A Christmas Message

Isaiah 9:6 says, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

The above scripture describes the most important birth in all of history - The   Birth Of Jesus Christ, True Son Of The One True God. They also describe who Jesus would become as an adult explaining why Jehovah God sent Him to earth. This special Christmas message will elaborate on the extreme importance of the birth of Jesus.

We will start by examining the humbleness of the circumstances of the birth of Jesus. Certainly, the God of all creation could have caused His Son to be born in a palace. After all, this baby became The King of all Kings! However, God's plan was to bring Jesus to earth in a lowly manager surrounded by animals. A most humble way to be born! Why? Jehovah God sent His Son to earth as a True Servant of all people - Jew and Gentile.

How did the True Son Of The One True God serve all people while on earth for three years? Philippians 2:5-9 says, "Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death - even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place." Jesus functioned in true humility as a servant even to the point of death on a cross. His obedience to The Heavenly Father provide a path to salvation, eterenal life and forgiveness of sins.

Is there a better time of the year to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior? If this is the desire of your heart, please pray this prayer with me: 

Jesus, I know that I am a sinner.

 Please forgive me of all of my sins.

 I believe You are Lord and

 that God  raised You from the dead.

 Please come into my life to be my Savior

 and grant me Eternal Life.

 Thank you, Jesus! Amen!

Have A Most Blessed And Joyous Christmas,

Frank 

     

The Servant Of The Lord - Part 5

This series has established that Jehovah God called Israel and Jesus Christ to be a blessing and to bring salvation to the world. Certainly, Jesus through His death and resurrection fulfilled His calling from God. However, Israel has had difficulty completing their mission raising the question of will they ever complete it? The answer is a RESOUNDING YES!

Revelation 7:2-4 says, "Then I saw another angel coming up from the East, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 'Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God.' Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel."

These verses describe 144,000 Jewish men who are sealed by Jehovah God during the seven year Tribulation Period. What does it mean to be "Sealed By God?" The meaning is to have God's name written on their foreheads. {Revelation 14:1} This seal will serve as a shield of protection meaning Jehovah God will protect those whom He gives special assignments during the Tribulation Period.

What is the special assignment God gives to the 144,000 Jewish men? Notice Revelation 7:3 describes them as "Servants Of Our God." They will be His witnesses bringing God's blessings and the salvation message to people all over the world. Even during the darkest times of the Tribulation Period, a great Spiritual Awakening will occur. Is Anything Too Difficult For Our God? NO!

Revelation 11:3 says, "And I will give power to My two witnesses and they will prophesy for 1,260 days clothed in sackcloth." The Word Of God does not identify these two witnesses. However,  they will prophesy and perform miracles while being protected by God from numerous physical attacks. They will also shine the light and love of God during the Tribulation Period.

Yes, Israel fulfills their corporate Servant Of The Lord calling during the Tribulation Period! What does the future hold for Israel and the Jewish people? Will they ever recognize their Messiah? Stay Tuned!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,

Frank 

The Servant Of The Lord - Part 4

So far, our series about The Servant Of The Lord has identified Israel as the Corporate Servant Of The Lord and their mission from Jehovah God is to bring  blessings and salvation to the world. However, God has referred to them as a stiff-necked people and He desires for them to return to Him. As a result, Israel has had difficultly in completing their mission.

Jehovah God is Lord of all and in control of every situation. His solution to this was to bring forth an Individual Servant Of The Lord. Notice Isaiah 42:1 saying, "Here is My servant, whom I uphold, My chosen one in whom I delight; I will put My Spirit on Him and He will bring justice to the nations."

To identify the Individual Servant Of The Lord all we need to do is to observe the Baptism of Jesus Christ. God said He will put His Spirit on the Servant Of The Lord. When Jesus came out of the water, the Spirit of God "descended on Him like a dove." {Mark 1:10.} Jesus Christ is the The Servant Of The Lord! He came to earth to fulfill many missions or assignments from Jehovah God.

First and most important, God sent Jesus to earth to bring salvation to all. Romans 10:9 says, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus Is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." Jesus came to fulfill the Will Of God. Hallelujah!

Isaiah 61:1-3 further identifies Jesus as The Servant Of The Lord plus identifying Him as the Jewish Messiah, "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on Me, because The Lord has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion." Bless His Holy Name!

Possibly, you are wondering if Israel will ever complete their mission from God to bring blessings and salvation to the world? Stay Tuned!

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank  

The Servant Of The Lord - Part 3

Last week's message established Israel or the Jewish People as a corporate Servant Of The Lord. Isaiah 44:1,2 says, "But now listen, O Jacob, My servant, Israel, whom I have chosen. This is what The Lord says - He who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, My servant, Jeshurum, whom I have chosen."

We also established that Israel is called by Jehovah God to bring salvation to the world. Isaiah 44:8 says, "Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses."

