The Jehovah Witnesses’ Bible is “The New World Translation (NWT) of the Holy Scriptures” from which ALL Biblical references below are taken. It is the ONLY Bible that they assert to be “the Truth”. They actually proclaim that the age-old King James version of the Holy Bible and all other translations are inspired by the dEVIL.

The boldface portions are the words of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jehovah: essential points that prove that Jehovah contradicted Himself, which completely invalidates the NWT as “the Truth” and makes the religion FALSE.

When Jehovah Witnesses ask to talk to me I express my willingness to do so. However, I tell them that my background is in a Christian church from which I have some deep convictions. I add that I visited one of their Sunday services in a Kingdom Hall and that I gave a donation to get their study Bible. I further express that I have discovered what seems to be contradictions in their Bible, which if they could clarify (which I know they can’t) I would be willing to listen to everything they have to say.

I always insist that we begin with the following  references from Genesis and Exodus. I ask them to follow along with me in their Bible. I afterward ask them to explain::

 Genesis 18:26-33 (Abraham uses the name, Jehovah . . .)

26. ”Then Jehovah said: “If I shall find in Sod′om fifty righteous men in the midst of the city I will pardon the whole place on their account.”
27. But Abraham went on to answer and say: “Please, here I have taken upon myself to speak to Jehovah, whereas I am dust and ashes.
28. Suppose the fifty righteous should be lacking five. Will you for the five bring the whole city to ruin?” To this he said: “I shall not bring it to ruin if I find there forty‐five.”
29. But yet again he spoke further to him and said: “Suppose forty are found there.” In turn he said: “I shall not do it on account of the forty.”
30. But he continued: “May Jehovah, please, not grow hot with anger, but let me go on speaking: Suppose thirty are found there.” In turn he said: “I shall not do it if I find thirty there.”
31. But he continued on: “Please, here I have taken upon myself to speak to Jehovah: Suppose twenty are found there.” In turn he said: “I shall not bring it to ruin on account of the twenty.”
32. Finally he said: “May Jehovah, please, not grow hot with anger, but let me speak just this once: Suppose ten are found there.” In turn he said: “I shall not bring it to ruin on account of the ten.”
33. Then Jehovah went his way when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.

Genesis 27:5-8 (Isaac uses the name, Jehovah . . .)

5. However, Re‧bek′ah was listening while Isaac spoke to E′sau his son. And E′sau went on out into the field to hunt game and to bring it in.
6. And Re‧bek′ah said to Jacob her son: “Here I just heard your father speaking to E′sau your brother, saying,
7. ‘Bring me some game and make me a tasty dish and, ah, let me eat, that I may bless you before Jehovah before my death.’
8. And now, my son, listen to my voice in what I am commanding you . . .

Genesis 27: 19-20 (Jacob uses the name, Jehovah . . .)

19. And Jacob went on to say to his father: “I am E′sau your firstborn. I have done just as you have spoken to me. Raise yourself up, please. Sit down and eat some of my game, in order that your soul may bless me.”
20. At that Isaac said to his son: “How is it that you have been so quick in finding it, my son?” In turn he said [Jacob]: “Because Jehovah your God caused it to meet up with me.”

 Genesis 28:10-13 (Jehovah says that He is the God of Abraham and Isaac)

10. And Jacob continued on his way out from Be′er‐she′ba and kept going to Ha′ran.
11. In time he came across a place and set about spending the night there because the sun had set. So he took one of the stones of the place and set it as his head supporter and lay down in that place.
12. And he began to dream, and, look! there was a ladder stationed upon the earth and its top reaching up to the heavens; and, look! there were God’s angels ascending and descending on it.
13. And, look! there was Jehovah stationed above it, and he proceeded to say: “I am Jehovah the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land upon which you are lying, to you I am going to give it and to your seed.

NOTE: The above references from Genesis as recorded in the NWT unequivocally contradict what is recorded in Exodus 6:2-3:

2.  And God went on to speak to Moses and to say to him: “I am Jehovah.
3. And I used to appear to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as God Almighty, but as respects my name Jehovah I DID NOT make myself known to them.

FACT: If the references in Genesis are true wherein Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob DID KNOW God’s name, Jehovah, and God DID identify Himself to Jacob as Jehovah, then the reference is false in Exodus 6:2-3 wherein God said to Moses that the Name, Jehovah, WAS NOT revealed to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Conversely, if the reference in Exodus is true wherein Jehovah DID NOT reveal His Name to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, then the ALL of the references in Genesis are false: thus, the ultimate contradiction in the NWT is between Genesis and Exodus. To be facetious, given that Exodus is subsequent to Genesis Jehovah is FORGETFUL according to the NWT, which would make everything He said thereafter completely unreliable. Thus, according to the NWT, Jehovah IS NOT infallible.

CONCLUSION: Jehovah contradicting Himself completely and explicitly invalidates the NWT as being “The Truth”. It completely nullifies the Watch Tower’s doctrine. Therefore, the religion, Jehovah’s Witnesses, is a heresy: ERRONEOUS and DECEPTIVE to the fullest extent of the definitions. 

There are numerous additional contradictions that further PROVE the invalidation of the NWT as “The Truth”.  For example, the  table below shows NWT’s references about Jesus Christ.  According to the NWT, Jesus is both “the Son” and “a Son”. Given that “the Son” denotes the only Son and “a Son” refers to one amongst other Sons the references are contradictory. Below the table are links to texts disclosing more inconsistencies and contradictions that nullify the Watch Tower’s doctrine and make the religion, Jehovah Witnesses, a FALSE religion.

CLICK HERE to download the *.pdf trifold of the above to distribute to Jehovah Witnesses that approach you. Simply ask them to read it and submit it to the Elders in their Kingdom Halls. Also, email it to your friends that encounter Jehovah Witnesses.

Below are links to the complete “A Quest For The Truth: Reasoning From The Scriptures”. All Biblical references are from the “New World Translation of The Holy Scriptures.”

Amongst other contradictions in the New World Translation are proofs that . . .

1. Jesus is Jehovah
2. Jesus IS NOT the Archangel, Michael
3. The holy spirit is masculine gender not a mere force
4. The holy spirit is Jehovah

The links below are to the 8½ x 11 *.pdf format version. If you deem it useful, you are welcome to download it for your personal use or to distribute. The text-body is also available in MS-Word upon your request should you like to capture particular topics:

1. Preface: Why A Quest For The Truth Was Written
2. Table Of Content
3. A Quest For The Truth (30 pages)

I would be interested in reading your comments. Please click on the Facebook icon in the lower right corner. It links to my Fanpage where on you could post your comments. Also, please “Like” the status update and “Share” it. Thank you.

http://goo.gl/1VSc6G

Baptized in the Holy Ghost/Spirit

Just before Jesus ascended back into heaven, He told His disciples that they were going to be “baptized with the Holy Ghost” in a few days:

Acts 1:4-5

4. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;
5. for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

This is the last time that Jesus associated “baptized” to an act of the Holy Ghost.

Peter’s use of “baptized with the Holy Ghost” was when he testified about Cornelius and compared that event to what Jesus promised would come on the Day of Pentecost:

Acts 11:15-17

15. And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning.
16. Then I remembered the word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’
17. If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could withstand God?”

Peter was not giving instructions neither prophesying. He was giving a testimony. Therefore, Jesus is the last person to use the word, “baptized” in conjunction with a work of the Holy Ghost.

Remember, Jesus said that the disciples would be “baptized with the Holy Ghost”. However, “filled with the Holy Ghost” is what Luke said to describe what the 120 in the upper room experienced:

Acts 2:4,

2. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

(It is very important to remember that Luke’s use of “filled with the Holy Ghost” was not the first time he used the phrase. He used it twice in his Gospel (the book of Luke) in reference to the Elizabeth and Zacharias, the parents of John the Baptist. (We will refer to that later.)

Today people frequently use the phrases, “Baptized with the Holy Ghost” and “Filled with the Holy Ghost”, interchangeably. But, the fact is that they have very different meanings. “Baptized” is the operation the Holy Spirit performs in the human spirit. “Filled” is when He assumes controls of a yielded person to speak or to perform the miraculous.

First, examine the word, “baptized”. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, recorded John the Baptist as saying that he baptized with water but Jesus baptized with the Holy Ghost. Everywhere throughout the New Testament that any tense of the verb “baptize” is used in reference to water, the Holy Ghost, and into Jesus Christ, it is translated from the Greek word, “baptizo” (bap-tid’-zo).

The best example to illustrate the meaning of “baptizo” can be found in “Thayer’s Lexicon”. It references a text from the Greek poet and physician, Nicander, who lived about 200 B.C. The clarity is in his Greek written recipe for making pickles because it uses two words that mean baptize: baptizo (baptized) and bapto (dipped).

Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be dipped into boiling water [bapto] and then baptized [baptizo] in the vinegar solution. Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables. But, the first immersion is temporary, that water is soon poured out. The second immersion stays, it produces a permanent change: a cucumber becomes a pickle. See The Fellowship Relationship: Evidence Of Born-Again.

Preface

Amos 8:11, Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord God, That I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine of bread, Nor a thirst for water, But of hearing the words of the Lord. 

History proves that millions of lives have been lost in famines. History has also proven that hunger will cause the living (people and animals) to eat virtually anything in hopes of sustaining life.

Comparably so, the lack of fulfillment in the human psyche can cause people to seek experiences that they otherwise would not if they had fulfillment.  Numerous Christians that know our Blessed Lord can attest to having experienced spiritual famines until they met Him as described in Amos.

Note what Apostle Paul said in Romans 10:13-14:

13. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

We are the “preacher” now: the witnesses. And, the Holy Spirit will work through us to bring conviction to sinners by confirming the Word in whatever ways He deems necessary. Unless St. John 3:16 has been reascended, the Holy Spirit will use anyone who is ready, willing, and available for Him to work through to fulfill St. John 16:8, “And when He [the Holy Ghost] has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment . . .”

Jesus said in John 12:32, “. . . if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” The disciples in Mark 16:20 gave personal testimonies about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ without having Bibles to read from. Note the reference:

20. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. NKJV

The reference reassures believers that the Lord will confirm His message. It is therefore incumbent upon true believers in God’s Word to share it more fervently than ever because only the Holy Ghost can reach the human-spirits, especially in this high-tech intellectual generation.

It inevitable that a growing group called “the religious nones” relative to church affiliation or religious beliefs  would be encountered. A thought provoking article explains why they left religion behind. Factors driving the group are cited in the article, The factors driving the growth of religious ‘nones’ in the U.S. Given that the group is comprised greatly of educators, presenting the Holy Bible to them especially would be no different to presenting any other religious book unless we yield to the Holy Ghost/Spirit for Him to control ministering to them.

Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 12:3, “. . . no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit”. In other words, we can articulate the message, but only the Holy Ghost can communicate the message to bring conviction. Thus, us being conscious the difference between baptized in the Holy Ghost and filled with the Holy Ghost could empower us with a fearless confidence to witness to any group for Jesus Christ given that He emphatically stated in Acts 1:8 that we would be witnesses about Him when the Holy Spirit comes.

I too wholehearted believe that there is a monumental revival on the horizon. But, as it was in the book of Acts it will be outside, in the streets, not within the four walls of churches. Just as others are that I know and am meeting, I am also being driven in that direction and to contribute to financing it, thus, the vision for Comprehensive Evangelism.

The Lesson

The subject, Baptized In The Holy Ghost vs. Filled With The Holy Ghost, is not semantics. There is a significant difference. Learning from the Holy Spirit what it is gave me a much broader understanding of His role in evangelism. In short, it’s His responsibility not ours given that we are willing, ready, and available.

Authors have their particular styles of writing and vocabulary. Their literary works are consequently quite consistent in these respects. Therefore, to distinguish the difference between “filled with the Holy Ghost/Spirit” and “baptized with the Holy Ghost/Spirit” references by one New Testament author are cited. The author is Luke. (One reference at the end is by Apostle Paul.)

About Luke

Theologians generally agree that Luke became acquainted with Paul in Troas around 51AD. The Adam Clarke’s Commentary is one amongst others that say that the pronoun, “we”, in the phrase, “we endeavored to go into Macedonia”, in Acts 16:10, is the first place that the historian Luke refers to himself. And, from this, it is supposed that he joined the company of Paul for the first time. This was close to 14 years after Paul’s conversion and about 22 years after the Day of Pentecost.

His acquaintance with Paul was the key factor in him meeting the other apostles, which were Jesus’ companions from the beginning to the end of His ministry. They were the eyewitnesses that taught Luke everything that Jesus did and preached.

It was about eight years after meeting Paul and the apostles and about 29 years after the Day of Pentecost that Luke began writing his Gospel to Theophilus. It was during these years that he learned the complete history of our Lord’s ministry from the beginning until His ascension.

Note the following points about Luke:

• he never saw or met Jesus
• he was not one of the 12 disciples
• he was not in the upper room on the Day of Pentecost

Luke nevertheless wrote a precise chronology of our Lord’s life in 59AD as the disciples dictated to him. He began with Gabriel’s prophecy to Mary about Jesus’ birth, His ministry, and His Ascension. Luke summarized this in his salutation to Theophilus:

Luke 1:1-4:

1. Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us,
2. just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us,
3. it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus,
4. that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.

