Home | About Us | News Letter | Resources | Good News | Messages | Music | Prayer Points | Contact Us
Resources > Articles
 
Christian Touching Others
Disciples
Fellowship With God
Like Unto Me - Moses as a Type of Christ
Names Of God
The True Church


Christian Touching Others

The Bible refers to this act that you speak of as “ministering” which in its basic definition is simply attending to the wants and needs of others. However, to minister to others one must first be willing to submit themselves to the Lord in all humility realizing that before they can hope to help others.

We see that humility is a prerequisite for man when serving or approaching the Lord:

Psalms 138:6 Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
This was demonstrated first by our Lord in His earthly ministry as an example for us to follow:

Matthew 20:25-28 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Which Paul himself also practiced:

Acts 20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:   

Which he also commended other believers for their humility and willingness to minister to each other:

2 Corinthians 8:1-5 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. In addition, this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

Jeff Newman
Top..
Disciples

Simon Peter

It is said that the apostle Peter was a slender person, of a middle size, inclining to tallness, and that his complexion was pale, almost white. It is also said that he had a short, thick, curled beard, thin eyebrows, or no eyebrows at all.  Peter's eyes were black, but flecked with red due to frequent weeping.

Born at Betsaida in Galilee to a fisherman by the name of Jona, Peter would eventually follow his father into this profession. He, and his brother Andrew, became partners with Zebedee and his sons James and John in a fishing business. All four, Peter, Andrew, James, and John, were to become disciples of Jesus;  later to be appointed as apostles by Him. So firm was Peter's faith that Jesus gave him the name of Cephas, meaning, in the Syriac language, a rock. Peter is the Greek translation of Cephas.

The house in which Peter lived in, in Capernaum, is still standing; in the 5th century AD, however, a Christian church was constructed over it.

It was Peter who preached to the masses in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost following the Lord's ascension to heaven, and it is his message which is recorded in the New Testament of the Bible, the book of Acts, chapter 2. In fact, much is written about the apostle Peter in the first 12 chapters of the book of Acts in the New Testament.

Peter is, also, the one who prompted the disciples to choose a replacement to take over the apostolic ministry of Judas Iscariot (after his betrayal and death); and it was Peter who healed a man over 40 years of age who had been crippled from birth with but the words, "Silver and Gold I do not have, but what I have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

Peter was called by the apostle Paul a "pillar" of the church, and it was believed by the crowds that the mere casting of his shadow upon the sick was capable of bringing about miraculous healing. Peter is, also, the one who defended the inclusion of the Gentiles in the Christian movement at the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem. His ministry was primarily to the Jews, as Paul's was to the Gentiles.

After being imprisoned several times in Jerusalem because of his faith, Peter left with his wife and possibly others. It is believed that he ministered in Babylon to the Jewish colonists there, and it is also believed to be his location when he wrote his first epistle (1 Peter).

Peter eventually went to Rome, and while there it is believed that Mark (the writer of the Gospel of Mark) served as his translator as he preached. It is, also, believed that as Peter told and retold his experiences with Jesus, Mark interpreted time and time again to Christian groups, and by so doing gave Mark an almost verbatim memory of Peter's recollections. After Peter's death, Mark, realizing the value of Peter's first hand account, recorded what he remembered so clearly in what we know as the Gospel of Mark. In this manner, Peter became the source of our earliest Gospel.

According to church tradition, the Roman Emperor Nero, publicly announcing himself the chief enemy of God, was led in his fury to slaughter the Apostles. Because of the persecution, Peter was crucified upside down while in Rome. Concerning the last hours of his life, it is said that when Peter saw his own wife led out to die, he rejoiced because of her summons and her return home, and called to her very encouragingly and comfortingly, addressing her by name, and saying, "O thou, remember the Lord."

Of the final days of the apostle Peter in Rome, Jowett wrote that Peter was cast into a horrible prison called the Mamertine and for nine months, in absolute darkness, he endured monstrous torture manacled to a post.  In spite of all the suffering Peter was subjected to, he converted his jailers, Processus, Martinianus, and forty-seven others. Peter met his death at the hand of the Romans in Nero's circus, 67AD.

Andrew
Andrew is the brother of the apostle Peter and his parent's names were Joanna and Jona. Like their father, Andrew and Peter were also fishermen on the Sea of Galilee. In fact, the apostles Andrew, Peter, James and John were all partners in a fishing business prior to being called by Jesus to follow Him.

Andrew was the first of the Apostles to follow Jesus (John 1:35-42) and just as John the Baptist introduced Jesus to the nation of Israel, so Andrew is noted for having introduced Jesus to individuals. The apostle Peter became the fisher of men in masse where Andrew was a fisher for individuals.

In his later ministry, it is believed that Andrew went to the foothills of the Caucasus mountains (present day Georgia in Russia) and while there he preached to the Scythians as far as the Caspian Sea. He also went to Byzantium which is present day Istanbul in Turkey and from there, to Greece. In fact he traveled to Thrace and Macedonia, down through the Corinthian Gulf to Patros and it was in Patros that Andrew was martyred. In the church of St. Andrew in Patros, Greece, there is a book written in Greek which sheds light on his martyrdom. The following is written:

"Aigeatis who was the governor of Patros became enraged at Andrew for his preaching and ordered him to stand before the tribunal in his attempt to do away with the Christian Faith. When Andrew resisted the tribunal the governor ordered him crucified. Andrew remained tied to the cross with thick tight ropes for three days and his last words were: "Accept me, O Christ Jesus, whom I saw, whom I love, and in whom I am; accept my spirit in peace in your eternal realm."
An ancient writer also speaks of the apostle's martyrdom as such:

"Andrew hung upon the cross three whole days, suffering dreadful pain but continuing constantly to tell the people around him of the love of Jesus Christ. The people as they listened to him began to believe his words and asked the governor to let him be taken down from the cross. Not liking to refuse them, he at last ordered the ropes to be cut but when the last rope was severed, the body of the apostle fell to the ground quite dead."

It is believed that Andrew died on the last day of November, 69 AD.

James (Son of Zebedee)
Of the three apostles who comprised the inner circle, Peter, James and John, we know the least about the apostle James. We do know, however, that the apostle James was the eldest brother of the apostle John and that their father's name was Zebedee (their mother's name was Salome).

