"We see, in many a land, the proudest dynasties and tyrannies still crushing, with their mountain weight, every free motion of the Consciences and hearts of men. We see, on the other hand, the truest heroism for the right and the greatest devotion to the Truth in hearts that God has touched. We have a work to do, as great as our forefathers and, perhaps, far greater. The enemies of Truth are more numerous and subtle than ever and the needs of the Church are greater than at any preceding time. If we are not debtors to the present, then men were never debtors to their age and their time. Brethren, we are debtors to the hour in which we live. Oh, that we might stamp it with Truth and that God might help us to impress upon its wings some proof that it has not flown by neglected and unheeded." -- C.H. Spurgeon . . . "If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:31, 32 . . . . .

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Tuesday, November 29, 2022

DEUTERONOMY 2 & 3: A REHEARSAL ON HOLINESS, A CALL TO FAITHFULNESS

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

DEUTERONOMY 2: “REMEMBERING GOD’S GOOD HAND IN YOUR LIFE” by Sonny Islas, check out the complete teaching here!

INTRODUCTION: As a way of reminder: Deuteronomy means “Double Law” or “The Law repeated.” At this point in the journey, Israel is at the finish line of the 40 years of wilderness wanderings and is at the starting line of the Promised Land. They are at the door, at the very borders of Canaan/aka Israel, across from Jericho, but, before they go in, Moses has a big brotherly talk with them.

He repeats the laws, and the wondrous works, and ways of God to this new generation because the older generation was killed off by God in the wilderness (except for Joshua and Caleb) for their rebellious, unbelieving, constant complaining, ungrateful, stiff necked attitudes towards God’s goodness.

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Sunday, November 27, 2022

CROSSING The T’s STUDY in TITUS – Biblical Precepts and Principles for Pastoral ministry: CHAPTER 3 & Conclusion

INTRODUCTION: The following instructions were given from Paul to pastor Titus, who in turn was to give them to the saints and most especially the elders. Such being the case, these admonitions are all about Christian conduct in relation to government, people in general, and most of all to the LORD; what the life of a disciple should look like as a result of that relationship with the Savior.

The apostle then reminds Titus of what Christians should avoid: things that engender strife and division, that hurts the body of Christ and therefore Christ Himself.

In these succinct verses, the epistle is concluded with indispensable knowledge and wisdom. Thus, words we ought to pay particularly close attention to.

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Tuesday, November 22, 2022

REDEMPTION, DEMON POSSESSION and the CHRISTIAN

~ By James Fire

INTRODUCTION:
We share this reality created by GOD with other intelligent beings. Folklore and modern day tales of extraterrestrial and, or magical beings cause us to ask the age old question: “Are we really alone in the universe?” It’s been with us since time immemorial.

The fact of the matter is, we are most assuredly not alone. However, these extraterrestrial entities are not extraordinary in the sense that they are biological beings that inhabit other planets in our universe and have come to visit us in “nuts and bolts” space vehicles. Rather, these are noncorporeal entities of evil, malevolent towards man, and completely corrupt in their fallen nature.

I’m speaking of the “angels that sinned” in a rebellion that separated an entire third of the heavenly host (REV 12:4) along with their leader (Satan; see LUKE 10:18) and were cast out of heaven though Satan himself is permitted a visit now and then (JOB 1:6).

And if you’re imagining fallen angels as devils in skin-tight red suits, horns, cloven hooves, tails with pitchforks, this image has more to do with medieval folklore than the Bible. In today’s vernacular you can think of them as non-corporeal, highly intelligent super-beings.

They’re extremely powerful, intelligent, ever and always conscious, never tiring in their activities, and are exemplary in holiness or in evil in their respective kingdoms.

Many equate “demons” with “fallen angels” along with “wicked spirits, evil spirits, unclean spirits”. I think the latter three terms could be applicable to both, but I don’t think that fallen angels are equivalent or synonymous with demons (though this isn’t entirely conclusive, I think the preponderance of indications warrant such a view).