Luke wrote the book of Acts about 63AD, about four years after writing his Gospel to Theophilus, about 11 years after meeting Paul, and about 33 years after the Day of Pentecost. Again Luke asserts the accuracy of his writings in this salutation just as he did in the his Gospel to Theophilus:

Acts 1:1-3:

1. The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2. until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,
3. to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

The years between writing his Gospel and the book of Acts gave Luke additional years of experiences and learning from Apostle Paul and the other apostles. Accordingly, the Book of Acts covers a period of about 32 years, from the Ascension of Jesus [about A. D. 30] and ends with the account Paul’s earliest ministry in Rome [about A. D. 62].

It is a historical fact that Luke was a physician. Given his profession he had a very descriptive mind. His thought process would have undoubtedly been to place things in a chronological order. That is obvious in what he said to Theophilus and the decisiveness in which he wrote his Gospel and the book of Acts.

Filled with the Spirit vs. Baptized with the Spirit

It is important to note that how just one word in each of the following verses completely defines two different operations of the Holy Spirit.

• Acts 1:5, “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”
• Acts 2:4, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

The terms “baptized with the Holy Spirit” and “filled with the Holy Spirit” have been used interchangeably for decades by Pentecostal denominations and Charismatics that resulted from the Azusa Street revival that began in 1906. Their members have been heard saying that they are “baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit”. This came from not understanding the difference between baptized and filled relative to the Holy Ghost/Spirit.

Remember, what Luke learned from being with the apostles is the basis of what he said in his writings. Note that Luke used the term, “filled with the Holy Spirit”, three times to describe something that happened 33 years prior to the Day of Pentecost. Therefore, the term most definitely DID NOT originate with the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. But, since the term, “filled with the Holy Spirit”, was associated to events decades before the Day of Pentecost, on the Day of Pentecost, and subsequent to the Day of Pentecost, there has to be some commonality between the events to justify the use of the term in all instances.

Filled with the Holy Spirit 33 years prior to Acts 2

Note what the angel, Gabriel, said to Zacharias about the son that he and his wife, Elizabeth, would have in their old age: Luke 1:15, ” . . . He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb.”

Six months after Elizabeth conceived Gabriel also told Mary about her being favored by God to give birth to Jesus, the Savior. She went and told her cousin, Elizabeth. Note what happened to her and what she did when she heard Mary’s greeting:

Luke 1:41-42:

41. And it happened, when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, that the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
42. Then she spoke out with a loud voice and said, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

Approximately three months later when John (the Baptist) was born note what happened with Zacharias, the father: Luke 1:67, “Now his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied . . .”

MEMO: Elizabeth, Zacharias, and their son, John the Baptist, were all “filled with the Holy Spirit” without being “baptized with the Holy Spirit”. The reason is that “baptized with the Holy Spirit” could not occur until after the ascension of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and on a specific day, i. e., the Day of Pentecost.

The commonality with the three is that being “filled with the Holy Spirit” caused them to talk but not in other tongues as on the Day of Pentecost. These are the three times the term, “filled with the Holy Spirit” was used 33 years prior to the Day of Pentecost.

The Greek word for “filled” is ple`tho. That same word is used in the following references. Rather than to give a definition of the word, let’s allow the other instances in which Luke used it define its meaning. Remember that only the writings of Luke are being used to insure that the word is consistent in its application and meaning.

Being Filled with An Emotion

MEMO: Always note the action(s) and the result(s) that follow the word “filled”.

Luke 4:28-29:

28. So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,
29. and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.

MEMO: What happened in vs. 29 was the action that resulted from being filled with wrath.

Acts 5:17-18:

17. Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation,
18. and laid their hands on the apostles and put them in the common prison.

MEMO: What happened in vs. 18 was the action that resulted from being filled with indignation.

Acts 13:45:

45. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.

MEMO: The contradicting and blaspheming by the Jews was the action that resulted from being filled with envy.

Note that in the three examples that being filled (with emotions) resulted in action. Hereafter, note the action that resulted from being filled.

FACT: To allow ourselves to be filled with an emotion that results in action, we would have . . .

• no concern for where we are
• no consideration for whose present
• no fear of the consequences of our actions

Filled with the Spirit after Acts 1:8

Let’s compare being filled with emotions as aforementioned to being filled with the Holy Spirit. And, let’s factor in what our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ, said the Holy Spirit would do according to John 16:8, “And when He has come, He will convict the world . . .” Therefore, being filled with the Holy Spirit would not only precipitate action, result would follow: conviction.

Acts 2:4, 14, 41:

4. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to [the action] speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

14. [The action continues.] But Peter, standing up with the eleven, raised his voice and said to them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words.

41. [The results] Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

Note the sequence of events. In vs. 4, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. The action was their speaking with other tongues (earthly languages). In vs.14, Peter began to explain this phenomenon to the crowd standing outside. Upon learning what happened in the upper room, about three thousand were added: they were also converted and became believers. Thus, the filling precipitated the action of speaking in tongues, which drew the crowd and ultimately resulted in an addition of about three thousand converts.

Acts chapter 3 gives the account of the man that was lame from birth receiving the miracle performed by Peter as he and John entered the gate of the temple. The miracle plus the sermon that Peter preached caused about 5,000 to become believers brought a great disturbance amongst the Sadducees. Consequently, Peter and John spent that night in jail as noted in Acts 4:3.

The next the men were released and brought to the rulers, elders, scribes, Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, and John (not the apostle), Alexander, and others that were linked to the priests. When the council began to question Peter and John about the miracle, note what happened:

Acts 4:8-10:

8. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel:
9. If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well,
10. let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.

Notice that only Peter, not John, was filled with the Holy Spirit and began to literally preach a sermon about the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord and the power in the name, Jesus, while the healed man stood there with them. Here the filling of the Holy Spirit precipitated an action: preaching. That instance ignited the process that would ultimately produce the result.

The council was in a real predicament. It could not deny the miracle because the man that was lame was standing there with Peter and John. Furthermore, the citizens of Jerusalem witnessed the healing. Consequently, Peter and John were threaten and ordered not to speak no more about the name, Jesus.

Upon being released and returning to the other disciples they reported what they had experienced earlier that same day. They then began to pray and asked God for boldness to preach about Jesus. Note vs. 24-35:

Worship first . . .

24. . . . They raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them,
25. who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things?
26. The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’
27. “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together
28. to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.

The petition for boldness . . .

29. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness [fearless confidence] they may speak Your word,
30. by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

The filling and the action . . .

31. And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness [fearless confidence].

Note that in vs. 8 above it was only Peter that was filled with the Holy Spirit, not John. However, just a little time later on the same day they were all [including Peter] filled with the Holy Spirit in vs. 31.

It has been said that there is one baptism and many fillings (with the Holy Spirit/Ghost). I know that this a reference of one’s expectation of Spiritual renewal especially in a revival.

Just playing on words, if there were “re-fillings” of the Holy Spirit then Peter lost something between the time he was filled in vs. 8 and the short time afterwards that he was filled in vs. 31 and consequently had to be re-filled. But, that is not the case.

The point is that the word “filled” in reference to being filled with the Holy Spirit simply means to be totally controlled by Him with absolutely no resistance in a particular instance, which according to the Bible produces results.

Remember that Peter and John had already been imprisoned and warned about preaching Jesus. So, for them to do it anyways is a prime example of what it is to be filled with the Holy Spirit, i. e., move under the total control of the Holy Spirit:

• having no concern for where they were
• having no consideration for whose present
• having no fear of the consequences

The result of the prayer . . .

32. Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
33. And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.
34. Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold,
35. and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

The results of the prayer in vs. 25-30 continue in Acts 5:1-16. The deaths of Sapphira and Anaias for lying is one example. And, also, a multitude gathered from the surrounding cities to Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

Another instance of being filled with the Holy Spirit is in Acts 13:9-11. In beginning of the chapter the, the apostles were in a time of ministering to the Lord with prayers and fasting. Note what the Holy Spirit said in vs. 2, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

A proconsul, Sergius Paulus, sent for the two men as they passed through the island Paphos. He wanted to hear the Gospel. But, Elymas, the sorcerer, endeavored to hinder the men from speaking to the proconsul. Note what happen with Peter in vs. 9-11:

9. Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him (Elimas)
10. and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?
11. And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time.” And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

Note that in this instance also that filled with the Holy Spirit precipitated an action: Paul pronounced a consequence on Elimas, which was blindness. (Whereas the Holy Ghost wants to bless people, if He is opposed He may do something to people as in this instance.) The ultimate result is in vs. 12: “Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord.”

The aforementioned references were about the word, “filled”: filled with emotions and filled with the Holy Spirit. The individuals that were filled with emotions allowed the emotions to control them to the point of taking actions that they otherwise may not have taken. The disciples that allowed the Holy Spirit to fill them simply surrendered themselves to be totally and completely controlled by Him, which produced results.

Baptized in the Holy Spirit

Jesus said in Acts 1:5, “for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

The Greek word for baptized is baptizo. It means to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (used of vessels sunk), to cleanse by dipping or submerging, to wash, to make clean with water, to wash oneself, to bathe.

Baptizo is not to be confused with bapto, which also means to submerge.  The clearest example that shows the meaning of baptizo is a text from the Greek poet and physician Nicander, who lived about 200 B. C. It is a recipe for making pickles and is helpful because it uses both words.  Nicander says that in order to make a pickle, the vegetable should first be `dipped’ (bapto) into boiling water [to blanch] and then `baptized’ (baptizo) in the vinegar solution.  Both verbs concern the immersing of vegetables in a solution.  But the first is temporary.  The second, the act of baptizing the vegetable, produces a permanent change.

What baptizo produces in us coincides with Titus 3:5:, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit . . .” See the tab, The Fellowship-Relationship: Evidence of Born Again.

The regeneration is all things being made new: a new heaven a new earth. The regeneration that the Holy Spirit brings in us now is comparable to what will eventually happen to the heaven and earth then: they will be made new. Note 2 Corinthians 5:17, “. . . if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” It’s comparable to the example of cucumbers becoming pickles.

CONCLUSION

Let’s look again at what Jesus said in Acts 1:5, “. . . you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Given the definition of baptizo, the 120 in the upper room experienced “the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit” recorded in Titus 3:5. This could only occur after the Holy Spirit became the indwelling presence of God as Jesus promised He would.

Being filled with the Holy Spirit denotes being completely controlled by Him, moved by Him. Being baptized in the Holy Spirit denotes the regeneration, converting of the human spirit, whereby we are cleansed from our sins. To be effective in evangelism after we have been baptized in the Holy Spirit, we must be filled with the Holy Spirit when He wants us to be instruments used by Him to bring about convictions in the hearts of unbelievers. – Amen.

Ephesians 4:4-5, “There is one body [of believers] and one Spirit . . . one Lord, one faith, one baptism . . .”

The focus is on the word, “faith”. Let’s narrow its definition to having an undaunted conviction about Who God is. And, let’s add to that conviction His Word being infallible according to Isaiah 55:10-11:

10. “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,
11. So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

I realize that it’s elementary but note that vs. 10 states that the rain and snow comes down for a purpose: to water the earth. Then note the results: plants grow, which produces more seeds to plant, which yields more produce, which are harvested for food: a perpetual cycle.

Likewise, when God speaks His words like the rain and snow are for specific purposes. The results are that what His Word accomplishes flourishes.

Numerous illustrations are used to depict what faith is. Some associate sitting down in a chair an act of faith. However, the fact is that implying that the use of any earthly object is an “act of faith” is to use the term loosely.

The simple reason is that there is absolutely no guarantee that a chair or any other object will not fail. They break! That is why manufacturers have warranties.

I have heard it asked, does God have faith. My reply was, who would He place faith in? Who can guarantee Him anything? He could only have faith in what would exceed His Greatness and Infallibility, which means that He would cease to be El Elyon: the Most high God.

When asking for the definition of the word, faith, responses will invariably be Hebrews 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” I propose that the verse only implies the functionality of faith but does not allude to the properties of faith, i. e., what faith is comprised of.

Let’s first consider the origin of faith as noted in Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Given that the word, “of”, is a preposition it could denote the origin. Thus, the phrase, “the word of God”, would also be “the word from God” conveyed by the Holy Spirit whom Jesus said in John 16:13, “. . . He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak . . .”

The title here is “Two Perspectives of The One Faith”. By that, I mean that one of faith is in what the Almighty God Jehovah can do. The other perspective is based on knowing what He is going to do . . . when He communicates it. Note two examples from the Old and New Testaments.

Old Testament Scenario

The first is a familiar scenario in the Old Testament, 2 Chronicles 20. The armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir surrounded the Hebrew’s campsite in preparation to attack them. But, note King Jehoshaphat’s reaction in verses 3-4:

3. “And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
4. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the Lord; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.”

Note the last sentence of Jehoshaphat’s prayer: vs 12, “For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”

Remember that the king was a Hebrew. He knew the history in detail of how that when the Hebrews were enslaved in Egypt that their Almighty God brought 10 severe plagues on the Egyptians because of Pharaoh refusing to let them go. The 10th plague, the deaths of every first-born, ultimately convinced Pharaoh to let the Hebrews go.

