1inchrist

It seems to be so natural to be geared up for the holidays by focusing on Jesus Christ’s birth. Maybe you make a point of having special time on the 4 Sunday’s before Christmas we call Advent. Maybe your family looks for opportunities to feed the homeless or donate toys and food to the needy in our community. Many people attend a Christmas Eve service or church Christmas production as a way of celebrating the holiday season. But, what about after December 25^th?

To keep the spirit of Christmas all throughout the year we should set some goals. It would be a wonderful thing to make going to church a priority each week instead of just on Easter and Christmas like many Americans. If this is a new experience for you and your family, make it a goal to go the first Sunday of every month.

We all should continue thinking of those in need throughout the year, because they need food and clothing all year long. Without committing to more than you can handle, maybe choosing to donate to a charity or serving in a community sponsored project every 3 months would be a great start. An easy way to remember would be to coincide your service or giving with traditional holidays. For example, use the ones that are pretty spread out like Christmas, Easter, Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Spending time with family is something we make a priority for at Christmas time. But, let us try to make a point of having family time more than just on the holidays. Giving up one night a week of activities to have a family night. Eat dinner together at the table and spend time discussing the week or other topics of interest. You can alternate through out the month and have a movie night, game night, out to eat night and activity (bowling, putt putt golf, basketball at the park).  Spending time together does take an effort but it is a great way to grow or keep strong those family ties!

Let us keep the spirit of Christmas all year long, and next year could be your best year EVER!

 I have confidence that I am saved and will have eternal life through the Lord Jesus because:Romans 10:9-10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith , Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah saith, Lord, who has believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”Romans 6:23 The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.Mark 16:16 He that believeth and in baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. According to Paul’s writings, as soon as we die a physical death, our spirit goes to be with the Lord if we are saved in Jesus:11 Corinthians 5:6-8 Therefore we are always confident that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: for we walk by faith and not by sight: we are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.I Thessalonians 4: 13-17 But I would not have you ignorant brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as the others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.James confirms the scriptural truth that we have a body and spirit, and that when our spirit leaves our physical body dies.James 2:26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so is faith without works.Jesus, himself, said at the cross, in Luke 23:46 “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. We know his physical body went into the grave, but what about his spirit?Then the scriptures continue with what happened to Jesus after his crucifixion, in Ephesians 4:9-10 Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fulfill all things.We know he was not buried 6 feet in the ground, so where did he go? Jesus spoke to his disciples in Luke 16: 19-31 describing 2 places for those that died: “And it came to pass when the beggar died and was carried away by angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man died also, and was buried, And in hell he lifted up his eyes being in torment and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom…But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things,: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come thence.” In Numbers 16:33 rebellious Israelites were punished “They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them: and they perished from among the congregation.”We can see from scripture that people who have died are not in an unconscious state because in Luke 9:28-31 And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, he took Peter, and John and James and went up into a mountain to pray. And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistening. And behold there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elijah: who appeared in glory and spake of his decease, which he should accomplish in
Jerusalem.The Apostle John, upon seeing the future writes in Revelation 6:9 “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which he held. And they cried with a loud voice saying “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them, that they should rest yet for a little season until their fellow servants also and their brethren that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.  Obviously this is before the Resurrection of the Dead for two reasons: first, because people on earth are still alive, and more servants of the Lord are going to be martyred. Second, the Resurrection of the Dead is not until after all the seals and the 1000 yr reign of Christ on earth then as recorded in Revelation 20:11-15.Scripture refers to two resurrections, one for those that have died in Christ, and those that died whose names were not written in the Book of Life. Revelation 20:5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.After the 1000 yr reign of Christ on this earth there is the Great White Throne Judgment:Revelation 20:13 and the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.There are also 2 deaths mentioned in scripture. The first, being a physical death of the body. The second being a spiritual death, eternal life separated from God in a place called theLake of
Fire.What will happen to us? Those saved will enter in to eternity in the New Jerusalem on earth.   Isa 65:17 For behold I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. But be ye glad and rejoice forever in that which I create, for behold I create
Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. For I will rejoice in
Jerusalem and joy in my people. Rev 21:1-3 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John say the holy city new
Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  All those not saved shall enter into an eternity in the lake of fire where they will be tormented day and night forever.  Matt 13: 41-42The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity. And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 

Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. 

