Everything That Shines Ain't Gold

We have all heard it said that “Everything that shines ain’t gold.” And in Isaiah the 14^th Chapter, Lucifer (The Devil) is described as the bright Morning Star – The most beautiful of God’s creations.  Nevertheless, he was cast down out of heaven to the earth along with a third of the stars (angels) of heaven) for prideful rebellion (Revelation 12:4).

There are a lot of good looking, good sounding, excellent speaking, persuasive and motivating preachers and Pastors who shine brightly in the earth. 

But suffice it to say that “Everything that shine ain’t Gold.”

The Bibles teaches us to “test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.” 

And how do we test the Spirit to see if they are confessing or rather teaching the Doctrine of Christ?

Apostles Paul answers that question in Galatians 1:8 by saying: “if anyone or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one preached to us by the Apostles of Christ, let them be under God's curse!”

The standard for telling if a preacher is preaching God’s Truth is to measure it against the commands of God and the teachings and practices of the true apostles of Christ.

Christ and His Apostles have set the standard for the Church of Jesus Christ. And  any other teaching, any other doctrines or any other practice is accursed.

Everything that shines ain’t gold!

“There Is Only One Way”– The Bible Is Right and Somebody Is Wrong

I cannot help but to be concerned about my fellow believers in Christ Jesus who are so argumentative and divisive about what genuine salvation is.

Some say that they are saved simply because they have believed the gospel. However, they don’t obey the gospel.

Some say that they are saved because they have verbally confessed the Lord Jesus Christ. However, they don’t keep His commands.

Some say that they are saved because they have received the Lord Jesus Christ. But what does that really mean?

Some say that they are saved because they have been baptized into water in the name of Jesus Christ or in the name of the Father and of the Son and of The Holy Ghost.  But did they die to sin before the burial?

Some say that they are saved because they speak in tongue. But, the devil can imitate the tongue.

Some say that they are saved because they belong to a church or denomination. But is the Church in the Truth?  Is The Pastor Born Again and Sent By God?

Some are convinced of their salvation because they have experienced a strong emotional demonstration or they have undergone a lifestyle change whereby they don’t have any social vices or bad habits. But is salvation based upon habits, feelings, loud shouting and dancing in the church?

Sadly, eternal salvation doesn’t exist in any one of these. And although it pains me to say it, there are some believers (Churchgoers) who are not going to be saved.
Many are carnal minded, rebellious, stubborn, deluded and confused and cannot come into a saving knowledge of the Truth. (Romans 8:7, 1 Corinthians 2:14, 2 Thessalonians 2:9-11, 2 Timothy 3:6-9)

Many would-be Christians expend enormous amounts of energy through emotional displays, theatrics and public performances, attempting to convince themselves and others that they are saved when in actually they are unchanged. They have been deceived by Satan, blinded by their own lusts and confused by their desire to validate their own Faith.

Nevertheless, for whatever reason or cause, many believers believe different things about God’s One True Plan Of Salvation and I am concerned that in this confusion of religious diversities, many would-be saints are being lost.

And regardless of what anyone thinks or says, it is the living Word of God – Christ Jesus - who is the ultimate authority and final judge of what is required for salvation and who is saved and who is not. (Matthew 7:21-23, John 5:22, 27, Acts 17:31, Acts 10:42)

And behold there is only One Way to be Saved – Jesus Christ!

To Learn More About This One And Only Way, Please Click On The Following Link:
You Must Be Born Again

On Salvation

God's Sovereignty

by John W. Ritenbaugh
Edited for Re-post by Bishop O.W. Prince

Romans 13:1-7

(1) Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. (2) Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. (3) For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. (4) For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. (5) Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. (6) For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. (7) Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.

Once we understand God's sovereignty over the nations, it is not difficult to understand where Paul bases his instructions in these verses. Thus we can understand why Moses so quickly and surely considers the actions of Korah and his group as rebellion against God rather than merely against himself (Numbers 16). When Israel rejects Samuel as judge over them because they want a king, God reveals to the prophet that the people are really rejecting the rule of God Himself (I Samuel 8:7). It does not matter whether a Christian considers his nation's government to be unlawful. What matters is whether God permits it. If He permits it, this One, who is aware of even sparrows falling, has allowed it or has directly brought it to pass because of the purpose He is working out. That is all that matters. God is ruling His creation, and this is what we are here to learn and trust.