God miraculously parted the Red Sea so that they could leave Egypt. They passed through the it on the dried seabed and escaped Pharaoh leading the Egyptian army in pursuit of them. King Jehoshaphat remembered that God released the standing walls of water to drowned Pharaoh and his army in the depth of the sea as they pursued the Hebrews.

So, now in the setting of the impending ambush Jehoshaphat tells that same Almighty God that he didn’t know what to do but their eyes were upon Him. The reason was that history taught the king about what God, El Shaddai, the All Sufficient God, could do. But, amidst this scenario, neither Jehoshaphat, the priests, nor any of Hebrews knew what God was going to do. Nobody knew until vs. 14

14. Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly.
15. And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the Lord to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
16. Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel.
17. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord is with you.”
18. And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord.

Points about King Jehoshaphat:

• Verse 15 told the Hebrews who would fight for them again; God.
• Verse 16 told them where the battle would take place.
• Verse 17 assured them that they would need no weapons, where to positions themselves, and be quite and watch God fight.
• Verse 18 proves that King Jehoshaphat and all of the Hebrews believed what was spoken because they began to worship their God.
• God prophesying through Jahaziel told the king exactly what was going to occur and what the outcome would be. Thus, ONLY then did Jehoshaphat KNOW; have a “Divine intuition” for what God was going to do.

Now, given that having the Divine intuition is the result of God saying what He was about to do that equates to “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of/from God.” So, at this point let’s paraphrase Hebrews 11:1 by replacing the word, “faith”, with the term, Divine intuition: “Now Divine intuition is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Conclusively, it is the substance of what is hoped for and evidence of what has yet to be seen simply because God CANNOT lie.

New Testament Scenario

A comparable New Testament example is Apostle Paul’s and Luke’s experience of being on a ship during a tempestuous storm as recorded in Acts 27. However, to give a better perspective it’s necessary to refer to an experience Apostle Paul had in Acts 23:10-11 in which the Lord, Jesus Christ, in person, stood by Paul and spoke to him.

10. Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.
11. But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”

This visitation by the Lord in Acts 23 occurred three years before the episode in chapter 27. The only point to be noted in the visitation is what Jesus said to Paul: “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.” Though redundant it may be, remember that Jesus was the incarnation of Jehovah in Isaiah 55:11 that said that His would not return to Him void, but would accomplish what He pleases.

Now fast forward to Acts 27 when Paul is in the ship caught in a storm. Note what he said in vs. 10: “Men, I perceive that this voyage will end with disaster and much loss, not only of the cargo and ship, but also our lives.”

Five years prior to Luke writing the books of Acts Paul was a guest in Gainus’ home in which he wrote the book of Romans. Note again the popular text that Paul recorded in Romans 10:17, “. . . faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of [from] God.”

The point is that Paul had not yet arrived in Rome. So, given that the Lord’s word cannot return to Him void Paul could not die before arriving in Rome and preached the Gospel as he did in Jerusalem. Otherwise, the Lord’s word would have returned to Him void.

Paul’s statement about them being killed by the storm was an emotional one, echoed no degree of faith whatsoever, and was undoubtedly made because he had already been in three shipwrecks. One occurrence caused him to actually spend a night and a day in the water according to 2 Corinthians 11:25: “Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep . . .” This history of events was evidently reason for speculating that this trip would also end in disaster: ship damaged, cargo lost, and every soul on board killed.

The tempestuous head wind called the Euroclydon began blowing in vs. 14: “But not long after, a tempestuous head wind arose, called Euroclydon. So when the ship was caught, and could not head into the wind, we let her drive.” In vs. 15, Luke recorded that they virtually left the ship to the mercies of the wind and sea, which means the absence of faith.

Pay particular attention to what he recorded in verses 16-20:

16. And running under the shelter of an island called Clauda, we secured the skiff [lifeboat] with difficulty.
17. When they had taken it on board, they used cables to undergird the ship [tie around its hull]; and fearing lest they should run aground on the Syrtis Sands, they struck sail [lowered the sail] and so were driven [by the wind].
18. And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship.
19. On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.
20. Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.

Note that no place in this account is there any mention of them exercising faith and not expressing that God would be their helper or even praying for Him to help. Thus, I will not imply that they did. However, note vs. 22-26:

22. And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.
23. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve,
24. saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’
25. Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me.
26. However, we must run aground on a certain island.”

The question may arise as to Paul especially COULD NOT be killed in this storm. For the answer, we must go back to Acts 23:10-11 with verse 11 being the operative verse:

10. Now when there arose a great dissension, the commander, fearing lest Paul might be pulled to pieces by them, commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among them, and bring him into the barracks.
11. But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”

Paul being told by The Most High God that he had to go to Rome took the destructive capabilities out of the storm. And, God’s favor was extended to others on board.

When they got on shore they were drenching wet and cold because of the boisterous wind.  Paul therefore proceeded to build a woodpile to star a fire. A poisonous viper was under the heap and Paul consequently did not see it. The snake struck him and latched onto his hand. But, Paul’s body had Divine immunity against the viper’s venom and he therefore COULD NOT die because he had not yet arrived in Rome. Hence, Paul just shook the snake from his hand.

I would presume to say that during the course of the storm Paul and Luke did pray. However, nothing was recorded to suggest that they did. Whether they did or not it is abundantly clear that there was not the slightest indication of faith, rather it was fear.

Paul’s faith for knowing what God could do is evident from previous manifestations of God’s greatness in the following references from the book of Acts:

• 13:11-12: Paul blinded Elymus
• 14:3,4: Paul performed miracles in Iconium
• 14:8-18: At Lystra, Paul healed a crippled man .
• 16:18: Paul healed a woman possessed by an evil spirit
• 16:26-28: The miraculous earthquake unloosed  the chains in the Philippian prison and opened its doors
• 19:11,12: Paul performed other miracles in Ephesus
• 20:8-12: In Troas, Paul raised Eutychus from the dead

Remember that Paul is the one that said in Romans 10:17, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” He said it before he encountered the storm in Acts 27. The question therefore arises about where Paul’s faith was during the storm when he suggested that they would be killed. However, the answer would only be speculative.

What is definite is that when the angel of the Lord spoke to Paul in vs. 23 he received a Divine intuition [knowing]. He knew what God was going to do: namely, not let them die during this storm.

Given the scenario with Paul I again propose the paraphrased Hebrews 11:1, ““Now Divine intuition is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Conclusively, it is the substance and evidence simply because God CANNOT lie. What He says will happen or it invalidates the Bible, which He WILL NOT allow.

CONCLUSION

King Jehoshaphat knew from history what God could do. Paul knew what God could do by what he had already experienced as cited. But, neither man knew what God was going to do until they were told: Jehoshaphat by Jahaziel and Paul by the angel of the Lord. Thus, the two perspectives of the one faith are evident.

REF: Copied/pasted from https://sareltours.com/israel-bible-prophecy

Israel In Bible Prophecy
God’s Greatest Sign
to This Generation!
By
Gary M. Fisher

A Publication of
Lion of Judah Ministry
Copyright 2016

This booklet is dedicated to my wife, Pam, who has been my greatest encourager and supporter. 

All Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible (Copyright 1995) unless otherwise noted. Quotations from this booklet may be used without permission if used unedited and not taken out of context.

Lion of Judah Ministry
P.O. Box 681505
Franklin, Tennessee 37068

Table of Contents

Introduction
1. The Nation Dispersed
2. Preserved in Dispersion
3. Regathered
4. Regathered in Unbelief
5. Restoration of the Land
6. Israel Rises in World Attention
7. Israel’s Military Restored
8. Reclamation of Jerusalem
9. Israel in the Great Tribulation
10. Jerusalem Trampled until Times of Gentiles Fulfilled
11. Israel in Messiah’s Kingdom
12. Closing Summary
13. Scripture References
14. About the Author

Introduction

It is alarming there are so few people today, especially in the Church, who recognize how important the modern state of Israel is in God’s plan! God has predicted many times in the Bible that the sons and daughters of Israel would return to the land of Israel just before He would send them their Messiah. For almost twenty centuries the children of Israel have not lived in their homeland simply because one did not exist.

Since 70 A.D. they have lived in various parts of the world, mostly in Europe, but on other continents as well. There has not been a land of Israel for them to return to until the twentieth century.

In the twentieth century we have seen the re- establishment of the state of Israel, and the return of the Jewish people to the Land. To date, there are close to 7.5 million Jewish people who call Israel their home. Many have returned there since the country’s re-establishment in 1948. Their presence is an incredible testimony to how close we are to the return of Yeshua, known in the Gentile world as Jesus Christ!

The story of the Jewish people is an incredible story of pain and disappointment. That pain and disappointment has come to these people mostly at the hands of those who hate them for little or no reason. The Bible predicts those pains and disappointments will finally end when Yeshua, the Messiah, comes to rule and reign in Jerusalem and makes Israel the head of the nations. The Bible indicates when Israel returns to the Land, Israel’s future will be as bright as her past has been dark. The complete story, past, present, and future of Israel is told in the Bible.

The Nation Dispersed

The Jewish people were warned by Moses around 1400 B.C. if they did not serve the Lord and keep all that He had commanded, the Lord would scatter them from one end of the earth to the other. The warning was recorded in Deuteronomy 28:58-68. Not only would they be scattered, but they would endure harsh persecution while in the countries where they were dispersed.

The “scattering” part of this prophecy was partially fulfilled when the Babylonians invaded and defeated Israel in 586 BC. It was ultimately fulfilled when in 70 A.D., Titus, the Roman general, invaded Israel and finally Jerusalem. The Roman army slaughtered many thousands of the Jewish people. Many more were taken captive by the Romans and were forced into slavery across the Roman Empire. The remainder ran for their lives. They scattered into every country on the earth in perfect fulfillment of Moses’ prophecy.

The prophet Jeremiah, also addressed this subject. He said that the Jewish people would be banished to all countries (Jer. 16:15 and Jer. 23:8).

Also in keeping with this prophecy, the Jewish people have been persecuted everywhere they have lived. The most obvious persecution the Jewish people have ever faced was the Holocaust at the hands of the Nazis during World War II during which almost 6 million were killed.

In spite of the persecutions, the Jewish people have survived and still are dispersed among the nations. Today, Jewish communities can be found in almost every country of the world.

Preserved in Dispersion

The Lord not only promised that Israel would be dispersed and persecuted, but they would be preserved as a nation. Considering the harshness of the persecutions that the Jewish people have endured, it seems unlikely they would have survived as a people. However, in Jeremiah 31:35-37, God says the Jewish nation would be intact as long as there were the sun, moon, and stars. Therefore, as long as they remain, God would recognize that there is a nation of Israel.

In this regard, I have heard the term “the lost tribes of Israel” all my life. This term is very misleading because there has never been a “lost” tribe of Israel. God has known where they have been all along and He has promised to preserve them just as the sun, moon, and stars are preserved.

Thus, for nearly 2,000 years the Jewish people have been scattered from their homeland to all points of the compass but have managed to maintain their Jewish identity. No other people group has accomplished this in history. Considering the odds they have faced, their preservation as a people, has only one explanation, divine intervention.

While we acknowledge the power of God’s preservation of His people, we might consider another dynamic of God’s promises while this preservation has progressed. God had promised Abraham “all the nations on earth would be blessed through him” (Genesis 18:18). The ultimate fulfillment of this promise would be the Messiah, the Savior of the world, Jesus, but it appears that other blessings would come to mankind as a result of this blessing.

Considering this, many Jewish individuals have made some very impressive accomplishments. Among these was the discovery of a polio vaccine by Jonas Salk, the scientific accomplishments of Albert Einstein, and the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell. These inventions not only served to bless the Jewish communities, but the world as well.

Regathered

According to the Bible, after a time of being preserved in all the countries of the world, the Jewish people would begin to return to their own land in the last days. One of the prophecies that states this is Isaiah 11:11-12. It says, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (KJV).

Other scriptures that affirm this return include Isaiah 43: 4-7; Jeremiah 16: 14-16; Jeremiah 23: 7-8; Jeremiah 29:14; Jeremiah 30: 3; Ezekiel 39: 25-29; and Amos 9:14- 15. There is some very interesting history concerning the fulfillment of these prophecies.

There were only about 40,000 Jewish people in what was known as Palestine at the turn of the twentieth century. By 1948, when Israel declared their independence and statehood, there were about 500,000. Today there are about 7 million and the number is still growing. Why? Because the Jewish people from all over the world are becoming more and more interested in going back to Israel! They are going home, if you will, in fulfillment of this prophecy. Some teach today that the regathering of the Jewish people from Babylon was the fulfillment of this Isaiah 11 prophecy. However, Isaiah 11:11 says they will be gathered the “second time”. The regathering from Babylon was the first time they were gathered back to the Land.

Also, Isaiah 11:12 says that they would be gathered from the “four corners of the earth”. The gathering from Babylon was from one country, Babylon. There is only one time in history that the Jewish people have been gathered the “second time” and from the “four corners of the earth”. That time is now.

Regathered in Unbelief

Many of the prophecies calling for the Jewish people to be regathered to the land of Israel also call for them to be gathered there without faith in their God. It is very unfortunate, but today in Israel there are so many who do not have a practicing faith in Jehovah God. In fact, many in Israel today are either atheist or agnostic.

