"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 . . . . .

BOOKMARK AND SHARE

Bookmark and Share

Wednesday, May 31, 2023

STUDY In The Book of NEHEMIAH – PART SIX TRIUMPH by TRANSFORMATION

INTRODUCTION: The account of Nehemiah’s prayers for Jerusalem and his people, his petition to the King of Persia, the preparations he made in gathering the necessary materials and finances, as well as the actual rebuilding of the walls of the city of Jerusalem and the interior structures, and the completion of the work has been witnessed in these first three chapters. The remarkable names of the workers, and places mentioned and their meanings in Hebrew are greatly significant as they relate to the work of the LORD as we have also seen.


Now in chapter Four, we are backtracking to the work of rebuilding and what happened while the Jews were intent upon their GOD appointed labors. Sanballat and Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites were intent on mocking, discouraging, threatening and a willful attempt to invade the city in order to kill the Jews.

Obviously, Satan and his human agencies will always attack the work of GOD, and the saints who are commissioned to His work. It’s been said that the church that GOD is moving most powerfully in will have among those who attend, Satan himself.

Any work of GOD, including revivals of the saints, will most assuredly have our adversary present in an attempt to “muddy the waters” and cause any effect among GOD’s people to come to nothing. If he hopes to keep his blind, poor slaves within his kingdom of darkness, their chains secured, he must prevent the saints from the holy work of rescuing such lost souls from their slavery.

Yet the LORD Himself told us that “the gates of hell shall not prevail” against His church. Gates being defensive are established to prevent the offensive attacks of the enemy. So as the church of Jesus Christ, we are to have an offensive, not a defensive stance in regards to the enemy.

We’ll observe some crucial actions by Nehemiah. His competent examples that we can implement in our own spiritual warfare!

Read more!

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

DEUTERONOMY 23: A REHEARSAL ON HOLINESS, A CALL TO FAITHFULNESS

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

DEUTERONOMY 23: Who is Allowed In The Assembly of the LORD by James Fire; check out the complete teaching here!

INTRODUCTION: Let’s remember that Israel provides for us some insights that we may learn from. This chapter deals with the sanctification of Israel, GOD’s own nation that was to be set apart from the Gentile nations. We likewise as the church are to set apart from the world as GOD’s other “holy nation” comprised primarily of Gentiles – and some Jews, making of the two one new body, classified spiritually as neither Gentile nor Jew but one new man (EPH 2:15).

Read more!

Monday, May 29, 2023

TTUF TOPIC # 4: What About Church Life? PART 2 of 3


GOD has granted members of the church with special giftings that are used for the blessing and equipping of the church at large, for the work of the ministry:

EPHESIANS 4:11-13
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors, and teachers; 12 For the perfecting [equipping] of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:


Notice the order in which these members are listed: apostles are first, then prophets, then evangelists and pastors and teachers.

Read more!

TTUF TOPIC # 4: What About Church Life? PART 1 of 3


Fellowship, the body of Christ and ministry of the members.

For a four part series, see the following “A STUDY ON ACTS 2:42” on doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread (Communion – Lord’s Table) and prayer (links to parts 2-4 are included in part 1.)

Fellowship in secular terms means “an association, a league, a club, a union with common interests”. This is true as well in Christian terms, but it’s also an action word. You could think of it as ‘sanctified socializing’ or ‘a holy hanging out together’.

Read more!

Saturday, May 27, 2023

The MESSIAH KING and His Relationship with the ROMAN Government

The mentality of the Jewish leaders and teachers 2000 years ago, was one of expectation for the Messiah coming to Israel, in order that they might find freedom from the oppression of the Roman Empire.

As expected, the Messiah did come, by not in the manner that they expected: they wanted a warrior Messiah, a fierce and valiant warrior like Joshua or David; they wanted the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, but what they got was the Lamb of GOD – not what they wanted, but what they needed.

