Search Results

God's honours list Every year the British Monarch publishes a new year’s honours list which gives awards to politicians, sports men, and women, show-business people, public servants, charity workers, philanthropists, awards for bravery, industry, commerce and many more. The entertainment industry also likes to give honours and awards. The Brit Awards The Academy Awards, Oscars, Emmy`s etc. Sport gives honours and awards. Player of the year Journalist’s Best Player of the year etc. But what we want to consider today is God`s honour system, specifically who or what does the Lord honour, who or what does the Lord command His people to honour? What part does honour and honouring play in the life of a Christian? The aim of our study today is to answer these questions and to emphasize that honour and honouring is a key part of each believer’s life. Dictionary Definition: Honour is the high respect, renown, glory, or a good reputation. Honour can also mean a sense of what is right or due, or a high rank or position. In the USA, the judge is called ‘Your Honor.’ In the UK MP`s are called the ‘Honourable Member.’ We also have titles such as a Maid of Honour, Guard of Honour etc. Honour in a sense is the recognition of the value/rank/achievement that a person has. As Christians we have a duty to honour those God has commanded, and as you would expect our first debt of honour is to the Lord Himself. So how do we honour the Lord God? Firstly, we must recognize him for who he is, that is the creator of the cosmos, the Alpha and the Omega, the Giver and Sustainer of life and we must give him first place in all our thoughts, actions, plans, prayers, and praise. All the glory and honour belong to him. We ought to revere Him and hold Him in the highest honour and therefore commit all our ways unto him. Mark 7:6; This is not just talking a good game or giving an outward appearance of honour, but true honour from the heart. Jesus says, ‘If you love me, you will keep my commandments.’ God looks at our hearts to see if we really honour him in truth. Proverb 3:9; We can show honour in our giving. This can show if you are concerned with the creator or the creation. God is honoured when we give the first part of our money and goods to Him. It very importantly shows that we acknowledge him as the source of all good things. Amen. John 5:23; We honour the Father by recognizing who the Son is, that is the express image of the Father, the eternal Word made flesh. Those who do not honour the Son, as the Son of the Living God, the Messiah, the Saviour, dishonour the Father (this applies to the other religions). But we believers recognize and honour Jesus Christ. Honour in the Church, Family, Workplace Ephesians 5:15-33 Verse 18; Crucial step to avoid being filled with the wrong spirit but be filled with the Holy Spirit. Verse 21; We honour the Lord by submitting to each other. We must recognize the high value that God sets on each human life, and that every man, your fellow man is made in the image of God, just like you. We ought to fit in, and always act with such dignity as becomes a saint. We need to recognize that we are not the only one who hears God speak. We must not have the attitude of a brother or sister who says, ‘get out of my way’! Every believer has the same Spirit, the same Father, and the same baptism. Look to please others not yourself. Remember love is never self-seeking. Submit to your church leaders. They must give an account to the Lord for you. See 1 Timothy 3:17 and Hebrews 13:17 Verse 22; God has given a special honour to the man of being the head of the wife. Christian wives ought to recognize this and apply it in their marriages. God has given the casting vote to the husband but not the only say! Verse 25; Husbands honour your wives by loving them. Recognize the high value God places on your wife, as your partner in life, so always seek their good, seek every blessing for them, including their spiritual growth. 1 Peter 3:1-7 Verse 1; How to win unsaved husbands Verse 2-6; Wives honouring their unbelieving husbands through submission Verse 7; Our believing wives are our fellow heirs of eternal life We must not crush, bruise and abuse our wives as this will directly hinder our prayers. Ephesians 6:1-3; Honour your father and mother is a commandment with a promise! Honour is recognizing your parents’ position and authority given to them by God. Methods of honour. * Show respect through speech or actions like rising when they enter the room. * Give them money * Pray for them * Visit them and be kind by feeding and helping them * Listen to them Verse 4; Honour your children – Do not abuse your position over them. Give them your best i.e. God`s word. Verse 5-8; Employees – Do the job as unto the Lord. Honour your bosses, respect them as God’s appointed bosses. Verse 9; Bosses – Treat your workers with respect and dignity, God has made you a boss over them for good and not for evil. Recognise the high value God places on them. Be filled with the Spirit as this makes all human relationships improve! Honour to all Mankind 1 Peter 2:17 We must show honour to all men for they are made in God`s image. People who commit atrocities must first dehumanise their victim(s) for example the Nazis saw the Jews as rats. We must recognise the great value God sets on each human life even the alcoholic, addict, homeless, or enslaved by sin. John 3:16 God has given us a BA (Born Again) with Honours! Honour God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Honour your brothers and sisters, your father and mother, and all men. Recognise God`s high value he places on each life. Amen Personal Prayer

Caring and sharing with 'one another' So, what does this true fellowship Koinonia look like in practice? This growing in fellowship with each other is aided by spending time together and by having meals together. We need to stop holding others at arm’s length. This is a natural defence mechanism that we need to overcome. You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs, and you cannot make a true Christian Fellowship without getting involved with each other and with the Lord in the first instance. We are of God’s family and household and like all human parents he wants his children to love one another. The only one who gains from Christians not getting on is Satan! We need to walk in the light. Philippians 2:1-2 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Koinonia is agreeing with one another, being united in purpose, and serving alongside each other. Our koinonia with each other is based on our common koinonia with Jesus Christ. What more can Christians have in common, One Lord, One faith, One baptism… 1 Corinthians 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. There should be such a complete identification with our brothers and sisters so much so, that whatever touches or affects them also directly affects us. We are members of the same body, the body of Christ. How good are you at Christian fellowship, do you find it difficult, I confess I do, but I see need to obey the Lord in this? What will you do when a member from your church turns up at your doorstep needing help? 1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. Today we are going to look at other ways in which we as brothers and sisters can interact with each other. Just before moving on however, it is necessary to say something about smaller groups within a church fellowship. Importance of smaller groups As a church grows it often becomes difficult to get to know everyone and this can make it more difficult to have true fellowship with each other. This problem can be overcome by forming smaller