This is the scenario that is called for in Ezekiel 37:1-28 known as the “valley of dry bones” chapter. Ezekiel 37:11- 14 leaves no question that Jewish people will be gathered from all over the world to the land of Israel before the Spirit is placed within them. Therefore, lack of faith in God in Israel today is in perfect harmony with the condition called for in Ezekiel 37.

However, Ezekiel goes on to declare that a bright day is coming for the people of Israel, spiritually and physically, a day when she will be redeemed from all of her wanderings and floundering (Ezekiel 11:17-21; 36:24-28). Her focus on her Lord will return, and the purpose for which she was originally set apart as a nation, to lead the nations in the knowledge of the Lord, will take center stage (Zechariah 12:10). Those days are just ahead of us.

Restoration of the Land

The land of Israel lay desolate for almost two thousand years. Her people were dispersed by the Romans all over the world in 70 A.D. By the turn of the twentieth century, the whole land of Israel was desolate! The part that was not desert was mostly malaria-infested swamps.

Mark Twain visited Israel in 1867 and wrote in his resulting diary, Innocence Abroad, “There was hardly a tree or a shrub any where. Even the olive and the cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, had almost deserted the country. No landscape exists that is more tiresome to the eye than that which bounds the approaches to Jerusalem. The only difference between the roads and the surrounding country, perhaps, is that there are rather more rocks in the roads than in the surrounding country”. (Innocence Abroad, chapter LII, page 555).

Since the return of the Jewish people, the swamps have been drained and some of the best agriculture technology has been applied. Today, one can drive through the valleys and hills of Israel and see something very different than Mark Twain saw in 1867. Much of the land today has some of the most beautiful crops growing. The variety of crops is astounding!

Isaiah tells us the day would come when Israel would “blossom and sprout” and “fill the whole world with fruit” (Isaiah 27:6). This prophecy is definitely being fulfilled as Israel has become one of few net food-exporting countries in the world, which means they export more than they import. As of the writing of this booklet in 2016, Israel is exporting food products to over ninety countries.

Writing about Israel, Amos 9:14-15 calls for the plowman to overtake the reaper. In other words, Israel would become a land of thriving agriculture. In spite of much political turmoil, and against all odds, Israel today is an agricultural wonder! One of my favorite things to do while on one of our ministry-sponsored tours to Israel is to review these Scriptures, then take the tour group to a roadside farmer’s market to see all the different kinds of fruits and vegetables being grown in Israel. To say that Israel is experiencing a restoration of their land is an understatement!

Israel Rises in World Attention

There is not a day that goes by that Israel is not in the news. The world is very focused on Israel and especially Jerusalem. The world is wondering what to do about the problems between Israel and her neighboring Arab countries. There is also concern about the problems between Israel and the unhappy Arabs who live today inside her borders.

Over the past few decades the United Nations has tried to answer this “Middle East problem”. Many heads of state have tried to tackle the problem. Every United States administration since the re-establishment of Israel in 1948 has made some attempt to resolve the abrasions between Arab and Israel. Failure and frustration has abounded. The “peace process” has especially failed when the subject of who will control Jerusalem is entertained.

It is ironic that as large as the world is and as diverse as the world’s problems are, there is so much focus on this tiny country. At its widest point, Israel is only 85 miles wide and is 290 miles long! The population is close to 8 million compared to the world’s almost 7 billion. It is seemingly insignificant compared to the rest of the world both in size and population. Yet, Israel remains much of the focus of the United Nations and the world.

The prophet Zechariah prophesied the world’s attention would be focused on not just Israel, but Jerusalem in the end times (Zechariah 12:2-3). Jerusalem seems to be the “crown jewel” in the heart of the Jewish people of Israel. As the “peace talks” convene between Israel and her Arab neighbors, compromises have been considered on just about anything except Jerusalem.

As the restored nation of Israel seems unwilling to compromise concerning Jerusalem, resentment toward Israel is on the rise. This resentment will eventually turn to military involvement according to Zechariah, as every nation of the earth will turn against Jerusalem. When the world is convinced the “peace talks” have completely collapsed, they will start sending their armies to force “peace”. This will be the fulfillment of Zechariah 14:2 which states that a day is coming when all nations will be gathered against Jerusalem to battle.

The world, in fulfillment of Bible prophecy, is focusing on Jerusalem today. Diplomatic efforts will not solve the problems and, probably sooner than later, the armies will start to march toward Israel. When they do, the scenario will be set up for the fulfillment of the greatest event of all of human history, the return of Jesus!

Zechariah 14:4 says in the day that all nations are gathered together against Jerusalem, the Lord will come and stand on the Mount of Olives! He will take a stand against all the armies gathered there and defeat them. At that point He will begin to rule this earth for 1000 years. The “Middle East problem” will be over! Praise the Lord! What an exciting time to live and see these things beginning to take place!

Israel’s Military Restored

Zechariah 12:6-8 states in the days when the armies of the world will come against Israel, the clans of Judah would be “like a flaming torch among sheaves”. This is more than a suggestion that there will be an Israeli military in place in those days.

In keeping with this prophecy, the Israeli military of today is one of the best trained in the world. It has proven itself several times in the last sixty-eight years to be a very effective fighting force. They have emerged victorious against incredible odds from every major military campaign launched against them since the country was re- established in 1948.

Five Arab armies attacked the new Jewish State on May 15, 1948 and were defeated by January 1949. An Egyptian- Syrian alliance was defeated over the Sinai area in 1956. The combined efforts to overrun Israel by Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, Algeria, and Lebanon were defeated by the Israelis in 1967 in six days, known as the famous Six-Day War. The Israelis put down another combined effort in 1973 in what is known as the Yom Kippur War. In this war, the Egyptians and Syrians, with just under 1000 warplanes, over 4,000 tanks, and 800,000 troops, challenged Israel. Before the bitter fighting was over, Iraq, Morocco, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Kuwait had joined the Egyptian and Syrian force. The outnumbered Israeli army again was able to be victorious; this time with less than 500 warplanes, 1700 tanks, and 300,000 men, outnumbered almost 3 to 1.

Today, Israel, more than ever, has a very powerful fighting force with an arsenal that includes nuclear, and some believe hydrogen weaponry. Their Air Force, Navy, and Army are highly rated among the most technologically advanced in the world. “Pilot to pilot, airframe to airframe, the Israeli Air Force is the best in the world,” said Chris Harmer, a senior naval analyst at the Institute for the Study of War (http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/israeli-air- force-is-best-in-the-world/2014/10/28/, paragraph 9).

A relevant prophecy to be considered in this context is found in Zechariah 12. It is a prophecy that visits the military skill of David and declares that the most “feeble” among the Jewish military in the last days would be like David (Zechariah 12:8). In this regard, it was said of David, “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands” (I Samuel 18:7). It was also David who defeated Goliath (I Samuel 17:48-51). The weakest of the last-days military of Israel would be like David.

Against the incredible odds they have faced over the last 1900 years, Israel is back in the Land with a powerful restored military just as Bible prophecy has predicted and has proven to be “like David”.

Reclamation of Jerusalem

The Scriptures call for the Jewish people to be back in Israel, and in control of Jerusalem as well in the end-times. A very interesting development in Bible prophecy in this regard took place in June of 1967. The Jewish people had not been in control of Jerusalem since 70 A.D. But during the Six Day War in June of 1967, the Jewish commandos advanced up the southern end of the old walled city of Jerusalem. Under heavy fire they broke into the city through the Lion’s Gate and returned Jerusalem into Jewish control for the first time in 1,897 years.

This was considered a very important event among those who study the prophetic Scriptures because in Luke 21:24, Jesus gave an interesting prophecy that said “Jerusalem would be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled”. “The Times of the Gentiles” is a Scriptural term that refers to the periods of history in which Gentiles would dominate world politics and more specifically, Jerusalem. Gentile power has controlled Jerusalem for many centuries. Now, since the twentieth century, while so many other prophecies are being fulfilled, Jerusalem has come back under Jewish control.

This fact has marked the beginning of the end of Gentile power in the world and is yet another indicator of how soon the return of Jesus must be. The final three and one half years of this “times of the Gentiles” will be a time when God will deal with the unrepentant heart of the Jewish people, as well as the rest of the world. This time will be known as “The Great Tribulation” to which Jesus referred in Matthew 24:21.

Israel in the Great Tribulation

It is evident in the prophetic Scriptures there is at least one more time coming for Jerusalem when she will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles (Luke 21:24). This will be during a seven-year period known as the 70th Week of Daniel (Daniel 9:24-27). This period was also predicted by Jeremiah as the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7).

At the beginning of this period, the world will come under the rule of a dictator identified in the Book of John as “Antichrist” (I John 2:18). He will sign a peace covenant with Israel at the beginning of this seven years that will allow her to use the Temple Mount for worship and sacrifice (Daniel 9:27). This time will appear at first to Israel as the best of times because a long sought-after peace will be achieved with her Arab neighbors, and the Temple Mount that Israel has long desired to use in worship will be allowed and peacefully shared.

However, three and one half years into this agreement, this Antichrist will prove to be an enemy to Israel. He will stop the Jewish worship of Jehovah (Daniel 9:27) and seat himself in the rebuilt Temple, and claim to be God (II Thessalonians 2:4). Jesus, quoting Daniel, named this event in Matthew 24:15 the “abomination of desolation”.

After proclaiming himself to be God, this Antichrist will immediately declare war on the Jewish people, kill many of them, while many others will run for their lives. This coming time will be worse than any time Israel has endured so far. Jesus referred to this time in Matthew 24:21 as no comparable time like it.

From the time the Antichrist declares himself to be God, he will begin to use Jerusalem as his political headquarters. Jerusalem will endure this Gentile ruler and be “trampled under foot” after being trampled so many times in history, yet one last time. This last time will be unique however. This Antichrist will personally see the return of Jesus and meet his doom.

Jerusalem Trampled until Times of Gentiles Fulfilled

At the end of the Tribulation, Zechariah stated all the armies of the world will be gathered together against Jerusalem, and it will be fought over one last time (Zechariah 14:2). The armies will gather around Jerusalem to challenge the Antichrist. It is during these bad times that one of the greatest events in all of human history will occur. The Lord Jesus Christ will appear on the Mount of Olives with all the saints accompanying Him (Revelation 19:14).

Zechariah 14:4 describes this time when he says, “in that day His feet will touch the Mount of Olives”. This will be the most glorious event in all of human history! He will stop the fighting, defeat the armies, defeat the Antichrist, and present Himself to the Jewish people as their rightful King.

The Jewish people at that time, having been under serious persecution, will welcome the Lord. The Bible states, “they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him, like the bitter weeping over a first-born”. (Zechariah 12:10).

He will then become King over the whole earth according to Zechariah 14:9. On that day two special Scriptures will be fulfilled. The first Scripture to be fulfilled is Romans 11:26, which says, “all Israel will be saved”. This must be a reference to the surviving Jewish people living in Israel at that time. They will welcome Yeshua (Jesus) to take the throne that rightfully belongs to Him. They will welcome Him to be crowned King of Kings and begin His rule over the house of Israel and the whole earth. They will rejoice to finally have their rightful King.

The second Scripture to be fulfilled is the one which says, “Jerusalem will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled” (Luke 21:24). Those times are officially over when the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua, takes His throne in Jerusalem. Jerusalem will no longer be trampled by the Gentiles and never again will a foreign army overtake Jerusalem.

Israel In Messiah’s Kingdom Headquarters of World Government and Religion

Immediately following these times of Gentile power would come the time predicted in Scripture when Jesus Himself will take His position as King, and rule and reign on earth for 1,000 years (Zechariah 14:9, Revelation 20:1- 6). He will rule with peace, righteousness, and justice! He will reign from Mount Zion, which is located in Jerusalem (Micah 4:6). Zechariah 14:11 says at that time, “people will live in it, and there will be no more curse, for Jerusalem will dwell in security”. The curse on the earth that was introduced at the fall of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3 will be removed. Among other blessings, the earth will not require strenuous labor to make the earth yield fruit and flowers. Can we imagine the beauty?

Also describing this time, Micah says the nations will send ambassadors to Jerusalem to seek the favor and wisdom of the Lord (Micah 4:2; Isaiah 62:7). What a switch from the present-day political world this will be! Today the world is shouting for the Lord to get out of government, out of our schools and public places. In that day, however, according to Micah, the world will embrace the Lord at all levels and seek to be taught by Him.

There will not be the outcry of separation of church and state that is heard so much in today’s world. Jerusalem will be the religious and political capital of the world. Jesus will be present there to preside over all politics and religion. Jerusalem will finally become what has long been in the mind of the Lord and His prophets. One of those prophets, Isaiah, says we are to give God “no rest until He establishes and makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth” (Isaiah 62:7).

Israel will finally become what she was called out and separated to do; be the world’s teacher in what it means to know the Lord and His righteousness. After so many centuries of enduring the world’s hatred and disrespect, many long to see Israel rise to this glorious time of respect and admiration from around the world. Israel’s Messiah, Jesus, will lead the world into the greatest time of peace and righteousness ever known on earth.

