Who is Jesus? (genealogy)

Luke 3:23-38
Genealogy of Jesus

Matthew 1:17 So the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations; and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations.

Biblical numbers

One = Unity / Sovereignty / God
Two = Division / Trouble, can also mean Unity (as in marriage)
Three = Trinity / Perfection
Four = Earth
Five = Grace
Six = Sin / Man
Seven = Divine Perfection
Eight = Resurrection / New Beginning
Nine = Judgement
Ten = World Number (worldly government, control of world)
Eleven = Incomplete / Sinful
Twelve = Governmental Perfection (Godly government)
Forty = Generation / Judgement
Fifty = Freedom / Joy / Jubilee
Seventy = Lifespan / Perfect World Government

Why are these numbers so important?

From the time of creation to the birth of Jesus there are 6 groups of generations.The first being 7 generations from God through Jared.

The number 7 represents completion or perfection. We see this when God completed all of His work then rested on the seventh day. The Sabbath is also observed on the seventh day. Debtors were released on the seventh year of work.

In the beginning Gods plan for all mankind was perfect, it was us who threw it all away.

Now the next set of generation of men begins Enoch holding the eighth position. The number 8 represents a new beginning. This is seen as each cycle of 7 is completed a new one begins.

The revelance to Enoch being born at this time is that Enoch represented the church. His birth represented a new beginning for all mankind after the fall of man. It was also he who the scripture says “went out for a walk with God and was taken” representing the future rapture of the church.

The birth of Enoch was the first of 5 groups each bearing 14 generations leading up to the birth of Jesus.

Why is this important?

The number 5 represents grace. It was the fifth group of 14 generations of man that brought forth the birth of the savior; whose name means God is salvation.

The birth of Jesus represented the grace that God was offering to all mankind. (John 3:16) Should we choose to believe it, our sins will be forgiven. Should we choose to reject it, our sins will not be forgiven and we will perish then be lost for all eternity never to be heard from again by anyone but our own selves.

It is only through our faith in Jesus will we ever recover from our sinful nature. He alone is the only one who can make atonement for our sins.

“Study the scripture in them you think you have life but they are that which testifies of Me” ~ Jesus

Blessings!

Pastor David
pastor.davidcb@gmail.com
ncmcf.webs.com

What are you looking for?

400 years of silence from God between Malachi & John the baptist. Generations were lost without hearing from any prophets, no miracles were performed, no healings took place, there was no word or help from at all from God.

Our sin separated us from Him because we didn’t know what we were looking for.

The first words spoken by Jesus that were recorded in the book of John, came after John the baptist testified of God speaking to him in regards to the one you see the spirit of God descending upon and staying is my messiah. While John stood with two others (Andrew, Simon Peters brother & another) watching Jesus; John proclaimed to all “Behold the lamb of God”. The two who stood with John immediately began to follow Jesus.

What is so important about this?

What did Jesus say? After 400 years of silence; what did God say to His people? Did He rebuke them? Did He ignore them? Neither, Jesus turned and said “what are you looking for?”

400 Years of silence and God asked the same question as in the garden of Eden “Where are you?” “What seek ye”.

God was showing us that no matter the distance we’ve put between us and Him; if we choose to follow Him, He will turn toward us, acknowledge us and ask “what are you looking for?” and our answer should be just ad Peter answered “You are the Christ, where else can I go?”

When we acknowledge who He is, God will forgive us our sins and receive us back to Him.

You see it’s us…God has always been waiting

Pastor David

ncmcf.webs.com

I Will…Who Is…So Shall

Psalm 18:3 “I will call upon the LORD, [who is worthy] to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.”

I came upon this verse during my studies last night and found three points that I thought to be very important not only to our mental health but also to our faith in God.

1. I WILL
2. WHO IS
3. SO SHALL

To better understand these three statements we have to look at who the writer is and when it was written. Psalm 18 is a Psalm of David, he spoke or sang these words to the Lord in the day that God delivered him from the hand of all his enemies as well as from Saul.  He Said:

1. I WILL call upon the Lord
2. WHO IS worthy to be praised
3. SO SHALL I be saved

It is vital to us all throughout our walk in faith toward God to remember these words of David in his time of trouble because they show us that no matter what is going on around us, whatever circumstances be that trouble us and despite the shadow our troubles may cast down upon us we can always call upon God and rest in assurance that He not only will hear us but that He will also without a doubt save us from our troubles.

