The MILLENNIUM: REIGN of the MESSIAH - Part Two: Beginning the New Testament Examination.

~ by James Fire

For the convenience of our readers, we began a revisitation of the New Testament Scriptures in summary fashion so that they may determine (not just on the basis of this study, but upon their own personal study to either confirm or deny the findings of this author) if the Millennial Reign of Christ is (1) still the destiny of the Messiah as the up and coming Holy Ruler on planet Earth in a physical, actual ruling over the nations from the nation of Israel and (2) If Israel is in fact likewise destined to receive such blessings as a result of her coming Messiah-King.

We started in the Gospel of Matthew and concluded the previous article with Ch. 21.
So, let us continue this most exciting and fascinating study! I don’t mind reminding you that as I pore over such Scriptures, it sets my heart racing with thrilling hope and intense longing to see such things transpire in our near future! 

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EPHESIANS: The Body of Truth and Love! Parts I and II Chapter 4:12-32

As we began this study in chapter 4:1-11, Paul was admonishing that the saints there in Ephesus, and all of us who are "the faithful in Christ Jesus" to walk worthily of the vocation wherewith [we] are called". With meekness and patience, and a forgiveness towards one another, we saints are commanded to "keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace". The scripture then went on to describe this unity in all its properties (vs. 4-6).

The remainder of the last study pondered the many gifts that God has granted to His body: spiritual men of God ordained as "apostles, prophets, evangelists and some pastors and teachers." This is where we concluded the last study, and thus, we pick it up in vs. 12.

PART ONE - (due to the rather lengthy nature of this study, I've divided it in half, please review part 2 as the LORD leads)

Any body will require nourishment in order to grow, and growth can be expected of any body. Bodies that can't assimilate nutrition or don't grow are ill, and in need of attention.

This is why any healthy fellowship will be one that is well fed spiritually. The dietary menu we have at our disposal is God's Word, from Genesis to Revelation, and nothing else! There are no other writings, books, texts or scriptures that are necessary, but in fact can bring tremendous harm and even ruin! For the healthy edification and growth of the body of Christ let us feed on God's Word, not on the artificial substances of mere man.

We should not be 'New Testament' Christians, for as it states in Romans concerning the Old Testament:

ROMANS 15:4
For whatsoever things were written [Old Testament] aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

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The TTUF STUDY on The REVELATION of JESUS CHRIST – Chapter EIGHTEEN

~ by James Fire

Introduction: In the preceding chapter (REV 17) I had made the following statements:
Babylon from its origin, the city of Babel “gateway to the gods” (read that, ‘fallen angels’) has as its own destiny, the glory of man through the agency of Satan, who is seeking his own glory by bringing Babylon to the fore in these last days. He will use this abominable system as an instrument of his diabolical design, whereby he will receive worship from “the earth-dwellers”, the people of this fallen world for a brief time period (of just three and a half years – the latter half of the tribulation period of “Jacob’s Trouble” lasting a total of seven years).

Here in REVELATION 18 (and 17) we have the culmination of corruption with its ecumenical evils that promote man’s way of worship over GOD’s prescribed manner (JOHN 4:23), and whose very anti-Christ spirit is being judged by GOD. The justification of her judgment is based upon her being drunk with “the blood of the saints”.

This culminating judgment on Babylon is seen for her immediate offenses made against GOD in the last days prior to the coming of Christ, as well as all of her offenses observed, from antiquity to the near future: from start to finish.

On the subject of this chapter (18) Dr. Scofield comments, 

“Babylon, "confusion," is repeatedly used by the prophets in a symbolic sense (See Scofield Note: ISAIAH 13:2), note 2. Two "Babylons" are to be distinguished in the Revelation: ecclesiastical Babylon, which is apostate Christendom, headed up under the Papacy; and political Babylon, which is the Beast's confederated empire, the last form of Gentile world-dominion. Ecclesiastical Babylon is "the great whore" (REV 17:1) and is destroyed by political Babylon (REV 17:15-18) that the beast may be the alone object of worship (2 THESS 2:3,4; REV 13:15). The power of political Babylon is destroyed by the return of the Lord in glory. (See "Armageddon," REV 16:14; 19:17). The notion of a literal Babylon to be rebuilt on the site of ancient Babylon is in conflict with ISAIAH 13:19-22. But the language of REV 18:10,16,18 seems beyond question to identify "Babylon," the "city" of luxury and traffic, with "Babylon" the ecclesiastical centre, viz. Rome. The very kings who hate ecclesiastical Babylon deplore the destruction of commercial Babylon.”

Let us not forget that the judgment on Babylon as seen in ISAIAH 13; 14 as well as JER 50; 51 is something to keep in mind. The things mentioned here haven’t been witnessed in all of history, strongly suggesting that these are yet future!

So let’s get into the study!

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EPHESIANS: Walking Worthily of the King According to Grace - Chapter 4:1-11

~ By James Fire

As we continue in this study of the Epistle to the Ephesians, we enter into chapter 4. Chapters 1-3 entailed a doctrinal review of such things as the divine origins of the church, the plan of salvation, a rich spiritual inheritance as well as resurrection; spiritual enlightenment by the power of the Holy Spirit, as well as the sealing by Him which secures the believer in Christ Jesus and His work of salvation in all of its aspects. 

This epistle emphasizes that our life as Christians is based on grace, not on works, as is our very salvation. Good works in our lives demonstrate and follow salvation; salvation is not derivative or based on our good works.
These first three chapters speak on the unity between Gentiles and Jews as one body in Christ; it elaborates on the divine purpose of God, both for Paul and for the church. The last half of chapter three comprises of another marvelous prayer by Paul for the church. 

Now we are ready to embark on the 2nd half of this journey, that is, the practical (compared with the doctrinal) aspects of the epistle. It should be noted that a 'head knowledge' of scripture, while useful, is ultimately meaningless, in fact it is damning, if such knowledge does not lead to obedience to Christ Jesus in 'living out' that which He has instilled in us (PHIL 2:12).

'Practice what you preach', 'walk the talk', that sort of thing: this is vitally important, for its in the obedience to the Word of God, that further revelation comes, thus greater understanding of the scriptures, which prompts us to further obedience. Such are the trademarks of our love for God.

