Ruth's Gleanings

Bethlehem Part 2

2025-12-17T02:35:00.000-08:00

Bethlehem – Part 2 Prophecy

The prophecy of Christ being born in Bethlehem is mentioned in Matthew.

Herod the king gathered all the chief priests and scribes together and demanded of them where Christ should be born. (Matthew 2:3-4).

"And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

“And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel." - Matthew 2:5-6 KJV

Isaiah also prophesied:

"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. 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." - Isaiah 9:6-7 KJV

Jesus – the Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace – came to bring His government, the kingdom of God. He brought it with judgment and with justice when He took the judgment and justice for our sins upon Himself so that we could enter His kingdom.

Jesus explained that to enter into His kingdom there is a spiritual birth, for His kingdom is a spiritual kingdom.

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." - John 3:5 KJV

He gave Peter the keys to the kingdom which Peter revealed on the day of Pentecost, when God’s Spirit was first poured out. (Matthew 16:19, Acts 2).

"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." - Acts 2:38 KJV

The government “upon his shoulder” is as a yoke. (Gesenius').

Jesus said,

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." - Matthew 11:29-30 KJV

We take His yoke upon us when we covenant with Jesus by repentance and water baptism. We find His rest when we receive His Spirit, the Holy Ghost.

Jesus is our Governor - Wonderful Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Frankincense

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Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh - Part 2

Frankincense is a white resin burned as fragrant incense. It is first mentioned in the Bible when the LORD told Moses to make a perfume, pure and holy, to put before the Ark of the Covenant in the Tabernacle. (Exodus 30:34-38). The frankincense, along with three fragrant spices, was to be only for the LORD.

It appears that because frankincense was to be only for the LORD, the wise men offering frankincense to the young child Jesus was symbolic that Jesus is the LORD. (John 14:7-10, Colossians 1:15).

Frankincense was also placed on meal offerings to the LORD. The priests, Aaron’s sons, took his handful of the meal offering and would burn the memorial of it upon the altar to the LORD. (Leviticus 2:1-3).

As the remnant of this offering with frankincense was for the high priest Aaron and his sons, the wise men offering frankincense to Jesus points to Jesus being our High Priest.

"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." - Hebrews 4:14

Frankincense was also placed on the shewbread, which was placed in the holy place by the altar of incense and the golden menorah. The shewbread was renewed every week and would be eaten by the priests. It is said that the frankincense gives the shewbread a bitter taste.

Here we see the frankincense pointing to the bitterness of suffering of Christ, the Bread of Life that was offered for our sins. (Matthew 16:21, John 6:48).

"I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." - John 6:51

As the priests would eat the shewbread with the bitter frankincense, we are to crucify our sinful nature.

"Knowing this, that our old man [sinful lifestyle] is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." - Romans 6:6

We do this by repenting of our sins, being baptized in the name of Jesus for the remission of our sins, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, to live a new holy life in Jesus. (Acts 2:38).

Thi is the Day Which the Lord hath made

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Thank You Jesus

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Forgiveness of Sins

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7th

Salvation

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"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 Gh

ost." - Acts 2:38 KJV

Ruth's Gleanings: In the Bible, How were people added to the Church?

2025-11-18T23:58:20.683-08:00

Ruth's Gleanings: In the Bible, How were people added to the Church?: How in the Bible were people added to the church? On the Day of Pentecost when the church began, Peter preached the gospel - the death, bu...

In the Bible, How were people added to the Church?

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How in the Bible were people added to the church?

On the Day of Pentecost when the church began, Peter preached the gospel - the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

"Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it." - Acts 2:22-24

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ." - Acts 2:36

They responded with repentant hearts.

"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?" - Acts 2:37

Peter told them how to obey the gospel.

"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." - Acts 2:38

"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." - Acts 2:39

Peter urged them to obey the gospel.

"And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation." - Acts 2:40

They then received the gospel and obeyed it. (Mark 16:15-16).

"Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." - Acts 2:41

This is how they were added to the church.

"And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. ... praising God, and having favour with all the people.

And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." - Acts 2:42, 47

Baptism in the name of Jesus

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A lot of people think if they “keep the Ten Commandments” they are going to heaven.

"Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." - John 3:5

Cornelius was a just man, a man of prayer, helping the poor. His righteousness, however, was not enough to save him. He needed to be born of the water and Spirit, as Jesus said.

The Lord loved Cornelius so much, that He sent an angel telling him to send for a man named Peter. While men from Cornelius were on their way, the Lord gave Peter a heavenly vision to make sure Peter would accept the mission. (Read Acts 10)

If you haven’t been born again, Jesus loves YOU and is calling you to be born of water and the Spirit.

How is a person born of water and Spirit?

When Peter arrived, Cornelius had gathered family and friends to hear Peter’s message from God. Peter preached to them the Gospel, that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and rose the third day.

Finally, Peter preached:

"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." - Acts 10:43

While Peter spoke these words, the Holy Ghost fell on Cornelius, his family, and friends he had gathered in his house and they all began to speak in other tongues (languages they did not know) as the Spirit of God spoke through them.

Peter and the men that came with him were astonished, for Jesus poured out the Holy Ghost on the Gentiles just like He had on them on the day of Pentecost! (Acts 2:4)

Cornelius and those at his house were all now born of the Spirit. Next, they were born of the water.

Peter then COMMANDED that they be water baptized in Jesus name.

"…Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord..." - Acts 10:46-48 (See also Acts 2:38)

I AM the First and the Last

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Jesus cried and said, He who believes in me, believes not in me, but in Him who sent me. And he who sees me sees Him who sent me.

The Gospel

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TheGift

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The Gift

The Jews made a covenant with God at Mount Sinai. God gave them His Law. The Jews count that there are 613 commandments in the Law. They covenanted to keep all of them.

Exodus 24:3 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.

The Jews look at this covenant as a marriage covenant with God. Just as the bride says, “I do,” the Jewish people said, “We do.”

God recognizes this covenant as His marriage covenant with the Jewish people. In Jeremiah 31:31-34, God refers to the covenant He made when He brought them out of Egypt and refers to Himself as their husband.

Jeremiah 31:31 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

Jeremiah 31:32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

Jeremiah 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Jeremiah 31:34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

Here God speaks of making a new covenant with Israel. We know the new covenant to be the Gospel.

While the covenant of the Law is God’s justice, His covenant of the Gospel is a covenant of mercy. “For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34).

Just as the covenant of the Law was a marriage covenant, the covenant of the Gospel is also a marriage covenant. Those that have obeyed the Gospel become part of the bride of Christ.

The Jews say that God has a gift for those that enter into the marriage covenant of the Law. This gift is the Sabbath.

The Sabbath is a day of physical rest for the Jewish people. It is a day that they spend devoted to prayer and study of God’s word. It is to be a day of peace. The greeting often said on the Sabbath is, “Shabbat Shalom,” which is Hebrew for “Sabbath Peace.”

God has a gift for those that enter into the marriage covenant of the Gospel. This gift is the Holy Ghost.

While the rest of the Sabbath is one day a week, the rest of the Holy Ghost is twenty-four hours, seven days a week. It is a rest that you do not have to say goodbye to at the end of the day.

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

When a person enters into the covenant of the Law, it is said that person takes on the “yoke” of the commandments.

When God took on the form of man to bring the new covenant of the Gospel, He brought a new yoke. Instead of the written Law of justice, of 613 commandments, God writes His Law of love and forgiveness in our hearts. By the Holy Ghost, God’s Spirit within, Jesus teaches us and brings His word to our mind.

John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

While the Sabbath has its peace, the gift of the Holy Ghost brings the peace of God, which passeth all understanding.

Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep [guarding[ your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The peace that the covenant of the Gospel gives, is the peace of reconciliation back to God through His perfect sacrifice of His flesh, “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29).

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

[NLT: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.]

The gift of the Holy Ghost is the presence of Jesus within us, who is with us always. The gift of the Holy Ghost is like a well of water springing up into everlasting life. It is joy unspeakable and full of glory. (John 4:14, 1 Peter 1:8).

Because of God’s perfect sacrifice that takes away the sin of the world, those that have repented of their sins and have been baptized in the name of Jesus can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost – Jesus within.

