Volu me 1 ~ Issue 4
In this Issue:
The Seven Trials of Peter! Sadhu Sundar Singh Indian Evangelist
Christian Hypocrisy
Seven Biblical Covenants
Novemb er/D e c e mb e r 2 0 1 7
Editorial
T
he church for far too long has been caught up in a prosperity mind-set that is so far removed from the experience of the early church. Persecution today is not an issue to them but rather comes to those who oppose its theatrics. When preachers like Osten and others preach an “Everything is going to be alright” sermon, they do a great injustice to the real gospel of Christ! All Christians will go through trials and tribulations and a foolish parent that tries to shelter their kids from the realities of hardship do a great discredit to their children. A whole generation of spoiled and overly protected kids looking for safe spaces has risen up and the attitude has crept into the church. I recently went to visit a large local church and the pastor started out by saying that they were not a perfect church but were a “safe “church. I went several times and met with the pastor, senior pastor and one of the main elders trying to find out what they believed. I always got the same answer from all of them. We believe that “God is a big deal and his people or a big deal!” Not sure what that means but it seemed they did not want to offend anyone with doctrine or a statement of belief so they just wanted to say God is a big deal to us?
hesitate to call out the religious leaders in their hypocrisy. We must learn to be real and authentic. The world can see behind our masks. One of my favorite things about Christianity is the life, testimony and witness of saints who have gone before us. I receive so much encouragement from reading biographies of Christians who were godly examples and living epistles to the work of God in their lives. To keep with the theme of trials and sufferings I have an article on Sadhu Sundar Singh who was a Christian evangelist in India in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. He suffered greatly by both Christians and non-believers but had a powerful supernatural ministry as a result of it. I only scratch the surface and encourage you to read his books or more about him online.
I have a two part series on the “Seven Biblical Covenants”. God desires to make a legally binding contract with man through promises and blessings. Through biblical history God has made and affirmed several covenants that bring blessing to mankind, Israel and the church! Some covenants are conditional and other non conditional but the promise is that Gods will stand “The Seven Trials of Peter” is an by those whom He has made article on the various means by blood covenant with for eternity! which we learn endurance, patience and victory. The difficulties that the These and other articles are written apostle Peter went through only to encourage your faith and prompt worked to enhances his ministry you to grow closer to Jesus and and character! Hardship, tribulation all the more as we see the world difficulties and trials help develop around us get darker just before the the hearty Christian by the work approaching light of His glorious of the Spirit. His correction will appearing. Blessings always in Him! bring us to victory by his mercies. We just had Halloween where many went out wearing masks! One short article I wrote is “Christian Hypocrisy!” Its real meaning has to do with masks. Many who wear Christian masks try to pretend to look holy and pious! Jesus did not Editor/
Jerry Wall
Publisher
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 The Seven Trials of Peter! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Peter’s Cronology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Sadhu Sundar Singh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Christian Hypocrisy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 God is Light!. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Seven Biblical Covenants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 How to Navigate to Article
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The Seven Trials of Peter!
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”1 Peter 1:6-7 Peter in his first epistle starts off by talking about the necessities of going through trials as a means of testing our faith and a means of honoring and glorifying Christ. He said the process is like the purifying of gold through fire which removes the impurities and make a better form of gold in the end. Peter speaks by great experience because his life is a testimony of God taking a rough, impure and often vacillating man, and making him strong, resilient and steadfast man of God. Peter was raised as a fisherman so was not a learned man or well educated. He was rough and course and there is no indication that he was even a very religious man. Yet Jesus saw something in him and called Peter to come follow Him and Peter did not hesitate to leave everything and follow Jesus. Jesus had a purpose for
Peter and was for him to become a disciple (student) to learn the ways of God and eventually make him an Apostle (sent out one) to go forth and make other disciples of Christ. Peter was a proud man and Jesus had to deal with that pride. He was an impatient and often impetuous man and Jesus had to deal with that as well. Peter had many character flaws but Jesus would test him often to help humble and mold him into a better man. Peter unlike any other disciple would be personally dealt with by Jesus to help develop a new man and to make an example of what He can do for us. The testing process is not easy but if we will let the Lord deal with our shortcomings, we too will come out as gold fit for the Master's use. Lets look at the seven major trials of Peter and see the work of Christ in his life.
1. Peter rebuked by Jesus. “Get thee behind me Satan.” Overcoming our own will over God's Matthew 16:21-23, Mark 8:31-33
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The Seven Trials of Peter! “From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!” But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16:21-23 No doubt Peter was very special to Jesus. At the beginning of Jesus ministry he went into Peter's house, healed his mother in law and ministered from his house. Jesus helped him to catch multitudes of fish when he was out all night catching nothing. He was one of the three who saw the transfiguration of Christ on the mount. Peter along with Andrew, James and John were privileged to be with Jesus when He healed Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:37). Peter even walked alone with Jesus on the waters in a stormy sea! Jesus changed his name from Simon to Peter to show that he was eventually going to be a rock. Yet here we see Jesus calling him Satan! Ouch! Nobody likes to be corrected but to be publicly rebuked by Jesus must have been particularly humbling and to be called Satan, the ultimate humility! Peter may of meant well but he had to learn that you can not rebuke the Lord and stop the plans of God and put your opinions over God's will. The problem of Peter is one that we all often have; he was not “mindful of the things of God but the things of men.” One version says: “You are an offense to me, because you are not thinking God’s thoughts but human thoughts!” We must put Gods will over our own or others. Jesus called him Satan because he was speaking the words of the flesh and the devil and not the Spirit of God! Jesus was not discarding Peter but showing him that he had to be rebuked and corrected when he put the will of man over the will of God. Peter could have been offended and walked away from God as many Christians often are but we see Peter humbled himself and continued walking with Jesus and began to learn to overcome his will to follow God's.