These declarations may have come as a surprise to some readers. After all, we currently know that most of God's Chosen People do not know the identity of their Messiah. This message concentrates on answering these questions.

"Remember these things, O Jacob, for you are My servant, O Israel. I have made you, you are my servant; O Israel, I will not forget you. I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." - Isaiah 44:21,22. Jehovah God proclaims twice that Israel is His servant, that He will not forget them. However, God also says "Return To Me." There is a problem! Israel had turned away from God.

Isaiah 45:5 says, "I am The Lord and there is no other; apart from Me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged Me." This verse shows God declaring He is Lord and there is no other god besides Him. Then He proclaims, "You have not acknowledge Me." There is a problem!

Lastly, Isaiah 46:12 says, "Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, you who are far from righteousness." Jehovah God is describing His Chosen People as being stuborn hearted and far from righteousness. There is a problem!

Israel, the Corporate Servant Of The Lord, to a large degreee, has not fulfilled its mission from God to be a "Light To The Gentiles."  Next week's message will start identifying the individual Servant Of The Lord who  brought salvation to the world. Stay Tuned!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,

Frank

   

The Servants Of The Lord - Part 2

Last week's message announced the start of a new series entitled "The Servant Of The Lord." The primary purpose of this new series is to answer the following questions:

Who Is The Jewish Messiah?

Why Is It So Difficult For The Jewish People 

To Recognize Their Messiah?

We need to start by recognizing that the Word Of God refers to "The Servant Of The Lord" in both a corporate and an individual sense.  Isaiah 41:8,9 says, "But you, O Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, you descendants of Abraham My friend. I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'you are My servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you." Jehovah God is saying to Israel or the Jewish People "You Are My Servant" not once but twice.

Genesis 12:2,3 shows God speaking with Abraham and his descendants proclaiming that He is going to bless them and He is going to make them a blessing to all the nations of the earth. This is precisely why the Jewish People are called "God's Chosen People." They are chosen by Jehovah God for a particular mission - to be a blessing to all people of the earth. In this process, they are referred to as "The Servant Of The Lord."

Jehovah God established a Covenant Relationship with Israel through Abraham. Israel as "The Servant Of The Lord" was chosen to redeem people from every nation by ultimately bringing salvation to these nations. Notice in Isaiah 43:10,12 and Isaiah 44:8 God declares about Israel that "You Are My Witnesses."

How will all this be accomplished? Does Israel have an individual "Servant Of The Lord" to assist them in accomplishing this critically important mission from Jehovah God? Stay Tuned!

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank

 

The Servant Of The Lord

Romans 10:1-3 says, "Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness."

We have just finished a two month series of messages designed to cause all of us to determine whether we are saved. The above verses from Romans 10 illustrates Paul desiring that his people, the Israelites, would be saved. He shows that his people have established their own righteousness based on keeping the Law and not based on righteousness through Jesus Christ as their Savior or Messiah.

The Apostle Paul continues his message by trying to determine why the majority of his people have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Messiah. Romans 10:16-18 says, "But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, 'Lord, who has believed our message?' Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message and the message is heard through the word of Christ. But I ask, did they not hear? Of course they did." As we can see, it was not because they have not heard the message of Jesus Christ as their Messiah!

Additionally, Romans 10:21 says, "But concerning Israel He says, 'All day long I have held out My hand to a disobedient and obstinate people.'" Was it because they did not desire to believe the message of Jesus Christ as their Messiah?

Lastly, Paul raises the question, Did God reject His people? Romans 11:1-2 says, "I ask then, did God reject His people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject His people, whom He foreknew." God has not rejected the Jewish People!

Our message this week has raised a number of questions. The most important question to be answered is, How can the Jewish People recognize their Messiah? Next week will start a new series entitled "The Servant Of The Lord" that will answer this very important question. Stay Tuned!

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank

Am I Saved?

Our message this week will be the last of a lengthy series all designed to cause us to ask the question - Am I Saved? Do I know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior?

The series started with learning about the Old Blood Covenant established by Jehovah God at Mt. Sinai when God gave Moses His Law and Moses then presented it to the Israelites. When God's people could not obey the Law, they would sacrifice animals which atoned for their sins but was not forgiveness of sins.

As a result, Jehovah God determined there was a need to replace the Old Blood Covenant with a New Blood Covenant. God sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth to shed His blood on a cross and then to be risen again. This most important sacrificial act in all of history provides a path to salvation, forgiveness of sins and eternal life.

How can this happen? Romans 10:9 says, "That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." We ask again - Are You Saved? If not, please pray this prayer and believe in your heart, "Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner. I ask that you forgive me of all of my sins. I confess with my mouth Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead. Thank you for saving me and granting me forgiveness of sins, eternal life and the Holy Spirit as my counselor." Amen and Amen!

