"The Believer's Hope (Part 1)"

[*For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.(Rom.15:4) ]

The reality of faith can only be explained and understood by having an adequate understanding of our hope. I hear many people during the course of the week preaching about what faith is; I've heard faith is "believing in what God can do," I've heard it's "trusting in God" I've even heard faith is "an action." It's time for us to stop thinking about these doctrinl terms and actually study them: faith is the greek word "pistis" and it means "a strong and welcome conviction of truth." A conviction is the "act or state of being convinced or persuaded." So more than anything else faith according to it's greek interpretation is a 100% persuasion of truth. Now lets look at faith's definition in Hebrews 11:1 which says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." So now that we know what faith is lets look at what it's not. Faith is not an action, faith is not an emotion or a feeling, faith is not your confession, and finally faith is not some strange foreign empowerment given to only to a few. Faith is a PERSONAL conviction or persuasion of what you believe to be true. The word "substance" in Heb. 11:1 can be translated to mean "conviction" in the greek. "Substance" is the greek word "hypostasis" which means a "firm and solid resolution or assurance" which makes it synonymous with the defintion of conviction.
So now let's find out where the beleiver's hope comes into play: why do we need hope when we have faith? What is hope? How do we work it and where is its place in our lives? Lets answer this with Heb.11:1 which says again, "Now faith is the substance(conviction) of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The word "hope" in the greek is the word "elpis" it means "an expectation of good" Now if you notice "faith is the substance of things HOPED for.." this is why the believer's hope is needful. Without hope(elpis) there can be no faith because faith comes from the "conviction of a thing that is hoped for." So if their is nothing hoped for, then there is nothing for your faith to bring to reality. Now why do we "call those things that be not as though they were(Rom.4:17)?" Remember hope is an "expectation of good" so those good emotions of euphoria and expectancy of seeing the desired "thing" in your spirit come from hope not faith. The things hoped for will not come from you operating in hope hope merely changes your demeanor. So when there is hope you will hear people say things like "I know God can work it out!" or "I won't even worry about this woman on this job." Hope changes your ATTITUDE. When your attitude is changed so are your words so Hope gives your mind and heart the reality that what your believing has already come to pass. so that is what causes you to "CALL IT."
So Hope changes your attitude but just because you are full of hope that does not mean you are full of faith. I've laid hands on a lot of hopeful people but hope must turn over into faith which brings results. So hope alone does nothing of itself but make you feel good about what your beliving God for. Which brings us to this last part of Heb.11:1 which reads, "Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Doubt and fear get in at the end of this scripture for many belivers. The first part is easy its this last part that causes people to discontinue their stand in faith....."THEY CAN'T SEE IT SO IT MUST NOT BE REAL." Rom.8:24-25 says, "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." Hope is not hope if you can see it so since hope makes up what "faith is"(Heb.11:1), that means faith can't be faith if you can see what is hoped for("For we walk by faith and not by sight."2Cor.5:7). So patience is needed(Rom.8:25) and we will pick up here next time..................

Josh

"One Blood" (Part 1)

Racism-The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
In my English 430 class we have been discussing many topics concerning African American folklore and tradition. I was flipping through my book and saw one of Dr.Martin Luther King's letters he wrote to a group of white critical pastors and he mentioned in that letter a sermon he had written called "Paul's Epistle to America." I have been inspired by the Holy Spirit to blog on a particular topic that many of my brothers and sisters both white and black will be offended of: Race,Religion, and Racism. I go to Louisiana Tech University, and I have never once seen one African American teacher but, my struggle is not with the seculiar form of racism as was Dr.King's. My struggle with this topic is among the church the same as Bishop Fred A. Caldwell.

