THE FISH IS DEAD – IT ROTS FROM THE HEAD – FOREVER SHALL IT BE!

Submitted by Pachamama

Our master narratives are five (5). First, that ideas birthed in the Piscean Age cannot have spiritual resonance today, as a scientific phenomenon, within an overtly displayed Aquarian Age. Second, those who continue to ‘harken’ to such ideas are destined for perdition. Third, that all Christians are Catholics, whether they accept this fundamental, scientific, truism or not. However, we have always preferred to properly define them as Constantinians.

Fourth, that both Christianity and Islam are copied bastards of the misbegotten, non-ancient, recently constructed propaganda framework of Judaism which first sought to deny the primacy of spiritual Afrocentrism. Fifthly, that the clear absence of the essential knowledge about Afrikan cosmogony and its relationships to everything else transports people like the great Bushman of the Kalahari to a place where it is easier to be a fisherman than a fisher of men, even as this symbology itself is dead.

When Francis, the pope of Western Roman Catholicism, comes out and sides with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, of the highly conservative Russian Orthodox Church, which as part of Eastern Roman Catholicism, long broke away from Rome, and went on to extend its own imperial tendencies to the seventieth century. as the former long waned. Its centre of gravity was then Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, modern day Istanbul. A church turned into a mosque under Ottoman imperial rule, military conquests and cultural impositions. For religion has only and always been the deification of culture, nothing more!

Francis now sits in the ‘seat’ of a long list of popes. They range from emperors to war generals to those which history has located amongst the purveyors of some of the worse forms of ‘gangsterism’ known to the Creator and man. This writer today sits in a country in The Americas where, with the blessing of the then pope the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), deploying its para-military death squads was able to assassinate hundreds of thousands of Catholics, even millions, left-leaning political figures, continues to kill activists-trade unionists today and even bishops of the Catholic Church, while in the church and as they prayed, for preaching a liberation ‘theology’. A ‘theology’ inconsistent with market idealism. We no doubt speak of Archbishop Romero who was assassinated at the hands of American trained, sponsored and supported death squads in El Salvador, on March 24, 1980. It’s apocryphal that such a ‘theology’ came from the mind of an Afrikan in north America, professor James Cone in his magisterial work of 1969. Cone was highly influential in the thinking of Cornel West, Christopher Hedges and many more.

We seem to recall that it was one of Pope Francis’s predecessors, John Paul (two), we think, who in similar circumstances after 1978 and during the 1980s, working with Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan, supported a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) project to bring down the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) with Poland as the theatre; Solidarity, a workers’ union, as spearhead; the Gdansk Shipyard as crucible, for social conflict as engineered by Gene Sharpe, a CIA asset who was the leading psychological warfare expert specializing in dis-information and colour revolutions. Sharpe went on, in broad daylight, to plan all of the regime change projects for Christendom up until his death.

These included the Islamic Awakening or Arab Spring which overthrew Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, another American agent, using the Muslim Brotherhood as the well-worn tool. They also deployed their devils Deash and al Queda as the tips of the spear in Iraq, Syria, Libya, Mali and more, in their Christian military crusades. It was also Sharpe’s thinking which was behind America’s failed attempt in the 1989 Tienanmen Square disturbances aimed at overthrowing the Communist government of the Peoples’ Republic of China. There’s a straight line made by a river of blood between all these attempts to western-Christianize the entire world. That trail of blood now leads to Russia’s door.

We’ll have our critiques of Pope Francis, but he is no fool now he wears the ultimate iconography of Catholicism – ‘the head of the fish’ and sits in the seat of someone they like to call Saint Peter, supposedly the first pope. That he would go against the deeply held military disposition and traditional wickedness of the Vatican to say that NATO is causal in this war is highly significant. People who see themselves as Christians but through ignorance profess no relationship to The (un)Holy See are likely to continue with the arguments of Martin Luther. Such specious arguments have never made contact with the origins of a God consciousness on earth.

We trust that Pope Francis does not meet the same premature death as the first John Paul circa 1978, merely 38 days after assumption of the papacy. For to take on the ruling power in such ways could be very dangerous unless he finds protection in what our Moorish brothers contend is the control of the USA by the Vatican, as landlord. However we are never to be so convinced. Officially, a heart condition was claimed but a mountain of books written on this matter suggest a connection to the banking, financial, other murders. A crisis which rocked The Vatican immediately before and after his death – Banco Ambrosiano was at the centre!

As Christianity collapses on earth it reasserts its origins. For decades churches in Western European capitals could hardly find twenty people in their congregations on Sunday mornings. Like everything else this foolishness has been exported to the Global South. So countries in Afrika, all of the Americas and some in Asia bedeviled with systemic deprivations make up the ‘great multitude’- not the ‘select’ or the ‘144K’. While in European capitals we’re more likely to find a faux ‘churchian’ environment every Sunday on soccer fields as hymnals are sung to deify soccer stars, the modern day incarnations of the ‘pagan’ god Serapes, as given the Western world by the Egyptian Coptics, and transformed into a man who never existed called Yesus, for there was no “J” in the Hebrew alphabet at the time. Egyptian Coptics who were the traitors of the people of Kemet.

Finally, Babylon, the not so Great, has fallen. The Piscean Age has wrought all manner of wickedness on mankind, especially Afrikan peoples. Given time, Aquarius shall reassert the central role of the woman in the universe while destroying all oppositional forces. This time there is no fiction about a Kemetic pyramid built to enter the heavens or some place so-called in modern day Iraq. The ways of the Piscean Age are dead as the rotting carcass pollutes the sensitive nasal passages of all mankind. Entered is Aquarius to stamp Her watery influences on this solar systems.

The Role of Religion

Submitted by Steven Kaszab

What significance does organized religion have these days? Easter celebration has now past, as too high celebrations  in the Islamic and Jewish faiths. Candy for the kids, while worshipers touch ever so lightly the divinity of God and its significance in our lives. 

I wonder what Jesus, Mohammed and Moses would say if they indeed saw what their people have been up too, what they have created here.  What decisions have we made that has  a mighty effect upon others in this world, and even the planet it self?

I see the world though both rose colored glasses (optimist) and cruel skeptics eye glasses. I see beauty and goodness, while at the same time horrors of what was, what is and what can be. It seems to me that organized religion presents itself above this fray, advising, cajoling and directing their membership towards something better, often unworldly and yet also preaching that we must invest ourselves in this world making it better too. 

Pope Francis recently spoke about how humanity has enslaved many while the world claims to have ended slavery. Our very existence, our survival as a people has placed others at risk, enslaving them to their demographic, that is to say what, where and how they were born into this world dictates where they will be free or enslaved to poverty, racism, political manipulation and intrigue. The Church of Rome, The Great Leaders of Islam and The Jewish Faith talk a good talk, but will not walk the good walk towards our neighbor’s liberation from slavery. Poverty still exists, while these religious institutions thrive with a abundance of wealth and influence at their finger tips. Billions of dollars lay unused, managed only to create more wealth for these institutions. While their membership work to assist others as religious people should, the horrors of this world continue to grow, unstopped by our religious leaders words. Pope Francis pointed out that religious freedom is violated and sometimes trampled upon in many places in this world, often crudely and openly, other times more subtly and hidden from sight. Religion often talks about itself, how it is perceived and treated, often oppressed or misused.

When was the last time a religious leader took matters into their own hands? Yes some Muslim Leaders call upon the faithful to “jihad” against those of another religion, but have you seen anyone upturn the tables of money changers recently? Have any of them turned water into wine? Have any of them been able to make the waters of oppression split before them recently? These acts can be seen as metaphors of human action, calling  upon the world’s wealthy and Banks to end poverty, take the old world and make it anew, splitting the oceans of political inaction and make a difference for the poor, oppressed and lowly amongst us. 

Liberation Theology was once an important influencer upon religious institutions until the top brass realized where it was going. The leaders of organized religion saw that this theology would and did point its finger of judgement directly at these institutions. These religious institutions of wealth and power had become a part of the problem.  Humanity should value life, freedom and justice above all, but instead wealth and power remain the supreme objective for many.

Is religion important to you? Has it liberated you from your dependence upon high tech, money, pleasure or your ego? The worlds holy book places the spiritual above all else. A journey towards understanding yourself, and therefore understanding God. If God is within You, then you can accomplish great things. You can cry out to the world “I AM”. Yes You are a God, and only You can change this world for the better.

Leptogenesis: The Mythological Confluence Of Pagan Ritualized Churchianity

Submitted by Terence M. Blackett

Leptogenesis: The Mythological Confluence Of Pagan Ritualized Churchianity, Judaic Rabbinization & Apocryphal & Midrashic Islam Aligned Into A Clash Of Religious Mythologies

“If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him…” ~ Voltaire

Let me state at the outset of this discourse that I am not a Durkheimian Functionalist, either at the core or at the periphery. The understanding that “the totality of beliefs and sentiments common to the average members of a society forms a determinate system with a life of its own. It can be termed the collective or creative consciousness” (Durkheim – The Division of labour [1893]) posits that modern society is more than the sums of its parts, and although religion is at the heart of this narrative – each part of the organism, we call society, must harmonize as a composite whole to avoid the kind of crises we are seeing in the 21st century, which is at the heart of the global Papal-Interfaith-Movement. A mission doomed to failure and rightly so!

To give luminescence to this ancient quest, a cursory glance at Kathleen Herbert’s work, is this posited ideas narrative that men are still frantically looking for the “Lost ‘gods’ of the Anglo-Saxons” which parenthetically includes the modern-day English “neo-sub-mariners” who according to Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1797–1798) in his eclectic poem: “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” paints a dystopian picture of a ship manned by the pathetic souls of dead men, led by a mythical albatross. Coleridge’s penchant for melodramatization cites:

Ah! Well a-day! What evil looks

Had I from old and young!

Instead of the cross, the Albatross

About my neck was hung. (Lines 139 – 142)

Four times fifty living men,

(And I heard nor sigh nor groan)

With heavy thump, a lifeless lump,

They dropped down one by one.

The souls did from their bodies fly,—

They fled to bliss or woe!

And every soul, it passed me by,

Like the whizz of my cross-bow! (Lines 216 – 223)

Today, postmodern reLIEgion is still an “Albatross” around the necks of multi-millions, if not billions, whose sincere endeavours seek the discovery of “TRUTH”, yet like Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus, find themselves “SINCERELY WRONG”, yet well-intentioned in their pursuits of faith-based religiosity. What is so disdainful is that their supposed faith does not in any way correlate with their works, words or so-called wisdom. They argue vehemently over a storm in a teacup and can ever hardly agree to disagree on pretty much anything, without salacious human venom; mindless epithets and braggadocious drivel! Scripture rightly says: “From such turn away.”

Many may be kerfuffle by the use of the word ‘Leptogenesis’. To use this term as a point of reference in regard to this particular discourse, must be understood within the contextual ambit of how the Early Church Fathers understood this terminology – although many of these so-called illustrious men were nothing more than wolves in sheep’s clothing and sell-outs to the cause of righteousness and to cite any of them must be taken with a serious sprinkling of Celtic sea salt.

In the realm of physical cosmology, Leptogenesis is the generic term used for ‘hypothetical physical processes’ that produced an asymmetry between leptons and antileptons in the very early universe, resulting in the present-day dominance of leptons over antileptons. However, in TOV Rose’s seminal work as an author, speaker & television producer, cited in his seminal work – “The Book of Jubilees: The Little Genesis”: “(Leptogenesis), is an ancient Jewish religious work of 50 chapters, considered canonical by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as well as Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jews), where it is known as the ‘Book of Division’ (Ge’ez: Mets’hafe Kufale). Jubilees are considered one of the pseudepigrapha by Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox Churches…”

It was well known to Early Christians, as evidenced by the writings of Epiphanius, Justin Martyr, Origen, Diodorus of Tarsus, Isidore of Alexandria, Isidore of Seville, Eutychius of Alexandria, John Malalas, George Syncellus, and George Kedrenos. The text was also utilized by the Essenes community that originally collected the Dead Sea Scrolls. No complete Hebrew, Greek or Latin version is known to have survived…”

The Book of Jubilees claims to present “the history of the division of the days of the Law, of the events of the years, the year-weeks, and the jubilees of the world” as revealed to Moses (in addition to the Torah or “Instruction”) by Angels while he was on Mount Sinai for forty days and forty nights. The chronology given in Jubilees is based on multiples of seven; the jubilees are periods of 49 years, seven “year-weeks”, into which all of time has been divided…”

The Roman Catholic Church has had a lurid fascination with “Jubilees” but moreover, when there is a “Jubilee of Jubilees” and in this ‘supposedly’ holy weekend sees the confluence of Easter; Passover & Ramadan collide as this 33-year-old phenomenon landed upon us in this month of April 2022. We have seen on the Temple Mount clashes between Jews & Muslims where over 150 people were injured and 100’s arrested, with actually violence being perpetrated in the very mosque on the mount. These 3 Abrahamic reLIEgions (though sons of Sarah, Hagar & Keturah) – wives of the Patriarch and brothers to each other, remain in gratuitous battle-like, violent contestation for over the last 3 millennia (with no end in sight).

The confluence of pagan churchianity and its ritualization of this mythological time called Easter, Judaic rabbinization & apocryphal & midrashic Islam – all have their Leptogenesis in the symbolic origins of sun and moon worship (adoration of the starry host of heaven) that have displayed themselves in a myriad of forms since post-diluvian times – namely during the inception of the tower of Babel.

Although we think we understand the past primordial ages – in our dauntingly corrupt, postmodern age, sociological questions remain as to how religious beliefs and other factors relate to other conditions such as race, age, gender and, education. Primarily, is this notion of how religion affects social change and the effects it has on political and/or educational institutions?

Durkheim in his religious treatise looked at suicide rates amongst Protestants & Catholics. Max Weber & Karl Marx looked at religious orthodoxy as a unique role in social institutions such as politics & the economy. So while Durkheim & Weber looked at the cohesive part religion plays in a given society – Marx was more scathing in his outlook, focusing on the conflict and oppression that religion plays, as it was used as a tool for class oppression and social control that promoted stratification – (i.e.) supporting a certain hierarchy of persons to the detriment and subordination of other humans to a divine form of authority. (cf. Giddens, Anthony [1991] Introduction To Sociology. NY. W.W.Norton & Co.)

In a NYT piece entitled: “A Bleak Outlook Is Seen for Religion” expanded on in BBC Future follow-up piece aptly titled – “Tomorrow’s God: What is the future of religion?” are these words: “Sociologists argued that the march of science was leading to the “disenchantment” of society: supernatural answers to the big questions were no longer felt to be needed. Communist states like Soviet Russia and China adopted atheism as state policy and frowned on even private religious expression. In 1968, the eminent sociologist Peter Berger told the New York Times that by “the 21st Century, religious believers are likely to be found only in small sects, huddled together to resist a worldwide secular culture”… Further, “now that we’re actually in the 21st Century, Berger’s view remains an article of faith for many secularists – although Berger himself recanted in the 1990s.”

Clearly, the only thing religion hold together is the ‘house of cards’ and ‘Interfaith Dialogue’ as a medium for strengthening the religious bulwarks is not working even at the highest echelon levels of mainstream religion. The University of Cambridge held a symposium in 2011 where Jews, Christians & Muslims met around the Scriptures as a form of interfaith practice for the 21st Century but 11 years on, what is the current state of play?

The simple answer is “Division”! Why? Most want to be comforted by a “LIE”!

Let’s take a simple example from the ‘Abstract’ without leaning heavily on the ‘Full-Text’ of a piece published in 2019 entitled: Muhammad, the Jews, and the composition of the Qur’an: Sacred History & Counter-History, by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion which states categorically: “According to Islamic religious teachings, some Jews confirmed the authenticity of Muhammad’s prophethood and joined him. Most Jews, however, are condemned for both rejecting the Prophet and failing to live up to their own religious imperatives. Medieval polemics tended to be harsh and belligerent, but while Muslims and Christians produced polemics under the protection and encouragement of their own religious and political authorities, Jews lived everywhere as minority communities and therefore lacked such protection. In order to maintain their own sense of dignity Jews polemicized as well, but they had to be subtle in argument. One form of polemic produced by Jews and other subalterns is “counter-history,” which retells well-known narratives in a manner that questions or undermines their message. One such counter-history is an ancient Jewish re-telling of the traditional Muslim narrative of divine revelation.

