Taking Up The Cross

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose - Jim Elliot

What would you give to The Lord? Would you give your life?

For 150,000 to 160,000 believers every year, the choice is clear. To live wholly for Christ and to die for Him is gain. More than 200 million Christians in over 60 nations face persecution each day, 60f these are children. And just so that you dont get it twisted, the children refuse to relent their faith.

I just read courtesy of International Christian Concern that in Egypt that an elder sister had made a decision to follow Christ. She had converted from Islam. She was overheard by her mother speaking about this new found faith to her younger sister. The younger sister also became a believer. Rather than suffer the dishonor of having her daughter bring shame on the family because of her new found faith in Christ, the mother placed poison in the familys food. The mother reasoned that it would be better for her eldest daughter to die than to bring shame and dishonor to the family.

And a persons enemies will be those of his own household - Jesus

Courtesy of the Voice Of Martyrs, I read that in Pakistan there was a young women that would ride her bike and pass out tracks to people at the brick construction sites. The owner who was Muslim, told her that if she didnt stop something bas was going to happen to her. The young woman let it be known that she would not be deterred from the Lords work. One day she was kidnapped by the man and raped. He figured that it would humble her and bring this Jesus business to and end. It didn't. The young woman still boldly proclaims the Gospel Of Jesus Christ.

In Indonesia three Christian girls were beheaded. There names were Alfina, Yarny, and Tresa. One of them managed to escape although with a large scar from her ear to her throat. Her name is Novianna. The other three were her cousins. The three cousins heads were found in black bags in the woods. Just one month later International Christian Concern reported that two girls were shot in the head near a Church building.

These are but a sample of what is going on in the world today for most Christians.

In Sudan the most important question a young woman will be asked is this, are you a Christian or a Muslim? If the answer is Christian she is gang raped by 10-20 soldiers and left for dead having her breasts mutilated leaving her to bleed to death.

I know this is not feel good material. But like I said this is real. This is the faith walk that many have to walk and they walk it without hesitation.

And he who does not take up His cross to follow Me is not worthy me. He who finds His life will lose it and he who loses His life for me will save it. - Jesus

What would you give for the Lord? Will you give Him your life? See we have the misconceived idea that if we say a prayer that, that alone is giving our life to Him. It isnt is far more than that. It is dying to this world. Taking up the cross means death. Death in every aspect of living. Dying to society as it tries to exalt itself above the Lord. Dying to friends that aren't saved and do not understand your commitment to God. You pray for them but you dont let them pull you away. Dying to family that may mock or even ridicule you for your decision. Dying. Dying to life's ambitions that say that your life is made up of certain levels of accomplishments rather than a being made up of a solid, real relationship with the God of heaven and earth.

Dying to the fear of death. Fully taking the cross and going exactly where you are led to go. Denouncing the global value system that changes every 10 years and taking up the eternal value system that will not ever change. Dying daily to unhealthy desires that seek to enslave rather than grant the freedom that so many claim that it does.

Taking up the cross is having taken the Red Pill from Morpheus and realizing that there is no going back into the Matrix. It is a violent lifestyle that goes against the tide of every known human convention. Religion seeks to change man's appearance while the Cross changes mans spirit.

You want to find your life? Lose it. Lose it in God. Do it now. You dont have as much time as you think.

A BodyBuilder's Creed

I train because it teaches me that there are no limits to the strength that I can gain. I train because "I can't" has become a figment of my imagination.
The day that my life changed and was Eternally Significant happened at a Tent Revival. But the day that my physical life changed was in the haven of iron and pump.
A gift was given to me by my creator 5 years ago ... Bodybuilding.
Because of this natural gift I have discovered what lies inside of me.

A champion.

A warrior.

A man that will not say die but will pump until he cannot move.

Many lessons have I learned at the feet of my Master through training.
There is no growth without confrontation. The harder you press the greater the reward will be. Quitters are unfaithful and unstable. They have no place on the battlefield as they are easily removed by the tide of the fight.
Consistency is the main thing. Over time the discipline will take over. But the road of 1,000 steps begins with the first step. Learning that you have no idea what the Creator has placed in your physical body until you unlock the door.
Pain can be tool to bring about a change. It is never too late to change your course.

I have met my limit in my training and pushed passed it several times. As in prayer, you press out of the natural world into the realm of the Spirit Of God. In my training with the plates hanging above, I press past these pressures that seek to dominant me. As I press I inch closer and closer to my goal. I discover that I can conquer them if I simply endure the pain.

I am a Bodybuilder. In spirit and in reality. I build the Body Of Christ by adding the nutrients of the gift and calling placed by The Holy One in my life. In the gym I train recklessly, in order to build my body in such a way that I may attain the best health that I may. Glorifying God by taking care of the Temple in which He dwells. I take this seriously.