Psalm 27:1 tells us “The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?“

It would appear by this verse that we as believers will find ourselves surrounded by elements that would dictate to us that we are in darkness. Now this is not a spiritual darkness but rather it is a darkness that cast itself upon our thoughts as if a dark cloud is resting upon us. It does the same as any cloud in the sky does when overcast; it hides the sun and blocks the light. However, this does not mean that the sun has gone away. It only means that there is something in the way of it getting to us and sometimes our thoughts can prevent ourselves from getting to God rather than God getting to us.

So David writes “the Lord is my Light” there may be darkness all around me but the Lord is my light. Psalm 119:105 reads ” Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Micah 7:8 tells us “Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD [shall be] a light unto me.“

The word of God is illuminating, it cast out all darkness and has the ability to set the wayward soul on the right path of redemption. Redemption comes in many ways; some need redemption for salvation and eternity; some need it to bring back the right standing with God they have lost and others to be reminded that God is with us. Still all redemption is for the soul of men and women.

Now Micah is saying, don’t count me out just yet my enemy while David is saying Amen, because God is with me, His word I believe and if I hold on to my faith, in time He will cause me to stand upright before Him. My salvation as David puts it.

Salvation means to be salvaged and to salvaged is to be purchased for restoration. It is the same as laying out an old torn beat up couch that nobody wants or has a need of out on the street so the trash company can come and pick it up to discard it to the junk yard. But before the trash man comes; a man comes along and sees this old tired couch and says to himself “I can use this“. So he approaches the home, knocks on the door and asked the couch owner if he could buy it off of him. The owner agrees and the man picks up the old worn out couch and brings it to his shop where he removes the stained fabric and cushions inside; refashions the wood to strengthen the body then replaces the old flat cushions with new ones and covers it with new clean fabric so that it is now a brand new couch that he can put in the center of his sitting room. We are the same as this couch. God restores us, He salvaged us after He purchased us with His blood on Calvary.

The last thing David says here in verse 1 of Psalm 27 is that “the Lord is the strength of my life” Verse 3 says that “I will be confident” this is faith. Faith to believe that no matter the circumstances I will be confident that God is still with me and He will deliver me. Where does this confidence come from?

I Samuel 12:24 “Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great [things] he hath done for you“

Our confidence in God comes from bringing back to our remembrance the great things God has done for us in the past. It is exactly what the writer of Hebrews did in chapter 11. We call it “the hall of faith“. It list things that God has done for those who have chosen to believe in Him. you will be surprised to see that not all listed were men or women of great faith or of spotless character. Without faith it is impossible to please God the scriptures tell us and when you read the word you can see that it is very true that whosoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. God is not a respecter of persons when it comes to belief in Him; but you must call upon Him and Him alone because He alone is God.

So we build ourselves up by bringing to remembrance the things God has done not only in our lives but in the lives of everyone who believes in Him; and doing so brings us to the place of Psalm 118:6 where we too can say in confidence “The LORD [is] on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?“

Our confidence in God will cause us to face our troubles with the full assurance that God is on our side.  We recognize Jeremiah 29:11-13 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” When we understand that God is on our side; we will not fear our troubles and we will proclaim with confidence what can man do to me? If God be for us then who can be against us. Man may be able to take away everything I worked so hard for. Man may be able to hurt me in every evil way he can imagine but God is my light; He is my salvation and no one, no man, no woman, nothing can take that away. We say in confidence what can man do to my soul, the answer nothing because it belongs to God and He’s on my side.

This is our Hope

Psalm 18:6 “In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, [even] into his ears.”

In my distress. We are going to have days when we face trouble even great trouble in our lives. It is only through our faith in God that we will survive these things. Sure there are other avenues but only through God does it carry throughout all eternity.

Some of us were taught that because we are Christians that we will not face any trouble however, I think life shows us the truth that God causes the rain to fall on the just as well as the unjust just like He causes the sun to shine on each the same. Christians face trouble just like anyone else but we do have an adversary that because we carry the word of truth hates us even more so we carry or walk with what seems to be a target on our backs. So in my distress I called upon the Lord.

What was bugging David? verse 4 and 5 tell us that:

1. Sorrow of death surrounded him
2. Floods of ungodly men caused him to fear
3. Sorrow of hell surrounded him
4. Snare of death prevented him

What does all this mean?

