Pen of Iron

I have taken the liberty to here transpose a post by Revelation 2:17 from the Bible Studies
As suggested by Redeemed, posting on the front page of the blog gets more attention.Comments are welcome.P.S. Am back in Montreal, but haven't had time to brief you all. Will do so asap.
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The "deep" in the Bible sometimes refers to a great body of water beyond the heavens, sort of in space and beyond it.
It is associated with the earth when God jammed everything up in

Genesis 1:2
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

We read

Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

A flood also came in from outer-space. There's no way those windows are clouds. The Bible describes clouds and the evaporation cycle a number of times, never like this. Besides, it seems there were no clouds and rain on the pre-Noah's flood earth.


Genesis 8:2 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained;

Now

Job 38:30 The waters are hid as with a stone, and the face of the deep is frozen.

What ocean do you know with a frozen surface?????????????????????????
This is a frozen firmament in space. This is that sea of glass you read about in


Revelation 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

God, speaking about Satan as Leviathan says to Job

Job 41:31 He maketh the deep to boil like a pot: he maketh the sea like a pot of ointment.
:32 He maketh a path to shine after him; one would think the deep to be hoary.

Hoary means white or whitish.

When's the last time you saw a white ocean? The Mediterranean sea is called the Great White Sea. I see it everyday, it ain't white.

This is not upon earth,,, no LochNess monster here my friends, this is in the waters above your heads, the waters of

Genesis 1:6 And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

Those are they spoken of in

Psalm 148:4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

HeavenS is plural, this is no water in the sky.

And note that Psalms are AFTER Noah's flood. There are still waters above the heavens today.

Leviathan, Satan, leaves a blazing WHITE path behind his serpentine trail through space. Milky Way, anyone?

Having shuffled through Peter Ruckman's outstanding commentary on Job, I leaned back thinking upon the Bible. Suddenly the answer to something I had wondered about in Luke 8 flashed in my mind. I was confused about the 2 following verses dealing with the demon-possessed "Legion"


Luke 8:30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
:31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

and

Luke 8:33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

The devils feared the deep (supposedly ocean), yet they rush into water moments later!
Why would they fear the deep but not the lake (Mark calls it a sea)?

I think those evils besought Jesus not to be sent "out into"(v.31) space. They feared being sent into the deep of heaven, as in "deep space". It wasn't so much the water they feared; in fact devils have an affinity for water as can be gathered from the Bible.
Why they feared being commanded to go "out into" the deep in space I can't tell;
most simply maybe, because demons seek embodiement of flesh; what would they embody in space? Who knows, there might be other more terrible reasons.

There is so much more to see between Job and Genesis.

What a great book that King James Bible

Posted by Consecrated at 11:32 AM | 9 comments    

Posted by Redeemed at 10:02 PM | 4 comments    

Posted by Redeemed at 8:45 PM | 5 comments    

Posted by Redeemed at 7:20 AM | 5 comments    

Seriously the country is far more beautiful than I ever imagined. As the plane was hovering, you could seethe beautiful mountain ranges beneath. The most beautiful landing sight I have seen in my life. I have been to many countries in Europe, the Middle East and North America, and parts of Africa. Never in my life have I seen a nature more picturesque. As my friends drove me to their home, I felt breathless. The country is just beautiful.

I am here on a business trip this time. I think I will want to spend more time as a tourist some other time. This quick note is just to brief you that I am safe in the former Banana Republic.

Posted by Consecrated at 9:38 PM | 2 comments    

"In Esau's attempted fratricide, we again detect that peculiar undergound vibration which began with the words of Genesis 3:15. Abel is killed to get rid of the seed (Gen. 4). Angels mix with the races to pervert the seed (see Gen. 6:1-6). Ham ruins his seed (Gen. 12). Abraham nearly ruins it himself (Gen. 16:1-6). Lot makes the grade (Gen. 19.) Then Abimelech tries twice (Gen. 20, 26). Abraham almost destroys the right seed (Gen. 22), and now Esau is out for blood! Someone is anxious to prevent Genesis 3:15 from being fulfilled."

Posted by Redeemed at 8:53 PM | 2 comments    

In my suitcase I have packed four Spanish Bibles (Reina Valera 1960 edition, which I believe is the KJV equivalent for Spanish-speaking people). Two of these Bibles are gifts to colleagues in Costa Rica where I am going to spend one week for "on-the-job" training purposes. The two spare Bibles I hope to give to whoever the Lord leads me to. At first I was stunned when one colleague told me he didn't have a Bible. How can anyone Not have a Bible, I wondered. As I researched more, I realized how Catholic Costa Rica is. I surfed the internet hoping to find a Baptist English speaking church where I could worship on Sunday, but came up with none. I only found one reference to a Spanish speaking Fundamental Baptist church and I am not sure whether it is close to San Jose or not.

Anyway, I would like to ask for your prayers next week. My colleague has three children, and most likely his wife has never heard the gospel before either. I sensed a real tenderness towards God from this particular colleague, and I am praying for open doors as I spend time with his family next week. As outspoken as I am about the Lord, sometimes the old self takes over. The training coordinator who is in charge of my trip is a lovely lady. She came to Montreal in December and we really got along well together. I do hope that she would be receptive to the gospel when I give her the beautiful leather Bible which I bought having her in mind. I will also be spending a lot of time with her, and I don't have any specific indication as to what her response would be to the gospel. In her case I am stepping into the unknown.

I am excited about this business trip. I have never been to Latin America. This will be my first trip to a Spanish speaking country, and I am looking forward to a spanish immersion experience, with my meagre Spanish language skills. Because I sometimes think of helping out at an orphanage in Honduras (even if on small missions) I feel this trip could be of particular significance. Costa Rica is definitely very different from Honduras, but who knows, may be God is allowing me this trip for a reason.

Please pray for travelling mercies and open doors as I head to Costa Rica this week end. Will give you a report on my return.

Posted by Consecrated at 9:15 PM | 3 comments    

I am reading Exodus Chapter 18, and one enigma character for me has always been Jethro, Moses' father in law. I never knew what to make of this man's counsel. On the outside appearance it looked sensible, but I always suspsected there was something sinister hidden about that man. I mean, a Midianite shows up out of the blue, gives advice to Moses, claims what Moses is doing is not good (v.17), but asks Moses to listen to him (v.19) and he will give him counsel (v.19), and God will be with him. The son-in-law listens to him, then when the time comes for God's goodness to begin to happen, Jethro opts out and decides not to stay (Numbers 10:30).

Today I can see through the man, i.e. Jethro or Raguel (don't know if the double name means double meaning either). Jethro's advice reminds of what happened in Numbers 16. Will get to that in a minute. Let's look at his advice to Moses once again but a different perspective. "Why sittest thou... and all the people stand...(v.14) (implying that Moses was lording it over the laity). Again, this thing is too heavy for thee (v.18) (implying I care for your welfare).

