My Testimony

Exerpt from my interview on Truth Be Told Radio.

The Story of His Reign in Us: The Age of the Living Dead (Ephesians 2:1-10)

This is an excellent sermon, probably the best I have ever heard, take the 50 mins to listen!

Eph 2:1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
Eph 2:2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience--
Eph 2:3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Eph 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,
Eph 2:5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--
Eph 2:6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
Eph 2:7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
Eph 2:9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Christ With Us

Isa 9:6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Luk 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luk 2:12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."Luk 2:13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Luk 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"

What can I say? We see the little baby and we think how cute and sweet so small. That baby was God. The mighty God came to us. It has become so familiar that sometimes we don't even think about it, what it means that God came to us. His creation that rejected him and rail against him, came for us. My words can't even begin to explain, so I will let scripture

Php 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, Php 2:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, Php 2:7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Php 2:8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.


Gal 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, Gal 4:5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.



Here is a fun song, but true

Hebrew Names of Jesus

Recently while working on a project for my online store I began a project on the "Names of God". As I was researching the Hebrew names, just seeing them blessed me so much. So I wanted to share them with you and pray they bless you too.

I AM or My Lord- Adonai
Advocate- Malakh Melitz
Alpha and Omega-Aleph v'Tav
Annointed one OR The Messiah- Ha Machiach
Beloved One- Yadid
Bread of Heaven- Lecham Shamayim
Cornerstone- Rosh Pinah
Dayspring from on High- Or-Boker Mirarom
Deliverer- HaPalat
The Last Adam- HaAdam Ha-acharon
God the only Begotten Son- Elohim ben Yachid
Good Shepherd- HaRo'eh HaTov
Great High Priest- HaKohen HaGadol-
Horn of Salvation- Keren Yeshua
God with us- Immanuel
The Judge of the Living and the dead- Shofet haChayim v'hametim
Lamb of God- Seh HaElohim
Man of Sorrows- Ish Makhovot
Morning Star- Kokhav Hashachar
Our Passover- Pischeinu
Redeemer- HaGo'el
Resurrection and Life- Hatekumah v'haChyim
Savior of all men- HaMoshia I'chol Adam
Shepherd- HaRo'eh
the Amen- Ha Amen
The Word- Ha Davar

For a wonderful site with a longer list where you can here the pronounciation of the words click here

Christ ~ High and Holy God

Psalms 2:1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,3 Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,6 As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, You are my Son; today I have begotten you.8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.


Joh 18:37 Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world--to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."


Have you heard it before, "Jesus is my best friend" something to that effect. Jesus is our friend. Little Jesus in his white robe holding a child. Little Jesus, He loves you no matter what, He is ok with you just the way you are. Jesus will help you feel happy and content. He is your good luck charm.

Is this THAT Jesus:

Luke 14:26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.


Sounds harsh. Hate my family? What? You know why? He is the KING of kings. He is the High & Holy God. He is ruler over the entire universe. No atom in the world can exist without Him purposefully willing it to exist and behave in a way He deems fit. This God who though thought created the universe and sustains it, bought you! You are purchsed with His blood. He is God and he has every right to demand every single part of your life in whole devotion and reverance to Him. He is not you pal, your Buddy! He is High Holy God. Yes he is LOVE, He is longsuffering, He is patient, and faithful. But those don't take away from His Kingship and His High and Holy position, they add to it. When you can grasp the nature of Who He is, and see what He has done, it demands that you fall on your face before Him, that you give Him Honor and Glory, that you revere Him. Tremble before Him in Holy fear.
Simply acknowledging Him as Lord isn't enough, just believing isn't all there is.

Jas 2:19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder!

He is King, seek Him, place your trust in Him, repent of your sin, so that at the end of your life you don't hear:

Mat 7:22 On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'
Mat 7:23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'


12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

He is King and Lord, Ruler over all, a Mighty and Holy God, all Glory and Honor belong to Him.













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Christ and His blessings

Mat 5:2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: Mat 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Mat 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Mat 5:5 "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Mat 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Mat 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Mat 5:8 "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Mat 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Mat 5:10 "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

1Pe 1:6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 1Pe 1:7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith--more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire--may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.


1Pe 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 1Pe 4:13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 1Pe 4:14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.


Do you see a pattern here? When you hear the word "blessings of God" what do you think of? I know alot of people in many of our American churches think; wealth, health, life of ease, happiness, nice relationships. We obtain those things and we think, "Oh how blessed I am!" God can bless us in these things, I think most of the time He doesn't though. What is God's goal in our lives? For us to be happy? I Think He is more interested in us being conformed into the image of His Son. Does money help us to do that? Most of us would have to honestly answer, "no". Do trials? Most definitely!

Rom 5:3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, Rom 5:4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, Rom 5:5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

So what do we see as true "blessing" from God? Money or Trials ( sufferings) Which conforms us into the image of His Son?

This might help you to look at your trials differantly. Not that they are fun, but when we know the purpose we can appreciate what the outcome will be, and then we can see them as blessings.

Christ- God as Servant

How Big is our God?

Isa 40:12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand and marked off the heavens with a span, enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure and weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?

Isa 48:13 My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I call to them, they stand forth together.

 

Col 1:16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

What did Christ do?

Php 2:5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, Php 2:6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, Php 2:7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. Php 2:8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

How did he demonstrate this?

Joh 13:3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, Joh 13:4 rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Joh 13:5 Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.

The God that holds the stars in his hands became a man, served those who hated him and washed their feet. Ponder this for a moment, I know many people are familiar with the story. Really think about what this means. How does this effect how you look at God? Our God is high and HOLY, perfect and mighty, full of purity and the ruler of all, King of kings and Lord of lords, holds every cell in is hands and is sovereign over all. He has every right to demand anything and everything of us, yet he serves us. US! Filthy, unclean man. We spit in his face, drove the nail into his hands, mocked him, and he humbles himself before us? This is our God, how beautiful he is. When you pray to him today, thank him for what he has done, for who he is.

And even more than washing our feet-

Isa 53:1 Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? Isa 53:2 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. Isa 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isa 53:4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. Isa 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isa 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. Isa 53:8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? Isa 53:9 And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Isa 53:10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Isa 53:11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Isa 53:12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.


Thank you Jesus, thank you for the cross, beautiful Savior.