The Apostolic Cutting Edge by Al Friend

104 - God cannot and will not deny His Word

2008-07-04T11:55:00.000-07:00

Hello.

2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

God cannot disregard His own interest.

God gives you a new idea to move you forward in His work of faith. Every success is done with a mind set of a picture. Success belongs to the one who sees this picture. If you can't see God's picture you can never do it. 1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. (even when it looks in vain)

Get this picture. The semi-truck driver is totally engrossed in his vehicle when he is backing up. He has come to pick up a load. And his driving is all in his mind. He learned how to back up his trailer into the loading dock in one sweep. It is his mind set. He has faith in the steering wheel, the gas pedal and the brakes. He has a mind set for all the movements. He makes it look easy. Have you ever tried to back up a trailer hooked to your auto? Learn how to better work your faith in your mind pictures. It also is a mind set. Acts 6:7 obedient to the faith.

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Faith is the number one thing. Without faith it is impossible to please God. Keep the faith. Acts 6:7 Be obedient to the faith. Acts 3:16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. Have faith in tribulation. Acts 14:22. Acts 16:5 And so were the churches established in the faith.

There is a faith that is compatible with God's unfailing Word. This faith gives God what He wants. God needs a free hand to work independently. Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. Proverbs 3:27 Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.

Study His Word so you can know what God wants. Back up your trailer to the loading dock with the skill of faith. Then Do His Word and develop the skill of follow thru. It will point your mind in the right direction. It is a mind set.

The English language in our Bible make the same pictures as the Greek language in the original. It uses subject nouns, verbs, object of the verb, prepositions, object of the prepositions. Read and pay attention. Learn the subject, the moving verb, and the object of the moving verb. Ask ~ What is the subject here? What is the moving verb here? What is the object of this verb? Acts 2:39 The promise is unto you.

Memorize a Mind Set Plan

A mind set is a series of actions you will take to obtain your purpose ~ like driving the semi-truck. He made it look easy. He backed up to the loading dock. Both sides of the trailer doors were even with the dock. He had the complete picture in his mind. And he did it all with the steering wheel, the gas pedal, and the brakes. Ask and you shall receive, Seek and you shall find, Knock and it shall be opened unto you. With the skill of Faith you can do it.

Write down the picture God is showing you..
Identify things needed to obtain your purpose.
Assemble them in proper order.
Develop a procedure mental plan.
Suffer long and be kind in the process ~ i.e. Love it.
Commit energy to your purpose.
Be sure to prepare for a celebration. That is faith also.

Be sure to Celebrate on the 7th day. Identify God's unfailing Word that is in the English language. Give God the glory for His success

104 - God cannot and will not deny His Word

2008-07-04T00:00:00.001-07:00

Hello.

2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

God cannot disregard His own interest.

Memorize a Mind Set Plan

Write down the picture God is showing you..

Identify things needed to obtain your purpose.

Assemble them in proper order.

Develop a procedure mental plan.

Suffer long and be kind in the process ~ i.e. Love it.

Commit energy to your purpose.

Be sure to prepare for a celebration. That is faith also.

Be sure to Celebrate on the 7th day. Identify God's unfailing Word that is in the English language. Give God the glory for His success

103 - Behind closed doors with His Faithful

2008-06-27T16:57:00.000-07:00

Some doubted.

When the unbelieving Jews were there to harass Him, Jesus method was to speak in parables. This confused them and they had no argument. Who could argue about a sower sowing seed?

Jesus had to wait until the 40th day, His last day before ascending to heaven ~ when He was behind closed doors ~ to speak His plan of water baptism in His Name. Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

In Matthew 28:17 some doubted. They did not believe He was a resurrected man. To say, in front of these unbelieving Jews, that they should baptize believers in ~ His Name ~ would make Him look like a proud unresurrected man. They did not believe He was the resurrected Messiah. So He spoke of Water Baptism in a parable to them. It is the parable of the Name. The question ~ what is the Name?

The Answer.

Jesus spoke Matthew 28:19 in Galilee, many days before He ascended. Matthew 28:19 is not the great commission. This is a different setting from the last day in Jerusalem ~ behind closed doors ~ where all were believers. Here He revealed the Name of His Parable. He gave them the Name to use in water baptism. The Name is His Name ~ JESUS.

Notice the sequence of events. Matthew 26:30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 31 Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad. 32 But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.

Matthew 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. (at least a 6 day walking journey)

Matthew 28:16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

~ His Name in Isaiah 9:6 ~

Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

102 - The Truth lies in the Evidence

2008-06-20T17:06:00.000-07:00

Welcome back,

Last evening I visited the home of a Catholic friend. I prayed for him when he was in the hospital some years ago and he was healed. We became friends for life. I later took part in a healing service in his church, the largest Catholic church in Hamilton, Ohio. Since then some from that church visited my church when I was pastor.

A Ready Mind to Believe the Evidence.

My friend is one of the many Catholics who have received the Holy Ghost Speaking with Tongues. There are many thousands of them. The meeting in his home is for Spirit filled Catholics. There were five Catholics present and myself. The common denominator is speaking with tongues. Because my friend loves me they all love me. As long as they love me and listen to my witness I will be patient with them.

My mission is to spread the message Jesus gave the Apostles in Luke 24:45-49. It is Jesus' Doctrine given to them to preach in the entire world. It is called The Apostles Doctrine. It is the message that has kept me ~ through all my temptations ~ for 58 years and I am still serving Him. I am separate and I love it.

Last night the door opened wider than it ever has. Another close Catholic friend who is reaching out from the Catholic church for more knowledge, asked a question about the Day of Pentecost. What was it? WOW ! ~ Al Friend, the garage door is open. Drive on in.

Now here are some Catholics who love the fact that they have spoken with tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. They are hungry and want to know more. The only place to go is Acts chapter two. They all bring their Catholic Bible to this meeting so they are anxious to read in their own Bible. Today there are so many different translations these men are ready to hear other translations that are not their own. Everyone in the room has experienced the Holy Ghost in Acts 2:1-4. They have spoken with tongues. I often quote it to them knowing I am on good ground. I follow up with the question, Men and brethren what shall we do. This time they ask what do we do? I said lets read it from your Bible in Acts 2:38. A leader among them turned in his Bible and read. I thrilled at his voice speaking Acts 2:38

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

I told them ~ the Church in Rome was started on the day of Pentecost. They asked ~ what is Pentecost? It was late so I was brief. I told them it was a feast day God gave Moses 1500 years before. God needed a Feast of Pentecost to pour out His Spirit. I left it there for them to think about. The Evidence is in God's Word and Revelation is from God.

When knowledge appears my lips are released and my mouth is opened. Then I speak His Word.

Psalms 51:15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16 For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

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101-The Shepherd and Bishop of your Soul

2008-06-13T16:09:00.000-07:00

Greetings!

We live in the shepherd's field. Our temperament leads us to the far side of the field. It is then we become exposed to the cunning arts, deceit, craft, trickery, and the wiles of the devil. Following the Shepherd keeps us out of the paw of the lion.

The Paw of the lion ~ the Bear ~ and the Hand ~ of this Philistine.

1 Sam 17:34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
36 Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.
37 David said moreover, The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine. And Saul said unto David, Go, and the LORD be with thee.

David wrote about many things he learned in the Shepherds Field. God designed it that way. The 23rd Psalm could be the result of the above story. God teaches us with pictures in His Word. He shows us how to win our battles. We are to follow His picture examples.

