WHERE IS DAVID?

 Pastor: John Neal

David was a man after God’s own heart, he loved the Lord and the Lord loved David. He was a man of flesh and blood the same as you and I. He made mistakes, and he had his weakness, he had the same passions, same desires, same temptations, but there was something about David, in spite of his faults, God still loved him. God did not love the sin, but he loved the man. There was one thing David had that seems to be missing in the world today. He knew how to repent. He knew how to praise the Lord. Where is the spirit of David today? When we read the book of Psalms, we can see how much David loved the Lord, and how much he trusted in him. We may often repeat the words of David, and that is fine, but, we should have our own praise to God for what he has done for us, in our own words and not someone else’s.

Our words may not sound as good as what David said, they may not be written down in a book here on earth for someone else to read, but God has them all written down is his great record book, and placed in his treasure chest. They are how we feel toward God, from our own lips and from our own heart, and mind. We should always have a praise for God, morning or night, for he is a twenty-four God, seven days a week. If we cannot think of something to thank him for, to praise him for, then there is something wrong with us.

We only want to praise him when things are going good, and some don’t even praise him then. When we have money in the bank, our health is okay, our husband or wife is doing fine, our children are behaving, but, when things are not going so well, God still remains God. We need more of that spirit of David in the world, that has a praise for the Lord, no matter what. There are some days we may feel as if the Lord is ignoring us, is that because we are ignoring him? If we deny him, he will deny us. We want Jesus to love us, but do we love him? If so, then how do we let him know that we love him? Do we live our lives as if we loved him? Do we praise him with our whole heart, or do we just offer him lip service? Do we call upon his name, but do not the things he tells us? Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.”

Do we praise him seven days a week, or only on Sunday, where people can see us? Has our free nation become Sunday only worshippers of the Lord? This nation has become a nation of Dignified Christians, too dignified, too proud, to kneel down upon their knees in prayer to the “KING OF KING, and LORD OF LORD’S.” We need to recall to mind that Jesus was not too “Dignified” to be beaten, spit upon, slapped, humiliated, and shed his innocent blood on the Cross of Calvary and die for our sins. Not His, but yours and mine. Sinners, not worthy of one drop of his blood.

When the preacher says a prayer on Sunday morning, we just nod our head in agreement. It reminds me of two old red Roasters, setting on the fence at the break of dawn, one crowed loudly announcing the breaking of the dawn. The other was so lazy, he just nodded his head in agreement. We nod our head in agreement to what the preacher has to say, no matter what. We need to open our mouths and lift our hands in praise unto the Lord. Jesus said, “If ye be ashamed of me before men, I shall be ashamed of you before my Father.” Are the people of this nation too proud, dignified, stubborn and rebellious, to lift up their hands and show the world they love the Lord Jesus. This is suppose to be a Christian nation, but they are taking everything away from the creator who created everything upon the face of this earth, including you and me. They have taken prayer out of our schools, and our children are running amuck. They have taken the ten commandments out, they are trying to convince the people that Jesus was not born of a virgin birth. They are telling the people you don’t need to be baptized, there is no resurrection, and that Jesus didn’t really die on the cross of Calvary, it was someone else in his place. How much longer do you think this is going to be a Christian nation? What is left for them to do, take “In God we trust” off of our currency as well.

Out side of the church atmosphere, do we ever kneel down and pray? Do we have family prayer, you know, where the whole family sets around the table and holds hands and pray together, or kneel by their bedside and pray, to give thanks unto the Lord for each day that we live, for our food that he has given us, for our home that we have?

David knew how to pray and to praise the Lord and he was not ashamed. He said what was in his heart, and showed his love toward God. Where is that spirit of David today? David was a man after God’s own heart. What is keeping us from being like David, a man or woman after God’s own heart? If we have that spirit of David, then let us lift up our hands, and show the world our love of Jesus.

Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff at 11:37 PM EST

Updated: Wednesday, 7 January 2009 11:39 PM EST

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Mood:  not sure

NO ROOM FOR JESUS:

                               Pastor: John Neal

In the month of December people’s thoughts seem to turn to the baby Jesus who was born in a manger, and wrapped in swaddling clothes, in the city of Bethlehem, because there was no room in the Inn for the birth of our Lord and Savior. Plays are acted out all over the world of the wise men bringing gifts to the baby Jesus laying in the manger. You can also heard and see of men pretending to go through the same things as Jesus did as he had to carry his own cross to mount Calvary.

But let them be beat as Jesus was beaten and then carry the cross on their mangled shoulders. Men can pretend if that makes them feel good, but they don’t have a clue as to what the suffering that Jesus had to endure for the sins of the world. Jesus was not pretending on that awful day. He had a purpose in mind, he was thinking of the people. Jesus told his disciples while he was still here on earth with them, “Let not your heart be troubles, ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so , I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself. That where I am, there ye may be also,” (St. John 14: 1-3).

He has gone to prepare a place for us, but we must prepare a place for him, while we still walk this earth in human flesh. Jesus said, “The Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the son of man hath no where to lay his head,” (Matthew 8: 20).

Can we make room in our life for Jesus? Are we so busy with the things of this world that there is no room in our hearts and our lives for the Lord? Jesus said, “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you,” (St. John 15: 7). You can drive around town and see Million dollars Churches, and you may think, Oh boy, Jesus must surely dwell in a place like that. But not so, Jesus wants to dwell in the human body. He wants to abide in each one of us, a Tabernacle not made by hands. Jesus is not coming back for a building, but for a people that has made themselves ready.

