Month: January 2013

  • DEVOTIONAL LANCASTER BAPTIST CHURCH

     

     

     
     

    God Is in Control

    By Paul Chappell
     
     
     
      Monday, Jan 21, 2013

    "The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will."

    Proverbs 21:1

    Cyrus was a heathen king, the ruler of the Medes and Persians, who as far as we know was not a believer in the true God. Yet years before he was born, Isaiah spoke of him by name and prophesied that God would use him to restore the people of Israel to their home and help them rebuild the Temple, which then had not yet been destroyed. “ That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid” (Isaiah 44:28).

    This wonderful story from the Word of God emphasizes for us the truth that God is in control of our world. Nothing ever takes Him by surprise or causes Him to change His plans. As the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote, “At first laying down as a fact fundamental, that nothing with God can be accidental.” If we understand that God is in control, then there is no reason for us to fear, regardless of how bad our circumstances may appear. Even death for a Christian is not a tragedy but merely the entrance to something far better and more wonderful.

    This truth also gives us confidence in our praying. The God to whom we present our petitions has the power to respond, shaping events and moving the hearts of people to help us far beyond our power to influence or persuade. We are not alone as we face the challenges of this world. It is a tragedy when God’s children live like orphans rather than as children of the King. We have been given His invitation to “come boldly unto the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16), and we should do so, praying to God and believing that He will hear and answer.

    Today’s Proverbs Precept: 
    When we properly understand the sovereignty of God, we have confidence in God to control the future and to answer our prayers.

    Old Testament Reading
    Exodus 1

    CHAPTER 1

    1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. 6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. 7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

    8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. 9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: 10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. 11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. 13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: 14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

    15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: 16 And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. 18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? 19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. 20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. 21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses. 22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

     

    CHAPTER 2

    1 And there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi. 2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son: and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months. 3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink. 4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him.

    5 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side; and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. 6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children. 7 Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee? 8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother. 9 And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages. And the woman took the child, and nursed it. 10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses: and she said, Because I drew him out of the water.

    11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. 13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow? 14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known. 15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

    16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. 17 And the shepherds came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. 18 And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to day? 19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. 20 And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread. 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man: and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter. 22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.

    23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage. 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.

     

    CHAPTER 3

    1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. 2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. 6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

    7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; 8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt.

    11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? 12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. 13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.

    16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: 17 And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey. 18 And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God. 19 And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go, no, not by a mighty hand. 20 And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof: and after that he will let you go. 21 And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty: 22 But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians.

    New Testament Reading
    Matthew 14:1

    1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, 2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. 3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. 4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. 5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. 6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. 7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. 8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. 9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. 10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. 11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

    13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. 14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. 15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. 17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 18 He said, Bring them hither to me. 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

    Proverb of the Day
    Proverbs 21

    1 The king's heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will. 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts. 3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. 4 An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin. 5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want. 6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. 7 The robbery of the wicked shall destroy them; because they refuse to do judgment. 8 The way of man is froward and strange: but as for the pure, his work is right. 9 It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a brawling woman in a wide house. 10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: his neighbour findeth no favour in his eyes. 11 When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. 12 The righteous man wisely considereth the house of the wicked: but God overthroweth the wicked for their wickedness. 13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard. 14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger: and a reward in the bosom strong wrath. 15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity. 16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead. 17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. 18 The wicked shall be a ransom for the righteous, and the transgressor for the upright. 19 It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and an angry woman. 20 There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up. 21 He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour. 22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, and casteth down the strength of the confidence thereof. 23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. 24 Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. 25 The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. 26 He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind? 28 A false witness shall perish: but the man that heareth speaketh constantly. 29 A wicked man hardeneth his face: but as for the upright, he directeth his way. 30 There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD. 31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

    		  
           
     
       
     

     

  • MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES 1/22/13

    There was a king of Yvetot, Of whom renown hath little said, Who let all thoughts of glory go, And dawdled halp his days in bed.)

    (Il etait un roi d'Yvetot, Peu connu dans l'hisrtoire; Se levant tardm, se couchant tot, Dormant fort bien sans gloire.) Beranger, Le roi d'Yvetot (Thackeray Trans). Bro. Doc

  • T&M 1/22/13 A TIME TO FORCEFULLY SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE

    And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire...Jude 1:23

    What does the Scripture say about how we should respond to believers who continue to practice sin? If you are personally aware of individuals like this, what steps or action should you take to rescue him or her?

