Hosea Ministries Newsletter Dec 19 (6 views)
From:  Pastor Phyllis (b4c3h3)   Dec-19 2:10 am  
To:  ALL    
 
  762.1  
 
Welcome to the 4nd. Edition of our Newsletter 

Dec. 19,2003 


Midi Playing -O Holy Night 

From Brother Mike & Sister Kathy Schroeder 

I have learned a great deal this year. I have been led by Our Father and he has shown me who my friends are, He has comforted me in a time of need in a way that a mortal man could not, I have been blessed with Hosea Ministries who have given me a deeper relationship with Our Father. This year was a year of growth. I am so blessed. I have a wonderful husband who shares my love of the Lord and that is one of the greatest blessings of all. 

Please as we all sit down this year to watch football, eat turkey, open gifts, remember this child who rose from a stable from a manger to walk this earth as a man, a man who followed His father's orders and was obedient until the end, who ultimately shed blood in our name so we could have eternal life. I know that this Christmas Day, we will be having a birthday party, for this beautiful child who is CHRIST OUR LORD. There will nothing under our tree with the exception of one item, a present for Jesus. Happy Birthday Jesus! 

Mike and Kathy Schroeder 

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Featured Sites This Week 

The Music Room - 

http://dianneandangel.homestead.com/TheMusicRoom.html 

"Mary, Did You Know?" Song wav page at Ky Lady site. 
Music by Buddy Green...Written and sung by Mark Lowry. 
http://my.homewithgod.com/kylady4/Mostpreciousnight.html 


http://www.riversongs.net/Flash/above.html ............."Above" 
River Songs Christmas presentation 
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Letters From The Heart 


"WE HAVE A KING," 
What can we give him, 
as poor as we are 
If we were shepherds, 
we would give him a lamb. 
If we were a wise man, 
we would do our part, 
Yet what can we give him? 
what gift could we give 
to him we could looked all 
around us and wouldn't 
find anything to honor 
a Holy King 
We can fall to our knees 
and give him our heart 
Love, 
Sweetspirit 

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Ministry & Purpose of Hosea Harvest Ministries 

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord." Luke 4:18-19 

Hosea Harvest Ministries is a ministry that is driven by God with a vision to reach the lost, evangelize Christians in their walk in equipping them with the Word of God and to equip them with the armor of God in prayer warfare: 

Our mission and purpose as a ministry is to do as Christ would have us do in the great commission He left for us to do. 

Matthew 28:19-20 
19. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 

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Devotional 

~NATIVITY REFLECTIONS~ 



"And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling 
clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them 
in the inn."......Luke 2: 7. 
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 
When we look at the many different nativity scenes which we see this time of the 
year, our thoughts are upon the Lord and the gift of life given to the world on 
the day of His birth. Our prayer is that lost souls will receive the free gift of 
salvation and be set free with a new hope and purpose in life. Jesus is the gift 
that keeps on giving and who makes life worth living. 

Our Lord is the reason for every season. As Jesus he puts his love within our hearts, the scene 
of his birth is painted within as a picture of God clothed in flesh to dwell among men as both 
God and man. He was deity to dwell in the midst of a sinful and fallen world, and as God the Son, 
had the power to offer up the supreme sacrifice to bring mankind back into a covenant relationship 
with the Father. He also is to remain inside our hearts all during the year as we let him be 
Lord of our life. 

We could never fully comprehend the glory which lay in the manager on the day of His birth 
as God's only begotten Son. He was the 'Living Bread of Life' who would feed 
hungry souls. He was the 'Living Water' for the thirsty and a 'fountain of salvation' for all. 
The angels in heaven rejoiced as God's plan was fulfilled and the Word became flesh to dwell 
among men. The Mother of Jesus was called "blessed among all women" and would be 
remembered as chosen of God to bring forth his great gift to all men. She would be the first 
to carry "the hope of salvation" and later the Word made flesh would carry her and all the weight 
of the sins of the world at Calvary's cross. 

The King of Kings had come to earth. Even as there was no room for him in the inn in that day, 
there are still a lost multitude who will make no room for him in their hearts this day. May our 
prayers continue to be for His Holy Spirit to convict souls that they might see Christ who 
invites them to come unto Him and receive life, light and love. Hearts of men must be prepared 
and as they hear the good news of salvation, the Holy Spirit will convince and bring them to a 
saving knowledge of Christ. 

May we let the Messiah be the message of Christmas as the Christ child who became the Savior 
calls all to be His child and part of the royal family. From humble beginnings to the holy of holies, 
He reigns forevermore and dwells in the hearts of men. The nativity scene reminds us of the 
glorious light which shines in darkness in this world. The babe in the scene is the Savior who reigns 
in our lives today. May He be glorified as we sing "peace on earth and good will to men." There 
is a great day coming when all will be peace, love and good will for all eternity. For a child of 
God, the best is yet to come! 

Blessings in Christ, 
Jo Ann Kelly (c) 12/2002 
J. P.'s Inspirations 
Devotional webpage url 
http://my.homewithgod.com/jpinspirations/nativity.htm 

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^ 
THE NATIVITY 

It is only a picture of a scene but is real within our hearts to stay 
One day it was a wonderful reality in Bethlehem, 
The Christ child was born on that first Christmas day, 
He came into this world as both God and man. 

His Mother so fair looked upon her Son 
Sent by God through His Spirit to earth, 
The angels rejoiced and sang praises to the Holy One, 
The wise men from afar came when they heard of His birth. 

His humble beginning on earth in a manager filled with hay 
Shall never end but His Kingdom shall increase, 
He is King of Kings and Lord of all Lords, 
His Kingdom of righteousness will never cease. 

His Mother was blessed among all women 
Chosen by God as the virgin who would bear God's Son, 
The Father up above looked down in his love, 
His plan sent to earth....God's Holy One. 

The scene of the nativity is not just to behold 
It's message is engraved in our hearts, 
The babe in the manager lives forever on high, 
His Spirit lives within us and His love will never depart. 

Jo Ann Kelly (c) 2002 
J. P.'s Inspirations 

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Dear Saints Hello, 
Thank you so much for storming our Father's throne in my 
behalf. 
I was allowed to come home today with blood thinners and all 
of those good things, smile! 
I am so thankful my son took me to the hospital when he did, 
especially after all of my test results came back. My last 
MRI showed that I had, had several mini strokes in the 
past and was truly headed for a major one with we 
couldn't get my blood pressure under control... 
and unfortunately I'm still having problems with that, so I've 
been warned more TIA's could follow one after the other. 
So please continue praying that I can loose weight as I work 
on getting strength back to my left side, and pray that 
my new medication helps in bringing down my blood pressure. 
And I don't see this as being a bad thing, I see this as an answered prayer in my behalf. 
I knew something was wrong and when I would mention it to my doctor or doctor's they would just say it was due to my other medical condition and it was left at that. Then I begin to pray asking the Lord to allow whatever was taking place in my life to manifest so that it could be brought out into the open so He could heal it in the way he knew would be best for me, and so about two weeks ago now, I had my first major wake-up call, and had spent the week in testing at the hospital, then once again, a harder stroke hit and my son took me to the hospital immediately, and to me this has been the beginning of a healing that only the Lord knew was in my future. 
Not only did I begin to learn about strokes, I told other's about our Prayer Team, and the Hosea Harvest Ministry, and Praise the Lord prayer requests begin to come in from nurses etc., so the Lord has a way of getting us to the exact place or places where miracles begin to take place and hearts and lives are touched in a positive way, Praise the Lord for He is so worthy to be Praised and Adored forever and ever. 
God bless you guy's, I love you all... 
And yes, I'm taking one step at a time again... but remembering also the Lord does have a mighty way of keeping us humble allowing us to know we are absolutely nothing without Him period. 
Have a hug and lot's of love, 
Erma 

(Sister Erma is Pastor Danny Sossmans wife and our Associate Pastors Please keep sister Erma in prayer 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 
I want to thank u all who have prayed for my nephew Larry. He went to a 28 day drug/alchol treatment program and is out now and doing great. During this treatment time God had done a mighty work in him, he is now seeking the Lord in his life. This is nothing short of a miracle. He is going to 90 meetings in 90 days and once a week back to the treatment center. God is the most awsome, it blows my mind at how God works. During the time leading up to getting the help he needed they got in a bind financially since he would blow 600-800 dollars on each binge. There home is in foreclosure and they need 3000.00 by Jan. 1st. Yes this is due to what he has done but I know God has brought him this far and is going to show himself faithful in this situation. I need faithful prayer warriors to pray over this until Jan. and I will let you know as I find out the situation. Thank u and God bless. hchild42 

++++++++++++++++++++ 

My nephew, Logan, received the results of his blood work and there are no signs whatsoever of Chron's disease or Ulcerative. In studying Logan's medical records, he has had bouts of pain after each allergy shot. The Doctors are saying that he had a culmination of virus and the allergy shots were too strong for him and lowered his immune system. He has stopped all allergy shots and is doing better. Praise our Lord for this wonderful news! 