Zechariah recognizes this time when he states, in that day, ten men will grasp the garment of the Jew saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you” (Zechariah 8:23). What a welcome time this will be!

A Closing Summary

The stage is being set for the return of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. A pre-requisite for His return is for the nation of Israel to be re-established back to their homeland. This is a signal that Jesus is returning soon! When He returns, Israel will then lead the world in the greatest revival of repentance the world has ever known., Zechariah 8 declares Israel will become the most respected and revered nation the world has ever known with her Messiah as King over all the earth. We are told in Scripture to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem…” (Psalm 122:6). In so doing, we should know that we are actually praying for the time when Jesus Christ will come and establish Jerusalem as the capital of the world. He then will rule from there over the whole earth (Zechariah 14:9).

The curse that was placed on the earth at the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden will be removed (Zechariah 14:11). The earth at that time will be flooded with peace, righteousness, and justice. The Bible has promised the “knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea,” as (Isaiah 11:9). This is what the world is looking for!

The greatest question that remains is not so much is Israel ready, but are you? You can know by observing the words found in Romans 10:9: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (KJV). And even so, “Come Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).

Scripture References

All scripture references are from the New American Standard translation unless otherwise designated.

Nation Dispersed
Deuteronomy 28: 58-68 (Scattered all around the world). Jer. 16:15 and Jer. 23:8 (Banished to all countries).

Preserved in Dispersion
Jeremiah 31: 35-37 (Sun, moon, and stars would not pass before restoration).
Genesis 18:18 (All nations bless through Abraham).

Regathered
Isaiah 11: 11-12 (Regathered second time from four corners of earth ).

Regathered in Unbelief
Ezekiel 37:1-28 (Regathered back to land, but have no “spirit”).
Ezekiel 11:17-21 (A new heart given when restored to land).
Ezekiel 36:24-28 (Desolate land will be like Garden of Eden).
Zechariah 12:10 (Messiah accepted after all nations come against Jerusalem).

Restoration of Land of Israel
Isaiah 32:15 (The Spirit will be poured out when wilderness becomes fertile field).
Isaiah 27: 6 (Israel will blossom and feed the world).
Amos 9:14-15 (Israel yields unprecedented produce).
Twain, Mark. (1869). Innocence Abroad.
Hartford Connecticut: American Publishing Company.

Israel Rises in World Attention
Zechariah 12:2-3 (Jerusalem and Judah will be under siege).
Zechariah 14:2,4 (Lord will gather all nations against Jerusalem).

Israeli Military Restored
Zechariah 12:6-8 (Israel will become like flaming torch among sheaves).

Reclamation of Jerusalem
Luke 21:24 (Jerusalem trampled until times of Gentiles is over).
Matthew 24:21 (then shall be great tribulation).

Israel in “Great Tribulation”
Daniel 9:27 (Antichrist ceases daily sacrifice)
II Thessalonians 2:4 (Antichrist claims himself to be God).
Matthew 24:15, 21 (Horror of Antichrist rule).

Jerusalem Trampled until Times of Gentiles Fulfilled
Zechariah 14:2 (All nations gathered against Jerusalem).
Revelation 19:14 (All saints accompany Lord to Mt. Of Olives)
Zechariah 12:10 (Look on Him whom they have pierced).
Zechariah 14:9 (Jesus becomes King over whole earth).
Romans 11:26 (All Israel will be saved).
Luke 21:24 (Jerusalem trampled until times of Gentiles is over).

Israel in Messiah’s Kingdom
(Headquarters of World Government and Religion)
Zechariah 14:9 (Jesus becomes King over whole earth).
Revelation 20:1-6 (Jesus reigns for 1,00 years).
Micah 4:2, 6 (Ambassadors come and seek wisdom of Lord)
Isaiah 62:7 (give God no rest until makes Jerusalem a praise)
Zechariah 8:23 (Israel most respected among nations)

A Closing Summary
Psalm 122:6 (pray for peace of Jerusalem).
Zechariah 14:9,11 (Curse on earth removed)
Isaiah 11:9 (knowledge of Lord will cover earth). Romans 10:9 (confess with your mouth, believe in heart) Revelation 22:20 (Come Lord Jesus).

About the Author

Gary M. Fisher is the founder and director of Lion of Judah Ministry. The Ministry was founded in 1994. Since then, Gary has spoken in many churches, served as radio host, teacher, conference speaker, and television guest.

Gary is also on the Board of Theology in Perspective, a parent corporation in Michigan which hosts Scofield Bible Institute and Theological Seminary.

He holds an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Scofield Seminary, and serves as adjunct faculty member at the Seminary.

He is the writer of the Ministry’s newsletter, The Trumpeter, a newsletter that features commentary on current events and how they relate to the soon return of Jesus. Gary writes and manages the articles and information on the ministry website (www.lionofjudahministry.org). He also serves as tour host and leader of the Ministry’s sponsored tours of Israel.

For additional copies of this booklet or more information about other materials offered by Lion of Judah Ministry,
please contact:

Lion of Judah Ministry
PO Box 681505
Franklin, TN 37068

615-591-8036
www.lionofjudahministry.org
Copyright 2016

The answer to the age-old controversy as to whether or not Jesus died on a Friday is actually in the Bible. The answer is derived from compiling the details of the crucifixion as recorded in the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

The New Testament was written during the era of the Lunar calendar.  Each day has 24 hours: 12 hours day and 12 hours night.  A day began at 6:00 in the evening.  In John 11:9, Jesus defined the hours in a day in a question: “Are there not twelve hours (6:00am – 5:59pm) in a day?”

The Gregorian calendar is the internationally accepted civil calendar.  It was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII, after whom the calendar was named, by a decree signed on 24 February 1582, a papal bull known by its opening words

Inter gravissimas. Whereas a day on the Gregorian calendar begins at 12:00AM, the Hebrew calendar’s day begins at 6:00 PM. This is why Orthodox Jews close their business early on Friday in order to begin the Sabbath (Saturday) at 6:00 PM.

The following occurred on Wednesday the preparation day for the Passover, which was the next day.

Firstly, note the times that coincide with the hours mentioned in the following references from John, Mark, and Luke:

• the third hour is 09:00AM
• the sixth hour is 12:00PM
• the ninth hour is 03:00PM

Before 9:00AM: Jesus was led to the judgment hall:

John 18:28, Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the Passover [which would be celebrated the next day].

At 9:00AM Jesus was nailed to the cross:

Mark 15:25, And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.Jesus is still alive: Luke 23:43-44, And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, to day shalt thou be with me in paradise. And it was about the sixth hour . . .

At 3:00PM Jesus died:

Luke 23:45-46, . . . there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Jesus declared the following in Matthew 12:40, “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

The following references chronicle Jesus’ crucifixion and burial:

John 19:30-31 & 42

30. When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It “is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
31. The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation [Wednesday, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the Sabbath [Thursday Passover] day (for that Sabbath day was an high [annual] day), besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.

42. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day [Wednesday]; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

Mark 15:39-45

39. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.
40. There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome;
41. (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.
42. And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
43. Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
44. And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
45. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.

Luke 23:52-54

52. This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus.
53. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid.
54. And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on [the time was approaching].

NOTE: According to John 19:31, Mark 15:42, and Luke 23:54 the day following the preparation was a Sabbath, a high day. In the following reference, that was the day that the chief priests and Pharisees petitioned Pilate for a guard to be placed at the tomb until the third day. He granted their petition.

Matthew 27:62-66

62. Now the next day [Thursday, the high Sabbath], that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees cametogether unto Pilate,
63. Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure UNTIL THE THIRD DAY [Saturday], lest his disciples come by night, andsteal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
65. Pilate said unto them, YE HAVE A [three-day] WATCH: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch [UNTIL THE THIRD DAY].

Note the following reference for when Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, and Salome came to the sepulchre: sunrise on the first day of the week, which always follows the Sabbath.

Mark 16:1-2

1. And when the [Saturday] Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2. And very early in the morning the first day of the week [Sunday], they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

Given the references sited the following could be concluded:

• The Sabbath following the preparation was the first day following the first night that Jesus was in the sepulchre. There were two night and two days remaining for Him to complete three days and three nights to be comparable to Jonah being in the belly of the fish.  The third day would have been Saturday.

• If the Sabbath following the preparation was the Sabbath preceding the first day of the week, and if it was the day that Pilate granted the petition for a guard at the sepulchre until the third day, then the third day would have been Monday.

• If the Sabbath following the preparation was on Thursday and the day that Pilate granted the petition for a guard at the sepulchre until the third day, then the third day would have been Saturday.

• “Sabbath was past” in Mark 16:2 means that Saturday ended at 6:00PM and Sunday began, which was the first day ofthe week. Therefore, the Sunday night preceded the Sunday sunrise, which was when Mary Magdalene. and Mary the motherof James, and Salome came to the tomb and discovered the stone rolled away.

• Jesus rose after the weekly Sabbath [which was after 6:00 PM when the Sabbath ended and Sunday began] or He would have been in the tomb the 4th night, which COULD NOT happen so that the Scriptures were fulfilled. Thus, He was buried for three nights and three days.

Consider the following with respect to the hours specified in the previous references from Mark and Luke and what Jesus said about His burial in comparison to Jonah’s time in the belly of the fish. Note that it was three days and three nights but not in that order. It was three nights and three days:

Jesus died at 3:00PM on Wednesday and had to be buried before 06:00 PM because that is the hour that Thursday began. Thursday was the annual High Sabbath, the Passover.

Jesus rose after the weekly Sabbath, which was after 6:00PM Saturday when the Sabbath ended and Sunday began on the Hebrew calendar.  Otherwise, He would have been in the tomb the 4th night, which COULD NOT be.

According to the “Good Friday” theory, Jesus would have been resurrected after 6:00PM on Monday before nightfall or He would have been in the tomb four nights.  Therefore, for Him to have died on Friday and be resurrected on Sunday is a mathematical impossibility: a myth. Instead, He died on Wednesday and rose after 6:00PM on Saturday, which according to the Lunar calendar would have been Sunday.

I would be interested in reading your comments. Please click on the Facebook icon in the lower right corner. It links to my Fanpage where on you could post your comments. Also, please “Like” the status update and “Share” it. Thank you.

The background is Judges 19; the story of a Levite traveling with his concubine (a servant-wife) and a male servant. They arrived in Gibeah by nightfall. An elderly citizen invited the Levite to bring them and stay the night in his house with him and his daughter.

The men of the city were homosexual and came to the house in search of the Levite intending to engage in sexual relationships with him. The old man pleaded with them to not bother the Levite. He instead gave the men his daughter and the concubine, whom they raped and the concubine died during the night.

The next morning the Levite found her lifeless body lying outside the door. For whatever reasons (there is no Theological explanation), he dismembered her body into 12 pieces and took a piece to each of the 12 tribes: Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Ephraim, and Manasseh. His objective was to incite them to invade Gibeah and exact the punishment of death on the men. All of the tribes agreed except one, the tribe of Benjamin.

Gibeah was owned by Benjamin, which would rather go to war than to allow the attack. Thus, it was the onset of a war between Benjamin with 26,000 soldiers (plus Gibeah’s 700 that were marksmen with slingshots) and the 426,000 that comprised the army of the 11 tribes.

Looking at the war in hindsight, there are two paradoxical battles. The first is in Judges 20:18: “Then the children of Israel arose and went up to the house of God to inquire of God. They said, “Which of us shall go up first to battle against the children of Benjamin?” The Lord said, Judah first!”

Even though the Lord said to send Judah first, the 11 tribes lost the battle. Note Judges 20:21, “Then the children of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and on that day cut down to the ground twenty-two thousand men of the Israelites.”

The first seemingly paradox is that God, whose word cannot return to Him void, sent the 11 tribes into a battle with Judah going first but they were defeated. (This scenario invalidates the notion that sending Judah [the praisers] first insures victory.) In vs. 23, after the 11 tribes sought counsel of the Lord the second time, He again sent them into battle and again they were defeated; the second paradox.

Now let’s look at what brought the victory the third time the 11 tribes went before the Lord in vs. 26-28:

26. Then all the children of Israel, that is, all the people, went up and came to the house of God and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.
27. So the children of Israel inquired of the Lord (the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days,
28. and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days), saying, “Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of my brother Benjamin, or shall I cease?” And the Lord said, “Go up, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”

We know that weeping before the Lord is indicative of a contrite heart and fasting demonstrates humility. The offering of burnt offerings were done both in the morning and evening. But, the peace offerings was eye-catching and raised the question as to whether it attributed to the 11 tribes winning the third battle.

Note that in vs. 26 that burnt offerings preceded peace offerings. It’s because that in Exodus 29:38-42, Leviticus 6:9-13, and Numbers 28:1-8 burnt offerings were daily occurrences. However, given that the peace offering is not noted in the references it was not a daily requirement.

Given that the Hebrews wanted to petition God for help while they were engaged in battle as in Judges 20 above, then the peace offering was added to celebrate the fellowship the they enjoyed from serving God as prescribed by the Mosaic Law. Whereas, if the Hebrews wanted to express their thankfulness to God because of something miraculous that He did for them, then the peace offering became a thank offering.

