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Lucy “Australopithecus afarensis” originally found by Johansen with
the discovery of a kneecap, which he said proved we were looking at a
transitional species. Then over the better part of 5 years the rest or 40%
of a skeleton emerged and is now hailed as a prime example of a transitional
species between Humans and apes. They claim that the skull shows
characteristics of both ape (sagital crest) and human (incisor teeth).

Now let me stop right there for a second. Whenever I make the above
statement, many evolutionists jump on this and say, “See transitional
fossil, has both ape and human characteristics, making it a prime example of a direct link to modern humans.” What they are failing to grasp is one very
important, Lucy’s mandible didn’t have intact teeth. The teeth that are
supposed to represent Lucy were scattered and collected over the entire site
area consisting of approx. 1.5 miles. Within this area were many, many
modern primate skeletons. Plus several modern primates have incisor teeth very similar to humans (after all, we all have the same designer.)

Evolutionist claim that based on the angle of the knee, that Lucy must
have walked upright, yet they then tell us that her hands and feet were
curved very much like a pygmy chimp, very adaptive to tree climbing. (What they fail to be mentioned here is that no feet or hands were found with
Lucy, they are using bones found from some other skeletal remains found
within the area of 1.5 miles, which covers the same area where Lucy was found).

Johansen also admits within his report that the skull that is shown in
all books as belonging to a reconstructed Lucy, was actually pieced together from 13 different “individuals” which they then make the claim are all
related to Lucy, because they were found in the same vicinity. Speaking as
an archaeologist, I would never be allowed to take materials found over such
a large area and combine them together in order to make a “complete”
picture.

Lucy’s supposed knee angle (where the tibia and femur meet) is said to be 15 degrees. The angle for humans is 9 degrees (the same as spider
monkeys and orangutans) if it was more we would have knocked knees. The
common consensus is that Lucy would have been a very adept tree climber.
Again, most evolutionist point to this to show dual characteristics, but
fail to remember that most paleoanthropologist don’t believe that these
bones all came from the same individual an also that Lucy is put together
completely wrong.

Peter Schmid, a Swiss anthropologist, claims Lucy was not a bipedal walker, but instead would have rotated her torso much like a gorilla. He
points to further flaws in her reconstruction. If Lucy is put together properly then her bone structure isn’t correct. Shcmid says if Lucy is
correct, then the ribs are too heavy and upper thorax is too small to take
in oxygen to cool her. He claims with this setup Lucy would have panted much
like a dog to cool itself off. Despite showing semi-human characteristics,
Australopithecus afarensis is nothing more than an extinct ape.

As a matter of fact, even the famous Richard Leakey considered by most
to be the greatest hominid fossil hunter doesn’t agree with Lucy. He says,
“no determination could be made concerning the species of Lucy and that the skull was merely “imagination made of plaster of paris.”

Here is some stuff that most people are not aware of….

Joseph Weiner, The Natural History of Man, 1971, pp.45-46.

“The ape-like profile of Australopithecus is so pronounced that its
outline can be superimposed on that of a female chimpanzee with a remarkable
closeness of fit.”

Richmond and Strait, “Evidence that Humans Evolved from
Knuckle-Walking Ancestor,” Nature 2000.

“Regardless of the status of Lucy’s knee joint, new evidence has come
forth that Lucy has the morphology of a knuckle-walker.”

The other problem here is that truly no bipedal bones have been
recovered to support the upright walking of Australopithecus. The majority
of all the recovered fossils consist of isolated teeth, mandible fragments,
skull fragments (the top portion of the head) and a few fragments of arm
bones. With this sketchy evidence they have concocted a hugely fabricated
story about Lucy and her “relatives”.

A quote from an education website describes Lucy as follows:

As in a modern human’s skeleton, Lucy’s bones are rife with evidence
clearly pointing to bipedality. Her distal femur shows several traits unique
to bipedality. The shaft is angled relative to the condyles (knee joint
surfaces), which allows bipeds to balance on one leg at a time during
locomotion. There is a prominent patellar lip to keep the patella (knee cap)from dislocating due to this angle. Her condyles are large, and are thus
adapted to handling the added weight, which results from shifting from four
limbs to two. The pelvis exhibits a number of adaptations to bipedality. The
entire structure has been remodeled to accommodate an upright stance and the
need to balance the trunk on only one limb with each stride. The talus, in her ankle, shows evidence for a convergent big toe, sacrificing manipulative
abilities for efficiency in bipedal locomotion. The vertebrae show evidence
of the spinal curvatures necessitated by a permanent upright stance.

So they are saying that only bipedal subjects display these evidences.
Also most of these references are not made based on Lucy but on other bones
found with a 1.5-mile radius. However, for arguments sake lets say all of these bones are from Lucy. Is it possible for a primate (ape, chimp ect.)
to walk upright for long periods of time, enough so that bone structure
might change somewhat? Not saying it’s changing into a human, just an
upright ape. Most people would answer no and certainly in biology class we
are taught to all apes can walk upright for a limited amount of time but
their bone structure isn’t suited for long periods of bipedal walking. Then
how do they explain this:

A black macaque monkey in Israel that for the past five
years has walked exclusively on two legs and no longer attempts to walk on
all fours. This monkey become ill once and had a high fever that doctors
believe caused some form of brain damage. So instead of being able to
switch from knuckle walking to bipedal it only knows how to walk on its two
legs. This doesn’t mean that this black macaque is related humans it just
shows that primates are capable of this behavior. Notice the straight
posture, the long gait, yet you still have curved hands and feet for tree
climbing. Just like Lucy’s description.

Robert Boyd and Joan Silk (both professors of Anthropology), How
Humans Evolved, 2000, pp. 331-334.

“Anatomical evidence indicated that A. afarensis was bipedal…”

“….some anthropologists are convinced by the anatomical evidence
that A. afarensis was not a modern biped.”

The general public is lead to believe that Lucy is a concrete example
of life between humans and apes and that it proves we evolved and started
walking upright 4 million years ago. What they aren’t told is that if you
took all of the bones associated with Australopithecus you would not even
fill up one casket. There simply isn’t enough evidence for true science to make this claim. It is all based on evidence that just isn’t there.

A supposed concrete example that is all imagination and the truth is
hidden from the general public or glossed over as not being important.

Written by:

Steve Baird

Author of “Another Road to Damascus: A Journey from Evolution to Creation.”

