Drawing Near to God

"Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you..." (James 4:8)


What is it that God values most in His Children? Is it church attendance? Reading the Bible? How about charity towards others? All of these things provide us with great benefits in our Christian walk, but they do not constitute what God desires most. His deepest longing, is personal relationship - for us to truly know Him and experience Him on an intimate level - to pass from the mundane and into the supernatural. The definition of a Christian is he who 'knows' God, but it is something that goes beyond merely knowing 'of' Him - we must actually know Him. Let us look at an example of what it means to 'know' God:

"Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:22-23).

Clearly, the focus of this passage are those who believed they knew Jesus, but did not. The word used in the Greek for 'knew' is the past tense of the Greek verb gynoskeow which often carries connotations of deep intimacy - in fact, it is the same root verb used in Matthew 1:25, with reference to sexual intercourse. There is a difference between knowing Him shallowly, and really knowing Him. To truly love someone, it is necessary to truly know them. We are told that the greatest command is to love Him with every part of our being (Matthew 22:37), and to love Him, we must truly know Him. We cannot fully love a shadow of God, we must experience Him intimately. But how is it possible to know God in this way? How can we know God when He is so far above us, so beyond our comprehension?

James gives us the answer. If we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us. We so often focus on God's Love for us, but forget that a relationship is a two-way street. God desires a reciprocal relationship with us - for us to desire Him as much as He desires us. A.W. Tozer states that "God wills that we should push on into His Presence and live our whole life there. This is to be known to us in conscious experience. It is more than a doctrine to be held; it is a life to be enjoyed every moment of the day..." - we serve a LIVING GOD who wants relationship, not a stale devotion.

God brought the Israelites out of egyptian captivity, and preserved them in the wildreness. He desired that they would be His people, they would seek Him. But what do we see happen? God bids them near, and they removed themselves, they "stood afar off" (Exodus 20:18, 21). They did this because they did not want to have their sinful shame uncovered in the light of God's countenance - His Holiness illuminates the true conditions of a man's heart. Having such things uncovered, they would have been forced to make a decision as to their desires - God or sin. The Exodus story is spotted with examples of Israel praising God when things go right, but grumbling when things don't live up to their expectations. They are a brilliant example of pursuing God for His Blessings, but wanting to stick with their old habits...a conditional love.

But James 4:8 tells us that we must draw near to Him, and cleanse our hands and purify our hearts - then He will come to us. We cannot live in self-deception, but come to God openly - believing that our desire for Him will result in Him drawing near to transform us. We cannot expect this to happen without our drawing near to Him first. Our faith is not a matter of God forcing Himself upon us. We must KNOW Him and desire above all else, to be like Him. His sanctifying work in us will only occur in willing vessels, those who seek his face continually (1 Chronicles 16:11). But we have that promise - If we draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).

Barukh atah Adonai Elohaynu Melekh haOlam

(Blessed be the L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe)

In Christs Love and Service,
Sister Rebecca, OIC

True Faith is Unwaveringly Trusting Gods Promises

(READ Hebrews 11:1-40)

11:1 Now faith is the substance F36 of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith filled Obedience can only exist in our lives if we are walking toward the Promises of God. Every great person of True Faith fully trusted God and was moved in Faith because of that trust. And in Trusting we must believe He has given to us the Promises which He has stated, which when unwaveringly trusted gives to us everything that is needed in this life and an entry into His Eternal Kingdom.

While the world whose time is nearing the end looks toward mans accomplishments, inventions and medicines for its solutions; God has called the worlds wisdom foolishness. He has delivered to His Saints all we need through His Promises to become partakers of His Divine Nature thus having escaped the Corruption that's in the world through lusts

2Pe 1:4 - Show Context
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

It is written in Proverbs that "There is a way which seems right to man the end of which is death.". It's through this self emulating deception many are blinded to the Truth. Therefore in their error they call evil good and good evil trying to attribute to God the worlds and satans false solutions.

To say we trust God and rely on our medicine cabinets full of sorcery products, pills or potions or patches for our healing we are deceiving ourselves. To say we trust God and trust in psychologies, philosophies and worldly wisdom we are in self deception and worse still is saying its God that's working through those things. Its no wonder God says:

1Co 1:20 - Show Context
Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?

1Co 1:27 - Show Context
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

Now Faith is given to take care of any immediate situation in our lives IF we know and trust the Truth that makes us free. And this faith only works in power IF His Fruit of Love is present in our lives.

Ga 5:6 - Show Context
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Gods desire is for you to have the kind of faith to move the mountains in your life. And that comes through study and rightly dividing the Truth of Gods Word.

2Ti 2:15 - Show Context
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

So then our:

(Romans 10:17) "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God"

In Christs Love and Service,
Brother James, OIC

Overcoming Loneliness

Ps 38:11 - Show Context
My lovers and my friends stand aloof from my sore; and my kinsmen stand afar off.

If you ever been bound by loneliness due to separation by divorce, death, or desertion. If you've ever been ostracized by family and friends due to struggles, bondage's or poverty that's come upon you. If you have reached a point in your life you have isolated yourself, have turned to what Gods Word says are the beggarly elements (Drugs, Alcohol, Immoralities, Wicked Imaginations, etc). If you've ever suffered the consequences wrong choices produce; consequences like prison, disease, negative addictions. If you are wondering if True Love really exists, if there is anyone you can trust that cares about you and can return the love that you know you yourself desires to give and have given in the past and are willing to give again...THERE IS.

It would seem right at this time to talk about God and the fact that God is Love. It would only be spiritually correct to tell you the Eternal Truth that Jesus Never Leaves You Nor Forsakes You ! And you and I both need to be reminded of this often. More so we all need to be shown this love and show this love one to another as The Body Of Christ.

In addition we need to remind ourselves that GOD WILL supply ALL OUR needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus. Yet these Good Fruits should be found working in and through Gods People, Christs Body The Church. And it is this relationship in fellowship we need to overcome the adversaries weapon of loneliness. Sadly many await Divine Intervention on behalf those in need instead of being that vessel of Promise that delivers Gods Love to others.;

2nd Corinthians 1:20
For all the Promise of God in Him are yea and in Him amen to the glory of God through us! ..

.. May 19th, 2008 I was released from Prison. An accumulative 12 years had left me FEELING (feelings are satans playground) ALONE. Divorced (again), avoided, considered hopeless, a failure. I knew I was loved but had caused a distancing wherein I was rarely told, no longer made a part of family events, having to start over with nothing, with no one to give the help (POOR POOR PITIFUL ME)..When in actuality.I was bound by self deception fueled by satans tool of loneliness. ALL OF THIS WAS A LIE! Fact is I wasn't alone, I did have help and if I needed to talk to someone in my family or a friend all I had to do was call...and most of them didn't have my number (which always was changing) so how could they call. And even if I had no family I knew there were support groups out there a phone call away. No one has to be alone.

Yet I knew Gods Word and I knew in order to receive I needed to get out of myself and give the very thing I hoped to receive. Isn't Gods Love is to be given through us as Christs Body? Don't we reap what we sow? Then I realized that most in todays church do not have this knowledge nor desire to love as Christ loved; many do not know that delivering Gods Promises to others is their responsibility. And I had to realize it is more so my responsibility since I was given knowledge of this:

Mt 25:33 - 45 - Show Context 33
"And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me."

Loneliness had begun turning my heart to self pity, self absorption became the slave master then old sin crept in. I began looking at the false solutions the world offers. I was in depression being oppressed by the spiritual enemy. No transportation, no money, no one who loves me (there's that lie again....poor, poor pitiful me. Then someone said I need to count my blessings:.......HUH WHAT? LIGHTS, ACTION! GOD BEGAN GRANTING ME REPENTANCE TO THE ACKNOWLEDGING OF TRUTH! I am physically able to walk where I need to go, I have a good job, a great boss, Church van picks me up on Sundays to go to a great Church. And it was the Human Vessel that said to count my blessings that's caused me to refocus on Gods Call For Me To Love Others As Christ Loved Me!