Romans 10:13 says, "Everyone who calls on the name of The Lord will be saved." Our messages the last two months were for all people whether Jew or Gentile. Jesus is Lord and Savior of all people! 

In closing, November marks the seventh anniversary of For Zion's Sake Ministry Messages. We are honored and humbled to report that over 31,000 people around the world have received and read our messages. Bless His Holy Name!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,

Frank

Blessings Of New Blood Covenant - Part Three

Our last few messages have highlighted the numerous blessings of living under the New Blood Covenant. We have learned once we receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we receive salvation, forgiveness of sins, eternal life and the Holy Spirit who comes to live in our hearts. Hallelujah!

The infilling of The Holy Spirit is not an act of God to receive without proper reverence or thanksgiving. In reality, part of the Triune God - The Holy Spirit has come to live in our hearts. God is living within us! It is a miraculous Act Of Jehovah God. Our message this week is to help us further understand this loving and merciful act of God.

John 14 is entitled "Jesus Comforts His Disciples" and He is having an important discussion with them just prior to His death, resurrection and ascension back to Heaven. We need to realize this discussion is also for us today since we are modern day disciples of Jesus.

John 14:15-16 says, "If you love Me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever." Jesus is explaining that when He leaves this world He will ask The Heavenly Father to send The Holy Spirit who will become our Counselor. He will speak only the truth He receives from God just as Jesus did while He was on earth.

Let us consider this even further to understand the true blessing of God living within us. We now have an intimate friend in the form of The Holy Spirit. We can and should speak with Him at any time, any place and under any circumstances. He is always available and desires to hear from us at all times. Amen and Amen!

In fact, we are encouraged to speak to God! Hebrews 4:16 says, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." We Serve A Loving, Caring, Compassionate, Protecting and Providing God! Bless His Holy Name!

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank

Blessings Of New Blood Covenant - Part Two

For a number of weeks our messages centered around comparing the Old Blood Covenant with the New Blood Covenant. At the conclusion of this series we learned that Jehovah God brought about the New Covenant with these  blessings - forgiveness of sins, salvation and eternal life. There are still many more blessings!

Jeremiah 31:33 says, "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares The Lord. "I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts." What does this mean? We need to look at when God presented His law to His people at Mt. Sinai through Moses. The law came in the form of the Ten Commandments and 613 additional laws. The people responded by saying they would obey all the laws. Did they keep the covenant by obeying the laws? NO! Almost immediately after receiving the laws they constructed a false god which they worshipped. They were not physically or emotionally able to keep or obey the laws.

However, as part of receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, Jehovah God has a way to help us in trying to obey Him. Ezekiel 36:26-27 says, "I will give you a new heart and put a new Spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit in you and move you to follow My decrees and be careful to keep My laws." God says He will give us a new Spirit and a new heart enabling us to "Keep His Laws." Hallelujah!

How does this all happen? When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we receive the Holy Spirit who comes to live in our hearts. The Holy Spirit becomes our Guide And Counselor helping us to function in all areas of our lives pleasing Jehovah God. Bless His Holy Name!

Lastly, 1Corinthians 6:19 says, "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."

There are many more of these blessings to explore. Stay Tuned!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,

Frank

Blessings Of New Blood Covenant

Jeremiah 31:31 says, "The time is coming," declares The Lord, "When I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah."

Last week's message illustrated how Jehovah God brought about the New Blood Covenant - He sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth to die on a cross shedding His own blood. As a result of this most important sacrificial act in all of history, when we humbly confess our sins to God all our sins are forgiven. This replaces the sacrificing of animals under the Old Blood Covenant that atoned for sins but was not forgiveness of sins.

There are numerous other blessings we receive when we decide to live under the New Blood Covenant by receiving Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. How can we do this? Romans 10:9-10,12 says, "That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved . . . For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him."

All of God's creation, whether Jew or Gentile, need to first believe in their heart that "Jesus Is Lord And God Raised Him From The Dead." We then need to proclaim these truths with our mouth since we speak of what is in our hearts.  As we believe and speak these truths we are saved. Hallelujah!

When we know without a doubt we are saved we also will know without a doubt where we go when we leave this earth. Jesus says in John 14:2, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you." Jesus is preparing a place for all who have received Him as their Savior to live when they leave this earth, this wonderful place is called Heaven. Bless His Holy Name!

Living under the New Blood Covenant provides salvation and forgiveness of sins. However, there are many more blessings! Stay tuned!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,

Frank   

Old Covenant . . . New Covenant

For a number of messages we have been comparing the Old Blood Covenant with the New Blood Covenant. Last week we learned there was a problem with the Old Covenant resulting in God establishing a New Covenant. This week we will learn how God established this New Covenant.

Hebrews 9:13-15 says, "The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleansed our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve The Living God!"

