose. When this body, as we live by faith and purity in it for God finally gives up the Ghost and dies, it becomes a seed planted for the kingdom of God. We plant the corruptible body as we plant a seed of Grain. Then that seed, God gives the increase and we gain a supernatural new body, like Christ’s. What a trade and it is all by God’s Grace and Mercy, through Faith. It is a work of God, not of man. It will glorify God and not man in the flesh. Yet all this will mean that this wisdom of God will be revealed even to the wicked on the great day of Judgment. Then they will see and understand the greatness of the plan of God and his love for mankind.

1 Corinthians 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:
43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.
46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.
47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.
48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
51 ¶Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I put the section above in which talks about the ‘sowing the seed of grain’ which is our natural bodies. Thank god for this! Because we can live, work, and then when we die, there is hope, in Christ, because of his work on the Cross. This is the Word of the Cross. It is first love, then forgiveness, repentance, reunion, rejoicing, resurrection, inheritance, and eternally in heaven with the LORD of Glory. This is the perspective you and I both need. For while we live in this body there is troubles and tribulation, yet we have a hope none other in this world does. A hope that came from heaven and one that hell cannot touch. Hell can come against us, but the LORD is with us. Hell can persecute us, but the LORD will not allow any temptation to overcome us!

1 Corinthians 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.

Hell can kill us, this body anyway, but Hell cannot touch our soul, prevent us from accessing heaven, nor stop our reward! In short, through the Gospel, the work of Christ, and the love of the Father, we can ‘rise up and be healed’ in the name of Jesus. In body, in mind, in soul, in spirit, and in this world. Even the Apostle Paul talks of running the race and that as he said “I keep under my body and bring it into subjection”. He did this so that when he would not be a castaway. In other words, Paul did not let his inhibitions, lusts, flesh, mind, and carnal ways take hold of him or his body. He beat it down, so to speak in the Spirit of God. He took control by the power of God and his Word. Unfortunately today many Christians in America allow the carnal lusts and inhibitions to take over and they end up in misery. Others have left the faith altogether having given themselves over the ‘desires of the flesh and of the mind’. Thus as the Apostle Peter says “it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.”

1 Corinthians 9:26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

Ephesians 2:3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

2 Peter 2:21 For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.

In our work and life here on earth let us also be aware that the enemy works overtime to thwart our lives for Christ with snares, temptations, and persecutions. I want to touch on a Pauline example here in Corinthians. It is about Israel. The Apostle speaks about them being ‘baptized unto Moses’ when they passed under the sea and the cloud. The Apostle tells how that Christ was the ‘spiritual meat and drink’ for Israel at the time. Christ was that Rock, wherein the water flowed out of. He warns that what happened to Israel was a stern example that we should not ‘lust after evil things as they did’, nor ‘commit fornication as they did’, and not to be ‘idolaters as they became.’ We are not to murmur, tempt Christ, but are to understand we must take heed how we stand, lest we fall. I put previously the verse about temptation before this section. That verse you read before on ‘Temptation’ is verse 13 of Chapter 10 in First Corinthians. It comes after a warning from Paul that says, “wherefore [or because of all this] let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall”. It is after this warning that the Apostle gives the word of comfort and assurance here that temptation, the ones you and I face today are common to all men, even to the children of Israel who lived afore. It is these temptations that can snare, trap, enslave, and take away your hope and reward. But here, the Apostle says that God will not allow you to be tempted above that you are able. This is so powerful here. Many of us quite early in the game. We give in to temptation, when the reality is, we never gave the effort to fight in the Spirit of God and stand upon the Word of the LORD. But if we do stand on God’s Word, trusting the LORD, here the Apostle says, that the LORD will not suffer or allow you to be tempted above that you can stand or endure and will make a way to escape that you can bear it and overcome it! Praise the LORD! Here again, I say “rise and be healed” in the name of Jesus, you can overcome all snares, traps, and temptations.

1 Corinthians 10:1 ¶Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6 ¶Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.

I know at times I have said, “LORD I can’t take anymore”. The body is weak, it is flesh and I know the LORD then continues to strengthen me. In the end I kept going and did not realize until I made it through that I could take it all along, I just did not know it. In these perilous end times, let us who are of the Faith of God, stand up and then be healed of any and all things that are not taken care of. Rise up and get rid of that bitterness. Rise up and be healed of that loss of Hope! Rise and be healed of that lack of vision! Rise and be healed, seek the LORD and find his comfort, strength, and the promises which he has given you. I say the first five verses of Psalm 103 on a regular basis to remind of the ‘blessings of the LORD’. I remind myself, my flesh, my mind, and my spirit that there are many benefits that stream from the LORD God, even our Father who gave his only begotten Son Y’SHUA, Jesus Christ to die for me, my family, and all those who will receive this hope and walk in it. So my friends, ‘Rise and be healed’.