Loneliness is just a snare the enemy uses. As you & I become vessels of Gods Promises to others, God Says:

Isa 54:17 - Show Context
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Nor will the enemies weapons of loneliness prosper against you! Help someone today through the Love of God and disarm satans weapon of loneliness against you.

In Christs Love And Service
Brother James, OIC

Nurturing the Small Things of God

"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men" (Matthew 2:16)


We live in a fast-paced world, where we expect things to come into fruition quickly - whether it be business or personal. Church endeavours can also be a part of this, when we desire that things start off 'big' so as to impact as many people as possible. We believe that by doing God's work, He will immediately cause our project to expand in order to achieve His will, and if this does not happen, many of us become disheartened and begin to question His hand in our project. But does God always think 'big'?

The birth of Jesus is a beautiful example of waiting for something incredible to come into fruition. Our God came to us as a baby, an infant, capable of doing very little until His time. Like any infant, He required nurturing and patience - He was like the 'seed' of our godly pursuits, that needs to be brought to maturity in order to bring Glory to God. The works of God often begin with the 'small.' We so often get frustrated because we desire to do so much for God, yet we fail to understand that He often begins things 'small' and these things are built to greatness, through Him. Jesus is God made flesh yet, initially, as a child, He seemed so 'unproductive' - until of course, His ministry began and this once-small child proved to be the greatest gift Mankind has ever been given. We must not think little of that which starts small, it is the mustard seed, the faith, which will bring great Glory to the Lord. It requires care and development, but God will use what He has begun through you! "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Phillipians 1:6).

It is so easy to dismiss these small things, these projects we engage in to bring Glory to His Name, thinking that is it were of God, He would make it prosper immediately. The society in which we live is one that is modeled purposefully by Satan, the ruler of this world. He has created a way of thinking in which the small things are unimportant, and only the big things are considered to be of any real worth. But this is not how God sees it. God is patient, knowing that that which is small can grow into the most incredible thing!

However, Satan also knows this. Look to the passage of this devotional - Herod slew all the children in order to destroy Jesus. Satan knows that small things can mature into greatness and proclaim God's Word, and he will do anything he can to stop these things in their infancy. This is how he works - attempting to put a halt to godly projects and godly men and women, before they can achieve what God plans for them. He restricts the proclamation of Truth at any cost. We must remain faithful to His Plan, knowing that sometimes the small things will ripen into the most precious fruit on the Vine that is our God. we must remain vigilant, lest Satan fool us into believing our direction is inconsequential or of our own making (for God will close doors to that which is not His Will). When we come before Him in honesty, asking Him to direct our paths, He will provide us the way to serve Him in accordance with our gifts and talents and predispositions - but Satan will try and take those things away from us. We must remain aware, through prayer and dedication to His Word, of His Will and Purpose. The small things are seeds that God provides us to water and nurture, so that they may grow into Truth and provide many with His sustenance.

Barukh atah Adonai Elohaynu Melekh haOlam (Blessed be the L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe)

In Christ’s Love and Service,

Sister Rebecca Mihail, OIC Minister from the Australian Outback

Understanding Sin unto Death & Sin Not unto Death

(1John 5:16-17)

If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death

(Romans 6:23)
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In the life of a believer that is from day to day being sanctified in Truth growing by grace to grace, through faith to faith and glory to glory this believer is kept by the Spirit of God unto the saving of his soul, because this believer acknowledges, that is confesses in his/her heart the Truth of Gods Word which in Gods time makes the believer free from the bondages of sin. But what about those who are calling themselves believers and practicing sin unto death calling it good? What about tose who are in a Church Family and live willfully in rebellion to God their existance there a cancer to the Body of Christ as the sin is unconfessed and tolerated.

Romans 6:23 is speaking to this sin unto death mentioned in the opening scripture. (Sin Not Unto Death are the likes of worry, foolishness, and such wherein our intercession alone is enough to deliver those entrapped hindered by it. But there is Sin Unto Death that those who practice such never enter the Kingdom of God, which is the Power of God in the life of growing believers and produces the righteousness, joy and peace of the Holy Spirit within) and we the Body are commanded to not even to pray for one who calls himself a brother that's practicing a sin that falls into this category. Such was a situation in the Corinthian Church:

(1 Corinthians 5:1-6)
It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?

The list of Sin Unto Death is numerous ranging from the obvious and the not so obvious:

(Galatians 5:19-21)
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

(1 Corinthians 6:-10)
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Beginning in Galatians 5 let us begin looking at each practiced unconfessed sin that delivers its prisoner to death:

Adultery: voluntary sexual intercourse between a married man and someone other than his wife or between a married woman and someone other than her husband; also: an act of adultery

Fornication: consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other.

Uncleanness:

a: morally or spiritually impure
b: infected with a harmful supernatural contagion; also: prohibited by ritual law for use or contact
c: dirty, filthy
d: lacking in clarity and precision of conception or execution

Lasciviousness: lewd, lustful

Idolatry:

a: the worship of a physical object as a god
b: immoderate attachment or devotion to something

Witchcraft:

a: the use of sorcery or magic
b: communication with the devil or with a familiar
c: an irresistible influence or fascination
d: wicca

( the original greek for witchcraft could have been translated Pharmacy,)

Hatred:

a: hate
b: prejudiced hostility or animosity (old racial prejudices and national hatred)

Variance:

a: the fact or state of being in disagreement : dissension, dispute
b: a disagreement between two parts of the same legal proceeding that must be consonant
c: a license to do some act contrary to the usual rule (for us the Truth of Gods Word and the reality of His Promises)

Emulations:

a: ambition or endeavor to equal or excel others (as in the essence of the American Dream)
b: imitation c: the use of or technique of using an emulator

Wrath:

a: strong vengeful anger or indignation
b: retributory punishment for an offense or a crime : divine chastisement

Strife:

a: bitter sometimes violent conflict or dissension
b: an act of contention : fight, struggle
c: exertion or contention for superiority

Seditions: incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority

Heresies:

a: adherence to a religious opinion contrary to rightly divided Truth of Gods Word
b: denial of a revealed truth
c: an opinion or doctrine contrary to Truth
d: dissent or deviation from a dominant theory, opinion, or practice of Truth e: an opinion, doctrine, or practice contrary to the truth or to generally accepted beliefs or standard based on Gods Word.

Envyings:

a: painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage
b: an object of envious notice or feeling

Murders: the crime of unlawfully killing a person especially with malice aforethought

Drunkenness:

a: given to habitual excessive use of alcohol
b: of, relating to, or characterized by intoxication (they come from...broken homes, drunken homes - P. B. Gilliam)
c: resulting from or as if from intoxication (a drunken brawl)
d: unsteady or lurching as if from alcoholic intoxication

Revellings:

a: unrestrained merrymaking
b: wild parties
c: celebrate noisily, often indulging in drinking; engage in uproarious festivities

Effeminate:

a: a male having unsuitable feminine qualities
b: a male characterized by excessive softness or self-indulgence

Abusers of themselves with mankind:

a: homosexuality
b: lesbianism (see Romans Chapter 1)

Covetousness:

a: an envious eagerness to possess something
b: reprehensible acquisitiveness; insatiable desire for wealth (personified as one of the deadly sins)
c: extreme greed for material wealth

Revilers: spread negative information about , gossip

Extortioners:

a: the act or practice of extorting especially money or other property; especially: the offense committed by an official engaging in such practice
b: something extorted; especially: a gross overcharge

(Revelation 21:8)
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and allliars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

It is a careful thing on the part of any true believer to familiarize yourself with the things listed. Some of the less obvious are: heresies (false teachings), seditions, revellings (wild parties). The list of sin unto death is endless. Its elements for the most part appear as a good thing to the world and to those bound in deception of the worlds false solutions in the Church. And spiritually Jesus taught that if any of these are in your heart the sin has already been committed. So Grace is needed and acknowledging Truth is a must as is confessing sin in our lives to Jesus knowing in doing this one day Truth will Make You Free.