In an earlier citation, by Professor Walter Veith, he lay down a serious unimpeachable argument that Islam & the Rabbinization of Judaism will always be in competition, and although they may both be bent out of all shape and proportion, over the validity of Muhammad’s cave revelations, and the fact that Quranic revisions of the Torah may never be divine light – at the heart of the issue is that solitary word: “INSPIRATION”!

Judaism & Christianity on the other hand, remain at a fork in the road, when it comes to the issue of the historical “YESHUA” AKA “JESUS” (the Incarnation of the Divine Son of God) – the 2nd Person of the Godhead (the Eternal Majesty & Mystery of the “Glorious TRINITY”). The ‘deep differences’ between these 2 religions cannot be easily abridged, given the fact that most Jews will never accept even the historical Jesus, far less worship Him as Messias. Moreover, Rabbinic traditions is no different today as it was when Christ walked the earth almost 2000 years ago, doing all manner of great and mighty works, but was railed on as a deceiver (to the point of being called a son of the Devil)!

There are voices however that believe that there can be convergence between religions beyond inter-faith dialogue – where harmony and even echoes exist within the writings of religious script. These voices are few and far between and with Passover, Easter, and Ramadan falling so synchronistically close – all the goodwill in the world will not be able to negate the gulf that exist between them.

In conclusion, the historical reverberations over the issue as to when to “keep The Passover became known as the Quartodeciman Controversy”. Quartodeciman is a Latin word meaning “14th.” It states that “in the New Testament, we learn that Jesus kept the Passover on the 14th of Nissan. He taught the disciples to remember His suffering and death on this day. This instruction was followed by the early disciples (see Acts 20:6, I Cor. 5:6-8, I Cor. 11:17-32 for some examples). Remembering the death of Jesus on Passover was of major importance to early Christians. In the mid-second century, a movement started out of Rome to stop practicing Passover; they also tried to establish a new celebration. Believe it or not, this subject had an impact on the weekly Sabbath!”

The Quartodeciman Controversy was part of the movement by the Church of Rome to abandon any practices considered ‘Jewish.’ Their actions were contrary to those taught by the first Apostles. Moreover, this controversy was eventually used to push the idea of weekly fasting on Friday and Sunday gatherings.”

The controversy concerning Passover would last for centuries into the future and be discussed at church councils such as Nicaea (325), Antioch (341), Laodicea (364), and Constantinople (381). The groups who persisted in the observance of Passover were deemed heretical because they did not comply with the Roman Catholic Church. Eventually, Roman Law would codify penalties against those who practiced Passover like Jesus (see CT: 16.5.9 [382] and CJ: 1.5.5 [428]). In fact, all groups deemed heretical had severe laws enacted against them (see The Theodosian Code, Book 16, Title 5 for over 60 laws against groups deemed heretical).”

Daniel (the prophet), in chapter 7 verse 25, warned that the “Little Horn” power (which is the Roman Catholic Vicegerency (POPERY) would seek to change “TIMES” & “LAWS” and from 538 AD until today, that has been its ethos and motto. This nefarious pagan institution has supplanted the Apostolic Doctrine for “RITUALIZATION” & Leptogenesis on a Biblical scale as the world grinds precariously on its axis. Now all that’s left is a “Shattered Paradise” & “The Undead Intellect” from which “The Creator God” hope to salvage a “Remnant”…

Semper Fidelis

TV Is Your God

Submitted by Terence

TV Is Your God: Apophenia &Numerological Coding – How Globalists Use Kabbalistic Psychpathology Programming To Run Prison Planet Earth

As hard as it may be to imagine, the global elite practices a form of ancient pagan religious theosophy based on the mystery school religions of ancient Babylon undergirded by infectious tyranny in which they seek to achieve a salient form of ‘godhood’ – a modern-day gnosis as cited in Revelation 17:1-18 called “Mystery Babylon The Great”; Mother of Harlots; having names of blasphemy written across her forehead!

What cannot be underscored enough is how religion is used to control the sheeple masses by creating exoteric (visible) religious bonds between people from different walks of life, embedding within their epistemologies, esoteric (hidden), slight-of-hand meanings understood by only the enlighten ones, or those who possess the light that illuminates their evil. Hence, the ancient symbols used for millennia have pride of place in religious mass, festival and services; within business & TV marketing and most notably, within the lame-stream media today who are complicit in crimes against humanity.

The social Darwinism of the globalist’s elite predicates their sovereignty over the evolution of society leaving nothing to time or chance. Were they to allow happenstance, they would lose their socio-political and religio-economic control and immoral dominance over us. So in order to advance their bloodlines, their social control of every facet of life – they continue to use their minions and cohorts to keep themselves positioned as the dominant 1% class, planning, scheming and strategizing for decades and even centuries in advance to achieve specific ends.

The Kabbalist’s use of numerology is sacrosanct within the bowels of their occult practices, where dates and numbers are set in stone by the ‘Master Masons’ whose control and leverage of this prison planet called earth where like any good Box Office movie release date (the stringency surrounding secrecy is utilized for maximum effect).

Television is the greatest tool in their armoury for brainwashing any society. The major struggle for many parents today is to get their kids to even read a book and to recall the theme, jist and conclusion of what they have read. Reading is almost passé, as 2-year-olds are parked in front of Nickelodeon or the myriad of Disney channels for hours, as the parents can then enjoy some peace and quiet or even downtime or get on with domestic chores, life or whatever floats their boat.

Today is Tuesday 22nd February 2022 (22/2/22). If one takes a sample look at the number of Hollywood films set for release in 2022 – the themes are all occult in nature. Anyone who has studied “Secret Society Symbolism” (SSS) will see the dubious Freemasonic connections to the number 22. Delta Kappa Epsilon (ΔΚΕ), commonly known as DKE (or Deke), is one of the oldest fraternities in the US, and was founded on June 22nd 1844. The 22nd Amendment of the Constitution states: (‘no person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice’ – and if Donald Trump has his way that’ll soon change after 2024) and needless to say, the Founding Fathers obvious connections to European Freemasonry remains controversial history.

The aberrant science of numerology and for those who are Occultist practitioners invoking incantations of divination are undoubtedly revelling that this day has come (for even world leaders who want to – (BUILD BACK BETTER), see this as an opportunity to unleash the globalists Masterplan based on their Grand Masonic Project.

In the writings of Satanist/Luciferian Aleister Crowley and Robert Anton Wilson, called ‘Apophenia’ opines that there is a tendency to perceive connections and meaning between unrelated things. These numeric codes (cousin to algorithms) correlate and conceal as was stated in a 2022 movie release that “the truth is protected by a bodyguard of lies”, where in the blockbuster film ‘exposing the matrix or illusion’ was clearly at work across every genre of modern society.

Today, Tuesday 22nd February 2022, is 322 years to the day since the “Great Northern War” that began on February 22, 1700 where a coalition under the Tsardom of Russia successfully contested the Swedish Empire in Northern, Central & Eastern Europe defeating Sweden’s Charles XII by Russia’s Peter the Great. In an almost blindingly historical twist, Vladimir Putin began military insurgence into Ukraine by taking 2 of its neighbouring enclaves rattling the global established order. The Great Northern War lasted just shy of 22 years although rumblings had existed during the 1690s.

No can argue that 2022 as it currently stands, find itself in a ‘Catch-22 Crisis’ which is a paradoxical dilemma from which Putin & Biden et al cannot escape, because of the telemetry of contradictory rules, constrained limitations and the almost daily bevy of political posturing by so-called lying, corrupt politicians. This concept was coined by Joseph Heller, who used it in his 1961 novel Catch-22, where the phrase implies a noticeably difficult situation from which there is no escape.

The ‘COVID-19 PlanDEMIC’, was and is an experiment in global totalitarianism – pushed and managed to see what lessons could be learned before the next instalment goes “Live” and given the use of ‘vaccine coercion’ (through 2021). 2022 is now seeing massive kickback from Canada to Europe to the US and around the world. The ‘Lame-Stream Media’ coverage has been nothing short of an exercise in ‘Mass Formation Psychosis’, as they try to portray that ‘normal life’ would ultimately prove to be a Catch-22 situation, as human ‘compliance’ based on ‘double standards’ and ‘untested science’ in an experimental jab, (needing EUA) was peddled as the only way out of escaping a flu-like illness that over 99% recoverable in most cases, with only basic remedial treatments like Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin ever needed.

On March 22nd 2020, lockdowns had begun in the Yet 2 Be United Kingdom with ‘review’ dates occurring on the 21st/22nd of June 2021. Today, on the 21st February, 2022, lame duck PM Boris Johnson officially ended all legal COVID-19 mandates including testing for only 75-year-olds or those vulnerable and at greatest risk! This is not just Plandemic theatre – this is the Kabal doing what it does best: using numerology as a scripted scientific occult barometer.

33-Degree-Freemasons of the highest order who understand the science of numbers and how within the structures of Kabbalism, that even The Holy Bible has been interpretable by the use of numeric codes. For example, in the gospel of Matthew, the book contains 28 chapters, covering some 23,684 words, divided by 1071 verses, equalling 22. In the gospel of Mark, 16 chapters’ covers 15,171 words, divided by 678 verses, equals 22. In the gospel of Luke, 24 chapters covers some 25,944 words, divided by 1151 verses, equals 22 and the gospel of John, with 21 chapters, covers 19,099 words, divided by 878 verses equals 21 (one number short, as the book of Revelation was to be a continuation of John’s work).

There are 22 books in the Aaronic (Levitical) Old Testament Scriptures, that was intended to be the Light of God for Israel to get them over into the Promised Land but disobedience resulted in them dying in the wilderness. There are 22 generations from Adam to Jacob. When Moses inaugurated the Tabernacle of God, there were exactly 22,000 ministering Levites consecrated to serve in the temple duties – each within their own divisions. In the 119th Psalm, Bibliologists have divided David’s Inspirational writings into 22 parts, designated by the names of the letters, Aleph, Beth, Gimel, and Daleth. And the 25th Psalm contains 22 verses, each of which begins with a different letter of the alphabet, from Aleph to Tau. The number 22 is said to be the ‘Gnostic Key‘ that ‘supposedly’ unlocks the revelation in the Bible, where it is revealed in Isaiah 22.22: “And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.”

Apparently, 22 is also the Number of Revelation. In the 22nd chapter of the gospel of John, Christ identifies Himself as the “Alpha & Omega” which would be the First & Last letters of the Greek Alphabet, Aleph and Tav. They opine that the number 22 unites the entire body of Scripture and is also the numerical value for the Hebrew word ‘Yachad‘ – meaning unite. The word light is also repeated 22 times, and on the 22nd time, John quotes Jesus: “I have come as a light into the world …” (John 12:46). The Word of God is called a ‘Lamp’ (Psalms 119:105; Proverbs 6:22), and the Light by which we are to live. The word Light is found 264 times in Scripture. When 264 is divided by the perfect number 12 (the 12 planets in the heavens), we have 22, which represents the Light.

In conclusion (due to brevity), when evaluating the puerile norms, vacuous values and insane actions of the elite – one is left with hardly any hope for this species of being. Just look at “Dustbin-Trudeau-Castro” and his actions in what was the most peaceful Western country – now being turned into a prison complex, with Elon Musk calling him Adolf Hitler! It has been well established, as shown by Andrew Lobaczewski in his book “Political Ponerology” & cell phone spy, that these globalist’s elite and their handlers based on uber-wealth are frankly psychopathic all but in surname. None are exempt. All leaders (99%), in all areas of power, including business, politics, academia, science & reLIEgion are inherently psychopaths with no visible conscience; with a rabid lust for power over others and they exercise such levels of social control that they are literally capable of doing anything they deem in their fragile minds as the ‘Greater Good’.

What a Croq!

Semper Fidelis

Fr. Harcourt Blackett Ignores Cry from Man Alleging ABUSE by Fellow Catholic Priest

Decisions we make are influenced by a moral compass. The degree a society is able to align to the collective beliefs and perspectives of citizens is a work-in-progress exercise. No absolutes, many shades of grey. Enlightened citizens understand we must unapologetically participate in our system of governance to ensure civil society actors are sufficiently aligned to collective values. The challenge oftentimes is that issues of morality are not black and white. 

For many Barbadians- dare we say the majority- the Christian Church represents the last bastion of what defines old fashion traditional values. It is place many believers seek refuge. It is a place a believer should not expect to be abused physically or emotionally. Physical and emotional abuse should be viewed through a black or white lens.

The blogmaster received several communications from a man residing in Europe who alleged he was abused by a catholic priest now deceased by the name of Aidan Dean, a Canadian who presided in Barbados during the 70s. The victim in his search to find emotional closure tried to initiate an investigation in 2017 to discover if other young men had been similarly abused in Barbados. Fr. Andy of St. Dominic’s referred him to Fr. Harcourt Blackett. The victim spoke to Fr. Harcourt on the phone, however, he reported Fr. Harcourt’ s attitude was :- “ yes some people still alive who will remember him [Aidan Dean] but don’t spoil the memories and image that these people may hold about this person. Brush, dirt, carpet”.

Emails sent to Fr. Harcourt and Charles Dominique were subsequently forwarded in 2018 to bishopaccountability.org because Fr. Harcourt ignored the cry for assistance from the victim. bishopaccountability.org is a website dedicated to victims and families of victims of abuse by the catholic church. The blogmaster can only speculate why the matter was not pursued by that entity.

A snippet of a letter received by the victim from an aging Dominican in London. It explains why Fr Aidan was relieved of his post in Barbados and sent back to England.

I am a 61 years old man living in Northern Ireland. As a boy I spent a period of my life living near to the Dominican priory … England. At that time a friendship was formed with Fr Aidan Dean.  I was lonely and vulnerable.  Fr Aidan was a close family member who ate at our table at home and was held in great esteem by my parents.

Fr. Aidan gifted to me money, a Toshiba radio cassette player and other things and sexually abused me – I am still haunted by his nudity, physical encounters. his breath his lips etc. He is dead no. What happened shaped my life – kept contact with me through university and performed my marriage ceremony.

Extract from an email sent by the victim to Fr. Harcourt Blackett, Charles Dominic and bishopaccountability.org.

As a result of the abuse the victim underwent a psychiatric evaluation and ongoing therapy is recommended. The client reported extensive and repeated sexual abuse by Father Aidan Dean between the ages of seventeen and nineteen. The client reported that the abuse took place in the priest’s bedroom in ‘Hawksyard Priory,’ off …. The client recalls being touched, fondled, and kissed and regularly experiencing penetrative sexual abuse by Father Aidan Dean. The client recalls the priest telling him he loved him, giving him gifts, and treating him in a way that made him feel special.

Extract from the Psychiatric Evaluation Report to determine the therapeutic needs of the victim.

The blogmaster’s hope is that those with answers meet with the victim to facilitate closure to the matter. Newly installed Bishop Neil Scantlebury should move with haste to attend to the disturbing accusation. One does not expect a priest of the calibre of Monsignor Vincent Harcourt Blackett to show the level of insensitivity described by the victim. The blogmaster notes Fr. Blackett recently accepted an engagement in St. Vincent. The blogmaster also notes a communication sent by the victim to Barbados Today on Monday, 5 December 2016, 21:22 was ignored.

Mental Bondage is Real

The blogmaster is sure the significance of Emancipation Day is lost on the majority of Barbadians. In recent days the commentary swirling in the spaces frequented by the blogmaster centred on the cancellation of Crop Over for a second year running, a break from going to work or attending to an activity unrelated to the purpose of Emancipation Day. A key ceremony to celebrate the day at Bussa statue will muster the usual suspects.