Psalms 103:1 ¶<<A Psalm of David.>> Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Originally posted 2009-07-12 05:20:59. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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by the Watchman Dana G Smith

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“Following the love of the truth, faith unfeigned, hope in Christ, ‘fiery trials’,‘multitude of temptations’, and the power of God to keep us by faith!”

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Originally posted 2010-05-02 07:50:26. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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Striving for Faith of the Gospel

“The united front for the completion of the proclamation of the Gospel of Christ to all nations”

-Conduct worthy of the Gospel
-Don’t be terrified in any way of your adversaries
-It has been granted on the behalf of Christ to Suffer

By The Watchman
Dana G Smith
Keywords: striving, faith, gospel, united, believers, proclamation, gospel of christ, nations, men, watchman, newsletter, bible
Words: 3366

Conduct worthy of the Gospel

Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Philippians 1:27  ¶Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

There is one thing our brethren in the faith left us, that is legacy. Both to do and to die, for the cause of in the service of Christ Jesus our Lord from whom all things flow. It is here that in this day and age we must put away all things which do not fit this cause. In America the faith of Christ has become a spectacle show that consists of gaudy and carnal displays. These displays bring forth in heroic measure our evangelists, messengers, prophets, teachers, and pastors.  Within this group is myriad folks who all claim Christ in varying dubious ways from mysterious angels to gold dust, to riches if you give me money. All based upon the fairytale church and the sugar plum Jesus as I speak of it.

All of these things speak of a place and a time that could of only occurred in the days in which we live. A society that is given over to every pleasure under the sun. It is, of course, unnecessary to go into the horrid details of the carnality in the nation we now live. In a time long ago, where our faith started, in the place of the Romans and the Jews who were left, our Savior saw to this time and declared to all men that would listen “to take heed to yourselves”.  It would be a time when mens hearts, and the hearts of women, as well, would be full of the day in which they lived. Time would be spent in pleasure, eating, drinking, and tending to the personal cares that belonged to them. They would eat, sleep, and think of these things with the things of God afar off. If they did think of any God, it would be a God that allowed such things. To this end they would never consider hell, only heaven, and certainly not wrath, but only love.  In this society, the current carnal wave of secular christians became even worse, and was made into a fairy tale that even most Christians overseas can’t understand how the American church became that way.

Luke 21:34  And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares

To this end, I speak directly to those in the faith, the current faith of Jesus Christ. One of disciple ship, sacrifice, and the cross of Jesus Christ. One where motive is heaven driven, with the scent of Christ, an aroma of his sacrifice on the cross and his leadership for us who are left. In the last days, be sure, God will have a people. I believe that the sorting of the wheat and chaff for the final thrust to the end time deliverance, salvation, and proclamation of the gospel is soon to be revealed. Indeed it will be a time or reaping and sowing, but it will be a time when the true blades and fruit of the wheat will hang heavy as they reveal the crop being readied to harvest for the Lord.

It is in this we must as one, push forward. Unified and with our minds one, striving for the ‘Faith of the Gospel of Christ’. This is not about you and I, nor about denominations. It is not about nations, but about men and women, boys and girls, along with the teens of today in this perverse society. It is about reaching those who will listen, not with gimmicks but with the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know this power and so does my wife. It is that power which has changed our hearts and with his Spirit led us to this place. We are on the precipice looking over into the devils playground where myriads are being led right now. The man made gimmicks, the intrusion of Satan into the Sanctuary of God, and the illusion therewith will try to destroy many. The coming Son of perdition [destruction] will lead the world in the abyss of mockery. A world where the masses will follow and believe what he does and says. They will do this because it is a world that has rejected the “love of the Truth”. This Truth, is Jesus Christ, our LORD, and we are the ones, those who are his, who will lead the soul saving fight for the “faith of the gospel of Christ.”