In HIS love, 
Cindi 
ciaisrael@charter.net 

To post or read other prayer requests and praise reports that come in daily please go to our prayer page 

http://hoseaintercessorswarriors.bravepages.com/prayer.html 

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Weekly Sermon 

-by Senior Pastor Stephen Thurman 

Luke 1;26-3 

Gabriel Came by Today 
One of the great delusions that goes with wealth, power and status is to think we are in control of our lives. The most difficult lesson for most people to realize is that God values the heart, not what we possess. Everything we have is on loan to us. We are only stewards of His possessions. He is really not interested in appearance, performance or status. 

Barclay well said, God does not choose a person for ease and comfort and selfish joy but for a task that will take all that head and heart and hand can bring to it. God chooses a man in order to use him. Someone said, Jesus Christ came not to make life easy but to make men great. 

As we look at this passage of Scripture lets keep in mind that the central figure is Jesus Christ. The Scriptures are abundant in their testimony that Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophetic promises of the coming of the Deliverer (4:16-21; Acts 2:16-21, 25-36; 3:12-18, 22-26; 7:2-53; 13:16ff). The emphasis Luke and Matthew make is that the historical events they are reporting are seen as the fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures. The first advent of the Messiah was to be an advent of humiliation while the second is one of consummation and glory of the kingdom of God. The day draws near when Christ shall take His great power and reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. His kingdom alone shall posses an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion will not pass away. However, it must first come in deep humiliation. But even if the Son of God, the heir of all things, had come to reign on the earth as a king at the first advent even that would have been condescension to come on earth as king. 

Darrell Bock said, When God promises, He will performonly He will do it in His time and sometimes in surprising ways. When the time of fulfillment comes, we realize that His timing was better than ours. Perhaps we sometimes wish we could be in the boardroom of heaven, telling God how to make His plans. This passage calls us to see that His plan has its own design and timing. The Creator of the universe knows what He is doing. 

When God chose to act in the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy regarding salvation of man He did it at a specific place and time in the history of Israel with specific people and concerns the birth of a historical person. These are historical events that Dr. Luke is reporting. He does not say, Once upon a time . . . He said just the opposite, In the days of Herod, king of Judea. . . the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee, called Nazareth (1:5, 26). History is full of Herod and his evil family. The Jewish people hated him because he was an Edomite, not a Jew. Here was a king who did not have a drop of king Davids blood flowing in his veins, appointed by the power of Rome to the throne of a Jewish nation. Luke notes another significant historical marker in establishing the historicity of Jesus birth. In 2:1 he writes, Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. No honest scholar can deny that Luke is asserting that these events took place as part of universally accepted history. 

God passed over Imperial Rome, Jerusalem and the Temple and came to a village in Galilee of the Gentiles. What was Nazareth like in the days of Jesus? The town was located 70 miles northeast of Jerusalem, and sat on a hillside above the highway between Tyre, Sidon and Jerusalem. The population was 15,000. It was a hot bed of corruption with Roman soldiers passing by each day and spending the night there, Greek merchants and travelers were coming and going selling their wares. Dwellers were rude, violent and of evil repute. How significant that God passed over Jerusalem, the Temple, and the politicians and went to a town in Galilee. Even in this hotbed of corruption He had his chosen servants. In the darkest days of human history, God has always had His elect remnant ready to accomplish His will and purpose. He always has had on hand those who are available to Him. And our day is no exception. 

THE PERSON GOD USES (1:26-30) 
Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgins name was Mary (vv. 26-27). This is one of those great passages that should always fill our hearts with wonder, love and praise. 

Her name was Mary (1:27) 
She was probably just a teenager between 13 and 15 years old. This was the normal age for the Jewish betrothal or formal engagement. We know that she was engaged to Joseph who was a descendent of King David (v. 27). It was important for Luke and Matthew to carefully note that Jesus descended from the lineage of King David (2:4; 3:23-38; Matt. 1:1-17; Rom. 1:3; 2 Tim. 2:8). 

It would seem very strange to us, but Mary and Josephs parents got together and arranged for the marriage of their children. The Jewish marriage consisted of two stages: one was the engagement which was followed a year later by the marriage proper. This engagement was a formal agreement initiated by the father seeking a bride for his son. When the two mothers and two fathers were agreed, the qiddushin took place. This is a formal betrothal, and mush more binding than any other. The qiddushin has the finality of marriage. The second most important person involved in the marriage contract was the father of the bride. Remember, he stood to lose the most in the deal because he was giving up daughter and helper. The couple was engaged when the father of the son paid the purchase price to the brides father and a written agreement and oath were signed. Once the marriage contract was negotiated, even though the marriage ceremony had not occurred, the bridegroom could not be rid of his betrothed except through divorce. . . If Joseph had died between the qiddushin and marriage, Mary would have been his legal widow. If, in the same period, another man had knowledge of her, Mary would have been punished as an adulteress. This engagement period usually lasted for a year and was as binding as marriage. Lenski notes, After the betrothal, the groom could claim the bride at any time. The legal aspect of marriage was included in the betrothal; the wedding was merely a recognition of the agreement that had already been established. Joseph had a perfect right to travel with Mary to Bethlehem. It was taken a lot more seriously than in our day. Even though the engagement was legally biding, and the couple was considered husband and wife, they refrained from sexual contact until the second stage of the marriage ceremony was fulfilled. 

Unblemished character of this young woman 
Mary was a virgin (27). She had integrity. In the passage before us Luke makes it very clear that Mary was a virgin, not just a girl, or maiden,  both before and after conception. She was sexually inexperienced. The word parthenos in this context means one who has not yet had sexual relations. The word means a young unmarried woman who had preserved the purity of her body. The meaning of this word is simple and self-evident. The miraculous element was in the manner of the begetting or conception of Jesus in Mary. Clearly the message to Mary was that Jesus was to be born of her without a human father. If the child to be born were Immanuel, God with us, He would have to have a very special entry into the world. How else could God incarnate be born? 

It is clear today that one cannot explain the virgin birth traditions as originating from pagan sources. There are simply no clear pagan parallels, writes Robert Stein. Moreover, The Jewish nature of the virgin birth traditions also makes this theory most improbable. On the other hand, if one is open to the possibility of God entering into history and being able to transcend the laws of nature, it is not difficult to believe that the God who raised His Son from the dead and empowered Him to do many mighty miracles could have sent Him into the world by the miracle of the virgin birth (The New American Commentary, Luke, pp. 81-82). 

Isaiah prophesied in 7:14, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. This is the wonder of wonder. It is God in the corporeal self-manifestation of Himself. He is a super-human person, God with us. The incarnation of deity, Immanuel would Himself be El, God. This child Himself would be God among His people, a characteristic of Him. (Cf. John 1:1-3, 14, 18; Colossians 2:9-10; John 14:14-20). 

God with us ought to be enough to astonish us, but the LORD told King Ahaz how He would pull it off. He told him a virgin will be with child and bear a son. Stop and think. A virgin will be with child and bear a son. Both in the usage and context of the passage support this translation very strongly. Reference is to something very unusual. It would not be unusual for a maiden to conceive, but a virgin would be a wonder. Such an act would be an encouragement to the faithful remnant of Israel. It would be a wonder of wonders such as had just been offered to Ahaz and he refused it. It would also be a condemnation of the faithless elements of the line of David. The context, if it makes any sense, requires a marriageable young lady of unblemished reputation, a virgin. 