In chapter four we have the following -

What the divine plan and purpose of God calls for on the part of the church.

The Unity of Believers:

In the Spirit - vs. 1-3
Seven unities mentioned - vs. 4-6
Diversity of gifts but unity in one body of Christ - vs. 7-16

Consistent Christian Life:

The believers walk:
Not as other sinful people - vs. 17-21
In newness of life, abandoning the old sins - vs. 22-32

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EPHESIANS: His Purpose; Our Passion! Chapter 3:10-21

~ by James Fire

Now we continue with the blessing of looking into God's Holy Word, and mining (in part) its depths to discover the treasure trove of this Divine Love Letter, written especially for US, accepted into the beloved!

Since we ended half way through chapter 3, we need to back up just a bit to recap the context. We finished up to and included vs. 10 so we can begin here.

EPHESIANS 3:10
To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Paul was addressing the "manifold wisdom of God" and how by such wisdom we have entered into "the fellowship of the mystery" (vs.9), that is, the mystery of Christ, and all of the spiritual dynamics that this encompasses. There can be no such "fellowship" apart from the blood atonement of Jesus Christ, Who was the true Veil rent (MATT 27:50-51; HEB 10:20), so that we may enter into the Holy of Holies, and there have fellowship with God as our heavenly Abba!
This verse tells us that angelic hosts in heavenly places, who have witnessed the glory and beauty, the wisdom and power of Christ for ages beyond telling, have a knowledge that is being imparted to the church, this "manifold wisdom of GOD". And yet there are deep mysteries neither heavenly host (1 PET 1:12) nor church have yet discovered, because the riches of Christ are "unsearchable" (EPH 3:8). It is our privilege, blessing and calling to search out these riches by the Spirit of grace and the light granted through the Word!
From vs. 10, we proceed onto vs. 11 (is that a gasp of shock I hear, due no doubt from the profound nature of my statement?) which declares the "eternal purpose . . . in Christ Jesus our Lord

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The MILLENNIUM: REIGN of the MESSIAH - Part One: Beginning the New Testament Examination.

~ by James Fire

We have traversed the length of the Old Testament in a thorough, yet hardly exhaustive treatment in examining what the Word of GOD has to say about the Millennial Reign of Christ. With the enormous weight of evidence (if one reads with a straight forward method of a plain, literal interpretation) of the Scriptures pointing to a time immediately following Christ’s arrival on planet Earth – after executing judgment upon the anti-Christ, the false prophet, the Beast’s various leaders, as well as the judgment of nations determined on how they treated the LORD’s brethren (the Jewish nation) during “the time of Jacob’s Trouble” and the banishment of Satan in the bottomless pit, of a thousand year reign – such evidence is extremely hard to ignore by the honest Bible student.

There are those however (and these with increasing numbers) who disparage a literal reign of Christ, come in His glorified flesh, to rule in Israel as her Messiah King, claiming that the LORD is already reigning on Earth in a spiritual sense, through His church.
Among these, there are those who deny that Israel has any further pertinence in the plan of GOD, having forfeited the promises that the LORD made to them when they rejected Jesus as their Messiah and had Him crucified.

They then conclude that any and all Old Testament prophecies predicting Israel’s future glory under the benevolence and sovereignty of the Messiah-King Y’shua are null and void (and even worse, try to apply those covenant promises to the church – a heresy known as Replacement Theology). It behooves us then to examine the New Testament Scriptures, especially those post-resurrection (after the rejection, crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Christ) and see if any such promises are still valid where Israel is concerned and the promised Kingdom of Israel that is associated with both the Abrahamic covenant as well as the Davidic covenant.

Such New Testament verses that verify the promises of the Old Testament are strewn throughout the Old Testament TTUF study which you can read here (all twelve parts). 

For the convenience of our readers, we will revisit the New Testament Scriptures in summary fashion so that they may determine (not just on the basis of this study, but upon their own personal study to either confirm or deny the findings of this author) if the Millennial Reign of Christ is (1) still the destiny of the Messiah as the up and coming Holy Ruler on planet Earth in a physical, actual ruling over the nations from the nation of Israel and (2) If Israel is in fact likewise destined to receive such blessings as a result of her coming Messiah-King.

So, let us begin this most exciting and fascinating study! I don’t mind telling you that as I pore over such Scriptures, it sets my heart racing with thrilling hope and intense longing to see such things transpire in our near future!

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EPHESIANS: Mystery From the Messiah - The Church - Chapter 3:1-10

~ By James Fire

We will now return to the study in the book of Ephesians!
We begin with chapter three of this marvelous book that Paul the Apostle wrote to the church at Ephesus, but also "to the faithful in Christ Jesus." (EPH 1:1) Is this book then applicable to you and I? Are we faithful in Christ?

If you find yourself lacking in faithfulness, bring it before the One who loves you supremely; He can work this good fruit into your lives; sow the seed of God's Word into your heart, be diligent in prayer in this matter, yield to His power by the Spirit who alone can empower us to obedience, then march out in faith, trusting that He will in fact perform this good work in you (PHIL 1:6; EPH 2:10)!
Paul continues to elaborate on the body of Christ, which is the holy habitation, the building of God, of which each and every saint is a "living stone" but then he takes it a step further; "Paul the prisoner of Jesus Christ for [us] Gentiles" starts out in vs. 2 in speaking of "the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward":

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The TTUF STUDY on The REVELATION of JESUS CHRIST – Chapter SEVENTEEN

~ by James Fire

Introduction: The BIBLE can be seen as a “Tale of Two Cities” which thematically are polar opposites: Jerusalem and Babylon. Jerusalem is the city of GOD, literally “the city of peace (shalom)” and whose destiny is the glory of GOD through the Messiah, the PRINCE of PEACE, Who is destined to rule the world from this “city of David” as its capital, for a literal thousand year period.

Babylon from its origin, the city of Babel “gateway to the gods” (read that, ‘fallen angels’) has as its own destiny, the glory of man through the agency of Satan, who is seeking his own glory by bringing Babylon to the fore in these last days. He will use this abominable system as an instrument of his diabolical design, whereby he will receive worship from “the earth-dwellers”, the people of this fallen world for a brief time period (of just three and a half years – the latter half of the tribulation period of “Jacob’s Trouble” lasting a total of seven years).