There is much for us to learn from these critically important few verses from God's Word. Initially, we learn again that the blood of sacrificed animals only made a person "Outwardly Clean." It was not forgiveness of sins! We then learned about Jehovah God's solution to the problem with the Old Covenant.

God sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth to die on a cross shedding His Own Blood! Notice how verse 14  of Hebrews 9 says the blood of Christ "Cleanses Our Consciences." The shed blood of Jesus, upon our confession of our sins, forgives us of all our sins! Verse 15 also states that Jesus is the "Mediator" or vehicle Jehovah God used to bring about the New Blood Covenant.

However, there is much more accomplished by Jehovah God through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ! Hebrews 10:7-9 quotes Jesus saying, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." Additionally, Hebrews 10:16 says, "This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says The Lord. I will put My laws in their hearts and I will write them on their minds."

Next week, we will look further at what Jesus accomplished by dying on the cross. Also what does it mean by God saying He "Put His laws in our hearts and wrote them on our minds?" Stay Tuned!

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank

Old Covenant . . . New Covenant

Jeremiah 31:31-32 says, "The time is coming," declares The Lord,  "When I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke My covenant, though I was a husband to them."

In our last five messages we have learned:

What Is A Covenant?

How Was The Old Blood Covenant Established?

The Old Blood Covenant Started As An Unconditional Covenant.

Jehovah God Changed It To A Conditional Covenant At Mt. Sinai.

God's Covenant People Could Not Keep The Conditional Covenant.

There was a problem with the Old Blood Covenant. Notice what Hebrews 8:7 says, "For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another." Additionally, Hebrews 10:3-4 says, "But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins."

What was the exact problem with the Old Blood Covenant? The sacrificing of animals was only a reminder of sins. It did not clear one's conscience of their sins and was not forgiveness of sins. As a result, Jehovah God says in  Hebrews 8:10, "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, I will put My laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be My people."

Next week we will start studying how Jehovah God established the New Blood Covenant and how we can all become partakers of the New Blood Covenant! Bless His Holy Name!

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank 

Old Covenant . . . New Covenant

Our continuing study comparing the Old Blood Covenant with the New Blood Covenant has shown that the Old Blood Covenant started as an Unconditional Covenant with God making numerous promises to Abraham and his descendants that are all being fulfilled. Any kind of response by His people was not necessary. Then when God's people arrived at Mt. Sinai, God changed the covenant to a Conditional Covenant meaning God's people will have to obey the Ten Commandments and an additional 613 laws to keep the covenant.

The message this week will show whether God's people obeyed the requirements of the Conditional Covenant. Exodus 32:1-4 says, "When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, 'Come, make us gods who will go before us' Aaron answered them, 'take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing and bring them to me.' So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool."

It did not take very long for the people to break the Conditional Covenant and they broke it in the most offensive way before God. While Moses was still on Mt. Sinai with Jehovah God, Aaron and the people decided to set up a false god to worship in the form of a golden calf. They immediately broke the first commandent that says, "Thou shall have no other gods before me."

There are consequences to not obeying God and His Conditional Covenant. However, we learn that as part of the Conditional Covenant, when one of God's people sinned, then they could sacrifice an animal before receiving God's judgement. This is clearly explained in Leviticus 1:1-4. The animal sacrifice atones for the sin but is not "Forgiveness Of Sins."

Next week we will learn why there was a need for a New Blood Covenant. Please stay tuned!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,

Frank

  

Old Covenant . . . New Covenant

We are in the process of a detailed study comparing the Old Blood Covenant with the New Blood Covenant. The study has shown the early stages of the Old Blood Covenant illustrating Jehovah God making numerous unconditional promises to Abraham and his descendants which He has kept. This was known as an Unconditional Covenant. However, God changes the Old Blood Covenant to a Conditional Covenant at Mt. Sinai.

Exodus 19:1,3,5 says, "In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt - on the very day - they came to the Desert of Sinai . . . Then Moses went up to God and The Lord called to him from the mountain and said, 'This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel . . . Now if you obey Me fully and keep My Covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession.'"

How did God change the Old Blood Covenant to a Conditional Covenant? Notice in verse 5 God says to His people in order to keep My Covenant "You must fully obey Me." The people responded to this new directive from Jehovah God saying "We will do everything The Lord has said."

Then Jehovah God called Moses to come up to the top of Mt. Sinai and God spoke to Moses the words of the Ten Commandments. {Exodus 20:1-17} Why did God change the Covenant to a Conditional Covenant based on His people obeying the Ten Commandments? Exodus 20:20 shows Moses responding to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."

Exodus Chapters 21,22 and 23 show an additional 613 laws which God gave to Moses for the people to also obey. How did the people respond to these additional laws? Exodus 24:3 says, "Everything The Lord Has Said We Will Do."

