Psalms 56, 57 ~ I shall not be afraid

David, beloved and annointed by God, had many changes in his long life.

Psalm 56

1 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;
all day long an attacker oppresses me;
2 my enemies trample on me all day long,
for many attack me proudly.
3 When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can flesh do to me?

5 All day long they injure my cause; [2]
all their thoughts are against me for evil.
6 They stir up strife, they lurk;
they watch my steps,
as they have waited for my life.
7 For their crime will they escape?
In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!

8 You have kept count of my tossings; [3]
put my tears in your bottle.
Are they not in your book?
9 Then my enemies will turn back
in the day when I call.
This I know, that [4] God is for me.
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the Lord, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

12 I must perform my vows to you, O God;
I will render thank offerings to you.
13 For you have delivered my soul from death,
yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.

Footnotes
[1] 56:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
[2] 56:5 Or they twist my words
[3] 56:8 Or wanderings
[4] 56:9 Or because


Psalm 57

57:1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

4 My soul is in the midst of lions;
I lie down amid fiery beasts—
the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

6 They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
8 Awake, my glory! [2]
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

Footnotes
[1] 57:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
[2] 57:8 Or my whole being

Judges 7:12-22 ~

Bible card, "Coprighted 1907 by Providence Lithograph Co." Unknown artist.

Judges 7:12-22 (New International Version)

12 The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.

13 Gideon arrived just as a man was telling a friend his dream. "I had a dream," he was saying. "A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed."

14 His friend responded, "This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands."

15 When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped God. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out, "Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands." 16 Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside.

17 "Watch me," he told them. "Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. 18 When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, 'For the LORD and for Gideon.' "

19 Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. 20 The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" 21 While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled.

22 When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath.



Deuteronomy 20:4
For the LORD your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.

Joshua 10:10
The LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great victory at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah.

Judges 12:3
When I saw that you wouldn't help, I took my life in my hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?

1 Samuel 19:5
He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The LORD won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?

2 Samuel 22:36
You give me your shield of victory; you stoop down to make me great.

2 Kings 13:17
"Open the east window," he said, and he opened it. "Shoot!" Elisha said, and he shot. "The LORD's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!" Elisha declared. "You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek."

Job 12:16
To him belong strength and victory; both deceived and deceiver are his.

Psalm 44:6
I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory;

Psalm 118:15
Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"

Proverbs 2:7
He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,

Matthew 12:20
A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:4
for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.

To be included in daily emails, please email holdenll@hotmail.com “All Scripture is inspired by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Men “moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God” (2 Peter 1:21). The Holy Spirit carried men along, moving and guiding them as they wrote in their own words what God wanted them to say. The Bible is unique; comprised of 80 separate books (created by the Nicene Council in 325 A.D.), & written over a period of thousands of years by more than 40 writers with one Author, spanning the centuries, different states of peace & war & different situations in life. The Bible answers the question: of who is God, who is man & what can their relationship can be. Although the Bible was written on perishable material and copied by hand for many centuries, its accuracy is not in doubt, proven by Dead Sea Scrolls and papyrus from 2,000 years. The Bible has survived persecution & criticism to be read with great interest in each generation. The Bible gives witness to the greatness of the Creator. A loving Father concerned for all of his creation. With each verse of the bible witnessing to God is love and the multitude & vastness of His attributes. The Bible was written for you. <><

Mark 3:31-35 ~ they

Joseph's brothers by French painter Emile-Jean-Horace Vernet in 1853

Mark 3:31-35

31 And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32 And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33 And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”


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Judges 6:11-24 ~ his son Gideon

Painting by Gideon Rubin.

Judges 6:11-24 (New Revised Standard Version)

Now the angel of the Lord came and sat under the oak at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, as his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites. The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said to him, "The Lord is with you, you mighty warrior." Gideon answered him, "But sir, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all his wonderful deeds that our ancestors recounted to us, saying, 'Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?' But now the Lord has cast us off, and given us into the hand of Midian." Then the Lord turned to him and said, "Go in this might of yours and deliver Israel from the hand of Midian; I hereby commission you." He responded, "But sir, how can I deliver Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family." The Lord said to him, "But I will be with you, and you shall strike down the Midianites, every one of them." Then he said to him, "If now I have found favor with you, then show me a sign that it is you who speak with me. Do not depart from here until I come to you, and bring out my present, and set it before you." And he said, "I will stay until you return."