God Himself became the second Adam to show us how the first Adam should have lived. Some things man does not think he can do but Jesus is a perfect example of what we can do to resist. In Christ, God was legally all man. He was God manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit. Man had to pay for his sins. God was justified in His method of paying man's penalty for sin. Man did pay man's penalty for sin ~ and God, by reason of Love ~ was legally that man in every respect. He did not have to lay aside His Godhead to do it. God is everywhere and He is many things in that everywhere. He is my father, my mother, my sister, my brother, He is everything.

The Lord is my Boss.

First and foremost the Lord is my shepherd. He is my leader and where He leads I will follow. God spans everything. He is a spirit and is ever there. God made heaven, earth and Hell so He is bigger than all three put together, and even more. The question with no answer - How big is God?

Hear This ~ God invented the word death, the first and second.

Neither of these mean the man ceases to exist. The first death is when man is released from his body and his breath of life stops. He does not cease to exist but awaits his judgment. After his judgment he does not cease to exist but goes on to his wages or reward. Either way he lives forever. Death does not end man's existence. It was not intended to. Man and God are forever. The word death defines a change. There is a first and second change. Man lives on forever after these changes.

Question! Can God become a man and still be God? Yes. ~ Question! Can God Die? Can God die as a man and still be a living God? Yes. Man still lives after death. There is a continuation of God and man. Neither cease to exist. This is what makes heaven ~ heaven. It is forever.

What did God mean when He used the word die? He did not mean ~ cease to exist. To say God cannot die is a lie from the father of lies and a misunderstanding of the word death. God Did Die. Furthermore, He did it for you and me. This is why Jesus told John the Baptist to go on into the valley ~ knowing he would not be coming back. There is another side ~ a forever side to death. There is a resurrection of the dead. Learn that and learn it well. God can and did die for you and me on the cross to prove there is a resurrection of the dead. He is the Shepherd of the Shepherds Field and He is the Lamb. He is all things to all men. 1 Peter 2:25 ~ He is the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls ~ the forever side of you.

100 - Know who you are - Stay in Control

2008-06-06T10:10:00.000-07:00

Greetings! Faith in God's Word is control.

Planning your life in the Bible lets you settle it there and leave it there. Then you go out and enjoy your life in this ~ settled environment ~ not easily moved by the world. Think about that ~ cool huh. The strength of your life is in your plan.

Faith in God's Word is Self Control.

Everyman's life is a plan of God. For this reason God has chosen to deal with us on an individual basis. Every person must take the time to figure out for themselves what God is asking of them. The life of Jesus is the pattern ~ His Word is our goal. If we will not listen to Jesus we will listen to no one but our self.

Know who you are and stay in control. Be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only. You are the captain of your ship ~ the master of your fate ~ the victim of the circumstances that you allow ~ the receiver of the (good or bad) ~ inevitable ~ unavoidable ~ results that will follow your course of action if you insist on the way you are going. Faith in God's Word is control.

God has made the above clear in the Bible so the Bible is our first source of information. Get alone with God and let Him talk with you through His Word. His Word makes pictures that are easy to follow. The clear pictures of a Bible man and woman are recorded for us to follow. Your problem will be with your flesh. Your flesh will not want to put forth the effort. The way we overcome our flesh is to become inspired by His Word. I delight to do His will by obeying His Word. It is a joy.

The books of Luke and Acts are the foundation of the New Testament Church. God chose Luke to give us the complete story of Jesus on which the whole Bible hangs. In Luke's period of history the complete New Bible was launched. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and John are all confirmed by Luke's eyewitnesses. Luke confirms their Gospels by adding God's Oath to them.

The book of Luke and the book of Acts are concrete ~ representing the New Testament. God confirms His plan for man through eyewitnesses who spoke to Luke. Luke did not have to be alive when the first part of his gospel started. Faithful eyewitnesses gave him a clear understanding of it and God inspired him to write it. All scripture is given by inspiration of God. Luke's story covered BC 5 until 69 AD. All the New Testament was written in that time with ~ maybe ~ the exception of the book of Revelation. All New Testament scripture were given by the inspiration of God. God brought in the Gentile Luke to confirm His Oath to the Gentiles. God did this through many eyewitnesses.

If you want to understand the whole Bible better Luke is your key. Luke confirms God's Oath to Abraham in many ways. God's Oath to Abraham included the Gentiles. God's Oath ends all strife about who is right and who is wrong. Jesus gave the Apostles His doctrine in Luke 24:46-47. They continued stedfastly in it.

Every eyewitness Luke interviewed was a confirmation of God's Oath. God's Oath is introduced to us through Abraham.
Hebrews 6:14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.
15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
16 For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.
Because He could swear by no greater He swore alone to Abraham saying: "SURELY I WILL!"
In Luke's case it was, "SURELY I DID."
God started to fulfill Abraham's covenant on the Day of Pentecost. Since that Day the Church ~ Abraham's seed of many nations ~ has grown to be as the sand of the sea.

Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. ~ surely I did)

99 - Beware of Prohibited Sex

2008-05-30T16:31:00.000-07:00

Remember our Quality from last weeks lesson.

If you think you are going to get by God with prohibited sex you are drunk on the intense pleasure of this sin. ~ SOBER UP ~ Walk a straight line or the arresting officer will take you before the Judge.

The God - the man - the woman - sex. Why sex? This information is begging to be written. Man ~ Woman take the time to study this. Get alone with God. Understand the Battle is won or lost in the Bible.

The reason this is being written is the weakness of sex.

Beware of prohibited sex. It is dangerous. Some have become a slave to it. Face it all ~ It's beauty ~ It's joy ~ It's ugliness of Fornication and Adultery.

Sex outside of marriage is prohibited and a sin. God condemns it to hell. He calls it fornication or adultery. It is unclean and a joining of one sinning flesh and spirit to another sinning flesh and spirit. Outside of marriage you have to sin to have sex. Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.

The way to live above sexual sins when you are not married is ~ (Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Galatians 5:16.) God's Word is inspirational strength against any sin. Many men and women have fallen into the sexual sins. God has had an inspirational way of escape present for them every time.

Know How you ought to walk to please God.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

Vs.3 This is the will of God - Your sanctification from fornication. Fornication means unmarried persons having sex. Vs. 5. Not in the lust of concupiscence---Concupiscence is desire, craving, longing.

God made the man and the woman upright. He made them male and female to be joined together as one flesh. They foreshadowed the position of the church as His Wife in Heaven. There will be a time when the marriage of the Lamb will take place because His Wife has kept herself pure and made herself ready for the wedding.

Paul revealed God's attitude toward fornication in First Corinthians 10.

6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day - ONE DAY - three and twenty thousand.
That is a lot of sex going on in one day.

1 Corinthians 6:18 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.

Joseph understood he had to flee Potipher's wife to keep himself pure in the eyes of God. Because of this Joseph became the second ruler of Egypt.

98-Our Quality is built into us from our beginning.

2008-05-23T18:00:00.000-07:00

A new baby is no threat to anyone. It has to learn to be bad.

Ecclesiastes 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Very few people recognize

Very few people recognize the depth of the spiritual quality God built into them. God made man upright. This is where we start. Foolish pride prompts man to invent a way to do it himself without God.

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. (The scriptures reveal the man Christ Jesus ~ the person we pattern after.)