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolators, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. 

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of the laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. Hebrews 6:1-2What I plan on doing for eternity on earth:I know I will be serving Him and will be with Jesus forever with all of those that have put their faith in Him as payment for their sin, and have given their life to obey His Word. I do not “hope” as the Witnesses, for I have confidence that I will be forever alive with Jesus, that where He is so shall I ever be. And yet I sorrow for those that reject Jesus: the Son of God, Emmanuel, the Alpha and the Omega, for they will also exist eternally, under judgment, in theLake of
Fire. 

Jesus could not allow Adam and Eve to remain in the garden because sin had separated them from fellowship with God. He could not allow them to eat of the Tree of Life, and live eternally, separated from Him. So they were banished and the curse of death entered the world, but so did the plan for salvation through Jesus Christ so that we could have the opportunity to be reconciled to God forever. 2 Cor 5:17-19 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away all things are new. And all things are of God who has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given us the ministry of reconciliation. To whit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them… 

There is absolutely no room for other beliefs in Christianity!!! Christ Jesus effectively said just that when He said, John 14:6 I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. That may seem a bit narrow minded to a faithless world that likes to believe all roads lead to Heaven, but they have no concept of what Christ did.

He alone paid for our sin(s) with His life, with His body, and with His blood. He alone has risen from the grave!!! That is what gives Him the right to say I Am the Only way!

None of the other prominent religious leaders of this world did anything to atone for your sin (or their own for that matter) or to secure your place in Heaven. They are all dead and in their graves. You can visit the shrines erected in their honor in which they are entombed. Ironically, that is where the road they have prepared for their followers leads - to the grave.

In contrast, there is great uncertainty as to the actual grave - site of Jesus Christ. In my view, that is a good thing because some would probably worship it rather than the One Who “was” in it. The only certainty regarding the grave of Jesus Christ is that it is Empty!!!! That’s as it should be because faith in Christ does not lead you to the grave, it leads to eternal life.

All the other religions of this world espouse certain practices, principles, rituals, and traditions that may be viewed as honorable to one degree or another. The fact remains however, that none of those religions has any remedy for the human condition. That is an unregenerate sinner, separated from God.

Many adhere to some sort of penitent or punitive rituals that illustrate their fallen condition; while others acknowledge no such thing, presuming themselves to be gods in varying degrees of consciousness. Both views are grievously wrong and diametrically opposed to each other. Now it could well be said, that all of these “roads” lead to the same place but it certainly isn’t heaven. Jesus said only one path leads to Heaven. Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 

Again I say, there is absolutely no room for other beliefs in Christianity. Jesus said it! His life, His sacrificial and atoning death, His resurrection from the grave, and His ascension to the Right Hand of the Father in Heaven - prove it! 

All that was necessary for the Jews and Romans (and all those who were against Christ) to stop Christianity in its tracks was to produce His body. They couldn’t!!! More importantly (in terms of evidence), we see Jesus’ disciples, who were completely distraught and devastated by His brutal and horrific death; all dying a martyr’s death because they would not deny that Jesus Christ had risen from the grave. Keep in mind, these guys never thought it possible. They weren’t expecting it. In fact, they didn’t even believe it when they were told HE was alive by the girls who visited His empty grave.

These men, these martyr’s were forever changed when they saw, touched, and spoke with The Risen Son of God. They were transformed from the fearful faithless to the fearless faithful. They knew Jesus was Alive and they gave their lives as a testimony to that fact.

It has well been said that people may live for a lie (because they can benefit from it), but no man will knowingly die for a lie. If  Jesus had not risen from the grave, His disciples would have all given their lives for a lie. The fact is Jesus IS Alive. His disciples tell us there is no other name by which man must be saved.