    What attitude does Yahvah expect you to have regarding thee people's sin?

    What kind of action does Yahvah expect you to take to see them delivered?

    What approach should you take regarding the sin they are living in?

    What is the proper outlook for you to have concerning their situation?

    The answer to these questions is found in Jude 23. In this verse, Judge compellingly tells us "And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire..."

    First of all, Judge tells us "save (them) with fear." This word "fear" is the Greek word phobos. It suggests a fear or a strong dose of respect for something that is life threatening, dangerous, or alarming. Because Judge uses this key Greek word, it tells us what kind of attitude we should have regarding sin. sin is dangerous, alarming, and even life threatening to a person's spiritual life. therefore, sin must not be tolerated, nor should the effects of sin be watered down. IN short, we should have no stomach for sin.

    Next Jude 23 tells us what action we much take when we find a fellow believer who is getting caught up in sin. this verse tells us that we must act fact to "pull them out of the fire." the word "pull" comes from the Greek word harpadzo. This is An extremely strong and aggressive word that presents the picture of snatching someone out of a dangerous situation. In fact, it would be better translated to seize.

    The word harpadzo is the very word used in col 1:13 when Paul writes, "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son." That word "delivered" is also from the Greek word harpadzo.

    In Col 1:13, this word portrays the moment when Yahvahosha Messiah broke Satan's power over our lives and snatched us out of the kingdom of darkness. One Greek expositor says the word harpadzo in Col 1:13 carries this idea: "He grabbed us by the back of our necks and snatched us out of danger, just in the nick of time..." This Greek word harpadzo contains passion, fervency, urgency, and action.

    Because these words are used in Jude 23, it could be translated: "Because of the alarming dangerous state that some believers are in, I urge you to take immediate and fast-acting measures to see them delivered And rescued. And if they don't quickly respond, don't stop! You need to keep up your sense of urgency until you are convinced that they are rescued and snatched out of the fires of destruction. If you must go all the way to grab them by the back of their neck and jerk them out of those flames..."

    Jude uses the word harpadzo to tell you that sometimes people are so deceived about what they're doing, they don't want to change. Even if you tell them that they are headed for trouble, they may not believe it. In these cases, your sweet words and tender pleading with them may not work. This means you may have to get forceful in the way you tell these people the truth. Your words must reach out and seize their hearts.

    Think back for a minute to Lot, the nephew of Avraham. Lot got so caught up in the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah that when the angels told him the two cities were about to be destroyed, he wanted to stay anyway! The angels had to taker him by the hand and make him leave! they had to forcibly remove him from that situation otherwise, he would have been destroyed. The angels literally dragged Lot out of the city against his will (Ge 19:16)

    Likewise, we must do everything within our power to snatch people from spiritually dangerous predicaments. Although they may not feel the heat of the fire at the moment or realize the dangerous nature of their situation. We must also go to them and all we can to "pull them out of the fires" of destruction they're about to release into their lives.

    If you know someone who is drifting away from his relationship with Yahvah, pray for a door to pen that will allow you to speak the truth in love and pull him out of impending destruction. Just think about it--if you were the one about to make a major spiritual error, wouldn't you want your true friends to speak the truth in love to you? So believe Yahvah for an open door. He'll show you how and when to speak the truth.

    PRAYER: YAHVAH, I ASK YOU TO GIVE ME YOUR HEART FOR BROTHERS AND SISTER WHO ARE LIVING IN SIN. FORGIVE ME FOR THE TIMES I HAVE BEEN INSENSITIVE TO THE DANGEROUS NATURE OF SIN. HELP ME TO BE PASSIONATE AND FERVENT IN PRAYER FOR THEM AND TO KEEP PRAYING FOR THEM UNTIL THEIR DELIVERANCE IS COMPLETE AND THEY ARE FULLY RESTORED. HELP ME CONSIDER THE WAY I WOULD WANT OTHERS TO PRAY FOR ME IF I WERE IN THE SAME SITUATION. I PRAY THIS IN YAHVAHOSHA'S NAME!

    MY CONFESSION TODAY

    I confess that I will do everything within my power to snatch people from spiritually dangerous predicaments. Although they may not feel the heat of the fire at the moment or realize the seriousness of their spiritual condition. I will obey the Word of Yahvah and speak truthfully to them in order to seize their hearts and set them free. I believe that Yahvah will open a door and show me how and when I am to speak the truth. I declare this by faith in Yahvahosha's name!

    QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

    1.Is there anyone in your life right now who comes to mind as someone who is in danger of being consumed in the "fire" of sin?