Deep in the heart of every person is a quality that needs to be searched out. There is a cost for this search. The quality of your success depends on it. Attention is the price you pay. You need to pay attention ~ longer. Concentrate on His Word and appreciate it. Be inspired. Ask the question ~ what is God trying to do with me? He has an individual plan for you. What you become is predestined by the Word you do. Take a Bible Sabbath of an hour or two and learn more about yourself. God positions Himself in His Word. He is there to greet you.

The value of the man is seen in the quality of the Savior that came to save him. God determined that the value of His creation was worth the price He paid to save him from destruction. God ~ legally ~ became an upright Man and gave His LIFE so He could save sinners on a continual basis. We are still benefiting from this today.

Hebrews 7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. 25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, (Jesus is a traffic cop guiding us to the Truth) seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us,

The word ~ became ~ spoken here about Jesus ~ means ~ becoming, seemly, fit, to stand out, to be conspicuous, to be eminent. It means Jesus was the Quality of a High Priest we deserved because of our value

Overview of adj eminent
1. distinguished, eminent, great -- ((used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation; "our distinguished professor"; "an eminent scholar"; "a great statesman")
2. eminent, high -- (standing above others in quality or position; "people in high places"; "the high priest"; "eminent members of the community")
3. eminent -- (having achieved eminence; "an eminent physician")
4. eminent, lofty, soaring, towering -- (of imposing height; especially standing out above others; "an eminent peak"; "lofty mountains"; "the soaring spires of the cathedral"; "towering iceburgs")

In using this method God identified our status in His creation and dignified us with His honor by calling us His Sons. He ~ Himself ~ came and died for us. God would not die for an animal. He bestowed on us a love in the highest degree. Greater love hath no man than this. The Just died for the unjust. Live in this dignity. That is not pride ~ it is God showing us our true value. The quality of His Love speaks of our eternal value. WHAT will a man give in exchange for his soul? There is not enough.

1 John 3:1 Behold, ~ TAKE A GOOD LOOK ~ what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

God has bestowed His Honor on us. We are called The Sons of God. That means you my friend. Stand Tall. Go up the Mountain. Set your face toward the city. His City is set on the Hill. God is there to welcome you.

97-Beautiful for Situation-Joy of the Whole Earth

2008-05-16T18:51:00.000-07:00

God determined the Times before He appointed them.

Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

God poured out His Spirit on His Mountain

Of all the mountains in the world one is the best. God made one for Himself. God determined the times before appointed. He would visit this mountain with His City planted on it. Here He would pour out His Spirit upon all flesh. His mountain was situated at the center of the surface of the earth. It was beautiful for situation.

I clearly remember standing on the north side of the old walled city of Jerusalem. I was near the Damascus Gate that leads north. Just outside the Gate, and not far from where I was, is Calvary. The City had built up around it and a noisy Bus Station was at the base of the hill. The diesel noise and smell bothered me but not enough to cancel my appreciation for being there. I crossed the street going nearer to the old wall. Standing near the wall I heard a small group of Christians singing Psalms 48:1-2.

1. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness.
2. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.

On the north side of the mountain ~ with my head bowed ~ I wept with joy. I was standing in the City of our God, on the mountain of His Holiness. It was beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth.

Here on God's mountain was Calvary's Hill of sorrow ~ where sins demands were paid. This was Abraham's mountain in Moriah where he went to offer his son Isaac. This was Arunnah's threshing floor that David bought to make a sacrifice ~ and the City of David was built around. This was the Temple Mount where Solomon built the Temple ~ on this same threshing floor. This is the City of our God. This is a city set on a hill which cannot be hid. This is Jerusalem the City of Peace ~ The City of the Great King.

God determined the times before appointed and predetermined a great event that would happen here. It would happen to the Jew first, then also to the Gentile. A lot of ground work was needed to bring the world to His moment. God Himself personally took part in making it possible for this event to happen. One sinless man had to die as an offering for sin. That was the price God set. He looked for a sinless man but found none. Only ~ One ~ sinless man was needed to pay the price for sin. Because of this God legally became a man. He was born of a woman, born under the Law. God purchased the right to forgive sinners. He became a sinless man himself and died for the sins of the whole world. There is no greater love than that. God so loved the world.

All directions ~ to Jerusalem are up ~ and from Jerusalem are down. The Bible does not use up north and down south as we do. They would go up to Jerusalem or down to another place whether it was north or south. Mt. Calvary caused an earthquake on the mountain. The sun turned dark. God shook this mountain as He did Mt. Sinai. Think about that. God can shake mountains.

It was from the Mount of Olives Jesus ascended out of their sight. He instructed them to stay on Mt. Zion, in the City, until they were endued with power from on High. At the appointed hour God poured out His Spirit in the upper room on the 120 gathered in prayer. God poured out HIS Spirit on HIS people on HIS Mountain. Jerusalem again became the joy of the whole earth. Jesus said: Mark 5:19 Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. I say to you ~ Go and do thou likewise.

96 - Time had caught up with Destiny

2008-05-09T18:16:00.000-07:00

The Word of God is destined to be fulfilled.

Luke turned on the light of a certain day 2000 years ago. He wrote the story of what happened in the Jewish temple, in front of the veil and on the right side of the altar of incense. It was out of the view of the people. One man, Zacharias the priest, stood offering incense. Out of the invisible came a visible angel, Gabriel, who interrupted the normal visible world. Time had caught up with destiny.

A 4000 year prophecy

The 4000 year history of wars, floods, victory and defeat, life and death, captivity and freedom, prophesy and silence, ended in a moment of time. A voice in the Hebrew tongue, a language God invented for His special people, is heard by a praying Priest. The Angel Gabriel said, "thy prayer is heard." With that announcement Zacharias was destined to be a father in his old age. John the Baptist would be born.

Gabriel's announcement preceded by six months another announcement he would make of a birth that would divide history into two parts, the Old and the New. In 15 months the line between BC and AD would be drawn. Jesus was born and since then a period of time has been known as Before Christ, BC.

Two preachers were born that the world may know the change had come. The first was a transitional preacher. He was John the Baptist. John was killed six months after he started preaching. The other preacher was Jesus. John the Baptist and Jesus were born six months apart. Jesus preached three and one half years and was crucified.

The world was in turmoil. The Jews were under the rule of the Romans. God had chosen this period of time to make His personal visit into the world of His creation. He came into the world as a child born in Bethlehem. He went through the whole process of being born in a manger, growing up in a Jewish home, speaking with the Galilean accent, learning the carpenter's trade from His supposedly father, Joseph, who was a carpenter. God as a man worked with the wood of the tree He created. Then one day He laid down His hammer and saw, took off His apron and went out to save the world.

His date with destiny had arrived. The whole world would hear His Gospel. The Gentiles would be the biggest winner number wise. The Day of Pentecost would be the birth of His Church that the gates of hell could not prevail against. Two thousand years have passed since then. We are living in the "now time" of His church. The Apostolic Cutting Edge is still pressing forward in time looking for sinners to repent, get baptized in Jesus Name for the remission of sins and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. The end is not yet but is near.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Time has caught up with you. You are the one to show Christ to the world. Let your light so shine.

95 - When God Made Promise

2008-05-02T19:03:00.000-07:00

A compelling reason to believe.

Hebrews 6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. 15 And so, after he had (accepted ~ alf) patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

The Oath is the Key.