groups within the church. These small groups may take the form of house groups but also may include ministry teams such as praise bands, children’s workers etc. The key thing in terms of developing koinonia fellowship is to get to know the people in your group, seeing them as close brothers and sisters. In these groups we should really be taking care for each other, developing friendships, encouraging each other, praying for each other etc. etc. As industrious as our church leaders are, and they are, we can all play a part in caring for each other, with the more difficult situations and problems being passed to one of the elders. ‘One another’ scriptures A powerful example of what koinonia should look like can be found in a study of the phrase “one another” in the Bible. Scripture commands us to be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10), honour one another (Romans 12:10), live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16; 1 Peter 3:8), accept one another (Romans 15:7), serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13), be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32), admonish one another (Colossians 3:16), encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13), spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24), offer hospitality (1 Peter 4:9), and love one another (1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11; 3:23; 4:7; 4:11-12). That is what true biblical koinonia should look like. 1 Pet 1:22 KJV) Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. All these instructions in scripture can be summarised by saying the Lord commands us to live together in love as part of his family in a sincere, a committed and involved way. Each one of us, needs a sense of belonging and being a functioning part, together with our brothers and sisters, in the body of Christ. If we do this our church fellowship will be pleasing to the Lord. God is calling each church fellowship today become a true fellowship, a true koinonia, that is an intimate sharing of lives. Amen Prayer Communion 1 Corinthians 10:16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion (koinonia) of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion (koinonia) of the body of Christ? 17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (The Greek word for fellowship is κοινωνία.) One of the places we find this word is in 1 Corinthians 10:16 where the bread and cup of the Lord’s Supper are described as a “communion” in the body and blood of Christ. This word gets translated differently according to which Bible you use. Some say communion, others participation, and others sharing. I find “participation” to be the most helpful description of what communion is. Resources consulted Roger Price, Chichester Christian Fellowship, Fellowship Life Series #1 (Koinonia) and #2 (Commune or community?) See 'Additional Resources section of this website.

Fellowship (Koinonia) Life- loving and serving one another Jesus said I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. How would you like to have a church fellowship that is well pleasing to God? Words sometimes change their meaning over time e.g. the word gay used to mean happy, pleasant, good company now it means same sex attracted. In the same way the word fellowship has had its meaning changed when we use it to mean a cup of tea and a biscuit, or similar, after the meeting. In the New Testament the Greek word for fellowship is Koinonia (n=20 times). This word derives from the Greek word Koinonos whose primary meaning is “fellowship, sharing in common, communion, community.” As you know the language of the NT is koine (common) Greek. Koinonia means having all things in common. In practice a group of Christians because of their common faith are willing to go beyond this and are willing to share in every area of the lives. This involves the sharing of one’s very nature and life force producing an intimate relationship of sharing and caring. It is a partnership, a sense of belonging to Gods family in a way beyond the bounds of our natural families. In the ancient world koinonia could be used of marriage where two persons loved one another, had so much in common, that their lives were joined into a mutual sharing of everything in their lives. The intimate sharing of all one’s life, joys and sorrows, pain and heartache like in a family situation. Our true fellowship begins when we come to faith in Christ and ought to develop with our brothers and sisters in the local church. God is calling us back to true fellowship, God is calling your church back to true koinonia fellowship. Let us explore what true koinonia fellowship really looks like. Koinonia is more than a club (or political party) How many of us are in clubs, golf, bowling, darts, fishing, music, dancing etc.? Usually we enjoy meeting our friends in clubs we enjoy chatting and sharing a hot drink. Although we can enjoy this and that is OK, we cannot make the standard of behaviour in a secular club member, the same when we gather in Christian fellowship. Many Christians think that fellowship is simply a matter of having tea or coffee with your fellow believers after a meeting but, it must go much deeper than this. The first occurrence of koinonia is in. Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship (koinonia), to the breaking of bread and to prayer. The four elements of the new and thriving Pentecostal church were. Apostle’s teaching = bible study Fellowship = sharing lives together Breaking of bread = sharing meals together Prayer = necessary to work with the Lord Christian fellowship is a key aspect of the Christian life. Believers in Christ are to come together sharing in love, faith, and encouragement. That is the essence of koinonia. God himself lives in a dynamic sharing of life and fellowship as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Part of Elim’s vision for 2020 is ‘One’, One Lord and one people and fellowship is how we show that we are one people. The Methodist preacher W E Sangster put it like this; the fulness of the Christian life cannot be known except in fellowship - fellowship with God and fellowship with one another. Moreover, the purposes of God in this world require a social organism by which to express themselves. Fellowship with God 1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship (koinonia) with us: and truly our fellowship (koinonia) is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. The Lord wants each one of us to develop an intimate sharing of life with Him and because of this we should begin to develop true and sincere fellowship and friendship with each other. This could be summarized in terms of commitment to God and commitment to each other. Jesus commands us to love one another in John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Well how does Jesus love us? Testimony: about two years ago, we had a new couple in our church, someone stole their laptop during the service, and they were terribly upset by this. In the spirit of koinonia some of our people clubbed together and bought them a new laptop. This is the spirit of true fellowship; the couple were very touched. When a misfortune happens, sometimes we can add something that links to the unhappy memory, 9My Auntie Jennie, and my bike accident). Galatians 5:22 The fruit of the spirit is love … Fruit in nature is reproductive because it bears seed. A loving, caring and sharing fellowship will draw and win people to Christ because it is sowing the reproductive seeds of love. Apologies to the SAS but it is not ‘who dares wins’ but rather who cares wins (souls). Amen Part 2 will follow in two days from this post (28/8/21).