Note the references from Leviticus 7 and Judges 20 in the NKJV and NIV respectively. Peace Offering in the NKJV is translated Fellowship Offering in the NIV, which indicates that they are synonymous. Also, note that the offerings can be by individual or for the masses. In Leviticus, the peace/fellowship offer is not in conjunction with the daily burnt offering whereas in Judges it is.

Such sacrifices were offered in a variety of settings by the ancient Israelites, and later by the Jewish priesthood, the priests at the Temple in Jerusalem. A korban was often an animal sacrifice, such as a sheep or a bull that underwent Jewish ritual slaughter, and was often cooked and eaten by the offerer, with parts given to the priests [to also be eaten] and the remaining parts burned on the Temple mizbe’ah. Sacrifices could also consist of doves, grain or meal, wine, or incense.

The Peace [Fellowship] Offering could be offered by an individual or for the masses. It compares to a Thanksgiving holiday dinner for which the host would invite family and friends and all would join in dining and fellowshipping around a table of specially prepared foods.

It has already been established that for a Peace/Fellowship Offering the breast of the sacrificial animal would be eaten by the priest and parts by the offerer. Instead of family and friends being invited to partake of a Peace/Fellowship Offering the priest would symbolically represent God. Thus, God would be honored through the priest by giving him the choicest portions of the animal: the breast and the right shoulder. The offerer would eat the remainder of the flesh (for two days; and what remains would be burned). Thus, the celebration of fellowship would be with God vicariously through the priest, hence, the Fellowship offering.

There were several types of burnt offering that the ancient Hebrews offered to God. But, there is a distinction given when the Peace/Fellowship Offering is offered as recorded in Exodus 20:24, “An altar of earth you shall make for Me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I record My name I will come to you, and I will bless you.”

Exodus 20:24 is the only verse in the Bible in which God mentions a burnt offering and a peace offering with His commitment to come to the people and bless. It could therefore be concluded that the peace offering insures God’s commitment to bring deliverance to the offerer(s).

The scenario in Judges is first instance where God honored burnt offerings that included the Peace Offering and delivered the Hebrews from a situation that they created because of being presumptuous. The other occasion is in 1 Chronicles 21:26-27. It came about because of King David presuming to take a census that God did not tell him to take. King David did took the census to approximate the strength of his army to determine if it was sufficient to win a battle, whereas, historically God repeatedly gave the Israelites the victory in battles wherein they were the minority.

King David made God angry. And, He subsequently released an angel to execute judgment against Israel. But, through King David’s humility and offering the Peace/Fellowship Offering with the burnt-offering, God stopped the angel. Note the reference:

26. And David built there an altar to the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings, and called on the Lord; and He answered him from heaven by fire on the altar of burnt offering.
27. So the Lord commanded the angel, and he returned his sword to its sheath.

The point to be remembered is the modern day Christians coined phrase, “send Judah first”. But, note that the Hebrews were so presumptuous in their decisions to go to war that God told them to do it to their own hurt.

This is comparable to the Hebrews asking for a king and God telling them that He wanted to be their King. That would not satisfy them. They were unrelenting in wanting a king like other nations had. So, God gave them Saul to their own hurt.

The two scenarios prove that we must pray “if it be Your will” and not presume upon God’s goodness. Otherwise, there may be consequential troubles.

The Peace Offering is not mentioned in the New Testament. But, it is there and is infinitely more powerful than in the Old Testament. Please click on The Power Of Holy Communion. It’s The Law Of The Spirit.

The book, “The Prayer of Jabez”, by Dr. Bruce Wilkerson, was released in 2000. It created frenzy and a very lucrative market. Sections of Christian bookstores were predominately full of ornaments, jewlery, and plaques with the words, The Prayer of Jabez, etched and engraved on them. Cups, sculptures, T-shirts, prayer-shawls, and other articles were printed with the same words.

Listening to some “church folk” talk incessantly about the new book sounded like they were disillusioned. They apparently assumed that using Jabez’s prayer as the model for praying for prosperity would in effect guarantee it. But, it did not and cannot for a Biblical reason.

Firstly, let’s consider what God said to Adam in Genesis 3:19 because of his disobedience. The reference is Genesis 3:19, “In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” This verse denotes “working up a sweat”.

Secondly, let’s consider two references that denote manual labor, i. e. working with the hands:

1. Deuteronomy 28:12, “The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand.”
2. Psalms 90:17, “And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.”

The references specify working with the hands: doing something besides praying. Lazy Christians don’t want to hear this; they want prosperity to come easy: no hard work. But, the fact is that it won’t. The fact is massive action equals massive results and no actions equal no results.

The fact that Jabez was a Hebrew and was taught by the high priests from the Torah (the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) tells us that he knew that working with his hands is what God required and would bless. He simply prayed that God would bless his labor. The difference is that too many Christians pray for God’s blessings without being willing to work . . . IT WON’T HAPPEN!

If we want Jabez’s prayer to work for us, we must conform to Psalms 1:1-3 as we say his prayer:

Psalms 1:1-3

1. Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night.
3. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.

If we watch our associates as mentioned in vs. 1, and meditate on God’s Word as said in vs. 2, then we would be comparable to a tree with leaves that won’t wither because of receiving nourishment from its close proximity to a body of water. Then, as we perfect and expand our work we come into our seasons of prosperity. Otherwise, it would invalidate the Bible, which God will not allow: “His Word CANNOT return void”.

Foreign born American citizens migrated from countries that are often poor by our standards. Middle Eastern countries especially are often war torn with their citizens living in perpetual states of poverty and fear. They want to work but the economies are not able to sustain them.

Upon arriving in the United States they see becoming entrepreneurs and hard work as opportunities. They are consequently more willing to work for far less wages than Americans are.

They are so frugal in their spending that it’s not unusual for them to accumulate larger savings than many higher paid Americans do. Whereas Americans complain about foreigners taking jobs, foreigners frequently employ themselves through their own entrepreneurial mind-sets and skills.

God did not rescind the aforementioned Genesis 3:19 judgment He pronounced on humanity because of Adam’s disobedience. After Jesus died on Calvary’s cross, resurrected the third day, and ascended into heaven 40 days later the judgment for hard work is still in effect: by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground. Its God’s way or no way.

It will still be in effect during the millennial reign of Jesus when He physically returns to Jerusalem. He will not deviate from His word to accommodate laziness in anyone even if he/she does believe in Him as Lord and Savior.

Working up a sweat is still God’s requirement for acquiring prosperity. The erroneous “name it claim it” doctrine has caused lazy Christians to still be where they were economically before the book, “The Prayer of Jabez”, was published. Sad but true!

Evangelism: perpetuating Spiritual, sociocultural, intellectual, and economic development in communities

(The video is reportedly fictional. If it is, the scenario is too often real and does not exemplify what the Bible teaches about Christianity. An indigent person should not be judged. Rather, the focus should be on helping to heal her/his broken/wounded spirit.)

“Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” (Habakkuk 2:2-3)

The invention alluded to in About Me would necessitate the start-up of a new company. It would finance the comprehensive evangelism program, which would be the Spiritual and humanitarian aspects of the company. What the company would bring to Corporate America would be strategy for giving testimonies to sole proprietors and corporate executives about our Blessed Lord, Jesus Christ. This could could cause them to serve the Lord. Thus, the United States’ motto could again be “In God We Trust.”

Philippians 2:13 tells us that “. . . it is God which works in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Since it is God that works His will in us, it is only reasonable to expect Him to make provisions for it to be done. He is the God of objectivity and the masterful planner. As He said through Jeremiah the prophet in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an [My] expected end.” God would NEVER work both to will and to do of His good pleasure in us unless He has an expected end for our obedience. Namely, His church would be what Jesus said in Matthew 5:13: “You are the salt of the earth”.

Experiences from preaching in jails/prisons, in the streets (often from a flat-bed truck), in downtown settings, in parks, and in churches caused me to give evangelism a broader definition: perpetuating Spiritual, sociological, intellectual, & economic delelopment in communities. The experiences caused me to see more plainly what is already in place and what is needed to truly have effective evangelism.

I saw how small neighborhood churches strategically located throughout neighborhoods and networking together could make infinitely greater impacts on metropolitan areas than all of the mega-churches combined. The reason is that there are far more small churches. Furthermore, small churches are much more often in urban areas and therefore closer to or in problem communities whereas mega-churches are typically in the outskirts of cities or in suburbia.

The most important thing for a small or mega-church is fully realize the reality of Ephesians 6:12: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Therefore, only by being completely yielded to the control of the Holy Ghost/Spirit will any evangelism be effective today. Reference must again be made to Mark 16:20, “And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.”

Principalities are not threatened by us merely quoting form the Bible and they can out-smart  any human reasoning. But, they could never withstand the power of the Holy Spirit in any respect as we learn to yield to Him for effective evangelism.

That realization is what the Holy Ghost proved in the lesson, Baptized In The Holy Ghost vs. Filled With The Holy Ghost. As Jesus said in John 16:8, “. . . when He [the Holy Ghost/Spirit] has come, He will convict the world of sin . . .” In addition to that reference, more than ever before in world history, Zechariah 4:6 applies to the body of believers today: ” . . . not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.”

The Proposed Strategy

Visualize a 25 square mile area with one small church per square mile. Their combined efforts networking together could be infinitely more effective than one mega-church in initiating strategically coordinated attacks against the works of the dEVIL within the 25 square miles. Given this analogy my vow to God is to use the majority of the net proceeds from the invention to underwrite an evangelism program that would enable small churches especially to reach a 1/2 mile radius around their locations. However, the churches would be required to adhere to the program,

I would start by giving God the tithe of the company’s gross income and more as the company grows and pays wages higher than it competitors. The funds would be administered through a Trust that would be established to finance the multi-faceted evangelistic program defined under the sub-headings: Administration, Strategy, and Conclusion. The Trust would specify irrevocable clauses/requirements to be maintained to insure the viability of the program until the Blessed Lord blows the Trumpet.

Administration

An Administrative Committee (AC) consisting of 12 members to govern the Trust and oversee the ministry. The members would consist of pastors, attorneys, financial experts, physicians, sociologists, teachers/professors, and me.

(Explanation: Giving all due respect to the Biblical office, Bishop, history discloses too many instances of some exhibiting pompous attitudes and asserting themselves as “lords” over the people (pastors and laity). They became dictatorial and beguiled churches of money in order to build their personal financial empires: synonymous in character to pimps. Consequently, pastors have been mentally and financially oppressed and disabled from bringing their visions to fruition. That day would be over!

A lesser concern would be that the lack of fortitude in some pastors could cause them to feel too subservient to bishops just by virtue of their title. This could cause a pastor to feel intimidated if his ministerial needs necessitated him voicing an honest opinion on a matter that contradicts that of a bishop. If the pastor (man/woman) would not be assertive and expressive, once again her/his vision could be impeded from coming to fruition.

These two reasons would preclude a bishop from serving in any administrative capacity of the vision herein defined: thus the reason for the AC. However, upon thorough evaluation the AC may elect to give special consideration to a bishop if he has a 15-year history of operating a diocese/jurisdiction in perpetuating Spiritual, sociocultural, intellectual, & economic development in communities. His progress would be examined to determine its growth and effectiveness. If his history does not satisfy the AC, his participation would be limited only to reaping the same benefits as pastors that are not members of the AC.)

The irrevocable requirement for AC members that are pastors is a minimum history of seven (7) years experience unless special abilities justify a her/him becoming a member sooner. The following factors would indicate their potential as an AC:

• validated impact they have made on the lives of their lay people
• minimum 5-year history of a congregation’s growth
• impact the community
• integrity of a church’s financial records

The irrevocable requirement for AC members that are professionals (attorneys, financial experts, and etc.) would be for them to have three to five years of practices in their professions. Their achievements would be discovered in their interviews.

The vision is for the ministry to be continued by the succeeding generations if/when the first AC members and/or I die. Therefore, I pray to God that from amongst the pastors and professionals that I know and I am meeting, He would bring the AC and its successors because 1 Thessalonians 5:12 instructs to “know them which labour among you”. This would provide for the torch to be confidently passed to the succeeding generations in an orderly fashion.

The ministry would be funded by a Trust. The ministry would be audited annually to insure that it is in compliance with the bylaws set forth in the Trust. The accountability would insure its continued credibility and viability. Therefore, after the my [the founder] demise the ministry could grow perpetually to continue its effectiveness.

Irrevocable requirements

It would be an irrevocable requirement for quarterly sessions to be held to review the activity of the Trust. The sessions would be comprised of the AC members and the supporting laity of participating churches and be referred to as the General Assembly (GA). During the sessions the laity would be referred to as the GA, making a distinction between them and the AC members.

Any issue that the AC votes in favor of can be vetoed by 66% of the attending GA. Also, 75% of the GA can overrule the AC and determine an issue and vote to pass it and the AC would be obligated to accept it provided it falls within the by-laws of the Trust.