Jesus lived His entire life under an unlawful civil government. The Roman government ruled over Judea as a result of military conquest. Moreover, at times even the ecclesiastical government was not in the proper hands because corrupt Roman officials discovered that just-as-corrupt Jews were willing to pay bribes to "buy" the high priesthood. But the Scriptures repeatedly show Jesus subject to them, though He called both, especially the ecclesiastical one, into account. Matthew 17:24-27 is a clear example:

When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, "Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?" He said, "Yes." And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?" Peter said to Him, "From strangers." Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free. Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you."

The Temple tax was one-half shekel per year for every Jew over 20. Since Jesus Christ was Lord and Owner of the Temple, He and His "children" should have been free of taxation. Jesus orders Peter to pay it anyway for both of them to avoid a bitter and offensive debate on the merits of His claim. By doing this, Jesus sets the right example looking by faith beyond a legal technicality to the True Ruler, the Father. God likely brought this episode to pass for our instruction.

Perhaps a brief statement of Solomonic wisdom will summarize Christian understanding of God's sovereignty over the governments of men: "There is no wisdom or understanding or counsel against the LORD. The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but deliverance is of the LORD " (Proverbs 21:30-31). His meaning becomes clearer in other translations. The Living Bible renders it, "No one, regardless of how shrewd or well-advised he is, can stand against the Lord. Go ahead and prepare for the conflict, but victory comes from God." The Revised English Bible translates it as, "Face to face with the Lord, wisdom, understanding, counsel avail nothing. A horse may be made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord."

It may seem a remote possibility, even strange, that we would fight against the Lord, yet because human nature remains in us, we do. The apostle Paul complains in Romans 7:14-23 that what he did not want to do he did anyway because a law of enmity against God worked within him. Proverbs 21:30-31 tells us that human wisdom, insight, and counsel must be in conformity with God's will to be successful. God's children must understand His sovereignty over everything and conduct their lives knowing that nothing avails against God and nothing without Him.

The Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. (Daniel 4:25)

To rebel against leadership and power is to rebellion against the sovereignty of God. For it is The Most High God who assigns position and power to whomever He desires to accomplish His will. ~ owp

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The Trayvon Martin Murder

American justice is unjust with regards to the value of a white life to that of an African American, particularly a black male. It appears that the predominantly white American Justice System considers the life of a dog (referencing the Michael Vick story) more valuable than that of a black male teenager. I can imagine if a black man had shot and killed a white teenager in the same manner that Trayvon was murdered he would be arrested immediately without question regardless of his explanation and we all know I am telling the truth.

This takes racism to a new level.  It openly and undeniably reveals how insidious racism is in America.  It exposes the American legal system for what it has been and continues to be with regards to its heinous disregard for an African American life. 

The Trayvon Martin Story is not unique to American history.  However, it is absolutely unique to the African American experience.

It has been open season on African American males for as long as I can remember.  Historically, white men and some white women have murdered and stolen the lives and destroyed the families of countless African Americans with impunity.  We are murdered simply because of the color our skin or because we dare to look a white person in the eye when we speak to them or because we have a healthy self image and do not choose to think less of ourselves than we ought or because we marry out our race or have a mastery of the English language.  Regardless of the godless and surreptitious behavior of the predominantly white law enforcement agencies in America, the majority of African Americans observe, respect and obey the law. 

Now it is time for a change.  It is time for an unprecedented reaction to the criminal injustices of our justice system officials and the cold blooded murder of our children.  Our reaction should resonate throughout history and send an unprecedented message to the powers that be that our mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, sisters and bothers and God loving citizens are not going to tolerate or endure the murdering of our children any longer.  There has to be a change.  The Law Enforcement officers, government officials and law makers who have allowed this injustice must be exposed, replaced and punished.