This is not a game.

This is not a hobby.

This is not only who I am.

This is what I do.

For The Single Mothers

This is for the single mom.

This is for you. There are a lot of you out there. I know, I know that it is hard to be a mother period. But keep loving them babies. Remember that if you train up a child in the way that they SHOULD go that when they get older they will not depart from it. No matter what is happening now or will happen in the future know that your role is important.

For your son or daughter you are the image of Love for them on earth. The name “mother” is a name that provides or at least should warmth and love. Your job is important.

I know you wanna date and met people and live your life. But that life that you are raising is watching you and your choices. Never forget that. When you mess up they see it. But when you get it fixed they see it too. Be transparent to your children. Show your son the kinda women that he should be with. Show your daughter what kinda women she should be.

I was raised by both of my parents but I come from a pool of strong women in my family. Every single last one of them posses strength. My respect for women comes not only from mama but my grandmothers too. Both women are matriarchs of power and love. And they did not have it easy.

My grandmother had my mother at 15 years old. This was in the old school. It was hard but my Grandmother did it. I love her to this day for her power and strength, because it is mine.

My great grandmother was a schoolteacher in Oklahoma. When she left my great granddaddy, she came to Los Angeles. However, she was not allowed to be a schoolteacher out here. She had to clean someone’s house to make a living. But she did it. She raised my grandfather alone and did it.

My father’s mother had to get a job to help to make end’s meet because of my granddaddy’s layoffs in the Aerospace industry. In a time when women did not work, grandma did. A Butcher at a supermarket (I think), go on grandma. Years later when she divorced my grandfather she had enough to buy a house! An African American woman from back in the day did this. Did I mention that she raised 6 kids and worked and did the house thing?

So be encouraged. The Lord is near to all that call on Him in spirit and in truth. Ain’t nothing too hard for My God. I know that that is a BOLD statement but I stand by it because He stood by the women in my family.

One day your children’s children will sing your praises. Endure to the end!

How To Get Free

I want you to do something right now.

I want you to think of everything that you have done in your life that you regret. Right now do it, its ok. Done? Thank you. Next I want you to think of everything that has happened in your life that wasn’t your fault that utterly and completely SUCKED. I mean things that are down deep inside you are scared to tell another soul for fear of what the world may think. Things that others did that to this day STILL affect you. Done that? Ok, hold on because there is a purpose to this.

How would you feel if there was a way to get over and rid of these things without paying one dime? Would you take it? I mean no cost out of your pocket. It will not cost you any money. No sessions with Dr. Phil or going on Tyra or Oprah exposing yourself to the world in the hopes of wholeness.

Well there is a way. His name is Jesus the Messiah and through trusting in His death on the cross and His resurrection you CAN be set free from anything! What He wants from you is an acknowledgement that one you cannot get rid of these things on your own and to let go of them (repent=turn from them). Don’t seek solace in the dark corners that you have that in the end leave you alone, depressed, crushed and humiliated. Two, and this is very important He wants your life.

I told you that it won’t cost a dime but not that it would be without cost. What have you got to lose? You have spent time chasing after all of your other Lovers and none of them have satisfied you. Yet you still continue to chase them. There is yet a lover whose love is so good that it is beyond belief. His touch, just one touch from Him will change your life. Think I am making it up? Try it. Talk to Him.

He died to hear from you.

“For there is one God, {and} one mediator also between God and men, {the} man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, this is the testimony given at the proper time.”

“But as many as did receive Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, to those who believe in His Name”

Metaphor II

I am wounded; there are arrows in my back. The fire from off of them seeps into my flesh. I can smell my body beginning to burn. Venom is poring in rapidly. It is a strange sensation now as weird thoughts and emotions overcome me.

Fear and doubt consume me now at this point. Why am I here on this battlefield? Who am I? What good can I possibly contribute to?

I fall to my knees and try to reach the arrows but the venom has already began to process. I am bleeding profusely; I can feel my strength being sapped from out of me. I try to make a call for help but my tongue clings to my mouth.

The enemy approaches and he offers assistance for a price, my desertion from the Military of the Kingdom.

“Give up. It is useless. What can you do now? Where is your Lord? You have been abandoned. You are no match for us. You are alone little man. Your Commander has betrayed you. Where is He now?”

Inside I say no, but my head begins to nod … I catch myself. I ask for assistance from Headquarters and get no reply. I ask my King for help. There is silence as the Soldiers of Darkness laugh me to scorn. They kick me repeatedly.

I receive a message from Headquarters’ into my spirit.
“My strength is made perfect in weakness! Be of good cheer! I have overcome the world!!!!”

My heart belts out a cry…

“I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me!”

The enemy mocks me and snarls at me that I am a loser, a porno addict, a drunk, an adulterer, a fornicator and a natural born liar. They gather closer ready to inflict more damage.