It would be an irrevocable requirement for each AC member to have three assistants with the same credentials in the ranking order of first, second, and third to be in attendance in all sessions. They would be assigned to the three front rows of seats according to their rank in the GA: AC members on front row, 1st assistants on second row, 2nd assistants on third row, and 3rd assistants on forth row. They would be seated directly behind the higher ranking member. This would provide for the successors to know the full history of every meeting and to be able to dot the next “i” and cross the next “t” should a higher ranking AC member become dysfunctional or die. This would also provide for them to be familiar to the GA and for their participation to be noted for future references, particularly for being selected to assume greater responsibilities.

Beginning on the date that a first assistant succeeds an AC member, the second and third ranking successors now move to first-assistant and second-assistant positions respectively. A new third-assistant of the same title/qualifications must be elected by the active AC members and presented to the GA for a 66% majority final approval within 30 days. Or, 75% of the GA would elect and install a replacement of their choosing if he/she falls within the requirements set fort in the by-laws of the Trust.

The irrevocable requirement is that there would be no campaigning for the election. It would be based solely on the GA’s recognition of a candidate’s noted history of participation and value contributions made to perpetuate the effectiveness of the ministry.

The primary function of the AC would be to execute the by-laws of the Trust. They would work diligently to accomplish this monumental task for the Lord, Jesus Christ. Should any AC member be deemed a hindrance or discreditable to the ministry, he/she can be terminated by 66% majority vote of the AC. The termination can be appealed to the GA and overturned by 75% majority vote.

Most definitely one person cannot execute, be the sole overseer, and effectively perpetuate a ministry that would accomplish the magnitude of the vision herein defined. Therefore, I resort to the Holy Bible for directions: Proverbs 24:6: “For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety”. This coincides with “. . . workers together with Him {Jesus} . . .” (2 Corinthians 6:1).

Therefore, given my vow the Trust would support a network of neighborhood churches throughout our metropolitan areas. The pastors would be those who refuse to be segregated over denominational traditions. Instead, they are endeavoring to do “the work of the church” instead of using the phrase, “in the name of Jesus”, to justify being involved in things that have absolutely nothing to do with Jesus. Furthermore, they would be pastors that unequivocally qualify as mandated by the Apostle Paul in the following references:

1 Timothy 3:2-7

2. A bishop [overseer, pastor] then must be blameless, the *husband of one *wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
3. not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;
4. one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence
5. (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how would he take care of the church of God?);
6. not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.
7. Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

*MEMO – The language of the Trust regarding ALL administrators/personnel will specify the following. “Given that the program defined herein is Christian and is therefore based on the teachings of the New Testament of the Holy Bible it will perpetually adhere to the practice of a marriage being defined by and comprised of one biological male and one biological female. The program will not tolerate a divorce that is outside the conditions of infidelity or physical cruelty to spouse or children.”

Titus 1:7-11 (NKJ)

7. For a bishop [overseer, pastor] must be blameless, as a steward of God, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,
8. but hospitable, a lover of what is good, sober-minded, just, holy, self-controlled,
9. holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
10. For there are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,
11. whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain.

Strategic Evangelism

The indisputable necessity of pastors networking is that the dEVIL definitely IS NOT selective of whom he destroys. He absolutely IS NOT respectful of one’s denomination, position in society, economic status, intellectual achievements, ethnicity, or anything else by which people are categorized. The dEVIL’s explicit ambition is to destroy the people that Jesus Christ died to save, i. e., everyone. Therefore, we must be equally as aggressive about bringing people to know Jesus as the dEVIL’s efforts are to destroy them.

A broad definition of evangelism would be perpetuating Spiritual, Sociological, Intellectual, & Economic Development in Communities. Being blessed to have a company to manage the concept could produce the effects of Proverbs 11:10-11. “When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth . . . By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted . . .” Ultimately we would fulfill what Jesus said in Matthew 16:18: ” . . . Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Therefore, evangelism is defined as stated: community oriented.

The book of 1 Corinthians 3:9 says, “For we are labourers together with God . . .” Therefore, pastors would have to agree and commit to a prescribed networking evangelistic program that could make their churches effective in winning people to the Lord, Jesus Christ. The program would consist of the following highlights to demonstrate the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to make churches resource centers, “the salt of the earth”, in their neighborhoods:

1. tutoring for students weak in learning skills
2. mentoring program for pre-teens and adolescents
3. free day care for children of single parents (An environment would be structured to prepare the children to be the next generation of productive adult citizens.)
4. indoor/outdoor recreational facilities for pre-teens and adolescents (Refreshments and light lunches would be served daily with short sermons and motivational speeches on alternate days.)
5. educational field trips with neighborhood parents as chaperons (to expose children to professions in action in order to stimulate their thinking about what vocations to elect)
6. weekly seminars (career planning for students, family business development, patents and trademarks, managing finances, estate planning, and etc.)
7. care for seniors (three daily AM & PM “how are you?” telephone calls, weekly yard cleaning, limited transportation for personal needs)
8. host “town meetings” (with refreshments and wholesome snacks) for the communities to know their elected officials and voice neighborhood concerns
9. hospital visitations for neighborhood residence
10. clergy care to bereaved neighborhood families (Having clergy people and churches available for eulogies would give the churches opportunities to minister to unsaved families, friends, and acquaintances of the deceased.)
11. old fashion neighborhood tent revivals/camp meetings (Gospel preaching and singing)

The vision would ultimately encompass the humanitarian needs Jesus addressed in Matthew 25:34-40: “Then the King would say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ‘for . . .

• I was hungry . . . you gave Me food
• I was thirsty . . . you gave Me drink
• I was a stranger . . . you took Me in
• I was naked . . . you clothed Me
• I was sick . . . you visited Me
• I was in prison . . . you came to Me

“Then the righteous would answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? ‘When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? ‘Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “And the King would answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

The company would give financial support to neighborhood churches strategically located throughout metropolitan areas that would participate in the program outlined to accomplish the above objectives. The support would enable small churches especially to have two full-time pastors (with shared responsibilities: pastoral and evangelistic), an administrative staffs, and employee benefits. The pastors would become acquainted with the neighborhoods. They would keep abreast of the neighborhoods’ events. (A portable stage equipped with instruments and sound systems would be provided for each church for outdoor services.)

The significance of two is based on what Jesus did and said in Matthew, Mark, and Luke and what the Holy Ghost did in Acts. Note what Jesus said in Matthew 18:19-20: “Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

The operative sentence is “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” I submit that if the gathering together of two or three is about ONLY what Jesus is about (which is soul winning) then the gathering is in His name. Jesus will then be in the midst and something miraculous will happen. Otherwise, its just a gathering.

Note what was accomplished in Mark and Luke when Jesus sent two on assignments in preparation for His crucifiction:

Mark 14:13-16: “And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him. And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples? And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us. And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.”

Luke 19:29-35 “And it came to pass, when he was come nigh to Bethphage and Bethany, at the mount called the mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, Saying, Go ye into the village over against you; in the which at your entering ye shall find a colt tied, whereon yet never man sat: loose him, and bring him hither. And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.” And they that were sent went their way, and found even as he had said unto them. And as they were loosing the colt, the owners thereof said unto them, Why loose ye the colt? And they said, The Lord hath need of him. And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon.”

Note what the Holy Ghost said as the apostles worshiped the Lord and fasted. Acts 13:2 “As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.”

The power of two is further obvious in the familiar account of Peter and John in Acts 3 when the lame man who had never walked was healed. The account continues in Acts 4 describing how the power of the Holy Ghost used the apostles to affect Jerusalem because of one miracle performed by two.

These scenarios make it imperative that we also do what the Bible says and not be influenced by logic. Thereby, we will please the Lord and have success.

The overall objective of the program would be to do what Jesus said in a parable in Luke 19:12-13, “. . .a certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, occupy till I come”.

The following are the three primary generalized objectives of the vision that would encompass occupying until He comes:

• demonstrate what Jesus said in Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
• exemplify Jeremiah 31:3, “. . . with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
• demonstrate Proverbs 18:24, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly . . .”

This practice would be a louder volume of the Gospel of Jesus Christ than could be resounded over any public address system. It would establish a good rapport with both adults and children and win their confidence so that they may be willing to learn more about Jesus Christ and ultimately serve Him.

Pastors could negotiate with local governments to utilize vacant lots to conduct all of the outdoor activities. The community would know that the “Body of Christ” is concern about its neighbor. The neighborhood would see and be touched by a message that it may not have heard. This could ignite appreciable growth rates in small churches that could cause them to become true “pillars in their communities”.

Any requirements that would cause stress in a family would NEVER be placed on pastors or associate ministers. This would be in accordance with 1 Corinthians 7:33, “. . . He that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.”

(Wives would be the main supporters to the ministry if they would respect the ministry as their husbands’ full time employment. Namely, husbands WOULD NOT be interrupted or called away without justified causes. The bottom line is that if wives cannot agree to commit to giving the ministry the same respect that they would secular employers their husbands would have to find other means of employment. This would be an irrevocable requirement.)

The scope of the vision would also include having Christian schools and fully accredited universities. The personnel would be the highest paid in the industry. This would insure that they appreciate their positions, respect the standards of the ministry, and possibly come to know the Lord if they are not saved.

The primary focus would be to encourage students to be dedicated Believers. The secondary objective is defined in Renaissance In Corporate America. Students could be motivated to excel and become world renowned innovators and entrepreneurs.

Another aspect of the vision is to help our senior saints that need assisted living. I visualize assisted-living facilities that would be staffed by Spirit-filled personnel. They would not be responsible for more than four patients each. This would provide for the seniors to have more personal attention and minimize them feeling lonely.

The facilities would be equipped with two-way state-of-the-art audio visual systems in chapels and at the bedsides of invalid patients. In both cases, patients would be presentable for being viewed on camera. The intent is for them to see, hear, and to be seen and heard by congregations. This would provide for patients to participate in the worship service as though they were present: singing their songs and giving their testimonies in the manner to which they are accustomed. The setting would be so real that the seniors would feel as if they were actually in an over-flow adjacent to the sanctuary.

Seniors who are physically able could be taken to church on Sundays as their families permit. They would also be taken on outings at least once a week: lunches in parks, restaurants, and on sightseeing tours, and etc. Members from various churches could volunteer to be surrogate children and grandchildren to the seniors who have no children and/or no spouses.

The vision also includes ministering to the homeless. This would include those released from prisons and need a places to have a new starts in life, being born again. For men, vacant properties in need of repair would be purchased for groups of at least seven to share. They would have their individual spaces for privacy. Licensed carpenters, electricians, and plumbers would teach them to make the repairs to prepare the properties for the market. After a house is sold, the same group would have moved to another house to repeat the process.

The net profits from each sale would be divided amongst with them. The program would require that they complete at least 12 houses before they could make individual offers to purchase one. They would be required to continue the process in order to pay for their purchases or face foreclosures.

When they have completed 12 additional houses, they would have learned the skills for team effort and could be encouraged to form their own corporations amongst themselves to continue their new roads to prosperity. The process could be repeated throughout the city with several groups of men. This is a means of demonstrating the Gospel.

Women would be offered programs that provide temporary residences in homes owned by the ministry provided they attend classes for developing skills that lead towards finding employment or becoming self-employed: entrepreneurs. This would also be for the homeless and those just released from prisons and need places to make a new start in life: born again.

The vision also provides for pastors to embrace each other, win each others’ trust, put aside differences and concentrate on their commonalities, network together, and lead their congregations in militant strikes against the strongholds of the dEVIL. This could result in revivals that supersedes anything in history. The reason is because the abundance of spiritual wickedness that we are plagued with is unparalleled by anything of the past.

The Bible tells us that . . . where sin abounded, grace did much more abound (Romans 5:20). In other words, Grace outweighs sin. Furthermore, Jesus said of the Holy Ghost in John 16:8, “And when he is come, he would reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.”

So then, since the Holy Ghost is the One that would bring convictions and repentance to those perpetuating sin then we would apply the principle of 2 Chronicles 20:15, “Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” The reason is because of what Jesus said, ” . . . Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” In other words, the gates of hell CANNOT withstand the pressure of the church. Consequently, our cities would never be the same.

This is what I visualize for evangelism for churches networking together:

• form a fellowship (NOT a new denomination) of pastors across metropolitan areas
• post city maps and pin the location of each church
• define their target areas by circumscribing a 1/2 mile radius [square mile] around each and compose a mailing list for each
• come to a consensus for common (tri-fold) tracts and flyers to be mailed to the communities monthly
• each church would have tracts with its identification under the title: the name of the church, address, telephone number, schedule of services, and the two pastors’ names
• place an invitation above the telephone number for the readers to call a 24-hr prayer line that is specifically to bless the households of the callers. The Holy Spirit would inspire pastors about when and how to change the prayers in order to address the needs of those whom He foresees would call. (Jesus said of the Holy Ghost in John 16:13, “. . . He would shew you things to come”.)
• the tracts would list directories of associated churches in the back center or right columns
• the laity would be taught to use them to share the message of Jesus Christ with their families, neighbors, friends, co-workers, and to anyone with whom they come in contact
• preferably, lay people would invite prospective converts to visit their home churches
• a prospective convert without personal transportation would be referred to one of the fellowshipping churches in the directory that is closest to his/her home

The benefit for pastors networking would be monumental. For example, visualize as few as three churches committing to networking together and each one has just 10 members committed to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The churches would collectively have 30 people spreading the Gospel throughout their communities and the cities. In addition to the 10 from each church, all three churches would have an additional “task force” of 20 (10 x 2 = 20) that could likely refer potential members to those churches if their locations are closest to where the potential members live.