Gods Word instructs us to Examine Ourselves and see if we are in the faith as everything outside of faith is sin and there are sin that are unto death.

In Christ’s Love and Service,

Brother James Pierson, OIC Senior Minister

True Revival

Romans 14:9 - Show Context


For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

There is no doubt when God shows up in the form of revivals it becomes a most powerful event. Holiness spreads out and covers whole cities and the surrounding countryside. But for us individually and corporately as the Body of Christ revival unto holiness within must first take place.

Christ died then He rose then His revival took place. When I was buried with Christ in Baptism I died in the likeness of His death. When I came up out of the water I arose in likeness of Christ's resurrection to a newness of life. As it does for many sadly my new life faded. I didn't understand that I must then revive. I didn't understand what revival took in ones life.

For many years I was in prison, I spent my time reading the Word of God. Its Truths being planted deep within my heart awaiting the time of the Father to be given increase, so this ministry could come forth in its appointed time to bear fruit unto God. During those years of study I was journeyed along a spiritual path through many different teachings. And after wading through the muck of satans false teachers I began rightly dividing the Word of Truth I then went from being a prisoner of the state to being a Prisoner of the Lord. Truth does that.

Truth then begins growing the understanding of the cost of discipleship, which when paid brings about the realization of true revival, that was not found in any thing I could do or anything I knew but what God wrought in me in Christ.

Once the cost was paid which entailed the relinquishment of controlling my own life. I turned its control over to the Lordship of Jesus Christ Whom is and always will be really in control, I then began understanding that satans grasp on my life was loosed. Where once his deceptions and false solutions controlled my life through my emotions and physical needs Satan's seemingly good solutions that once ensnared my soul I was awaken to recognize his many schemes that he uses in the world to keep many in the Church from true personal revival. This knowing your enemy and his schemes is only part of the preparation toward revival, I now needed Gods Powerful Weapons of Warfare - His Promises!

(Stop and read 2nd Peter 1:1-11)

2nd Peter1:4 States:

Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Only Gods Promises can revive us. Satan's false solutions of medicines legal and illegal, his trap of the American Dream which is the essence of the work of the flesh - EMULATIONS, his false solution of sciences and economy, educational systems, false recovery religions that have you working steps and even intellectual Theology are all traps keeping many from True Revival. As a New Creation I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God on assignment in the world, I'm no longer my own I am an Ambassador of my Lord Jesus Christ here on Earth. The Remnant of True believers are those who have forsaken the world's false solutions and entrusted their well being to Gods Promises alone. And it's His Promises that will revive us into His light and life of True Revival. I cannot obey God and trust the world's false solutions which is lawlessness. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me as He is the Wisdom and Power of God formed within the life of a true believer. His Spirit within is Revival.

Friends set aside all preconceived denominational snares and read the New Testament asking Gods Spirit to give you understanding of these things. A revived life here as well as eternity and where you will spend it is at stake here.

In Christ’s Love and Service,

Brother James Pierson, OIC Senior Minister

A Rare Visitor

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. (1John 3:9)


I remember being told that as long as I'm still in this body I'll continue sinning. I turn around and hear elsewhere that my negative addictions are a disease and I'll never be cured. Is there hope? Can I recover from the negative addictions of sin? The answer to both is yes! The referenced scripture above states such a time of recovery.

What is sin that makes it hold such control of my life? The simplest definition is that I choose things that miss the mark of Gods Will. Gods Word states that everything outside of Faith is sin. So Faithlessly I've attempted to fill up the empty pit inside my soul with people, places and things realizing later (after sin hurts me) that none of those things brings about contentment within. Once these things fail for some more desperate types of sin follow; some turned to alcohol, others promiscuity, others drugs the list can be endless as is the cycle of defeat these false solutions fuel.

I've been a Christian all my life, why haven't I quit sinning? Gods Word states that it is through faith and patience you inherit the promises (See Hebrews 6:12). And the promise of above isn't attained to overnight. Remember Faith comes by Hearing and Hearing by the Word of God (See Romans 10:17). Hearing implies understanding what you hear. The Parable of the Sower in Matthew 13:1 - 8 and explained in Matthew 13: 18 - 23 tells us the Word of God is the Seed that must remain in us. It is the Spirit of Christ (Gods Anointing, Wisdom and Power) being formed within (See Galatians 4:19; 1 Corinthians 1:24; John 1:12 KJV and Romans 8:9). It is this Power that makes us to Overcome the Wicked One (which is the Devil NOT our own flesh) (See Revelations 12:11.

Jesus PAID IN FULL the price for our sin that separated us from God the Father. Grace keeps us until the appointed time of the Father when His work is completed inside and His Seed remains in us (See 1John 2:2; 4:10; Ephesians 2:8-10; Galatians 4:1-2). And its our Faith and Hope in Gods Promises having forsook the false solutions the world and its god Satan offers that makes us partakers of this Divine Nature (See 2Peter 1:1-11)

I don't have to live in depression, I don't have to believe the lies of the devil in the worlds false solutions, I don't have to try to satisfy the Empty pit within with anything but Gods Word, obeying Jesus' instructions while trusting with Faith in what God has done for us through His Son Jesus Christ.

Today I make a commitment to set aside all worry and preconceived notions or doctrines that have not empowered me to Overcome, And lay aside all the false solutions the world offers and I'll study the New Testament while asking God to give me understanding knowing and trusting He will strengthen me to walk out His Word in my life

Have a Blessed Day In Jesus Name! May His Grace and Peace Be Upon You: (See 2Peter 1:1-3; Philippians 4:6-8)

In Christ’s Love and Service,

Brother James Pierson, OIC Senior Minister

After Revisited

Ephesians 1:13 - Show Context

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

So much in the eternal realm is predicated on the word AFTER. And sadly in todays microwave society everything is thought to be instantaneous.

In 1989 at 37 years old facing Prison for the first time I cried out to God for relief from the weight of consequences sin heaped upon me. I BEGAN reading Gods Word understanding very little. I BEGAN praying and asking God to put my life back together, my family, my business and I BEGAN witnessing Him to anyone and everyone. In a County Jail built for 4000 and was at that time housing 12,000 inmates there was plenty opportunity. And all I could talk about is what God was beginning to do in my life. And I myself was at the beginnings.

Everything has to have a beginning yet it is AFTER, that life in Christ becomes a reality. It is AFTER when TRUTH comes inside us, that through understanding and obedience we divest ourselves of the world and its False Solutions. As well as putting to death our own Inordinate Affections for people, places and things, that is our flesh has been crucified. It is through much tribulation the things contrary to real life in Christ is surgically removed (by the Word of Truth) out of our hearts, we then enter (as IT enters us) The Kingdom of God that is the Righteousness, Joy and Peace of The Holy Spirit.

Americanized Christianity for the most part has settled itself much to comfortably in the worlds system of doing and accomplishing things and calling it Christ, calling evil good and good evil. Yet for those who are obeying:

Philippians 4:13-14
forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

AND

2 Timothy 2:15 - Show Context
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

AND

Romans 1:5 - Show Context
By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

These reach the AFTER wherein completion, wholeheartedness, true faith, trust and power exist.

For me its taken the tribulation of years in prison, where God mercifully kept granting me repentance to the acknowledging of the Truth and now AFTER the TRUTH has made me free, whole, infilled by His Spirit and awake to what is truly good and truly evil...but most of all it's blossomed the fruit of Gods Love in my heart a love that never fails.