“Behold I am a new creation in Messiah, all of the old ways have passed away.” They laugh even harder at me. They repeat the charge against me.

“Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies me,”.

I am able to draw my knees under my stomach in a kneeling position. The enemy draws the sword as my head is in the position to be separated from my body. My breathing is becoming infrequent the inevitable seems to approach.

“I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.” I faintly utter. Then with a small surge that comes I utter again, “I can do all things through Messiah who strengthens me.” Suddenly my being is surged with power that is beyond words. The enemy begins to take a step back. My knees are shaking as I begin to rise.

“I do all things through Messiah who strengthens me!”

The Glorious Power of the One whom I serve overshadows and overtakes me. I have a warriors mind and a conquerors vision. I will not die, I will not quit and I will NOT surrender! I will overcome and I will taste victory in my life.

“I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH MESSIAH WHO STRENGHENS ME!!!!”

I block a blow from the sword of the enemy with my shield. And I lunge my sword into his belly with force shouting with all of my being,

“I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH MESSIAH WHO STRENGHENS ME!!!!”
“I AM MORE THAN A CONQUERER THROUGH HIM WHO LOVES ME!!!”

I shout as I swing my sword and shield violently against the remaining enemy that surrounds me. And in a moment they are gone. My veins are showing my, blood pumping, muscles primed. I shout the triumphant cry of the Kingdom's Redeemed.

"Who is like The Lord?"

Then The reality of the situation hits me. I drop to my knees and give thanks to my King for the victory.

Metaphor

I am tired. Real tired. This world is wearing me down. My strength is dwindling. But I utter a request to Headquarters and my captain gives me refreshing. I am good now.

I can see the enemy approaching, I grit my teeth and firmly grip my Sword in my hand. My shield is in my other gripped as if glued to my palm. I let out the Victor’s battle cry and charge forward.

“We overcome the enemy with the Blood Of The Lamb and The word of our testimony. He that is in us is Greater than he that is in the world!!!! And this is the Victory that has overcome the world… OUR FAITH!!!!”

The Army moves on, we all with baited breath lunge into the fight determined that come what may … we will be victorious. We have no other alternative, as our Leader stands victorious already. There are lives at stake souls in danger and deception over the entire matrix of this world. People blinded by the program of the Ruler of Darkness. The Princes of the hierarchy of darkness stand to preserve this Matrix of Bondage.

The arrows of fire are coming down as we near the stronghold of the House Of Bondage. It’s Hard and heavy now. I raise my shield of faith and my loins are girded with Truth to help me hold the rest of my armor together. We fight. We run without fear or concern into enemy territory. Our quest is the mandate of the Kingdom and its King… to liberate the captives and declare the Year O Jubilee that our king has established. As we enter into the House of Bondage the cry we shout,

“it is the Acceptable year Of The Lord! The captives may be set free! Those who are chained can be freed!”

this is our battle and this is our purpose…

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” Eph. 6:10-17

Shout Out To God???

Loneliness, its something that we all experience. You could be in a room with 1,000 other people and still fell all alone. But what do you do with that feeling of loneliness is what is the key.

Loneliness is the road that leaves to a land called depression. I should know. I was the mayor there for 19 years. The best thing that you can do is to encourage yourself in the The Lord and remember when all others have either forsaken you or forgotten about you there is one that hasnt. When Jeremiah was called by God to be a Prophet he was warned just what kind of warm reception he was gonna get from the people at that time ... utter Rejection. He weep for a people that would plug its ears at God's message. Sound familiar?


While in prison for the second time, he received a word from the Lord. Who says that God can't speak in the prisons?

Call out to me, and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things that you do not know, Jeremiah 33:3.


The word for call here is the Hebrew word, qara and it means to call out to someone, to shout to get ones attention, to speak out to proclaim.


Jeremiah was being told by God to shout to get His attention and then as a result not only would he be answered but also The Lord Of heaven would reveal great and mighty things.

Have you done that when you feel heavy and alone? Try it and see if He will not answer you.


Bless you In His Name,

Lazarus

Out of the Pit and into The Kingdom

So many times I danced with the edge just to feel alive

So many times I jumped out of the airplane justa take the dive

So many times I dove into the deep end just to see if I had a breath

So many times with my actions did I ask for death



But you never granted it, you held it at bay

Why, I wondered why would you give me another day

What is so special about this life that I have?

And then it happenedyou anointed my eyes with salve

And I could see what I never saw before



A Holy loving God that desires a relationship in which He can prove His goodness

Leaving me with the admiration in my heart of how could ness?

How could a God that governs the galaxies and everything that draws breath?

Desire to love a loser like me that was so foolish that he wanted death?