“I beseech (Beg) you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service,” (Romans 12:1). It is not some charity work you are doing for Jesus. It is your reasonable service. How many today have made room in their hearts for Jesus? Are we so busy with our daily activities, that we can’t find the time and the room for the Lord, the creator of heaven and earth, in our busy schedule?

No time to pray, no time to read His word, no time to mediate on his goodness and long suffering toward us, no time to remember what he had to endure on the cross of Calvary for you and me, that we might have eternal life. Oh, it’s time for the football game, or it’s time for our favorite soap opera, I’ll think about that later, when I have the time, with nothing else to do. No time for Jesus. Take time for Jesus, he took time for you. Open up your heart’s door, and welcome the Savior of the world into your heart. Make room for Jesus.

There was only room on that cross for one man, but that one man took all of our sins and nailed them there, (St. John 3: 16). Can we not make room in our heart and soul for that one man that went through so much for us?

But, you may say, “I go to church on Sunday.” That’s fine, but that’s not what I ask you. What about the other six days of the week, is there room in your heart and soul for Jesus before and after church or do we just forget about him until next Sunday? Have the things of this world pushed Jesus out of our lives. We can’t have Jesus, and the world in our lives. One or the other has to go. You can’t drink bitter and sweet water from the same fountain. Jesus will not dwell in an unclean temple. He chased the unclean things out of his Father’s house, for he said it is, “a house of prayer, but you have made it a din of thieves,” (St. Matthew 21:12-13).

Ye Hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you saying, the people draw nigh unto me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me,” (St. Matthew 15:7-9). No room for Jesus.

Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff at 10:59 PM EST

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COMING UP SHORT

By: Pastor., John B. Neal

“Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for he was going to pass that way,” (St. Luke 19: 1-4).

People come up short on a great many things, in our lives from day to day, but we should never come up short in our walk with the Lord. Like Zacchaeus, who was determined to see Jesus, no matter what it takes, we must also find a way. Zacchaeus being small of stature, and in a large crowd, I’m sure felt like a small fish in a large ocean, but he had to find a way to see Jesus, and we must be just as determined. If God has given us a mountain in our lives, and if He does not show us a way over the mountain, then we have to find a way around the mountain. Zacchaeus did it the hard way, but he did it, he saw Jesus, because he made an effort. We also must put forth some effort, if we want to see Jesus. If it takes giving up something of the world, then give it up. It will be worth it all one day, when we see Jesus.

The Lord Jesus is passing by, don’t let him pass you by, because you failed to put forth that extra effort, don’t miss out on seeing Him some day. Zacchaeus did the only thing he knew to do, if he wanted to see Jesus, and he did. He knew he had to come up higher. Do we feel the need within our own self to come up higher, or do we feel that we have all ready reached perfection? Do we feel we are coming up short in our walk with the Lord? If we do, then we should do something about it. What? you ask. We don’t have to climb a sycamore tree like Zacchaeus, but we can Pray more, as though your soul depended on it, for it does. Read more of God’s word, meditate more on God’s word, climb that gospel ladder each and every day. Not just on Sunday, when we feel we are suppose to, but every day we need to come up higher in the Lord, for our soul salvation depends on it. It is the difference between the first or the second resurrection, between heaven or hell.

What would have happened to Zacchaeus , if not for a sycamore tree. He would not have been able to see Jesus. St. Luke 19: 5 tells us “Jesus looked up and saw him, and said to him, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must abide at your house.” If Zacchaeus had not have made that effort and climb the sycamore tree, Jesus would not have seen him. How many people don’t make that extra effort to see Jesus, and gets passed by, because they are coming up short. It is too late in God’s time table to be fooling anyone, especially our own selves. Coming up short is not an option.

Do we seek Jesus with our whole heart? Do we put forth that extra effort to come up higher in the Lord? Do we know who Jesus is? He is coming this way again, when he descends from heaven to catch his chosen people up to meet him in the air. Are you ready to meet Jesus, or are you coming up short?

Zacchaeus could have said, I can’t get through this crowd, I may as well give up and go back home. No. He did not let the crowd stop him from seeing Jesus. He did not let the fact that he was a small, short man stop him. He found a way, he came up higher so he could see over the crowd. He was determined to see Jesus. How determined are we? A lot of people will dress up on Sunday and go to church or a building, and sing the songs of praise to the Lord, pay tithes and offerings, and the other six days, forget all about Jesus until next Sunday. What are we trying to accomplish? Do we just want someone to see how religious we are? If we are not serious about our salvation, then we are on the wrong journey. It’s time to be honest with ourselves, just what are we trying to attain, a home in heaven, or a certain pew in the church building? Do we take time during our busy day to think about the coming of the Lord? Do we every think about those gates of pearls, the streets of gold, the walls of Jasper? Oh, how beautiful heaven must be. I can’t speak for you, but I know I want walk those streets of gold with my Savior.

It’s time to either get right with the Lord, or be left behind, to become lost in the crowd. You say, why do I have to put forth an effort, Jesus paid it all on the cross of Calvary? That is true, Jesus took our sins to the cross that day. And your sins are covered by his blood if you repent of your sins, and seek him with all your heart. For Jesus knows our sincerity. Don’t fool yourself, and miss heaven, regardless of what you have been told, you do have to put forth some effort. How are you going to be covered by his blood, unless you are baptized in his name. How else is his blood going to be applied to your soul. And how else are you going to receive the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in other tongues as the Spirit of God gives the utterance, unless you put forth some effort.

