Pharoah took off his ring and gave it to Joseph inaugurating him all the power of the throne.  Every man woman and child in Egypt knew that Joseph was now second only to Pharoah himself.

Joseph was now the most powerful man in Egypt; he was robed in fine linen, a gold chain of “Grand Vizier” was placed around his neck.

Royal Chariots were placed at his disposal and there was given unto him a new name…..Zaphnath-Paaneah.  A name that was above all other names and titles whereas at that name [Zaphnath-Paaneah] every knee should bow confessing he is Lord Zaphnath-Paaneah, “The one who saves us, the all seeing and all knowing of secrets.”  The fulfillment of his dreams was well on its way.

All countries came to Joseph, in Egypt, to buy corn [Gen 41:57].  God was preparing the souls of humanity to “bow before the great Naphmath-Paaneah.

Now Joseph was Lord of the land every knee including Potifar and his lovely wife must bow to him for Pharaoh had said, “Without thee, shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt [Gen 41:44].

Joseph was now surrounded with magnificence where before he had a measured liberty confined within the walls of his jailors chained to an uncertain destiny of dreams.

“God had made him wait.”

All those years in prison God was proving and testing his integrity, molding his personality like the potters clay: for twelve long years. Joseph was God’s piece of clay.

God had destined him for a place in History; a place of great responsibility, influence, trust, and authority.

But first was the “furnace of affliction.” He had to endure the Potter’s wheel and experience the enormous pressure from without and then within.

His brothers hated him; being filled with envy they sought means how they may destroy him then sold him into hands of Gentiles for money, leaving his fate and destiny in hands of others.

Joseph had entered a new world, a world of new sounds, smells, and sights. It was the land of mystery and magic. It was a world of pagans and a land lost to a demonic system.  The symbols of paganism were everywhere.  The sphinx and the pyramids were there a thousand years before Joseph’s Great Grandfather Abraham had arrived there.

But, Joseph had a dream, “God’s word.”

Satan, no doubt had an “agent” in Potiphar’s wife, but God had his agent in Joseph’s prison.  God had gone long before Joseph and placed His agents there. The chief butler and the chief baker unknowing invested in God’s Holy design.

“Your dreams are delusional, you will always be a slave, and no one can get you of this.  Your own family has abandoned you to your fate.”  How do you know for sure God spoke to you?  God doesn’t speak to fools and you’re living a fools dream.”

The devil tried lust with Joseph and failed, he sold him into prison abandoned and failed again.

God had no choice but to honor His word [Prov. 22:29] “He shall stand before Kings.”

His dream would rise again, he would see the sheaves of the field bowing down to his sheaf, and he would see the sun, moon and the stars of the heavens bowing down paying homage to him – that was God’s Word to him and God can not lie. [Heb 6:18-19]

“It is impossible for God to lie, He has no need to lie for He is all powerful, and therefore words must come to pass because He addresses all power to make it so, while others who have less must lie.”

Later on the Holy Spirit had the dreams of Joseph and his experience written down and divinely incorporated into the “Bible” as part of God’s word and promise toward us.

Joseph’s visions were his dreams for the future. They were divine in revelation, and they were God’s word to his very soul.  It was there, in his prison, he rested the matter and his fate.

The moral of this story is obvious….the symbolism and types are allegorical at best; illustrating the total sovereignty God has over all events in the lives of His people.

The main thought of this article is to bring possible light on the fact that some of God’s people who are called to a specific service may experience extreme hardships and difficulties while in “His Majesty’s service.”

Others may enjoy the glorious vocation of Church Pastoral, Christian University, or Seminary where the atmosphere is congenial, correspondent and compatible.  Concurrently, you may be the type of Joseph who has been chosen to venture into an Egypt [type of worldliness] among ungodly heathen pagans whose language you find offensive and foreign. Whose lifestyle are purely demonic in nature and lost souls who are desperate for a savior who have no idea of the times that come are to be of an eternal famine.  You may be God’s Zaphnath Paaneah to a dying world who may have need of your God given talent.

-Johnny

This segment of the Book of Hebrews begins with the “Destiny” of man as viewed by the sovereignty bestowed by God on mankind.

As the “Son of Man” Jesus is the nearest of kin to all humanity. Angels, prodigious and glorious as they are, must one day confer and surrender their heavenly position before the redeemed of God.

“For it was not angels that God subjected the habitable world of the future….you have ranked him [man] lower than and inferior to the angels.  But, you have crowned him with glory and honor and set him over the works of your hand relegated everything subject under him.” [2:5-8] [Ps. 8:4-6]

Man’s destiny eclipses that of the angels.  The universe as we know it will pass under the rule of man. Both Cosmos and angles will man judge. [I Cor. 6:2-3]

The Redeemed of God will actually arbitrate the courts of justice.

At present, earth is under the control of the evil angelic forces, but the “coming world,” the very universe, and all of her complexities are to be ruled by the “Redeemed.”

Man with purpose was placed in a perfect environment, ordained with a specific task, and a deliberate trust with all things under his feet.  Man was the tender or keeper of God’s Garden of Eden and the entire earth.