On a day that should have deep significance for a majority Black country, one which played a leading role perfecting the slave society model, raises the question – why are a majority of Barbadians numbed to our past? The chorus of Redemption Song by the great Robert Nesta Marley should be recommended listening for all Barbadians

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery

None but ourselves can free our minds

Have no fear for atomic energy

‘Cause none of them can stop the time

How long shall they kill our prophets

While we stand aside and look

Some say it’s just a part of it

We’ve got to fulfill the book

Bob Marley’s Redemption Song

It is instructive that at this juncture in our history the economy has stalled and we are country saddled with one of the highest debt to GDP in the world. A generation unborn will be subjected to the responsibility of servicing (not repaying) the debt.

A 21×14 country with too many motor vehicles of all engine sizes and makes on the road causing gridlock all hours of the day.

Our supermarkets stocked with too many brands of the same product to appease our taste for foreign.

We are blessed with a large middleclass whose definition of personal achievement is at minimum a 800k mortgage, 2 cars in the driveway and an annual vacation to North America or Europe. The biggest irony occurred in 2018 when the government administered a ‘haircut’ to investments held by many of the middleclass – “Oh what a tangled web we weave…”

The consumption behaviour translates to an oil and food import bill north of 1 billion dollars. This contrast starkly with an agricultural sector that accounts for less than 4% of GDP. “A country that cannot feed itself cannot have self pride….”

Our best large companies are owned by non Barbadians. What is the identity of a Barbadian if we are unable to puff our chest that comes from the confidence of being ‘strict guardians of our heritage, firm craftsmen of our fate’. Is it a surprise we are unable to connect to what Emancipation Day means?

How will we be able to change it? How will we be able to emancipate ourselves from mental slavery? A relevant program of education (indoctrination?) must start in our schools, youth groups, civic organizations, churches etc. In the words of the great poet Maya Angelou – “… if you don’t know where you’ve come from, you don’t know where you’re going. I have respect for the past, but I’m a person of the moment. I’m here, and I do my best to be completely centred at the place I’m at, then I go forward to the next place”.

How do we educate our people to see the benefit of threading our past with the present to be able to experience the best future?

LOCK Lynroy Scantlebury and Wife to Rh Up!

Since the worrying outbreak caused by the ‘super spreader’ event in February, Barbados has done a good job of pulling back COVID 19 infections numbers. For the most part Barbadians have observed the protocols/directives and compared to countries near and far done excellently to administer the Covid 19 vaccine as a primary measure to combat the rampaging pandemic.

The blogmaster again takes the opportunity to thank Lyall Small who has been diligent to submit information formatted for 101 public use – see graphs below. The graphs show that compared to others in the region we are faring better than most but there is work still to be done until we are able to satisfactorily arrest the virus.

Against the forgoing the blogmaster is concerned we have religious zealots among us who blinded by an all-powering  ignorance would adopt a behaviour to jeopardize the health of people on the island and economic state of the country. The blogmaster is of the strong belief Lynroy Scantlebury and his wife Heather of  World Harvest Ministries International Church, based in Speightstown, St Peter should be made to feel the full weight of the law. His followers blindly following this idiot by continuing to avoid calls from authorities to present themselves should also be hauled before the court. One quality we have to nurture as a society if we are to break free from a pervasive mediocrity suffocating our little island is to respect the value DISCIPLINE adds to all that we do – see Nation News posted below for background to the matter at hand.

Why should the rest of Barbados suffer hardship to keep COVID 19 at bay and others who profess to walk a moral high ground ignore protocols and directives set by an elected government that come back to bite us in the asses where it hurts.

NO!

Attached are C-19 graphs for the week ending 16th April 2021.  Barbados is now showing a slight but possibly worrying upward trend in daily cases, as well as positivity percentages (even though these are still below the benchmark levels).  These indications are possibly mainly due to the cluster at a northern church which might not have been totally eliminated.  The active cases chart also appears to tell the same story.  The authorities, from this week’s press conference, appear to be concentrating on this cluster and will hopefully be successful in eliminating it,  given their good performance so far – See COVID Updates

Lyall Small


COME OUT! 

Bostic tells church members to stop hiding, get tested

By barryalleyne@nationnews.com

Stop hiding! Come out and get tested!

Minister of Health and Wellness Jeffrey Bostic did not mince words yesterday, as he urged members of a northern church to stop dodging public health officials who are conducting contact tracing into a cluster of COVID-19 cases.

He said public health officials had been hamstrung this week as they attempted to find people associated with the church.

Earlier this week in a story broken by the Midweek Nation, it was revealed that 19 members of the World Harvest Ministries International Church, based in Speightstown, St Peter, had tested positive for the COVID-19 virus. That number has since increased.

Its leader, Apostle Lynroy Scantlebury and his wife Heather, admitted that they were later ordered by Chief Medical Officer Dr Kenneth George to report to Paragon in Christ Church, for him and his spouse to start a period of quarantine.

“My concern is this church cluster occupying the Ministry of Health and Wellness,” Bostic told a national press briefing yesterday, after confirming that nine of the country’s 12 newest COVID-19 infections were related to the church.

“I would like to appeal to all persons associated with that church in the north, if you haven’t been contacted, it’s either you haven’t been told of your possible exposure to the virus, or because you are hiding. If you don’t care about your status, I care and the Ministry of Health cares. If you remain in hiding, it could be detrimental to your health.”

Matter of urgency

He then urged those from the church who remained untested to present to the Wildey Gymnasium as a matter of urgency, or to any medical facility of their choosing.

Bostic said three of the 12 new cases had already been at the Harrison Point facility in St Lucy beingassessed, but what worried

him most was that the other nine individuals were all directly related to the church. He added that two families, one of four, and one of three people, all members of the church, had tested positive, and another two were not members but indirectly connected to an organisation that had its members exposed to the virus.

In response to a question by reporters, the minister said they were glad the leaders of the church were placed in quarantine, and having them at their disposal would allow the Chief Medical Officer to “vigorously continue the investigation into the cluster”.

“We don’t yet have all the information. We are very, very closely monitoring this situation. Nothing is being ruled out. The aim is to contain the spread of the disease in Barbados, and we will do whatever we have to do to do that,” he added.

Bostic added that public health personnel, in their investigation, would also determine if to take the matter further.

Scantlebury had claimed that COVID-19 had been planted at his church.

“This was planted at our church,” he had told the Midweek Nation in a telephone interview from his quarantine at Paragon. “We never had any cases of COVID at World Harvest. Not one single case.”

In yesterday’s Weekend Nation,some of his members demanded an apology from him, saying they felt misled by the church and fell victim to Scantlebury’s many statements that COVID-19 could not touch the church.

Sweet Sunday Sermon – Study to shew thyself approved unto God

Submitted by Dr. GP

2 Timothy 2 v 15 is certainly one of my favourite Bible verses. As the Apostle Paul  approached death he wrote  the letter to his protege Timothy which we know as 2 Timothy. In chapter two of this missive he gives the philosophy of education of any sort,  i. e  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. In other words, knowledge and instruction must always be passed on the faithful trustworthy persons, who would pass such information on to  other faithful trustworthy persons, in a chain.

At verse 15, Paul asserts that to do this well, one must practice the discipline and endurance of a farmer, a soldier and an athlete and STUDY! Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

This week’s Sweet Sunday Sermon are my notes on this verse, and  is thus entitled “Study to shew thyself approved unto God”

Sweet Sunday Sermon – Approved and Disapproved Workers and Using the Bible Properly

Submitted by Dr. GP

In February a group of men decided to convene a Bible Reading on Sunday evenings via zoom Ideally, at a Bible Reading, the participants usually come prepared, to discuss the selected passage, having meditated on, and researched the selected passage and any obvious related collateral scriptures, and they usually come to a consensus during the proceedings. When 2 Timothy was selected, I wondered why. But God’s prescient hand has been revealed to me as I have prepared my notes for each session,  and presented them here on Sweet Sunday Sermon. 

This week we will explore 2 Timothy 2:14,and 16-19, under the title Approved and Disapproved Workers and Using the Bible Properly

 

Sweet Sunday Sermon – 2 Timothy 2: 1-7

Submitted by Dr. GP

For the last 15 months or so, I have faithfully submitted a Bible Study of some kind to be presented on the Barbados Underground platform. 

Most of these are power point presentations that I have previously delivered to audiences in my local church in Central Florid, some are quite new.  

I have also presented excerpts of material that I wrote while studying in online seminary twenty years ago, and a few were copied because of the extrinsic value within them. 

Since none of my work is copyrighted, readers are free to use any of my material judiciously in their efforts to share the Word of God, or in their endeavours to be Philologi. As I have freely been given, so do I freely give. 

This week we will share some thoughts on 2 Timothy 2: 1-7, on the Qualities of a Faithful Christian Worker.  In an ungodly and antagonistic world, believers must be strong servants or ministers who faithfully serve God and others. In an ungodly and antagonistic world, believers must be strong servants or ministers who faithfully serve God and others.   

In this study of 2 Timothy 2: 1-7, we will harp on the disciplines of a strong servant or minister of Christ, that can be discerned from the first 7 verses of this chapter and the instructions that tell us  how we can become one. Paul asserts that  A Strong Minister Relies on God’s Grace v1, Faithfully Teaches God’s Word v2, Demonstrates the Attitude of a Good Soldier  v3-4, Competes Like an Athlete According to God’s Rules v5, Is Like a Hardworking Farmer v6, and is a Faithful Bible Student v7.

Sweet Sunday Sermon – 2 Timothy 2 versus 7-13

Right from the beginning of this letter Paul has been trying to inspire Timothy to his task. He has reminded him of his own belief in him and of the godly parentage from which he has come; he has shown him the picture of the Christian soldier, the Christian athlete and the Christian toiler.  

Each of these three occupations need great perseverance to succeed. The solider who stops fighting before the battle is finished,  will never see victory. The athlete who stops running before the race is over will never win the race. The farmer who stops working before the harvest is complete will never see the fruit of his crops. Just as  athletes, farmers, and soldiers are hard-working, believers  must be hard-working spiritually.

And now he comes to the greatest appeal of all–Remember Jesus Christ. “Remember … Jesus Christ”- the supreme model of a faithful teacher (verse 2), soldier (verses 3-4), Athlete (verse 5), and farmer (verse 6). Timothy was to follow his example in teaching, suffering, pursuing the prize, and planting the seeds of truth for a spiritual harvest. Even if every other appeal to Timothy inspiration  gallantry should fail, surely the memory of Jesus Christ cannot. But above all, Timothy was to remember three particular things that were “The heart of the Pauline gospel.”

In verse 8 , Paul is really urging Timothy to:

1- Remember Jesus Christ risen from the dead.

2- Remember Jesus Christ born of the seed of David.

3 Remember the gospel, the good news.

Paul has just explained three illustrations of the Christian life – a soldier, an athlete, and a farmer. Now Paul tells Timothy to “think about” what he said and the Lord would give “understanding.” The word “think” means “to consider carefully,” “to ponder,” or “to mull over.”

Sweet Sunday Sermon – Philosophy of teaching: 2 Timothy 2 versus 2

Submitted by Doc GP

Last week we harped on 1Peter 2 v2 on the need for spiritual neonates to desire the sincere milk of the Word of God. This week we will look at 2  Timothy 2 v 2, where the injunction is that believers ought to faithfully teach others what they have learned from those who have preceded them in the long train of people who had been entrusted with God’s Words for the purpose of passing these precious truths to others.

Sweet Sunday Sermon – An exegesis of 1 PETER 2:2

Submitted by Dr. GP

In the same way that in the natural realm (in nature) mammals need and seek mother’s milk for their physical or natural growth and development, in like manner spiritual neonates or newborn believers must desire spiritual milk- the milk of the Word for their spiritual growth and development.

Sweet Sunday Sermon – LAW V GRACE

Submitted by Dr. GP

One of the first verses we were taught to memorize as teens was 2 Timothy 2:15. i.e  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 

One of the major divisions a believing Bible student must grasp is the most important division between LAW & GRACE.  This is thus the subject of this week’s SWEET SUNDAY SERVICE. 

I have copied some very good tables on this topic put together by a few stalwarts of the faith that encapsulates all that ought to be grasped from the Bible about this most important topic.   

In addition, one can easily now access chapter 6 of C. I. Scofield’s monumental work that explains this important divisions in scripture  entitled “ Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth”, first published in 1896, on line at http://www.biblebelievers.com/scofield/scofield_rightly06.html 

Sweet Sunday Sermon – A BETTER APPRECIATION OF THE BIBLE

Submitted by Dr. GP

” THE NECESSITY TO STUDY BACKGROUND  HISTORY OF THE BIBLE & BIBLE LANDS      

                                  FOR A BETTER APPRECIATION OF THE BIBLE.”  

INTRODUCTION  

Although the Bible does not claim to be a history book, even a serious superficial survey of the Scriptures show the Word of God is a book of history. The Bible contains the only sensible or sane story of the origin of man and the history of the first 2000 years of man’s existence, narratives of the history of Israel- the chosen people of God, and interesting accounts of the contiguous countries that interacted with them.  

As a book of history, the Bible is unique in one particular aspect. It records PREDICTIVE HISTORY. This is perhaps the best definition of prophecy, since as prophecy unfolds history is created, and most remarkably, because once a thing has been said by God it is just as if it has already come to pass and become history. In this regard the future history of the world is reported in the Word of God. This statement though sounding at first like an oxymoron is most profound, and will be seen to be so as the days ( not years go by) as the events of the current civilizations clearly leads to the conclusion that mankind is preparing, even if unwittingly for the “ last days”- a time that is fast approaching.  

The historical narratives of the Bible are not just something of the past, nor are the events to come just future myths that scoffers reject. The historical accounts of Bible narratives impacts daily on the lives of even the ungodly in all contemporary literate communities. People who are impatient are reminded to “ Be like Job”. The phrase to “ have a whale of a time” reflects a knowledge of the story of Jonah. Those who find things incredible are “ Doubting Thomases.” When you are facing a seemingly insurmountable difficulty, the advice is to recall that David slew the giant Goliath. In Sports and any circumstance, as is often the case in business events where “ a Goliath” has been tackled successfully by a smaller opponent are reported with flair and flavor. The fact that we don’t suffer fools gladly is an idiom copied from Paul.  

Other favorite quotations from the Old Testament alone, which show that the historical narratives have impacted on the lives of secular society include phrases like “ Lesser lights ( Gen 1:16), “ The breath of Life ( Gen 2:7), “ Helpmate” ( Gen 2:18), “ Dust to Dust” ( Gen 3:17-19),  Being your “ brother’s keeper” ( Gen 4:9-10), when we refer to those who sleep through boring sermons on Sunday mornings and otherwise as in “ The Land of Nod” ( Gen 4:15-16),  “He is as old as Methuselah!” ( Gen 5:25-27) is a favorite in Barbados, as safe as the Ark ( Gen 6:13-16ff), “ Fire & Brimstone” ( Gen 19:24-26), to live of the “ fat of the land” ( Gen 45;17-18). “ A land of milk and honey”( Exodus 3:8), “ To harden your heart ( Ex 4:21),  “ An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth Ex 21:23-25),  a “ scapegoat” (Lev 16:5, 7-10) , “ Love thy neigbour” ( Lev 19:17-18), “ Jubilee” ( Lev 25:8-10), “ A thorn in the side” ( Num 33:50-52,55), “ Man does not live by bread alone” ( Deut 8:2-3), “ To heap [up] mischief” ( Deut 32:22-23), “ God save the King” ( 1 Sam: 10:24),  “ One of these days” or “ One day”– very very popular in Barbados ( 1 Sam 27:1), “ To put words in one’s mouth” (2 Sam 14:1-3), “ A Jezebel” ( I Kings 16:30-31), “ To gird your loins” ( I Kings 18:45-46), “ The still small voice used often to refer to one’s conscience ( 1 Kings 19:11-12), “ To take root” ( 2 Kings 19:29-30), “ To Put your house in order” in preparation for death ( 2 Kings 20:1),  “ The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away” ( Job 1:20-21 ),  “ By the skin of your teeth” ( Job 19:18-21), “ The root of the matter” ( Job 19:28-29), “ A two edged sword” ( Prov 5-6),  “Spare the rod and spoil the child (Prov 13:24), “ Pride goeth before a fall” ( Prov 16:18-19), “ Eat , drink and be merry for tomorrow you die,” and “ There is nothing new under the sun” ( Eccle 2:14; 3:13; 8:15; and 1:9), “ Theres a time for everything” ( Eccl 3:1-3), “ Two heads are better than one” is a corruption  of “ Two are better than one” as given in Eccl 4 :8-11, “ A fly in the ointment” ( Eccl 10:1), “ Cast your bread upon the waters” ( Eccl 11:1-2), “ White as snow” ( Isaiah 1:18-20), “ A voice crying in the wilderness” ( Isa 40:1-3), “ A drop in the bucket” ( Isa 40:15-17), “ To see eye to eye” (Isa 50:7-8), “ A lamb to the slaughter” ( Isa 53:6-7), “ Holier than thou” ( Isa 65 : 2-3, 5), “ A leopard cant change its spots” ( Jer 13:22-23),  “ Set your teeth on edge” ( Jer 31:27-30), “ Feet of clay” ( Daniel 2:31-33), “ The wrting’s on the wall”, and “ Weighed in the balance” ( Daniel 5:5-7).  