The sons of Korah had the same argument. Numbers 16:3 "ye take too much upon you" All the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the Lord is among them; wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregration of the Lord?"

Back to Jethro v. 23 "If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so". In v. 19 he had said, I will give thee Counsel, v. 20 Thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws etc. God comes in last. Jethro talked about "it is not good". He never mentioned whether it was "right" or "wrong". Don't we hear that advice far too often.

In v. 24 Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. Unfortunately we don't read of Moses seeking God's face in this.

The discovery I made today is this. The most smooth, subtle Satanic attack on godly and able men of God could very easily come through family connections. Jethro's advice later caused the rebellion in Numbers 16.

What a warning. Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Posted by Consecrated at 10:42 AM | 8 comments    

Posted by Redeemed at 8:41 PM | 2 comments    

Posted by Redeemed at 10:30 PM | 11 comments    

Today is not a good day. My heart is breaking at the news of those courageous miners who lost their lives in West Virginia. I am praying for the young man to survive. It may be a comfort to the rest of the families although the horror of hearing what they might have gone through is terrifying.

My sympathies to all concerned.

Posted by Consecrated at 12:25 PM | 5 comments    

It is so good to know that life goes back to normal as of tomorrow. I do find the holiday season exacting at some point. With the cold winter weather officially in, and the city coming to almost a complete halt around New Year's, I get really bored (nothing unusual there). It is good to recharge our batteries in a way but I can't wait to go back to work tomorrow. Besides I am expecting a large shipment of tracts and I can't wait for the mail.

Every year I make it a point to read my Bible through. This past year I was able to finish it way before December. I have challenged myself to read it twice through this coming year. This of course is in addition to all the other Bible commentaries and good books that I can lay my hands on.

I was quite surprised when a dear church member told me that he didn't normally read the Law (the first five books of the OT) but he was going to do that in the New Year. I personally love the OT. It is full of real life stories, and being a story teller myself, I guess I find it very interesting. What is more is that many gems are hidden between the verses inside the geneaologies. Take the story of the sons of Korah who wrote the most sentimental and most beautiful psalms (somewhere between psalms 42 and 90). The story of their parents is written right there in Numbers 16, how their fathers did not want to be just levi(s) they wanted to be priests like Aaron and Moses. How they caused a riot and God's anger was kindled against them. How God sent fire and devoured them while the earth split and swallowed their possessions. How Moses was told to take the censors and beat them into a thin layer and cover the altar with the remains of those censors so they were a visible reminder of the punishment of rebellion. Yet the sons of Korah, when they grew up, they were not angry at God for what he had done to their parents, instead they write the most touching psalms.

Did you know that David was not the sole author of the psalms. The favourite chorus "As the deer panteth for the waters, so my soul panteth after thee was penned by the sons of Korah(Pslam 42). Despite their horrible childhood experience they could even sing "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, through the earth be removed etc (46). And guess who penned the most beautiful Song of love, the Maschil "My heart is inditing a good matter, I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pend of a ready writer. Thou are fairer than the children of men (Ps. 45). They rejoiced so much in him they also wrote "O clap your hands, all ye people, shout unto God with the voice of triumph" (Ps.47), and "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God "(Ps. 48), and "my soul longeth, year, even fainteth for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. ... Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well,... they go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God" (Ps. 84).

And it was not David who said "I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness". These were the sons of Korah in Psalm 84, verse 10. Many preachers have made this mistake quoting David to have said it.

Here's one more "Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God" (Ps. 87).

I don't know how I got on this rabbit trail, but it was refreshing to read them again. Hope you'd take the time to look up all the psalms written by the Sons of Korah, and that you'd challenge yourself to read the whole Book, from cover to cover, in the coming year.

Posted by Consecrated at 9:25 PM | 3 comments    

Posted by Redeemed at 4:41 PM | 1 comments    

Something very weird happened at my church last night. The way our watchnight service works is that as many men who want to can stand up and preach. Allow me not to go into the details but something happened last night that worried me. I started thinking about a few issues and realized that how demanding and probably very fanatic I am. You could also say I am not forgiving when it comes to fooling around when doing God's business. I do take God's work very very seriously, and I do not tolerate stupidities. May God forgive me for that, but this is my New Year's confession, I guess.

One thought triggered another, and another thought got me thinking about a number of issues that happened last year (in the church and with believers). One thought that bothered me was the following: Why can't I be tolerant of people's mistakes. Hasn't the Lord forgiven me a lot. And yet in my zeal for his holiness I get all worked up over issues that I and in the little understanding that I have find very offensive to his holiness and to his commandments. I look around me though and I find that I see eye-to-eye with only a select few. I read the Bible and I see in it clear cut black and white issues. I look at the world, and to them many things are fluid, grey areas. Our God is a God of truth. He is a consuming fire, and yet us humans we have the guts to defy what we read and disobey the commandments.

What happens is that I feel so helpless. I know I can't change the world so, like some of us, I turn to the blogsphere. I post my frustrations. I post my opinions. I post what I believe to be the true of word of God. There is nothing personal in what I write. I want to clarify that. I am not attacking anyone. I just vent my frustration. I see through a lot of issues that have gone by unnoticed by so many. Pls. don't get me wrong. I am not claiming to be self-righteous. I have my numerous flaws. But I want to say how lonely it can get if you take a stand for the truth.

There it is again. The word, Truth. I am the way, the truth and the life, Jesus said.

The Truth. That is what I pursue after. I chose the name code name consecrated because that's what I want my life to be like. Consecrated unto God. Apologies to all if I offended anyone on the way.

Posted by Consecrated at 3:39 PM | 3 comments    

Posted by Redeemed at 11:55 PM | 3 comments    

Here's an interesting thought which ties in with my previous post.
Scarlet + blue = purple

Scarlet is red, the color of the blood
Blue is the color of heaven
Mix the two colors together you get
Purple the color of royalty

Jesus is the lamb of God whose blood was shed on the cross. He is the son of God whose abode is in heaven. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Posted by Consecrated at 11:35 AM | 3 comments    

Psalms 45:14 - She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.

Exodus 39:29 - And a girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of needlework; as the LORD commanded Moses.

I love it when the Lord hits me with a gem from the word of God every now and then, and it gives me pleasure to share the nuggets.

The reference to needlework hit me this time. It was in the context of the church and how she shall be brought to the bridegroom arrayed in raiment of needlework. Ladies may find this thought particularly interesting, especially those who do crochet. My late grandmother used to crochet a lot, and she was always making table cloths and bed spreads (covers) for all her grandchildren and their wives.

Watching her doing a bed cover for me, I once noticed how she would take the time to do one unit a time, a flower or whatever design she had in mind, and then sew it on to the rest, one unit after another till she finished the whole thing. When it was over, the cover was a masterpiece. I treasure those pieces she gave me. As I reflect back on the years, I remember that when I first immigrated to Canada, and I was not sure I’d stay then, of the items that I had in my suitcase were a couple of needlework pieces that she had made for me.

