Vintage Christian Easter Pictures

* As Always; Feel Free To Copy/Print/Snag Everything That You Find Here - As You Wander Into ... 
           
                 ~ The King's Garden ~

Picture Post

Crying Out

Lamentations 2:19  NKJV 

“Arise, cry out in the night, At the beginning of the watches; Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord. Lift your hands toward Him For the life of your young children, Who faint from hunger at the head of every street.”

People's suffering from their sins should be enough to bring them to the Lord, weeping for forgiveness. Sadly; many allow their pride and disbelief to hold them back.

Only when our own sins and the sins of others completely breaks our hearts will we turn to Him - fully expecting God come to our rescue. And He will; of that you can rest assured.

Still; it is not just feeling sorry about experiencing sin's consequences that brings forgiveness. It is Faith in God and Faith that we are forgiven by the shed Blood of Christ that brings about the forgiveness.

When we cry out to God for forgiveness, He will forgive us of our sins and heal our soul.

What? Are you waiting on?

Repeat THE Sounding JOY

IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD
IS FULLNESS OF JOY


“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”  Psalm 16:11


“Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.” Psalm 17:5
 

As we travel down the path of life the Lord will make the path very clear. The path of life is to do what is right. You know you are on the right path by the peace that comes as you choose to do what is right. Sin draws you away from God’s presence, when you continue in sin you will feel farther and farther away from Him. It feels like being lost and all alone; far away from home. The steps to get back home can be found in His Word.
 
Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Just like Adam, we still run and hide from Him when we feel guilt and shame. When we have sinned we need to run towards Him for forgiveness. “I said, Lord, be merciful to me: heal my soul; for I have sinned.”  (Psalm 41:4) We all are at times like a prodigal son that needs to run back home. Our God is a Father who is always waiting at the door for us with His arms opened wide to receive us.
 

The Path:


Pray now asking Him to help you to get back on the right track, the path that will lead you home.
 

Father God, I have a lack of peace and joy in my heart.  Holy Spirit, I ask you to reveal to me the areas of my life in which I have turned away from You.  I have gotten off the path and left home by _______________.  I ask for your forgiveness.  Draw me close to You again and show me Your promises for me in Your Word.  I desire to be in Your presence once again.
 

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

~ LUKE ~

~Luke~ Physician & Quiet Quillman

Luke 1

1  Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,

2  just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

3  Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

4  so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Dear Luke ...

Did a tear drop onto Luke's papyrus as he wrote? Did it smudge ink as he reminisced on Mary's words and in his distant mind hear a cooing baby Jesus?

Maybe Luke worked deep into the nights.

Maybe the candlelight's flicker brought ambience to every recollection as Luke lingered over his notes and penned the most beautiful Gospel, one of the most beautiful books ever written.

Maybe the crackle of his fire reminded him of the one that warmed the precious Infant.

Surely Luke smiled when his stylus scripted across the sheet. The thoughts of Jesus, a newborn crying His arrival into the world He would save, must have been overwhelming.

How do you write with goosebumps?

Some sixty years after Jesus’ birth, Luke recorded for eternity the most eloquent, detailed account of the conception, birth, childhood, and ministry of our Lord. 24 Chapters total.

Luke likely labored over his work for months, writing from his notes and the Holy Spirit's prompting. The results are the third Gospel and the book of Acts, a record of the inception and growth of the Christian Church.

We know so little about Luke.

Yet we know all we need.

There are only three references to him in the Bible:

Colossians 4:14;
14 Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings

2 Timothy 4:11;
11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry

Philemon 1:24;
24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers


But through them and his writing style we can sketch a glimpse of the man whom God used to write more words of the New Testament than anyone else.

He was a Gentile, a Greek.

He was a close traveling companion of Paul, perhaps his closest, a physician beloved by Paul. (Colossians 4:14)

Luke no doubt shared in Paul's persecutions and trials, all the while repeatedly doctoring the mighty apostle to recovery.

Tradition holds that Luke was a native of Antioch and that he died unmarried and childless at the age of eighty-four.

He is believed to have written each of his books while Paul was imprisoned, first in Caesarea and finally in Rome.

That is where Paul wrote the most telling of words:
“Only Luke is with me” (2 Timothy 4:11).

Luke was a Greek writing to fellow Gentiles, reassuring them that Christ came for all mankind.

Luke's work is unique in that it emphasizes the manhood of Jesus in all its perfection, purity, splendor, and sublimity.

Jesus was the model for us all.

The Gospel of Luke displays a keen interest in individuals, social outcasts, women, children, and social relationships, especially situations involving poverty or wealth. These features tell us something about Luke as a person and his unique understanding of Christianity.

The famous “we” passages beginning in Acts 16:10 reveal that Luke was eyewitness to much of Paul's ministry. Yet Luke makes clear in the introduction of the book of Luke that he was not witness to the events of his Gospel but had “investigated everything carefully from the beginning” (v. 3).

What possibilities does this statement open?

If, as most scholars agree, Luke wrote his Gospel around a.d. 60, it is possible that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was alive and about eighty years old. The captivating thought of Luke interviewing Mary is ascribed credibility by the fact that Luke lingers over the birth of Jesus like none other. He also includes a recitation of Mary's Song (Luke 1:46-55) that invokes at least twelve quotations of Old Testament Scripture. Luke's detail may have come from the very lips of Jesus’ mother.

Caesarea was only a few miles from Jerusalem, Jesus’ mother may have been still alive, at John's home in Jerusalem. Luke may have spent many precious hours with her, listening to her reminiscences of her Wondrous Son.

Respected scholar F. B. Meyer adds: “Luke dwells specially on the early incidents of our Lord's life, and some have detected in the Greek forms of sentences the direct recital of Mary as she recounted to Luke those sacred recollections which she pondered in her heart.”

Luke stressed the blessed humanity of Jesus and plights of women and children and the poor, sick, and outcast. From spending so much time with those closest to Jesus, Luke knew this is what the Lord would have wanted.

One of the most challenging elements of using the quill is finding a way to hide behind it. Luke got out of the way and allowed the Lord His rightful place out front. He served in the background, never directly referring to himself.

