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there was no king in Israel

1/29/2016

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Now as they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial, beset the house round about, and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him. And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my brethren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly; seeing that this man is come into mine house, do not this folly. Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them, and do with them what seemeth good unto you: but unto this man do not so vile a thing. But the men would not hearken to him: so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning: and when the day began to spring, they let her go. Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man's house where her lord was, till it was light. (Jdg 19:22-26)
       One of the harsher and more vile and wicked accounts in the book of Judges. Before the time of the kings, and when there was no judge to deliver the people in Gibeah of the tribe of Benjamen, a traveler is invited into the house of one of the townfolk, rather than lodging outside. Following this, some of the wicked men of the town came calling, not as ambassadors or to extend good will to this visitor, but to rape and abuse him, which they end up doing to his concubine. She ends up dying from her ordeal, and the traveler sends a twelfth part of her to each tribe as a message and a warning, of the sin and wickedness which took place by these Benjamites.

      This great sin and wickedness before GOD and within the land of Israel could not stand. Sin must always be dealt with, confessed to GOD, forsaken, and reconciliation with those we have sinned against sought. GOD wants us to forgive others, even as He forgives us. In fact, how we forgive those that trespass against us, can affect how GOD forgives us. Our fellowship with our Saviour, but not our relationship if we are truly in Christ through repentance and faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, can be hampered by our unwillingness to forgive others. He wants brethren to dwell together in unity, to keep the bond of perfectness through the Spirit, as we are family and members one of another.

      GOD must punish sIn, for He is Holy, and all sIn is an affront to and great wickedness and rebellion against Him. We may grade on a curve, but He has one standard of Holiness, which no one born of Adam can measure up to, that is why we need the Saviour, Jesus Christ, the mediator between GOD and men. GOD has called His Church, His children, and His servants to live lives of holiness and righteousness in Him as we do His will and accomplish His work in this broken and sinful world. He has called us to Holiness as we represent His Kingdom, His ambassadors, with the Word of reconciliation to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need, that they may see Jesus in us, the hope of Glory. GOD has commanded us to love one another, even as He loved us and gave Himself for us. He has commissioned us to His service as witnesses of Him, taking the Gospel as we go, and sharing His Good News of forgiveness and reconciliation with all who will hear, that they might repent and believe in Him and in believing have life in His Name.

       For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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Arise, that we may go up against them

1/28/2016

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And these went into Micah's house, and fetched the carved image, the ephod, and the teraphim, and the molten image. Then said the priest unto them, What do ye? And they said unto him, Hold thy peace, lay thine hand upon thy mouth, and go with us, and be to us a father and a priest: is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel? And the priest's heart was glad, and he took the ephod, and the teraphim, and the graven image, and went in the midst of the people. So they turned and departed, and put the little ones and the cattle and the carriage before them. (Jdg 18:18-21)
       Several men found out about the idols and the priest in Micah's house and invaded, taking them for themselves. Since there was no law, judge, or magistrate in the land, everyone did what was right in their own eyes, no matter that the Law of GOD said no other gods, no graven images to be worshiped, not to steal. They even got the 'priest' to bless their home invasion and theft, taking the Name of the Lord in vain. When confronted they threatened Micah and his friends with harm, all because they coveted what Micah had. They broke pretty much all the Commandments because their hearts were wicked and desperately evil.

       So many today are just the same, with no regard for the Laws of GOD. Even in the Church too many who claim Christ live as though He didn't exist. Some may even attend a service on Sunday morning, and live the rest of the week as practical atheists, like the folks in this account of Micah and his idols. We who are in Christ are to and tell those who are in bondage and sin of their need for Christ to deliver them from sin and their iniquity through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Only the new birth which Jesus brings can release sinners from their condition of death and judgment.

      That is not to say that we who are saved, receive His Salvation in order to sin all we want, for we are translated from the kingdom of darkness into His kingdom of light and life, to live in Him a brand new life of holiness and righteousness, not in our own strength or power, but by the indwelling Spirit of GOD which is within us. We are saved to serve Him as ministers of reconciliation and ambassadors for the Kingdom. We are called to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need as GOD provides and guides us. We are commanded to love one another as He loved us and disciple one another in His Word until we all grow up into the full measure of Him, conformed to the image of His dear Son. We are commissioned into His army, equipped and encouraged with the Gospel of Jesus Christ to into this lost and dying world and take the Good News to all who will hear, that they might repent and believe in Him, and in believing have life in His Name.