So Gideon went into his house and prepared a kid, and unleavened cakes from an ephah of flour; the meat he put in a basket, and the broth he put in a pot, and brought them to him under the oak and presented them. The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened cakes, and put them on this rock, and pour out the broth." And he did so. Then the angel of the Lord reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened cakes; and fire sprang up from the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened cakes; and the angel of the Lord vanished from his sight. Then Gideon perceived that it was the angel of the Lord; and Gideon said, "Help me, Lord God! For I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face." But the Lord said to him, "Peace be to you; do not fear, you shall not die." Then Gideon built an altar there to the Lord, and called it, The Lord is peace. To this day it still stands at Ophrah, which belongs to the Abiezrites.

Gideon felt anonymous and weak. God saw Gideon as he would become with God's help. God sees the potential in us, He wants to be our Father.

2 Samuel 2: 36 All the people took note and were pleased; indeed, everything the king did pleased them. 37 So on that day all the people and all Israel knew that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner.

38 Then the king said to his men, "Do you not realize that a prince and a great man has fallen in Israel this day? 39 And today, though I am the anointed king, I am weak, and these sons of Zeruiah are too strong for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil deeds!"


Nehemiah 6:9
They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed." But I prayed, "Now strengthen my hands."


Psalm 6:7
My eyes grow weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.

Psalm 10:2
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.

Psalm 34:10
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Psalm 41:1
[ For the director of music. A psalm of David. ] Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble.

Psalm 72:13
He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.

Psalm 82:3, 4
Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.

Isaiah 40:29
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Ezekiel 34:4
You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally.

Joel 3:10
Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, "I am strong!"

Acts 20:35
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' "

Romans 8:26
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

1 Corinthians 1:27
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

1 Corinthians 4:10
We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored!

1 Corinthians 8:9
Be careful, however, that the exercise of your freedom does not become a stumbling block to the weak.

1 Corinthians 11: 28 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself. 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we judged ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 When we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world.

1 Corinthians 12:22
On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,

Galatians 4:9
But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

2 Timothy 3:6
They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over weak-willed women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires,

2 Corinthians 12:10
That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Psalm 27:1,4,13-14 ~ I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!

In our winter conference of 2008 in Dallas, Texas; people gathered from all over God's creation. 14 Archbishops from Africa, Asia, England and up to 1,700 to remind each other The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. One of the bishops has been a bishop born and raised in the United Kingdom and now is a missonary out of Africa, placed as a missionary back in England.

The blind see, the deaf hear and the poor have good news preached to them ~ this is a global community.

More photos available online for the conference - see the full sized slide show (be sure to click on VirtueOnline.org's Gallery)

The planners of the convention hoped for 20 or more people to show up interested in planning a new church, over six times that number showed up from different continents.

Psalm 27:1,4,13-14

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the LORD!

Matthew 22:35-46 ~ If David then call him Lord

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn - generally considered one of the greatest painters and in European art history and the most important in Dutch history. Rembrandt's greatest creative triumphs are exemplified especially in illustrations of scenes from the Bible.

This painting of Jesus with the Pharisees is in the National Gallery in London.

One of the professors of theology at our 2008 Winter Conference for AMIA, a brilliant & gifted man, told us that using the Greek, Hebrew & Aramaic translations sometimes point to the beautiful language more clearly seen in King James Version. It is a priviledge to see different translations of the bible. Perhaps Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn paintings remind us what is old is still beautiful today. Jesus Christ is a man defying circumstance & class barriers, some of his most devout followers in the Sanhedrin Council (Joseph of Arimathea & Nicodemus John 19 face Pilot to retreive Jesus' body), Jesus sees people by their heart & soul. Jesus exists not just in the wilderness, he preachs openly in the temple from the age of 12; Jesus faces high priests & kings with the dignity they deserve.


Matthew 22:35-46 (King James Version)

35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

42 Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David.

43 He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying,

44 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool?

