WISDOM & OBSERVATIONS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD - 2022 "Things as They Are"

A timely word from one of TTUF's guest writers, Greg Reid (web links provided by yours truly, pertinent to Greg's subject matter):

Dear Friends and Loved Ones,

I’m writing to you from my home on this cold January day of the new year in West Texas. As I listen to the bitter wind whistling and shaking the are trees with the dried pods barely hanging on to the branches, sounding like the rattling of bones, icy fingers that both underline the year of death and loss we have walked through, and pointing to the year ahead of us with an ominous whisper, “Fear on every side.”

But then I hear Another, who says, “The Lord is good, and a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them who trust in Him. (Nahum 1:7)

We must choose trust over fear this year.

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NUMBERS – From SINAI To The PROMISED LAND: Introduction and Chapters 3 & 4

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

NUMBERS 3 & 4: “GOD IS THE CENTER OF IT ALL!” – by Sonny Islas, Facebook video.

INTRODUCTION: In NUMBERS 1 & 2 all the men over 20 years old were counted from all the Tribes of Israel except the tribe of Levi. This was the first census – 603,550 were counted. This was a war roster really, made up of fighting men – this was to be Israel’s army, which looked forward to the conquering of the Promised Land – Canaan which was eventually renamed Israel. They went form Egypt’s slaves to God’s soldiers. This is what also happens to every Christian, we go from being slaves to sin to being soldiers of Christ! [warriors creed]

So, God began by establishing order, responsibilities, and an army; but the power was not found in the army but in The Ark of the Covenant – where God resided among them, in the form of fire by night and of cloud by day.

These tribes and armies were set up or stationed around the Tabernacle, around the Ark, around GOD Himself and from an aerial view of the camp, it looked like the cross – pointing to the cross of Christ.

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WHY DOES SHINE BRIGHT CHURCH EXIST? A NEW YEARS MESSAGE - 2022

Note from James: We had an awesome and entirely appropriate message this last Sunday (01/02) that dealt with why we exist as a church. What is the purpose, what is the mission, what is the declaration of the church of Jesus Christ in today’s growing iniquity?
Where are we going, and do we need to retrace our steps and get on the path of righteousness once again?

As I heard this sermon, I was making mental notes on various TTUF articles that would be suitable accompaniments to it, and so I asked pastor Sonny if I could publish this teaching and insert links to my articles and he was all for it! You’ll see certain words and phrases hyper-linked throughout this article which will lead you to those articles.

I pray that this teaching is as much a blessing to you as it was to all of us at SHINE BRIGHT church, here in Tucson, AZ.
So, without further ado, on to the message!

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NUMBERS – From SINAI To The PROMISED LAND: Introduction and Chapters 1 & 2

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

Complete Study of Numbers Ch. 1 - 10 on Youtube by pastor Chuck Smith 

NUMBERS 1 & 2: “GOD Paints By Numbers” – by James Fire, Facebook video.

INTRODUCTION: We are now in the fourth book of the TORAH, as written by Moses, as inspired by the Holy Spirit.
In GENESIS we saw the beginning of all things, including the beginning of a relationship between ‘the father of the faithful’, Abraham and His GOD, the LORD GOD. This man and Sarah his wife grew into a family, and by the end of GENESIS, they grew into a nation.

In EXODUS that nation was redeemed from bondage in Egypt and was brought to Mount Sinai where the LORD GOD was revealed to them, as well as His Holy Law, the testimony of GOD confirmed regarding His plan for Israel and the plans for the Tabernacle that was then built.
In LEVITICUS we see that the nation that was redeemed, has been sanctified, and made a holy and special people to the LORD through priestly ministration and sacrifices. As a nation, as a priesthood Israel was consecrated unto the LORD to fulfill His glorious purposes: to be a beacon of truth and light to a world that didn’t know GOD (not much beyond the testimony of creation).

Now we are in the book of NUMBERS, and it’s called that because of the first four chapters, where Moses is busy about making a census of the twelve tribes of Israel.

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CROSSING The T’s STUDY in 1 TIMOTHY – Biblical Precepts and Principles for Pastoral ministry: CHAPTER TWO

INTRODUCTION: Paul wrote a very affectionate, endearing, heart-felt epistle to the church at Philippi and we see very much the same heart here from Paul to his beloved son in the faith, Timothy.

I’ve had and have some spiritual sons in the faith myself; though they are not my blood, but rather by the blood of Jesus in redemption, as am I, this forms a bond that quite often supersedes familial bonds. And will outlast them.
The instructions we see here are not just from an apostle to a pastor, but a mentor to a disciple, and a father to a son: we see these relational views throughout this letter (as well as the second letter to Timothy) and evidences the true godly love that should be the trademark of all believers in Christ (JOHN 13:34-35).

So let’s continue into chapter two!

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LEVITICUS – A HOLY PEOPLE’s ACCESS to The HOLY GOD – Chapter TWENTYSEVEN

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

Complete Study of Leviticus by pastor Chuck Smith 

LEVITICUS 27: “The LAW REVEALING The RIGHTEOUSNESS of GOD” – by James Fire, Facebook video not available.

INTRODUCTION: “The last verse of the foregoing chapter seemed to close up the statute book; yet this chapter is added as an appendix. Having given laws concerning instituted services, here he directs concerning vows and voluntary services, the freewill offerings of their mouth. Perhaps some devout serious people among them might be so affected with what Moses had delivered to them in the foregoing chapter as in a pang of zeal to consecrate themselves, or their children, or estates to him: this, because honestly meant, God would accept; but, because men are apt to repent of such vows, he leaves room for the redemption of what had been so consecrated, at a certain rate.” ~ Matthew Henry

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