I'm tired of seeing all of these double standards in the church and watching these race issues being undealt with in the white church. I have white co-labourers here that use to minister with me until either race or doctrine was talked about as an issue and one of my brothers said to me "slavery really wasn't as bad as people made it out to be." So at what point do we acnowledge that mindsets like this even exist in the church today? Everyone keeps telling me the same thing. "Josh don't be so touchy we just have to operate in love toward them" or "Josh you don't need to be so rude and blunt when discussing these issues and you know you won't be recieved don't you?" I'M SICK OF LOOKING AT THIS CRAP AND PRETENDING IT DOESN'T EXIST IN OUR BODY!!!
Paul says in Acts 17:24-28:"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. " Paul says that God "hath made of ONE BLOOD all nations of men." So why is it that there are so many churches and denominational differences in our fair city of Shreveport, Louisiana? Is Christ divided? Why is it that Dr. Frederick Price is not invited to any of the mega conventions like"Mega Fest" in our nation and Bishop Caldwell is censored in our fair city? Why is it that these white churches are so obssessed with taking these mission trips all over the world to preach the gospel, feed the hungry, and clothe the naked but I can't get those same missionaries in the same room for 1 hour and talk about these race related issues or to go to Cedar Grove and witness there as well? But they say "God has called them overseas." Are we the church of God? Do we all not "have access by one Spirit unto the Father?(Eph.2:18)" or are there two Spirits, one to lead the blacks and one to lead the whites?

Who or what has changed the mold? When did were the terms "white church" and "black church" coined? Rascism is a Spirit and in Paul's day he fought to maintain unity between Jew and Gentile and now in our day the fight is to maintain unity between the Caucasian and the Negro. The first slaves were brought to America in the 1600s and remained in slavery until 1865 and for all those years and more the southern whites and slave owners stole our property,raped our grandmothers, castrated our grandfathers, and lynched our brethren and they did it all with a bible in their hands and today they justify the separation of christianity into political parties........but you want me to be quiet?......I will be back for part 2.

Be Blessed
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The Righteousness of Faith

The Righteousness of Faith

This letter, I have written unto you and ALL other churches in this city to relay to as many as who would hear it, the doctrine of Christ concerning our righteousness in
Him. So many books and statements and sermons have been taught concerning righteousness and there is indeed much division concerning the topic of “how to get saved.” The Lord has put it upon my heart as well to inform as many churches as who would listen concerning our righteousness in Christ and God the Father. This letter is for all the pastors and elders in the church please read or if this does not interest you then please pass along seeing that you do not care to hear these words.

Righteousness has always been God’s “standard” for salvation. Without righteousness we can not approach God but the problem today is that most people teach righteousness through “tangible deeds” and “keeping days and times and seasons.” Others say you have to “be holy” and “stay saved.” What does the scripture say though about our righteousness let’s look at the patriarch Abraham and see. Genesis 15:4-6 says, “And, behold, the word of the LORD [came] unto him, saying, This (Eliezer) shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.” Now this promise was made to Abraham 430 years before the law came. The law came 430 years after this promise by the hands of Moses(And this I say, [that] the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.” Gal.3:17)

So God counted “Abraham’s faith to him for righteousness.” The Hebrew word “righteousness” is “tsedaqah” which means right or just. In other words Abraham became right in God’s sight after this very moment. Abraham was not under the law of Moses neither did he have commandments of the Lord to keep and yet the Lord “counted it to him for righteousness.” So since there is no law to account righteousness in Abraham’s case God used Abraham’s faith. Not his church attendance, not his eating habits, not his perfection, God used his faith. Paul says it like this, “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.(Rom.4:1-5).” The greek word “righteousness” is “dikaioma” which means he who is deemed to be right or just. Old testament righteousness and new testament are in essence, the same but there is an error that can be made if the age of the Law of Moses and the age of Grace is not explored.