James, his brother John, Peter and Andrew were all partners in a fishing business prior to being called by Christ to follow Him. Zebedee was also a partner in the business. There is also some evidence that James was the first cousin of Jesus the Messiah and had been acquainted with Him from infancy. It is believed that his mother Salome was the sister of Jesus' mother Mary.

Not much is known of his ministry after the Lord's resurrection, but it is believed that he lived another 14 years before his martyrdom. In fact, the apostle James was the first apostle to suffer martyrdom. By order of Herod Agrippa I, James was beheaded in Jerusalem about the feast of Easter, 44 AD.

It is believed that within this 14 year period, James visited the Jewish colonist and slaves in Spain to preach the Gospel.
It has been said that when the apostle James was led out to die, a man who had brought false accusations against him walked with him to the place of execution. He had doubtless expected to see James looking pale and frightened but he saw him, instead, bright and joyous, like a conqueror who had won a great battle. The false witness greatly wondered at this and became convinced that the Savior in whom the prisoner by his side believed must be the true God or He could not impart such cheerfulness and courage to a man about to die. The man himself, therefore, became a convert to Christianity and was condemned to die with James the apostle ( both were consequently beheaded on the same day and with the same sword.)

About the same period, Timon and Parmenas, two of the seven deacons, suffered martyrdom ( the former at Corinth and the latter at Philippi in Macedonia.)

John
John was one of the sons of Zebedee (a fisherman of Galilee) and his mother's name was Salome (Salome is believed to be a sister of Jesus' mother, Mary). John, along with his brother (the apostle James) and the apostles Peter and his brother Andrew , were all partners in a fishing business prior to their call by Jesus to follow Him. Zebedee
was also a partner in the business.
It is said that John owned a home in Jerusalem and that it is possible that the interview Nicodemus had with Jesus was held there.

The apostle John rose to a position of influence within world-wide Christianity and shortly before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 AD, he moved to Ephesus. He became the pastor of the church in Ephesus and had a special relationship to other churches in the area, as we know from the letters to the Seven Churches in Asia, in the book of Revelation.

John's brother, James, was the first of the apostles to die, where John, on the other hand, was the last. All of the apostles met a violent death, however, John died peacefully in Ephesus, at an advanced age, around the year 100 AD.
There is a church tradition, which says, that while John was living in Ephesus, John had with him Mary, the mother of Jesus, for a few years.

While in Ephesus, by order of the Roman emperor Domitian, John was exiled to an island called Patmos. In what is known as the cave of the Apocalypse (located on this island), the sacred text of the book of Revelation was given to the apostle John by Jesus (it is here that John recorded what is written in the New Testament book of Revelation.) Other New Testament books accredited to John are the Gospel of John, along with 1st, 2nd and 3rd John.

When he was released from exile, he returned to Ephesus and lived till the time of the Roman emperor Trajan. It is said that John, "Founded and built churches throughout all Asia, and worn out by old age, died in the sixty-eight year after our Lord's passion and was buried near the same city (Ephesus)."

There is a church tradition, which says, that when John was evidently an old man in Ephesus, he had to be carried to the church in the arms of his disciples. At these meetings, he was accustomed to say no more than, "Little children, love one another!" After a time, the disciples wearied at always hearing the same words, asked, "Master, why do you always say this?" "It is the Lord's command," was his reply. "And if this alone be done, it is enough!"
There is, also, a tradition which says that John was in Rome for a time.

Philip
How did a Jew get a name such as the Greek, "Philip?" It's possible that he was named in honor of Philip the Tetrarch who had, some ten years before his birth, done much to raise the status of the region of his birth. Philip was born in Bethsaida in Galilee.
Most of his latter ministry took place in Galatia (in Turkey) and it's believed that at the age of 87, he suffered martyrdom in Hierapolis.

Bartholomew
The apostle Bartholomew was led to Christ in the region of Galilee, possibly by the apostle Philip and his latter ministry belongs more to the eastern churches than it does to the western churches.

There is a very interesting personal description of Bartholomew which says that He had black curly hair, white skin, large eyes, a straight nose, hair that covered his ears and a long grizzled middle height beard. Bartholomew is said to have worn a white robe with a purple stripe and a white cloak with four purple gems at the corners. For twenty-six years he wore these and it is said that they never grew old. In fact, It was also reported, that his shoes lasted the same as his clothing.

Of Bartholomew, it is said that he prayed a hundred times a day and a hundred times a night. It is also said that his voice was like a trumpet, angels waited upon him and that he was always cheerful and knew all languages. In the company of the apostle Philip, the apostle Bartholomew went to Asia Minor and labored in Hierapolis, near Laodicea and Colosse, in what is modern day Turkey.

While in Hierapolis, it is said that the wife of the Roman proconsul was healed by the apostles Philip and Bartholomew, that she became a Christian and that her husband ordered Philip and Bartholomew to be put to death by crucifixion. Sadly, Philip was crucified, but Bartholomew escaped martyrdom, when for some special reason, the magistrates caused him to be taken down from the cross and dismissed. From there, Bartholomew went eastward to India and then to greater Armenia.

A popular tradition among the Armenians is that the apostle Jude (Thaddaeus) was the first to evangelize their region throughout the years of 43 to 66 AD and that the apostle Bartholomew joined him in 60 AD (eight years before Bartholomew was martyred).

It is also said that Bartholomew carried with him a copy of the apostle Matthew's Gospel. This copy was reported to be found at a later time and a converted stoic philosopher by the name of Pantaenus is said to have brought it to Alexandria.

Bartholomew is reported to have labored in the area around the south end of the Caspian Sea, in the section that was then called Armenia. The modern name of the district where he died is Azerbaijan and the place of his death, called in New Testament times Albanopolis, is now Derbend which is on the west coast of the Caspian Sea. The apostle Bartholomew is said to have been martyred in the year 68 AD.

Thomas
The apostle Thomas was also known as Didymas (the twin) however as to who his twin was, it's not known. He was a fisherman by trade and a native of Galilee.

After the resurrection of the Lord Christ Jesus, Thomas went to Babylon. It is believed that he established the first Christian church there. He is also known to have gone to Persia and from there he went to India and preached the Gospel making many converts. It is also believed that the apostle Thomas evangelized as far as China, and while in India, he suffered martyrdom; being killed with a lance (he was buried in Mylapore, India, which is now a suburb of Madras.) The apostle Thomas is said to have been a fearless evangelist and a great builder of churches.

Matthew
The apostle Matthew, also called Levi, was the son of Alphaeus and the brother of the apostle James the Less, or, James, son of Alphaeus. By profession, Matthew was a tax collector before being called by Jesus to follow Him.