    2.Realizing the seriousness of sin and deception, how would you want someone to confront you if you were in that persons situation?

    3.In what ways could Yahvah use you to bring the truth in love to this person in order to set them free? Bro. Doc

  • JOKES

    What $2 Can Buy

    His pediatrician asked six-year-old Johnny, who watched a good many TV, adds, just to make conversation.

    Johnny, if you found a couple of dollars and had to spend them, what would you buy?"

    "A box of Tampax," he replied without hesitation.

    "Tampax?" said the doctor. "What would you do with that?"

    "Well," said Johnny, "I do not know exactly, but it's sure worth two dollars. With tampax, it says on TV, you can go swimming, go horseback riding, and also go skating, any time you want to."

     

    Unscheduled Outage

    It's thunderstorm season and when the power goes out at one branch office, the uninterruptible power supplies kick in, everything gracefully shuts down, and the technician waits for power to return. And waits. And waits.

    "Late evening sees the power restored, and we go about bringing the network back to life," says the tech.

    Next morning, the phone rings. It's a very irate corporate administrator wanting to know why we had an unscheduled outage the day before. The tech calmly explain about the storm, which he had no control over.

    The Administrator's response? "Next time, put it on the schedule before you have an unexpected outage!"

     

    Political Correctness

    I think the political correctness is getting ridiculous. Today I overheard a little boy say he was going to go play a game of Cattle Management Specialists and Native Americans.

    Did You Ever Wonder?

    - If people from Poland are called Poles, why aren't people from Holland called Holes?

    - Why do we say something is out of whack? What's a whack?

    - If a pig loses its voice, is it disgruntled?

    - If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

    - When someone asks you, A penny for your thoughts, and you put your two cents in, what happens to the other penny? Or do you get change?

    - Why is the man (or woman) who invests all your money called a broker?

    - Why do croutons come in airtight packages? It's just stale bread to begin with.

    - Why is a person who plays the piano called a pianist but a person drives a race car not called a racist?

    - Why are a wise man and a wise guy opposites?

    - Why do overlook and oversee mean opposite things?

    - Why isn't 11 pronounced onety one?

    - If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, doesn'tit follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked, and dry cleaners depressed?

     
     

  • DEVOTIONAL LANCASTER BAPTIST CHURCH

     


     
     

    The Bondage of Alcohol

    By Paul Chappell
     
     
     
      Sunday, Jan 20, 2013

    "Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise."

    Proverbs 20:1

    Have you heard the story of Waylon Prendergast? The man from Tampa, Florida, had been out drinking when he decided to rob a house on his way home. The drunken man forced his way into the house, filled a suitcase he found there with the valuables he discovered, and made his way to the living room. In his stupor he decided it would be a good idea to set a fire to cover his tracks, so he ignited a blaze before making his way out the back door. Thinking he was home free, he continued on to his house—only to find three fire trucks parked outside fighting the blaze he had set to cover his theft from his own home.

    According to a study published in The Washington Post a few years ago, almost one third of adults in America admit they either have now or have had in the past a problem with drinking. The Bible describes alcoholic drinks as being deceitful for a reason. None of those people who now realize they have a problem with it intended to become alcoholics or dependent on their next drink to make it through the day. But that is where the end of the path they set out on leads.

    It has become popular in some Christian circles today to downplay the warnings in Scripture regarding alcoholic beverages in the name of Christian liberty and grace. Yet God’s grace never leads to bondage. Those who think they are in control of their drinking often take a long time to realize the awful truth. By the time they understand the strength of the chains of addiction that hold them, they are heavily bound. Listening to the voice of wisdom and the warnings from the Word of God guards us from the shame and distress that comes from drinking.

    Today’s Proverbs Precept: 
    Just as you would not trust a raging human tempter, refuse to trust the deceitful lures of alcohol.

    Old Testament Reading
    Genesis 49

    CHAPTER 49

    1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. 2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father. 3 Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: 4 Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father's bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

    5 Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. 6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. 7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

    8 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. 9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. 11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: 12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.

    13 Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. 14 Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: 15 And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute. 16 Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. 17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder in the path, that biteth the horse heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. 18 I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD. 19 Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. 20 Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties. 21 Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.

    22 Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: 23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him: 24 But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:) 25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb: 26 The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren. 27 Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.

    28 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them. 29 And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, 30 In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah. 32 The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth. 33 And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.

     

    CHAPTER 50

    1 And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days. 4 And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 5 My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again. 6 And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.