The literal meaning of Luke 1:27 and Matthew 1:18 makes this fact clear that Jesus was born of Mary without a human father. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. It is obvious that Mary had not told Joseph that she was pregnant. The discovery became inevitable and it was plain that Joseph was in the dark. Joseph was shocked by the discovery and the next verse tells us he was ready to divorce her secretly. She was engaged to him and from that moment a woman was treated as if actually married. Such a promised marriage was dissolved only by divorce. Unfaithfulness was treated as adultery. Therefore, Joseph would have divorced her secretly if an angel of the Lord had not appeared and told him that which has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit (v. 20). Jesus had no human father. 

I have enjoyed in preparation of this study and I highly recommend Robert Stein on the Gospel of Luke (The New American Commentary, Luke (Nashville: Broadman Press). His section on the birth of Jesus is excellent. In a footnote he writes: Technically it is more correct to talk about the virginal conception than the virgin birth. Technically speaking, virgin birth refers to the Gnostic doctrine that Mary remained physically a virgin after Jesus birth, i.e., that her physical organs (the hymen) remained intact. The dangerous corollary of this doctrine is a docetic Christology. A Christ born in this fashion would have passed through the birth canal and hymen as a spirit would rather than as a flesh-and-blood baby would (p. 84). 

G. Campbell Morgan writes candidly, When presently the angel made to her the great and startling announcement that she was to be the mother of the messiah, without a moments hesitation, artlessly and honestly, the transparent simplicity of the woman is revealed when she said to the angel: How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? Then, when the angel answered that inquiry, and more than answered it . . . look at her once more. That quietly bowed head, and the words that passed her lips are again revealing; Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. 

Graced by God 
And coming in, he said to her, Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you. But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. The angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God (vv. 28-30). 

The angel Gabriel called her, favored one (Luke 1:28) meaning one who is enriched with grace. God chose her to bear His Son (vv. 31, 35). And coming in, he said to her, Greetings, favored one (woman richly blessed)! The Lord is with you. The true sense of the verse is, You are full of grace which you have received from God. Blessed are you among women is not in the oldest manuscripts. Scribes or a copyist added these words at a later date. They are however, found in v. 42. It is the free, divine, unmerited and undeserving favor of God bestowed upon Mary. It was unearned and undeserved. God chose her out of the graciousness of His heart. She found grace by the side of God, in close fellowship with Him. This is why God chose her. It is out of that relationship with Him that He chose her to be His servant. When God calls us to come and join Him in what He is doing it is out of that kind of fellowship with Him. 

The Lord is with you, is a statement of the mighty power of God being present and upon Mary. He will be the source of this great event and the security and protection in the difficult years ahead. She is merely the recipient of grace, not the dispenser of grace. Only God can bestow grace on anyone. Earl Ellis says, Mary is described as receiving grace, not as endowed with the power to give grace. She is favored by God to be the mother of the descendent of David, the Son of the Most High, the Messiah. 

Marys immediate response: she was upset and puzzled (v. 29). She was greatly troubled, or agitated as she pondered it. But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. Mary started wondering and continued wondering. She began to argue back and forth with herself until the angel calmed her down, Do not be afraid, Mary. 

You have found favor with God (v. 30). The word favor is the word for grace, and by the side of, in fellowship with. The idea of Gods kindness toward men is the idea here. The emphasis is on Gods sovereign choice, not on human acceptability, writes Stein. The critical issue is Gods gracious sovereign choice. There is nothing here to indicate that Mary was chosen for this task of bearing the Son of God because of any particular piety or holiness of life, merits of her own or anything she has done. She did not merit the privilege of being the mother of Jesus. She was a chosen vessel out of Gods grace just like He does with any other person to accomplish His eternal purposes. The stress is on Gods choice, not Marys acceptability. The emphasis of the original is that Mary found this favor with God long ago. It was all arranged in His plan far in advance. How short sighted we are when we look at Gods activities. 

THE PRIVILEGE OF BEING USED OF GOD (1:31-33) 
Mary will have the privilege of bearing Gods Son (v. 31). 
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. This is fulfilled in 2:21 (cf. Matt. 1:21). 

You will have a son and you will name Him Jesus (Iesous). Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua. He will be named after His Father. The original full form of His Hebrew name is Jehoshua or Yeshua. You will call his name JoshuaYahweh is salvation, Yahweh saves, Jehovah will save. God the Father named Him for He will be the One who will accomplish redemption. 

What this Son of Mary will accomplish is fulfillment of a prophecy given to king David a thousand years before (II Samuel 7:12-16; Isa. 9:7). Joseph and Mary were both of the house of David (Lk. 1:27). 

Jesus will save His people from their sins. (Cf. Matt. 1:21; Lk. 2:11; 1910; Jn. 3:16; 14:6; Acts 4:12; Rom. 10:9-10). 

Jesus greatness is unqualified greatness. 
He will be great (v. 32). He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David . . . What a contrast Jesus will be to all mankind who have fallen short of the glory of God. He will even be greater than John the Baptist, whose greatness was not absolute but qualified by in the sight of the Lord (1:15) (Stein). 

He is the Son of God 
He will be called the Son of the Most High meaning He will be the Son of God. The Son of the Most High is a parallel expression of Son of God. This is a clear designation of the Messiah because His messiahship should be interpreted in terms of His sonship (Rev. 5:5). 

The Lord will give Him the throne of His father David. He is the Messiah! 

His kingdom will have no end. 
He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end. The house of Jacob is another messianic description used to designate Israel (Ex. 19:3). Jesus is the long awaited King of Israel who will enjoy an eternal rule. This was the promise given to David in 2 Samuel 7:13-16 and put to song in Psalm 2:7; 89:4, 26-29; 132:12). Isaiah spoke of the coming king in 9:6-7, 

There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, 

On the throne of David and over his kingdom, 

To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness 

>From then on and forevermore. 

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this (v. 7). 

Luke is referring to the last Davidic King, the Messiah, who will reign forever and forever. Once His kingdom is established, it will never end. Jesus Christ enjoys an everlasting kingdom. The kingdom of God that is realized in the coming of Jesus and is to be consummated at the Parousia will continue forever, observes Stein. Jesus Christ is the Coming One hoped for and expected in the Old Testament, realized and proclaimed in the New who will reign forever and ever. He will always be the sovereign king. 

When weve been there ten thousand years 
Bright shining as the sun, 
Weve no less days to sing Gods praise 
Than when we first begun  John Newton. 

THE PLAN OF GOD (1:34-37) 
Marys response is this all sounds great, but remember there is one major problem. Mary said to the angel, How can this be, since I am a virgin? Literally. A man I know not (v. 34). Luke reinforces again this important fact to his reading audience. The word know is used to describe the sexual act in the Bible. 

Mary interprets the words of the angel meaning that she, as she was then, as a virgin, was to bear a son and call His name Jesus. Leave the question as it is, says Morgan. It is the cold, scientific, biological difficulty, bluntly stated. The first person to raise the difficulty was Mary. She was more aware of it than anyone else. The question How can this be? reveals to us something of the integrity of this young woman. Yet, this is the only way you can account for the person of Jesus Christ. 

God is not limited by the ordinary; He can do, and does do, extraordinary things; God is not imprisoned within that which men call the natural; but for His own purposes, He can act in a way men can only describe as supernatural, observes Morgan. This is Gods own special creative work through the Holy Spirit. Marys unique Son will come into this world as a result of the creative power of the Spirit of God. 

There is a big difference between Mary and Zacharias attitudes. Zacharias in unbelief, asked for a sign. Mary, timidly explained as simple fact, How can this be, I am a virgin. She doesnt ask for proof; she simply wonders about the process since she is the subject. Obviously, no sexual contact has yet taken place (cf. Matt. 1:25). 

Perhaps Luke is contrasting the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus. Since Jesus is greater than John, His birth must also be considered greater. If Johns birth was miraculous but Jesus birth was the result of a normal sexual relationship, then the whole parallel between 1:5-25 and 1:26-38 breaks down at this point. Jesus birth had to be greater than that of John the Baptist, and this requires us to understand His birth as a virgin birth (Stein, p. 84). 