Matthew probably remained in the Holy Land, as tradition says, for 15 years and after this, encouraged by the reports of the success of other Christian leaders among the Jews (the Diaspora) and also among the Gentiles, he went forth on several missionary journeys. It is certain that he went to Persia and the mysterious area in Persia known as "Ethiopia." It is also possible that he traveled to the Ethiopia in Africa as the Roman Catholic tradition indicates and there is also a belief that Matthew was martyred in Egypt upon his return from Ethiopia in Africa but this is not certain. There is a tradition which says that Matthew was martyred in Parthia.

Matthew was a gifted writer, an ardent disciple, and was perhaps the best educated of any of the Twelve Apostles. He was the writer of The Gospel of Matthew

James (Son of Alpheaus)
The apostle James ( the son of Alphaeus), who is also called "Less" or "Younger," was a brother of the apostle Matthew and the son of Mary. Which Mary is not altogether certain though she seems to be the wife of one Cleopas.

Not much is known about the later ministry of of this apostle, however, Aziz S. Atiya, in his "History of Eastern Christianity" says," The seeds of Syrian Christianity had been sown in Jerusalem during the Apostolic age and the contention has been made that the first bishop of the Syrian church was none other than St. James of the Twelve Apostles, identified as 'St. James the Less'."

It has also been said that James (son of Alphaeus) was stoned in Jerusalem for preaching Christ and buried by the Sanctuary.

Jude
After the ascension of Jesus, Jude was one of the first apostles to leave Jerusalem for a foreign country. In fact, it is believed that Jude was one of the first apostles to witness directly to a foreign king, a Gentile.

Jude is believed to have evangelized the area of Armenia associated with the city of Edessa, in company perhaps of the apostle Bartholomew, and for a brief time, with the apostle Thomas.

One can, also, believe that Jude spent his years of evangelization in Syria and northern Persia. It is likely that he was martyred there and buried in Kara Kalisa near the Caspian Sea, about 40 miles from Tabriz, in modern day Iran.

Simon (the Zealot)
Simon ( the Zealot ) was believed to have preached the Gospel throughout North Africa, from Egypt to Mauritania, and even into Britain.

There is a church tradition which says that he was crucified by the Romans in Caistor, Lincolnshire, Britain and subsequently buried there on May 10, circa 61 A.D. This cannot be confirmed, however, as there is also a strong tradition which says, that having left Britain, Simon, at some point , went to Persia and was martyred there by being sawn into.

Top..
 
Fellowship With Him

“That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3)

Nowadays fellowship is defined as “the condition of being together or of sharing similar interests or experience, as do members of a profession, religion, or nationality; the companionship of individuals in a congenial atmosphere and on equal terms; a union of friends or equals sharing similar interest” (American Heritage Dictionary, 2nd College Edition). Originally, however, the word was a bit more limited in its meaning.

The word “fellow” comes to English from an Old Norse word meaning “business partner.” In Old English the word meant “one who lays down [invests] money in a joint undertaking with others,” and the first Modern English definition given for “fellow” by the Oxford English Dictionary is “co-worker.” This is precisely how the Bible defines “fellow” the second time it uses the word:

“And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?” (Exodus 2:13).

The original meaning of “fellow” as a co-worker is also evident in the compound nouns that the Bible forms by attaching “fellow” to words associated with work: yokefellow,   workfellow, fellowworker, fellowlabourer, fellowservant, fellowhelper, fellowdisciple, and fellowsoldier[i] (John 11:16; Romans 16:21; 2 Corinthians 8:23; Philppians 2:25 and 4:3; Colossians 4:7,11; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; Philemon 1-2, 24; and 3 John 8).[ii]

Fellowship Defined
Although churches and professing believers often refer to “food, fun, and fellowship,” the Bible offers a much different picture of fellowship.[iii] In its first appearance in the Bible, the word “fellowship” clearly refers to a type of “business” (that is, a working) partnership:

“If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbor in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbor;” (Leviticus 6:2, in context of verses 1-7).

Even improper fellowship is a working partnership, and fellowship with darkness involves unfruitful works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11).

As a working partnership (something in which two or more people take part), “fellowship” is an equal yoking, a communion (having things in common), a concord, and an agreement:

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness. And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? …” (2 Corinthians 6:14-46).

Fellowship Desired
God saves people so that they can work (Ephesians 2:10). Specifically, He saves them so that they can work for Him and in fellowship with Him. For that reason, the Lord’s invitation to salvation in Matthew 11:28-30 is an invitation to work with Him and learn more about Him: “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me.”[iv] A yoke couples animals so that they work as a team (Luke 14:19),[v] and when believers labor in fellowship with the Lord, their “burden” is light because they do the Lord’s work (1 Corinthians 16:10).

“God is faithful by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9).
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;” (Philippians 3:10).

The preaching and ministry of the early church was actually “the Lord working with them, confirming the word” (Mark 16:20).

Furthermore, God calls believers to assemble together so that they can work in partnership with Him. Believers who are in fellowship with Christ will also be in fellowship with fellow believers.

“And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42).

The “fellowship of believers” is a busy-ness in which believers work together as partners “in the gospel,” doing so for (and with) their Savior (Philippians 1:3-7).[vi] God does not call believers to compete against each other over numbers, personal gains, and individual accomplishments (1 Corinthians 1:12-13 and 3:3-9). Such divisive competition characterizes a world obsesses with sports and vain awards, and it'’ wrong. After all, if persecuting the church is persecuting the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:9 and Acts 9:4), if doing something for “the least” of the brethren is doing something for the Lord (Matthew 25:40, 45), if sinning against the brethren is sinning against Christ (1 Corinthians 8:12) then competing against other believers is competing against the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. It is impossible to compete against a “partner and fellowhelper” in the ministry of the gospel (2 Corinthians 8:23).

Consider the example of the apostle Paul (Philippians 3:17). Did he regard the Philippian believers as competitors? No, they were his partners (“partakers of my grace,” Philippians 1:7)[vii] who gave themselves to God and to each other in a fellowship of ministering to the saints (2 Corinthians 8:1-5).

Nor did Paul regard other ministers as competitors.

“And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision” (Galatians 2:9).

The ‘right hands of fellowship” are more than friendly handshakes; they seal a covenant working agreement between partners. Paul and Barnabas were called to minister to Gentiles; Peter and John initially were called to minister to Jews. Rather than competing against each other, they worked together to minister the gospel to all men, Jews and Gentiles – and God worked with them (Acts 2:47 and 15:4).