Luke labored without regard to himself or the persecution that raged around him. Luke was mighty in spirit because he did this by dying to self and living for the Lord whom he came to love more and more through the facts culled in interviews. He did this though his closest friend was in jail and ultimately under a death sentence.

"Only Luke is with me,” Paul says.

Nearby, Luke squinted at his notes, smiled, and picked up his stylus.

He is with us still.

Mary's Song
Luke 1:46-55 NIV

46  And Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord

47  and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48  for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,

49  for the Mighty One has done great things for me — holy is his name.

50  His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

51  He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.

52  He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.

53  He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.

54  He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful

55  to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."

Peter the Apostle

The Stuff of Scars

"And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" John 1:42 NIV (which, when translated, is Peter).

Footnotes:
Both Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek) mean "rock" or "stone".


I have always found it immeasurably comforting that Jesus gave Simon the name "Cephas," or Peter, before Cephas had done much of anything. Before Peter had even determined to follow Jesus, let alone serve him and love him as the Christ, before Peter had muttered his denials of knowing Jesus or had one of his moments of blurted insight, before Jesus had reason to call Peter "Satan," Jesus called him the "rock" (John 1:42).


What does this say?


First, I believe it shouts of God's sovereignty. God knows who we are before we know ourselves. God can use us in spite of ourselves. God is sovereign over our failures and our successes. But secondly, it reminds us that we are more than the sum of our blunders and failings, as well as our victories and our bright spots. As the apostle Paul wrote to the Romans: "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Before we had a chance to prove ourselves, before we had a chance to fall on our faces or say something smart, God knew that He would need to die for us, and did.


Peter is the disciple that makes many of us feel okay. He is a loud statement to the hopeless, to the skeptic, and to the guilt-ridden that the Father can take our doubt, our regret, the hopelessness of our past or our present, and create in us something solid by giving us Himself. In Peter we also find that pains of regret and faithlessness may leave scars, but that scars can be powerful reminders of the living hope we profess: the Word that will not wither (See 1 Peter 24-25). Through Peter, God encourages the weary. Through our scars, Christ heartens us to see a God very much in control.


Even so, when we look at our own moments of faithlessness or foolishness, our scars of humiliation, or the bitter sting of missed and lost opportunities, it is hard to see much beyond regret and remorse, even if we know Christ has forgiven us. Can there be more to see in the weight of our past, the pains of childhood and the wounds of life, the glimpses of guilty motives and poor behavior? The testimony of Scripture is that yes, very definitely, there is.


For arguably, Peter's passion for Christ was largely shaped by that which the pain and humiliation of denying Jesus rightly reminded him: "If we are faithless, God remains faithful, for God cannot deny Himself" (2 Timothy 2:13). Our scars are similar. Some of my own scars simply remind me that I am alive, living within a fallen world, participating in this fragile thing called life. Some remind me that I am not an island, that I need people, that I desperately need a savior, that I need God in all that I face. Still others remind me that I am healed and being healed. But all of my scars can remind me, as they did Peter, of the sovereignty of God and the weight and responsibility of the hope which I profess. "Do you love me?" asks Jesus. "Yes, Lord," responds Peter. "Then feed my sheep."


When Jesus appeared to the gathered, frightened disciples after his resurrection, he said to them, "See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see" (Luke 24:39). The frightened disciples had gathered together to discuss the rumors some had heard that Christ was alive and out of the grave, risen from the cruel death they witnessed days ago. They were disoriented and afraid, and Jesus said to them, "Look at my hands and my feet." And to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side" (John 20:27). To his closest friends, Jesus said, "Look at my scars, see that it is me. Recognize me by my scars; they will point you to God."


Christ was recognized by the scars that marked his body, and shouted of his love. As the powerful lyrics of musician Michael Card exclaim, "The marks of death that God chose never to erase/ The wounds of love's eternal war/ When the kingdom comes with its perfected sons/ He will be known by the scars."


Like our own, but far beyond this, the scars of Christ point us to a sovereign God who goes great lengths to touch our disfigured world and scarred souls with his holy hands. As the prophet Isaiah proclaimed long ago, "He was crushed for our iniquities. By his stripes we are healed." No doubt, it was this piercing reality of Christ bearing the scars of our sin, carrying our pain, and taking our shame, that Peter bore in mind as he dynamically instructed, "Throw all your anxieties upon Him, because He cares about you" (1 Peter 5:7). For Peter, of all people, knew.

Christian Pumpkin Carving

Christian Pumpkin

I am a Jack O' Lantern
My light will shine so bright
For I am a Christian pumpkin
My symbols tell what's right.

My nose is like the cross
on which on Savior died
To set us free from sin
We need no longer hide.

My mouth is like a fish
The whole wide world to show
That Christians live in this house
And love their Savior so!

The story starts at Christmas
My eyes are like the star
That shone on Baby Jesus
And wise men saw from far

My color it is orange
Just like the big bright sun
That rose on Easter Day
Along with God's own Son.

And so on Halloween
Let's set our pumpkins out
And tell the trick or treaters
What God's love is all about!

"Pumpkin Carving Prayer"
~ childrens' activity ~
 
Dearest God,

As I carve my pumpkin,
Open my mind so I can learn about You;
(Cut the top of the pumpkin)


Take away all my sin and forgive me for the wrong things I do;
(Clean out the inside)


Open my eyes so Your Love I will see;
(Cut eyes shaped like hearts)


I'm sorry for turning up my nose to anything You have given me;
(Cut a nose in the shape of the cross)


Open my ears so Your Word I will hear;
(Cut ears shaped like the Bible)


Open my mouth so I can tell others You're near;
(Cut mouth in the shape of a fish)


Let Your Light shine in all I say and do! Amen.
(Place a candle and light)

A Different Kind of Halloween Tale

A Different Kind of Halloween Tale

In the year 1483 in Eisleben, Saxony, a baby boy was born to a poor coal miner. As he grew up and observed the poverty of his father, this boy, named Martin, chose to pursue a different vocation.

He decided to become a lawyer and, in 1501, entered the University of Erfurt, where he excelled in his studies. As he came to the end of his schooling in 1504, an event took place which changed his life. While he was walking the campus grounds, a storm broke so forcefully that Martin fell on his face in fear. The thunder was deafening and lightning struck all around him.