       For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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Thou hast given this great deliverance

1/25/2016

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And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took firebrands, and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails. And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing corn of the Philistines, and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn, with the vineyards and olives. Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they answered, Samson, the son in law of the Timnite, because he had taken his wife, and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire. And Samson said unto them, Though ye have done this, yet will I be avenged of you, and after that I will cease. And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter: and he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam. (Jdg 15:4-8)
      In response to his father-in-law giving his Philistine wife to another, Samson destroyed the crops of the Philistines. GOD was using Samson to judge Israel and the Philistines which they had at one time put under subjection, but never fully defeated nor removed from the land of Israel, and now oppressed them. When the Philistines exacted a response upon his wife and father-in-law, Samson slaughtered even more of them. The strength which the Spirit of GOD gave him because of his faith, led to the deliverance of Israel during his time as judge.

      GOD desires the deliverance of His people, not only from the circumstances they find themselves in, many of their own making, but also from the sin which leads to such circumstances. GOD has demonstrated His love for all in that He gave His only begotten Son, the ultimate Judge and Deliverer, to conquer sIn and the grave, and to give eternal life to all who will receive it through repentance and by faith in His and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary in our place. He wants to conquer and eliminate the giants and enemies in our live that keep us defeated, that we might serve Him and grow in Him to do His work and accomplish His will in this sinful and broken world, that He might be glorified in all things.

      GOD has called, commanded, and commissioned His Church to the work of missions, ministry, discipleship, and evangelism. Sharing the message of Salvation is the scarlet thread that winds through the thrice wound  work of the church. He has called us to serve Him, His ambassadors with the Word of reconciliation to minister to those around us who are hurting and in need. He has commanded us to love one another, and to disciple one another that we may all grow through His Word into the full measure of Him who first loved us. He has commissioned us to take the Good News of reconciliation with the Father, in the power of the Holy Spirit, and as we go, tell all who will hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that they might repent and believe and have new life in His Name.

       For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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That you may hearken unto GOD

1/14/2016

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Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands; (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;) If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech. (Jdg 9:16-20)

      Jotham, the youngest son and only survivor of the treachery of Abimelech against the sons of Gideon, chastises the men who have made Abimelech their king. He calls them out for backing a traitor and a murderer and encouraging his sinful rebellion against GOD. Jotham reminds them of Gideon's service and judgment, and that GOD dealt well with the people of Israel during his time as judge and deliverer. Though Abimelech was a son of Gideon due to his transgression and adultery, Gideon never wanted to be king, neither did he look for any of his sons to take on such a role. But Abimelech had other ideas and desired to be a king.

    GOD wants His people to follow Him and obey Him, that He may exalt those He has chosen in due time. He is the only one we should look to for advancement or promotion, for He is in control of all things. GOD may allow us to achieve some short term success in this life, but eventually, when we are working without Him and not seeking His will, we will find out the ladder of our success is leaning against the wrong wall. Just as Abimelech was eventually betrayed by the very people who had once supported him, so GOD will also allow us to fail that we may see our need of Him and for us to understand that without Him we are nothing and can do nothing.

    GOD wants us to glorify Him in all things, and to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways. We are His servants, with the Word of reconciliation, to minister to those around us He sends us to, as His ambassadors, to meet the needs of those who are hurting and in need. We are His disciples, growing in His Word and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as we exhibit unfeigned love for the brethren in the body of Christ. We are His witnesses, taking the Gospel of Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit that is within all who have repented of their sins and put their trust in Him and His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, and as we go, proclaiming the Good News to all who will hear, repent, and believe that they might have life in His Name.

     For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD, forgiveness from GOD, and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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That ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

5/7/2015

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But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.
For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2Co 11:3-4, 13-15)
    The enemy of our souls, the father of lies, is not outright and forthcoming, but very subtle. He works against GOD through lies couched in truth, and devious deceptions that seem harmless and legitimate on the surface. His ministers, whether they realize their service to him or not, are equally sublime. Even Christians can fall into his trap, speaking out of tradition, or opinion, or that which isn't true but sounds right, but is not of GOD or His Word. All to corrupt the Word and keep the lost from the Truth of the Gospel.

    The most damaging to the Gospel, is when GOD's people look to other sources for their theology instead of GOD's Word. We are to know it and Him so well, we can see these attacks for what they are. The accuser of the brethren has been doing this since the Garden of Eden, and we ought not to be ignorant of his devices, attacking GOD's Word with doubt and misdirection, a lie wrapped up in dishonest questions and distractions about what he is really up to. We are to stay true to the Word of GOD and resist the devil in the strength of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Satan may want to devour us, but our Lord has already bought us with His own blood and so we look to Him for deliverance.