A Greater than God will never be found. The Oath will always stand. It is the Oath that settles ALL QUESTIONS.

The key to understanding the Bible is to know how to set your mind. Go in hungry. If you go in hungry you will be filled. There are so many people doing so many things they do not take time to read. They are weak from spiritual hunger and fail to realize it. Are you hungry today?

Learn to think like God thinks. Read His Book ~ Do His will. WHY ? THE END IS DETERMINED. There is a ~ LAW OF THE BOOK. Any book (including mine) is only ink on paper until a mind takes it from knowledge into wisdom. Then it becomes power packed.

God made promise to you ~ He has great plans for you. You will find it in His Word. He promised to lead you through your troubled waters. Psalms 77:19 Thy way is in the sea, and thy path in the great waters, and thy footsteps are not known. God has a way in the sea, and a path in the great waters. Who could have known there was a path on the bottom of the Red Sea? God parted the waters and let them see His dry path under all that water. He revealed His escape route ~ they believed God ~ took it.

Let me encourage you today. Do not be afraid of troubled waters. The congealed walls of water may look like Jell-O waving back and forth. God will use them to swallow and drown your enemy as He did Pharaoh and his army. The dry path on the bottom of the Red Sea was for Israel to escape and a trap to lead Pharaoh and his entire army into the area. God destroyed the entire army on that path with the water that troubled Israel. Do not be afraid of troubled waters. Today I extend to you from God the Promises ~

Courage. Take it.
Faith. Take it. Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Confidence. Take it. Hebrews 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
Patience. Take it. Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
A Pastor. Take it. Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Romans 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. ~ Honor your Pastor ~ !

God made man intelligent enough to understand His promise ~ then made promise to him. It is a great accomplishment for man to understand and obtain His promises.

Genesis 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. God was satisfied with the man He made on the sixth day. He called him very good. He put ~ quality ~ excellence ~ worth ~ in him. Man became a living soul ~ an eternal spirit ~ capable of living with Him throughout eternity.

94 - Joseph used corn for currency

2008-04-25T19:34:00.000-07:00

Joseph bought all the land in Egypt with Corn.

Their home and land became less valuable ~ corn became the currency Joseph used to buy them.

My Book: Innocent ~ 28 years old ~ Forgotten in Prison.

Corn kept getting more valuable.

CH-8 p. 50 ~ First: Joseph sold corn to them for money.

Second: Joseph sold corn to them for livestock.

p. 51 ~ Third: Joseph sold corn to them for their land.

The value of corn kept going up. All the Egyptians sold him their fields because the famine was so severe. All their silver and gold was gone. Corn was Joseph's currency. Joseph paid them with corn. The purchase price of land was measured in bushels of corn. All the land became Pharaoh's. It was purchased with corn. The only land he didn't buy was that belonging to the priests, for they were assigned food from Pharaoh and didn't need to sell.

Fourth: Joseph sold corn to them in return for their labor as slaves to Pharaoh.

Pharaoh made a wise decision when in one day he brought Joseph out of prison and made him second ruler in Egypt. One night Joseph went to bed in prison ~ the next night he went to bed in the palace. Stay faithful my friend. God knows the number of hairs on your head.

Think about this from an investment standpoint. What is there that is now comparatively cheap, but is a needed thing in life. If suddenly there would become a shortage of it ~ or priced too high for the working man ~ then this commodity would become valuable. Suppose you bought a case of canned corn and waited. Soon you may be able ~ with a can of corn or a bag of rice ~ to buy a gallon of gasoline. The gasoline station owner may need your corn ~ or rice ~ because he can not sell his $8.00 a gallon gasoline. OR ~ you could use your extra food to help your grown family and their children. OR ~ You may need it yourself and eat corn cheaper.

I have no idea what lies ahead. Every man must think and pray for himself. Wealth belongs to the man who sees it. Joseph had a backup generator. That was God ~ who turned on the lights ~ when things got dim. Become a Joseph to your family and your world. Stay faithful to God. When your time is right God will bring you out.

There are six letters in the English alphabet that explains what I am trying to say. They are ~ s-u-b-m-i-t. James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.

Submit ~ Allow it to be ~ Stay at the altar until you pray through your feelings. ~ Suffer it to be so. Give it all over to God. Submitting makes you right in the eyes of God. Matt 3:15 And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness.

There will always be people who need your witness. When you are upset you create an uneasy feeling. When you are submissive you are no threat. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil ~ draw nigh to God ~ and He will direct your path. Wait ~ wait I say ~ on the LORD.

93 - Demands necessary to do God's Word

2008-04-18T21:33:00.000-07:00

And you shall know the Truth...

The plan in a seed puts demands on the soil. God's Word puts a demand on us. We put a demand on change. If you can count from one to seven you can do it. God's Word is a formula to be followed faithfully for success.

Seed time and Harvest

The natural flow of life requires a continual learning process. Constant change forces this on us. I would rather be a creation of God with the demands of change ~ than a rock lying in a field going nowhere. Change is easier to accept if you have a plan to follow. You see the value of change. We need a plan for our life. When you discover ~ a new thing God is asking of you ~ the first thing to do is write it down. Then form a plan that will help you achieve His goal for you. Your plan will need a deadline. Your plan will show you where you are in the flow of things and the next demand on you to succeed. Put a demand on yourself for change. The Builder uses a plan.

2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

1. Darkness Demands Light. God has something He wants to shine out to you. Pray this prayer: "God what is it you are asking of me?" When you do this you are putting a demand on the darkness and God will give you light. In the beginning God brought the light out of darkness when He said, "Let there be light" and there was light. Put a demand on your darkness with the Word of God. Darkness demands Light. Now we have light.

2. Light Demands Focus. When the light turns on you must focus on what is being revealed. Study it. Separate it. Focus on it. This is your answer from God. Divide the unnecessary things from the necessary things. Put a demand on your focus with light. Light demands Focus. Here is a truth. I must see it clearly. Now we have focus

3. Focus Demands Preparation. The thing that you see ~ and are now going to do ~ requires you to prepare the natural things necessary to accomplish it. Ask, Seek, Knock. God has authorized the work so the cost will come out of His Treasure House. The earth belongs to God. Don't break focus. Put a demand on your preparation with focus. Focus demands Preparation. Now we have preparation.

4. Preparation Demands Order. Order is a condition of the mind. It is a discipline. It keeps things straight. It lets things go together. It prevents hang-ups. It helps everything to fall in place. It eliminates confusion. Order is the Law of the Universe. Put a demand on your order with preparation. Preparation demands Order. Now we have Order.

5. Order Demands Respect. A place for everything and everything in place is wisdom. It creates respect for everything, no questions asked. Everything has its place and nothing else belongs there. Now that's respect. Put a demand on your respect with order. Order demands Respect. Now we have Respect.

6. Respect Demands Obedience. The hands do what the mind sees. They are obedient with respect to where things belong. The work is done in orderly fashion. When something is out of place it can be seen easily and changed without discomfort. If it doesn't belong there it is easy to put it where it does belong. Put a demand on your obedience with respect. Respect demands Obedience. Now we have Obedience.

7. Obedience Demands Reward. When everything is in its place there is a sense of accomplishment. The words "Well done" are in our mind. Rest is welcomed. The mind relaxes and rehearses the journey. Motivational memories are stored for recall at a later date. We lay back. We worship God. Put a demand on your reward with obedience. Obedience demands Reward. God is faithful. Now we have Reward.