45 If David then call him Lord, how is he his son?

46 And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.

Mark 16:15-18 ~ believes

Mark 16:15-18

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

Matthew 17: [Jesus] 20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

The Nicene Creed is an ecumenical Christian statement of faith. Created in 325 A. D., when Roman Emperor Constantine saw St. Andrew’s cross, the cross recognized as proclaiming a life of Christian service, and brought bishops of the Church of Jesus Christ (neither Catholic nor Protestant) from proclaiming their faith under penalty of law to recognizing the Church as religion of the mightiest Empire on the planet. Over 2,000 bishops from around the world participated in discussions to write the Nicene Creed:

I believe in one God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the only-begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages; Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten, not made, of one essence with the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven and sitteth at the right hand of the Father.
And He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; of His kingdom there shall be no end.
And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, Who proceedeth from the Father, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, Who spake by the prophets.
In one Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church; I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins; I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the age to come. Amen.

Galatians 5:22-26; 6:1-2 ~ bear one another's burdens

In photo.... Emerging Church!!



At the end of our Church service, we are given a blessing. Having a blessing is wonderful! Yet returning the given blessing, in silent prayer, to the Church & praying for "The Church of Jesus Christ" is even better! To have the blessings of the Lord- for the Church - to Do His work - is a necessary, powerful, life-changing, beautiful, blessed, Needed, Ongoing Work. Of His.

A world in need is best served by Jesus' Church! The Church needs to be prayed for in the power of the Holy Spirit. If you visualize this, wouldn't it be like one firework, multiplying, becoming a beautiful display of unending fireworks!!

Almost 2 decades ago, we were in a small group with a Church Junior Pastor, in his 20's, who was quite young; he spent a lot of his time telling the group about hard, unappreciated work. The work was a lot like janitorial and social services. He probably should have just told his confidants, not people in the congregation, but it is so difficult to do the Lord's work.

Remember to pray for the Church of the Lord!

Galatians 5:22-26; 6:1-2 (Revised Standard Version)

[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
[23] gentleness, self-control; against such there is no law.
[24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
[25]
If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
[26] Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another.

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Galatians 6
[1]
Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Look to yourself, lest you too be tempted.

[2] Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

______________________


1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love ♥ !

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Mark 3:1-6 ~ A man

Sancta Veronica Ierosolymitana ~ The Vatican Museum declares this to be the oldest picture of Jesus. A Syrian text from Kamulia in Cappadocia from the 500s tells us that the image was "drawn out of the water" and "not painted by human hand."

It shows the bearded face of a man with side-curls (jewish peyoth), whose nose has been hit. The right cheek is swollen, the beard partly ripped off. The forehead and lips have on them hints of pink, suggesting freshly healed wounds. Inexplicable peace fills the gaze out of the wide open eyes. Amazement, astonishment, surprise. Gentle compassion. No despair, no pain, no wrath. It is like the face of a man who has just awakened to a new morning. His mouth is half open. Even his teeth are visible. If one had to give a precise phrase to the vowel and word the lips are forming, it would be just a soft "Abba."

Professor Donato Vittori of the University of Bari and Professor Giulio Fanti of the University of Padua have discovered, through microscopic examinations, that there is no trace of color or paint at all on the entire cloth.

Sister Blandina Paschalis Schlömer, a German Trappist nun, pharmacist and icon painter, discovered, years before, after painstaking comparisons of the image on the Manopello cloth and the face of the man depicted on the Shroud of Turin, that the two images were identical: that they were both displaying the very same person. Every detail of both faces was exactly congruent: the same size and shape, the same wounds. The one difference: on the Shroud, the wounds are still open. On the cloth of Manoppello, the wounds have closed.

The cloth is made of an undetermined material. Bycuss, material is produced from threads a certain kind of sea mussels (“pinna nobilis”) & the most costly fabric in the ancient world. Unspun, raw byssus -in the morning light, shines more finely than angel hair. The gold of the seas! Bycuss is found off of a small island of Sant'Antioco off the coast of Sardinia. The last weaver of bycuss says that this cloth, "It has the eyes of a lamb," she says and crosses herself. "And a lion." And then: "That is Byssus!" "Yet Byssus cannot be painted on. It is simply not possible. O Dio! O Dio mio (Oh God! Oh my God!")!"

Mark 3: 1-6 (Revised Standard Version)

[1]
Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand.


[2] And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him.
[3] And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come here."
[4] And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent.
[5] And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
[6] The Pharisees went out, and immediately held counsel with the Hero'di-ans against him, how to destroy him.

Jesus, as a man, received many different reactions to His divinity, being the Son of God:

Matthew 8: 26
He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

27 The men [disciples] were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"


Mark 2: 1
A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. 2 So many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. 3 Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. 4 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."