David was perused by his enemy. Saul wanted to kill David. David was hunted like an animal and prepared by Saul to die. So the shadow of death enveloped his mind. The thought that any day now Saul will kill him overshadowed every thought in Davids mind. Although he had faith, at this moment in his life his fear became stronger. Floods of ungodly men made him fear. Saul had an army of men seeking out David and this made him afraid. Sorrow of hell surrounded him. David was so afraid that his thoughts became his reality. He was over taken into thinking that surely hell awaits me. It is this mind control of fear that caused David to stall. It stopped him dead in his tracks; the snare of death prevented me. I’m stuck, there’s no way out for me, my enemies are great in number, it must be my time to die and I can’t win. All of these sayings are our enemy and contradict Philippians 4:8 “Whatsoever things are pure, holy, honest, just, good report to have virtue or grace think on these things”

What did David do?

He came back to himself and his faith in God and said

1. I WILL call upon the Lord
2. WHO IS worthy to be praised
3. SO SHALL I be saved

verse 6 of Psalm 18 says that in his distress David called upon God; he regained his confidence and called upon God but not only did he say hey God over here but the scripture says that he cried out to God.  Sometimes a shout out is not enough for us. Sometimes the fear and pain hurts so much that we have to cry out to God. Just like we cry out to our friends only our friends can’t heal a spiritual situation. Only God can.

We see the importance of what David did but what is hat is just as important is what God did.

verse 6 says that God heard the cry of David from outside the temple then it was carried via sound wave before God’s throne into His ear. “he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, [even] into his ears.” What that says is that God heard afar off the cry of David his servant and it caught His attention. Not only did it grab His attention but look at the rest of the verse and we see that it angered the God who is slow to wrath that unjustified trouble was being brought to His servant and caused his servant to fear. verse 7-9 paints great picture of our savior and deliverer. It says that God in His anger shook the earth and made it tremble. He moved the foundation with an earthquake. Smoke came from His nostrils and fire from His mouth aka He was angry. But look at verse 9 it says “He bowed the heavens also, and came down: and darkness [was] under his feet.” God left His throne to save one man; his servant.

Don’t ever think that God does not care about you or what you are going through or how others are treating you because He does care. He will leave His throne, bow heaven just to come to your rescue. He loves you that much.

Don’t be afraid to call upon Him. Have confidence in Him

1. I WILL
2. WHO IS
3. SO SHALL

www.ncmcf.webs.com

Vengeance belongs to God alone

V1. Oh Lord to whom vengeance belongs

Vengeance belongs to God alone

1. What is Vengeance?
   1. Punishment that is inflicted in return for a wrong; simply put it is revenge

i.      Retaliation – something done to get even with somebody else who has caused harm

This is not our place to do or to take upon ourselves to carry out. It belongs to God and to God alone.

Scripture reference:

Deuteronomy 32:35 To Me belongs vengeance, and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste

First thing to look at:

1. The punishment and the  judgmentcarried out on someone belongs to God
   1. Punishment – a penalty that is imposed on somebody for wrongdoing
   2. Judgment – the decision reached by one or more judges

i.      In short; God gets to make the decision of judgment and God gets to carry out the punishment based upon His decision. Not us

Second thing to look at:

1. We don’t need to carry out a payback on someone who has done harm to us because in the natural order of God’s universe “your sin will find you out” Numbers 32:23. It actually reads “be sure”.
   1. Be sure that in due time the foot of the one who causes harm to any man, woman or child, weather Christian, Muslim, Jew or atheist will slide.

i.      There is not one of us who can disobey the natural law and order of God who will be able to escape His pending verdict.  Only by faith in Jesus Christ and His holy sacrifice on the cross will any and everyone be saved from the judgment that awaits all men and women.

1. The apostle Paul before his conversion was told by Jesus while on the road to Damascus “It is hard to kick against the pricks”
2. Ecclesiastes 11:1 tells us “Cast your bread upon the waters: for you shall find it after many days”
3. Galatians 6:7-8 reads “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; whatsoever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting life”

i.      So the one who causes harm to another will have not only a hard life but without repentance and acceptance of Jesus as Messiah, they will also have a hard even terrible Olam Ha-Ba or Afterlife; eternity.

Third thing to look at:

1. The day of their calamity is at hand
   1. What is calamity?

i.      One meaning puts it as a disastrous situation or event

ii.      Another meaning says it is misery or distress resulting from a disastrous event

1. I don’t want you, myself or anyone else for that matter to be on that side of the judgment when that final day comes.
2. John the Baptist said “repent, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand” Matthew 3:2

i.      What was his meaning “at hand”? A. Shortly thereafter, Jesus came to him to be baptized. John was telling everybody through prophecy that the coming Messiah and His kingdom is right now! So get ready, make a change in your life, we don’t have much time left, it’s right now! Repent! Fall before God and receive His grace and forgiveness.