Instinctively, he cried out to the patron saint of coal miners, whose name he had heard invoked during his childhood, "Saint Anne! Save me from the lightning. If you save me I will become a monk." Shortly thereafter the storm stopped. Being a man of his word, Martin withdrew from law school and entered an Augustinian monastery where he applied himself so diligently that he obtained a Doctorate of Theology within a few years. But the more he studied, the more troubled his heart became; for although he was becoming an expert in theology, he lacked peace personally.

The question he repeatedly wrote in his diary was: "How can a man find favor with God?" In search of such peace, Martin devoted himself to an exceedingly pious life-style. He would fast for ten to fifteen days at a time. When temperatures dropped below freezing, he slept outside without a blanket. Between his studies, he beat his body until it was black and blue and bleeding - hoping that somehow by punishing his flesh, he could rid himself of the thoughts and motives that he knew were not right (these were typical practices of the medieval church). He went to confession so many times a day that finally the abbot said, "Martin, either go out and commit a sin worth confessing or stop coming here so often!"

Martin was so introspective and continually plagued by what he knew of his own depravity and sinfulness that once, while sitting at his desk writing theology, he felt the presence of Satan so tangibly that he grabbed a bottle of ink and hurled it across the room to where he thought the devil was standing. The bottle crashed against the wall and left a mark that can still be seen today.

Finally, in 1509, Martin decided to make a pilgrimage to Rome in hope of finding the elusive peace for which he longed. He set out on foot and crossed the Alps. On his descent, he almost died of a high fever before making his way to a monastery at the foot of the mountains. There the Brothers nursed him back to health.

While there, a wise monk approached him and said, "You need to read the Book of Habakkuk." And so Martin did just that. He read Habakkuk. It was a good suggestion. Habakkuk was a struggler just like Martin, and like us today: If God is good, why does He allow suffering? If there really is a devil, why doesn't God just obliterate him? (When we throw out questions, we then plunge into our personal pursuits-and wonder why we don't get answers.)

One verse captured Martin's imagination: Habakkuk 2:4. "The just shall live by faith." He couldn't get it out of his mind. Having recovered sufficiently to continue his journey to Rome, he went to the Church of St. John's Lateran, a typical cathedral of that day.

There is a staircase there that is said to be from Pilate's judgment hall. The existing stairs are four parts: the special inner two are said to have been transported there miraculously from Jerusalem. The outer two are ordinary. The inner steps are not walked on. Here pilgrims mount painfully on their knees, a step at a time, saying prayers as they go. The pope had promised an indulgence to all who would undergo this rite.

As Martin repeated his prayers on the Lateran staircase, Habakkuk 2:4 suddenly came into his mind: "the just shall live by faith." He ceased his prayers, returned to the University of Wittenberg, and went on to explore the revolutionary idea of "justification by faith." And with great deliberation, on October 31, 1517, Martin drove a stake into the heart of the prevailing pagan concepts by nailing his famous 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, and started the movement known today as the Reformation - the single most important event in modern history.

Appropriately, he did this on Halloween. His name, of course, was Martin Luther. The church leadership didn't like the implications of his views and ultimately, at the Diet (council) of Worms (a town) they excommunicated him as a heretic.

He went on to write commentaries that are classics today; hymns like, "A Mighty Fortress is our God"; and translated the entire Bible into German, a classic which remains the literary masterpiece in the Germanic tongue.

Now; you know the rest of the story ... and how you came to have your Protostant roots.

What Does The Holy Word Say?

Bible Word Study
WHAT DOES THE HOLY WORD SAY?


You have to be obedient to the Word of God. When you find out about what the Bible says about tithing, you need to be honest enough and courageous enough to obey the Word. It may not be comfortable at times but God is big enough to take care of all your needs and desires.



WORD STUDY

Substance (Latin substantia):
1. That which has mass and occupies space; matter.
2. That which is solid and practical in character, quality, or importance.
3. Material possessions; goods; wealth:
 

Firstfruits (Latin fûrstfrts):
1. The first gathered fruits of a harvest, offered to God in gratitude.
2. The first results of an undertaking.
 

Increase (Latin n-krs):
1. To become greater or larger.
2. To multiply; reproduce.
3. To increase in size, area, volume, or bulk.
 

Matthew 23:23
What did Jesus say about tithing?
 

Hebrews 11:6
How does tithing demonstrate your faith and trust in God?
 

Genesis 14:18-20; Genesis 28:20-22
What was the practice of the men of the Old Testament?

Thought to Ponder


Does God only just want cash money returned to Him?

Consider in the Old Testament: When it was decreed that 10% was an acceptable amount to return to God there was no actual cash money. No coins to drop in the collection plate on Sunday morning. The people relied on barter and trade system of crops and live-stock. During this period the tithed was the First Fruit of all that God had given to you. Do you think the times have changed in what God expects?


1. Your children:

What Book of the Bible discuss God asking a certain someone for the sacrifice of his child?

Quite naturally God would not ask us to "sacrifice" our first child to Him but He certainly expects us to raise all of our children up in His ways.


2. Your crops and live-stock:

What Book of the Bible reveals God's anger when people try to bring to Him blind sheep and half rotted crops as "first-fruits"?

Quite naturally today finds not too many women out working in the fields to bring the harvest in or tending a herd of sheep but He expects you to give Him the best of what ever it is that you do.

If you are a home-maker and your house is for the most part a wreck; is this an acceptable tithe to the Lord?

If you are working in the public and you only do what is required and not very well, show up late for work and leave early etc.; is this an acceptable tithe to the Lord?

If you are a wife and argue constantly with your husband, find continuous fault in the things he does; is this an acceptable tithe to the Lord?

3. Tithing can come in many forms and often it isn't money that the Lord asks of us. Sometimes something as simple as being able to sew or paint well and you give away one and keep the other of what you made- is going far beyond a 10% tithe that God required of His people. In fact since you only had two things and gave one away then that would actually equal out to a 50% tithe.

But if the idea of not actually giving God cash money has you to feeling a little guilty then consider that if you were asked for a dollar from someone in desperate need and you gave them all the change you had in your coin purse- you actually just gave 100% of what you had to give- even if it was only thirty cents.