Abraham’s FAITH was reckoned or counted or imputed to him for righteousness. Righteousness is simply “right standing with God.” Abraham recieved right standing with God by FAITH NOT BY HIS WORKS OR HIS “GOOD DEEDS.” We have to remember, good and bad from God’s perspective is identified and outlined by God’s law. Romans3:20 says, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law [is] the knowledge of sin.” The law brings the knowledge of what God deems right and wrong and ABRAHAM WAS 430 YEARS BEFORE THE LAW. So why is it taught among some of you that righteousness comes through Moses’ law? The law brings “the knowledge of sin” not salvation from sin. The bible is divided into two basic institutions, LAW and GRACE. John 1:17 says, “For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” So what was the law for? We’ve been taught if we keep God’s commandments He will let us into the Kingdom. In fact the rich young ruler asked Jesus “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Jesus told him plainly, “ He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.(Lk.18:24-26)”

Now what Jesus tells the young man is not inaccurate the law could make man righteous but with one spiraling stipulation; man had to keep the whole law(For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.Gal.3:10). So ultimately perfection and righteousness could be attained but because of indwelling sin nature passed to us from the first man, Adam we cant. Law could not be fulfilled because it must be obeyed with our physical bodies performing functions and duties to EARN righteousness. Now Rom.8:3-4 says, “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” So we see then how the law “could not DO” what it needed to do to redeem us from sin because it was “weak through the flesh.” The law needs us in order to establish righteousness in us and we have to do everything that the law commands but, we cannot because of sin in our members(Rom.7:5-6). So because of our flesh the law is death unto us, Paul said it like this: “And the commandment which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.For sin, taking occasion by the commandment deceived me, and by it slew me(Rom.7:10-11).”

For that reason the law is known as the “ministration of death (2Cor.3:7).” So righteousness that is, right standing with God, does not come through the law but through the righteousness of our faith. God justified Abraham through his faith and through the works of the law and not through the blood of bulls and goats. FAITH IS THE ONLY THING THAT SAVED EVEN FROM THE DAYS OF ABRAHAM BEFORE THE LAW OF MOSES AND BEFORE THE LAW OF “DOING THINGS FOR SALVATION.”Romans4:13-16 says, “For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, [was] not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if they which are of the law [be] heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect: Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, [there is] no transgression. Therefore [it is] of faith, that [it might be] by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,” So it is of faith so that God could shew grace and mercy because the law works God’s wrath on those who are under the law.

So now a new question comes into being: What is the purpose of the law? Rom.10:3-4 says, “For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.” So if Jesus was the end of the law of Moses for righteousness to all that believe what is the point of the Moses’ law? Well our answer is in Galatians 3:19 which asks, “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; [and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.” The Law’s purpose is evident right here in this verse of scripture it was given to expose the “sin problem” inside of man because of Adam’s transgression in the garden. Transgressions have multiplied since the first act of man’s rebellion but before the law came was no way for man to walk an absolute path of righteousness with no law to expose what did and didn’t please God death was allowed to reign(Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.Rom.5:14). So the law was given to show exactly what was lurking inside of man after the fall(Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. Rom.7:13) . Sin has always been the problem, not man. So the law was given as a supposed benefit to us but it could not give life and deliver us from the sin problem because it “worked death in me by that which is good.”

So the law has no power but to reveal sin working death in us using the very commandment that was ordained to be good for us. So Christ was made unto us “wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption(1Cor.1:30)” and it is by Jesus Christ that our sins shall be remitted and forgiven. “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness(Rom.10:3),” and Paul tells us in Acts 13:37-39 that “ He, whom God raised again, saw no corruption. Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” The law has no power to condemn us to the grave anymore because of sin in our flesh, because Christ gave Himself as a sacrifice and shed His blood on the cross,we now have peace with God(Rom.5:1). The righteousness that we have is of the faith in Jesus Christ alone. “To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins(Acts10:43).” So our righteousness “is as filthy rags”(Isa.64:6) in the sight of God so He sent Jesus (whose name means “Jehovah is become our righteousness”) to die for all of our transgressions, iniquities, errors and sins. We are justified in the sight of God through faith in the son of God, Christ Jesus the Lord. So now Salvation by grace through faith is preached and I have preached it. So Romans 10:8-13 says, “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 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. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”and we are “sealed unto the day of redemption”(Eph.4:30). Salvation is as close and easy as confessing Christ Jesus the Lord and believing in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead. After that your securely His forever. You cannot reverse oneness with the Spirit. Jesus said He would never leave us nor forsake us so there is no losing the gift of eternal life. Once the Spirit of Christ enters into you He seals you “unto the day of redemption.” I hope this helped. Once again this came to you by commandment of the Holy Spirit and I dare not say you should throw this away please pass this on or keep it and understand so that you may teach others concerning the security of the believer. If you do not care to hear this doctrine then by all means remain ignorant there is much scripture to stand on in this letter. Grace and Peace be multiplied unto you, whosoever have heard these words or maybe who have prayed to understand these things to teach others. God bless you.