Because He desires to give a knowledge that no man could give or buy

Holy, pure, righteous God died as a man to give life so that I wouldnt die

My soul was downcast, heavy and burdened in a depression for 19 years

So many times I tried to get out and having nothing but tears

Couldnt tell anyone, suffering in silence but You wouldnt have that

Not you! From The Throne of Majesty You had decreed,

"Father I love this one, He belongs to me", as you did intercede

I was your enemy and doing all that felt good to me, and ignoring you

Lord my God the things that I put you through

But you stayed the hand of the enemy and I couldnt use the gun

You adopted me, took me in made me family and called me "Son"



I could live a trillion life spans and still not even begin to praise You for my freedom

To tell of the Power that exists in the realm of my heart in Your Heavenly Kingdom

I was poor in spirit and You made me rich in strength, Your Biceps became mine

Giving me power on the inside that a infinity gym hours couldnt find

When the doctors and others close by prognosticated death for my baby

You stepped in and said that she was yours and let anything sway me

The fire got hot and I was in the oven heated 7 times hotter

But I was safe because I was in the hands of the Potter

You have given me victory when I should have lost at the outset

Thank you Lord for your wonders and may I never forget

Messiah Son Of David

Glorious King crowned with all glory, the Heavenly
Excellent God-Man, the Messiah, His majesty
The all-powerful Image of the invincible God
Made visible thus eradicating man's religious facade
The coming Ruler from whom all things draw their breath
The awesome victor who alone conquered the power of death
Sin has no place in His being as He is Holy at His core being
Flames of truth come from His eyes exposing all that He's seeing
A rod of iron will be in His hands as He lays the Smack down on the usurpers
And holds The Dragon and His seed accountable for their vicious murders
With a shout He will descend and His angels will gather His elect from the four winds
He is the Most dominant King who has inspired thousands of Hymns

The High Priest of Heaven is also the King of Kings and Master of all Masters
The pages of the book testify to this in its chapter after chapters
He rules in the hearts of His people and will soon in His temple on David's throne
The Lamb of God, the living sacrifice for man's sin that did victoriously atone
At the right hand of the Father He lives to intercede at present
With a love and fervency that is truly magnificent

When I was down in the pit surrounded by darkness and bound
The Love of God came into my life and did greatly abound
I am alive because of He is lives and His life is inside of me
I shout this truth from mountaintops, His glory
Is in that He who is Holy became sin for a moment
And for a sinner like me he accomplished atonement
When I was deep in depression craving to die to be free
The Messianic Majesty arrived and cleansed me totally
And if I should fall He bears me up with His hands of love
I didn't do anything to deserve this presence from above
But He is gracious and merciful beyond volumes of expression
His blood was shed for past/present/future transgression
The day will arrive when I will behold Him as is with stupendous wonder
And tyranny will finally be dealt with and torn asunder
From now and forever I will utter praise for what He did
The Lord, Yeshua who is Messiah Ben David

A Prayer To My King

they have healed the hurt of people slightly

God I cry this in my heart nightly

the tears of a people well up in my heart

this is a pain too great, I dunno where to start

My Lord YOU are all that I have in this world

into another cataclysm my people have been hurled

You are sovereign, so that means that You reign

Lord I long for You, the Spirit and the Bride say come again!!!

the beauty of Your majesty is all that I desire to see

yet Lord I pray that You nullify this plan of the enemy

as the plan was with Haman and similar to Cecil Rhodes

some would have us die off in droves



my God, my Lord, my Redeemer of blood, my Savior, my life

you freed us from slavery and delivered us from segregation's strife

we have left you and sinned greatly and are now paying for our error

but Lord I pray save my people from this satanic terror

forgive us for our sacrifices to Molech in the clinics

forgive us for our doubt and unbelief and our cynics

Lord we are dying everywhere, in the street, in disease and now in disaster

Jesus Christ my coming King and my master

cause your name to be lifted up so that God may be glorified

that my people may be saved and your body edified



my heart hurts, my tears are my drink, my heart ache is my meal

no one else knows Lord, but YOU know how I feel

as Daniel did Lord I am kneeling before you

because without you there is nothing that we can do

intercede for my people Lord you can do a new thing

let them see the joy that true salvation can bring

have mercy on us Jesus, Son Of David

otherwise none of us will make it!

