Holy Communion: Key to Spiritual Healing

Chronically-ill Christians who do not believe in spiritual healing of the sick today should examine their participation in Holy Communion as to why they remain sick.
The Lord's Supper (Eucharist or Holy Communion according
to your tradition) consists of two elements: The cup representing Jesus' shed blood, and the bread representing His broken body (I Corinthians 11:23-26).
Traditional doctrine teaches us that the Lord's Supper is
to keep us mindful that, as Christians, we are part of the
Body of Christ, that we are one in Christ through the
Gospel (I Corinthians 15:1-4), and that He shed His blood
for atonement of sin, and rightfully so.

But Paul had grave concern for something more in partaking the Lord's Supper that was killing his brethren. It lies at the very root of God's Scheme of Redemption, which is inclusive of healing body, spirit, and soul (salvation).

Paul states that the lack of discernment of the Lord's body
(I Corinthians 11:29) is cause for damnation and is why many
of us are sick today. The Greek word for body (soma) literally
refers to the physical fleshly body of Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ, by His perfect life, sacrificed His body for our healing and blood for atonement of our sins. These two realities both occur on the Cross.
Through the shedding of His blood, Jesus redeemed us
from the curse of the law of sin and death (Galatians 3:13).
But the broken body of Jesus is not for the forgiveness of
sin--It is for healing to be made possible. For without His
broken body, there could be no healing of any kind
(Romans 11:36; Colossians 1:15-18), either before or after
the Cross. This is where many Christians lack discernment.
It is through His shed blood that we find forgiveness, not His
broken body (Hebrews 9:22; Leviticus 17:11). And it is
through His stripes (His suffering and torment in the flesh)
that we are healed today (Isaiah 53:5; I Peter 2:24).
With this understanding in mind, consider the words of
Pastor Henry Wright, Author of A More Excellent Way:
"If we come to a Communion service and partake of the
cup and the bread but we deny healing and deliverance
as part of the atonement today, we eliminate the provision
of God in our lives as a human being apart from salvation
and eternal life in that day. For that reason, because we
eliminate the broken body, but we celebrate it, and we
don't believe it, then we cannot partake. For that reason
many of us are filled with disease and insanity today
because we have said in our heart that it (miraculous
healing) passed away two thousand years ago, yet we
still participate in the sacrament of Communion which
represents its reality for today."

Celebrating the Lord's Supper can either deny or provide
us healing by how we accept or deny the spiritual healing power of the fleshly body of Christ. Could it be many of God's people are chronically-ill today because they have eliminated half of
the sacrament of Communion?

Think on this matter the next time you partake of the
Lord's Supper. Our salvation is made complete in body,
spirit and soul through both the literal blood and flesh of
our Savior. But, Paul said many of us are weak and sick
because we fail to recognize (have faith in) Christ's body
(soma).

This means those of us who are sick, while we
recognize (have faith in) the blood of Jesus Christ to save
our souls, we do not recognize (have faith in) His literal body
(soma) to heal our literal bodies of disease--here--now.
Friends, I did not say that, the inspired Apostle, Paul, did!

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How Can We Sing the Lord's Song in a Strange Land?

The opening verses of Psalm 137 make up amongst the most poignant laments in all of the Bible.
The exiled Jews - now captives in Babylon - recall, with tears, their life in Zion. Far from that exalted state, they are now forced by their captors to sing their sacred songs of praise for the amusement of the ungodly. But ridiculed by their conquerors and heavy with the knowledge of their own sin, the chosen people ask, "How can we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?"

Against the backdrop of their fettered and wounded existence, having to sing of the faithfulness of their God to their cruel persecutors seem to the followers of Jehovah the ultimate incongruity, the worst form of profanity, torture beyond the physical.

Our undoing can come from any direction. Disease, death, a career crisis, a conflict in the family. Even beyond these life-changing events, we can often feel a 'disconnect' between our days and our deepest aspirations. This is debilitating enough to unstring our harps.

The song in us is silenced.

At these times, it is tempting to see art - in any form - as pointless. It is easy to assume that sorrow can drain the life out of any creative urge.

And yet that question of the tormented captives is, in itself, their unsung song. It becomes for an oppressed people a consolation beyond all consolations. Their remembrance of lost grace becomes their claim to grace.

In times of desolation, it is often the vision of another time, another place, another feeling that helps sustains us. Despair, they say, is the fatal failure of the imagination. That is why art can, in trying times, be the believable vision of a better world. Believable because the sheer fulfilment in making or appreciating art gives us grounds for hope. We are no longer staring into the void, but gazing expectantly at possibilities that the facts do not suggest. This redemptive power of art opens up new territory for each individual to traverse.

It is not escapism. That is precisely why art in times of war captures not only the unspeakable horror of war, but also the triumph of the human spirit in the face of adversity. As German artist, Gerhard Richter put it, "Art is the highest form of hope".

During World War II, the Nazis were guilty of doing what the Babylonians did to their captives. They forced inmates in the concentration camps to sing or play their musical instruments for the amusement of the guards or as undisguised attempts at mockery. But apart from such occasions when they were forced to make music, prison inmates also composed and performed music of their own accord. This ranged from the most unadorned forms of music-making - whistling or humming - through to more organised group singing and informal concerts. A defiant 'last stand' against fear, pain and death.

