43.

Dear Luam and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus.  Thank you for sharing God's Word.  Every day God shows me what He wants me to read in His Bible, and you many times are the vehicle He uses to show me.  As I read Job, I am being moved to share some insights He seems to be showing me.  I hope the words touch your heart.  As we look at the oldest book of the Bible:

Job 22:21-25 (New Living Translation)

(21) "Stop quarreling with God! If you agree with him, you will have peace at last, and things will go well for you. (22) Listen to his instructions, and store them in your heart. (23) If you return to the Almighty and clean up your life, you will be restored. (24) Give up your lust for money, and throw your precious gold into the river. (25) Then the Almighty himself will be your treasure. He will be your precious silver!"

While Elipher's advice didn't apply to Job, it is clearly applicable to many of us.  The pain we suffer as a consequence of our dependencies should tell us that our way of coping with life is not working.  We may have tried living without God, but then we discovered that it led to disaster.  ll we need to do is give our life over to God.  and He will help us in the process of recovery and dealing with significant life changing experiences.  We can find all we were searching for in God.  He is our comfort, our hope, and our "treasure."

Eliphaz exhorts Job to repentance.

The answer of Eliphaz wrongly implied that Job had hitherto not known God, and that prosperity in this life would follow his sincere conversion.  The counsel Eliphaz here gives is good, though, as to Job, it was built upon a false supposition that he was a stranger and enemy to God.  Let us beware of slandering our brethren; and if it be our lot to suffer in this manner, let us remember how Job was treated; yea, how Jesus was reviled, that we may be patient.  Let us examine whether there may not be some color for the slander, and walk watchfully, so as to be clear of all appearances of evil.

And as we move into the new testament:

John 15:1-8 (New Living Translation)

Jesus, the True Vine

   (1) "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. (2) He cuts off every branch that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. (3) You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. (4) Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.

   (5) "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. (6) Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. (7) But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!  (8) My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father."

God desires that our life be like the fruitful branches of a grapevine.  The only way to be fruitful is to remain connected to Jesus, the vine, and to allow God, the gardener, to prune our life to stimulate growth and fruitfulness.  It is God's cultivating, weeding, and pruning in our life that the desired fruit comes through the vine, so fullness of life comes through faith in Jesus Christ.  We need to stay close to Jesus, the source of power and practical help for recovery and dealing with significant life changing experiences.

Christ the true Vine.

Jesus Christ is the Vine, the true Vine.  The union of the human and Divine natures, and the fullness of the Spirit that is in him, resemble the root of the vine made fruitful by the moisture from a rich soil.  Believers are branches of this Vine.  The root is unseen, and our life is hid with Christ; the root bears the tree, diffuses sap to it, and in Christ are all supports and supplies.  The branches of the vine are many, yet, meeting in the root, are all but one vine; thus all true Christians, though in place and opinion distant from each other, meet in Christ. Believers, like the branches of the vine, are weak, and unable to stand but as they are borne up.  The Father is the Husbandman.  Never was any husbandman so wise, so watchful, about his vineyard, as God is about his church, which therefore must prosper.  We must be fruitful.  From a vine we look for grapes, and from a Christian we look for a Christian temper, disposition, and life. We must honor God, and do good; this is bearing fruit.  The unfruitful are taken away.  And even fruitful branches need pruning; for the best have notions, passions, and humors, that require to be taken away, which Christ has promised to forward the sanctification of believers, they will be thankful, for them.  The word of Christ is spoken to all believers; and there is a cleansing virtue in that word, as it works grace, and works out corruption.  And the more fruit we bring forth, the more we abound in what is good, the more our Lord is glorified.  In order to fruitfulness, we must abide in Christ, must have union with him by faith. It is the great concern of all Christ's disciples, constantly to keep up dependence upon Christ, and communion with him.  True Christians find by experience, that any interruption in the exercise of their faith, causes holy affections to decline, our corruptions to revive, and our comforts to droop. Those who abide not in Christ, though they may flourish for awhile in outward profession, yet come to nothing.  The fire is the fittest place for withered branches; they are good for nothing else.  Let us seek to live more simply on the fullness of Christ, and to grow more fruitful in every good word and work, so may our joy in Him and in his salvation be full.