Enough is enough and the time for change is now!  Rally our legal geniuses.  Engage our socially conscience and morally righteous activists.  Respect, protect and support those who are in positions of power and influence to impact and correct the disparity in the justice system.  Help the righteous leaders of justice expose and punish those who have violated human and civil rights.  Send the message that we will not rest until justice prevails nor will we forget the heinous crimes of racism or tolerate its poisonous attitude or behavior in our society any longer.

 Let me say one more thing.  Every since President Barack Obama became President of The United States of America, racist in America lost their minds and their civility –if they ever had any - and they have raised the level of their hate for blacks to new heights.  Not since the sixties have we ever seen more incidents of racist remarks, racist cartoon caricatures, racist signs and literature as we do today.  It has all been in response to a black man becoming president.  I am only stating what is obvious to most African Americans. 

 Racist have declared war on all African American citizens of the United States of America.  They have used every conceivable method to eradicate the world of black people – from medically unwarranted hysterectomies on uninformed and unsuspecting black women to the castration, murder and unjust incarceration of black males.  I was wondering when someone will notice and say something but no one did.  Therefore, I have.

Wake up America!  There is a war going on right on American soil that is more insidious than anything we have warred against on foreign soil.  It is time that we totally demolish the white good old boys system and tear down the strongholds of the enemy – exposing them for the clandestine cowards that they are.  Let us respond in the right spirit - the spirit of unity and justice not hate and revenge.  Those are the weapons of the enemy.  Our weapons are greater.  Our weapons are superior intellect and spiritual maturity honed by centuries of real life education, abuse, hardship and suffering.  Our weapons are not of this world but mighty through God.  They are the prayers prayed by the broken hearted and crushed in spirit.  They are the righteous acts of those who champion the cause of justice and equality.   They are the heart wrenching cries of a mother weeping over her murdered son.  They are the moans of a father in anguish over the killing of his only boy.  They are the promises of God who keeps His Word.

“The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit…Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The LORD will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned. (Psalm  34:17-21)

Amen!

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Bishop O.W. Prince and The O.W. Prince Ministries authorizes that this work along with all works posted on this blog and related blogs may be copied, redistributed and retransmitted in part or in whole for non-commercial purposes only and without change or alteration to its contents or materials with the stipulation that the author and source be clearly posted and acknowledged.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Repent of Parental Sin

Spiritual Lesbianism

Spiritual Lesbianism

“What’s In You Will Come Out Of You.”

Today’s Word
A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. ~ Luke 6:45 (NIV)

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What is really inside of us will come spilling out  of us when life puts the squeeze on us.  Crisis will usually reveal what is really in our hearts.  It is easy to do and say the right things when life is calm and everything is going right, but what we say and do when chaos hits and the pressure is on tends to paint a more accurate picture of who we really are.  It is kind of like a sponge. 

Suppose you have five sponges lying on your kitchen counter.  Each member of your family has been cleaning different areas of your home, but the sponges all look the same.  You are curious about what was cleaned but you can’t tell just by looking at the sponges since they all look the same.  So what do you do? 

You squeeze each sponge to see what happens.  As you squeeze the first sponge, brown cola comes pouring out.  Someone must have cleaned the kitchen with that sponge.  Upon squeezing the second sponge, you see blue tub and tile cleaner oozing out of the sponge which leads you to believe someone used that particular sponge to clean the bathroom.  In the third sponge, you find cooking oil and conclude that someone spilled some oil and cleaned it with the sponge.  The fourth sponge produces a puff of baby powder when it is squeezed.  The baby’s nursery was obviously cleaned with that sponge.  Finally, the last sponge is dripping with floor wax which tells you someone used that particular sponge to clean the floor.  As you lay the last sponge down, you look again at their similarity.  They all look the same — until they are squeezed.

We are a lot like sponges when it comes to our Faith in God.  We look and act as if God is Lord of our lives.  We say all the right things to all the right people and do right things in order to prove we are right.  But what is really inside?  What do our hearts really look like? 