This is what I gleaned from the reference in Psalm 45 as the reference to “needlework” hit home.

We are in the church age, and the Holy Spirit calls the Christians out on an individual basis. Unlike his dealing in the Old Testament or even in the Tribulation times where God dealt with the nation of Israel nationally, in the church age believers are called individually. Today jews and gentiles are baptized into one body, the body of Jesus Christ. We are his bride and we will be ushered in at the wedding arrayed in needlework. Think for a minute. Each one of us is fearfully and wonderfully made, and yet each of us a member of the body. Just like the needlework my grandma did. God takes the time to work in each of our lives individually and he connects us with muscles and sinews all together into this one body.

I leave this verse with you.

Ephesians 4:16 - From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

Posted by Consecrated at 10:35 AM | 10 comments    

I Corinthians 11: 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

This is a sticky issue, I know but I want to say this hoping that God's spirit would awaken some honest Christian to the truth and reality of the real issue at stake on Christmastime.

The whole world acknowledges that Dec. 25 is not the birth date of Jesus Christ, yet very few Christians take a stand. To all I want to send this reminder. The only commandment we have from God is to commemorate the Lord's death (never his birth) till he come.

I fail to see from the whole Word of God a direct, clear cut, specific commandment to "make merry" the "birthday" of Jesus.

A chilling reference to making merry and exchanging gifts is found in Rev. 11:10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

The reader is free to draw his/her own conclusions.
"The Two Babylons" by Alexander Hislop is an excellent addition to your Christian library.

Posted by Consecrated at 6:51 PM | 8 comments    

Job 38:2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

Praise God who has this week exposed the dark counsel of man and charlatan scientists who wanted to meddle in what is purely HIS sovereign right. We all heard it. Pictures of cloning human stem cells are "intentionally fabricated" and "doctored". In other words, they are fake.

In the same week that a US judge ruled against teaching "intelligent design" in highschools as an alternative to evolution (still people are afarid to call it Creation although they admit that the issues are too complex). God exposed the falsehood of man's attempts at cloning humans let alone that of animals.

What a paradox of events. Three articles in the news in one week. Creation (called intelligent design by fearful men) is banned by a certain judge in classrooms. Doctored photos of human cloning are exposed in S.Korea, and still a science honours is awarded to studies that "illuminated the intricate workings of evolution". (hugh?).

What an outcry of the foolishness of man. Despite the fraud that was exposed to the whole world, they insist on refusing God his rightful place in the creation. Didn't we read the following quotes from the news media:
"Based on these findings, data in the 2005 Science journal cannot be regarded as a simple accidental error but as intentional fabrication made out of two stem cells".
"This is a serious wrongdoing that has damaged the foundation of science,".

What a far outcry from the truthful saying of the Word of God that tells the truth and there is no wrongdoing in it. God's word does not contain any single error, that is why you can trust it a 100%. God's word does not damange the foundation of science but reinforces it. Do you know why Galileo was put to the stake hundreds of years ago. It was because he argued that the earth was round that he was accused of evil possession. Some religious authorities never read the Bible.
Isaiah 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

Scientists are racing to obtain knowledge concerning the foundation of our existence, but they forget a key element. Its author and founder.

God finally confronted Job and this is where we get most knowledge about creation, much more than that of Genesis.

I hope everyone reading this post would take the time to read the last four chapters of Job. Here are just a few quotes which refer to lightning, outerspace where man is frantically trying to explore. Again look at Job 38:

3Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
4Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding.
5Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it?

24By what way is the light parted, which scattereth the east wind upon the earth?
25Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder;
31Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?


How much clearer can it get folks?

"In the beginning GOD... (Gen 1:1)

Posted by Consecrated at 9:11 AM | 3 comments    

Did anybody read the news today.
Sir this and Sir that tying the knot. And people feeling proud? What is happening to the land that propagated the gospel? To the country that produced godly men like C.H. Spurgeon.
May the Lord have mercy on this world as conditions are rapidly approaching the state that prevailed during Lot's days.

Posted by Consecrated at 12:30 PM | 3 comments    

Hegel coined the term “Zeitgeist” or “spirit of the times” to denominate the concept of the sense, or rationality in the order of things and the succession of one state of affairs after another according to some kind of lawful process. Hegel did see this rationality as a spirit which animated people.


It occured to me two nights ago that Hegel's "ZeitGeist" or "spirit of the times", is to his ignorance, none other than "the god of this world", that is, Satan.

In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
2 Corinthians 4:4

You have both concepts here. Satan is god of this world by default, retaking his rule of the age-world when Adam, head of creation, sinned and fell. No world-view, philosophy, religion, or spirit obtains ascendency except by his santion, which provides the underlying process throughout time.
All men are sinners having a dead spirit, and Satan has legitimate access to them, blinding their minds to the divinity of Jesus Christ through various deceptions, one of which is philosophy

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Colossians 2:8

Posted by Revelation 2:17 at 9:32 AM | 3 comments    

All this happened in just five hours. More is still coming down.

Posted by Consecrated at 1:16 PM | 3 comments    

In an age where we are surrounded with diluted christianity it is more and more important for a Christian to study the word of God as commanded us in 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

It is also noble thing for a Christian to search the scriptures whether what we hear and what we are told correspond to Biblical truth. Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

In this regard, I should like to quote the following passages.

Isaiah 28: 9 Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
10For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
11For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
12To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
13But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. ...
29This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.

I offer no apology when I say that it is not an uncommon thing to see some of whom we view as stronger believers get indigestion over eating the meat, therefore they are still on the milk. This teaching is perfectly biblical. Read the following.

Hebrews 5:12For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

Posted by Consecrated at 7:46 PM | 0 comments    

In Revelation 3:18 we read of the Lord's counsel to the Laodician church. From a historical perspective, this is you and me. The church of the last days before the glorious appearing of our Lord and Saviour. God's counsel is this "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of they nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve that thou mayest see.v. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chaten; be zealous; therefore, and repent.

Several years ago a Christian friend of mine pointed the passage in Jeremiah chapter 10 to me but being deeply rooted in the christmas tradition I kind of brushed it of. It is not easy to change convictions I know but for the benefit of all readers I will post the truth herebelow.

1Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel:2Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.3For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe.4They DECK it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.5They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.6Forasmuch as there is none like unto thee, O LORD; thou art great, and thy name is great in might.7Who would not fear thee, O King of nations? for to thee doth it appertain: forasmuch as among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like unto thee.

This is pretty straightforward. Isn't it? Does the famous christmas song "Deck the Hall with boughs of holly tra alalalalalal" ring a bell now. Some may argue that I am a fanatic. Praise God for that word "zealous". To that I can only answer by referring to the commandment that follows: Repent.