As we look at what Paul showed us:

1 Thessalonian 5:14-28 (New Living Translation)

(14) Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

    (15) See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to everyone else.

    (16) Always be joyful. (17) Keep on praying. (18) No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

    (19) Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. (20) Do not scoff at prophecies, (21) but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. (22) Keep away from every kind of evil.

Paul's Final Greetings

    (23) Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. (24) God, who calls you, is faithful; he will do this.

    (25) Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.

    (26) Greet all the brothers and sisters in Christian love.[a]

    (27) I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.

    (28) And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.

Paul leaves us with his final good advice.  If we follow these instructions with God's help, we will be well on our way in the recovery process.  We are called to minister to others, a part of recovery that gives hope to others and reinforces our own success.  Paul tells us to rebuild our relationships bay repaying the wrongs of others with kindness.  We are called to live a joyful life, always prayerful, continually seeking god's will.  We are reminded of the gift of the Holy Spirit God's continual presence in our life.  God gives us what we need to succeeded in recovery and dealing with significant life changing experiences.  Our part is to participate in the good plan He has set our for us. 

And concludes with prayer, greetings, and a blessing.

The ministers of the gospel are described by the work of their office, which is to serve and honor the Lord.  It is their duty not only to give good counsel, but also to warn the flock of dangers, and reprove for whatever may be amiss.  The people should honor and love their ministers, because their business is the welfare of men's souls.  And the people should be at peace among themselves, doing all they can to guard against any differences.  But love of peace must not make us wink at sin.  The fearful and sorrowful spirits, should be encouraged, and a kind word may do much good.  We must bear and forbear.  We must be long-suffering, and keep down anger, and this to all men.  Whatever man do to us, we must do good to others

The author of Hebrews is unknown, but many have been suggested:

Hebrews 4:14-16 (New Living Translation)

Christ Is Our High Priest

   (14) That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him. (15) This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. (16) So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.

The Holy Scriptures are the word of God. When God sets it home by his Spirit, it convinces powerfully, converts powerfully, and comforts powerfully.

It makes a soul that has long been proud, to be humble; and a perverse spirit, to be meek and obedient.  Sinful habits, that are become as it were natural to the soul, and rooted deeply in it, are separated and cut off by this sword.  It will discover to men their thoughts and purposes, the vileness of many, the bad principles they are moved by, the sinful ends they act to.  The word will show the sinner all that is in his heart.  Let us hold fast the doctrines of Christian faith in our heads, its enlivening principles in our hearts, the open profession of it in our lips, and be subject to it in our lives.  Christ executed one part of his priesthood on earth, in dying for us; the other he executes in heaven, pleading the cause, and presenting the offerings of his people.  In the sight of Infinite Wisdom, it was needful that the Saviour of men should be one who has the fellow-feeling which no being but a fellow-creature could possibly have; and therefore it was necessary he should actual experience of all the effects of sin that could be separated from its actual guilt. God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, (Roman 8:3); but the more holy and pure he was, the more he must have been unwilling in his nature to sin, and must have had deeper impression of its evil; consequently the more must he be concerned to deliver his people from its guilt and power.  We should encourage ourselves by the excellence of our High Priest, to come boldly to the throne of grace.  Mercy and grace are the things we want; mercy to pardon all our sins, and grace to purify our souls.  Besides our daily dependence upon God for present supplies, there are seasons for which we should provide in our prayers; times of temptation, either by adversity or prosperity, and especially our dying time.  We are to come with reverence and godly fear, yet not as if dragged to the seat of justice, but as kindly invited to the mercy-seat, where grace reigns.  We have boldness to enter into the holiest only by the blood of Jesus; he is our Advocate, and has purchased all our souls want or can desire.

And as we go back into the Gospel of Luke, we might conclude a few things:

Luke 18

Story of the Persistent Widow

   (1) One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up.

Many of us have experienced injustice at the hands of authority figures, such as family court judges, mean bosses, or parole officers.  This story contrasts God with the unfair judge and makes the point that even if life is unfair, God is fair.  If an evil judge finally answers the pleas of a persistent widow, how much more will a just god respond to those in need who pray to Him in faith.  When trials and challenges make life seem unfair, we can still trust God to deliver us.  Seeking God in prayer requires patience and persistence, but He always answers.