Man in his present state is confirmed to a “Probation Period.”

Man in his Genesis was created to obtain the position between the world of the beast and the world of angels.  He was made higher than the beast [animal world] and yet a little lower than the angelic world, but only for a probation period.

In this moment of time, we do not possess the power of the angelic; we do not have the properties or the position to dwell in the eternal light before God’s throne.  However, with all of that said, man {Redeemed man} is only a little lower than angels at present and that too is only for now.

God says of man concerning his potential dominion, “there is nothing that is not put under him” [2:8].

Man’s capacity is much greater than what he has been able to achieve or even imagine since the fall of humanity.

God indeed endowed man with a vast potential to succeed at all things “under his feet.”

Had Adam not sinned, without question, his potential and authority would have expanded like an empire.  It would have extended from the Garden to the entire globe and perhaps eventually to our solar system, then to the galaxies and beyond.

No doubt the “New Creation” will be restored on a much greater scale of grandeur than ever before and the man in Christ [The Redeemed] will come full circle, literally his full potential as man, never again limited by sin.

In all the greatness of man which God had created, all has been revoked because of man’s rebellion against his creator.

Man’s sovereignty along with illustrious achievements has simply gone away, far away from the appropriate planned expectation of his creator.

Man’s diseases can not be eradicated, his deserts can not be reclaimed, he can not restore the ecological imbalances, and he can not stop the growing depletions of vital raw materials.

Man in his fallen state can’t even control himself nor prevent the wars he has discovered.  All is not lost [2:9], “We see Jesus.”  In Him Everything is restored.  In Him God has provided a second man, the man called Christ Jesus!  It will be His sovereignty our attention will be drawn, “One New Man” made perfect [complete] through His sufferings.

-Johnny

The duty of the Remnant preacher is to condemn all flesh, prove all men to be sinners, wound their conscience that they may be “healed by the cross of Christ.”  The man that does not know the law cannot know the nature of his sin.

It is imperative for preachers today to learn most earnestly how to “declare” the spiritual laws of God, wounding the conscience of the soul and deliver the sinner to the altar of God.

We may speak and preach politically correct and please man OR we can trust God, risking everything.

When it comes to preaching, God is not interested in your thoughts. He does not, nor will He ever, anoint anything but His word.  It is His word and only His word that anoints; and the preacher of that word as well.

If you can not preach with passion, fervor, and conviction, you are not a remnant preacher.

Dull preachers are a contradiction in terms; if he is dull and unresponsive he is not a preacher.  Though he may occupy the vocation of the pulpit in earnest, if he is uninspiring and flat certainly he is not a preacher at all.

“Unless we have the spirit of the prophets resting upon us, the mantle which we wear is nothing but a rough garment to deceive.  We ought to be driven forth with abhorrence from the society of honest men for daring to speak in the name of the Lord if the Spirit of God rests not upon us.” [C.H. Spurgeon].

Before we preach love, mercy and grace, we first must preach the law of sin and judgment for the sinner must be slain by the law before they can be made alive by the gospel.

The role of the Remnant Preacher is to cast the sinner down into utter helplessness so that they may be terrorized by the coming end events that they are so compelled to look up to Him {Christ] who alone can save them.

The God of holiness and His eternal “Majesty’ is rarely mentioned among our pulpits in these slothful days.

Preachers used to announce with great affirmation, “We are lost souls drowning in a sea of sin.”  Today it is, “We are loved, and God doesn’t mind who you are or what you are.  It is ok; God loves you as you are.”

NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH!

If God loved you as you are, why doesn’t He leave you where you are?  Why did He send His Son to die for your sins if He was “OK” with who and what you are?

Why would He punish those with eternal Hell Fire if we had no need for a “Redeemer?”  After all, He loved us all, right?  WRONG!

He hates both sin and sinners alike; you cannot separate the two for they are one, joined together as a complete unit.

God’s true love is John 3:16. He so loved His creation that He was willing to give His only begotten son so that they who believed would not perish.  That is His love to His creation, to “Redeem the lost.”  Those whom He despises will be cast into the eternal Lake of Fire.

“God loves righteousness and hates the evil.”  He is a just God; therefore He will judge all injustice. This is His “Love” to humanity; to purify it, to separate the sin from the sinner offering the choice to choose soberly one’s destiny.

As Remnant Preachers, should we not weep over such a people?  Should we not shed our tears for the eternally doomed?  Should we cry aloud exposing those for their transgressions beseeching them to embrace life over death?

We may gain applause with a rationalized faith, and a socialized accepted Church with a moralized Gospel, but we awake none without conviction and win no converts.

“It is a poor sermon that gives no offense. That neither makes the hearer displeased with himself nor with the preacher.”  [George Whitefield]

If God did not spare the angles when they sinned or the rebellious people before the flood, He will eventually send the unrighteous into His final judgment [2 Pet 2:4-5-Rom 11:21].  So then, who are we to alter the very conscience and will of our Creator?

“Those who wish to Preach, Preach with a fever as a condemned man drowning in his own sweat and gasping for his last breathe in as much to warn those still in waiting for the wrath to come! [Johnny Koch]

-Johnny

There, they made a supper for Jesus.  Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with Him including Mary who served and Mary who anointed.