When a crisis comes and the pressures of life squeeze us mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually, what comes out?  Do we respond to that difficult person in anger or with patience and love?  Does revenge spill out in ugly words to that person who has hurt us more times than we can count or do we take a breath and remember that God loves them and that hurt people tend to hurt other people?  Does the pain of unresolved sin flood our hearts and minds as guilt spills out of our heart with a vengeance?
Just like the sponge, we can only squeeze out what is put in.  Fill your heart with the things of God.  Stay in the Word each day. Spend time with faith builders who will encourage you in your faith.  Seek God and His plan for your life.  Pray about everything so that when life puts the squeeze on you the very nature of God will come pouring out.
Today’s Prayer

Father, I pray to You today in the name of—*YeHoWsHua HaMashiach – Jesus the Christ.  Father, I want my faith to be more than just talk.  I want my religion to be more than just window-dressing.  I want to be real and authentic.  I want to be a genuine, baptized in Jesus’ name, Holy Spirit filled, tongue talking, obedient  child of God.  Please forgive me when I played religious games and pretended to be someone I was not.  I confess that I am a sinner.  I want to be saved.  I repent of my old sinful nature and take hold of Your grace in Christ Jesus through baptism in His name.  Anoint me O Lord.  Empower me to walk in Your grace so that when hard times press heavy upon me only Your Word will come pouring out of me.  This is my prayer today in the name of the LORD YeHoWsHua* (Jesus) the Christ, Amen.

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Footnote:
The Hebrew spelling of the name of Christ is used in this prayer for educational purposes. Yehowshua is often shorten to Yeshua but out of respect for my Lord I chose to use the spelling of His proper name to demonstrate that His name s above every name and that even the spelling of His name is relative to the spelling of The Father’s name – remembering that there were not any vowels in the Hebrew alphabets. Thus, YHWH (Yahweh) and YeHoWsHua (Yahweh is salvation) are grammatically and uniquely related.
For more information of the authentic name of God, please follow the link below:
http://www.therockofmontgomery.org/Yahweh.html
____________________________________________________________
COPYRIGHT DISCLOSURE:
Bishop O.W. Prince and The O.W. Prince Ministries authorizes that this work along with all works posted on this blog and related blogs may be copied, redistributed and retransmitted in part or in whole for non-commercial purposes only and without change or alteration to its contents or materials  with the stipulation that the author and source be clearly acknowledged.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Word & Prayer Apostolic

Word & Prayer Apostolic The Prelude 202012
 
Today’s Word
I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. ~ John 10:10 ( NIV)

For decades, I have heard the cries of hearts whose desire it is to have an intimate, exuberant relationship with God through Christ but don’t know how to go about it.  Perhaps you can relate to this. 

Many believers feel that there is something lacking in their Christianity.  They have become painfully aware that their religion is a montage of mundane theologically contrived demands aimed at pleasing secular expectations, providing only temporary emotional relief, intellectual stimulation and motivational entertainment.  

Some have awaken to the reality that the celebrity preachers and superstar teachers have lied to them about what is required for salvation—selling them on some counterfeit Christianity that give them the appearance of godliness but denies them entrance into the kingdom of God.  They are left empty and spiritually starved to eternal damnation.

Many believers have become aware of this fact and yearn to experience God’s True Presence and Power.

Am I speaking about you?  If so, you are not alone. 

Many have come to realize that joining a church, belonging to a denomination, serving on church boards, committees, auxiliaries and receiving ecclesiastical accolades only leaves them, at the end of the day, with hunger pains of the heart and soul that can only be satisfied with a genuine filling of God’s Holy presence.    
  
We long for a sense of closeness with God, but we have a hard time putting our finger on exactly what that closeness would look like.  So we go to Bible studies, attend church, say our prayers, and read our devotions. And yet, we constantly feel that we are somehow missing something.  

We have an unanswered question of “What is missing and what shall I do to get it?”  

I want to strongly suggest we seek the answer to our query not in church or denomination, not in theology or seminary education but in the Word of God!

As I pray for you today, I ask that you consider carefully The Word of God contained in the Following Videos. 


Today’s Prayer (May we pray?)
Father God, it is in the name of —*YeHoWsHua HaMashiach – Jesus the Christ I pray to You today.  Please forgive our sins as we earnestly seek Your answer to our emptiness.  Help us to surrender to Your Word of Truth, Salvation, Power and Demonstration.  Help us to see You;  To Hear You; To Obey You and to be led and fed by You. Fill us with Your Holy Presence and satisfy our hunger and thirst for Your Righteousness. This is our prayer today in the name of the LORD YeHoWsHua* (Jesus) the Christ, Amen.