It isn't What type of thing you give that matters most to God; it's what's in your heart when you do give. Amen?!

Note to God

Dearest Abba Father,

This morning I read this passage from the Bible:

"If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God." 1 John 4:15

"Jesus is the Son of God." Six simple words. However, they are much more than simple words; they are the doorway that opens our hearts to God. So then what I now have come to understand is that each day as we confess Jesus as God's Son, we also consciously and intentionally welcome God into our hearts. The Father lives in the person who confesses the Son! That's so fantastic!

I've believed for such a long time that Jesus was Your Son- You made flesh as a man and it seems like a whole world ago (much less a lifetime) that I confessed that very thing with my lips and with my heart. But what I don't think I have ever done- at least on a conscious level- is to get into the habit of saying it out loud every single day as a way of welcoming You each morning into my heart and be part of my day.

What I mean is that every morning I've said, Good Morning Jesus! but no! I don't recall that I have ever confessed You in Jesus Christ out loud each and every day as a means of welcoming You to be part of my day.

Father, I want to live my life and center my heart in You. I gladly confess that Jesus is the Son of God, my Lord, and my Savior each and every day and I gladly say it out loud. I gladly welcome You into my heart and be part of my day! and I'm sorry that I haven't read that into this Scripture before now. But I Thank You that I get it now.

I Love You God and Thank You for Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I Praise and Thank You in the Name of Jesus Christ my Beloved. Amen.

Emergency Numbers

Emergency Telephone Numbers
Please place in your purse or wallet

When -

You are sad, phone John 14
You have sinned, phone Psalm 51
You are facing danger, phone Psalm 91
People have failed you, phone Psalm 27
It feels as though God is far from you, phone Psalm 139
Your faith needs stimulation, phone Hebrews 11
You are alone and scared, phone Psalm 23
You are worried, phone Matthew 8:19-34
You are hurt and critical, phone 1 Corinthians 13
You wonder about Christianity, phone 2 Corinthians 5:15-18
You feel like an outcast, phone Romans 8:31-39
You are seeking peace, phone Matthew 11:25-30
It feels as if the world is bigger than God, phone Psalm 90
You need Christ, phone Romans 8:1-30
You are leaving home for a trip, phone Psalm 121
You are praying for yourself, phone Psalm 87
You require courage for a task, phone Joshua 1
Inflation's and investments are causing anxiety, phone Mark 10:17-31
You are depressed or sad, phone Psalm 27
Your bank account is empty, phone Psalm 37
You lose faith in mankind, phone 1 Corinthians 13
People seem unfriendly, phone John 15
You are losing hope, phone Psalm 126
You feel the world is small, phone Psalm 19
You want to carry fruit, phone John 15
You want Paul's secret for happiness, phone Colossians 3:12-17
You need clarity with big opportunity/discovery, phone Isaiah 55
It's difficult to get along with other people, phone Romans 12

ALTERNATE NUMBERS

For help dealing with fear, call Psalm 47
For security, call Psalm 121:3
For assurance, call Mark 8:35
For reassurance, call Psalm 145:18

Information!

All of these numbers may be dialed directly.
Operators are standing by.
All direct lines to HEAVEN are available 24 hours a day; 7 days a week.

What Does The Holy Word Say?

Bible Word Study
WHAT DOES THE HOLY WORD SAY?

1 John 1:7
"But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin". 

COVENANT RELATIONSHIPS
THE STRONGEST BOND - BUILT TO LAST FOREVER

A covenant is one of the strongest types of agreement known to man. By definition, it's "a pledge, vow, or promise between two or more parties to carry out the terms agreed on."

A covenant is not based on feelings, but on agreement. When you are in a covenant relationship, you love when it's good and when it's bad ... regardless of the circumstances, you love.

Relationships affect our lives like no other resource. Our friends have the potential to influence us for greatness and godliness, and we can influence other people in the same way. It doesn't matter how strong you are in the Word. It doesn't matter what a great person of faith you are.

Regardless of what a powerful prayer warrior you may be or how "spiritual" you are ... If your relationships aren't what they ought to be, God is going to have a hard time getting good things into your life. Relationships are to be based on the love of God that's been shed abroad in our heart by the Holy Spirit.

WORD STUDY
Study on the following words

'Walk' (Greek wôk):

1. The gait of a human or other biped in which the feet are lifted alternately with one part of a foot always on the ground
2. To move over a surface by taking steps with the feet at a slower pace
3. To go or travel on foot 
 

'Fellowship' (Greek fe'l-o'shp):

1. Friendship; comradeship
2. The companionship of individuals in a congenial atmosphere and on equal terms
3. The condition of sharing similar interests, ideals, or experiences,


'Cleanses' (Greek kle'nz):

1. To free from dirt, defilement, or guilt; purge or clean.
2. To make or become clear by the removal of impurities
3. The act or process of removing physical impurities

God's Word holds some powerful promises where relationships are concerned. If we follow after God's principles of covenant relationships, we will surely know true prosperity in every area of our lives.

Luke 2:52
How does this verse relate to us and our relationships?
 

Psalms 133:1-3
What does this verse say about good relationships?
 

Proverbs18:24
How can we be sure to be the right kind of friend?

GOD'S DOORWAY

Nearly everything that comes into your life; good or bad, comes through the vehicle of relationships. When God wants to bring blessing, increase, instruction or encouragement to you, He'll almost always use a relationship to do it.
 
The Hand of God at Work

When God wants to bless you financially, He doesn't stick a giant hand out of the clouds and drop a bag of gold on your head. Or begin floating down $100 dollar bills from Heaven. No; He'll move on someone's heart to be the instrument of that blessing.

When God wants to encourage you, you don't hear a booming voice from Heaven saying, "Be thou encouraged my child." Nor will you see a celestial note float down from the sky. No, He sends a brother or sister in Christ to put an arm around you, give you a squeeze and say, "I sure do appreciate you." The same is true for every form of blessing and help God wants to give you.