Apart from helping us cope with life-threatening situations such as wars and natural disasters, art also helps prevent the quiet descent into dysfunction that depression, ageing and chronic illness can bring. Painting, sculpture, music, dance, drama, photography, design, literature... any art form can help combat the loss of identity that physical or mental decline can bring. Art can not only enrich the day, but stimulate the mind and help individuals reconnect with the outer world. This is because art is able to bypass conventional hurdles to self-expression and communication. The sense of community that it helps foster is a powerful antidote to the isolation and alienation that can so very often smother the life out of people battling their personal demons.

Of course, even artists will agree that art alone is not enough. But, as a tool to developing a richer inner life that sustains us in times of despair, it is highly underrated. For art is the evocation of the spirit of possibilities. It is the unsung song when the horizon darkens. It is the bridge that can take us 'home' even as we roam strange lands.

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The Apostle Principle: Fathering and Mentoring

For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church." 1 Corinthians 4:15-17 NKJV

The Apostle principle: Fathering/Mentoring is of primary significance with its lack in the church and in the family. The lack of fathering and mentoring has yielded some of the most devastating results. It is with the return of the apostle principle that stability, strength and power returns to churches and families-that are so desperately in need of-restoring honor, integrity and purpose to the role of man and function of the father naturally and spiritually; no longer allowing sons claimed as negative statistics.
The role of a father should never be undervalued or underestimated. This role of a father and mentor is significant, essential and paramount to development of our churches and children; especially the young men. Manhood is in a fight to survive to be as God created it. It will take men being men-finding their purpose and place through the word of God, being affirmed and mentored not only naturally, but spiritually by other experienced, proven men of God. Paul says, "Be on alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:13 NASB. Men need to learn what it means to act like men. To do this, we not only need fathers, but we need to be fathered in what God desires for men.
The Model Relationship
The principle of fathering and mentoring comes from the heart of God. God through His Word reveals Himself to us-His character, His nature and His heart as a father. It is within the Word of God, through the revelation of the Holy Spirit that we understand and find our role, place, function and purpose as men.
Our relationship to God as sons-by design has always been modeled from the Word of God through the relationship structure of the family. It is within the relationship of son to father that either a true or a perceived nature of God is demonstrated or revealed.
The principles of fathering and mentoring are learned through demonstration, example, and impartation. The lack of such a model relationship will bear fruit of confusion, frustration and hurt with the effect creating a vicious cycle when left unchecked and unchanged. The devastating results not only affect this generation but will also affect generations to come.
Role of an Apostle
Before we can rightfully apply the principle of the apostle to its intended purpose and design, let us understand the role of the apostle. The role of an apostle was to be a spiritual father, mentor, and leader. One of the best examples of this was the relationship between the Apostle Paul and Timothy. As a spiritual father to Timothy, Paul demonstrated the following:

• Instruction (1 Timothy 1:3)
• Encouragement (1 Timothy 1:18)
• Affirmation (1 Timothy 1:2)
• Empowerment (1 Timothy 4:11, 2 Timothy 4:1-5)
• Desire for Timothy to fulfill his potential (2 Timothy 1:5-9)
• Lived as an Example (1 Corinthians 4:15-17)
• Multiplication: Timothy to mentor as he was mentored (2 Timothy 2:2)

In the relationship between Paul and Timothy we see the role of an apostle at work. The apostle instructed, encouraged, affirmed, and empowered Timothy; living his life as an example to follow with the desire for his 'son in the faith' to fulfill his full potential in God. As the spiritual father, Timothy was accountable to Paul for oversight and correction if necessary. This type of relationship created an environment of safety, stability, and freedom in which the true loving nature of God was revealed. This should be the environment that we desire in our churches and in our homes-achievable as men reclaim true and right what it means to be a man-defined by God operating in the apostle principle.
Role Abandonment
Where have the fathers gone? There is no shortage of men, but there is a shortage of apostles and fathers and we are seeing the devastating effects in our churches and in our homes; the direct opposite is true when we have men functioning in their role with strength and purpose as apostles and fathers. The results are unequivocal.
The role of a father fulfills a basic human need in all of us. When the father is absent, the need is looked to be substituted. Here are some statistics that show the impact:

• 9 of 10 inmates in jail are men
• 9 of 10 on death row hate their father
• 9 of 10 juveniles are boys
• All school shootings were carried out by young men
• 5 of 10 boys will graduate high school without their father at home
• Psychiatric Problems. In 1988, a study of preschool children admitted to New Orleans hospitals as psychiatric patients over a 34-month period found that nearly 80 percent came from fatherless homes.
• "Father hunger" often afflicts boys age one and two whose fathers are suddenly and permanently absent. Sleep disturbances, such as trouble falling asleep, nightmares, and night terrors frequently begin within one to three months after the father leaves home.
• Fatherless aggression: In a longitudinal study of 1,197 fourth-grade students, researchers observed "greater levels of aggression in boys from mother-only households than from boys in mother-father households."
• Fatherless children -- kids living in homes without a stepfather or without contact with their biological father -- are twice as likely to drop out of school.
• Seventy-two percent of adolescent murderers grew up without fathers. Sixty percent of America's rapists grew up the same way.
• 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes (Source: U.S. D.H.H.S., Bureau of the Census)
• 90% of all homeless and runaway children are from fatherless homes
• 85% of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders come from fatherless homes (Source: Center for Disease Control)
• 80% of rapists motivated with displaced anger come from fatherless homes (Source: Criminal Justice & Behavior, Vol 14, p. 403-26, 1978.)
• 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes (Source: National Principals Association Report on the State of High Schools.)
• 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes (Source: Rainbows for all God`s Children.)
• 70% of juveniles in state-operated institutions come from fatherless homes (Source: U.S. Dept. of Justice, Special Report, Sept 1988)
• 85% of all youths sitting in prisons grew up in a fatherless home (Source: Fulton Co. Georgia jail populations, Texas Dept. of Corrections 1992)