God’s Grace Defined Lesson #1

Lately it seems that the term “grace” is being used by religious folks to refer to everything but the kitchen sink. 

One of the ways it is being defined by some Christians is that grace is the opposite of the Law.  However, contrary to popular opinion, grace is not the opposite of the Law or commandments of God.  The opposite of the law is indecency or lawlessness.  But Grace is favor over the Law.  It is the favor that comes from being God’s child, and not from justifying our actions or behavior legally or otherwise.  If you sin against God and repent – demonstrating your desire for forgiveness and mercy – earnestly desiring to be in a right relationship with the Father – His favor or His grace accepts your apology even when the Law demands your punishment. 

Another way of understanding this is to say that we are always “under the law” of God but we are not always subject to the demands and penalties of the Law although we may be found guilty of a violation of the law.  I know that this seems to contradict the Word found in Romans 6:14 that says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”  But if you were to look at this scripture in the light of Jesus’ teachings you would realize that Romans 6:14 doesn’t mean that God has done away with His Eternal Ten Commandments.  To the contrary, we all are subject to the eternal commandment of God and instructed by Jesus to keep all of God’s commandments. (Matthew 7:21-23, John 14:15, John 14:21, 1 John 2:4). Therefore, God’s Eternal Law abounds over us but where the law abounds grace much more abounds – admonishing us to obey God’s Commandments voluntarily and go and sin no more. (Romans 5:15, 20) 

For instance, if you were caught speeding – doing 55 miles per hours in a 35 miles per hour speed zone – you were guilty of a traffic violation but you repented and acknowledged responsibility for your offense – then the Law Enforcement Officer, instead of penalizing you as you deserve, issued you a warning ticket – he showed you mercy.  This act of kindness doesn’t justify your violation nor does it relax the law or license you to continue to speed.  It simply extended mercy toward you, allowing you another opportunity to comply with the law and obey the speed limit from here on out (John 8:10-11).  But if you practice speeding and continue to disregard the law, mercy will cease and punishment will be enforced.  However, grace accepts the penalty (punishment) for our transgressions and relieves us from the consequences of our lawlessness.  But this grace is not for everyone.

Now God may have mercy on whomever He will but His grace is reserved for His children.  

Many are under the impression that “Grace” is somehow extended to everyone regardless of their willful disobedience to God’s commandments.  Thus they believe that in order to be saved by grace all that they have to do is recite a prayer or repeat a confession of faith.  Others think that grace somehow excuses them from any obligation to observe and keep the Eternal Moral Commandments of God.  They believe that God will pardoned their willful disobedience and lawlessness on the merits of grace.  However, they are dangerously mistaken. 

Only those who obey God’s commandment to repent (die to sin) and are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ may consider themselves children of God and eligible to receive His grace. 

A good way to understand how Grace relates to one’s relationship with God is to think of God as a good parent and ourselves as children (Matthew 18:2-4).  Children have favor in the eyes of their parents.  If they obey their parents, they are rewarded.  If while obeying their parents they get into any trouble or break anything, the parents assume responsibility and pays any cost on behalf of their child.  The child doesn’t earn this grace, it is freely given by virtue of the child’s relationship to the parent.  However, a child of disobedience (a practitioner of sin) has no expectation of grace or favor from God.  God is not his parent.  His parent is Satan (John 8:44).

Let me summarize.  Mercy is not getting what you deserve although you are guilty of breaking the law.  It is withheld punishment or postponed condemnation for God is NOT willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  Whereas Grace is receiving what you could not earn or deserve on your own.  It is unmerited favor and forgiveness.  Grace is reserved for those who have Repented, Kept God’s Commandments and Obeyed His will (Romans 6:1-4).  

“Mercy doesn’t save us.  It gives us time to repent.  God’s Grace Saves!“  (Ref. Matthew 7:21-23, Ephesians 2:8) All Praise Honor and Glory belongs to God the Father through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.