Deuteronomy 4: 29 “But if from there you will seek the Lord your God, Thou shalt find Him if thou seek Him with all thy heart, and with all thy soul.”

II Chronicles 15: 2 “......If thou seek Him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.” Times may have changed, men, may have changed, but Jesus remains the same, He is the same, yesterday, today, and for evermore.

If we realize that we are coming up short, then we, like Zacchaeus; must come up higher. We need to know where we stand with the Lord, for the Bible is a mirror, we look into it and find answers, that tells us right where we stand if we are truthful with ourselves. I speak to the ones that have not attained Perfection, that have not been, like Paul, to the third heaven. There are some who believe that they have come as high as they can, and they can’t come any higher. Why? Has the catching away of God people already taken place? May God help the boastful, the arrogant, the high mined, that walk around as if to say see “How great I am?” I would like to ask them, “Have you prayed an angel out of heaven as Cornelius did, and he wasn’t even a preacher. When did any of them raise anyone from the dead? Or walked on the water, or even so much as turn water into wine? There are many that say they are ready to go, if Jesus should come, but when that trumpet sounds, then what? Friend, brethren and sisters let us all strive to come up higher, that we might see Jesus. Let us put forth that extra effort, it’s not too hard, if we truly want to see Jesus. Come out of the shadows, come up higher in the Lord. Don’t ever stop striving for a closer walk with Jesus. May God bless.

Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff at 7:30 PM EDT

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Mood:  not sure

                              WHOM DO YE SAY THAT I AM?

                                   Pastor: John B. Neal


God said unto Moses, “I am that I am.” God will be what ever he wants to be. If he wants to be in the burning bush that was not consumed, then that is what he will be. If he so chooses to be a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to lead his children, then that is what he will be. If he wants to step through the portals of time to be born of the Virgin Mary, to be clothed in human flesh, and dwell among men for 33 and 1/2 years in the bodily form of Jesus Christ, then that is what he will do. For who are we to say what God can do and what he cannot do? Who are we to tell God he cannot do this, if he so desires?

If he chooses to test this frail human form, its weakness and flaws, to feel our pain and our suffering, to know what makes us happy or sad. Can a child say to its mother, “you never gave birth to me?” Or a pot says to the potter, “you never made me?” Then how can we say, “Lord you can’t do this?” Nothing is impossible with God. He can do anything that pleases him.

Jesus, this human child, who had dwelt among men for 33 and 1/2 years, said unto John on the island of Patmos, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty,” (Revelation 1:8).
How can Jesus, who was born of a virgin, a woman of flesh and blood, the same as you and I, say, “I am the beginning.” How can he say, “I am the Almighty.” God does not lie. So how can this be? God plainly says, “My glory I will not give to another,” (Isaiah 42:8).
“Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen; that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me, I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Savior,” (Isaiah 43:10-11).

“Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God,” (Isaiah 44:6). There is not, nor ever shall be two Gods.
God said, “I am the beginning.” Yet, Jesus, this child born of a woman, told John on the island of Patmos, “I am the beginning.” This is very confusing to many people, wondering, how can this be? There are so many interpretations on this subject, it almost boggles the mind. Which interpretation to believe. Jesus tells us to, “Search the Scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life:.......” (St. John 5:39).

If we believe in God, then we know that God does not lie, but we also know that Jesus does not lie. So the explanation lies in the pages of the Bible. Remember, Jesus said, “Search the scriptures.”
We find in the book of Revelations that the Apostle John said, “Behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.” Neither two nor three, but one sat on the throne.
When Jesus came into the coast of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his Disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, some say that thou art John the Baptist; some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He said unto them, but whom say ye that I am?” (St. Matthew 16:15).
Simon Peter answered and said, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God,” (verse 16) Jesus leaves no room for man made interpretations. You may want to think about it for awhile, but what man do you know that can raise the dead? Can a mere man or even a prophet? The dictionary says, a prophet is, “A person who tells what will happen.” If Jesus is no more than a mere man or just a prophet, how could he just speak to the raging storm and everything becomes calm? “And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat upon the ship, so that it was now full. And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm,” (St. Mark 4:37, 39). Who has the power to control the elementals?
The human race is searching for something, but they don’t know exactly what it is. There is something lacking within each individual’s soul, an emptiness down deep within, that causes a yearning, a hunger within them. Because they don’t know what it is they are searching for, it is causing restlessness within them. Food can’t satisfy this type of hunger, drink can’t satisfy it either. Even in this modern enlightened age we are living in, with all its high tech knowledge, Jesus is still asking the same question, “Whom do ye say that I am?”

Regardless of what people think, most of them believe there is a God, a higher power that is in control. In the Apostle Paul’s journeys, he spoke to the men of Athens and said, “For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To the Unknown God, who therefore ye ignorantly worship, Him declare I unto you,” (Acts 17:23).

In the New Testament we find John shut up in prison, but he heard the talk about Jesus and all the wonderful things he was doing. John then sent two of his disciples to Jesus and asked him, “.....Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?” (St. Matthew 11:3). And in searching the scriptures we find in St. John 1:41 that Andrew, “First findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, we have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus.” The name Messiah means: The expected deliverer. So Jesus is more than a man, for how can mere men deliver anyone?