In Christ’s Love and Service,

Brother James Pierson, OIC Senior Minister

What Is Grace?

"What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?" (Romans 6:1-3)


The Grace of God is a gift, given to a fallen race through the Redeeming Blood of Jesus Christ. Yet, it is a concept that has been largely misunderstood by many believers. Scripture must always be taken as a whole to understand any theological concept, not distorted through interpretation or the picking and choosing of particular verses to prove one's own opinions. Unfortunately God's Grace has been reduced to a mere good luck charm, a slogan whereby believers may continue in ungodly living, in the hope that, through His Grace, God will simply 'look the other way.' My aim with this devotional, is to provide a biblical understanding of Grace - what it is, and what it means to the believer - knowledge of this is fundamental to anyone who is serious about their faith.

I have chosen Romans chapter 6 as the basis Scripture for this devotional, simply because it deals with this problem exactly, believers who were under the mistaken impression that once we are saved, Grace automatically covers-over any sin we may commit. I have heard many friends, all professing the Lordship of Jesus Christ over their lives, who are of this opinion and quote Scripture at me in order to convince me of this distorted view of Grace. At this point, I will be honest with you - I was once one of those people. I came to Christ, and although He very quickly began working on many of my ungodly attributes, there were others than continued to remain through my choosing. Things I did not really want to give-up. Remember, God will not force His Righteousness upon anyone, He desires that our hearts yearn for what He has to offer. For a number of years, I continued in patterns of sinfulness and disobedience, focusing on that little prayer of salvation and God's Love and Mercy, expecting His Grace to simply absolve the fact I was not living in accordance with Him. Inwardly, I knew there was something wrong - I had no inner reassurance that I was 'right' with God. Eventually, I was humbled, completely broken through my own decisions, and came to the realization that there was something wrong in my theology. I searched the Scriptures hungrily, and with the help of the Spirit, came to a true understanding of His Grace, its role in Salvation.

We know that it is a gift given freely by God, through His Love and Mercy towards us (Ephesians 2:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:16), that it cannot be bought by any work or deed (Romans 11:6; Galatians 2:21; Ephesians 2:8-9) and it is through Grace that we are made acceptable in His Sight (Ephesians 1:6). But does that mean that through the initial act of Salvation we are made permanently guilt-free before God? The answer is no. Romans 3:23-24 is one passage that if often used to defend the concept of the 'Grace Cover-All: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Sure. That's true. But what of the very next verse? It says that this Grace declares our "righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." It is clear that God's Grace has been taken out of context by some. At the point of Salvation, His Grace is sufficient to 'clear our records', so to speak. The Blood washes it all away.

But what of the Sins we commit after this point? Let us not try and claim that Christians never sin, we are inherently sinful creatures and we do stumble along the way. But with repentance (turning-away), His Grace remains to pick us up off our butts and continue in His Will. We are told to "grow in Grace" (2 Peter 3:18), not to rest on our laurels and expect forgiveness. Paul likens the Christian walk as to a 'Race' - "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain" (1 Corinthians 9:24). We are told throughout the New Testament that we must keep walking in Him - "he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13). Grace does not allow for a Christian to live a habitually sinful life. To walk in Christ, to follow Him, to be a true believer, is to allow God to work through us and transform us into images of His Righteousness. If we do not allow this to occur, and instead rely on His gift to do all the work, then Paul tells us that we have received His Grace in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1). In other words, we have accepted His gift and come under influence of it, yet fail to respond to it. It is failing to live by that Grace which we profess to have received, we have heard but done nothing - it is the difference between being born-again alive in Christ and being born-again as a stillborn. The Grace that truly justifies us must be a Grace that also sanctifies us, or we have received that Grace in vain.

The Christian life will be marked by a personal relationship with our Creator, not mere head knowledge. His work will be seen through us - This is Grace. God freely offers His Grace to save, but those who receive it in vain do not get the intended response. The 'intended response' in this being Salvation. His Grace never leaves us, it always there for us to accept - to receive Him with joy and be a branch that beareth much fruit, lest it be cut-off and burned in the fire (John 15).

"By the Grace of God I am what I am: and his Grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the Grace of God which was with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Barukh atah Adonai Elohaynu Melekh haOlam (Blessed be the L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe)

In Christ’s Love and Service,

Rebecca Mihail, OIC Minister from the Australian Outback

What Christ Empowers Us to do

Acts 5:29 - Show Context

But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. "

In the Devotional Writing entitled POWER we learned Christ being formed inside us is The Power of God. We also Learned that this Power (anointing) breaks yokes of sin in our lives and enables us to choose either to become a Son/Daughter of God or not. This Power accesses the things Christ has done for us on the Cross and takes us into His Resurrected Life. There are many misconceptions about this Salvation that comes to us through the free empowering gift of Grace. Many are still captive by the adversary satan and headed for eternal damnation because they have been taught a lie and haven't researched it with Truth. The most important thing the Grace of God allows us to do is to choose to obey and when we don't gives us access to forgiveness and getting it right the next time. Yet will that always be the case? Lets look at a scripture used to teach wrongfully when you are saved:

1 Corinthians 3:11-15
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Foundation is the key word to this teaching. And many have misunderstood this scripture as being wrought in them at the time they first believed in Jesus, which is not true. What did happen when they first believed in Jesus was shown in yesterdays devotional entitled: Power or as it first appeared in John 1:12 the Right to choose. Jesus Himself taught about Foundation and what it requires to have one:

Matthew 7:21-29
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Jesus spoke it plainly that a solid foundation is found in Him by obeying His Word. Faith without works is dead. And works is faithfilled obedience to Christs Commands. And this Faith activates us being saved by and as Grace flows through it to enable us to grow in obedience. Obedience is never found by choosing iniquity nor living a life of lawless rebellion toward choose to obey and loving others as Christ Loved Us. Paul summarized it best:

2 Timothy 2:19 - Show Context
Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

The only way to depart from iniquity is to use the Power of Christ to OBEY, then the foundation when tried will be saved.

In Christ’s Love and Service,

Brother James Pierson, OIC Senior Minister

Power

John 1:12 - Show Context

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Power begins in the life of a newly born babe in Christ as the power of choice. Prior to this new birth all were confined and bound and enslaved to sin. Gloriously God called you and I to Jesus and the first beginnings of Power appeared in our lives. The Greek for Power in the verse above is Exousia and it means the ability to choose or a Right given. In fact some Bible versions use the word Right in this verse. God at that point and time of rebirth gave us the Right (by choice) to become the sons of God.

This RIGHT is rarely used by the babe IF the babe is not kept and cared for those who have grown in the Love of Christ to govern him and train him/her up in righteousness.

Galatians 4:1-2
Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

If the Child is taught the Word and trained to Choose to obey and Trust the Truth then the Child grows in stature and strength in the Spirit. John gives us a vivid example of this growth.

1 John 2:12-14
I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

When a Child there is no strength, their power is the right to choose and this right is maintained as those given to teach him/her love them in Christ (this also helps cover the sins (growing pains) of the child). And teaches them what to obey. This teaching by those who have overcome the wicked one is also in Power:

1Colossians 1:18 - Show Context
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Dunamis is the Greek for this Power and it means: strength power, ability inherent power, power residing in a thing by virtue of its nature, or which a person or thing exerts and puts forth power for performing miracles moral power and excellence of soul.

As obedience is learned and Chosen by the Child this Power begins forming in their lives. The Apostle Paul wrote to those in Galatia who had made some wrong choices and had stunted their own growth in Christ.