    7 And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company. 10 And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days. 11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan. 12 And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them: 13 For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre. 14 And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.

    15 And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. 16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, 17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. 18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. 19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

    22 And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees. 24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. 26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

    New Testament Reading
    Matthew 13:31

    31 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: 32 Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof. 33 Another parable spake he unto them; The kingdom of heaven is like unto leaven, which a woman took, and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. 34 All these things spake Jesus unto the multitude in parables; and without a parable spake he not unto them: 35 That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world. 36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field. 37 He answered and said unto them, He that soweth the good seed is the Son of man; 38 The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; 39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. 40 As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. 41 The 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; 42 And shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

    44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

    53 And it came to pass, that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed thence. 54 And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 56 And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? 57 And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, save in his own country, and in his own house. 58 And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

    Proverb of the Day
    Proverbs 20

    1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. 2 The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion: whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul. 3 It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. 4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing. 5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. 6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find? 7 The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him. 8 A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all evil with his eyes. 9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? 10 Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD. 11 Even a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. 12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, the LORD hath made even both of them. 13 Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. 14 It is naught, it is naught, saith the buyer: but when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. 15 There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger: and take a pledge of him for a strange woman. 17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. 18 Every purpose is established by counsel: and with good advice make war. 19 He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. 20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in obscure darkness. 21 An inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning; but the end thereof shall not be blessed. 22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee. 23 Divers weights are an abomination unto the LORD; and a false balance is not good. 24 Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way? 25 It is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is holy, and after vows to make enquiry. 26 A wise king scattereth the wicked, and bringeth the wheel over them. 27 The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. 28 Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy. 29 The glory of young men is their strength: and the beauty of old men is the gray head. 30 The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil: so do stripes the inward parts of the belly.

    		  
           
     
       
     

  • MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES 1/21/13

    That the king can do no wrong is a necessary and fundamental principle ofx the English constitution. Blackstone, Commentaries, III Bro. Doc

  • T&M 1/21/13 A SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION FOR YOU

    Then Yahvah of our Saviour Yahvahosha Messiah, the Father of majesty, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. Eph 1:17

    Would you like to receive guidance from the Holy Ghost to help you make some important decisions today? If so, Paul's prayer to the Ephesian Assembly in Eph 1:17 is an important Scripture for you to apply to your own life.

    The word "wisdom" in this verse is from the Greek word sophias. It is an old Greek word that was used to describe insight or wisdom not natually attained. In other words, this ins not natural human wisdom--this is special insight.

    The word "revelation" is from the word apokalupsis. It refers to something that has been veiled or hidden for a long time and then suddenly, almost instantaneously, becomes lear and visible to the mind or eye. It is like pulling the curtains out of the way so you can see what has always been just outside your window. The scene was always there for you to enjoy, but the curtains blocked your ability to see the real picture. But the curtains are drawn apart, you can suddenly see what has been hidden from your view. The moment you see beyond the curtain from the first time and observe what has been there all along but not evident to you--that is what the Scripture calls a "revelation."

    Now apply the meaning of this word to the realm of spiritual truths. The truths we now grasp and enjoy were always there in the realm of the Spirit, but they were veiled--hidden to us. It wasn't the time for these truths to be revealed yet, so they remained obscured from our sight, even though they were always there. But once the right time came and the Holy Ghost removed the veil that obstructed our view, our minds instantly saw and understood. When this occurred, you and I had a obstructed view, our minds instantly saw and understood. When this occurred, you and I had a revelation!

    Can you remember times in your past when you suddenly saw something in the Scripture you had never seen before? The truth had been there all along, but it had been hidden to your eyes. then suddenly one day, it was as if someone pulled the covers off that verse, and it literally jumped off the pages in front of you. You saw it! You understood it! You had a revelation!

    It is a fact that truths remain hidden until Yahvah chooses to reveal them to us. This is why Paul prayed for Yahvah "to give" the Ephesian Assembly a spirit of wisdom and revelation. The phrase "to give" is the Greek word didomi, which means to hand something over completely to someone else. It could also be translated to impart.

    Because the Ephesian Assembly needed wisdom beyond their own human understanding, Paul asked Yahvah to give them what they needed: special insight that is not naturally attained. then Paul clarified what he meant by adding the word "revelation." One expositor has said the verse could be better translated to "give unto you a spirit of wisdom, even revelation!"