Every other religion is essentially man’s futile attempts to reach God by works and one can never know if he or she was “good enough” to go to Heaven. Christianity is the only faith ( Christ didn’t come to start another “religion” ) that acknowledges that we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God and there is nothing we can do (in and of ourselves) good enough or often enough to change that. Christianity is founded on the fact that we are saved by the Grace of God through Faith in the Perfect, Sinless Life, - Sacrificial and Substitutionary Death – and the Glorified Resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christ.

When Christ Jesus was crucified, there were two men crucified with Him. Both of those men were sentenced to die under Roman law for the crimes they had committed. After Christ Jesus cries out from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”, one of those guys realizes that Jesus is The Messiah. That guy then puts his faith in Jesus Christ and is saved from eternal punishment. What hope would there be for that guy in other religion?

No punitive work, no penitent ritual would have helped him on his cross. Crucified murderers and thieves, even by the most lax New Age standards, are not at any recognizable god-like level of consciousness. So what saved this man? Nothing but the Blood of Jesus. Why is this man with Christ in Heaven? Because this condemned sinner put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is The Way, The Truth, and The Life. No man gets to the Father except through Him.

To suggest that following and praying to a person of significant religious stature, who is dead and buried; is equivalent to following and praying to The Risen and Living Son of God is absolutely absurd. To suggest that there is room for “other beliefs” such as these, within Christianity is either an appeasement or a compromise by those who don’t fully understand what Christ did on the cross; or have the courage of their convictions to love someone enough to tell them the truth. Oh, that we would rather risk loosing a friend for the sake of the Gospel, rather than guaranteeing the loss of his soul for our friendship.

I December 21^st at SundownTheme: With God, a small group or even one can defeat the enemy Story nightLight the 1^st Candle, using the middle candle, the Shamash/Servant Candle, a representation of Jesus.A. Re-affirm Jesus celebrated Hannakuh in scripture John Chapter 10:22

B. Called Festival of lights-  Read a Hanakkuh Book- Maccabees victory over the enemy Antiochus Epiphanes, lighting of thetemple
Oil Lamp, rededication of the temple and the miraculous continued lighting when the oil should have ran out. The book of Maccabees can be found online. But needs to be condensed into a readable story for devotions.

            C. Application: We are even more than conquerers in Christ Jesus, and need not fear enemies, Psalm 91. He is the potter and we are the clay.           

 II Joseph and his brothers/Egyptian captivity “What they meant for evil God used for good”

Clothes night

Light 2 Candles, using the middle candle, the Shamash/Servant Candle

A.     Story Book of Joseph and his coat of many colors (& God’s provision over the enemy of starvation and drought)

B.     Discuss the added miracle of being second in command over
Egypt, besides saving the people

C.     Application: When God is taking you through a trial, don’t give up! Because Jer 29:11 – Our lives are their own story and part of God’s “HIS”TORY. 

 III V Gideon- “mighty man of valor”- “God sees us differently than we see ourselves”A.            

  Light 3 Candles, using the middle candle, the Shamash/Servant Candle

B.Craft night- make a Hanakkuh craft

C. Read about Gideon- God dwindled them down to show His mighty power on their behalf and gave them the victory.

D. Application: We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We are seated in Heavenly Places, Our weapons are mighty Ephesians Chapter 6

E. Give an Art gift       

IV Christmas Play and Reading of Luke Chapters 1 and 2

Light 4 Candles, using the middle candle, the Shamash/Servant Candle        

 Movie Night- give gifts and watch The Nativity Story movie   V   Game Night   Light 5 Candles, using the middle candle, the Shamash/Servant CandleA. Play Dreidel game- Explain the purpose of the Dreidel to teach Jewish children their heritage secretly.

 Use the traditional Gelt candy or any type of candy . Victory is sweet!

B. Give gift bags of Candy     

VI  David - “Our trials are conforming us into the image of Christ” Light 6 Candles, using the middle candle, the Shamash/Servant Candle     

A. Story- slew lion, Goliath, preserved from Saul’s army, preserved from Son’s  attempted coup serve@ a homeless mission or visit a nursing home with gifts

B. He was raised up and with each growing test he was being conformed into the man God intended him to become.- King DavidC.     Application: 1 Peter 1:6-9- sufferings

D. Toy Night 

VII JERICHO “Obedience brings victory even if we don’t understands God’s instructions

Music nightLight 7 Candles, using the middle candle, the Shamash/Servant Candle    

  A.   Praise God in Music first

B   Miracle story in Joshua Chapter 2;  the war plan, the walls falling without entering into a battle for the city but it being given to them in their obedience.