This list has purposely been elongated to stress the fact that even though many profess not to take the Bible seriously, the historical narratives of the Scriptures have nevertheless so impacted on their minds, that even if  subconsciously, it has so profound an effect, that they must utter these phrase from the Word in their daily lives. The universal impact of the historical Biblical narratives is so great that the Bible has consistently been, since first printed, the number one seller among books of all categories, and is quoted more than any other book. In addition it is the only book that thousands have read more than once. Not many other books- even best sellers-are  read twice. 

When we take these factors in to consideration, it is clear to see that there is a need to study the history of Bible lands and Bible times to both better appreciate the Bible, as well as to derive even greater pleasure therefrom as we are presented with information which brings out certain nuances not readily apparent in the common translations that we currently enjoy.  

I have found that the best way to approach serious systematic study of the scriptures is to try to divide the Bible into sections, and arrange one’s thoughts around these divisions. One such  useful classification which I found recently in The Visualized Bible is copied below.  It is wise to  use these division to compartmentalize one’s gleanings from each segments of the Bible, as we read it through. In this paper we will apply this idea to one of these divisions as we seek to demonstrate how study of parallel historical events advances our appreciation  of the Bible as History and of the Bible as a whole. 

Wilmington writes : “Most Bible students soon realize that many of the books in the Word of God, especially those found in the Old Testament, are grouped together by subject matter and therefore do not always appear in chronological order (that is, in the exact order in which the events they describe actually occurred). As an example, in the biblical listing, Nehemiah is the sixteenth book, but historically his book closes out the Old Testament.  Another example is Esther (the seventeenth book), which is placed before Job (the eighteenth book), although the events in Job occurred well over a thousand years before the birth of Esther. 

To fully grasp the message of each book in God’s Word, it is very important to know not only what the book is saying, but also when it was said! What has been attempted by this chronological and analytical scriptural outline is to present the hundreds of events described by the sixty-six books in their proper historical context. Each biblical book has been listed under one of twelve basic historical stages.  The stages and the books they include are as follows: 

1. THE CREATION STAGE 

Genesis 1 -I I 

11. THE PATRIARCHAL STAGE 

Genesis 12-50,- Job 

111.  THE EXODUS STAGE 

Exodus,- Leviticus,- Numbers,- Deuteronomy 

IV.     THE CONQUEST STAGE 

Joshua 

V.      THE JUDGES STAGE 

Judges,- Ruth,- 1 Samuel 1-7 

VI.     THE UNITED KINGDOM STAGE 

1 Samuel 8-311- 2 Samuel,- 1 Kings 1 -I 1 I- 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles 1-9; Psalms; Proverbs; Ecclesiastes; Song of Solomon 

VII.  THE CHAOTIC KINGDOM STAGE 

1 Kings 12-22; 2 Kings; 2 Chronicles 10-36; Obadiah; Jonah; Joel; Amos; Hosea; Isaiah; Micah; Nahum; Zephaniah; Habakkuk; Jeremiah; Lamentations 

VIII.  THE BABYLONIAN CAPTIVITY STAGE 

                          Daniel,- Ezekiel 

IX.          THE RETURN STAGE 

                          Ezra,- Esther; Nehemiah  Haggai,- Zechariah,- Malachi 

X.          THE GOSPEL STAGE 

Matthew,- Mark,- Luke- John 

XI.        THE EARLY CHURCH STAGE  

          Acts 

XII.  THE EPISTLES STAGE 

Romans through Revelation ” (1)  

1- The Visualized Bible (KJV), Supplementary material by H.L Wilmington, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. Wheaton Illinois –Notes at back of Bible. 

Sweet Sunday Sermon – Introduction to Second John

Submitted by Dr. GP
  • John’s second and third brief letters, while altogether different from the first Epistle are nevertheless of great importance.
  • They bring before us guiding principles that have often been overlooked, but are needful if the people of God are to walk in a way pleasing to God.
  • In 2 John a Christian lady is warned regarding false teachers. Through John’s warning we learn what our individual attitude toward all anti-Christian propagandists should be.
  • In 3 John the message is the very opposite. We learn through the apostle’s instruction to Gaius what our behavior should be towards those who are lovers of Christ and who go forth proclaiming His truth.
  • These Epistles are charming in their simplicity, and give us a wonderful insight into the heart of a man who speaks of himself as an elder rather than as an apostle, even though we know he was that.
  • John deals primarily, as we have seen, with truth concerning the family of God.
  • Peter’s letters deal chiefly with the government of God.
  • Paul’s Epistles are concerned mainly with the church of God.
  • But in these last letters, written many years after both Peter and Paul had sealed their testimony with their blood, we get instruction regarding church fellowship that we cannot afford to ignore if our fellowship is to be real.

Sweet Sunday Sermon – Healing in his Wings

Submitted by Dr. GP

We have just traversed another Christmas season, and many have perhaps sung with gusto the lyrics to Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.  

Wesley’s rhymes, as usual alludes to a number of scriptures in which he briefly mentions inter alia, the doctrine of reconciliation in verse 1, the doctrine of the incarnation in verse 2, the doctrine of the Rapture and the doctrine of the kenosis (lay His glory by) in verse 3, fulfilled in Philipians 2:6.  

We must not, however, miss the importance of the prophesy that the Lord Jesus would be Our peace as the Prince of Peace as foretold in Isaiah 9:6 & Micah 5:5, and fulfilled according to Paul  in Ephesians 2:14. 

In addition, Wesley alludes to two prophesies in Malachi. In Malachi  4:2, the Lord Jesus is referred to as “the Son of Righteousness,” who will “lay His glory by”, and arise “with healing in his wings”. 

Two logical questions are “ what are the “wings“ Malachi was talking about in Malachi 4:2, and exactly how on earth do wings heal? 

It is to such questions in Malachi’s prophecies that this week’s post is concerned. 

Full Presentation –

Sweet Sunday Sermon – The Ritual of the Scapegoat

Submitted by Dr. GP
  • What is a “scapegoat” and what is the origin of that word?
  • The most common definition of a scapegoat today is a person or thing blamed for misdeeds of others, akin to being a fall-guy or being thrown under the bus. That person may or may not be guilty.
  • According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, scapegoat means “one that bears the blame for others.”
  • But the idea of the scapegoat is originally a Biblical one derived from a ceremony recorded in Leviticus 16.

Read more

Sweet Sunday Sermon – The Ritual of the “Scapegoat”

Sweet Sunday Sermon – Pondering in Philemon

Submitted by Dr. GP

INTRODUCTION
• I have a great fascination with the short, one chapter books of the New Testament, and always teach them first in any program on which I embark.
• My love relationship with the book of Philemon began in 1977, when I first studied this gem to teach its truths to the young people of Mona Heights Chapel at a weekend camp that was to have been convened to celebrate my return home to Barbados from among these Brethren with whom I served while a medical student in Kingston, Jamaica.

Sweet Sunday Sermon – Introduction to 3 John

Submitted by Dr. GP

I share this week my notes on an Introduction to Third John- one of the four short, often neglected letters of the New Testament.

Although, 3 John gives us an intimate glimpse into the life of the early church, we seldom hear this epistle quoted or taught, although it contains many excellent sentiments, which, if judiciously handled, might be very useful to the Church of God.

Sweet Sunday Sermon – God’s Plan for the Jew and for us

Submitted by Dr. GP

In the 2019 Summer series, the book of ROMANS was the focus. I was entrusted with teaching both Romans 11 and Romans 16. Romans 11 addresses the topic IS GOD FINISHED WITH THE JEWS? In this, the last of the three “parenthetical” chapters of Romans, Paul gives the Biblical  answer to this question.

Read full SERMON

Sweet Sunday Sermon – ACTS 18

Several years ago, in the midweek meetings of our assembly, we tackled the book of Acts.  My lot was to present the highlights of Chapter 18. In this simple presentation, I have employed two Bible study techniques that I was taught in my local Baptist church as a teen in 1970. First, I presented a short chapter study, which put the chapter in the context of the book of Acts, and then followed it by presenting a short biography of Apollos, an important teacher in the early church. 

View Presentation

Sweet Sunday Sermon – Jesus Prophet Priest King

Three years ago in the summer series at our chapel, here in Central Florida, I spoke on the topic JESUS- PROPHET, PRIEST AND KING, with emphasis on his role as prophet. After demonstrating that Jesus is described in Hebrews 1:1-3, as fulfilling all three of these roles, the discussion was advanced to explain His role as Prophet. 

For this week’s SSS, I share below the power point presentation used for the teaching that Sunday morning. 

Sweet Sunday Sermon – The word “Redeem” as found in the New Testament

Submitted by Dr. GP

In the New Testament we see that all people need redemption, since they are all slaves, being all sold under sin and in spiritual bondage. Jesus made this abundantly clear to the Jewish leadership of his day (John 8:31-36).

The Coming of the Redeemer and the accomplishment of Redemption is recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in accordance to the teaching of Galatians 4:4 that in the fullness of time, God sent his son into the world to redeem a people for himself. The Fall of man established man’s desperate need for redemption, and God had carefully and thoroughly prepared the world for the coming of the Redeemer in the balance of the Old Testament.

The four gospels are the inspired eye-witness accounts of the life, death and resurrection of the Saviour. Christ came to reveal the glory of God in human flesh, “the image of the invisible God, pre-eminent over all creation” (Colossians 1:15). He came to proclaim the kingdom of God and teach us about the way of salvation (Matthew 3:2). He came to conquer Satan and to destroy his work (Col. 2:15; I John 3:8). But above all, he came to die for sins and to rise triumphantly from the grave to display his victory. He came to redeem us! (John 3:16,17).

Sweet Sunday Sermon – Old Testament REDEEM

Submitted by Dr. GP

The word “Redeem” as found in the Old Testament

INTRODUCTION

The Bible may practically and logically be divided into two very unequal portions. The first portion begins at Genesis one and ends at chapter 3:14 with the fall of man. The other section deals with the solution to the SIN problem which the fall caused, that is REDEMPTION. Redemption is thus certainly the major story of the Bible. The Redemption story is like a major river than runs throughout the Bible and embraces all the time known to man whether past, present or future. All the other topics or stories are like tributaries of various lengths and sizes which flow into the mainstream of the Redemption story

The English word “redeem” is derived from the Latin verb redemere which means to buy back;
to buy again; to ransom.
“Redemption is a comprehensive term used in the Bible to refer to the special intervention of God for the salvation of mankind. This use of the word deals with the work of Jesus Christ on the Cross in which He paid the price to “purchase” human beings and set them free from their slavery to sin. On account of Christ’s substitutionary atonement, He is called the Redeemer.
There are other ideas closely related to the primary concept of redemption which relate to the necessity for redemption and its various aspects and to the effects of the ministry of God’s grace in the life of the Christian believer.” (1)

“REDEEM” IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

In the first chapters of the book of Genesis, we see how the need for redemption developed. God created man in his own image for a special relationship with himself. Because they were created in the image of the sovereign God, they were endowed with freedom. God tested Adam and Eve by forbidding them to eat the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, warning them they would die if they disobeyed. Satan appeared in the form of a serpent, and tempted them to go ahead and eat. Contradicting God, he deceived them saying, “You will not die” and “you will be like God.”

Tragically, our first parents believed the lie of the Devil instead of God’s word, and fell from their created perfection into corruption. Since like reproduces like in the spiritual realm as well as in the physical, moral pollution entered into the whole human race. By Genesis 6, the Lord was grieved that he had ever made man, because “every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.” We need to be redeemed because the whole human race has fallen into a depraved condition. Such things as crime, wars, injustice and holocausts are manifestations of this root spiritual problem. Spiritual death, separation from God, became the common lot for the human race. That is why we need to be redeemed.

When God curses the serpent after the Fall, he foretells something of the Redeemer who will come, “he will crush your head, and you will strike his heal” (Genesis 3:15). That is, Satan will wound the Messiah who would come, but the Messiah would destroy the Devil. God was not caught unawares when Adam fell. The all-knowing Lord knew he would fall, and God began to reveal his great plan of Redemption, which was prepared from eternity.

The entire balance of the Old Testament is about God’s preparation of the world for his redemption. God calls Abraham out of heathenism into a covenant relationship with himself. And out of Abraham would come the nation Israel, and through Israel would come the Redeemer, Jesus Christ.

In Genesis 12, God calls a man named Abram into a special covenant relationship with himself. A covenant is an unbreakable agreement which establishes a special relationship. When God called Abram, whom he renamed Abraham, he made certain wonderful promises:

I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you (Genesis 12:2-3)
God the gave Israel the moral law in the form of the Ten Commandments. In their covenant relationship, the one true God will be their God, loving them, giving them his gracious favor and
abundantly meeting their every need. In return, they pledged themselves to fidelity to Him, and the Commandments define their responsibilities toward God under the Old Covenant. Because of
the sinfulness of humanity, the moral law served a critical function for their redemption. It served to make the chosen people aware of the fact that they were sinners who needed a Savior. (See Romans 3:20 and Galatians 3:24)

In addition to the moral law, God gave the ceremonial law. God ordained a system of blood sacrifices which Israel would perform in order to receive forgiveness for their sins. He established the principle that “without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sin” (Hebrews 9:22). Similarly, when God brought Israel out slavery to Egypt, he commanded Israel to sprinkle the blood of a lamb on their doorposts. The Angel of the Lord brought the judgment of death to every firstborn in Egypt, but spared the Israelites and passed over those who were covered by the blood of the lamb. Again, God established the principle of deliverance or redemption through blood. In this object lesson, God provided an understanding of the way he had prepared for the coming of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world in picture. Just as God led his people Israel out of slavery in Egypt into the promised land of Canaan, one day he would lead his chosen people the Church out of slavery to Satan and sin into the promised land of God’s Kingdom.

The historical books of the Bible reveal something of the faithful, gracious character of God, who brings his beloved Israel back to himself, even after her repeated unfaithfulness over many centuries. His redemption flows from the goodness of his heart, rather than from any merit on the part of his chosen ones. The books of wisdom and poetry prepare the way for the coming of redemption by defining the
wise life for the people of God. Wisdom is characterized by a particular kind of relationship with God.

In the books of Prophecy there are some 300 Messianic prophecies which foretell the coming of the Redeemer. God prepared the world for his coming through the prophecies which foretold his deity, humanity, birth, life, death, resurrection and redemptive mission. He will be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2); he will be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14); he will be “cut off” at the beginning of the Christian era (Daniel 9:25); he will be born as a child, yet called “God” (Isaiah 9:6). Isaiah describes the Messiah’s redemptive mission this way in Isaiah 53:4-6:-“ Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

Having thus recounted the redemption story as it is given on the Old Testament, we can with that background look at some of the words the Holy Spirit chose to use in the Old Testament for “redemption.”