How can man teach you what they don’t know? Jesus tells us to “Search the Scriptures.” History tells us that the Roman Emperor Constantine, summoned all the Bishops of the church for a general council at Nicaea in the year 325 A.D. The principal work of this council was the settlement of a great dispute which had risen over the nature of Jesus Christ. There was confusion and misunderstanding of who Jesus was, and many people today are still just as confused.

The Prophet Isaiah said, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel,” (Being interpreted is God with us, Isaiah 7:14). But who would believe such a report? Who ever heard of a virgin conceiving a child with no man present? Would you? Do you? When Isaiah glimpsed the glory of God he was seeing Jesus Christ. He said, “.....to whom hath the Arm of the Lord been revealed?” (Isaiah 53:1).
In Isaiah 40:5 we find, “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” Jesus did nothing in secret, all he did and all he said was before their eyes for all to see and hear, that would look or listen.
In searching the scriptures we find the Physician Luke, wrote that the angel Gabriel came down and told the Virgin Mary of the event to come. Mary asked, “How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?” And the angel of God said, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee: therefore also that Holy thing shall be called the Son of God,” (St. Luke 1:35).

But, who or what is this Holy thing? We find in St. Matthew 1:20-21, speaking of the Virgin Mary, “......for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus...”760 years before the birth of this child who was named Jesus, the Prophet Isaiah said, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace,” (Isaiah 9:6). How could Jesus be all of these things, if he is just a mere man, or even a prophet? Isaiah never saw this child with his own eyes, but was told of God of his coming. The scriptures tell us that the Old Testament is for our learning. We cannot discard any part of the Bible. How did Isaiah have enough insight to call this child the Mighty God?” When God himself said, “I am He: before me there was no God formed; neither shall there be after me, I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no Savior,” (Isaiah 43:10-11. Jesus, Himself declared, “Before Abraham was I Am,” (St. John 8:58)

How can he call this child Jesus the Everlasting Father?” Jesus was never married. Remember, God’s Arm was to bring Salvation unto Him. “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world knew him not. He came to his own, and his own received him not The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us......” (St. John 1: 1, 10-11,14). Is it possible that Divinity and Humanity are united in the person of Jesus Christ, making Him both God and man?

God’s dwelling place was no longer to be a house of wood and gold, as it was in the Tabernacle, but a house of flesh and bones, in the bodily form of Jesus Christ, the True Tabernacle, which God pitched, and not man. “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me,” (Hebrew 10:5).

As a man Jesus wept over the tomb of Lazarus, but as God He raised him from the grave,” (St. John 11:35, 44). As a Man he died upon the cross of Calvary,” (St. John 19:33 it was His humanity that died upon the cross), but as God, He arose from the tomb,” (I Cor. 15: 4; John 10:18 this was His Divinity). As God, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life,” (St. John 11:25) as a man Jesus said, “The son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men, and they shall kill him,” (St. Matthew 17: 22-23). But as God, He declared, “Destroy this temple (body) and in three days I will raise it up,” (St. John 2:19). “Unto us a Son is given, (this is the humanity of Jesus) The Mighty God and the everlasting Father, ( this is his Divinity)
While Jesus Christ was both God and man, the man was not God and the God was not the man, but both God and man were united in Jesus Christ. The reason why the Son could say, “I and my Father are one,” (St. John 10:30) was because divinity and humanity were united in one person. The reason Jesus said, “My Father is greater than I,” (St. John 14:28) was because divinity is greater than humanity.

“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him is glory both now and forever. Amen, (II Peter 3: 18). Search the Scriptures for in them we can find the truth. Whom do you say that I the Son of man am? This is a personal thing that each individual must answer for themselves. May God bless.

Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff at 4:32 PM EDT

Updated: Monday, 29 September 2008 4:35 PM EDT

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Mood:  a-ok

WHAT DO YOU MEAN......BORN AGAIN??