Babylon, or specifically, the spirit of Babylon is fiercely opposed to the saints of GOD; no doubt at the Tower of Babel, their ungodly ways was an extreme offense to the saints of GOD (Noah and his family), and certainly the opposite was the case as well.
Throughout the length and breadth of Scripture, every false religious and pagan system was an enemy to GOD and His people (the type established even before the Tower of Babel was the martyrdom of Abel (by his brother) who offered by faith an acceptable sacrifice to the LORD as opposed to Cain, who offered a sacrifice wholly unacceptable to the LORD (GEN 4).

With the dispersal of the people of Babel, due to GOD’s confusion of their one world language into a multiplicity of such, the promotion of the false religious system originating there was spread across the globe, reinforced and established – and thus the way was prepared for the persecution of the saints who alone would be worshiping GOD “in Spirit and in truth” (JOHN 4:24) and defy the mysticism of this world-system.
Here in REVELATION 17 (and 18) we have the culmination of corruption with its ecumenical evils that promote man’s way of worship over GOD’s prescribed manner, and whose very anti-Christ spirit is being judged by GOD; the justification of her judgment is based upon her being drunk by “the blood of the saints”.

While this culminating judgment on Babylon is seen for her immediate offenses made against GOD in the last days prior to the coming of Christ, there is an inclusion of all of her offenses observed, from antiquity to the near future: from start to finish.

The judgment on Babylon as seen in ISAIAH 13 and 14 as well as JERE 50 and 51 can be seen from the time when Israel was decimated by that nation (as GOD used Babylon as the means of Israel’s chastening, yet nevertheless was judged for persecuting His people). 

What is seen in these two pairs of Old Testament chapters is a wholesale ruination of Babylon; yet history tells us that Cyrus the Persian took Babylon without a battle – but through cunning and subterfuge: the city wasn’t even aware that their government had fallen until sometime thereafter!

While lessened in important through the centuries, Alexander the Great during his own reign of the Greek Empire used it as his second capital. Thus, much if not all of the destruction (rather than a mere wasting away of a domain due to the long passage of time and neglect) we read about in ISAIAH and JEREMIAH must yet be future, as is of course REV 17 and 18.

There may well then be an immediate application for Babylon (an actual city in Iraq today that has some rather fascinating implications) in current events that will play out during the time of Tribulation.

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EPHESIANS: Aliens No More - One In Christ - Chapter 2:11-22

~ by James Fire

We now continue in our study of the book of Ephesians, and will conclude chapter two. Last time we ended at vs. 10, and so we will pick it up at vs. 11 and on to the end (vs.22).

There is a lot of controversy today in our government and our nation regarding illegal aliens, and there is a push for amnesty among these; that with a stroke of a pen, some 18 million illegals could become citizens without due process (an excellent way to tear down national identity and sovereignty by the way). Without touching this extremely hot topic, I simply use it to illustrate a point:

We were once strangers, aliens as it were to God; truly alienated from God, separated from the Almighty by our sin (ISAIAH 59:2). Yet we have become citizens of His glorious kingdom, indeed - born into the family of God and forming an entirely new race, a new nation and a new life unto eternity! And this was conducted not with some legal contrivance and the stroke of a pen, but rather by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ our LORD! Not with ink on some legal document, but by the blood of the Lamb on a Cross!
And everyone and any one who desires to come to God may do so, freely, through His Son Jesus Christ. Repentance and giving over the rights to one's own life, surrendering them and oneself over to the LORD and receiving by grace His gift of salvation is all that's required.

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EXODUS – GOD’s MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE of ISRAEL FROM EGYPT – Chapter ELEVEN

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire

Complete Study of Exodus by pastor Chuck Smith 

EXODUS 11: “How did we get Here?” – by Albert Lopez, Facebook video.

INTRODUCTION: The Lord had given Pharaoh a command from the mouth of Aaron and Moses. Moses didn’t come out and say You have to let the people go because I’m Moses the anointed of God All mighty. No Moses who as we have heard was the most humble man, in fact we can see how humble in Numbers. 12:3 “Now the man Moses was very humble, more than any person who was on the face of the earth.” 

I don’t know about you, but I consider such a compliment to be very dangerous because it is easy for anyone to get a big head and add a big ego with a side of I am so great. However, Moses was probably the second humblest man that ever lived; second to Jesus our Lord. 

What makes this verse we just read about Moses’s humbleness more powerful is that in the previous verses we read how Aaron and Miriam spoke against him and were challenging him saying does God only speak through you? What makes you so special? I don’t know about you, but I can’t say that I would have reacted in such a humble way. I’m sure those words hurt Moses and more coming from his brother and sister right? However I’m sure that in the back of Moses’s mind were the words we find in the Bible for the battle is not yours but God’s.

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EPHESIANS: The QUICKENED Chapter 2:1-10

~ by James Fire

As was previously outlined in Chapter One, we saw much in the way of doctrinal truth expounded upon by the apostle Paul. These scriptures spoke of our being born into God's family (vs. 3 "in Christ"; vs. 4 "in Him"; "accepted in the Beloved" vs. 6); as well as receiving a "predestined inheritance" (vs. 11, 14, 18). 

It was stated that the Holy Spirit is "the earnest" (down payment) of our redemption and that the fullness of this redemptive plan will ultimately be realized by the LORD Himself (vs. 13, 14) and also that we as Christ's church are enabled to receive spiritual enlightenment and understanding, not through secretive, hidden knowledge and wisdom carefully guarded by  esoteric societies, such as the Gnostics or through any sort of scholastic 'higher' education from the minds of mere humans but by the direct influence of the Holy Spirit, the LORD Jesus and our heavenly Father (vs. 17-18). 

The chapter closes with an examination of the power that we, as the body of Christ, His church possesses, in and through Him who was raised from the dead (vs. 19-23).

