3/1/2019

This week’s Sunday school lesson is about Abraham getting a wife for Isaac. And as is my new custom, I researched different commentaries about the scripture that the lesson came from and found a very interesting chain of thought in The John Phillips Commentary Series. It goes into the area of how Genesis 24 is an example or preview in story format of the Bride of Christ.

It mentions that the “faithful servant” is an example of the Holy Ghost. We know that the Holy Ghost is part of the Triune Godhead; however, He is one that is not brought out to the front very much except in the book of Acts. Nevertheless, The Holy Ghost plays a major part in the fact that the “Church” is still around some 2,000 years later.

Abraham sent the servant on a long trip seeking something that was for his son. The Holy Ghost has been given the task of seeking a bride for the Son of God; Christians. We today are living examples of the faithfulness of the Holy Ghost in doing that task. When we listen to His small quiet voice and accept Jesus as our Savior, we start the journey toward our eternal home, Heaven.

If we stay close and follow the leading of the Holy Ghost, then we will make our way to the Bridegroom, Jesus, and we will make ourselves into the perfect bride for Him. We will have the same type of spirit that Rebekah had, one that was willing to do what was asked of her without any dragging of her feet but with a willing spirit.

How is your “spirit?” Is it one of willingness and joy to do God’s work? One that will step out wherever and whenever God says “go.” Just as the servant needed a woman to be willing to leave the safe haven of “home” and follow him into the unknown. So, today, God is looking for someone that is willing to go where God leads.

Are you that one?

C.I. Wilson

March 1, 2019

“Spiritual Gaming”

Part 1: Games people play

As a businessperson would do, coming up with an idea to manufacture a game so that it would be a best seller. It would consist of two components, the manufacture, and the players. Some may say that the essence of the game is the rules and regulations (control). Without rules and regulations, most manufactures would have no game. Hummmm!

The only benefit to the game is the manufacture. It is the manufactures that get all of the recognition (money) not the players. The players get no benefit whatsoever; they just follow the rules and regulations as is given to them by the manufacture. Which is all right if that is all they want? But, the typically player loves to get rewarded for their effort and progress. The problems arise when the manufacture cannot or will not reward them, the only reward that is given is the chance to win, and there is no guaranty that will happen, just an opportunity to have that chance. The thought remains that if I am rewarded as a player, then I am going to excel and maybe get a reward the next time but the game still keeps going on.

As the game is played more, the players get tired of just the same old things repeatedly and boredom sets in. Bad attitudes show up as well as a sour taste in their mouth for the game. The manufacture has done nothing wrong in producing a product that seems to work according to him or her, however, the players now have a sour disposition toward the manufacture and the game. The only remaining thing to do is to quit the game and go onto something more. So, the player does, and when the subject comes up about the game. The previous player tells the others what kind of game it is and how it stinks and why. They also broadcast the bad taste in the mouth to all that will hear it, and as long as it takes to get the message out. The manufacture gets a bad reputation. The manufacture is unaware of this because all they are interested in is the money it generates. Then on the other hand, the manufacture plans more games that promise more excitement, more enticement, more thrills, more entertainment, and then they got you hook, line and sinker.

Part 2: Church games

Although many people go to church, there is a big difference in the way we worship. Many mainstream denominations, but what is true worship! Do we just play the part or do we really worship the Lord in truth and Spirit. Seems to me, most people play the game, we dance around the outside of the Holies of Holies and occasionally peek behind the curtain to see what is going on. Never grasping that God, the Father has invited us into His presence. Most of us would not even know what the presence of God feels like. We are too busy in our own little world calling what we do worship in the presence of God. Yes, we may sing a few songs and maybe even dance a little, just to say we did so, never really getting into the presence of God.

It may be a sweet atmosphere that we create in the spirit; as a corporate worship. However, it is not the real presence of God. Sad though true, some of us will never know the real presence of God simply because we play our part. We may be sincere about what we do, when we do it and how humble in our piety that we totally miss the mark and miss out on what God has for us.