2. Jesus rebukes Peter for cutting off ear of Priest's servant. Overcoming our own self defense!
John 18:10,11, Luke 22:49-51, Matthew 26:51-56
“Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. Jesus told Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Shouldn’t I drink the cup that the Father has given me?” John 18:10,11 Perhaps a confusing passage because Jesus told them to get swords when they went into the garden of Gethsemane (see Luke 22:35-38). Jesus told them that when they went out ministering they needed nothing but now He said they need swords or perhaps knives (Greek: “maxairan” is a dagger or short sword that belonged to the Jewish traveler's equipment as protection against robbers and wild animals). Jesus was told that they had two of them and He said it was enough. Perhaps we need to look at this a bit closer. Jesus was now a wanted man and expected to be arrested at any time. Jesus knew this and the sword was perhaps meant to be used defensively for protection and not offensively. Jesus does not need our defense, but we are often in need of protection from the wicked of the world. Peter was brash and impetuous and slashed the ear off the priests servant Malchus who more than likely came unarmed. Jesus would have been arrested by the temple guards who were armed but not the priests servant. Jesus rebuked Peter again and told him to put away his sword and miraculously healed Malchus’ ear. Peter again was trying to defend Jesus in the natural but had already been told that he must go to the cross and be raised in three days. Peter knew that Jesus was the Messiah but like many of the zealots thought he would deliver Israel from the Roman oppression by force. Jesus would be the sacrificial lamb before he would become the Lion of Judah. Jesus rebuke is to put away our urge to fight in the natural and trust God! Peter could have been offended again here but instead he followed “at a distance” and received the correction of the Lord!
3. Denies Jesus three times.
Overcoming the Overestimation of our faith! Matthew 26:35, Mark 14:31, Luke 22:34, John 13:38
“Then Jesus told them, “All of you will turn against me, because it is written,‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ However, after I’ve been
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The Seven Trials of Peter! permission to test him. This would come when after Jesus was arrested three people would ask him if he was a follower of Jesus and for fear of his life Peter would deny knowing Jesus. We will all sometimes get tested in the area that we think we are strong in only to find out how weak our faith is. When the rooster crowed as it approached dawn, Peter realized Jesus new his heart and he wept bitterly. But Jesus also had told Peter. “I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” The good news is that Jesus prayed for Peter. He ever liveth to make Peter denies knowing Jesus intercession for us. Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail. Though raised, I’ll go to Galilee ahead of you.” But Peter told Peter denied Jesus, his faith in Him was intact. He him, “Even if everyone else turns against you, I certainly denied him outwardly but still trusted him inwardly and won’t.” Jesus told him, “I tell you with certainty, today, this very night, before a rooster crows twice, you’ll deny repented. Jesus told him that when he “turned back” or me three times.” But Peter kept saying emphatically, repented, he was to strengthen his brethren. This was a life lesson for Peter. He would use that moment of “Even if I have to die with you, I’ll never deny you!” And all the others kept saying the same thing.” Mark 14:27-31 weakness to make it an opportunity of strength for the remaining disciples. When we fall, we can get up and Some of Peters trials would come from the Lord use that as a way of keeping others from falling! while He was alive and some after the resurrection. Interestingly, though Peter denied Jesus three This would be one of the hardest rebukes for Peter times, he would also personally affirm his love for before Jesus' death. Peter thought he was brave enough Jesus three times: to die for Jesus but Peter had two problems: he feared men over God and feared death more than he realized. “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to We will see both of these things in later trials, but the Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love good news is that even though Jesus knew his heart and me more than these?”“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you knew what Peter would do, He was not going to give up know that I love you.”Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love on Peter. Judas had just denied Jesus by betraying Him me?”He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that and Peter would also deny him three times but Jesus I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” also said in a synoptic gospel: The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your you know all things; you know that I love you.”Jesus faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, said, “Feed my sheep.” John 21:15-17 strengthen your brothers.”But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows 4. Peter gets imprisoned today, you will deny three times that you know me.” Overcoming fear of man through Prayer Luke 22:31-34 Acts 4:3, Acts 12:7-8
Jesus said that Satan asked permission to sift (or test) Peter like wheat. Just as he did to Job, Satan had to get
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“The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while
The Seven Trials of Peter! for fear of the crowds they released Peter. Peter spent the night in jail and could have been crucified like his master. I believe he spent the night in prayer and the next day was filled with the Spirit of God which made him fearless and bold before his enemy. Literally the trial turned into Triumph!
5. Rebuked by Paul for Hypocrisy Overcoming Predjudice
-Galatians 2:11, Acts 11:1-3, Acts 10
Angel delivers Peter from prison!
they were speaking to the people. They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people, proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead. They seized Peter and John and, because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.” Acts 4:3,
Prejudices can often lead to hypocrisy. Peter had been taught as a Jew that the Gentiles were heathen and not part of the plan of God. God had to speak to Peter in a dream and in an allegory tell him to eat unclean animals which was against Jewish law. God told him “What I have called clean do not call unclean.” This was referring to the gentiles. Just then the servant of Cornelius knocked on his door and God told him to go preach to Cornelius and his household who were all gentiles. The Holy Spirit fell on them and God showed Peter that the gentiles too were now apart of the kingdom of God. Later even the church of Jerusalem questioned Peter for associating with gentiles. (What happens when even the whole church goes against you? ) Peter stood up and gave a defense for the gentiles by sharing the experience he had and noting the work of the Holy Spirit upon them. Evidently they had spoken in tongues or gave some manifestation that convinced Peter to baptize them in water as believers. But later on, Peter fell into his old prejudice and Paul had to openly rebuke him.
Peter had told Jesus that he would go to prison for Him and he would soon get that opportunity...twice! The first time is when the Sadducee take Peter and John into custody. They had just healed a lame man on the way to temple and it caused such a stir that thousands flocked to them in the temple. Peter boldly addressed the crowd and told them that they had rejected and crucified the “But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly wrong. Until some men messiah and that the prophets of old had prophesied arrived from James, he was in the habit of eating with the death and resurrection of Jesus. Over 5.000 people the gentiles, but after those men came, he withdrew converted and that evening Peter and John were thrown from the gentiles and would not associate with them any longer, because he was afraid of the circumcision into jail for the night! The next day they stood before party. The other Jews also joined him in this hypocritical the high priest and religious rulers. Peter who only days behavior, to the extent that even Barnabas was caught before cowered in fear of them and denied the lord up in their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were three times publicly, now filled with the Spirit boldly not acting consistently with the truth of the gospel, I rebuked them for crucifying Jesus and proclaiming the told Cephas in front of everyone, “Though you are a healing of the lame man was done in His name. The Jew, you have been living like a gentile and not like a Jew. So how can you insist that the gentiles must live religious leaders conferred to each other and rather than like Jews?” Gal. 2:11-14 being convicted they commanded Peter and John to no Peter was eating with the gentile believers in longer speak to anyone in the name of Jesus. Again Peter boldly refuses and said it is better to obey God Antioch but when some of his Jewish friends came up then men and because the leaders saw the miracle and from Jerusalem Peter would no longer eat with the non-
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The Seven Trials of Peter! jews according to the Jewish Law. His hypocrisy was exposed openly by Paul. Even as a seasoned church leader Peter was humiliated publicly by Paul yet Peter did not lash back or make excuses. Peter had learned to take correction, admit wrong and learn from the trials he encountered.