Eternally Secure in Christ,

Min. Joshua Daniel Harvey

Living Epistles

One of the most irreparable things I see in our society today is the hypocrisy of the christian.I have been guilty of this as many of the members of the body of Christ have been. We teach one thing and do another and God is not pleased, so I have written this blog to show the importance of living what we preach and teach others to live.2Cor.3:2-3 says "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts known and read of all men:Forasmuch as you are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink,but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in the fleshly tables of the heart." One thing I know for sure is that if no scripture in the bible means anything to you then please let this one find grace in your eyes. I'm so guilty of preaching one thing and living another but, its never too late to change and show forth the works of righteousness in your life. Maybe if your like me you have a thorn in the flesh that just keeps causing you to stumble, I'm not here to judge you but that you, through my honesty my be able to be honest with yourself and repent of that habitual ailment. We are the epistle(letter) of God "known and read of all men." We have to be aware of the fact that we are God's love letter to the world. Many people in the world don't read or understand the bible but they understand Christians. Do you think that the scripture says in vain "And your FEET shod with the PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE(Eph.6:15)" The gospel is preached out of your mouth but it is prepared in your feet or your walk. People can't see words but they can see feet.Where are your feet going? and has the gospel been prepared in them? The Word says again, "..How beautiful are the FEET of them that PREACH the gospel(Rom.10:15)" The walk of the preacher is beautiful because his/her feet accent his/her message. We are the only bible many people ever read "not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God" Walk by the Faith of Jesus Christ not by the wisdom of this world the only way to beat the habit is to acknowledge you have the power to overcome it through the inworking of Jesus Christ. You have the power the true word of God is the Word that lives in us not on the paper.Preach it with your feet and let men know and read what God is saying because we have been written by the "Spirit of the living God."

"The Church of God"

Saints- ("hagios")-most holy thing,cleansed.

In the book of Matthew 16:18 Jesus says to Peter after he recieved the revelation that Christ is the son of God: "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. " Paul says "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular(1Cor.12:27)." The greek word "church" is ("ekklēsia") which means to be called out or called forth. The church of God is the "body of Christ" that Paul is referring too. Let's understand something about who we are people, before the ascension of Christ the revelation of who you are was hidden from all the prophets and early believers both in the old testament. The "mystery" that Ephesians and Colossians continuosly makes reference too is us!! No one ever thought that God's final dwelling place would be us! Oh yall aint know???What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 1Cor.6:19).