Fellowship Hindered
A busy-ness/working partnership is possible only among like-minded people who agree on what needs to be done (and why):

“Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3).

In the case of believers, true fellowship is possible only among like-minded “children of light” who love God (and each other), declaring the truth of God’s word (1 John 1:3) and walking “in the light” that God gives through His holy words to those who follow the Lord Jesus Christ (John 8:12; Ephesians 5:8, 14; Psalm 119:105,130).

“be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, off one mind” (Philippians 2:2, in context of verses 1-11).
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Sin therefore hinders any type of fellowship with other believers. Sometimes a believer’s sin causes him to separate himself from others, as when Peter separated himself from the believers at Antioch.

“he withdrew himself, and separated himself,” (Galatians 2:12, in context of verses 11-15).
Other times, however, a believer’s sin forces others to separate from him.

“And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed” (2 Thessalonians 3:14).[viii]

“But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat” (1 Corinthians 5:11).

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned: and avoid them” (Romans 16:17).

Sin also severs a believer’s fellowship with God.

“Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee?” (Psalm 94:20).

“If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth” (1 John 1:6).

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (James 4:4, compare 1 John 2:15).

Over and over, the Bible illustrates this sad truth. Adam and Eve once enjoyed daily communion with God as they worked for Him in the garden (Genesis 2), but they later hid themselves from their Creator after sin severed their fellowship with him (Genesis 3).
Young David joyfully served God and killed giants and wild beasts (1 Samuel 17), but King David lost his joy and murdered an innocent man after his shameful sin severed his fellowship with God (2 Samuel 11; Psalm 51:12). At one time Jonah faithfully served the Lord his God (2 Kings 14:25), yet he later hid himself in a ship and attempted to flee to Tarshish because his sinful disobedience severed his fellowship with the Lord, (Jonah 1). Peter once boasted that he would follow the Lord to prison and even death (Luke 22:33), but he later tried to return to his life as a commercial fisherman after his sinful denial of the Lord severed his fellowship with Him (John 21).

In addition to severing a believer’s fellowship with God, sin starts a working partnership with unrighteousness and devils:
“I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils” (1 Corinthians 10:20).

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Ephesians 5:11).

Sadly, fellowship with devils precludes partaking in the Lord’s business, and spiritual adulterers who love the world more than they love their Savior (thus working in fellowship with the Lord’s enemies) provoke God to jealousy (1 Corinthians 10:21-22; James 4:4; 1 John 2:15).

Fellowship Restored

Only repentance and confession of sin can restore a broken fellowship (1 John 1:9). David’s fellowship with God was restored when he confessed his sin (2 Samuel 12:13; Psalm 51), and with a restored working relationship with God, he ruled mightily over Israel, and towards the end of his life could truthfully say, “I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God” (2 Samuel 22).
Jonah’s fellowship with God was restored after he confessed his sin and prayed (Jonah 2), and with a restore working relationship with the Lord, Jonah preached mightily and God used his message to bring the entire city of Nineveh to repentance (Jonah 3).
Peter’s fellowship with God was restored after he bared his heart and confessed the Lord three times (John 21), and with a restored working relationship with the Lord, Peter preached mightily on the day of Pentecost and worked faithfully throughout Acts 1-15.

Fellowship Essential
A working relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ is absolutely essential. Without Him we can do nothing of value, but through Him we can do anything God asks of us.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine: no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:4-5).

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Philippians 4:13).

Because fellowship with Christ hinges on fellowship with fellow believers, and because fellowship with other believers hinges on obeying the scriptures and living a Christ-honoring life (1John 1:7), God’s people need to work in a Bible-believing partnership with the Lord and with each other, ministering all the true words of God to other people for the glory of God.

[i] Long before American politicians popularized phrases such as “brother in arms” and “brothers in combat” soldiers and sailors called each other “fellows” [ii] In contemporary English, a “fellow” is a comrade of associate of the same kind, group occupation, society, or locality; having in common certain characteristics or interest” (American Heritage Dictionary, 2nd College Edition).

This meaning is evident in some of the Bible’s uses of the word (for example, judges 11:37, Isaiah 34:14 and Matthew 11;16. Notice, by the way, that according to Judges 11:37-40, the word “fellow” can refer to a woman as well as to a man).

Because of the implied insult in verses such as 1 Samuel 21:15 and 29:4, the word “fellow” could also serve as a derogatory word (Matthew 12:24 and 26:61, 71; Luke 22:59 and 23:2; John 9:29; and Acts 17:5, 18:13, 22:22, and 24:5).

[iii] For example, Acts 2:42 distinguishes fellowship from eating (“breaking of bread”) and connects it instead with doctrine.

[iv] Believers learn about their Savior by studying the Bible – and Bible study in turn produces unashamed “workmen” who labor under God’s approval (2 Timothy 2:15).

[v] The Lord does not invite believers to work in fellowship with Him because He actually needs the help of “unprofitable servants” who do only what they’re commanded to do (Luke 17:10). He invites them to join with Him because He genuinely desires and enjoys their company.

[vi] According to Luke 24:15, when believers commune together, the Lord Himself draws near and goes with them.

[vii] A “partnership” is any endeavor (spiritual or carnal) in which each person involved takes part (Luke 5:7-10; Philemon 7). A person who takes part in something is a part-taker, or “partaker” of it (1 Corinthians 8:23; Ephesians 5:7; 2 John 11).

Daryl Coats
Top..
 