As we consider these statistics let us not forget-statistics can be changed-and by the power of God will be changed through men who are willing to stand in their place and function in their purpose as men; reclaiming manhood to what God intended it to be-understanding the heart of God.
Turn the Tide
Turning the tide is a process of recovery-recovering the principle of fathering and mentoring. Where does this process begin and end? This process is not a succession of steps that have and end, but is to be lived out throughout your years as a man and begins the day you relinquish control to the Holy Spirit allowing him to reveal God's father heart to you. No matter at what stage of life we are as men, we must be in a place that we allow ourselves to be fathered and mentored in both spiritual and natural things. Life is a constant progression with death beginning when we no longer have the capacity to grow and learn. When we open our heart to God for this purpose, we allow the supernatural to become natural made evident by the Holy Spirit. This begins with humility. Other things that we as men must understand within this process of turning the tide:

• Fathering and mentoring is done through relationship
• Time can never be substituted
• It requires investment into people
• It requires servanthood
• You can do it
• You are never alone
• The word of God is our guide

You may never know the full effect that you have on your children and others, but know that you will have an effect and that effect is profound. You determine the positive or negative effect that you will have. You are a representation of who God is.

Remember that the thief comes to kill, steal and destroy and this begins with his target on our families and our churches. Remember these words from Paul,

"Be on alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong." 1 Corinthians 16:13 NASB.

Men have an effect on their children and it is profound. It is our choice whether that will be positive or negative.

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The Teaching That Accords With Godliness

If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, (1 Timothy 6:3-4)

This may seem harsh of Paul, but it's true: anyone who doesn't believe the doctrine Paul laid out in the previous couple of verses, - i.e. that widows ought to be treated fairly, and that slaves ought to obey their masters; which could be applied today in that workers ought to obey their boss - or who doesn't "agree" with our Lord Jesus Christ, is doing nothing more than stirring up controversy. So then, in the interest of not stirring up controversy, but rather uniting as believers, let's look at what our Lord Jesus Christ's sound words and at the teaching that accords to godliness.

First though, we need to understand what exactly that is. We know that it means agreeing with "the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ", which means agreeing with the Bible as a whole, but what is the "teaching that accords with godliness"? - Well, we can see that the dictionary definition of "accords" is, "to make agree or correspond". So, we can gather that this teaching is something that corresponds with godliness; you could even say that it causes it. Going off of this information, what is a teaching that we know of that causes, or directly corresponds with godliness?

Certainly there doctrinal teachings that if obeyed can cause a love for God, or submissiveness, or unity among believers or among a family, but godliness itself? Godliness isn't something that can be produced, it's something that has to be put into us. No one is, or can be "Godly" without first having Jesus Christ (who is God incarnate) come into their hearts. So then, what teaching that we know of corresponds with our Lord Jesus Christ coming to live in someone's heart?

There is only one: The teaching of the Gospel. The teaching that tells us how Jesus Christ came to Earth, died a death we should have died, and then ascended to the right hand of God to intercede on our behalf. This teaching; the teaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is the only teaching which can cause someone to repent and accept Jesus into their lives.

Now, therefore, we see there are three things no one should ever neglect to teach while they are teaching, and they are these:

1. We should never neglect to teach the importance of helping those around us who need help, thereby shining Christ's light onto those around us.

2. We should never neglect to teach the importance of obedience to the doctrines of the Bible. i.e. we should "agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ".

3. We should never neglect to teach the Gospel! Which is the only teaching that can bring about true repentance in people.

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Bible Study Lesson on Original Sin

Original sin is the loss of original righteousness, just as blindness is the loss of sight. As a result of the fall, the intellect became darkened so that we no longer know God and His will, and no longer perceive the works of God...we neither trust God's mercy nor fear His righteousness, but without concern follow the flesh. We take on complicated defenses and remedies to keep our consciences quiet. In this life we cannot completely get rid of them.

Because Adam turned from God, we are born with no knowledge about what God is, what grace is, what righteousness is, and finally, what sin is.

Unless we correctly recognize how deadly the disease really is, we do not know or desire the cure for it.

As to why this took place. Certainly God knew even before He created Adam. There is no profit in speculating about it. The most we should say is that it pleased God that Adam should be tempted as a test of his abilities.

Even today, it pleases God that His Church, cleansed by the Word, is still tested by continual temptations and dangers.

The account in Chapter 3 of Genesis became crystal clear only when Christ and the Holy Spirit came and shed light upon all the mysteries of Scripture.

We see the cleverest of all creatures being used by Satan (we think of the fox today as a clever animal). The serpent at this moment was apparently upright and beautiful, and Eve seemed not at all taken aback by its talking to her. The serpent began by attacking God's Word and God's will. It tries to show that because they were told not to eat of that one tree, God's will toward them is not good. Eve is urged to think against the Word and good will of God.