Fellowship (Koinonia) Life is loving and serving one another Jesus said I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. How would you like to have a church fellowship that is well pleasing to God? Words sometimes change their meaning over time So with the word fellowship has had its meaning changed when we use it to mean a cup of tea and a biscuit, or similar, after the meeting. In the new testament the Greek word for fellowship is koinonia (n=20 times). This word derives from the Greek word Koinonos whose primary meaning is “fellowship, sharing in common, communion, community.” As you know the language of the NT is koine (common) Greek. Koinonia means having all things in common. In practice a group of Christians because of their common faith are willing to go beyond this and are willing to share in every area of the lives. This involves the sharing of one’s very nature and life force producing an intimate relationship of sharing and caring. It is a partnership, a sense of belonging to Gods family in a way beyond the bounds of our natural families. In the ancient world koinonia could be used of marriage where two persons loved one another, had so much in common, that their lives were joined into a mutual sharing of everything in their lives. The intimate sharing of all one’s life, joys and sorrows, pain and heartache like in a family situation. Our true fellowship begins when we come to faith in Christ and ought to develop with our brothers and sisters in the local church. God is calling us back to true fellowship, God is calling Hawick Elim back to true koinonia fellowship. Let’s explore what true koinonia fellowship really looks like. Koinonia is more than a club (or political party) How many of us are in clubs, golf, bowling, darts, fishing, music, dancing etc.? Usually we enjoy meeting our friends in clubs we enjoy chatting and sharing a hot drink. Although we can enjoy this and that is OK, we can’t make the standard of behaviour in a secular club member, the same when we gather in Christian fellowship. Many Christians think that fellowship is simply a matter of having tea or coffee with your fellow believers after a meeting but, it must go much deeper than this. The first occurrence of koinonia is in. Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship (koinonia), to the breaking of bread and to prayer. The four elements of the new and thriving Pentecostal church were. Apostles teaching = bible study Fellowship = sharing lives together Breaking of bread = sharing meals together Prayer = necessary to work with the Lord Christian fellowship is a key aspect of the Christian life. Believers in Christ are to come together sharing in love, faith, and encouragement. That is the essence of koinonia. God himself lives in a dynamic sharing of life and fellowship as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Part of Elim’s vision for 2020 is ‘One’, One Lord and one people and fellowship is how we show that we are one people. The Methodist preacher W E Sangster put it like this; the fulness of the Christian life cannot be known except in fellowship - fellowship with God and fellowship with one another. Moreover, the purposes of God in this world require a social organism by which to express themselves. Fellowship with God 1 John 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship (koinonia) with us: and truly our fellowship (koinonia) is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. The Lord wants each one of us to develop an intimate sharing of life with Him and as a result of this we should begin to develop true and sincere fellowship and friendship with each other. This could be summarized in terms of commitment to God and commitment to each other. Jesus commands us to love one another in John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Well how does Jesus love us? Testimony: about two years ago, we had a new couple in our church, someone stole their laptop during the service, and they were upset by this. In the spirit of koinonia some of our people clubbed together and bought them a new laptop. This is the spirit of true fellowship; the couple were very touched. When a misfortune happens, sometimes we can add something that links to the unhappy memory, e.g. the story of Auntie Jennie and my bike accident. Galatians 5 22-23 The fruit of the spirit is love … Fruit in nature is reproductive because it bears seed. A loving, caring and sharing fellowship will draw and win people to Christ because it is sowing the reproductive seeds of love. Apologies to the SAS but it is not ‘who dares wins’ but rather who cares wins (souls). So, what does this true fellowship Koinonia look like in practice? This growing in fellowship with each other is aided by spending time together and by having meals together. We need to stop holding others at arm’s length. This is a natural defence mechanism that we need to overcome. You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs and you cannot make a true Christian Fellowship without getting involved with each other and with the Lord in the first instance. We are of God’s family and household and like all human parents he wants his children to love one another. The only one who gains from Christians not getting [1] on is Satan[2]! We need to walk in the light. Philippians 2:1-2 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Koinonia is agreeing with one another, being united in purpose, and serving alongside each other. Our koinonia with each other is based on our common koinonia with Jesus Christ. What more can Christians have in common, One Lord, One faith, One baptism… 1 Corinthians 12:26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. There should be such a complete identification with our brothers and sisters so much so, that whatever touches or affects them also directly affects us. We are members of the same body, the body of Christ. How good are you at Christian fellowship, do you find it difficult, I confess I do, but I see need to obey the Lord in this? What will you do when a member from your church turns up at your doorstep needing help? 1 John 4:19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother. Today we are going to look at other ways in which we as brothers and sisters can interact with each other. Just before moving on however, it is necessary to say something about smaller groups within a church fellowship. Importance of smaller groups As a church grows it often becomes difficult to get to know everyone and this can make it more difficult to have true fellowship with each other. This problem can be overcome by forming smaller groups within the church. These small groups may take the form of house groups (as in EE) but also may include ministry teams such as praise bands, children’s workers etc. The key thing in terms of developing koinonia fellowship is to get to know the people in your group, seeing them as close brothers and sisters. In these groups we should really be taking care for each other, developing friendships, encouraging each other, praying for each other etc. etc. As industrious as our church leaders are, and they are, we can all play a part in caring for each other, with the more difficult situations and problems being passed to one of the elders. ‘One another’ scriptures[3] A powerful example of what koinonia should look like can be found in a study of the phrase “one another” in the Bible. Scripture commands us to be devoted to one another (Romans 12:10), honour one another (Romans 12:10), live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16; 1 Peter 3:8), accept one another (Romans 15:7), serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13), be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32), admonish one another (Colossians 3:16), encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13), spur one another on toward love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24), offer hospitality (1 Peter 4:9), and love one another (1 Peter 1:22; 1 John 3:11; 3:23; 4:7; 4:11-12). That is what true biblical koinonia should look like. 1 Pet 1:22 KJV Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently[4]: 1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. All these instructions in scripture can be summarised by saying the Lord commands us to live together in love as part of his family in a sincere, a committed and involved way. Each one of us needs a sense of belonging and being a functioning part, together with our brothers and sisters, in the body of Christ. If we do this our church fellowship will be pleasing to the Lord. God is calling this Fellowship today become a true fellowship, a true koinonia, that is an intimate sharing of lives. Amen Prayer Communion 1 Corinthians 10 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion (koinonia) of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion (koinonia) of the body of Christ? 17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (The Greek word is κοινωνία.) One of the places we find this word is in 1 Corinthians 10:16 where the bread and cup of the Lord’s Supper are described as a “communion” in the body and blood of Christ. This word gets translated differently according to which Bible you pick up. Some say communion, others participation, and others sharing. I find “participation” to be the most helpful description of what communion is. Resources consulted Roger Price Fellowship Life Series #1 (Koinonia) and #2 (Commune or community?) See additional Resources on main menu. Footnotes [1] 1 John 1 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. [2] 1 John 2:9 Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10 Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. [3] 37 occurrences in KJV NT. [4] White hot.