The LORD was far more interested and dedicated to providing freedom for His people from the oppression of sin than from any government. The oppression that Israel has experienced from Gentile nations began with the First Exile from Canaan land, their exile to Babylon. This commenced what’s known as “the times of the Gentiles” (LUKE 21:24). This is not to be confused with “the fullness of the Gentiles” spoken of by Paul in ROMANS 11:25)

Read more!

Thursday, May 25, 2023

DEUTERONOMY 22: A REHEARSAL ON HOLINESS, A CALL TO FAITHFULNESS –

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

DEUTERONOMY 22: Common Commandments in Consecration- by James Fire; check out the complete teaching here!

INTRODUCTION: Let’s remind ourselves that what we are reading here in DEUTERONOMY is “a rehearsal on holiness”, a reiteration of righteousness that our righteous GOD required of His saints.
Our righteousness is from Christ, Who grants us the robe of righteousness: we are clothed with Christ’s own righteousness positionally, and by way of sanctification we grow in righteousness in practice by the power of the Spirit of grace.

DEUTERONOMY 22:1-4
1 "You shall not see your brother's ox or his sheep going astray and hide yourself from them; you shall certainly bring them back to your brother. 2 "And if your brother is not near you, or if you do not know him, then you shall bring it to your own house, and it shall remain with you until your brother seeks it; then you shall restore it to him. 3 "You shall do the same with his donkey, and so shall you do with his garment; with any lost thing of your brother's, which he has lost and you have found, you shall do likewise; you must not hide yourself. 4 "You shall not see your brother's donkey or his ox fall down along the road and hide yourself from them; you shall surely help him lift them up again
.

Read more!

Saturday, May 20, 2023

DEUTERONOMY 21: A REHEARSAL ON HOLINESS, A CALL TO FAITHFULNESS –

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

DEUTERONOMY 21: MURDER, DISPUTES, DECISIONS AND DEATH by Albert Lopez; check out the complete teaching here!

INTRODUCTION: As we continue in the book of Deuteronomy, we are now in chapter 21. Moses will continue to remind the new generation of what to do when you encounter a crime, issues dealing with captivity, the first-born, rebellion against the Law, and how to handle capital punishment. This is still part of Moses’ Second address and this will continue until chapter 27 or 28 where Moses will start his Third address. What we are reading in this chapter will still fall under series of laws and statutes God’s people were to follow in order to honor Him. Crime and injustice would defile His land and God did not want his land defiled.

Read more!

Thursday, May 18, 2023

TTUF TOPIC # 3: What About Prayer? PART 3 of 3:


When Should We Pray?

Our whole life should be a life of prayer. We should walk in constant communion with God…a constant upward looking of the soul to God. By habit we should walk in His presence so that even when we awake in the night it would be the most natural thing in the world for us to speak to Him in thanksgiving or in petition. — R. A. Torrey

~ All the time:

Pray continually. —1 THESSALONIANS 5:17

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. — LUKE 18:1


And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kind of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. — EPHESIANS 6:18

~ In the morning, afternoon, and evening:

PSALM 5:3; MARK 1:35; ACTS 3:1; MATTHEW 14:23

But I call to God, and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning, and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice. — PSALM 55:16-17

~ Before meals:

[Jesus] told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had taken the seven loaves and given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people, and they did so. — MARK 8:6; see also 1 CORINTHIANS 10:30-31

~ Where Should We Pray?
Pray alone. Let prayer be the key of the morning and the lock at night. The best way to fight against sin is to fight on our knees. — Philip Henry
~ In private:

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. — MATTHEW 6:6

~ In bed:
On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. —PSALM 63:6

~ In God’s house:

There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. — LUKE 2:36-37

~ On the battlefields of life:

On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies. — JOSHUA 10:12-13
Excerpted with permission from Reflections on the Lord’s Prayer by Susan Brower, copyright Zondervan.
When we all get to heaven and we see on the other side of eternity the profound, powerful effect our prayers have had, I think we will all feel a pang of regret for time gone by when we were so busy doing other things (that didn’t matter in eternity), and not having prayed more than we did! Let’s not go There with any regrets, right? Let’s engage in prayer – get books about it to understand what it’s all about (some of which are linked in this TOPIC #3, Parts 1-3)!