The Devil's Door, Too

Unfortunately, blessing isn't the only thing entering your life through the door of relationships. If your relationships aren't right, trouble, heartache and disappointment will come waltzing through that door with painful frequency. The devil works overtime to keep your relationships from prospering. He'll do everything in his power to keep you and your spouse mad at each other. He'll pull every trick in the book to sow discord in your home, in your workplace and in your church.

Standing on the Promises with the Anointing:

Like any of the promises of God, these promises concerning your relationships don't automatically bloom in your life the day you are born-again. They are seeds that must be planted in your heart and cultivated through faith, confession and corresponding action. As you make a quality decision to prosper relationally, the anointing and power of God will be released in your relationships like never before.

THOUGHTS TO PONDER ON

The person we're at odds with may be the one God wants to use to meet our needs. But if we've spoken badly of them or refused to forgive them, how can God help us? The management of our relationships will certainly affect and impact our quality of life. God does things in the earth through human beings. Even the sending of His Son, Jesus Christ, came through the faith of Abraham and the faith of a teenage girl by the name of Mary, who believed God.

People in the world today know little about the unconditional love of God; the kind of love that abides and endures through changing times and the stormy winds of adversity and uncertainty. People everywhere long for relationships motivated by such a love. And in the midst of the chaos and unpredictability of the world today, God has made a way through Jesus Christ for each of us to have that kind of a relationship with God Himself and with those He has brought into our lives ... spouses, children, family, friends and neighbors.

Tend carefully to the Relationship Garden between you and God. The bounty is truly awesome!

What Does The Holy Word Say?

Bible Word Study

WHAT DOES THE HOLY WORD SAY?

God's Word makes it clear that we are to desire to have the gifts of the Spirit at work in the Body of Christ. The world is longing to see all believers be living examples of Jesus, carrying on His plan and allowing the Holy Spirit to manifest Himself in and through our lives.


THE REVELATION GIFTS: THE SPIRIT MANIFESTED


1 Corinthians 12:7-8,10
"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit ... to another discerning of spirits."


A SUPERNATURAL OCCURANCE!


According to the Word of God there are nine manifestation gifts of the Holy Spirit. These can be classified into three different categories:
the gifts of utterance,
the gifts of revelation
and the gifts of power.


The utterance gifts, which are also referred to as the inspirational gifts are:
the gift of prophecy,
the gift of tongues
and the interpretation of tongues.


The gifts of power are:
the gift of faith,
the working of miracles
and the gift of healings.


The revelation gifts, (which are the focus of this study), are:
the word of wisdom,
the word of knowledge
and the discerning of spirits.

All three of these gifts reveal something in the supernatural. These gifts of the Holy Spirit are manifested through individual believers as the Spirit of God wills. The gifts of the Spirit aren't just given for the individual, but they are given in order to edify the whole local assembly or local body of believers. 

1 Corinthians 12:11
How does this verse work with our desiring of spiritual gifts?
 
1 Corinthians 14:1
Why are we called upon to pursue love amidst pursuing the gifts?
 
John 16:13
How does this verse relate the the revelation gifts?

 

DEFINING THE REVELATION GIFTS:

All of these manifestations of the Spirit are not to be confused with the day-to-day workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives. These are unique and special instances when the Holy Spirit supernaturally shows up on the scene and brings about something that is otherwise impossible.
 
The Word of Wisdom:

The gift of the "word of wisdom" is different than the wisdom that we receive as we spend time in prayer and meditate on the Word of God. The word of wisdom has to do with perceiving the future. God opens the curtain a little bit and you see into what lies ahead. When God sees fit to reveal His own mind and purpose and plan to man in a supernatural way, He does so by this supernatural manifestation of the word of wisdom.


The Word of Knowledge:

The gift of the "word of knowledge" is different from the every day knowledge we gain from exercising our mind. The word of knowledge is a revelation to an individual of something that they would have no way of knowing outside the Spirit of God showing it to them. The word of knowledge is a supernatural revelation by the Spirit of God concerning certain facts in the "mind of God" facts about people, places, or things in the past or present.


The Discerning of Spirits:

Through this spiritual gift, we are enabled by the Holy Spirit to discern or distinguish between different kinds of spirits. In other words, the Holy Spirit can and will enable us to unmask even the most cleverly disguised evil spirit. This gift allows you to discern when others are being led by an evil spirit. You are enabled to judge the presence and activity of an evil spirit, and even identify the spirit. At the same time, the discerning of spirits also enables you to know when the Holy Spirit is working in an unusual manner, and not confuse His uniqueness with the work of an evil spirit in disguise as an angel of light.
 

WORD STUDY:
Look up the following words

1. Wisdom  ___________________
 
2. Knowledge  ________________
 
3. Discerning  ________________



THOUGHTS TO DWELL ON

Everyone all over the world is hungry to see Jesus. They are tired of just hearing about Him and they don't just want to know what other people say about Him. They want to see Him for themselves. They want to see His character, His life and His power. It's time for us to let Jesus walk and talk and live His life through us and by the power of the Holy Spirit, to do the works that He did so that the world can see Jesus through us.

God's has always intended for us to reveal Jesus to the world during our earthly lives just as Jesus revealed the Father to the world during His earthly life. We need to wholeheartedly yearn for the gifts of the Spirit to operate in the Body of Christ. We need to allow His compassion to well up within to the extent that it can't help but pour out to all those around us. Just as Jesus was moved with compassion as the gifts of the Spirit flowed through Him, so the Holy Spirit will manifest Himself through our lives to reveal the one and only true God. 


The Revelation Gifts Scriptures

John 16:13
1 Corinthians 1:5-6; 12:11; 14:1,6
Romans 11:29
Galatians 1:12
Acts 16:16
Revelation 19:10

Further Scriptures

Psalm 112:1-3
Romans 16:3-4
Mark 11:25-26
1 Peter 3:7

What Does The Holy Word Say?

Bible Word Study

WHAT DOES THE HOLY WORD SAY?

As you study about the blood of Jesus, you may not think it has too much prominence in the Word of God. But once you start seeing it, you'll find references to the blood is throughout the scriptures.

THE BLOOD OF JESUS!