The Godhead is involved in the miraculous conception of Jesus. Note how the whole trinity is involved (v. 35). The angel answered Mary and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. John the Baptist was filled with the Spirit from his mothers womb, but Jesus was conceived by the power of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit will come upon Mary to spark divine life in her human ovum. This conception will be unique. It has never before occurred, and will never again take place. 

The power of the Most High will enshroud her. Overshadow has the idea to envelope in darkness, with excess light, to cast a shadow. Remember the cloud in the Old Testament that symbolized the divine presence? Here the figure of the cloud of glory, Shekinah, represents the presence and power of God (Ex. 40:34, 38; Num. 9:15). The Holy Spirit will come upon Mary and overshadow her with His power, through which she will become pregnant. This active, creative, productive overshadowing presence of God brings about the conception within Marys womb. This pre-existent person was conceived by a direct divine act, without a sexual activity or substitute of any kind. 

Godet contrasted the birth of the Baptizer with Jesus suggesting the birth of John was due to a higher power, but the birth of Jesus . . . has the character of a creative act. In importance it constitutes the counterpart . . . of the appearance of the first man; Jesus is the second Adam. This birth is the beginning of the world to come. The apostle Paul wrote, Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned . . . . But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many (Rom. 5:12, 15). 

These expressions allude to the glory cloud that camped over the Israelites in the wilderness. We will encounter the cloud again in Luke 9:34 at the transfiguration. F. Godet in The Gospel of Luke, p. 93 writes: 

The Holy Spirit denotes here the divine power, the life-giving breath which calls into developed existence the germ of a human personality slumbering in Marys womb. This germ is the link which unites Jesus to human nature, and makes Him a member of the race He comes to save. Thus in this birth the miracle of the first creation is repeated on a scale of greater power. Two elements concurred in the formation of man: a body taken from the ground, and the divine breath. With these two elements correspond here the germ derived from the womb of Mary and the Holy Ghost who fertilizes it. The absolute purity of this birth results, on the one hand, from the perfect holiness of the divine principle which is its efficient cause; on the other, from the absence of every impure motion in her who becomes a mother under the power of such a principle. 

The holy offspring shall be called the Son of God for that is who He is. This is the only way to account for Jesus. Dont make apologies for believing in the virgin conception and birth of Jesus. Because Jesus was a very special person, Immanuel, He would have to have a very special entry into the world. 

I think it was Chuck Swindoll that suggested these excellent truths: 

 A natural savior provides no supernatural help. 

 A human savior offers no divine hope. 

 A sinful savior is really no savior at all. 

 God solves problem of our sin by providing a sinless Savior. 

The virgin conception as well as a virgin birth guarantees a sinless Savior. The virgin birth provided a sin free nature. The virgin birth provides a divine and a human nature. He is the God-man. Jesus conception was absolutely the only one of its kind. The Holy Spirit will come upon Mary and overshadow her with His power, through which she will become pregnant, writes Geldenhuys. 

By entering into human life as Jesus did, He was placed in the normal condition of man before the fall, therefore in a position to fulfill the goal God has for Adam before he chose to disobey. By volitional choice Adam should have advanced from innocence to holiness. He chose to disobey and brought depravity on every human being thereafter. Jesus, on the other hand, was freed from the depravity which owing to the manner in which He was born hinders us from accomplishing the task. However, Jesus had to exert His own free will, and to devote Himself continually to being obedient to the Fathers will. One of the most puzzling verses is Hebrews 5:8-9 which says although He was a son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered; having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation. The apostle Paul tells us He was obedient to the death, even death on a cross. We should praise and thank God every day of our lives that the Last Adam who could have made the same foolish destructive choices the first Adam made did not and was obedient to His Fathers commandment. Godet says, His miraculous birth, therefore, in no way prevented this conflict from being real. It gave Him liberty not to sin, but did not take away from Him the liberty of sinning. 

Campbell Morgan says the angel cleared up the mystery for us: 

The thing shall be done by the direct act of God, the power of the Most High, the Holy Spirit, wrapping thee round, overshadowing thee, producing in thy womb the Man-child; and also, by that same act, by that same energy, by that same force, the Holy Spirit overshadowing, that which is begotten shall be held from contamination with the sin of thy nature, and in human nature. It shall be holy. It shall have being in thy womb by the act of God; and it shall be held from contamination with the sinfulness of thy nature, by the same act of God (The Gospel According to Luke, p. 24). 

We should ever keep in mind that the laws of nature are not chains that bind the Divine Creator. They are, as someone suggested, threads which He holds in His hand and which He shortens or lengthens at will. The only thing that limits our acceptance of the virgin conception of Jesus is our view of God. The angel didnt say to Mary, nothing will be impossible, but nothing will be impossible with God (v. 37). Since that was true with Mary it is still true today. God has not changed. 

Stein strikes a note of warning: Attempts to interpret Marys words in this verse as expressing a vow of perpetual virginity . . . are incorrect. (Such explanations clash with Matt. 1:25, which implies that after the birth of Jesus, Joseph and Mary had a normal husband-wife relationship.) Both Matthew and Luke, as we have already stressed, clearly affirmed that Jesus conception was miraculous in that Mary was a virgin when she conceived. 

We enjoy the benefits of a sinless Savior who died for our sins to set us free. It was made possible by the holy offspring . . . called the Son of God (v. 35; Acts 9:20; cf. Rom. 1:3-4). Luke has carefully slipped us another messianic designation of Jesus. Son of God is essentially another synonym for the Messiah. Luke sought to show his readers that Jesus, who was already well known to them, was born in a unique way and was already Son of God, Christ, and King before his birth (Stein, p. 87). 

Dr. Luke declares with cool objectivity the historical fact that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin. If the One coming into the world is so sublime a figure, what more appropriate than that the manner of His coming should be miraculousand that not as a matter of Lukes poetic imagination, but (again) as a matter of fact? asked Michael Wilcock. 

God is planning to do the impossible (v. 36-37). 
And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God (vv. 36-37). 

The conception of John the Baptizer was in a sense miraculous. It was a miracle that this could happen to people well advanced in years. But it was not unique. However, the conception of Jesus was uniquely miraculous. It took place without the assistance of any human male. 

THE PRICE FOR BEING USED OF GOD (1:38) 
Mary said, Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word. Then the angel departed from her. 

There would be questions regarding Marys integrity. A. T. Robertson suggested, It is not unlikely that some sharp tongues in Nazareth made her feel the force of this biting slur. Old Simeons sword would piece her heart time and time again. And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposedand a sword will pierce even your own soulto the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed. (2:34-35). 

This was no simple flippant choice. She is being asked to bear a child as a virgin without being married. In standing up for God and His power, she will probably become the object of much doubt and ridicule. But Mary knows she is Gods servant, so she will allow God to work through her as He wills. He can place her in whatever difficult circumstances He desires, for she knows that God is with her, writes Bock. 

Mary had a submissive heart. She was obedient to Gods will. She left the timing up to God. Her attitude was one of humble obedience as His servant. She made herself available to Him and that is exactly what He wants of us. 

SOME ABIDING PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS 
Luke helps us to grasp the hand of God upon His servants. No one merits the opportunity to serve Him. It is freely of His divine choice operating under His grace. 

With privilege goes responsibility and there is often a price to pay. 
Mary paid a big price to serve God, but not as big as Jesus paid. He was obedient unto death, even to the death on the cross, not because He had done anything wrong, but because we have failed to live up to the glory of God. He was the innocent suffer, dying as a substitute for guilty sinners. 

When you serve God you must always get eternity in the picture. 
Mary saw things from Gods perspective. Ask God to help you see things from His point of view. Your problem, circumstances, or situation may be a gift from God. He is intimately involved with the details in your life. God owes us nothing; we owe Him everything. He is a God of grace. 

God always keeps His promises. 
He makes Himself available to you and He will provide all of your needs as you serve His eternal purposes. Luke 1:37, For nothing will be impossible with God. God does what He says He will do. When God steps into our lives we should rejoice and trust that He will do as He has promised. 