Galatians 4:19 - Show Context
My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you,

Christ is the Power (Greek: Dunamis) of God being formed in us:

1Colossians 1:24 - Show Context
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

As the Word of Truth is received in Understanding it forms the Spirit of Christ within. This power is also the Anointing (which the word Christ means) of God that in fills true believers. It is the work of the Word to use this anointing this power to break the yokes of bondages in the Baby Christians life:

Isaiah 10:27 - Show Context
And it shall come to pass in that day (of Christ formed in the life of the young believer), that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

As the young believer grows in obedience this growth learns to battle and overcome the wicked one and the false solutions he offers in the world.

2 Corinthians 10:1-6
For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

This obedience then delivers us to that appointed time of the Father to receive His Fullness, His Power into our lives:

Acts 5:32 - Show Context
And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost(Gods full dunamis power within), whom God hath given to them that obey him.

In Christ’s Love and Service,

Brother James Pierson, OIC Senior Minister

The Unforgiving Servant

"Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses" (Matthew 18:32-35)


Forgiveness is an important teaching in the Christian faith, and unfortunately one that is far too often glossed-over or misunderstood. When any one of us is asked about Forgiveness, we will invariably say that, through repentance, Jesus has forgiven us our multitude of sins and we have been washed clean by His Blood. But that is not all the Bible has to say on the matter. Matthew chapter 18 contains an important teaching on forgiveness, yet many do not even think about what is actually being said in the passage. We read the parable and exclaim, "oh yes, that bad servant should definitely have forgiven his fellowservant", and pay no heed to what Jesus says immediately after the parable. Throughout the Gospels, there are many examples where Jesus teaches through parable yet does not explain afterwards what it meant. However, when he does explain, we must take this as an indication that he wants to make absolutely sure we understand what he is saying to us. In other words, the parables where He explains His words carry great significance to our Faith and we must take notice. The story of the Unforgiving Servant is one such passage, and when one reads it in light of how Jesus explains it, even though only one verse, His meaning is clear.

Let me summarize the parable. A Servant owed his King a great deal of money, which he could not repay. The King proclaimed his judgment but had compassion on his servant when he begged for mercy - and then cleared his debt. This same servant then approaches a fellowservant who owes him a considerably smaller amount of money, yet when he is begged for mercy, does not forgive and casts him into prison. When the King hears of this, he summons the servant and is angered by the lack of compassion his servant has dealt to another, despite him having been forgiven. He then throws his servant into prison to fulfill the remainder of his debt.

Jesus likens the King to the Kingdom of Heaven (verse 23). This servant owed the King ten thousand talents, a figure which I have heard likened to billions of dollars in our current economic market. There is no way he could ever repay such a monumental debt, yet out of compassion, the King forgave him every last cent. When this servant refused to do likewise with a fellow servant, whose debt would have only been a few thousand current-dollars in comparison, he disrespects the King who forgave him. He places himself on a higher pedestal, being able to cast judgment upon others. The King, in response, re-establishes the debt he had forgiven and judges the servant accordingly. Jesus is telling us that this is the Kingdom of Heaven. We are the servants. God, the King, in His Mercy, chose to forgive us all our Sin - we owed Him a lifetime of Righteousness that we could not pay. We could not approach Him without this debt being paid, and He cleared that debt through the Blood of His Son. Through this He works to make us Holy in His sight, to transform us into His Image, to restore what was lost in the Garden, so He may fellowship with us in the way He had originally intended. But when we refuse to forgive one of our Christian brothers or sisters (and one may argue, anyone) we disrespect what He has given us - the Sacrifice for the remission of Sin.

At this point, some of you may be wondering, what about Grace? Does not Grace cover my sin? Of course it does. It is God's Grace that first allows us to come to Him. It is His Grace that removes the legal obstacle of Sin. His Grace is our chance to repent whenever we stumble. But it is not a method whereby a Christian may live with sin and hope God will simply 'look the other way.' Remember, He is Holy. In Isaiah's vision of God, the Seraphim are not crying "Love, Love, Love", or "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy", but rather "HOLY, HOLY, HOLY" (Isaiah 6:3). Please do not misunderstand me here - God is Love and Mercy, but His Holiness is a characteristic that we cannot ignore, He must be revered as the Righteous Judge. To expect God to overlook unrepented sin, sin that is deeply rooted in the heart, is expecting God to be unrighteous! This parable in Matthew reveals the truth of this matter. The King, although he has forgiven his servant of his great debt, upon learning that this servant has refused the same compassion to one of his brethren, re-enlists the debt and holds his servant fully accountable for that which was owed. Look at the last verse in that Chapter, it is Jesus' explanation of the parable: "So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." Pretty clear, right?

In comparison to the debt, which we were forgiven by God, the offenses we grow towards others are trivial. If God is able to forgive so much, we must be able to forgive the considerably smaller things we have against those around us. To do otherwise is to disrespect God's Grace. Is not the Christian life meant to be the sacrifice of one, so that we may live in Him? To live in Him is to become more like Him, to model our behaviour and actions on His Character, to die to our flesh and the desires thereof. We are all born into sin, none of us is greater than the other - note that this passage in Matthew does not say the fellowservant was 'under' or 'below' the unforgiving servant, but that they were 'fellowservants' - this implies equality in stature. For the gift God has given to us, we have no right to be the unforgiving servant, but must hold ourselves up to the example of God Himself.

Barukh atah Adonai Elohaynu Melekh haOlam (Blessed be the L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe)

In Christ’s Love and Service,

Rebecca Mihail, OIC Minister from the Australian Outback

Partaking of the Sufferings of Christ

Romans 8:17 - Show Context

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; IF so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

In today's ear tickling FEEL GOOD CHURCH true Christianity is lost in a dark sea of worldliness and emotionalism. To be partakers of Christ's sufferings are necessary to become joint heirs with Him in Salvation. Crucifying our flesh with its lusts and passions is only part of the sufferings. The sufferings of Christ come in times of testing. They come when our Faith is being tried. The tribulation of these sufferings is necessary to enter into the Kingdom Of God:

Acts 14:22 - Show Context
Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

It is the fiery trials of life wherein we have opportunity to either Trust in Gods Promises or fall into the trap of the world's false solutions. The Word of Truth is necessary to shape our attitudes and response to these sufferings.

1 Peter 4:12 - Show Context
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

If I am truly in the Faith then Christ's sufferings are transforming me into the very image of Gods Son. And I, in Him, am overcoming the world and its god; Satan. To grow in Gods Grace I must look to Jesus Who is the Author and Finisher of my Faith to strengthen me to walk in the Light of His Truth towards Gods Promises which are accomplished in us on the other side of the sufferings.

Hebrews 12:2 - Show Context
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The book of James tells me I am to apply the same Joy Christ did in my testings:

James 1:2 - 5 Show Context
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

The Joy of the Lord is your strength in times of testing and that Joy you will find in Gods Presence through Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth and in constant Prayer. Patience always WAITS ON GOD'S PROMISES (side note: Patience never waits on obeying Christ's Commands). And Wisdom always avoids the World's Ways.

In Christ’s Love and Service,

Brother James Pierson, OIC Senior Minister

New in Christ!

"Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other. " (Genesis 13:10-11)


Throughout Scripture, God's people are commanded to seperate themselves from unbelievers and their ungodly ways. But why? We understand that to proclaim a faith in Jesus Christ, and to live a completely ungodly life is hypocritical and damaging to our spiritual life, but what does it mean to completely sever oneself from unrighteousness? Are we to preach asceticism and remove ourselves from society in whole, or does Scripture point to some other thing to avoid, something far more subtle and dangerous? The story of Lot and Abraham is an interesting comparison to make in this regard, one that can most certainly illuminate what Jesus meant when he told us "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me" (Matthew 19:21). To live the Christian life is to understand that God is our Provider, and we need not lay up for ourselves riches or good upon this earth.