The parable of the importunate widow.

All God's people are praying people.  Here earnest steadiness in prayer for spiritual mercies is taught.  The widow's earnestness prevailed even with the unjust judge: she might fear lest it should set him more against her; but our earnest prayer is pleasing to our God.  Even to the end there will still be ground for the same complaint of weakness of faith.

Luke 18:27

(27) He replied, "What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God."

Kind of says it all.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ http://www.thehawaiianportal.com/db_clients/613.php and http://www.volunteerhawaii.org/org/2280144.html

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

44.

Dear Luam and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus.  Thank you for sharing God's Word.  Every day God shows me what He wants me to read in His Bible, and you many times are the vehicle He uses to show me.  As I read Job, I am being moved to share some insights He seems to be showing me.  I hope the words touch your heart.  As we look at the oldest book of the Bible:

Job 22:21-25 (New Living Translation)

(21) "Stop quarreling with God! If you agree with him, you will have peace at last, and things will go well for you. (22) Listen to his instructions, and store them in your heart. (23) If you return to the Almighty and clean up your life, you will be restored. (24) Give up your lust for money, and throw your precious gold into the river. (25) Then the Almighty himself will be your treasure. He will be your precious silver!"

While Elipher's advice didn't apply to Job, it is clearly applicable to many of us.  The pain we suffer as a consequence of our dependencies should tell us that our way of coping with life is not working.  We may have tried living without God, but then we discovered that it led to disaster.  ll we need to do is give our life over to God.  and He will help us in the process of recovery and dealing with significant life changing experiences.  We can find all we were searching for in God.  He is our comfort, our hope, and our "treasure."

Eliphaz exhorts Job to repentance.

The answer of Eliphaz wrongly implied that Job had hitherto not known God, and that prosperity in this life would follow his sincere conversion.  The counsel Eliphaz here gives is good, though, as to Job, it was built upon a false supposition that he was a stranger and enemy to God.  Let us beware of slandering our brethren; and if it be our lot to suffer in this manner, let us remember how Job was treated; yea, how Jesus was reviled, that we may be patient.  Let us examine whether there may not be some color for the slander, and walk watchfully, so as to be clear of all appearances of evil.

And as we move into the new testament:

John 15:1-8 (New Living Translation)

Jesus, the True Vine

   (1) "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. (2) He cuts off every branch that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. (3) You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you. (4) Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.

   (5) "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. (6) Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. (7) But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!  (8) My true disciples produce much fruit. This brings great glory to my Father."

God desires that our life be like the fruitful branches of a grapevine.  The only way to be fruitful is to remain connected to Jesus, the vine, and to allow God, the gardener, to prune our life to stimulate growth and fruitfulness.  It is God's cultivating, weeding, and pruning in our life that the desired fruit comes through the vine, so fullness of life comes through faith in Jesus Christ.  We need to stay close to Jesus, the source of power and practical help for recovery and dealing with significant life changing experiences.

Christ the true Vine.

Jesus Christ is the Vine, the true Vine.  The union of the human and Divine natures, and the fullness of the Spirit that is in him, resemble the root of the vine made fruitful by the moisture from a rich soil.  Believers are branches of this Vine.  The root is unseen, and our life is hid with Christ; the root bears the tree, diffuses sap to it, and in Christ are all supports and supplies.  The branches of the vine are many, yet, meeting in the root, are all but one vine; thus all true Christians, though in place and opinion distant from each other, meet in Christ. Believers, like the branches of the vine, are weak, and unable to stand but as they are borne up.  The Father is the Husbandman.  Never was any husbandman so wise, so watchful, about his vineyard, as God is about his church, which therefore must prosper.  We must be fruitful.  From a vine we look for grapes, and from a Christian we look for a Christian temper, disposition, and life. We must honor God, and do good; this is bearing fruit.  The unfruitful are taken away.  And even fruitful branches need pruning; for the best have notions, passions, and humors, that require to be taken away, which Christ has promised to forward the sanctification of believers, they will be thankful, for them.  The word of Christ is spoken to all believers; and there is a cleansing virtue in that word, as it works grace, and works out corruption.  And the more fruit we bring forth, the more we abound in what is good, the more our Lord is glorified.  In order to fruitfulness, we must abide in Christ, must have union with him by faith. It is the great concern of all Christ's disciples, constantly to keep up dependence upon Christ, and communion with him.  True Christians find by experience, that any interruption in the exercise of their faith, causes holy affections to decline, our corruptions to revive, and our comforts to droop. Those who abide not in Christ, though they may flourish for awhile in outward profession, yet come to nothing.  The fire is the fittest place for withered branches; they are good for nothing else.  Let us seek to live more simply on the fullness of Christ, and to grow more fruitful in every good word and work, so may our joy in Him and in his salvation be full.