Like Unto Me: Moses as a Type of Christ
 There can be no doubt that Moses is a picture of Jesus Christ.  Deuteronomy 18:15 says, “The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, LIKE UNTO ME; unto him ye shall hearken;” (emphasis added).  The following is a list of some of the ways in which Moses is a type or picture of Jesus Christ.  Although this is not an exhaustive list, it does include 40 different ways in which Moses typifies Christ.  This list, then, is designed for the benefit of Bible students to think about the ways in which Moses and Christ are alike.
  1. Both were born at a time when Israel was under foreign domination (Moses – Egyptian bondage & Jesus – Roman bondage)
  2. Both had rulers that tried to kill them shortly after their births (Exodus 1:15-22; Matthew 2:16-18)
  3. Both spent time in the wilderness before taking on their callings (Exodus 3; Matthew 4:1-11)
  4. Both dealt with wicked kings (Pharaoh – Exodus 5-12; Herod – Luke 13:31-32)
  5. Both dealt with folks who hardened their hearts (Exodus 8:15; Mark 6:45-52)
  6. Both dealt with lepers (Numbers 12:10-15; Matthew 8:1-4)
  7. Both had the world offered to them (Hebrews 11:24-27; Matthew 4:8-9)
  8. Both were shepherds (Exodus 3:1; John 10:11)
  9. Both fasted for 40 days (Exodus 34:28; Luke 4:2)
  10. Both climbed mountains (Exodus 34; Matthew 5:1)
  11. Both were meek (Numbers 12:3; Matthew 11:29; Matthew 21:5)
  12. Both were envied (Psalm 106:16; Matthew 27:18)
  13. Both did some writing (Exodus 34:27; John 8:6-8)
  14. Both have a connection to the law - Moses, humanly speaking, wrote the law, but Jesus Christ fulfilled the law (Deuteronomy 31:9; Matthew 5:17)
  15. Both kept the Passover (Exodus 12; Hebrews 11:28; Luke 22:11; Matthew 26:17-19)
  16. Both had a connection to innocent blood (Deuteronomy 19:9-10; Deuteronomy 21:7-9; Matthew 27:3-4)
  17. Both sang (Exodus 15:1; Matthew 26:30)
  18. Both had ministries to the nation of Israel (Exodus 3:1-10; Matthew 15:21-28)
  19. Both did miraculous things (no references needed)
  20. Both did miraculous things to/on large bodies of water (Exodus 7:20; Exodus 14:16, 27; Matthew 8:23-27; Mark 6:45-51)
  21. Both fed hungry people in a wilderness (Exodus 16; Mark 8:1-9)
  22. Both provided water for thirsty people (Exodus 15:22-25; John 4:10,14)
  23. Both spoke of future tribulation (Deuteronomy 4:30-31; Matthew 24:21-22)
  24. Both spoke of eternal fire (Leviticus 6:12-13; Matthew 25:40-41)
  25. Both paid tribute (Numbers 31:41; Matthew 17:24-27)
  26. Both sent out 12 men (Numbers 13; Luke 9:1-6)
  27. Both were called God’s servants – “my servant” (Numbers 12:7; Matthew 12:14-21)
  28. Both were prophets (Deuteronomy 34:10; John 6:14)
  29. Both were priests (Exodus 40; Hebrews 4:14)
  30. Both were kings (Deuteronomy 33:4-5; John 18:33-40)
  31. Both were judges (Exodus 18:13; John 5:24-30)
  32. Both were teachers (Deuteronomy 4:5; John 18:20)
  33. Both told wicked men to depart (Numbers 16:26; Matthew 25:41)
  34. Both met together on the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-9)
  35. Both are connected through the brasen serpent (Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:14)
  36. Both had outstretched arms with 2 men beside them, and in both cases there was a war going on (Exodus 17:8-16; Matthew 27:38).  In Moses’ case, it was a physical war with Amalek.  In Christ’s case, it was a spiritual war with the devil (Isaiah 50:8 in the context of the crucifixion).
  37. Both had people weep when they died (Deuteronomy 34:8; John 20:11)
  38. Both died but did not stay in their burial places (Deuteronomy 34:5-6; Jude 9; Matthew 17:1-9; Matthew 28)
  39. Both were the subject of controversies concerning their dead bodies (Jude 9; Matthew 28:11-15)
  40. Both had important “dignitaries” interested in their dead bodies (Michael & the devil – Jude 9; the Pharisees, the Roman soldiers, and Pilate – Matthew 27:62-65; Mark 15:43-45)

Lohman, Karl
Top..
Names Of God

NAMES

 
Abba ~ Father

Have you ever thought about God as a daddy? Galatians 4:6 says, "And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." Abba is the Aramaic word meaning Daddy, Father. It's a term of warm affection, intimacy, and respect for one's father. Now, to some that may sound like an irreverent way to address God, but Jesus called God, "Our Father," in Matthew 6:9 and He gave us that same right. In America, children call their fathers, Daddy. But in the Middle East, they say Abba. Jesus says that we can call the great God of the Universe, Abba Father. Daddy Father.

Related Scripture

Mark 14:36; Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6
Adonay ~ LORD, Master

The gifted violinist Fritz Chrysler had a Stradivarius violin that at one time belonged to an old Englishman. Chrysler offered to buy it, but the old man told him that the violin was not for sale. One day he ventured to the old man's house and asked if he could touch it. The old man invited Chrysler in. He tucked it under his chin and began to draw the bow across the strings. Great tears began to well up in the old Englishman's eyes. Chrysler saw the man's face and said, "I'm sorry, but I would so much like to buy this instrument." The old Englishman said, "It is not for sale, but it is yours. You are the master. You alone are worthy of it." When we call God Adonay, we are saying that He is the Master. He alone is worthy, nothing and no one else. He is worth all that we have and all that we are.

Related Scripture

Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 2:4, 8:1, 97:5, 136:3; Isaiah 1:24, 6:1; Romans 10:9
Alpha and Omega

The noted historian, H. G. Wells, made a list of the ten greatest men of history and number one on that list was Jesus Christ. But, Jesus doesn't belong on that list. He doesn't belong on anybody's list. He is Jesus the First and the Last. Jesus said in Revelation, "I am Alpha and Omega." Alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet. Omega is the last. If Jesus was speaking to an English audience, He would say, "I am A and Z." Did you know that the Bible is made up of just twenty-six letters? What Jesus is saying about the written word is true about the living Word. John chapter one tells us that "In the beginning was the Word…and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us." Jesus was in the beginning as the Word of God. And He is God's final word for all eternity.

Related Scripture

Revelation 1:8, 1:11, 21:6, 22:13
Attiyq Youm ~ The Ancient of Days

What do you think about when you hear this name for God - "Ancient of Days"? Isaiah 46:9-10 says, "Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure." Only God can tell in ancient times the things that are not yet done. Thomas Watson, who was the chairman of IBM, said in 1943, that there's a world market for maybe five computers. In 1977 Ken Olsen, the founder of Digital Equipment, said, "There's no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." It's comments like these that help us see how foolish we are to think we can know the future. Only God is the Ancient of Days.