We now continue in Chapter Two by similarly outlining its content:

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COME OUT FROM AMONG THEM – A Call To The Last Days Church for Sanctified War

~ By James Fire

In the first epistle of Paul to the church of the CORINTHIANS, the apostle spoke to the saints in specific terms:

1 CORINTHIANS 1:2-6
2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's: 3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

“Sanctified in Christ Jesus” – being set apart, to be made holy (hagios Strong's Greek: 37. ἁγιάζω (hagiazó) -- to make holy, consecrate, sanctify (biblehub.com) in the Greek); the saints are not of this world (JOHN 17:14,16), but of the LORD, being born of His Spirit and are His children (JOHN 1:12-13).
It’s not that we should be taken out of the world itself (JOHN 17:15), for were that the case, how could we let the light of the LORD shine from our lives as “a city that is set on a hill” (MATT 5:14)?
Yet we are protected from its evil and corrupt influences as the Father keeps us (JOHN 17:15).

The monastic life among Catholic mystics sought for isolation, exclusion from society, but this was never GOD’s intent for the church. The very word ‘church’ is from the Greek ekklesia and since we are the “church of GOD” we are called out of this world in the sense of not partaking of its evil, but to live for the LORD, because we belong to Him (kyriakos) and are separated from the world in a moral and spiritual sense. 

EPHESIANS 2:2-6
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Paul the apostle admonished the Corinthian saints not to keep company with those who only claim to be disciples of Christ and yet walk disorderly in fornication, covetousness, idolatry, drunkenness, etc. (1 COR 5:9-11) but not that we shouldn’t have interaction with sinners, because again, they need the light that we have, and so we must have that interaction for the sake of the Gospel, without letting their influences affect our walk with JESUS. 

He kept company with sinners to show the Light that is Himself (MATT 11:19; JOHN 1:4) and yet kept Himself separate – sanctified, set apart morally and spiritually from sinners (HEB 7:26).

We have the Father ably keeping us, His children from being adversely affected by the world; yet this doesn’t protect the Christian who is actively seeking out the world and any of its desires, pleasures, and intoxicating sin, that is truly, spiritually toxic! A good example of this would be a misguided Christian seeking out occult spiritual experiences; because they are meddling with things that are strongly opposed to in the pages of Scripture, they are not invulnerable to the spiritually debilitating effects that such interaction would promote.

This is why we read this admonition throughout Scripture – “to come out from among them and be separate” (2 COR 6:17). This is accomplished not by distancing ourselves physically, but by living lives in absolute contradiction to the way that the lost of this world live theirs; to live in this darkened world as lights in such a perverse generation as we’re witnessing today: 

PHILIPPIANS 2:15
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

In these near-future days, we Christians here in America are very likely (barring the rapture of the church) going to experience some serious challenges, including persecution, perhaps prison time, lawsuits, church closures and even more alarming things.

Therefore, this is A Call to the Last Days Church for Sanctified War – spiritual war that is “blameless and harmless” to the sinner but adamantly seeks the defeat of the enemy, the rescue of lost souls that are Satan’s P.O.W.s and the rallying of the church to do great exploits in the army of the LORD that will see increasing strength for the fight as we increase in practical, daily sanctification!

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EXODUS – GOD’s MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE of ISRAEL FROM EGYPT – Chapter TEN

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire

Complete Study of Exodus by pastor Chuck Smith 

EXODUS 10: “Every Holy Hoof” – by James Fire, Facebook video.

INTRODUCTION: We are nearing the time of the Exodus of Israel, the very act of GOD that delivered the children of Israel from Egypt, that has become the name of this book: Exodus., “departure”.
When we became Christians, we were sanctified and set apart; we were baptized into the body of Christ and became part of the church – the ekklesia, who are the separated ones. We had a spiritual exodus – a departure from the spirit of this dark, sinful, rebellious world that is an enemy to GOD. As it says in:

EPHESIANS 2:2
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

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EPHESIANS: Paul's Powerful Prayer for the Body of Christ Chapter 1:15-23

~ by James Fire

In this concluding segment of chapter One of the book of Ephesians we receive a prayerful message from Paul the Apostle. Judging from the content of his prayer, I'd say he was one serious prayer warrior! Imagine what it would've been like attending prayer meeting with Paul the Apostle?

Wow! His prayers are as powerful as his teachings, and I think there is a connection here; let me explain: A Preacher of Power is also a Preacher of Prayer! Anyone who desires to be powerful in their preaching and, or teaching must spend time in prayer, closeted with the Author of the Book. One can have acquired all the schooling, and knowledge of the Biblical languages, and learned from the best of the biblical scholars; all of this is meaningless without Holy Unction, and Divine anointing.
This can ONLY be cultivated by relationship with our precious LORD, and by a life consecrated to Him with a heart of obedience as our chief love and adoration. It's been said before: The LORD doesn't want to be number one on a list of ten. He wants to be number one on a list of ONE!

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EPHESIANS: Inheritance and Indwelling Chapter 1:7-14

~ by James Fire

The following are expositional studies from the book of EPHESIANS as published at FROM the MIND of FIRE. This version has been edited and revised from its original content.

EPHESIANS 1:10-11
That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ . . . even in him:
In whom also we have obtained an inheritance . . .

We completed the first seven verses of Ephesians chapter one, and here we continue to pursue this incredible study and by God's Spirit, plumb the depths of this rich and lush epistle, teeming with spiritual truth!

EPHESIANS 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Redemption is 'to purchase back' and in the actual Greek, can imply to 'buy out of the market place'. Slaves, those in debt, and those conquered in war time were purchased in the market place in ancient cultures.

Certainly we were slaves to sin, indebted by such to a Holy God, whose Law we have transgressed and thereby deprived Him of His rightful rule in our lives as LORD. Instead we've been ruled and thereby conquered by sin nature; and have proven helpless to free ourselves from this bondage. This is why we were once the children of disobedience, children of darkness, those who are ruled by the god (ruler) of this world (system), that is Satan (see EPH. 2:2 and COL. 3:6; also EPH. 5:5-8; 1 THESS. 5:5 and lastly 2 COR. 4:3-4 and ROM 6:16-22): it has to do with our sin nature.