E.M. Bounds Complete Works on Prayer

Got questions? Email me! KNYHTF1RE@gmail.com

Put in the subject box: “Questions about TTUF”.

Read more!

Tuesday, May 16, 2023

WALKING The COVENANT WAY: PART 8 of 8: the NEW Covenant

~ by James Fire

WALKING The COVENANT WAY: PART 8 of 8: the NEW Covenant - SECTIONS One and Two

SECTION ONE ~

We are now venturing into an examination of the very last of the covenants GOD made with mankind in general, and also with Israel specifically. The Edenic and Adamic Covenants as well as the Noahic Covenants were intended for all people; the Abrahamic, Mosaic, Land (Palestinian), Davidic were all given to Israel, with a ‘loop-hole’ of sorts in the Abrahamic Covenant afforded to the Gentiles – that if they have “like precious faith” (2 PET 2:1-4) as Abraham, then they too would be saved and become members of another nation of Abraham (of which he had a few through his many sons) as comprised in the church (1 PET 2:9).

All of these covenants are summed up and fulfilled in the Person of Christ, the Son of Abraham, the Son of David (MATT 1:1).

Read more!

Monday, May 15, 2023

DEUTERONOMY 20: A REHEARSAL ON HOLINESS, A CALL TO FAITHFULNESS

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

DEUTERONOMY 20: DO NOT BE AFRAID by Sonny Islas; check out the complete teaching here!

INTRODUCTION: We are now in DEUTERONMY 20 where Moses will lay down the rules of war. We have to keep in mind that at this time in Israel’s history, Yahweh the LORD, God, Creator of all, was their KING, He was their Commander in Chief. Which made Old Testament Israel a Theocracy – that is, a nation governed directly by God Himself. And as the King of Israel, His main responsibility was to protect His people from their enemies.

And the only time He removed some level of His protection, was when His people Israel rebelled against Him. When they acted like God’s enemies, God acted like their enemy as a way to humble them.

Today, in a very special and intimate way, Jesus is the Head and therefore the protector of the Church. He is our Good Shepherd.

Read more!

Tuesday, May 9, 2023

STUDY In The Book of NEHEMIAH – PART FIVE TRIUMPH by TRANSFORMATION

INTRODUCTION:
In this study when we came to the actual building of the walls of Jerusalem started (preceded by prolonged and pertinent prayer by Nehemiah, as anyone’s ministry should be!), we have noticed the incredible significance behind the names of the people and places involved in this enterprise.

It shows that even in the smallest details, the Word of GOD is magnificent in the truths recorded, the gems hidden underneath, and the spiritual lessons they teach us!

As previously stated, the first few chapters in this book is all about the rebuilding of the ruins of Jerusalem and we’ve seen how by the grace of GOD there was triumph by transformation in the holy City of Peace. The rest of this book is about the transformation of the people of Israel. The former took just over 50 days – remarkable! The latter will take the remainder of the book!

I’m going to refrain from digging into any more of these things in the hopes that those who’ve read what I’ve uncovered (which anyone can uncover with a simple concordance and the time required to investigate; for a quick tutorial on how to use a concordance, check this out [12 mins 18 sec]) will get excited enough to research them, and uncover the gems hidden for themselves! There are lots more to be found here! Lessons learned and truth discovered are always remembered best when one is doing the learning for themselves rather than learning from another.

We’ll wrap up this investigation into Nehemiah’s building project by the end of this chapter and this study before proceeding to Chapter Four and the adversarial challenges that Nehemiah and crew encounter and relate them to the spiritual implications for the church.

Read more!

Saturday, May 6, 2023

TTUF TOPIC # 3: What About Prayer? PART 2 of 3:

The Heart of Prayer
: Fellowship with GOD Almighty, Abba, Father


ROMANS 8:14-16
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God
,

Read more!
ReferenceTagging.tag();