Where is God at work in your life today? 
Are you willing to be a Mary? Luke 1:38, Behold, your bondservant of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word. Mary reflects the person whom God unexpectedly chooses to use, says Bock. But those characteristics are the most basic ones anyone can offer God. So He puts her to use in His plan, taking her through a process for which she has had no training or preparation. He simply promises to be with her in the journey, and she responds by being willing to go on the ride. . . With Gods grace behind her, Mary knows that she can do what God asks. And so can we. Here am I Lord; use me, as You will. When we follow His leading He will always supply what is lacking. 

Do you have an attitude of submission to God? 
All that God asks is whole-hearted self-surrender. Mary is perfect example of unqualified submission to Gods will. 

This passage is a reminder that God offers to each person a fresh new relationship with Him that is far nearer than that of flesh and blood. It is an intimate, love relationship which belongs to those who confess to Him their sins and repent and believe on Christ as their Savior. Whoever shall do the will of God the same is My brother, and sister and mother, Jesus said. Are you next of kin to Jesus? You can be by asking Him to be your Savior. 



Be Blessed! 
Pastor Stephen 
__________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Inspirational 

The Dime... a beautiful Christmas Story 

Bobby was getting cold sitting out in his back yard in the snow. Bobby 
didn't wear boots; he didn't like them and anyway he didn't own any. The thin 
sneakers he wore had a few holes in them and they did a poor job of keeping out 
the cold. 

Bobby had been in his backyard for about an hour already. And, try as he 
might, he could not come up with an idea for his mother's Christmas gift. 

He shook his head as he thought, "This is useless, even if I do come up with 
an idea, I don't have any money to spend." 

Ever since his father had passed away three years ago, the family of five had 
struggled. It wasn't because his mother didn't care or try, there just never 
seemed to be enough. 

She worked nights at the hospital, but the small wage that she was earning 
could only be stretched so far. What the family lacked in money and material 
things, they more than made up for in love and family unity. 

Bobby had two older and one younger sister who ran the house hold in their 
mother's absence. All three of his sisters had already made beautiful gifts for 
their mother. Somehow it just wasn't fair. Here it was Christmas Eve 
already, and he had nothing. 

Wiping a tear from his eye, Bobby kicked the snow and started to walk down to 
the street where the shops and stores were. It wasn't easy being six without 
a father, especially when he needed a man to talk to. 

Bobby walked from shop to shop, looking into each decorated window. 
Everything seemed so beautiful and so out of reach. 

It was starting to get dark and Bobby reluctantly turned to walk home when 
suddenly his eyes caught the glimmer of the setting sun's rays reflecting off of 
something along the curb. 

He reached down and discovered a shiny dime. Never before has anyone felt so 
wealthy as Bobby felt at that moment. 

As he held his new-found treasure, a warmth spread throughout his entire body 
and he walked into the first store he saw. 

His excitement quickly turned cold when the salesperson told him that he 
couldn't buy anything with only a dime. He saw a flower shop and went inside to 
wait in line. 

When the shop owner asked if he could help him, Bobby presented the dime and 
asked if he could buy one flower for his mother's Christmas gift. 

The shop owner looked at Bobby and his ten-cent offering. Then he put his 
hand on Bobby's shoulder and said to him, "You just wait here and I'll see what 
I can do for you." 

As Bobby waited, he looked at the beautiful flowers and even though he was a 
boy, he could see why mothers and girls liked flowers. The sound of the door 
closing as the last customer left, jolted Bobby back to reality. 

All alone in the shop, Bobby began to feel alone and afraid. Suddenly the 
shop owner came out and moved to the counter. There, before Bobby's eyes, lay 
twelve long stem, red roses with leaves of green and tiny white flowers all tied 
together with a big silver bow. 

Bobby's heart sank as the owner picked them up and placed them gently into a 
long white box. "That will be ten cents young man." the shop owner said 
reaching out his hand for the dime. 

Slowly, Bobby moved his hand to give the man his dime. 

Could this be true? 
No one else would give him a thing for his dime! 

Sensing the boy's reluctance, the shop owner added, "I just happened to have 
some roses on sale for ten centsa dozen. Would you like them?" 

This time Bobby did not hesitate, and when the man placed the long box into 
his hands, he knew it was true. 

Walking out the door that the owner was holding for Bobby, he heard the shop 
keeper say, "Merry Christmas, son." 

As he returned inside, the shop keeper's wife walked out. "Who were you 
talking to back there, and where are the roses you were fixing?" 

Staring out the window and blinking the tears from his own eyes, he replied, 
"A strange thing happened to me this morning. While I was setting up things to 
open the shop, I thought I heard a voice telling me to set aside a dozen of 
my best roses for a special gift. 

I wasn't sure at the time whether I had lost my mind or what, but I set them 
aside anyway. 

Then just a few minutes ago, a little boy came into the shop and wanted to 
buy a flower for his mother with one small dime. 

"When I looked at him, I saw myself, many years ago. I too, was a poor boy 
with nothing to buy my mother a Christmas gift. A bearded man, whom I never 
knew, stopped me on the street and told me that he wanted to give me ten dollars. 

When I saw that little boy tonight, I knew who that voice was, and I put 
together a dozen of my very best roses. The shop owner and his wife hugged each 
other tightly and as they stepped out into the bitter cold air, they somehow 
didn't feel cold at all. 

May this story instill the spirit of CHRISTmas in you enough to pass this act 
along. 

Have a Joyous and Christ-filled season. 

~ Author Unknown ~ 

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Poetry Corner 

Jesus reached out 
His baby arms 
In the manger on Christmas Day 
Jesus reached out to feed the crowds 
The keen hunger to allay 
And he reached out to calm the storm, 
Lo! The winds and wave obey! 
Jesus reached out to a beggar 
Who said "Lord, that I may see." 
Jesus reached out, yet wider 
On the cross of Calvary. 
And still with love He reached out. 
Heed his calling. "Come to me." 

Write Unknown 

Be Blessed! 
Pastor Stephen 
+++++++++++++++++++ 

Let's take time for moments sweet 
Of quiet meditation amid the hurried 
Strain and stress of busy preparation 
For Christmas, Just to think of Him 
and breathe His Precious Name, 
And worship Him, God's Gift Supreme, 
Remembering why He came! 

Let us not get so involved 
In wrapping, tinsel, string, 
We fail to find the Gift and miss 
The most important thing 
The gifts we give So lovingly 
Will all dissolve someday, 
But Jesus Christ ----- 
God's Gift Supreme 
Will never pass away. 

Alice H Mortensen 


_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Bible Courses 

First Course 
-by Pastor Stephen Thurman 
Go to this url 

http://hoseaintercessorswarriors.bravepages.com/sitemap.html 

To Pastor Stephens bible study lesson # 4. Just scroll down the page and you will find it. Click on Hosea Harvest Study Course 1. It will take you to the course page Then click on lesson # 4 The Unforgiving Servant Matthew 18:21-35 or which ever lesson you are at. or you can go directly to the course page itselt at this url if that is easier for you http://hoseaintercessorswarriors.bravepages.com/hoseastudyindex.html 

Just go at your own pace This study is to get us all into the Word of God so we are fed and nourished in His word so we can better minister to others. I personally am doing these studies myself and find them to be so helpful to me. Sent your answeres to Pastor Stephens at prayerwarrior@caableone 

________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Second Bible Study Course 

by Pastor Danny & Sister Erma Sossman is below 

Lesson 4 in this Series of 5 Lessons 

(Copy & Paste the questions and fill in your answers & send to) 

pastor_danny_sossman@hotmail.com 
or 
by Snail Mail to: 
P.O.BOX 1987 
Pittsburg, Kansas 66762 

Your studies will be returned to you. 

Lesson begins here 

Introduction 

God Has A Warning For You 

Part Two 

26. Explain John 20:31. 

27. What does Acts 15:10 say about God? 

28. What is Jesus saying in John 10:7,8,9,and 11? 

29. What does John 10:10 say about the thief? 

30. Explain John 9:31. 

31. Explain Colossians 1:16-17. 

32. What does Colossians 2:8-10, warn you about? 

33. What does Colossians 2:18, say about Angels? 

34. What does Colossians 2:4, say about enticing words? 

35. What does Ephesians 6:12,say? 

36. 1John 3:8, says what about the devil? 