Summary ~ Light demands focus ~ which demands preparation ~ which demands order ~ which demands respect ~ which demands obedience ~ which demands reward ~ and God is faithful. He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6.

92 - Understanding Wisdom

2008-04-09T14:22:00.000-07:00

Hello Wisdom ~ Welcome into my heart.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Wisdom is the main thing. With God's Word the end is determined. Wisdom is a parachute you use to bail out before the airplane crashes. Agreeing with God is wisdom. You need to understand that.

Wisdom is the Principal Thing

The greatest need of mankind is an understanding of wisdom. Wisdom has its source in God. God made all things using wisdom in every thing. He wants us to understand His wisdom. God's wisdom is seen in common sense and insight. His word was spoken in this fashion. Look at this. Psalms 119:104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

Proverbs 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. (Wisdom is the guard who stands at the gate and fights for you to preserve the peace in your heart.) 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

God's word is forever settled in heaven. It is wise to treat it as such. Buy the truth and sell it not. Esau was not wise in selling his birthright for a bite of food. He profaned his God given portion. Proverbs 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

Wisdom is a trait of using knowledge and experience with common sense and insight.
Wisdom is an ability to apply ~ knowledge ~ experience ~ understanding ~ and common sense ~ with insight.
Wisdom is the quality of having a sound mind and being prudent and sensible.

Psalms 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Use wisdom in all you understand. USE IT. Wait on the LORD. Ask yourself ~ where is the wisdom in what I am doing? The Bigger Question ~ What am I doing? Agreeing with God in all things is wisdom. He has the final say in everything we do. His Word He will do and we will have to bow to it.

Understanding wisdom is wisdom itself. If you have wisdom and do not know how to use it you have only thoughts on paper. You have a Bible you do not understand. You have a Jesus you cannot reach ~ and He cannot reach you. You are out of reach.

Wisdom puts eyes in your toes. His word is a lamp to your feet, a light on your path. We stumble over things we do not see. Luke 11:36 If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light. You can see where you are walking. Another person doesn't need to tell you ~ pick um up.

There is wisdom in training a child in the way he should go. It will save you heartaches. The other side of that is a disobedient child who refuses instructions. Be sure his sins will find him out. Your duty then is to pray and watch. The prodigal finally came home. He needed to be forgiven and welcomed back home. If you have a lost loved one watch ~ pray in earnest ~ plan for a celebration.

There is nothing like the wisdom of knowing that you know. The wisdom in the Bible gives you this knowledge. God's Word is forever settled in heaven. It will not return unto Him Void. Good common sense tells you it will do its purpose. When I was in the Air Force I came back from a flight ~ tossed my unused parachute on the rigger's counter ~ He said: What's the matter Sergeant, didn't it work?

91 - My Home - Reasserting My Commitment

2008-04-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

fA home is a place where the Bible is the truth and the truth is forever.

It is a place where the Lord adds His blessing to His Word. It is a place where God is everywhere present and nowhere absent. It is a place where only faith pleases God. Without faith this is impossible. It is a place where Satan is not welcome and God dwells in freedom.

My home is a dwelling, a place containing my family. It is a household we all belong to and respect.

The father told the prodigal ~ You are forgiven ~ You still belong here ~ Welcome back home.

In my home I teach that God is constant.
The Bible is His Word of Truth.
His Truth is everlasting and endures forever.
The grace of God is in abundance.
Repentance is the key to Grace.
Love is the rule.

In my home I teach that Grace comes by faith and without faith it is impossible to please God. It is impossible for Grace to exist without the works of Grace. Without the works of Grace ~ Faith is dead being alone. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Grace is the reward of Faith. Thus faith becomes the beginning work of Grace. In other words you must have faith to receive the Grace of God. It is impossible otherwise and you are still guilty.

God's Grace is ~ not holding us accountable. The Grace of God is that He lets us repent without holding us accountable for the crime. A good example is Paul on the road to Damascus. The Grace of God allowed Paul to repent. Paul knew his crime. The God that he loved was revealed to him as the Jesus that he hated. That was a shocker. The educated Paul was now feeling stupid. That is a long way down for an educated man. Paul later said God called him by His Grace i.e. ~ did not hold him accountable but gave him a space to repent.

Revelation 2:21 And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. A sinner has a space to repent then the door is closed. With each person it is different. God will do what He said He would do for that sinner. God took on Himself the sins of the world so He could forgive the sinner. He is just in doing this because He has already paid for our sins. God takes pleasure when a sinner repents. He did not die in vain.

The long suffering of God waits. He holds back His wrath which is sure to come. There is a space to repent. Go tell it on the mountain. God is waiting in the waiting room. The longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah. We enter His waiting room to surrender. The price is too great for us to pay. We cannot meet sins demand. Only God can do it. And He does.

In Luke 24:45-47 Jesus gave us a plan to follow. Peter preached it in Acts 2:38. Paul preached it everywhere in every church. 1 Corinthians 4:17.The Grace of God allows us to repent without being held accountable for our crime. That is awesome. The guilty is no longer guilty when he repents. That is unheard of in any court of the land. There is no judge that can rule by love. He must apply the law equally to all criminals. Carrying a gun is an automatic jail time when caught. It is the law. The judge has no choice. He can know the man and love the man but he has no choice. The law demands a penalty.

The Old Testament Law was locked in that way. The soul that sins it shall die. Then God came in the flesh and changed all of that. He died for every sin committed in the world from the beginning of sin. It is retroactive. God paid the price for sin and now has the freedom to forgive us of our sin. God is just in doing this because He set the price for sin (a sinless man had to die) then ~ He paid the price for sin. He did it by becoming God Manifest in the Flesh and died on the cross in our place. Now a man can approach God without fear ~ knowing how much God loves him. There is no fear in love. God ~ so loved the world ~ that He took the fear out of repentance and made it easy for all men everywhere to repent. Somewhere a church is waiting to celebrate a sinner repenting.

Stay Focused. God honors the Blood He Shed. He transforms it into our conscience. My conscience says ~ I am not guilty ~ The price is paid. WOW. No wonder we celebrate when a sinner repents.

90 - Called by His Grace

2008-03-28T14:30:00.000-07:00

Called by His Grace to the Land of your calling.

Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, (Acts 26:19 I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision)

Every man's life is a plan of God. God takes a chance on us with His Grace. We stumble and get up again. He doesn't baptize us with perfection. He baptizes us with His Spirit of Grace which is the Holy Ghost. Knowing this keeps us going.

Titus 2:11 The Grace of God that BRINGETH SALVATION.

2 Chronicles 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. When God saw you and called you He saw something in your life that pleased Him. His calling was not in vain.

The eyes of the LORD are looking in on you today. A perfect heart is a heart that will repent. God saw this in you. You are sincere. You are not happy with your mistakes. This pleases God. Your life is a plan of God. Where ever you are in the world it is the land of your calling. Your mission is to seek and to save the lost. Ask Him ~ "how is it between you and me today God?"

It was on a Monday. I was visiting a little old Catholic lady in South Bend, IN. She was telling me how she had prayed to God that morning about a certain thing. She told God ~ I asked you to do this last Thursday ~ You should have this done by now. Then she giggled and said ~ I bet He is going to get me when He sees me. Learn to wait on God. He does all things right.