There is life and death in the power of the tongue This week our three part mini-series will be on the power of your tongue. Sometimes when we go to the doctor, she will ask to see your tongue, and she may get insights into our physical health (rough, smooth, colour, etc.) In the same way what is coming from your tongue may be a good gauge of your spiritual health! Almost every chapter in the book of Proverbs has something to say about the tongue. Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. This constitutes amazing power in our words with either the power to bless, build up, impart life or with the power to curse, tear down and impart death. When we choose words of life, we will see its positive effects somewhere down the line, the converse is also true. What fruit do you want your own words to produce? Proverbs 15:4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. With our tongues we can worship God, bless our fellow man or woman, speak the truth in love and yet we can also dishonour the Lord, curse our fellow woman, tell lies, speak deceit and hypocrisy. Proverbs 6:16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community. Please note of the six things that the Lord hates, a lying tongue is second top in his list. Here is the heart of the matter: Matthew 12:33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” What is your heart full of today? Love, joy, or peace or is it full of anger, hurt and bitterness … and what words will bubble up from our hearts today? Closing Prayer Do you need to admit that you have a problem with this and ask for the Lord’s help? Let us pray. Amen For full text for printout and access to the other parts of 'The power of your tongue' click https://www.psalmonesermons.com/post/the-power-of-your-tongue-part-1

Chapters 8-11 now go onto to describe Ezekiel’s second vision. It has been estimated that some 14 months had elapsed between the prophet’s first and second visions. Wickedness in the Holy Temple God reveals to Ezekiel in detail via the angel just how utterly evil the practices of specifically the elders have become having previously dealt with the evil practices of the whole people of Israel i.e. rank and file in his first vision as described in Chapter 1. 1. And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house with the elders of Judah sitting before me, that the hand of the Lord God fell upon me there. 2 Then I looked, and there was a likeness, like the appearance of fire—from the appearance of His waist and downward, fire, and from His waist and upward, like the appearance of brightness, like the colour of amber. 3 He stretched out the form of a hand and took me by a lock of my hair; and the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and brought me in visions of God to Jerusalem, to the door of the north gate of the inner court, where the seat of the image of jealousy was, which provokes to jealousy. 4 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, like the vision that I saw in the plain. On a specific year, a specific month and specific day a delegation of the Jewish elders had come to Ezekiel seeking a word from the Lord and certainly looking for some crumb of comfort. However, they were in for a big disappointment, and no sooner had they come to prophet when the hand of the Lord fell upon Ezekiel and there appeared a heavenly being who fitted the description of the first angelic being in Chapter 1:27. The angel stretched out his hand and took the prophet by a lock of his hair and transports him supernaturally into a vision of Jerusalem and specifically to the inner court of the Holy Temple where a detestable idolatrous image had been set up and was provoking the Lord to an angry jealousy. However at that time the glory of the Lord had not departed from the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. 5 Then He said to me, “Son of man, lift your eyes now toward the north.” So I lifted my eyes toward the north, and there, north of the altar gate, was this image of jealousy in the entrance. The prophet is now permitted to take a tour of the Holy Temple to see the various idolatrous practices being conducted there. These abominations get progressively worse. The angel leads Ezekiel in successive steps from the outside of the HT in towards the Holy of Holies. The first of the four abominations is that mentioned in verse 5 the image of jealousy at the entrance to the temple. Some commentators think that this idol was an Asherah or pagan fertility Goddess in the form of a woman. This idol was located where those guards who should protect the Holy Temple should stand. How ironic this idol could offer no protection against whomsoever the Lord’s sends in judgement. 6 Furthermore He said to me, “Son of man, do you see what they are doing, the great abominations that the house of Israel commits here, to make Me go far away from My sanctuary? Now turn again, you will see greater abominations.” 7 So He brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, there was a hole in the wall.8 Then He said to me, “Son of man, dig into the wall”; and when I dug into the wall, there was a door. God tells Ezekiel that in effect He is being driven out of His Holy Temple by the wicked abominations being practiced inside it. Ezekiel’s attention is now drawn towards a hole that someone has started digging in the Temple Court wall. The prophet is instructed to enlarge the hole until he finds a secret door. 9 And He said to me, “Go in, and see the wicked abominations which they are doing there.” 10 So I went in and saw, and there—every creeping thing, abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed all around on the walls. 11 And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel, and in their midst stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan. Each man had a censer in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up. 12 Then He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the room of his idols? For they say, ‘The Lord does not see us, the Lord has forsaken the land.’” Ezekiel is instructed to open the door where to his horror he sees a room full of despicable idols which are also depicted on the walls of the room. The idols are different in nature including those depicted as insects and others depicted as animals. He sees 70 of the elders of Israel whose job it was to protect all the Holy Things in Judaism offering incense to these evil idols. Shockingly, one of the elders Jaazaniah was from a priestly family and a righteous line. These 70 elders think that God has departed and that He can longer see their heathen worship. 13 And He said to me, “Turn again, and you will see greater abominations that they are doing.” 14 So He brought me to the door of the north gate of the Lord’s house; and to my dismay, women were sitting there weeping for Tammuz. Ezekiel is given a further instruction to move towards the northeast corner of the Temple and discover even more vile abominations being practiced in the Lord’s House. The prophet now sees women weeping for the Babylonian nature god called Tammuz. This pagan practice celebrated the seasons of nature believing that the weeping would resurrect Tammuz the spring God to go on a produce a good crop harvest in summer. What an insult to the Creator God and yet another clear breach of the 10 commandments. 15 Then He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Turn again, you will see greater abominations than these.” 16 So He brought me into the inner court of the Lord’s house; and there, at the door of the temple of the Lord, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of the Lord and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun toward the east. The prophets tour now reaches its very lowest point in the inner court of the Lord’s House he sees between the porch and the altar and with their backs to God 25 men who were worshipping the sun. Again, an abomination clearly forbidden in the 10 commandments. They are rubbing the Lord’s nose into their sins in a place where He promised to dwell. 17 And He said to me, “Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it a trivial thing to the house of Judah to commit the abominations which they commit here? For they have filled the land with violence; then they have returned to provoke Me to anger. Indeed they put the branch to their nose. 18 Therefore I also will act in fury. My eye will not spare, nor will I have pity; and though they cry in My ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.” Should such abominations ever occur the Temple of the Living God? These sinful people thought it was no big deal to profane God’s own Temple. Not content with all their violence and other sins outside the Temple they had to come to do worse in the face of God. The party is over their judgment is knocking at the door. In summary these Jews had worshipped every type of creature including humans or part humans even the heavenly bodies and celebrated the Gods of many other lands such as Babylon, Egypt, and others. Each act of idolatrous worship violates the 10 commandments given to them via Moses. It is now the Lord's time for payback.