Next week's message will answer the following question, "Did God's People Fully Obey The Conditional Covenant?

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You In His Care Each Day,

Frank

Old Covenant . . . New Covenant

Our last two messages have started a study comparing the Old Blood Covenant with the New Blood Covenant. These messages revealed Jehovah God contacting Abraham and explaining that He will establish the Old Blood Covenant through Abraham and his descendants. Last week's message illustrated how God actually established the Old Blood Covenant.

We will now explain how God continued the Old Blood Covenant through Abraham's son Isaac. Genesis 17:1,2,7,8 says, "When Abraham was ninety-nine years old, The Lord appeared to him and said, 'I am God Almighty, walk before Me and be blameless. I will confirm My covenant between Me and you and will greatly increase your numbers . . . I will establish My covenant as an everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendents 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 are now an alien, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.'"

Jehovah God is again telling Abraham that He is establishing the Old Blood Covenant through Abraham and his descendants and that He will greatly increase their numbers. Notice also God states this covenant is "Everlasting" and He says again He is giving Canaan (Israel) to Abraham and his descendants.

Then in Genesis 17:15,16,17,19 God explains to Abraham how the Old Blood Covenant will be continued, "As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her . . . Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, 'Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?' . . . Then God said, 'yes, but your wife Sarah will bear you a son and you will call him Isaac. I will establish My covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.'"

Is anything too difficult for Jehovah God? Just as Jesus was miraculously born through the virgin Mary, God birthed a son through 100 year old Abraham and 90 year old Sarah. God clearly stated the Old Blood Covenant will continue through Isaac and his descendants!

Next week we will study how the Old Blood Covenant changes from being Unconditional to Conditional. Stay tuned!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,

Frank     

Old Covenant . . . New Covenant

Last week's message was the start of a study comparing the Old Blood Covenant with the New Blood Covenant. We learned that a covenant is a set of promises made between two parties never to be broken. Jehovah God laid the foundation for establishing the Old Covenant by making seven promises to Abraham and his descendants in Genesis 12:2-3 which He kept and continues to keep. This week's message will illustrate how God established the Old Blood Covenant.

Genesis 15 is entitled "God's Covenant With Abraham." The early verses show Jehovah God and Abraham having a conversation. Abraham questions how God can continue to provide for him and his descendants since he is childless. God responds by telling Abraham he will have a son. In fact, God says to Abraham in verse 5, "Look up at the heavens and count the stars . . . so shall your offspring be." Also God said to Abraham the land you are standing on I will give to you and your descendants.

Genesis 15:8-10,12,17 says, "But Abraham said, 'O 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.' Abraham 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. . . As the sun was setting, Abraham fell into a deep sleep and thick and dreadful darkness came over him . . . when the sun had set and darkness had fallen, a smoking fire pot with a blazing torch appeared and passed between the pieces."

The above Scripture is the actual establishment of the Old Blood Covenant. The sacrifice of animals was part of covenant ceremonies and lining them opposite each other represented the two parties to the covenant - God and Abraham. The burning torch passing between the animal pieces actually represented God establishing the covenant. Bless His Holy Name!

Additionally, Genesis 15:18 described God giving the land of Israel to Abraham and his descendants, "To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates." This describes a much larger tract of land than present day Israel but land that God's Covenant People will posses in the future. {Revelation 21:16}

Next week's message will illustrate Jehovah God continuing the Old Blood Covenant through Abraham's son Isaac. Stay Tuned! 

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank 

Old Covenant . . . New Covenant

Jeremiah 31:31-34 says, "The time is coming," declares The Lord, "When I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke My covenant though I was a husband to them. This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time. I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people . . . For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

The above four scriptures will be the foundation of a study comparing the Old Blood Covenant with the New Blood Covenant. Our goal is to answer the following key questions:

What Is A Covenant?

What Types Of Covenants Did God Create?

When Did The Old Blood Covenant Start?

Through Whom Did God Create The Old Blood Covenant?

How Was The Old Blood Covenant Created?

Why Was It Necessary For God To Create The New Blood Covenant?

Through Whom Did God Create The New Blood Covenant?

What Is A Covenant? A covenant is a solemn agreement or promise between two or more parties and was established with a document or ceremony. An Unconditional Covenant is when one party keeps all of a set of promises. The Old Blood Covenant illustrated Jehovah God keeping a number of promises for His Chosen People - The Jewish People.

How did the Old Blood Covenant start? Genesis 12:2-3 shows God speaking to Abraham, "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." These two verses are a perfect example of an Uncoditional Covenant in which God makes seven promises to Abraham and his descendants. Jehovah God kept all these covenant promises of the Old Blood Covenant and continues to keep them today. Bless His Holy Name!

Next week's message will explore how Jehovah God literally established the Old Blood Covenant. Stay Tuned!