As we look at what Paul showed us:

1 Thessalonian 5:14-28 (New Living Translation)

(14) Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

    (15) See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to everyone else.

    (16) Always be joyful. (17) Keep on praying. (18) No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

    (19) Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. (20) Do not scoff at prophecies, (21) but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. (22) Keep away from every kind of evil.

Paul's Final Greetings

    (23) Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. (24) God, who calls you, is faithful; he will do this.

    (25) Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us.

    (26) Greet all the brothers and sisters in Christian love.[a]

    (27) I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters.

    (28) And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you.

Paul leaves us with his final good advice.  If we follow these instructions with God's help, we will be well on our way in the recovery process.  We are called to minister to others, a part of recovery that gives hope to others and reinforces our own success.  Paul tells us to rebuild our relationships bay repaying the wrongs of others with kindness.  We are called to live a joyful life, always prayerful, continually seeking god's will.  We are reminded of the gift of the Holy Spirit God's continual presence in our life.  God gives us what we need to succeeded in recovery and dealing with significant life changing experiences.  Our part is to participate in the good plan He has set our for us. 

And concludes with prayer, greetings, and a blessing.

The ministers of the gospel are described by the work of their office, which is to serve and honor the Lord.  It is their duty not only to give good counsel, but also to warn the flock of dangers, and reprove for whatever may be amiss.  The people should honor and love their ministers, because their business is the welfare of men's souls.  And the people should be at peace among themselves, doing all they can to guard against any differences.  But love of peace must not make us wink at sin.  The fearful and sorrowful spirits, should be encouraged, and a kind word may do much good.  We must bear and forbear.  We must be long-suffering, and keep down anger, and this to all men.  Whatever man do to us, we must do good to others

The author of Hebrews is unknown, but many have been suggested:

Hebrews 4:14-16 (New Living Translation)

Christ Is Our High Priest

   (14) That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone to heaven, Jesus the Son of God. Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him. (15) This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin. (16) So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it.

The Holy Scriptures are the word of God. When God sets it home by his Spirit, it convinces powerfully, converts powerfully, and comforts powerfully.

It makes a soul that has long been proud, to be humble; and a perverse spirit, to be meek and obedient.  Sinful habits, that are become as it were natural to the soul, and rooted deeply in it, are separated and cut off by this sword.  It will discover to men their thoughts and purposes, the vileness of many, the bad principles they are moved by, the sinful ends they act to.  The word will show the sinner all that is in his heart.  Let us hold fast the doctrines of Christian faith in our heads, its enlivening principles in our hearts, the open profession of it in our lips, and be subject to it in our lives.  Christ executed one part of his priesthood on earth, in dying for us; the other he executes in heaven, pleading the cause, and presenting the offerings of his people.  In the sight of Infinite Wisdom, it was needful that the Saviour of men should be one who has the fellow-feeling which no being but a fellow-creature could possibly have; and therefore it was necessary he should actual experience of all the effects of sin that could be separated from its actual guilt. God sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, (Roman 8:3); but the more holy and pure he was, the more he must have been unwilling in his nature to sin, and must have had deeper impression of its evil; consequently the more must he be concerned to deliver his people from its guilt and power.  We should encourage ourselves by the excellence of our High Priest, to come boldly to the throne of grace.  Mercy and grace are the things we want; mercy to pardon all our sins, and grace to purify our souls.  Besides our daily dependence upon God for present supplies, there are seasons for which we should provide in our prayers; times of temptation, either by adversity or prosperity, and especially our dying time.  We are to come with reverence and godly fear, yet not as if dragged to the seat of justice, but as kindly invited to the mercy-seat, where grace reigns.  We have boldness to enter into the holiest only by the blood of Jesus; he is our Advocate, and has purchased all our souls want or can desire.