I have discussed this topic with you in part with my blog "Kill that old man," when I broke down the two natures but the Church is a totally different discussion. We are a called out and cleansing force in the earth. We literally serve as Christ in His absence. Col.2:9 says, "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." If all the "fulness of the Godhead BODILY" dwelt in Christ and we are now "the body of Christ"(1Cor.12:27) that means that all fulness dwelleth in us now. The Body of Christ together, has the capacity to supercede the work that Christ in his first body accomplished because of the size of this new body His Spirit dwells in. The church is the pillar and ground of the truth and Jesus said that He gave us power(Lk.10:19) and thereafter we were commisioned to not only preach the gospel to the world but TAKE GROUND BACK FROM THE ENEMY(satan,the accuser of the brethren, little horn, son of perdition, most unclean, or as we know him, the devil). The devil is what you would call a pathogen to the body of Christ,now I want yall to understand this I actually believe that the body of Christ has organs,tissues,cells; as well as systems that help carry the blood and that excrete waste and that fight against infection and other foreign threats. The Church is a totally new creature that is created in Christ it did not evolve from Christ but it was literally created inside Him(Eph.2:10). This body has the ability to shift and change the balance of the natural order and laws that exist inside of the earth. For example, We have the ability contact our source of life and energy at any given moment through prayer.When was the last time you saw an amoeba contact the swamp it supposedly evolved from?? We also have the ability drive out sickness and disease. It is us alone that causes the whole earth to be blessed and it is because of us that the wrath of God has yet to exacted as in was in Noah's day. We are gigantic organism given life and instruction from our head which is Christ(Eph.1:22).

There will be one final wave of God's manifested presence through His temple and that last move is a healing move you can mark my words. Bishop is not preaching on miracles and at the same time I'm hearing all this stuff from the Lord concerning healing. Its our job to believe. If the word is the blood of the body then faith has to be the plasma! Lay hands on the sick! teaching and preaching is good and profitable but people in this country rely mightily on medical advances there are great healing moves taking place in Africa and Australia and almost everywhere except here because of the medical technology we've been blessed with. Did you know in those countries that the first place they take their sick when they fall ill is the church? Anytime God has gotten ready to move He has always raised up people who would not only preach but also people who he could come and MANIFEST himself through as well. People need to see manifestation that's why Benny Hinn and Richard Roberts have such a huge following people wanna see Him!! The laying on of hands is the most practical way for God to physically be seen.

"Grace Did Much More Abound"

Romans 5:20 says, "Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound," Grace is the gift that God has given us and it is by this grace that we are positionally perfected forever. Romans 3:24 states that we have been justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. The law of God was given to expose sin but Paul said this concerning sin: "For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me(Rom.7:11). So here sin is personified and takes on it's on agenda and personality when the law or any commandment is given. Therefore everytime the "good and just thing" is place before us to do it, sin "takes occasion by the commandment" and kills us with that very commandment which was for my benefit. So God knowing that sin would decieve us by using the commandment to kill us "...set forth [Jesus] to be a propitiation..(Rom.3:25)" or an atonement for our sin. Now, Jesus is 'grace given form.' John says in John 1:14 that Jesus is "full of grace and truth" and in John 1:17 he says, "For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. "

So let's look at this, Jesus is FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH; He literally has IT flowing through His very being. Rom.5:1-2 has just been turned up louder because of Jn.1:14: Romans 5:1-2 says, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. " We are now as I speak "standing in grace" and we got to that point through faith. We are positioned in God's grace through Jesus Christ who is "FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH"...(I hope yall shouting..lol). So in conclusion when we sin the grace that we stand in is not disturbed because to be in grace is to be in Christ through faith in His gospel because He is as I have said before, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH and He is impervious to sin. So this system is set up by God to cause "grace to abound toward us in all things(2Cor.9:8)" because of the unrighteousness of sin. The more sin that we commit the more "grace abounds toward us," notice that grace abounds toward us and not from us we are not full of it, Jesus is.So picture it like this: We are standing in a vat of grace that is continually being filled and everytime we sin the flow of grace toward us is increased by Christ so that anywhere sin abounds in our lives grace will abound over it!!! So sin can and will never outdo grace. This is how God can never see our sin, it is through this system of abounding grace toward us from Chris Jesus.Abounding Grace's job is to overcompensate for the times when we come short so that forgiveness can be overabundantly given because of the overflow grace that is Christ "wherein we stand(Rom.5:2)." So this is for our understanding because the enemy throws all these thoughts of God's rejection everytime we mess up......God can't see what grace has abounded over because grace is Jesus and God won't look pass His answer for sin. Sin is not hid by Jesus its washed away FOREVER. GOD DOESN'T SEE YOUR SIN HE ONLY SEES HIS GRACE AND WE ARE STANDING RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT WITH CHRIST(SHOUT!!!!!!!.)