To subscribe to our newsletter please visit www.EvolutionOnTrial.com and sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every couple of weeks or send an email to creation@bairdclan.com with the title “Subscribe”

About the Author

Steve is the founder of Evolution On Trial Ministries (www.EvolutionOnTrial.com). He holds a Masters of Archaeology and lectures to audiences about the weaknesses of evolution.

“Sorat’s evil will be spread by his infernal army of soulless
followers, willing to give their lives for his pleasure in
subjecting mankind to horror of the ultimate magnitude.”

The above mentioned quote summarizes one of the main themes in
Hearne’s political thriller, “Hulagu’s Web”. The book suggests
that much of the horror, destruction and mayhem that happen in
the contemporary world are explained by the endeavors of Sorat,
Lucifer’s terrifying accomplice. It is said that Sorat
incarnates every 666 years. 1998 would therefore be the year of
his last manifestation. Coincidently, it is the same year that
Usama Bin Ladin and his associates publicly declared their Jihad
against the West with blatant orders such as “We – with Allah’s
help – call on every Muslim who believes in Allah and wishes to
be rewarded to comply with Allah’s order to kill the Americans
and plunder their money wherever and whenever they find it.”

In his “Book of Revelation and the Work of the Priest”, Rudolf
Steiner describes Abaddon’s attack on humanity. Abaddon
(translated ‘destroyer’) is a demonic being born out of the
abyss to lead an army of locusts with human-like faces. Rudolf
Steiner explains the occult significance of this picture by
suggesting that Abaddon’s army consists of human beings who have
been completely deprived of their ego. Sorat can rule on Earth
by populating the empty shells of such people with the spirits
that serve him. This infernal army would subject mankind to
trials compared to which all the horrors of the twentieth
century would pale. Coincidently again, Abaddon is referred to
in Revelation 9-11, the same date that is now synonymous with
the destruction of the twin towers and the attack on the
pentagon.

Sorat is described as the strongest power against good. To
accomplish his desire of destroying the earth, Sorat would
manifest his evil in the social evolution. The wars and mass
murders of our time are evidence of his corruption.

The fanatism and the everyday hatred of man against man are
evils often disguised as religious dedication and nationalism.
Sorat would bend people to his will by using the influence of
leaders, be them political or religious. Sorat’s alleged power
lies in the ability to make followers believe that what they do
for their fanatic leaders is right. As David J. Hearne says “the
goal of this demon is to strip humans of their souls, egos and
all goodness.” Sorat could make horrible acts virtually
impossible to eradicate once people become unable to recognize
actions as evil.

The video of a hostage being beheaded in Iraq is an example of
the horror mankind is subject to. It shows how much influence
such a leader can have over others. He would stay back from his
disciples, as he directs them to behead the hostage. Whenever
the men holding the prisoner looked uncertain, the leader would
convince them that what they were doing was the just thing. The
scene appears to be a struggle between the leader (persuading)
and the followers (resisting). The film shows how the power of
evil can pervert people’s senses to such a degree that
destruction and horror replace the goodness and compassion in
their souls.

The seductive powers of darkness act by using people’s
vulnerability and weaknesses against them. Terrorists claim
their actions are for their love of God. Most of them believe
that what they are doing is right. Someone who they see as a
prophet or a messenger leads them to believe that they act in
God’s will. This messenger is trusted and considered more
important than their own lives. Sorat would exploit these people
to “give their lives for his pleasure in subjecting mankind to
horror of the ultimate magnitude,” as mentioned in Hulagu’s Web.

It is difficult to understand why well-intentioned, logically
thinking people fall into such traps. How can one induce another
to become a suicide bomber willing to die for some obscure cause
and kill other innocent people? How can the human mind become so
clouded and susceptible to such evil and debasing acts? The
answer lies in the fact that many people need something or
someone to believe in. Sorat and his progeny would use this
weakness to lead those susceptible to their influence. The
reasons for their acts are masked, people follow because they
need to believe and fail to ask themselves a rational
explanation for what they are made to do. Nevertheless, if
people saw the true intentions behind these schemes they would
not follow. Evil exists as long it disguises itself.

Sorat could only maintain his power by distorting the way people
perceive what is good. He would reduce each individual to his
level - an entity without soul or conscious. His ultimate
objective is to alter the human existence by spreading
destruction and misery. Eradicating mercy, benevolence,
compassion and humanity (most needed qualities that Christ
himself advocated) is the only way Sorat can achieve his goals.

The following study is presented with one intention: to cause its readers to think.

Too often, throughout the Body of Christ, we do things out of religious obligation, many never knowing why we perform this or that religious act. As “Believers,” we simply believe, assuming that SOMEBODY - our leaders (we hope) - have a handle on things, and we move along, often too ashamed to ask for fear of making waves. Multitudes of sincere Believers solemnly perform their denominational duties on an almost “professional” level. A new member can only hope to one day become as adept at their own performance of the prescribed methods. For a moment, let’s take a good look at Good Friday.

SIMPLY PUT.

Ask almost any kid how many hours are in a day and you’ll get “24″ as the answer. Multiply that by 3 days and you get 72 hours every time. When we know that Jesus arose from the grave on what we refer to as “Easter morning,” if we work backward for one 24 hour period, we land squarely on Saturday morning, right? When we work backward for a second 24-hour period, we wind up squarely in the middle of Friday morning. Finally, when we work backward for a third and final 24-hour period, there we are, squarely in the midst of “Good Thursday” morning. Pretty simple, yes? Not rocket science at all.

Wait. It gets better!

Was Jesus referring to a LITERAL 3 Days/3 Nights when He said He’d be “3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth” and so fulfill “the type of Jonah” (Matt 12:39-40), what did He mean? How about when He said, “The Son of Man must suffer…be killed and AFTER 3 days rise again” (Mk 9:31)? Three days and three nights is 72 hours, right? Working BACKWARDS from Resurrection Sunday brings us to…Good Friday?

NO! Good Wednesday, actually.

HOW SO?

The Hebrew day was measured from one sunset to the next (6PM to 6PM), generally referred to as “evening to evening” (Lev 23:32; Ex 12:18). The Roman time-keeping method was midnight to midnight. Several Scriptures refer to the variances in Hebrew vs. Roman time: Jn 19:14 (6AM to sunrise); Mk 15:25 (9AM on the day of crucifixion); Matt 27:45 (noon to 3PM). The ‘twelve hours in the day’ referred to in John 11:9 referred to sunrise and the twelve hours of the night FROM sunset. Here’s where the expression ‘a night and a day’ in 2 Corinthians 11:25 denotes a complete day.