We operate on God's Time Clock. It is a universal prophetic time piece. He has only one time zone. His second here is the same second everywhere. This is why prayer knows no distance. I can pray for you at 12 Noon here and it maybe 12 Mid-night where you are ~ at the same time I am praying for you here. God knows no distance. I pray for my distant friends with that built into my faith. I send this Newsletter to India at 2:20am. This same time is 11 hours later in India. They receive it at 1:20 pm India time the same day and minute, give or take a minute or two.

Paul was called by the Grace of God. The God that he served turned out to be the Jesus that he hated. This revelation was so remarkably different and sudden as to cause momentary shock and alarm. God let him stay blind three days so he could think about the meaning of Grace. Jesus said to Paul ~ Acts 9:6 Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. Acts 9:17-18 Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. It is all there. Paul preached Acts 2:38 everywhere in every church. 1 Corinthians 4:17 my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

Grace is God's devised way for us to come to Him in repentance without fear. As a sinner we freely obey His Acts 2:38 plan of salvation. God sees repentance in us and invites us to Himself. We start by repenting of our foolish pride.. God's second step in His devised plan is to be baptized in Jesus Name. He then fulfills His promise by baptizing us with His Holy Spirit. With this plan we can walk away from temptation and its power over us. We are set free from sin.

God is never angry with our sins in this process. He is like a Father who pities His child and wants to help us overcome. It pleased God to call Paul on the road to Damascus and it pleased God to call you where ever you were. Be encouraged. Serve Him in the land of your calling.

89-Defeat Slavery-Fast from sin-It will die

2008-03-21T10:49:00.000-07:00

Greetings! Print this out and pass it on.

Jeremiah 2:12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
14 Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled? (lost his freedom)

Why is he in slavery again ?

God brought His people out of Egypt to be free. The answer to God's Big question ~ Is Israel a servant? NO. ~ Is he a home born slave? NO. The BIG question then is ~ Why is he a Slave again?

The answer is in verse 13 and describes it in two parts. The free Jews forsook God and drank from a self made broken cistern source that was always running dry. God is telling us we can defeat this slavery.

If after becoming saved you have been snared by a sin you are a slave to again ~ listen up. You are not a born again slave. There is no such thing as a born again slave ~ the same as a Jew will always be a Jew. To become a slave you had to forsake your freedom in God and give in to sin. You are a slave controlled by your flesh. It tells you what it wants and you give in to it. God's word for you is our first verse shown above. Jeremiah 2:12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.

YOUR ANSWER ~ FAST FROM YOUR SIN ~ IT WILL DIE & GO AWAY Isaiah 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

Fasting is doing without food and water. You take control over your flesh by denying it what it wants. I remember talking to a person who did not go to church and telling him about fasting. He took offence and said: "I think it is a sin to deny your body food and water." That is not true. God chose the fast to give us control over our flesh and set us free again. It takes dedication and brings victory. If you deny your flesh of the thing you are tempted with, it will finally go away and leave you alone. You are then the free person God made you to be when you were born again. You can defeat slavery and regain your freedom in God. Retake your liberty by fasting.

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

The love of money is the root. It makes you like an octopus. It has eight long tentacles that reach in all direction. You are never satisfied. You always want more. You will do things for money to satisfy the octopus in you. You can defeat this slavery by regaining the liberty you lost. HOW ~ FAST. Face up to your sin. Admit it. You have committed two evils. You have forsaken God the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we (who have sinned ~ alf) might be made the righteousness of God in him.

YOUR ANSWER ~ FAST FROM YOUR SIN ~ IT WILL DIE & GO AWAY.

23 - Greetings! God intended for the man and the woman to have dominion over life.

2007-01-05T15:03:00.000-08:00

Take Dominion. This gives you back your control.

The perfect will of God.

Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, (women make good fishermen also) and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

God is looking for dominion takers, people who will take dominion over their life. He made us to be like He is with a perfect law of liberty. A perfect heart is a heart that, by faith, commits to a liberty in God. This is not a forsaking of others but a preserving of yourself to fight another day. Take dominion. God will not fail you.

It is like sailing on the ship with Luke and Paul on their way to Rome. I did this when I read the story. A storm came. The storm lasted so long that Luke said all hope was gone. I felt that hopelessness. Finally they turned loose of the ship they were trying to save and committed it to the sea. With fear I grabbed a plank and floated safely to shore with them.

They took dominion over the ship that was destroying them and obeyed God. They committed the ship to the sea. They turned loose of the thing that was controlling them with fear. It was time for a change. They turned loose of the last hope they had in that ship. God did not protect the ship. The sea destroyed the ship. God protected the people.

The wisdom of committing the ship to the sea was proved when they counted all 276 souls safe around the warmth of the fire where they had gathered. Every soul on that ship was precious to God. Not one was lost. There comes a time in life when we must commit everything in our life to God, including people. That time comes sooner or later. There is less risk if we do it sooner.

You are the only one like you in the world. For survival you must believe that and take dominion over your own life. Then search for the eyes of God looking for you. They are in the scripture. He is looking right at you. He wants to show you something. He wants to show Himself strong in your behalf. He has your survival in mind.

It is natural for a Christian with a heart full of love to give. But there are times when you are all given out and need help yourself. To continue to give you must replenish or you are going to go down with the ship. Come on. Turn loose of the thing generating fear. There is the warm fire of the love of God awaiting you. Gather around that fire with the others who have learned how to do it.

After the shipwreck Luke and Paul went on to do great things for God. Luke had already written his gospel before he left Jerusalem. Luke was God’s official recorder of our plan for salvation before the ship went down. Luke later wrote the book of Acts and told us this story about the shipwreck he was a part of.

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The Bible was written in the present tense. Read it that way and it will become alive for you. God is an ever present help in the time of need. It is the perfect will of God for you to have dominion. To have liberty you must give Him liberty. Let Him do for you what you cannot do for yourself. Let Him save you from your fear. The warm fire is waiting.

Sincerely,

Albert Friend

Friend Family Ministries

22 - Why Jesus spoke in parables.

2006-12-29T15:02:00.000-08:00

Apostolic Greetings!

Start the New Year with a determination to do more for Jesus. He is worthy of our best.

Why Jesus spoke in parables.

Jesus spoke in parables because there were unbelievers around to contradict and heckle him. The parable confused the unbelievers. They just did not get it, therefore, they were left confused and silenced.

They were so set against Jesus that they wanted no one to think they were part of this new group. They said he was of Satan. This gave them a legal reason for not becoming part of the group. They would criticize Him in the background and disturb his teaching to those who wanted to hear. But when Jesus spoke in parables the unbelievers had nothing to criticize.

In doing this Jesus closed the mouths of his critics and the background noise stopped. He could then teach the people in parables the truth he wanted them to hear. The parable of the sower and the seed is just too simple to argue. To argue this would cause the background agitators to look stupid.

Stephen, when he was stoned, said the Jews were stiffnecked, hard hearted and do always resist the Holy Ghost. Under no circumstances did the Jews want to be associated with Jesus and his name. They closed their eyes and held their hands over their ears so they could not see or hear what Jesus was saying.

On a Mountain in Galilee.

In Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus met His followers on a mountain in Galilee after His resurrection. They were not in Jerusalem. Jesus spoke Mathew 28:19 on a mountain in Galilee. He spoke this parable because there were unbelievers in the group. Matt 28:17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. A doubter refuses to believe. They do not want to believe. The Parable of the Name in Matthew 28:19 was spoken on a mountain in Galilee with unbelievers present. Check that out.