In Adam's innocence, the only service he could offer God was obedience. Unbelief is the source of all sins, leading to all the others. After the Word and their trust in God is lost, man becomes proud of himself and scorns God.

Satan forever perverts and changes God's Word. In this way he also tempted Christ, who in contrast to Eve, kept God's Word unbroken.

All who give up the Word of God and worship their own thoughts are idolaters.
Satan asks, "Did God actually command you?" saying in effect, "how can God bear such ill will toward you as to deny you the ability to be wise."

In John 8:44, Christ identified the real enemy of God (and man) as the Adversary, a lying murderous spirit, who has no fear of distorting the command of God and to urge man to idolatry - which he knew would result in the destruction of the entire human race.
Especially in our day we have many who have a similar smugness, who gladly distort the Word of God and lead many astray.

Satan used this animal best suited to tempt Eve. It was later cursed, losing most of its cleverness; it was to be considered evil above other animals; it lost its uprightness, and was made to eat dust. Because of sin we lost our innocent nakedness, our upright will, our righteous intellect.

As satan begins his deception, he tries to sound completely reasonable. He uses the pretense of God's Name and Word - but in reality he is denying both. This is the beginning and main part of every temptation - when our reason tries to reach a decision about the Word and God's will separate from that Word.

The one command about that one tree gave man an opportunity to show that he was obeying - in effect it was an outward form of worship, done in faith for Adam didn't know what the fruit would do, nor did he know anything about death.

Eve's response begins well. She quotes God's command - but when quoting the punishment she backs off a little by saying not "you will surely die," but "lest perhaps we shall die." Her faith is wavering. The devil has persuaded her that God was not so cruel as to kill them for eating of that one fruit. Of her small distortion of God's Word, satan takes full advantage. (Verses 4,5.)

By first raising the question in verse 3, satan did not openly deny God's Word but sought to raise doubt. Once he achieves this, he now goes on boldly to directly deny the Word, and to charge God with lying and cruelty. He takes Eve's little word "perhaps" and makes it a full negative "you will not die". Eve's silence means agreement.

Before the desire to eat of the fruit could arise in Eve, she had to first lose faith in the Word which God had spoken to Adam.

Peter warns Christians in I Peter 5:9 that we must learn from this experience and stand firm in temptation, to resist the tempter while holding to the Word, closing our ears to what is foreign to the Word.

Satan goes on to say "God knows that your eyes will be opened." This suggests two meanings. First, satan attempts to stir up resentment against God, as if God has purposefully kept something good from Adam and Eve. Satan suggests that God could not really want them to live in darkness, without any knowledge of good and evil. He says, "God is good. Certainly he doesn't begrudge you anything useful or helpful. He won't be upset if you become like Him." With this, satan has manufactured a different Word and will of God, to give Eve's desire a push. Satan's poison is the addition, to her desire of wanting to have insight beyond what God has commanded. She even now turns this sin over in her mind, where before she would have run away at this suggestion.

The disease is begun, only death can follow. God is long-suffering, therefore not punishing sin immediately. We would learn better, but only too late if our punishment was direct. All would perish in their sins. Satan abuses God's mercy by keeping men from even being aware of their sin. Because the punishment is delayed, satan fills the heart with smugness, and man not only does not become aware that he has committed sin, but even enjoys and finds satisfaction in his sins.

The farther man goes away from God's Word, he thinks himself more educated and wiser. This satan helps man with, every step of the way. This must also reflect the devil's own mind and experience.
Once sin begins, it infects all the senses. Eve saw, thought, desired, and finally acted. She puts God aside and becomes satan's pupil.

Some look only at the final action of picking and eating the fruit, and not at the sin from which this action followed. They conclude that God is cruel, that because of such a small sin He has inflicted such a great punishment on the entire human race. Some of these hate God and despair - others call this a fairy tale.

Let us focus a moment on this most important point: satan did not first try to allure Eve by the loveliness of the fruit. He started by attacking man's greatest strength - faith in God's Word. The real source of sin is unbelief, just as the source of righteousness is faith. When satan had succeeded in getting Eve to disbelieve in the command God had given, it was easy to bring about the eating of the fruit.

Verse 6. Eve sins with her whole self, all her senses, and yet is not aware of her sin. She eats with pleasure and then urges her husband to do the same.

Verse 7. When the Law becomes alive again, sin also becomes alive at the some time, as Paul explains in Romans 3:20. When sin is active, awareness of it sleeps or lies as if dead; but when the Law comes, then the eyes are opened, and man becomes aware of what God has commanded and what punishment He has promised for the transgressors.

Satan allows their eyes to be opened, so that they see the awfulness of what they had done. Satan, of course, hopes that they might perish in despair.

As it is the nature for the eye to see, so in Adam it was the created nature of his reason and will to know God, to trust God, and to respect God.

Just as when the eye is damaged, sight is impaired; so when man fell from righteousness to sin, all his natural abilities are corrupted by sin.

Through sin, the most useful members of the human body have become the most shameful.
Only in the Bible do we have the origin of shame because of nakedness as a result of sin. Before sin it had been honorable.

From then till now - we still attempt to cover our sin and appear righteous.
Sin brings evil results - first shame, then covering themselves and here in verse 8 they try to hide from God.