Psalm Extolling Salvation

Strengthen me Lord, add strength to my inner man

Place me firmly on the Rock so that I may stand

Remind me Holy Spirit that my steps are ordered

So that no matter how things around me are distorted

I may know that you are with me and whose in me

Christ Jesus the Hope Of Glory



Remind me Holy Spirit that you are the Down Payment of my redemption

Thank you for the imputation of Christ's righteousness and the exemption

Of my sins and the judgment that it would require

Thank for saving me from the muck and the mire

Thank you for my salvation, I shout this with all of my heart

Thank you for my life; with all thanksgiving I dunno where to start

You saved me at birth and many times after

And through the trying pains you supplied the laughter

I love you because you first loved me

I love you because of what you chose to do for me



Before the foundation of the earth was laid you made the decision

And after that NOT ONCE did you ever quit the mission

If for no one else you died to set me free and I am in awe

On that day the world held the darkness of what it saw

A righteous God dying for unrighteous man

I could never pay for my own sins and I try to understand

The love that has first loved me completely

So much so that you live inside of my body

Making it the Temple of The Holy Spirit, holy

I am a new creation in Christ, I am not the old me

My prayer is that I may decrease that HE may increase

Help me to walk in His grace and His peace

King Jesus

My redeemer lives!!! The tomb is empty

I boldly proclaim this because the Lord has sent me

Jesus Christ, Immanuel lives! He is alive at this moment

He rendered Death impotent and the grave couldn't hold Him

He is at the right hand of the Father on high interceding for us

The one in whom I have believed and in whom I place my trust

Is inside of my heart and permeating my existence past naked eye seeing

Because in Him I live, move and have my being

He came as a Lamb but will return as a Lion

They have tried to locate Him but could not find Him

Because He is alive and all things are under His feet

There is nothing in this Universe that He cannot defeat

Or rather stands defeated because of what He accomplished

He is the God-Man and through his blood sin slavery has been abolished

On His head there will be many crowns signifying His authority

He is the Ancient Of Days because He has all seniority

He will rule with a Rod Of Iron and dash wickedness to pieces

Do you know this coming king, my King Jesus?



King Jesus the Son of David, the King of Kings

The Lord of all Lords the master of all things

The baddest dude ever to walk the face of the earth

The one who loves me and gives me my worth

My king the king, the Mighty King Jesus

My Doctorate is the Gospel and His Salvation is my thesis

No man knows nothing if he does not know King Jesus

He will have a name written on Himself that no man knows save He Himself

This is the Mighty King Jesus who provides Kingdom wealth

Riches that do not decay and citizenship lasting eternally

This is King Jesus strong in battle and Mighty

Many Diadems will set on His head

This is He who will judge the living and the dead

King Jesus the Resurrection and the Life, the wisdom of God for us

Who is this mighty man? He is 100% God and 100% man, King Jesus

Spiritual Accounting

Where is the cut off point for you? How long will your life be? How many more weekends will you receive?

This is at the heart of what one the mightiest King’s and most devoted men of God gave his attention to. We find it in Psalm 39.

Psalm 39:4
“LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is;
that I may know how frail I am.”

The name that David uses for Lord is His covenant name (YHWH). Why is this important? Journey back into scripture to when Moses draws near to a burning bush and God reveals Himself. During this scene Moses asks what name is he supposed to represent Him with to the children of Israel. The name given is YHWH meaning the “I AM that I AM”; The Self Existing One. This was to become and did God’s special name of covenant with the people that he chose to make His own.

The word for end here is Qets. It comes from a root word meaning “to cut off”. It can also mean end of space or end of time or also a border. It carries this meaning in the sense of an extremity.

So David is asking God the “Self Existing One” to basically teach him what his life’s border is. Put another way he desires to learn the “cut off point” or end of his time on earth. The purpose being that he may learn just how frail his life is and in a sense how fragile life is period. See, we all make many assumptions everyday. A better way to say this is that we all make linear assumptions. That is, we assume that everyday and the future will somehow proceed like the rest.

Think of a stock portfolio, a good fiscal manager will tell you to conduct your financial planning in such a way that takes the unexpected into account. In James 4:14 we are admonished, “Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away”.

In the next verse David goes deeper, “Behold, You have made my days {as} handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing in Your sight; Surely every man at his best is a mere breath. Selah.”

A handbreadth is a measurement that is the width of the palm of the hand, from 2 1 /2 to 4 inches (6.25 to 10 centimeters). This is what was revealed to David as the measurement of days (life). He goes on to say that man at his best, perhaps longest and from a human standpoint most productive is at BEST a mere breath.

On the evening of 9-10-01 many people went to bed not knowing what would happen in less than 24 hours. On 9-11-01 many of those people left this world. Did they know what the next day held? Did we?

David’s request has a lot to do with the quality of life. It could be taken as, teach me how limited and fragile life is so that I will not take advantage or for granted the blessing of days that You have given me.

Earlier I asked you: How long is will your life be? How many more weekends will you receive?

If you have 20 more years from where you are now that will be 8,760 hours, 520 weekends, and 7,300 days. Scripture teaches us that God is outside of time and is frankly not affected by it. In fact He is called in Daniel “The Ancient Of Days”. The Apostle Peter in talking about Messiah’s return says this…

“one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

So even if you tried to figure time from God’s perspective there would be a HUGE difference. What do we do with what time we have?