And as we go back into the Gospel of Luke, we might conclude a few things:

Luke 18

Story of the Persistent Widow

   (1) One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up.

Many of us have experienced injustice at the hands of authority figures, such as family court judges, mean bosses, or parole officers.  This story contrasts God with the unfair judge and makes the point that even if life is unfair, God is fair.  If an evil judge finally answers the pleas of a persistent widow, how much more will a just god respond to those in need who pray to Him in faith.  When trials and challenges make life seem unfair, we can still trust God to deliver us.  Seeking God in prayer requires patience and persistence, but He always answers.

The parable of the importunate widow.

All God's people are praying people.  Here earnest steadiness in prayer for spiritual mercies is taught.  The widow's earnestness prevailed even with the unjust judge: she might fear lest it should set him more against her; but our earnest prayer is pleasing to our God.  Even to the end there will still be ground for the same complaint of weakness of faith.

Luke 18:27

(27) He replied, "What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God."

Kind of says it all.

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ http://www.thehawaiianportal.com/db_clients/613.php and http://www.volunteerhawaii.org/org/2280144.html

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

45.

Dear Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus.  As I was reading my email, Dr. Z shared some information with me that touched my soul.  As I read it I rewrote it the way I felt and decided to share the results with you.  I pray it touches your heart in a way that you may also move beyond the walls of your church.  After all, Jesus didn't teach men to go to church, He taught the disciples, men and women to make all become disciples of Christ.

As we proceed with the work and mission at hand, it's something we need to remember Go Ye!! As I prepared to witness to others to show how a homeless beach bum can be changed by the Bible, I am asked by many, "Why go out into the streets for people when every Sunday several visitors come to churchs with walls?"  Oh, I could have replied about it being the command of Jesus, or that God would eventually stop the flow of visitors if they didnt go out into the streets; but still, why do it if your church is growing as is? 

I also know that if we filled all of the Christian churches in the United States, we could only serve 20% of the population.  What about the other 80%?  Well, the Waikiki Beach Outreach Ministry is a church without walls that can serve the other 80% if we had enough pastors and followers of Christ Jesus who desire to his work.  

What would the Apostle Paul have said?  Well, I tell you, Ive looked close at the gospels, especially the book of Acts, our traditional guides to soul winning.  Ive read historical accounts from others to see how the church operated during Pauls time. You know what?  I could not find one reference to announcing visitors at the end of service, or about altar calls, or a show of hands for the unsaved or backslidden, or even of sinners prayers.  How did they win souls for Christ?  How did they know when someone was saved?  Not by waiting for them to visit the church!  The world of Pauls time was much like today.  Now they didnt spend Sunday afternoon on the couch watching a ball game while the women went to the mall, but they did spend it in their own ways with the same basic needs and desires as you and me.  They were comfortable in their ways and so were the establishment churches.  Then along came Paul and his band "turning the world upside down" (Acts 17:6). Well, its the same world today.  Only the world is already upside down.  They just dont know it.  It is wrong side up and needs to be turned right side up.  We, you and me, are the people to turn it right side up. We are Pauls band today.  It is our job, not Billy Grahams, not Benny Hinns, not T.D. Jakes, not our pastor, its our job.  Angels dont witness, we do men, women and children.  Jesus has no other plan for saving the world than us.  It is our job, our call, Gods will that we (all of us) witness and win souls for His kingdom.  It is time for todays church to have the same notoriety as the church of James, Peter, John and Paul. 