37. Explain 1John 4:3. 

38. Write out 1John 4:5, then explain who they are. 

39. Explain 1John 4:15. 

40. Give scripture___________ 
Should we always test everyone's spirit? 

41. Give scripture, __________, ___________, __________. 
Does God's word speak of Satan deceiving, and devouring 
us? 

42. 2John 7; 
What is said about deceivers? 

43. 1Timothy 4:1, says what about faith? 

44. What does 2corinthians 11:13-15, say about the 
Apostles for Christ, and Satan's ministries? 

45. Explain Jeremiah 23:1. 

46. Write out John 8:32, now explain, now back this up with scripture from John chapter's 7,8,or 9. Give scripture. 

47. Explain John 8:12. 

48. Explain John 8:24. 

49. Write out Matthew 22:14. 

50. What does Matthew 23:8, say about master? 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

For Those That Are ILL 

The Gift of Jesus 

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down 
from the Father of heavenly lights" (James 1:17, NIV). 

One Christmas, my Aunt Hazel, a dear, loving woman, gave 
me a pair of slippers that she had knitted. As a child, 
I never liked gifts of clothes. You couldn't play with 
them. They didn't stimulate the mind. They were boring. 
So when I opened this parcel in front of my aunt and 
saw these slippers, I turned to my mother and loudly 
proclaimed, "I told you I didn't want any clothes for 
Christmas!" My mother was mortified by my ingratitude. 

Sixteen years ago, I received another unwanted gift. 
This one came from God. The gift was chronic pain. 
Don't get me wrong. I don't believe that God caused 
my pain, but he has allowed it and He has done so for 
my own good. 

Being raised in a Christian home, I grew up knowing 
about Jesus Christ. But I knew of him just as I knew of 
the Beatles or Queen Elizabeth. I didn't know Him 
personally. Suffering changed that. In my anguish, I 
called out to the LORD. He answered, and there, in 
the midst of the pain, He revealed Himself to me in 
ways I never could have imagined. Where once I had 
only heard of God, now I had seen Him (Job 42:5). 

C. S. Lewis said that pain is the megaphone God uses 
to get our attention. It certainly got mine. Crippled 
and struggling through a dark night of the soul, I 
turn to God and He always responds. I could have gone 
on forever as a lukewarm Christian, never knowing God 
intimately. But the LORD loves me too much to let me 
stay aloof from Him. He wanted to draw me close to Him 
and He used pain to do it. Therefore, just as I came 
to appreciate those slippers lovingly made by my aunt, 
so, too, have I learned to appreciate the unwanted 
gift of pain because in the midst of it is the greatest 
gift of all, the gift of Jesus. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Mary Lou Cornish suffers from chronic pain syndrome 
and fibromyalgia. She lives in Canada. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* 
Compliments of Rest Ministries, serving people 
Who live with chronic illness or pain. 
Rest Ministries, Inc. 
http://www.restministries.org 
PO Box 502928, San Diego, CA 92150 
toll-free 1-888-751-REST (7378) 
copyright 2003 


______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Another Wonderful Inspirational Story 

JESUS REALLY LOVES YOU 
Every Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at their church, the Pastor and his 11-year-old son would go out into their town and hand out Gospel tracts. This particular Sunday afternoon, as it came time for the Pastor and his son to go to the streets with their tracts, it was very cold outside as well as pouring down rain. The boy bundled up in his warmest and driest clothes and said "Okay Dad, I'm ready." 

His Pastor Dad asked, "Ready for what? 

"Dad, it's time we gather our tracts together and go out." 

Dad responds, "Son, it's very cold outside and it's pouring down rain." 

The boy gives his Dad a surprised look, asking, "But Dad, aren't people still going to Hell, even though it's raining?" 

Dad answers, "Son, I am not going out in this weather." 

Despondently the boy! asks, "Dad, can I go -- Please?" 

His father hesitated for a moment then said, "Son, you can go. Here's the tracts; be careful son." 

"Thanks, Dad!" And with that he was off and out into the rain. This 11-year-old boy walked the streets of the town going door-to-door and handing everybody he met in the street a Gospel tract. After 2-hours of 
walking in the rain he was soaking bone-chilled wet and down to his very last tract. He stopped on a corner and looked for someone to hand a tract to but the streets were totally deserted. 

Then he turned toward the first home he saw and started up the sidewalk to the front door and rang the door bell. He rang the bell -- but nobody answered. He rang it again and again bit still no one answered. He waited but still no answer. Finally this 11-year-old trooper turned to leave but something stopped him. Again, he turned to the door and rang the bell and knocked loudly on the door with his! fist. He waited, 
something holding him there on the front porch. H e rang again, and this time the door slowly opened. Standing in the doorway was a very sad looking elderly lady. 

She softly asked, "What can I do for you, son?" 

With radiant eyes and a smile that lit up her world, this little boy said, "Ma'am, I'm sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU! I came to give you my very last Gospel 
tract which will tell you all about Jesus and His great love." With that he handed her his last tract, and turned to leave. 

She called to him as he departed, "Thank you, son! And God bless you!" 

Well, the following Sunday morning in church, Pastor Dad was in the pulpit and as the service began he asked, "Does anybody have a testimony or want to say anything?" 

Slowly, in the back row of the church, an elderly lady stood to her feet. As she began to speak, a look of glorious radiance came from her face. "None of you in this church know me. I've never been here 
before. You see, before last Sunday I was not a Christian. My husband has passed on, some time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world. Last Sunday, being a particularly cold and rainy day, it was even more so in my heart as I came to the end of the line where I no longer had any hope or will to live. 

"So I took a rope and a chair and ascended the stairway into the attic of my home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in the roof then stood on the chair and fastened the other end of the rope around my 
neck. "Standing on that chair, so lonely and brokenhearted, I was about to leap off when suddenly the loud ringing of my doorbell downstairs startled me. I thought, 'I'll wait a minute, and whoever it is will go 
away.' "I waited and waited -- but the ringing doorbell seemed to get louder and more insistent and then the person ringing also started knocking loudly. I thought to myself again, 'Who on earth could this 
be?! Nobody ever rings my bell or comes to see me!' "I loosened the rope from my neck and started for the front door, all the while the bell rang louder and louder. When I opened the door and looked I could hardly believe my eyes! "There on my front porch was the most radiant and angelic little boy I had ever seen in my life! His smile! Oh, I could never describe it to you! And the words that came from his mouth caused my heart, that had long been dead, to leap to life as he exclaimed with cherub-like voice, 'Ma'am, I just came to tell you that JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU.' "Then he gave me this Gospel tract that I now hold in my hand. As the little angel disappeared back out, into the cold and rain, I closed my door and read slowly every word of this Gospel tract. Then I went up to my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn't be needing them any more. 

"You see, I am now a happy child of the KING, and since the address of your church was on the back of this Gospel tract I have come here to personally say, 'Thank you to God's little angel who came just in the nick of time, and by so doing, spared my soul from an eternity in Hell.'" 

There were now no dry eyes in the church. As shouts of praise and honor to the KING resounded off the very rafters of the building, Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit to the front pew where the little angel was seated. He took him in his arms and sobbed uncontrollably. Probably no church has had a more glorious moment and probably this Universe has never seen a Papa that was more filled with love and honor for his son, except for one: This Father, God, also allowed His Son, Jesus, to go out into a cold and dark world. He received His Son back with joy unspeakable, and as all of Heaven shouted praises and honor to the King, the Father sat His beloved Son on a throne far above all principality and power and every name that is named. 

There may be someone, reading this, who is also going through a dark, cold and lonely time in their soul. You may be a Christian, for we are not without problems, or you may not yet know the King. Whatever the case, and whatever the problem or situation you find yourself in, and no matter 
how dark it may seem, I want you to know that I just came to tell you, "JESUS REALLY DOES LOVE YOU!" 

Be Blessed! 
Pastor Stephen 

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

The Star OF Bethelem and the Wise Men 



Christmas is not complete without the symbol and characters. The symbol is the Star of Bethlehem and the characters are the Wise Men from the East. This is the account of their journey: 

"Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him." -- Matthew 2:2 

"When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy." -- Matthew 2:10 

"And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." -- Matthew 2:11 

It is to be noted that the Star began to appear only after the birth of Jesus Christ. This Star guided the Wise Men from the East in their journey to find the Messiah born in a manger. 