As I said in one of my comment on another christian blog, try touching on the subject of the Christmas tree in any one evangelical community and you will have a church split, or you will be cast out as a fanatic. Again, little do we head the commandment in Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. The Holy Spirit is describing us, the Laodician church as a lukewarm church. Why because we have the Bible in our hands (heat), but we are worldly (cold), mix the two together and you get a lukewarm church. No wonder he counsels us to buy eyesalve because we are blinded by the traditions of the pagan christianity which has permeated even the evangelical bible believing circles and we think we are rich (in biblical knowledge) yet we are naked the Bible says. We need to put on the white raiment described as the "righteousness of the saints" in Rev. 19:8?

As for being tried by fire for your conviction and for taking a Biblical stand. Try telling a bible believing Christian (let alone others) that Christmas is a pagan holiday and that the Christmas tree is an abomination in the eyes of God?

In a nutshell and to summarize it all. What I am saying here (Christmas/tree or not) is that the church of today even when it sees the biblical truth with its own eyes, it is not willing to give up its worldy traditions and practices making it a lukewarm church in God's own description which he is ready to spew out of his mouth.

Dare saying that, and fiery darts will follow.

Posted by Consecrated at 11:14 AM | 2 comments    

Exactly one week ago I picked up a hitchhiker. He was hard of speech, almost possessed of a slight mental retardation, if that expression can be used at all.I looked at him as a human soul. That's the best away to look at all men to whom you would witness, not as persons, but as souls in need of salvation.
I will not tell of his religious background or region, but suffice it to say that I told him about the Lord Jesus Christ and his death on the cross, and asked the fellow if he knew where he was going after death, if he had that kind of peace.
He said no and no.
I told him he could be saved right here and now, asked him if he wanted to pray to the Lord in his own words and ask for eternal life.
He said yes. He began, head bowed slightly, saying "Jesus Christ..."
seeing he had a hard time articulating words, I helped him out...here's the quote as I heard it; the "..." are the pauses as I helped him pray

"Jesus Christ...I believe you ... (i didn't clearly hear him say "are") the Son of God...and that you died on the cross for my sins...give me eternal life"

I looked at him, his eyes seemed slightly reddened though am not sure,,,(all this while on the road mind you). I extended my hand to him to shake his hand, and said
"that's it, if you prayed believing from the heart, and remember you just spoke before God and the Holy Spirit for a witness, then you are saved my friend. No one can take that away from you. Now you need to grow as a babe, you need to read the Bible, start with John"

I gave him three tracts when I let him down and told him about the church address. He waved and gave me the thumbs up as I drove away.

This has been a full and rewarding week, many things have taken place which I cannot all write here; one friend taking a Bible almost out of my hand to keep and read it, another asking me for a Bible, and another having read all of John and 1 Corinthians 1 and 2. I've also spent the week defending the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ in classroom discussions.
I thank Jesus Christ who is the only wise God for His love and grace, which saved a wretch like me.

Posted by Revelation 2:17 at 12:07 PM | 2 comments    

Whether you like it or not, every Christian who believes in both the Old and New Testaments is a Dispensationalist. If you were not a dispensationalist, you would still be killing and sacrificing animals just like God's people did in the Old Testament.
Sure, Jesus was the Lamb of God that was slain to bear the sins of the World. Under the New Covenant, Jesus did away with the ordinances of old when he instituted his New Covenant with his blood. Is that a new dispensation, or what?

In the millennium, and David speaks of that in the Psalms, sacrificial worship will be resumed (see Ezekiel's temple). Is that a new dispensation or what?

So there you have it. There was the old way of doing business, we are in the new way of doing business, and there is a future way of doing business (yet to come).

"Rightly dividing" the word of God comes up with dispensations. The Bible clearly speaks of the world that was, the world that is, and the world to come.

Do you see it yet? Every Bible Believing Christian is a dispensationalist, like it or not.

Posted by Consecrated at 12:09 PM | 4 comments    

I am so excited because the men in my church have a desire to start a street preaching ministry in Spring. I can't wait for Spring. In the meantime we continue to pass tracts to the residents of Montreal every Saturday. Praise the Lord. Two young men prayed with me at the Metro today and trusted Jesus as their Saviour. I find that when I pray and spend a lot of time with the Lord in the Word, he always rewards with souls getting saved.
Before leaving home this morning I prayed and asked the Lord to bless us as we hit the Metro for tract passing. In the beginning there were two of us, but 3 men from my church joined us a bit later. There is something encouraging about numbers. It feels good when a large number of us go out in God's service. We were passing tracts left and right to everyone we see. Apparently I had given this fellow a tract, but I hadn't noticed. He was lazing around waiting from some friends. When I approached him again, and again, he pulled out several tracts from his pocket and said to me. Look I have them all. Did you read them, and did you understand what you read, I said. He eagerly replied but it was obvious he had not understood. We started talking. I explained the gospel to him. He said he had been reading the Bible, but he did not know how to get saved. I explained the gospel to him and he agreed that he was a sinner in need of salvation. He also agreed to pray to with me. We moved away from traffic, and together we bowed down our heads. I prayed first, and then he followed. I told him, you ask the Lord in your own words, to forgive you your sin and to give you eternal life. After he did that I strongly admonished him to feed his soul on the word of God. He left me feeling quite happy. Later when his friends arrived, he called out to me "Miss, these are my friends". He sounded happy. I got the impression he wanted me to witness to them as well. But only one of them accepted a tract from me. The other just looked away.

Then just as I was getting ready to leave at around 3pm, I overheard my daughter talking a fellow as they approched. She had been witnessing to the fellow but decided it would be better to bring him over to me. I sent up a silent prayer for wisdom as I tried to find out more about his faith or lack thereof. The Lord opened my mouth. For 30 minutes I spoke the word of God, and expounded the gospel to him. It was obvious the young man was searching. As I reminded him of the prodigal son, I could tell he was convicted of sin. I showed him from scripture (in John) how he can get saved. He would pray at night in his apartment, he said. I asked him, can you guarantee that you'll live till tonight. Why not pray right now with me. He accepted. We moved to a quiet corner, we both bowed down our heads and there Roger gave his life to the Lord. Before he left, I reminded him that there are four types of soil, that Satan would be very quick to steal the word from his heart, or that the worries of the world might choke the word. He promised he was going to feed on his Bible daily, and by God's grace be the good soil that bringeth forth fruit.

Praise God for his goodness. I came home feeling so very happy that God still uses this weak vessel to spread the gospel. Hadn't I prayed that He would send labourers because the fields are white unto harvest but the labourers are few? Didn't Jesus command us to bring forth fruit that the Father may be glorified? Amen Lord. I feel humbled in your presence, yet I rejoice along with the angels over one soul that is saved. How much more two in one day. Praise God.