1 Peter 1:18-19 KJV
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot"
 
COMPREHENDING THE POWER OF THE BLOOD

Many times, as Christians, we have only throught of Jesus' blood as the agent that cleansed sin from our lives; but His shed blood has accomplished far more! Christians need to comprehend the power of the blood of Jesus. It is not one of the mysteries of the Bible, but something that we can study and comprehend. God wants us to know and understand the purpose and power of the blood of Jesus so we can continue to walk out victorious lives in Christ!

There is no question that there is supernatural power in the blood of Jesus that was shed during His death on the cross.

Revelation 12:11
"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony...."

This scripture is saying that you are able to overcome trouble based on your testimony, or declaration of faith, along with what the blood of Jesus did on your behalf (1 Peter 1:18-22). Therefore, a major step in understanding the blood of Jesus is to declare your belief in what the blood has accomplished on your behalf. 

John 6:54
What does the shed blood of Jesus offer us?
 

Romans 3:24-25
What comes as a result of faith in the blood of Jesus?
 

John 16:13
How does this verse relate the the revelation gifts?
 

THE PERFECT SACRIFICE!

The New Testament is filled with references to the importance of Jesus' blood in our lives.


It is Written; The Blood of Jesus

Gives us life (John 6:53).
Brings us close to God (Eph. 2:13).
Purges our consciences (Heb. 9:14).
Gives us boldness to approach the throne of God.(Heb. 10:19)
Sanctifies us, making us holy. (Heb. 13:12)
And cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7; Rev 1:5).


The Old Testament Atonement for Sins

In Leviticus 17:11 God provided the condition for atonement. It was the shed blood upon the altar, the death of a spotless animal, which brought about the atonement or covering for sin.

According to Hebrews 10:4, the blood, or death, of bulls and goats was not sufficient to take away sins: an animal death was not an adequate substitute for the death of a sinful human. A spotless human life was required; the life of Jesus. Only a perfect sacrifice could accomplish our personal salvation. The sacrifice on the cross of Calvary was perfect. The shed blood was so pure that offending man and an offended God were completely reconciled.

Because of Jesus' sinless life and death, all the powers of hell are broken. When Jesus arose from the dead. He held in His hands the keys to death, hell, and the grave. He then gave us, His disciples, authority to bind and loose, authority to cast out demons.

Applying the Blood

In Exodus 12, the death angel passing through Egypt. God's people had been given detailed and explicit instructions on how to sacrifice a lamb, prepare it and, most importantly, how to take its blood and apply it to the doorposts of each house. The careful application of that blood to the doorposts would protect all those inside from the destroyer.

That first Passover was a type and foreshadowing of the protection we can enjoy because the blood of the ultimate Passover lamb, Jesus. Like Israel in Egypt, we must apply the blood in a specific way. We have to apply the blood of the Lamb over our households as surely as the Israelites did on that first Passover night. Not by taking a brush and painting blood on our doorposts, but by opening our mouths in faith. 


WORD STUDY
Look up the following words:


1. Redeemed  ________________________

2. Blood         ________________________ 

3. Without Blemish   ___________________



THOUGHTS TO DWELL ON

As believers, we are invariably going to be touched by unrighteousness in ways that will inhibit our fellowship with God. That's why it is so important to remain rightly connected with God's cleansing agent, the blood of Jesus. If you're taking care of yourself spiritually, there isn't anything on earth the devil can bring against you that the blood of Jesus isn't sufficient to overcome.

We must thank God daily for the blood of Christ. Talk about it. Speak it over your family. Paint it on the doorposts of your life by honoring it and giving it place in your thinking. Combine it with faith and you'll find yourself experiencing more blessing and victory than you ever thought possible. 


THE BLOOD OF JESUS:
Scriptures

Leviticus 17:11
Luke 22:20
Revelation 12:11
Hebrews 10:19-22
Ephesians 2:13
1 John 1:7
Hebrews 9:12-14
Exodus 12:13


Further Scriptures

Hebrews 9:15
John 6:54
Revelation 1:5-6
1 Corinthians 11:24-25

Breaking Yokes Part VII. Conclusion

~ Breaking Yokes - Part VII. - Conclusion ~


So; here we are at the conclusion of this very important study. By now you should have in your possession most every Scripture that was ever written Just For You! to break the yokes of negative thinking and come out from under bondage. And make no mistake about it; It Is Bondage. Rather it is the chains of the Isrealites; prior to Moses freeing them from Pharoh and leading them out of Egypt or your own feelings of negative self worth- Chains are Chains. You either have on shackles and leg irons or you have on the Ephesians Armour.

I can not urge you enough to go back and study these eighty lessons. Read a little here and a little there. Print them out and make yourself a booklet. Do whatever you want with them but study them with all of your power and all of your might and then go out and share what you have been taught here these many weeks. Ultimately; that is what it is all about. Sharing what you have been given.

Someday, at some point, I'd like to hear if this has helped you in any way in your walk with the Lord. That's my reward. Being able to Praise the Lord right along side you! because finally and at lost last you have come out of Egypt and left your chains behind.

God Bless You in the Reading of the Word!
      In His Service,
~ Dr. Angel Koerner Ph.D ~


36. That Person Has Really Gone Too Far. They've Really Devastated Me.

Today we're fasting from the thought that says: "That person has really gone too far. They've really devastated me." 

Too often we give people more power over our lives than what they actually have. By thinking they can have that big of an effect on you, you become enslaved to their whims and their attitude flavor of the month.

1. Fix your mind on Jesus - look at His life.
He was denied by His close disciple, Peter, betrayed by Judas, and forsaken by the rest of His disciples. He was lied about, accused and maligned. None of it stopped Him. In fact, He used each betrayal or personal blow against Him as a path to God's greater purpose for His life.

2. CELEBRATE when someone hurts you, betrays you or accuses you.
It says in 1 Corinthians 11:23, "in the night He was betrayed (while His betrayal was in progress!), He took bread with His disciples..." In the gospel of Mark, he writes afterwards, "They went to the Mount of Olives and sang a hymn."

3. See people's stumbling stones as stepping stones.
Jesus knew that Judas' actions would only serve God's purpose, one way or another. Don't give people's actions PERMISSION to defeat you or hinder you. Rather, use them to step into more of God's will.