In The Old Testament, the two words that are translated redeem are padah and ga’al or its active participle go’el. Vine notes that the use of these two words is indicative of a relation between Jehovah and Israel by way of his personal possession of them as His property. Whereas padah lays stress on the purchase price, ga’al points to the kinsman side of the redemption [as we will discuss below]. Vine notes further that these two facts are brought out in the New Testament doctrine of redemption, such that the Old Testament teaching in various ways foreshadows the acts of God’s grace in His Son Jesus Christ in his becoming by his incarnation our kinsman and in the twofold aspect of his redemptive sacrifice as a price paid and liberation accomplished on behalf of sinners, and as the deliverance wrought and yet to be consummated for believers. (2)

According to Vine, “padah is used of the payments required for the redemption of the firstborn in passages such as Exodus 13 13,15; Leviticus 27:26,27; Numbers 3:46-49; 18:15-17 or for the release of persons from slavery as in its use in Exodus 21:8; Leviticus 25:47-49.

Padah is also used figuratively with the meaning of delivering whether in the case of individuals as in Psalms 34:22, or of the deliverance granted to Israel as a nation (Deuteronomy 9:26; 2 Samuel 7: 23; I Chronicles 17:31; Isaiah 29:22. Padah is especially associated with the deliverance from Egypt
(Deuteronomy 7:8; 13:5; 24:18; Micah 6:4. It is used in one instance of redemption from sin in Psalm 130:8.” (3)

To better understand the use of padah in the Old Testament we must review its use in relation to the typology concerning the redemption of Firstborn Sons, Firstlings of the Flock, First fruits etc.
Here padah has the sense also of “to deliver” or “to sever” or to separate.

 It was continuously stressed to the Israelites that they belonged to Jehovah because He had redeemed them (severed or delivered them from bondage) and had provided them with the land of Canaan for them to use as a gift from God and for His glory. For this reason, all Israel owed their lives and their service to God, in effect making the whole nation a kingdom of priests, at least in spirit. They were thus redeemed in the sense that they were separate, or a special people.

They were redeemed too, because God had bought them back. God had previously owned them. He had chosen them as a special nation as seen in the conditions given to Abraham in the Abrahamic covenant. However, Israel became lost as it were and severed from God during their sojourn in Egypt, where, although they remained separate ethnically, they did not retain the spiritual separation that God required, for they became enslaved not only physically, but also morally and spiritually as they engaged in calf worship and became captive to the cuisine of Egypt as is clearly evident from their murmurings in the wilderness wanderings.

As a result God had to redeem them or purchase them from both their physical and spiritual bondage. It is imperative for us to realize that God’s deliverance or redemption or positional sanctification or separation is both physical and spiritual. To lose sight of this “cheapens” God’s work of redemption and makes its workings of little or no effect in our lives; as was evident in the Mosaic period in the wilderness.

Although all the people who were delivered from Egypt were to be separate or sanctified to God’s use and service, only Levi and the descendants of his tribe (the priestly tribe) were actually set apart for the service of the tabernacle. All of the individual Israelites from each of the eleven other tribes were to be redeemed, or purchased, from service by redeeming the firstborn of both men and animals.

A son was considered “firstborn” if he was the first son born to his mother. If a man had more than one wife, each wife could have a firstborn son. Each firstborn son was presented to the Lord on the 40th day after his birth and redeemed by a payment of five shekels to the priests (Num. 18:16: Ex. 13:15; Luke 2:27).

The firstlings of oxen, sheep, and goats were to be brought to the sanctuary within a year and eight days after their birth, and sacrificed (Num. 18:17).

The firstborn of an ass, which was an unclean animal, was redeemed by sacrificing a sheep in its place; or, if not redeemed in this manner, was put to death itself (Ex. 13:12 ff; 34:20). Later, the law provided that the ass could be redeemed with money, the amount to be determined by the market value of the ass plus 20%, according to the priest’s valuation (Lev. 27:27; Num. 18:15). There is no more striking or succinct picture in the Bible that this analogy to Christian salvation issues.

The firstfruits of the harvest were sacred to Jehovah because He is the Lord of the soil (Ex. 23:19). These were given to the priest to be presented in offering. The whole congregation was required to offer an annual thanksgiving offering at harvest time by presenting a firstfruits sheaf at the Passover. These were not to be burned but were to be given to the priests for their use, with the provision that only those priests who were ceremonially clean could eat the firstfruits. The amount of offering of first fruits was not specified by the Law but was left to each person’s discretion.

Later in Jewish history, the children of Israel began to be called the Redeemed of the Lord, after they had

been set free from the Babylonian captivity (Isa. 35:9; 51:11; 62:12).


Vine teaches that the word padah was also used of deliverance from adverse circumstances; such as deliverance from death ( Job 5:20 and Psalm 49:15), deliverance from captivity ( Zechariah 10:8-10), deliverance from adversity itself ( 2 Samuel 4:9; 1 Kings 1:29; Psalms 25:22). (4)

According to Vine, the Hebrew word ga’al is used sometimes in the legal sense, of the recovery of property which had passed into other hands. (Leviticus 25:26; Ruth 4: 4,7). In this case, the go’el could buy back the forfeited inheritance for an Iraelite who, owing to poverty, had sold his land, as Boaz did for Ruth (Ruth 4:3-5), or he could hold land in possession for a poor kinsman till the year of jubilee (Leviticus 25:10-28).

The go’el or kinsman redeemer could also ransom his kinsman from bondage to a foreigner from bondage to a foreigner (Leviticus 25: 47-49) or avenge the death of his slain kinsman, as a point of honor. Vine asserts that Job “combines all three of these functions of the go’el in his assurance of faith as to his Go’el (Job 19:25-27) to show that he was not suffering because of his guilt”. Vine also points out that as our Kinsman-Redeemer that the Lord Jesus is in all three respects His people’s go’el; by incarnation saving them from eternal disinheritance ( Hebrews 2:14-18), by redemption ( 1Peter 1:18f,; compare Isaiah 49:26), and by avenging them in overcoming by His own death the one who had the power of death Hebrews 2:14f.). (5)

Ga’al is used also of the act of commuting a vow, the valuation of the offering being made by the priest (Leviticus 27: 13,15,19,20) or of the redemption of a part of a tithe (27:31).

Ga’al is used of God’s deliverance granted to Israel (Psalm 77:15; Isaiah 48:20; 52:3, 9 ) and especially of the coming deliverance of the nation from gentile domination (Isaiah 35: 9; 62:13; 63 4).

Let us consider more carefully the role and true meaning of the go’el or the Kinsman-Redeemer

According to the laws regarding punishment and retribution for crime, when a person was assaulted, robbed or murdered, it fell to the nearest kinsman to bring the criminal to justice and to protect the lives and property of relatives. This obligation was called “redeeming”, and the man who was responsible for fulfilling this duty was known as a “redeemer” .The job of redeemer would fall to full brothers first, then to uncles who were the father’s brothers, then to full cousins, and finally to the other blood relatives of the family (Lev. 25:48). The kinsman-redeemer of the Old Testament was thus a type of the Lord Jesus Christ as Redeemer. There were four requirements for the redeemer, both in the type and in Christ:



  1. The redeemer must be a near kinsman. To fulfill this Christ took on human form as stressed in several New Testament passages which speak of his incarnation, such as the prologues of both the gospel and first epistle of John. However, Paul’s account in Philippians 2:5-8 is perhaps the most supreme! To mediate as our Kinsman Redeemer, Jesus had to become the GOD-MAN (I Timothy 2:5).
  2. The redeemer must be able to redeem. The price of man’s redemption was the blood of Christ (Acts 20:28; 1 Pet. 1:18-19). Christ was qualified to redeem from sin, because he was sinless- i.e without spot or blemish ( 2 Cor 5:21; 1Peter 1:22).
  3. The redeemer must be willing to redeem (Heb. 10:4-10). Christ was willing to be our Redeemer.
  4. The redeemer must be free from that which caused the need for redemption; that is, the redeemer cannot redeem himself. This was true of Christ, because He needed no redemption.

As noted above He was perfect- he was sinless. He was thus fully qualified to be our redeemer.

The nation of Israel as a whole required a Redeemer to redeem the lands which had been taken over by foreign powers, so they looked to Jehovah to become their go-el. The period of exile gave an even greater force and meaning to the term “redeemer” than it had before; and the book of Isaiah contains nineteen of the thirty-three Old Testament references to God as Israel’s covenant redeemer.

We join with them, as we look forward to Jesus’ work of redemption in this respect, when in the millennial kingdom, he will redeem the land of Israel for his chosen people Israel, and we will with them share in the bliss predicted in the Abrahamic covenant of Genesis 12.

Vine posits that ga’al is also used for deliverance from oppression and violence as in Psalm 72:14, of deliverance from captivity in Psalm 107: 2- 3, and deliverance from death in Psalm 103: 4 and Hosea 13:14. (6)

ENDNOTES

Online Source
Vine page 115
Ibid page114
Ibid page 115
Ibid page 87
Ibid page115
7- Ibid page263

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words. Fleming H Revell (A Division of Baker Book House).

“Circle of Secrecy” Children, Sexual Abuse, and the Catholic Church in Africa

Submitted by Dr. Bamidele Adeoye

Thus, when others impose the image of their deity upon you while you abandon your Gods, and accept theirs, you inevitably become their spiritual prisoner —

Dr. John Henrik Clarke

In every culture, there is a belief in a supernational being (Almighty), and the relationship between humans and God requires worship and sacrifice. And, in any recorded human history, humans practiced some form of cultural religion — spirituality, so, culture cannot occur without education, while education is impossible without some form of societal culture.

From the time in antiquity, religion comprised of regular ceremonies centered on a belief in a higher supernatural power (God — the unknown) that created and maintained the order of things in the universe. Over a period, religions focus on the spiritual aspect of God, creation, human, life after death, eternity, and how to escape suffering or to be adjudicated afterlife. That is the reason why every culture made Gods in its image, similarity, and representation in their cultural space.

There is nothing more important in any culture or life than the worship of something. The only question is whether the worship is the right One, done in the right way. However, every religion believes that they are the right One, worship the right way, and their God is best in their cultural space.

Hence, the essence of worship is to establish and maintain a relationship between human beings and their God within their cultural space. Thus, worship can be defined as an extreme form of love, unthinking devotion and adulation for a God. When God is an exaggerated worship of the cultural self. And, God is as the wind, which touches anything and everything. For that reason, religion can be restrictive, repetitious, show regard for something sacred within an organized system of beliefs and practices, leading to a supernatural spiritual experience.

Therefore, the concept of God is an attempt to forge an identity in confrontation with a limited understanding of the unknown universe. That is why Leeming, David Adams attested that the existence of God fulfills a significant human needs. While Gods are symbols of ultimate reality, and their existence provides a sense of significance in an otherwise random universe. So, religion or worshipping is not a European invention introduced to Africa.

Are human traditions and practices hypothesis or scientific, and how can one discover the reality of religion instead of the true religion?

Read full article

 

Sweet Sunday Sermon – Sayings Not Found in Scripture

Submitted by Dr. GP

  • It is very common to hear folk trying to locate various sayings in the Bible which do not exist there at all.
  • Many sayings have developed throughout the years by a variety of means.
  • Scripture supports the purposes of some of the sayings while contradicting others.

Sweet Sunday Sermon – An Analytical Approach to Nehemiah 3

Submitted by Doc GP
See link to presentation below
  • To many, Nehemiah 3 is a very dull and boring chapter, that appears to consist largely of unpronounceable names and long forgotten people, but once we believe that ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God and that it is profitable for our spiritual and other forms of edification, then it is worth seeking the nuggets therein and apply them to our lives.
  • Chapter 3 of Nehemiah contains the record of the work of repairing the gates and walls of Jerusalem which Nehemiah had been sent there by King Artaxerxes of Persia to do. This chapter tells how that work was actually accomplished.

Sweet Sunday Sermon – REPAIR OF THE GATES OF JERUSALEM

Submitted by Dr. GP

 

  • To many Nehemiah 3 is very dull and boring chapter, but once we believe that ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God and that it is profitable for our spiritual and other forms of edification, then it behoves us to dig up the nuggets therein and think and apply them to our lives.
  • It can be deduced from this chapter the promise that if, and when God’s people would work together harmoniously that they will accomplish much in the work of the Lord.
  • This is what we hope to do in our church. Nehemiah used the principles of small group or cell group ministry in his plan to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, and so can we.
TYPICAL TEACHING OF THE REPAIR OF
THE GATES OF JERUSALEM IN
NEHEMIAH 3 (click image to view presentation)

 

Sweet Sunday Sermon – Three Students in the School of Faith

Submitted by Dr. GP
  • Thirteen chapters in Genesis are devoted to the life and times of Abram.
  • In Genesis 12 — 23, we see the development of faith in Abram’s life by 7 appearances of God to
    him. We will restrict our discussion to these occurrences, for sake of time.
  • Into this discourse we will infuse issues about Sarah and Isaac because the record of the lives of
    Sarah and Isaac are very intertwined with that of Abraham.

Sweet Sunday Sermon – The TRUTH of God’s PROMISE to be With his PEOPLE

Submitted by Dr. GP

I  WILL BE WITH YOU  

The word or promise of assurance which echoed throughout the patriarchal period was the theme and the repeated promise or pledge “I will be with you.” The Scriptures teach that one of the results of the Lord’s second coming is that God will have his longest and dearest desire. The desire to dwell and share an intimate and close and special fellowship with mankind (1 John 1:3.) It is not difficult to trace the thought that God has always wanted to be with man. Nor is it difficult to prove by a review of Bible History that God has kept this promise, for the Bible clearly teaches that this is the glorious prospect of the child of God. Current events indicate that soon God will have His dearest wish. We must, as we trace the notion of God’s desire be with His chosen people throughout the ages, below, remember that though we will enjoy His presence, that it is all because God wanted to be with us, because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). As we engage in this exercise, we must humble ourselves at the thought that this exhibition of God’s unmerited favor to each believer begins long before we could ever know that there is a God. 

The Bible teaches in Jeremiah 1:5 that God’s presence with the believer begins even before organogenesis; a process for which He is totally responsible as suggested by Job in Job 31:15;31:18, and Isaiah in Isaiah 44:2, 24; 49:1. As a result, He has been with us in utero, as clearly taught by Psalm 139: 13. In Psalm 22:9 we are taught that He affected our delivery at birth, and that God was there while we suckled at our mother’s breasts. This thought is corroborated by Job 10:18-19. 

Genesis 3:8 teaches that at the beginning of man’s existence, God would come daily to fellowship with our original fore parents. They, like we, preferred the forbidden fruit of disobedience over God’s company and so this fellowship was broken. The story of Enoch in Genesis 5:24 further illustrates that God desires the fellowship of men so dearly, that when he found such a man in the corrupt civilization of that time, he took that man home to be with him. We read “And Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him.”  

God maintained a close relationship with the Patriarchs for we read in Genesis 21:20 that God was with Abraham and Hagar’s son Ishmael (the father of the Arabs-though not a patriarch). The Philistines noted that God was with Abraham and Isaac (Genesis 21:22 and 26:28). God comforted Isaac in 26:24 with the words, “Fear not, for I am with you” and in 26:3, he commanded him to sojourn in Canaan with the promise, “I will be with you”. Jacob had a dream at Haran of a ladder in which God’s assurance was given thus: “Behold I am with you (28:15)”. There seems to be echoes of this dream in John1: 51 where Jesus is portrayed as a conduit upon which. or by which messengers of God ascend and descend to heaven. When Jesus referred to this incident, he advanced our understanding of the concept of “Behold I am with you”. It seems that Jesus is referring to the possible commuting of the saints after the millennium between earth or the holy city, the New Jerusalem described in Revelation 21:3-22:5. 

Thiessen opines “While it would seem to be the home of the redeemed, it is clear that both the Father and the Son will dwell in it also. This may not be their constant abiding place, for heaven is that: but it certainly will be a place frequented by them…..The kings of the earth will bring their glory to it (Revelation 21:24,26). Apparently, they do not reside in the city, but make visits to it.”   