Posted by Consecrated at 10:30 PM | 4 comments    

John 15:8 - Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

I have been thinking about the above verse lately. Our Lord went about all his earthly life with one driving force: that the Father may be glorified. How can the Father be glorified: if WE bear much fruit. But what fruit (single) is he talking about. I suggest you do a word search if you have a Bible Concordance (Strong or Cruden's).

The verse goes on to say "so shall ye be" not christians, but "my "disciples". What an honor to be called a disciple of Christ. The word christian has been used and abused. But a disciple of Christ! That's something else. A disciple of Christ bears much fruit, and herein is the Father glorfied.

Do you remember what Jesus said about being grafted in the true vine in order to bear fruit. Listen to these verses. John 15:1 - I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. John 15:2 - Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ? Are you his "disciple"? Jesus said, If ye love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). John 15:10 - If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Do you want to bear fruit that the Father may be glorified in his son, then listen to what Jesus said: John 15:4 - Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

I can think of the hymn "Abide in me" right now. I heard an English baritone sing it not long ago, and it was enchanting. Family members and loved ones abide with us in our homes. Don't you love to abide in the house of God.

John 14:13 says: And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

Grant it Lord, that the Father may be glorified in this "son" too. Again, John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Posted by Consecrated at 7:30 AM | 2 comments    

Last Sunday I had lunch with a couple of friends at a Greek Restaurant. I stress the word Greek, you'll find out why in a bit. The food was good, the company was good and as I left the diner I approached the reception desk and gave the waiter a tract. What is it? He questioned. The Word of God I replied. At the mention of God, he freaked out. I don't want to hear anything about him, he said. One day you will have to give him an account of yourself, I replied. At this, the guy was furious. I do not want to listen to religion when the priest refused to bury my two-month old baby because he had not been baptized. I had to bury my baby like a dog. My son would have been twenty one years old by now. Please listen to me, I insisted. Your baby is in heaven. All babies go to heaven, sin is not imputed where there is no law, the Bible says. No. The Greek Orthodox priest refused to bury my baby, insisted the man, and I buried my baby like a dog. The man was jumping up and down as though he was in a frying pan. One day, I will sit with Jesus and sip a glass of beer with him, he raved on. This is blasphemy, I said, and if you don't repent of these words, you know where you will end up? In hell, was the reply. That's right, I responded and you will never get to see your two months old baby because he is in heaven and you won't be there. By now I was following him around the desk because he was trying to run away from me, and yet when I'd beg him to calm down, he would stand still for a second and then flare up again. A crowd and other waiters stood watching. Look, I said, I come from Greek Orthodox background, and the Greek Orthodox church (and others) does not teach the truth and the word of God. That is why I converted to a Bible Believing Christian. My baby had a dog's funeral he kept repeating. I repeated that what happened to him was the wrong doing of the Greek Orthodox Church. Are you Greek, he asked? No, I said but my pastor is and he teaches the King James Bible. As soon as the fellow heard me mention the KJV he was up in arms one more time. He started cursing again. At that point, I decided it was better to leave.

As I reflect on the incident I feel broken hearted. Twenty one years later, the man had not forgotten. TWENTY ONE years ago, it still hurt. Seriously, the man was burnt. He was jumping as though he was in a frying pan. The pain was too much to bear. I never got the name of the fellow, but to think that some priest refused to give his baby a semblance of a church funeral is outrageous. Those false shepherds will stand before God one day. How can they explain this kind of behaviour beats the life out of me. It was hard for me to bring him down to sanity when I spoke. I did leave the tract on the front desk and by the time I left it was still there. He did not throw it in the garbage. Pls. pray for that fellow. May be the Lord would soften his heart and use that tract to talk to his heart and assure him of his love and that there is hope in Jesus Christ who loved us and died and rose again to give us eternal life.

Posted by Consecrated at 8:34 PM | 1 comments    

The text below comes from the daily devotional "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers (Day: 19 November for those who have the book). The sentences in bold stood out as I read.

John 16:8 "And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin,..."

Conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit blots our every relationship on earth and makes us aware of only one -- "Against thee, thee only have I sinned" (Psalm 51:4). When a person is convicted of sin this way, he knows with every bit of his conscience that Gould would not dare to forgive him.
If God did forgive him, then this person would have a stronger sense of justice than God. God does forgive, but it cost the breaking of His heart with grief in the death of Christ to enable Him to do so. The great miracle of the grace of God is that He forgives sin, and it is the death of Jesus Christ alone that enables the divine nature to forgive and to remain true to itself in doing so. It is shallow nonsense to say that God forgives us because He is love. Once we have been convicted of sin, we will never say this again.
The love of God means Calvary -- nothing less... .
The love of God is spelled out on the Cross and nowhere else... .
It is there His conscience is satisfied. ...

P.S. If you should have only one devotional, I would definitely recommend the book above. It is by far the best devotional I have seen or read.

Posted by Consecrated at 8:55 AM | 2 comments    

ZVI is a polish Jew and a survivor of the holocaust, he came to live in Israel many years ago and he met the Lord Jesus Christ and got saved. For about fifty years after his conversion he went about witnessing to thousands of people of his nation from all walks of life.

The interesting thing about him, and I guess about every Christian believer, is that his testimony lives on and is just as effective for God to touch lives. Time: this morning. I am at home praying before I go to work. For some reason I pray like this: Lord you asked us to pray for workers. Lord the fields abound, but the labourers are few. Lord take my children. I’d love to see them both in the mission field. Send me too. Please Lord send workers for the harvest is plentiful.

Later on the train to work. The train stops, and a young elegant woman gets on board and sits in the seat right next to me. I am reading on. She crosses her legs, and from underneath her long winter coat flashes a bare leg almost to the thigh. People are welcome to look. I continue reading, but the voice of God is at work in my heart. Talk to the woman. Don’t be intimidated by her looks. She does not look like gospel material, I thought. Still the voice would not leave me. Talk to her. She may not get another chance at hearing the gospel. Okay Lord. I have learnt a long time ago to obey that still small voice.

I put my book down and reached inside my purse for a tract. Now Lord, you know I always obey when you ask me to talk to strangers, but I need help with this one. You got to help me here. Where do I begin. What shall I say. On my mind was something about the need to cover herself. I am still wondering how and where to begin the conversation when SHE talks to me first. For a second I am dumbfounded. “My father has that book", she said with ease and simplicity. I was almost speechless. I don’t know what I answered at first. Oh, I said. Yes, she said, I am Israeli (The book has a flag of Israel on the cover). My father read this book, she continued. He loved it. Have you read it too, I queried. We were now talking. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, I asked.

Of course, she believed in a power out there but she had lost her faith when God took her sister away. She had died of cancer. I shot a quick and silent prayer for guidance. I assured her that God knows all about her sister, but that she needed to look after herself. You sound like the mother was the familiar reply. Soon I pulled out my personal worker’s New Testament and flipping through the pages I read verses to her from Galatians, Ephesians, Romans, John, etc. Good deeds do not save you. The law damns you. Jesus saves. Fresh on my mind was the verse from Joel where Brian preached last night. Joel 3:14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision; for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.