 

The Forth and last thing to look at in Deuteronomy:

1. The things that shall come upon them make haste
   1. Shall – Core meaning: will happen in the future
   2. In rules and law it indicates that something must happen or somebody is obliged to do something because of a rule or law

i.      God is obligated by His own law that the calamity brought about to any of us because of our actions must happen.

1. What is haste?
   1. Great speed, especially in situations where time is limited

So, in essence the writer of Deuteronomy is telling us that God gets to make the decision of judgment and God gets to carry out the punishment based upon His decision. Not us. Be sure that in due time the foot of the one who causes harm to any man, woman or child, weather Christian, Muslim, Jew or atheist will slide or fall into God’s Judgment. So, the one who causes harm to another will have not only a hard life but without repentance and acceptance of Jesus as Messiah, they will also have a hard even terrible Olam Ha-Ba or Afterlife; eternity. Now is the time to make that change because what I’ve told you weather you believe me or not, it’s going to happen. Don’t lose yourself over foolish behavior.

 

Second half of V1 O God, to whom vengeance belongs, show yourself

1. Have you ever cried out and said to God? I have. Many other believers in the bible have also
   1. Elisha prayed for his servant when they were surrounded at the house of Elisha by the kings men so that his servant would be calm and see the army of the Lord that was prepared behind the kings army. II Kings 6:17
   2. David cried out “hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee. Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am troubled; incline your ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily. Psalm 102:1-2

i.      David, King of Israel and a man after or who followed God sounds pretty desperate.

1. We all get desperate, we all get fearful, we all get nervous, we all have questions and we all fall short. That is what makes us alive!
   1. Elijah, you remember him right? The great dramatic prophet of the Northern Kingdom during the reign of Ahab. You remember him and his struggle to preserve Israel’s worship of God against corruption by Queen Jezebel and her Phoenician priest of Baal. Remember how he took on the false prophets, had a challenge of who can get the sacrifice first type of thing? After winning the contest he took all the false prophets of Baal down to the brook Kishon and killed each of them.
   2. He was just like us. “Elijah was a man with a nature just like ours” James 5:17

i.      After making a thunderous show of faith by believing God to do an extraordinary ac t through an ordinary guy, with faith mind you; Elijah receives word from Jezebel that she was going to kill him.

1. Now he just single handedly through God destroyed the whole belief system of Baal even killed all of his prophets. He should feel pretty confident at this time; but he wasn’t. One bad word from Jezebel sent this man of God running like the wind, cartoon style. 100 miles out!
2. II Kings 19:4 He hid under a tree and asked God to kill him.
   1. Just like us

Summary:

Vengeance belongs to God and not us. At times we my desire to carry out the judgment upon those who have caused pain, discomfort, agony and even despair; but the bottom line and the truth of the matter is that God gets to make the decision of judgment and God gets to carry out the punishment based upon His decision. Not us. Be sure that in due time the one who causes harm to any man, woman or child, weather Christian, Muslim, Jew or atheist fall into God’s Judgment.  The one who causes harm to another will have not only a hard life but without repentance and acceptance of Jesus as Messiah, they will also have a hard even terrible Olam Ha-Ba or Afterlife; eternity. Now is the time to make that change because what I’ve told you weather you believe me or not, it’s going to happen.

We all regardless of the size of our faith face situations that seem to be bigger then we can handle. We act upon the belief that “it is enough” just like Elijah did. There is a German proverb that says “fear makes the wolf bigger than he is” We are human and we are limited. We are not God but we have Him on our side. We can call upon Him in our time of weakness like King David did. We can run from what scares us and be encouraged to return to the battle like Elijah did. We can ask God to show Himself and have the confidence that He will just like Elijah did.

Romans 10:13 says “For whosoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved” Only Jesus can and will save those who call upon His name. Buddha can’t save you from the judgment to come, Allah can’t save you from the judgment to come, your beliefs in tradition cannot come close to saving you from the judgment to come. Zechariah 4:6 tells us “not by might, nor by power but by my spirit”

www.ncmcf.webs.com

 

Meditation is time for reflection

There are many variations of the word mediate used in our English language today. Most of which are correct, if used in the sense of reflecting on ones past or current behavior to modify or re-align yourself back into position with God however, some do it unnecessarily because there is no pure motive of the heart leaving it to be just a empty religious practice.

Webster’s defines meditation as:

1. To engage in thought or contemplation; reflect.

2. To engage in transcendental meditation,  devout religious contemplation, or quiescent spiritual introspection.

Question: What is Transcendental Meditation?