John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19  And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20  For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

We will not win nor be effective if we do not face the oncoming onslaught with faith, the gospel of Christ, and in unity. Standing together in one faith, for the cause of Jesus Christ, with one Spirit, the power of the Holy Ghost, and with our minds firmly made up in Christ. For we will face enemies, not one but many. We will face disturbances, attacks, hatred, variance, strife, and much more. But we must stop the childish ways and stand up, united, with faith, together for the “faith of the Gospel of Christ”. It is that Gospel, which brings men to salvation and the knowledge of our Father and God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Don’t be terrified in any way of your adversaries

Philippians 1:28  And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.

Today the world is weaving back and forth with the uprisings of the people of other faiths and ideas. We have many who are waiting for their version of Salvation 101, the New World. There are faiths of others, and of other Gods. There are hopes and dreams of men and women who hope in another God. There are spirits, demons, and men who are led and possessed by them to bring in these end time kingdoms. The world has been fighting varied forms of terrorism for years now. The world is seeing the rising of Islam, and others rule the day for the coming Catholic kingdom as well. Along with this the Jews wait for the Messiach to come, even though, he has already come. They wait though. We as believers in Christ Jesus, Yeshua Ha Massiach wait for his return to set up his kingdom on earth, ruling the Throne of David in the millennium.

History is replete with Christians being fed to lions, pulled apart by horses, trampled by elephants, shot by firing squads and more. We have the history of the church and personal witness of books like Foxes book of Martyrs to prove it occurred. The theme we find in these all, that although the believers saw betrayal and death, we find spilt blood and an overcoming faith. These stood the test, as their captors sometimes did inhumane deeds to their body. Amidst these tortures, some recanted, while others stayed true to death. In these all, over the centuries we find that amidst the horror of death, there was a power that no human could understand. For they stood there and endured these things unto death. The same thing occurred to our Lord Jesus Christ who endured the torture, mockery, and death on the cross. The Apostles stood and fell as martyrs for Christ, with the exception of John, who died in old age. Steven the first martyr fell and saw the Lord at the right hand of God.

Acts 7:55  But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

Acts 7:56  And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

If we are to win in these last days, it behooves us to follow Christ Jesus so closely that his power is in us and flows through us. That even in the event of such a death, we may be found in him, faithful to the end. As Christ says in Revelation to us:

Revelation 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

There are many, for example Islamic terrorists who have cut off heads, slaughtered people because they were according to Islamic faith, “infidels”.  They cause terror and fear to flow among peoples and nations.  The sign of the crescent for many can mean either life as a Muslim or death because your not one of them. Make no mistake about it, the war that is coming is about faith. There are many faiths and even among Christians there many with varying faith. The question for you to answer, where is yours? In the face of the devil or man, can you stand for Christ. I tell you, on your own you cannot. But we must understand our God and Lord will not forsake us, we are given commands to “love not our lives unto the death”. We will all face death, either natural or unnatural, so the end of it all for each of us remains in the Fathers hands. We are his, live or die, we are his. Let us therefore, understand we have “overcame by the blood of the lamb”, and that in this overcoming, we live by and relate to all men we can, “the word of our testimony” of this Lamb of God, Jesus Christ.

In the face of death, hatred, scowls, mockery, persecution, and anything the devil can hand to us, we are more than conquerors in Christ who loved us and gave himself for us. Both history and men who lived that history has proven that Christ and the Father never forsook them. Now let us move forward in the closing realm of history and give the “testimony” of our Lord, to all “men”declaring the “faith of the Gospel of Jesus Christ”. In doing this, we may, through all means, win the lost to Christ.

Romans 8:33  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It has been granted on the behalf of Christ to Suffer

Philippians 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
30  Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

There is one message that many do not like to hear, that is suffering. Paul suffered much, and was met with many obstacles. Yet in all this, he overcame.  For Americans and many others in the modern nations like this one, suffering is not on the agenda. It is something we may think about, but for many, it is to be avoided. Yet for the early church and even among believers in other nations, suffering is part and parcel of their living. Some months back I reported on our Tuesdays World affairs prophecy news show of three young girls in Indonesia who were found with their heads cut off. They had been heading to school when confronted by Islamic terrorists who found the perfect jihad in these three young innocent girls. So for the sake of their god and their faith, they killed these innocent young believers. All of whom are now with their Lord in heaven. Yet, these girls did two things wrong, not only were they Christians, but they went to school and were girls, both of which were not permitted.