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THE WORLD AND THE CHURCH: WHERE ARE THEY HEADED? - PART THREE

The following is from The BEREAN CALL, unedited, unabridged. You can read this article from TBC by following this link. This is such an important message I felt compelled to share this with all of you. Please feel free to share with others! 

December 1, 2020 

~ by T. A. McMahon

The Bible is God’s direct communication to mankind. From Genesis to Revelation we are told how God’s creation began and, later, how the earth will be replaced with a new heaven and new earth (Revelation:21:1). 

The Bible also tells us of significant events that have taken place (e.g., man’s disobedience, Christ’s birth, crucifixion, and resurrection to reconcile mankind to God) and what will take place (the Rapture of the church, the Great Tribulation, and the brief establishment of the religion and kingdom of the Antichrist*) just prior to the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The focus of this three-part series has been eschatology, which is what Scripture declares about the last days when Jesus will return to set up His 1,000-year reign on the earth.
* See the following RPC article on the person of the anti-Christ:

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A TTUF STUDY in EPHESIANS: Born Into God's Family: Introduction and Beginning of Chapter 1:1-7

~ by James Fire

The following are expositional studies from the book of EPHESIANS as published at FROM the MIND of FIRE. This version has been edited and revised from its original content.

EPHESIANS 6:19
And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.

One of the two books I've been looking at for an online study is the epistle of Paul to the Ephesians; for the past two weeks or so I've come across different passages here and there in my goings about, and these have all been verses from this book, and they've spoken quite powerfully!

So I thought I'd whet my whistle a bit and do a short series on this book, beginning (of course) with chapter one. But first . . .

SOME BACKGROUND -

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The TTUF STUDY on The REVELATION of JESUS CHRIST – Chapter FIFTEEN & SIXTEEN

~ by James Fire

Introduction: Talk about “the judgment of GOD” and you’ll get many disapproving glares, scoffs, and, or ridicule from the world; or even among professing Christians. This world hates the idea of judgment from GOD, but let a judge dismiss someone that committed a crime against them, and they’d balk - - loudly!

Our GOD is a GOD of truth, and therefore also a GOD of justice; yet the idea of justice can be quite relative in this fallen world (just as truth has been for generations now). Commit the same crime in different countries and you’ll be judged with varying degrees of severity based on their own rule of law.
This is not the case with GOD’s justice however, which is the twin of GOD’s truth: both are immutable, both are eternal, both are resolute and represent His nature with absolute perfection. 

Without GOD’s judgment – murderers like Hitler, Stalin, and others, along with abortionists that have slain over 70 million babies in the USA alone; agnostics who fight fiercely to remove any mention of GOD, whether on our money or in our schools, and every other worker of lawlessness such that exalt evolution as science, and other ungodly philosophies, derailing the faith of professing Christians – would go unpunished.

The world likes to remind us that GOD is love and would never condemn anyone to an eternal punishment! Such is their perverse, lop-sided view of GOD. Yes, GOD is the very embodiment of love, a love unequalled anywhere: the Cross is evidence enough of this – where sinners find grace, forgiveness of sin and love. 

And it’s also at that same Cross where we see the holiness and justice of GOD – because Christ suffered the vengeful wrath of a Holy GOD on our behalf (ISAIAH 53), Who views any rebellion against Him as blatantly evil.
The world in the vast majority spurns the Cross of Christ, the Eternal emblem of the LORD’s love expressed for fallen humanity. I’ve heard atheists say that they wish they could see this ‘fictitious Jesus’ show up for real, just so that they could crucify Him a second time!

Since they reject this offer of salvation and escape “the wrath to come” through Christ’s atoning sacrifice on our behalf (1 THESS 1:10), they will meet the undiluted, unrestrained, unstoppable wrath that will be poured out upon the world that will be under the reign of anti-Christ.

Yet even this fierce wrath of GOD will be finally spent, never to be seen again (REV 20:11-15 – REV 21:1-2). Once these last seven plagues are administered to the anti-Christ and his followers, the Second Coming of Christ occurs, and there is the judgment of the Beast and the false Prophet, the consignment of Satan to the bottomless pit, and the judgment of nations (that will receive either commendation or condemnation based on how they treated Israel (MATT 25:32) during the time of Jacob’s Trouble (JER 30:7). 

There will, I’m sure, be episodes of sporadic judgment upon the nations during the Millennial Reign such as upon those who refuse to go up to Jerusalem to worship the Messiah King (ZECH 14:16-19), but the most awesome and terrible judgment won’t occur until after the Millennial Reign, once the old heavens and old earth pass away and all that is seen in the fathomless emptiness of space will be the Great White Throne (REV 20:11) commencing holy judgment, where hopelessly lost sinners will be condemned for eternity in hell, all because of their wholesale rejection of Christ!

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THE WORLD AND THE CHURCH: WHERE ARE THEY HEADED? - PART TWO

November 1, 2020

~by T. A. McMahon

In Part 1 we looked at what the Scriptures tell us will take place in the end times just prior to and including the return of Jesus Christ. 

Our focus was primarily on the world—that is, those who have rejected biblical Christianity, Jesus Christ, and the way of salvation that He has provided for all those who are willing to accept it. We noted that those who rejected Christ’s way for mankind to be reconciled to its Creator turned to mysticism in the form of pantheism. They replaced the true and living God, our Creator, with themselves (Romans 1). 

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EXODUS – GOD’s MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE of ISRAEL FROM EGYPT – Chapter NINE

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire

Complete Study of Exodus by pastor Chuck Smith 

EXODUS 9 – by Sonny Islas, Facebook video.

INTRODUCTION: We are now going to cover the 5th, 6th and 7th plagues found in Exodus 9. Due to Pharaoh’s brazen pride, the LORD continues to turn up the heat in order to humble Pharaoh and to make His person and power known to the world.

God is here showing his fierce anger against idol worship which is really demon worship (Duet. 32:17 speaking of idol worship says, “They sacrificed to demons, not to God,”). God is also relentlessly proving that He alone is worthy to be exalted.

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THE WORLD AND THE CHURCH: WHERE ARE THEY HEADED? - PART ONE

The following is from The BEREAN CALL, unedited, unabridged. You can read this article from TBC by following this link. This is such an important message I felt compelled to share this with all of you. Please feel free to share with others! Part Two will be published soon!