Answer: In Hinduism, it’s the practice of  saying a word or formula, as from the Veda, chanted or sung as an incantation or prayer.

I don’t wish to dwell on the Hindu beliefs however I do wish to point out that and incantation is defined as the chanting or uttering of words purporting to have magical power. It is the formula used to employ a spell or charm during magical ceremonies and is associated with magic or sorcery AKA witchcraft.

In short, incantations are just repetitious wordiness used to conceal a lack of content; so without the heart being in place it is literally good for nothing and of no use to the one who is involved in this practice.

Now, with that being said; my view is that to conceal the lack of content literally means that the prayer and purpose is empty and therefore has done nothing for you. However, when we fill that emptiness with a purpose; our heart and soul now become joined together and begin working in concert to find a resolve to what our goal and purpose is during meditation.

Some people shy away from the word meditate; you say it and suddenly we’re transported back to Salem and quickly put on trial for witchcraft. The word meditate t is used over 20 times in the scriptures; in both the Old and the New Testament and seeing that “man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4) then we should consider and not run from, but find the meaning of.

Psalm 5:1 says “Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.” Written by David, a man after God’s own heart

Consider: Was David, King of Israel chanting to God or using empty words to find answers? If so, why is God so easy to get one over on? After all He’s God, shouldn’t He be a little more intelligent than us? Which one of us can say we were there when the stars were created and how they were made? Who can say that they witnessed God when with His finger stretched out the heavens? We still today are trying to find beyond what we are in space and cannot find it because it will continue as far and long as we can look because it is not” flat” and because God is greater and far more intelligent than we are.

David knew that there was something that was bigger than he, something that created him and was in control of everything and who could help him in his time of need. So he says in Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” David sought help on an issue bigger than he from Him who is bigger than any issue. He simply gave himself over to seeking God.

I Timothy 4:15 tells us “Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.” Seeking God is not something we do halfheartedly and I have great respect for those who commit to seeking God with all of their heart; because those who seek Him like this 9 out of 10 KNOW HIM like this. In other words, you want to know me better come talk to me and not about me.

Meditating on our life is reflecting on our life. It’s the same as looking into the mirror and considering everything you see. We’ll do it before we go out for an evening how more important is it that we should do the same before we go out far all eternity.

Psalm 119:26-32 tells us the formula of meditation and self refection “I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me. I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame. I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.

1. I made my ways known to you
2. Help me to understand
3. Cleanse me and remove undesirable behaviors
4. Only you God can do this for me
5. When it’s over you will restore me, cleanse me, and set me back on the right track

The good thing is that once we are restored or come back to our senses and we all go through this; there’s nothing at all to be ashamed about. I’m a minister ordained by the God and the church and I too need to consider my self and seek the Lord so we both together can inventory my warehouse and see what needs to go and what needs to stay. Just like God said in Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together.” God hasn’t changed one bit through the years; He is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever will be exactly who He is.

When we do emerge from our counseling with God He always leaves an instruction. Just as He did when He said “Go and sin no more” or “go and tell everyone what you have seen” an “Go out into all the world.” He never leaves us with a question mark above our head.

Philippians 4:8 is our instruction. it says “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

So, after all the meditation, after you searched your soul, after all the wrestling with yourself and finding all the answers with God, turn the corner and begin to think or live with these eight topics above. Now it doesn’t mean that you are going to start living like superman or wonder woman where nothing can touch you. No, it’s just saying BEGIN HERE!

Reflect yourself, search your soul, hold the mirror up and consider together with God.

God bless you always!

pastor Dave

www.ncmcf.webs.com

 

 

The power of our words

Many times we throughout our day have either hurt someone or we ourselves have been hurt by someone because of what they have chosen to say to us. Also, many times we either uplifted and encouraged someone or someone has uplifted and encouraged us by what they choose to say. What I would like for us to do is consider the word CHOOSE.

Websters defines it as:

1. To select from a number of possibilities; pick by preference: She chose Sunday for her departure.
2. To prefer or decide (to do something): He chose to run for election.
3. To want; desire

Simply put, to choose something we must make a selection from any of the numerous possibilities that are set before us. We choose something because we want it; we prefer something over another then simply make the decision of choice.

While sitting with my family at a restaurant, I look over all the selections they have to offer and under careful consideration I make my choice. I choose or prefer a greasy double bacon cheese-burger over a chicken sandwich and place my order.

It’s a choice we all make

Let’s look at some scripture

There are over 100 verses that mention the tongue and how it effects us and those around us. We are only going to look at a few.