His disciples understood parables and they understood this one. The unbelievers did not understand parables and this one went right over their heads. The disciples did not use the words in the Parable of the Name to perform baptism. They used the Name, in the parable of the name, to perform water baptism.

Christmas Season of 2006.

This is the Christmas Season of 2006. There is a popular song being sung by many artists on the radio. The title is--Mary did you know?--written by Mark Lowry. The Lyrics are prefaced by the question, Mary did you know? Then it makes a statement of fact. One statement is: Mary did you know--when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God. Another one is: Mary did you know--The sleeping child you are holding, is the great I AM? Even some songs are the answer to this parable.

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The parable of the Name is simple. The Parable of the Name reveals Jesus. Knowing who Jesus is helps you understand the parable.

Sincerely,

Albert Friend

Friend Family Ministries

21 - Greetings! Have the blessings from God today. Hear Him again.

2006-12-22T15:00:00.000-08:00

An Apostolic is set apart because there is a cutting edge of life. With every new moment, God comes into the world with fresh mercies. It is God's way of keeping His Truth alive. We stand guard on this cutting edge.

The Apostolic difference is this.

God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble. Stay humble. God turns the wisdom of the wise backwards when they reject His truth. He raises the wisdom of an Apostolic when they pursue His truth. The wisdom from the beginning was to continue steadfastly in the Apostles doctrine that Jesus formulated for them.

Christianity is divided. It is of their own choosing. They put a space between themselves and the main stream when they took the parable that was intended to prove the true identity of Jesus and used it for a baptismal formula. They clouded their own vision and did not realize it.

When you use a scripture for something that was not intended, you make that scripture void and of none effect. Matthew 28:19 is a parable of the Name. It was not intended to be used, and thus in the Bible never used, as a formula for baptism. Jesus commanded them to baptize in the Name of, not in the descriptive titles of a position.

A title describes a position. A title describes the authority of the named person. The name spoken carries with it the authority of the title. Matthew 28:19 is a scripture showing who Jesus is. All three titles fit His one Name , the same as all five titles in Isaiah 9:6 fit His one name. These five titles are Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Think about that.

Jesus made it clear in Luke 24:45-47 that it was written, and needful, for Him to suffer and die, and be raised from the dead the third day. The performance of this would make valid His doctrine of repentance and remission of sins to be preached in His Name among all nations starting at Jerusalem. This was properly called the apostles doctrine in Acts 2:42. This doctrine could not stop with the apostles. They were not the mastermind of these words.

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Thank you for reading this. Take the books of Luke and Acts and become a doer of the work in 2007.

Look at my book: LUKE. THE DEVILS WORST ENEMY. Luke is still doing damage to Satan today.

Click on the web site publication page at the bottom.

Sincerely,

Albert Friend

Friend Family Ministries

20 - Hope is a dwelling place, designed by God, where all is well.

2006-12-15T14:58:00.000-08:00

Dear Reader,

Hope is a dwelling place, designed by God, where all is well.

Learn to live in hope.

I have written a book called Attitude of Hope. My son Mark Friend recorded it on two CD’s. You will enjoy listening to Mark read my book to you. After finishing the book I wrote a booklet to myself. The Title: My Personal Book of Hope for My Own Reading. I have had enough things happen to me in life that I am learning how to live in hope. Hope has become my attitude. By works I can make my faith perfect.

Purpose.The key to having rest in life is knowing your purpose. Your rest is not always taking off a 24 hour day and letting God run the world alone. Your rest is being in the will of God and confidently releasing it ALL to Him knowing the judge of all the earth will do right. Purpose generates rest in God. When I quit giving out I regress and forsake.

I can handle my stress according to my purpose. I do not need less stress, I need more purpose. Knowing my purpose is a powerful attitude. It is a power surge of hope. My purpose in life is to generate hope in myself and others. My discipline in life is the Word of God. The scripture, I can do all things through Christ, gives me strength to go on when I truly believe it.

Hey! Listen to this one. When John the Baptist was in prison needing hope Jesus sent words of encouragement. These are the words Jesus encouraged John with, THE DEAD ARE RAISED! Stand up straight on that one John. You are going to die but the dead are raised. Grasp the full meaning of your calling. Rest in that one.

Most ministers start out preaching and having a full time job. I have been there and done that. I was driving home from work one day totally exhausted. I said to God, I’m going home to teach a Bible Study to help these people and I need help myself. God put a scripture in my heart about the Good Shepherd. John 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. God spoke to my heart and said: “Son I am already at your home taking care of things. Just drive on home I will be there when you get there to inspire you.” It is amazing the rest I felt from that moment on. The key to handling stress is purpose. The word from God is--Pursue.

We live on the Apostolic Cutting Edge, which is, this moment. We react to the moment as God presents it to us. It is this moment King David referred to when said: “I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.” David was aware that God is always there in the present moment.

I am safe in this moment. I live in that safety. How many moments of SAFETY have I WASTED worrying about something that never did happen? There are many things in life I have yet to learn. I will always be a student of the word.

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God wants an opportunity to give us something. Only by faith can we give God His opportunity. I will give God what He wants. I will have faith in Him to do as He sees fit.

Sincerely,

Albert Friend

Friend Family Ministries

19 - Hello! Look again at The Basis of all Faith.

2006-12-08T14:57:00.000-08:00

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. -- You must believe in the one Who rewards faith. If you do not you make it impossible. Give God what He wants. He will do the rest.

The Details of Faith

Faith is the substance of things hoped for. Faith is the evidence of things not seen. By faith the Elders got a good report. Faith is: a substance, an evidence, a good report. Faith works by love. The greatest is Love. You can still love when everything goes wrong.

Identify what is bothering you. Take a close look at it. List the details. For instance: Are you irritated. Why? What is causing it. Is it because you are not having your own way. Ha, Ha, join the group. Your problem is you. Get control of yourself.

There is a reason God chose a seven day plan in Genesis. We are the reason. The seventh day of rest was made for man. Man needs rest and worship to prepare to do more for God. God made that choice. Learn to take off and rest. Let God run the world alone for a day.

We think directional, either toward fear, or, toward the word of God. Prepare a discipline for your mind. Make it the word of God. It cannot fail. Stare at the word of God and you will stare down your problem. This cannot fail.

Read your Bible and know God personally. God is a God of Grace. By Grace He rewards His Promises. By Grace God gives you your request. You cannot work for it. The only work that pleases God is the work of faith. Give God what He wants. That work of faith opens a door for God to do as He sees fit.

My work of Faith, or, my dead work of fear rule my emotions. Saying it a simple way: My works rule my emotions! I am inspired by works of faith. I am discouraged by dead works of fear. Either way it’s true. My works rule my emotions.

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Worrying while you trust in God is not faith. Faith is having peace in God while you wait. Plan for the future, live in the present, have faith in the moment, work to believe God. The only work that pleases God is the work of faith. Jesus said in John 6:29, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. Faith is work. Peace is the product of a work of faith.

Sincerely,

Albert Friend

Friend Family Ministries

18 - Hello, My desire is to make it as clear as Jesus did.

2006-12-01T14:55:00.000-08:00

*** LUKE: THE DEVIL'S WORST ENEMY, by albert friend.*** **A book designed for young Christians and Bible students**

The book of Luke has in it our benchmark.