Pastor: John B. Neal 

Did you know that a man named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, asked Jesus that very same question? He came to Jesus by night with these same thoughts in mind, because he didn’t want the people to know that an important person like himself was asking questions about this Christian way. “What do you mean, born again?” he asked Jesus secretly “How can this be when I am old? Can I enter a second time into my mother’s womb and be born?” But Jesus was not speaking of a natural birth, but a spiritual birth, which people don’t seem to understand. Some people have strange ideas about being born again.I once heard of a strip-tease dancer, who claimed she had been born again, I don’t know what she based it on, but a reporter asked her what changes, if any, this would make in her life. If she was going to give up her dancing. She replied, “Oh no, I’m not giving up dancing, this will only make me better.” I don’t know what kind of rebirth she had, but it wasn’t any thing that I know of. The phase, “Born again” is banded around too freely today. When I heard this, I couldn’t help but ask myself the question that came to my mind, “What do you mean....born again?”There are so many thoughts on the subject, and each one seems to have a different idea. It’s no wonder that people are so confused today. If a person believes in the Bible, then I believe that the best place to search for answers is the divine word of God. Moses wasn’t born again. Isaiah wasn’t born again; they lived under the law, during the Old Testament times. We, today, of the New Testament times are living under Grace. Jesus told Nicodemus, “Ye must be born again.” He didn’t say you “Should be”, nor it would be best if you were. No, he said, you must. It was not a statement, but a command. Why do you think Jesus would make a statement like that? We can find the answer in St. John 3: 6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh;” (this is speaking of our natural birth) But the scripture goes on to say, “And that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” What could Jesus mean, “That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” We realize that being born of the flesh is speaking of our natural birth, and in our natural state we are born in sin, (Psalms 51: 5) for all are born of the lust of the flesh.The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 7:18, “In me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.” We all know to do good, but our fleshly nature won’t let us do what we know is right. It is the nature of man to do what he or she wants to do. But it’s not the right thing nor the spiritual thing, (Gal. 5:17). The Apostle Paul goes to say, “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God” (Romans 8:8). So what is one to do? And the turmoil goes on within the heart and soul of man. This is why Jesus said, “Ye must be born again.” How? You ask, as Nicodemus did. Do you know the story of Abraham and Sarah, how she was unable to bear a child, so she encouraged Abraham her husband to sleep with Hagar, her handmaid, that she might have children through her. This practice was accepted at that time. Now the Old Testament is a type an shadow of the New Testament and we find in Gal. 4: 23 that, “He who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh.” But Isaac, the child of Abraham and Sarah his wife, who represents the freewoman, was the child of promise, the spiritual seed. Now you may be wondering, what has that got to do with anything? Plenty. For Paul tells us that, “Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham are they all children: but, in Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, they which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed” (Romans 9:7-8). Who are the children of the promise? And what is the promise anyway? I will let the divine word of God answer these questions for you. Galatians 3:29 says, “If ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Notice the scripture said, “If you be Christ’s,” Then and only then can you be heirs according to the promise. St. John 1:12 tells us that, “As many as received him, (that is Jesus Christ) to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name.”Take a close look at this scripture, you will see that not everyone will receive Jesus Christ into their lives, they will not have that born again experience. But the scripture said, “As many as receive Him.” Jesus gives us all a choice. We can reject Him, and continuing walking after the flesh or we can be like Joshua, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Those who receive Him, they are the children of the promise.How can we know what the promise is, you may ask? Well, let us see if we can find the answer. Jesus being assembled together with his disciples, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but “wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence” (Acts 1: 4-5).Some people feel that the words, “Holy Ghost” is a misprint, but the dictionary says that ghost is the “appearing of a person who has died, unto the living.” Jesus died on the cross of Calvary and was placed in the tomb and a seal placed upon the closing of the tomb. But on the third day he arose and was first seen of Mary Magdalene and later he was seen of all his disciples. The Holy Ghost is no misprint.St. John 14: 26 says, “..The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name,.....” Notice, the scripture said, “The Comforter, is the Holy Ghost.” And the Comforter was sent to us in the name of Jesus. For we find that Jesus was talking to his disciples when he said, “The Father will send the Comforter in my name.”When Jesus said in Acts 1: 4-5, “Ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost,” He was speaking of His spirit. On the day of Pentecost this promise was fulfilled, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they; (referring to the 120 in the upper room, Acts 1: 15) were all with one accord in one place.” And Acts 2:4 goes on to say, “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” They did not go to school to learn how to speak in other tongues, but as the spirit gave them utterance. No man taught them how to speak in other tongues. The Holy Ghost is the Comforter that Jesus promised to all who receive Him, with the evidences that the Comforter is there by speaking in other tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance. Jesus said, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you” (St. John 14:28).To receive this wonderful experience one must come through the cleansing of the blood of Jesus Christ, through the baptism in the name of Jesus. There is no other way. There is a song that comes to my mind at this time, “God leads His dear children along, some through the water, some through the flood, some through the fire, but all through the blood.”We can’t get to the Father except through the blood of Jesus Christ. Being baptized of the Spirit is the highest experience anyone could receive in this life. There is no record where the disciples received a spiritual experience before the day of Pentecost. In fact it would be scripturally impossible for them to get a New Testament experience until Jesus as our High Priest had ascended into heaven. Why? Jesus told His disciples, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you” (St. John 16:7). Jesus had to ascend into heaven before the Comforter could be sent back to earth.Notice Acts 2:4 tells us that, “They were all filled with the Holy Ghost” that means that if they were filled, the very Spirit of God dwelled on the inside of them. Thank about it. This was what Jesus was speaking about when he told His disciples, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth... for he dwelleth with you and shall be in you” (St. John14:16-17).Jesus said that he would be in them as the Comforter, which the Father would send. The Spirit could not be given until Jesus went away or until he had ascended back up into heaven. Then, and not until then, could they receive the Spirit of the Comforter.When Jesus was speaking to Nicodemus he said, “......, except (meaning unless) a man be born of water (which is the baptism in Jesus’ name Acts 2:38) and of the Spirit, (which is the Holy Ghost or Comforter given on the day of Pentecost) he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God” (St. John 3: 5).Nicodemus wanted to know; how can these things be? He was ignorant of the spiritual meaning, like so many are today. Eph. 4:18 Paul says, “Having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.” This is a spiritual blindness.Preacher are teaching that it don’t happen like that anymore, that it was only for the disciples, and that after the disciples died no body else need or does receive the Holy Ghost anymore. But they are telling you a pack of lies. We need the Holy Ghost today just as the disciples. Jesus said, “I change not.” He is not here today and gone tomorrow, and beside that, how can anyone be born again without the Spirit of God abiding within them. If one has received Him and the Holy Ghost abides within them, then there is a change made in one’s life. A person cannot do the works of the flesh and the works of God, for you cannot serve two masters (Matt. 6: 24). If you have a friend or a family member who you would like prayer for or that you would like to see saved, please send us your prayer list with the name, that we may hold them up before God in prayer, and entreat God on their behalf. May God bless. 

Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff at 7:30 PM EDT

Updated: Monday, 15 September 2008 7:31 PM EDT

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A CITY WITHOUT WALLS 

   Pastor: John Neal

In our everyday life, we meet all types of people. Some rich, poor, male and female, black and white. All races of every kind, but the most important thing about a person is not his bank account, nor his standing in society, nor his expensive tailored clothing, nor how much education, physical attractiveness or fame. The bottom line is the most important characteristic about a person is his spirit or attitude.If a person has a bad attitude his successes and attributes lose their appeal, but a person who possesses a right spirit or a right attitude, people look at them in a different light. How many times have you heard someone say, “He’s such a nice person,” This shows a good spirit. One of the main things of a person’s life to guard is his spirit.“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city” (Proverbs 16:32).A wise man once spoke those words, Solomon, King of Israel, the wisest man on earth.Cities of that day were known for their strongly fortified walls that offered great protection from the enemy. This statement may seem a little absurd at first, but with a little thought, the truth can be understood. The man that rules his spirit, the person who can control himself in critical times, is better than a mighty general that can overcome the fortress walls and take control of a city.“He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls” (Proverbs 25: 28).A city without walls, an unborn child, a war-ship without ammunition, these are all helpless at the onslaught of an enemy. A city without walls cannot keep the enemy out. An unborn child has no defense against the abortion laws, and a war-ship without ammunition is like a setting duck in the water, it has no defense against the enemy. In the character of men and women there are also areas that are weak, defenseless and flawed. When we see these things in our own-self we should immediately begin to fortify and strengthen the weak areas against certain attacks. For the enemy of our soul will surely come against us and probe until he finds an area within us that is weak, that has no defense.Samson was a man called of God; he was a man filling a great place among the people as judge, a man with tremendous ability, a man with the miraculous anointing power of God upon him. Yet, he was a man flawed of character.What was Samson’s flaw? He did not bring himself under control. His over reaction to some crises and his lack of action to help others showed he had not fortified himself against his weakest areas. Samson seemed to treat his calling and strength from God with a casualness amounting almost to contempt. Eventually he allowed Delilah to shave off his long hair, which was a sign of his dedication to God. Judges 16: 5-20.He did not defend himself against his moral weakness and soon he was robbed of both his spiritual and physical strength. Samson was raised by godly parents and was set apart and dedicated to God’s service from birth. But as a man he failed to carry out the noble plans for which God and his parents had intended him to follow.Samson’s great physical strength had been given to him of God. He was a Nazarite and was to drink no wine and not to cut his hair, to break his vow would bring him spiritual ruin.Among the last scenes of Samson’s life, we see a man who allowed a woman to be his down fall. His hair was cut, his strength gone, a man blinded by the enemy, grinding at the mill of the Philistines, while they ridiculed him (Judges 16: 21-25). He paid a tremendous price for not defending himself against the expected enemy of all that was valuable to him. Join us on our web-sight at Shining Light Apostolic and learn more of “Thus saith the Lord.” May God bless and keep you. 

Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff at 4:49 PM EDT

Updated: Saturday, 13 September 2008 4:54 PM EDT

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THE BOTTOM LINE:

Pastor. John B. Neal

Why do we walk the tight rope between heaven and hell? Is it the adrenalin? The closer we walk to the edge of the Abyss, the more daring it makes us. In other words, why do we try to see how much we can get by with, and not get caught by the Lord? Or how little we can get by with, and still be in favor with the Lord?

It’s like people are playing a game of Russian roulette, with their spiritual life, and one of these days, when they least expect it, the gun will go off.

The bottom line, is what would you do, if Jesus came today? He is coming, make no mistake. It may not be today or tomorrow, but he is coming, and there will be many playing Hide and Seek, like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. But don’t fool yourself, God’s eyes are ever where, beholding both the good and the bad.

We all have a tendency to want God to see our good points, but when we do something wrong, we try to hide it from him, but that don’t work. Just like Adam, he tried to hide from God, but God knew just where he was and what he had done, and neither can anyone hide.

Do you ever ask yourself, “Why do we go to church? Why do we pray? Or read the Bible? Why do we half-step in our walk with the Lord? We need to be honest with ourselves. Is it just to meet old friends at church, or to catch up on the latest gossip, or maybe to see what your neighbor is wearing. Are we committed to Jesus? He that suffered and died on the cross of Calvary, that we may have life. Do you really love him? If you brought Jesus to church with you, then you know that he is there, and you don’t have to worry about the hypocrite sitting next to you.

Every body seems to think that getting drunk, or shacking up, is okay. Everybody is doing it these days. But I want to tell you, it is sinful. Adultery, fornication, molesting little children, disobedient to parents, without natural affection. People seem to love the things of this world more than they love God, they seem to have a form of godliness, but they are denying the power there of, the power that only comes from knowing Jesus Christ, and having Him in your life. The word of God tells us, from such as these turn away. Don’t have anything to do with them.

We are living in a time that is as wicked and evil as Sodom and Gomorrah, and God destroyed those cities. The world has invaded our churches, and set up shop in them, for Lesbians and Homosexuals are now preaching in our churches. May God help us, and these United States of America? They can’t be preaching the word of God, for God’s word tells us that it is a sin. They seem to be flouting their sin right under the nose of God.

There is a place for them in the church, but it is not behind the pulpit, handling the Holy Word of God with unholy hands. It is an abomination to God. That means it makes Him sick. The place for them is kneeling before the altar of God, and asking God for forgiveness of their sin.