Abraham first encountered God whilst he was still living in Mesopotamia, an area reknowned in ancient times for its abundant paganism and idol worship. He faithfully obeyed God, taking with him his nephew Lot. Although Lot had not heard God, he obeyed his uncle and left his native land in search for the True God. All seemed good, both of them were on the path to knowing God - then they parted ways. Quarreling between their herdsmen forced the necessity of dwelling in different lands. Abraham gave Lot his choice - left or right - the well watered plains of Jordan, that appeared as like the Garden of God, or desert. Lot chose that which appealed to his senses, that which looked 'good', not unlike the forbidden fruit which was also 'good' in appearance, 'pleasant to the eyes' (Genesis 3:6). Lot had chosen according to the flesh. He chose the land which looked as though it was fruitful and would be an easy life, instead of depending on God's provision. Verse 12 tells us that Lot "pitched his tent toward Sodom", not actually in the city itself, for he knew it was exceedingly evil in the sight of God. Yet in chapter 19 (verse 1) we see that Lot is already living within the city walls!

That is the problem with Sin. It is not something we can control by virtue of our own willpower. It is God's Grace that allows us to flee from Sin, Him abiding in us, and us in Him. Lot chose to bend to temptation, thinking he could keep himself distanced enough from unrighteousness so as to not be affected, but enjoy the perks in the meantime. The simple fact that he had already bowed to temptation of the flesh instead of leaning on God, was a bad sign to begin with. It is no surprise that within time he succumbed to the city lifestyle and moved within as a 'convenience', yet this is exactly what God warns us not to do! It is impossible to have one foot on the broad path and one on the narrow. The Heavenly and the Earthly do not mix! Jesus warns us repeatedly that we must forsake the world, and the THINGS of the world, and this is the only way in which to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. We must sell all our emotional and natural investments' in this worldly system and follow God and His ways without compromise.

Look to Abraham's example - although he received the harsh desert environment as default, Lot choosing first, he neither complained nor reasoned with Lot to swap or co-habitate. He had faith that God would provide all his needs, no matter where he happened to dwell, and that he would prosper and be blessed by virtue of the fact that he chose to lean on God's promises. This is true faith. Lot expected God to bless and protect him from a temptation he had himself let in the door! We are told to not play with the world, but to "submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7). It is good advice. Sin leads to more sin. Disobedience to God's warnings and commands are a great way to begin a sinful lifestyle, whether one intends it or not. Opening the door to sin always brings more sin. That's how sin works. They are not separate entities or actions, but one complete whole which, when one little part is tasted, eventually encourages the entrance of further ungodliness.

It is for this reason we are told to repent of our sins. Merely being sorry is not the same thing. There will be many sorry souls in Hell. Repentance is a change of mind and heart, a complete turning-away from sin, and the temptation of that sin. Put off the old man of sin, and put on the new man in Christ (Ephesians 4). We must not look back to that which is now dead in Christ, as Lot's wife did when she looked back (Genesis 19:26) - "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). Let us not be the seeds that fell amongst the rocks and withered away once temptations came, but let us be those seeds that fell amongst good soil and produced fruit worthy of our King! (Luke 8).

Barukh atah Adonai Elohaynu Melekh haOlam (Blessed be the L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe)

In Christ’s Love and Service,

Rebecca Mihail, OIC Minister from the Australian Outback

Living Hope

(1st Peter 1:3-9) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.


The world and the worldly that are in the Church never really experience a trial of Faith. They never realize that they are Born Again To A Living Hope. One is that there is no True Faith to try and secondly there's no real Born Again To A Living Hope Heart within them. But God says we have an inheritance that's incorruptible and undefiled reserved in Heaven for us who look to The Living Hope of Christ for our EVERY need.

Those who will come to understand Truth will only have ONE response to Fiery Trials that come against them and that is; that they Rejoice in Gods Promises that can meet their every need; Physically, Spiritually, Emotionally, and Provisionally. The Living Hope, which is the Spirit of Christ in us produces the desire for Fathers Will to be done in our lives. And it's the Spirit of Christ in us that gives us the Power to receive the inheritance as Sons of God:

John 1:12 - Show Context
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

1Colossians 1:24 - Show Context
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. And again where Paul dealt with the Galatians because they turned to the Worlds corrupt religious interpretations:

Galatians 3:1 - Show Context
O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

Galatians 4:19 - Show Context
My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

Its this Christ that's our Hope of Glory as it is His Power that receives Gods Promises. And once this Power is tempered in through fiery trials it produces a Faith that Fails You Not a Faith. A Faith whose end is the salvation of your souls.

In Christ’s Love and Service,

Brother James Pierson, OIC Senior Minister

Digging Deep

JESUS: "And why call me Lord, Lord and do not the things which I say? Whoever comes to Me and hears My sayings, and does them, I will show you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built a house, and dugged deep, and laid a foundation on rock..." (Read Luke6:46-49)


Digging Deep is the labor behind 2Timothy 2:15; "Study to show yourself approved unto God a workmen that needs not to be ashamed rightly dividing the Word of Truth."

Once Truth is Rightly Divided (understood) then OBEDIENCE to it is the Building of a Solid Foundation. In Matthew 7:24 Jesus referred to those obedient as The Obedient Wise Man.

The Cross of Christ, His Blood, His Death, Burial, and Resurrection is the beginning of Truth for Believers; Baptism in Jesus Name (See Acts 2:38) being the first step of Obedience for Believers. But the Foundation is not yet complete. At this New Beginning you are kept by Grace so you can complete the laying of your Solid Foundation.

This New Beginning or New Birth gave us direct access to God the Father. Part of our obedience is coming boldly before the Throne of Grace to find help in times of trouble (see Hebrews 4:16). We do this as The Spirit of Grace (The Holy Spirit), having given us access to the Father, grows us in His Characteristics of the Spirit of Lord, the Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding, the Spirit of Counsel and Might, and the Spirit of Knowledge and Fear of the Lord. (See Isaiah 11:1-2; Ephesians 2:18-22)

Spiritual Warfare is grown in and attained to as we continue Obeying the Rightly Divided Truth of Gods Word. Meeting our daily encounters and circumstances with the Word of God No one who calls themselves by the Name of Christ will ever have the Overcoming Victory He has prepared for us to walk in without first digging deep into Gods Word.

Obedience to Gods Word is not something we can attain to naturally. Nor as a Baby Christian. Obedience comes as we have our senses exercised to discern what is good and evil and this comes by growing past the basic principles of Christ and going on to perfection. We do this by getting off the Milk and on to the Meat of Gods Word (see Hebrews 5:12 through Hebrews 6:3)

The Apostle Paul by The Spirit wrote to the Corinthian Church who were baby Christians this:

"For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled." (2nd Corinthians 10:3-6)

Learning Spiritual Warfare is a result of Digging Deep into the Truth of Gods Word. Rejecting the false solutions that the flesh constantly reaches for, we learn to cast down our vain imaginations and those FALSE SOLUTIONS the World offers all of which exalts themselves over the knowledge of God, learning also to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ the outcome being your obedience is fulfilled.

We are living in the end times. A time the Word says that the love of many will wax cold and that men will be lovers of themselves. The practice of Loveless Lawlessness abounds in the Church as many in the Church are being misdirected into the same confusion the world is.

But to Overcome and to Love as Christ Loved is the standard and it is an impossibility without first Digging Deep; understanding Truth, obeying Christ's commands, believing Spiritual Facts and Trusting unwaveringly His Promises which make us partakers of His Divine Nature (see 2 Peter 2:4) evidenced by the fruit of His selfless understanding love in us.