Mary and Martha continue their usual roles as hostesses as were the cultural duties of Jewish woman of the time.  However on the particular day an unusual event transpired.  Mary, who is constantly at the feet of Jesus, has poured a very expensive fragrance {imported from North India} on the feet of Jesus anointing Him in preparation for His soon coming death and burial.

As she brushed His feet with her hair, tears flowed upon His feet like rain drops falling from her grateful eyes remembering how His every words had cleansed her soul from sin some time earlier.

As Mary let down her hair she broke a very strict Jewish order that was reserved for family members only, not for public viewing. Nevertheless, this type of devotion was exclusive and aggressive on the part of a young Jewish Madden who wished to be betrothed dedicating her self glory and dignity to the one she loved. Judas saw this act simply as “extravagance.” After all, he cared for the… poor or so it seemed.

Jesus knew Mary had the ointment and why.

The same Spirit that was present with Judas is often upon our own government officials and other politicians whose concerns pray upon the indigent, the impoverished, and like wise care nothing for their plight.  Like Judas they crave for the power that many can bring.

It should be noted that no devotion to Jesus can be to extravagant or excessive if it springs from a pure heart.

Jesus made it clear to everyone that there is nothing to valuable to give Christ. He is worthy of everything that we have to give weather great or small; widows mite or expensive perfume.

Judas did not consider Jesus to be worth three hundred denarii’s. He cared no more for the poor than he did for Jesus.  Besides, Judas was about to betray Him in a few days not for three hundred denarii’s, but for 30.  Only 30!

This should remind us all that spiritual opportunities are coming to a close, therefore, we should delay not one moment of a favorable time to bless our Lord with all possible events.  Genuine worship never counts the cost.

Mary of Bethany seemed to know something about Christ’s resurrection that no one else seemed to know.  Mary, the Lord’s mother was at the cross.  Mary Magdalene was at the tomb. Mary, mother of James and Joses, was at both cross and tomb. But not Mary of Bethany.  She had no need to be present at these places indicated.

Mary of Bethany had learned a hard and bitter lesson when her brother Lazarus had died.  She grieved so that she was overcome with mournful agony in that she inadvertently blamed Jesus for being “tardy on the job” or else Lazarus her brother would be alive this day.

Mary of Bethany watched and observed as Jesus criticized her sister Martha about the power of resurrection.  Martha responded by saying, “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Mary heard Jesus respond by saying, “I Am the resurrection.”  She heard Jesus command, “Take away the stone.”  Martha’s response was “He stinketh, He’s been dead 4 days now.”  Mary observed once again the Lords rebuke to her sister Martha.  “Said I, not unto you, if those wouldest believe, you would see the glory of God?”  Then with a loud voice Jesus said, “Lazarus come forth.”  And he came forth; very much alive and he stinketh not.

Jesus proved once and for all {at least in Mary’s heart}, Jesus is the resurrection and “The Life.”

She had no need to attend the cross or the grave, why put herself through all of that grief when He will rise again on the third day as they had often preached.

Martha was a worker and all “Marthas” have their place in the church, but Mary was a worshiper frequently at Jesus’ feet. When Mary placed the ointment on Jesus’ feet she was the only one in the camp of Jesus that actually knew Jesus was going to die as He said on many occasions.  She now took His words literally.  She believes in Him without any reservation.

Mary knew without doubt that Jesus would rise again as did her brother Lazarus.  Judas was unmasked by his treachery.  Mary was unveiled by her faith!

-Johnny

The created material world (the world of matter) is devoid of any divine qualities.  The Universe was created separate from God.  Every star, quasar, planet, moon, solar systems and galaxies were created outside of Himself.  The universe is clearly distinct from him.  Only by his “word” does he call the universe into existence making it his own possession.  In essence, we are his “play pretties.”  Isaiah 45:7 “We were created for his purpose and pleasure”.  He has no rival deities, no cosmic dualism (no creature competition) or struggle over ruler or ownership.  It is all His and His Alone! No competitive primal power to contend with. It all belongs to Him.

He is the “All existing one”!

Let us view some of his greatness that is visible to the human eye and which can be mathematically equated stunning the simple minds of scientists and all men alike.

One millionth of a second – the moment before “The beginning” there was nothing.  No matter, light, time or space.  Nothing at all….then….there it was, Creation in its beginning-GOD! One millionth of a second after that moment things now exist where a moment before nothing existed at all.

Now, let us enter into that great and marvelous world of Creation.

Our Sun, 93 million miles away from Earth, can contain 1 million planets the size of our Earth and 4 million the size of our Moon.  That my friend is a very large sun indeed!  1 million Earth’s and 4 million Moons, Wow!  That in itself is awesome! But wait, there is more. Our Sun is considered a “medium” yellow star.  Let us look at some really, really big “red star” Suns.