I can’t put anyone in heaven or hell. Every one does their own thing, they do what they want to do, be what they want to be, go where they want to go, in other words, do your thing. But just remember, the Bottom Line, when you close your eyes in that eternal sleep, and the next thing you know you wake up in hell, it will be too late. No one, but I mean no one, will get by mocking God. God will not be mocked. Pay-day is coming for all of us.

Religion is not something you just think, you have to live it. Most people live their lives as though neither heaven nor hell existed. What do you believe in? That our good times, our parties and fun will go on forever. Pay-day is coming, and it’s not as far away as one may think.

No, religion is something you have to live every day. It is time to become serious about our soul; we do have one you know. Everyone has two choices; either they spend eternity in heaven or hell. Both places are very real. But God has given us those choices. Are we ready to face God on his throne? Will you stand up in God’s face and try to lie your way out of the things you have done here in this world? The Bottom line, God has a record book, and everything we have every done is recorded in that book. And a liar he will not even allow to stand before him. Sin, of any kind will not enter back into heaven.

Religion seems to be just a game to many; they live their life any way they want to. They go to church on Sunday Morning, and say I’m a Christian. They give one day to God and the other six days for themselves. I don’t have time to pray, to thank God for my family or for waking us up this morning, nor for my health, nor for my food. I can’t take the time to read my Bible, to see what thus saith the Lord. I have to take my children to football practice, or basketball practice, etc. Just going to church on Sunday morning seems to be enough. People don’t seem to realize that God wakes us every morning, and watches over us during the night while we sleep. How many takes the time to say “Thank you Jesus, for being able to get out of bed this morning.” Do you? Don’t people realize that Jesus holds life in one hand, and death in the other. Our breath, our life, comes from Him.

The Bottom Line, Jesus is coming back for his church. The one true church. Jesus don’t care for the title over the door, He’s not going to say I think I’ll pick the Baptist or Catholic, Holy Trinity, or Bethel house of God, etc. He’s not coming back for a building, but a people that have made themselves ready to go back with him. Jesus picks the church, we don’t. His church that he died for is one church. The church that he purchased with his blood, bearing his Spirit. A people bearing his name.

It is time we stopped putting our head in the sand like an Ostrich, and start facing reality. God has got a love, and he shines his love upon us each and every day, but God has also got a wrath which the world is soon to behold. Read the Old Testament if you want an example of God wrath. Read what he did to his own people the Jews, because they chose to worship other gods. Don’t fool yourselves. The only safety we have is in Jesus Christ.

Psalm 4: 8 “I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Jesus is coming at the appointed time for his church, and nothing is going to stop it. People can get out here with their machine guns, cannons, bombs, germ war, missiles, what ever they want, but they are not going to stop Jesus from coming back for his church. Are you ready?

The Bottom Line, Get right with God, or get left behind, and go through the seven years of tribulation like this world has never known.

Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff at 6:26 PM EDT

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Mood:  sad

CRIES FROM THE CROSS:

Pastor. John Neal

What led up to there ever having to be, cries from the cross? Jesus wasn’t crying from the pain and agonies, He wasn’t crying for his own self. The first cry uttered from the cross was, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do” (St. Luke 23:34).

There were two legal system, which proved to be illegal, that condemned Jesus. The Jews, his own people, and the Romans. The very two system on which our own legal system is based upon. The arrest and proceeding’s under Anna Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, were under Jewish law. Those under Pilate and Herod were under Roman law. The Jewish trial was illegal in several ways:

1)- The judge was not impartial, and did not protect the accused. There is no evidence that the quorum of twenty-three judges were present. The judges took part in the arrest, and they were hostile (St. Matt. 26: 62-63).

2)- The arrest was unlawful because it was carried out under no formal accusation.

3)- In Criminal trails, all sessions had to be started and carried out only during the day. The verdict was not to be handed down until the next day. All night session were illegal.

4)- A verdict of guilty could not be rendered on the same day, as the conclusion of the trial. It had to be given the next day.

5)- The search for hostile testimony was illegal (St. Matt. 26: 59, Mark 14: 56; John 11:53).

6)- No accused could be convicted on his own evidence, yet, they sought replies and admissions from Jesus to condemn him (St. Matt. 26: 63-66; John 18:9).

7)- No valid legal evidence was presented against him.

After Pilate declared Jesus Innocent (St. Matt. 27: 24), ever thing that was done after that was contrary to the letter and spirit of Roman law. A murdered man does not have a choice, but Jesus had a choice. He laid down his life willingly. No man took his life from him. Like a sheep led to the slaughter, Jesus let himself be led to Calvary. To give his blood and die for the sins of this uncaring world, but he opened not his mouth, but suffered for us, a death too horrible to even try to understand.

Psa. 22: 14-18, David gives us a picture of the Crucifixion. The bones of the hands, arms, shoulders, and pelvis pulled out of joint (v 14), the profuse perspiration caused by intense suffering (v 14), the action of the heart affected (v14). Strength exhausted, and extreme thirst (v15). The hands and feet pierced (v 16). All are associated with this form of death.

The second cry from the cross was when Jesus spoke to the thief. “Today thou shalt be with me in Paradise” (St. Luke 23:43).

The third cry from the cross was when Jesus looked down and saw his mother, he said to her, “Woman, behold thy son,” this he spoke of John the beloved disciple, and to John he said, “Behold thy mother” (St. John 19:26-27).

The forth cry from the cross, and the most saddest anyone could hear was, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (St. Matt. 27: 46; St. Mark 15:34-36).