6. Arrested after Herod kills James, the brother of John. Overcoming Fear and trusting God for deliverance! Acts 12
The second time Peter was thrown in jail was an entirely different scenario! Stephen, a deacon in the Jerusalem church had been stoned to death and a great persecution of the church began. Herod had arrested many Christians and had James the brother of John killed. During Passover he arrested Peter. This time the church gathered and prayed for Peter. The night before Herod was going to bring him out for sentencing, Peter was sleeping while chained to two soldiers and guards were at the door. Suddenly, an angel appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on his side, woke him up. Peter's chains fell from his wrists and the angel released him from prison. Peter said “Now I’m sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod.” Peter went to the church and though they were praying for him they were shocked to see him! Though it looked like Herod was going to kill him like he did James, God had other plans and miraculously delivered him. Peter was learning to trust God. His fate was in Gods hands. Like Jesus sleeping on the boat in the midst of the storm. Peter slept so deeply, he at first thought all this was a dream. Peter learned faith for Gods will.
when Peter was put to death, he requested to be crucified on an inverted cross. The reason for his request was that, because he had denied his Lord, he did not consider himself worthy to die as Jesus had. The early church fathers are unanimous in claiming that Peter died in Rome, by crucifixion, during the persecution of Nero in AD 64. The apocryphal Acts of Peter is the earliest reference to crucifixion of Peter upside down. Reference to the Bishopric and martyrdom of Peter comes from may of the church fathers such as Clement of Rome, Ignatius, Irenaeus, Dionysius of Corinth and later historian Eusebius. Jesus' prophecies of Peter gave several clues as to his death. First he said “when you are old” showing that Peter would die as an old man. Maybe these words also helped Peter previously to sleep calmly when he was in prison. Peter feared death, thus denying the Lord three times and it must of stayed with him. Jesus hints that when it was time for Peter to be martyred he would not want to go: “You will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten your belt and take you where you don’t want to go.” Peter did not want to go but he would. Death would be his final trial and when faced with it, He would as Jesus said “Glorify God” and request that he be hung as one unworthy to be crucified like his master. Peter had many trials. Those trials transformed him into the image of Christ. The process, humiliated him, pressured him but ultimately refined him into the man of God he was to become. Peter wrote near the end of his first epistle:
7. Peter's Martyrdom!
Overcoming Fear of Death John 21:18-19
“Truly, I tell you emphatically, when you were young, you would fasten your belt and go wherever you liked. But when you get old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten your belt and take you where you don’t want to go.” Now he said this to show by what kind of death he would glorify God. After saying this, Jesus told him, “Keep following me.” Peter told Jesus he was willing to die for him. Ultimately he would. The Bible doesn’t tell us how Peter died but church tradition tells us that Peter was crucified upside-down in Rome. Tradition says that,
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“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And,“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” 1 Peter 5:12-19
Peter’s Cronology
Simon Peter’s Timeline in Biblical History 1 BC
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Approximate time of the birth of Simon, son of Jonah, in the Galilean town of Bethsaida.
25-27 AD
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Simon marries and has children. His family, along with his mother in-law, settles in Capernaum.
30 AD
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Simon meets Jesus through the help of his brother Andrew who was a follower of John the Baptist. – John 1:40-41 While Peter and Andrew are fishing at the Sea of Galilee, Jesus sees them and asks them to follow Him. – Matthew 4:18, Mark 1:16-18 Jesus visits Peter’s house and cure Peter’s sick mother-in-law. – Matthew 8:14-15, Mark 1:29-31, Luke 4:38-39 Peter casts his net in the deep ocean after being told by Jesus to do so. He tells Jesus that they have tried all night to do so and without success. When he did as he was told, they caught a great number of fish. – Luke 5:4-7 Jesus add to the name of Simon, Peter (from the Greek word petros meaning rock or stone). – Mark 3:16, Luke 6:14, John 1:42
• • • 31-32 AD
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33 AD
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33-48 AD
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Jesus makes a prediction that Peter will deny Him three times before a rooster crows. – Matthew 26:34, Mark 14:30, Luke 22:34, John 13:38 Peter tells Jesus that he will never deny Him. – Matthew 26:35, Mark 14:31 Peter and the others were sleeping while Jesus was praying in The Garden of Gethsemane. – Matthew 26:40-46, Mark 14:37-42, Luke 22:45-46 When Jesus is arrested by the betrayal of Judas Iscariot, Peter takes his sword out and cuts off the ear of a servant. – Matthew 26:51, Mark 14:47, Luke 22:50, John 18:10 The prediction of Jesus comes true when Peter denies Him three times. – Matthew 26:69-75, Mark 14:66-72, Luke 22:55-60, John 18:16-27 Peter and the other apostles receive word from Mary Magdalene that the body of Jesus is no longer there in the tomb. – Mark 16:10, Luke 24:9, John 20:1-2 Peter rushes to Jesus’s tomb to confirm the news. – Luke 24:12, John 20:3 Jesus appears to Peter before appearing to the other apostles. – Luke 24:34, 1 Corinthians 15:5 Jesus appears in front of the eleven apostles. – Mark 16:14, Luke 24:36, John 20:19 Jesus gives Peter and the other apostles the gift of the Holy Spirit. – Luke 24:49, John 20:21-23 While Peter and six others were fishing at the Sea of Galilee, Jesus appears and ask them if they have any fish. – John 21:4 Peter makes a confession of love towards the risen Jesus three times after meeting him on the shores of Galilee. – John 21:15-17 Peter and a large group of people gather at a mountain in Galilee to see Jesus. – Matthew 28:16, 1 Corinthians 15:6