Mark 10: 13
People were bringing little children to Jesus to have him touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 16 And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.


Matthew 21: 42
Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures:
" 'The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes'?


Luke 17:
12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
14 When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.

15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?


John 4: 25 The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us."

26Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he."



John 4:
39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman's testimony, "He told me everything I ever did." 40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. 41 And because of his words many more became believers.


John 8:8
The centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

10When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.


John 8:14
When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.

John 1:29
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Revelation 5:5
Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”



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Psalm 89:20-22, 27-28 ~ I will make him my firstborn son

Psalm 89:20-22, 27-28 (New Living Translation)

20 I have found my servant David.
I have anointed him with my holy oil.
21 I will steady him with my hand;
with my powerful arm I will make him strong.
22 His enemies will not defeat him,
nor will the wicked overpower him.

27 I will make him my firstborn son,
the mightiest king on earth.
28 I will love him and be kind to him forever;
my covenant with him will never end.


Isaiah 11:
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of power,
the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -

3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;

4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

5 Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

6 The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.

7 The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

8 The infant will play near the hole of the cobra,
and the young child put his hand into the viper's nest.

9 They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD
as the waters cover the sea.


Matthew 27:37
Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

Matthew 26:55
At that time Jesus said to the crowd, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.

Matthew 26:63
But Jesus remained silent. The high priest said to him, "I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God."

Matthew 26:64
"Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. "But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven."

Matthew 28:
5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

Mark 11:22
"Have faith in God," Jesus answered.

Mark 16:6
"Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.

Luke 23:34
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Luke 23:43
Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

Luke 24:15
As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them;

Luke 24:36
[ Jesus Appears to the Disciples ] While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."

John 1:29
[ Jesus the Lamb of God ] The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

John 18:37
"You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

Comforting the chief mourner of Jesus:
John 19:26
When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son,"

John 20:12
and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

John 20:
"They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
15 "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."
16 Jesus said to her, "Mary."

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).

John 20: 30
30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

I Corinthians 15: 55 "Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"
56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

We know the words of the Lord are true. The victory over death is complete in Jesus Christ. We believe that those who call upon His name and rely upon His grace have victory over death.


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Matthew 23 ~ blind guides

Judas and the Pharisees


Matthew 23 (New American Bible)
1
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples,
2
saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses.
3
Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.
4
They tie up heavy burdens 3 (hard to carry) and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them.
5
4 All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
6
They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues,
7
greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.'
8
As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers.
9
Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven.
10
Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Messiah.
11
The greatest among you must be your servant.
12
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
13
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You lock the kingdom of heaven before human beings. You do not enter yourselves, nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter.
14
15
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You traverse sea and land to make one convert, and when that happens you make him a child of Gehenna twice as much as yourselves.
16
"Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If one swears by the temple, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.'
17
Blind fools, which is greater, the gold, or the temple that made the gold sacred?
18
And you say, 'If one swears by the altar, it means nothing, but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.'
19
You blind ones, which is greater, the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?
20
One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it;
21
one who swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it;
22
one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who is seated on it.
23
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier things of the law: judgment and mercy and fidelity. (But) these you should have done, without neglecting the others.
24
Blind guides, who strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!
25
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence.
26
Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.
27
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men's bones and every kind of filth.
28
Even so, on the outside you appear righteous, but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing.
29
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, 17 you hypocrites. You build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the memorials of the righteous,
30
and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets' blood.'
31
Thus you bear witness against yourselves that you are the children of those who murdered the prophets;
32
now fill up what your ancestors measured out!
33
You serpents, you brood of vipers, how can you flee from the judgment of Gehenna?
34
Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets and wise men and scribes; some of them you will kill and crucify, some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and pursue from town to town,
35
so that there may come upon you all the righteous blood shed upon earth, from the righteous blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.
36
Amen, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
37
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how many times I yearned to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her young under her wings, but you were unwilling!
38
Behold, your house will be abandoned, desolate.
39
I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

Ecclesiastes 3

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.




Matthew 5

2 and he began to teach them saying:
3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Recently, our church ran a video clip for the New Year. It was appreciated by all ages, everyone commented & the sermon ran it again a couple of weeks later. It began as a typical church message, each person was well groomed and enthusiastic, each person was speaking of their goals in their church for the New Year: 1. This year, I will spend more on myself and tithe less, 2. This year, I will not share my faith with my roommate, 3. This year, I will be silent, even when I know I should speak up, 4. This year, I will shirk every leadership position. You get the idea and it was said with so much positive enthusiasm.