Do you believe in miracles? Well you ought believe in miracles if you are a Christian. Because the greatest miracle we ever experience, is the miracle of the new birth. How can it be that we who were spiritually dead have been made alive unto God, how can it be that our hard and stony selfish heart has been replaced with a loving tender heart. How can we who lived to please only ourselves, now live to please our heavenly Father. It is a miracle. It is the power of the living God entering and miraculously changing our lives. It is a miracle. Do you believe in miracles? Well, you will if you read and believe the bible, it is packed from cover to cover with miracles, signs, and wonders. Remember, all that God did as he brought the Israelites out of bondage in Egypt, the plagues, the pillar of fire/cloud, opening the red sea, water from the rock. Or what about the the miracles of Elijah/Elisha and many, many more right through to the time of Jesus and his disciples. If you study the miracles in the bible, you will notice something surprising, God never breaks his owns rules, never does anything un-natural. Matthew 14:15-21 Feeding the 5000 He may multiply loaves and fishes, but he does not turn a fish into a bird that is magic where supernatural power is used to act in an unnatural way like voodoo or witchcraft. God is the one who naturally causes fish and grain to multiply since he is the life source of all nature. This miracle was in a sense a miracle of timescale. In the same manner if God is not healing all of our human bodies every day we would just die. I want you to see that God is the only healer. Doctors can only help set the right conditions for healing, but it is the life force given by God which heals. No doctor can heal a corpse. When Jesus performed many healings. He was just doing what God did normally with only difference being the time scale i.e. the healing was instantaneous. The miracle was in a sense of timescale. John 2:1-11 Water to wine Who gives power for yeast to convert water in wine normally? It is God. Again we see a miracle in sense of time scale. It seems at least some miracles are things that God does routinely but can happen instantaneously or much faster than normal. The miracles of change as we grow into Christian maturity Who produces spiritually maturity in you? It is God (the Holy Spirit) working through the word of God you read, who changes your life, your thoughts, your actions, and your character. Ephesians 4:11-13 The five-fold ministry gifts Jesus gave the five ministry gifts to his body to prepare God’s people for works of service, to build them up, to bring them into a unity of the faith and in knowledge of the Son of God, i.e. to bring the believers into maturity and fullness of Christ. The Holy Spirit works through our leaders in their teaching, preaching, exhortation, correction, and last but not least by their example. There is no substitute for the word of God and prayer in the sense you, yourself can determine how fast you will grow. Where we experience problems in our spiritual growth, God is gracious and is ever-willing to help you. God can provide deliverance from our obstacles and hindrances, so that we are free to mature. I believe in miracles. I believe God has sent this message as a vessel through which He will work miracles of timescale. Can you believe that God can do things in your heart now that would otherwise have taken years. Will you ask to be delivered from specific hindrances even now? Others may receive a miracle of growth in a certain area. God will still require you to be diligent in bible study, prayer and attending church fellowship but today he can do a miracle for each one of you personally. Could this be his special opportunity for an instant work that will produce and encourage maturity in your life. Do you believe in miracles? We don't want to limit God. Amen Personal prayer

Ezekiel 6 The Lord gives Ezekiel an over-view of the sins the Jews are committing against Him and what results his tailored judgements on them will be. Judgment on Idolatrous Israel 1 Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying: 2 “Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel, and prophesy against them, 3 and say, ‘O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord God! Thus says the Lord God to the mountains, to the hills, to the ravines, and to the valleys: “Indeed I, even I, will bring a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places. 4 Then your altars shall be desolate, your incense altars shall be broken, and I will cast down your slain men before your idols. 5 And I will lay the corpses of the children of Israel before their idols, and I will scatter your bones all around your altars. 6 In all your dwelling places the cities shall be laid waste, and the high places shall be desolate, so that your altars may be laid waste and made desolate, your idols may be broken and made to cease, your incense altars may be cut down, and your works may be abolished. 7 The slain shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am the Lord. Now that the Lord has pronounced His judgement of Jerusalem, He turns his attention to the mountains and high places of Israel. Ezekiel is told to set his face in judgement against these. A devastating judgement is coming on these places and especially since these were place associated with God’s presence thus showing that it was bad enough the idolatry being performed but worse still in His face as it were. The Lord will destroy the idolatrous alters, groves with their asherim and any other desecrated areas. Many people will be slain for participating in this pagan worship and once again there will be no doubt that the Lord has instigated this. 8 “Yet I will leave a remnant, so that you may have some who escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered through the countries. 9 Then those of you who escape will remember Me among the nations where they are carried captive, because I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me, and by their eyes which play the harlot after their idols; they will loathe themselves for the evils which they committed in all their abominations. 10 And they shall know that I am the Lord; I have not said in vain that I would bring this calamity upon them.” Such idolatry has broken God’s heart and his wrath is fast approaching to bring great calamity on the nation yet as ever God chooses to spare a small remnant of His chosen people (as ever). 11 ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Pound your fists and stamp your feet, and say, ‘Alas, for all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! For they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. 12 He who is far off shall die by the pestilence, he who is near shall fall by the sword, and he who remains and is besieged shall die by the famine. Thus will I spend My fury upon them. 13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when their slain are among their idols all around their altars, on every high hill, on all the mountaintops, under every green tree, and under every thick oak, wherever they offered sweet incense to all their idols. 