Related Scripture

Daniel 7:9, 13, 14
Christos ~ The Anointed One

First John 4:2 says, "Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God." John uses two names, Jesus, which refers to His human name, and Christ, which refers to His divine title. Jesus Christ is fully man and fully Messiah at the same time. Christ, which means Messiah, the Anointed One is His divine title. Jesus is God in human flesh. This is the fundamental doctrine of our faith - that God stepped out of heaven and took upon human flesh. We call that the incarnation. Carnis means flesh. When Jesus Christ took upon Himself humanity, He did not take it while He was here on earth and then laid it aside when He went back to heaven. He took His humanity back to heaven with Him. For all eternity Jesus Christ will be a man.

Related Scripture

Matthew 1:16, 16:16-20; Mark 8:29; Luke 2:11, 9:20; John 1:41, 4:42, 6:69, 7:41-42, 11:27, 17:3, 20:31; Acts 2:36, 3:18, 5:42, 8:37, Romans 5:8, 5:15, 6:4, 6:23, 8:1, 8:39, 10:17; 1 Corinthians 1:30, 11:3, 12:12; 2 Corinthians 2:14-15, 5:17-20, 8:9, 12:9-10; Galatians 2:20-21, 6:14; Ephesians 1:5, 2:5-7, 4:15; Philippians 1:6, 1:21, 2:5-11, 3:7-9, 3:20, 4:19, Colossians 3:1-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:9; 1 Timothy 1:15-16, 2:5; Hebrews 3:6, 5:5, 9:14, 10:10, 13:8; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 5:6, 20; Revelation 11:15
El Chuwl ~ The God Who Gave You Birth

Isaiah 43, 1-3b says, "But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and He that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art Mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Savior." God is saying, "I made you, I saved you, I'm going to take care of you." God has made you for a purpose And He's going to take care of you. Even when sin marred God's original creation, God didn't say, "I'm finished with it." No. God made it and God stays with it. Isn't that a wonderful arrangement?

Related Scripture

Psalm 139:13-18
El Deah ~ God of Knowledge<

You think about His omniscience, He knows everything. God is the God of all knowledge. God inhabits eternity. God sees the beginning. God sees the middle. God sees the end. God sees it all at one time. God is all-knowing - He can't learn anything. God knows everything that's going to happen. Not a blade of grass moves but what He knows it. If you're saved, God knew that you would receive the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing takes God by surprise. God never says, "Ooops. I never thought of that." God is omniscient. I don't understand how He swung the stars in the night sky. Or scooped the oceans and heaped up the mountains and runs this mighty universe. Romans 11:34 says, "For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counsellor?" We don't have to know all that our Father does for Him to be our Father.

Related Scripture

1 Samuel 2:3; Romans 11:33-36; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
El Elyon ~ The God Most High

El Elyon speaks of the supremacy of God. He is above all. Now, what does El Elyon mean? The word means the strongest of the strong and the highest of the high. Hinduism and Pantheism speak of God as a part of the universe. But God is not a part of the universe. He is the transcendent God. He is above all. He is the Most High God. Jesus is our El Elyon. Colossians 1:16-17 says, "For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him, and for Him: And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." God is above all things. Jesus is our El Elyon.

Related Scripture

Genesis 14:18-20; Psalm 61:2; 92:1; Daniel 7:25
El Olam ~ The Everlasting God

God never changes. Psalm 90:1-2 says, "Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." What a wonderful thing to know that in a changing world God does not change! Time does not alter God. Psalm 90:4 says, "For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night." Well, what do all these verses mean? There are no surprises to God. As Corrie Ten Boom says, "There's no panic in heaven." God knows the past and the future at the same time. Jesus is our El Olam. He is the King of the Ages. Hebrews 1:8 says, "But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom."

Related Scripture

Genesis 3:22; 21:33; Psalm 90:1-2; 93:2; Isaiah 9:6; 26:4; 40:28
El Roi ~ The God Who Sees

El Roi was first revealed in the Bible by Hagar. She was Sarah's handmaiden, who became pregnant with Abraham's child so, in their minds, they could fulfill the promise of God. Soon after the child was conceived, things became very difficult between Sarah and her. So much so, that Hagar fled out into the wilderness. Friendless, homeless, pregnant, not knowing what would become of her, she laid down by a fountain in the wilderness. There, an angel appeared to her to give her comfort and to speak of God's grace and mercy. Genesis 16:13 says: "And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?" Did you know that God sees you right now? God knows your very thoughts. His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me.

Related Scripture

Genesis 16:13; Genesis 16:1-16; Psalm 33:18-19
El Shaddai ~ God Almighty

The name El Shaddai appears seven times in the Word of God. As I read the newspapers, I can go back to the Book of Genesis and see that immutable, unbreakable promise that God made to father Abraham. Genesis 17:1-2 says, "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be thou perfect. And I will make My covenant between Me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly." This promise has changed the world. Every Jew upon the face of the earth is a living testimony of the faithfulness of Almighty God. And this God who keeps His promise to Abraham is the same God that keeps His promises to you and I through Jesus Christ.

Related Scripture

Genesis 17:1-19, 28:3; 35:11; 43:14; 48:3; Exodus 6:2-3; Ruth 1:20; Job 5:17; Ezekiel 10:5; Psalm 91:1
Elohim ~ The Creator

Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." It literally says, "In the beginning Elohim, Elohim created the heaven and the earth." That's the Hebrew word from two root words: El, which means strength and unlimited power. And the last part of is allah, which means to keep a promise. Elohim is also a plural noun. I believe that right here on the threshold of the Bible we see an indication of the nature of God, as shown in the Holy Trinity - God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. All three were present in creation (see John 1:3). Aren't you glad we find the Savior in chapter 1, verse 1? Aren't you glad we find the Holy Spirit in chapter 1, verse 1? Aren't you glad we find the Father in chapter 1, verse 1 of the Word of God?

Related Scripture

Genesis 1:1-3, 27-28; 3:3; Isaiah 40:28, 54:5; Psalm 19:1-6, 95:6; Nehemiah 9:17; Hebrews 1:8, 11:3
Yahweh ~ The Self-Existent One

The name Jehovah is used some 6,800 times in the Bible. It is the personal covenant name of Israel's God. In the King James version of the Bible, it's translated Lord God. Not only does it speak of God's strength, but also it speaks of the sovereignty of God and the goodness of God. The root of this name means "self-existing," one who never came into being, and one who always will be. When Moses asked God, "Who shall I tell Pharaoh has sent me?" God said, "I AM THAT I AM." Jehovah or Yahweh is the most intensely sacred name to Jewish scribes and many will not even pronounce the name. When possible, they use another name.