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By default, Peter becomes the leader of the remaining disciples who had been with Jesus and tells them they should choose someone to replace Judas Iscariot, who had committed suicide. – Acts 1:16-26 Now filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, Peter gives a message to the people in Jerusalem. – Acts 2:14-36 John, along with Peter, encounter a man who had never walked since birth, and Peter heals him and the man is able to walk. – Acts 3:6-8 One of the ruling parties of that time, the Sadducees, take John and Peter into custody. – Acts 4:3 Peter, John with him, are told by the Sadducees to stop telling people about Jesus. – Acts 4:18 Peter confronts a husband and wife regarding property they lied about. Both end up dead. – Acts 5:3-9 Peter and John are sent to Samaria to teach them about the word of God. – Acts 8:14 Peter travels to different places to teach and to encourage other believers in Jesus Christ. He also visited Lydda. – Acts 9:32 God uses Peter to bring a little girl back to life. – Acts 9:40 Cornelius, a Roman centurion, summons Peter to his house in Caesarea. Peter at that time was staying in Joppa. – Acts 10:1-6 For the first time, Peter realizes that God shows no partiality when it comes to those receiving His word. – Acts 10:34 Cornelius for the first time hears through the words of Peter about Jesus Christ. This the first account that the Gospel is also meant for non-Jewish people (Gentiles). – Acts 10:37-48 Jewish believers in Jerusalem argue with Peter for being in the company of non-Jews. – Acts 11:1-3 James, the brother of John, is killed by the sword by order of Herod, who intentionally wanted to cause trouble for the church. – Acts 12:1-2 When Herod realized that what he had done had made him popular with the Jews, he had Peter arrested and put in prison. – Acts 12:3 An angel of the Lord God takes Peter out of prison. – Acts 12:7-8 Paul confronts Peter’s behavior when he is in the presence of non-Jewish believers and Jewish believers. – Galatians 2:11
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Peter is crucifies up-side-down because he felt unworthy to die the same way as Jesus.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • •
64 AD
Peter becomes one of the witnesses to a miracle Jesus performed, raising a little girl back from the dead. – Matthew 9:23-26, Mark 5:37-43, Luke 8:51-55 The apostles and Simon Peter see Jesus walking on water, Peter asks Jesus to command him to walk to Him. Peter tries to walk on water, but he failed. – Matthew 14:28-29, John 6:19-20 Simon Peter makes a pronouncement about the deity of Jesus. – Matthew 16:16, John 6:68-69 Jesus tell Peter that he will build his church on him. – Matthew 16:18 After Jesus proclaims that He will be killed and then rise on the third day, Peter rebukes Him. – Matthew 16:21-23, Mark 8:31-33 Peter, along with James and John, witness the transfiguration of Jesus and the appearance of Moses and Elijah on a mountain. – Matthew 17:1-3, Mark 9:2-3, Luke 9:29-32
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Sadhu Sundar Singh
S
adhu Singh was an Indian Sikh who became a Christian and evangelist throughout India, Asia, Europe, and as far away as America. He was a modern day Paul who opposed Christianity until he encountered Christ and then was persecuted by religious groups. At great risk he crossed the precarious Himalayas with bare feet and few possessions between India and Tibet many times, sharing the gospel with Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and even thieves. Sundar Singh was born into a Sikh family in northern India. Sundar Singh's mother took him to sit at the feet of a sadhu, an ascetic holy man while he attended a Christian school to learn English. When his mother died at fourteen he fell into despair and took out his anger on the missionaries, and persecuted Christian converts. He finally bought a Bible and burned it page by page in his home while his people watched. Sundar questioned Hinduism, his Sikhism and Christianity and decided to commit suicide. He threw himself upon a railroad track and asked that
Sadhu Sundar Singh - 1889-unknown
whosoever is the 'True God' would appear before him, or else he would kill himself. That very night he had a vision of Jesus who revealed Himself to him. Sundar announced to his father, Sher Singh, that henceforth he would follow Christ. His father denounced him, and his brother Rajender Singh attempted to poison him. He was not poisoned just once but a number of times. People of that area threw snakes in his house but he was often helped by the nearby Christian community. Sundar was forced to stay in a Christian Leprosy Home serving the leprosy patients there. On his sixteenth birthday, he was publicly baptized as a Christian by an Anglican pastor in Simla, in the Himalayan foothills. In October 1906, because he realized Christianity could not penetrate India unless it was in an Indian way, he set out dressed in a turban and the yellow robe of a Hindu sadhu, an ascetic devoted to spiritual practice. He gave up his home and possessions and decided to share his faith on the road. He returned to his home village, where he was given an unexpectedly warm welcome. Singh
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Sadhu Sundar Singh travelled northward through the Punjab, over the Bannihal Pass into Kashmir, and then back through Muslim Afghanistan and into the bandit infested North-West Frontier and Baluchistan. He was referred to as "the apostle with the bleeding feet" by the Christian communities of the north. He suffered arrest and stoning for his beliefs and experienced mystical encounters. In 1908, he crossed the frontier of Tibet, where he
at meal times and designated prayer sessions. He was ostracized for being "different". His inability to adapt hindered him from fitting in with the routines of academic study. Much in the college course seemed irrelevant to the gospel as India needed to hear it. Singh was told to discard his sadhu's robe and wear "respectable" European clerical dress, use formal Anglican worship, sing English hymns; and not preach outside his parish without permission.