At evening, when the heat of the day subsides, the breeze begins to blow. Adam and Eve were terrified by the rustling of the leaves, since they knew the wind preceded the appearance of the Lord.
This fear, in the light of day, shows how complete their fall from faith was. They feared that God was coming to demand punishment from them.
The extent of their fall is indicated by the fact that they shrink in terror more from God, than from the sight and presence of the devil. Man also lost his sound reason; he tries the impossible - to hide from God among the trees. The nature of sin is that the farther man withdraws from God, the farther he still wishes to go.

Verse 9. Adam is called to judgment.

Verse 10. Adam is so confused that he does not see that he has condemned himself by hiding; he then proceeds to condemn himself with his own mouth. He confesses fear of what he did not used to fear - the voice of God. Adam had changed. He now had fear; he was now ashamed because he was naked. And he was fleeing from God, which itself is a sin and a witness to previous sin.
It was as if Adam was saying (verse 10): "Thou, Lord, hast sinned, for I would have remained holy in Paradise after eating of the fruit if Thou had kept quiet." In other words He said "I wouldn't have run away if your voice had not frightened me."

We all prefer to accuse God rather than acknowledge our sin before Him. Adam seeks to blame God for his nakedness, as if God created something shameful.

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Bible Study Lesson on Joseph

Genesis 39-45 records the story of Joseph.

Joseph was Jacob's favorite son. The first-born of his beloved Rachel. Joseph was the son who Jacob planned to be his heir. He was relieved of shepherding and set apart - over and above his older brothers. It was Joseph that had dreams that his brothers would bow down to him.

The elder brothers were envious and hated Joseph for these things. At 17 years old, Joseph was to be murdered by his brothers; he was cast into a pit. Judah pleaded for Joseph and as a result he was sold to a passing Midianite merchants for 20 pieces of silver, and brought into Egypt.

So here was Joseph. His father's favorite son - to inherit his kingdom. Joseph who enjoyed the constant fellowship and teaching and love of his father. The one on whom the very promises of God rested. Promises of the land of Canaan and the Promised Seed. This young man who had dreams of others bowing down to him.

How could God let this happen, some may ask. Where was God when Joseph was in the pit, when he was sold? Where was God's promise? Joseph was in a far country as the lowest kind of servant - a slave. Where was God when all these things had taken place?
Genesis 39:2-5

What was Joseph's reaction to these events? Do we hear him in despair - do we hear complaints, and mumbling, questioning God; feeling sorry for himself, vowing to get revenge? Do we see him trying to run away from his Egyptian master? Was he given special treatment in Egypt? No. He was treated like the slave he was. His life consisted of obedience to his master. How did he act - he served (verse 4) honestly, faithfully, carefully, trusting God with everything - all rare virtues of servants, much less others. Joseph did not complain and try to get out of doing things - but obediently did more and more until he had complete charge of Potiphar's household, though he himself still owned nothing but the bread he ate (verse 16). God was saying to Joseph, "Behold, your service is pleasing to Me; I will be your reward, and I will render abundant satisfaction for your service to ungrateful men." This was Joseph's promise and consolation and this is far richer than all the treasures of the whole world.

It is at this point that a great temptation confronts him. The lady of the house has become desirous of this handsome, virtuous young Hebrew. This took place about ten years after he had arrived at the age of 17. She had been watching him for a long time and began to flirt, and hint at what was in her heart. She tempts him in various ways, but is finally brought to the point of impudently saying to him: "Lie with me." She thinks that he has been charmed by her many gestures and attentions. She has made a plan where they would be alone - that Joseph couldn't refuse - for it would be very profitable for him.
Joseph firmly rejects her, which she took very badly - a woman scorned. He tells her in an earnest and virtuous manner to turn her from her heated lust. 1.) It is a sin against God. 2.) You are the wife of my master and must maintain his honor. 3.) My master has trusted me with his whole household - I cannot violate that. Joseph did all he could to turn aside her passion - and then he ran away.

She then turns to anger, to get back at him, and possibly also some fear - that he might tell her husband that she had tried to force him to lie with her. She clings to his cloak which she had grabbed when he ran. This was her evidence against him when Potiphar came. Then she called him "The Hebrew servant" that her husband had brought, thus putting the blame on her husband also.

All Joseph's virtues and reputation disappear. He is accused of adultery, hypocrisy - and questioning his goodness as a pretense and cunning trick to hide his real desire - to have an affair with the lady of the house.

She decided to disgrace him and bring him to his death. Her words arouse great anger in the husband - making it impossible to reasonably listen to Joseph's side. Joseph has no protection. He is dragged off to prison as an adulterer.

Joseph had faithfully served for over 10 years. This was his reward. Much more often than not, the world will not acknowledge or pay for our faithfulness or diligence. Therefore we must never put our hope in the world's rewards.

We must say, "I must keep on, because I do this for God's sake, not for the sake of the ungrateful world."

Joseph is cast into the pit again, as if to death itself. He has no hope, nor any comfort. It is in this affliction and dishonor, in prison, in shame, and disgrace that the Lord helps Joseph. God is already planning to raise him up from this living death and hell. Joseph experiences the favor, grace, and presence of God. As II Corinthians 12:9 - "My grace is sufficient for you; I will give you My Spirit, that you may not perish."