C   Application: Follow God’s plan – The Word of God even when it seems contrary to the wisdom of this World. “It is better to obey God than man” (NT verse?)

D. Give gift of Music          VIII Jesus / death, hell, the grave and Satan – “Light 8 Candles, using the middle candle, the Shamash/Servant Candle      A. The ultimate offering- Romans 8:1”      

 B.Application: Scriptures re: our salvation and God’s promises and running the   race set before us.     

C. Go out to Eat  A fun game to play is the Hanakkuh Left Story- if you buy generic presents that could be for anyone in the group. You sit in a circle and each person takes one present. As the story is read the presents are passed from Right to Left when the words “Right and Left” are read in the below story. At the end you open the present you end up with.   This Hannakuh Left/Right Game was sent to me by “CAROL” from my We have done a “right/left” game with all participants standing in a circle. Use the following story or make one up that is pertinent to your group using the words right and left often, each time the word is said the gift is passed that direction.. At the end of the story, you keep the gift in your possession.

Hannakuh was almost here, and Mother RIGHT was finishing the baking of latkes. Father RIGHT, Sue RIGHT, and Billy RIGHT returned from their last-minute celebration errands. “There’s not much LEFT to be done,” said Father RIGHT as he came into the kitchen. “Did you leave the basket of food for the poor?” asked Mother RIGHT. “I LEFT it RIGHT where you told me to,” said Father RIGHT. “I’m glad my shopping is done,” said Billy RIGHT. “I don’t have any money LEFT.” The hall telephone rang, and Susan RIGHT LEFT to answer it. She rushed back and told the family “Aunt Tillie RIGHT, LEFT a package for us RIGHT on Grandma RIGHT’s porch. I’ll go over there RIGHT now and get it.” she said as she LEFT in a rush. Father RIGHT LEFT the kitchen and brought in the Mennorah. By the time Susan RIGHT returned, Mother RIGHT, Father RIGHT, and Billy RIGHT had begun the lighting of the candles. Then, the  entire RIGHT family began to play the dreidel game together for the special geld chocolates.  Finally, they LEFT all the presents arranged on the table until after the feast, hoping they had selected the RIGHT gifts for their family. Now I hope you have the RIGHT present for yourself, because that’s all that’s LEFT of our story….. Except to wish you a Happy Hannakuh….Isn’t that RIGHT?  

The Lord Jesus Christ said: “ as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must The Son of man BE Lifted Up that whosoever BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).

Jesus makes a direct correlation between HIS crucifixion and the bronze serpent. The bronze serpent came about after the people of
Israel confessed their sin of murmuring, and complaining, i.e. speaking against God (Numbers 21:5-7). Aren’t you glad there’s Grace? Well, God showed them grace back then too! Remember, the real snakes came about because of their sin. It was God’s grace to allow Moses to make a brass serpent, so they could be healed and live! Brass symbolizes “judgment” and the serpent symbolizes their “sin”. You see, their sin was killing them until they confessed their sin and God’s grace was poured out on them.

In much the same way, our sins were killing us; so Christ came in the fullness of time and He was lifted up just as the bronze serpent was. The judgment for our sin was placed on Him. He took upon Himself our sins. He took our punishment. Isaiah 53: 5 says: But HE was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon HIM; and with HIS stripes WE ARE HEALED. 

Just as we receive “Salvation” by God’s Grace, through faith in HIM, so also do we receive our healing by God’s Grace, through faith in HIM. HE purchased our healing with HIS stripes. If you’ve seen “The Passion of The Christ” no doubt the brutal whipping HE received remains vivid in your mind. That brutal scourging didn’t happen so HE would die quicker; it didn’t happen to demonstrate the wickedness of mankind; it happened that the scriptures would be fulfilled. God had purposed before the foundation of the world that HE would have HIS flesh torn so that we could be healed.