It is time we of the church move outside of the walls of the church and witness to others outside of the church.  What did the church have then that is lacking today?  The first soul winning strategy for the church was and has to be PRAYER.  It is the foundation stone that comes before, during and after any other work and continues to support the life of the church.  The early church knew the truth . . . Acts 1:13-14 the beginning of the church. Acts 2:1-4 the empowerment of the church. Acts 2:41 the result of prayer and empowerment. Acts 2:42-46 the continuation of daily prayer. Acts 2:47 the result of continuing in prayer. The church went to the streets after (and during continued) prayer.  They took to heart Jesus command, "Go ye . . . "   This became their vision, their mission statement. Within their Jesus-driven vision came the remaining strategies the church followed while seeking souls.  Mark 16:15-20 . . ."And He said unto them . . . "  Jesus spoke to them; He called them; He sent them. And wherever they went then and now they went with UNITY OF FAITH.  Remember, they were already praying together, praying in one accord.  Now in one accord they go forth.  They may go in separate ways to different people, but they go as one unified by faith in Jesus Christ. 

In my travels I have spoken to many unsaved and backslidden who have no desire to associate with todays church because of all the confusion caused by name calling and back biting.  We have taken denominational stances as a kind of feudal kingdom defense work that must be challenged, must be attacked. And we have surely attacked without regard to unity of faith, without regard to the negative impact left on the world.  "Go ye into all the world . . ."  Jesus endowed them with an urgency to evangelize the world.  He pictured the world for them a world right outside their church doors and implanted a ZEAL OF THE HARVEST in them.

"Go ye" still echoes resoundingly for the church today. We neednt go too far to see the need, to find the lost, to touch the hurting. "Go ye" with a zeal that matches the urgency of the times. "And preach the gospel to every creature . . . "  Jesus said we have a powerful tool, a mighty weapon to go forth with.  We need not go to the streets empty handed for we can carry the TRUTH OF THE WORD.  The world is hungry for the truth.  Everyone and everything has lied to them.  OUR CULTURE HAS LIED TO US.  Our culture teaches us that materialism and secularism is the way to success.  NO IT IS NOT.  It only gives temporary good feeling, like sex.  Nothing long lasting like God give us.  They need to know that God has never lied to them and His Word can be trusted. 

Too often I have witnessed the church disguise the truth, sugar coat it so the world wont be offended.  The world knows what you are doing! I have stood on the streets of New York with hardened sinners who knew they were deep in sin and also knew they would soon die and go to hell.  Yet, if the church came to them, they tempered Gods truth with platitudes that were not received.  The world needs to hear the truth Gods version, not ours. "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned . . . "Theres the truth of the Word.  More importantly you can recognize the PURPOSE OF JESUS -- salvation for as many that believe.  His purpose should be our purpose.  God's will be done.  However, until we "go ye" we cannot partake in the victorious baptism of new believers. "And these signs shall follow them that believe: In My name . . . "  Jesus makes it plain and simple.  "Go ye" in His name, not your name, not your churchs name. 

We are seeking the unsaved for His kingdom. We are not seeking new church members.  We have come to revere the church as much as God.  Yet, Jesus says go forth in His name.  In that name you will show the world a right and proper FEAR OF GOD.  There is very little fear today fear is not macho.  There is very little reverence today reverence is not independence. Well, the Bible is all about fearing (reverencing) God. "Go ye" with a fearful reverence of God. The church needs to teach the world less about "Daddy" and more about "Father." "Shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover . . . " Jesus said as we "go ye," He will empower the soul winner with the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. 

As you take Gods truth to the streets, you will not go far before you realize the world can be a scary place.  You never know the greeting you will receive, the situation waiting behind those closed doors.  Paul and his band faced the same uncertainties.  Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to comfort and protect you, to guide and direct you, if you will only listen to Him.  As you go forth, you dare not leave the Holy Spirit behind.  "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them . . . And they went forth . . . "  Jesus lit a fire in them and they lit a fire in the church.  They went forth and preached everywhere!  The fire Jesus lit is the VISION OF VICTORY and it still burns bright in many churches.  When you cut through the dogmas and traditions, the rites and rituals, you still find the vision for evangelizing the world smoldering just beneath the surface waiting for a fresh wind to reignite it. 

Today, Jesus might say, "Bring my vision to the surface and go ye." Paul and his band went and turned the world upside down. Today, you and your band can go out and turn your world upside down. Go ye!

I thank Dr. Z and God's blessings for allowing me to share these words.  God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob Erb @ http://www.volunteerhawaii.org/org/2280144.html and http://www.thehawaiianportal.com/db_clients/613.php

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46.