(Order Lesson #2 Today)

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Bishop O.W. Prince and the O.W. Prince Ministries authorizes that this work along with all works posted on this blog and related blogs may be copied, redistributed and retransmitted in part or in whole for non-commercial purposes only and without change or alteration to its contents or materials  with the stipulation that the author and source be clearly acknowledged.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Today's Word & Prayer for Today's Christian

Three Reasons To Pray

Today’s Word
I love the LORD, because He hears my voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live. ~ Psalm 116:1-2

The psalmist says three things before saying he will call upon God as long as he lives.  All three things lead to his desire to pray.

First, he says, “I love the Lord.”  His prayer life is motivated by love.  Then he says “He hears my voice and my supplications.”  He prays because he knows that he is not just wishing out loud.  Nor is his prayer simply a religious activity.  No! God is there and He’s listening. Third, he says, “He has inclined His ear to me.”  God is paying attention.  He cares about the issues we bring to Him.
As you begin each new day speak to God from your heart. Let your prayers be the expression of your love for Him and not just your need for Him. Go through the day with the confidence and assurance that God is listening to you and that He is paying attention to the concerns and issues in your life.
Today’s Prayer
Father, I pray to You today in the name of—*YeHoWsHua HaMashiach – Jesus the Christ.  I pray to You out of love for You and Your Word.  When I think of Your love for me and all You’ve done for me, I become emotional.  My soul shouts “Hallelujah!”  I cannot help but Love You because You first loved me.  When I was bad, You were good to me and You are good to me all of the time.  You hear me when I pray.  And You save me out of all my troubles.  I am astonished that You would be mindful of a wretch like me.  Yet, You are inclined to be concerned with my concerns and attentive my issues. You are an awesome God, great in mercies, kindness and love. Thank You Dear Father for loving me the way that You do.  Help me to demonstrate Your love for me in my love toward others.  May I never cease to call upon Your name in prayer.  This is my prayer today in the name of the LORD YeHoWsHua* (Jesus) the Christ, Amen.

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Footnote:
The Hebrew spelling of the name of Christ is used in this prayer for educational purposes. Yehowshua is often shorten to Yeshua but out of respect for my Lord I chose to use the spelling of His proper name to demonstrate that His name s above every name and that even the spelling of His name is relative to the spelling of The Father’s name – remembering that there were not any vowels in the Hebrew alphabets. Thus, YHWH (Yahweh) and YeHoWsHua (Yahweh is salvation) are grammatically and uniquely related.
For more information of the authentic name of God, please follow the link below:
http://www.therockofmontgomery.org/Yahweh.html
____________________________________________________________
COPYRIGHT DISCLOSURE:
Bishop O.W. Prince and The O.W. Prince Ministries authorizes that this work along with all works posted on this blog and related blogs may be copied, redistributed and retransmitted in part or in whole for non-commercial purposes only and without change or alteration to its contents or materials  with the stipulation that the author and source be clearly acknowledged.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

Today's Word & Prayer for Today's Christian

“Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children. And that’s what we are.” ~ 1 John 3:1 (GW)

Have you ever noticed that you are never a grown-up to the ones who birthed you? They completely disregard the gray hairs, crowfeet, and bulging waistlines of your adult life. No matter how many children call you “Dad” or “Mom,” to your parents you are still just a child yourself. 


They seem to think you have slipped into the closet to put on grown-up clothes and are really just playing a game. They must believe that somewhere beneath the receding hairline there is still a child, hiding in the shadows of adulthood. The worst part about it is (keep this quiet) I think they are right! 

And like our parents, the Lord looks beyond our façade and sees the trem­bling places in our lives. He knows our innermost needs. No matter how spiritually mature we try to appear, He is still aware that lurking in the shadows is an insecure little girls who needs her Father to tell her that he loves her and he is going to make everything alright. He is aware that beneath the façade of brawny masculinity is a little boy who needs his Father to reassure him of his manhood and tell him that he is the image and glory of his daddy. God is aware of the hidden issues of His “all grown-up” little children. 

The Father understands the hidden fears, insecurities, anxieties, hurts, anger and feeling of revenge that lurks in each of us from time to time. He is aware of the worst in us, yet still thinks the best of us.