It has been said the church in America is six miles wide and only one inch deep. At times the carnality and showmanship faith we see on the television and in the meetings surely make it appear that way. The parable of the sower seed found for example in Mark speaks specifically the types of seeds and the results of the sowing of these seeds. Yet I speak directly of the seed sown on stony ground and the seed sown among weeds. Here we find that which was sown on stony ground had no root, so when persecution or affliction for the words sake occurs, they become offended and fall away. For those among the weeds, the cares of this world, the deceit of riches, and the lust of other things enter in, thus choking the word. Those who are these, become unfruitful. That is why we see an anemic and carnal church in America. We have not even seen persecution so to speak. What we have seen is the cares of the world, deceit of riches, and many lusts. America is full to brim with all of these things. What’s more, these things have crept into the churches. They come in by deceitful spirits, lustful demons, and men possessed by such things. They enter in, naming the name of Christ, yet they belong to belial, the devil.

Mark 4:16  And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17  And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
18  And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19  And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

Moreover, in this parable is also the ones who bear good fruit. The seed sown was on good ground. One in four seeds in this parable, only one, fell on good ground. That is 25%, if your putting the calculator to it. Yet for those who are such, they hear the word, then receive the word, and thus bring forth fruit. If your one of these, then scripture says you will bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. But notice, it is not one for one. One seed, one fruit, but fruits many, borne to one good seed.

Mark 4:20  And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
21  ¶And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
22  For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
23  If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.

To one person [on good ground], who hears the word and receives it, and brings forth fruit, to them is the multiplicity of the kingdom of God. For The word given will not return void, but that word of God given or spoken will accomplish what the Father wills it to do. In this you can be sure and certain.

Isaiah 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Ours is not a carnal battle, even though we may face suffering,  death, or  persecution, for the gospels and the words sake. Although we may indeed face men who hate us for our faith and in whom we have that faith, namely Jesus Christ our LORD, ours is to stand fast with faith. Because as we look at them, with boldness, compassion, and even love, speaking our ‘testimony’ and the ‘faith of the gospel of Christ’, it will be to them a token that we are speaking truth amidst death. This will be a light to those watching that the word we speak is true, and that truth is found in the one whom we testify too, that is Jesus Christ. Testifying even unto the death. In this, not one hair of our head will perish, so says scripture. It will be true, in our death will be found life. That life, no man takes away because it is in the Lord Jesus Christ, Alpha and Omega. He has the keys to death and hell and also to  heaven and the kingdom of God.  Amen, even so let it come Lord Jesus and your Kingdom.  To God  be the glory and honor, through Yeshua Ha Massiach, amen, forever.

Luke 21:17  And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake.
18  But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
19  In your patience possess ye your souls.

Revelation 22:11  He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
15  For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
16  I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
17  And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Casting off our First Faith in America

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Casting off our First Faith in America
By The Watchman
Dana G Smith
‘A Special Message’

cast off first faith

Casting Off our First Faith in America ‘click’ for E book

“on the outside, America seems like a pagan nation, but it is not such. It has like a dog who has returned to its own vomit, casting off the Son of God and is proceeding down the road to destruction. But in spite of all the shaking in America and the world, this will be one of the greatest moves on God’s calendar. We will be in it, if we do not give up, but continue in faith. Have patience!”.

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“What the Spirit saith unto the churches”

Revelation 2:7  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
In Revelation, the Apostle John writes the ‘apocalypse’, what we call Revelation. The phrase
“Spirit saith unto the churches” is used seven times in the span of the first warnings to the seven churches. We are told to ‘hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches’. Even though it is written, we are to hear. This hearing is from the Holy Spirit, directly to our inner man, the Spirit speaks to our hearts, telling us what we need to hear from him. The churches written to by John were not bricks and stones, but to people that gathered together in the name of the Lord in cities throughout Asia Minor. They were not denominations, traditions, or man made ideas. This was a living breathing organism, called the church, the ‘called out ones’, who followed the Lord in true discipleship, even unto death.

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cast off first faith
Casting Off our First Faith in America

The America which Did Not Listen

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Editors note: From the Archives of 2006 comes this article below.

The America which Did Not Listen, Prophesy Smooth Things
By Dana G Smith
Keywords: Israel, America, God, Jehovah, prophets, prophesy, Gospel, Jesus Christ
Summary:
America like Israel of Old is saying to God, prophesy smooth things. It is a land which refuses the truth and accepts the knowledge of men. The church has swallowed this Americanized Pseudo Gospel being fed to the masses. In this we find the America which did not listen.
Words: 1182

babylon

In the struggle of nations, men set themselves with strengths against each other. So too, did Israel. In defiance of their God, who spoke by the mouth of the prophets, moved away from divine guidance. Israel and Judah both rejected Jehovah God. For them Yahweh’s commands was too harsh. This set in motion events that would destroy both kingdoms. The one Theocracy in the world at that time serving the one True God and they moved from His protective guidance.