We again see all that Joseph does prosper. The keeper entrusts him with his whole sphere of duties, just as Potiphar had done. Joseph was considered so trustworthy that the keeper didn't even demand an accounting from him.

God was continuing His work in forming and fashioning Joseph according to His counsels and good pleasure.

It is always God's wonderful practice to make all things out of nothing, and again to reduce all things to nothing.

It is man's habit to make his own plans and then ask God to bless it and follow that definite method. Undoubtedly God laughs at such ignorant presumption, saying: "It has never been my custom to allow anyone to teach, direct, govern, or lead me. No I am God Who acts and Who is accustomed to doing the teaching, ruling, and leading."

Chapter 40 recounts the two servants of pharaoh who in prison have dreams which Joseph interprets by praying to God. When the butler is reinstated, Joseph requested that he be remembered. The man forgets him, and two years pass. Joseph was only able to bear these years in prison because of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the sustaining power of the Word of God.

Chapter 41. God sends Pharaoh a dream which will occasion Joseph's deliverance - where the butler remembers Joseph's gift.

Joseph's response when summoned was "God will give Pharaoh an answer that will bring him peace." Joseph goes on to interpret the dreams of the 7 fat and the 7 lean years, and advises the king on what is needed to be done. Pharaoh responds: "Can we find such a man as this who has the Spirit of God?"
Joseph is exalted with authority over all Egypt, with the exception of the king only. Pharaoh says "without your consent, no man shall lift up his hand."

We must learn, therefrom, that God is merciful, wise, and good, and that for this reason, He can, and wishes to, give us more than we could understand or dream of asking for. His mercy is greater than our ability to take it in.

At the same time, we must observe how God exercises, exalts, and tries His saints. Nonetheless they endure the time of trial and keep the faith and hope. We must wait for the Lord through times of tribulation and distress. We must hold to the Word of faith without ceasing which is the strength and power of God for salvation to every believer.

In Joseph we also have an outstanding example of moderation and humility after such a great exaltation. For it is much more difficult to hold fast to the Word after great success than in time of trial and misfortune. It is much more common for a man to become puffed up and proud as though he was a god to be adored.

Joseph conducted himself reverently and humbly toward God, for whose sake he knew that he was in that position.

A whole additional message is contained in Joseph's dealings with his brothers when they come down to Egypt to buy grain. But it must be passed over here. Joseph deals with them kindly and tenderly and yet in a way to lead them to confess and repent of their sin.

Joseph had been tried and disciplined in a wonderful way until he was humbled, instructed, and finally raised up again. He had arrived at such knowledge of godliness and wisdom that he could counsel others and rule over them.

In the same manner, Joseph also disciplines and humbles his brothers in order that he may exalt them.
Even so, we are humbled to be cleansed. The more we are purged, the more fruit we bear, and the more we will be blessed in the life to come.

God treats us as a father who loves and chastises his son.

Genesis 45:7,8. Joseph repeatedly tells his brothers that God used their evil for great good. God had sent Joseph as an ambassador to Egypt for the salvation of not only his father, his brothers, and their households, but also of the whole kingdom and other lands. It was a physical and spiritual salvation, since he instructs the people in the faith and knowledge of God.

No one wants to become used to the exercises of faith, but we want to live by sight and enjoy the things that are at hand.

God very often puts off the promise or the blessing and gives us trials in order to test us and force us to live by faith.

God calls on us to be faithful, to live by faith in Jesus Christ, to do all things to the glory of God, whether in good times or bad, in illness or health, in success or failure. God's plan for us is greater than we can ever imagine, but we must learn to be like His Son.
When called upon to vote - find a man most like Joseph.

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Bible Study Lesson on Salvation

Saved - a Baptist term

We are going to look at the subject of salvation. We can be very thankful that it is something simple enough for a child to grasp. And yet the more deeply we look at all it includes, it becomes a rich and profound subject with aspects that we can only begin to understand in this mortal world.
The word itself

In the New Testament, salvation is the result of what God has done for the individual. It never is the work of the individual for God, or his work for himself.

Works pleasing to God are made possible by salvation - but these good works add nothing to the all-sufficient and perfect salvation of God. Cults add to or take away from this simplicity.
When used in the New Testament, the word salvation may indicate all or a part of the divine undertaking. When talking about the work of God, the whole transformation is meant, from being lost and condemned to the final appearing in the image of Christ in glory. This larger use of the word, combines in it many separate works of God for the individual, such as Atonement, Grace, Propitiation, Forgiveness, Justification, Imputation, Regeneration, Adoption, Sanctification, Redemption, and Glorification.

This great transformation represents the greatest thing the infinite, omnipotent God can do for man: well summed up in I John 3:2 - "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; for we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."

Salvation, then, is revealed in the Scriptures as having three tenses: the past - that which was accomplished in and for the one who has believed at the moment of conversion. 2nd, the present - that which is now being accomplished for the one who has believed - the process of sanctification; growing in Christ-likeness. 3rd, the future - that which will be accomplished to complete the work of God in and for the one who has believed - glorification.

I. The child of God was saved from the guilt and penalty of sin when he believed: "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8).

II. The child of God, through faith, is being saved from the power and dominion of sin: "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17); "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace" (Romans 6:14) "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5:16).

III. The child of God, begotten through faith, saved from the power of sin, is yet to be saved from the presence of sin, by being brought into the presence of God. Described in I Peter 1:4,5 - "To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

Some passages mention all these together: Philippians 1:6 - "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." I Corinthians 1:30 - "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption."