Under the covenant of the law, the offerings of bulls and goats could not take away sins. (Hebrews 10:4). Because sin wasn’t taken away, God could not dwell within His people. His Spirit could be upon them and with them, but not in them, until God came and brought the new covenant. By the new covenant of forgiveness, all may know God by the infilling of the gift of His Holy Ghost. “For they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:34b)

Matthew 26:28 For this is my blood of the new testament [“covenant”], which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

We turn our life to Jesus, apply the blood He shed for us and receive remission of sins by water baptism in the name of Jesus. This is how we enter into the new covenant. We become part of the bride of Christ. Because we enter into this marriage covenant, Jesus has a gift for us: the gift of His Holy Ghost.

Acts 2:38-39 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. 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.

Church!

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Church!

Every day we are one step closer to seeing Jesus face to face. To be ready, we must repent of our sins (being sorrowful for the wrongs we have done and turning our back to sin), be baptized by immersion in water in JESUS name for the remission of our sins, and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (God’s Spirit in us, with the sign of speaking in another tongue/language as we allow God to take control of our words). (Acts 2:4, Acts 2:38)

We should not simply be ready by obeying the gospel, but also ready by being all that the Lord wants us to be. We should be fruitful by doing good works and shining the love of Jesus to others. We should be fruitful by bringing others into the kingdom of God through the gospel. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4, Acts 2:38)

In the day we are in, we must be faithful to assemble together by going to the house of God. We need the encouragement, and the exhorting (preaching) from the Word so that we can walk true and steadfast in Jesus. Through prayer and worship we can receive the communion and strength of His Spirit to make it through these end times.

"Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching." - Hebrews 10:23-25

Church locator:

Upci.org

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"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." - Psalm 16:11 KJV

Jesus shows us the path of life.

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." - John 14:6 KJV

It is by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus – the gospel – that we find the path to life. There is no other gospel, no other religion that can bring us to God. By His name Jesus in baptism we apply the blood He shed to remit [forgive] our sins so that we can make peace with Him, receive His Spirit, and live.

When we obey the gospel of Jesus, we receive the promise of His Spirit, the Holy Ghost.

"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. 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." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

In His presence there is fullness of joy.

"Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:" - 1 Peter 1:8 KJV

We do not now see the physical body of Jesus (which ascended to heaven and which we will see in the clouds at the rapture), but now we feel the joy of His Spirit when we are filled with His Holy Ghost.

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." - Romans 14:17 KJV

The pleasures that come from living for Jesus far outweigh what the world has to offer.

The good choice is to turn away from sin and its path of death and to choose the path of life.

Jesus gives us a life of pleasure that is no comparison to the sin the world has to offer.

A few of the pleasures the Spirit of God brings into our life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23).

Jesus shows us His gospel is the path of life which leads to heaven. In Jesus there is fullness of joy and pleasures for evermore!

Jesus Has All Power

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Jesus has all power.

"And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all." - Luke 4:14-15

Jesus has power over satan.

“And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.

“And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not." - Luke 4:33-35

Jesus gave power to His disciples.

"After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come...

"And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

"Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

" - Luke 10:1, 17-20

Because Jesus paid the price of death for our sins on the tree, we are able to have our names written in heaven by our repentance, our baptism in the name of Jesus for the remission of our sins, and by receiving His gift of His Holy Ghost.

"But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:" - 2 Timothy 1:10

And now He gives US power

"And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." - Mark 16:17-18

Thy Word

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"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." - Psalm 119:11

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." - Hebrews 4:12

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:" - Ephesians 6:17

"Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word." - Psalm 119:114

One God

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There is only one God. His name is Jesus. He is our Heavenly Father that robed Himself in flesh to die for our sins, reconciling us to Himself.

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself..." 2 Corinthians 5:19

One God His Name is Jesus

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The word “Godhead” means “divine power,” “divinity,” “divine,” “deity,” “divine nature.”

“Godhead” describes the SPIRIT of God.

The “Father” describes the SPIRIT of God.

The “Holy Ghost” describes the SPIRIT of God.