BE BLESSED

."The Foolishness of Preaching"

1 Corinthians 1:18-21 reads, "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us it is the power of God.For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of the world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it PLEASED GOD BY THE FOOLISHNESS OF PREACHING TO SAVE THEM THAT BELIEVE." Now this is evident that thinkers won't understand the gospel and those that are perishing are too smart for their own good.("Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.."Rom.1:22).

I thank all of you for your words of encouragement and edification. I love you all and will continue to pray for you all that you increase in wisdom and in all spiritual undersanding. I'm back on my blog mission with Min.Draper Wright bringing and broadening your already vast and solid understanding in God's word. We preach and teach not because you don't know but, BECAUSE YOU DO!! We say we are ministers but you all are too. God has chosen us all to preach this gospel to the world. but they all don't seem to see it do they ? 2Cor.4:3-4 says "If our gospel be hid it is hid to them that are lost; In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. " See those that don't believe have been blinded by Satan because of their unbelief. God is not hiding His gospel but Satan who is the "god" of this present evil world does have the preeminence over them who believe not. They belong to him and are in darkness with him.

They don't understand the power of our gospel! It has pleased God by something as foolish (to them) as preaching "to save them that BELIEVE." Preaching is as simple as counting numbers and the simplest form that God has chosen to make men's righteousness appear in Christ has been rejected by them who do not believe. But to us this "foolishness" is the "power of God unto salvation to EVERYONE THAT BELIEVETH"(Rom.1:16). This gospel has the power to literally quicken the BELIEVER'S spirit and cleanse it of all guilt. Jesus said it like this: "It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (Jhn.6:63)" Jesus' words and His gospel are both spirit and they are life. This Gospel is eternal life to all those that believe. Let the world look at us and call us crazy,call us fools, call us emotional hereticks; This gospel is hid to them "lest the light of the gospel of Christ who is the image of God should shine unto them." Its up to us to be "fools for Christ" and preach this "foolishness" to the world so that they won't be wise. And cause there wisdom to be brought to nothing through God's foolishness. Paul said it more like this, "Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. (1Cor.3:18-20). Let's be wise in Chrtist Jesus and preach the power of God unto salvation, even God's gospel of Christ. But, Let us also be fools to those who don't believe thatthe foolishness of preaching might confound the world into faith in Christ.Let him who has ears to hear,hear.

Be blessed.
Josh

"They Stumbled and Fell"

Many times we become accustomed to the persecution that befalls us as a part of being a believer but let us not lose our heads here people of God. 1Thess.1:6 says, "And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:" All throughout this walk we are admonished to cast our care upon the Lord, and to allow peace to reign in our hearts, and rejoice evermore,etc... These are the things that God would have us to be mindful of as we do His work but there are some who would trouble us and have us to remain in disarray and in contention. Mark 9:40 says, "For he that is not against us is on our part," I say unto you that those who will cause divisions and contentions among you are not for you but are against you. We have victory over all of our enemies, in fact because the revelation of Christ Jesus is in us and has become us our enemies stagger in their advance to attack us.

Let's take a look at a very conspicuous event that took place when Jesus was attempted to be apprehended of the band of men and chief priests and pharisees:"Judas then, having received a band [of men] and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am [he], they went backward, and fell to the ground." Now look at this! Jesus' greatest message in all the four gospels!!! "I AM HE." This is Jesus Christ the one they sought. This shows the faithfulness of Jesus, He always reveals Himself to anyone who "seeks" Him. Think about this: this man lives in us! Your enemies cannot approach the man inside of you with sturdiness. David said this, "When the wicked, [even] mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.(Psa.27:2)." Not everyone stumbled at the revelation of Jesus Christ, the blind man in John's gospel had a very distinct encounter with Jesus where he not only didn't stumble but recieved the exact opposite:
"He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen him, and it is he that talketh with thee.And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him(Jhn.9:36-38)."