Proverbs 15:4  (NIV)

The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

James 3:5 (NIV)

Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

James 3:6 (NIV)

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Jeremiah 9:8 (NIV)

Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully. With their mouths they all speak cordially to their neighbors, but in their hearts they set traps for them.

Matthew 5:22 (NIV)

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Exodus 20:13 (NIV)

“You shall not murder.

Here we can see that God has given our tongue an amazing power; have you ever considered how we are made in the very image of God Himself? While in creation or while He walked among us, when He spoke things happened. Trees withered, the blind regained sight, lepers were healed and so on. If we are made in His image and with only a word spoken by Him a tree withers or the sick recover, how much the same power do our words carry? Remember it was a third of the angels in Heaven who were deceived by Lucifer by what? His words.

It is easy to say your sins are forgiven; much harder to heal the sick.

There’s a line of a song that reads “hating is easy, loving takes real character“

Ask yourself, why is hating much easier to do? Why does loving someone seem to always come at a price?  After all no one ever hated someone and then paid the price for that hatred; they only hurt themselves by carrying the burden of hate. Love comes at a price because often times we will love someone who

1. Does not love us back

2. Will not receive the love we are trying to give

More often than not you will find the later the more you work in ministry however, both are rejection and both equally hurt.

Hate comes easy to us therefore it is not much of a choice; it comes natural to us all to get upset when someone treats us unfairly however, to make the choice to love that one who has hurt us; that is where true character comes in to play.

Our tongues:

1. Can be soothe or crush the spirit

2. Is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body

3. It corrupts the whole body

4. Is a deadly arrow

5. Sets the whole course of one’s life on fire

6. Set on fire by hell

This is why Jesus in Matthew 5:22 “anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”

1. Raca means worthless

2. You fool talks down to someone; it destroys their character while building yours up

Jesus said when you talk like this to someone; call them worthless and tear down their spirit that you will one day answer to the judge for this; and He is the judge who judges all men and women.

He also said that if you destroy someone by ridicule then you yourself are in danger of hell itself. Well, you may say that this seems a bit harsh coming from an all loving creator but wait a minute, He’s just and we can always count on Him to do what’s right. So if God were to change His own law and allow murders to go free then His entire justice system is corrupted. It would be in a false balance which He Himself said He hates.  So therefore, we all regardless of yesterday; if we continue to hold unrepentance for our actions or behaviors then God is just to hold us accountable to those actions. How can God forgive sin if not acknowledged and asked for? Will He give a rock if ask for a fish? no. Nor will He forgive sin if not repented of; and to repent of something we must first acknowledge to Him that we have made mistakes and confess to Him those mistakes.

I’m not talking about how are we ever going to be able to confess every single sin we make to God when we are bond to the sinful nature of the flesh; that would take some of us all of our life. I know it would mine and my memory is not that sharp as it was a few years back. So no, I’m not talking about that and neither does God require that from any of us. I am only talking about the sin we know we are doing before God.

To sum it all up; do what your momma told you to do and watch your mouth we don’t want to hurt each other or destroy the spirit of another. That’s not pleasing to God. He wants us to live in peace with each other always.

To choose life and not death we must make a selection from any of the numerous possibilities that are set before us. We must choose something because we want it; we simply must prefer life over death.

Pastor David

www.ncmcf.webs.com

What not to be & how not to treat each other

A few “don’t be” & “don’t cause” in relationship

DON’T BE:

PRISONER
1 : a person DEPRIVED of LIBERTY and kept under INVOLUNTARY RESTRAINT, confinement, or custody; especially : one on trial or in prison

SLAVE
1 : a person held in servitude as the chattel of another
2 : one that is completely SUBSERVIENT to a DOMINATING INFLUENCE

DON’T CAUSE:

DURESS
1 : FORCIBLE RESTRAINT or restriction
2 : compulsion by threat; specifically : unlawful constraint

RESTRAINT
1 a : a means of restraining : a restraining FORCE or INFLUENCE
2 : a CONTROL over the EXPRESSION of one’s EMOTIONS or THOUGHTS

KEEP IN MIND:

1. Each of us belong to God and not to each other.
A. He doesn’t treat us as such so why would we?
B. Are you truly following the teachings of Jesus or are you just going through the motions?

2. Each of us were saved by grace
A. If grace is understood to be an offer of forgiveness to those who don’t deserve it; why then are we not being graceful to each other.

3. Who only but Satan would act out toward another in such terrible behavior?
A. Who are you giving your will over to? God or Satan-Spirit or Flesh

Parenting insight from pastor David

My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord; but I have NEVER understood a word that came from my teenager….who are these people?