“I am not worthy to follow in the steps of my Lord,” he said, “but, like Him, I want no home, no possessions. Like Him I will belong to the road, sharing the suffering of my people, eating with those who will give me shelter, and telling all men of the love of God.” was appalled by the living conditions. He was stoned as he bathed in cold water because it was believed that "holy men never washed." He then went to Bombay, hoping to board a ship to visit Palestine but was refused a permit, and had to return to the north. Sundar Singh realized that India would not readily convert to Western-style Christianity, although people had responded to his sadhu's robe. On December 1909 Singh began training for the Christian ministry at the Anglican college in Lahore. According to his biographers, he did not form close relationships with fellow students, meeting them only
After eight months in the college, Singh handed back his preacher's license in July 1910, then returned to northern India. Stories from those years are astonishing and sometimes incredible. God began working with him supernaturally. According to Singh, in a town called Rasar he had been thrown into a dry well full of bones and rotting flesh and left to die, but three days later he was rescued, perhas by an angel. At these and at other times Singh was said to have been rescued by members of the "Sannyasi Mission"—secret disciples of Jesus wearing Hindu markings, whom he claimed to have found all over India. The secret Sannyasi Mission is reputed to have numbered around 24,000 members across India. The origins of this brotherhood were reputed to be linked to one of the Magi at Christ's nativity and then the second century AD disciples of the apostle Thomas circulating in India. Nothing was heard of this evangelistic fellowship until William Carey began his missionary work in Serampore. Whether he won many continuing disciples on these hazardous Tibetan treks is not known. Singh did not keep written records and he was unaccompanied by any other Christian disciples who might have witnessed the
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Sadhu Sundar Singh events. During his twenties, Sundar Singh's ministry widened greatly, and before he was thirty, he was famous all over the Christian world. People described him as always human, approachable and humble, with a sense of fun and a love of nature. This character, with his illustrations from ordinary life, gave his addresses great impact. Many people said, "He not only looks like Jesus, he talks like Jesus must have talked." His talks and his personal speech were informed by his habitual early morning meditation, especially on the gospels. In 1918 he made a long tour of South India and Ceylon, and the following year he was invited to Burma, Malaya, China and Japan. Some of the stories from these tours were as strange as any of his Tibetan adventures. He claimed power over wild things. He claimed even to have power over disease and illness, though he never allowed his presumed healing gifts to be publicized. Sundar Singh had wanted to visit Britain, and the opportunity came when his father, Sher Singh, came to tell him that he too had become a Christian and wished to give him the money for his fare to Britain. He visited the West twice, travelling to Britain, the United States and Australia in 1920, and to Europe again in 1922. He was welcomed by Christians of many traditions, and his words searched the hearts of people who now faced the aftermath of World War I. Singh was appalled by what he saw as the materialism, emptiness and irreligion he found everywhere, contrasting it with Asia's awareness of God. Once back in India he continued his ministry, though it was clear that he was getting more physically frail. In 1923 Sundar Singh made the last of his regular summer visits to Tibet and came back exhausted. His preaching days were apparently over, and in the next years, in his own home or those of his friends in the Simla hills he gave himself to meditation, fellowship, and writing some of the things he had lived to preach. In 1929, against all his friends' advice, Singh determined to make one last journey to Tibet. He was last seen on 18 April 1929 setting off on this journey. In April he reached Kalka, a small town below Simla, a prematurely aged figure in his yellow robe among pilgrims and holy men who were beginning their own trek to one of Hinduism's holy places some miles away. Where he went after that is unknown. Whether
he died of exhaustion or reached the mountains remains a mystery. Some said that Singh was murdered or he was caught in the cholera epidemic and his body thrown into the river along with deceased devotees. In the early 1940s Bishop Dr. Augustine Peters, a native missionary of South India, sought out Sundar's brother Rajender Singh, led him to the Christian faith and baptized him in Punjab. Rajender referred to many miracles performed by Sundar Singh and people converted to Christ under his ministry. Sadhu Sundar Singh is treasured by many as a formative figure in the development of the Christian church in India.
Sundar Singh wrote eight books between 1922 and 1929. His manuscripts were written in Urdu, and later translated into English and other languages. • At the Master’s Feet (London: Fleming H. Revell, 1922). Electronic versions: Google Books and CCEL. • With and Without Christ (London: Cassell; New York: Harper & Brothers, 1929). • The Real Life (published posthumously; Madras: CLS, 1965). • The Real Pearl (published posthumously; Madras: CLS, 1966). • Reality and Religion: Meditations on God, Man and Nature (London: Macmillan, 1924). • The Search after Reality: Thoughts
on Hinduism, Buddhism, Muhammadanism and Christianity (London: Macmillan, 1925). • Meditations on Various Aspects of the Spiritual Life (London: Macmillan, 1926).
• Visions of the Spiritual World (London: Macmillan, 1926)
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Sadhu Sundar Singh
Sadhu Sundar Singh Quotes: “Should pain and suffering, sorrow, and grief, rise up like clouds and overshadow for a time the Sun of Righteousness and hide Him from your view, do not be dismayed, for in the end this cloud of woe will descend in showers of blessing on your head, and the Sun of Righteousness rise upon you to set no more forever.”
“Salt, when dissolved in water, may disappear,
but it does not cease to exist. We can be sure of its presence by tasting the water. Likewise, the indwelling Christ, though unseen, will be made evident to others from the love which he imparts to us.”
“From my many years experience I can
unhesitatingly say that the cross bears those who bear the cross.” - Sadhu Sundar Singh
“God’s patience is infinite. Men, like small kettles,
boil quickly with wrath at the least wrong. Not so God. If God were as wrathful, the world would have been a heap of ruins long ago.” - Sadhu Sundar Singh
“But just as men do not understand God, so they do not understand God’s Word. To understand it a knowledge of the Hebrew and Greek tongues is not a necessity, but what is necessary is the fellowship of that Holy Spirit, abiding in whom the prophets and apostles wrote it. “
“There are many beautiful things in the world
around us, but pearls can only be discovered in the depths of the sea; if we wish to possess spiritual pearls we must plunge into the depths, that is, we must pray.”
“Should I worship Him from fear of hell, may I
be cast into it. Should I serve Him from desire of gaining heaven, may He keep me out. But should I worship Him from love alone, He reveals Himself to me, that my whole heart may be filled with His love and presence.”
“During an earthquake it sometimes happens
that fresh springs break out in dry places which water and quicken the land so that plants can grow. In the same way the shattering experiences of suffering can cause the living water to well up in a human heart.”
“As God did not create wickedness, so also He did not create disease and bodily pains. They are simply the natural issue of man’s disobedience. Pain and disease also are not things of the imagination, but are the outward and visible fruits of the hidden unseen disease of sin.” “I saw a monk, who had lived for five or six years in a cave. When he went into the cave he had good eyesight. But because he stayed so long in the darkness his eyes grew weaker and weaker, and at last he became quite blind. If we do not use the blessings which we have received from God we are in danger of losing them forever.”
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Christian Hypocrisy
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“You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, when he said: “‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” Matt. 15:7-9
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“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.” Matt. 6:5 Jesus was not opposed to calling religious leaders hypocrites. He recognized that many who appear religious are living a false life or have a pretentious relationship with God. However most people have a wrong assumption about hypocrisy! Our western understanding of hypocrisy is one who says one thing but does another thing or one who does not live up to the person he claims to be. But the actual meaning of the word Hypocrite is quite different. Merriam-Webster defines “hypocrite” as a person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion.” This is close to the meaning but the biblical word is Greek and the Greek word hypocrite (hü-po-krē-tā's ) means “an actor, stage player, or pretender.” It literally means “one who wears a mask.” The Greeks loved their Greek plays and hypocrites began to refer to someone who hides behind a mask pretending to be someone else. Jesus saw that many of the priests, Levities and Pharisees were hiding behind their priestly garbs and pretending to be pious and devout when they were far from it. Many pastors today do the same. They wear a clerical mask pretending to be something they are not. They may speak the right words but their actions will soon betray them. Unfortunately many pulpits have become a stage. This is why Jesus said.
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“So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” Matt. 23:3 NIV Hypocrisy is not just a problem with spiritual leaders but many so called Christians are also guilty of wearing a mask and acting like a Christian rather than being one. Its time we take off the mask and learn to be real. We can fool man but not God. Many say they wont believe because of all the hypocrisy. Perhaps genuineness is the best witness for today!