Your enemies will stumble and fall when Christ is "operated" in you around them. They have to see Him in you. They will stumble and fall when Christ is revealed in you and everything that they do to you will returned to them and they will stumble and fall. Jesus has commanded us to pray for them though so that they will be converted but it is up to the body of Christ to reveal Christ to those who don't know Him, especially our enemies.

be blessed

The Six Laws of the Roman Epistle

There are six laws that are mentioned in the Epistle to the Romans,they are as follows:

1.)The "Law of Moses"-Which can neither give life nor pardon sin, its focus is only to expose sin and condemn the sinner to death.(Rom.3:19)

2.)The "Law" as ethical and moral truth-Which includes the moral standard of all that is lawful and good(Rom.3:21)

3.)The "Law of Faith"-Which excludes self-righteousness and totally rests in a complete redemption totally accomplished by Jesus Christ alone.(Rom.3:27)

4.)The "Law of Sin" in the members- Which acts as a slave master in our fleshly body commanding it to lust until death and this law is always victorious over the Law of the mind.(Rom.7:21,23,25)

5.) The "Law of the Mind"- Which acknowledges that the "Law of Moses" is good and righteous but CANNOT DO IT because of the "Law of Sin" in the members.(Rom.7:16,23)

6.) The "Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus" -Which has the power to deliver the believer from the law of sin which is in the members, and also delivers his conscience from the condemnation which came through the conviction from the "Law of Moses." Furthermore the Holy Spirit works in the YIELDED Christian the very righteousness that the Law of Moses DEMANDS from man.(Rom.8:2,4)

I guess this is some new series of blogs on the Flesh and the Spirit or something.lol Anyway this is just a little extra FYI.Please check it out and comment on Min.Draper Wright's blog on "Proper Exercise."

Josh Harvey

"Kill that Old Man!!!"

I want to bring some understanding to a topic the Lord put on my heart to blog about. This has really helped me. I was discussing this topic with to friends of mine last night and I was moved to post this.(this is kind of long but please take time to read it.It is so helpful I promise!!)

Sin is personified many ways in scripture and in this particular verse of scripture the Holy Spirit gives sin an infamous name that we can all identify with, the "old man." The old man is by definition, 'the inborn tendency to do evil.' The old man is what you would call the "sin nature" or "the flesh." He is literally the essence of the first man, Adam. Cololossians 3:5 says, "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil diesires, and covetousness, which is idolatry:" We have been commanded to "mortify" or "put to death" our body parts upon the Earth. The old man is given birth through the law.(Rom.7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which WERE BY THE LAW, did work IN OUR MEMBERS to bring forth fruit unto death. ) We have been comanded to put this "old man" to death "in our members," but how? How do you put a man to death that cannot be touched, seen, or heard physically? 2Cor.10:3-5 says, "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

The old man's job is to fulfill all the evil desires planted in you when sin came into the world through Adam,the first man but when all looks grim and the old man looked like he would rule until death through the law Jesus,the LAST ADAM shows up(Rom.10:3)! So Colossians 3:8-10 says, "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:" Now look at this saints! The action of "putting off" and "putting on" can only be done by those of us who have conquered death and sin through faith in Jesus Christ. Sinners lack this ability because they lack the legacy of Jesus Christ to His church, "the NEW MAN." Sin dwells in our members(body parts) and its not enough to just recieve Jesus into our spirit we must also "put on Christ"(Rom.13:14;Gal.3:27).