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank    

"One In Christ" - Part Four

This will be the last in a series of messages titled "One In Christ." In our previous messages we have learned:

All people are loved equally by Jehovah God

Jesus came to earth to break down the wall of hostility

 between Jew and Gentile

All people equally receive Jesus as Savior when they believe

 He is Lord and that He died and was resurrected

All saved people receive forgiveness of sins

 upon confession of their sins

This last message will center on another important blessing received when a person receives Jesus as Savior - Eternal Life. Jesus said in John 14:1-2, "Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you." To review, Jesus said to be eligible for Eternal Life a person should believe in God and Jesus. He is preparing a place for all saved people which is called Heaven. Eternal Life means spending eternity in Heaven!

Heaven is a literal place where God dwells. Psalm 11:4 says, "The Lord is in His Holy Temple; The Lord is on His Heavenly Throne." God's Throne is in Heaven. Saved people will live eternally with God and with all other saved people.

Jesus also lives in Heaven seated at the right hand of Jehovah God. Ephesians 1:20 says when tallking about God, "That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the Heavenly Realms." Luke 24:50-51 also describes Jesus ascending to Heaven, "When He had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, He lifted up His hand and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He left them and was taken up into Heaven."

Lastly, all saved people will actually see the face of Jesus. Revelation 22:3-4 says, "The Throne of God and of The Lamb will be in the city and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face." Hallelujah! 

As we close this series called "One In Christ" our desire is that all who have read these messages are saved. If this is not true for you, please pray this pray with me: Jesus, I know I am a sinner. Please forgive me of all my sins. I believe you died on a cross and then God raised You from the dead. Please come into my heart to be my Savior so that I know when I die I will go to Heaven. Thank you for becoming my Lord and Savior!

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank   

  

"One In Christ" - Part Three

Our messages the last two weeks have emphasized that Jehovah God loves all people equally and sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth to die on a cross and be resurrected for both Jews and Gentiles. Through this most important sacrifice in all of history Jews and Gentiles can receive Jesus as their Savior and Messiah.

However, there is another very important blessing when a person receives Jesus as their Savior and Messiah - Forgiveness Of Sins. The beginning of Hebrews 10 explains this thoroughly. Verses 3 and 4 refer to animal sacrifices that were performed by the Jews under the Old Blood Covenant, "But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins." Notice these animal sacrifices were just a reminder of sins and not forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews 10:6-7 explains that God was not pleased with the animal sacrifices but sent Jesus to do His Will, "With burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, 'Here I am - it is written about Me in the scroll - I have come to do Your Will, O God.'"

What was the Will Of God that Jesus accomplished when He died on the cross and was resurrected? Hebrews 10:9-10 says, "He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." Jesus established the New Blood Covenant setting aside the Old Blood Covenant resulting in Jehovah God forgiving all saved people's sins upon their confession of sins. 

Bless His Holy Name!

Our message next week will continue the "One In Christ" series addressing another blessing for all people upon receiving Jesus as their Savior: 

Eternal Life!

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank

"One In Christ" - Part Two

Last week's message looked at part of Ephesians Chapter two entitled "One In Christ." We learned that Jesus Christ, True Son Of The True God, came to earth to die on a cross and to be resurrected. Most importantly, we also learned when all of God's people, Jew or Gentile, confess with their mouth Jesus Is Lord and believe in their heart that God raised Him from the dead they are saved as stated in Romans 10:9. Hallelujah!

Ephesians 2:15-16 says about Jesus, "His purpose was to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility." Notice another reason for Jesus to come to earth was to bring about equality before God for both Jew and Gentile also to bring peace to their relationship. Has this happened? Is there true peace in the relationship between Jews and Gentiles? Yes, this has happened to a degree but not in totality.

Some Jewish people have recognized Jesus Christ as their Savior and Messiah and are saved living under the New Blood Covenant like saved Gentiles. However, this is a relatively small percentage of Jews worldwide. Why is there a hesitation on the part of Jews to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Messiah? This is explained in Romans 9:31-32, "Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, had not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were works."

The two verses at the end of Romans 9 are titled "Israel's Unbelief." They explain that Gentiles have pursued righteouness or Jesus by faith similar to Romans 10:9 saying if you believe Jesus is Lord you are saved. Romans 9:32 says Israel or the Jewish people pursued righteousness by works or the law and not by faith in Jesus.

Our purpose in bringing you these "One In Christ" messages was and is to encourage all of us to pray fervently for all unsaved people worldwide but especially for the Jewish People. Bless His Holy Name.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,

Frank  

"One In Christ"

What is the relationship between Jews and all non Jewish people who are referred to as Gentiles? Before we attempt to answer this question, we need to state that all people are God's people since He created all of us. Our message this week will address this question believing it will clear up some confusion.