We all need to remember as we read these scriptures: sometimes we are the Pharisees, sometimes we are blind fools, sometimes we are just sheep, sometimes we do not discern what time it is, sometimes we are peacemakers when the time calls for war, sometimes it is a time to embrace.

Last night we watched a comedian discussing the difference between the Old Testament God and the New Testament God. Not really a difference, but mankind was prepared for the birth of Jesus, God allowed Jesus’ sacrifice to mend the gap of sin between God and mankind.

'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"
Mark 6: 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.

Jesus Christ is the shepherd of our souls. We need to think about what we put into our lives and give value to, remember the season and seek the blessing.

2 Corinthians 4:6-15 ~

This is the story of two men who are Olympic runners...not to run... but to prove something to the world.

They will sacrifice anything to achieve their goals...Except their faith.


2 Corinthians 4:6-15 (King James Version)

6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

12 So then death worketh in us, but life in you.

13 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;

14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

The movie 'Chariots of Fire' explains this passage pretty well. These men were Olympic runners for England as Adolf Hitler gained in power. Hitler boasted of the superiority of his Arian Race athletes. It was a troubled time in the world, wars and rumors of war abounded. These men asked God to help them have strength showing that those resting in His strength would triumph. These men knew when their time on earth finished, they had fought the good fight. Just as they knew because the battle was His, they would rest in His rest. As these men passed on, they knew the world would keep revolving, but the battle is still His. More of God's men, would continue to to proclaim Him.

Genesis 32 ~ Peniel

View of Israel from Mount Nebo. The view of the Holy Land. March 19, 2000, Pope John Paul II visited. Pope John Paul planted an olive tree beside the Byzantine chapel as a symbol of peace.

The serpentine cross sculpture (the Brazen Serpent Monument) created by Italian artist Giovanni Fantoni. Symbolic of the bronze serpent from Moses in the wilderness (Numbers 21:4-9) and the cross upon which Jesus was crucified (John 3:14).

Genesis 32

1 As Jacob started on his way again, angels of God came to meet him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, “This is God’s camp!” So he named the place Mahanaim.

3 Then Jacob sent messengers ahead to his brother, Esau, who was living in the region of Seir in the land of Edom. 4 He told them, “Give this message to my master Esau: ‘Humble greetings from your servant Jacob. Until now I have been living with Uncle Laban, 5 and now I own cattle, donkeys, flocks of sheep and goats, and many servants, both men and women. I have sent these messengers to inform my lord of my coming, hoping that you will be friendly to me.’”

6 After delivering the message, the messengers returned to Jacob and reported, “We met your brother, Esau, and he is already on his way to meet you—with an army of 400 men!” 7 Jacob was terrified at the news. He divided his household, along with the flocks and herds and camels, into two groups. 8 He thought, “If Esau meets one group and attacks it, perhaps the other group can escape.”

9 Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my grandfather Abraham, and God of my father, Isaac—O Lord, you told me, ‘Return to your own land and to your relatives.’ And you promised me, ‘I will treat you kindly.’ 10 I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. When I left home and crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing except a walking stick. Now my household fills two large camps! 11 O Lord, please rescue me from the hand of my brother, Esau. I am afraid that he is coming to attack me, along with my wives and children. 12 But you promised me, ‘I will surely treat you kindly, and I will multiply your descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore—too many to count.’”

13 Jacob stayed where he was for the night. Then he selected these gifts from his possessions to present to his brother, Esau: 14 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 15 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys. 16 He divided these animals into herds and assigned each to different servants. Then he told his servants, “Go ahead of me with the animals, but keep some distance between the herds.”

17 He gave these instructions to the men leading the first group: “When my brother, Esau, meets you, he will ask, ‘Whose servants are you? Where are you going? Who owns these animals?’ 18 You must reply, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob, but they are a gift for his master Esau. Look, he is coming right behind us.’”

19 Jacob gave the same instructions to the second and third herdsmen and to all who followed behind the herds: “You must say the same thing to Esau when you meet him. 20 And be sure to say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.’”

Jacob thought, “I will try to appease him by sending gifts ahead of me. When I see him in person, perhaps he will be friendly to me.” 21 So the gifts were sent on ahead, while Jacob himself spent that night in the camp.