We conversed for almost twenty minutes. I noticed that several passengers were listening (it is always the case) and watching as I flipped through the pages of The Book. Of course, some looked on with ridicule. One man sitting behind us leaned backwards and stretched his neck as far as he could in order to get a better hearing. I raised my voice. I had a captive audience. Bless God for the liberty we have in this country. By the time we reached downtown, Nathalie had two tracts in her purse. As she thanked me for the “lecture” and before we parted I pressed her for a decision. Demons believe and tremble (James 2:19). I also encouraged her to read the book in her father’s library. I don’t know if she’ll ever get saved. This was no coincidence. Think of it. What is the probability that a total stranger, an Israelite, should sit right next to me and recognize The Best of Zvi, a book which I started reading that very morning. As for me I know one thing. God answered my prayer about sending a labourer to work. The seed was sown. I wait for the harvest.

Were Svi to hear this story he would be happy in his grave to learn that his testimony lives on and God still uses him (or his memory) to reach his people.

Posted by Consecrated at 4:16 PM | 3 comments    

A certain thought has been bugging me for a couple of days now. It was triggered by the passage in Isaiah 11 where God says that the wolf shall dwell with the lamb. and the leopard shall lie down with the kid etc. (verse 6). My thought has centered around what the original nature of beasts was and HOW did it degenerate. How did the beasts (some of them) become fierce. I don't think there is an open reference to that. In man's case, through reproduction we pass down the sin that is indwelled in us. But in the case of beasts, there is no reference to them disobeying God other than Satan and snake. In the book of Romans we read that all creature has been subjected to bondage awaiting the manifestation of the sons of God (Romans 8:18 - 23). Is it possible that because of our sin, the animals lost their ability to speak as well (the snake spoke in the garden and Eve thought nothing much about it). Still I ask myself HOW. It may not seem much to you but it is intriging me.

For visitors: you will realize that because of sin man's nature fell into ruin. We get angry and put the blame on others (look at Adam and Eve), we are afraid (they hid) experience pain and misery (they were kicked out of the state of bliss) we labour (the curse) we age, we die (that's how the book of Genesis ends: a coffin in Egypt).

I want to stop for a second and refer you to Genesis chapter 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth and over every creeing thing that creepeth upon the earth. (P.S. I put "man" and "them" in bold for a reason. Male and female created he them, the Bible says, but that's another study altogether).

Back to the subject of man's dominion and the wild beasts. What dominion do we have over animals today? Not much I guess. Try taming a lion or a shark for example. No sooner do you leave a wild beast to its nature, it'll devour you in no time. That is no dominion folks. Man's dominion is GONE.

In Isaiah, we read that when the Prince of Righteousness comes back to rule the earth (nothing ethereal here, nothing wishy washy, this is a real description of things yet to come on this earth) animals will have a peaceful nature. There has never been a time, yet, when wild animals fit the description. But it will come. The creation is awaiting the Eternal Son, the Son of God, Son of Man to restore all creation. This is the same Lord Jesus Christ "Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things... (Acts 3:21) and when HE is come, Isaiah 11:4 says he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth (for those who don't believe the Word of God: wake up).

Amen. Come Lord Jesus.

Posted by Consecrated at 9:38 AM | 3 comments    

For another shining example of the excellency of the
King James Bible, please refer to the latest post in Bible Studies

Where the word of a king is, there is power: and who may say unto him, What doest thou? Ecclesiastes 8:4

Posted by Revelation 2:17 at 6:33 PM | 3 comments    

The verses in the bible are built upon each other. Remember the reference in Romans 8:1 that there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Well here is another proof that the phrase in bold in my other post (about the KJV Bible) is the inspired word of God and should not have been erased by the apostate versions in circulation.
Anyway today I invite you to look at Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

PastorTom Bard from New Hampshire preached at our church this past Sunday and gave a beautiful explanation of Romans 8:2. He used the analogy of the law of gravity and said that the natural tendency is for things to fall to the ground. He said the law of gravity is constant, it does not go away, however it can be overcome by another. Take for example the law of thermodynamics and how it works in the case of airplanes. You engage the engine and it soars in the sky, thus defying the law of gravity. In the case of Christians, the law of the flesh is constantly at work, but when you engage the law of the Spirit of Life, you will overcome the law of sin and death which is at work in our mortal bodies. Remember what Isaiah 40:31 says "But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; ". Eagles don't flap their wings, they are there in the sky. They soar and the law of gravity cannot pull them down.

Christian: What law have you engaged in your daily walk. Is it the law of sin and death, satifying your worldly lusts, or have you engaged the law of spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

Should you like to continue reading the passage:
Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

Posted by Consecrated at 2:41 PM | 8 comments    

I invite you to read Romans 8:1 from whatever English Bible you have and let us compare. I challenge you all to find that second segment of the verse in any version other than the King James Version (KJV 1611). Then I have a story to tell you on the subject.

KJV: There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

RSV: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Darby: [There is] then now no condemnation to those in Christ Jesus.

NIV: There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Go on. Keep trying. You will not find the condition in bold above in any other version. Here is a real story that happened three weeks ago in one of the homeless shelters in Montreal where Brian, our Assistant Pastor, works.

Brian our Assistant Pastor told us this story which involved him. Three weeks ago a fellow walks into the Welcome Hall Mission where Brian has a night job ministering to homeless men. The fellow claims he is a believer and had been saved some years ago but his life is a mess. He complains to Brian that everytime he opens his bible (The Living Bible) he acutally feels spirits crawling all over him, and it is freaky.

Brian explains to the man that his life is a mess because he has been living in sin. But, the fellow replies by quoting a scripture verse, Romans 8:1. Look here, as he opens his "living" bible. Doesn't the Bible say that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ.
Brian (who is well versed in the Bible) looks at the fellow and tells him to continue. But the man says that's it. Where's the rest of the verse? Asks Brian. There is a continuation to the verse, keep going. But the man just stopped. A key phrase was missing. Then Brian read the same verse from the KJV which continued who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. At that point the man's chin drops. He looks at the KJV in one hand, and looks at his so-called living bible, and then waves the two books in the air exclaiming. What is that? Can someone tell me which one is the Word of God? Brian asked him. Which one gives you peace? The fellow replied by pointing to the KJV. Then take it to your room and read it, says Brian. The man did and since then (three weeks ago) Brian says this fellow's life has been transformed and he is now the most docile man at the mission.

And you want to tell me that all versions out there are the word of God. I don't think so. This man's living book had no power over the demons who were crawling all over him until he read the truth in the KJV 1611 Bible.