The Star Antares for instance could hold 64 million Suns the size of ours.  Traveling at the speed of light (186.273 mps) it would take 5 light years to cross the diameter of the star Antares.  The distance that light travels in one year is approximately 6 trillion miles.  If it takes 5 light years to cross the diameter of Antares, one would travel 30 trillion miles from one end of Antares to the other end.  Wait, there is more…Antares is just one of the 15-20 Red Stars in our galaxies and yet it is one of the smallest of the 15-20 Red Stars.

Next in line is the Star Mu Cephei which is located in the constellation Hercules. This star could contain one hundred million stars the size of Antares.  Let’s break it down a bit further, something closer to Earth.  Mu Cephei could contain 4.5 billion of our suns and 6.4 quadrillion of our Earths.  Not bad huh?  Wait, more to come…

The star called “Vy Canis Majoris” is the largest that we know of in our Galaxies.  It is so large that 7 quadrillion of our Earths could fit inside of its circumference.  Our own Galaxy, the Milky Way is 100,000 light years in diameter.  How many years would it take to cross the Milky Way at the speed of light from one end to the other?  You do the math! How Great is our God! And yet for all of this we know absolutely nothing of how, when and why God created it so.

Cosmology and Astrophysics are new and developing science.  These are new fields of knowledge and study which means there will be a lot of speculations and circulating quandaries. Hypothesis, claims and other suggestions are certain to appear.    Many, if not all scientific knowledge will change as it always has and always will.

Two things are absolute.

Science will change because it is finite.  God’s work and Word will never change because He is infinite. He never changes, always the same, you can always count on that….FOREVER!

-Johnny

This recognition depends ultimately on faith and that the world [universe] was created by the word of God. Only unadulterated faith can begin to understand or even comprehend the very nature of the Almighty God of creation [Heb 11:3].

Reason and logic have never produced a miracle, nor do they alert us to the supernatural substance and spiritual elements of God.

“The Word of God has been specifically designed to perform at maximum strength; the impossible.”

The Gk. Word [Nous} has a variety of assorted meanings: Reason, mind, intellect, understanding, and thought, which all of these affect our disposition and resolve as human beings.

Divine reason and logic rule in the human race, as does the ruler and regulations of physic rule the outer space of the entire universe, from the microcosm to the macrocosm.

Reason comprehends truth as virtue embraces goodness.

In one’s reason lies ones awareness of God or the exclusion of Him.  In the beginning, reason was the pure essence of God for He was the reason of all existence.

A whole group of words is derived from the root word [Nous].

Dianoia: the act or faculty of thinking and reflection as opposed to the sensory perceptions and feelings.

The verb, [Noeo’] gives expression to the process of thinking and to thought itself.  Noeo’, essentially means to perceive with understanding, including both sensory and mental impressions.  Noeo’ expresses thought and being [5 senses] are made almost identical.

The strength of Noeo’ is GK. [Kardia] “Heart”: to direct ones mind toward something, to notice it, to observe it, to test, comprehend etc…

In the Old Testament, the Hebrew text has no term equivalent to the Gk. word groups associated with “Nous” (reason).

The Hebrew “Lebab” is translated 800 times by Kardia (Heart). This is where we get the word for cardiac, related to the heart.  In other words, OT thought is, the heart is the seat by which the intellect is processed.  This would imply that understanding and ration lie within the realm of moral decision.  This is what is meant to be “made in the image of God,” to be intelligible.

On the other hand, the forbiddance of God’s nature [reason and logic] is to be unintelligible, as well as senseless, foolish, lack of understanding and judgment and therefore made difficult to understand the secrets of God, known only to those who participate in active faith.

Because reason {Nous} is inspired by God, it leads to the knowledge of God, therefore; God is the reason behind all things {Litt].

Understanding and insight belong only to God; it is an exclusive act of sovereignty on His part presenting all to His children of light [the redeemed].

The mysteries of the reason and the wisdom of insight by God leads to the knowledge of God, but more important than the knowledge of God absorbed by reason is a “rapturous” knowledge of God revealed by the Spirit of God.

Ultimately, this mysterious reason of God will bring ALL WICKEDNESS to an end at the appointed time {The Wisdom and Reason of God}.

The New Testament gives this word group {Nous} its own interpretation.  All these words used here are associated more firmly with the “Will and the understanding” as an infinity understanding of God and His will of reason.

Understanding in its self will eventually become a disposition or attitude where time is allotted. Faith and reason develop in parallel terms.

The absence of [nous] reason, give way to lack of understanding.  Those without proper understanding have no comprehension of Jesus as “The Messiah”.

This is what is meant in Eph 4:18 “The darkening of one’s understanding being alienated from the life of God through ignorance, because the heart {Kardia} is blind.”  It is imperative we must possess the mind, reason of Christ, and abandon the natural reasoning which is a limitation for those who desire the excellence of the Almighty God Creator. Otherwise as a human race we will continue to celebrate stupidity!

We must be faithful to reason and grace if we are to obtain all of its qualities.

-Johnny

My name is Christina. The Lord has put it into my heart to share this very intimate and personal story with you!

It started about two years ago. My husband (Jorge) and I were attending Faith Assembly Church here in Houston, Texas. We were happy with two small boys to raise and what felt like a wonderful life in the Lord to lead. We had people from the congregation constantly coming up to us and commenting on how much our love for the Lord showed. I had women in awe of the personal relationship I had with God and how I cried every time we worshiped. I never understood why it was such an impact until now.