The natural man is completely occupied with the things of the world, things that can be seen and by nature he is blind to spiritual and eternal things, which are not seen. To that person, it is practical and reasonable to live better, to reform, to join the old - Adam Improvement Society. He sees little value in the appeal in the Bible for personal faith in the saving power and grace of God. Many find great satisfaction and reason for pride in their being moral and pious in their religion. But, they are going about to establish their own righteousness.

The Bible teaches that apart from Christ, all are lost. There are no in-betweens. For instance, John 3:18-20 - "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." John 3:36 - "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him."

In order for one to be saved he must see himself as God sees him, and then accept what God has revealed in the written Word. He has to see that there is nothing he can do to save himself.
It is in the Cross of Christ that God made salvation of sinful man possible. The message of the Cross has three aspects.
1.) Love - John 1:18 - "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him." Jesus was to reveal the true emotions of the Father "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son."

Every moment of Jesus' life on earth was showing God's love - but one event in His ministry was to show the true nature of God's love - "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us." (I John 3:16.) "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son to be a propitiation for our sins." (I John 4:9,10.)
When this message gets through to a person's heart, he sees something far beyond the range of human knowledge - and so far-reaching in its value that it goes beyond questions of life and death. God's perfect and final revelation of His love is in and through the cross, and whosever's heart accepts this message receives all the consolations of grace within a life of trials and afflictions.

What the cross teaches us about sin. First, Jesus chose to die; no one made Him do it. John 10:17,18 - "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again."
God was solving the great problems created by human sin - "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (II Corinthians 5:21.) In the crucifixion - even as the love of God was revealed - so also was the desperate evil and wickedness of man. All the acts leading up to and concluding in the crucifixion reveal the sinful nature of every human being, in rejecting Jesus. Those who continue in unbelief "crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame."
The righteousness of God is declared in the cross of Christ. "To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him that believeth in Jesus." (Romans 3:26.)
God had always looked toward the time a perfect and sufficient sacrifice for sin would come. The blood of bulls and goats had not taken away sin, but was the divinely appointed symbol of the blood that Jesus was to shed.
Looking at the perfect sacrifice that was to be, God had passed over the sins of those who presented the symbolic innocent sacrifice. This was God's promise, in the fullness of time, to meet all the needs of the sinner. When the true and all-sufficient sacrifice was accomplished, that sacrifice stood as full proof that God had been righteous and just in all the generations in which He had acted in view of that great event yet future.

The great dilemma was - God is love and He loved man the sinner. But God is holy and righteous and just. He cannot treat sin but one way - to punish. So the question: can sin be righteously treated as sin and still leave a way to save the sinner?

God cannot and will not change His very character. He must satisfy His love by saving those condemned by His righteousness. He did this by meeting all the requirements of His righteousness through the cross of His dear Son.

As the righteous Judge, He pronounced the full divine sentence against sin - death, separation from Himself. As the Saviour of sinners, He sent His Son from heaven who took upon Himself the death penalty His righteousness had imposed. All that righteousness could demand has been supplied by the Judge Himself, for it was God Who was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.

How could God remain just and still make the sinner just, who He loved with an everlasting love? It was in the divine councils from before the foundation of the world. This is the good news of the Gospel. God's judgment against sin has been perfectly met. Christ was the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world. He became a curse for us. He bore our sins in His Body on the tree. He was made sin for us. He tasted death for every man.

The reasonable requirement is that we believe that message. This is the only way one may enter into God's saving grace.

Before He dismissed His Spirit, as He hung on the Cross, Christ said, "It is finished." This was the divine announcement of the fact that sin had been judged. The transaction was complete and the ground for salvation of every sinner was accomplished.

Three very important words show us the character and extent of the work said to be finished:
I. Reconciliation - in the New Testament it means a complete and thorough change in a relationship accomplished by the actual removal of the cause of the strife, so making reconciliation. The best Scripture that explains this is II Corinthians 5:18,19 - "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."

If you admit that Christ died for all, then the value of that death has provided for all. This began in the councils of God, ordered to meet the righteous requirements of Himself. The value of that death has no limit. At the same time, it must be said that Jesus died for each individual. The greatest thing that can be said about any person is that they are one for whom Jesus died.

Reconciliation. God thoroughly changed us in relation to Himself through Christ. Paul adds: "If any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold all things are become new."
The world of man is thoroughly changed in relation to God by the death of His Son. God Himself is not said to be changed. God took upon Himself what was needed to mediate between His righteousness and the world of sin.

All who are saved have received a ministry from God.

There are two aspects of this reconciliation. That which took place at the cross - God, in Christ, thoroughly changed the relation of the whole world to Himself, so that He does not count their trespasses against them.

Second is that which takes place in the individual, who through the message of the sacrifice of Christ, responds to the appeal from God. Such a person sees the love and grace of God, in removing forever their judgment and doom, by the death of His Son, and trusts His Saviour for everything.

The second word is Redemption - to deliver from bondage by paying the price demanded by the owner. Man was in bondage to sin. God's Law demanded the death penalty for sin. To deliver man from this penalty, this bondage, blood had to be spilled. "It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul." (Leviticus 17:11). "This is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." (Matthew 26:28); "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, but with the precious blood of Christ." (I Peter 1:18.) "Thou wast slain, and hath redeemed us to God by thy blood." (Revelation 5:9.)