Whatever is the exact truth, we must accept that (Jesus by referring to this incident and promise in John1: 51) is suggesting that the concept of God being with His people will be a very interactive, personal, and intimate experience. We like to think of how nice it will be to renew relationships with our loved ones in heaven some day. But will it not be a stirring occasion for our God who made it all possible, and yearns to fellowship with us? This is hard for us to comprehend, but the thought is certainly not unscriptural. 

God also promised to be with Jacob in 31:3 when he sought to return to Canaan. Jacob, himself  recognized that God had been with him during his sojourn in Padan-aram (31:5;35:3). Just as Jacob had been favored and blessed by the God who knew of his problems with a scheming Laban, Joseph was likewise rescued and blessed by the same Lord who followed his changing situation in Egypt (39:2,3,21,23). Even in his deepest and darkest days in the dungeon during his 13 year imprisonment in Egypt we read concerning him in Genesis 39:21,23, that “the Lord was with Joseph.” In Matthew 10:30 and Luke 12:7, Jesus assures us that the same God is with us such that He knows the number of the hairs on our heads. Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:23 assures that He is with us during our testings and will not let the tempter exceed our breaking point. 

God dwelled with His people during their wanderings in the wilderness, signaling his presence in the pillar of cloud in the day and the pillar of fire at night. He demonstrated his presence to be their God and empowered them for victory at the beginning of the periodof the conquest of Canaan by appearing as the “ Captain of the Lord’s Host ” as recorded in Joshua 5: 13-15.    

The period of the Judges was characterized by extreme wickedness and this period was well summarized by the comment that: “in those days there was no king in Israel; every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6 ; 21:25.) Even then God did not desert his people and at the interface of this period and that of the kings God sought out an obedient child whom he could use and tells us of this boy in 1 Samuel 3:19 that “the Lord was with him”. In the period of the kings, God’s presence filled Solomon’s temple until he was forced to leave. 

In the period of captivity God was with Daniel in the lion’s den and throughout his long service among wicked enemies as he served under five different administrations. God was with the three Hebrew boys in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3:24-25). The Lord was clearly with the prophets before and during the exile. He was so involved, that when Jehoiakim sent men to kill Jeremiah, the Scriptures records God’s personal involvement by telling us in Jeremiah 36: 26 that “the Lord hid him!” 

After the exile God found a man called Ezra of whom it is recorded in Ezra 7:10 that he had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. This same man confesses in Ezra 7:28 that God was with him in the words  “I was strengthened as (or because) the hand of the Lord my God was upon me”. He later reports in Ezra 8: 22, that “The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him”. In chapter 8: 31, we are told that “ the hand of our God was upon us and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy, and of such as lay in wait by the way.” Nehemiah records a similar experience in Nehemiah 2:4b, 8b, 20: 4:20b: 6:16b, and in Esther God was with his people as seen in Esther 2:15: 4:14, and 5:2. 

The New Testament opens with the announcement that the virgin’s child shall be called Emmanuel or GOD WITH US. And in John 1: 1 we are told that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. God wanted to be with us so badly that he came to stay on earth in the form of a servant and in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7,) so that one day he could change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body (Philippians 3:20). God sent his Son to die and purchase our redemption so that he may fellowship with us. What condescension!! God came to be us because we did not care to go to Him; we didn’t want to be with him. While we were yet sinners, Christ (GOD) died for us (Romans 5: 8). When we were yet sinners he offered up his own Son (Romans 8: 32; Hebrews 9: 26). God came to us in the person of His Son, but when God came to his own they received him not. So he offered us the same opportunity. He set his people aside temporarily and came to us Gentiles and offered us the same opportunity. How He longs to be with us. He sent his Son to procure the means of bringing us back to Him (1 Peter 2: 24). 

The Bible promises that having procured for us the right to come to God (1Timothy 2:5; Acts 4:12), that Jesus would return for those who are looking for Him. (John 14:1-3; Hebrews 9: 28). Since He has  always kept his promises, the cry of our hearts must therefore be “Even so come Lord Jesus,” for when He returns we are told in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 that we shall from then onward “ever be with the Lord.” Finally after enjoying the blessings of the millennial kingdom with Christ, there is a glorious prospect for us as recorded in Revelation 21: 1-3 where we read “And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying “ Behold the tabernacle (or dwelling place) of God is with men and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them and be their God.” 

It should be very clear from the foregoing that God’s active presence which manifested his character, power and ability to fulfill the repeated word of promise, is as active in the lives of His people today. As then it remains preeminently a promise of personal relationship. God has continued to keep his promise. The Scriptures give a convincing record and provide adequate proof to attest [SLH1]to the fact that God has ably and diligently persisted in his desire to fellowship with men, even though we have been most unworthy of his interest. Psalm 23: 6 puts it this way.  

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow or pursue me all the days of my life.” Pursue is following earnestly in an effort to catch up with some one who does not seem to want to be caught. That is the meaning of follow in that verse. That this is true is seen in Romans 5:8,10 and also 1 John 4: 9-10. It is therefore obvious that God’s repeated promise to the Patriarchs and later to His people of all ages in the words “I will be with you” has never been an empty one. Not only has he maintained His honor faithfulness in this regard, but concerning His final acts toward us in this regard, we can truly say that  “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). 

What is abundantly clear from studying the patriarchal period, along with Hebrews 11 and 13 is that the patriarchs realized that there was life after death. They all believed in a bodily resurrection, in the “land” that God had promised. They were not sure of all the details and did not have the full revelation that we do, but they knew that the land of Palestine was involved. We now know that this will occur in the Millennium. We know too, that there is also “a land that is fairer than day” that we will also occupy, of which the patriarchs also had a glimpse. 

Abraham certainly believed that God had the capacity to raise Isaac from the dead if he offered him as a sacrifice as ordered (Genesis 22 and Hebrews 11:17-19). Abraham was willing to obey God and slay his precious son of promise in the expectation by faith that God would have to raise him from the dead to fulfill the purpose and promise for which Isaac was specifically born. Jacob insisted that he be buried in Canaan (Genesis 49:29-30), and Joseph gave particular instructions concerning his bones (Genesis 50:25; Hebrews 11:22). Since the account of Enoch’s translation was probably passed on by tradition and thus well known to those of the godly line, the concept of leaving this world to go to be with God in a heavenly city was not as remote or ridiculous as scoffers promote. 

Kaiser points out that “the patriarchal text always carefully distinguished the fact that each patriarch was “gathered to his people” from the act of burial in the “grave” (Genesis 25:8-9; 35:29; 37:35; 49:29,31,33). Neither was their relationship to God or His continuing association with them canceled after death, for He repeatedly identified Himself, the living personal God, as the “God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (Exodus 3:6, cf. Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37). No wonder the psalmist confidently expressed the fact that men continued to enjoy fellowship with God beyond the grave (Psalms 16:10; 49:15; 73:24). Likewise Job argued in 14:14 that men enjoyed the same prospect of “sprouting forth” again as did the felled tree (Job 14:7).  

This concept of the promise of a bodily resurrection finds its ultimate fulfillment in the New Testament first in John’s eschatology of John 3: 3:16-18, 36; 5:21 ff,14:3, and later in the Pauline epistles. In John 5, Jesus stated that in the same way that the Father had raised the dead in the past (e.g. Elijah’s miracle in 1Kings 17:17-24), the Son has the same ability to raise the dead both physically and spiritually. Jesus means that he will not only raise individual deceased persons but all the dead- whether in the resurrection of life or the resurrection of damnation- as he discusses further in this argument. He went on to say in verse 24-25 that eternal life is the possession of those who, after hearing His word, believe on God the Father who sent Him. Jesus then predicts in verse 27, that when these believers hear His voice at His coming at the rapture, they will live. We must appreciate that Jesus is here clearly alluding to the resurrection which occurs at the rapture as later described by Paul in 1Thesalonians 4:13-18; 1Corinthians 15:52 ff; Philippians 3:21. John also alludes to the bodily resurrection of the saints in 1 John 3:2 where he declares that we will look just as Jesus does when He comes. 

He warned in verses 28-29 that an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good  (by believing on God the Father who sent Jesus, after hearing Jesus’ word (vs 24) to a resurrection of life, and those who have done evil (i.e they who have rejected Christ) to a resurrection of damnation to appear at the Great White Throne judgment to be sentenced to the lake of fire. We know from further study of the Bible that these resurrections are 1007 years apart. They will not occur simultaneously as is at first apparent in this passage. The resurrection of the saved is both a present day spiritual resurrection (5:24-25) and a future physical resurrection. 

The hope and promise of the bodily resurrection for God’s people alluded to by the patriarchs and some Old Testament saints like Job, and taught in type in the translations of both Enoch and Elijah and the teaching of Jesus in this passage and in John 14:3 dominates the epistles; in 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18 and 1 Corinthians it is finally revealed. Paul indicates in Philippians 3, that this hope motivated him to give up all in his quest, in order to know Christ-The Prize for Christian Living,intimately and perfectly, and to ensure that he became a part of the “out resurrection” from the dead. This thought is also expressed by Peter in 2 Peter 1:10. The idea is not that this wholesale effort will gain our salvation, but that this dedication will ensure that we do not fall or fail. In Philippians 3:20-21 Paul suggests that the hope and promise of the bodily resurrection for God’s people alluded to by the patriarchs, should motivate us to maintain our gaze towards Heaven where we have our true citizenship. Paul thereby urges us to copy the attitude of those Caribbean[SLH2] people who migrated to Britain in the 50’s and 60’s to make a living. These people talk, and long, and live only for the day when they can return to their home lands, where their true citizenship is (even though they have British citizenship).  

In the patriarchal narratives, there was a series of names for God which are significant because they provided a sense of comfort and assurance that the stated promises could be kept in their entirety. These names included El Olam, ” the Everlasting God” Genesis 21:33); El Elyon, “the Most High God” (Genesis 14:18-20,22), or Yahweh Yireh, “Yahweh will provide” (22:14) and El Shaddai or “God Almighty ”(17:1;28:3;35:11;43:14;48:3,49:25).  

The name El Shaddai or “God Almighty ” stresses the might and power of God and “emphasized the supernatural work of His grace” it speaks of his ability to master his creation and override in the affairs of men and matter so that his will and plan can be effected according to his purposes and in the time frame that he desires. Only thus can God be assured to keep his promises. This is especially so when the complexity and intricacy of these promises are analyzed. 

“Thus the theology of this section was intertwined around that word from on high, its blessing to a chosen seed, and the assurance of the divine presence that guaranteed the certainty of the promised heir, inheritance, and heritage or even the present success of the patriarchs. It was all God’s word of encouragement.”  “Just as important as the act, however was the word of blessing itself. The blessing was many things-a prediction, the gift itself resulting from blessing (Genesis 33:11), a capacity given by God to ensure the fulfillment of the promise (17:16; 24:60), the reward of prosperity 15:1), the peace of the Lord (26:29), and nothing less than the presence of God Himself (26:3,28).”

Sweet Sunday Sermon – A Simple Overview of 1 John

Submitted by Dr. GP

  • I was taught as a teen in 1970, that when we are doing a BOOK STUDY the main points to look for in our introduction are the following.
  • Who wrote it?
  • To whom did he write?
  • Where did he write it?
  • When did he write it?

Sweet Sunday Sermon – The Romans Road to Salvation

Submitted by Dr. GP

God’s plan for human salvation is communicated throughout the entirety of Scripture. The Romans Road to salvation is a collection of verses from the New Testament book of Romans that concisely explain God’s salvation plan.  

 

“The Romans Road is a sort of roadmap through various gospel truths that someone, years ago, put together by selecting key verses out of Romans.”

God’s plan for human salvation is communicated throughout the entirety of Scripture. The Romans Road to salvation is a collection of verses from the New Testament book of Romans that concisely explain God’s salvation plan. Because this collection is human assembled, not an official Biblical arrangement, some collections may include more or fewer verses than others. For the most part, the Romans Road consists of essentially four parts.

The Romans Road Bible Verses 

  1. The Human Problem (Romans 3:10Romans 3:23, and Romans 6:23). The first part of the Romans Road confirms the state of every human as sinful and the state of God as holy.
  • As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;” (Romans 3:10)
  • For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” (Romans 3:23)After establishing that “all have sinned,” the first half of Romans 6:23 explains the depth of this problem and its consequences.

    “For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a)

    However, the second half of the verse hints at the hope sinners have for salvation through Jesus.

    “…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23b)

    2. Humanity’s Hope in Christ (Romans 5:8). The second part of the Romans Road further explains the hope we have in the love of God expressed through Christ.

    But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

    3. The Sinner’s Response (Romans 10:9-10 and Romans 10:13). Once we understand our need for a savior and recognize that Jesus Christ is that savior, we can respond by moving along to the third part of the Romans Road, calling out to Jesus.

    If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” (Romans 10:9-10)

    This response is possible for everyone. Romans 10:13 expresses God’s ability to save everyone. (His intention to save everyone is further expressed in John 3:16-17)

    For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” (Romans 10:13)

    4. The Result of Salvation (Romans 5:1-2Romans 8:1). The fourth part of the Romans Road mentions two results (peace and justification) after a sinner decides to declare and believe in their heart that Jesus Christ is Lord. Romans 5:1-2 explains that through faith in Jesus Christ, sinners can enjoy peace with God, no longer separated from holy God by sin.

    “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” (Romans 5:1-2)

    Romans 8:1 rejoices in the result of salvation. Before faith in Christ, all who have sinned were condemned by their sin and destined for death. But now with faith in Christ, “there is no condemnation” (Romans 8:1) and believers are gifted eternal life with God (Romans 6:23).

    “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8:1)

Sweet Sunday Sermon – The Significance of the names of the Cities of Refuge

Submitted by Dr. GP

The following is this weeks submission of Sweet Sunday Sermon under the title – THE SIGNIFICANCE AND MEANING OF THE NAMES OF THE CITIES OF REFUGE.

See PDF link:

Sweet Sunday Sermon – EIGHT WAYS THAT PETER LIFTED UP THE LORD IN ACTS

Submitted by Dr. GP

In Acts 10:36-43 Peter preaches a very simple message to Cornelius about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ in which he exalted Jesus   

1. Peter lifts up Jesus as the Bringer of Peace– the one through whom God makes peace with his rebellious creation. 

Verse 36: “You know the word which he [God] sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ.” 

Peter’s  exaltation sermon which begins here in v 36 ends in verse 43 with God as a Peacemaker through Jesus Christ.  

in v 36 we see God offering terms of peace through Jesus. in verse 43  he offers forgiveness through Jesus. It’s the same thing. We have peace with God only when his anger at us because of our sins is put away, and replaced by peace. And that comes through  the reconciling work of Jesus. So the first and last thing Peter lifts up about Jesus is that he is God’s Peacemaker. “God sent good news of peace by Jesus Christ” (v. 36). 

2. Peter lifts up Jesus as the Lord of all at the end of Verse 36.  

“You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all).” 

When God undertook to make peace with sinners and send a message of forgiveness to us , He sent the good news of peace by Jesus Christ—”the Lord of all.” –the mission was so important that  God sent the “Lord of all.”  

Not just Lord of the Jews, but Lord of the Gentiles like Cornelius and his family, and also Lord of all angels and all demons (as we’ll see in a minute). He is Lord of lords and King of kings (Revelation 17:1419:16). He is Lord of the universe and everything in it— He is Lord of all. 

3. Peter lifts up Jesus as a man anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power “for God was with him.” in Verse 38 

 “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power.” 

The end of verse 38 says, “for God was with him.”  

The Lord of all became a human like us except without sin.

The Lord of all humbled himself and became a servant who relied upon God and lived his life in the anointing and the power of the Holy Spirit. 