14 So I will stretch out My hand against them and make the land desolate, yes, more desolate than the wilderness toward Diblah, in all their dwelling places. Then they shall know that I am the Lord. The Lord instructs the prophet to be very emphatic including his body language when he delivers these messages of the upcoming judgments declaring woe upon all the abominations of Israel. They shall surely die by the sword, famine, or disease. Disease will get those at a distance from Jerusalem, those around the city shall die by the sword and those inside the city will starve to death during the siege. God will make it plain to all that He has instigated all these severe judgements. Those idolaters on the mountains and high grounds will fall at the very places of their pagan worship where they offered sacrifices to their idols. When the Lord kills them all this will make the land desolate thus suggestions that all the local populations had participated in the various forms of idolatry. Everyone will know sadly too late that this is from God.

Chapter 5 The Lord continues to instruct Ezekiel to give prophetic enactments to the Jews to show His upcoming judgements upon Jerusalem. A Sword Against Jerusalem 1 “And you, son of man, take a sharp sword, take it as a barber’s razor, and pass it over your head and your beard; then take scales to weigh and divide the hair.2 You shall burn with fire one-third in the midst of the city, when the days of the siege are finished; then you shall take one-third and strike around it with the sword, and one-third you shall scatter in the wind: I will draw out a sword after them. 3 You shall also take a small number of them and bind them in the edge of your garment. 4 Then take some of them again and throw them into the midst of the fire and burn them in the fire. From there a fire will go out into all the house of Israel. The Lord commands Ezekiel to do another unseemly thing for a priest by telling him to shave off all his hair. The shaved hair is to be carefully weighed and split into three portions and reflects the careful planning by the Lord when he is about to execute his judgements on the disobedient. The first third of the hair represents those people who will be destroyed during the siege of Jerusalem. The second portion of hair represents those people who will survive the siege of Jerusalem but only die beyond the city. The last third represents those who will be scattered to the nations. The small number of hairs hidden in the prophet’s garments represents a small remnant that will survive under the protection of God and will go onto to rekindle the fire of God’s love in the hearts of the rest of Israel. 5 “Thus says the Lord God: ‘This is Jerusalem; I have set her in the midst of the nations and the countries all around her. 6 She has rebelled against My judgments by doing wickedness more than the nations, and against My statutes more than the countries that are all around her; for they have refused My judgments, and they have not walked in My statutes.’ 7 Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have multiplied disobedience more than the nations that are all around you, have not walked in My statutes nor kept My judgments, nor even done [1] according to the judgments of the nations that are all around you’— 8 therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Indeed I, even I, am against you and will execute judgments in your midst in the sight of the nations.9 And I will do among you what I have never done, and the like of which I will never do again, because of all your abominations. 10 Therefore fathers shall eat their sons in your midst, and sons shall eat their fathers; and I will execute judgments among you, and all of you who remain I will scatter to all the winds. God explains to Ezekiel that the reason his judgments will come upon Jerusalem and Israel are that despite the great favour that the Lord has shown to Jerusalem and Israel in terms of exalting them before the nations they very openly rebelled against his commandments and in a way that the Lord considered to be worse than the pagan nations around them. Now because of their great provocation of God He is going to judge them very publicly in full view of the surrounding gentile nations. So great are the abominations perpetrated by the Jews that the Lord is going to permit cannibalism within families to occur and whoever survives these judgements will be scattered to the nations. 11 ‘Therefore, as I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘surely, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your abominations, therefore I will also diminish you; My eye will not spare, nor will I have any pity. 12 One-third of you shall die of the pestilence and be consumed with famine in your midst; and one-third shall fall by the sword all around you; and I will scatter another third to all the winds, and I will draw out a sword after them. 13 ‘Thus shall My anger be spent, and I will cause My fury to rest upon them, and I will be avenged; and they shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it in My zeal, when I have spent My fury upon them. 14 Moreover I will make you a waste and a reproach among the nations that are all around you, in the sight of all who pass by. God great patience and grace towards the Israelites has now run out and now having had enough of them is preparing to release the above judgements on them. Once these judgments are completed God’s wrath will be pacified but no one will be in any doubt that it is the Sovereign Lord who has instigated these judgements. The same God will now openly humiliate the once exalted nations of Israel. 15 ‘So it [2] shall be a reproach, a taunt, a lesson, and an astonishment to the nations that are all around you, when I execute judgments among you in anger and in fury and in furious rebukes. I, the Lord, have spoken.16 When I send against them the terrible arrows of famine which shall be for destruction, which I will send to destroy you, I will increase the famine upon you and cut off your supply of bread. 17 So I will send against you famine and wild beasts, and they will bereave you. Pestilence and blood shall pass through you, and I will bring the sword against you. I, the Lord, have spoken.’” The Lord will use his judgements on Israel as an object lesson to the nations round about them showing that it is a terrible thing to come under the judgement of the Living God. This chapter concludes with God reminding Ezekiel and his hearers that his judgements will include famine, death by wild beasts and death at the hands of their enemies. The Lord has spoken so it will certainly happen. Footnotes: Ezekiel 5:7 Following Masoretic Text, Septuagint, Targum, and Vulgate; many Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac read but have done (compare 11:12). Ezekiel 5:15 Septuagint, Syriac, Targum, and Vulgate read you.