22 During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two servant wives, and his eleven sons and crossed the Jabbok River with them. 23 After taking them to the other side, he sent over all his possessions.

24 This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. 25 When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!”

But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

27 “What is your name?” the man asked.

He replied, “Jacob.”

28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”

29 “Please tell me your name,” Jacob said.

“Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there.

30 Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” 31 The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of the injury to his hip. 32 (Even today the people of Israel don’t eat the tendon near the hip socket because of what happened that night when the man strained the tendon of Jacob’s hip.)


Jacob is a thought provoking individual: fighting inside of Rebekah during gestation with Esau, a young man of cunning and deception, a man willing to leave his blind father and scheming mother behind to avoid the wrath of his brother, fleeing at once even though the family is preparing to go into mourning for his father Isaac’s death (does not happen for decades to come). Does Jacob rip off the family herds, silver, gold, heirlooms, fishing rods, tool set, best lamp, land, barns or water rights? No, this renowned biblical thief, schemer and biblical bad guy leaves with Isaac’s blessing that Esau had already forfeited willingly for a bowl of stew.

When our biblical bad guy leaves, he leaves: his family, safety, all his experiences and life-time memories, herd, land and all that Abraham and Sarah had worked, earned and been blessed with. Jabob leaves with a blessing and a walking stick.

Did God think that he had obtained the blessing with righteousness? NO!

Was Esau interested in the blessing? Not enough to give up a bowl of stew for. When Esau learned that Rebekah and Isaac are dissatisfied with his choice of local wife without any belief in the living God, he married again… to please them? He married Isaac’s older half-brother Ishmael’s daughter. Doubt the new choice was relished. Plus Isaac had one wife and Isaac married Rebekah. Esau was either not hit with many smart sticks or he just suited himself and wanders through life. Esau wasn't hoofing it in the wilderness and leaving the comfort of home, he stayed right there with the family herds, silver, gold, heirlooms, fishing rods, tool set, best lamp, land, barns & water rights & Mom & Dad. Why do we think Esau is the one who is wronged here? We see that the biblical viewpoint is that Esau was wronged by Jacob because Isaac intended to bless Esau. God says Esau was wronged.

((Interesting that this family is very interested in “my word is my bond”. Rebekah and Isaac are unique individuals in a time of multiple marriages. Rebekah schemes and sends one of their only two children for a life time of years, by telling the younger son not to stick to his father as he is dying. Isaac has decades of living still. He eventually sees Jacob again before he dies. But low and behold, he is still married and evidently forgiven Rebekah. Forgiveness must be good for the soul, Isaac lives to see his grown sons and grandchildren.

But back to “my word is my bond”, why wouldn't Isaac scream for Rebekah and say round up the two fighting twins? These idiots have some explaining to do to a dying Isaac. Why wasn't Isaac say, “Oops, we need a repeal?” That would have happened usually. Perhaps Isaac remembers the story of Esau giving his blessing away for a bowl of stew. Perhaps Isaac thinks Jacob is willing to fight for the blessing. Perhaps Isaac thinks that after a life-time of being married to Rebekah and Rebekah sees more in the younger son. Perhaps Isaac thinks about Esau and his married choice…s. Perhaps Isaac feels the Holy Spirit of God move in the choice. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps…the real situation: Isaac does not change the blessing. It remains.))

Back to Jacob, he discovers from his father-in-law, Laban, how it feels to be schemed against. This notorious thief could have left knocked-up, scheming Leah at night. Jacob could have threatened Laban, tortured Laban or hurt the herd. He could have said give me Rachel tomorrow, or I leave, as soon as Leah was pregnant. But instead, he works out a straightforward, honest, binding proposal. Why? Could be that Jacob has learns how it feels to be cheated, could be some remorse. More than likely, it is not stupidity. We have seen Jacob get what he wants using all means and schemes. It isn’t entirely for true love of Rachael, because he is having a lot of sexual intercourse. This Jacob has had fidelity modeled to him in Rebekah and Isaac. If it was all chivalry, I don’t think Jacob would have had 12 sons. Well, Israel has 12 sons and God is happy.