The setting in motion of this rebellion had been ongoing. The Old Testament is full of the warnings of the Prophets. These mirrored the actual events in Israel and Judah, who disobeyed the Prophets Words from Yahweh. In Isaiah Chapter 30 we see this struggle. The event is mirrored by Hezekiah who sought protection from Egypt. This so-called man made solution was brought forward in belief that this would stop the Assyrians. It did not.

The event itself is actually repeated over and over again in Israel and Judah both. The details of events that brought the whole of Jewish society against the Lord God is different through this history of the Land of Israel. The important thing to see is the rebellious nature of the people. For these people did not want the ones who saw into the future or knew Jehovah to tell them anything truthful. They wanted as is recorded in Chapter 30 and verse 10 of Isaiah. This was for the Seers and Prophets to not see, nor prophesy what they had seen. They were not to speak “true things of prophecy” [strongs H5229- Prophesy not], they were to give speak to them “illusions” [strongs H4123- deceits]. The prophets were to speak “smooth things, flattering things” [strongs H2513-smooth things].

Isaiah 30:9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:
10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.
12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:

The people trusted in their own abilities. They did not like the harsh commands of Jehovah. As a result, their own pride, ended up being compared to Sodom:

Ezekiel 16:49  Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

It is listed as the first of many sins of Sodom. As a matter of fact, Homosexuality was not even mentioned. It was their pride that led them to disregard Gods commands and follow their own laws. This in the end destroyed Israel, their beloved temple, and all their freedoms. It caused the curses to come upon them that Moses told them in Deuteronomy. It had now become fact, Israel, who had known God, wanted no more to do with Him or His laws.

Although in America we are not a Theocracy, we have had the Gospel light shed upon us. If you look in the Old Testament, only one nation was judged by God that was considered a Theocracy, which was Israel. The rest of the nations judged by God were all Gentile nations, not Theocracies at all. To say that a nation must be a Theocracy to be judged by God is wrong. The Old Testament proves the opposite. In our lands today, both the church and the unbelieving population live in a Earthly American pride. This pride says to those bringing the Word of God; do not prophesy to us right things of God.  It says tell us ‘false visions’. Reveal to us visions of good things. Do not tell us about this God in Heaven who holds the nations in His grasp. Do not reveal to us our sins. Do tell us all the nice things we want to hear.  Do not tell us about hell; instead say “we are all going to heaven”. Do not tell us there is only one way of salvation. Tell us we are all saved no matter what we do.

We can see today in America that the gospel is under attack. So are those who hold dear the name of Jesus Christ and His gospel of salvation. We have millionaire evangelists and prophets who prophesy lies, and promote a carnal sugar coated gospel. The carnal message itself teaches us to love the world. It also teaches us that we can live in luxury and bliss, enjoying all the world has, without answering to God. It teaches many today that we can be homosexual, lesbian, fornicate any way we want, and also live as liars, cheats with no fear of God. It teaches us not to follow ways of holiness without which no man or woman will see the Lord. The church in America and the public who are unbelievers live in a land that has been blessed. Many see this nation continuing on as it has forever.

There is an ongoing attack against the True faith and Gospel of Christ. This attack, by many secularists and carnal church leaders, has prevented prayer in schools. It has brought down the Ten Commandments in many areas. Although some have put them back, for many in America, following the commandments is not the thing to do. We have teachers who can’t teach or say anything about Jesus Christ in class, but instead can teach the most horrid sex ed class in history. We have people who place their hands on the bible in our courtrooms, but the nation itself is daily eroding the Christian values that have been the foundation in this land.

The bottom line is this. Are you Christian or an American? Are you a Believer or a Christian? For today, one can be a Christian and not a believer. But all believers are Christians. There is a dichotomy today in America. This dichotomy is two major groups of those who will follow Jesus Christ no matter what and those who hold America dearer than anything else. We are to be a lover of God and not a lover of the World.  If we continue on this course we will find with former Israel of old, the wrath of almighty God. For our God is the ruler of the nations. The nations of men will answer to this God, no matter how much they refuse to listen today.