We glorify God in our lives by “daily”, presenting our bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, {which is} your spiritual service of worship. Romans 12:1. This is accomplished in the very next verse by not being conformed (to fashion one’s self) to the world but rather be transformed (literally a metamorphosis) through “the renovation” of your mind (thinking, understanding) that you may (be able with your life) to prove (as genuine after people’s examination of you) what is the good, acceptable (well pleasing), and complete will (purpose, desire) of God.

Finally a great answer is given by David himself in Psalms 90:12

Teach us to number our days so that we may present to you a heart of wisdom.

May The Lord teach you the Qets of your days in the reflection of Eternity.

May The Lord Bless You and Keep You,

Lazarus

The Forgotten Holocaust

Never Again!

This was the phrase for many years that was and is used by many Holocaust survivors. Yet there are numerous Holocausts going on all over the planet and very little is being said if anything about it. You ask, what I am talking about? I am talking about the forgotten or neglected Holocaust of Christians in Sudan. "Approximately two million have died due to war, genocide, and famine since 1985". (source: Serving In Mission)

It’s ironic in a sick way that on the television that there is so much talk about the “War on Terror” and yet very little mention of the fact that the Christian Sudanese people are being massacred, slaughtered like animals without so much as a whisper. In a country that was trained by the very people that are held responsible for 9-11.

As Christians we are called to suffer persecution for our faith if necessary. Yet those of us that aren’t suffering should be doing something. What should we do? Provide money, food, shelter, clothes, ceaseless fervent prayers and shout their sufferings from our pulpits, street corners, television, and internet without cease. We should barrage our government with our concern that the Sudanese Government is using its oil profits to enslave women and children. In most cases women are mutilated and left to die having a breast cut off if they are nursing.

Paul in 1 Corinthians speaking of unity in the Body of Christ said that;

“And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.“ 1 Corinthians 12:26 -27

Jesus said that we should love each other as he loved us (John 13:34). Going one step further he said that we would be known by this kind of love (John 13:35). With that said, should we that are members of Christ's Body forget about those that are in danger 24/7 for their faith?

“Remember the prisoners as if chained with them--those who are mistreated--since you yourselves are in the body also” Hebrews 13:3

Once again we are united in the Messiah. In Him there is no Jew nor Greek (race/racism), male nor female (sex/sexism), slave nor free (class/eco-status). Why, because all are made one in Him.

Placed in another Light, do we really have faith our if very nature of living does not support our proposed belief? If we can look away from our brothers and sisters sufferings in the Faith and not be moved to action?

“What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” James 2:14-17

We here in the United States and a few other countries have a responsibility to our brethren. We that have a society that considers prosecuting us to be: stupid, erroneous and easily confounded forms of entertainments. However, we should use our liberty to stand along the side of the persecuted reminding them that they are loved and cared for.

Imagine this, you are with your family in your home praying. All of the sudden the door gets kicked in and the police come in and begin to beat, torture and arrest you. Almost forgot, they rape your wife and child in front of you. Afterwards you are thrown into a prison camp for the rest of your life. No trial, no judge and no jury. Your friends and family can assume or imagine where you are as the government isn’t even acknowledging your existence anymore. Daily you are beaten and bombarded with tortuous offers of abandoning your faith and betraying others for your freedom. Constantly reminded that if you don’t you will die in jail. Other than your tormentors you have no contact with the human beings.

How would you feel? Would you feel all alone as you tried to stand firm in the faith? What about your family? Would you not want someone to help you out in that regard?

This situation that I just described is a reality in several countries. China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Algeria, Nigeria, Iran, India, Egypt, Afghanistan and Pakistan to name just a few.

Do you think that The Lord hears their cries? David said that “the righteous cry out an the Lord hears them“. Scripture talks about how our prayers are like incense.

“May my prayer be counted as incense before You” Psalm 141:2

“When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” Revelation 5:8

Incense is used here to show that our prayers to God are sweet smelling aromas that He treasures and holds in high regard. Seeing that God himself treasures their prayers this way how much more ought we treat them.

I urge you today to pray and seek the Lord and ask Him what he wants you to do. Remember that we are ONE body with many parts, all of us believers are bound together in Christ whether we acknowledge it or not. Below are two very good sources of information and education on the matter. There are various options of service that can be provided.

www.persecution.org

http://www.persecution.com

With The Love Of Christ,

Lazarus

Acharith (a lesson in being far sighted)

This is a Hebrew word that comes from a root meaning back, or hind part. As a word Acharith can mean behind, latter end, end, or reward. It can also refer to time in respects to the latter part or the future (end). The word heavily plays on its root meaning of back. For instance we don’t say “at the back of time for dinner” but rather at the “end of dinner” of time. This word also plays on the future that cannot be seen, hence “the back” or “back end”. This word can teach us a lot about things in the "long run".