Then, someone from Jorge’s work began to chew on his ear about his church and how much more truthful this “true” church was. So, against my wishes but with my support he began going to this new church called Church of Christ.  It immediately started changing him. He was prideful and condescending and in a matter of time judging me and my entire family. I tried to remain calm about this change and combat with scripture. But, my husband has a gift from God with studying God’s word. Alas, he DID know more scriptures then I did and we butted heads about the word constantly. This was new to me as we were never the type to argue especially over the Lord’s word. Soon, he began to talk down on me and “preaching” of how Faith Assembly Church was wrong for believing we could still speak in tongues. We were wrong in that no woman should hold ANY office in the church. I tried to explain that Paul was writing to the Roman church about a specific issue the women were having in that church alone and had nothing to do with telling everyone else so!  He would get onto me about singing praises to the Lord with “Over Emotions” and no musical instrument should be played. Then I would continuously ask, “Why then, did David play with a harp when he sang his beautiful psalms to God?”  All he could say was that it was Old Testament. Finally, he came to me one night and told me we were no longer to go to Faith and he was now a member to Church of Christ.  I remember feeling like someone had punched me, I already knew what was to come. I would go on a downward spiral into depression. When I pleaded with gut-wrenching tears to Jorge, he just laughed. I still shiver remembering that gloating smile that was painted across his face.  I called our mentor at Faith John Link. He was in the hospital and I left a very tearful message about how I was fearful of Jorge attending this other church. (Little did I know he called Jorge and warned him that this would create a ripple in our family life and that there would be consequences.)  I then pleaded to my Mother who knew very well what this would lead to. She as well tried to speak to Jorge and told him this would divide our family and he in turn laughed in her face.

A year had passed. I no longer even attended church. Eventually, Jorge started pushing me away and it got to where we didn’t even spend any time with each other.  With drugs and alcohol all around me all the time, I turned to that for some kind of comfort.  It was around my Birthday and I pleased with the Lord to give me a baby, knowing that I couldn’t handle one physically but that if I did get pregnant I would stop the partying.  This is the first Miracle that God instilled to bring our family back together as we were literally going to separate that night I found out I was pregnant. Everything stopped and we were very close and conscience of each other and God in our lives for another year. We had a healthy baby boy in April. We named our son Jahden (in Hebrew it means “God has heard”).

Forward a couple of months to September. Jorge asked me to go to his church and I reluctantly agreed since I so desperately wanted us to have that common ground and bond again. I tried a couple of times. When I was there, I felt judged. I had several women explain that my Grandfather may not be in heaven since he was not the head of “the one true church”.  And knowing my Grandfather and growing up in his church that was a hard pill to swallow. Again, Jorge asked me to go in October and I said “Okay, one more time.”  When I went, the Pastor was telling us how if we are full of sin that God does not hear sinners and so we must tell someone in the congregation to pray to God for us. This got all over me and I said “No more”.  Jorge saw how upset I was and out of pity began to plan with me to try a different church. He never would make up his mind, so we never went to another one.  Again, Jorge started distancing himself away from me. Coming home, complaining and speaking against me and my family. So, again I turned to other comforts.  By mid-December I was so angry and fed up with my husband. Then, a longtime friend became my confidant again. She re-introduced me to an old flame of mine and we started to talk again. It got to the point that one night Jorge came home and told me how un happy he was. He tried to blame it all on me. However, it was a relief. I had felt the same way for some time. In fact I believe my anger made my love for him dissipate.  So, we separated for the first time.   At first, I was happy to have my freedom and enjoyed partying with friends. My old flame and I became closer. My old flame was in an accident a couple years ago and is wheelchair bound. I guess he felt embarrassed to talk to me and so stopped our relationship. I became very depressed and drowned my sorrows every night. One day I became sick and Jorge came to take care of me and the children. I saw a change in him. He said he wanted to fight for me and I was beginning to feel the spark again. Two weeks later, my old flame called again expressing his sorrow and wanting to give me a real chance. Not knowing how I felt I gave in and we went out on several dates and became intimate (as much as we could anyway) I felt guilty so I called Jorge and told him all about the other man.  He was horrified at first but continued to fight for me.  That night we talked on the phone and Jorge became upset and basically told me I had to choose. He knew my answer as I was still confused of my feelings and told me he never wanted anything to do with me again.  I was okay with it as I do get rebellious with authority sometimes. The more you tell me what to do the more I don’t want to do it.