John 17: 3 & 5And this is eternal life, that they might know Thee, The Only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent. 

So Who Is God and Who Is Jesus Christ ? The Bible clearly states that Jesus Christ and God Are One. Jesus Himself said John 10:30 I and The Father are One. 

This is important because some people believe in Jesus Christ but don’t believe He Is God. That matters greatly, because if He Is not God then His death has no bearing on our lives.Some people think Christ only came to be through being born of Mary. That’s not what the bible teaches.  

John 1:1-3 & 14In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. 

Notice, no mention of being referred to as The Son of God while He was in Heaven. It just says the Word was God.  

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

2 Peter 1: 2-4 Grace and peace be unto you THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND OF JESUS our LORD, according as HIS DIVINE POWER HATH GIVEN UNTO US ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN TO LIFE AND GODLINESS THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM THAT HATH CALLED US TO GLORY AND VIRTUE: WHEREBY ARE GIVEN UNTO US EXCEEDING GREAT AND PRECIOUS PROMISES: THAT BY THESE YE MIGHT BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE 

There is so much just in those 3 verses. First we can see that all the promises of God are “IN HIM” (Christ Jesus). Just as God would never tell you to do something that He hasn’t enabled you to do, neither will He promise you something that is not already completed IN and By The Lord Jesus Christ. Notice 2 Peter tells us we can have grace and peace Through the Knowledge of God and His Christ, and we also have been given all things that pertain to life Through the knowledge of Him.  

Knowledge of God is very important. In John 17:3 Jesus defines Eternal Life as Knowing God and Christ Jesus, Whom He sent! Conversely, God Almighty tells us in Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge… it gets worse from there. He’s not talking about worldly knowledge or wisdom like Bill Gates or Albert Einstien. He is talking about knowing Him, His Word, His Heart. Verse 1 of that same chapter in Hosea says The Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land because THERE IS NO TRUTH, NOR MERCY, NOR KNOWLEDGE OF GOD in the land. We can all see that in this nation today, but God was talking to His people then and the same can be said for His people now.

I would like to draw you attention to the middle part of 2 Peter 1:4 where it says: “THAT BY THESE (God’s promises) YE MIGHT BE PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE”… The reason God Almighty gave us His Promises is so that we could be partakers of His Divine Nature. We are supposed to trust in the Word of GOD despite the circumstances surrounding us. One of the greatest illustrations of being a partaker of God’s Divine nature, by trusting His promise(s) is found in Daniel Chapter 3.

The reason Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were able to tell king Nebuchadnezzar , “If it be so (i.e. if you throw us into the fiery furnace), our God whom we serve IS ABLE to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, AND HE WILL DELIVER US OUT OF THINE HAND O king” is because they had a promise to stand on.

They stepped out in faith and became PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE because about 100 to 200 years earlier the prophet Isaiah wrote (in chapter 43:2) WHEN THOU PASSEST THROUGH THE WATERS, I WILL BE WITH THEE; AND THROUGH THE RIVERS, THEY SHALL NOT OVERFLOW THEE: WHEN THOU WALKEST THROUGH THE FIRE, THOU SHA.LL NOT BE BURNED; NEITHER SHALL THE FLAME KINDLE UPON THEE  

These three Hebrew boys not only preached it, but they walked it out. They went into the fiery furnace believing the promise of God. They had chosen to obey The Lord their God even at the expense of their own lives. Daniel 3:22 tells us that the flames were so hot that the fire slew the men who took our three brothers up to the top of the furnace. Next we see that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell down BOUND into the fiery furnace.

To all outward appearances, it probably didn’t look to good for these three men of faith, BUT GOD!!! To his amazement, king Nebuchadnezzar rose up and said, didn’t we cast three men Bound into the fire? The obvious answer was yes. Yes we did. The king went on to say, “lo I see four men loose, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God”. Alleluia!!!

So the king called the “servants of the Most High God” to come forth. And just as the Word of God says, they walked through the fire and out of the furnace. What we have here is what Christ Jesus would call a testimony. The only thing that burned in that fire besides the poor slobs that brought our boys to furnace is the bands that the world had put on them to bind them. Isaiah also wrote “no weapon formed against you shall prosper”.