    Deliverance, not only from our sins, which happened the moment we repented of them and turned to GOD, trusting in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary for forgiveness and Salvation, but also from the fiery darts of the wicked. We put on His Armour, and rest in Him, even while doing His work. Knowing the enemy will come, and the deceptions he will bring, we study the Word of GOD that we may grow thereby and stand strong against those who persecute us, and love one another that we may uphold one another in Him. We minister to those who are hurting and in need that they may see Jesus in us, the Hope of Glory, and those who don't know Him may hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We proclaim the Good News as we go, that those who hear and believe may acknowledge their sin, forsaking it while trusting in GOD alone, and receiving by faith eternal life in His Name.

    For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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Receive with meekness the engrafted Word which saves

12/12/2014

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Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the Word of the Kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the Word, and anon with joy receiveth it; Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the Word, by and by he is offended. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the Word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the Word, and he becometh unfruitful. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the Word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Mat 13:18-23)

    Jesus explained the battle in the hearts of men, hearts that are desperately wicked, and only through the Spirit and the engrafted Word can be redeemed. Those that hear and believe are born again, those that reject, ignore, scoff, or walk away from GOD and His Word, were never in the Kingdom, no matter their outward appearance or behaviour. The forces of darkness and evil, which oppose GOD and the things of GOD, seek to keep people from hearing and beliving GOD's Word. They do and will use any means to distract, discredit, detract, and dispute the Holy Word of GOD. But GOD will prevail, and in those that hear and believe, His Word has power, and will produce fruit in and from the believer who observes to do all that GOD has commanded.

    We are to take in GOD's Word, through hearing, not only with the ears, but with the spirit, that it might bless us and take root. We are to read, that we might know what it says. We are to study to shew ourselves approved unto GOD, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly divinding the Word of Truth. We are to memorize, hiding GOD's Word in our heart, that we might not sIn against GOD. We are to meditate, thinking on these things, that we might observe to do all that is written therein, and then we may make our way prosperous and then we shall have good success. We are to apply GOD's Word, living the Gospel we preach, and knowing its Doctrines, learning from its reproofs, changing our behaviour because of its corrections, and obeying its instructions in righteousness, that we might be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

    The work that GOD has for us to do as His ambassadors, is to minister to the hurting and those in need. We are ministers of reconciliation, pointing others to Christ and His Word. We are to disciple one another in His Word, speaking the Truth in love, that others may know that we are His disciples. We are to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, through His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary, to all who will hear and believe, that in believing they might have life in His Name.

    For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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If Thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence

10/24/2014

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And the LORD said unto Moses, Depart, and go up hence, thou and the people which thou hast brought up out of the land of Egypt, unto the land which I sware unto Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, Unto thy seed will I give it: And I will send an Angel before thee; and I will drive out the Canaanite, the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite: Unto a land flowing with milk and honey: for I will not go up in the midst of thee; for thou art a stiffnecked people: lest I consume thee in the way. And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments. For the LORD had said unto Moses, Say unto the children of Israel, Ye are a stiffnecked people: I will come up into the midst of thee in a moment, and consume thee: therefore now put off thy ornaments from thee, that I may know what to do unto thee. And the children of Israel stripped themselves of their ornaments by the mount Horeb. (Exo 33:1-6)

    As we continue the account of the Israelites sIn with the golden calf and its aftermath, GOD tells them to go up and take the land, that He will drive out all the people before them, but He will not go with them, because of their sIn. They realize the folly of going anywhere without GOD, even if He clears the way, and cry out and mourn. They have begun to repent and to realize how great their sIn is, and how much more it will still cost them to be restored to their relationship with GOD.

    GOD is serious about sIn. It is an affront to His Holiness, and His character. He, as a just and righteous GOD must punish sIn. Since He is also merciful and loving, He has provided the only possible payment for sIn, in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. Those of us who have received Him by faith have been justified and forgiven, not to sIn more, but to glorify our GOD and to do the work which He has called us to.

    For our GOD has not taken us Home right away, but has left us here on this earth as His ambassadors, to do His will and accomplish His work in and for this lost and dying world. We are to minister to the hurting, that they might see Jesus in us, the Hope of Glory. We are to disciple one another through His Word and in love, so that all men may know we are His disciples. We are to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and the reconciliation that is available to all who repent and believe on Him, that in believing the Gospel they might have life in His Name.

   
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD is Holy and must punish sIn, but in His mercy GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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I the LORD thy GOD am a jealous GOD and I will not share my Glory

10/21/2014

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And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD. And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: (Exo 32:1-7)

    How quickly the children of Israel forgot GOD, and His deliverance. How quickly they forgot His Holiness, and His commands that the Lord Himself had preached to them a short time ago. To them, Moses is gone, and GOD is busy, so they needed a god they could see, despite the command against idolatry and graven images. Aaron bowed to the majority, even though they were wrong, and made a god for them to worship. But what a worship and display of depravity. Debauchery, idolatry, and even taking His Name in vain, as they declared a statue to be GOD, and committed both spiritual and physical adultery while offering sacrifices to 'the Lord'.