Here’s the Miracle of a lifetime: I made my choice to be with the other man. Now, this other man loves to party and is not a believer in Christ. But, I was happy with my decision as I was still angry and hurt by Jorge. Yet, I was confused because I knew I was destroying myself.  Not to mention that my family and friends felt that Jorge was not the one for me.  That night however, I was restless. I couldn’t sleep and continued weeping until the late hours. I would sleep, have a nightmare, wake up and start crying again. Then, in the morning I felt as if someone literally reached into my body and turned my heart. My stomach was upset and I couldn’t even look at a picture of Jorge without feeling I had made the worst mistake of my life. I called him and his phone was off. Then, I heard a whisper, “Go to him.”  I gathered up my kids and headed towards his Mother’s house.  The whole time Satan was beside me telling me how again, I was making the wrong decision and to not run after Jorge. I almost turned the car around but I felt as if someone’s hands were over mine and I couldn’t move. As I pulled up fears started raging in my mind but again, I felt as if someone was pushing me all the way to the door. Keep in mind I am still in tears and feel as though I’m being torn apart in a war.  Jorge’s sister answers and then tells him I’m there. He comes out and all I can muster is “I choose you.” He immediately embraced me and we knew that it was right. We talked and I told him I was ready to submit to him as leader and head of house.  He exclaimed to me how we need to go back to FAITH ASSEMBLY!! I’m so excited.  However, we both felt as though there was still a war going on. Satan was constantly bombarding both him and I. (I do have roommates living with me now who is the girlfriend who introduced me to my old flame) I knew that there would be outside negative influences. So, I told Jorge to move in that night so that he would be my strength.  He agreed and I have felt since then very much protected.  My house is no longer our house and we felt evil spirits attacking us the minute we walked in. We keep in prayer and together at all times. That night I felt God speak to me. “You are not through the turmoil, but it WILL soon be over.”  Sunday morning we wake up and both of us felt like not going to church. However, I knew it was the only thing to keep us strong. On the way to church I felt God again speaking to me “I will be there waiting”.  My face lights up as I see our church. We go in worship and then the pastor begins to preach on Choices. You can choose life or you can choose death but choose now. We couldn’t believe it! It was if God was speaking directly to us!  Tears of joy and relief flooded me the entire time and I am now healed and washed in the blood of lamb!!  He is with me constantly and I have found my zeal for him again. I can’t wait for Wednesday and every day to be in his house!! I took all alcohol out of my house this morning as I do not want any temptation in my home! And as for me and MY house, We WILL SERVE THE LORD!!

-        I hope this gives you some insight on how wonderful the Lord works!! Thank you for your time and God Bless!!

Hello. My name is Jesus -The Christ. Many call me Lord! I’ve sent you my resume’ because I’m seeking the top management position in your heart.  Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume’.

Qualifications

• I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19)
• I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7)
• I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7)
• I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13)
• The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through me, (See Galatians 3:14)

Occupational Background

• I’ve only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49).
• I’ve never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful.
• My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15-17)

Skills Work Experiences

• Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to be poor no more, healing the brokenhearted, setting the captives free, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18).
• I am a Wonderful Counselor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33).
• Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of your sins, (See I John 1:7-9)

Educational Background

• I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6).
• In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See Colossians 2:3).
• My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet and a lamp unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105).
• I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21).

Major Accomplishments

• I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times, (See Genesis 1:26).
• I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15).
• I defeated the archenemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly, (See Colossians 2:15).
• I’ve miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!
• There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can read them on my website, which is located at: www dot – the BIBLE. You don’t need an Internet connection or computer to access my website.

References

• Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healings, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance

In Summation
Now that you’ve read my resume’, I’m confident that I’m the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital! position in your heart. In summation, I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47). When can I start? Time is of the essence, (See Hebrews 3:15).

Send this resume’ to everyone you know, you never know who may have an opening! Thanks for your help and may God! bless you!

-Author Unkown

Those of you who know me understand that I always keep a positive attitude towards life and everything it throws at you. Those who don’t know me, I want you to know that I love you and think that your life is so valuable to God and now is the time to start trusting in Him and His Son with everything.

The reason I am writing this testimonial for God, is that He has changed my life in a way that only His greatest power could, and He deserves all the credit.

August 2008: I’m a healthy young man, engaged to the love of my life, about graduate college and get started with the “American Dream”. The day of my final exams, I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. My first thought is, how do I not tell my fiancé so she doesn’t worry as she is about to graduate from her studies as well. That evening I was admitted to Northside Hospital Atlanta, where I soon find out my road is long and windy.

Immediately I hear of the prayers going out to my family and I. God is good, never did I question Him as to why I developed cancer. The truth is, I asked for it all my life. When I was young I decided that I could handle the burden of health for my family. When I would pray at night, I would ask God that if any bad thing would happen to my family, let it happen to me instead. Knowing what I know now, that was the most foolish prayer one could ever speak into existence. It is not that I am a hero or a martyr for my family, that is not my job, it has already been done. Jesus already did this for us, yet we forget about this every day. When we pray things like that we are not trusting God. Such simple things have slipped past me so much in my life. The devil took my fear and love for my family and tried to turn it for his advantage.

But the truth is, cancer opened my eyes, heart, spirit, mind and soul like nothing else in this wide world could. God took what the devil did and flipped his world upside down, but I did not know this yet. After several months of chemotherapy treatment and isolation I can be semi-normal for a change. Eventually I was in full remission from cancer and according to the doctors have a 2/3 shot at staying in remission.