Amen. 1 Corinthians 14:33 - For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
Romans 15:6 - That ye may with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Posted by Consecrated at 9:16 AM | 1 comments    

I was feeling bored this morning because I am the only one to post on penofiron, it seems. I like to write, it's true, but I also like to see what others have to say. So I turned to Seth Wilson's blog (which I hate to admit I had not visited in ages). I was pleasantly surprised and I loved what I saw. That is why I am advertising it here. PeaceofChrist.blogspot.com

Posted by Consecrated at 1:44 PM | 0 comments    

I have often wondered at the parable of feeding the five thousand especially where the Holy Spirit tells us that after everyone ate and was filled, the disciples removed twelve baskets full.
Here is a quick description of how Pastor Sowell put it. He believed that the basket is a picture of the christian. First you have the meaningless baskets. To begin with our life is meaningless. People who followed Jesus into the wilderness took some empty baskets with them and they would have served for nothing empty as they were. Then you get the miracle baskets which refer to our life once the Lord has performed a miracle and we get born again. Then our life becomes meaningful and we can go out and teach others feeding them on the bread of life. This is the missionary basket. The twelve full baskets of left over food were taken back home to feed those people who did not come out to meet the Lord. Towards the end of life the basket becomes a memorial basket when stricken with age we cannot go out and do the same work we did. You look at the old men of God and you remember what they did in their lifetime. These are the memorial basket.

That message was a booster in the life of so many in our church. Christian: Are you a missionary basket and is your basket filled with the bread of life and of fish? Are you filled with the word of life and have you led men to Christ? Jesus said if you follow me, I will make you fishers of men.

Thank you Lord for Pastor Sowell's ministry. I finally understand why the numerous references to the twelve baskets that were lifted once Jesus had fed the thousands.

Posted by Consecrated at 4:58 PM | 0 comments    

Pastor Rick Sowell from Toledo, Ohio is conducting revival meetings at our church. Preacher So Well as our Pastor described him gave us these four points on Wednesday night. Referring to Ephesians chapter 6 about putting on the whole armour of God he noted that putting on the armour comes at the end of the Epistle. Because first the Christian has to have basic training before he is sent out to war. Soldiers go to boot camps when they are first recruited. There they undergo hard and basic training until they learn to obey orders with eyes closed. They are exposed to harsh living conditions, every comfort is taken away while they train over and over and over again for the battle field. When David was a young lad and Goliath was threatening the nation, he was offered the full armour of King Saul for the battle, but he couldn't wear it because it was too heavy for him. However, later on when David had matured into a strong man after God's own heart, Samuel gave him the giant sword of Goliath, and this time it was not heavy for him. The four points or four factors which are included in the basic training are as follows:

Ephesians 4: 17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind.
The pastor called this the Pursuit Factor. As a Christian, you must change direction in life. Don't pursue the vain things of this world. Don't go that way. If the world wants to go right, you go left.
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.
Factor two. The Procrastination Factor.
Postpone things he said, if you want to take a literal explanation of the words "put off". You can deceive your flesh, and decide to put things off for the next day may, and the next day tell your flesh that you will do what it likes but put it off again to the afternoon for example, and so on until you learn to put off the things of the flesh completely away.

24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Factor three. The Pretense Factor I believe this was. Put on even if you fake it. Tell yourself you are going to do something, and you will end up doing it. Do the right thing even if you don't like it.

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil. 28 Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of...

This is the fourth factor, the Persistence Factor. Persist in doing the right things. Notice the links with lying, is anger, stealing, corrupt communication (foul language) etc.
Once you have passed all these factors we read in Chapter 6 the following:

Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Christian: Have you been trained in forsaking the ways of the world, its vanity and deceitful lusts. Boot camp training makes you fit to put on the full armour of God and go out to battle for the Lord and his coming Kingdom.

Posted by Consecrated at 4:43 PM | 0 comments    

May the Lord God help me as I pen this post to try and bring out to you in a very clear fashion the reality of the idolatry that I saw in the land of the Pharoahs during my recent trip to Egypt.

I don't know where to begin in order to describe what I saw. I will retrace my steps and try to describe what I saw and what went on in my mind as I compared all the ruins with the biblical prophecies and God's word in relation to Egypt and the gods of the Egyptians. I am sure I will skip a few things here and there but please bear with me. My trip began in Cairo where we had a business meeting, but on the Saturday that preceded, my colleagues who had been to Egypt for the first time decided they wanted to see the pyramids of Giza. I will try to upload a picture in another post. I have been to the pyramids three times now but everytime I see them I discover something new about them. If you have any idea at all of the geometrical or astronomical design of the pyramid of Giza you will be aware that it was built in the centre of the earth, to align with a certain configuration of the stars, and that the circumference of the pyramid compares to the nth degree to the circumference of the earth itself. The inside of the pyramid is design to reflect an upward path called in the Egyptian book of the dead "the passion of the Christ" (believe it or not). The passion of the christ leads to an uppper chamber called the queen's chamber (made of pink stone) that also leads upward to the King's chamber which is in the uppermost part of the pyramid. At some point in this path, there is a path that leads to a what a called a bottomless pit. Many tourists have falled and died inside this payramid, that is why the authorities have now closed the inside labyrinth of the pyramid, and you are only allowed to go few meters down. Inside the pyramid of Giza, and surprisingly enough, no statues were found, no graven images, just an open sepulchure. Beside the pyramid, the archeologists have recently found dug underground a boat like shaped like the ark of Noah. This was new to me, it has now been raised to surface level and turned into a glass museum. Why am I writing all this description is to bring to you the subject of the giants and the fallen creatures which we read about in Genesis chapter 6. Let me say one thing before I proceed. I offer no apology for my comments herebelow. All you have to do is reserach your Bible, and you will be faced by the most convincing of biblical truths, although I will leave the subject of the pyramids to your imagination.

After the meeting was over, a few colleagues and I flew from Cairo to Aswan (a one-hour domestic flight) where we began our fascinating tours to the temples of the gods dating back to the Greco/Roman era. There we found huge stone temples fashioned in what seemed to me very similar to the tabernacle of God in the wilderness. In every temple we visited was designed with an outer court for the public, an inner court accessible only to priests and royalty, and then of course the inner sanctuary where the statue of their God resided. Isis and Osoris and Horus, as a triad figured prominently wherever we went. I was constantly reminded of the Trinity. Every temple had on the left hand side a birthing house (called Mamisi). The birthing house represented the mother giving birth to the divine child (does that remind you of anything?) A most interesting detail I found was that in the holiest of holies of their temples, their god was always placed in a boat. Now why a boat, I don't know. I could think of the Noah's ark. I could think of the flood. Did they fear the flood was coming, and wanted their god to sail away. Who knows? Remember they also worshipped the nile river as a sources of life.