“Son,” on the other hand, describes the FLESH of God.

Clearly, FLESH should not be considered part of the Godhead, for FLESH is not the SPIRIT of God.

The concept that the “Son” (the FLESH of God) is in the Godhead is a concept that is a tradition of men.

Rather, as the BIBLE states, the Godhead is IN the body (flesh) of Christ.

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." - Colossians 2:8-9 KJV

["Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body." - Colossians 2:8-9 NLT]

God was IN CHRIST, reconciling the world unto HIMSELF.

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV

Jesus is our Heavenly Father, revealed in flesh/bodily.

"If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." - John 14:7 KJV

"Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?" - John 14:9 KJV

"Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." - John 14:10 KJV

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

There is only ONE God. His name is JESUS.

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." - Acts 4:12 KJV (Acts 2:38)

Be not Weary in Well Doing

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"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

"As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." - Galatians 6:7-10 KJV

I AM HE

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Peace and Reconciliation

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In the Bible, many times numbers have symbolic meanings. For example, it is said that the number seven represents completion, or perfection. God created the world in seven days. There are seven colors of the rainbow and seven musical notes. Naaman the leper became clean after dipping in the river Jordan seven ti

Three represents peace and reconciliation. Three times in the year Jewish males appeared before the LORD at the temple in Jerusalem making peace with sacrifices to God. Jonah was reconciled back to God when he was in the belly of the whale for three days. Joseph interpreted the dream of the butler: the vine of three branches was three days, and the butler was restored to his position as butler.

The question may be asked, why did Moses strike the rock in the wilderness three times?

The first time Moses struck the rock, he struck it one time and at God’s commandment. This was in Rephidim which Moses called Massah, and Meribah (which means “striving” or “arguing.”) This was at the beginning of the forty years in the wilderness.

The second time Moses struck the rock, he struck it two times, in disobedience to God’s command to speak to the rock. This was at the very end of the forty years in the wilderness. This brings the total times the rock was struck to three times. This place was called the waters of Meribah, because the children of Israel again strove with the LORD.

Why would the rock be struck three times?

The Bible says that the rock was Christ. The number three represents peace and reconciliation. By Christ being smitten, the smitten rock, by His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus brought peace and reconciliation between Himself and the world.

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven." - Colossians 1:20 KJV

"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:" - Colossians 1:21-22 KJV

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." - 2 Corinthians 5:19 KJV

The What the who the how the why

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"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.

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." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

Baptized in the Name of Jesus

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Why I am baptized in the name of Jesus

I am water baptized in the name of Jesus to apply the blood of Jesus to my life for the remission of my sins.

"To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins [everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name]." - Acts 10:43 KJV Our sins are forgiven through His name by water baptism in His name of Jesus.

"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission." - Hebrews 9:22 KJV

"For it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." - Leviticus 17:11 KJV

While the blood of animal sacrifices every year pushed ahead the sins of Israel, they could not take their sins away.

"But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." - Hebrews 10:3-4 KJV

It took our Heavenly Father robing Himself in flesh, born holy and without sin, to shed His blood for us so our sins could be taken away. God came in His name Jesus.

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood." - Acts 20:28 KJV

Jesus told His disciples when He took the cup at the last supper before His death, that it was symbolic of the blood He was about to shed.

"For this is my blood of the new testament [the new covenant], which is shed for many for the remission of sins." - Matthew 26:28 KJV

This is what Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost when the church first began – baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins.

"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.

“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." - Acts 2:38-39 KJV

Halloween

2025-10-13T06:20:00.000-07:00

Is Halloween a device of Satan? What is Halloween? A time of fun and excitement for children?

It is a day when schools, preschools, and daycares take a day to devote their

activities to tales of witches and warlocks, of drawing pictures of black cats, full moons, ghosts and goblins. It is a day if carving out jack-o-lanterns, of candy and more candy. After school, when darkness arrives, it is a time of costumes and going door to door to neighbors and friends, children shouting, "Trick or treat" for candy and apples, trips through haunted houses, and parties.

The stores fill up with sections devoted to Halloween costumes and masks, scary makeup, fake blood and eyeballs, plastic jack-o-lanterns, ghost figures, witches on brooms, and more.