Dear Lita and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus.  Thank you for sharing God's Word.  I am being led to express my comments on parts of these scriptures.

Haggai was called to encourage the people of Jerusalem to return to the task of rebuilding God's house.  About eighteen years had passed since Cyrus released Zerubbabel with a group of Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple.  They had arrived filled with hope, but pressure from the local authorities and selfish decisions led them to quit.  They turned instead to building their own homes.  Their priorities were out of order.

Haggai's task was to arouse the people to complete the rebuilding of God's temple.  Over a six month period, he gave four messages designed to get the people back on track.  He began by telling them to stop making excuses and get back to work.  He showed them how their present suffering resulted from their failure to put God first in their lives.  They needed to get their spiritual lives in shape and let their actions prove that they had done so before they could expect God's blessings.  Haggai's next messages continued the encouragement by promising God's help as they continued to work.

Rebuilding the Temple was difficult; so is the task of rebuilding our life.  There will always be obstacles, but we don't have to let them stop us.  When we feel like quitting, we can remember Haggai's message.  God is there to help and protect us each step of the way.  As God's people had to reassess their spiritual lives in the rebuilding process, we need to examine our life and act to prove our inner changes.  Like the people of Jerusalem, we can respond to Haggai's message and move forward in the rebuilding process.

As I review the scriptures, I have identified the following to address:

Haggai 2:3-9 (New Living Translation)

(3) Is there anyone who can remember this house--the Temple--as it was before? In comparison, how does it look to you now? It must seem like nothing at all! (4) But now take courage, Zerubbabel, says the LORD. Take courage, Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Take courage, all you people still left in the land, says the LORD. Take courage and work, for I am with you, says the LORD Almighty. (5) My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.

    (6) "For this is what the LORD Almighty says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth. I will shake the oceans and the dry land, too. (7) I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will come to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the LORD Almighty. (8) The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD Almighty. (9) The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the LORD Almighty. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the LORD Almighty, have spoken!"

The former Temple had been destroyed nearly seventy years earlier, so there were few alive who could remember it.  The few elderly people who had seen Solomon's Temple were sad because the new Temple would never match the old one in splendor.  God made it clear, however, work toward recovery, the pain over what we have lost through our addictions and significant life changing experiences need not distract us from building for a worthwhile future.  There is always hope when we rebuild with God's help.

Greater glory promised to the second temple than to the first.

Those who are hearty in the Lord's service shall receive encouragement to proceed.  But they could not build such a temple then, as Solomon built.  Though our gracious God is pleased if we do as well as we can in his service, yet our proud hearts will scarcely let us be pleased, unless we do as well as others, whose abilities are far beyond ours.  Encouragement is given the Jews to go on in the work notwithstanding.  They have God with them, his Spirit and his special presence.  Though he chastens their transgressions, his faithfulness does not fail.  The Spirit still remained among them.  And they shall have the Messiah among them shortly.  Convulsions and changes would take place in the Jewish church and state, but first should come great revolutions and commotions among the nations.  He shall come, as the Desire of all nations; desirable to all nations, for in him shall all the earth be blessed with the best of blessings; long expected and desired by all believers.  The house they were building should be filled with glory, very far beyond Solomon's temple.  This house shall be filled with glory of another nature.  If we have silver and gold, we must serve and honor God with it, for the property is his.  If we have not silver and gold, we must honor him with such as we have, and he will accept us.  Let them be comforted that the glory of this latter house shall be greater than that of the former, in what would be beyond all the glories of the first house, the presence of the Messiah, the Son of God, the Lord of glory, personally, and in human nature.  Nothing but the presence of the Son of God, in human form and nature, could fulfill this.  Jesus is the Christ, is He that should come, and we are to look for no other.  This prophecy alone is enough to silence the Jews, and condemn their obstinate rejection of Him, concerning whom all their prophets spake.  If God be with us, peace is with us.  But the Jews under the latter temple had much trouble; but this promise is fulfilled in that spiritual peace which Jesus Christ has by his blood purchased for all believers.  All changes shall make way for Christ to be desired and valued by all nations.  And the Jews shall have their eyes opened to behold how precious He is, whom they have hitherto rejected.