An example of it uses:

Genesis 49:1
“And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.”

Job 8:7
Though your beginning was small, yet your latter end should greatly increase.

Job 42:12
So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

Get the idea?

This word is very powerful and gives us a very important lesson in the wisdom of God and the devices of the devil. All one need do is to go back to the beginning in the garden to see how this works. It was while talking to Eve that the devil was able to hide the Acharith of her actions from her. Once he assessed her faulty understanding of God’s command, he told her that “you will not surely die!” using that as his foundation to build on he continued …

Genesis 3:
“For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."

Now stop here for a moment. Here are what my mama calls the “wolf tickets”. Eve just like her husband Adam was made in the image and likeness of God (genesis 2:26). But the devil is essentially telling her “He’s holding out on you!!!” or put another way, “God knows that if you eat that fruit you will be on His level and He won’t have that.”

You know the rest, Eve was deceived literally and was led away from the truth taking the offer. It’s funny every false idea that offers men something for nothing in order to realize some kind of godhood originates here.

But my point in mentioning this is to show you how the devil likes to hide the Acharith from you while he is selling you the option. Here is another one for you. David and Bathsheba. When David did his thing, got her pregnant and then murdered his friend/her husband, he likely supposed that God was not looking. Later after repenting before God to the Prophet he writes Psalm 51. In there he writes what he learned from this grievous error that he committed.

Psalm 51:4
“and done this evil in Your sight…”

Psalm 51:9
“Hide Your face from all of my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.”

David learned painfully that God sees everything, and knows everything that we do. But when he looked out and gazed at a naked Bathsheeba he did not look at the Acharith of his actions. One from a male point of few can quickly surmise the realm of his justifications at that moment. It would be his son Solomon that summed it best when he said, “there is a way that seems right to a man but its Acharith is the way of death.”

Paul builds on this issue in Romans when talking about sin he says that, “the wages of sin is death.” Every time there is a Acharith to the things that we do. In these times of the believer we are reminded that it is death. Sin cannot but bring death. It has no other digit to equal out its in its equation.

God shows us in His word from Genesis to Revelation the Acharith of our actions, the devil blinds us from that. In the book of Proverbs God tells us why He is giving us the word of caution.

Proverbs 19:20
Hear counsel, and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days.

Hebrews 12:14
“pursue peace with all people, and holiness without which no one will see The Lord.”

On a personal note, I many times in my life did not look at the Acharith and suffered for it. This is something that no one is safe on, we all need to look ahead of our actions.

Let us remember that there is a consequence for our actions and though there may not SEEM to be a negative consequence for our actions, in the eternal scheme of things there is. May The Holy Spirit show us our Acharith in scripture if we endure to the end.

I would like to thank Dr. Michael Brown for exposing me to this teaching.

What do you Love?

Agapao is a Greek word that means to love and it appears in the New testament. You might know its other form Agape. Agape is the noun whereas Agapao is the verb. Or Agape in action. Perhaps you may have even heard that it is the “God” kind of love. Well, we will explore exactly what it is and where this kind of love should be directed.

Agapao is a love that means to love person/place/thing directing your will finding your joy in loving that person/place/thing. Rick Renner describes it this way, “Agape occurs when a individual sees, recognizes, understands or appreciates the value of an object or a person, causing the viewer to behold the object or person in great esteem or awe, admiration, wonder and sincere appreciation.”

It also can mean a love that gives the object what it needs even at its own cost.
The most famous use of this comes in the well known and used scripture
John 3:16: “for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not die but have everlasting life.” the word for love used in the Greek is the word Agape.

But as we will see this word is used for love of things or loving things that aren’t too cool…

John 3:19

"This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.”

Let’s use the definition that we have above to dig a little deeper into the text and see what we find.

“this is the Verdict, that the Light has come into the world, and the darkness is so loved with appreciation and admiration by men rather than The Light because their deeds were evil.”

Or put another way,

“This is the Verdict, that Light has come into the world, and was rejected by men because they loved the darkness with great appreciation and admiration simply because their deeds were evil.”

Jesus states that men reject Him simply because they love The Darkness (sin) rather than accept him because their very actions are evil at the core. They in no way desire to give up their sins because they admire it and have an appreciation of it.


1 John 2:15 (my literal rendering from the Greek)

“Do not direct your love finding your joy in the world, neither the things in the world. If someone loves the world finding joy in appreciating admiring it then the love of the Father that greatly esteems with His joy is not in us.”

The Apostle John teaches us that The Agape of the World is antithetical to the Agape of God. Why? Because it is a love of choice and involves a giving of oneself over to the object of its devotion. Why can’t there be both? Well there are two excellent reasons:

Luke 16:13

“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.”