He understands the child in us, and He speaks to our blanket-clutching, thumb­-sucking, infantile needs. In spite of our maturity, income, edu­cation, or notoriety, He still speaks to the childhood issues of our aging hearts. 

The Father’s Love Never Fails.

Today’s Prayer
Father, I pray to You today in the name of—*YeHoWsHua HaMashiach – Jesus the Christ.  I thank you for adopting me into Your family and for calling me Your child. I am grateful for the privilege to be called a child of God. And like a child I am still growing and learning. I need Your guidance and instruction to help me navigate this tedious life. I am unsure of my myself and I need Your reassurance. I have strayed from the path You’ve chosen for me and I need You to lead me back to the path of righteousness. I have even been rebellious at times and now I repent and I need You to forgive me O God. Have mercy on me. No one knows me like You do. Speak to the issues of my heart and heal all of my hurts and pains. Daddy, I need You and I need You now! Help me to become more and more like You—to look and sound like You and to walk in the knowledge and power of my birthright. This is my prayer today in the name of the LORD YeHoWsHua* (Jesus) the Christ, Amen.

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Footnote:
The Hebrew spelling of the name of Christ is used in this prayer for educational purposes. Yehowshua is often shorten to Yeshua but out of respect for my Lord I chose to use the spelling of His proper name to demonstrate that His name s above every name and that even the spelling of His name is relative to the spelling of The Father’s name – remembering that there were not any vowels in the Hebrew alphabets. Thus, YHWH (Yahweh) and YeHoWsHua (Yahweh is salvation) are grammatically and uniquely related.

For more information of the authentic name of God, please follow the link below:
http://www.therockofmontgomery.org/Yahweh.html

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A Word & Prayer For Today's Christian

God’s love is strong, unconditional – a love that we cannot understand or explain in human terms.  It is absolutely and utterly beyond measure.  The life of the Old Testament prophet, Hosea, powerfully illustrates this kind of love.  Hosea was married to Gomer but Gomer was unfaithful to Hosea, betraying the covenant of marriage.  Hosea had every right to walk away from Gomer and divorce her but supernatural love caused him to make supernatural choices that demanded supernatural action and sacrifice.

Hosea 3:2 says, “So I bought her for six ounces of silver and ten bushels of barley” (Twice the price of an average slave).

Think about it.  Hosea was the one who had been wronged and humiliated.  Yes, he was the one faithfully following the moral Commandments of God.  He was the righteous one but he was also the one called to sacrifice.  We oftentimes misunderstand the full meaning of sacrifice, thinking that it is only a decision to “give up” our self-centered rights, or give up our surplus of resources or give up a few of our nonessential freedoms.  But true sacrifice is much more than these things.   Sacrifice causes us to lay down all sense of human justice or fairness in order for God to work in and through us on behave of those who are sometimes unlovable and deserving of condemnation.

Gomer broke the covenant of marriage.  Biblically, Hosea had every justification to divorce her.  He could have tossed her out and turned her children against her, stripping her life of any discernible value.  Hosea could have destroyed Gomer, and no one would have blamed him.  Instead, God instructed Hosea to rise to a higher place and lay down his anger, hurt and his right to retaliate or seek revenge.  God instructed Hosea to take the initiative and go to her and love her again.

Hosea had to swallow his pride and go to her in love and forgiveness.  Now let me just tell you that if I had been the one going to find Gomer, I would have been more likely to snatch her up by the hair and drag her home in front of as many people as possible to prove she could not get away with what she was doing.  Better yet, I would have said, “Good riddance.  You can keep her!  I don’t want her any more.”  I am certain I could find many who would agree with my plan of punishment and revenge.  It seems to me that Hosea stood to gain very little but lose a great deal by choosing to respond as he did.  However, Hosea was called on by God to sacrifice everything to redeem a woman who did not deserve sacrifice or redemption.  Jesus did the same thing for us when He died on the cross.  He now calls us to respond with that same God-like heart and attitude of redemption.

God always seeks restoration and reconciliation and commands us to look for it as well.  We are to look past what seems logical and seek the sublime. 