Suppose that quarterly each church is blessed with just two members sent by each of the 20 evangelists from the other two churches. That would give every church 40 new members with a potential of 160 in a year. This would be in addition to what each church has accomplished from the evangelistic efforts of its own congregants. Initiating this approach for evangelism could make the smallest churches progressive. They could double or quadruple their memberships every year.

Other pastors throughout the cities would undoubtedly become aware of the success of the three churches. They would also want to participate in the networking. If the number grew to be as many as 12 churches making the commitment, the results could be amazing.

Remember that each new church also has 10 members committed to evangelizing. The network would collectively have 120 people diligently spreading the Gospel throughout a city. This would give each participating church a “task force” of 110 (10 x 11 = 110) outside the 10 from its particular congregation that could send members its way.

Suppose that every three month each church is blessed with just two members referred by the 110 evangelists from the other 11 churches. They could have 220 new members quarterly with a potential of 880 in a year. This strategy would practically guarantee that most churches would have a phenomenal growth in memberships every year.

The results of this strategy would be comparable to “launching out into the deep” as Jesus told Peter to do in Luke 5:4. Namely, the blessing is the deep is too big to be caught in the shallow.

I would therefore suggest that the lay people do the following. Think of it as “pyramid evangelism”: each one concentrates on winning 5 converts (1 x 5). Namely, from the effort of just one who reaches 5 who reaches 5 who reaches 5 who reaches 5, the total contacts that any one person would initially be responsible for could be 3,225.

Taking into account that Jesus healed 10 lepers and just 1 came back to give thanks, that is 10%. Let’s assume that just 10% of 3,225 committed to Jesus. That would be 322.5 just because of 1 person. Suppose 10 people were each responsible for 3,225 to ultimately be given testimonies about Jesus Christ and 10% (322.5) accepted Him and came to the church. Imagine the process being repeated each year. It would be a logarithmic affect. See calculations in the table below.

Regardless to how much pastors network together it is imperative that they are of one mind and speak the same thing as exhorted in the following references:

Romans 16:17

17. Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.

2 Corinthians 13:11

11. Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Ephesians 4:1-3

1. I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2. with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3. endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Philippians 2:1-4

1. Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
2. fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
3. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
4. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

The only way to accomplish this type of unity is for pastors to meet together at least one weekend monthly to share experiences and to affirm Biblical doctrines pertaining to being born again. This would be the mandate for pastors receiving financial contributions for their ministries. This would insure that the evangelist are unified in witnessing throughout the cities, which would insure that everyone hears the same message. This would establish an invaluable comradeship amongst like-minded pastors.

This endeavor has an even greater potential to succeed, especially since terrorist and potentially fatal viruses continue to threaten the United States. People are living under clouds of fear that they have never experienced. Therefore, the ministry could be accomplished. Look at what Jesus said in John 4:35-36:

35. Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!
36. And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

Look closely at the last clause of verse 36: “. . . that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together”. This would be basis to believe that if pastors would sow into each other’s vineyard by networking together, they could all reap a harvest and rejoice together.

It is not uncommon to hear pastors refer to the “law of sowing and reaping” when its time for the Offertory. It’s a Biblical principal.

Likewise, the same “law of sowing and reaping” would apply to the proposed strategy. As it says in Proverbs 11:25, “The generous soul will be made rich, And he who waters will also be watered himself.” Therefore, if a pastor would water another’s vineyard, her/his would definitely be watered.

Conclusion

Herein is the description of evangelism: perpetuating spiritual, sociocultural, intellectual, and economic development in communities. Thus, we would be the salt of the earth as our Blessed Lord said we would be. We would take back our households, neighborhoods, cities, states, and ultimately the United States and the world for Jesus Christ.

My objective is to give up to 90% of the company’s net profits to the ministry of evangelism. My consolation comes from what God promises if merely the 10% was given in accordance to Malachi 3. God promised that He would not only open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings AND He would also speak against the devourers (the Internet’s proverbial Goliaths; AMAZON, GOOGLE, BING, and etc.) should they try to destroy the company. Note the reference in Malachi 3:10-11:

10. Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, “says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.
11. “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,”says the Lord of hosts;

This insures that the company CANNOT be devoured by the Internet’s giants because there would be no recovery for anything that God rebukes. Furthermore, God’s word CANNOT return to Him void: not without accomplishing what He intends.

NMC in the iFrame above is my stepping-stone to bringing the vision for the Comprehensive Evangelism program and Renaissance In Corporate America to fruition. The season for evangelism especially is now according to what our Blessed Lord said in John 4:35, “. . . Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!” – AMEN!

This is the short version of an amazing and heart-touching episode in the life of Maude Batie (1929-2012) who was affectionately called “Mother Batie”. The video at the end at the end of the article is the local ABC News report of a miracle that God orchestrated because of her obedience to an inspiration. Her following that inspiration was comparable to Peter ignoring the wind and waves of a raging storm and stepping out of the boat when our Lord called him. What happened for Mother Batie was EVIDENCE that obedience to an inspiration that God gives can necessitate a miracle as it was so with Peter.

Mother Batie was not a college graduate. She was by no means ranked with the “whose who” in society. Even so, she personified “faith” and proved that’s “it’s not what you know but it’s Who you know”. This occurrence is a validation of Psalms 90:14, “And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands.”

Mother Batie had a prayer meeting every Friday morning at 9:00 in her home. About six people were regular attendees. I was one. Attending them were some of the richest moments of my life.

She would often mention her life’s experiences. One of her testimonies was about when an avalanche of trouble that blindsided her in her younger years. Namely, her husband abandoned her and their six young children. But, she esteemed God to be greater than her circumstances and followed blindly listening for and to His inner voice.

One day while taking her children for a walk her attention was drawn to a large empty building diagonally across the intersection from where they were. It had formerly been used for storing automobile parts. She said that it was God that spoke in her spirit and told her to inquire about the building. (It is important to note that the only instruction was to inquire about the building, nothing more.)

She saw a man working on his car across the street from the building. She walked over to him and asked if he knew who owned the property. He said yes, Mr. Stevens owns it. She then said, “I want to inquire about the building”. The man responded, “don’t just inquire about it, lady, ask to buy it”.

(It is important to recall what God said regarding His Word: Isaiah 55:11, “. . . it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Therefore, Divine Providence initiated everything that happened subsequent to Mother Batie obeying God by simply inquiring about the building. Otherwise, God’s Word would have returned to Him void, which unequivocally CANNOT happen.)

Mother Batie was in route to Mr. Stevens when she heard that same inner voice say to her, “offer him $19,500 and no more”. It was at that point that she was convinced that God wanted her to buy the building.

During the meeting with Mr. Stevens Mother Batie asked for an approximate price for which he would sell the property. She said that he replied, “I won’t sell it for under $28,000”. Her response was, “the Lord told me to tell you $19,500 and no more”. She testified that he responded, “well lady, if that is all you will give me I will take it”.

Mr. Stevens was oblivious to the fact that his response was the only one he could possibly give. Otherwise, the God’s Word to Mother Batie about what price to pay would have returned to Him void, which was/is IMPOSSIBLE.

Even so, Mr. Stevens had not heard the last thing that Mother Batie had to tell him. Namely, “I do not have a job”. He then told Mother Batie not to worry about being unemployed. He said that creative financing, leasing with option to buy, would be the solution. They went to a bank, created the contract, and she became the new owner of the building.

Mother Batie testified that she had no idea what she would do with the building. However, after she and some volunteers cleaned it out God ultimately inspired her to open a soup kitchen from which she was paid a moderate income.

Another scenario occurred that taught an invaluable lesson about obeying inspirations that God gives. That instance was when the building caught on fire one night around 1:00am for no known reason and sustained damage.

The sounds of the fire trucks naturally awaken neighbors. Being concerned about Mother Batie some came outside to be with her.

Mother Batie was suppose to prepare about 500 meals that would be served during the course of that morning but she didn’t see how she could do it. In her bewilderment, she said that she suddenly and loudly called for someone to bring her some soapy water and rags so that she could begin washing tables. She testified that to her surprise onlookers began to spontaneously volunteer to do other tasks that were essential to the breakfast being served. The work was completed and breakfast began to be served on time.

Neighbors volunteering to help Mother Batie could be attributed to acts of kindness. But, there is another point to consider. Namely, Isaiah 55:11 says that God’s word cannot return to Him void but would accomplish what He pleases. Thus, it was God that moved on the helpers because the completion of the work was necessary for breakfast being served. The bottom line is that when we obey inspirations that God gives He will cause the right person(s) to unintentionally volunteer to do what is essential to us accomplishing what God intended when He inspired us to do what was on His mind.

God’s strategy at a crutial time

October of 2011 was a memorable month for Mother Batie. The kitchen was facing closing because corporate and private donations had stopped. But, given that God’s Word could not return void, He strategically orchestrated a sequence of events to sustain the operation.

It was around 2010 that a lady named Lynn became a Born-again Christian and subsequently became a member of the same church Mother Batie attended. Lynn was unemployed when she accepted the Lord. During her quest to find employment, God lead her to the Detroit Rescue Mission (DRM): a ministry that houses the indigent, rehabilitates substance abusers, facilitates the reentry of released prisoners back into society, and ministers the Gospel of Jesus Christ to them during the process.

Divine Providence cause DRM to hire Lynn and assigned her to a workstation that was in close proximity to where a conversation would eventually take place. That conversation occurred months later about Mitch Album; a famous columnist in Detroit, Michigan.

Lynn overheard the conversation from her workstation. She heard (Jennifer) a member of Album’s staff say that he was looking for another project; a story to write about in his column. Lynn thought about Mother Batie without being aware of the precarious situation with the soup kitchen. She told Jennifer about Mother Batie and Jennifer told Album.

The short of the story is that Album scheduled an interview with Mother Batie for 1:00 pm on Wednesday, 19 October 2011. (She invited me to attend and ask me to arrive by 12:00 pm.) Mother Batie gathered the volunteer workers on that day at 12:00 pm to inform them that contributions from corporate, the government, and the private sector had stopped. There was no more money in the treasurer. She told them, “if the LORD does not do something by Friday (21 October 2011), the kitchen would have to close indefinitely.”

Her statement triggered memories I had of the numerous times I heard her testimony about how miraculously God gave her the soup kitchen. I then raised my hand to ask for permission to speak. (I knew that most of her staff were non-believers in Jesus Christ so I took this opportunity to be deliberate in a vocabulary to challenge their thinking.) Mother Batie acknowledge me and allowed me to speak.

I said, Mother Batie, your testimony is that God spoke to you and instructed you to inquire about this building when you had no money. You asked the mechanic that was working on a car if he knew who owned the building. When God spoke to you He foresaw this day.

Isaiah 55:11 says that no word that goes out of His mouth would return to him void, but would accomplish what He pleases (the building becoming a soup kitchen) and the thing (the soup kitchen) that He addresses will prosper. I concluded my remarks by saying, if God lets this kitchen close it will invalidate the Bible, which He WILL NOT allow. Therefore, something is going to happen to keep it open. (I didn’t recognize the name, Mitch Album, until I saw him and remembered seeing him in local TV news broadcasts.)

Fast forward – The following video is Glenda Lewis of TV-7 (Detroit, MI) giving a news report summarizing what happened subsequent to Mitch interviewing Mother Batie.

The point is is that God will miraculously sustain us when we dare to follow what He inspires us to do. A cliche in Christendom is, “For every God given vision, He makes provision.”

I therefore encourage you to not ignore an idea for an invention or an aspiration for having a business. Either could exceed your intellectual and/or financial capability and may be an opportunity that would NEVER come your way again.

The FACT is that when God inspires us to do something He already knows what we have, what we don’t have, what/who we know, and what/who we don’t know. If none of that bothers Him, let’s not let it bother us. Moving forward without having what we need will necessitate a miracle because God’s word CANNOT return to Him void.

Remember Romans 2:11, “. . . there is no partiality with God.” Thus, what He did for Mother Batie is typical for what He would do for anyone that obeys Him by initiating the process to bring to fruition what He inspires one to do.

Although I said it in other posts, it’s repeated again, Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding [your logic]; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” NOTE THIS – No one can make a path standing still. One has to be going forward . . . taking action, which would give God something for which to inspire us with directions.

Up until Mother Baties death at the age of 82, she was still very actively involved in the operation of the soup kitchen in a poverty stricken neighborhood in Highland Park, Michigan. The kitchen is a monument to Mother Batie’s faith in God and was ultimately named “Mother Batie’s Kitchen”.

When God inspired Mother Batie to inquire about the building He was fully aware of her financial situation, her ignorance of real estate contracts, and every negative circumstance that would arise. However, when she took the first step and made the inquiry it then became God’s obligation to initiate a deliberate and purposeful process for the acquisition of the property and its prosperity or His word would have returned to Him void.

Romans 2:11, “. . . there is no partiality with God.” Thus, what He did for Mother Batie is comparable to what He will do for anyone that follows through with what He inspires her/him to pursue OR takes advantages of opportunities that He brings.

Ref: The Infallibility Of God’s Word