Related Scripture

Isaiah 40:3; 10; 1 Samuel 1:20; Exodus 6:1-4; 3:1-22; John 6:35; 8:12; 10:7, 9, 11, 14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1, 5
Yahweh-Bore ~ The LORD Creator

Can you imagine what a modern writer would do if he tried to describe the creation of the heavens and the earth? Even if he believed in God, what an avalanche of adjectives he would pour out! What double-jointed and obtuse terms he would have to use to describe the creation of the earth! Aren't you glad that God said it, surely, sweetly, sublimely, and simply: "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." How beautiful that is. It always tickles me when I read about how scientists are trying to discover the mystery of the creation of the universe. They just scratch their heads and say, "We've got to go back to the laboratory now, a lot of things we thought we knew we didn't know." God just spoke and it was so.

Related Scripture

Genesis 1:1; Psalm 33:6; Isaiah 40:28-31; Job 38:1-41, 39:1-30, 40:1
Yahweh-Nissi ~ The LORD My Banner

The Lord is a reigning banner over us all the time. The Hebrew for "banner" comes from the root word "to be high" or "raised." This was the name given to the altar that Moses erected to commemorate the defeat of the Amalekites at Rephidim (Exodus 17:8-15). He goes before us and behind us to give us the victory in all circumstances of life. Even in the midst of the battle, the banner of the Lord is raised over us. Psalm 23:5 says, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over." Who is the God who prepares a table of celebration in the presence of the enemy? When the enemy shall come in like a flood, then shall the Lord hold up a banner before him. The victory in all of life is the Lord's.

Related Scripture

Exodus 17:15
Yahweh-Raah ~ The LORD My Shepherd

Psalm 23 and John 10 are the most beautiful descriptions of God as our Shepherd, Jehovah Rajah. When we say "Lord," we think of God's deity. When we say "my Shepherd," we think of God's humanity. God in human form - Jesus Christ - prophesized in the Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament. The Jehovah of the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New Testament. As the Good Shepherd, He dealt with the penalty of sin. As the Great Shepherd, He deals with the power of sin. As the Chief Shepherd, He's coming to take us from the very presence of sin.

Related Scripture

Psalm 23; 80:1; 95:7; Isaiah 40:11; Jeremiah 31:10; Ezekiel 34:12; 23; Matthew 25:32; John 10:11-27; Hebrews 13:20-21; 1 Peter 2:25; 5:4
Yahweh-Rapha ~ The LORD That Healeth

Does Jesus heal? Yes! He is the Almighty Lord, our healer. He can heal instantaneously by a miracle. He can heal over time through medicine. But let me add, that not every saint will be healed in this lifetime either by miracle or by medicine, nor instantaneously or in time. Right now, God is more interested in having you holy rather than healthy. Our bodies are not yet redeemed. The redemption of the body is going to come at the rapture of the church and the resurrection of the Christian dead. It is at that time that we will be made like unto Him. There is no sickness in the Lord's body and there will be no sickness in our resurrection body. If you are not healed in this life, child of God, you will be healed in eternity.

Related Scripture

Exodus 15:26; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 6:2; 41:4; 103:3; 147:3; Isaiah 19:22; 30:36; 57:18-19; Jeremiah 3:22; 17:14; 30:17; Matthew 8:7; 10:1; Luke 4:18
Yahweh-Shalom ~ The LORD Is Peace

The Lord greeted Gideon in peace, so he built an altar and named it "The LORD is Peace" (see Judges 6:23-24). You have probably heard the blessing "Shalom" from Jewish friends and acquaintances. It means peace. More importantly it means the Lord, our peace. Where does the Shepherd lead His sheep? Beside peaceful, still waters. "He leads me beside the still waters; He makes me lie down in green pastures" (Psalm 23:2). When your heart is content, you are at peace. And where does that contentment come from? The grace of God. There's no man more discontent than one who is not experiencing the amazing grace of God. Only in Jesus, will you find security, sufficiency, and serenity.

Related Scripture

Genesis 49:10; Judges 6:23-24; Psalm 4:8; 29:11; Proverbs 16:7; Isaiah 26:3; 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Yahweh-Shammah ~ The LORD is There

Psalm 139:7 asks, "Whither shall I go from Thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?" And what is the answer? God is omnipresent. He's everywhere. Somebody said that God is a circle whose center is everywhere and whose circumference is nowhere. There is not a murmur, but that He hears it. There's not a movement, but that He sees it. There's not a motive, but that He knows it. Neither Death, darkness, nor distance can hide us. When I am discouraged, His presence sees me through. When I am lonely, His presence cheers me up. When I am worried, His presence calms me down. When I am tempted, His presence helps me out.

Related Scripture

Genesis 28:15; Ezekiel 48:35; Psalm 23:4; 46:1; 139:7-12; Jeremiah 23:23-24; Amos 5:14; Matthew 18:20; 28:20; John 14:16-17; Acts 7:48-49; 17:24-28
Yahweh-Tsabbaoth ~ The LORD Of Hosts

Jehovah-sabaoth literally means the Lord Almighty. It speaks of the sovereignty of God over all the powers of the universe. The second stanza from Martin Luther's hymn "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" says, "Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing, Were not the right man on our side, The man of God's own choosing. Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He, Lord Sabbaoth His name, From age to age the same, And He must win the battle." David understood the greatness of God when he went against Goliath with five smooth stones and a sling. David said to Goliath, "Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied." Oh, that each of us would have this same conception of God in our battles.

Related Scripture

Isaiah 6:3; 1 Samuel 1:3, 17:45; 2 Samuel 6:2, 7:26-27; 1 Chronicles 11:9; Haggai 1:5; Romans 9:29; James 5:4; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 1:8; 4:8
Yahweh-Tsidkenu ~ The LORD Our Righteousness

We are not righteousness in and of ourselves. Our righteousness comes from God and God alone. Jesus imputes His righteousness into us so that we can see God. For you see, Hebrews 12:14 says that without holiness, no man will see God. Second Corinthians 5:21 says, "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Isn't that terrific? You see, if you are a child of God, you are holy. Are you feeling that you can't live the Christian life? That's right where you need to be. You see, God never asked you to live the Christian life apart from Him. He wants to be your strength, He wants to live the Christian life through you and do for you what you could never do for yourself.