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God is Light!
In 1969, as a young 17 year old, I wasn't thinking much about God. I was a rock and roll drummer that got caught up in the drug scene! But that summer I overdosed on drugs and died and as I saw myself falling into darkness with the fires of hell below me, I cried out to God to save me. I stopped descending and saw myself enter my body again. In His mercy Jesus appeared to me and told me to quit taking drugs and follow Him! Long conversations answered many questions but the last thing Jesus told me was to remember these words “God is light”. I thought this was peculiar as I did not know what this meant. Two weeks later I got a bible into my hands for the first time. I opened it up to 1 John 1:5
light and its properties and began to see the nature of God revealed in the properties of light. Light illuminates and causes us to see. It reveals the things hidden in darkness! God is the who opens our eye to see the truth. He illuminates our sins so he can cover and remove them. He opens the scriptures up to us through the Holy Spirit. God is the great unveiler even as light unveils all the things around us. The bible states that in Him there is no darkness. The scripture says that Jesus :
stuff and not see what is around us. It is God that turns on the spiritual light and takes us out of darkness and into His marvelous light.
Light makes things visible
The strange thing about light waves is that they are invisible and yet they make things visible to us. As God can not be seen yet he makes things visible. Dictionary .com defines light as “something that makes things visible or affords illumination” How can something invisible make “...hath delivered us from the power things visible. Its because of radiant of darkness, and hath translated us energy. God is invisible (see Col. into the kingdom of his dear Son” 1:15) yet His glory radiates into his Colossians 1:13. creation. He created the sun, moon We all turn on a light at night and stars to represent His glory when we walk into a dark room. and it illuminates His creation. The “This then is the message which we have Without it we will stumble over sun sends out solar flares that race heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
I had been questioning what was truth. I had believed in reincarnation as it seemed logical to me. I had dabbled in eastern religion and even attended a Mormon church in my youth but as I read these words I knew that God was saying the Bible was the answer. The bible confirmed to me what Jesus said that God was light! Years later as I grew in the Lord, I wanted to understand that statement better. I began to study
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God is Light! towards the earth bringing light, heat and deadly cosmic rays. These light rays have both electric and magnetic properties that send both visible and invisible light waves.
The Light Spectrum If you have ever seen an electromagnetic light spectrum it shows you the range of light waves. The visible light spectrum is but a small sliver of this light wave spectrum. What that means is that just a small section of light waves entails everything that we see. Visible light is so small that if you laid out the full light spectrum across the united states (2,500 miles), the visible light spectrum would only be about an inch wide! Have you ever heard someone say they can only believe what they see? Tell them to look at a light spectrum. This small sliver of visible light is a small portion of what exists. From ultraviolet rays and radio waves on the left to infrared rays, x-rays and cosmic rays on the right we find that what we see is but a small portion of what exists. Our physical eyes can only comprehend a small arena of the light spectrum. Light wave on both sides of that visible light area far outweigh what we can see. In other-wards there is far more that we can not see than we can see. Perhaps that is why the bible says:
“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 Cor. 2:9 God exists beyond the light spectrum so therefore can not be seen. This is why He had to come in the form of Jesus Christ the physical representative of God in human form: “The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” Heb. 1:3
spectrum of man, perhaps it is a reminder of his creation of man as well as his mercy in judgment. Interestingly, the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight has both positive and negative health effects, as it is both a principal source of healthy vitamin D3 and dangerous mutagen (a chemical agent that changes the genetic material, usually DNA, of an organism and thus increases the frequency of cellular mutations such as cancer!) So sunlight can be both beneficial and dangerous.
Three Kinds of Light If God is light then there must be some sort of trinity reflected in it. It fascinating that there are three kind of rays that come from light: • LIGHT RAYS Seen but not Felt
So only part of light is visible to • HEAT RAYS man, and only with special goggles Felt but not seen can infrared and ultraviolet light be seen. But most light can not be seen. • CHEMICAL RAYS (actinate) neither seen nor felt Light illuminates and can be seen as shafts through a window or Interestingly the visible light trees. Because it does not penetrate spectrum is pure white light but through physical objects it casts when it runs through a prism it is a shadow and is blocked by that filtered into a rainbow. That is, light object. It pierces the atmosphere is divided into seven colors: red, and is beneficial to man, animal, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and plant life as well as oceanic life. and violet. Like all light waves, these colors have shorter to longer light waves. It was God who first put the rainbow in the sky after the flood and when it rains. We also see that the bible says there is a rainbow over the throne of God. Since this is the visible
Color in light!
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God is Light!
It is universal in its benefit to all living things. God may be invisible but Jesus is that part of the Godhead that can be seen and is beneficial to those who trust Him for salvation and place their judgment under the blood of Christ. Heat rays are felt but not often seen. Part of the benefit of sun rays is that it warms the planet along with its inhabitants. People love to sit on the beach and get warm and even a tan. However too much time in the sun will cause a sun burn and even skin cancer. Sun rays are rich in vitamin D and are good for man but they can also be dangerous if over exposed. God can sometimes be felt through the Holy Spirit. There is a sense of God's presence when the Holy Spirit is moving but because of our sins He can also judge man for his wickedness. Elisha once blinded an army with light when they tried to come take him! Moses wanted to see God when he was on Mt. Sinai but God said:
Light often is accompanied by heat. A laser can burn through metal. The brightness of a welders torch will blind you without a special helmet and visor, yet that welders torch can fuse metal together. A campfire puts forth light and heat. Fire can be both beneficial as well as dangerous if used wrongly. The bible says that: "God is a consuming fire." Heb. 12:29
As the sun is a ball of heat that sends out good and bad rays it also sends out heat. Part of God is justice with mercy and this is why he sent Jesus to die for mans sin. Part of God is also judgment and He will ultimately destroy rebellious fallen angels as well as wicked men. The third kind of ray that comes from light is chemical waves. These are called actinate waves or radiation. These are neither seen nor felt but are very deadly. On one side of the light spectrum are fairly harmless rays such as radio waves, radar and microwaves. But on the other side of the light spectrum are more dangerous waves: X rays, gamma rays and cosmic rays and fortunately the atmosphere blocks most of these rays from entering the earth. Their radiational properties
“When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by.” Ex. 33:22 Moses was only allowed to see his back side. In the flesh, Moses could not get too much of God's presence because of his sin. Moses saw his glory and it was so intense that Moses had to wear a veil over his face because it reflected so much of God’s glory that other men could not look upon it.