    Taking all this into consideration, Eph 1:17 could be translated: "That Yahvah of our Saviour Yahvahosha Messiah, the Father of majesty, may give you special insight--I'm talking about wisdom that is not naturally attained. this is the divine moment when the curtains are drawn back, and you are supernaturally enabled to see what you could never see by yourself..."

    Yahvah had all the answers the Ephesian believers needed. By themselves, they would never have been smart enough to figure it all out. So Paul besought Yahvah to impart to them the wisdom they needed. then Paul clarified that this kind of wisdom would only come to them by revelation--which only Yahvah can give.

    If you need direction and guidance today, stop right now and pray Paul's prayer in Eph 1:17 for your own life. Ask Yahvah to give you "a spirit of wisdom and revelation." Yahvah has all the answers you need, and they're not as far from you as you may think. In one moment, He can remove the veil of ignorance and help you see clearly the things you need to understand. All you have to do is ASK!

    PRAYER: YAHVAH, I ASK YOU TO GIVE ME THE INSIGHT AND WISDOM I NEED FOR THIS MOMENT IN MY LIFE. THERE IS SO MUCH I NEED TO KNOW, BUT I AM UNABLE TO FIGURE IT ALL OUT BY MYSELF. TODAY I ASK THAT THE HOLY GHOST WOULD TAKE AWAY THE VEIL THAT HAS OBSCURED MY VIEW. I ASK THAT MY EYES BE OPENED TO SEE EXACTLY WHAT I NEED TO KNOW. I ASK YOU TO GIVE ME A REAL REVELATION ABOUT MY LIFE, MY SITUATION, AND THE TRUTH I NEED TO KNOW RIGHT NOW. I PRAY THIS IN YAHVAHOSHA'S NAME!

    MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

    I boldly declare that Yahvah gives me "a spirit of wisdom and revelation" regarding the truth I need in my life right now. Yahvah has all the answers I need--answers I will not find with my own natural reasoning. At the right moment, the Holy Spirit will remove the veil of ignorance that has blinded my view and help me see clearly the things I need to understand. I declare this by faith in Yahvahosha's Name!

    QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

    1.Can you rfemember a time in your life when a light bulb went off in your spirit and you saw a new revelation from Yahvah that you'd never seen before?

    2.What difficult issues in your life have you been trying to work out in your own strength? Write them down.

    3.Are you ready to surrender those issues to Yahvah and ask Him to reveal to you the answers you need? Bro. Doc

  • JOKES

    Some Race Horses Were Talking

    Some race horses staying in a stable. One of them starts to boast about his track record. "In the last 15 races, I've won 8 of them!"

    Another horse breaks in, "Well in the last 27 races, I've won 19!!"

    "Oh that's good, but in the last 36 races, I've won 28!", says another, flicking his tail.

    At this point, they notice that a greyhound dog has been sitting there listening. "I don't mean to boast," says the greyhound, "but in my last 90 races, I've won 88 of them!"

    The horses are clearly amazed. "Wow!" says one, after a hushed silence. "A talking dog."

    Joining The Army

    As the family gathered for a big dinner together, the youngest son announced that he had just signed up at an army recruiter's office.

    There were audible gasps around the table, then some laughter, as his older brothers shared their disbelief that he could handle this new situation. "Oh, come on, quit joking," snickered one. "You didn't really do that, did you?"

    "You would never get through basic training," scoffed another.

    The new recruit looked to his mother for help, but she was just gazing at him. When she finally spoke, she simply asked, "Do you really plan to make your own bed every morning?"

    A Penthouse in Heaven

    The Pope dies and goes to heaven. When he gets there, Saint Peter shows him to his new quarters which turn out to be a tiny one bedroom apartment.

    The Pope is horrified and wants to know why he doesn't have the penthouse apartment, which is huge.

    Saint Peter informs him that the resident of the penthouse is a lawyer.

    "A lawyer," says the Pope. "But I'm the Pope, surely I'm more important."

    "With respect Sir," says Saint Peter, "We have lots of Pope's up here, but we only have ONE lawyer!"

    My Mother Taught Me

    1. My Mother taught me about ANTICIPATION... "Just wait until your father gets home."

    2. My Mother taught me about RECEIVING.... "You are going to get it when we get home!"

    3. My Mother taught me to MEET A CHALLENGE... "What were you thinking? Answer me when I talk to you! Don't talk back to me!"

    4. My Mother taught me LOGIC... "If you fall out off that swing and break your neck, your not going to the store with me."

    5. My Mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE... "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that way."