Ephesians 2:11-14 says, "Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called uncircumcised by those who call themselves the circumcision . . . remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one."

When we study carefully these very important verses we learn that Jehovah God made all people "One In Christ." How did this happen? It all happened when God in His love and mercy for all people sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth to die on a cross and be resurrected. As a result, this became the most important event in all of history!

Notice in Ephesians 3:11-12 the Apostile Paul explains that before God sent Jesus to earth He established His Covenant with the Jewish people making them His Chosen People. Verse 12 says Gentiles "Were without hope and without God in the world." However, Jesus changed all this. Romans 10:9-13 says, "That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus Is Lord,' and believe in you heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."

Today, all of God's people, Jew or Gentiles, can be saved by believing in their hearts and confessing with their mouth "Jesus Is Lord And God Raised Him From The Dead." This is without question the most important decision all of God's people need to make. I pray all of you reading this message have made this very important decision to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,

Frank  

The Helper Of Israel

During The last six weeks, our messages have centered on Jehovah God establishing a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and their descendants. Genesis 12:1-3 were the foundational verses for these messages in which God said to Abraham:

I Will Make You Into A Great Nation {Israel}

I Will Bless You {Jewish People}

You Will Bless All Nations

I Will Bless Those Who Bless You

I Will Curse Those Who Curse You

This message is repeated 22 times in Genesis and this is why we gave it so much attention.

What is the current situation in Israel? Israel is still surrounded by enemies. Gaza is a small piece of land on Israel's South West border and is controlled by the terror group Hamas that desires to destroy Israel. They build tunnels into Southern Israel towns attempting to invade these towns. Hamas has thousands of terrorists storming the Israeli border and lately are burning tires causing thick, smelly smoke to roll over Israel.

On Israel's Northern border, the terror group Hezbollah has thousands of rockets and missiles pointing to Israel. Both Russia and Iran have troops in neighboring Syria. Iran also threatens to destroy Israel. Ezekiel 38, 39 prophesies that Russia will invade Israel.

How does Jehovah God respond to all these threats to destroy His Chosen People and their land? Isaiah 41 is called "The Helper Of Israel." In Isaiah 41:10-11 God encourages His People by saying, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengten you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. All who rage against you will surely be ashamed and disgraced; those who oppose you will be as nothing and perish." God tells His Chosen People do not fear; I am your God; I will help you; your enemies will be disgraced and will be as nothing.

Israel desperately  and continually needs our prayers! Psalm 122:6 says, "Pray For The Peace Of Jerusalem." This is not a suggestion, it is a directive from Jehovah God!

May The Lord Bless You And Kepp You This Day And Every Day,

Frank    

God's Chosen People And Their Land

Frequently when God's People refer to Him with respect, they call Him The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. As part of our current series of messages, we have learned that God established His Covenant with Abraham and it was continued through his son Isaac.

This Covenant states that:

God Will Establish A Great Nation {Israel}

God Will Bless The Jewish People

The Jewish People Will Be A Blessing To All Nations

God Will Bless Those Who Bless Israel

God Will Curse Those Who Curse Israel

God Gave The Land Of Israel To The Jewish People

This week we will look at Jacob and learn how God's Covenant with Abraham,  Isaac and their descendants was continued through Jacob and his descendants. Isaac was 40 years old when his wife Rebekah gave birth to two sons - Esau and Jacob. Jacob became a deceiver and caused Esau to sell him his birthright and deceived Isaac causing him to bless Jacob before Esau who was the older son.

Genesis 28:1-2 says, "So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him and commanded him 'do not marry a Canaanite woman. Go at once to Paddan Aram to the house of your mother's father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there.'" Even though Jacob was a deceiver, notice how Isaac still blessed him. Why? The God Given Covenant promises started through Abraham and Isaac must continue through Jacob.

Genesis 28:10-15 says, "Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. There above it stood The Lord and He said, 'I am The Lord, The God of your father Abraham and The God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying . . . All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring . . . I will not leave you.'"

Jehovah God showed Jacob a miraculous vision confirming The Covenant already established through Abraham and Isaac saying:

I Am The God Of Abraham And Isaac

I Will Give You And Your Descendants The Land Of Israel

All Peoples Of The Earth Will Be Blessed 

Through You And Your Descendants

I Will Not Leave You

This is the last message in the series illustrating how God chose the Jewish People for a specific mission and gave them the Land of Israel in the process. This message is repeated 22 times in the book of Genesis. Jehovah God desires for us to understand this message and believe it. Bless His Holy Name!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,

Frank

     

God's Chosen People And Their Land

Our message this week is the fifth in a series illustrating how Jehovah God chose the Jewish People for a very important mission and gave them the land of Israel in the process. In the first message we shared that this is mentioned over 20 times in the Book of Genesis alone. 