So, 6PM on Saturday (the Sabbath) started the first day of the week (our Sunday), important when studying the resurrection accounts. Jesus was killed the 3rd hour (Hebrew time, 9AM) and hung on the cross 3 hours. At the 6th hour (Hebrew time) darkness covered the land until the 9th hour (noon to 3PM), completing the 9 hours of agony on the cross. Because the NEXT day was the HIGH Sabbath, beginning at 6PM, the body was placed in the borrowed tomb just before sunset (Jn 19:31).

Before labeling this as heretical teaching, observe: the confusion comes from the variations between Hebrew and Roman time-telling, as well as the MUCH overlooked fact that there was an EXTRA festival Sabbath taking place in that final week BESIDES the regular weekly Sabbath. This will be explained later, if you’re interested. Stay with me.

WHERE DOES “EASTER” COME FROM?

The early translators of the Scriptures translated the Greek word for “Passover” (the whole week of the festival) as “Easter.” Why? This was a pagan festival named for the Saxon goddess, Eastra, which no doubt got her name from the Assyrian/Babylonian goddess of fertility, Ishtar (which explains the eggs and reproductive rabbits as the poster children for the occasion).

Now, God does not seem to be into our religious feast days and holy days as much as people seem to think He is (Amos 5:21-24). Yes, Jesus participated in them, but He was under the Law as much as any other good Jew of His day. When it comes to Holy days, today is as Holy as any, for the Scripture says, “THIS is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it!” (Ps 118:24).

Remember, before reading one more word: “The traditions of man make the Word of God of no effect,” (Mk 7:13). We must not check our brains at the sanctuary door. If we do that in regard to Good Friday, logically-speaking, when ELSE are we doing so? We are not obligated to buy every can o’ peas on the shelves of our denominational grocery stores. The Bible does NOT say that the truth will set us free. It says “they shall KNOW the truth and the truth will set them free.”

KNOWING the truth… is THAT the key? Jesus said, “I am the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life.” Knowing JESUS, having a RELATIONSHIP with Him…THAT is the key!

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

Now, I realize that, whether this message is accepted or rejected, it will not save or condemn a single soul. DO ask yourselves, however, if there might be any OTHER erroneous doctrines of devils or of man which you may have been spoon-fed, when it’s the doctrines of GOD and of Christ that are ALL that matter. All other doctrines simply serve to put us, and keep us, in religious bondage. The word “religion” itself MEANS “a return to bondage.” Jesus came to set us FREE!

So, study, pray about it, check out these verses and see if the haze doesn’t begin to clear…

Familiarize yourself with these Old Testament 3-Day types:
Gen 22:1-14; Gen 40:12-19;42:17; Ex 3:18; 5:3; 8:27; Ex 15:26; Num 33:8; Num 10:33; Josh 1:11; 3:2; Esther 4:16; Jonah 1:17; 3:3
MORE? Josh 2:16,22; 9:16; 14:14; 19:4; 1 Sam 9:20; 20:5,19; 30:12-13; 2 Sam 20:4; 24:13; 1 Chron 21:12; 1 Kings 12:5; 2 Kings 2:17; 1 Chron 12:39; 2 Chron 10:5; 20:25; Ezra 8:15,32; Neh 2:11; Hosea 6:3

Familiarize yourself with these New Testament 3-Day Signs:
Matt 12:39-40; Matt 14:32; Mk 8:2; Lk 2:46; Lk 13:32; Jn 2:1; Jn 2:18-21; Acts 9:9

Here are the 3 Days/3 Nights of Calvary as referred to in Scripture…
The following examples speak of 3 days AND 3 nights:
Jonah 1:17; Esther 4:16; Matt 12:40.

THE SABBATH DAY. WHICH ONE?

Scripture reveals that Israel observed the weekly Sabbath, the 7th day of the week (Ex 20:8-11; 31:12-18; Deut 5:12-14). Additionally, besides these WEEKLY Sabbaths, there were FESTIVAL Sabbaths! If any of these fell during the ordinary week, they counted it as an EXTRA Sabbath in that week, meaning there were sometimes TWO Sabbaths in one week: the FEAST Sabbath and the WEEKLY Sabbath.

Proof? Lev. 23:1-4 deals with WEEKLY Sabbaths of Rest. Leviticus 23:4-44 deals with holy convocations, or Sabbaths, which are ADDITIONAL Sabbaths in the week. Note verses 7-36 where “holy convocations” are referred to and verses 24-39 where plain “Sabbaths” are referred to. There were ALSO Sabbath YEARS of rest for the land, including Jubilee (the 50th year, Leviticus 25).

So, there were TWO Sabbaths in the Passover week, the week of Jesus’ crucifixion: the FEAST Sabbath, or HIGH Day, as well as the WEEKLY Sabbath. Got it?

Why does the Church get confused? First, we don’t take time to note the “fixed” points of Scripture. Second, the Gentile translators of the Scriptures did NOT understand the Law concerning Hebrew feasts and Sabbaths. Finally, the accidental, if not blatantly arrogant assumption that the Roman, midnight-to-midnight method was the method used by the writers.

THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS

There are 16 references in the New Testament speaking of the 3 Days/3 Nights of Christ’s redemptive work. In His first mentioning of His sufferings (Matt 16:21), Jesus says He would be ‘raised again the third day.’ In John 2:19, He had already mentioned ‘three days’ as the time after which He would raise up ‘the Temple of His body,’ This expression occurs 11 times in regard to His resurrection. The expression ‘after 3 days’ (Mk 8:31), is used to describe the same event. This shows that 3 Days/3 Nights MUST include 3 days and the 3 PRECEDING nights. The full 3/3 is evidence of the resurrection on the THIRD of the THREE DAYS, each preceded by a night.

WHY 3 DAYS AND NOT 2 OR 4?