In Christ’s Love and Service,

Brother James Pierson, OIC Senior Minister

The Cost of Discipleship

If any man come to me, and hatenot his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26)


Americanized Christianity (which really isn't) has for as long as I can remember tried to equate being a Christian with the American Dream and Mans Own Goodness both of which are dark deceptions. Because of the perilous times we live in Jesus gave us many seemingly hard sayings especially for the new believer. To trust and obey these instructions begins the cost of discipleship in your life. Why is it Jesus would begin with telling us to hate the members of our household. He explains it differently in another passage of scripture:

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. (Matthew 10:34-39)

Jesus is looking for those who will desire His Life above all else. To be Born From Above requires this full and total loyalty. Yet that's just one reason, the other is familiar spirits associated with those we grew up around. For many years I tried to fit God into my agendas and my desires asking Him to do this or that. Then the prayer would seemingly be answered and I would go off thanking God and believing I must be in His will but I wasn't. I realized after years of trying to conform God to my way of thinking to fit in with my goals of family and the American Dream that I was nowhere close to Gods Will. In fact I was on the broad path of destruction. God released me to my own way of thinking. My good intentions were actually paving a road to hell. Yet I remember how for awhile it seemed I was in Gods will, going to church etc then I'd crash and burn...looking back before I was given my own way I realized I never once said; Father not my will but Your will be done. Gods will is in His Word and for us it is the commands of Jesus. The #1 principle I must remember daily in these last days is:

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.(Mark 8:34) AND

But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven (Matthew 10:33)

So reliance on anyone or anything other than God is trusting yourself & man and DENYING HIM.

The Cost Of Discipleship is great but the rewards are greater:

And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. (Mark 10:27-31)

In Christ’s Love and Service,

Brother James Pierson, OIC Senior Minister

Pride

"But, behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table. And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe unto that man by whom he is betrayed! And they began to enquire among themselves, which of them it was that should do this thing. And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest." (Luke 22:21-24)

Pride is one of the greatest downfalls that can beset a follower of Christ. Scripture describes it as the sin which transformed Lucifer, once an annointed Cherub, "seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty" ( Ezekiel 28:12) into the Devil, the one for whom Hell was created (Matthew 25:41).

It was the sin of Pride that caused Eve to disobey God's command to not eat the forbidden fruit, a sense of pride instilled by the Devil himself, wishing to share his condemnation with others, and especially with God's most treasured creation (Genesis 3). At the Tower of Babel, God acted to halt the building of the Tower of Babel, a monument created not to honour God, but themselves (Genesis 11). David's pride and arrogance regarding his position led him to believe he could do as he pleased, even to commit murder in order to satisy his own lust, and God humbled him for it (2 Samuel 11 &12). It was through pride that Nebuchadnezzar lost his kingdom by God's decree (Daniel 4:30). There are countless examples in Scripture of human pride, and is clearly something God detests. It is a sin that detracts from God's glory and places that glory in the lap of Man, who is unworthy of it.

We see a shocking example of pride in Luke 22. In this passage, Jesus has for the first time revealed that He will be betrayed by one of His own, one of those who have followed Him from the very beginning of his ministry. Think about it. You travel with Jesus, you hear His words, you see His miracles, yet one of you will come against Him? How could that be? The apostles are first shocked that any of them could possibly be capable of such betrayal, yet almost immediately, in the very next verse, begin to argue amongst themselves as to whom was the greatest and most faithful of them. They had lost sight of what Jesus had just told them and allowed pride to creep-in and take hold of their faith in Christ - who was still sitting there! Pride is not something that is limited to non-believers, it can affect and motivate the actions of even believers, on both the conscious and subconscious levels. On the subconscious level in particular, it can prove to be the most damaging. In this passage, the apostles began to question who could betray Jesus, but allowed a pride in their own 'spirituality' to overcome the self-questioning that every follower of Christ should seek of himself. The sin of pride is a preoccupation with self, and not the things of God. Here, the apostles were more concerned with protecting their good standing in the faith, in the eyes of both themselves and others. It was motivated by selfish interests, despite its cloaking in 'faithfulness.'

Pride is not always blatant, but can often be quite subtle. We can easily fool ourselves into thinking we are acting and serving God out of pure and loving motivations, yet when we become truly introspective and examine our feelings regarding any particular thing, we can sometimes find pride lurking there. We are warned to guard our hearts against pride, lest we "fall into the same condemnation as the devil" (1 Timothy 3:6). We are instructed instead to humble ourselves. Notice that when the apostles began arguing as to who was the greatest of Jesus' apostles, Jesus did not rise-up and yell, "Hey! Did you even hear what I just said???" or simply demand that they listen to Him instead of quarreling. Instead, He tells them "he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve" (verse 26). He recognises their pride, and instead instructs them to practice humility.

Humility does not refer to denying your self-worth, but rather, it is keeping God in His correct place in our thinking. To not exalt oneself above God, in any manner. It is to affirm God as Creator and King and Lord over all things, including ourselves. It is to acknowledge God as the source of all things, including ourselves - when we choose to follow Him, it is not us working to be more like Him. This is impossible, we are fallen creatures with sinful hearts. The gift of Salvation allows God to work THROUGH us, transforming our minds and deeds into those which are pleasing to His Holiness. When we get prideful and begin acting out of self-interest, even if the results of our labours are good, our motivations displease Him. We do not act out of love for Him, but out of love and admiration of ourselves. The glorification of God must always be foremost. Rebirth in Christ means just that - losing our own life, to gain His.

"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble" (Proverbs 3:24)

Barukh atah Adonai Elohaynu Melekh haOlam (Blessed be the Lord our God, King of the Universe)

In Christ’s Love and Service,

Sister Rebecca, OIC Minister from the Australian Outback

Let Your Love Be Without Disimulation!

1 Corinthians 11:27-30

Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

There’s no doubt communion is serious business. Yet does it just entail the Breaking of the Bread and Drinking of the Wine?

1Colossians 11:26 - Show Context
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.

Would not our worthiness also entail our obedient response in all things pertaining to life and godliness? Isn’t that really what Jesus was saying to the Mother of Zebedee’s children?

Matthew 20:20-23
Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshiping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with:

Could how we deal with other people determine whether we are worthily partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ? Remember our response to those in need is a response to Jesus Himself:

Matthew 25:45 - Show Context
Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

Our responses to GIVING, FEEDING, CLOTHING, HOUSING, VISITING, LOVING and being the FAITH FILLED VESSELS of GOD’S LOVE and PROMISES WITHOUT DISIMULATION FILLED WITH THE POWER OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT DOES DETERMINE OUR HEALTH, REVEALING IF WE REALLY BELIEVE HIS TRUTH HIS PROMISES.

It is appointed to man once to die but if we will die to our own flesh its wicked thoughts and evil judgements having been truly born twice then wouldn’t we be true Ambassadors of The Kingdom of God wherein abides all power and fruit to everlasting life.

Remember:

Proverbs 16:25 - Show Context
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

But Jesus proclaimed:

John 14:12 - Show Context
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father

LOVE WHOLLY AS CHRIST LOVED AND THE DIVINE NATURE WILL BE YOURS!

In Christ’s Love and Service,

Brother James Pierson, OIC Senior Minister

Recognizing the Enemy

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)


Satan is known by many names; devil, god of this world, lord of the flies, and more but it́s satan that describes his intent the best as satan means adversary. One of his greatest deceptions is to make the world believe he doesn’t exist and the Church to look elsewhere as the source of its problems and solutions. Many have heard this statement from the pulpits; ̈You blame to much on the devil its your own flesh’s faulẗ an untrue statement. Though we do have to crucify our flesh its not our focus our focus is to obey God and trust His Promises then out flesh gets crucified by His Spirit increasing in us.