Luke 24:45-48: Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ---Look at it. That is a beginning point as clear as it gets. Level your building with it. Preach it. It is why He died. It is a Benchmark forever settled in Heaven.

**Title Chapter 10: Our Benchmark.** A Benchmark is a surveyor's mark on a permanent object of predetermined position and elevation used as a reference point. It can be a nail in a telephone pole. It is the point that keeps the building level as you build.

A surveyor uses a telescope, called a transit, to establish his points. But first he must have a benchmark as a beginning point. Without a benchmark there is confusion. This is the problem with Christianity. There are too many traditions which have become man made benchmarks. Each group says ours is the mark you should use. If you listen to them and blindly agree then you will both fall in the ditch.

A benchmark is also a standard to establish the validity of your perceived meaning of a scripture. It is a basis for comparison against which other things can be evaluated. A Benchmark in its simplest form is Truth. These words of Jesus become the benchmark Luke set as the reference point, the measure, the standard for all your subsequent reading and study of the entire Bible. Jesus opened their understanding of the Bible. He wanted them to understand. He wanted them to understand that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the Psalms, concerning Him.

Luke let us see what Jesus said after His resurrection and His scriptural reason as to why He had to die. Jesus had to die because it was written and it was necessary. Luke also revealed what Jesus said we must do as works of faith now that He has done His part. (there is a work of faith, 1 Thessalonians 1:3)

Luke told how Jesus set the exact point with which we can level our spiritual telescope. It is a nail, driven into a tree that sticks out about the thickness of the hand of a man. Jesus put the focus on this nail when he opened their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures. Jesus set forth His works of faith that the Apostles must do after they were filled with the Holy Ghost.

The word of God has an appeal to help draw us near it. The appeal of His word is created by our need for it. The appeal of the word can only be satisfied by the word that created it. We need Jesus. When we feel a need it is Jesus creating a need that only He can satisfy.

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We are witnesses of these things. We need to witness it in a way that will make people want to be obedient to the words of Jesus. Repentance, baptism in Jesus Name for the remission of sins and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost is the sum of the whole matter. This is why He died.

Sincerely,

Albert Friend

Friend Family Ministries

17 - The woman is the other side of God.

2006-11-24T14:54:00.000-08:00

A heart felt greetings to all my friends,

There is a side of God He cannot show through the man alone. God is not only our Father He is also our mother. God needed a woman to show us that part of His nature.

The woman is the other side of God.

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. Notice the image of God is a them.

Genesis 2:23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones , and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

Satan and the woman.

Genesis 3:14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, --15. I will put enmity between thee and the woman.

With that statement God put into the heart of every woman a godly desire to love her husband, her children and do good. However the woman does not always personally receive this. Proverbs 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. Read Proverbs 31:10-31.

God is smart. He confuses worldly men with His wisdom.

In His plan to deal with Satan God chose to do it with the seed of the woman. Here is an important point. God does not deal with Satan through a second person. God deals with Satan head on. God took on a body through the seed of the woman, was manifest in the flesh, and fought His battle. He will also fight our battles.

The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.

This statement is a natural because the mother guides the home. The mother produces the Leaders of nations. Many Mothers, with the help of God, have worked hard to put their children through school expecting nothing in return. I say to every young mother that is reading this today: Make it a goal that your child receive a Godly education. Go to church every time there is church. Bring up your children in the fear of the Lord. Become a Bible Mother to your children.

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Mother, it is your hand that rocks the cradle. God needs future Youth Leaders, Sunday School Teachers. soul winners and Ministers. You are the other side of God. Let your children see the mother side of God in you.

Sincerely,

Albert Friend

Friend Family Ministries

16 - Write your thoughts.Save.**The Inspiration lives on.

2006-11-17T14:50:00.000-08:00

Encouragement to you,

Identify yourself! In all things be an example of the believer. Our service to God is to be with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. For this reason we must train our heart, train our soul, train our mind and train our strength to acknowledge Him in all our ways that He may direct our paths. Wow! What a wonderful feeling that is.

Practice. Practice. Practice.

The Bible gives us the opportunity of a lifetime with the mechanics for casting all our cares on Him. His perfect peace comes because He cares for us. In less than three seconds you can safely hope in God and leave it in His hands. Look at yourself and you will see you are safe at this moment. As you walk away guard your back door with faith. Refuse the temptation of doing it yourself. Close your ears to Satan and tell him to shut up. Resist him knowing he has to flee. Tell him he should be worshipping the God that created him.

Luke is the official recorder of our Plan of Salvation.

Luke recorded a critical time in the Bible. When Jesus had done all He could He turned it over to men to perpetuate His gospel. I later became one of those men and was called to preach repentance and remission of sins in His Name. My ambition is to do a good a job as long as I can.

Luke’s words were: Then opened He their understanding that they might understand the scriptures. At that time His message became Open Understanding for the world to hear. With those words Jesus spoke His church into existence and we are a continuation of His church

The Past

The past is gone. I can only plan for my future. I must live in the present. There are times when the present stares me in the face and my undisciplined mind runs away from it. I don’t like it, I don’t want it, I am wishing for elsewhere to be.

Here I Stand.

God’s mercies are fresh every morning. He puts a night deposit into my account. I wake up with my yesterday gone. There is no back door into yesterday so I can’t change a thing. To worry about yesterday is all down time. I must look forward to what I can do today. Knowing this I start by acknowledging and accepting His mercies. This sets me free to create my future by first confronting it and then making plans to reach it. My future is in our Apostolic Message. I thrill at it. My pen has become stronger than my body so I will use it.

Summary.

In the last two years I have written seven books (under 100 pages-one is also audio on two CD’s) about various subjects that deal with living in the present time. They are well worth your reading. You can read one in a day. I had a wonderful time at the United Pentecostal Church Conference in Columbus, Ohio selling these books for the Pentecostal Publishing House.

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God has given us a Bible with 66 books written by 40 writers. There are many Godly characters and I respect them all. In my 56 years of ministry I have been inspired to preach about many of them. I am a 76 year old retired pastor but not a retired minister. The Word continues to thrill me.

Stay encouraged. Your reward is Great.

Albert Friend

Friend Family Ministries

The Apostolic Cutting Edge by Al Friend

104 - God cannot and will not deny His Word

104 - God cannot and will not deny His Word

103 - Behind closed doors with His Faithful

102 - The Truth lies in the Evidence

101-The Shepherd and Bishop of your Soul

100 - Know who you are - Stay in Control

99 - Beware of Prohibited Sex

98-Our Quality is built into us from our beginning.

97-Beautiful for Situation-Joy of the Whole Earth

96 - Time had caught up with Destiny

95 - When God Made Promise

94 - Joseph used corn for currency

93 - Demands necessary to do God's Word

92 - Understanding Wisdom

91 - My Home - Reasserting My Commitment

90 - Called by His Grace

89-Defeat Slavery-Fast from sin-It will die

23 - Greetings! God intended for the man and the woman to have dominion over life.

22 - Why Jesus spoke in parables.

21 - Greetings! Have the blessings from God today. Hear Him again.

20 - Hope is a dwelling place, designed by God, where all is well.

19 - Hello! Look again at The Basis of all Faith.

18 - Hello, My desire is to make it as clear as Jesus did.

17 - The woman is the other side of God.

16 - **Write your thoughts.**Save.**The Inspiration lives on.

16 - Write your thoughts.Save.**The Inspiration lives on.