Numbers 19:11,12 says that a man who touches death was to purify himself on the 3rd day. Leviticus 7:17,18 says the flesh of a peace offering was NOT to be kept beyond the 3rd day, but was to be burned as unfit for eating. Didn’t Jesus become sin at the cross, causing God Himself, because of His holiness, to turn His face? Didn’t Jesus descend into the flames of Hell upon His death? Also, Herodotus (AD 86-89) wrote that embalming took place AFTER three days. Finally, the Jewish custom was not to accept as evidence the identification of a dead body AFTER 3 days because, in the Middle East, decay occurs quickly. The fact that Lazarus was dead 4 days was proof that he was REALLY dead, without hope, and ’stinketh,’ (Jn 11:17,39).

God apparently has a “thing” about 3’s. We believe in a triune God, don’t we? We’re 3-part beings ourselves, body, soul & spirit. If this study presents enough evidence to convince anyone that they’ve been spiritually misdirected regarding the Good Friday tradition, I advise that they rejoice in the revelation and leave it at that. Paul gave us some pretty good instructions for handling this type of situation in Romans 14. Check it out.

ALLOWING SCRIPTURE TO GUIDE US

1) the HIGH Day of Jn 19:31 was the FIRST day of the feast; Jesus “gave up the ghost.”]

2) the FIRST DAY OF THE FEAST was the 15th day of Nisan which began at SUNSET on the 14th

3) SIX DAYS BEFORE THE PASSOVER (Jn 12:1) takes us BACKWARD to the 9th of Nisan

4) AFTER TWO DAYS IS THE PASSOVER (Matt 26:2; Mk 14:1) takes us to the 13th of Nisan

5) THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK (resurrection day, Matt 28:1) was from our Saturday sunset to Sunday sunset, fixing the days of the WEEK.

6) Going BACKWARD from the THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS (Matt 12:40) we arrive at the day of BURIAL, before sunset on the 14th of Nisan, i.e., BEFORE our Wednesday sunset!

This makes the 6th day before Passover the 9th of Nisan, our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset. Before Wednesday, Nisan 14th (commencing on Tuesday at sunset), was the PREPARATION DAY on which the crucifixion took place. All four gospels agree this was the day of the Lord’s burial (before our Wednesday sunset). The bodies should not remain on the cross the Sabbath day, “for that Sabbath was a HIGH DAY,” therefore, not the USUAL 7th day, or WEEKLY Sabbath (Jn 19:31).

WHATS FOR SUPPER?

Since Jesus was crucified on PREPARATION DAY, He could NOT have eaten the Passover lamb at the Last Supper. It wasn’t slain till evening of the 14th of Nisan (afternoon). On that day, the daily sacrifice was killed at the 6th hour (noon) and offered by the 7th hour (1PM). Clearly, this did not take place till 4 hours AFTER the Lord had been hanging on the cross and wasn’t completed till the 9th hour (3PM) when HE GAVE UP THE GHOST.

No Passover Lamb could have been eaten at the Last Supper the previous evening, though Jesus had sent Peter and John to make arrangements to eat the Passover (Matt 26:18; Mk 14:14; Lk 22:8-15). John 18:28 CLEARLY indicates that the Jews brought Jesus before Pilate in the early morning, careful not to enter the palace so they could avoid becoming ceremonially unclean as “they wanted to be able to eat the Passover.” This refers to the whole festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread, which lasted seven days and included a number of meals.

Rather significant that the lambs were killed when THE Lamb of God actually died, eh? With these facts, we can piece together the events of the Lord’s last week as recorded in the Gospels.

As for the 3 Days and 3 Nights before His resurrection, they were as follows:

1) FIRST NIGHT AND DAY IN THE TOMB:

The First Day of the Feast (THE HIGH DAY), the 15th of Nisan, our Wednesday sunset to Thursday sunset.

2) SECOND NIGHT AND DAY IN THE TOMB:

The Second Day of the Feast, the 16th of Nisan, our Thursday sunset to Friday sunset.

3) THIRD DAY AND NIGHT IN THE TOMB:

The Third Day of the Feast, the 17th of Nisan, our Friday sunset to Saturday sunset.

4) THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK, the 18th of Nisan, our Saturday sunset, the THIRD DAY of Matthew 16:21, NOT the third day of the feast.

Considering these details, we can summarize that Jesus was actually crucified on a Wednesday, NOT a Friday.

WHY THE MISTAKES ALL THESE CENTURIES?

Matthew 28:1 was translated from the Hebrew/Chaldee and Greek as “After the SABBATHS, toward the dawn of the day following the SABBATHS… .” All 7 days of the Paschal Week were SABBATHS on the old Hebrew calendar. Obviously, the translators did not understand the distinctions in the Hebrew Sabbaths in the Passover Week. A bit arrogant but we’d probably do the same thing today, assuming that everyone told time and used the same expressions for various parts of the day as we do. Because of this, these translators assumed Jesus was crucified on Friday, because He was crucified the day before the WEEKLY Sabbath. In the Passover Week, THURSDAY was a Sabbath, a HIGH DAY, an EXTRA Sabbath. Two Sabbaths in one week, causing confusion in the Church to this day.

THE BOTTOM LINE

In short, Jesus was crucified Wednesday morning, the third hour. From noon to 3PM, there was darkness on the land. By 6PM, Jesus was in the tomb, as the bodies could not remain on the cross on a Sabbath day, for “THAT SABBATH was a High Day” (Jn 19:31). It was NOT a weekly Sabbath, NOT a Saturday. It WAS the Passover Sabbath…a Thursday.

Therefore, Jesus was crucified on Wednesday. Good Wednesday, if you like.

We hear lots of talk about “Living in the last days.” We should live our lives serving the Lord with gladness, as if today were OUR last day. As special days go, the two most special days we should consider at this point are:

1) the day we die and

2) the day Christ returns.

In either case, the question is: “Are we ready?”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Michael’s mission is to bring Discipleship and Encouragement to the Body of Christ. Since 1999, he has broadcast over 300 hundred inspirational articles and a dozen booklets on subjects that will interest the thinking Christian, all designed to accelerate the process of spiritual development in God’s people.

He is the founder of t.e.a.m. ministries (team1min@aol.com). An Author, Pastoral Counselor and Teacher, his eMail broadcasts, known as “Your Town for Jesus” are reaching millions around the globe WEEKLY. Write team1min@aol.com if you’d like to SUBSCRIBE.

A licensed/ordained minister, a Certified Workplace Chaplain, and a Professional Member of NIBIC, he has ministered in Methodist, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Baptist, Disciples of Christ, College and Cowboy churches. He is also a Speaker on the Christian Speaker Network and may be available to speak to your church or Christian group.