Then of course the entrance to the temples, especially at Edfu (and Karnak in Luxor), were decorated by huge statues of either eagles, elephants or even baboons. At the top of the entrance to each temple, was the picture of the sun disk with eagles wings on each side and of course the two snakes one on each side of the sun disk. These were to protect the kings/gods whose images or statues were inside. The pillars that were roundabout in the outer court were huge and decorated with either the Lotus or the Papyrus plants symbols of lower and upper Egypt. The statues of the several Ramses were grotesque, huge and very high. I kept thinking to myself as I stared these must be the giants of old (supposing that these were life size statues). Images from the books of Genesis Exodus, Joshua, Judges etc. came back to life as I visited the temples in Edfu (the most complete temple ever found), Comombo, Philae and Elephantine Island. The two obelisks (of course, how could I forget those) at the entrance of each temple stood huge shaped like an arrow pointing upwards in defiance to God. I was reminded of Nimrod. In one temple one obelisk was missing and our tour guide told us it stands today in the centre of the outer courtyard at the Vatican. I don't understand either why there is an obelisk in Washington too. I leave it all to your imagination. Then of course there was the scarabee and the cartouche. The tourist guide explained to us why the scarabee charm is a symbol of good luck to the Egyptians, and why the cartouche. The cartouche is shaped like the egg of the scarab, which itself is a kind of cockroach that comes out of the manure (dung, excuse the expression) in the morning and returns to it at night. So the ancient Egyptians thought these come up with the sun rise and go to bed at sun set, then these are a symbol of life, and they worshipped it. Do you still want to buy a scarabee as a good luck charm? They also sell what is know as the key of life. I hope you all know who the way, the truth and the life is. Just think that human kind has always wanted to have eternal life but they seek for it in all the wrong places, forgetting the true creater and author of life himself. They have rejected the creator and worshipped the creature.

From Aswan we sailed in a cruise ship along the Nile river(several hours) we came to Luxor where we visited the Karnak temple (the biggest temple ever found about 62 acres if I am not mistaken). It is at Karnak that I saw the huge statues of Ramses and the giant men, and the elephants and baboons. In one area at Karnak we came to a huge man made lake which contained the "holy" i.e. stagnant water which the priests used for their purification. (Does that remind you of anything in the Old Testament?) We also visited the Luxor temple there, but the highlight of the trip was the Valley of the Kings. I hope every one of you can make that trip some day because you will be in the middle of a desert land, with huge limestone mountains, and at the mouth of each mountain are several entry ports. You step inside and you find yourself in a huge but beautifully decorated wide alley made of white limestone leading downwards, and all walls, side walls and ceiling you see colorful paintings of all the mythical gods that you can think of. People offering sacrifices to the mytical gods, and kings offering sacrifies to the gods, and then of course the famous judgment scene as each dead person stands before Horus and his heart is weighed in the balances, and should have led a good life then he moves on to purification, but if he has led a bad life, then his is either mutilated, or his heart is plucked out. You feel a combination of feelings. Disgusted yet fascinated to be in the very famous deserts that were once trodden by Moses and Joseph.

At some point, I wanted to leave the land because I had seen enough paganism and idolatly, and I came to grips with God's words about the gods of the Egyptians and his hatred for them. I remember seeing blue painting in the ceilings of the temples representing the stars (you could still see the colors even though faded with time) and how they worshipped the host thereof. A woman wrapped around the ceiling represented the goddess of whatever. There were gods for anything and everything painted on the walls. We even saw mummified crocodiles. The ancient Egyptians worshipped anything they feared and tried to please them in order to avoid their evil. Anything ugly or evil. Three headed snakes were to be feared the most, crocodiles, rats, mice, baboons, eagles, reptiles, eagles. (Think of the ten plagues). Every mythical god had either the sun disk or the moon shape on his head. All this time I kept telling myself, this is what God meant in Jeremiah 43 and in other reference too where he said he will break the images of Bethshemesh (house of the sun) that is in the land of Egypt and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire. Remember I did see some blackened ceilings too because apparently when the early christians were persecuted in Egypt, they ran and hid in these huge temples (some are still standing, one is rather complete) and since they cooked their meals inside them, it is thought that they had caused the black ceilings of some of the temples we saw.

You would not believe the deceit and idolatry that pervaded the land of Egypt in those days. Its greatness and its riches are still manifest, although the present day Egyptians are not the same people. The stories that are told along side every wall of every temple talk about the need for pleasing the gods in order to obtain eternal life. Unfortunately they missed the point big time. And as the Bible says in Romans 1: 25. As a matter of fact Romans chapter 1 verses 19 onwards came brilliantly alive as I toured in the lands of the pharoahs, and when Jeremiah 46:25 says, I will punish the multitude of No, and Pharaoh and Egypt, with their gods, and their kings even Pharaoh and of them that trust in him, I felt sorry for every tourist who unwittingly thought it a privileg to visit the goldsmiths and buy either the "key of life" as a pendant, or even more popular the cartouches with their names engraved inside the egg of a beetle.

I should not forget to mention that we also visited the high dam built by Gamal Abdel Nasser in the late sixties, early seventies. We saw the nubian areas where nubian villages are now flooded because of the high dam project. Some nubians (who speak nubian as well as Arabic) village people who have been relocated tell you the stories of their flooded villages. They recount how once a fertile soil is not bereft of the silt which covered when the Nile flooded. The older folks told us that even the taste of the fruits have changed. The soil is not as rich as it used to be. That was one negative aspect of building the high dam.

One place I would have loved to visit would have been the temple of Abou Simbel. This temple was going to be flooded when the high dam was built but UNESCO intervened, and they chopped up the temple into 15000 pieces and they raised it. Here's a fascinating detail however. Apparently the temple was built to align with the stars in such a way that on the birthday of the king (21 October) when the sun rose, at midday the sun rays would shine right on the face of the god or king. Apparently after UNESCO raised the temple, using all the atronomical calculations as though it was built at the time, they missed by 24 hours. Therefore when the shines on the face the king it misses it by one day and now it shines on his face on two days, 22 October and 22 November of each day, thus missing the date by one day. Does that remind you of a missing day in the Old Testament? Think of Joshua and you might have a clue.

May be on another visit if the Lord permits I would like to also visit Tal El Amarna as well as Abu Simbel temple.

There, I hope I have been able to present you a bit with what it felt like to be in the lands of the pharoahs. In three days we were transported thousands of years back into history. Fascinating and saddening at the same. To me it only made me glorify the Only True and Living God all the more for his grace and mercy which saved a sinner like me from the deceitfulness of worshipping idols which come hidden in the form of charms. Who knows?

Posted by Consecrated at 9:21 AM | 0 comments    

This is in answer to Consecrated's excellent comment in "Back to Montreal".

Yes, how very true. In fact, just today I presented the youth group a sketch of Jesus' descent into hell to declare his triumph and take hell's keys, as well as to Abraham's bosom to "lead captivity captive" Ephesians 4. Some great great truths appeared, which Lord willing I will be writing in an upcoming Bible study.

God bless you all

Posted by Revelation 2:17 at 4:04 PM | 1 comments