THE WORLD AND THE CHURCH: WHERE ARE THEY HEADED? - PART ONE
October 1, 2020

~ by T. A. McMahon 

The title raises an important question that underscores the importance of knowing biblical eschatology. First of all, what is biblical eschatology, and second, why is it necessary to have a correct understanding of it?
Biblical eschatology is what the Bible says about the End Times—all that it declares will take place. How do we get a correct understanding of it? Very simply, we need to read what the Bible has to say about it. We can also read some books written about biblical eschatology, but they must be held up to the light of Scripture.

The Bible is a history book of the world—from the beginning of the world’s creation to its ending, when it will be replaced by new heavens and a new earth. Why will it be replaced? Because after its creation, something went terribly wrong.

God, our Creator, has communicated to mankind selected details regarding His creation, which He declared to be “very good.” After Adam and Eve were created, He gave them a commandment, which they disobeyed. The consequences of their disobedience brought sin into the world, corrupting all of creation.

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EXODUS – GOD’s MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE of ISRAEL FROM EGYPT – Chapter EIGHT

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire

Complete Study of Exodus by pastor Chuck Smith 

EXODUS 8: FROGS, LICE AND FLIES – by Sonny Islas, Facebook video.

INTRODUCTION: I never thought I would title a message “Frogs, lice, and flies” but here it is. We will continue to see what our great God can do. His clear message to Pharaoh, the Egyptians, the Israelites, and us here tonight is “I AM God and there is none like Me!”
Though Yahweh being the LORD of Host - with trillions of mighty angels ready for war at the snap of a finger, here He decides to use frogs, lice, and flies to get the job done.
God is using the very things that these Egyptians worship to humiliate, frustrate, and overthrow them! God is teaching them and all of us here today that the worship of idols, things, stuff, creatures etc. will only harm us in the end. God will turn those things on us for the worse and not for the better.

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EXODUS – GOD’s MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE of ISRAEL FROM EGYPT – Chapter SEVEN

GOD BEGINS HIS JUDGMENT ON EGYPT 

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire
Complete Study of Exodus by pastor Chuck Smith 

EXODUS 7 – by James Fire, Facebook video.

INTRODUCTION: GOD is the ultimate orchestrator, organizer, and powerhouse. Consider the stars in our universe: our own sun, which is 109 times the diameter of the Earth (the sun can contain about 1.3 million Earths!!); Rigel is about 50 times larger than our sun; Antares is about 50 times the size of Rigel (250 times the size of our own sun). What about VY Canis Majoris, the largest star on record – how big is this star? About 1,500 times the size of our own sun! 

All of these stars along with all the rest in our universe (that amounts approximately to 1 septillion or a 1 with 24 zeros after it by the way) are moving anywhere from almost 500,000 mph to approaching 2 million mph!

Imagine the kind of precision and power, and organizational skills, as well as impeccable timing and coordination to keep this universe operating the way it does.
When it comes to timing, GOD’s timing is perfect, absolutely flawless – far, far better than a Swiss watch! Far better even than an atomic clock that keeps time so accurately that is goes off by only 1 second every 100 million years! GOD’s timing is even better than that!

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ALTAR OF THE ALMIGHTY – Part Two of Two

Meeting in the Sanctuary of PSALM 22 and ISAIAH 53

~ by James Fire

Abraham, the one that Scripture refers to as “the friend of GOD” was called upon to offer up his son, Isaac. Undoubtedly, this would be an extreme test for any loving father, but more so for Abraham, because it was first of all, his only son (at least the only one that GOD recognized, discounting Ishmael as a son of promise, but a work of the flesh (self-will) see GAL 4:28-31), and the only means by which the LORD would fulfill His promises to Abraham, as there were no other sons.

It was in Abraham’s obedience by faith, that he came to realize that the LORD would simply have to raise Isaac from the dead once he killed him. Yet, he never had the chance – GOD stopped him and pronounced Abraham’s faith as true and genuine.
Previously, he was asked by Isaac about the sacrifice that he intended to offer up to the LORD and Abraham’s response is telling:

GENESIS 22:8
And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

Not, “GOD will provide for Himself” but rather “GOD will provide Himself” – and we know Who the LAMB of GOD is, don’t we?

This is why I believe that Abraham saw in a vision what would transpire on Calvary, some thousands of years later – the death, burial, and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ:

GENESIS 22:14
And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen. 

What was it that would be seen? That which I believe God revealed to Abraham on that mount where he offered up Isaac - that there would come a day when another Father would offer up His Son as a sacrifice on the Altar of the Almighty (JOHN 3:16; 8:56)! Let us know look into this chapter from the book of ISAIAH.

We have to backtrack a bit into chapter 52 to get the full scope of this Messianic prophecy:

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EXODUS – GOD’s MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE of ISRAEL FROM EGYPT – Chapter SIX

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire

Complete Study of Exodus by pastor Chuck Smith 

EXODUS 6 – by Sonny Islas, Facebook video. 

INTRODUCTION: EXODUS 6 - GOD PROMISES FREEDOM
In Exodus 5 during Moses’ first encounter with Pharaoh, Moses tells Pharaoh “Thus says the LORD God of Israel: let My people go (Pharaoh became comfortable with the idea of Israel being his property), that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.”

God wanted to get alone with His people in order to introduce Himself to them and for them to enjoy His company, but ultimately for them to joyfully worship Him who is worthy (of all worship and honor and glory).

Pharaoh refuses and decides to double down on the Israelites’ slave labor and workload – “make bricks without straw!” (I know masonry work firsthand – not easy work to begin with). Pharaoh was far more concerned with his power and economy than the worship of the LORD. Pharaoh pridefully asks, “Who is the LORD?” To which I say, “He will introduce Himself soon, with plagues to prove His power over you, Pharaoh and your false gods!”
Moses becomes extremely discouraged by Pharaoh’s refusal and cold-bloodedness towards Israel and returns back to God and basically blames God for Pharaoh’s cruelty towards Israel.
Let’s pick up where we left off last week:

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EXODUS – GOD’s MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE of ISRAEL FROM EGYPT – Chapter FIVE

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire 

Complete Study of Exodus by pastor Chuck Smith 

EXODUS 5 – by Albert Lopez, no Facebook video available.