4. Stay ATTACHED (one meaning for love = attached) to the promises of God's Word.
Psalm 119:165 says, "Those who LOVE (stay attached to) God's Word have great peace, and nothing offends them." We insulate ourselves from being offended when we love God's Word more than our feelings.

5. Get rid of retaliation thinking.
Entrust yourself to the One who judges righteously.
1 Peter 2:24 says Jesus kept handing Himself over to God, when reviled and falsely accused. When they did their worst to Him, He kept entrusting Himself to the hands of God. Do that today - ENTRUST YOURSELF TO THE HANDS OF GOD.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

No matter what anyone says or does to me, I will not be devastated by it. I will not give them that kind of power over me. I fix my mind on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith.

I choose to celebrate, rejoice and live happily when someone accuses me or betrays me. I will not live in denial, as if it didn't happen, but I will celebrate what Jesus did for me, anyway. I will see other's actions as an opportunity for me to step further into God's will.

I trust that God will cause all things to work together for my good (Romans 8:29). I stay attached to what God says about it and I REFUSE to get offended.

God will avenge me. I will not take vengeance or become bitter. I will continue to entrust myself to Him, as I know that He will judge righteously, and defend my cause!



37. My Life Is Out Of Control.

Today we are fasting from the thought that says: "My life is out of control!" No it's not! 

That's what the devil wants you to think. He wants you to feel helpless and "under" the circumstances. When you think this way, you get discouraged. You lose hope. You give into things. Like a jellyfish, you are carried by the prevailing current.

1. Think: Above.
Stop for a moment and understand what I'm saying here. Think "above" - think from a higher point of view. Look down at life rather than "up" at it. When Elisha's servant saw from "above", he realized there were more for him than those against him. (2 Kings 6:14-17)
Notice, God didn't add any chariots. They were always there. Elisha's servant just couldn't see them, because he wasn't thinking "above." THINK ABOVE.

2. Don't see the bigger picture today.
That's not a typo! Think of your situation and your world as small. Think of yourself bigger. Don't forget - how YOU see yourself, is how life will see you. That's how the devil will see you. That's how your mountain will see you. If you see yourself bigger than the mountain (Greater is He that is in you - that makes you big!), then the mountain will respect what you say when you tell it to move!

3. The best day of your life is the day you decide your choices are your own; therefore, your life is your own.
No excuses. No one to blame. Remember the lame man at the pool of Bethesda for 38 years. He stayed in his condition because he told Jesus what he had believed for all those years: "I have no one to help me." (John 5:7) DECIDE TO OWN YOUR CHOICES and you will own the life God wants you to have.

4. Focus on the inside, not the outside.
If you're like me, there are several things on the outside that are not fully under control, but that's not my job. My job is to get control of the inside. That's what this fast from wrong thinking is about. It's taking care of the INSIDE. Deal with your thoughts by continually going over these verses, these mindsets. YOU ARE IN CONTROL IF YOU CONTROL YOUR THOUGHT LIFE.

5. Take control of your day, one thought at a time.
Don't be overwhelmed. Isaiah 28:13 says that we build God's Word and God's thoughts in our lives: "line upon line, precept upon precept."

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I am in control of my life, because I am in control of my thoughts. I rule my life by ruling my thoughts. My thoughts liberate my emotions, my health, my relationships and my whole life.

I think ABOVE beginning today. I choose to look down at life, rather than look up at it. I see it from God's point of view. I'm bigger than my problem, bigger than the mountain, bigger than any enemy I face today.

Greater, larger and more dominant is HE that is in me, than he that is in the world. TODAY IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE, because I have control of the choices I make.

I will not stay in a defeated, lonely, sick, depressed condition another day of my life. I will focus on the inside. I know the thoughts of victory that I am developing will take care of my outside. This fast from wrong thinking is working IN ME, in Jesus' name.




38.  Why Don't I Have More?

As we continue our Fast from Wrong Thinking, I really want to help you get the most out of your relationship with God. He is in you. He is with you! Yet, so many people have asked how to deepen their walk with God.

I believe one of the keys is: fasting from the thought that says, "Why don't I have more?" (Whether it's more time, money, success, friends, etc.)

I remember complaining to God a while back, as I watched other people in my field getting blessed, having quicker success, etc., while I just steadily plodded along, little by little. When I was done whining, I had a sort of "Solomon" moment and heard the Lord ask me this: "Would you rather have those things, or substance and deep meaning in your relationship with me?"

Knowing that I couldn't say "both," I responded- of course- with the obvious answer. Then I heard this: "The things you've gone through and learned slowly are the precious secrets that you have built your life upon. Now you have something of substance to give that no one else can offer in the same way." That set me free. Then He said, "Now more will come."

I wouldn't trade the depth of relationship with God for anything in this world!

How do we fast from the thought that says: "Why don't I have more?"

1. Choose His face, rather than His hand.
(You'll end up with both.) Spend time with God- start with a verse, or these thoughts, etc.

2. Think positively about your adversity, rather than striving to avoid it.
Let me be clear. I am not saying that adversity comes from God, BUT IT DOES COME. Psalm 34:19 says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." (Know that adversity comes. Expect Him to deliver you. Expect to become better as result.)

3. See your life is a gift from God and for others.
Realize that your relationship with God and your life experiences have uniquely qualified you to make a difference in this world. Everyone has a motivational gift according to Romans 12:6-8. Perhaps to show mercy, or lead others through servanthood, or the gift of making money to give.

4. Don't ever want what other people have.
Solomon said, "Give me what you have prescribed." This doesn't mean to settle for less than all that God has for you; but don't determine what He has for you based on what other people have. God knows what He's doing in your life. Philippians 1:6 says, "Faithful is He who began a good work in you. He will complete it until the day of His return."

5. THINK SECURELY.
God has reserved a place at the table for you. God told Saul not to worry about where he stood compared to others. "There is a place at the table and a portion that has been set aside for you." (1 Samuel 9:23, 24)

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I choose the face of God. I look positively at adversity, rather than fighting to avoid it. I expect God to deliver me from all afflictions and trials.

I choose to see my life as a gift from God and for others. I have a unique and special gift that will make a difference in this world. I won't settle for less than what God has for me, but I will not desire or covet what others have.