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have the power to alter chemical bonds thus causing cancer and death in humans. These death rays which can harm humans represent the nature of the judgment of God. Justice requires the penalty for sin as death: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”Romans 6:23 Earths magnetic field and atmosphere help block out most of these deadly radiation waves just as the sacrifice and blood of Jesus stays the hand of judgment to whoever repent and turn their lives over to Jesus. Light is energy of different intensities and can be either beneficial or dangerous. God is both a blessing and a curse to all mankind depending on your faith in or rejection of Him. Those who place their faith in Him will be eternally blessed and a reward of heaven and His presence forever. But according to the bible those who reject God and his salvation through Christ will be eternally damned in Hell.
The bible is called a light: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple. “ Psa 119:130
God is Light! God’s word can be beneficial. It energy. Sunlight helps plant and x-rays. X rays depending on can illuminate the heart of man and growth for food, and tree growth exposure can either be deadly of reveal God's truth. It can also be for shade, beauty and wood. beneficial. Lead protects us from deadly to those who reject it. Jesus these rays! Most of these harmful told the example (It was not just a ▶▶ Sunlight triggers the release of rays are refracted and filtered by story) of the rich man who died and hormones in your brain such as air and clouds, earths atmosphere immediately found himself in hell serotonin which gives a sense and the ozone layer. burning and in torment. He asked of good feelings, and happiness. Abraham to send someone from the There have been studies that show Two Kinds of light dead to warn his 5 brothers about that depression occurs in people hell. Abraham said that if they would during the change of seasons. As There are two kinds of light: not believe the law and the prophets winter approaches and the earth natural light and artificial light. (the old testament bible) than they tilts away from the sun, the days Natural light comes from the sun, would not believe someone raised become shorter. This means less moon and stars and even lightning; from the dead. The word is truth. sunlight is available for our use. It is the light that penetrated the Many people find themselves darkness of this world. To believe it depressed at this time of year, is life, to reject it is death. The Bible and the cause has been linked says: to the lack of sunlight. Indeed, people who sit under lamps that “To the law and to the testimony: recreate the light spectrum of the if they speak not according to this sun have reported feeling happier word, it is because there is no light and more energized. Sunlight in them.” Isaiah 8:20 also stimulates the pineal gland deep in the brain. This gland regulates our sleep/ wake cycles and triggers our bodies to activity The benefits of sunlight or restful sleep. a symbol of God's love! ▶▶ Vitamin D -One of the amazing things sunlight provides for us is Vitamin D. It is absorbed through the skin and converted to a state that the body can use. It usually only requires about thirty minutes of sunlight a day to acquire a minimum dose. Vitamin D is important for the creation and maintenance of bones. It is involved in the use of calcium in the body and ▶▶ Photosynthesis -Plants have performs many other important specific organs in their cells jobs (lack of D can cause heart that convert sunlight to food disease and certain cancers). energy through a process known as photosynthesis. A plant will capture the suns rays in a The dangers of sunlightchloroplast through a chemical a symbol of God’s wrath! reaction and this conversion gives plants the ability to supply calories to all life. It is by plants ▶▶ Too much exposure can cause that cows are fed and then the sunburn and skin cancer. humans that feed on the cows. In this way, sunlight provides ▶▶ Invisible rays are dangerous: the source of food for all life on radiation rays from the sun can be earth as it converts light into hazardous such as cosmic, gamma ▶▶ It warms the planet and makes up our weather pattern. It takes the light of the sun eight minutes to reach us, and that fraction of heat generated by our star warms our seas and earth to sustain life. Sunlight is essential for the water cycle of evaporation and rain. It is essential for or weather and seasons.
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things that God has created. Artificial light is man-made such as candles, flashlights, lamps, light bulbs, etc. Gods truth is pure like white light. Man's so called truths such as evolution and bad science and false religions are artificial light. Gods truth are eternal whereas man's truth is temporary. The light of man's wisdom in artificial, contrived and his truth is varying. Gods truth is pure, holy and eternal; thus unalterable. God is light and thus when he created light for man he gave him an indicator of the very nature of God! He said: “For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Romans 1:20
God is Light!
Scripture on light! 1 John 1:5-9 ~“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” John 8:12 ~ “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 1:5 ~ “And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” Matthew 5:16 ~“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Ephesians 5:8 ~ “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light:” Matthew 5:14 ~“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” 1 John 1:5 ~ “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” 1 Peter 2:9 ~“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.” Psalms 27:1~“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” John 12:35~ “Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.” 2 Corinthians 4:6~ “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” Isaiah 58:8~“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward.” Matthew 4:16 ~“The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” John 3:19-28~ “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” James 1:17 ~ “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
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Seven Biblical Covenants
PART 1 There are several covenants in the Bible. Most people and trees (But not meat. Eating of meat was think there are only two covenants: the Old Covenant established in the Noahic covenant: Genesis 9:3). and the New Covenant. But there are quite a bit more. The definition of covenant is simply an agreement. It However this covenant of blessing was conditional. can however be in different levels. It can be as simple The one requirement was to not eat the fruit of the as a promise or a pledge, or as binding as a guarantee knowledge of good and evil. or a contract. A covenant can be conditional or unconditional (but more on that later).There are seven “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into major biblical covenants that God makes with men the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the regarding the gentiles, Israel and the church. In this first Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree part we will look at the first four: of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt 1. The Edenic Covenant surely die.” Gen. 2:15-17 The first covenant God makes is with Adam and Eve 2. The Adamic Covenant in the Garden of Eden prior to the fall of man (The Edenic Covenant was given in the age of innocence). The Edenic Covenant was to both Adam and Eve and We know the story! Because Adam and Eve disobeyed their seed so it was to be a blessing upon all mankind God they were kicked out of the garden and now instead of and their environment. It was a covenant between all of blessings, there were restrictions and curses placed upon mankind and all of creation: them. God came down to judge the serpent and Adam and “And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be Eve along with their progeny. fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, “And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, the birds of the heavens and over every living thing and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: have given you every plant yielding seed that is on And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy fruit. You shall have them for food. And unto every head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Unto the woman beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; that has the breath of life, I have given every green and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall plant for food.” And it was so.” Gen. 1:28-30 rule over thee. And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast The first covenant was right after creation and was a eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy promise of blessing! sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy • Fruitfulness- blessed in multiplying and propagating life; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; In the the species. sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return • Dominion- Blessed to subdue and take dominion over all living creatures (animals, birds and sea unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” Gen. creatures.) 3:14-19 • Provision – blessed in food provision from plants
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Seven Biblical Covenants The following curses came upon Adam and Eve as a result to violating the Adamic covenant. • • • • • • • •
Enmity between Satan and Eve and her descendants. Painful childbirth for women. Marital strife and servitude. The soil cursed. Introduction of thorns and thistles. Survival to be a struggle. Death introduced. Death will be the inescapable fate of all living things.