Chapter 4 The Siege of Jerusalem Portrayed The unrighteous Jews thought that Jerusalem would be safe since the Lord’s Holy Temple was there. God gives them two warnings through Ezekiel of exceedingly tough times ahead for the Israelites. In the prophetic enactments of Ezekiel the prophet represents God Himself working invisibly behind the scenes but instigating the calamities coming on the unrighteous Jews. 1 “You also, son of man, take a clay tablet and lay it before you, and portray on it a city, Jerusalem. 2 Lay siege against it, build a siege wall against it, and heap up a mound against it; set camps against it also, and place battering rams against it all around. 3 Moreover take for yourself an iron plate and set it as an iron wall between you and the city. Set your face against it, and it shall be besieged, and you shall lay siege against it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel. The Lord now instructs Ezekiel to take a clay brick and draw on it a model of Jerusalem. Ezekiel is further instructed to add details to the model including siege walls, an attack mound, an enemy encampment and battering rams being deployed against the city walls. Ezekiel also sets up an iron wall between him and the model of the city showing how isolated the city would become. The Lord then commands Ezekiel to set his face against the city laying siege to the model as a picture of how God was about to judge the Israelites. 4 “Lie also on your left side and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it. According to the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity. 5 For I have laid on you the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days; so you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel. 6 And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. I have laid on you a day for each year. The next warning sign to be given by the prophet is that he is told to lie down on his left side for 390 days signifying this is how God feels bearing the sins of his people. When this time has elapsed, he must do another forty days this time on his right side and for the people of Judah. Each day that Ezekiel lies on his side represents one year of God’s judgement on the Israelites based in Jerusalem and on the tribe of Judah. The significance of the days is that the 390 represents the years of the upcoming exile for the Israelites and the 40 days representing 40 years in exile for the Judahites. It is of note that the total exile comes to 430 years the exact same period the Israelites were held captive in Egypt. 7 “Therefore you shall set your face toward the siege of Jerusalem; your arm shall be uncovered, and you shall prophesy against it. 8 And surely, I will restrain you so that you cannot turn from one side to another till you have ended the days of your siege. Ezekiel is to set his face against the model and prophesy against Jerusalem And will be unable to change his posture whilst the days of his lying down are to be completed. 9 “Also take for yourself wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them into one vessel, and make bread of them for yourself. During the number of days that you lie on your side, three hundred and ninety days, you shall eat it. 10 And your food which you eat shall be by weight, twenty shekels a day; from time to time you shall eat it. 11 You shall also drink water by measure, one-sixth of a hin; from time to time you shall drink.12 And you shall eat it as barley cakes; and bake it using fuel of human waste in their sight.” The meaning of this poor bread portion for Ezekiel indicates there will be a serious shortage of food upcoming for the Israelites and not only a shortage but the bread would be defiled in some way. During his 430 days of lying on his side the prophet is only allowed inadequate quality starvation rations of bread and water. 13 Then the Lord said, “So shall the children of Israel eat their defiled bread among the Gentiles, where I will drive them.” God is showing the Jews how unclean their sins are to Him feeding them unclean food for their unclean hearts. Jerusalem is going to be emptied of people in what will then be a third exile from Jerusalem, and they will end up eating starvation rations that are unclean in a foreign exile. 14 So I said, “Ah, Lord God! Indeed I have never defiled myself from my youth till now; I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by beasts, nor has abominable flesh ever come into my mouth.” 15 Then He said to me, “See, I am giving you cow dung instead of human waste, and you shall prepare your bread over it.” The prophet cannot bare to eat unclean bread cooked over human excrement as it would be unclean. The Lord concedes this point and allows him to cook over cow dung. 16 Moreover He said to me, “Son of man, surely, I will cut off the supply of bread in Jerusalem; they shall eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and shall drink water by measure and with dread, 17 that they may lack bread and water, and be dismayed with one another, and waste away because of their iniquity. Jerusalem is fast heading for a siege with only siege rations of bread and water available to them. Though the rations are short ironically there will be plenty of fear and terror about and the inhabitants will start blaming each other for the calamities knocking on their door. Their sins will surely catch up to them. Amen Personal prayer

And the fragrance of the Holy Spirit Many years ago, I attended a Christian conference in Brighton, England. The main speaker was Bill Subritsky who posed the question of how do we recognize the anointing of the Holy Spirit? One perhaps surprising answer is that we might recognize him by his fragrance. Bill said that sometimes believers could smell the fragrance of God and backed up his claim by giving a fascinating example! To smell the fragrance of God is not a common experience but it is scriptural. We do need to be careful about our experiences on their own without scriptural precedent, nevertheless we walk by faith and not by sight like other people. More recently we did a study on the wise men’s (magi) gifts to Jesus. Particularly the frankincense and myrrh because of their fragrances seem to be pertinent to this study. So, does God have a fragrance? Here is what the scripture says. Exodus 30:23-38; In the Tabernacle we find the incense altar. The myrrh and cassia were prepared with olive oil and this was a perfume for sacred use only (common use was forbidden). Anointing anything with this holy oil, imputes holiness to whatever is anointed by it. Oil, as you know, is a type of representation of the Holy Spirit. Aaron the high priest was consecrated with such fragrant oil. Matthew 3:16 and Hebrews 4:14-16; Jesus Christ our High Priest received the Holy Spirit without measure at his water baptism. It is both scriptural and logical to infer Jesus as our high priest would be scented by myrrh, aloes and cassia (see Psalm 45:8). In John 12:3; we find the woman performing an act of anointing Jesus for burial lead prior to his death. In John 19:38-39; Jesus our high priest