I know that God has a portion reserved for me. He has a place for me at His table, and I think securely, therefore I live securely. In Jesus' name.




39. I Wonder If I'm Doing Enough For God.

Have you ever asked the question, "I wonder if I'm doing enough for God?" This kind of thinking produces in us a "works-mentality" and hinders the freedom and joy that God wants us to experience. Let's fast from it!

Christianity is not a life of attainment and achievement. It's a life of acknowledgment. This means to recognize, appreciate and accept.

The problem with so many believers is that they are striving to get God to do something or try to make God's promises come to pass in their lives. Gang, listen to 3 of the most important words you'll ever hear: IT'S ALREADY DONE!

1. Everything God has is yours!
You have a covenant with Him through the blood of Jesus. Luke 15:31 is a picture of God and us, the father said to his son: "All that is mine is yours!"

2. THINK "BLESSED" not "cursed."
You are blessed not cursed. Stop thinking that since you're mother or father had a disease or anger, or some other problem, that you will have it too. You are of a new blood line - the blood of Jesus. You have a new DNA - the DNA of Jesus. Galatians 3:13 says, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us on the cross, that the blessing of Abraham might come to us."

3. IT IS FINISHED -
ahh, the magnificent final words of Jesus on the cross! (John 19:30) There's nothing more that has to be done for you to be saved. Nothing more that has to be done for you to be accepted by God. Nothing more that has to be done for you to be approved and loved! Nothing more that has to be done for you to be free.

4. Realize that your job is to acknowledge and to recognize.
God has done it. You must accept it. This is the true meaning of "confess." It means to acknowledge. We're not trying to MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN by confessing God's Word. We're acknowledging what is already done, what is already ours, and that's what brings it out of the invisible world into the visible world. Think about "confession of sin." When you confessed your sin, that's not when you sinned. You were simply acknowledging what was ALREADY done. When we "confess God's promises," it's the same thing. We're acknowledging what is already done. Philemon 1:6 says your faith becomes effective by acknowledging every good thing that is already in you.

THINK IT & SAY IT:

I have a covenant with God, already! I'm not trying to get God to do something for me. I'm going to focus on believing what He has already done. This is what the Christian life is about - acknowledging what is already in us, and recognizing what He has already done.

I'm already blessed. I'm already healed. I'm already everything that God says I am. I will live a life of acknowledgment - recognizing and praising God for what is already mine through the blood of Jesus.

I'm "blessing" conscious rather than "cursed" conscious. I'm connected to the blood of Jesus; therefore, I have the DNA of blessing. Goodness and mercy WILL follow me all the days of my life.

I accept that I already have in me everything pertaining to life and godliness. I lack no good thing. It's already done! IT IS FINISHED.



40. It's Just Impossible.

As we come to the close of our Study, we need to take the limits off of our thinking. In order to do so, we have to fast from the thought that says: "It's IMPOSSIBLE."

Jesus said "All things are possible to him who believes!" (Mark 9:23)

What is in your life today that you have given up on or considered impossible? Whatever it is (provided it's legal!), don't ever give up. NEVER NEVER NEVER give up!

There is no greater story than the resurrection of Jesus! If a man can rise from the dead, anything is possible!

1. Think about the resurrection every day!
This reveals the miraculous power of God to do anything!

2. Eliminate thinking that says, "I can't believe that."
Cynicism and skepticism have filled our culture. We need to get out of the habit of questioning and doubting the possibility of things. When you think there's no way, JESUS IS THE WAY!

3. Deal with the real problem.
It's not whether God will help. It's whether we believe. The man with the demon-possessed son came to Jesus and said, "If you can do anything, help us..." Jesus responded and said, "If you can believe..." See it's not whether God can do it. It's whether we can believe it. And remember that faith comes from hearing God's Word. (Romans 10:17)

4. Believe that your words move mountains.
Matthew 17:20 says, "You shall say to this mountain 'Remove from here to there', and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you."

5. Meditate on people who had an impossible situation turn around. Abraham was 99 years old when he had a son. Sarah was 90! Moses parted the Red Sea. The list goes on and on. Find those people in the Bible and fill your mind with their testimonies.
Hebrews 12:1 says, "We have a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us..." If it could happen for them, it can happen for you and IT WILL, if you don't throw away your confidence in God's promise...because THE ONLY THING IN THIS WORLD THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE is that: it is impossible for God to lie. (Hebrews 6:18)

THINK IT & SAY IT:

Since Jesus rose from the dead, anything is possible. I expect impossible situations to become possible today. I CAN BELIEVE THAT!

Jesus is my way when there seems to be no way. I BELIEVE GOD CAN AND WILL DO ANYTHING IN HIS WORD THAT I BELIEVE.

Since my words can move mountains, nothing will be impossible to me. I will not throw away my confidence in God's promises, because there is only one thing in this world that is impossible - for God to lie. Therefore, His promises WILL happen in my life, beginning today!

* Today as we approach the end of our fast from wrong thinking, I want you to acknowledge (to recognize) some things. And as you do, I hope you'll join me in taking a personal Communion at some point. Just have your wine/waffer or grape juice/bread ready, set a date and then carry through with it.

See; communion is a RECOGNITION that He is already with you, in you, and for you. Remember in Luke when the 2 men on the road to Emmaus thought Jesus was a stranger. When they took bread, it says "they recognized Him." You see, He was already with them, but when they took communion they were able to recognize and EXPERIENCE His presence. Take your communion and enter into the presense of God!

1 Cor. 11:23-26 NIV
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread,
24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me."
25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me."
26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.


Concluding Communion Prayer:

Father, we thank You for this opportunity to come together as a united Christian front, the many membered body of Christ to partake of the Supper in honor of You.

You!! who are so worthy of all praise and glory. You! who watches over our comings and our goings. Lord thank you for the price You paid on our behalf at Calvary. And we know that even during that painful time You saw us through the ages and were pleased at the people we would become and will continue to become as we grow in You.

Thank You Jesus for loving us and guiding us as we walk this Path called Righteousness. Though oftentimes it is difficult- You are with us and it is always worth it.

Reveal to each of us in Your perfect timing those things that You would have us to do that will bring You the Greater Glory.

It Is In Your Precious Name We Pray, Amen!