Although these curses are severe and inescapable, a wonderful promise of grace was also included in the Adamic Covenant. “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Gen. 3:15 Genesis 3:15 is often referred to as the “Proto-Gospel” or “First Gospel.” Speaking to Satan, here God promises that one born of a woman would be wounded in the process of destroying Satan. The “seed” of the woman who would crush the Serpent’s head is none other than Jesus Christ. Even in the midst of the curse, God’s promises the provision of salvation to come. “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8
3. The Noahic Covenant The third Covenant or agreement God made was with Noah. Like with Adam, this covenant pertained to all mankind. Interestingly the first three covenants God made was with gentiles and all nations including Israel! After the flood, mankind got a reboot. God destroyed all mankind for their wickedness except Noah, his three sons and their wives. He tells them as he did Adam and Eve to repopulate the world and promises to not destroy the world again by rain. He now adds a sign to his covenant which is the rainbow. His covenant was with all humanity because it was to them and their descendants. “And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth. And the fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea; into your hand are they delivered. Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things. But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat. And surely your
blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein. Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” Gen. 9:1-17 God blessed them but gave restrictions. The Noahic Covenant included: • Blessings upon the eight survivors of the flood. • A command to be fruitful and multiply (as commanded to Adam and Eve) to replenish the earth. • Fear of mankind upon all living creatures. • Permission to now eat meat with exception of the blood. • Prohibition to murder. • The sign of the rainbow as a promise not to destroy the earth again by flood.
4. The Abrahamic Covenant The third Covenant that God makes is with Abraham. This is a rather unique covenant because it is not with mankind but is made with Abraham and his descendants, the Jews. God sets aside a people to become a nation that would bear witness to the one and only true God. At this point polytheism and idolatry had spread to all mankind. God revealed himself to Abraham as the creator; the only one and true God. This conditional covenant is found in Genesis 12-17 and was made for
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Seven Biblical Covenants Abraham and his children both of natural birth and adopted. There are actually many parts to this covenant. The first part came when God first called Abraham out of Mesopotamia to go to Canaan. “The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 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.” Gen. 12:1-3 Even in our covenant with Jesus the first part is always separation. We must separate ourselves from the world, from sin and our old ways. Abraham had to be willing to leave his old life behind and start a new life! The promise was that God would make him a great nation. This is unusual since Abraham was 75 years old and too old to have kids. He would eventually have Isaac when he was a hundred years old! The second part of the covenant came later. After Abraham rescued Lot when he had been captured and Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils to Melchezidek the Lord appeared to him again to renew the covenant but with a prophetic sign! “After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?” And Abram said, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir.” Then the word of the Lord came to him: “This man will not be your heir, but a son who is your own flesh and blood will be your heir.” He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness. He also said to him, “I am the Lord, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to take possession of it.” But Abram said, “Sovereign Lord, how can I know that I will gain possession of it?” So the Lord said to him, “Bring me a heifer, a goat and a ram, each three years old, along with a dove and a young pigeon.” Abram brought all these to him, cut them in two and arranged the halves opposite each other; the birds, however, he did not cut in half. Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. Then the Lord said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their
own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure. When the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking firepot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces. On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the Wadi of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates-the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.” Gen. 15:1-21 In this encounter: • God reveals himself to Abraham as his shield, or protector! • God says a natural not adoptive child shall be his heir. • God has Abraham look at the stars of the sky to confirm his seed will be innumerous. • God promises the land of Canaan as his children's inheritance. • God has Abraham sacrifice animals as a sign and prophecies the Egyptian captivity and entrance into the promise land. The significance of this covenant is the sign of the sacrifice. Abraham was doing a prophetic act signifying the future Mosaic period. Interestingly, the animals were a heifer, a goat, a ram, a dove and a young pigeon. These were the same offerings that would be required by the priests in the tabernacle and temple sacrifices. God was showing Abraham the future of Israel and the blood sacrifices that would point to both Moses and Messiah Jesus! Abraham was instructed to cut the animals in half. This is like the parting of the Red sea. He had to drive the ravens away just like the armies of Pharaoh and most interesting is that in a vision Abraham saw two things pass between the divided animals: a smoking firepot with a blazing torch! This is a type of the pillar of smoke and pillar of fire that went between the parted red sea and guided the children of Israel in the wilderness. In the final part of the covenant God initiates the sign of circumcision. “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers. Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. No longer will you be called Abram your name will
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Seven Biblical Covenants be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God . Then God said to Abraham, “As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised. You are to undergo circumcision, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and you. For the generations to come every male among you who is eight days old must be circumcised, including those born in your household or bought with money from a foreigner—those who are not your offspring. Whether born in your household or bought with your money, they must be circumcised. My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant.” Gen. 17:1-13
name of Abram to Abraham. Abram means "Exalted Father", which was probably an embarrassment since he aged without children. He however didn’t receive that name from God but from his father. God gives him the name "Abraham", which means "father of many” to reaffirm that he would be a father of a great multitude as promised by God. His wife Sarai, which means “my princess, “would have her name changed to “Sarah,” “mother of nations”, again fitting with the promise of God to multiply their seed. Also God basically added the “ah” sound to their names. Ah in Hebrew is the word “oath” thus affirming the covenant! Besides the changing of names God instituted the sign and act of circumcision. Remember when Abraham “Cut” the animals’ n half? This is known in Hebrew as the Brit bein HaBetarim, the "Covenant between the Parts". Circumcision is called the brit milah (covenant of circumcision) in Judaism. By being “cut” you are marked as belonging to God. Here is man’s blood covenant with God until Jesus sheds His blood for man! This was a covenant not for humanity but for the nation and people of Israel only! God would use the nation of Israel as a witness to the world of monotheism and the true and living God. He would accompany that covenant with signs, miracles, prophecy and ultimately the Messiah who would be the deliverer of not only Israel but all mankind. In this third part God reiterates his covenant with a We will continue this article of Seven Biblical couple of additions or addendum's. First he changes the Covenants in Part two in the next issue. Shalom!
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