The question that many Christians have today is, does healing belong to us as it did to the early church? There are 3 basic beliefs on the subject of healing in the modern Christian church.

1. Many believe healing has been done away with, that it was only for the early church and not for us today. This is probably the most wide spread belief.

2. Many believe God does heal as He sees fit, or by some special divine act, or some special faith.

3. The last basic group believes healing belongs to us as part of the atonement of Christ in the redemptive plan of God, along with the remission of sins.

These are the 3 main attitudes toward healing in the body of Christ today. The question becomes if the 3rd is right, how could the 2nd be right as well? Many Christians have received divine healing or know someone who did, if this is true, why is not healing a part of the completed work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Does God play favorites? Does He heal based on His whim? Or is He truly no respecter of Persons as His Word says He is? Is He truly the same yesterday today and forever?
Lets take a look at the Word of God for the answers to these questions!

Psalms 103:1. 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 forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
4. Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5. Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
6. The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed.

Even in the Old Testament we see that His benefits include both forgiveness and healing.
My question is has God changed in His attitude toward healing the sick?

Malachi 3:6. “For I am the Lord, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob.

The Lord God Himself says I do not change. Aren’t you glad He doesn’t?
I think it is fair to say if the Bible teaches divine healing, it would be safe to teach even if we didn’t know of one single case of healing. But at some point in time we have to come to the realization that God’s Word is true. We have to believe in the divine truth of God’s Word.

Exodus 15:26. and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.”

Exodus 23:25. “So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.

If the attitude God had towards healing was for the children of Israel to be whole in the Old Testament, how much more now? This is a very good question. If this was true then, and it was true according to His Word, how much more now! I believe we need to get some light on this subject. The Word teaches the entrance of his Word gives light, and understanding to the simple.
(Ps. 119:130.)

If I can get understanding of His will, and that will cause me to be able to receive the truth and reality of His Word then I want it, don’t you? Because knowing the truth and then acting on it is what sets you free and makes you whole. I’m not talking about a mental ascent to the Word. I’m talking about true revelation knowledge that comes from the entrance of His Word. I believe healing for the body is the legal right for every child of God. However, just because we have the legal right to something doesn’t mean we are partakers of it, does it? I want to be a partaker of everything the Word of God tells me is legally mine don’t you? Let’s look at how we can not only know the truth but walk in the reality of it.

Our faith can only be based on what the Word of God has already declared. It is sufficient for our faith. We can not have true faith outside of the Word of God. Faith starts where we know and understand the Word of God.

There are reasons God’s people don’t walk in His promises.
1. They can be out of God’s perfect will for their life.
2. Not judging ourselves as the Word makes it clear we should.
3. Weak in faith.
4. Ignorance of what the His Word says. If you don’t know the truth, you can’t be made free, can you?

God said through the Prophet Hosea; Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:

God’s people are destroyed, not because God doesn’t care, (If he didn’t care Jesus would never have come) but because we don’t understand.

That is a very sobering thought. Maybe we need to get more knowledge!

Sickness and disease originally came from spiritual death, spiritual death came as a result of sin. God told Adam in the day that you eat there of you shall surely die. We know Adam did not die physically that day.
Disease would never have come on mans body if Adam had not sinned. God’s attitude towards sickness is the same as it is toward sin. His attitude is the same today as it was in the Old Testament. He never changes does He? Christ came to reveal God’s attitude toward man. If we want to see God’s attitude toward man in action, all we have to do is look at Jesus! Jesus was God’s will in the flesh. Jesus came to reveal the Fathers will toward man.

John 14:9. Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, `Show us the Father’?

Jesus plainly taught that oppression is of the devil.
When people were delivered from the oppression of Satan, their bodies were made whole; in other words their bodies were healed. Some would say Jesus delivered them not healed them, but the Word of God says Jesus healed those who were oppressed.

Acts 10:38. “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
This verse of Scripture says that oppression is of the devil, not God. Jesus came and healed ALL that were oppressed of the devil.

Luke 13:16. “So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound think of it for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”

Being a daughter of Abraham is another way of saying she is a daughter of God’s Covenant.

Jesus said Satan has bound this daughter of Abraham. God didn’t bind her, Satan bound her 18 years. Jesus came to loose her, didn’t He? Jesus was revealing God’s will toward mankind and His will toward sickness and Satan. You will not find a single instance in the New Testament where God was glorified by one of His people being sick, No Not One! He was glorified when His people were healed and set free from satanic oppressions.

1 John 3:8. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose
the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

As we have seen oppression is of the devil, and Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil didn’t He? Jesus came to destroy sin and Jesus came to destroy oppression which is a result of sin.

John 10:10. “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

If you are full of sin or sickness, you’re not walking in the more abundant life of God are you?
You can be set free from both. I am not saying or implying that if you have sickness in your body that it is because you walking in sin, or don’t love God, or are not sincere in your belief, not at all.

I know what it is like to be sick and need healing. I believe we have a part to play in this.
We have to receive it and truly acknowledge it. In my own experience it took nearly 1 1/2 years before I could fully receive the Word on this subject. When I did I was healed. Just as we have to receive and acknowledge that Jesus shed His blood for us so that we can have eternal life, we must receive and acknowledge that Jesus body was broken so that we can have healing for our bodies. Faith comes from knowing and understanding the Word of God. If you have never been taught along these lines, you can not truly have faith in this area of your life. Faith comes from hearing and hearing the Word of God. Whether it is for salvation or for healing.

A good place to start is the Passover. There were no sick among the children of Israel, not one sick person. They All partook of the Passover meal. They were all delivered out of the bondage of Egypt.
And they were all healed. This was a type of the coming Christ and our redemption.

He told His disciples how to partake of the Passover meal.
Mt. 26:26. And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.”
27. Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.
28. “For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

He told them to take and eat His body, and to drink His blood. They had to partake didn’t they, He offered it to them, but they had to partake of it. He told them to partake. It is God’s will that we partake. That is something He will not do for us.
They didn’t understand this at that time. Later Peter looking back at Calvary said in; 1 Peter 2:24. who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed.
Peter was quoting Isaiah the 53rd chapter. If you will get a concordance and look at the Hebrew you will see this was talking about physical healing.