The fifth cry from the cross, Jesus simply said, “I thirst” (St. John 19: 28).

The Sixth cry from the cross, “It is finished” ( St. John 19: 30).

The Seventh, and last cry from the cross, “Father, into thy hands, I commend my Spirit” (St. Luke 23: 16).

Put yourself in Jesus’ place, see what was happening at the foot of the cross. While Jesus hung there on the cross suffering and dying there in pain and agony, the soldiers sat at the foot of the cross and played their games, and parted his garments, casting lots, gambling on his garment to see which one was going to get them. The people stood beholding, in indifference, like it was a circus going on. (St. Matt. 27: 35- 42). It was show time at the cross that day. The rulers, mocked him. They wanted religion, but, without a divine Christ crucified for their sins. (St. Matt 27:41). They railed at him (St. Matt. 27: 39). Reviled him. Def: Railed, means , criticize, denounce, condemn. They were there from near and far for the feast of the Passover, and they came to behold this public execution. He claimed to be the Son of God, would he come down from the cross. All eyes were upon him, waiting to see what he would do.

The Cross is for the judgment of the world. We have to go back to the cross, even though Jesus is not there anymore. That is where he was Crucified. That is where he died. That is where he shed his blood, so that we, who partake of it in Baptism, may be washed clean of our sins. Jesus told John the Baptist, “Permit it to be so now, for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness” (St. Matthew 3: 15).

Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff at 6:29 PM EDT

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Mood:  not sure

                                           By: Pastor. John B. Neal

Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff at 10:09 PM EDT

Updated: Saturday, 9 August 2008 4:10 PM EDT

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Mood:  a-ok

WE LIVE IN TWO DIFFERENT WORLDS

I John 4:5-6 “They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”

Also I John 5:19 “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”

These two different worlds are as different as Light is from the Darkness or as Day is from the Night. One is like the opposite side of a coin, the Natural world and the Spiritual world. We are like Abraham, this world is not my home, I’m just passing through, while I’m looking for that city not made by hands.

I wonder sometimes when talking to people, if we are speaking in a foreign language. Then I remember how God dealt with me, when he saved my soul. Then I remember they are of the world, therefore, speak they of the world. The things that they know, the things that they are used to, the things of the world. John went on to say, And the world heareth them, why, because they are speaking the same language, they understand each other, they cannot understand the thing that are of God.

John goes on to say, “We are of God.” Don’t that knowledge and understanding put joy down in your soul? We speak of a spiritual world, a glorious kingdom, or we should be; of the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords. Our mind should be on heaven, we should always keep a vision of heaven before our eyes. He that knoweth God, heareth us,” why, because we speak the same language.

“The natural man receiveth not the things of the spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” I Cor. 2:14. The word “Discern” means: To perceive, Detect, and observe.

John said, “by this, know we the spirit of truth and of error.”

The Apostle Paul tells us also of Perilous times, dangerous times, that we are living in today. When you try to warn the people, why can’t they hear us? Because they are of the world, they cannot hear the words of God. “He that is of God, heareth God’s words, ye, therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.” St. John 8:47.

Jesus himself said, “For this people heart is become gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should hear them.” St. Matthew 13:15.

Gross means: Disgusting, obscene, offensive, shameful. Two different worlds, the natural, and the Spiritual. Our first birth made us a natural man or woman. Our second birth made us into a spiritual man. We as a spiritual man should be able to tell the difference between the two, if we can’t, then something is wrong.

Do we walk in the natural, or the spiritual? Or do we walk Spiritual, in the Natural world? Do we walk as carnal minded in the world? Do we walk in the flesh or in the Spirit? There are two people, in the same body, the question is, which one are we following? One, has to have dominion over the other. Is the Carnal mind leading us or are we letting the Spiritual mind of Christ lead us?

Paul divided men into three classes, The Natural man, The Spiritual man, and the Carnal man. I Cor 2:14.

1).....The Natural man- The Adamic man, unrenewed through the new birth. St. John 3.

2).....The Spiritual man- The renewed man, a spirit filled man walking in the spirit in full communion with God.

3)..... The Carnal man- Fleshly, walking after the flesh, Lustful, sensual, worldly, opposed to the spiritual, (I Cor. 3: 1-4)

The Natural man, may be learned, gentle, eloquent, fascinating, but the Spiritual content of scripture is absolutely hidden from him.

The Carnal man or fleshly, is able to comprehend only its simplest truths. The preachers are feeding you with the milk of the word and not the meat.

Paul is talking to the church, not to the world, telling them to come “out of your Carnal state.”

“Are ye not Carnal” and walk as men of the world? ( Natural, Adamic man) Envying, strife, divisions. “This I say then, walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Gal. 5: 16

Natural, is the apostles word for, the unrenewed man.

Spiritual, the renewed man who lives in the Spirit, walks in the Spirit. We are living physically in a world of sin, for the world lies in sin. If we lie with it, we shall also die with it. But we are told to come out of her my people, touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you. Two different worlds, which one does your heart belong to? Is it time to make a change? The song says, “don’t let it be said too late.” Do you want to continue living in houses, where thieves break in and steal, or in a mansion, where the streets are paved with gold? God gave us that choose. Just as the cloud guided the children of Israel through the wilderness, So will he guide us through this world of sin.

By: Pastor. John B. Neal

Posted by J.C.A.M.I. Staff at 3:25 PM EDT

Updated: Saturday, 9 August 2008 4:11 PM EDT

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