    But, at times we are no better, though we should be, for we have the Holy Spirit within to convict and correct, even chastise when needed. We who know Christ, and have received Him by faith, know His Holiness, and His Word. We have doctrine to teach, reproof to speak in love, correction to apply, and instructions to heed from GOD's Word. We have Truth to live, and a Gospel to preach and proclaim, that tells us of His love and His Judgments on sIn, worldliness, and our life in Him.

    We are here not to be apart of the world, but as ambassadors of the Kingdom to this lost and dying world. We are here to minister to the hurting and in need that they may see Jesus in us, the hope of Glory. We are here to disciple one another in Truth and in Love, that others may know we are His disciples. We are here to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness and mercy because of our faith in His finished and perfect work on the Cross of Calvary. As we go, we are to live the Gospel we preach, and share His love and mercy with all who will hear and believe, that in believing they may have life in His Name.

   
For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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Attend to My Words for they are Life unto those that find them

10/2/2014

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He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death. And if a man lie not in wait, but GOD deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee. But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die. And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death. And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. (Exo 21:12-17)

    This is the first book of Covenant Laws that GOD gives to govern civil behaviour, as an application of GOD's Moral Law. GOD is serious about our relationships with one another, and even though today we don't apply this law as Israel did, GOD has not changed. In this time, such crimes as listed here were worthy of death, because it was a crime against GOD and His Sovereignty and Creation. Whether it was the taking of life, the selling of it, or cursing those who gave us life, GOD is the one whom the Israelites were ultimately sinning against, and worthy of death. GOD is life, and truth, and blessing, and must punish sIn, and had Moses punish these crimes in this life as well.

    In reality, GOD has already told us, that all sIn is worthy of death, for it is against Him. While He set up certain civil punishments for the Israelites, He also set up a refuge for those who killed accidently. GOD is gracious, and has given us a place of refuge to run to, for forgiveness and reconciliation with GOD. That does not mean we will not face the consequences of our actions in this world, just as those who committed these crimes faced civil punishment. But, it does mean that those who truly repent and surrender to GOD on His terms can find grace.

    GOD's people, while under grace, are still subject to the civil laws of the country they abide. There may come a time for civil disobedience, but we will suffer the consequences of that action, unless GOD is merciful. Our testimony requires us to obey, until and unless our obedience to GOD conflicts with our obedience to man. And while we are here, we also obey GOD's call to minister to the hurting, disciple one another in love, and proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ to all who will hear. As we go, we share the Gospel we live, that others may believe, and believing have life in His Name.

    For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. Though we are guilty before Him, He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life and refuge from sIn and guilt, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink

9/18/2014

 
And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the Commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? And Moses cried unto the LORD, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. And the LORD said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not? (Exo 17:1-7)

    Once again the Israelites have no water, and instead of turning to GOD and asking Him, whom they cannot see, they blame Moses, whom they can see, for the calamity that they see in their immediate future. They have forgotten the power of GOD, the last time they were out of water, or any of His promises, because of their need. Moses goes before the Lord and laments for this rebellious people, that are ready to kill Moses. The Lord tells Moses what to do, to bring water from the smitten rock, and the water comes forth and the people are satisfied.

    Jesus Christ is our smitten Rock, who gives us the water of life freely. When we were without strength, and could not save ourselves, He humbly and willingly became a man and took our place on the Cross of Calvary, to pay our sIn debt and provide the only way to the Father. Our faith in Him and His finished and perfect work on that cross reconciles us with GOD and gives us a new nature that is Spirit filled, resurrected with Christ.

    Because of what Jesus Christ has done for us, and because of our faith in Him and His power to complete all His work in us, without grumbling or complaining, to shed the living water of life that is within us, wherever GOD sends us. We have been commissioned to go and tell, and as we go, we are to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and the Salvation He provides to those who put their trust in the Rock of Ages. We are called to disciple one another in love and in His Word that we are no more children, but grow up into Him in all things. We are called to minister to the hurting and in need, that others will see Jesus in us, the Hope of Glory. In all things we are to glorify GOD in our bodies, and take His message of hope and grace to this lost and dying world, so that those who hear may believe and believing have life in His Name.

    For GOD is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance and the knowledge of the Truth. Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Surrender to Him on His terms and He will give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship with Him that is abundant and everlasting. GOD calls you to trust Him and what He has already done for you to pay your sIn debt. Just as He provided water from the rock, He has provided the only way of reconciliation with GOD with forgiveness and Salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, to give you a new life in Christ. Turn away from yourself and your sIn and turn to Him alone for eternal Life, and receive the water of life from the Rock, now and always.

In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet



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