Our agenda may be when we go to church it may be for what is going on or to be seen. Maybe the church you go to is a social church, as well as to see who is wearing what and the latest gossip there is, if not by telephone, then we go to church to see if it is true to our rules and regulations set for each denomination. They all may seem similar but are worlds apart. To some it is like a country club, others their religious proceedings is a form of godliness on the outside, dry bones in the inside, still others go for spiritual enlightenment, just to appease their conscious.

What a sham, to know that one’s motivation is to appease themselves, is a farce to God, the Father. The Word of God says that HE goes back and forth over the earth to see if some has the faith to believe Him. Any of us can, how about it? Are you one to have faith to believe in God, the Father for everything? Are you the one that God, the Father can trust with His Glory? Are you the one He is looking for? Are you the one that will share His Good News? Are YOU THE ONE?

2/24/2019

Mark 10:46-52 (KJV)
⁴⁶  And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
⁴⁷  And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
⁴⁸  And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
⁴⁹  And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
⁵⁰  And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
⁵¹  And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
⁵²  And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

Here is the story of one of the few people that Jesus healed that is mentioned by name and he is one that the children of my age group heard about a lot and sticks out in my mind.

Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem to face His biggest test here on earth, the cross. Yes it was a test otherwise He would not have had to stay in prayer so long on the Mount of Olives, until His sweat was a great drops of blood. This tells me if Jesus needed to pray, then we most definitely need a good prayer life.

Bartimaeus did not know that this was his last chance to get what he needed from Jesus. He did need to wait a little longer; he wanted his healing “now” not latter. If we had that same determination of getting in touch with Jesus that Bartimaeus had; would we be the spiritual wimps that so many of us are?

Bartimaeus did not care what others thought. He was not going to be “shut up” and I feel the more he called out to Jesus, the louder he got. I have seen many Christians that say a prayer that was soft and easy on the ear, then get up and go about their day. Some have got their answers however when they do not get the answer they come back to their “knees.” This time they sound a little more “earnest” in their prayer. While Bartimaeus went from facing his life straight to urgent, and the longer he called on Jesus the more so he became.

Then when he finally was to the point of having Jesus’ attention he was willing to cast off all of the hindrances in his life. Then he left those hindrances behind because Jesus gave him his answer. The ability to see.

If we had that much faith today, what could we do?

Need, gratitude, and loyalty sum up the story of Bartimaeus; and they also sum up the phases of discipleship.

Layman’s Bible Book Commentary – volume # 16

C.I. Wilson

2/22/2019

While sitting at my desk working on the March Express, I received a phone call from someone wanting to order some of my husband's book "A Study on the Holy Ghost." While talking to her I found out that I had not proofed the book as well as I should have. Did she complain, no. Could she have complained, yes. She forgave us for the mistake. How many times do we see mistakes and complain? More times than we should, if we want to live the life that Christ wants for us.

I try to be perfect, and will continue until I die, because the Bible states that we are to be perfect even as our Father in Heaven is perfect. Yet I, like everyone else makes mistakes and this is why I am so glad that my Heavenly Father will forgive me each time that I ask for His forgiveness.

Matthew 18:23-24 "Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven."

Mark 11:26 "But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses."

Then when I called my brother to get help with the error in the book he told me about his website and asked me to read it. The link is below. Please take time to read it. He talks about forgiveness.

C.I. Wilson

https://mychurchnotes.net/topics/relationships/5532-4-degrees-of-forgiveness

2/21/2019

Prayer from Sterling Full Gospel Church in Independence, Missouri

Father, in Jesus's name, I thank You that Your Word has power to manifest health and wholeness in my total man (woman). Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being health to my flesh as the Living Word of God. Every Time I meditate on and speak Your Word, it quickens my physical body. No disease or infirmity can withstand the power of the Word of God. I command every contrary thing in my mind, body, or soul to be uprooted and sonsumed by the fire of the HOlyu Spirit. Just as children eat food to grow strong and healthy. I now open my Spirit to the Word in order to receive Supernatural strength and healing in Jesus's name. Amen

Proverbs 4:22 (KJV)
 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.