Many people think that the Wise Men were three in number, and call them Mechor, Gaspar, and Baltazar. Some theologians identify them with their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. No such number and names are stated in the story as written in the Holy Bible. Watch how religious tradition can taint the scripture. 

The Guiding Star 

The Wise Men were guided by a Star. Look how God through His words can give life to His words. Is the Star an inanimate object in the following? 

NUMBERS 24:17 "I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob..." 

REVELATION 2:28 "And I will give him the morning star." 

REVELATION 22:16 "I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." 

It is very specific that the Star refers to Jesus Christ! Does not the star have light? Jesus Christ said, "I am the light." 

John 8:12 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." 

The Star guided the Wise Men in their journey. The Natural Man (1 Corinthians 2:14) with his literal-physical language only sees the story. The Spiritual man (1 Corinthians 2:16) sees beyond the story with: 

1 Corinthians 2:10 "But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? ... 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth...comparing spiritual things with spiritual." 

Following the direction of the word by "comparing spiritual things with spiritual," who is the guide in the following? 

PSALMS 32:8 "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." 

The Star led them to the right WAY. Did not Jesus say, "I am the way?" The Star, having light, guided the Wise Men in their journey to meet the young child, Jesus. Did many people, more particularly Herod, find the way to the child Jesus? 

Jesus Christ is the Word of God (Revelation 19:13). He is the TRUTH (John 14:6). Through the word of God, the wise men were led to the truth. The Star guided the Wise Men to the young child. The word of God guided the Wise Men to the elementary truth of the gospel! 

Perhaps the most elementary truth to the gospel is the identity of GOD, the Creator. Is there not only ONE GOD? Who is the God of Noah and Abraham? Who is the God of Peter and Paul? What is His name? Did not Jesus Christ say the recognition of the "One Lord and one God," the PREREQUISITE to the TWO GREAT COMMANDMENTS? How many people see the story this way? Many or only a few? 

Mark 12:29 "And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God...this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." 

The Wise Men 

Who are the wise men in the eyes of men? In the eyes of God? God says, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." God distinguishes spiritual from human wisdom. 

HOSEA 14:9 "Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them..." 

PSALMS 19:7 "...the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple." 
If many people see only three wise men, Jesus Christ, the light, has this to say. 

LUKE 13:29 "And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God." 

The story of the Wise Men from the East, therefore, is not just a simple story that happened in the past. It is a part of the word of God. The word of God never pass away. It is alive as God is alive, for God is the Word (John 1:1). Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and is the Word of God (Revelation 19:13). 
Maybe many people could hardly accept what our Lord said in the following: 

MATTHEW 11:25 "At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes." 

2 TIMOTHY 3:15 "And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." 

How could the great revelations of God be given to babies? How could anyone learn the holy scriptures from a child? The Natural Man sees this literally. Jesus Christ must be speaking His SPIRITUAL LANGUAGE. This jibes perfectly with what Christ said as the "passport" to heaven: 

MATTHEW 18:3 "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." 

The "wise" are the "little children!" Literally-physically? It must be spiritually, as our Lord called His disciples "little children" in the following: 

JOHN 13:33 "Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you." 
John the apostle also called the believers "little children." 

1 John 2:12 "I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake." 

The Wise Men who are the spiritual "little children," do not necessarily come from the East, but from the West, North and South. These are the chosen people of God from the different parts of the world, who have the characteristics of a "little child." A spiritual babe is one who cannot think on his own and who cannot do anything by himself in spiritual matters. This is the example shown by Jesus, the man, in relation to the Father. He was a spiritual "babe:" 

JOHN 5:19 "Then answered Jesus...unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself..." 

JOHN 5:30 "I can of mine own self do nothing..." 
JOHN 6:38 "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." 

On His own, Jesus said He knew nothing but everything came from the Father. This is the application of what James wrote regarding the acquisition of knowledge: 

JAMES 1:5-8 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." 

Who are the Wise Men in our time? In the eyes of men? In the eyes of God? 

1 CORINTHIANS 1:19-21 "...I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God.." 

1 CORINTHIANS 3:18 "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise." 

To people, the beginning of knowledge is the 
determination, craving, and perseverance to acquire it through human efforts. To God, it is the "fear of Him." 

PROVERBS 1:7 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge..." 

God is represented by His words. The fear of the Lord, therefore, is the fear to veer away from His words. One simple test: Is it in line with the word of God for any man to explain His words? Did Christs own apostles have the capability to understand His words without explaining everything to them? 

MARK 4:34 "But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples." 

Does any man have the competence to explain the word of God? If it were so, then Christianity should not have been divided into 1001 denominations! God speaks the truth. Could there be more than one truth in the word of God? 

Gods communication is expressed in parables. This is the SPIRITUAL LANGUAGE. Only God can and should decipher this language. The word of God is made alive by the great spiritual message it conveys. 

Wise Mens offering at the house 

MATTHEW 2:11 "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh." 

"And when they were come into the house." This must be referring to the "house of the Lord" where His ways are taught. 

MICAH 4:2 "...Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths..." 

2 CORINTHIANS 5:1 "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands..." 

The "house of the Lord" is the life of the real believer. It is in the life of the real Christian that Jesus, the TRUTH, is found. The Spirit of God is represented by the Truth: 

1 Corinthians 3:16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?" 

Gold 

If to man, gold is a precious metal; to God, it refers to His chosen few: 

JOB 23:10 "But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." 

Just as gold is a rare metal, so are Gods chosen only very few. Gold cannot be found everywhere, so are 
Gods people: 

JEREMIAH 3:14 "Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD...I will take you one of a city, and two of a family..." 

It is the Mining Engineer who knows where to find gold. So is God alone Who knows where His chosen people are. Gold is found in sand. It is separated from sand by panning in water. Sand symbolizes people. 

Romans 9:27 "...Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:" 

Water symbolizes the word of God. 

Ephesians 5:26 "That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word," 

So are Gods chosen separated from the people by the "action of the word of God." The people of God are not separated literally-physically from the people. They therefore maintain their usual lifes routine socially, economically, and politically. They are separated spiritually that, with the truth, they are no longer with them on matters pertaining to God. 

2 Corinthians 6:14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?... 16...for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you," 

Sometimes gold is found embedded in rocks. To isolate the precious metal, the rock is pulverized by hammering. 

Jeremiah 23:29 "Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?" 

The chosen people of God undergo some hardships and adversity in life. They learn later that this is the "process" of separating them from the rest of the people. Gold is mans precious possession. The chosen people are Gods precious possession. 
The gift of gold, therefore, is an offering of oneself to God. That is what the young child Jesus received as an offering from the Wise Men. Can anyone think of a better offering than that? 

Frankincense 

If gold represents an offering of oneself to God, how could this be done? In the Old Testament, God required His people to offer frankincense together with find flour and oil: 

LEVITICUS 2:1-2 "And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon...and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD:" 

Fine flour is physical food. The Word of God is the spiritual food. 

Jeremiah 15:16 "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart..." 

Oil represents the Holy Spirit that "quickens or gives life to the word." -- John 6:63 With the enlivened word of God in the life of the chosen, real spiritual worship is now possible. This is the spiritual frankincense that is "a sweet savour unto the LORD." 

How easy for any person to quote the verse on true worship: "God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." -- John 4:24 

What is the truth in spiritual worship? The general concept of prayer and worship is the use of the eyes by looking at images and statues; the lips by uttering the supplication and thanksgiving; hands and feet for the physical expression of the worshipper. 

Unknown to many people, this is not spiritual but sensual (of the senses) worship. People may get rid of the images and statues, as commanded, thinking that they are already worshipping God in spirit. They may worship God with all sincerity, pouring all emotion, thinking that they are already worshipping God in spirit. With this general concept of spiritual worship, how can anyone follow this command? 