And

1John 2:16-17 (literal rendering from Greek)

“Because all that is in the World’s present order: the lust of the human nature, and the lust of the eyes that arouses, and the boastful pride of everyday living with material things, is not of The Father, but of the World’s present order. And the World’s present order is in a state of transitioning away along with its objects burning with lust. But on the other hand the one that is doing the will of God abides forever.”

A believer is not to at ALL love the world with Agape because the things in the world are an odds with God. We are to be wholly given over to Him as “living sacrifices” Romans 12:1. There were three things mentioned in the above verses from 1 John. As we read they are: lust of eyes, lust of human nature and the boastful pride. Using Genesis 3:6 we can see in the Garden of Eden that these three temptations were present when Eve was deceived.

Genesis 3:6

“When she saw that the tree was good for food.” (lust of the human nature), and “that it was a delight to the eyes.” (lust of the eyes), and a tree desired to make one wise (the boastful pride of life), “she took of the fruit and ate it.”


With all of this said, what do you Agape?

The Hem Of His Garment

The Woman with the issue of blood. You have heard this preached and taught probably a million times. But there are some facts that you may not have known that will cast this account of healing in a whole new light. For instance, why did Jesus respond to her the way that he did? Why did she do what she did?


Luke 8:43
“Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any.”

Now according to the Law of Moses this woman was considered unclean. In fact in
Leviticus 15: 25 states:

“If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, other than at the time of her customary impurity, or if it runs beyond her usual time of impurity, all the days of her unclean discharge shall be as the days of her customary impurity. She shall be unclean.”

So this woman was supposed to be separated from everyone and everything. She was considered to be completely unclean. This was her life for 12 years. The Gospel tells us that she spent all that she had on medicinal treatments in the hopes of being healed. And judging by the language in the text one would be safe to assume that they were very painful treatments. One would do well to envision the pain of chemotherapy when there is cancer present. Yet none of these at the time modern, treatments worked.

Jesus is in the area and she decides to go to Him and touch the Hem/(tassel) of His garment. In fact she says, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well."

Why? Why not touch Him?
The answer lies in the Hem or more accurately Tassel of His garment.

Tassle/ The Tzitzit

The prayer shawl that was worn by observant Jews and still is even in this day, has four corners or fringes(tassles). Also called the Tzitzit. This was a biblical command in Numbers 15:37-41 and Deuteronomy 22:12 with the intention to remind the people of God’s commandments. In fact the word for border or corner in Numbers 15:38 is the Hebrew word kanaph, which can also be translated as “wings”. Many times the corners of the prayer shawl are referred to as “wings”.

In Jesus’ day there was a simple tunic that Jewish men would wear at home or work. It was called a halluq. A rectangular cloth called a tallit covered the halluq. This served as a protection from the cold and rain. Now hanging from the bottom of the tallit’s four corners was the wings/Tassel.

In the time of the 1st century there were many Jewish traditions that associated the wings with the Messiah. One of the traditions taught that these wings had healing powers. This would make the wings a sort of Jewish amulet or talisman if you will. It is suspected that these traditions arrive from a interesting prophesy in Malachi 4:2 “the Sun of Righteousness will arise with healing in His wings…” Interesting enough the word for healing in this verse can mean in Hebrew “restoration of health”.

Now back to the woman with the issue of blood. Why did she touch the Hem(wings) of His garment rather than Him? Well it is because she was expressing her faith in Him as the Messiah, the Sun of Righteousness according to Malachi 4:2. Not in anything else, as it was His wings that she told herself that would cause her to be healed.

It is for this reason that Jesus said to her, “Be of good cheer daughter, your faith has made you whole.” It was her declaration of faith in acting on the word of God that caused her to receive her healing. She believed that if she could just touch the wings of His prayer shawl that she would have restoration of health because He was/is the Messiah that is spoken of in Malachi 4:2.

It was at the moment that she touched Him that she was made whole. She was bleeding up until she touched Him!!!! But the moment she touched her Messiah she was healed. He made a public delcaration of Her healing and restoration into society. Her faith in His office as Messiah/Christ caused her healing and restoration. Put another way, it was her affirmation of the Truth that did this.

Ironically don’t the scriptures say…

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

“…and he that comes to me I will in certainly not cast out.” John 6:37


Do you by faith really act on the Word of God?


May The Grace and Peace Of the Lord Be With You,

Lazarus Da New Creation

1st Post!

Welcome to Excavation Of The Word!!!

My name is Lazarus Da New Creation and I would like to welcome you this blog. My hope and aim in this blog is to take you to the Word Of God and show you things that lie underneath the text. In many places in scripture the true meaning is somehow lost in the translation into English. I am not a scholar but rather someone that loves The Lord and His word.

As it is written, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.."

Baruch Haba B'shem Adonai
(Blessed Is He That Comes in The Name Of The Lord),

Lazarus