We know GOD created all the heavenly hosts (and a third of them fell), but if demons are not angels, what are they and where did they come from?

They most certainly are not an archaic phenomenon observed by uneducated man who mistook psychological conditions for evil spirits; Scripture makes distinction between demons and physiological and psychological maladies (MATT 8:16).

I am firmly convinced that the events that took place in GENESIS 6, where the “sons of GOD” (bene ha Elohim)” cohabitated with human females resulted in a hybrid species (half angelic/half human) that were called the nephilim. When these bizarre creatures died, their spirits roamed the Earth, and are today called “demons”. For more on this, see this video.

As a result of their disembodiment, having lost the pleasures of sensuality, these spirits crave possession of bodies in order to satisfy their lusts (as well as using their hosts to promote and expand the kingdom of darkness as well as to degrade, damage and destroy their hapless host who was made in the image of GOD – which is why they hate us so much!). Satan’s MO has always been to “deceive, use and trash” his victims, these agents of evil.

Demon possession has been very well documented for centuries. A modern day scholar that has ample documentation of this phenomenon is Kurt Koch. William Peter Blatty documented the demon possession of a handful of souls and wrote about them in the now infamous book The Exorcist (the basis of the film with Max Von Sydow and Linda Blair).

The question on whether or not a Christian can be possessed by demons is the subject of this article, and some superficial (certainly not exhaustive) treatment on these bizarre entities. Before we get to the question at hand, there are some necessary preliminaries that must be laid down as the foundation of this discussion.

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Sunday, November 20, 2022

DEUTERONOMY 1: A REHEARSAL ON RIGHTEOUSNESS, A CALL TO FAITHFULNESS

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

DEUTERONOMY 1: “FINDING OUT WHO YOU ARE AND WHERE YOU ARE GOING” by Albert Lopez, check out the complete teaching here!

INTRODUCTION: Deuteronomy means “double law” or “repeated law” - This is where we will read about the next generation; we’ll get a history lesson on who they are, where are they going and most importantly Who’s taking them because that’s Whom they belong to.

How many of you remember doing current event articles while you were in school? In those articles you were told to include key things; such as answering The Who, What, Where, When, How and Why of the event being reported. This is important because we didn’t just have random facts but a paper that would make sense to any reader and most importantly to your teacher because our grades depended on it.

DEUTERONOMY 1:1-5
1 These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain opposite Suph, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab. 2 It is eleven days' journey from Horeb by way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea. 3 Now it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel according to all that the LORD had given him as commandments to them, 4 after he had killed Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who dwelt at Ashtaroth in Edrei. 5 On this side of the Jordan in the land of Moab, Moses began to explain this law, saying…


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Friday, November 18, 2022

HE Is OUR PEACE In the MIDST of the STORMS - Updated

To listen to this message as it was given at The ETERNAL LIVING WORD Church, click on this link.

Our once beloved nation was so blessed by the very same God that most people today spurn, and Whose Word is utterly rejected.

I don’t need to tell you how this nation lives sinful, self-centered lives, thumbs its nose at the Almighty (Who so blesses America still). Proud Americans who are virtually untouched by adversity and woe – so far! Yet, since the COVID 19 Plandemic as it’s been called, we are beginning to see the shape of things to come (
AGENDA 2030).

And the day is coming when they shall most certainly reap what they’ve sown! This reminds me of apostate Israel, when they had forsaken GOD in favor of the pagan false gods, and what the LORD said in response through His prophet:

HOSEA 8:7a
For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind…

GALATIANS 6:7
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatever a man sows, that he shall also reap.