INTRODUCTION: So Aaron and Moses are reunited as Pastor James went over with us. Even the people were in. they listened to them and bowed down in worship to the Lord. So now it’s time for the showdown between a little god Pharaoh and the one and only God Yahweh. 

God will be using his chosen servant Moses and Aaron, who are going to the Pharaoh to relate … not a suggestion or a request, even if it may have sounded like a request to Pharaoh. It was an order from the Most High in response to hearing the cry of His people. This would be the beginning of many more confrontations as Moses and Aaron would learn.

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In Case of National Emergency, Read This - by pastor Shane Idleman

 

~ by pastor Shane Idleman - May 4, 2020  

Special Note: My book, IF MY PEOPLE, is available as a free download at Smashwords here.

It’s no surprise that we are witnessing the rapid deterioration of a nation right before our eyes. As a result, many are struggling with fear and anxiety and uncertainty, yet, God offers hope . . . tremendous hope. Therefore, I’m re-releasing this article in anticipation of massive civil unrest to help steer us in the right direction.

I recently had the privilege of speaking to our church audience from 2 Chronicles 7:14. Both messages can be heard here and here. The sacred text says, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Note that it does not say, “If Hollywood or Washington or the media turns to God,” but “if My people” turn.

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ALTAR OF THE ALMIGHTY – Part One of Two

Meeting in the Sanctuary of PSALM 22 and ISAIAH 53

~ by James Fire

HEBREW 7:11-28
11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? 12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. 13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar. 14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood. 15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life. 17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. 18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof. 19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. 20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:
21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:) 22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. 23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: 24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. 28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

We devote this article to the utmost of sacred sacrifices, the supreme and paramount of omnipotent sacrifice that secured the propitiation for sin for the sake of the entirety of humanity.

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SHOW CASE SALVATION – Examination of JAMES 2 and 1 JOHN 2 PART Two: 1st JOHN Chapter 2

~ By James Fire

Webster’s dictionary definition of a “show case” is as follows:
“1: a glazed case, box, or cabinet for displaying and protecting wares in a store or articles in a museum 2: a setting, occasion, or medium for exhibiting something or someone especially in an attractive or favorable aspect”

Think of your typical Harvest festival, where farmers gather from miles around and display the best of their crops; pumpkins, squash, apples and pears – what have you. They put them on display for the admiration of those gathered as well as for a demonstration of their skills as husbandmen.

The LORD likewise intends for the fruit of the Holy Spirit to be displayed in our lives in ‘Show Case’ fashion, to demonstrate the work of salvation – for the admiration of those who have no such fruit and create in them a hunger for such (MATT 5:6).
The LORD intends such growth in us to display the handiwork of His holiness; to reveal we who are saints, who have the favor of the LORD, and in whom He has instilled such spiritual traits of the truly saved. He displays us intentionally before the world so that they can see what He has to offer, and to see His virtues and thus the LORD is glorified (or hated – by the world).

Any fruit grown will reveal what sort of tree it’s grown from; we know an apple tree by the apples it bears; likewise a pear tree or orange tree. How can we tell a tree of righteousness (ISAIAH 61:3) apart from a tree that is not of the same kind? 

By the fruit of righteousness it bears (PHIL 1:11; HEB 12:11; JAMES 3:18).
No fruiting tree bears immediately of course; and until that time, the casual observer typically can’t tell these trees apart or even from those that don’t bear fruit at all. However, the time does eventually come when fruit is born. The tree is then known by its fruit.
Spiritually speaking, what happens to those trees that don’t bear good fruit? Scripture speaks plainly of this; John the Baptist said:

MATTHEW 3:10
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire.

And the LORD Jesus confirmed this:

MATTHEW 7:18-20
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

There is the fruit of repentance (LUKE 3:8); the fruit that evidences salvation (MATT 13:23); fruit that justifies giving the Kingdom of GOD to those who shall inherit it (MATT 21:43). This fruit brings the characteristic of holiness into one’s life with everlasting life, as a promise to such that bear it (ROM 6:22). The very fruit of the Spirit of GOD is something we will be looking into later (GAL 5:22-23; EPH 5:9). 

Fruit is something to be expected in the life of a true believer (PHIL 4:17); fruit that is readily observable: COL 1:6,10). This spiritual fruit is ‘fertilized’ as it were, through the very wisdom of GOD that sows this seed through the Word (JAMES 3:17). All of this good fruit is in contrast with those who are certainly not partakers of the salvation of GOD through the LORD Jesus Christ:

JUDE 1:11-13
11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

So with this introduction, let’s begin:

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The JOY of the LORD is OUR STRENGTH

~ by James Fire

We finished only a few weeks ago the ON THE BRINK Prophecy Conference and it was a blessing wasn’t it (We'll have a series of articles accompanying the videos of this coming soon!)?

Always, whenever we look at the signs of the times, how they are beginning to come to pass we look up, for our redemption draws near, and we’ll be seeing JESUS soon! And that is the ultimate reason for our joy!

There are those who avoid prophecy conferences – because it’s all “doom and gloom” they say. Not for the Christian, really: because these signs reveal He is coming back, any day now, and the anticipation is thrilling!

For those who are lost; or playing some cheap plastic Jesus game, sure: these things are full of doom and gloom, because what’s about to happen, and what will be happening in the not too distant future is going to be terrifying.
Even for us Christians – we don’t know the time of the rapture, and so we could, potentially speaking, experience a great deal of these times of trial and tribulation (not the Great Tribulation) but times of trouble and persecution. The LORD told us that any who intend to live godly, to expect such things, right?

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EXODUS – GOD’s MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE of ISRAEL FROM EGYPT – Chapter FOUR

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire
Exodus 1-5 by pastor Chuck Smith

EXODUS 4 – by James Fire, for the Facebook video, go here.

INTRODUCTION: Chapter Four could really be considered Chapter Three – Part Two; because it picks right up from where Chapter Three ends; this is a reminder to us that just because we finish one chapter and begin another, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the start of a new subject, as you would expect in a text book or even a novel. The Chapters as well as the verses were added to our Bibles in the 15th and 16th centuries, so that we may conveniently locate any particular text.