I’m ok with not being able to understand them, after all they’re aliens. What other reason could there possibly be? They MUST be from another world; from a place that straddles the line between cleaver and stupid, a place where imagination is free to run wild while bound up in the back seat lies clear intellectual thought.

But even E.T understood that home is where the heart is (I ain’t gonna sing it!) so while our teens may seem to be alien in nature and in speech as well as think that they are the more intelligent creature; if we teach them the way they ought to go when they are still teachable, then when they grow older they will realize that we were right all along and once again return to their senses (Proverbs 22:6)

Proverbs 22:6 is a two-edged sword because we as parents if we teach our kids what NOT to do as they are young then they too will follow us in our unhealthy behaviors when they are older.

pastor David

www.ncmcf.webs.com

Polycarp – A Father of the Christian Church

Polycarp is a celebrated figure in the history of Christianity. A direct pupil of the apostle John, Polycarp lived between 70 and 155 A.D., connecting him to both the biblical apostles and the age of the early church fathers. Several ancient sources document the contributions of Polycarp to Christianity, including his letters written to the church at Philippi, in which he encourages the members to remain strong in their faith and to flee from materialism. He also instructs the members in the proper handling of financial dishonesty that was creeping into the church. Polycarp served as the bishop of the church at Smyrna (modern day Izmir), and was recognized as one of the early combatants of Christian heresies. He rejected the teachings of Marcion, an influential heretic who tried to create a “new brand” of Christianity by redefining God and rejecting Old Testament teachings. In his well-known thesis, Polycarp combats Gnostic heresies that were beginning to spread throughout the Christian church.

Polycarp – A Martyr for Truth

Polycarp’s greatest contribution to Christianity may be his martyred death. His martyrdom stands as one of the most well documented events of antiquity. The emperors of Rome had unleashed bitter attacks against the Christians during this period, and members of the early church recorded many of the persecutions and deaths. Polycarp was arrested on the charge of being a Christian — a member of a politically dangerous cult whose rapid growth needed to be stopped. Amidst an angry mob, the Roman proconsul took pity on such a gentle old man and urged Polycarp to proclaim, “Caesar is Lord”. If only Polycarp would make this declaration and offer a small pinch of incense to Caesar’s statue he would escape torture and death. To this Polycarp responded, “Eighty-six years I have served Christ, and He never did me any wrong. How can I blaspheme my King who saved me?” Steadfast in his stand for Christ, Polycarp refused to compromise his beliefs, and thus, was burned alive at the stake.

Polycarp – A Relevant Testimony for our Lives

Polycarp’s martyrdom is historical reality. He died for one reason – his unyielding faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Yet Polycarp’s well-recorded death is only one of many lives that were given to reveal and proclaim the truth of Jesus Christ. In light of the cruel and torturous deaths of the first and second generation Christians, all theories that Christianity is a fabricated myth, created for the personal gain of its followers, must be rejected. Even today, many will die for a belief, but none will die for a lie. God allows the deaths of His saints not because He is a helpless or indifferent Lord, but because their deaths are powerful declarations of the free gift of life that is offered to us through the Person of Jesus Christ. If you have any doubts about the truth of Christ as revealed in the Bible, reexamine the biblical text in light of the willful deaths of nearly all of its writers, men who were eyewitnesses to Christ’s life and ministry. Polycarp, like many other Christians to this day, was only able to die for Christ because he lived for Christ. His life was radically transformed by the work of the Holy Spirit — the desires, worries, pains and fears of this world no longer bound him. Polycarp’s life and death provides an inspirational example for all Christians. He gave his earthly life for Christ, and in the midst of his sacrifice, he gained eternal life.

Wherever You Are, Jesus is waiting for you

John 4:1-42

Looking at Jewish relations with the Samarians
• There was a prejudice between the Jews and Samarians. A Jewish man would avoid going through Samaria to avoid having any contact with anyone from there.
• Jesus could have taken another route to Galilee but he chose this one.
Must need

• He must needs = dei {die} = it is necessary, there is need of
• deo {deh’-o} = to bind, fasten with chains
Paul says that he is Desmeous Iesous Christos = The Prisoner of Jesus
Christ
• Jesus had to go through Samaria. It was necessary, there was a need, and he had no choice. (Prisoner)The spirit within him put him in chains and bound him as a prisoner to do the will of God.
• Jesus said to Peter when you were younger you went wherever you
wanted to go, but when you grow older men will carry you to where you
don’t want to go.