August 2009: I’m married, living life, and things are wonderful. We are back in church, and oh how wonderful church is. I found a decent job and I am trying to start my business. I am thinking about going back to college to finally retake my classes that I didn’t get to finish and graduate. At this point my life is in my hands, I am making my way. My wife and I are finally excited to do what we want to do instead of what my health allows us to do. We think we are in control and we start to develop stress, fear, worrying, “what happens next”, “how are we ever going to afford these things”, “we are pretty much stuck”. Welcome back devil, have some fun with our lives and future. Sure we trust God, and Jesus, just not with our material well-being. Sad truth.

March 2010: Baby on the way. God has blessed us with the baby we were trying for. There is a really high chance after 5-6 rounds of chemotherapy I would be sterile. Such wonderful news. Of course you know who hears this excellent news? None other than Satan himself. Quickly coming to remind us of how we are in over our heads, still living with our parents, still haven’t found a place of our own, and my business is failing. Still, my wife and I pray and hope for God to help us and to guide us as we always do. We haven’t lost any faith during this time, in fact our faith has grown, but we still haven’t fully learned to trust in The Lord.

January 2011: Solomon Joel Rosenblatt is born. Super healthy. Super handsome.

End of February 2011: Cancer returns.

I just want to mention here before the story continues, that I believe I was not fully healed the first time because I did not fully believe I was healed. When I would pray at night, I would pray to stay in remission, I would pray to my blood. If I had just trusted in what Jesus has already done, I wouldn’t have had to pray those prayers. This is important to remember, as you can pray in the spirit of fear.

I have been sick for about a month straight. On this morning I am so sick I have puked for about 5 hours straight, can’t hold down fluids. I know what’s going on. Dad drives me to hospital. Cancer is back, no big deal. Beat it once, can do it again. Only one difference this time around, I have a family, and a new-born son….. That single thought can’t leave my mind. The devil is using it against me as hard as he can to break my faith. My thoughts are constant: “you can’t help your family”, “your son won’t even know you”, “it will be months before your better, if you get better”, “how is she going to survive without you working and helping with the boy”, “you should have waited longer to have a baby so that you knew you were going to stay in remission”. These thoughts and more won’t escape my head. I feel like a failure. My family can help, but it’s not going to be the same without me. I know my wife, and our love is so strong, she will make it, but it will be difficult.

Matthew 11:28-29 – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

I pray for days while going through more chemo. I ask God many questions about how I can help my family. I get no answers. I still trust in God and keep asking. Still nothing, what is going on?  My wife moves back in with her mother and father, which is a great relief to her. She gets a lot of help and is able to survive as she isn’t going back to work now for a while.

Pastor Kelley brings me a book by Oswald Chambers. I read through it nightly, somewhere in that book there is a page or a story about faith and giving it all up. We all know and have heard this a thousand times. Give it all up, yeah, easier said than done. God come on, You know our flesh, You know we can’t.

But what happens when you have no choice. This is where the “rubber meets the road” as Pastor Kelley so finely says.

What happens is God takes over because you have no choice anymore. God takes control, and when He takes control, it’s like nothing you have ever seen.

Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.

July 2011: I have had my stem cell transplant. I have been in the hospital for about 20 days straight with nausea and diarrhea. I am getting to my wit’s end. Between the 10 minute bathroom breaks all day long and eating through an IV you start to lose your mind. I decide to just pray for hours. I pray and pray and pray and weep. Eventually I fall asleep.

That night I am sleeping, when I begin to dream. This dream is wonderfully real; I am staring at a neon brilliant light. This light is so bright and surrounds all of my view, but it doesn’t hurt your eyes. It is warm; I actually feel my whole body being warm. As I stare at this light, I hear a voice. The voice says, “You are healed, your life will be blessed.”

I awake; my body is so warm all over. I am not just warm, I feel like I have laid on the beach warm, bathing in the sun with a cool breeze. The perfect warm that you just yearn for when you’re worn out. Immediately I begin to cry and weep. I probably cried for hours. What happened to me? Was that God? I have never heard Him before. In my whole life, never have I felt like God was speaking directly to me. This time He was. At my wit’s end, when I need Him the most, He came…

The next day, my diarrhea is better, my nausea is fading. Three days later, the doctors are talking about releasing me from the hospital, because I am doing so well.

August 26th, 2011: I am sitting in the clinic writing this testimonial to you. God told me to share my intuition of what my story really means. As my story isn’t exceptional in any way. Millions of people go through cancer and are believers and are healed by God, either through doctors, prayer, divine healing or many other ways. God is unique and works in His own way each time.

What I want you to absorb in your heart is this:

After being diagnosed a second time, Tiara and I had to give up on us carrying our own weight. We have to depend on God above all. We have no choice but to pray and depend on Him for everything. We have no choice, but to know in our hearts that now He is taking care of everything. The more we lost and the less control we had, the more He shined through for us and blessed us. The more we stopped saying what are we going to do? The more He showed us what He is going to do for us, and then did it.

Every single day we talked to each other about how God was blessing us. We didn’t understand what was going on. Sure, we understood that He knew we needed Him, but we always needed Him in the past. We have always asked Him and talked to Him. Why was this different? Then God revealed to me why.