Almost thirty years ago I and some friends began researching the now well-known phrase and phenomena, “The New World Order”. We had heard George Bush Senior’s speech that included this phrase when he spoke before the Congress at the beginning of our first war in Iraq (Operation Desert Storm/Shield).
“What is at stake is more than one small country; it is a big idea – a New World Order, where diverse nations are drawn together in a common cause to achieve universal aspirations of mankind: peace and security, freedom, and rule of law. Such is a world worthy of our struggle, and worthy of our children’s future” (Jan. 29th, 1991).
Adolph Hitler gave a similar speech about a New Order back on Jan. 30th, 1941. Fifty years before to the day, minus one!

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Friday, November 11, 2022

CROSSING The T’s STUDY in TITUS – Biblical Precepts and Principles for Pastoral ministry: CHAPTER 2


INTRODUCTION: Have you ever met a comedic combat soldier on the field of battle? Neither have I; such an attitude could prove fatal under such circumstances. The consequences are very sobering to think about.

Every soldier in the battle has the utmost of serious minds; they are wary, attentive, precautionary, defensive but not at the expense of effectively offensive measures.

The Christian warrior can’t afford to be any less; the consequences are eternal. Since Satan is still the (illegal) governor of this world (2 COR 4:4; JOHN 14:30), we are on the battle field of ‘planet Rhebyl’(pronounced “rebel”) We can’t afford to take our battle gear off, this spiritual armor afforded to us by GOD Himself.

So as we read about these issues for the church, let us understand that to walk uprightly – and soberly – is to walk in accordance with GOD’s will, walking in the Spirit, and having every piece of armor in place.

To not do so is to court danger and defeat.

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Tuesday, November 8, 2022

NUMBERS – From SINAI To The PROMISED LAND: Chapters 36 - Conclusion

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

NUMBERS 36: “KEEP IT IN THE FAMILY” by Sonny Islas, check out the complete teaching here!

INTRODUCTION: We are now at the very end of the Book of Numbers! Numbers 36. At this point in the narrative, The Twelve Tribes of Israel are at the threshold or doorway of Canaan (aka Israel) - the Land God Promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

The following Book which is the Book of Deuteronomy – which means Double Law or The Law Repeated is just that – the Law repeated. Seeing that the parents of all these Israelites died in the wilderness, they were going to need a reminder of God’s Laws – The Ten Commandments and all the wonderful things that the LORD had done for them and their parents. A solid reminder of God’s faithfulness etc.

We can call this chapter LAWS CONCERNING WOMEN HEIRS

NUMBERS 36:1-13
1 Now the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Joseph, came near and spoke before Moses and before the leaders, the chief fathers of the children of Israel. 2 And they said: "The LORD commanded my lord Moses to give the land as an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel, and my lord was commanded by the LORD to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. 3 "Now if they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then their inheritance will be taken from the inheritance of our fathers, and it will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry; so it will be taken from the lot of our inheritance. 4 "And when the Jubilee of the children of Israel comes, then their inheritance will be added to the inheritance of the tribe into which they marry; so their inheritance will be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers." 5 Then Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the LORD, saying: "What the tribe of the sons of Joseph speaks is right. 6 "This is what the LORD commands concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, saying, 'Let them marry whom they think best, but they may marry only within the family of their father's tribe.' 7 "So the inheritance of the children of Israel shall not change hands from tribe to tribe, for every one of the children of Israel shall keep the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.

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Friday, November 4, 2022

WALKING The COVENANT WAY: PART 3 of 8: the NOAHIC Covenant

~ by James Fire

By way of review from the article, 1 of 8, we have the following:

The Noahic Covenant was an unconditional covenant between God and Noah (specifically; GEN 6:18) and humanity (generally; GEN 9:9-17). After the Flood, God promised humanity that He would never again destroy all life on earth with a Flood (see GEN 9).
God gave the rainbow as the sign of the covenant, a promise that the entire earth would never again be flooded on a global scale; it also served as a reminder that God can and will judge sin (2 PETER 2:5).