It is not my purpose to place condemnation on anyone who is sick, God forbid. My purpose is to encourage people to reach out and receive for themselves. Jesus did not come to condemn the world but that through Him we might have life and have it more abundantly. I want people to look these things up for themselves, and see what the Word of God has to say on this subject. I have seen God’s healing power work in me and that of my family and others as well. I could share many marvelous testimonies of healing. Testimonies can encourage, but our faith has to be based on what God’s Word says, not on someone’s testimony. Let’s look on…

Romans 6:14. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Thank God for His grace. According to God’s Word, we are saved by grace, and by grace we can defeat the devil. As a matter of fact we are told to resist the devil.

James 4:6. But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
7. Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

When we are submitted to God He gives us the grace to resist the devil. But we have to do the resisting, God will not do that for us, and when we resist the devil he will flee. God’s Word is on the line and he can not lie. He will watch over His Word to perform it. It shall accomplish that which it was sent to do. It will not return void!

It is not the will of God the Father that any one of His children to have sickness or disease–None! Remember the 103rd Psalm. Vs.3. Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases. You can not separate them, Jesus paid the penalty for both, so why not enjoy them both? They are freely given, and given at an incredible cost.

James 5:14. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
15. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

We see that healing and the forgiveness go hand in hand. I’m not here to start an argument, but to start an encouragement. I know that’s not proper grammar, but I hope you take my point.

Remember Jesus said to the paralytic man who came for healing, be of good cheer your sins are forgiven you. Then He went on to say…

Matthew 9:2 And behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”
6. “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins” then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.”
7. And he arose and departed to his house.
8. Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God who had given such power to men.
Jesus forgave the mans sins, and then to prove it, He Healed him. You will notice the result was that people glorified God.

If you have already made Jesus Christ the Lord of your life then thank God, I would like to encourage you to also accept Him as your Healer. He is both you know? Find out for yourself that He is both. Acknowledge Him as your savior and the forgiver of all your sins and also acknowledge Him as the healer of your body; Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases.

Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Do you want to be a joint heir with Christ?
If so, I urge you to earnestly pray the following prayer.

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus. Your word says, “…and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (Jn.6:37),

So I know You won’t cast me out, but You take me in, And I thank you for it. You said in your Word, “whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Ro. 10:13).

I am calling on Your name, So I know You have saved me now, You also said, “…that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.” (Ro.10:9,10).

I believe in my heart that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. I believe He was raised from the dead for my justification. And I confess Him now as my Lord, Because Your Word says, “… with the heart one believes to righteousness…” and I do believe with my heart, I have now become the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21),

And I am saved! Thank You, Lord!
I can now truthfully say, I see myself as a born again child of God!

Glory to God!!!! Amen.

I was raised Catholic, and was born again at the age of 17. I received God’s call into ministry at the age of 19 and began to prepare for ministry. I graduated from Rhema Bible Training Center in 1979. The Lord has called me to teach. My desire is to help others come to a knowledge of the truth and I have started a web site for the purpose of teaching and discipleship called The Olive Branch;
Mark Baker
http://www.olivebranchministries.us

One thing is for sure…the Bible is not child friendly. Actually, if you really know the book, Old and New, you will have to admit that small children must not have been much a part of the culture. The first humans were the first parents, Adam and Eve, not the first children so I imagine they have no good childhood memories. Well actually they have none since they never were children. Their kids, Cain and Abel come on the scene pretty much full grown. No pleasant times frolicking in the Garden of Eden.

They actually show up just in time to have Cain murder his brother and get himself booted out of the Garden by God afraid of those who don’t exist killing him, go figure. Seth comes along, pretty much fully grown too. We certainly get no hint that this family every had picnics, hugs or good memories of being glad they had each other. The grown kids marry, who knows who, must be sisters that weren’t worth mentioning who also only show up as full grown women having babies by brothers. Ewwwwwww, but that’s the alternative since they had no girls or boys next door to get their attention. There was no next door. Incest was a necessary thing, so say literalists, until they got enough humans on the planet to marry mere cousins and then people you eventually figured you weren’t related to, but were.

The main heroes of the Old Testament were adults, who in some cases were given remarkable birth and childhood mythologies to show how great an adult they really were. Often stories from previous or surrounding cultures were borrowed for the baby to show what an amazing adult he was. You know, Abe Lincoln was never really a kid until he was a famous adult. Then we find he was so darn honest as a kid, studied by the light of one lone candle by night but did succeed in not being born of a virgin as we might not have taken that all that seriously. You never heard that the child called George Washington, “could not tell a lie,” until he was famous. No one waits at the hospital for famous baby to be born. The stories of remarkable children always come when the adult becomes remarkable. After all, remarkable adults must have had remarkable childhoods. This is how Moses, David and Jesus are portrayed, but any idea that we are seeing the lives of real children is illusionary. Amazing adults are pretty ordinary kids I would imagine, unless you are Bible Times adults.

We read about grown armies killing “men, women and children,” but that’s just a sanitation problem and incidental to the great exloits of Israel obeying the Loving Heavenly Father. Sometimes the children get murdered in the womb or special attention is paid to the fact that their heads were smashed against the wall. Nice touch there. Sometimes they get sacrificed as in the case or near case of Abraham and Isaac. Great story of childhood ala Bible times. Even though it worked out ok, according the script, I imagine Isaac was no longer interested in following Dad into the hills for weekend campouts. He prolly wondered what nonesense Dad was into now and passed choosing rather to hid under the table until Dad fell asleep

Here are some of the Bible’s greatest childhood hits…

Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod [sceptre], he shall not die.

– Proverbs 23:13 (AV)

This is really good to know. Beating them was fine and dandy and it doesn’t say spank. It says beat with a rod! Hit with a stick. Bash with a hoe. Smash with a sceptre. The reason is because “it won’t kill them.” Whew…good news there.

Execute stubborn kids

If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son … Then shall his father and his mother … bring him out unto the elders of his city … And all the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die.

– Deuteronomy 21:18-21 (AV)

Whoa! Excellent! No attempt to encourage or find out why this might be occuring in the child’s life. Prolly is the parents beating him all the time with rods, knowing full well he won’t die. He might be mentally ill, but we can attribute that to demons and not take any personal responsibility. The Bible is not big on understanding how one way of being leads to other ways of being or how abuse leads to mental illness. It’s all about Dad. It’s all about the parents. It’s really never about the kids.