So, by way of a quick review, let’s remember what Chapter three was all about:
The chapter opens with Moses in “the backside of the desert” – not exactly a complimentary location – and for forty years – with sheep (not his own, but his fathers-in-law’s). This was a prince of Egypt that was accustomed to literally, the royal treatment. Now instead of Egyptian servants catering to his every need, he tends to the needs of these sheep – wild and wooly company, indeed!
As pastor Sonny indicated, GOD took forty years to get Egypt out of this man. GOD replaces that in Moses that is unusable with meekness and faith, conditioning the man to become pliable putty and usable in His Almighty hand.
Incidentally – that is a good prayer to pray regularly: “LORD, keep me usable”.

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Things As They Are: SEPT 2020 newsletter by Greg Reid - Perilous Times

Dear Friends,

I trust and pray you are staying strong and knowing that Jesus is with you through all things. This truly is a time of everything being shaken. But we have an unshakable Kingdom!

One of the difficult parts of this time is that it is almost impossible to talk about anything that is happening without it being politicized, and you risk misunderstanding if you take a stand on an issue. But it is so clear to me that we are witnessing one of the greatest wars in the heavenlies we have seen in my lifetime. And why should we be surprised? 

If we know we are in the final hours, it makes sense that Satan would unleash every power in hell against believers. It is so much bigger than politics. The answer is Jesus. The answer is transformed lives in Jesus. 

But we have entered a unique time (for us) where the hostility to Jesus, and believers, is so visceral in the media and out in the streets that it is shocking. I’ve been in street evangelism for most of my life. And you expect some negative reactions. I was with brother (David) Wilkerson in San Francisco, and we hit every subculture in the city in a week. Some welcomed us. Some were mocking. Some were indifferent. And only in one place did I experience raw hate, and that was in the gay district. I got punched hard in the mouth. By God’s grace, I did not react but was able to give a Holy Spirit, loving response. 

Mostly, people considered street evangelists like the cartoon guy with the sandwich board that says, “The End Is Near,” and they are ignored. That has changed. Now believers are being targeted like never in our history as a nation.

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Prove All Things!

by A.M. Kisly

We would like to take the opportunity to announce that we have created a new page that will provide resources specific to the New Apostolic Reformation.  This page is listed under the Apologetics tab.

"The New Apostolic Reformation, or NAR, is an unbiblical religious movement that emphasizes experience over Scripture, mysticism over doctrine, and modern-day “apostles” over the plain text of the Bible. Of particular distinction in the New Apostolic Reformation are the role and power of spiritual leaders and miracle-workers, the reception of “new” revelations from God, an over-emphasis on spiritual warfare, and a pursuit of cultural and political control in society. The seeking of signs and wonders in the NAR is always accompanied by blatantly false doctrine." - from gotquestions.org 

I just wanted to quickly address a growing concern among our followers. I have been observing more and more posts regarding spiritual warfare and language that strongly resembles the false teachings by NAR/Dominionist proponents, and their Word - Faith counterparts in our social media groups.  

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EXODUS – GOD’s MIRACULOUS DELIVERANCE of ISRAEL FROM EGYPT – Chapter THREE

Exodus 1-5 by pastor Chuck Smith 

Contributing commentaries by pastors Sonny Islas, Albert Lopez and James Fire

EXODUS 3 – by Sonny Islas, for the Facebook video, go here. 

INTRODUCTION:
I would like to begin by sharing two brief thoughts: 

1. Regarding the great wildfires in California (and the West Coast in general)  - On Sunday, I said that “I don’t doubt that God’s hand is in the record-breaking wildfires in California.” The reason why I said this was because as you, the Church in California is being harassed – gathering to worship the LORD in a church house is banned. And one of the first things that came to mind was how God sent Moses to tell Pharaoh to “let His people go” and “sacrifice/worship in the wilderness.” 

Pharaoh refuses (like Governor Gavin Newsom) and God sends judgment. In my humble opinion, a similar scenario is most likely happening in California. I believe that Old Testament scenarios serve as examples for us today in regard to how God deals with people and situations like these. 

I can’t say for sure that California’s wildfires are God’s judgment, but it sure does looks like it. Either way, let’s be praying for our fellow Americans in California – for their safety but even more for true repentance and saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Now, I’m sure that God is pleased with most churches being closed in California due to false doctrine etc. But there are many good fellowships that should be open in order to freely worship God together in person (HEB 10:25).

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OUR THREE ENEMIES: PERSECUTION By Satan, the Flesh and the World

~ By pastors James Fire, Albert Lopez and Sonny Islas

The disciple of Christ upon entering into the kingdom of GOD as a citizen, via the born again experience through faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, becomes an instant target for the great enemy of GOD, the church and humanity in general. He employs every means at his disposal to ruin the Christian, whether directly, or by his influences over the world and the lures and enticements our sinful flesh is attracted to.

Just as we have these three enemies to face on a daily basis (Satan, the flesh and the world), we have three Allies as well: The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Let’s examine each of these three enemies and learn of them – because to know your enemy in any warfare is always wise. Included in the study of these three enemies, there is an accompanying Facebook video at the end of this article.

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The TTUF STUDY on The REVELATION of JESUS CHRIST – Chapter FOURTEEN

~ by James Fire

Introduction: Before we get into this chapter, let’s take a closer look at what we saw previously in Chapter Thirteen, using the book of DANIEL as our lens:

DANIEL 9:25-27 states the following:
25 Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. 26 And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined. 27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

What we learn here is that the Beast is the one who “confirms the covenant” – and since this deals with the temple, sacrifices and oblations, this can be none other than the Mosaic covenant. This is for “one week (shavuim)” or seven years. It’s three and a half years in, that he stops the whole thing and commits “the abomination of desolation” (MATT 24:15; DAN 12:11).
So, what does “confirm” mean here? The Hebrew word used is gabar and it’s defined as follows: “to prevail, have strength, be strong, be powerful, be mighty, be great; to confirm, give strength to confirm (a covenant); to show oneself mighty; to act proudly (toward God)”

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