God Truly Wants Us To Understand This Message!

Last week we learned that God was to perform the miracle of granting Abraham and Sarah a baby boy to be named Isaac even though they were both well advanced in age. The Covenant God established with Abraham continues through Isaac.

In Genesis 26 Isaac is now an adult, God spoke to him in verses 2-5 and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land where I tell you to live. Stay in this land for a while and I will be with you and will bless you. For to you and your descendants I will give all these lands and will confirm the oath I swore to your father Abraham. I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed."

A number of times notice that the foundational verses of Genesis 12:1-3 are confirmed by God when He says He Will Bless His Chosen People; He Will Keep The Covenant Established With Abraham And All The Nations Of The Earth Will Be Blessed Through The Jewish People. 

God Truly Wants Us To Understand This Message!

Also, Jehovah God proclaims again that He is giving the land of Israel to Abraham, Isaac and their descendants. Genesis 26:3-4 confirms this when God says TWICE to Isaac, "To your descendants I give all these lands." When God spoke to Isaac He was physically located at Gerar that is part of current day Israel. God clearly desires for us to understand: 

Israel Belongs To The Jewish People! Amen And Amen!

May The Lord Bless You And Keep You This Day And Every Day,

Frank    

God's Chosen People And Their Land

Our last few messages has centered around Genesis 12:1-3 that are the foundation verses about Jehovah God choosing the Jewish People for a special mission and giving them the land of Israel. God spoke to Abraham and said:

I Will Make You Into A Great Nation

I Will Bless You

You Will Be A Blessing

I Will Bless Those Who Bless You

I Will Curse Those Who Curse You

This is a message from God to Abraham and his descendants.

However, there is a problem! At this point in time Abraham and his wife Sarah did not have any descendants. Of course, God knew about this situation and portions of Genesis 15 and 17 illustrate God's solution to this problem just as He solves all of our problems today when we turn to Him in prayer.

Genesis 15:1-6 says, "After this, The Word of The Lord came to Abraham in a vision: 'Do not be afraid, Abraham, I am your shield, your very great reward.' But Abraham said, 'O Sovereign Lord, what can you give me since I remain childless and the one who will inherit my estate is Eliezer of Damascus?' And Abraham 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 coming from your own body will be your heir.' He took him outside and said, 'look up at the heavens and count the stars - if indeed you can count them.' Then He said to him, 'So shall your offspring be,' Abraham believed The Lord and He credited it to him as righteousness."

We all need to realize Jehovah God is prophesying about a major miracle He will perform. God will bring forth a son to Abraham and Sarah even though Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 years old. Only God could perform such a miracle! Also, God says Abraham will have descendants as numerous as the stars who became the Jewish People. Hallelujah!

Jehovah God also prophesies in Genesis 15 that He will give Abraham and his descendants the land of Israel. Genesis 15:18 says, "On that day The Lord made a covenant with Abraham and said, 'To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates.'" The land God was giving to Abraham and his descendants is almost the entire Middle East of today. There is no question as to whom the land of Israel belongs! Bless His Holy Name!

All this is validating that God chose The Jewish People and gave them The Land Of Israel. What A Mighty God We Serve!

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank       

God's Chosen People And Their Land

We have started an extensive series of messages showing how Jehovah God chose the Jewish People for a specific mission and in the process gave them the Land of Israel. Last week we looked at Genesis 12:1-3 and learned that God prophesied He will make Abraham and his descendants into a great nation and will bless them. All Of This Has Happened And Is Continuing Today!

Genesis 12:2 states that the Jewish People and Israel will "be a blessing." This has happened in Israel in numerous ways but even in countries all around the world. Israel has shared with other desert climate countries ways to irrigate effectively their crops, they have shared new medical techniques, High-Tec discoveries and even effective military technology with allies. When disaster strikes anywhere in the world, Israel is usually the first on the scene to set up medical emergency tents. Yes, the Jewish People are a blessing to the world! This is their special mission from God!

Genesis 12:3, "I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse." Now Jehovah God is saying to Abraham that He will bless those who bless Israel and the Jewish People and curse those who curse them. Has this been happening? Yes!

Let us illustrate. All we need to do is list numerous past worldly empires who mistreated Israel and currently do not exist as empires.

Great Britain - Limited Jews from entering country during Holocaust

Spain - Forced Jews to leave country or convert to the Catholic Church

Rome - Persecuted Jews and changed Jewish practices

Egypt - Persecuted Jews severly

Babylon - Jews in captivity for 70 years

Germany - Holocaust

Russia - Pogroms  {Programs of Persecution}

Books have been written showing how Jehovah God has judged nations which have persecuted Israel and the Jewish People.

Jehovah God Has Fulfilled Every Promise He Has Made! 

Bless His Holy Name!

May The Lord Bless You This Day And Every Day,

Frank