Kids killed for mocking hero

Some small boys came out of the city and jeered at [the prophet Elisha], saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” And … he cursed them in the name of the Lord. And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys.

– II Kings 2:23-24 (RSV)

Well that should teach them. Of course the kids were making fun of Elisha’s boss who was taken up in a fiery chariot and thought Elisha should give it a try. I sense they were skeptical the first rapture happened. At least, they seem not to have been convinced so as not to make fun of the man who took over after the boss left rather abruptly.

God orders child sacrifice

God did tempt Abraham, … And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest … and offer him there for a burnt offering…

– Genesis 22:1-2 (AV)

Oh I know, God didn’t really mean it. He was just joshin Abe, but in those days, God’s didn’t Josh. If you asked God if he loved children, like WC Fields, He would have said, “If they are properly cooked.” Kids just had no value and certainly no say in the fantascies of their adult parents.

Daughter: a burnt offering

Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return … will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.” … and the Lord gave them into his hands…. When Jephthah returned to his home…, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of tambourines! And he did to her as he had vowed. And she was a virgin.

– Judges 11:30-32, 34, 39 (NIV)

So in come his sweetie, Biblical Ipod blaring and pow! “Sorry Sarah, I had a chat with God and told him if I got to win as a Bible man needs to win…well…just follow me. I’ll explain it on the way.” Of course, Mom just said, “Sarah, do as your father says. Love ya!” Later that night as Jephthah and Mrs. J held each other gently in bed, the both thought back on how the Lord had blessed them even though it had been a difficult day.

I have always been inspired and informed by these two examples of what it was like being a young Bible Times girl.

Woman must marry rapist

If a man [meets] a virgin who is not pledged to be married and rapes her … He must marry the girl … He can never divorce her as long as he lives.

– Deuteronomy 22:28-29 (NIV)

A marriage literally made in heaven! “Ok, I raped you. You want to kill me. You must marry me…me who raped you and we are stuck forever or they will cut both our heads off. Kiss me and act like you mean it.”

Virgin women are war booty

“Have you allowed all the women to live?” he [Moses] asked them…. “Now … kill every woman who has slept with a man, but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.”

– Numbers 31:1-18 (NIV)

“So you like women do you….caught you, caught you! Ok, check out these sweet things _________. If it is not intact, kill the _________. If she is pure and new…keep her for your pleasure and enjoy boys. “I, the Lord, through my Servant Moses, the most meek man on the planet, decree it.” Uh huh.

Lets see…New Testament kids that got into the story…

There would be demon possessed ones that Jesus heals. There would be kids that were dead that Jesus and few of the skilled Apostles resurrected, and of course Jesus himself, who had an amazing birth because he was an amazing adult. We have some great stories of Jesus killing some of his playmates for mocking him, but those books didn’t make the cut. Oh yes, we have the infants slaughtered by Herod as Mary and family slipped out of town smirking “I know something you don’t know,” at her neighbors with small children. I know some adults were called “children of the Devil,” so that counts I suppose and false churches were called whores but those would be older kids.

No, kids don’t make out so good in the Bible. They are used, abused, disowned, fried, burnt, slapped, kicked, hit, beat, sacrificed, speared, sold, eaten, ignored, marginalized and mauled. The famous ones that make it to adulthood get delievered, Angelic choirs, Kingdoms and babes galore. They get visited by Wise Men, who survived their own childhoods intact but left home as soon as they could, which is why there were called Wise Men. Bible Times were something no kid in his right mind would ever wish to return to. I’m sorry that babies were born in cultures where Bible Times parents were so ignorant of what to do next they just asked the Priests.

There are some kids in this world today who sadly do live in Bible Times. Their parents read the Bible and faithfully follow it’s loving guidelines for childrearing and interpersonal family communications. These kids learn that all they need is “the rod of correction,” or be told, “because we said so that’s why.” The often hear, “God is not going to be happy with you,” or “you might go to hell for that Johnny.” Every week they get to hear the Minister remind parent and child that they must bring up that kid in the way he “should” go, should being relative to whatever the Preacher thinks they should be, so that “when they are old, they will not depart from. it.” Of course most depart long before they are old just to recover and get their minds back in tact. There are American Bible Times Talibanic parents who are soaked in the childrearing techniques of the Bible (see the list above) every week or most every month. God said it, we practice it, that does it for us. Of course, when the child grows up a bit, they will walk and should.

Go get a concordance, or topical Bible and look up “snuggle, kiss, blowbelly, “a boo”, picnic, swimming, hugs, vacation, free time, love you mom, love you dad, love you son, love you sis, sports, college, education, free thinking, respect, reading, children’s literature, Goldilocks, quiet time, caress, self esteem, mental health, smiling, mommy, daddy, bedtime, stuffed animals, puppets, cook out, fishing, zoo, did I say “blowbellies?” …. oh you know, the good words. Good luck… and we’ll keep the flames of Molech on for ya!

Copyright 2005 Majella.us

The human historical drama of The Bible has fascinated scholars
for centuries and there is no shortage of interpretations. The
most amazing thing is perhaps how easily it will lend us the
perfect perspective through which to examine and evaluate modern
issues and problems. One very powerful metaphor that runs
throughout both the new and the old testaments is the radical
way in which God establishes a covenant with his people. Through
an examination of the covenantal promises of God himself, we
find the perfect examples by which to evaluate the meaning of
the term “covenant” in the marital union.

God’s Covenant with Abraham In the book of Genesis God makes the
amazing promise to give Abram (who together with his wife Sarai
had given up on having their own children) that he will be
blessed with descendants as numerous as the stars in heaven.
Even further, “on that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram,
saying, ‘to your descendants I give this land, from the river of
Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.’” (Gen 15:18).
Interestingly, both Abram and Sarai are shortly thereafter
referred to as Abraham and Sarah, thus signifying the change in
identity that occurs as a result of entering into a covenantal
bond.