Today’s Word

¹Then the Lord told me, “Love your wife again, even though she is loved by others and has committed adultery.  Love her as I, the Lord, love the Israelites, even though they have turned to other gods and love to eat raisin cakes.”  ²So I bought her for 23 ounces of silver and 10 bushels of barley. ~ Hosea 3:1-2 (GW)

 

Today’s Prayer

Father, I pray to You in the only name that is above every name—YeHoWsHua HaMashiach* - The Anointed One From God – Jesus the Christ.  Father, I am so tired of holding on to the pain in my life.  I want to forgive those who have hurt me and learn how to let go of the pain and move on.  Today, I lay down my pride and my rights.  I will not seek revenge or retaliation.  Instead, I choose to take the initiative and love my enemies and bless those who have harmed me.  Please give me the strength and power to reflect Your love for me in my love toward others.  Anoint me with thy Holy Spirit O God so that I may honor You as I step out in obedience to Your will and Your way.  This is my prayer in the name of the LORD YeHoWsHua* (Jesus) the Christ, Amen

The Uzzah Syndrome

 In the Book of 2^nd Samuel there is a story of a man named Uzzah who was in the employment of David.  He and his brother were entrusted with the task of guiding an ox drawn cart upon which the ark of the LORD had been laid.  However, there was a divine order in which the ark of God was to be transported and handled. (Exodus 25:10-22, Numbers 4:1-20, 1 Chronicles 15:13-15)  This divine order was not observed by David or Uzzah.  They ignored God’s instructions and prerequisites regarding the handling of the ark, for only Levites were suppose to transport the ark of God in a divinely prescribed manner.  And when the oxen stumbled, Uzzah reached out His hands to steady the ark of God so that it would not fall and God struck him dead.

A life was lost because a pair of human hands was laid upon the ark of God in irreverence (disrespect) to God’s divine orders.  Uzzah placed his hands upon the ark with the best of intentions, to steady it and keep it from falling, but they touched God's work presumptuously, and he fell dead. 

In today’s contemporary Christian churches, there are many systems of religions that espouse various forms of gospels that offer various means of salvation.  They have presumed to change God’s divine order of things and do it their way.  They have, in a real sense, shown irreverence to God’s divine will and instructions.  And regardless of their motives or of their good intentions, they are inviting the wrath of God and the destruction of themselves. 

God is a just God.  All of His actions are right and fair.  He does not show partiality for He is no respecter of men.  Deuteronomy 32:4 says, ^“He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.”  

If God killed Uzzah for touching the ark and disregarding His divine order, what will happen to those who mishandle His Holy Word-Jesus the Christ- disregarding His divine order and establishing their own way?

Disobedience to God equals disrespect for God and this will always end in death.

Our challenge today is simply to Trust and Obey.

Today’s Word

⁶ When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. ⁷ The LORD’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God.  ~ 2 Samuel 6:6-7

 Today’s Prayer

Father, it is in the name of the LORD YeHoWsHua* (Jesus) the Christ that I pray to You today.  I confess that I have sinned against You.  I have shown irreverence and disrespect for Your way and Your will.  I have not followed Your instructions or kept Your Holy Commandments as I should.  I realize that I am in danger of eternal damnation.  Please forgive me O God.  I am sorely sorry for my sins.  I REPENT!  I realize that Your way is always right and just.  I desire to obey Your Word, for in Your Word is life—life everlasting.  Please forgive me O God.  Help me to never disregard Your living Word or disrespect Your divine order.  Your divine instructions are a delight and a joy to obey.  Empower me to keep all of Your commandments.  Help me to obey Your divine instructions regarding repentance, water baptism in Your name and the indwelling of Your Holy Spirit.  Protect me from false religions and counterfeit faith.  Please keep me away from perverse doctrines of demons and religions of men.  I want to be found in Your perfect will.  I want to be saved according to Your divine way.  This is my prayer in the name of the LORD YeHoWsHua* (Jesus) the Christ, Amen. 

For a Bible lesson on God’s ordained instructions regarding the salvation process, please visit the following link:  http://owprince.wordpress.com/you-must-be-born-again-introduction/