In the death of Christ full redemption by blood has been paid, to provide for the whole world.
Redemption is also by power. It has the power to redeem and set free. This is individual and is the blessed experience of all who put their trust in the divine Redeemer.

Redemption also makes possible individual forgiveness - "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins." (Ephesians 1:7.)

Redemption may then be considered in two aspects - first, through the cross the ransom price has been paid for all. 2nd that which may yet be done for the believer in the further work of redemption which is shown in the transforming and sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit.
The redeeming work of Christ is our only deliverance from the hopeless state of the lost.

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What Is The Gospel Message of Jesus Christ?

The gospel refers to the good news of Jesus Christ. The good news is that anyone who believes that Jesus Christ died and rose on the third day can inherit eternal life in the kingdom of heaven (Romans 10:9-13).

The gospel books in the bible comprises the first four books in the New Testament including Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The gospel books provide narrations about the life of Jesus Christ, from the time he was reincarnated into the world through the virgin Mary to the time he was betrayed by the Jews and crucified on the cross at the Calvary. They provide some similar contents that are parallel to each other, which includes the teachings and parables of Jesus Christ as well as the miracles he performed in Israel during his lifetime.

The message of the gospel is simple. God created human beings to be with him. The first human beings that God created is Adam and Eve. They sinned by letting themselves be tempted by the devil, who told them nothing will happen if they eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. After they ate, their spiritual eyes are opened and they became ashamed by their naked bodies because they now know how to discern between right and wrong. It is a sin that they ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil because God's commandment to them is to not eat from any tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden. There were only 2 trees in the Garden of Eden including the Tree of Life and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil (Genesis 3).

Sin creates a wall between us and God so that we can no longer approach him face to face (Isaiah 59:2). As a result, all humans will go to hell except the Israelites who is God's people. This is the law of the Old Testament. Later, Jesus Christ came into the world through his reincarnation as human being via the virgin Mary. The purpose of his coming is to become a ransom for the sins of the people of the world because everyone is a sinner at birth as a result of being the descendants of Adam and Eve.

Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins to become a sin offering for everyone, like how the Israelite priest must offer a sin offering of bull for his sin and two goats (one goat as scape goat and the other as sin offering for the people) during the Day of Atonement. Blood is the requirement of atonement to sin in the Old Testament so Jesus Christ fulfill this requirement by shedding his blood on the cross for our sins (Hebrews 9:7-14; Hebrews 9:22).

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Jesus Has Confidence in You!

Everyone will quickly agree that speaking in public is the greatest fear that most people have. They will do anything else, but don't make them speak in public! Talking to someone else about becoming a Christian is also intimidating to many believers. We are afraid of rejection, fear them persecuting us for standing up for our faith, etc. Yet, it is through our proclamation of the Gospel that God has chosen to win the lost. How do we go about accomplishing this responsibility?

Another area where we often struggle is having the confidence to do something totally out of our "comfort zone." Changing careers or even doing something the first time can be very intimidating for some people.

In Matthew 9:35-38, 10:1, 7-15; Mark 6:6b and Luke 9:1-5, Jesus wraps up His final tour of Galilee and sends the twelve Apostles out to preach and heal. This is quite a challenge for twelve "uneducated" men from a variety of backgrounds that do not include public speaking, seminary or other traditional religious training or qualification. Let's see how this applies to us!

Jesus Needs Our Help! - Matthew 9: 35-38, 10:5-6; Mark 6:6b Jesus appeals to the Apostles to pray for people who will go out and "harvest" those whom are willing to believe in Jesus as their Lord. He sees people who are hungering for what He has to offer and He knows that we are the ones who are going to have to tell them about Jesus.

Whether you go out yourself or not, you can pray for those who do make the commitment to live their lives telling others about Jesus. Pray that more young people will enroll in Bible Colleges and Seminaries and train for lives of full-time Christian ministry.

Jesus Believes We Can Do the Job! - Matthew 10:1, 7-8; Luke 9:1-2 Jesus calls the twelve Apostles and instructs them to go and tell people that the Messiah is here and they need to repent of their sins and follow Him. They were to do the kinds of healing miracles that they have seen Jesus do to give credibility to their message. They will even be able to raise dead people back to life!

God believes that you are capable of witnessing to others either in a small group or on a one-to-one basis. He also has given you specific talents and abilities that you can use for His glory. Whether it is being the best worker at your job or how you treat others, you are important to God's Kingdom and purpose. We show our love for God when we do our jobs and treat others as though we were doing it for the Lord! The key to success is to love God and love others.

Jesus Will Provide Your Needs - Matthew 10:9-10; Luke 9:3 Jesus tells the Apostles not to take any money with them, but to trust the people in the villages where they are going for their physical needs. Truly, as their teachings and healing the sick bless the people, they will want to give to help with their expenses as an expression of their gratitude.

We should challenge ourselves to focus on serving others instead of what we are going to get for serving others and let God work on their hearts to provide what we need. You will never be able to out give God. When you focus on how much you are getting paid, you become selfish, greedy and less productive. When you focus on serving others, they will want to see to it that you are adequately compensated for your efforts! The more you love God and love others, the less you will have to worry about your needs and compensation for your labors!

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