The "new man" comes by one avenue.He is generated when we get saved but, He is only a child compared to the well developed "old man." The new man is not an improved version of the old man. He is a totally new and seperate entity(2Cor.5:17). He is the essence of all that is good and gracious both in Jesus Christ and God the Father. The "new man" is 'Christ formed' in the believer(Gal.4:19); but the new man is merely present when we are saved. He must be put on through this one avenue, KNOWLEDGE("And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:"COL.3:10). The knowledge of God after the image of Jesus is what Satan spends time trying to destroy in us. IN OTHER WORDS,SATAN DON'T WANT YOU READING THAT WORD(2Cor.10:3-5)!! You see, the old man can only exist when the hearers of the word don't "do the word." The new man must be "renewed in knowledge after the image of Him(Jesus)" that is how the new man is formed in us,the new creature. So Satan uses this "old man" who lives in our members with the old man to disrupt and distract the growth and progression of the "new man." God gives us many examples of this struggle all throughout scripture between this old man and this new man like:Cain & Abel, Jacob & Esau, Isaac & Ishmael, even the seed of the woman & the seed of the serpent. These are all types and figures for the struggle that we internally harbor of the old and new man of the fleshly nature and of the spiritual nature.

I encourage you all by this scripture:"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also [do] ye. "(Col.3:12-13) Let's grow in knowledge together but, you gotta study this word and also put it in action. The "new man" grows from HEARING AND DOING THIS WORD. The "old man" is put to death when you choose the desires of the spiritual new man over his natural sinful ways. COUNT YOURSELF DEAD TO THAT OLD MAN!! Those addictions are a result of that "old man" having his way for so long. "He that is dead is free from sin."(Rom.6:7) WE ARE THE CHURCH LETS PUT ON THE NEW MAN LIKE WE ARE.


Be Blessed

Josh

"An Evil Tongue: The Beginning of Strife"

Well Bishop sure superbly poured his heart out yesterday morninging and last night with his sermons on "Strife" and "The Gospel of the Grace of God."I wanted to kind of add a bit more light to the first subject and I will blog on "Grace" at another time. Proverbs 26:20-21 says this saints, "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife." Now something I realized as Bishop preached on strife yesterday was that places in my life where I thought I was right about a situation, I had been holding ought against these 2 friends of mine. So I immediately made it right between them right after church and we are all ok now. Notice something in Proverbs26:20, it says "where no wood is the FIRE goeth out.." and in verse 21 it says, "as coals are to burning coals,and wood to FIRE.." If you notice that here strife is mostly compared with "FIRE." almost all throughout scripture strife is directly in coexistence with the words of our mouths. "Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out:so where there is no TALBEARER strife ceaseth." FIRE SPREADS AND CONSUMES AND CORRUPTS EVERTHING IN ITS PATH JUST LIKE STRIFE SPOKEN WORDS.

Talebearers are people who can hold their tongues and go about to spread rumors these people are talbearers according to God's word(A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth the matter. Prov.11:13) Strife is usually started by words there is evidence of this not only in our day but it Jesus' day.You will many times read that "a fame of Him spread abroad(Lk.4:37)" or "there was a division among them because of Him(Jn.7:43)" Jesus never caused strife but the words of His mouth were grevious to some; and because of the gracious words that came from His mouth many perverse men strived with His words and sought to kill Him because of it. Though Jesus is not a talebearer the principle of strife always starts with words whether the words were kind or grevious in some cases.

Finally James said it like this, "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell (James3:5-6). The bible says the tongue is a"world of inquity...it defleth the whole body," We have to learn to allow our verbage to mimic that of Jesus Christ. David said "The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word [was] in my tongue(2Sam.23:2)" We have that same Spirit in us.It is our duty to lend ourselves to the "wholesome words" of the Spirit instead of the "grevious words" of our flesh James 3:2 says, "..If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to BRIDLE the whole body." Strife is the author of sin in our lives. Are you struggling with habitual sin? and you find it hard to stop? well ask yourself, what have I been saying lately????
Let's kill strife where it starts saints...in our mouths.

God Bless