Daniel 3:27-31 says: And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king’s counselors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was a hair of theirs singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of the fire had passed on them. Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent His angel, and delivered his servants THAT TRUSTED IN HIM, and have changed the king’s word, AND YIELDED THEIR BODIES (see Romans 12), THAT THEY MIGHT NOT SERVE NOR WORSHIP ANY GOD, EXCEPT THEIR OWN GOD. Therefore I make a decree, that every people, nation, and language, which speak anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: BECAUSE THERE IS NO OTHER GOD THAT CAN DELIVER AFTER THIS SORT”.  

Not only do these boys have an incredible testimony, but their uncompromising and selfless faith impacted the world around them. They loved not their lives unto the death as Revelation 12:11b says. They denied themselves, picked up their cross, crucified their flesh, and followed God. They willingly lost their lives for The Lord Jehovah and as Christ said in Matthew 16:25 “they found it (life)”.

Day 3 The Word walked among man before the Virgin Birth

Read Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

After Adam and Eve sinned, we know that they hid themselves. Who was it that was walking in the Garden of Eden?

Let us take a look at God. He is the Father, The Word and the Holy Ghost.

Jesus said that: John 6:46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

The book of Acts describes the coming of the Holy Spirit this way:

 Acts 2: 2-4 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

John the Baptist describes the presence of the Holy Spirit in this way:

John 1:33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

Jesus is the only one of the Godhead that has taken on the flesh of man. So who was it that was walking in the Garden of Eden to talk with Adam and Eve?

What a wondrous thing to have the LORD God Almighty talking to you face to face!

Abraham had that experience. Read the passage:

Genesis 18: 20-23 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know. And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward
Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD. And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

It was amazing enough that Abraham stood yet before the LORD. But, even greater than that, he had a conversation with the LORD as one would with a friend.

Read Genesis 18: 23-33

And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that [are] therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

And the LORD said, If I find in
Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes. And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which [am but] dust and ashes: Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for [lack of] five?

And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy [it]. And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do [it] for forty’s sake.

And he said [unto him], Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do [it], if I find thirty there. And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy [it] for twenty’s sake.

And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there.

And he said, I will not destroy [it] for ten’s sake. And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

The LORD God explained beforehand why he was going to speak with Abraham and this is what he said:

Read Genesis 18: 17-19  And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

We have learned that the LORD God took the time to talk to a man that loved him and would bring up his family to follow the LORD.

Let us strive to bring up our families in the nurture and admonition of the LORD!

Activity: Have your child trace their footprints on a piece of paper, cut them out and color them to remind themselves that God walked with man, before he came as a baby born to a virgin.

I do not believe Christians “as a whole” have left the teachings of Christ, because God always has a faithful remnant. Unfortunately, many Christians, churches, and denominations have abandoned the teachings of Jesus Christ. We have departed from The Living God in many aspects of life, ranging from our relationships to worrying about the foods we eat.

Many Christians give more heed to the words and ways of this world than they do to the Word(s) and Way of Jesus Christ. Let’s begin with the more subtle (some might say humorous) departures from our faith. Many Christians are tossed to and fro, seeking the perfect nutritional diet and balance, for health and long life. They bounce from one plan to the next, or from eating one certain food to another based on fear from news reports or studies. Ultimately, these reports and studies will contradict one another and it is difficult to know the Truth.

That’s because the Truth is not found in news reports or studies. The Truth is only found in The Word of God. Jesus Christ said it’s Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Matthew 15:11The Apostle Paul affirms this in Romans 14:14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him [it is] unclean.  

While prophesying of people departing from the faith in the last days, Paul warns us about those who will be  forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth 1Tim 4:3

While we can see those doctrines in a certain denomination today, my concern is how individual Christians will refuse to eat certain foods for fear or tradition.

Look at what Paul goes on to tell us under the inspiration of The Holy Spirit. 1 Tim 4:4-5 For every creature of God [is] good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

That’s why we say “grace” before each meal!!! God sanctifies it!!! For the Christian, you can’t buy or grow food any healthier than that! We dare not call unclean (or unhealthy) what God has cleaned.