The Waikiki Beach Outreach Ministry has been torn down in a way.  As I reflect on how God moved me by allowing so many to enter my life to help it to serve over 2100 meals per month on almost nothing, it in itself is a miracle.  Now I am over 5000 miles a way with no facility to operate out of and may have lost most of the resources the ministry had accumulated.  I just found out that the ticket to return will eat up much of the savings I had hoped would help provide the deposit and months rent on a new facility I know God will guide me to.  But I know God will show me a way to get back to Hawaii somehow without taking a bite out of the very limited budget I have.  What ever God has in store for the Waikiki Beach Outreach Ministry, I will trust Him to provide.  My only desire is to serve God and to be a disciple of Christ Jesus.  He will show the way as he did during Haggai's time, about 2,525 years ago (over 520 years before Christ was born).  The message is meant for the ministry's recovery, and mine.

Thank you for sharing God's Word for us and me.  God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob @ http://www.volunteerhawaii.org/org/2280144.html

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47.

Dear Ron and Everyone I Know,

Greetings in the name of Christ Jesus.  As I began my Bible study today, God seemed to keep me into the book of Revelations and have been moved to respond to a part of it in chapter 20.  I am  thankful for you, Ron R.

We make a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourself is Step 4.  My sponsor, Ron, says I do not effectively respond in this step, no matter how much time and how much I have written.  So I guess I may be working on this step with God for some time.  But God is showing me stuff today.

We may wish we could avoid taking moral inventory; it's normal to want to hide from personal examination.  But in our heart we probably sense that a day will come when we will have to face the truth about ourself and our life.

The Bible tell us there is a day coming when an inventory will be made of every life.  No one will be able to hide.  in John's vision he saw "And I saw a great white throne, and I saw the one who was sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. (12) I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God's throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in the books, according to what they had done. (13) The sea gave up the dead in it, and death and the grave gave up the dead in them. They were all judged according to their deeds. (14) And death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death--the lake of fire. (15) And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire."  (Revelation 20:11-15 (New Living Translation))

It is best to do our own earthly moral inventory now so we can be ready for the one to come.  Anyone whose name is in the Book of Life will be saved, including all whose sins have been atoned for by the death of Jesus.  Those who refuse God's offer of mercy are left to be judged on the basis of their own deeds recorded in "the books."  No one will pass the test!  Perhaps now is a good time to make sure that our name is in the right book.  knowing that our sins are covered with God's forgiveness can help us examine our life fearlessly and honestly. 

More about judgment day is described in Matthew 25:31 to end.  My sponsor helped me start the Waikiki Beach Outreach Ministry (without him even being aware of it at the time) and he has been a volunteer since.  He is doing what Jesus would do.  He must be in the "Book of Life."

The last and general resurrection.

After the events just foretold, the end will speedily come; and there is no mention of any thing else, before the appearing of Christ to judge the world.  This will be the great day: the Judge, the Lord Jesus Christ, will then put on majesty and terror.  The persons to be judged are the dead, small and great; young and old, low and high, poor and rich.  None are so mean, but we all have some talents to account for; and none so great, as to avoid having to account for them. Not only those alive at the coming of Christ, but all the dead.  There is a book of remembrance both for good and bad: and the book of the sinner's conscience, though formerly secret, will then be opened.  Every man will recollect all his past actions, though he had long forgotten many of them.  Another book shall be opened, the book of the Scriptures, the rule of life; it represents the Lord's knowledge of his people, and his declaring their repentance, faith, and good works; showing the blessings of the new covenant.  By our works men shall be justified or condemned; we will try our principles by our practices.  Those of us justified and acquitted by the gospel, shall be justified and acquitted by the Judge, and shall enter into eternal life, having nothing more to fear from death, or hell, or wicked men; for these are all destroyed together.  This is the second death; it is the final separation of sinners from God.  Let it be our great concern to see whether our Bibles justify or condemn us now; for Christ will judge the secrets of all men according to the gospel. Who shall dwell with devouring flames?

God bless you and your family.

Your brother in Christ,

Bob @ http://www.volunteerhawaii.org/org/2280144.html

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