Is this a “holiday” where Satan appears as an angel of light? (2Cor.11:14).

Halloween has a history filled with evil, wickedness, and violence. The Spirit reveals underneath the sugar-coated celebrations, there are deadly satanic activities going on with the principalities, the powers, and the rulers of the darkness of this world.

Years ago, Druids, coming to the door of castles threatened homes and families with satanic curses (“trick") unless the father and mother would surrender their virgin daughter as a blood sacrifice to satan on the upcoming rituals on the night of Halloween. If they surrendered their daughter, a hollowed-out squash would be lit by their door, candle light sending out beacons through its openings signaling that this home was not to be cursed: they had surrendered their child at the Druid’s threat.

Several years ago, the underground evil seeped up into the candy gathering ritual to the point where hospitals were offering x-rays of apples and candy to disclose hidden razor blades. The possibility of poison in Halloween treats lead to supervised neighborhood trunk and treat events.

Is there other evil going on the night of this satanic holiday today?

There are numerous accounts from those that have previously been involved with Satanism of the animal and child sacrifices on this night. The horror of this goes beyond one’s imagination. It is truly a night of darkness and evil spiritual activity going on in remote areas, concealed beyond the “innocent” revellings of the night.

Halloween is a time to be discerning, to not step over the line into the realm of being caught by Satan’s devices. It is a time to intercede in prayer for those caught up in satanic activities that the light of the truth of Jesus come to them and deliver them from darkness into his mercy by the Gospel of Jesus (Acts 2:38). It is a time to intercede in prayer for those that are victims or potential victims of the sexual abuse and violence that is a part of satanic rituals.

The Bible says,

"When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire [human sacrifice], or that useth divination [do not let your people practice fortune telling], or an observer of times [or use sorcery], or an enchanter [or interpret omens], or a witch [or engage in witchcraft], or a charmer [or cast spells], or a consulter with familiar spirits [or function as mediums or psychics], or a wizard [or call forth the spirits of the dead], or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee [The nations you are about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune tellers, but the LORD your God forbids you to do such things]." - Deuteronomy 18:9-12 KJV (Also, Galatians 5:19-21, Revelation 9:21, 21:8)

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. ... Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;" - Ephesians 6:10-12, 18 KJV

"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. […so remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living.]" - Romans 13:12 KJV

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. [Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.]" - Ephesians 5:11 KJV

"Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices." - 2 Corinthians 2:11 KJV

Bind and Loose

2025-10-11T06:36:00.000-07:00

Apostle Peter and Binding and Loosing

Besides giving Peter the keys to the kingdom, Jesus also gave Peter authority to bind and loose.

"And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." - Matthew 16:19 KJV

The meaning of "bind" and "loose" in this scripture, using the Thayer's lexicon, appears to do with apostolic authority. Thayer's lexicon defines these Greek words in the context of the verse:

The definition of "bind" is “to forbid” (“by a Chaldean and rabbinical idiom (equivalent to אֲסַר), to forbid, prohibit, declare to be illicit: Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18.)”

The definition of "loose" is: "to declare lawful" (“by a Chaldean and Talmudic usage (equivalent to אַתֵּר, שְׁרֵא (cf. Winer's Grammar, 32)), opposed to δέω (which see 2 c.), to declare lawful: Matthew 16:19; Matthew 18:18”).

Thus, to “bind” and “loose” in this verse has to do with law and doctrine.

Jesus gave Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Jesus then said whatever Peter would “declare unlawful” on earth would be unlawful in heaven, and whatever Peter would “declare lawful” on earth, would be lawful in heaven.

Thus, Peter was given authority to establish law (doctrine).

Peter acted in this authority after he was filled with the Holy Ghost on the Day of Pentecost.

"And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." - Acts 2:4 KJV

The multitude that gathered said, what meaneth this?

"But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:" - Acts 2:14 KJV

When Peter preached the gospel to the people, they responded.

"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?" - Acts 2:37 KJV

With the authority given to him by Jesus, Peter then declared what would become doctrine.

"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." - Acts 2:38 KJV