4. Peter lifts up Jesus as a man who was stronger than sin and stronger than the devil. 

Verse 38b: “He went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”  the anointed Jesus walked with God his Father. There was perfect intimacy. God was with him. And because God was with him, and the anointing and power of God were on him, Jesus did what was good. Though tempted to do bad things, just like we are, but the Bible teaches that he always conquered the temptation (Hebrews 4:15). He was stronger than sin, because he kept such intimate, satisfying fellowship with God. The power of sin was broken by the presence of God’s joy in Jesus’ life. 

And by this same power he conquered the devil.Because  Jesus is stronger than the devil he can rescues people who are oppressed and harassed and tormented and tempted by the devil. Peter lifts up Jesus as the deliverer from satanic oppression. 

5. Peter lifts up Jesus as a man who was killed in spite of his goodness. 

Verse 39: “And we are witnesses to all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree.” 

In spite of the fact that he was God’s Peacemaker, in spite of the fact that he was Lord of all, in spite of the fact that he was anointed by the Holy Spirit and power and was stronger than sin and the devil and that God was with him, he was killed. We know that this happened because God willed it and sin caused it. But we moves on immediately to lift up three final truths about this crucified Christ. 

6. Peter lifts up Jesus as alive from the dead because God raised him after three days. 

Verses 40–41: “But God raised him on the third day and made him manifest; not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.” 

Jesus is alive because God did not abandon his Peacemaker in death. He raised him from the dead. He vindicated him and gave him a name above every name so that every tongue in the universe will confess that he is indeed Lord of all—just like Peter said he was. And his resurrection was bodily. He is not a ghost or a mere spirit. Verse 41 says that the witnesses ate and drank with him. He has a new resurrection body with flesh and bones  which he took up into heaven when he ascended  

7. Peter lifts up Jesus as the final judge of every person in the universe whether they are dead or alive. 

Verse 42: “And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that he is the one ordained by God to be judge of the living and the dead.” 

Every one of us  will stand before Jesus Christ as our judge, just as surely as I am standing before you right now.  

8. Peter lifts up Jesus as the source of God’s forgiveness for our sins. 

Verse 43: “To him all the prophets bear witness that every one who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 

We thank God that before we meet Jesus as Judge, we met him as the forgiver of sins—the Peacemaker of God, and received forgiveness of sins through his name to be pardoned when we stand before him as judge. 

We thank God that we believe in him. And trust him with our life  

as the Peacemaker of God;  

as the Lord of all;  

as God’s anointed one, full of the Spirit and power;  

as stronger than sin and Satan;  

as one who died and rose again and lives today;  

as the one who will judge the living and the dead;  

as the forgiver of sins. 

This is the Christ that the Spirit loves to glorify. May he come to us today and make Jesus infinitely more than Peter’s sermon. Let’s pray that the Spirit will clothe us with power so that Jesus is not merely an idea or a word picture, but a living person and the central person in our lives. Amen. 

Sweet Sunday Sermon – Looking unto Jesus

Submitted by Dr. GP
  • “Looking unto Jesus” –Hebrews 12 :1-2
  • The Greek word for ‘looking’ is a more exact word than we can find in the English language. It has a preposition in it which implies a definite  looking away from everything else as well as a present looking unto Jesus
  • One translation translates the phrase “Looking” beautifully as, fixing our eyes on. We can only run the race as we look to Jesus and have our eyes locked on to Him. He is our focus, our inspiration, and our example. 
  • We are to look from all beside to Jesus. Like race horses, we must put our blinkers on.  
  • We are not to look on the cloud of witnesses; as  they will hinder us by taking our eyes from looking on Jesus. 
  • We are not to look on the weights and the besetting sin-that we are seeking to lay aside as these might discourage us.  
  • We are not to look on the race-course, or the competitors, as this might intimidate us. 
  • We are just to look to Jesus and start the race.  

    WHY SHOULD WE LOOK AT JESUS TO RUN THE RACE? 

    BECAUSE ………HE IS the author and finisher of our faith
  • Looking to a king or leader as a model, or to God for inspiration, was a common injunction in the ancient world. 
  •  Whereas Jesus is the one who has run the path before us, offers the preeminent example of how the race is to be run, he was and is so much more than the ultimate example of Christian endurance. Because  he is the “author and perfecter of our faith” this sets him apart from all the examples enumerated in Hebrews 11.Consequently he is worthy of consideration as pointed out in verse 3 

    Jesus is described as the author and finisher of our faith, 
  • The word translated “author” is rich with meaning and can communicate variously the idea of a champion, leader, forerunner, or initiator.  

  • The idea that Jesus is not only the author of our faith; but also the  finisher of it also is clearly expressed in the comforting words of Philippians 1:6 as well as 2 Tim 1:12 

If we were not confident or sure that he was the author and finisher of our faith we would not be able to run the race. 

This verse tells us that our Lord is not only the object, but also the author of our faith in all respects. He is the beginning, perfecter, and rewarder of it. Christians must therefore keep looking away from this world to him because he has perfected our faith. 

That he perfected our faith means that the Lord accomplished fully what it would take for ourfaith to be a reality……  he brought it to its intended goal.  

Jesus accomplished the perfection of our faith by his sacrificial death on the cross. In keeping with the race imagery, he has cleared the path of faith so that we may run it. The way is open, and although hurdles exist, the roadblocks have been removed. 

Jesus not only perfected faith but also provided the preeminent example of endurance because he looked beyond immediate, painful circumstances to the reward that was ahead. 

He is the finisher of our faith; he is the fulfiller and the fulfilling of all scripture-promises and prophecies; he is the finisher of the work of faith with power in the souls of his people; and he is the judge and the rewarder of our faith; he helps us to reach the mark, and it is from him, and in him, we have the prize. 

Whenever one talks about faith, all depends upon Jesus, for he is the basis, the means, and the fulfillment of faith.  

Who for the joy that was set before him  

endured the cross,  

despising  OR SCORNING the shame 

Who for the joy that was set before Him:  

Jesus did not regard the cross itself as a joy. But He looked past the horror of the cross to enjoy the joy beyond it. The same mentality will enable us  to endure. Romans 8:18 

He despised the shame.  

Despising the shame: One of the prominent elements of the torture of the cross was its extreme shame. Jesus bore this shame to accomplish our redemption. 

Jesus bore a shameful accusation: blasphemy. 

 Jesus bore shameful mocking, a shameful beating. Jesus wore a shameful crown and a shameful robe. Jesus bore shameful mocking even as He prayed on the cross. 

All the reproaches that were cast upon him, both in his life and at his death, he despised or scorned; because he was infinitely above them; he knew his own innocency and excellency, and despised the ignorance and malice of his despisers. 

Jesus despised this shame and endured through it to victory. How did he do this? 

The verb kataphroneo, translated here as “scorning,” or despising means to treat someone or something as if he or it had little value. That Jesus “scorned” the shame of the cross means that he treated it as insignificant or of little consequence. 

 The cross was the lowest form of capital punishment in the Roman world, reserved for slaves and criminals and involving both torture and public humiliation.  

On the cross Jesus was treated as valueless, being mocked and ridiculed—in short, being “scorned” or “shamed.” But He, turned the experience inside out, by “scorning the shame”; or “scorning the scorn,” Jesus considered  the cross to be insignificant compared to the joy of the exaltation that was  set before our Him, because the end result of the  shame of the cross was his exaltation to the right hand of God (Ps. 110:1). The phrase “And has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God speaks of Jesus’ glorification. The same promise of being glorified is true for the Christian also. Thus, Christians are encouraged to look beyond their present difficulties to God’s promised rewards. 

For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:18  Knowing that Jesus doesn’t ask more of us than what He has Himself experienced, and that He knows exactly what we are going through keeps us from becoming weary.

Sweet Sunday Sermon – THE CENTRAL THEME OF FIRST JOHN (1998)

Submitted by Dr. GP

The central theme of the book can be stated in one word –ASSURANCE. Thus the word “ know “and two derivatives “known “and “ knoweth “ appear 38 times in this short epistle.

One of the reasons for the writing of 1JOHN is clearly stated in chapter 5 verse13 (the key verse) where we read ……. these things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God;that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life ,and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

1John was written for believers, those persons who have accepted the Son of God as their saviour so that they might have assurance of their possession of eternal life NOW, at this present time (see 3;2). Assurance of salvation does not give us license to sin, however. The whole emphasis of this short epistle is against that conclusion.

The book deals with fellowship with Christ and with God the Father and points out that we cannot have proper fellowship unless we have assurance of salvation. Since the whole walk with God is based on whether we have Jesus or not, assurance is not only a possibility but a necessity, if we are to provide the best kind of service for the Lord. Without assurance we are useless in our service to God. How can we effectively point others to Christ as the savior if we are not ourselves certain that we are saved?

In this epistle we are assured that eternal life is resident in the children of God and is manifested to the world through them Grace and truth are seen in the lives of believers because Christ indwells them from this we know how a Christian should act.

These evidences of the Christian life become tests whereby we can know whether we really have eternal life or not. John tells us that the Christian life is going to express itself in a certain way and this in turn becomes a means of identifying the true believer. John is of course agreeing with James (Jas 2:14) and Paul (Eph 2:10 ).The whole epistle of I john is built around the idea that we can know for ourselves by our conduct whether our faith is genuine or not

The tests in 1 John whereby we tell if we have eternal life also serve to show believers if they are growing in the Christian life .

The more we read the book, we see that wherever we test for evidence of the new life in Christ we can also test for evidence of growth and maturity in the new life in Christ.

They are many who have been indoctrinated by the devil’s agents that we cannot know that we are saved until we get to heaven and God judges our works. First John was written too correct this early heresy. John is at pains to assure us, and to have us to know that we are saved, that we have the right spirit, that we will be like Jesus when he comes, how to test whether we are true or false.

John thus communicates vital certain knowledge to those who do believe.

This letter like others in the New Testament was written in deep disturbance and in ardent desire to defend the faith against dangerous heresies that were abroad as had been predicted by the Lord, Peter, Paul and Jude especially. The epistles of Paul and John are documents of the conflict in which the early church was embroiled. If we understand these problems we will appreciate the epistle better and appreciate that the contemporary church is involved in the same conflict.

At the time of writing Jerusalem had fallen, and the temple the pride of Judaism lay broken. The old struggle to debase the Christian faith and transform it into a sect of Judais had failed, and the attempt to work out a compromise with paganism and to interpret the new faith as a liberal philosophy was at its height. That is why Johns epistles are so vitally important today, because they are the first answers of the true tradition to liberalism. The battle was within the battle which Paul had forseen in his farewell address to the Ephesian elders 30 or more years earlier as presented in Acts 20:28-32 .

Note also that in preparation of this outline, I have deliberately explained the verse or section briefly because this outline is meant to be used as an expository introductory outline, in the teaching of the book (as for example, in a New Testament Survey ).

Note also that ASSURANCE is stressed in the outline since it is intended to show assurance as the central theme of the book.

ASSURANCE that we can KNOW THAT JESUS CHRIST IS REAL! (1:1-3)

ASSURANCE that we can KNOW fellowship with the Father and the Son & fullness of joy (1:3&4&7)

ASSURANCE that we can KNOW how to distinguish LIGHT and TRUTH from darkness and error (1:5-7)

ASSURANCE that we can KNOW how to be cleansed from sin & if we are POSSESSORS OR PROFESSORS (1:7-10)

ASSURANCE that we can KNOW that we need not sin but that there is provision for every act of sin (2:2 )

ASSURANCE that we KNOW HIM if we keep HIS commandments (2:3-6)

ASSURANCE that we KNOW that believers who love each other are keeping Christ’s commandments and walking in LIGHT (it is impossible to truly obey and walk in light without loving the brethren) (2:7-11)

ASSURANCE that our sins are forgiven, that we KNOW both the Father and the SON and that we have overcome the wicked one (2:12-14)

ASSURANCE that the world system (the cosmos) is temporary, but those who love the Father rather than the world will live for ever. The cosmos is not of the Father; one cannot love both simultaneously (2:15-17).

ASSURANCE that antichrists are in between the true believers but that there are characteristics by which they can be identified (2:18-19 &22-26).

ASSURANCE that we have been anointed by the HOLY SPIRIT, who is truth and our indwelling teacher . Consequently we need no other teacher, and we KNOW the truth (2:20-21&27).

ASSURANCE that those who deny the Father and the Son are antichrists, liars, and hath not the Father .In contrast those who acknowledge the Son and continue to live in obedience to him are promised eternal life.(2:22-25)

ASSURANCE that JESUS is coming again, and an injunction to live (abide in Him) in such away that His appearance will not occasion shame but confidence (2:28)

ASSURANCE that those truly born of God will do righteousness because God is Righteousness (2:29).

ASSURANCE that God’s love for the believer is quantitatively and qualitatively such (what manner) that he has adopted us as sons NOW (3:1&2).

ASSURANCE that when Christ comes again we shall be like Him; this should motivate us to live lives that would reflect his purity.(3:2&3).

ASSURANCE that Christ was sinless and that he came (was manifested) to take away sins(3:5).Sin is defined in verse 4.

ASSURANCE that those who abide (continue or remain in the relationship of fellowship with God & Christ ) will not habitually sin: those who do sin habitually, don’t even know GOD.(6)

ASSURANCE that those who habitually practice righteousness are righteousness (7)

ASSURANCE that those who habitually practice sin are of the devil who is the originator of sin and has been sinning from the beginning of his history: JESUS, however came to, and destroyed the effects of sin. (8).

ASSURANCE that born of God people do not sin because of their possession of God’s seed (nature, genes, essence ,Spirit) which restricts them from doing so (3:9).

ASSURANCE that born of God people distinguish themselves from the devil’s children by doing righteousness and loving the brethren (3:10)

ASSURANCE that Jesus’ commandment that believers should love each other (John13:35) still holds true (3:11&23).

ASSURANCE that believers will not be like Cain, who is a type of the unbelieving world who hates persons that genuinely try to please God and live for Christ (3:12)

ASSURANCE that the world will hate us (3:13)

ASSURANCE that truly habitually demonstrating love for God’s people is evidence that we are born again of God .Those who hate are still dead in trespasses and sins.(3:14) Love is the pathway to life & hatred ,the pathway to death.

ASSURANCE that folk who hate are murderers (Matt5:21-24) ; murderers don’t have eternal life.(3:15)

ASSURANCE that believers will be willing to die for other Christians, just as Christ died for us, and will share that with which God has blessed them with other believers (3:16 &17).

ASSURANCE that genuine love is practical-it is manifested by action! (in Deed & in truth).(3:18).

ASSURANCE that we are of the truth when our hearts condemn us, because God knows, inter alia about our repentance and has forgiven us (cf John21:17),

ASSURANCE that God’s answering of our prayers when we are obedient & God’s gift of his Spirit gives us the inner assurance that God is our Father and we are his children (3:19-24)

ASSURANCE that many false teachers ( the spirit of antichrist ) are already present in the world but that truth can be differentiated from error by a fool proof test given to identify the false teacher 4:1-3

ASSURANCE that we are overcomers because the requirement for victory has been provided for us (greater is he that is in you i.e Christ & the Holy Spirit ) ( 4:4) see also 5;4&5

ASSURANCE that worldlings speak like the world, are heard by those of their ilk, but do not listen to Godly folk: this is in contrast to the Godly who listen to the Godly. Such behaviour provides another fool proof test which differentiates truth from error ( 4:5&6 ).

ASSURANCE that those who obey Jesus’ commandment to love the brethren are born of God and know God because God is the source of love : in contrast, those that do not love ,do not know God ( 4:7&8 )

ASSURANCE that God manifested or demonstrated or proved his love by sending Jesus to be the propitiation for our sins and to give us his quality of life: Christians are to demonstrate this sort of love to each other ( 4:9-11 ).

ASSURANCE 12-17

ASSURANCE that God’s perfect love ( by sending Jesus to die for us ) has removed from the believer the dread or fear of God’s coming day of judgement in contrast to those who have not availed themselves of salvation: for them fear of that day brings dread and torment. (4:18)

ASSURANCE that our love for God is a result of our recognition of his love for us :our love for the brethren is an index of (or proves ) how much we really love God : John repeats that Jesus’ commandment of John 13:35 is still binding ( 4:19 – 21 )

ASSURANCE that he who loves the child, also loves the child’s parent.