    6. My Mother taught me to THINK AHEAD... "If you don't pass your spelling test, you'll never get a good job."

    7. My Mother taught me ESP... "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you're cold?"

    8. My Mother taught me HUMOR... "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

    9. My Mother taught me how to BECOME AN ADULT... "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

    10.My Mother taught me about SEX.... "How do you think you got here?"

    11.My Mother taught me about GENETICS... "You're just like your father."

    12.My Mother taught me about my ROOTS... "Do you think you were born in a barn?"

    13.My Mother taught me about WISDOM OF AGE... "When you get to be my age, you will understand."

    14.And my all time favorite... JUSTICE... "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you....Then you'll see what it's like."

  • SERMON PREACHED 1/19/13 "TWO WITNESSES OR ONE WITNESS

    TWO WITNESSES OR ONE WITNESS

    Thinking outside the box, let us ask the question: Is there any possibility that these 2 Witnesses might be angels and NOT men? To then state the obvious: If this were true, then the 2 Witnesses would not come from any of the Modern Assemblies or Religions, therefore none of these leaders are the 2 Witnesses. Taking into consideration the track records of these leaders of the Modern Assemblies or Religions, and the fact that these Witnesses are prophets who MUST be beyond reproach throughout Planet Earth – and considering the enormity of the job they will be doing - my premise that these Witnesses will be angels seems all the more plausible, and definitely well worth your time in investigating further. It is clear from Scripture that The Eternal work predominantly in 2’s when They send individuals out to do whatever They want accomplished. Eternal’s wisdom in this regard has been verbalized for us in

     Ecclesiastes 4:9 “Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labor.” Ecclesiastes 4:10 “For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he does not have another to help him.”

    Ecclesiastes 4:11 “Again, if two lie together, then they have warmth; but how can one be warm alone?” Ecclesiastes 4:12  “And if one overthrows him, two shall withstand him;…”  Here is some further food for thought in this regard: (1). There is one Almighty  (Hebrew = Yahvah), but Yahvah consists of 1 Almighty, namely Yahvah the Father. This truth is best described in John 1:1-2;  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with Yahvah, and the Word was Yahvah.  He was in the beginning with Yahvah.

    (2). In the created spirit world, there are 2 Chief Angels called Archangels whose wings cover the throne, as depicted by the Ark of the Covenant.

    2 Chronicles 5:8 “For the cherubs spread out their wings over the ark, and the cherubs covered the ark and its staves above.”

    Satan was one of them, before he was deposed and cast down to Earth.

    Ezekiel 28:14 “You were the anointed cherub that covers, and I had put you in the righteous height of the Eternal where you were; you have walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire.”

    He was replaced (by Gabriel) so that there would once again be 2 Archangels to cover as 2 Chronicles 5:8 indicates (Michael & Gabriel).

    (3). YAHVAH Eternal creates the human family, with once again 2 individuals; a man and a woman -who must become ONE

    Genesis 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

    Like the Eternal ONE Yahvah, but consists of 1 Individual Yahvah , not two, not three, but one.         (4). Throughout Yahvah’s workings with Ancient Israel (Hebrew Scripture), we find the presence of 2 individuals ruling the House of Israel and the House of Judah, namely a King (the political figure representing the State), and a High Priest (the religious figure representing the Assembly).

    Whenever a specific King is mentioned, somewhere during his rule the High Priest is also most likely to be mentioned. These 2 positions (Church & State) are originally clearly depicted by Moshe and Aharon.

    Later these 2 positions/roles are embodied/represented in Scripture by Moshe and Eliyah. (because the Aaronic priesthood failed, but the prophets did not).

    (5). The Hebrew Scriptures are concluded with Malachi 4 making clear reference to these 2 prominent figures, namely Moshe as the political figure (therefore the Law is mentioned), and Eliyah (the religious figure). These references in Malachi 4 to Moshe and Eliyah are also prophetic, and point towards a future Mohse and Eliyah, and the Israelite readers of the Hebrew Scriptures are told to remember these 2 Individuals, or to be more correct, remember what Moshe and Eliyah represent ( Assembly & State). Malachi 4:4-6  “Remember the Law of Moshe My servant, which I commanded to him in Horeb for all Israel, the statutes and judgments.  Behold, I am sending you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Eternal.  And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the Earth with a curse.”

    (6). These 2 (Eliyah and Moshe) = (Assembly & State), are shown with the Messiah to 3 of the apostles in a vision as representing the kingdom of Yahvah in Matthew 17.

    Matthew 16:28  ”Verily I say to you, There are some standing here who shall not taste of death until they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.” 