A Suzerainty (a sovereign ruler, overseer) covenant: When the parties are not equal
the b’rith may become a disposition (1 SAM 11:1; EZEK 17:13-14) or guaranteed (JOSH 9:6,15; HOS 12:1) by the superior party. Often in Scripture there is the presentation of this frequent lack of two-sidedness. On the one side there are words like “to establish, to command, a statute” associated with the initiator and for the other, that is the beneficiary “to obey or to transgress it” (JOSH 23:16; JER 34:10).

B’rith often describes the legal relationship between GOD the LORD and man the servant. This is a sovereignly imposed injunction from GOD, legally binding according to His pleasure. Divine suzerainty covenants also involve redemptive, promissory elements…

Two b’rith found in JER 33:20,25 wherein GOD’s ordering of “day and night” is established and ZECH 11:10 regarding GOD’s breaking His b’rith with the people [of Israel], suggesting that GOD used to order the world history in favor of Israel (DEUT 32:8), but has now freed all peoples from such covenant obligation.*
*The LORD has opened the door for all people to be saved from the coming Judgment of GOD (ACTS 15:30; 10:34-35), via the New Testament in Christ, however it is the express view of TTUF that GOD’s covenants with Israel are by no means abrogated or annulled as some might suspect that the above text is insinuating. The Abrahamic, Davidic and New Covenant are all based upon the promise of GOD, the recipients (Israel for the first two, and Israel and the Gentiles for the last) only need to believe GOD’s promise by faith and the LORD will honor His covenants!
Then there is the situation that concerns GOD’s pre-redemptive arrangement with Adam, a b’rith (HOS 6:7) and it’s not inaptly styled “the covenant of works”. For though Eden exhibits no partnership of equals, and no voluntary mutual agreement was reached prior to GOD’s sovereign disposition, there yet existed a certain balance of obligations and benefits that were equally binding upon the two parties concerned. Never again has history witnessed such a situation with the exception of the life of the man Christ Jesus who was [is] the representative “last Adam” and who fulfilled all righteousness (1 COR 15:45).

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Wednesday, November 2, 2022

NUMBERS – From SINAI To The PROMISED LAND: Chapters 35

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

NUMBERS 35: “The KINSMAN GOEL is YOUR REFUGE” by James Fire, check out the complete audio teaching here

INTRODUCTION: Moses’ time is almost finished, and yet there are challenges for Israel right around the corner – one such challenge is Jericho.

But that’s a challenge that Joshua will answer. Just as with the apostle Paul who could confidently declare: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”, Moses could say the same. And just as Paul passed the proverbial baton on to Timothy, Moses will pass his to Joshua.

Yet the Lawgiver isn’t quite yet finished; there are some things for him yet to do (we still have to address the entire book of DEUTERONOMY, the fifth and last book written by Moses – a rehearsal of righteous reminders to the next generation of Israel.

For now, we will deal with the inheritance of the Levites, and these peculiar edicts that revolve around what’s referred to as “the cities of refuge” and as well as those, “the avenger”, or “the avenger of blood”.

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NUMBERS – From SINAI To The PROMISED LAND: Chapters 35

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

NUMBERS 35: “The KINSMAN GOEL is YOUR REFUGE” by James Fire, check out the complete teaching here! 

INTRODUCTION: Moses’ time is almost finished, and yet there are challenges for Israel right around the corner – one such challenge is Jericho.

But that’s a challenge that Joshua will answer. Just as with the apostle Paul who could confidently declare: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”, Moses could say the same. And just as Paul passed the proverbial baton on to Timothy, Moses will pass his to Joshua.

Yet the Lawgiver isn’t quite yet finished; there are some things for him yet to do (we still have to address the entire book of DEUTERONOMY, the fifth and last book written by Moses – a rehearsal of righteous reminders to the next generation of Israel.

For now, we will deal with the inheritance of the Levites, and these peculiar edicts that revolve around what’s referred to as “the cities of refuge” and as well as those, “the avenger”, or “the avenger of blood”.

Read more!
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