ASSURANCE that he that believeth on the Son hath the witness in himself

ASSURANCE that keeping God’s commandments are not grievous

ASSURANCE that whosoever is born of God overcomes the world by faith (5:4-5)

ASSURANCE of the three-fold witness to the efficacy of the work of the son and the blessing of eternal life that results from this work (5:6-12)

ASSURANCE that God has given eternal life to us via his son (5:11-13)

ASSURANCE that prayer is heard and petitions granted (5:14-17)

ASSURANCE of the power of God over evil (5:18)

ASSURANCE that we are to live as God’s people in a sinful world (5: 19)

ASSURANCE that the Son of God has come (5: (20)

ASSURANCE that he has given us a full understanding that we can KNOW the true God

ASSURANCE that we are in him who is true-in His son Jesus Christ

ASSURANCE that we are to rely on the true God instead of our idols (21) (An idol is anything that would come in between ourselves and God and hinder the enjoyment of the life and ability to walk in the light ,to love the brethren and do righteousness )

In 1 John there are three definitions of God: God is light, God is love, and God is life, which I have used to form the three major divisions of this epistle.

I. God Is Light (1:5), Chapters 1:1–2:2

A. Prologue, Chapter 1:1–2

B. How the Little Children May Have Fellowship with God, Chapters 1:3–2:2

1. By Walking in Light, Chapter 1:3–7

2. By Confessing Sin, Chapter 1:8–10

3. By the Advocacy of Christ, Chapter 2:1–2

II. God Is Love (4:8), Chapters 2:3–4:21

A. How the Dear Children May Have Fellowship with Each Other, Chapter 2:3–14
(By Walking in Love)

B. The Dear Children Must Not Love the World, Chapter 2:15–28

C. How the Dear Children May Know Each Other and Live Together, Chapters 2:29–4:21

1. The Father’s Love for His Children, Chapters 2:29–3:3

2. The Two Natures of the Believer in Action, Chapter 3:4–24

3. Warning Against False Teachers, Chapter 4:1–6

4. God is Love: Little Children Will Love Each Other, Chapter 4:7–21

III. God Is Life (5:12), Chapter 5

A. Victory Over the World, Chapter 5:1–5

B. Assurance of Salvation, Chapter 5:6–211

McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 2000, c1981.


Sweet Sunday Sermon – The Five Heavenly Crowns

Submitted by Dr. GP

In the children’s hymn “There’s A Friend For Little
Children”, one of the verses says

There’s a crown for little children
Above the bright blue sky,
And all who look for Jesus
Shall wear it by and by;
A crown of brightest glory,
Which He will then bestow
On those who found his favor
And loved His Name below.

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Sweet Sunday Sermon – Gesture of Kindness (2 Samuel 9)

Submitted by Dr. GP

2 Samuel 9 records the most wonderful account of David’s magnificent gesture of kindness to Mephibosheth, the grandson of his enemy Saul, in which four times we are made aware that Mephibosheth was restored him to an exalted position and invited to eat at David’s table just like one of the king’s sons. 

This is a lovely type or foreshadowing of the doctrine of the adoption of sons as is declared in Galations 4: 4-7 thus” But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 

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Sweet Sunday Sermon – Will the Church Go Through the Tribulation?

Submitted by Dr. GP

All Christians will suffer affliction, trial, and tribulation in this world. It is a fact of life and it is a truth of Scripture.
• The Lord Jesus Christ said, “In this world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world”

(John 16:33)

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Sweet Sunday Sermon – Seven Prophecies That Must Be Fulfilled Before Jesus Christ’s Return

Submitted by Dr. GP

  • Jesus said that when these signs became evident, His return would occur within one generation.

  • Shortly before His crucifixion and resurrection, Jesus Christ delivered a major prophecy of end-time events, recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21.
  • He was asked by His disciples: “When will these things be? And what will be the sign of your coming, and of the end of the age?”

(Matthew 24:3)

seven prophecies

Sweet Sunday Sermon – The Ritual of the “Scapegoat”

Submitted by Dr. GP
There are many words and phrases that we commonly use that originate in the Bible.
For example, the word “sincere” which is found in 1Peter 2:2 to describe “the milk of the word,” is a transliteration of two Latin words “sine” (without) and “cere” (wax.)
In days of old, when charlatan potters would gloss over their impaired pottery with wax before they tried to sell them, more honest potters who sold perfect pottery, advertised their ware as “sine cere”.
Today, we will state the etymology of the word “scapegoat” and exegete the passage in the Bible where this word occurs, and the passage where such a goat was used in a ceremony, and explain the significance of the passage, sincerely (“sine” (without) and cere (wax.)

Sweet Sunday Sermon – NOAHS BOAT

Submitted by Dr. GP

The earth was so wicked that, without apology, God could have judged it on the spot (Gen. 6:5). But in His grace and patience, He delayed judgment for over a century, while Noah built the ark (see 1 Pet. 3:20).

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Sweet Sunday Sermon – Do we have Apostles in our Church today?

  • The English word “apostle” is derived from the Greek apostello, “to
    send forth.”
  • The Greek word for “apostle” literally means “one who is sent” and
    can refer to an emissary or anyone sent on a mission.
  • While hardly used in the Old Testament, it is found at least 80
    times in the New Testament.
  • An apostle is one who is “sent” by God to preach the Gospel to the
    nations.

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Sweet Sunday Sermon- The Doctrine of the CHURCH

Submitted by Dr. GP

The Bajan landscape is filled with church buildings of all types, from little wooden buildings to old stone buildings with their Gothic windows; and most Bajans have attended church services from their youth. But really a church? Is it the building or is it more than that? What does the Bible say about the origin, officers, organization, and ordinances of the church. Today, in THE DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH, I summarize what the New Testament teaches about these things. I first learned about these things in a local Baptist church way back in 1970 in a course called GREAT DOCTRINES OF THE CHURCH. At that time we read the Systematic Theology text by T.G. Evans.  One can also imbibe these truths by reading Systematic Theology texts by Thiessen or Chaffer’s.

church doctrine

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Sweet Sunday Sermon – The Unsearchable Riches of Christ

 

Submitted by Dr. GP

Attached is a word study on The unsearchable riches of Christ.

Ephesians 3:8 KJV

  • Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given , that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
  • The word rendered “unsearchable,” anexichniaston, occurs only once elsewhere in the New Testament Romans 11:33, where it is rendered “past finding out;”

Romans 11:33 KJV

  • O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
  • What does Paul mean by the “unsearchable riches of Christ”? (v. 8)
  • The heart of the apostle was so full of admiration of the riches, sufficiency and glory that was in the Saviour; that he choose this most emphatic expression in the New Testament, to express  his thoughts and to remind us that our experiences of the riches of Christ have frequently been 
  • overwhelming,
  • and virtually incomprehensible
  • difficult to contemplate,
  • literally stunning.
  • Anexichniastos
  • “Unsearchable” in these passages means unable to track or unable to map, as in the sense of mapping out a territory.
  • The Greek word means  literally not traceable by footprints”. We cannot trace exactly why or how great God loves us   WE   CAN NOT MAP IT OUT
  • It means that which cannot be “traced out,” or explored; which is inscrutable, or incomprehensible.
  • The meaning here is, that there was a “sufficiency” in Christ which could not be traced out or explored. It was wholly incomprehensible.
  • God is so infinite and the things that He does is so vast that we are unable to completely map out all that He has done and plans to accomplish.
  • This term tells us that God is not completely “knowable” or that we are not able to fully figure God out.
  • Because of Godʼs infinite nature He is by definition “unsearchable”.
  • It is “unsearchable”just as a mine is inexhaustible, and whose treasures can never be fully explored
  • The word “unsearchable  is exceedingly well chosen here: it refers to the footsteps of God,
  • the plans he had formed,
  • the dispensations which he had published, and
  • the innumerable providences which he had combined, to prepare, mature, and bring to full effect and view
  •  his gracious designs in the salvation of a ruined world, by the incarnation, passion, death, and resurrection of his Son.
  • There were in these schemes and providences such riches –
  • such an abundance,
  •  such a variety, as could not be comprehended even by the naturally vast, and, through the Divine inspiration, unparalleledly capacious mind of the apostle.
  • Anexichniastos
  • “Unsearchable” in these passages means unable to track or unable to map, as in the sense of mapping out a territory.
  • The Greek word translated  “unsearchable” here has also been translated
  • boundless, unfathomable,
  • fathomless, unsearchable,
  • endless,
  •  unending,
  •  untraceable,
  •  unsurveyable,
  • indetectable,
  • untrackable,
  •  unexploreable, and
  • inexhaustible.
  • The Greek word means  literally not traceable by footprints”. We cannot trace exactly why or how great God loves us   WE   CAN NOT MAP IT OUT
  • It means that which cannot be “traced out,” or explored; which is inscrutable, or incomprehensible.
  • The meaning here is, that there was a “sufficiency” in Christ which could not be traced out or explored. It was wholly incomprehensible.
  • God is so infinite and the things that He does is so vast that we are unable to completely map out all that He has done and plans to accomplish.
  • This term tells us that God is not completely “knowable” or that we are not able to fully figure God out.
  • Because of Godʼs infinite nature He is by definition “unsearchable”.
  • It is “unsearchable”just as a mine is inexhaustible, and whose treasures can never be fully explored
  • We can discuss just this one subject to the end of time and not cover all the possibilities or the reasons.
  • We know what God has revealed to us and we see hints of vast things happening behind the scenes, but we aren’t able to map all of it out.
  • Although we admire and praise the wonder that Jesus should come and save us, but still we realize that what he did for us is beyond human understanding.
  • Certainly we can not fully and completely grasp the extent of God’s plans or all the things He did to accomplish his goals for us, or all the reasons why certain actions were done or even exactly how Jesus is able to save us by his death?
  • We should not however allow this to discourage us, as if we can know nothing of God.
  • Rather we should realize that God has revealed certain aspects of himself so that we can know God without fully knowing him.
  • However, we will be able to know God forever in heaven and yet never be bored by him… there will always be something new to discover about Him.
  • We understand this in human relationships which are finite – the best marriages are those in which two people spend a lifetime discovering each other.
  • In like manner every bit we learn now,  we receive as a blessing as we move closer to God, and his coming.
  • these riches inconceivable:
  • these riches, are communicable, as well as solid, satisfying, and lasting; and they are unsearchable to the natural man, and cannot be fully investigated by believers themselves; they will be telling over to all eternity: and they appear unsearchable, when it is considered what we have procured, and what blessings have been dispensed; what a large family Christ has maintained by them, and how richly and fully he has provided for us, and to what honour and grandeur he raises us all.

 

Sweet Sunday Sermon – Eternal Life Through Believing

Submitted by Dr. GP

In John’s gospel, everything subserves the developing of certain RECURRENT IDEAS. These recurrent ideas are assembled in the prologue, and the first chapter, and then developed right through to the end.  These recurrent ideas are not mere abstractions of John’s own producing, but are spiritual truths outgrowing from fertile facts.

From a large store of available data John selects just those which demonstrate and develop the central truths of his treatise; of which the central one is, ETERNAL LIFE BY BELIEVING ON JESUS AS SON OF GOD AND SAVIOUR OF MEN, (John 20:30-31).

Let us  trace John’s recurrent idea of life by  believing, because among the recurrent ideas which run through the book of John, this one carries John’s main purpose  as given in his practical purpose in 20:31.

“That ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that  believing ye might have life” (20:31).  

That word “believe” occurs in its several forms ninety-eight times; the words “life” (zoe) and “live (zao) fifty-five times.

When we pick out the principal references to eternal life (1:4, 3:14-16, 3:36, 4:10-14,  5:24-29, 6:35-55, 8:12, 10:28,29, 11:25,26, 17:3, etc.), we discover an unmistakable progress of doctrine, as each new reference reveals a further truth in such a way, that to transpose any would spoil the order.

Here we see the guidance of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostle John in the writing of this Gospel according to the principle found in Isaiah 28:10, that “precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little.

We start with chapter 1:4, 5, 9 –where the first thing that we learn is that eternal life is in the Son, who is also  the true Light of men which gives light to every man coming into the world. Jesus, the light
and that its first action upon the soul is to give light. This light which reveals spiritual realities, by “shining in the darkness,”to reveal human sin and Divine truth.  

Second, in chapter 3:14-16, we learn that eternal life is imparted to us through faith in the Calvary work of the  Savior-Son, and that it is eternal.

Next, in chapter 3:36, the  word “hath” leaps to the eye, telling us that eternal life is the  present possession of the believer. There is nothing doubtful; it does not say “may have.” Nor is it only future; for the word is “hath,” meaning here and now.

In chapter 4:14,we note that eternal life is not only a present possession but an inward satisfaction. We drink, and the life-giving drought becomes a very fountain within the soul, ever springing, ever satisfying.  

Chapter 5:24 reveals that the possession of eternal life through faith in the Savior gives exemption from  judgment.The word “condemnation” here is krisis (judgment) and refers to the final judgment of Mankind, as shown in verse 29..  

Possessors of eternal life is a pass-over from “death” in sin,  to “life” in Christ. Once for all, Jesus bore the penalty due to the believer’s sin; and once for all, therefore, eternal life in Him delivers from penal judgment.   

In His great discourse in chapter 6:35-55  we see that our Lord is the Bread of Life to the believer. He became thus by giving His flesh and blood (verses 51,53) on the cross. He also indicates that feeding upon Him is believing, and that the sustenance thereby derived is spiritual (verses 35,56,63), and on going. Furthermore, Jesus promised that he will raise such believers up at the last day” (verses 39,40,44,54).

Next, in chapter 8:12, we are taught that the Christian walk is to be a walk of confident assurance, because the believer has Jesus the “light of  life.”

Chapter 10:27-29  pictures the believer as being held secure in the  interlocked grasp of both the Son and the Father is the strongest possible assurance that eternal life means eternal preservation.

Then in chapter 11:25& 26 Jesus said “He that believeth in Me, though he may have died,  at “the last day” (i.e the rapture), yet shall he live [for I am the resurrection]; and whosoever is [then] living and believing in Me shall never die [for I am the life].” So all the possessors of eternal life in Christ are to share in the promised age-end transfiguration of Philippians 3.20-21 & I John 3:2 & 1 Thessalonians 4 and 1 Corinthians15.

 Finally, chapter 17: Verse 2 says that the Son imparts eternal life to “as many as” the Father has “given Him”, i.e those who through faith have responded to the Father’s gift of the Son. Note that in this chapter seven times Jesus speaks of those who the Father has “given Him.”

In verse 3, Jesus taught that life eternal, is to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom God sent.

He said in verse 8”  For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.” 

We know from John 6:37, that all who accept Christ are drawn to Him by the Father.

So the eternal life which believers possess through the Saviour is to be consummated in a heavenly glorification. Verse 24 says “ Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me”

Thus we see a progression of disclosure:

First we see that this life is in the Son, and is an exposure-light on sin and darkness.

Next we see that the life is received by faith on the Sin-bearer who died at Calvary. Then, successively, it is a present possession, an inward satisfaction, an exemption from judgment, an assurance and preservation, it awaits age-end transfiguration, and is to be consummated in heavenly glorification.

John has all this in mind when he writes at the end of his Gospel:

“These are written that ye night believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing  ye might have life through His Name.”

Oh, how simple is the way into eternal life.

Just “BELIEVE” in the INCARNATE WORD, and ONLY-BEGOTTEN SON.

Sweet Sunday Sermon – ISRAEL The Vine the Fig and the Olive Tree

Submitted by Dr. GP
Last Sunday morning we had the privilege of listening to  a speaker from India share a nice word on Israel in three horticultural situations at our assembly in Central Florida. I hope some of you will enjoy this transcript of his message, as much as I enjoyed the message.
Read full text of the sermon – ISRAEL The Vine the Fig and the Olive treeISRAEL The Vine the Fig and the Olive tree