It may seem a small matter to us today, but Paul further instructed Timothy; 1 Tim 4:6  If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

Paul encourages Timothy to remind Christians of these things, and offers strong commendations for following through. Today, those words are considered foolishness by scores of health conscious Christians. It amazes me that we can profess to believe in a Risen Savior, Who said if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them Mark 16:18, yet hold fast to the belief that eating to many cheeseburgers will kill us.

Christians have also deferred to the world’s message of exercise and fitness for longevity as opposed to the exercise that God would have us strengthened in. Continuing in the same passage, Paul writes: 1 Tim 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather  unto godliness. 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. 

Paul tells us there is little profit in bodily exercise. Still, many Christians strive to strengthen the flesh in our pursuit of health and long life. Paul was beaten, whipped, shipwrecked, snake-bit, stoned and left for dead. He lived through and endured more physical punishment than the strongest, most physically fit among us could ever imagine to bear. He was able to do this by Grace of God and exercising himself unto godliness. It is apparent, by his own admission,  that he wasn’t Mr. Olympiad!

2 Corinthians 10:10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and [his] speech contemptible.

As far as hopes of living long through diet or exercise, we shouldn’t worry about it! The Just Shall Live By Faith! That which is begun in The Spirit can not be made perfect by the flesh. Luke 12:22 -23 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body [is more] than raiment.

We have to trust God at His Word for long life! Psalm 91:16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Venturing into areas of greater significance, many Christians have left the teachings of Christ when it comes to Forgiveness, Divorce, and Re-Marriage. It is no secret that the divorce rate among Christians mirrors that of the secular world. This should not be.

Without getting into a debate about the proverbial “exception clause”, virtually every time Jesus Christ spoke on divorce, He went on to say that marrying another is adultery. See Matt 5:32, 19:9, Mark 10:11, and Luke 16:18.

The reason couples divorce is ultimately because they refuse to forgive each other. We are repeatedly commanded from scripture to forgive each other. In fact, while teaching us to pray, Jesus said: For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

Ephesians 5:25-27 tells -Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 

It is one thing to be willing to die for your bride by defending her from a villain or intruder. That is an honorable death, a noble death, and a physical death. The difficult and more likely scenario is that Christ Jesus calls husbands to die daily (if necessary) – to themselves when their bride hurts them, disappoints them, or betrays them. He commands us to forgive them, cleanse them, and love them. That is exactly what He does for us.

Unfortunately, many Christian men choose to do the same thing the world does in those circumstances. They refuse to forgive and they refuse to reconcile. Instead, they choose to condemn their bride, and pursue divorce. The results are the same as we see in the secular world; another victory in hell and another broken family.

Similarly, the Bible tells Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Ephesians 5:22-23. 

I’m not even sure you can say “wives submit” in church anymore! Suffice it to say, the following verse; Therefore, as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing - has been abandoned by many Christian women.

There are so many ways in which Christians have left the teachings of Christ for the words and ways of the secular world. Time fails me to speak in detail of how Christians have come to view children as a “burden” rather than a blessing as the Bible says. Most will readily admit they have no greater joy than their children, and with the next breath vow to do whatever is necessary to keep from having another!

These are just some of the verses regarding when life begins. Take a look.

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew theePsalm 139:13-14 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.Psalm 139:16Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 

Many Christians may not realize it, but almost every form of birth control is abortive. That is to say, conception occurs and life begins before the birth control means disrupts and destroys the creative process. My bride and I found this out (through a Christian Pregnancy Resource Center Web-Site) to late. Many Christians we have talked to about this do not want to know, and they certainly do not want to change.

I don’t say any of this to condemn the church but rather to illustrate a few areas of our lives that we should seriously reconsider. If the Holy Spirit convicts your heart on any of this, remember 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The idea that we can live like the world, act like the world, and think like the world – while talkin’ about lovin’ Jesus is completely unfounded Biblically. I think Paul said it best in Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

To do anything less, is to willfully abandon the teachings of Jesus Christ