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman
• Racial boundaries were broken when Jesus asked her for a drink
• Jesus tells her to go and get her husband. Remember in him is the breath of every
living soul and he illuminates our thoughts to bring to the light our darkness.
• Emmanuel = with our darkness is the body of God
• David said. Where can I go that you are not? Can I hide in a cave, under a rock? You are closer then the air I breathe.
• She tells him that she has no husband. (Jesus looks at the heart, she could have lied)

Jesus replied you’re right. You’ve had five husbands and the one that you are with now is not your husband either. Not only will Jesus shine a little light to our mess, but he will blow it up, (illuminate the dark)

The Samaritan Woman
• Going for water at the end of the day
• Probably tired after walking and nothing to look forward to because what she has just
carried now has to carry back into town. Only now her buckets are filled with water.
• Two buckets carried along the shoulders tied at each end.
• Meets a man from Galilee who by their standards is her enemy. She is hated because of who she is and where she was born. Racial prejudice.
• I’m sure she was not looking forward to Jesus opening his mouth to her.
• Jesus says to her that if you knew who was asking for drink. You should be asking me for a drink. Why? Because whoever drinks from this water will thirst again, but whoever drink from the water that I give will never thirst again.
• She realizes through her conversation with Jesus that he might be a prophet. Jesus tells her that you worship here in Jerusalem and on the mountain because you are told to. You don’t even know who it is that you are worshiping. God is a spirit and them that worship him must do so in spirit and in truth.
• She starts to realize that this man she is talking to might be the coming Messiah. But too afraid and not wanting to embarrass herself by assuming she tiptoes around the questions by saying. I know the Messiah is coming, and when he does he will tell us all things. Jesus looks at her in the eyes and says to her “I that speak am he”
• Jesus met her on that road because there was a need in her life. She was hated
because of who she was. Her view of herself was low. She had five husbands before this last one and not one man was helping her carry this load. Jesus knew she was committing adultery and who she was, but he is a prisoner to Gods will and had no choice but to go up to Samaria, just to meet with this one woman!
Matthew 18:12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeks that which is gone astray?

John 8: 3-11
• Brought to Jesus a woman caught in the act of adultery
• When they had set = histemi {his’-tay-mee} = to cause or make to stand
• According to the law given to Moses she should be put to death
• Remember in him is the breath of every living soul and he illuminates our
thoughts to bring to the light our darkness.
• Jesus stands up and says to the crowd. He that is without sin let him first cast a stone at her.

Who Is God To You? He is my REFUGE, He shields me from those would condemn me
• Jehovah Nissi = The Lord is my refuge
• After Jesus spoke to the crowd they began to leave one by one. From the oldest thru the youngest.

Jesus stayed with the woman until they left

He is my refuge
• Psalm 51:9 Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities
• Psalm 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings

He raises and says to her. Woman where are your accusers? Has any man condemned you? Neither do I.

• Woman = gune {goo-nay’} = a woman of any age, whether a virgin, or
married, or a widow

From
• Ginomai {ghin’-om-ahee} = to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin
to be.
• Jesus was acknowledging her as his creation. Even though she was caught in the act of sin, she still belonged to Jesus
• Condemn = katakrino {kat-ak-ree’-no} = to judge worthy of punishment
• He asks her. Is there any man who now judges you worthy of punishment?
• She says no man (More then just a statement made because she was being
protected by a man. She realized after Jesus spoke and all men began to
leave one by one. she knew that she was standing by just any man. She
knew she was standing by God!) Emmanuel = with our darkness is the
body of God
• No man = oudeis {oo-dice’} = no one, nothing

From
• oude {oo-deh’} = but not, neither, nor, not even
• de {deh} = but, moreover, and, etc.

Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall]
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword?

Romans 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able
to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

• She recognized that because Jesus had come to her rescue that no one and nothing will ever judge her but the Lord himself. She is safe.

Jesus says: Neither do I

1. The Samaritan Woman
a. Racial division
b. Feelings of worthlessness
c. Adultery
d. Loneliness

2. The Woman caught in the Act of Adultery
a. Sin
b. Guilt
c. Public Humiliation
i. One very private and intimate woman with feelings of isolation from society
ii. One very open publicized act with feelings of shame and humiliation

Both women were met by Jesus out of a necessity. There was a need for help in each of their lives. Jesus was sitting by the well waiting for the Samaritan women and he was sitting on the ground waiting for the women who would be caught in sin because He was bound and fastened with chains to be a prisoner and to serve the will of God.

Jesus today sits and waits for us just as he did then. He’s waiting for us to bring to him our burdens, our sorrows, and our joys. Why? Because he is the only one who can lift them.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

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