was embalmed in myrrh and aloes. Psalms 45:6-8. All his garments are perfumed with myrrh, aloes and cassia and we are identified with his fragrance. In 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 which suggests that because we know Jesus Christ, we have his scent! We are the fragrance of Christ to those who are being saved, but the stench of death to them that are perishing! No wonder we believers sometimes get up some people's’ noses! The fragrance of the Holy Spirit A missionary in Japan tells the story of how he went into a room and immediately asked if a member of the royal family been in the room. His host was surprised but answered yes and asked the missionary how he knew. The missionary answered that he recognized the fragrance of the perfume only worn by the Japanese royal family. It would be lovely if we could recognize the fragrance of the Holy Spirit when he was present! Some years ago a bible teacher (the late Roger Price) claimed to smell freesias sometime when the Holy Spirit is moving. Would you recognize the scent of freesias? Important to remember if you want your fragrance released Incense must be burned, and herbs/spices need to be crushed to release their fragrance. Perhaps we will need some burning or crushing in our lives to release the fragrance to God? Amen Personal prayer

FREEDOM IS ONLY FOR BRAVE HEARTS JESUS IS THE BRAVE HEART Picture the scene [1], William Wallace standing before the ramshackle Scots army, when they see their formidable enemy, some begin to break ranks and leave. Wallace addresses the men, “Which of you when you are old and about to die in your beds would not rather know that you had fought today and even died for freedom?” He inspires them and they fight for successfully for freedom. Also, you may consider the reputed address of King Robert the Bruce to his army before the battle of Bannockburn (1314) : Scots wha` hae wi` Wallace bled Scots wham Bruce has often led Welcome tae your gory bed Or to victorie Concludes We shall drain or dearest veins But they shall be free! The human heart cries for freedom Freedom from Oppression Freedom from Slavery Freedom from Bondage But it is not the English who are the enemy today It is not the Irish who are the enemy today It is not the Russians who are the enemy today Jesus never came to defeat the Romans. The true enemy of every man, whatever his race or nationality is Satan. For it is he who comes to steal, kill, and destroy every human being, those who been made in the image of the Living God. He enslaves them in sin. He takes them captive at will, with lies, deceit, and temptation. Human beings have few natural defences against the devil and his wiles. Half of the people today do not even believe he exists! What a lie, what a deception. He just binds them in his chains. Winston Churchill said, “We shall fight them (The Germans) on the beaches, air, sea, and land.” But the real battle in life for freedom is not fought with tanks, guns, or aircraft. It is a fought in the hearts, minds of men, women, and children against a supernatural foe, who knows our every besetting sin and weakness Who can deliver us from such bondage (to have to keep on committing the same sins)? Praise the Lord for Jesus Christ the Braveheart. He came, he saw, he died He rose and lives forever No one else was worthy No one else was able No one else loved the Father like He did Jesus Christ the Braveheart willingly surrendered himself to false judgement, to lies and to extreme brutality. His skin was flayed, his beard plucked, he was wearing a crown of thorns and yet willingly gave his life on that cruel cross. Yes, even the humiliating death of the cross, that you and I might be set free from the penalty of sin and eternal death. What a Braveheart to live and to die for freedom, not for himself, for he was, is and for evermore is free. But freedom for you and me today, and to all who would receive Him, they would become the free children of God. Jesus the Braveheart came to set us free, God anointed Jesus Christ of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and power to preach the gospel to the poor, to open blind eyes and deaf ears, to set the captives free, to bind up the broken hearted. Jesus the Braveheart mends the broken-hearted. Jesus is the Gospel. And what is this gospel of Jesus Christ Romans 3:23 We are all sinners Acts 4:10-12 Only Jesus can save you Acts 2:34-36 We all need to repent (turn around completely) Romans 10:9-10 We all need to confess Jesus Christ with your mouth and believe in your heart You Christians Jesus Christ the Braveheart stands before you His army tonight and calls each you to inspire each other to victory. To overcome the sin in your life, to keep our eyes on Him. He was obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Our captain was willing to shed his blood for the remission of our sins. Shall we shrink back from the cross? Lord, make us willing to the drain our dearest veins for the freedom not only of this nation but for all peoples. Brave hearts are willing to die for freedom, including dying to sin, to self, to selfish pleasure, to your own hopes, plans, and ambitions but alive to Christ, his will, his Word, and his Spirit. We are God`s freedom fighters We will need to fight mighty powers and principalities over this land, for it is they who hold the people in bondage through the fear of death. We must make every sacrifice that God requires. 1. Prayer, fasted prayer 2. Going the extra mile 3. Loving your enemies 4. Sacrificing for others 5. Forgiving Jesus the Braveheart has led the way, we must follow Him into the thick of the battle and bring his freedom to all people starting at our own doorsteps. To you an unbeliever Definition: People who have never taken Jesus as their personal saviour. Are you brave enough today? 1. To admit you are a sinner. 2. To be willing to turn from your sins with God's help. 3. To believe in Jesus Christ and confess him as your Lord? (see prayer and advice on next page) Now is the day, Now is the hour, to let Jesus Christ the Braveheart break your chains and shackles of your sins and bondage. Today is the day of to finally stop being Satan’s slave. Find out how by clicking the link below The bible is clear in Romans 10:9-10 it says v9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. v10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. We now need to turn this belief into a prayer spoken from your heart. Dear Jesus , thank you for taking my punishment on the cross, which I deserve for all the wrong things I have done in the past. Help me turn away from the ways of this world and all its the false promises. I ask now for your forgiveness and a fresh start in my life. I invite the Holy Spirit into my heart and mind to show me how to live from this time on. Amen You now need to start praying, reading your bible and find a church where they teach and believe the bible. Bless you , the angels in heaven are rejoicing over your decision to turn to God. [1] As in the movie Braveheart starring Mel Gibson. https://www.psalmonesermons.com/post/jesus-our-braveheart