The symbolism of the rite of covenant that God enters into with
Abraham speaks volumes about the true meaning of covenantal
promises. Following God’s directions, Abram slaughters a three
year old heifer, a she-goat, and a ram, setting their pieces
apart from each other. Shortly after, Abram goes into a “deep
sleep.” “Then the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a
smoking firepot and a flaming torch passed between these
pieces.” (Gen 15:17). According to the Navarre Bible, there is
an ancient rite (cf. Jer 34:18) whereby “the action of the two
parties–passing between the pieces of the victims–indicated a
readiness to be similarly cut in pieces if one were guilty of
breaking the pact” (pp. 96-97). In this scene, God, represented
by the flaming torch, gives us a supernatural example of the
meaning of the word “covenant” as he passes between the pieces
to ratify his promise. From this example, a covenant, such as
that which is taken between two spouses, then, is much more than
a legal contract–it is the total offering of oneself with the
other. What a different world we might live in if spouses were
to take their vows so seriously.

Another great example of what the call to “holiness” in
matrimony really means is given by Saint Paul in his letter to
the Ephesians. In an effort to delve deeper into the mystical
relationship between Christ and the Church, he offers the
metaphor in which husbands and wives are part of a “one flesh”
union whereby the man is the “head” and the woman is the “body.”
He begins by exhorting spouses to “be subject to one another out
of reverence for Christ.” Speaking to wives he states “be
subject to your husbands, as to the Lord.” And then comes the
powerful call to “husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the
church and gave himself up for her” (Eph 5:21-25). Saint Paul
himself refers to this covenantal relationship as a “great
mystery.” (Eph 5:32). Personally, I always wondered what Saint
Jose Maria Escrivá, a prolific Catholic writer and the founder
of Opus Dei who was canonized on October 6, 2002, meant when he
would say quite simply: “Be a man!” This passage from Ephesians
seems to make it quite clear.

In this short article, the examples of God’s covenant with
Abraham and Saint Paul’s exhortation to a condition of heart
between husbands and wives that is selfless and “holy without
blemish” (Eph 5:27) has been used to demonstrate the biblical
sense of the word covenant and how it relates to the covenantal
promise between spouses. While thousands of years have passed
between one event, to the other, and even to the present, the
meaning of the term “covenant” seems to be as rock solid as it
once was “in the beginning.” (Editing disabled while
spellchecking) Stop spell checking

And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.

Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons; that thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

The Spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple. For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.

Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it is his portion. For he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart.

My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 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. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself. Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

I am that bread of life. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life. (If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.) Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: in hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us). For all that is in the world, the lust
of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

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

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

Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

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.

And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

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.

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.

© by Joyce C. Lock
http://our.homewithgod.com/heavenlyinspirations/
This writing may be used in its entirety, with credits in tact,
for non-profit ministering purposes.

About the Author

Joyce C. Lock is a published author, poet, and columnist. In addition, she founded and maintains the e-mail ministries “Heavenly Inspirations” http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HeavenlyInspirations/ and “Share a Smile” http://groups.yahoo.com/group/smilesharing/. Joyce’s writings encourage us in our relationship with God and each other.

There are so many books out there on being a praying woman, or a praying wife, husband, nation, etc, but I’m not familiar with one about teaching my child to pray. A child that prays can have such an impact on his family, friends, and nation. If we as parents could teach our children this awesome phenonemon, we really could change the world one kid at a time.

There are so many things our children could pray for. It doesn’t have to be long an drug out. My children simply say, “Help mommy feel better. Amen.” That teaches them to pray for healing. They could say, “Help us get the money we need to buy a car.” That teaches them to pray for our finances.

The important thing is this, we need to teach them. Who else better able to do it than their own parent. You may ask, how can I do this? The first thing you do is, MODEL it. We all know our children are little apes from the get-go. Maybe you’ve heard something along the lines of, “If you don’t want it repeated at a place it will embarrass you most, don’t let your child hear you say it.” Well, model prayer, and you’ll get prayer. If they want to know why you’re praying, or what you’re doing, use that teachable moment and explain it in terms they’ll understand.

In later articles I’d like to talk about things we can teach our child to pray about.

I am a stay-at-home mother of 4 boys. We homeschool and I have a desire to write so I thought I’d start with an article and see how it goes. I love what I do and want to minister to other mothers and parents and share the knowledge I believe is helpful to others.

Oceans… There’s water in ‘em!

It may seem a bit absurd but the ocean can
easily be compared to a world full of people.
They’re constantly moving yet it seems like
they aren’t moving very far at all!

If you move to different parts of the ocean
you’ll find that some parts are warm and
friendly. These parts encourage you to visit
and stay awhile.

You know some people that are that way.

Other parts of the ocean seem cold and
unfriendly. They encourage you to move
on.

You know people that are that way too.

Gravity
There is a force that drags water back into
the ocean called gravity.

There is an enemy of God and His children
who is called Satan (no smiley face). He
works to drag people away from Jesus (the
Rock). As we’re told in John 10:10 that he
comes to steal, kill, and destroy.

Satan comes to deceive you into sinning.
Each sin brings a curse. Curses are open
doors for they enemy to attack people and
keep them miserable.

Jesus changed all of this when He became
the last sacrifice (1Corinthians 15.45). His
death on the cross breaks the curses brought
on by the law for all who believe in Him.

There is freedom from the law, freedom
from curses, and freedom from Satan.
Jesus came to give us that freedom.

The Beach
There are the beaches where the water comes
to the land. If the ocean really is various
people then the land would be Christ Jesus.

Jesus provides a place to land and stay. He
is powerful and has overcome Satan. When
people go to the Rock they find security,
peace, and joy.

The Sky
Jesus is the one that lifts us up into flight
with Him. We can then fly with Him forever…

Feel free to distribute this article if it is kept as is,
including the Resource Box at the bottom.
Notification of online use is not required but
I would appreciate it. Please contact the author
prior to use in printed media.

-Michelle Jacobson
www.SeedMinistries.com

Copyright 2005, SeedMinistries

About the Author

Michelle Jacobson is the author and webmaster
at SeedMinistries.com where you can get
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“Do you see the man skilled in his work? He will stand before
kings, he will not stand before obscure men.” –Proverbs 22:29

The Bible encourages us to know our “craft” and work our
“business” well. Many are called to serve in the clergy, many
are called to teach, to be healers, and YES to even work in the
marketplace.

God exists in the marketplace and He loves to meet us there! For
most everyone, our everyday lives take place in the
marketplace–at work, at home, out shopping–and not in a
cathedral. God does not want us to only serve Him when we are at
church, but in ever thing that we do. So we must therefore honor
God through our work… and what better way to honor Him that to
give our work our best, to do it “heartily as though unto the
Lord” (Paraphrased 1 Chor 10:31).