    Matthew 17:1-3  “And after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them upinto a high mountain apart. And He was transfigured before them. And His face shone as the sun, and His clothing was white as the light.  And behold, there appeared to them Moshe and Eliyah talking with Him.

    (7). Messiah also sent his 70 Disciples out 2 by 2. Luke 10:1 And after these things the Saviour appointed seventy others, And He sent them two and two before His face into every city and place where He was about to come.

    (8). And finally we have 2 Witnesses at The End just before the Return of the Messiah.

    In Summary:

    1. We have 2 prominent figures at the founding of the physical nation of Israel at Sinai. (Moshe and Aharon) (representing government and religion).

    2. We again have 2 prominent figures mentioned at the end of the Scriptures to physical Israel. (Moshe and Eliyah) (representing government and religion).

    3. We again have these 2 prominent figures with the Messiah mentioned as representing the kingdom of Yahvah in Matthew 17 (Moshe & Eliyah) (representing government and religion).

    4. We again have 2 prominent figures mentioned at the end of the Hebrew Scriptures just prior to the Return of the Messiah to set up His and Yahvah’s Kingdom. These figures (the 2 Witnesses) are therefore also fulfilling the Moshe and Elijah roles (representing government and religion).                  5. The Messiah returns as “King of kings and “SOVEREIGN of sovereigns.” This once again shows us the combination of Government and Religion (Religion & State) that MUST go hand and hand, as also explained go hand in hand, as also explained by the following statement concerning the Governmental & Religious (Religion & State) positions/roles of the resurrected Chosen Revelation 20:6 Blessed and pure is he who has part in the first resurrection. The second death has no authority over these, but they will be priests of Yahvah and of Messiah, and will reign with Him a thousand years. Would it therefore not be a logical conclusion that : 1. the one witness will fulfill a political (King or State) role, and 2. the other witness will fulfill a religious (High Priest) role? Stated differently: Will one witness fulfill the 1. role of a Moshe; (State/Government) and the other witness fulfill the 2. role of an Eliyah?    (Assembly/Government). It therefore follows logically from the above that these 2 Witnesses will be bringing 2 Messages from Eternal concerning these 2 Subjects, namely Government & Religion.    Why is the above so important? The answer is that we need to understand that there are 2 Critically Important Messages from Yahvah brought by these 2 Witnesses to the peoples of the Earth during the 3.5 years that they prophesy: (The Greek word for prophesy as used in Revelation 11 = “to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office: -prophesy” according to Strong’s Concordance). It is a serious indictment against all the Assemblies of Yahvah that have spent so much time fixating on who the 2 Witnesses are to be, that no attention has been given to the reason why Yahvah sends them; namely the incredibly important Messages the 2 Witnesses have to bring. Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. The second death has no authority over these, but they will be priests of Yahvah and of Messiah, and will reign with Him a thousand years. Would it therefore not be a logical conclusion that : 1. the one witness will fulfill a political (King or State) role, and 2. the other witness will fulfill a religious (High Priest) role? Stated differently: Will one witness fulfill the 1. role of a Moses; (State/Government) and the other witness fulfill the 2. role of an Eliyah? (Assembly/Religion). It therefore follows logically from the above that these 2 Witnesses will be bringing 2 Messages from the Eternal concerning these 2 Subjects, namely Government & Religion (Assembly & State). Why is the above so important? The answer is that we need to understand that there are 2 Critically Important Messages from Yahvah brought by these 2 Witnesses to the peoples of the Earth during the 3.5 years that they prophesy: (The Greek word for prophesy as used in Revelation 11 = “to foretell events, divine, speak under inspiration, exercise the prophetic office: -prophesy” according to Strong’s Concordance). It is a serious indictment against all the Churches of God that have spent so much time fixating on who the 2 Witnesses are to be, that no attention has been given to the reason why Yahvah sends them; namely the incredibly important Messages the 2 Witnesses have to bring.                              

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  • DEVOTIONAL LANCASTER BAPTIST CHURCH

     

     


     
     

    Integrity

    By Paul Chappell
     
     
     
      Saturday, Jan 19, 2013

    "Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool."

    Proverbs 19:1

    When Carlo Ponzi arrived in Boston from Italy in 1903, he had just $2.51 in his pocket. He quickly became involved in a number of shady deals and served several years in prison, first for forgery and then later for his involvement in a smuggling ring. When he returned to society, he determined to make a fortune, and he began encouraging people to invest in a plan that was “guaranteed” to pay them a handsome rate of interest.