So, Jacob wrestles with God. This isn’t new, he has been wrestling God for a long, long time. Stealing a blessing from a holy father. Working out a plan to have 12 sons while feeling cheated. Thinking, thinking, thinking. Did God tell him to take Esau a huge gift? No, that was Jacob. Did God tell Jacob to divide into two camps? No, that was Jacob. Did God tell Jacob to separate from his wives and children during the night? No, that was Jacob. Jacob is wrestling with God because it is important to have His blessing and even flee leaving everything behind, but Jacob doesn’t listen for God, the bible says he rarely prays. Jesus is written as being in prayer a lot. Jacob is like us, he thinks his way through, but isn’t necessarily looking to God or asking. But as Jacob flounders around thinking his way through, he makes the choices, but Jacob remembers to talk to God in prayer and tell the Lord he is trying.

Is Jacob a hero or a thief? Jacob is like us, he wants God on our terms. God’s terms are God’s terms, the bible is all about God’s way. God blesses Jacob over and over and over. Why? Israel is like us, he seeks God.

Matthew 6:7-15 ~ when you pray

Hebrews 13:17-21 ~ keep watch

Google photoshop image of Adam & Eve in the garden of paradise. The bible tells us that: The bright Morning Star." is Jesus - Revelation 22. This photoshop must be from the vantage point of The Bright Morning Star. The Garden of Eden was given to Adam as a gift, until sin removed him from the Garden. Man then toiled in creation for generations. Then Jesus was given to them.

Hebrews 13:17-21 17
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.

20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Genesis 2: 15
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."



Genesis 3: 8
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"

The Lord God knew where they were and why they were hiding, but it is our question for today: "Where are you?"

I Corinthians 15: 45
So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.

To clarify the above question "Where are you?" It means - are you a life giving spirit or Adam - just being a salmon swimming upstream - doing the same old thing?

This term 'last Adam' is to point out the similarities & differences between Adam and Jesus.
God created Adam as an immediate act, by His word.

Adam named God's creation and worked in it, but the Lord God in Jesus Christ is:

Colossians 1: 15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

This Biblical quote examines the question again...

Galations 1:10

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

We all work with each other, our fellow mankind (Adam). It is up to us to remember that whatever we do, we work for the Lord (Yahweh, I am, The God of God, Lord of Lords, Abba, Jesus the Christ, Son of God & the Holy Spirit) and we are accountable to Him.

Colossians 3:24:
It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

… Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1: 21

…His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The Might God,
…The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6

… God hath made that same Jesus… both Lord & Christ Acts 2:36

…Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world! John 1:29

…they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, the song of The Lamb Revelation 15:3


…Behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Revelation 5:5


..and the Bright & Morning Star Revelation 22:16


..and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life 1 John 1:1


…we have and advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ The Righteous 1 John 2:1


…whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us. Luke 1:78


…Before Abraham, I Am. John 8:58


…And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. John 1: 34

…are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25


…We have found the Messiah which, is being interpreted, the Christ. John 1:41


…I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6


…through the knowledge of the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. II Peter 2: 20

..a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:16

…I am the Light of the World. John 8:12

…The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world… John 1:9

…I am Alpha & Omega the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come

The Almighty Revelation 1:8

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.


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Galatians 2 ~ he used to

Jerusalem, Israel: Lithostrotos Museum, Pottery From Time Of Jesus Christ, First Century

Galatians 2

1 Fourteen years later I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and set before them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. But I did this privately to those who seemed to be leaders, for fear that I was running or had run my race in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.

6 As for those who seemed to be important—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not judge by external appearance—those men added nothing to my message. 7 On the contrary, they saw that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews. 8 For God, who was at work in the ministry of Peter as an apostle to the Jews, was also at work in my ministry as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.

11 When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong. 12 Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.

14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?

15 "We who are Jews by birth and not 'Gentile sinners' 16 know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

17 "If, while we seek to be justified in Christ, it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker. 19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"


Isaiah 45: 9
"Woe to him who quarrels with his Maker,
to him who is but a potsherd among the potsherds on the ground.
Does the clay say to the potter,
'What are you making?'
Does your work say,
'He has no hands'?

Exodus 20: 16
"You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

John 17: 17
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.

Romans 9: 19
One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?" 20 But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?' " 21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?

22 What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? 23 What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory— 24 even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? 25 As he says in Hosea:
"I will call them 'my people' who are not my people;
and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one," 26 and,
"It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them,
'You are not my people,'
they will be called 'sons of the living God.'

2 Corinthians 4:2
Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.


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