Related Scripture

Genesis 15:6; Jeremiah 23:6; Psalm 4:1; 5:8; 24:5; 31:1; 36:10; 71:15; 89:16; Matthew 6:33; Romans 4:22; 5:18; 8:10; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9
Yahweh-Yireh ~ The LORD Will Provide

Yireh is from the same Hebrew word as Moriah, which is the name of the region where God sent Abraham to sacrifice Isaac (Genesis 22). In Genesis 22:11-13 we read, "And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son." God provided the lamb. And Abraham called the place Yahweh-Yireh - God is our substitutionary sacrifice.

Related Scripture

Genesis 22:14, 22:1-18
Top..
The True Church

First Bishop of Liverpool
Where is this one true Church? What is this one true Church like? What are the marks by which this one true Church may be known?
The one true Church is composed of all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is made up of all converted men and women, of all true Christians. It is a Church of which all members have the same marks. They worship differently, and after various fashions; some with a form of prayer, and some with none; some worship kneeling, and some standing; but they all worship with one heart. They are all led by one Spirit; they all build upon one foundation; they all draw their religion from one single book - that is the Bible. They are all joined to one great centre - that is Jesus Christ.

It is a Church which is dependent upon no ministers upon earth, however much it values those who preach the Gospel to its members. The life of its members does not hang upon Church-membership, and Baptism and the Lord's Supper-although they highly value these things, when they are to be had. But it has only one Great Head - one Shepherd, one chief Bishop-and that is Jesus Christ. He alone, by His Spirit, admits the members of this Church, though ministers may show the door. Till He opens the door no man on earth can open it-neither bishops nor presbyters, nor convocations, nor synods. Once let a man repent and believe the Gospel, and that moment he becomes a member of this Church. Like the penitent thief, he may have no opportunity of being baptised; but he has that which is far better than any water-baptism-the baptism of the Spirit.

He may not be able to receive the bread and wine in the Lord's Supper; but he eats Christ's body and drinks Christ's blood by faith every day he lives, and no minister on earth can prevent him. He may be excommunicated by ordained men, and cut off from the outward ordinances of the professing Church; but all the ordained men in the world cannot shut him out of the true Church.

It is a Church whose existence does not depend on forms, ceremonies, cathedrals, churches, chapels, pulpits, fonts, vestments, organs, endowments, money, kings, governments, magistrates or any act of favour whatsoever from the hand of man. It has often lived on and continued when all these things have been taken from it: it has often been driven into the wilderness or into dens and caves of the earth, by those who ought to have been its friends. Its existence depends on nothing but the presence of Christ and His Spirit; and they being ever with it, the Church cannot die.

This is the only Church which possesses true unity. Its members are entirely agreed on all the weightier matters of' religion, for they are all taught by one spirit. About God, and Christ, and thee Spirit, and sin, and their own hearts, and faith, and repentance, and necessity of holiness, and the value of the Bible, and the importance of prayer, and the resurrection, and judgment to come about all these points they are of one mind.

This is the only Church which possesses true sanctity. Its members are all holy. They are not merely holy by profession, holy in name, and holy in the judgment of charity; they are all holy in act, and deed, and reality, and life, and truth. They are all more or less conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. No unholy man belongs to this Church.
This is the only Church which is truly catholic. It is not the Church of any one nation or people: its members are to be found

in every part of the world where the Gospel is received and believed. It is not confined within the limits of any one country, or pent up within the pale of any particular form of outward government. In it there is no difference between Jew and Greek, black man and white, Episcopalian and Presbyterian - but faith in Christ is all.

This is the only Church which is truly apostolic. It is built on the foundation laid by the Apostles, and holds the doctrines which they preached. The two grand objects at which its members aim, are apostolic faith and apostolic practice; and they consider the man who talks of following the Apostles without possessing these two things to be no better than sounding brass, and a tinkling cymbal.

This is the only Church which is certain to endure unto the end. Nothing can altogether overthrow and destroy it. Its members may. be persecuted, oppressed, imprisoned, beaten, beheaded,, burned; but the true Church never altogether extinguished; it rises again from its afflictions; it lives on through the fire and water. When crushed in one hand it springs up in another. The Pharaohs, the Herods, the Neros, and Bloody Marys, have laboured in vain to put down this Church: they slay their thousands, and then pass away and go to their own place. The true Church outlives them all and sees them buried each in the their turn. It is an anvil that has broken many a hammer in this world, and will break many a hammer still; it is a bush which is often burning, and yet is not consumed.

This is the only Church of which no one member can perish. Once enrolled in the lists of this Church, believers are safe for eternity; they are never cast away. The election of God the Father, the continual intercession of God the Son, the daily renewing and sanctifying power of God the Holy Ghost, surround and fence them in like a garden enclosed. Not one lamb of Christ's flock shall ever be plucked out of His hand.

This is the Church which does the work of Christ upon earth. Its members are a little flock, and few in number, compared with the children of the world: one or two here, and two or three there, few in this district and a few in that. But these are they who shake the universe; but these are they who change the fortunes of kingdoms by their prayers; these are they who are the active workers for spreading the knowledge of pure religion and undefiled; these are the lifeblood of a country, the shield, the defence, the stay, and the support of any nation to which they belong.

This is the Church which shall be truly glorious at the end. When all earthly glory is passed sway then shall this Church be presented without spot before God the Father's throne. Thrones, principalities, and powers upon earth shall come to nothing; dignities and offices, and endowments shall all pass away; but the Church of the firstborn shall shine as the stars at the last, and be presented with joy before the appearing, when the Lord's Jewels are made up.

Reader, this is the true Church to which a man must belong, if he would be saved. Till you belong to this, you are nothing better than a lost soul. You may have the form, the husk, the skin, and the shell of religion, but you have not got the substance and the life. Yes; you may have countless outward privileges: you may enjoy great light, and knowledge but if you do not belong to the body of Christ, your light, and knowledge, and privileges will not save your soul. Alas, for the ignorance that prevails on this point! Men fancy if they join this church or that Church, and become communicants, and go through certain forms, that all must be right with their souls. It is an utter delusion; it is a gross mistake. All were not Israel who were called Israel, and all are not members of Christ's body who profess themselves Christian. Take notice, you may be a staunch Episcopalian, or Presbyterian, or Congregationalist, or Baptist, or Methodist or Plymouth Brother - and yet not belong to the true church.


"According as He chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, 
that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love."
Top..
 
  © 2010 EL - SHADDAI PRAYER HOUSE® All Rights Reserved.