    Ponzi was selling international reply coupons, a form of postage payment designed for international mail. Since few people had ever seen one and almost no one understood how they worked, it was easy for Ponzi to convince people that buying them in different countries could produce vast profits. Though there was never any real way to make money in the project, Ponzi used the new money coming in to pay off his early investors, and publicity encouraged still more people to “invest.” When the plan collapsed, those who had trusted Ponzi lost everything. In less than a year he had swindled some 250 million dollars in today’s money from those who trusted him. Today his very name is synonymous with swindles and schemes.

    Though God may choose to bless us with financial riches, the presence of wealth is certainly not proof that a person is doing what he should. In fact, there are cases when riches are part of God’s judgment on someone’s life. Proverbs 1:32 notes, “...the prosperity of fools shall destroy them,”

    Instead of focusing our desires and ambition on accumulating money and things, we should focus on keeping our character and integrity strong. Though that kind of wealth cannot be measured in dollars, stocks, or assets, it is a true wealth that can never be taken away or lost.

    Today’s Proverbs Precept: 
    A man or woman of integrity is far richer than the wealthiest person who has dishonestly accumulated riches.

    Old Testament Reading
    Genesis 46

    CHAPTER 46

    1 And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac. 2 And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I. 3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation: 4 I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.

    5 And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. 6 And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him: 7 His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt. 8 And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn. 9 And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi. 10 And the sons of Simeon; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman. 11 And the sons of Levi; Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 12 And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zerah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phuvah, and Job, and Shimron. 14 And the sons of Zebulun; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Padanaram, with his daughter Dinah: all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three. 16 And the sons of Gad; Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, and Ezbon, Eri, and Arodi, and Areli. 17 And the sons of Asher; Jimnah, and Ishuah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sister: and the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel. 18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter, and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls. 19 The sons of Rachel Jacob's wife; Joseph, and Benjamin. 20 And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him. 21 And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob: all the souls were fourteen. 23 And the sons of Dan; Hushim. 24 And the sons of Naphtali; Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem. 25 These are the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter, and she bare these unto Jacob: all the souls were seven. 26 All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six; 27 And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.

    28 And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen. 29 And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. 30 And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive. 31 And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father's house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me; 32 And the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have. 33 And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation? 34 That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.

     

    CHAPTER 47

    1 Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen. 2 And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh. 3 And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers. 4 They said moreover unto Pharaoh, For to sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen. 5 And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee: 6 The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle. 7 And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou? 9 And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. 10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh. 11 And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families.

    13 And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine. 14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. 15 And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth. 16 And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail. 17 And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. 18 When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands: 19 Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate. 20 And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's. 21 And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof. 22 Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands. 23 Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. 24 And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones. 25 And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants. 26 And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh's.

    27 And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years. 29 And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt: 30 But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said. 31 And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head.

     

    CHAPTER 48

    1 And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed. 3 And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, 4 And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. 5 And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. 6 And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance. 7 And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.

    8 And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these? 9 And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them. 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. 11 And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed. 12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, 16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. 17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. 19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. 20 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers. 22 Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.

    New Testament Reading
    Matthew 13:1

    1 The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together unto him, so that he went into a ship, and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore. 3 And he spake many things unto them in parables, saying, Behold, a sower went forth to sow; 4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: 5 Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: 6 And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: 8 But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold. 9 Who hath ears to hear, let him hear. 10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. 17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. 18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. 19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. 20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it; 21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended. 22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. 23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

    24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

    Proverb of the Day
    Proverbs 19

    1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. 2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. 3 The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD. 4 Wealth maketh many friends; but the poor is separated from his neighbour. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall not escape. 6 Many will intreat the favour of the prince: and every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. 7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: how much more do his friends go far from him? he pursueth them with words, yet they are wanting to him. 8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: he that keepeth understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish. 10 Delight is not seemly for a fool; much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression. 12 The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; but his favour is as dew upon the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. 14 House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD. 15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his own soul; but he that despiseth his ways shall die. 17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. 18 Chasten thy son while there is hope, and let not thy soul spare for his crying. 19 A man of great wrath shall suffer punishment: for if thou deliver him, yet thou must do it again. 20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. 21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand. 22 The desire of a man is his kindness: and a poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. 24 A slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware: and reprove one that hath understanding, and he will understand knowledge. 26 He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach. 27 Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. 28 An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity. 29 Judgments are prepared for scorners, and stripes for the back of fools.