1 THESSALONIANS 5:17 "Pray without ceasing." 

Human perception of the word of God, therefore, is refuted by what is written! "Worshipping God in spirit and in truth" is more than and beyond the general perception of the act. God would not have said "pray without ceasing" if it cannot be done by His chosen. It is more than the sensual (of the senses) and emotional expression as many are made to believe. It involves the very life of the chosen: physical and spiritual life. 

COLOSSIANS 2:6 "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:" 

GALATIANS 5:25 "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." 

Paul who followed the model, Jesus Christ, (1 Corinthians 11:1) demonstrated "praying without ceasing." The life of Paul is characterized by his "spiritual walk." 

Paul "prayed without ceasing" 

Paul, who was known as Saul of Tarsus, used to be a Pharisee. The Scribes and Pharisees did not recognize God whom they were worshipping. 

John 8:54-55 "Jesus answered...it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God: Yet ye have not known him..." 

In the eyes of Christ, the Scribes and Pharisees who did not understand His words, were in the congregation of the dead: 

PROVERBS 21:16 "The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall remain in the congregation of the dead." 

1 Corinthians 2:14 "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 

It was when Paul recognized Jesus as his Lord and God that he was healed from spiritual blindness. Paul received his "spiritual life." Before he thought it was enough to worship "one Lord and one God." 

Deuteronomy 6:4 "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:" 

However, he did not recognize that "One Lord and one God" until the following incident: 

Acts 9:3-5 "And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus ..." 

From then on, he began to understand what our Lord Jesus Christ was telling him. He was, therefore, delivered from the "congregation of the dead." He received a kind of life that his former associates, the Scribes and Pharisees, did not have. This is the "spiritual life" apart from his "physical life." Saul of Tarsus was "born again!" Paul was transformed from being a Natural Man to a Spiritual Man, who was then composed of two kinds of life: physical and spiritual life. 

1 Corinthians 2:16 "For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." 

It is difficult for a Natural Man to understand "spiritual worship" for he cannot understand "spiritual things." "Spiritual worship" encompasses the totality of the physical and spiritual life of a real Christian. These two kinds of life must "walk together:" 

Amos 3:3 "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" 

This is according to the "will of the Father," as the man Christ Jesus demonstrated. 

Psalms 40:8 "I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart." 

Ephesians 6:6 "Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;" 

Paul followed the example of Jesus Christ. For his spiritual life, he depended and relied fully on our Lord, as Jesus did to the Father. Can Jesus on His own do anything? 

JOHN 5:30 "Jesus said,...I can of mine own self do nothing..." 

The four Gospels are replete of this dependence of Jesus on the Father; so are all the Epistles of the Apostles on their reliance to our Lord. That is the "spiritual walk." That is the real spiritual worship without ceasing. That is"cleanliness in the inside," as Jesus Christ put it in rebuking the Scribes and Pharisees who accentuated the physical that only refers to the "cleanliness on the outside." 

For his physical life, Paul took the responsibility of sustaining it. Nowhere in the Bible can we find the apostles asking God for their material-physical needs. This is in contrast to the erroneous belief of putting this aspect of life in the hands of God. Paul worked as a tent maker as Jesus earned His living as a carpenter. "Doing the will of the Father" in the spiritual life automatically leads the physical life in doing the same. Thus, "cleanliness in the inside" precedes "cleanliness on the outside." The spiritual and physical life are in perfect agreement as they walked together towards spiritual perfection. This is the "spiritual walk." That is how Jesus Christ as example showed "praying without ceasing." His disciples followed that way. 

The life of Jesus Christ is a demonstration of spiritual worship. He showed that the real believer, indeed, can "pray without ceasing." It is not a sensual (of the senses), intellectual or emotional worship, as many people are made to understand. This kind of worship only leads to the stature of the proud Pharisee. 

MATTHEW 6:5-8 "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 
But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." 

How many people who have not heard the truth are guilty, one way or another, from what our Lord said about the misconception in prayer? Jesus Christ told the Samaritan woman about the truth in prayer: 

JOHN 4:21-23 "Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall...worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship... but the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him." 

Real Christians are surprised to know the truth in prayer. All along they were also in the dark like anyone else. Now, like the Wise Men from the East, they offer the spiritual frankincense to the child Jesus. This is the kind of worship the real Christians (from the East, West, North and South) offer, as they "meet" the elementary truth in the word of God. 

What is worship and prayer to all the religions of the world? Is it not sensual (of the senses), intellectual, and motional? The truth in worship, according to Christ, is SPIRITUAL! This is one point where religions deceive the soul. Christ put it this way: 

Revelation 12:9 "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him." 

Does the truth in worship restrict the real worshippers from expressing their spiritual to a more explicit form of worship? Jesus Christ demonstrated this before His apostles as He prayed in the garden of Gethsemane. The principle enunciated by Him, "cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also," equally applies in this instance. It is not the reverse as people are made to understand. 

Myrrh 

Myrrh is a resin or substance from certain plants that is very bitter to the taste. It is used as perfume and medicine. In taking His chosen people from Egypt, God commanded them to eat bitter herbs together with the unleavened bread: 

EXODUS 12:8 "And they shall eat...unleavened bread; and with bitter herbs..." 
If bread is the food for the body, spiritual bread is the food for the soul. The spiritual bread is the word of God: 

JEREMIAH 15:16 "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts." 

Unleavened bread is the unadulterated word of God. Leaven is the human precept corrupting the word of God. 

MATTHEW 16:6 "Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." 

MATTHEW 16:11-12 "How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees." 

Spiritual myrrh should always be included in the spiritual food. This is the spiritual medicine that will keep the chosen spiritually healthy. Spiritual myrrh as an offering is the acceptance of the chastening of our Lord. The offeror, thus, becomes a sweet savor to the delight of the Lord. 

HEBREW 12:5-8 "And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 

HEBREW 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." 
Job, already righteous in the eyes of men, still needed an offering of spiritual myrrh. Perhaps many Bible readers cannot comprehend why God had to try Job notwithstanding His praise for him before Satan. 

JOB 2:3 "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause." 

Unknown to many people, God saw one infirmity in Job. This is his self-righteousness, when he told God to tell him what wrong did he ever make to deserve such affliction. 

"Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?" -- Job 31:3 
"Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?" -- 
Job 31:4 

"If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;" -- Job 31:5 

"Let me be weighed in an even balance that God may know mine integrity." -- Job 31:6 

"If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;" -- Job 31:7 

"Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out." -- Job 31:8 

"If mine heart have been deceived by a woman, or if I have laid wait at my neighbour's door;" -- Job 31:9 

"Then let my wife grind unto another, and let others bow down upon her." -- Job 31:10 

"For this is an heinous crime; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges." -- Job 31:11 

Mans righteousness is never perfect before God. 

Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned, and come short of 
the glory of God;" 

Jesus Christ setting the example did not accept that He is good. 

LUKE 18:18-19 "And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God." 

And now here is Job claiming goodness before God: 

JOB 33:9 "I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me." 

Job forgot to be a "little child" in his relation with God. Did not God know what He was doing? Do we have the right to question Him? Is not everything for the glory of God, and ultimately to the chosen also? 

Look now if the bitter myrrh, as a spiritual offering, does not refer to the purification of gold, as God says in: 

MALACHI 3:3 "And he shall...purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness." 

Myrrh symbolizes chastisement; but watch for this. As Christ was nailed on the cross, He was given myrrh mixed in wine. He refused to drink it: 

MARK 15:23 "And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not." 

Our Lord by example refused to accept chastisement coming from men. These are the religious discipline in human doctrines. Chastisement must come only from 
God through His words. 

The Perfect Offering 

What other gifts can man offer to God but the offering of GOLD, FRANKINCENSE, AND MYRRH as the Wise Men gave to our Lord! Peter put it this way: 

1 Peter 2:5 "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." 


Be Blessed! 
Pastor Stephen 

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If any of you would like to contribute a short devotional , bible study, or testimony please forward it to Sister Phyllis at pcorbin@supercity.ns.ca or to Pastor Thurman at prayerwarrior@cableone.net All we ask is that you keep it in line with the Word of God We do reserve the right to edit it for length and content if needed. We are particularly looking for testimonies and praise reports of what God is doing in the lives of individuals that will bring glory and praise to Him. Be part of this newsletter and share with all of us . 

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