Many who believe their problems are their own flesh are warring against the wrong enemy:

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:11-12)

It is not necessarily in the things that are seemingly evil to this day and age where the enemy does so much harm but it́s in the things the world and the worldly church reaches for as solutions to its problems yet are contrary to Gods promises. And as long as satan appears as an angel of light and his ministers as ministers of righteousness misleading those who could be saved into the many false solutions of psychologies, philosophies, step programs, medicines, sciences and financial goals many will be deceived. And if any of these seem to work it is God working in spite of them if you are truly the called.

It is Gods Promises that make us partakers of His Divine Nature:

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (2 Peter1: 2-4)

Promises of healing, necessary provision, spiritual growth, the fruit of the spirit, etc can only be gained through complete faith filled obedience and trust in His Word.

Satan knows how to tickle our ears, make us believe in the corrupt solutions the world offers and still call it Jesus. Yet what the world offers is imperfect and what is perfect only God offers:

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (James1:17)

Medicines have side effects sometimes far worse than what they claim to cure. Satan offers generic gods (demons) in his open invitations to self help activities. Our solution is the Truth that is delivered us by Jesus Christ in recognizing the enemies schemes. And its only Gods Rightly Divided Truth that makes us free.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.(James 4:7)

In Christ’s Love and Service,

Brother James Pierson, OIC Senior Minister

Becoming an Overcomer In Christ

Revelations 12:11 - Show Context

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Overcoming Satan is not as easy as it seems to many. The subtle tactics and illusions and tricks the Devil uses are evident in the Church today simply because of the powerlessness that seems to prevail in Americanized Christianity. As a saint put it yesterday we are truly in the Laodecian Age where luikewarmness abounds.

There are two elements to the above scripture that must continually be in place to be an Overcomer In Christ;

The first is The Blood. The central most important thing Christ did for us is shed His Blood for the payment of our sins;

Romans 3:25 - Show Context
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Romans 5:9 - Show Context
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

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

Ephesians 2:13 - Show Context
But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

To access The Blood that is to have it active in your life you first must walk in the Light of Rightly Divided Truth:

1 John 1:7 - Show Context
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

Walking in the Light begins by acknowledging Truth in your heart inclusive of not only the Gospel but the doctrines that followed by The Holy Spirit that begin revealing the evil of the world and its god satans false solutions. It requires this Truth becoming the acknowlegement of Gods Goodness while allowing its Light to reveal the evil of the world’s false solutions. We are certainly in the day that Isaiah prophesied where men would call evil good and good evil…a conditioned that’s prevalent in the dead churches today.

Walking in the Light and in fellowship keeps us cleansed from our besetting sins. This then has to render growth in us to obey Gods Word wherein the Blood still gets applied:

1Peter 1:2 - Show Context
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied

The next element in Overcoming satan is the Word of our testimony. This word is not our words but the flow of the Stream of Living Water of Gods Word in us as we grow in Truth. As we Overcome we share with others these testimonies and in this process our flesh gets crucified to The Death.

In Christ’s Love and Service,

James Pierson, OIC Senior Minister

Do You Want to Be Made Whole?

The world in which we live is full of hurting people, a fact we cannot escape. The worldwide statistics regarding mental illness and physical infirmity are staggering, to say the least. But why is it so? Why is so much of this pain being felt from within Church? The answer is a simple one. Disbelief. The modern church has lost sight of the healing power in the Word. Whilst many will describe the Bible as 'the manual', it is often disregarded as such. Would it be not right to imagine that the Creator would know what makes us 'tick'? Instead of looking to Him, so many of us travel from doctor to doctor, and pill to pill, and counsellor to counsellor in vain attempts to heal whatever may ail us. Instead of looking to God, we look to the world and its humanistic methods of 'healing' which, in reality, are nothing more than bandaids - and often open-up old wounds that God has intentionally shut for our betterment!


Let us take one example of healing from His Word, the healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5). It was a time of great festivity in Jerusalem, yet outside its walls lay a multitude of hurting people, gathering by the waters to receive healing. Let us contrast the scene a little further. Inside the walls, people were eating and drinking and having a wonderful time. Outside its gates, were the desperate and lowly. According to superstition, an angel would disturb the water and the subsequent bubbles would cure whomever first entered the water. There is no historical evidence to say that anybody was ever cured, despite the potential therapeutic value a natural spring may have provided, but they were desperate. Imagine that desperation, as the water bubbled and everyone scrambled to get into the water at once - the blind trying their best to find the pool, the lame scratching at the ground to reach it - it would have been an awful and pitiful scene.

But where did Jesus go? He did not attend the festival, but instead went to those who were oppressed (Luke 4:18). He came to heal, yet we are not being healed because we are not relying on His Word for that healing. For some reason we seem to believe that Faith and Counselling must be separate! Think of those people inside the gates of Jerusalem on that day - they had no thoughts of those outside - and it is the same with the Church. So many of us tend to think that small problems can be dealt with through the Word, but the really big stuff should be left to 'professionals.' We are sending our hurting people back to that same pool, palming them off to the world, which cannot deal with the core problem - the spirit. Jesus asks the man, "do you want to be made whole?", to which he replies "I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool" (verse 7) - And this is the problem precisely - true healing does not come from man. Only God can enter the bodies, hearts and minds of those who hurt, grieve and mourn and heal from within.

Modern society is so hung-up on quick fixes. God tells us to "Be still, and know that I am God..." (Psalm 46:10). We must let go of this notion that healing will happen overnight, and be patient. God sees every moment of our pain, as observed with the man in this story, Jesus "knew that he had been now a long time in that condition" (verse 6), but it was not until this point that his healing was given. Notice all of the people in that place, John describes a "multitude", yet Jesus only healed that one man. God works in His own time, for His own purpose. Although it is difficult to fathom, we must remember that God often allows circumstances in our lives for a reason. He is working in us to achieve something. We must have Faith, and trust in Him. Keep in mind that although this man at Bethesda was cured, we are also told that he had been suffering for 38 years! It was no overnight cure.

The Foundation of healing is the Word. When Jesus came upon that man again in the Temple, He said "sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee" (verse 14). Sin affects us in more ways than we care to admit - mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually. We are to ground ourselves in His Word, and obey. Life does not get better without change. You cannot continue walking the same path and hope that things will somehow, magically get better. God requires obedience. He created us, and knows how we work in every way. Is it not feasible that His Commands are put in place to protect us? We need to follow Him in every aspect of our lives if we want change, if we want to be made whole. Throughout Scripture, we are told to cut-off sources of sin and unrighteous living, these are the things that break us in so many ways. But do you want to be made whole? This is the very question Jesus asks of the man, and many do not stop to think about how strange a question it is. Would not everyone want to be happy, and well? The unfortunate truth, is that many do not. They are happy living the pitiful life - feeling sorry for themselves, and having others feel sorry for them. Unless you are willing to be made well, it will not happen. That pattern of self-pity must be broken for healing to occur.

This story is distinct from many of the others in which Jesus healed people, in that he did not lay hands upon the man, or perform any physical action. He simply says, " Rise, take up thy bed and walk" (verse 8). What does this mean? It certainly has something to do with Faith, but there is more - let us look at it from a psychological perspective. People who do not want to be made well, play the 'Blame Game.' This will never result in them being healed. They have chosen their path of misery and do not wish to let go of it. But to take-up our mat and walk, means to leave behind all the excuses. To stop leaning on that crutch of dependance and self-pity, and move-on. Once the mat has been picked-up, it cannot be put back down or returned to. It is forsaking the old life and moving on with life, and using it as a testimony for what God has done in your life. There is nothing more powerful in ministry than the testimony of one who has been made whole in Jesus' name!

Wait on the Lord.
Obey His Word.
Flee from Iniquity.
Desire Wholeness.
Get up and Walk.
Use your Testimony to Minister.

In Christ’s Love and Service,

Rebecca Mihail, OIC Minister from the Australian Outback