When all hope is lost, you give up on yourself and either fall from grace, or depend on Him. I am telling you now; learn from what I have learned. The Bible tells us this a million times. But the truth is we are too stubborn to learn it.

If you think you’re letting God control your life, but things are not going the way you want. I think there is a good chance (100%) you’re still trying to control your life, future, money, wealth, health, and everything else. The quicker you let go, the better off you will be. Tiara and I are the happiest, the most in love, and the most spirit filled we have ever been. We see God in everything like we have never seen before. We talk about God and Jesus more than we ever have; He is in our hearts stronger now than ever, and every day we grow more and more. It seems like His love grows ten times stronger for us and us for Him every single day.

He reveals more to me now than ever before in my life. Each day He tells me how we will survive, what are future will be like, how I will earn money, what we will do with our son, how many beautiful children we will have. I can’t even really put into words how much The Lord will speak to you when you utterly have nothing but Him as your main focus.

I cry so much more at the smallest blessings in life. Time goes so much slower when you can see all the blessings He bestows in your life when you forget about all the difficult things you think you have to do and go through tomorrow. Stumbling into Him controlling my life is one of the best things that has ever happened to me. Thanks God, and good try devil! Twenty six years of my life without him truly, I say truly in my heart, was too long. Enjoy His grace now, not later, or never.

May these words that He placed in my mind infect your heart, soul and spirit. I love you all, and God bless you.

-Joseph Rosenblatt

Our Lord is here represented as the supreme and infallible teacher of men in the Holy things of God, especially His teaching concerning His divine being and His relationship with man and God.

“…He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and Son.”

“The life of the Lord Jesus Christ is the Supreme revelation of God.”

“The Word became flesh [Jesus incarnate] and dwelt among us full of grace and truth.”  Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth and the life: No one cometh unto the Father, but by me.” [John 14:6-10]

“Neither doth any know the Father except the Son and him to whomsoever the son willeth to reveal him.  The essential part of the teaching or doctrine is to “abide” in it [the teaching of Christ.]

Who has the time to “stay put” or to “remain” in our fast paced society?  Not withstanding, that is exactly what Jesus commands His followers to do in order to survive – “abide.”

“Abide in Me, and I in you.” John 15:4 is the well-known vine illustration which Jesus tells His believers to abide “don’t go anywhere, remain and stay put.”

According to the doctrine of Jesus’ teachings, each branch [15:1-8] or each believer, has been correctly positioned in the vine {Christ} so that they may produce good fruit.  Each branch is to “remain” in perfect union with Him.

The Greek word for “abide” is an imperative consatative [meno] that encompasses the entire act of abiding as a single event, fixed and influenced by a third party or person [Deity] in the continual present tense.

We see in the following our Lord uses present tense verbs to describe the continual activity that is involved in nourishing a formative union with Christ.

Each branch that continues [Abides] or remains in the vine will continue bearing fruit [Fruit of the Spirit: Gal 5:22].

On the other hand, each branch, [person] that does not continue to abide in the vine, is cut off from the vine [taking personal responsibility].

The Hebrew word that most parallels the GK word for abide is, sakan or to dwell, literally to camp, set up permanent residence, pitch a tent, meet and tabernacle with God.  The use of “Sakan” is associated with the visible [tangible} presence of God.  Most Christians are familiar with the branch word from “sakan”: “Shekinah” – it describes the presence of God among His people.

John 1:14 says of Jesus: [using the GK word skenoo] “The word became flesh and made His dwelling [Skenno-Shekinah] literally, “tabernacled” among us.”

That is to say, Jesus is the incarnation of “the glory of God” [Shekinah] dwelling among God’s people as God did also in the tabernacle {skene] of the Old Testament; Comparable, Rev 21:3 says, “Now the dwelling [Skene} of God is with men, and He will live {Skenoo] with them and be their God.”

Men may fail to “abide” in the true doctrine being presumptuous in their intellectual inquiries not recognizing the fact that “secret things” belong unto God and reveals them to whom He wills.

“Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent and hast revealed them unto babes.”

Again, men may fail to “abide” or “dwell” in the true doctrine of Christ for reasons of “inconvenience” or the “progress of apostasy”, political correctness and just plain – o back sliding.

“The secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him.”  When the heart of man is not right with God, it is easy to be lead away from truth and into error.

We are required to “abide” in that which is ‘true” [the word of God and in Him alone].  We are to be rooted and grounded in it and abide and dwell continuously searching the scriptures for eternal life.  In doing so, we will become established in the true faith.

One of the most effective safeguards against the corruption of our faith is a healthy abiding dwelling spiritual life in Him.

The failure to do so has but a sad and pitiful consequence.  “Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teachings of Christ hath not God!!”  In other words, he has no fellowship with God, nor is he a partaker of His divine nature; he does not possess Him in any portion.

But, “We have the mind of Christ.” We know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent.

We have the author Himself.  Having obtained His principles and concepts, we have the Father and the Son because of our acquaintance with His covenant.  Our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ.  By mutual love, we possess each other, by mutual love we have in our “dwelling” both Father and Son and His Holy Spirit.

-Johnny